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 Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 2:02 pm
 It was early in the morning and Samawati was getting ready for his scouting shift, that time of the say in which the golden enjoyed a good snooze with his belly up near the mouth of the den, delaying the time of his departure. Having so many cubs in the den was incredible but also tiring and the Scout found that he had lost some of his usual eagerness to leave the den in the morning. Now he was much more likely to linger at the entrance and find little breaks to spend a little more time alone with Sarabi or each of the little ones.
Samawati yawned, perhaps more loudly than he’d intended, blinking lazily. It was about time to go, he figured.
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Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2012 11:54 pm
A yawn. That was it! The sign little Bushiri had been waiting for. Carefully, carefully, the little cub had squirmed his way out of his pile of siblings and inched across the many sleeping lions that lay in their den. So cautious, so quiet, as he tried oh so very hard not to be spotted. The tip of his tail wriggled back and forth with excitement.
But that yawn was a symbol of wonderful things ahead.
Bushiri hunkered down low, his bottom wiggling, claws gripping at the hard stone. With a hushed ‘ha’ is sprang up over one last lioness and pounced toward the hulking form of his father; hoping to surprise him, of course! Bushiri had been away for many hours now, days it felt like, watching and waiting for Samawati to give some sign that he was awake. He knew his father was a scout and had to patrol the borders of the pridelands, which sounded like the most wonderful job to Bushiri.
And today, the little seer wanted to come along.
“Are you awake?” he whispered, ears perked and lemon-eyes beaming, unblinkingly, at Samawati’s face.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:14 am
Samawati opened one eye slowly to confirm that the cub was one of his boys though he had recognized the voice at once. He saw Bushiri’s bright eyes watching him eagerly and he let out a little chuckle that he tried to hide behind a cough.
“No.” Samawati answered with a hint of a smile before his expression was filled with mock seriousness. None of the cubs looked the least bit like himself or Sarabi but Bushiri’s bright yellow eyes were a little like his adoptive mother’s and while Samawati didn't really mind that the cubs looked so different from them, that filled the golden lion with warmth for some reason.
“Why were you asking…?” he asked without breaking the serious façade which was not easy as he met those eager unblinking eyes.
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Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2012 4:04 pm
Bushiri’s face split into a grin that stretched his cheeks enough to hurt. Seeing his father attempt a more serious tone, the cub popped back on his bottom and curled his tail demurely around his forepaws. He wiggled his toes under the concealment of his tail tuft and forced – very difficult, this was – his grin to disappear.
“Oh, well,” he sniffed,” You’re a very good sleep talker, father. But I suppose if you’re still asleep,” he stood, tail drooping and head low. He padded a few steps away, looking for all the world like a beaten puppy. But the façade didn’t last. He let out a sniff, then another…
And whipped around and took one mighty leap, attempting to pounce right on his father’s fluffy mane!
“You’re so silly, dad,” he said, grinning,” I know you’re awake.” He buried his face and mumbled something unintelligible into Samawati’s mane.
Something that may have sounded like, ‘Can I come with you today?’
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 7:47 am
Samawati refrained from chuckling with great difficulty. It was not easy to keep a straight face when a little fluffball, a tiny sample of a lion called him silly. Though he was being silly, he had to admit that much.
“Awake? Do you have proof?” Yes, very silly. He was, however, smiling widely now. Bushiri had called him "dad" which mattered more to him than he could put into words. His eyes searched for the sleeping shape of his mate with a very typical Look-look-he-called-me-dad sort of elated expression. But she was still asleep and so his eyes dropped to the little shape in his mane.
“I’m sorry, son. But you’re going to have to repeat that.” He said, finally standing up and stretching his body lazily as he yawned again. “It’s still too early for deciphering.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 1:37 pm
But why wouldn’t Bushiri call his father ‘dad’? Oh, he knew very well that Samawati wasn’t his biological father, but he’d never met that other lion, so what sort of dad could he possibly be? Samawati was the only father Bushiri needed or wanted, and he was quite content with that.
Bushiri was even more happy to see the silly grin on his father’s face. His own lips peeled back to match and he shuffled himself out of Samawati’s thick grey mane, still pressing his paws in the fluff. He took a n** at his dad’s chin, then hunkered back to the stone floor.
“I said,” he started, adamantly,”canIcomewithyoutoday?” Clearly not so brave as he was trying to put on. He ducked his head, ears flat, and widened his bright lemon eyes, pleading.
