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 Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 8:39 pm
 It had been a long day. No, it had been a long month, and the damned thing wasn't over yet. Uchanjaa's only happiness lay in going home to see his beloved Kibi each night. As there were no new members being admitted until the new Shaman was trained, there was no need for Kibi to watch over them. But he still had to guard Selene, which put him right at the center of everything going on in the pride. He could not wait until the Heiress was an adult and thus (theoretically) responsible for her own actions. "I'm home," he called out tiredly, approaching the den they shared.
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 5:40 pm
 One would think that the Mwezi'Johari had enough trouble for a full moon year's worth already. It would have been quite unexpected for yet another event to come, what with the arrival of the lost bands from the war, the death of Alcmene, the succession of Khathelela, and then the pale lioness's new role of Nurse Priestess. Things had even changed for Uchanjaa, the appointed... Royal Nanny. It would have seemed that life should have held itself back after all of those occurrences. And yet, it did not.
Shira, the Shaman Kibetinyota had worked close with had disappeared one night after a period of seemingly routine work. As well, Miakoda, a fellow priestess, had disappeared as well. She was distraught, for the two were in her line of work - could she have done something to prevent it? What if something bad had happened, and what if she was supposed to disappear with them as well..?
She was thankful that she hadn't, but still... So many questions lingered in the air as the pride sought out a replacement so soon. It seemed too soon, almost. The memories of talking with Shira and Miakoda almost daily were very fresh in Kibetinyota's mind. It was true, however, that the pride needed to appoint someone quickly, else they could not perform their duties for the Great Lion.
Without Shira, Kibetinyota was simply out of work, and she was left to their den, where Uchanjaa usually was before his change of role. Things had certainly flipped around for Kibetinyota. She found herself walking around a lot, anxious about what she could do. What did the Great Lion want her to do? It couldn't have been to simply wait around...
Kibetinyota was a lioness who was very distraught when she had nothing to do. If she had a duty, it was the only thing on her mind, and she lived life to perform it. She had as much devotion to her duty as she did to Uchanjaa, her love, even. But now, at home in the den, she could not even put her heart into either one.
So she waited in eager anticipation for Uchanjaa's return; at least she still had him around by the end of the day, despite how tired he may have been. For that, she had to thank the Great Lion.
"Uchanjaa!" she called excitedly, more playful and vivid than her usual character.
Kibetinyota rushed into him, pushing her head into his large, fluffy mane and sprightly rubbed against his warmth. Sitting around with nothing to do sure left the lioness with a ton of excess energy. The excitement of Uchanjaa's presence was so much that it wiped away her concerns over the disappearance of her two former peers.
"How was Selene today? And the rest? Did you guide her in addressing those who may be able to take up the other priestess roles?"
She was in a rush to ask him about his day and had a flurry of questions; if she didn't get to do anything, she could at least live through him!
"Please, Uchanjaa, tell me about your day!"
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:08 pm
Pale eyes blinked, looked at Kibi, and blinked again. Sometimes Uchanjaa simply couldn't believe how differently his beloved mate was acting, but then again, she'd had absolutely nothing to do for the better part of a month. Perhaps the inactivity was wearing on her. The Great Lion knew that was part of the reason he'd insisted on taking a rank other than Lord!
The lion regretted now that they'd put off having children, what with him being so busy as Royal Nanny and she as Nurse Priestess, they hadn't seen how there would be enough time to devote to cubs. But now...
Now everything was different.
Uchanjaa nuzzled Kibi tiredly, grateful to finally slow down and relax after yet another long day. "It's really not that interesting," he replied, sheepishly. "And you know I don't talk to her - it just makes her mad at me. And when she's mad at me, she makes my job that much more difficult just because she can." Absent silence was much easier to deal with than hostile silence. Especially since the Heiress was recipient of more advice than she'd ever wanted. He had no wish to add to her stress and frustration.
"We walked, she talked, Fuu was there again. What more can I say?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:45 pm
"Not interesting?" she repeated.
Despite her change of demeanor, Kibetinyota was still fervent about work-related things, and could not imagine anyone's work for the Great Lion being less than an incredible experience. She supposed, however, that perhaps Uchanjaa's role was more circumstantial than something he was born to fill, however. She did find it amusing that he now was the one who had to watch over a child instead of herself.
"Well, Uchanjaa, I can still hold a hope for you every day that you could develop at least some slight bond to the little one you watch over... It might come in handy for the future," she said with a hopeful smile.
