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 Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:52 am
Stellaluna approached her father with caution more often than not. She had always been very subtle in her ways. Always quiet and reserved. Very much like her mother had been a long time ago, among her old people. Luna was working on it now that times were changing. Lions were afraid. How could they not be? Disappearances were very suspicious and frightening. She herself felt a bit afraid.
She stepped up to where her father was, her head hanging lightly. She did not know the missing lionesses but she felt sadness regardless. No one should be taken from their home... or worse? Would they have left willingly?
"Father..." She said softly
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:06 am
Ulivuma had been hanging out with his father, taking turns with his mother in keeping an eye on him. Miakoda's disappearance made it children of Unyezi's that met an untimely end, and it was another daughter. Nyota was in trouble, she was going to be watched much more carefully now, it seemed.
He'd just wandered away to look for Mawu again when he was found by Stellaluna. He was surprised, and yet he almost missed her approach. She was so quiet.
"Luna," he greeted her, "How are you doing?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:13 am
Stella smiled, her warmth and softness emanating from her. She had a great respect for her father, for all he had done for her mother. He was her mothers guide, her stepping stone, her most trusted and adored. Luna knew of her mothers past and her heart breaks, she had learned most of them from her older sister, Onalim. "Father." She said softly, stepping up beside him so they matched in step. "I am... I am well father..." She said simply.
She looked a bit uncomfortable though. Who wasn't these days. "Father... do you think it's a sign of things to come... the... the ones going missing?" She asked quietly, her eyes lifting to look at him. "How are you father..."
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:24 am
It would have been hard to miss the hesitation in her voice, but it would been silly not to expect it. The loss of the shaman and her apprentice was devastating to the whole pride, not just their family members. There was a lot to worry about now.
"It's hard not to worry, and grandpa is pretty upset," he said, hesitating to explain something that didn't come up too often around the family, "Miakoda was my sister, you know. Like Alcmene. But they never really spoke to us."
As much as Uli didn't want to make his daughter worry more, it would be foolish to pretend she was still a cub. She was very much a grown up, and no doubt very aware of what was going on. Especially since she was in the high class.
"What do you think?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:31 am
Her expression showed her unknowing of this information. "Your sister! My aunt then?" She asked, astonished or perhaps a bit more worried now. She looked at the ground and sort of gave a small swallow. "I was curious to why Grandpa was troubled... but i did not want to pry..." She said looking sad. "I am sorry that.. it was like that father... for you and your siblings to be like that... I couldn't imagine feeling like that towards Onalim..." She said simply.
Which was true. Onalim had been everything an older sister could have been towards her siblings. She had shown a bit more favoritism towards the girls, but that was just how she was. Luna and her had spent a lot of time together; though Luna often felt a bit of annoyance with her seemingly 'spoiled sister'.
"I think it is sadder than It was before.."
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:45 am
"It's hard to blame them, Grandpa caused his share of trouble when he stepped down for Grandma," he said with a frown and a sigh, "Our family is very complicated sometimes."
Uli smiled thinking about the relationship his cubs had with Onalim, it was far better that way. He had no regrets about his half-siblings, though he was sure his father was sad they had never gotten along.. but he was glad his own little family all got along.
"It is sad but we can't let it stop us," he said, pausing before pushing into a more optimistic conversation topic, "Have you thought about becoming shaman?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:51 am
Stella nodded. She had a respect for her grandparents as well, due to their love and devotion. Though her parents hadn't gone the same path, they were similar enough that it was fiery ironic to think of sometimes. "Well we all have a few times in which everyone has a memory of times such as those." She said with a smile and a teasing wink.
When his last sentence felled his mouth, she looked a bit stunned. "Me father? Really.." She looked a bit flattered. "I haven't really thought of it... I've been so busy grieving I guess... But I am not qualified... and... I'm so quiet..." She did however look a bit pleased with the idea of it.
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:55 am
Impressed by her modesty, Uli beamed at her while she stammered and avoided truly considering the question he had given. He'd already been talking to Orion, who had made the mistake of suggesting to the lazier of the sisters. Caritas would bring a familiar feel to the role but Stellaluna might give it a more gentle and friendly face.
