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 Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 10:31 am
Whilst Jemadari did not have many friends within the lands, he did have plenty of friends who lived outside of it. Ironic, really. He supposed that was one thing about scouting the borders a lot. He got to meet a whole lot of interesting people and learn about the workings of other prides and what rogues got up to if they had no responsibilities for others.
Today, he was setting off for the borders to meet up with a friend he hadn't seen in a while. Her name was Juba and she was a rogue. She was also the type of lioness who would probably always be a rogue. She had more energy than seemed possible, unable to settle, constantly chattering, constantly moving. Always on the go. He was pretty sure that if she joined a pride, she wouldn't last a week before it got too much and she headed off again for the unknown. Fortunately, her travels often brought her here. Jemadari wasn't sure whether she was the type of person you'd want around all the time though. She was friendly enough but her boundless energy could be...considerably tiring.
In any case, as he left his home and crossed the pridelands towards the borders, he was trying to think of some news that he could tell her. His life had been a tad on the boring side recently. With age had come responsibility and he was no longer the boundless teen who could go racing off into rogue lands without so much as a blink of an eye. He had a job now and it mostly kept him rooted.
Poor Juba. She'd be disappointed, no doubt. Adventuring and exploring always was more fun when you had a friend along and since Endesha's recent family bereavement he imagined she hadn't left her home much, either.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 10:43 am
Since her cubs were older now, Kwasi hardly needed to fret as much about leaving them to spend some time on her own. Besides, today they were with their father, again, and she trusted him. He was a pretty good lion, after all!
So she was out enjoying a walk, and the aftermath of a hunt, because it felt good to be hunting again. And the chocolate colored lioness just so happened to spot Jemadari as he headed out towards the rogue lands. Ooh, that was nice! She knew him, and he was a very nice lion, and a perhaps silly part of her mind was pretty excited to see him. He was also very interesting, and noble, and...!!
Weeeell, she ahd time. Might as well go over for a chat! "Jemadari! Hello!" She called out, but trotted over herself, since it seemed like he was headed somewhere.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:32 am
It were his ears that acknowledged her first, turning in her direction as she called out his name. And then his head turned to look at her, his eyes brightening to see someone within the pride he recognised as a friend. Okay, so they'd only met up once before but he had enjoyed her company. Surely that was enough? Well, of course it was!
"Greetings to you, Kwasi'roho." He paused in step to turn and face her, waiting until she had caught up. "It's good to see you looking so well. How have you been since we last spoke? And how are those cubs of yours? Growing up fast, I bet." His tail swished and for a moment he threw a glance in the direction of the rogue lands. Perhaps...perhaps he could invite her out to meet Juba, too? Would she mind that idea?
His eyes returned to Kwasi, smiling even as he pondered on asking her to accompany him. It might be nice for her to meet one of his friends, even if it was the odd one.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:43 am
She smiled, because she quite liked how polite her was. "Just Kwasi is fine!" People didn't often call her by her full name, and she had really gotten used to being 'just Kwasi'. "I've been well! and the cubs too, they are getting quite big! thank you for asking." She nodded, feeling a little proud. They were such fine young cubs! She was sure they were the smartest of any cubs that age.
But any mother would probably think that. "And how have you been? I hope I'm not interrupting anything!" Because he looked over towards the rogue lands again, and maybe he was headed off to do something important.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 11:50 am
"Just Kwasi, then." He smiled. "It's good to hear you are all doing well. I've been well, also, though my life has been lacking that certain excitement it once had as a youth." He scrunched up his nose and then laughed. "But never mind, that's all in the past. It's about looking forward, is it not?" He gave another short laugh. She was perceptive. "Not truly interrupting. I was about to go and meet a friend of mine at the borders - she's a rogue, you see - but..." He paused, flicking his tail nervously. "I was wondering, actually, if you might like to come, too? I know she'd love to meet you." That was a bit of an understatement, actually.
"Buuut, the reason I hesitate is that she can be a bit...well...overwhelming." He gave Kwasi a sheepish sort of smile. He clearly didn't like speaking of a friend badly. "I mean, she's got the kindest heart of anyone I've ever known, but she does talk a lot. I'm pretty certain she even talks to herself when she's out in rogue lands by herself."
She did.
"So I don't want to put you in a position where you feel you have to accept, because you really don't. But the offer is there all the same, and if not, then perhaps you can walk with me a little way? It seems a shame to part so soon, especially since it's been a while since we last spoke." He paused for breath and offered her another, slightly embarrassed smile. Now he was talking a lot!
