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 Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 12:16 pm
   Mawasii had moved ahead to crest the steady incline out on the grassy plain and paused to gaze around her. The land was healthy and green and with the rise of the early morning sun, a touch of warmth spread its way across her spotted back.
Hanging from her mouth was a small grey and brown cub. Young but putting on a healthy weight.
Mawasii, herself, had been a rogue since birth and this particular stretch of land was somewhat familiar, though she had not dwelled much deeper than this. One of her first lessons had been that many prides looked unkindly at trespassers and wandering into pride territory for no reason could be considered suspicious enough to provoke an attack. Now even she, who fancied herself a bit of a tough girl, felt a flutter of nervousness in her chest as she realised they were about to go much closer. She just hoped the lions here would be able to offer her friend and the cubs a home they could feel safe in. A place they would be sheltered from harm. If they were turned away...
No. She wouldn't consider that unless it came to it. Either way, she'd made Nissa a promise and she wasn't about to break it.
Mawasii turned her head to glance back over her shoulder and, gently, set Signa down onto the ground. "Hang on a moment, little Signa. We've just got to wait for your mother and sisters, then we can get back on the move again." Then, raising her voice a little, she called out to them. "Not far now! A few more minutes and we should be at their borders. With any luck, we'll hit a lion out on patrol and they can give us some information."
Kafele, her litter-mate was nervous too, though he didn't bother to hide it like she did. He had always been the more timid of the pair, but it hadn't stopped him from following her around on her mad adventures and making sure she was safe. He'd always told Mawasii that one day she'd stick her nose into trouble so big she wouldn't be able to handle it alone. Perhaps this was one of those times, though she'd certainly not call this trouble! Either way, she was glad for his help. Carrying one cub each had made escape far swifter. She doubted the cubs' father would be anywhere near them now - not with two little cubs to keep an eye on.
"Come on, brother. Don't look so worried."
Kafele - unable to speak as he was currently carrying Shesha - gave her a doleful look and paused as he drew up to her, setting Shesha down next to her sister. "We're about to go into pride territory, Mawa. Of course I'm worried!"
"Shh!" She gave her brother a sharp jab and indicated towards Nissa with her eyes. "Be quiet, idiot. She's already nervous as it is! Don't go making it worse."
"I'm surprised she even agreed to this." Kafele whispered.
"It's the lesser of two evils." Mawasii replied sadly. "It'll be good for her, I think, to learn to trust again. Either way she knows she's going to have to face her fears and live amongst others if she wants to keep these little ones safe."
"Safe?" Shesha echoed, blinking up at the two siblings.
Mawasii smiled fondly. "That's right. You're all going to a new home! There'll be lots of other cubs there you can play with. It'll be so much fun! Just you wait and see."
"Should you be promising them all--ow!"
Mawasii's paw had slapped him across the muzzle, though she dropped it back to the ground as Nissa finally caught up with them. She carried the last of the three girls, Taini, in her mouth, though she was quick to set the cub down next to her siblings, panting from the exertion and shaking with nervousness. She was an absolute wreck, though understandably so.
"Almost there, Nissa." Mawasii comforted. "It'll be okay. I promise. We'll get through this, alright? We will."
"I don't know if I can do this." Nissa breathed. Her eyes were frightened and she was still in shock over the loss of her two sons and the suddenness of her escape plan. "I don't know how to-to deal with other lions. I don't...I don't..."
"The same way you dealt with us." Mawasii encouraged with a smile. "But with less hissing. You can do this, Nissa. I know you can. Not all lions are bad, remember? You've just been unlucky up until now. But it's all going to change from here on in. I promise you. There are others out there, like me and Kafele, who will want to help you. You just need to stop hiding away from them,"
Nissa's ears sank back against her neck and her head lowered to glance at her three daughters. "I don't even know anything about this pride. What if the lions there don't...don't want someone like me? A damaged female with baggage."
"We won't know anything until we speak with them." Mawasii reasoned. "Besides, you are not damaged. You've been through hardship and now you're looking to move on from it. You're a survivor and that has to count for something."
"And if they turn me and the cubs away?"
"Then we'll be here."
"That's right." Kafele added. "We won't go anywhere until we know that you're safe."
"We'll hang out in the area for a few days. If you decide you don't like it, all you need to do is call and we'll come and get you. I promise you that. We can't stay here for much longer than five days but that should be enough time for you to decide whether it will do."
Nissa still didn't look convinced, but she gave them an unhappy nod all the same. "Let's get this over with then...before I change my mind."
"That's the spirit!" Mawasii replied, stretching each leg in turn before glancing back at the three little cubs. "Alright then, girls. You ready?"
