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 Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2013 12:05 pm
 Tsubaki edged further into the river until her legs were submerged. The current wasn't as strong today as it usually was, and she was able to cool down in peace. The willowy Guard dipped her head under the water, allowing her entire body to be covered before breaching the surface.
What she hadn't expected to see was her mother, standing on the bank, impatiently tapping her paw. Although they were both of an impressive height, Makoto had the bulk that Tsubaki had never managed to obtain.
"Hello, Mother." She hesitantly stepped forward.  Makoto waited until her daughter was closer to the bank before moving closer. She hadn't expected that their shifts would allow them much time to speak with one another, but today was an exception. Although, now that she had this free time, she had no idea what to do with it. She hadn't spent much time with her daughters since they were cubs.
"Enjoying yourself?" She teased. "I figured you would have been with your friends." "I...." She didn't have a good response, and her face showed it. Why wasn't she with her friends? Wait, now she remembered. How could she have forgotten. "I'm hiding.""From the Princess?""Kyria, yes." Tsubaki sighed. "Is she still bothering you?" Makoto grew concerned. She knew her daughter had had a talk with the young Princess, but it hadn't seemed to do much good. "Not as much as before, but it's just so...awkward." Tsubaki pouted, dipping further into the water. "Can we just stay here today?"Makoto stretched out on the ground beside the river. "Sure."
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:45 am
 Another mother-daughter pair walked nearby. Nkiru had grown increasingly concerned about her daughters. They were nearly full grown and fast approaching the age when she had left home. The Antianeira was different and she had no intention of pushing her daughters away, but that didn't mean they wouldn't get it in their head to wander. Her mother had explained to her clearly enough that leaving home was part of adulthood. Her two eldest sisters had stayed to help with her parents' new litter, but the rest of the litter had wandered. Azubuike had joined the Mwezi'Johari, but who knew what had become of the rest of the litter?
She'd done what she could. She'd trained her daughters to fight, although she hoped they would never need it. She'd never had a bad experience, but some of the other lionesses told stories that made her fur stand on end.
She glanced at Uzoma as they walked. If any of her daughters was going to leave, then it would be that one.  Her mother was doing it again, she was staring. Uzoma did her best to ignore her. She loved her mother just fine, but ugh. Some space would be nice! Yeah, she was an okay mother and she never lectured her or anything, but Uzoma could still tell when her mother didn't approve of the things she did. Like how she didn't approve of her wandering off all the time. Like how she didn't approve of her ongoing feud with Kyria. And it wasn't even full blown disapproval, there were all these worried looks thrown in. Uzoma wished her mother would lose her temper just once and yell at her so that she could yell back and stop feeling so guilty all the time.
With a wordless growl, she turned away from her mother and stalked towards the river. She felt like sticking her head underwater and washing all the guilt away.Nkiru stopped and watched Uzoma walk away. Why did it hurt so much when she did that? She considered just letting her daughter be, but she spent so little time with her daughters these days... she hurried after Uzoma.Uzoma froze when she saw that the river was occupied. Why was her heart beating so fast? She felt ill. Her mother had followed her though, so she couldn't walk away without making things awkward. She waded into the river, pretending she didn't see Tsubaki or her mother.Nkiru was relieved to see the other lionesses. Tsubaki was a friend of Uzoma's wasn't she? Nkiru hadn't had any friends growing up, only siblings. Maybe Uzoma would decide to stay in the pride to be with her friends. Wouldn't that be nice! "Good afternoon Makoto, Tsubaki," she said, bowing her head respectfully to the two of them.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 10:37 am
It wasn't the kind of day Makoto had expected to have, but when she spotted the two approaching lioness' she found herself relieved. She was no expert on matters of the heart, and the ticking minutes of awkward silence was beginning to wear on her nerves. Maybe Uzoma could help her? Weren't they friends?
"Hello Nkiru, Uzoma." Makoto passed a brief nod and smile to the pair. "It looks like we've had similar ideas." She grinned. The water was a place to relax and feel comforted, but right now the darker lioness was on edge. Why was raising children so difficult?
With her head barely above the water, Tsubaki began to blow agitated bubbles into the stream. What was she going to do? As nice as it was, she couldn't stay here all day, and it wasn't like her mother could fight her battles for her, even if she really wished she could...was that Uzoma?
