[FIN] New Beginnings (Nawiri'chiwa, Eione, Lutum)

[Uta]

There was new blood in the pride. Young blood, or so she had been told. The grey lioness had been informed not quite an hour earlier that a male lion had turned his young progeny over to the pride before continuing on his way. To Nawiri'chiwa, it was bittersweet news.

On the one paw, there was great joy that the spirits would bless them with new life. They were but cubs, two of them, a young boy and a girl. From the report Ezequiel had given, the father was all but unfit to raise them, seemingly disinterested in his children. His loss would be their gain, for new life (especially from foreign blood) was rare these days.

But, as always with foundlings, there was a sadness in the situation as well. Even if the cubs were too young to remember their father, or the abandonment itself, there was a knowledge that they were unloved or unwanted at this moment. That their father had given them up . . . While they would give the cubs a home, even a family, there still must be some sense of loss.

What was it like to lose ones family? With her mothers death, she had been prepared. She had known Surya'nontle's plans, and had been able to stand by as she sacrificed herself to the great goddess for the good of her pride. Besides which, she still had her half-sister and father. But so many in the pride lost their families, either through abandonment or disease, and it was an emptiness she was certain would never heal.

Ah, but she always grew just a little forlorn when thinking about loss. Having retired for the rest of the night, the stars dotting the evening sky, the lioness decided to pay a visit to the pride's newest members. Nawiri'chiwa herself did so enjoy greeting those that found themselves within the pride, and age mattered little. Besides, cubs would be a good distraction.

Though Kiwi'lan had yet to return, had to show face or be found, the loss of his love and smiling face still echoed within her heart. She missed him, and not knowing what happened, if he left or if he was killed, meant she struggled to find closure. With the Vizier's encouraging her once more to find a new mate, to pick a new lion to lead as King, the grey lioness just didn't have the heart.

Not yet, at any rate.

Approaching the small den site, she spotted the green scout Ezequiel lingering outside. He was facing the inside, where she presumed the cubs and a nanny might reside. "It's not too late for a guest, is it?" She questioned softly.

The cheetah looked up and gave a shake of his head. "I don't think so. Even if they're asleep, I doubt you'd wake them. . .They've had a long day."

Nawiri gave a small nod, before stepping in to the den. It wouldn't hurt to say hello, or at least get an idea of what they looked like. What had he said thier names were. . . Lutum and Eione. Peculiar names, simple names, but she was certain the cubs were anything but! Now, if only the goddess would grant them long life and good health. . . .

Stepping in, she gave a nod to the nanny currently keeping guard over the cubs. She relieved the nanny of her duty for a spell, encouraging the leopardess to get a drink or refresh herself for the night to come. While cubs were fairly easy to watch over, if they woke at night or decided to be terrors, it might be difficult for the lioness to step away until morning.

Now . . . What exactly were the little rascals up to, anyway?
 

[mouselet]

Lutum, for one, was not quite panicking. He remembered walking. In fact, walking formed a significant portion of his memories. He also remembered that there had been a big green not-lion. The not-lion had spoken to his father Aestivus while Lutum himself and his sister Eione had continued walking. Then when the cubs had finally caught up, they all four walked into what Lutum had later learned was a "pride". All he knew was that it seemed to involve more lions and not-lions than he had ever seen before in his small life.

He also remembered food. As much as he could eat, something which had rarely happened before. The boy didn't remember much after that, having fallen asleep while nibbling on the marrow from a leg bone.

The brown cub had awakened in a different place. It was a surprisingly cozy and comfortable place - sheltered and protecting. His sister was even in it with him! But something important was missing.

Aestivus wasn't there. Not only was his father not there physically, Lutum couldn't even smell his having been anywhere near the den. Which made him incredibly nervy. He'd never been away from his father at all in his whole life. The furthest apart they'd been was when Aestivus got so far ahead of the cubs that he stopped and waited for them to catch up.

Lutum had no idea why his father wasn't here and so when he heard footsteps entering the den, he looked up eagerly. His brown face crumpled and fell as he saw a grey fur instead of yellow, and a female instead of a male.  

[Uta]

Nawiri'chiwa's eyes landed on the little cubs, and she couldn't believe just how small they were. They were still young things, and it amazed her that they could have been given up. While Ezequiel had made a comment earlier about the father not appearing particularly adept at such a role, seemingly eager to get rid of the little things, Nawiri'chiwa couldn't entirely believe such a thing. Surely there were consequences to his actions, their little faces had to be imprinted on his heart somewhere.

