It was nice, despite how much she loved her daughter, to have a little free time with her mate. With the group settled for the day, she'd suggested taking a walk to Dogo. Mashai would stay behind in the 'camp' with Zeru, to keep watch over her, while they went out. Not too far...but far enough that it would truly be some alone time for them. And the scarred lioness had been enjoying that alone time immensely. Until she TRIPPED over something with a yelp of the sort she hadn't made since early in her adult years and a distinct lack of grace.
Dogo couldn’t remember the last time he’d managed to snag some alone time with Moto. As much as he thought Zeru was a rather charming young lady, he’d missed the simplicity of travelling alone with his beloved mate. There was something intimate in it being just them, something that he’d enjoyed and hadn’t even realized he’d miss. But he supposed he’d have to get used to it – after all, they were on their way to an entire pride! He couldn’t just keep Moto to himself forever. Still, he couldn’t hide his amused laugh when he saw his beautiful, graceful mate trip over something. He quickly rushed to her side, nuzzling against her and glancing to see what she’d tripped over.
“Are you alright, dearest?”
Mifuo was used to traveling on his own. He couldn’t exactly remember when he’d separated from his mother, but it had been quite a while ago. He set his own pace, and most importantly he had a bad habit of deciding when he wanted to wake up. More often than not, he wound up sleeping well past the time at which the rest of the savanna began to arise. This bad habit normally saw him sleeping well into the day, happily curled up in a nice cool spot surrounded by long grass; which had resulted in the rather unfortunate incident that had just happened – him being tripped over.
He groaned softly and rolled to his paws, blinking around blearily.
“What?”
Moto blinked away the dizziness that came with falling down so suddenly, shaking her head to clear it and looked to Dogo. "I'm fine." She'd been through worse in her life then tripping over something solid. And a bit squishy. THAT had her looking to see what she tripped over as well...and was surprised to see another lion in the grass, and then hear him. Oh dear. It had been a long time since she'd tripped over another lion. She smiled apologetically. "I apologize for waking you. And tripping over you." Oh dear...this was awkward.
Dogo chuckled softly when he saw the other lion in the grass, moving to give Moto’s cheek a quick lick. He certainly hadn’t been expecting his mate to trip so unexpectedly, and certainly not over some poor unfortunate lion! In fact, the poor victim didn’t even look that much older than he was. The poor guy. He probably hadn’t even seen it coming. Ah well, he might as well introduce them.
“I’m Dogo’tufani. The lovable lioness who just fell head over paws for you is Moto’nyota.”
Mifuo spent a long moment blinking what remained of the sleep out of his eyes before he managed to focus on the two lions standing above him. He couldn’t help but offer a goofy grin in response to the apology, and he was quick to get to his paws. He gave a brief stretch before moving to sit down in front of the two, nodding to first the lioness and then to the lion.
“It’s no problem. I probably shouldn’t have been sleeping out in the open anyway. I’m Mifuo!”
Moto laughed softly at Dogo's comment, her smile growing a bit. "And I should have been paying more attention. So the blame is on us both I suppose." She nodded her head to the young male, noticing his age like Dogo had. And it made her bones ache just a little, feel her age just a little. Was she really so young, once upon a time? "A pleasure to meet you, Mifuo, whatever the circumstances."
Dogo grinned and nudged Moto gently when he heard her laugh. He’d always loved hearing the sound – it was a laugh that belonged solely to her and it warmed his heart to hear it. Even if the beautiful lioness was more than old enough to be his grandmother, he’d always heard so much youth in her voice. And there wasn’t any number of years that could possibly rob that from her. No matter how many seasons passed, she would always be perfectly youthful to him. But that was something he could linger on later, in the quiet moments when he was snuggling with her before they fell asleep.
“As my lovely mate said, it’s nice to meet you.”
“Alright, I suppose we can share the blame then.”