"I'm sure it's not as bad as you say. From what I see of Selene, she is growing up to be quite the charming lady. Especially now that Fuu has joined our land. It's been a while since you first looked over her, hasn't it? It's a wonder how little ones grow up so quickly..."
She gestured for Uchanjaa to join her, laying on the ground beside him while still keeping her head next to his for embrace. She knew Uchanjaa was tired, and so didn't want herself to be the one keeping him on his feet even after his guard duties were done for the day.
"It reminds me of when we began... walking and talking alone together. It was always hard to escape the eyes and gossip of the other group members, but we still managed, didn't we?" she sighed, remembering, "I will never forget those days with you, Uchanjaa. You have been there when I needed it the most, always. And now it's Selene's turn! Silly, isn't it, how she's young enough to be our daughter, even?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 6:53 pm
The brown lion flopped happily next to his mate, glad for the chance to relax and just be with her. He knew Kibi was more likely to see the Great Lion's paw in anything, it was one of the things he loved about her. He just didn't see His paw in having to guard a cub almost young enough to be his own.
Uchanjaa smiled back at Kibi. "I'm sure we'll get along better when she's an adult and we're not stuck with each other all day long." He forbore to mention, though she brought it up first, how it seemed like an eternity until that day came.
"I wouldn't say she's quite that young," he protested. "After all, we don't have any cubs of our own yet!" But he relaxed, curling his tail possesively and lovingly around Kibi. Remembering the days when they had been young and falling in love...the memories were soft-edged and soothing.
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:37 pm
No matter what Uchanjaa said about Selene, Kibetinyota had it in her mind that there were more redeeming qualities of their situation than the two may have thought. If it had been Kibetinyota, she would have found it a privilege to fulfill Uchanjaa's role! So she just chuckled his gruff thoughts away and moved her own tail around him in response to his.
"That is true..." Kibetinyota said wistfully.
Many cubs had come into the pride since their arrival, actually - more so than she would have imagined. Had that much time passed? It didn't seem like it, but even Uchanjaa's sister had found time to give life of her own, and from her last talk with the sister-in-law, it was implied that she was going to have more when she settled on a more permanent mate.
It just seemed like the two didn't have time for children... But when thinking about it, when was the right time? When they were retired from their duties? That certainly didn't seem right. She knew she strayed from the topic sometimes out of embarrassment or from lack of an answer, but the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to have this special thing with Uchanjaa. On the other hand, she would be due to return to her duties soon, which would keep her away for those periods of time...
"What do you think, Uchanjaa..?" she asked quietly, without any further words.
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:41 pm
Uchanjaa tilted his head so that he could watch Kibi with one eye. There'd been so much longing in her tone...was she actually suggesting...? Well, he supposed he couldn't blame her. He himself had supposed that once they found the pride, and were comfortable within it, that they'd take the time to have children.
But what with Kibi's duties, and later his own as well, they simply hadn't found that time. Only now was he starting to realize that if they wanted time, they'd have to make it themselves.
"I think nothing could bring more joy into our lives," he told her with a lick and a nuzzle.
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 7:59 pm
She blushed at Uchanjaa's response and affection, curling her tail tighter on his. There would be so many more responsibilities and less time if they had cubs, and yet, it was something she could deny no longer. When she looked into Uchanjaa's very pale, near white eyes surrounded by by his darkened and soft face, she could see someone she wanted to experience everything with until her death. This would be another sudden change of events in their event-filled lives, but it would be one that they both warranted.
"So... you better sharpen your parenting skills with that growing Selene," she jested, "I will not have you remaining silent to any little one of ours."
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:04 pm
The brown lion snorted. "I'm her bodyguard, not her father." As she'd told him herself, though using a few different and choice words. Still, he couldn't help smiling at the thought of being a parent one day soon.
"I will do my utmost for any cubs of ours," he promised both Kibetinyota and the Great Lion. He nuzzled her lovingly as he reaffirmed his commitment both to his mate, his pride, his god and the duties he bore for the sake of all of them.
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Posted: Mon Oct 03, 2011 8:14 pm
"Oh, Uchanjaa," she said lovingly into his fur as she settled herself more against him.
With no experience herself because she dealt with rogues instead of cubs for her priestly duties, Kibetinyota was indeed anxious for what came in the future. But yet, she knew everything would be okay with Uchanjaa at her side. For that, she thanked the Great Lion every chance she had.
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