Look at them . . . still coated in a partial layer of dust, their eyes wide, sleepy, and yet nervous. Nawiri's heart all but melted with a sort of pain as the look of hope Lutum had worn at her approach turned to disappointment. It was obvious that his presence in their life had been easily felt, and thus, his abandonment and loss would be equally noticed.

Nawiri could only hope that maybe, just maybe, they wouldn't begrudge their new home or whatever pride member took them on as their own.

Smiling gently, the lioness lowered herself to the ground so she was lying comfortably upon her stomach, her eyes warm as she looked between the two. "Hello there, little ones," she greeted, her voice soft. "I'm Nawiri'chiwa." She curled her tail gently around herself, the tip twitching now and then as she studied the pair.

"What might your names be?" As much as she wanted to coo and coddle the little dears, she knew that there would likely be an adjustment for the little cubs. Besides, it would be best not to grow too attached or give them the wrong impression. They had lost their father, whether they realized it or not, and she didn't wish to cause them any more trauma when they traded paws to a more permanent den.

Furthermore, she wasn't entirely certain of their age. Some cubs were surprisingly sharp and intelligent, and didn't take towards such softness or attention. Best get to know them with a sense of reserve . . .for now. They only had just met, after all.  

[mouselet]

The boy turned slightly towards his sister who was leaning on him from slightly behind. That wasn't fair - he'd wanted to hide behind her! But he knew that now wasn't the time to argue the point. The brown cub turned back to the stranger who - eek! - had come much closer in those few moments. Heart pounding, he watched as she lay down before them and looked at them and then talked to them.

"My name's Lutum," he told her proudly. Aestivus had said he merited the name because of his brown fur. The boy wasn't sure what his name really meant, but he knew it was brown in some way and that was good. It was a name that described him so it was a good name.

The big lioness though, she had a weird name. He didn't know what a nawiri'chiwa was or how it related to her.

"Where's Aestivus?" he asked, gathering his courage and flinging the question out there. He wasn't afraid - really, he wasn't! - he was just nervous. This whole day was different from anything he'd ever experienced before and he didn't know what to do or expect.  

[Uta]

Nawiri was observant enough to notice how the young female huddled close to her brother. Though, she suspected that life in the rogue lands wasn't easy, and with as attentive a father as Aestivus was according to Ezequiel, it was no doubt they were close. Then again, at such a young age, and considering their circumstances, there was comfort in the familiar. . . .

Still, she was wide eyed and staring, and at the moment didn't speak. Was she afraid or did she choose not to? Then again, her brother had seemed to take on the role of speaker. The pride she heard in his voice made her smile widen some, but his next question surprised her.

On the one paw, she didn't expect him to be so blunt and ask right off the bat where Aestivus had gone. But perhaps more surprising was the fact that this young cub, so very small and new to the world, didn't call the male 'Father'. He used his name, almost as if he were some acquaintance. To Nawiri, that was . . . unsettling.

Surely they knew him as their father. . . didn't they? Or had their bonds been so restrictive? Perhaps she was over thinking, but it seemed to make the situation that much worse. Just what sort of lion had this Aestivus been? While she had earlier dismissed Ezequiel's remarks as perhaps a bit biased and opinionated, exaggerated in a sense, the more she studied the little cubs, the more she wondered what their life had been like.

Had they not been comforted? Cuddled? Groomed? Had they never had the tender touch of a parent to their child, reassurance when afraid, or that endless love that every cub was supposed to experience and know? Maybe it was best Ezequiel had met the lion, taken the cubs, and let him go. At least now they would have a new home, and all the love in the world.

If only they could adjust and accept. Hopefully that would be with time.

"Lutum. . . what a fitting name, for such a handsome little cub." She cooed softly, sincerity in her words. The duo were indeed very striking with their browns and the touch of color and markings across their coat. She didn't push the little Eione, as she seemed either too frightened or awed to speak. And, honestly, she looked as if she were waiting for Nawiri to answer.

