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 Posted: Tue Jun 18, 2013 6:31 pm
 It had been a few weeks since the litter of Ilyas through his Beybanu had made their ways separately into the roguelands. Harith thought he caught a glimpse of a brother every now and than. Bright yellow hide darting behind a tree. Bright blue eyes staring at him from a distance. Those telltale swirls. For the most part, however, he was alone. And glad of it. This was their burdens alone. You couldn't have your brother with you as you tried to woo a female into following you. Sibling rivalry would take over.
The adolescence jumped down from the rock he had been standing on, watching not only the plains around him for signs of prey-both hoofed and of the female variety-but also the skies. He had found an abandoned hole in the ground that was big enough for his still smaller-than-an-adult frame to fit into. His nose caught traces of wild dog scent. Likely this had been used by a small family of the canines to birth a litter before moving onto their next destination. It served as a good temporary shelter for the young lion when the clouds decided the earth needed a bit of a shower.
So far today, the sky had been clear. It had rained a few days ago. Harith had spent a good part of the day curled up in the den, until he'd grown tired of the cramped conditions and emerged, caking himself in mud as he did so. Standing on this very rock, he'd let the water from the sky wash his fur clean, deciding a hole in the ground hadn't been a good choice of shelter after all. The rain wasn't going to hurt him. The growing mane snaking down the back of his neck made his head feel heavy when it was wet. Not a comfortable experience.
Blue eyes kept watch around him. He hadn't yet eaten today. Another unsuccessful hunt. It made him wonder how his brothers were fairing. Were they doing any better at hunting large game by themselves? None of them had done it before. At least not to his knowledge. He knew his brother Ima and he had attempted to catch a mouse in their youth, but that was the end of his knowledge of the rest of their hunting skills. Since he always stayed so close to the family den, he couldn't be sure of what his brothers were doing when they left on their own adventures around the pride. Were they preparing on their own for this journey of self-exploration? Or perhaps preparing for their own harem, by wooing females in the pride itself?
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Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 1:56 am
Sethunya liked the rain. It had been refreshing and she found herself missing it's company. The noise that accompanied it was very soothing. But it appeared there would be no rain today and while she would miss it, this was also a blessing.
Creatures did not like to go out in the rain. They instinctively sought out shelter from the cold water as it blasted down from the sky in thick sheets.
It made for a hungry few days.
And so Seth had left her temporary shelter behind in favor of her first meal of the day.
Deft paws trod quietly, expertly, along the ground, slowly shifting through some tall grass as if she were nothing more than a bug on a leaf. The subtle movements of her body were unnoticeable as she shifted through, bright eyes focused on an unlucky antelope. It had strayed much too far from the rest in search of a left over puddle of water to drink from.
The lioness licked her lips in anticipation, her paws kneading the ground in excitement, the very tip of her tail giving way to the telltale swipe before she leaped from the bushes with easy grace.
The antelope didn't have a chance to run as she locked her jaws firmly around it's neck.
The other antelope, seeing the fate of their fellow, were quick to move along.
Her bright eyes glinted as the blood rushed around her face. Finally, the animal stopped struggling.
The lioness licked her red stained lips and stood for a moment to admire her kill, her posture that of a proud warrior. Hunting was something that just came naturally to her.
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Posted: Tue Jun 25, 2013 5:00 pm
Harith shook out his mane, sending water spraying in all directions in a pretty arc around his head. Unable to resist an old childhood whim, he opened his mouth and caught a mouthful of rain water to swallow. It went cold down his throat as it always did, filling his empty stomach somewhat. After a few more drinks like this, he felt the hunger less. At least that would do him for a while. That was the only good thing about rain. The less one had to hunt down a source of water the better when one couldn't find anything to eat.
Feeling somewhat satisfied, he continued on, wondering not for the first or last time what the pride was doing. How much his parents would be worrying about their entire litter out here. All alone to fend for themselves. He knew if it was his litter he would be.
And what that one little word, the butterflies returned to the youth's stomach. His litter. A litter of his own was the whole purpose he was out here. He needed to stop worrying about the faraway and focus on finding a lioness who appeared to be alone. The last thing he wanted was to find one with a protective lion. Harith could defend himself, sure. He doubted he could against an angry older lion.
That was when he seen her. Or rather, he seen her after he smelled the fresh blood at her feet. A lone lioness. Standing still like she might not have anyone a few miles away who depended on her. Nor was she making a sound, so she wasn't calling anyone waiting on her. And she was pretty. Very pretty. She seemed to glow against the cloud darkened sky. Even her hair tufts stood out. Surely such a pretty lioness would have a mate around. But as he didn't see one and he was very hungry-maybe she would share?-he decided his best bet would be to try, anyway.
