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 Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 11:07 am
 There were some days that Yareha woke up and missed living in a pride. Here, he didn't eat if he didn't hunt, his shelter wasn't guaranteed from night to night and he wasn't related to the vast majority of lions around him. That last wasn't a bad thing, but the white lion had taken his friend Facio's advice very seriously and hadn't actually done anything with any lionesses since before he'd left (been kicked out) of the Mwezi'Johari all those moons ago. He did miss that physical exercise though. Being chaste wasn't a life that Yareha truly enjoyed, but he was trying to be a better lion than he'd been before. Hopefully the Great Lion could see that. It would be nice, the white lion mused as he stood and studied the early morning savannah, if he could find a pride that he felt comfortable in, without the restrictions of the Mwezi. Maybe like the Aka'mleli...
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:11 pm
Chusi was a bit of a wreck. The grey adolescent had been sent off on his naming quest, and he had found it . . . difficult. Honestly, the young one didn't know where he belonged anymore. The swampies were no without a swamp, and the mountain was not at all the same. Sure, his family was still there, some of them at any rate, and it was good that the pride was still together. . . .
But. . . .
Where did the young one belong?
And what was his name?
Everytime the lion considered himself, he could only dub himself as Chusi. No more, no less. He was a simple creature, with simple interests. He wasn't overly bright, but he wasn't overly stupid either; he was . . .average. Average in about every means and way possible. This wasn't a bad thing, but the rather complacent lion was stuck between a rock and a hard place. As much as he'd like to go back to his family, he was supposed to be in the midst of a great lesson. He was supposed to find his name, and with it, his calling, and yet. . . .
He was stuck. Stuck because about the only thing he seemed to know, without a fraction of a doubt, was that his name was Chusi and he hailed from a swamp that no longer existed.
Heaving a heavy sigh, the lion dropped his head and continued his trot through the rogue lands. He had no destination in mind, and hoped that maybe he'd stumble upon someone or something that would prove enlightening.
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 12:17 pm
It was late enough that the sun had burned off any morning mists, otherwise Yareha might not have spotted the blue lion with his white mane and markings. He was young, that was for sure, and had not yet reached his adult growth. But given his size and the fact that his mane was fairly established, the older lion judged him to be an adolescent. Old enough - theoretically! - to take care of himself.
Intrigued and wanting a companion other than Latitare for a bit, the white lion headed over.
"Hello there!" he called out in a friendly voice. He certainly could think of no reason not to, particularly since the blue that was the boy's dominant color reminded him of home. He himself bore a very similar blue in some of his markings.
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:53 pm
Ears swiveled up at the call out of another, and Chusi stopped dead in his tracks. Shame on him for not paying more attention to his surroundings, especially because a grown lion could still be a terribly formidable force! All it took was one nasty tempered being, a scuffle, and the young adolescent might never get back to his pride!
Eyes going wide, the adolescent's surprise was quickly transformed in to cautious curiosity. The lion bridging the distance between them was of pale color, but had a variety of blue markings -- especially on the face and tail -- and a golden mane. It certainly wasn't someone he knew, which wasn't surprising. . . He was out in the rogue lands, and chances of meeting a fellow swampie was terribly improbable. Thankfully, this stranger didn't appear aggressive, and a small smile crossed the young lions maw.
"Uh. . . Hello there," he returned politely, standing up a little taller. There was caution, trepidation in his bearing, but he was young yet and very far from home. The rogue lands were entirely different than the familiar faces, scents and places of his home. . . . Though even the mountain was . . . was new. Different. And wasn't a place Chusi could quite call home.
". . . can I help you with something? " He asked awkwardly, giving his tail a small flick. As soon as it came out of his mouth, the boy practically cringed. Ugh. "I mean, I just wasn't aware there was someone nearby." And that sounded even lamer. While it had been some time since he'd crossed paths with another, he didn't think he was that socially awkward around strangers. Apparently he'd been wrong.
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2013 1:56 pm
Hmm, the boy was nervous. Had some other lion attacked him in the past? If it was up to Yareha, he'd probably give the poor lad directions to the nearest pride and advise him to stay there. This youth was a bit timid to make it as a rogue.