"Don't be silly, the main qualification is being in the high class," he said, "You're smart, dedicated and not afraid of working, after all, you chose to be a huntress rather than sit back as a Lady. That's more than could be said for what I did when I was in the high class."
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 11:59 am
She blushed a little under her dark fur. She had never really openly talked about her avoiding a life of luxury among so many of her siblings. Onalim, was certainly the most luxurious lady she knew and that bothered her. She couldn't live life cushy and fancy free. "Well.. I suppose that is all true. I didn't want to just waste my days staring at the moon and thinking how good it is to live under it. I wanted to offer something to it... even if it was sustenance for my pride."
She smiled. "I am happy to hear you speak so fondly of me father." She said, smiling softly, her tail curling up over her back in a display of comfort. She wasn't feeling so shy right now. "What does Shamon-hood entitle though. Who would teach me?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:13 pm
Uli continued to beam at her, happy his children had learned the value of actually contributing to the pride. His own decision to be a lord had been motivated partially by his siblings and resistance to the perceptions put on them because of their parents.. but he was far happier as a slave. Mawu had a great deal to do with that, though.
"Don't be silly, of course I speak and think fondly of you, I love you," he said brightly, continuing more carefully as she asked questions, "Well, I don't know a whole lot about it myself. Grandpa might be the best one to ask, he had to know some of it when he was king. In fact, he's probably the best trained in it now that they're gone."
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:42 pm
Stella took in his words and her semi flattened ears shown how serious she was absorbing them. She tried to imagine herself as shaman, her mind raced a minute or so before she shook her head of those thoughts and looked back to him. "I love you to Poppa." She said softly, her lilac eyes half opened in a grin.
"Perhaps I will go talk to Grandfather... even if it's just to see him and perhaps make him smile a bit." She knew she was at least for that. "Even if just to show comfort... though it would be interesting to learn a bit of it despite the future prospects of it all." She said thoughtfully. She then paused.
"Do you think.. someone attacked them father?" She spoke of the missing shaman and apprentice.
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 12:58 pm
The conversation turned somber once again when the topic was turned back onto the missing lions. Uli couldn't help but frown again. It seemed a possibility, especially where Alcmene's death had been the result of an attack.. the former Ilanga'Izwe members were certainly unsettled by everything that had been going on. But.. if there was one thing Uli was sure of, it would not have been any of those members currently residing in the pride.
"I don't know," he said, "But they wouldn't just abandon us like that. Shira was very dedicated and proud, she'd outlasted three monarchs. I have no reason to suspect Miakoda would want to leave, either. The guards are keeping a close eye on all the borders, though, just in case it was someone unfriendly.."
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:05 pm
Luna lifted her eyes and watched him as he spoke. "Do you think... it's a bad omen... has the moon abandoned us? Why must our pride suffer so much..." She lowered her ears and her head sadly. It did seem that their pride was suffering a great amount of turmoil and sadness of late. "I know faith is in question at this moment in time... I think we are being tested... but..." She couldn't really think of anything else to say...
"I just hope they are alright..." She added instead. It was true, she hoped they were not harmed and were maybe.... just lost somehow. She sighed... "I hope things someday go back to normal..."
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:15 pm
Ulivuma hesitated only a moment before moving closer to his daughter and giving her a reassuring nuzzle, it just really seemed like she needed a hug. It was certainly very troubling that all of this had been happening, and the Great Lion's apparent blindness to them under recent full moons was unnerving.. but they couldn't give up hope or faith.
"Seems like we've had our share of troubles lately, it can't last," he said optimistically, "We can't lose faith now."
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 1:21 pm
She smile warmly and nuzzled her father back when he gave her affection. She stepped closer and stopped, leaning against him for a moment. So many things running through her head now, it was almost a head ache. She had to speak with grandfather at least, just to see if her father was right. Perhaps she would be a good candidate. She sighed. "You're right. Troubled times almost always lead to a celebration in the end... it's just how it is. We are being tested. And I have faith we will succeed with what has been expected of us..." She said.
She lifted her head. " I think I want to go speak to grandfather about this..." She said, intending to separate from here. She suspected her father was on his way someplace before they met.
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