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 Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:58 pm
Asili'issa shook his head on a light hearted chuckle as he padded away from his mother. Even though she was out of the adol's sight the feeling of being watched remained. Issa just laughed. For a female who claimed her children were a plague upon the world (in one of her more dramatic moments) she was exceptionally protective. As both he and his sister grew, so had she. If "Happily Ever After" had existed, it was now, when his mother could openly say that she loved them. Now when she was sure that it wouldn't be used against her.
Issa met up with the returning hunting party to swap stories at the watering hole. It was disappointing to note that hardly any of his friends had been involved, thus leaving him on the awkward end of the conversations, and forcing him to demurely drink instead.
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:34 pm
 Bringing up the rear of this particular hunting party, Idris walked at a content pace. It had been a decent hunt, and even an enjoyable one. No one talked to her on the way back, but she didn't mind. Everyone else could brag like baboons about how fast they'd run or who had actually gotten the killing bite in. She'd been a part of a strategy that had gone nearly flawless, and even the ones who had caused the little flaws were cheerful enough. To her, it was a job, and it happened every day, so no need to make a fuss over it.
Reaching the watering hole, she looked for a clear space to get a drink. When she saw a pale form at one end, her heart skipped a beat. She even started to stalk over to snarl at that familiar coat, but then she paused. The build was too masculine to be that blasted female. She blinked a couple times, and then sighed heavily in relief. That was a male! The similarities had scared her, but apparently she was safe. Just to prove to herself, she walked over toward the area of the male and leaned down to drink silently, watching him interact with those around him.
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:51 pm
Issa was barely paying any attention to the idiots. As much as he loved to gossip ( an unsavory trait passed from mother to son ) he wasn't a fan of bragging, and preferred to ignore those who practiced it. Granted, they should be proud of their good work, but really? There was no way prey could have been quite as big as they were making it out to be.
Licking the water from his lips, he turned in the opposite direction and nearly jumped out of his skin. Was she...? Surely she wasn't looking at him. I mean, ya, he was coming into his mane and was starting to gain muscle now that he was hunting, but what would a grown lioness want with him? Or maybe he was just that funny looking?
Regardless, Issa regained his composure and smiled from ear to ear. "What's on your mind? From the way you were staring, I could have sworn you were plotting my death or something." He chuckled.
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:04 pm
The longer she watched, the more she convinced herself that his fur was just a coincidence. Besides, there was no way that anyone would repoduce with that witch. Nope. Just a strange coincidence. What a relief!
When he reacted so visibly to seeing her watching him, she did nothing more than raise a brow. Wow, he was skittish... Well, he was also young. Then he grinned at her and spoke, and her expression went flat. "Not currently." She stated simply. "Just wondering why you weren't on the hunt, today." ..It was as good an excuse as any.
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:15 pm
"I'll keep that in mind." Issa just kept smiling. Whether it was a result of stupidity or a stronger inner core, not even his mother could say. All he knew was that he wasn't one for frowns, and even if she was blunt, at least he wouldn't have to ask many questions.
Still, that didn't mean that he had a good answer for her question. Everything he could cook up sounded worse than the last. Finally, he just decided to go with an honest answer. "So you noticed?" He shifted into a more comfortable position. "Now, I could say I was hunting on my own, but the regrettable truth is that I hit my head on my last hunt, and I was told to take off for a couple days to let it heal. So, if fate is generous, you'll see me around soon enough."
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:29 pm
Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly, wondering what he thought was so grand to give that goofy smile for. He seemed to back off a bit while trying to answer her question, which made her tilt her head curiously.
When he spoke up finally, her frown actually deepened. Wounds that took someone from the hunt... She turned back to the water, looking at her rippling reflection. No matter. The boy was a stranger, and he'd said it was a temporary absence anyway. "Fate has already been generous, if you hit your head and can even consider hunting again." She looked over at him, and a sarcastic smile rose. "It would depend on your hunting skills if I'm to consider fate generous for getting you back out there sooner rather than later."
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:39 pm
She was a tough nut to crack, but he was determined to get a smile out of her. It was as if the purpose for this entire trip had vanished upon meeting her, and the motive had been shifted.
Issa felt slightly guilty. From the way she spoke he assumed she thought his injury had been grave, when it was merely a knock to the head he was hoping wouldn't kill him a few days later. So far, so good. There really was no use worrying about it if he could be productive and help out while he was still kicking. "You're probably right." He chuckled. "I'm a horrible hunter, but that's what apprenticeships are for, right? So, what do you say? Teach me how to be a better hunter. If fate really is generous, I'll die off before you have to watch me."
