|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:59 am
 Even despite the shade of her Pad's den the heat seemed to creep in through the mouth of the cavernous space, weighing down the tiger striped beauty attempting to keep herself busy with tedious den work. A million times Shiva must have watched her father's sullen faced banu, Ukoo place fresh sweet grass upon Tariq's pedestal. A flat of rock that rose above the rest of the floor like a throne. Yet try as she might, the otherwise perfect beybanu was having trouble arranging the soft padding in just the right way. Adjusting it repeatedly between her paws before finally giving in with a frustrated sigh, Darn you, lay flat!
Sprawling upon her belly slender forelimbs sprawled out ahead of her, hanging over the edge of the raised plateau where she often slept beside the giant firekin. Attempting to resist panting undaintifully, lavender hues took in the surrounds of their otherwise perfectly tidy home. It was so empty as her mate had yet to take another banu. Not that the strikingly pastel mink was complaining. Despite how females of the Ukuucha were customarily expected to feel, she rather enjoyed having his attention all to herself and honestly, Shiva had a feeling their den wouldn't be empty for long. A purr thrumming in her throat as her lithe frame twisted in the plush bedding, purposely leaving the sensual perfume of her feminine scent upon the perch. Hopefully her beloved would return home soon.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:00 am
Mwali had adjusted to life in his new pride well enough. He had just one female for his den but he was happy enough just like that. He didn't need a multitude of females flocking about at his side getting underpaw; quality over quantity, he believed. Who knew, maybe one day he'd have both, but it wasn't what he wanted for the time being. Having returned with Shiva had earned him the respect of the pride, though choosing to make her his beybanu rather than simply leaving her to be punished had been another matter entirely. He'd been prepared to defend her tooth and claw if the need arose, but the Sultan was hardly the unreasonable sort. They'd been allowed to settle, and since then he'd taken to patrolling the borders.
He returned to the den after a day of just that, quietly taking in the sights along the way. All in all it might not be his birth pride, but he liked the territory alright. Having water nearby was different, good different. That wasn't where he was heading now, though.
She always did so well keeping the den cleared and clean. Not having to worry about it himself was the one thing he enjoyed, otherwise content with every day tasks that, here, were apparently to be carried out by the females alone. It was the one chore he hadn't minded "handing" over. By the time he made it back that afternoon it looked as if he'd caught her right in the middle of her work... or her break.
So that's why the bedding always smelled so good, even when she was out. Mwali smirked to himself from where he was peering secretly around the corner of the mouth of the den. A moment later and his massive shadow filled the floor, his figure blocking the light pouring into the space.
Dozing on the job? He teased in a rumbling tone that suggested he was happy to excuse it because of the rare view it presented him with: His mate looking as content as a cub in a field of catnip (or whatever they had in place of it).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:02 am
It was too hot to squirm around for very long, feeling the humidity press upon her lungs in a way that made breathing uncomfortable. Even if Mwali was of a dry, desert land and nothing short of an imposingly capable male--as if Shiva deserved anything less--the beybanu still couldn't help but feel concern for him. The longer he made her wait, the harder it became to lay still. Rolling onto her side to tap a tattoo against the rock wall behind her with the platinum tuft of her tail. Where was he? At least there was no concern of his dinner getting cold. Her gaze sliding towards the outline of a equine shape, ghostly pale and covered from head to tail in stretching lines of black. A zebra she had caught earlier in the day without any help from the other lionesses of the pride.
Due to her previous actions Shiva was still baring the stigma of a kajira. Most of the Pads didn't want their banus interacting with her and potentially picking up bad habits. It was hard to endure the burden of being a social pariah but every day with Mwali made it a little easier. She could only do her best to prove that she was worthy of the title of beybanu that her mate had entrusted her with.
Lost in thought Shiva barely noticed the mischievous eyes that peeked at her from around the corner. Starting rather suddenly when that familiar form filled the entrance of their den, nearly casting the lioness in darkness. Mwali!
Startled though she was by the warmth of his voice, Shiva's first reaction was one of rejoicing. Lifting herself to her paws a quick shake dislodged any stray grass from her pelt. Carefully making sure her fur was perfectly groomed and acceptable for viewing before leaping from the platform to approach Mwali at a saunter. How dare you leave me waiting!
Head held high and the soft, white fluff of her chest thrust out, the beybanu moved with the grace and elegance that was ever indicative of her royal lineage. Scolding her mate for leaving such a prize unprotected for so long, granted it was hard not to let her muzzle twitch into a coy smile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:03 am
Hm. That hardly seems like a proper greeting. He drawled in reply, batting at his ear and falling right back into step seamlessly, as though her words were little more than a fly buzzing past. He was teasing her for scolding him. He gave her a look but could not hide the mirth from his eyes. It had been that exact spitfire attitude that first caught his attention in a land full of lions that he thought meek and cowardly. That was no different weeks later when they continued traveling together, and it was no different at present, either, when she was greeting him so boldly in their own den. Shiva was the only one that ever saw him so expressive, honestly. The other males and females of the pride were lucky if they were treated to a dark, miniscule smirk. It wasn't that he was striving to be melodramatic, he just didn't generally feel too moved to respond to many others.