Mifuo laughed slightly, his grin growing a bit wider. He took a moment to look between the two – the male who was so close to his own age, possibly a season or two younger at the most, and the female. She seemed to be quite a bit older than him, but there was something in her eyes that made him think twice. Surely she couldn’t be as old as he believed?
“It’s nice to meet the both of you. What brings you out all this way?”
Moto couldn't help but duck her head at being called 'lovely'. She was still getting used to it. And...after the battles with Hakuna that had left her so scarred, she hadn't heard anyone call her that until Dogo'tufani came into her life. He made her feel young again, and that she'd get to have him by her side in peace instead of living in fear of the demons...it added more youth to her soul. "We're heading to a pride. I've been there before and have a friend and family there...and I thought it a perfect place for Dogo and I." A safe place, a place where fear had no hold and perhaps...they could start a family and raise them without them ever knowing of the war between the Aikanaro and the Mwako.
“The Jini-msemi,” Dogo clarified, glancing towards his mate and moving to give her cheek a quick nuzzle. He’d always thought she was terribly adorable whenever she started getting bashful – really, it shouldn’t even be possible for any one lioness to be so charming! He grinned lightly and moved to sit down next to her, curling his tail over his paws. “It’s been a long time coming, but we’re hoping to find a home there.”
“The Jini-msemi, you say? Well, it seems like we have something in common then! I’ve been making my way there ever since I parted with my mother, but I seem to keep getting turned around on the way,” Mifuo said lightly, giving a sheepish laugh. He’d never been to the pride himself, and more often than not the directions he got from other were sorely lacking. Either that or his ability to follow directions was the thing that was lacking. He really couldn’t say he was sure either way.
Moto returned Dogo's nuzzle, then blinked at Mifuo. Oh! Well now! She laughed softly again. "Well...if you'd like, you can travel with us. We've two others with us, but I know the way to the Jini-msemi by heart." She'd never forget the way. Ever. After all, she'd once thought of using it as a place to take her people if they'd ever needed to flee the lands of the Mwako. "Why is it you're traveling there?"
“That’s quite the coincidence! We’d be happy to have you along, if you’d be willing to come,” Dogo said, chuckling softly and moving to playfully groom the back of Moto’s ear. He didn’t know the way to the swamps at all, but he trusted his mate to know her way around. Especially when it came to the rogue lands – which he’d never been in before he’d finally left the safety of the Matembezi’Wasakaji with her at his side. But he wouldn’t trade the experiences he’d had for the world.
“I think I’d like that. It’d be nice to not have to travel alone anymore, or to worry about taking a wrong turn again!”
Mifuo offered the two lions a grateful smile, getting to his paws and taking another languid stretch. The question made him perk up a bit, and he hummed for a moment. Why was always such a good question, although his why had always been so simple. He wasn’t entirely sure they’d understand it though. It was kind of silly to say that he’d always felt like the swamps had pulled at him.
“Well, my dad lived in the pride. And I’ve got family there. I don’t know how much, but I’m sure it’ll be interesting to find out!”
Moto held back a giggle at Dogo's grooming, purring. "Well than...welcome to our group. We can introduce you to the other two once we get back to where we're staying for the day. We mostly travel by night, because of my daughter. She...doesn't do very well with the sun." A total loack of pigment would do that. "I hope, that once we get there, you find your family welcoming, and the pride as much a place of peace and friendship as I found it when I first visited."
“Family is always a good reason to choose a place to settle down. That and love,” Dogo offered softly, smiling and continuing to gently groom his mate’s ear. After he deemed it well and clean he got to his paws, kneading at the ground and stretching briefly. “We should probably head back now. I wouldn’t want to leave Mashai and Zeru alone for too long.”
“Thank you for having me,” Mifuo replied, smiling and nodding. He wouldn’t deny he was a little eager to meet the two remaining members of the travel party – it would be so much like living with his mother and siblings again! Only, maybe a little less lively. When the other male stood up he was quick to give one last stretch.
“That sounds like a great idea.”