Well. . . . she wouldn't ignore the little cubs question. The Kitwana'antara, though they cared for their cubs, were often very honest to the cubs of the pride. The young often had to deal with adult subjects on a regular basis concerning sickness, death, loss, and even abandonment. These poor foundlings weren't, unfortunately, the first to be abandoned on their prides borders. . . or to lose a parent. So Nawiri, though she hesitated just a moment, decided she would be honest.

It would hurt, but it was best they knew the truth.

"Aestivus, he . . he has left you two in our care. The pride will care for you, provide for you, and raise you as our own along with other cubs your age. You're part of our family now." She added gently, refraining from going in to too much detail. Such as finding them a proper parental figure. . . One of the nannies, Yejide perhaps. . . . Eva'raja had a ton of children she had raised, though exact details would be worked out in the morning.

Unless someone stepped forward. . . . made the request. . . . Unless. . .

No no. That thought would wait. For now, Nawiri wanted to see how the little ones would respond to the news. She was concerned for their well being, and how a cub might respond to the 'loss' of a parent was as varied as night and day. They might not, she realized, even react at all.
 

[mouselet]

Lutum glanced back at his sister, surprised that she didn't introduce herself. Should he have told the big lioness Eione's name too? He didn't regret asking after Aestivus because it was weird to be without their father and he wanted to know. The brown cub did preen a bit though and puff out his small chest as Nawiri complimented his name.

But then she went on to answer his question. Aestivus...had left? Without them? Left them here? It didn't make sense. The big yellow lion couldn't leave them here. He was their father. Why would he do this?

"Why?" The boy threw the one word question like a weapon. "He's our father, why would he leave us here?" There was anger in Lutum's voice but, underneath that, there was pain and sorrow at losing the life he'd known up 'til now.  

[Uta]

The young female, Eione, was surprisingly resilient against the news. She didn't appear to look shocked or appalled by the news, and her little voice seemed strangely reasonable as she suggested impatience as Aestivus' source of rejection. There was a sort of calm about her, and yet, Nawiri had to wonder what she might feel beneath her practicality of the situation, what was written on her little heart.

While she might accept things coolly now didn't mean she wouldn't feel the sense of loss or abandonment. It might come out in other ways, she might not even recognize it at all for the moment.

And what of the little Lutum? He was sparked with anger, and if he'd been older, she would have expected his hackles to raise his teeth to bare. So young, it was easy to discern the anger, as well as the grief, that drove the little cubs emotions.

How she wished she could comfort them in some way. To let them know it would be all right, it would be well. This experience, while they may someday forget such a thing, was likely to haunt them even through adulthood. And how could she answer them? Why?

Who?

Nawiri'chiwa wasn't entirely sure which question was worse. It broke her heart to see the two cubs suffer in such a way. And it was only the beginning. . . . now that they were part of the Kitwana'antara, and of lion blood, it was very possible Pestilence herself would mark them as her own. Some would say the worse was yet to come, but the lioness could only hope that they would find joy. . . hurt from Aestivus, she hoped, would be swallowed by every happiness.

Giving a small shake of her head, the pain of admittance was clear upon her face. "I wish I could I give you his exact reasoning's, but I only know a small amount of what was said. He did not desire to be a father, and was unfit for the role. So it was in your best interest that he left you with us, so we might give you the love and family you deserve, and him the freedom he wished." It wasn't . . .exactly how things worked, but from what she'd been told by Ezequiel, and conscious of the little cubs before her, it was as close to truth as possible.

As for Eione's question. . . who . . . .

Nawiri'chiwa said nothing for a long moment, looking at the little cubs. She tried to imagine how they might feel, new to this world, neglected by a father, and then outright abandoned with a group of strangers. Here she told them they would be looked after, and now they wanted to know by who.

It seemed far too cruel to tell them she did not know. . . Nanny's would keep an eye on them and raise them with other cubs who had lost parents or were foundlings. Some mothers and fathers in particular took on litters. . . but she doubted Yejide wanted new cubs, Eva'raja and Sliabh were already grandparents as well as busy.

And yet . . . these cubs needed someone, something to look to. Someone to call mother, someone to care for them, to make up for all the times they had been without. Nawiri'chiwa herself had wished to take on a litter eventually adopted by Yejide, but Kiwi'lan had not liked the idea. Had wanted his own family first. . . .

Now he was gone.