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:58 pm
The admission of a lack of skills made Idris frown again. It wasn't often anyone actually said such a thing, especially a male, even if they were a juvenile like this one. Even many females wouldn't- wait, what?! Her eyes widened slightly. "When did I offer such a thing as an apprenticeship?" She asked coldly, causing a few hunters nearby to turn and look. They looked at Idris, and then Issa, and smirked in amusement. They knew Idris wasn't one to warm quickly, if at all. She always had a barrier up of some kind. They simply considered Issa a naive youth about to get his head hit once again, and went back to their own conversations.
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Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 9:42 pm
That got her! The reaction almost had him laughing. Almost. She was still way too serious and tense for him to just let his guard down that much. What if she took offense? "You didn't, but then, no one ever has. They've all assumed from day one that because my Uncle's a Scout and his friends hunt that I've been taught a little something about it. Well, I can't begin to tell you how wrong that is. I've got two left paws, and neither one can catch air."
The looks they were receiving were of no concern to the adolescent. He'd been raised on suspicious, sometimes scathing looks, depending on who was around. "Think about it; if you can turn me into a top notch Hunter, how far will that raise your reputation? Your status? I would imagine that if the King knew about having such a skilled huntress, who was willing to devote her time to the young, in his kingdom that he would be very pleased."
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Posted: Sat Jun 30, 2012 10:21 pm
Idris narrowed her eyes slightly. She wasn't often in this area of the pridelands... She was only passing through with the snickering group sitting nearby; a reluctant part of some pride bonding idea by sharing hunters. "In that case, why have you not asked your family and friends for advice? Why ask someone you don't know?"
Lip lifting slightly, she snorted and bent for another drink of the water. "As if the King would give the likes of me the time of day," she grunted softly, glaring over at the juve and raising her voice to its normal sharpness, "And I still haven't agreed to anything. My will does as I say it does, and it doesn't hold anything for you right now." Still... she couldn't help but be intrigued by this overoptimistic boy. Of course, she couldn't show that to him.
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:08 pm
"Because if I asked them they would most likely laugh, then bicker with each other to see who has the best techniques to pass on." True or not, he would rather not let him see his shortcomings. Let them believe he was at least half way decent at his job for a little while longer. "Besides, you're straight forward. I don't see you coddling me when I screw up."
He didn't know what else to do. Pleading wasn't working very well, and he had a feeling that if he begged he would get a paw to the face. "I don't expect you to do this for free, either. I'll do whatever you want in exchange."
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 6:27 pm
Idris snorted. Yeah. There did tend to be a fuss over who had the best skills to pass on. She'd seen it before. So egotistical. Her ears perked at his observation, she let out a sharp laugh. "Hunting isn't something to coddle about. If you're the one holding back your hunting party, you might become the meal that was missed."
She actually opened her mouth to say she would consider it, but paused. Do for her? Another sharp laugh rang out. "What- What would you be able to do for me?" She shook her head, and a little smirk lit up. "I don't expect anything outta you except absolute obedience." She looked over at Issa and her smile turned hard. "If you want to learn from me, you listen. I don't like repeating myself. Got it?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:12 pm
His ears tipped back. Well, that certainly wasn't good, or was it? She was smirking, and that was as close to a smile as he could hope for at this point. "Your word will be as good as law." Issa nodded his head, standing as tall as he could. "You'll not find a better listener."
She might have been a little more...gruff than what he could have hoped for in a teacher, but really, wasn't he just buying time to talk to her? "I need to be heading back to my den soon or mother will throw a fit. What time to you want to meet up tomorrow?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:32 pm
Sharp eyes appraising the young lion, she was silent for another moment before nodding. If he was being honest, maybe this wouldn't be so bad. ...At the least, it was a way to pass the time productively.
Ah. Still lived with his mother. Was she a coddler, too? Well, no matter. The kid had a new teacher now. Idris leaned down for a drink as the meeting time was requested. Licking her muzzle, she looked up at the sky. "..Dawn. That way, we'll be able to practice while it's still cool out. Get a few good hours." Her gaze landed on Issa again. "Meet me here. Don't be late."
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:43 pm
What would his mother think if he started to train in earnest? She would probably freak, seeing as she didn't want him to hunt anyway. If she had it her way he would either be married into Nobility, or a Nanny like her.
"Dawn it is." He stood, stretched his forelegs out into the water, and gave her a smile. "Trust me, I'm never late. I pride myself on punctuality." Issa tipped his head to her in a way of goodbye. He said a few things to the remaining lions, passed a last look at the lioness, and started on his way back home, imagining the days ahead. Would they be full of excitement? Or dread?
Fin
WC: 2,052
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