(As a cub)Barsia had been dropped off to the Chokwe pride like a Stork delivering a baby to a human. He was wrapped up in a long red scarf, upon the scarf were little inscriptions unreadable to a lion. Gibberish, mainly to the human eye. It was the crack of dawn, a time unfavoured by any. Even a young leopard who had been trying to woo anything for some sort of cub. Kinnison had been awake to help out Viktor out with the morning-guard. Though both not guards, they sometimes would pitch in.
Because nothing beat an early morning with a lion who's voice was a booming barrel-tone of 'wake up call'. After being dismissed by Taban, Kinnison made like lead to his den. Only to find a sniffling lion cub along the way. And in an awkward flurry went through cub-names. Brunhild.. No. She had no siblings (yet).. Saikon, Jowy, Leknaat and the others were leotahs.
After a flurry of ideas, Kinnison lifted the cub into his jowels, and the scarf onto his back. Moving him into the den with Kinnison and Shiro.. And settled the ball of fluff in the scarf again.
Or so that's how Kinnison explained it to Barsia. He was to young to remember anything, who his parents were, where he came from. He was just a fluffy lion. Smaller then usual. At least 3 weeks old. When Kinnison woke up. He had to bring him to Lucia, the hyena to nurse and gain strength. Over time the two became best friends. Taban accepted Barsia into the pride without issue.
The youngin' began to grow up at the side of Taban's leotah cubs and Riou. As he aged though, Barsia began to notice something funny about his 'father'. Upon questioning Kinnison sat him down and told Barsia that he was a lion, and that Kinnison was a leopard. But nothing really went between them. And the species of cat didn't persuade Barsia to look at Kinnison differently.
When Brunhild came to the pride as an Adolescent, Barsia was growing into one. He had grown attached to the female and Saikon, one of the leotahs. Giving themselves a little bit of a trio.
When Barsia began to find his calling, the shy youngin' grew into the stage of a Chihi. Barsia believed he himself was to small, as he wasn't privileged at a very young age. It became a passion, to help out those like Kinnison helped him out.
When questions began to rise about his past, he moved to Kinnison's den and sat down to talk with his father about his family. Not to say he was ever to leave. But to put things into an understanding perspective.
"What's the matter?"
"I'm content. And I always wondered... What happened beforehand. Who my parents were?"
"Well to be honest." Kinnison shifted. "I never knew mine either."
"You didn't?"
"No. Shiro took me in as a son. He's always been my father-figure."
With those words Barsia looked at his paws and nodded. An agreeable nod. "Then it's good I got a father.. Maybe my family was dying and they just took me here." "Plausible.. But.. If I didn't pick you up, one of the Chokwe would have eventually. So in a way we all worked like a pride."
Barsia chuckled at the leopard's antics to strike that thought into his 'son'. "But I would have rathered it be you." Kinnison smiled, content now with his life. Nosing Barsia he pawwed his face. "It wouldn't have been so fun that way. So I can agree. No matter the future you're always going to be my son. Even if you find your family.. I do hope--" "You don't need to worry. They were the ones who put me here.. I'm also here because the pride needs a Chihi like me...
And the past is behind me.. I have to seek the future. And get you some grandchildren. Or.. You have to get me some siblings."
Kinnison smiled. Remembering during the time before. How much he would have wanted to become a father. It withered away a little when it came to raising Barsia. But that tinge in his heart still rang once in awhile. It wasn't something he needed on the point of extreme wishes anymore. A content feeling, like the one Barsia was saying he had.
A son of his own. And a father of his own.
