Mari'ah smiled indulgently as she watched her brood playing out on the warm sands. Each day it seemed they grew a little bit taller, a little bit more energetic and caused a lot more trouble. But she loved them with her whole heart and she knew her mate felt the same. They were the culmination of a lifetime's worth of struggle, fear and hardship. And every single day of it had all been worth it for this moment, watching her cubs living a carefree life in a safe land, warmed by the the golden sunlight, without a worry or care in their young heads. Though she knew Giovanni had already begun the basics of their assassin training, it was only light play for now and the cubs loved the games her mate invented for them. Though one or two caused her more worry than the others, like little Peturicco, who was far weaker than his other siblings and spent most of his time sleeping in the den or resting at her side. But today, Petri was playing a game of flick-the-stone with Ran, who was making a complete hash of it.
"OWWWW" The younger cub cried as he missed the stone and slammed his paw onto a small rock half-buried in the sand. A laugh followed, but it wasn't the frail Petri in front of him, but the rather annoying voice of one of his many elder brothers.
Ezio snickered at his sibling's miscalculation, but did stand up and pad over, licking the wounded paw briefly. "Oh come on Ran, you couldn't have hurt yourself that badly." Grinning he eyed his two brothers. "I got a new game for us to play." He declared proudly, turning to point at a pile of sand but then, all three cubs froze, eyes going a little wide.
It was this sudden and unusual quiet from her brood that had Maria suddenly at full alert, dark eyes flicking over the beach, for the other youngsters had heard Ezio and also fell silent alongside the three boys. Almost instantly she spotted what had caught their attention and relaxed, grateful it wasn't something that would either make them do something stupid, like one of the pride's juveniles, or something dangerous they could get into, like netting washed up in the breakers... However, the strange lioness did merit her attention and she stood, rumbling a low chuffing sound to call her cubs to her. After a moment all of them instantly responded and crowded about her paws, having the unexpected effect of pinning her in place. Amused but noting it for future reference, she watched the strange lioness with an open but attentive expression.
Tahirah had been walking for what felt like forever. After her disastrous attempt at finding a mate which had ended up with her fleeing the rogue lands and returning to her pride, only to discover her beloved mountains were empty, devoid of the life that had once thrived there. Not a single lion had been left, the mazazi’s den was freakishly empty and the sheer silence had frightened her more than anything else. Having no idea where everyone had gone she had fled the once-home she had come to love and raced back out into the wilderness. Needing to put as much distance between herself and the memories that haunted her like demented shadows of a happier time, she fled across the savannah. Barely managing to hunt enough to feed herself and falling to scavenging from other kills several times. Driven by fear and then hunger, she had made her way, lost and alone, all the way to the cliff tops of this strange salty, sandy land.
It had been the high, happy cries of cubs that had finally pierced the fog of depression that had fallen over her, drawing her inexplicably down the high cliffs and across the deep, soft sands to where the beautiful family were enjoying the warm sunny day. The cool ocean breeze ruffled her coat, bringing the strong scent of salt and fish to her nose. This world was as far removed from her mountain home a she could possibly imagine, but there was one familiar thing in this foreign land... cubs. They joyful, free calls drew her onwards until she stood next to a smooth boulder, battered and thin, staring at the beautiful red and white lioness surrounded by her large brood of lively young. Instinctively she knew most females would be protective of their cubs, but this one, though she was watching Tahirah carefully, had a gentle, welcoming smile on her muzzle.
Lowering her head she slowly sank to her belly submissively, dark eyes as wide as the cubs that were staring at her. “Uhh... Hi.... I....” She stuttered, finding her voice almost gone after so long in the dry savannah. But she didn’t even have time to finish what she was trying to say as all eight cubs launched themselves forwards, racing across the sand from their mother to instantly climb all over her dusty self, their happy, curious questions rattling round her head too fast for her to possibly answer each one. Blushing she beamed happily as she rolled onto her side, letting the cubs jump and play over her. One, a particularly small male, was a bit more cautious and she smiled as he sniffed her carefully. Another, a very pale cub with red slashes on his shoulders, started playing pounce with her tail, proving to be already very adept at the game despite his young age.
A deep, bone rattling sigh escaped her as she went limp under the flood of cubs, a warm, relieved smile just showing itself on her maw. Across the sand, Mari’ah smiled gently as she watched her hord of youngsters use the stranger’s body as a climbing frame. Even little Petri seemed alright with the young female, who looked barely out of adolescence herself, and Mari’ah knew her cubs wouldn’t attach themselves to just anyone. They were far too sensitive to a lion’s temperament to run up to just anyone. And she herself could feel no bad vibes from this exhausted lioness, rather, the patchy female seemed starved for affection and a good meal or two... the poor thing.. Padding closer she once again settled down in the sand a few strides from where her babies were playing on their new friend.
“Hello there.” She greeted the young female warmly, her experienced eyes gentle and encouraging. “I’m Mari’ah. Welcome to the kizingo’zaa.”
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