Without warning, Kafele reached down to snatch Shesha by the scruff. The cub uttered a small squeak of surprise and then hung limp from his jaws, allowing herself to be carried. Mawasii, similarly, swung Signa up by the neck and, energetically, struck out again, leaving her brother and friend to trail behind with the other two cubs. A few moments later and the scent of lions dominated the air, warning them of the pride territory and - a moment later - a figure appeared in the distance. A guard, perhaps?
Biting back on her sudden apprehension, Mawasii summoned her courage and set Signa back onto the ground by her front paws. The sound of Kafele and Nissa approaching behind gave her the confidence she needed and, a moment later, she roared out a greeting to any who might be close enough to hear.
Hopefully it wouldn't bring more than one or two lions coming, else she might just turn to see that Nissa had fled in fright,
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 1:48 pm
Although young the little cub wasn't stupid, and even though she didn't understand the whole situation that was going on, she knew something was going on. Taini was aware when some one was upset or not and really her mother didn't seem happy, or really laid back. Everyone seemed a little uptight, she even saw it with her siblings. She wasn't really sure of what was going on but she was going with it. She knew that she had no other choice but to go with it, she didn't complain about it. She just went along with it.
She dangled from her mother's mouth in a half awake state. Her mother had been walking for a while and she started to doze off a little but apparently they were getting close, she prepared herself as she felt her mother start to put her down, she let out a yawn and stumbled a little as her paws hit the ground. she turned between the adults, looking at them including her mother that seemed a little anxious. She did seem a little anxious, she made a face before she trotted over to her siblings. Looking at them a little confused. she settled next to her sister and leaned on her a little staying quiet. Taini wasn't one of many words, but before she could talk to her sister she looked up at her mother as her sister was picked up before moving closer to her mother and licking her paw.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 4:21 pm
He was wandering on a route he was sure he'd been on before with a guard when he heard a roar not far from where he was. He froze and looked around him- he saw no other guards but he did spy a distant group of unfamiliar lions. He considered his options carefully. If they were pride members he was simply unaware of, it would be wrong to ignore an obvious call for attention. He doubted that possibility, though.They were more likely rogues, and they might be looking for trouble- it seemed to be the way of rogues around here lately.. but if they were, they could hardly be left alone. Fuu could not see any other guards around but he knew the roar would not have been unnoticed. He might approach them alone now but he would be joined shortly.
Using that logic to give him some confidence, the lord headed toward the group. He held his head high, doing his best to display some dominance in a pride where he held rank- especially over rogues. He kept a safe distance between them, never noticing that there were cubs present.
"You are in the lands of the Mwezi'Johari," he said, speaking loudly and clearly, "What is your business here?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 4:37 pm
Okay, so that had got his attention.
Mawasii turned back to gaze at her brother, Nissa and the cubs and set Kafele with a firm look. "Keep the cubs together and behind me - just in case something goes wrong. We don't want these lions to get the wrong idea and think we're here to cause trouble." Which, to be fair, would be something they might consider, especially as there were three of them at current time. "And let me do the talking, okay?"
Kafele, with a short nod, settled himself on the ground so as to appear less threatening and ensured that the cubs were safe. Nissa, slowly, lowered herself shakily to sit beside him, watching with a growing sense of nervousness. At least that nervousness would do well to make her seem less of a threat.
Confident that the cubs would be safe, Mawasii turned back to greet the stranger just as he drew near enough to raise his voice and speak to them. "To put it simply, lion of the Mwezi'Johari." She paused, wondering if that had sounded weird. She'd not had anything to do with pride cats before today. "We're not here to cause any trouble for your pride. Me and my brother there are seeking a new home for our friend." She gestured to Nissa. "She has come upon difficult times out in the rogue lands and is seeking a new home, along with her three children. Some place where she can be safe from the dangers the world out here presents."
She turned and gestured for Nissa to step forwards but the female was reluctant, forcing Kafele to give her a push. "Don't worry, I've got the cubs here with me. Go with Mawasii."
The female looked like she'd had a sudden change of heart but, eventually, growling nervously under her breath, she stalked forwards to stand at Mawasii's flank.
Mawasii continued. "Does your pride accept outsiders as members? Is this a possibility for her?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 4:55 pm
Fuu looked on curiously as the only lion and the more nervous looking lioness quickly assumed submissive positions at the back. He still didn't get a chance to properly realize they were protecting cubs as he looked back at Mawasii as she explained the situation they were in. As soon as she mentioned three children, he realized what was going on behind her and though his ears twitched, his eyes stayed on her. This sounded like a tricky situation, even without details. What lioness had come on such difficult times that she couldn't travel alone or speak for herself?
"Our pride is one with many traditions and beliefs, it is not simple to ask to stay here," he said, realizing very quickly that he was both a good and bad lion to be explaining this. It had only recently been explained completely to him, he knew somewhere in between both perspectives.