“I haven’t seen any of the pridelands yet… and… and…” he scuffled his paws about” AndI’dlovetocomewithyou.”
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 5:20 pm
While the cub’s words were still considerably hard to understand, Samawati was starting to figure out what his son was trying to tell him. He grinned again, quite eager to take the cub with him until he started considering all the potential consequences. Bushiri was still very small and while he seemed to have an immense amount of energy - like just about any other cub – Samawati was certain he would quickly grow bored. Not to mention the obvious danger that he could face if the two of them were alone at the border. What if a couple of hyenas showed up? Oh, Gods… hyenas.
“No, buddy. Not today.” The golden lion firmly but with obvious regret. “Even if we took something for you to eat, we’d have to walk a lot. You’d get hungry, tired and probably bored. And it might be dangerous.” It was clear that he would’ve liked to take the little one with him but he couldn’t risk taking such a small cub while he was patrolling.
“You know what…” he lifted one of his paws to his shoulder blade and then winked at Bushiri. “Once your head is this high, you can come with me. Okay?”
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 8:19 pm
Bushiri’s bright smile faded at his father’s words. He hadn’t thought of any potential consequences – what ill fate could touch him while he had Samawati to protect him? To him, so young and innocent to the world, there were no dangers to speak of. Nothing to make him fear for his life, or injury. All Bushiri wanted was to see the borders of the Prideland, explore what his new home had to offer. Perhaps they would even meet other scouts or more lions like them, wanting to join the pride.
“But… but daaaadp,” he’d stopped whispering, his voice probably too loud in the resonating denspace. He pawed at Samawati’s legs,” I promise I won’t get hungry. I promise. I’ll eat grass if I have to!” He so wanted to go! “And I could never, ever get bored… they’ll be so much to see! We might meet new lions!”
He eyed his father’s lifted paw with trepidation. He tried to balance on his hind paws, tail swaying to keep him still, but even two-legged his head couldn’t make the reach. Bushiri dropped heavily to the ground, pouting.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 3:50 pm
“No cheating.” Samawati said seriously even though it was clear he was trying not to laugh when the little pale cub tried to reach his paw. Samawati grinned. They were good boys all of them and Bushiri in particular was so bright and eager that one couldn’t stay serious for too long in his presence. The cubs might’ve been lucky that Samawati and Sarabi had found them (or been given the task to care for them) but the couple had been just as lucky.
“There’s more than lions out there, Bushiri.” Samawati said softly but then paused. The cub was still too young for those kinds of stories. Perhaps one day he’d tell them how his twin had died but now was definitely not the time. Far too soon to fill their minds with such terrifying thoughts. “But that’s a conversation for later.” He looked around, his regret almost palpable. “You know I have to go now, right?”
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:02 pm
Bushiri wrinkled his face into the frowniest frown he could manage, but he acquiesced. For now. He quieted at his father’s tone, the look in his eye. Bushiri had met nothing but lions in his short life. Well, lions and prey animals, but those were different. He knew there were such things as leopards and cheetahs, jackals and wild dogs. But how could they be any different from lions? They were predators too, weren’t they? People, just like Bushiri. Just like his father.
But that soft tone made Bushiri think better of asking. His father clearly wasn’t happy about the subject.
“I know,” he muttered, head hanging low. Only for a moment, though. He popped back up to his paws and sauntered next to his father’s feet, nuzzling against them affectionately,” But you’ll bring me one day, right? You promise?”
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:13 pm
“I promise.” Samawati smiled as he let his paws fall softly on the cubs head. He gave it a little shake and ruffled the cub’s hint of a mane before stretching again.
“When you’re a little bigger. And stronger. Maybe I can start teaching you how to defend yourself when I get back. Your brothers might want to join us.” He watched the cub for a few moments to see how he’d react to the little offer before he started to walk away but then he turned to look at the cub with a tiny smile. “Take care of your mom and your sister while I’m away.”
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:18 pm
Mogami Thanks so much for this! It was awesome.
A chance to learn how to defend himself? Against what? Bushiri couldn’t think of a single reason to know that sort of thing, but it was an opportunity to spend time with his father, and that was something he couldn’t pass up. Bushiri grinned and nodded vigorously” I’ll ask them!” Now he had something wonderful to look forward to, when Samawati came back.
Bushiri stayed put as he father made to leave, but his smile was firmly affixed now,” I will, Dad, don’t worry! I love you!”
And that was that, for now. -FIN-
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