Hell, Yareha still got nervous, and he had been an adult long before this kid had ever been born!
"Oh, nothing much," he brushed off the younger lion's worry. "I was just looking for someone to talk to for a bit. But...maybe I could help you out? You seem a bit nervous out here on your own," the white lion offered. It would be a shame for this kid to be making old bones for his own timidity.
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:43 am
Chusi was relieved that the male didn't seem too upset or offended by his presence. In fact, the lion didn't seem particularly gruff or aggressive, and hadn't yet gone in for the kill. That didn't mean he couldn't stay guarded, but at least the lion appeared to be honest. . . .
He was almost completely full grown, after all, and while he'd never fought or battled a rogue before, he wasn't completly helpless. How many of his pride had made the great journey before and returned in one piece? On that same note, how many were never seen again. . . ?
Still, Chusi gave a small smile and small shake of his head. "Is it so obvious I'm not really a rogue?" He admitted, nose crinkling for a moment before heaving a sigh. "I'm not sure there's much to help, to be honest. I'm stuck here until I figure out. . . . well. . . I guess until I figure out me." He wasn't sure if being honest was a good idea, but this stranger didn't seem upset, and he had wanted someone to talk to!
"I'm Chusi." Still Chusi, really. It was a name of his homeland, the name of the swamps, and now he needed to find a new name. . . or at least a name for his return to the mountain. The not swamp. But who was he anyway? He'd been preparing for this quest since he'd been born, but it wasn't very easy.
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 9:50 am
The white lion grinned at Chusi. "Yes, lad, it's pretty obvious," he replied. "But that's no bad thing - I wasn't born a rogue myself," Yareha admitted. Not that he had any intention of sharing much more than that about his past...but there was no reason not to offer the kid what comfort he could. If Yareha could survive out here on his own (well, on his own plus one eagle), then no doubt Chusi could as well.
"My name is Yareha Afaer," the older lion introduced himself. "Now, what's this about figuring out yourself?" He'd never heard of such a thing before, but it was an interesting idea. He himself had discovered a need to define himself in the present, as a rogue, separate from the Mwezi'Johari and his past there. Perhaps he truly could assist Chusi in his quest.
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 11:36 am
Chusi's ears almost flattened a bit at Yareha's words, but the grin didn't seem mocking. That was a good. Chusi was already feeling uncomfortable out in the rogue lands, away from his beloved family, siblings, and pride; he missed the swamps, wasn't sure about the mountain but. . . He just didn't know where he belonged these days. He didn't know what he had to offer, didn't know where he was going, and worst of all, didn't even know his name!
Yareha Afaer. He wasn't sure he'd remember the whole thing, but it sounded like a good name, a strong name. His ears swiveled forward as the stranger admitted he also wasn't a rogue, and any judgement Chusi worried he might receive was quickly lessened. "You weren't? Where did you come from?" He questioned curiously. ". . . I come from the Swamps. Er. At least I used to come from there. We . . we had to leave, find a new home, which we did. But us adolescents we. . . per tradition, we have to go out and find our name. Our real name." He sounded somewhat miserable, a grimace etching on to his features and a heavy sigh causing him to deflate.
". . . It's not easy though. And I can't go back until my pilgrimage is complete." Some didn't go back at all.
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Posted: Sat Mar 09, 2013 3:49 pm
"I was born in the Mwezi'Johari," Yareha answered, gesturing in the pride's general direction with a lazy paw. He didn't find his past nearly as interesting as the boy's. Swamps, huh? It sounded vaguely familiar...had he met someone from there? Blue eyes focused into the distance as the white lion struggled to bring a niggling memory to the forefront of his mind.
He couldn't remember. Oh well, it wasn't worth finding out if the red and white lioness had belonged to the same pride as Chusi or not.
But at least this business of a quest was making more sense now that the younger lion had explained things. More sense, however, wasn't complete understanding.
"So...how do you know when you've found your name?" the older lion asked, intrigued despite himself.
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