"If you cannot accept our ways or only tolerate them to gain the protection of the pride, you won't be welcome here," he added, frowning. It was sad to be so pessimistic but it was the truth. This was not a pride where everybody could come and go and recent events had everybody wary of blasphemers and those who doubted their ways.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 5:03 pm
Under the watchful eye of Kafele, Shesha shifted closer to her sisters and gave a small mewling sound. Something was going on, though she wasn't quite sure what, but even as young as she was, she could tell there was a lot of tension. Wasn't a new home supposed to be exciting? So then why was there all of this...this nervous energy?
"Traditions and beliefs?" Mawasii blinked, feeling rather ignorant at her lack of understanding. She had never believed it would be simple to gain membership into a pride but...it sounded like an extremely serious decision to make and she wasn't sure she wanted her friend to rush into anything. "What do you think, Nissa?"
And for the first time, the dark female spoke. Her face was set with a frown, her brows knitted heavily over her eyes. "I know something of pride traditions and beliefs, but nothing of yours." She had a mother who had come from the Pridelands, of course, and in better days had enjoyed listening to Ivie's prattling about stars and kings of the past. Then she had spent a little time - unofficially of course - in the Bahari'mtoto, who had their own ideals in how a pride should live. "Do you think these beliefs are something an outsider could take on? Is there information you can share now that might help us better understand?"
Mawasii - surprised at Nissa's show of confidence - gave an encouraging nod. Before the mishap with Hala, she had been a rather tough lady herself.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 6:03 pm
Willingness to learn was all Fuu really required to gain any further confidence in the situation- it was especially helpful that the friend spoke for herself this time. His eyes were on her now and they stayed there as he spoke, knowing her friends had given no indication that they intended to join her here.
"The Mwezi'Johari are ruled by the moon," he started, decidedly explaining the big picture rather than using words that gave it a more personal feel, "It is the eye of the Great Lion, who watches over and protects the pride. He favors those who were born when he is most watchful, when the moon is full and it is easiest to gain his attention. Those who are not born in the pride may gain his favor, but if they fail, they are not allowed to leave. Those who are known to be completely without His protection are considered best kept safe by the pride, they remain as slaves to earn the protection of the pride."
It was no secret the Mwezi'Johari kept slaves, though the circumstances were far from worst case scenario in his mind. Every lion had to accept this fact before their interest in joining could be taken seriously. If they could not accept this, they were a spiritual risk to the pride.
"Cubs born here under an empty sky where the moon is absent share this fate."
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 11:30 am
Nissa stirred uncomfortably. If there had been some greater being watching her all of her life, then he certainly hadn't been looking her way when she had been born. Even still, she wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of being anyone's slave. In fact, the very idea angered her. She felt like she'd been a slave all of her life and now, in this attempt to start over, there was the possibility of that happening again.
She growled low, under her breath, and cast a glance back over her shoulder at her three children. She'd already lost two...she wasn't sure she'd be able to handle losing any more.
Mawasii, realising that Nissa was already faltering, stepped up to the task of speaking again. "Nissa has been through hard times. If she cannot gain the Great Lion's favour, will she be treated badly?"
Nissa's eyes returned to glance warily at the male. "And how exactly does one gain favour with Him? What of my children? If they fail, too, have I condemned them to a life they might not want?" It was one thing accepting this life for herself, but what if her children grew to resent it? And, in turn, resented her just the way she had resented her own mother?
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Posted: Tue Nov 08, 2011 11:55 am
Much like her sister, Signa didn't know what was going on. But there had been a frigid feeling in her stomach ever since they had left home. It only seemed to spread, and by now, she could feel it into her bones. Things were changing fast, even for a cub capable of rolling with the punches. She understood direness. She just wasn't certain what had everyone standing so stilly.
Her mother was speaking, but the words were hard to form place. What was a slave? It seemed to trouble the group, and it made the dark cub's eyes narrow. From where she was standing she could just make out the strange male through the forest of legs separating them. Her nose crinkled.
Were they really in so much danger they needed to ask for help? Signa looked over her shoulder to her sisters. There didn't seem to be any answers on their faces. Nothing that stopped that nervy chill. The young cub swallowed down the dryness in her throat and returned her sharp gaze to the stranger.
Was this the enemy they were fearing?
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 7:17 pm
Taini wasn't exactly scared by what the adults were talking about, even at her young age there was little that scared her. However on the other hand Tai was very uncomfortable with what the older lions were talking about. The large purple male had a strong voice, she didn't know what to think about it. She at first sat thinking next to her sisters however she looked at them and leaned on them a little as she really recognized that they were there with her. She was confused of what was going on. Before times seemed a lot less stressful then this.