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:02 pm
"Yes, looking bad is only helpful when it teaches you how to move forwards." She agreed. Occasionally she had dreams about past events, like she did sometimes. Kwasi rarely really predicted the future, but she did see glimpses of the past often enough. She supposed she preferred it that way, so she didn't fret over every single vision. "Oh, a friend of yours?" She repeated, head tilted curiously as she listened to what he said.
On one paw, she really just didn't want to be rude. And on the other paw, she figured she could handle an overwhelming personality, having grown up with a lion like Chokuto. On another paw (since she was a lion, so she could have up to four paws!), she also would like the excuse to spend a bit more time with Jemadari.
So Kwasi's answer was, inevitably. "I think meeting your friend sounds lovely! I can handle it, I'm sure." She nodded.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:23 pm
His smile widened and he laughed again, clearly pleased by her response. "That's excellent! Her name is Juba...I...may have mentioned her briefly during our last chat?" He couldn't quite recall. "In any case, I've known her since I was a juvenile - met her when I was out on my first adventure, funnily enough." He had started to walk again, in the direction of the borders, moving at a casual pace.
"How is the father of your cubs doing? Is he getting to spend a little more time with them now-a-days?"
Not too far away a tall, thin lioness stood in the shade of a twisted tree. Her white pelt was lashed with vibrant red markings that stood out against the natural colours of the landscape. Above her, squawking amongst the branches was a flock of tiny, colourful songbirds. The colours of their feathers flashed with every flap of their wings but their words were intelligible when they spoke so quickly and all at once like that...
"Disturbed, perhaps? No, no, no. Wrong. If disturbed there would be no birds. Flight response to danger. Would be far away. Excitement? Joy? Hard to read. Motionless faces no good for portraying emotion." She sniffed sharply. "If you would stop talking all at once, we might get somewhere."
But the wordless chattering continued regardless of what Juba might wish.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 12:37 pm
Kwasi got into pace beside him, pondering. "You may have mentioned her," She couldn't say for sure, though Perhaps at the watering hole? "But just to refresh my memory, how did you meet?" As for his question, the chocolate lioness nodded.
"Yes indeed! They're with him right now, actually." She nodded, her cubs did like spending time with her father, or at least that was the impression she got. It was especially good for her son, she figured, to have a nice male as an example.
she did notice something white further ahead, but wasn't quite able to identify it as a lion yet, let alone as the lioness they were seeking.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:00 pm
"That's great news. I'm glad things have worked out well." He replied.
Then, he cleared his throat. "Weeell, basically, I decided I was big and brave enough to go out to the borders of the pride. So, when everyone was distracted, I took off and decided to go off on a big adventure all by myself. That way I could brag about it when I got back and everyone would be incredibly jealous. So, that's what I did. Except I got lost. Fortunately for me, Endesha and Juba were close by and they found me and brought me back."
Had it really been so long ago now? It didn't seem possible.
"So all in all it wasn't that much of an adventure." He blinked and looked ahead to where the distant white figure was growing closer now. "Ah, speaking of which, there she is. She's always on time."
He grinned and, quickening his pace, raised his voice and called out: "Hey Juba!!"
And at the sound of his voice, the songbirds did indeed take to the wing with an incredible amount of noise. Juba backed away from the tree to watch them fly away and then, with a small huff, turned to glance in the direction of the Pridelands. Ah, there he was. But someone else was with him?
Without wasting a moment, she hastened towards them. "You scared away my research subjects!" Although she didn't sound all too bothered about it. "You are late, Jemadari. Always late. Perhaps I should adjust my walking speed so it is you that is waiting for me, hm? Yes, yes, I think I like that plan. Will try that next time. But, ah, who is this?" She paused, canting her head curiously. "She has your 'Pridelander' colours. A sister? No. Wrong face. Wrong scent. A friend, perhaps? A mate? Has it really been so long since we last met?"
She smiled and dipped her head with an odd sense of mannerism. "I am Juba. Was my theorising correct?"
If there was an assumption to be made, Juba would make it.
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Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 1:21 pm
She chuckled at his story. In some ways, she supposed she had this Juba and Endesha to thank for being able to know Jemadari, then! Otherwise, who knows if he would have ever come home! Kwasi may have commented on that, but then the white thing she had seen did, indeed, turn out to be who they were looking for, and Jemadari was calling out to her.
