|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:49 pm
 It was official. Caritas was one of the two new Midwives. She knew there'd been some discussion as to suitability - that for all she was no newcome former rogue, she was still the daughter and granddaughter of slaves. Nevermind that she was also related to the royal family - it was apparently the slave bit that counted more. Though, given her grandfather, she could sort of understand this. But only sort of. He'd been a slave all her life, but even she knew he'd once been King. It seemed to the black lioness that she should feel proud of her new rank. But it was still too new, too different. She hadn't actually done anything with it yet, other than have lessons and listen to the advice of practically every older lioness in the pride. Maybe when the Queen or Aysu had their cubs and she was there, maybe then it'd feel like truth. There was just so much going on, she needed a rock of stability to lean on. So Caritas was going back to her parents' den. At the very least, she'd be able to lay down and relax and pretend she was a cub again, without a care in the world.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:57 pm
Despite the state of the pride, Ulivuma was feeling rather content with life right now. The pride was recovering, he figured that meant it was OK to start being happier again. His cubs had stepped up to help their pride, he couldn't have been more proud of them. Especially Stellaluna and Caritas, though for different reasons. Even Orion, though he seemed to run around unable to make up his mind more than anything.. but his heart was in the right place.
He was hanging out by the den, waiting for Mawu to come home after a day out and about. He hadn't been able to find anything to keep him busy very long so he was home. He wasn't expecting Caritas to come visiting, though. Reclined in the grass not far from the den, he watched as she got closer and closer, smiling.
"Good evening, Caritas."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:33 pm
Her father's smile had always been infectious. Caritas could feel her lips curving in silent response. "Hi Dad."
She briefly considered pretending she was a grownup and a Midwife and someone of importance in the pride. The idea lasted all of five seconds and the black lioness flopped down next to her father, leaning on him for physical support and mental comfort.
Possible conversation starters flitted through her head, but she couldn't think of anything she really wanted to say to him. The quiet and the love were all she really wanted or needed.
It was so nice to come home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:26 pm
His eyes followed her as she smiled and fell to the ground beside him, leaning into him and making him feel rather nostalgic. It had been a while since the cubs had been home, it was nice to have them around sometimes. He let the silence go for some time before he finally sighed and spoke up.
"How are you doing?"
There were big things they could talk about, but did they really have to? Not really, he figured.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 7:08 pm
Caritas rolled her shoulders in silent response to her father's question, a shrug he could almost certainly feel, even if he couldn't see it. The smile slipped from her face and she considered her response seriously. If she couldn't be honest here, where could she be?
Well, maybe not as honest as she'd been with Grandpa, but that wasn't -quite- what was being discussed here.
"Okay, I suppose. It's an adjustment," she responded shortly. The black lioness wasn't even certain she really wanted to talk about her new position. Or her argument with Unyezi. Or at all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 3:38 pm
Uli was still smiling, even when his question was met with a shrug. He figured if he let the silence continue, she might take her turn at the conversation and he wasn't disappointed, even with a simple answer.
"I'm very proud of you," he said, keeping with the general shortness of their conversation. It could go without saying but it never hurt to say it- or hear it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 4:28 pm
"Aw Daaaaad," Caritas gave the obligatory groan to her parent, tail twitching. It was a good thing her fur was so dark - it covered up her sudden and severe blush.
Really, she was proud to hear him say that. It made her more certain of her decision, knowing that (for once) she was doing the right thing.
"Thanks," she replied quietly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:28 pm
There was a pause where he seemed not to react to her groan- or even her thanks- until finally he pushed himself up a bit and pushed her away from him. It was easier since she had been leaning on him, but she was a lot bigger than she used to be.
"You're such a troublemaker, what's going to happen now with you attending births?"
He chuckled, getting comfortable in a seated position now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 9:15 am
The former Guard lost her balance for a moment as her father moved unexpectedly, but caught herself before her face hit the ground. Black eyes glared at him, though the expression was spoiled because she understood him in the way only someone who's lived with that person for a long time can.
"I don't know, maybe class uprising," Caritas joked offhandedly.
Well, she wouldn't be planning on any such thing. But if an opportunity arose to tell someone that there was no crime whatsoever in being born a slave, and that they were in no way inferior to even the highest ranks...well, she'd bless the Great Lion for such a chance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:02 am
Ulivuma smiled down at Caritas, even when she glared at him. No matter the rank differences between them, they were always going to be family. And when she suggested a rather risky joke, especially so in the presence of a slave, he only chuckled.
"Only you could pull that off while still living," he said, shaking his head. The state they were in was borderline dangerous in that area but it was due to the death of two very important lions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:05 am
Caritas smiled. "Grandpa didn't think I would be...a good fit for Shaman," she admitted. If she was the spiritual leader of the pride, it would probably cease to be the Mwezi'Johari.
"But I can still make a difference as a Midwife," the black lioness continued fiercely. "Just you wait. I'll make this pride a better place for everyone." The words were spoken with all the weight of a solemn vow.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:13 am
Hmm, evidently there was more truth to her joke than her tone had originally indicated but he wasn't entirely put off by it. Jokes took truth to the extreme, she could hardly be blamed for thinking she might make a difference in interaction between classes. After all, they had been quite peaceful and relaxed before. She could help restore that peace.
"You might need to work on your subtlety," he remarked with a smile, "Maybe that's why Grandpa suggested not going for Shaman."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:17 am
The lioness made a face at her father. Then she made an abrupt change in the direction the conversation was going. "Grandpa just knows how much I hate work," she replied airily. "And being Shaman is a LOT more work than being a Guard. Being a Midwife though, that's less work than I was doing before."
Hence Caritas now had the time to come here like this. It was a good tradeoff. As for the comment about subtlety, she'd take it under consideration. It was true that she felt more at home discussing her beliefs and goals with her family than with someone else in the pride (where "family" was defined as people related to her within two degrees). It was also true that she should be careful how much she mentioned to others. All in all, a good warning.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:21 am
He couldn't help but chuckle at the way she reacted and changed the subject and her tone. It was true she hadn't been a big worker, it was admirable that she knew better than to just laze around, though.
"Hard to argue with that logic, there are only two pregnant lionesses about now and there are two midwives, you might not have to deal with either," he said.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:24 am
Caritas snorted. "Like that would go over well," she muttered. Even if she was inclined to laziness, that hadn't stopped her from doing a good job as a Guard. And even though she knew Hagryphus had also passed the interview process to become a Midwife, she couldn't yet bring herself to completely trust the former Rogue. Admittedly, she hadn't spent much time talking to the other lioness, either before or after their changes in position.
"I'll do my job," was all she said of her thoughts to her father. She was quieter now, thinking more about what had happened and what was due to come.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