Abandonment hurt, she knew what it was like all too well. "Me." It came out before she could stop it, but truly, Nawiri'chiwa didn't wish to. Why should she be without children? Eva'raja had juggled the role of mother to a slew of cubs, even while dealing with the role of Master Healer. The viziers wanted a king, but part of the reason was out of need for an heiress . . . just in case. Well, there were two cubs in need of a home -- why should she not?

"I will raise you as my own, will care for you if you'll let me. I too know what it's like to be abandoned by someone you love." She added softly, glancing momentarily away. There was a sadness in her own gaze, a loss of two mates, a loss of her mother, and the loss of many friends and loved ones. Perhaps her loss wasn't the same, but it was loss all the same.

She would be their mother. . . but she wouldn't force them to call her such. She would let them come to her in their own time, assuming they grew comfortable in her presence. "I came here so I might take you to my den, so you might know a new home."
 

[mouselet]

The cub's ears went back and he bared his fangs as Eione supposed that Aestivus had left because they were slow and he always had to wait for them. He didn't want to think that his father had left because they weren't able to keep up. Lutum didn't understand a lot of what Nawiri'chiwa had said about why Aestivus had left, but he understood that leaving the two of them here made him happy. He didn't see how it could be better for him and Eione. When the pride moved, they'd still be slower than all the big lions and not-lions and then what would happen? Would they be left with someone else?

He was lost in unhappy thoughts when the grey lioness answered Eione's question about who would take them. Grey eyes blinked in surprise. He'd never spent a lot of time around a grownup female. He knew that they were different from males, but he was fairly vauge on specifics. He knew how he and Eione were different, but he couldn't picture his sister as an adult. Himself, however, he could see as a browner version of Aestivus.

The cub also wondered at one word that Nawiri seemed to use a lot. She called it "love" and he wasn't sure what it meant. Sometimes it seemed to be something people did. Sometimes it was something they were supposed to do. It just didn't make sense and Lutum couldn't find a clue to it's meaning.

But the lioness was still talking. Talking about taking them to another den that wouldn't smell of Aestivus so they could..."know a new home"? Lutum cocked his head, confusion overruling aggression and sorrow.

"What's a home?"  

[Uta]

Nawiri'chiwa saw the look of confusion and, perhaps, frustration in the small cubs. There was a lot she was talking about that they didn't comprehend, nor did she expect them to do so. These were concepts and feelings and emotions that they were too little to understand now . . . but hopefully with time and experience they would learn. Learn and be shown.

When little Lutum suddenly questioned what a home was, once again, the grey lioness' heart almost broke. While they were of young age, home and comfort and love were supposed to be universal truths for all cubs, regardless of age. It was going to take time to get these two adjusted to the life of the pride, of a normal life, of affection and touch and love. . . .but she would do her damndest to make sure they never lacked any of those needs.

"A home is where a family lives. In this case, your home will be with me as . . . as a mother to you. My den will now by your den as well, and it's where we can all live together as a family." She was trying to explain on a young level, without going in to detail about what a family consists of. Love, support, comfort. . . . No, they would have to learn with time.

It was the same reason she didn't explain the disease of the pride, the ranks of a pride, the fact that they now were unknowingly the first prince and princess of the Kitwana'antara. All of those lessons would come down the road, with time. But first, she had to gain their trust and, with time, perhaps, their love.
 

[mouselet]

Lutum was getting somewhat frustrated with the fact that the grey lioness kept using words he didn't know to explain more words he didn't know. If family was a big group of lions and not-lions, how could they all fit in a den? He knew the word mother, but how could Nawiri'chiwa be his mother when she wasn't?

It just didn't make sense. All he could figure out was that they were here, without Aestivus. That they were, for some reason, going to be living in Nawiri's den. That she wanted to be their mother even though that was impossible.

All he wanted...

...well, what did he want? The boy missed Aestivus because he'd never spent a day without him until now. But the short time he'd spent here with the pride had given him a good place to sleep (no reason to assume Nawiri's den would be any different from this one) and a full belly to sleep on. He'd had both occassionally before, but not together, he thought, and neither was a guarantee.

Nothing Nawiri or this pride offered was going to change the fact that Aestivus was his father or that Lutum missed him dearly. But, he supposed there might be some good reasons to go along with all this. Not the least of which was the fact that it would be impossible for him and Eione to catch up to Aestivus now.

For once he had nothing to say in response to the grey lioness. There didn't seem to be anything left to say on his part at least.