Her ears flipped like a little skinny hippo as she ducked further into the water. Were her cheeks always that warm? Her neck, as well? It felt like every last inch of fur on her body was itching to run off.
When her mother gave a gruff cough, she rose, water sloshing off her lanky frame in waves. "It's nice to see you again, Nkiru." Then, with a much more calculated approach, she turned her attention to Uzoma. Was she ignoring her? Why was she ignoring her? Did she do something wrong? Was it Kyria? Oh Gods, what if Kyria had talked to her? Was her knees shaking? No, that couldn't be it, right? "H-hello Uzoma."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 11:25 am
Nkiru settled on the bank near Makoto, a wide smile on her maw. She knew Makoto valued work over leisure, but she was also a mother. She'd had her litter before Nkiru; maybe she had some parenting tips? Not that she could ask anything while Uzoma was within earshot; she knew that much at least.
"It was Uzoma's idea," she admitted to Makoto.
"It's nice to see you too!" she called cheerfully to Tsubaki. "I hope your day is going well."
Uzoma grunted in reply to Makoto's greeting. She knew it was rude, but couldn't seem to help herself. Everything aggravated her, like having fleas crawling under skin. Not that she'd ever had fleas, no sir! Kyria probably did... that'd be a good rumor to spread. Stupid Kyria.
She waded further into the water, circling towards Tsubaki. Ignoring her wasn't going to work, obviously. She didn't know what to say though, so she stayed silent. Maybe she could flick some water at Tsubaki? Would a water fight make things better? Or worse? She almost wished Kyria was there. Uzoma always knew what to do when Kyria was involved.
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Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2013 1:47 pm
"Yes, I can see that," Makoto looked at the cantankerous adolescent with mild amusement. She could only be thankful that her daughters weren't nearly as obstinate as Nkiru's.
"So, tell me - how does it feel having your little ones join the ranks?" It had been a dark day for Makoto when it had happened to her. Despite Shosanda's praise, seeing her daughters move on into adulthood hadn't settled well with her. It had set a whole other set of worries on her plate. In contrast to Uzoma, Tsubaki's smile couldn't have been more sincere. Despite her worries, she truly cared for Nkiru and couldn't help smiling when the lioness was around. She was just so fun! "It hasn't been perfect, but now that the two of you are here I feel much better already."
As quick as she said it, she turned her head to Uzoma. Her words were true, though. She did like spending time with Uzoma, but talking to her when Kyria wasn't around was...difficult. What was supposed to say? Usually she just minded her business, and kept the peace, but now...Oh Gods.
"You..." She gulped, "you seem kind of irritated today. Is there something I...I mean, do you...do you want to talk or...something?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 3:19 pm
Nkiru fidgeted, unsure how to answer Makoto's question. "It worries me," she admitted at last in a low enough voice that neither Tsubaki nor Uzoma could overhear. "I'm proud and grateful to see them grown so strong, but I still remember when they were cubs. I remember the first time they left the den. And now..." she trailed off. Would her daughters leave her? Would they stay? Only time would tell.It was true, Uzoma was irritated. And she didn't know why. She didn't want to talk about it though, especially not with Tsubaki. Her tail flicked back and forth a time or two while she considered her options before she submerged her head and swam underwater for a brief, quick burst before bursting out of the water right next to Tsubaki. "YEAAAAARGH," she cried as a wave of water hit Tsubaki.
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Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 2:20 pm
Makoto merely nodded, a solemn expression overcoming her. "You've raised them well, Nkiru." She answered at length, her eyes darting over the two left in the water. "Daughters...well, they're never easy to raise. You and I were lucky enough not to have sons to leave, but that doesn't make it any easier. You're not their number one anymore, however, that doesn't mean they don't still need you." She looked at the lioness then, with a gruff smile, bright as she could muster. "A mother's work is never done; you just get promotions."Tsubaki let out a surprised roar, and lost her footing on the stones before toppling into the water. That little...! Why had she ever thought anything less from Uzoma? She was the craftiest lioness she knew, after all. But what now? Should she fight back? Would Uzoma like that? What if she got mad?
The older lioness swam underneath the younger, and stood in an attempt to toss Uzoma about in the water. If this was what she wanted, what would help her, then Tsubaki would give it her all!
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