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 Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 1:37 pm
 Uchanjaa was relaxing in the den he and Kibi now shared with their five wonderful children. It was...so amazing, being a father. At times he seriously considered giving in to his mate's request that he forgo his work as a Guard and take the rank of Lord. That way he'd be able to spend as much time as he wanted with the kids.
However, Nyota was a fairly understanding Head Guard and Uchanjaa's duties, as a result, were almost nonexistent at this time and would be light in the near future.
For now, he had his mate, he had his children and there wasn't a happier lion anywhere in the pride.
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 4:20 pm
Ajali hadn't been long alive in the world, but she understood a few basic rules. To start, her siblings were awfully comfortable to sleep around, and always provided a good deal of warmth. Secondly, Mom was good to have around as she often provided food and lots of affection. Last, but certainly not least, was that Papa was a very handy toy . . . and even if his attention was elsewhere, his tail was always a good toy and distraction.
While the rest of her siblings were sleeping, Ajali found herself stirring. Giving a large yawn, the brown coated cub squirmed out from beneath her siblings and took note of who might be around. Her eyes settled upon a large form with the scruffy mane - yep! It was Papa all right . . . . and he had yet (as far as she understood) to realize she was awake.
Excellent!
Stifling a mischievous giggle, the little cub tried her hardest to be ever so sneaky. Unfortunately, it wasn't an easy thing to do, especially with her large and rather awkward paws. She hadn't entirely mastered the art of walking, much less running or tumbling. It would come in due time, certainly, but right now Ajali was far from the epitome of graceful. Keeping an eye on her prey, focused on his tail, the little cub decided now was the time to pounce. Running towards his tail, the little cub gave a yowl, but it turned in to a bit of a squeal in surprise as her paws tripped upon one another. Instead of pouncing, she stumbled forward, and flipped head over paws in an awkward little roll, completely by passing her fathers tail and making him ever aware of her presence.
Drat! Her mischief was foiled!
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Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2011 5:24 pm
The sounds of a cub waking up were, by this time, unmistakable. Mostly because the kids had yet to master the art of moving quietly. He refrained from chuckling and injuring the dignity of whichever child it was at this time after a quick peek around. It looked like Ajali was going to try something, and well, it couldn't hurt to let her.
Uchanjaa winced inwardly as the uncoordinated child tripped over her own feet though. Poor kid. Still, maybe he could turn her little attempt around...
"Oh my, where did this ball come from?" he asked aloud, though not at his normal volume. "Perhaps it came from outside," the lion mused, "and I should send it back where it came from." As he spoke, Uchanjaa took one large brown paw and gently rolled his wayward offspring towards the den opening.
If it was going to be playtime for one of them, he'd rather it happened outside, where they wouldn't wake the rest of the litter. He loved all his children, yes, but they needed some time alone with a parent.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 8:32 pm
Ajali was still trying to get to her paws, as well as get rid of the dizziness her little fumble had caused, when she heard her father spoke. Who was he talking to? She wasn't a ball, she was a cub! In fact, she was his daughter, not just any old ball of fur! Before she had a chance to object, the young cub felt herself get rolled gently out of the den and in to the great outdoors!
Eeeep!
At first, the little cub couldn't help but giggle in delight at this new prospect. Her papa was just being silly. He had to be . . . right? "No papa, no!" She laughed as he rolled, reaching up with her paws in an attempt to grab at his large paw and stop him. But then it occurred to her, if she really looked like a ball, what if he left her outside forever and ever and ever!? What if they never let her in and forgot about her, dubbing her just the ball . . . And then there'd be no more cuddles or brothers and sisters and . .and . .
SHE HAD TO STOP THIS GAME IMMEDIATELY!
Her giggles turned in to a more anxious mewl as she forced herself to her paws. "Papa, it's me, Ajali! Honest it is, I'm no ball from outside. I came from inside. . . " She awkwardly stumbled towards him, trying to rub against him so he could take in her scent and remember that she was his daughter. Just in case he really DID forget! Unfortunately, her rolling had left her a bit dizzy, and even more clumsy than she'd been earlier so it . . .really wasn't going well.
"You remember me, right?" She implored wistfully, hoping it wasn't too late. Surely he couldn't forget about her, could he?
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Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 5:54 pm
Uchanjaa was right behind his daughter as they exited the den (her by force, him by choice) and smiled to hear her giggling. He himself had only the vaguest of memories when it came to his own father, and the Guard was determined that his children would fare better.
And, if the worst should happen, he wanted them to have as many happy memories as possible of him and Kibi. But, the lion forcefully reminded himself, that shouldn't happen. That was, after all, why they had come so far to find their kin and their pride once more. Here was safety, and here was love.