Clearing his throat, he walked up to her, keeping a respectful distance. He opened his mouth....
Only to have no sound come out. Her white fur, damp and darker from the rain, was prettier up close than he imagined it would be. His words stuck in his throat and he just stared. Then looked down at his paws, utterly embarrassed.
All the practice at U'W could never prepare him for the real thing. Eli was pretty, but not nearly this pretty. And it took a few days for him to get the courage to say anything to her.
He was screwed.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:58 pm
Seth heard the approach before his scent was brought to her on the wind and her ear flicked in curiosity. The lioness glanced lazily up from her prize and locked eyes with a young lion. Well. He wasn't a cub, but he was still quite young.
He was kind of adorable, wasn't he? Those spots in his fur, the stripes in his main, those sweet blue eyes. She wondered what this young man was doing out here all alone. It wasn't uncommon for rogues to raise themselves, of course, but he walked as if he had a purpose. The way her cleared his throat and opened his mouth like he had something important to say gained the lioness' attention.
And then his mouth closed shut. He seemed to be looking down as if he was ashamed. Seth wondered what it was that had kept him so quiet. Was he embarrassed? The whole situation was curious and it made Seth wonder.
Perhaps he was hungry. Why else would one approach a strange lioness after a kill? That was how Akida had been at first. Too shy to say she was hungry. The little jackal would near starve herself before she would say anything. Maybe he just needed some food.
Sethunya looked down at her kill and thought for a moment. It was certainly more than she needed and what she didn't eat would simply go to waste or to scavengers. It couldn't hurt to offer him some food, at the very least. He did not seem aggressive.
With a friendly smile, Seth sat down next to her kill and nodded her head at the strange little lion.
"Hey, are you hungry or something? I've got plenty. You can have some."
What else was there to say?
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:39 pm
Harith continued to look down at his paws, feeling disgraced with himself. All the hours practicing. Given it was with his reflection in the lake. But practice was practice, not matter how little your reflection will protest to mate requests. The whole purpose of his coming out here was making it so difficult to look at the lioness. Everyone was a potential future mother to his cubs. Not until he had left on his quest had he ever thought about that future. And getting to that future meant he had to take action. Now and...Later.
Had there not been fur covering his cheeks, the redness would have been all too plain. Thank goodness for black fur covering most of them.
When the lioness spoke, the adolescent's head shot up quickly. For a while, he just stared at her, unable to process that she had spoken. Than he blinked a few times and opened his mouth once more. This time something came out.
"I am, but I....Sure." He settled for that, thinking back on Eli's words. And how he just couldn't bring himself to talk to this female. He could tell she was older than him, as well. That wasn't helping matters none. Even if she would be interested in his pride, why would she want to go back with a youngster like him? "That would be very nice of you. The rain...I'm not used to hunting in the better of weather." The roguelands would be a good way to practice this, as well. If an aggressive lion came near the border of his pride while he was on patrol, the weather wouldn't care that he would have a fight on his paws.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:20 pm
Seth smiled again when the younger lion finally spoke. He seemed uncomfortable but that was a reasonable response. After all, he didn't know her. For all he knew she would attack once he got closer. Of course, she would do nothing of the sort. Seth was hardly a territorial lioness. In fact, she was rather social and often times got lonely out in the rogue lands all by her lonesome. Akida was wonderful company, of course, and she was thankful for it...But every now and then she missed the company of polite society.
Thus, the company of her new dining partner was welcomed, and she curled her tail around her with a pleasant little swish.
"Come on over, then," she responded with a smile.
His comment on the weather made her grin and she thought back to earlier. Her wrestling match with Akida while they waited for the rain to let up. It had been an excellent way to pass the time.
Funny to think if she had gone out sooner she might have missed this poor, hungry little lion. Timing was an interesting thing.
"I love the rain. It's...refreshing after so many dry, dusty days out here. It brings new life," she commented thoughtfully before her own stomach grumbled rather loudly. Right. Her meal was getting cold, wasn't it?
"Come on. Help yourself. I won't bite...Well. I won't bite you anyways," the lioness grinned again.
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:03 am
The adolescent looked from the kill to the lioness and back, again, feeling unsure of just walking up and being the first to touch it. It seemed rude, invited or not. So he held back, only taking a few steps so he was on the other side of the carcass from her. He seemed to debate whether to sit or not, bending his knees only to spring back up. After a while, he decided he may as well. It was an invitation. He wasn't a threat. Clearly there was no jealous mate around or she was the dominate one of the relationship.