Tai though they were going to a new home, wasn't home good? She was put under the impression that home was good but yet all of the adults that she knew seemed worried, including her mother. The little lioness mewed trying to get some attention. She didn't like the tension and she really just wanted to take a nap, she felt like this would be a bad time though if she decided to take a nap. Her little green eyes darted back and forth from each of the large lions in front of her before she finally turned her attention toward her sisters and started to paw at them a little. She was wondering how they felt about the situation.
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 5:17 pm
Fuu recognized the reaction to the idea of slavery, he knew it was not an easy thing to accept for many outsiders- and the pride had taken a great chance, bringing him here and promising to let him go should it happen to him. A favor for an allied pride that put them at spiritual risk, a risk he was sure only a fear of gaining an enemy would have made them even consider.
The first question from Mawasii was a good one, an important one.
"Slaves are not mistreated, not the way the title commonly is held or perceived," he said, "The higher classes might be more inclined to be cruel or demanding, but for the most part it is a rare attitude and persistent abuse is not allowed, so long as respect for the Great Lion and higher classes is maintained. That is true of any lion in any class, blasphemy is taken very seriously."
Fuu was impressed with himself for keeping himself included in the pride he spoke of, refraining from most mention of his observations as an outsider.
"There is a ceremony for rogues, it is considered something of a second birth into the pride," he continued, addressing the second question set, "You are put to sleep under a full moon, if the Great Lion ignores you, it wears off by the new moon. Otherwise, you are drawn from your sleep and welcomed into the class represented by the day's moon. You would be initiated when it is safe for you to be away from your cubs for the possible fortnight, your cubs would be considered members of the middle class until they are in adolescence and can safely be initiated themselves. Yes, you get decide now if they grow up learning to accept this religion and the traditions associated with it, for better or worse."
He hesitated.
"If you ask me, it tends to be the higher classes who have a harder time accepting things because they have more opportunity to complain," he added, decidedly leaving out that he didn't have much experience with slaves. He had a feeling that Selene and her parents were all trying to limit his exposure to them, or them to him, until there was more time between all the fuss with Mazin.
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Posted: Mon Nov 14, 2011 1:12 pm
"A second birth."
Those words were, perhaps, the best thing that the young male could have said to Nissa. She had regarded herself as a cursed creature, even at birth. Lied and decieved by those she had loved and abandoned by all those she had ever cared for. She had spent much of her life utterly alone, turning her back on the world and refusing to open her heart to anyone. Gruff and bitter, she had been desperately unhappy but too afraid and too stubborn to try and change that--
--until Mawasii had come.
And then she realised that perhaps not all lions would offer her pain and hurt. That, actually, there could be some joy to find in company.
And then there had been the unfortunate incident with Hala. The self-loathing and horror and grief that had come with that fateful meeting had threatened to break her spirit. And yet, here she was, still stubbornly clinging on with all of her might - though perhaps the outcome would have been different if it were not for the three little lives who relied on her.
But to get a chance to start over...to forget the past and become someone new. The very thought of it had her eyes tearing up and, with a paw she silenced whatever it was that Mawasii was about to say, rising to stand, turning both ears towards him. "I spent my life ignoring the world. If the Great Lion chooses to ignore me, then so be it." She swallowed nervously. "But if I can truly start again...if I can be given a chance to shed my old skin and become someone better than I once was...ignored or not, it will be no bad thing."
She cast another look back over her shoulder, at her children stirring close by Kafele. "My children need a better life than what the unclaimed lands can offer." And, even so young...perhaps they needed a rebirth, too.
Then Nissa turned back and, without hesitation, took a short step towards him. "So be it. I think this is the place for me and my family; if you will have us."
Mawasii looked more than happy at that proclamation, purring contentedly as she stepped back slowly to join her brother, sitting at his side and glancing down at the cubs who were sitting there looking confused and impatient, perhaps. She brushed her muzzle against the tops of their heads and then turned her eyes back to Nissa. "Little ones, go to your mother. I think you're about to go home." She gave them all a little nudge to encourage them to move.
And, as Shesha clumsily waddled over to lean against her mother's hind leg, Nissa reached up, hooking a claw in her feathered headdress. With no regret or sadness, she dragged the garment from her head and tossed it to the ground, leaving it to flap like the lifeless wings of a bird in the wind.
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Posted: Wed Nov 16, 2011 2:42 pm
Fuu was glad his explanation of the pride came across to nicely, he didn't really have many duties yet and it seemed he was very capable when it came to this. He needed to be something more than a distraction, now, and he was glad it was this simple.
He watched patiently, nodding as Nissa thought aloud about the situation she and her cubs were in, and again when she declared her intention to join officially. He remained silent until she was joined by her cubs and discarded the headdress she wore.
"Allow me to introduce myself properly, then," he said, looking over the little family, from Nissa and to each of her cubs, "My name is Fuu, and it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Mwezi'Johari."
Fin!
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