Speaking of love, he looked down as the cub at his feet began to mew and plead with him. Immediately he felt contrite. Ajali was clearly too young to understand the game he'd been playing and he didn't want his poor child to be confused!
Uchanjaa knelt down and gently nuzzled the cub. "I know sweetie, I was only teasing you. I could never forget one of my beautiful daughters!"
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Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 7:27 pm
For the briefest moment, the world was chaos. All she could imagine was her life as the neglected and ignored and forgotten cub, sitting outside of her den, crying to come in. But they wouldn't have a forgotten daughter, not if they thought her just a rock or moss or ball. . . .
Thankfully though, Uchanjaa had enough sense and consideration to quell her fears quickly. Her overactive imagination stopped as soon as he leaned down and nuzzled her, purring his reassurances to her. Wait. . . He knew she was still a cub? He hadn't really forgotten?
EXCELLENT!
The relief that swelled over caused her to giggle and her pleading ended immediately. Nuzzling his face, she licked affectionately at his cheeks and nose, positively beaming. "Oh. Well I'm glad I'm not just a ball to be thrown outside. I don't ever want to be forgotten, nope, nope! And guess what, Daddy?" She leaned up to whisper to him, like it was the most important secret in the world. "I won't forget about my beautiful Papa either!" She mimicked the word he used, not quite aware yet of the 'genders' of some words. She wasn't even entirely sure what beautiful meant, only that she was it, and coming from Uchanjaa, it must be good.
Giggling, her fears completely forgotten, the little cub settled next to her much larger father. Her energy game in starts and spurts, and while she was calm this moment, who knew when she might take off again, ready to play and freshly rejuvenated. "You have a big paw. Are you a giant? Will I be a giant too someday?" She asked, her attention settling on his paw and comparing her own to it.
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Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2012 2:06 pm
Uchanjaa smiled. He couldn't always follow Ajali's train of thought, but her meaning came through pretty clear in her tone. The adult nuzzled his child.
"I'm no giant, simply grown-up. Your paws will get bigger to, as you get older." Of course it was far more likely that the cub would be a more delicate creature than her father, being female and all that.
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 4:55 pm
Ajali looked up at her father, than back down at her paw, and then looked back at his paws, as if they might hold the secret to this growing thing. Her tail flicked back and forth, as she considered his words. "Oh."
Ajali knew she was already bigger than she had been a little while ago. She had heard her parents sometimes speak of 'how quickly they grew' and even though she was by far smaller than her father, she hoped she would get as big as him. If not bigger. Then she'd be monstrously large and it would be terribly wonderful because she wouldn't small anymore.
Brightening, she looked up at father. "Ok, did I grow any yet? Am I bigger now?" She puffed up and stretched her neck out as far as it would reach, and stuck her tail out straight behind her, as if that would help. Clearly, clearly she had this growing thing down. . yup.
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 5:16 pm
The brown lion stifled his amusement at Ajali's antics. The cub was, as all young creatures were, utterly charming and adorable. Sometimes he envied them the simplicity of their lives, the ignorance they had of all other things. This, he decided, was why lions came together to have children. To see these delightful moments and the sheer joy of child in life.
"It's not so easy for me to tell," he protested gently. "You are still so small, how can I see if you are a little bigger one moment than you were before?" He hoped she didn't hurt herself, stretching out like that. The worst thing about children was the massive array of noises they made when upset.
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:11 pm
Ajali looked up expectently at her father, even though her neck was getting kind of sore, and her tail was slowly, slowly, starting to go limp. When he confirmed her fear -- that he couldn't quite tell -- she heaved a heavy sign and flopped down.
Still, she wore a bright smile, despite the fact that she wasn't so sure she had grown. "It's awful hard work to grow," she admitted solemnly, glancing behind her at her tail which quickly turned to curl around her. "But it's all right. I think I grew. You might not be able to tell, but I'm sure of it. I bet. . I bet I'll even bigger tomorrow!" Ah, like all cubs, they so often wanted to be something they were not. To be larger, stronger, faster, more adult than their present size and age.
Thankfully though, Ajali was also still young enough to be easily distracted, and just as easily to forget. Reacihng forward, she wrapped her little paws delicately about her fathers own, and rolled to her back. "But don't worry, Papa. I'll still love you even if I get to be twice as big as you." And that was the absolute truth!
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Posted: Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:26 pm
The lion laughed aloud with his daughter. "I have no doubts of love," he told the little lioness. "None at all." He gently reached out with his toes to tickle Ajali's little belly. When she was bigger, it would be easier to do, but it was also likely that she'd be less interested in playing.
Such was life, cubs grew up into adults and then had cubs of their own. And the circle of life continued on.
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