Looking at her he didn't believe the second guess.
Curling his own tail around his hindquarters, Harith tried to pretend he never heard the commenting about biting.
"I live by a giant lake," he commented, looking down at the meal instead of meeting her grey eyes. "Dusty days aren't too common. And the rain makes a mane hang too heavy."
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:32 am
Seth couldn't help but giggle, amused at the lion's uneasiness. He really was uncomfortable, wasn't he? She couldn't help but ponder why. At least he was comfortable enough to come and sit with her. That was an improvement. Still had had yet to touch the animal in front of them. Then again neither had she.
Her stomach protested loudly again. The lioness couldn't wait any longer.
Sethuna licked her lips before she leaned her head down towards the carcass, sniffing it curiously before her teeth sunk into the flesh and ripped a piece off with ease. She chewed with delight, lapping up a bit of the blood as it flowed from the new wound, before swallowing it with a happy smile. That ought to appease her stomach for a little while.
"A giant lake? That sounds...nice," she commented with a dreamy tone to her voice. Her eyes looked far off as she imagined water as far as she could see. Wouldn't it be nice to swim in something like that? Refreshing. Very refreshing.
"Where do you live?" she asked, suddenly returning to the moment.
Then she realized she was being rude. Oops.
"I'm Sethunya, by the way," she added a little sheepishly. She should probably introduce herself before she asked his life details, shouldn't she?
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:55 pm
Once more thankful for his fur, Harith bent down and tore a piece off for himself, still feeling awkward to be sharing in the meal of another. Despite that this what was a part of his pride's beliefs that a lioness provided the food for the family, he still felt uncomfortable. She wasn't one of his and had no responsibilities to care for him. This was her meal that she caught for herself with no intentions of sharing until he appeared.
But she had also offered. So stop being such a worry wort.
Tearing off a hunk of the neck, the adolescent took his time to chew and swallow before continuing with the conversation on his part. Manners first and foremost with Harith. Never talk with one's mouth full.
"Mhm," he said in his throat as he grabbed another bit of meat. Talking about his home made him feel more comfortable. He loved it and was proud of it. It truly was a beautiful place to live, with that lake always there to cool off in. Up until leaving the pride he had taken the large body of water for granted. Not anymore.
"In the Ukuucha'Wafalme. It's a big pride located..." He looked around, clearly confused on his directions. "Well, I'm not really sure anymore. Everything out here tends to look the same..."
"Oh!" the male suddenly exclaimed, remembering he hadn't even introduced himself, either. Feeling his face going warm for the third time, he lowered his gaze to the dead beast at his paws. "I'm Harith."
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 1:14 pm
Seth smiled as Harith finally took a bite and she took another one for herself, closing her eyes as she savored the flavor. It had been too long since she had a real, good meal, and she couldn't help but enjoy every second of it. She mentally thanked her food for its sacrifice and chewed happily while she listened to the little lion speak.
"It's nice to meet you, Harith," she commented after swallowing her food.
The lioness licked her lips to clean the blood off of it while she paused in her dining to speak again. She watched Harith curiously as he spoke. It seemed to put him at ease.
...And then he was awkward again. How cute.
"This place has its own map if you know where to look," she commented with a bit of a sigh. Seth didn't really enjoy the rogue lands much but...It was home. What else could she do? And she knew it like it was the back of her paw. She and Akida had many adventures in the rogue lands but...Sometimes she grew tired of it all.
At least his home seemed more interesting. Perhaps she could distract herself with it.
"Tell me more about them. The Ukuucha'Wafalme. And the lake," she paused before adding a polite please at the end.
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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 9:29 am
Harith decided to busy himself eating, no caring at how messy his mouth was getting with his lack of caution at the squirting blood. The rain cleansed some of it away every time he raised his head, but it wasn't enough for the amount caking onto his fur. For now, he ignored it. Later on, he would feel very embarrassed about letting himself get into such a state. If Harith could somehow change the way animals died, they would be bloodless to allow a clean meal.
Looking up at her for a moment, he offered a toothless and friendly smile in return. "Nice to meet you, too," For a moment he felt comfortable, again. Than the purpose of his being out here came back and he lowered his head to hide behind the belly of the beast. She was asking about his home. If she asked about why he was away from it at a young age, he would die. Just drop right here, right now. And die.