Somehow the pretty little female before him, though, drew out responses that he never expected to show outside of the Firekin borders. What was more was the fact that she'd drawn him in and actually given him want to leave his home for good to make a new one with her. It had to be a difficult thing for such a proud female to return to the pride knowing others would look at her with such scorn, no matter what he told her or how he felt on the matter. He did his duty as her pad and protected her, not only from physical harm but also from as much of the rejection and disdain as he was able, but still. Some lines he didn't dare cross, even in teasing, such as telling her that if she'd been so bored she should have gone down to the lake with the other females; difficult to socialize when one was being treated as a shameful kajira. The thought was enough to nearly make him bare his fangs. Mwali made no effort to hide his disapproval for those who presumed to pass judgement on his female, and what position they also presumed to know she should hold.
He was the figure of calm as usual though before her at the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:04 am
Hmm.. perhaps your right. Shiva conceded airily, tucking her hindquarters beneath her with a flippant gesture of her tail when she had found herself several feet from her beloved Pad. Truthfully, the young beybanu found it difficult to play this game. From a tender age she had been raised to be obedient to and respectful of the male that took her into his den as his own and in the presence of a lion as worthy of her appreciation as Mwali was how could Shiva not find absolute delight in greeting him? In catering to his every whim?
And it wasn't just because he was looked upon as an impressive specimen of masculinity within the pride. A catch any banu would have been proud to serve--and they did lust after him secretively. Shiva knew. She could see it in the eyes of her so-called pride sisters when her mate passed by. It was because Mwali loved her for who she was. The way Tariq loved her mother. Taking a female under his care that most males would have turned their nose up at.
Straining sit poised in place before Mwali, it took every ounce of effort not to rock on her paws with the desire to show him the carcass she had brought home or show off the newly lain grass. Purring silkily with heavy lidded eyes that seemed to glow in the dusk of their home. Maybe you should remind me how you wish to be greeted.. so that I know for next time. A demonstration would be just fine!
A smug little smile curled Shiva's maw, she was certainly testing her luck today, but she did so enjoy pushing the Firekin's buttons. Knowing that he was just as capable of prodding back and always able to make her submit, when push came to shove. Sometimes it was fun to experience it first hand.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:06 am
She truly lived up to the term "minx", though not a term he could claim familiarity with. He regarded his female curiously, actually already aware of the kill and the fresh grass. Even without seeing it with his own two eyes he was able to tell by scent alone.
Perhaps the strangest thing to adjust to in life amongst the pride was the fact that females alone were expected to take care of the hunting, the tending of the dens and the cubs as well. They were expected to be meek and demure, and the males were expected only to protect the borders and make the "important" decisions (What decisions could be considered so important in a pride such as this, he still wondered, but did not seek to stir trouble anymore than he made an effort to avoid it.). To one with a strong Firekin upbringing and surrounded by independent females it had been madness to see in action. He carried himself with the pride of his birthlands and of what he had in his own capabilities. For the time being he didn't even try to imagine sharing Shiva's company with other females, he was too selfish for that at present... Sometime, though, soon perhaps she'd like other banu to lead and keep company. If that day came then they'd have to be an impressive female themselves, and one that understood that-- both as an outsider and as one with already impossibly high standards --no one would come close to the place Shiva held in his heart of hearts.
So... how should he respond to his beloved female's request?
The large male continued in his saunter towards her, veering only slightly as he drew near, turning his head to regard her as he brushed past. His large body still dwarfed hers, even once she'd reached adulthood. It brushed lengthwise against her side as he passed, purposely. He brought himself up to the raised bedding and settled himself comfortably on it with the barest of smirks.
I know very well that my female isn't the slow sort. Still insist that I need to remind you? A demonstration might be exactly what was called for, but it would neither begin nor end the way that she intended, even if he was the only one to realize that. He was more interested in seeing if his reply would ruffle her fur any further than his "affectionate" little brush just a moment ago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 3:07 am
Carefully watching every step Mwali made towards her, Shiva possessed no fear that her actions would cause him to lash out at her with violence. There was hardly any need for it when he was so tremendously capable of overpowering her with simple gestures and cleverly chosen words. Like so.
As his short, velvet black fur brushed against her body, the young lioness could feel her own, medium length pelt quiver beneath the graze. Tilting her head to gaze over one slender shoulder as her request certainly appeared to be ignored. Who said anything about being slow? Maybe I honestly forgot, you have been gone quite a while.
Shiva proposed innocently, shifting her forepaw near her flank in order to spin on her haunches so that she now faced Mwali again. Watching almost a little too proudly as the bulk of that handsome frame dropped into the nest of soft bedding upon the raised platform. As much as she wanted to jump up to join him there, an equally sly mind had already decided that her beloved may have been aiming for just that. And so, just to be difficult. She resisted his charm. Tapping her tail lightly against the soft dirt floor that carpeted the cavern.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