The white and red female hurried over, and she would have said hello first, but it seemed Juba had already come talking. Jemadari wasn't joking when he said this was a strange lioness! But Kwasi was determined not to be bothered by it.
She even managed not to make any stupid faces when she asked if they were mates. "I'm Kwasi'roho, it is nice to meet you!" She smiled at the new lioness. "Yes, I'm a friend of his." The chocolate female added with a nod.
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 10:36 am
The only reaction from Jemadari was the slight widening of the eyes and a sudden tension in his neck and shoulders. He would have made a swift attempt at shaking his head to try and stop Juba from continuing down that line of thought except that he was saved by Kwasi who cleared things up clean and swift.
"Kwasi'roho." Juba replied. "I'm glad you came. Perhaps you shall be more interesting to talk to than him."
"Hey--"
"--New people always interesting." She interrupted any attempt Jema would have made to defend himself. "Jema never mentioned you before. A new friend, then." Her golden eyes scrutinised the female for a moment. "Natural pelt, elegant name, polite mannerism. Would I be incorrect in the assumption that you were born here, Kwasi'roho?"
"Juba, you really don't need to interview her..." Jemadari replied, looking apologetically across at the female.
"Ah!" The white feline stopped him again. "I'm just trying to ascertain whether she can help me in the research you foiled with your loud voice. Hm?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:26 am
Despite the strange questioning, Kwasi found she had no real troubles with this lioness. At least not yet! And she was funny, anyways. Besides, she was being complimented. Perhaps not in the most common way to be complimented, but it was fine.
"You would be correct, I was born here." She nodded, and briefly wondered how many more things Juba could just analyze like that. She seemed pretty clever, then, despite the strangeness! "What kind of research?" Kwasi asked, trying to figure out what kind of research this lioness had been doing. She had been under a tree when Jemadari called, and then a bunch of birds flew off. And Juba had complained about him scaring her subjects. "Does it have to do with the birds?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 5:07 am
"Excellent, excellent! A female mind generally sharper than a male's." She looked at Jemadari for a brief moment and then turned her attention fully to Kwasi'roho, sniffing lightly. "It does indeed. Odd birds they are. Very odd. Do not often speak with the littlest species. Prefer as food. These birds, though, they are different. They speak without speaking. Ask them direct questions and they continue in bird-speak."
She frowned and glanced up at the sky. The little songbirds were far away now, their piercing voices unable to be heard.
"Has Kwasi'roho spoken with these little avians? Do they share anything with the natives of this land?"
Jemadari sighed. "But does it really matter, Juba?"
"Yes!" She replied. "Curious. Like to seek answers to questions. Would be a boring life if not for seeking truth." Her eyes returned again to Kwasi. "They shriek. I ask. They shriek some more. Interestingly, they did not fly away. Not until Jemadari came. Why is that, I wonder?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 6:03 am
To be honest, she also couldn't really understand what interest the lioness had in the birds. But what Juba said was fair enough; she was curious. Kwasi supposed not everything needed a real logical reason! "No, I have not spoken to them. As far as I know, they don't share much." Maybe there was a lion in the pridelands the birds talked to.
She still found that unlikely.
"Perhaps they were protecting something?" She theorized. "When Jemadari and I came, they may have decided it was hopeless. Flew away, hope we just lost interest." Not that there ever had been an interest, aside from Juba's own. Birds protecting a nest might not think so. "Did you see any nests?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2012 1:09 pm
"Protecting. Not big enough to cause damage. Confuse instead? Possibility, yes. Good possibility. A sound theory, Kwasi'roho. A sound theory indeed. Ashamed I had not thought of it. Come, come, follow me." And without even asking if they would mind, she turned and hastened back to the abandoned tree.
Jemadari laughed. "Sorry. I told you she was different." He rolled his eyes. "I think this is what happens when one spends too much time alone. Lions were never meant for a solitary life."
"Hurry, hurry! The day grows short." Juba replied. "If we are to see if there is a nest I will need your help."
"Ready to help with the research?" Jemadari asked quietly as he padded obediently over to where Juba waited.
"Okay, okay. I am the lightest of us. Thinner, yes? Perhaps if you stood by the tree I could use you to get a better look in the tree. See if there is a nest. Yes. Good plan. Very good plan. Just stand strong. Don't bend your legs or we'll fall." She stepped aside and gave them an assuming look. "Shall not take too long to find a nest if one exists. Keen eyes in my head."
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