Forcing himself to look at Seth, Harith blinked his blue eyes a few times before answering. "This is my first time being out here. And only for a few weeks. I've barely left my den back home." And now he'd have to find his own. The prospect was both terrifying and exciting.
Tell her about his home? He wasn't sure if he wanted to. The traditions in there, he had learned from Eli, were different than other prides or families. What if she got mad?
"It's....Big. Both pride and lake. Families live together in dens until everyone is old enough to leave. We've got our share of bad families who make the rest of us look awful."Kallysto Meant to do this yesterday, but I was naming uncerts.
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 1:57 pm
Seth listened to the little lion in front of her as politely as she could while chewing on something a little fatty she had ripped from the carcass. The mess was what it was and she was what she was. Hunting was a dirty job. So was eating. It was all a part of the circle of life...Or whatever it was those lions called it. Creatures had to die so that others could live. Seth had come to terms with that years ago.
The way he phrased his description made her curious and she paused to study him. Why did he keep hanging his head? He seemed to switch back and forth between comfortable and exceptionally nervous.
Was it her? She had tried her hardest to make the skittish seeming lion feel comfortable and welcome. Most lions would have growled and threatened until he walked away from them altogether so that they could eat in peace. Seth had never done anything of the sort. Why, then was he so upset?
"There is good and bad in everything. Without the bad, you can't appreciate the good," she commented, hoping that maybe that would make him feel more comfortable. He did seem quite bothered by his pridemates behavior...whatever it was...But life was about balance, wasn't it? If you have nothing but good for a long time, surely bad will follow in equal amount.
"So what brings you so far from your pride? It sounds lovely, especially the lake," she questioned. Speaking about his home seemed to make him happy in the past. Hopefully this would too.
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Posted: Thu Jul 11, 2013 6:15 pm
Harith gulped a few times. And not just to let the chewed meat wander its way down to his stomach. He knew she was right, but he couldn't help feeling she was missing a bigger part of the picture. The bigger part that included how those bad families lived among the good and the good couldn't do anything about how the bad treated their Banu. Nothing short of refusing to allow their own daughters to be snatched up. The adolescent knew he would never allow it. He didn't trust those families enough to even let one of his daughters go to a good member of it. Not without a lot of proving of wrong opinions towards the individual Pad. And the promise his family members wouldn't be allowed to lay a claw on her tail hairs.
The thought of children made Harith blush, again, and he ducked down with the intention of hiding his awkwardness in the corpse's open torso. He ducked down further at the next question.
And there it was. Please, one of the many Gods of the world, strike him down so he didn't have to have this conversation.
"Um..." he stammered, not sure where to begin. Or, rather...Which beginning to take and than where to find the courage to start. Maybe it would be best to just be casual about it? Make it sound like he already had one? Or at least like he hadn't been considering her. Which he totally had been. "I'm on a quest. All Pe...Males my age go on it. We come to the roguelands to, uh...To....look for a lioness." The last bit was said around a mouthful of meat, his voice gone low to barely be heard.
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 1:22 am
While she waited for a response, she watched as Harith seemed to try and become one with the corpse. Whatever it was, this lion seemed bi-polar...Well. It was a little adorable, wasn't it? He bounced back and forth from complete ease and comfort to tense nervousness. She could watch his posture change and mark it second by second with how quickly it shifted.
Wait, what had he said?
Sethunya swallowed her bite, her stomach growing full, and funneled her ears more towards him to hear him better. He seemed to be having issues saying whatever it was he had just said. Maybe it was that he was chewing...
"A quest for what now? I missed what you said," she questioned cheerfully before moving away from the carcass and stretching out on her stomach, lying a bit closer to Harith so she could hear better. That way his mumbling wouldn't be an issue.
"A quest makes it sound so...important," she commented with a friendly grin.
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:58 pm
The lion nearly jumped when she moved. The talk of his quest was making him jumpy. More so than ever before. Maybe even more than that time when he was a really young cub and all his brothers seemed to be stalking him all over the den with intentions of pouncing on their quiet sibling. That had been awful but at least it had taught him to always be on his guard. As he was now. Not that he expected her to suddenly attack him. Than again, one could never tell with those you just meet. If she insisted on hearing what he had to say she might out of anger that he was associated with a pride like that. One never knew with these females.
Harith managed to hide his nerves by straightening back up with intentions of cleaning a paw. In his haste to fill his empty stomach he had made an unusual mess. Unusual for him, at any rate. For most predators this was normal. For him this was unheard of. He could feel it caked onto his muzzle every time he talked. He was sure his chin and mane was also a mess. Though she didn't seem to mind his state, it still displeased him.
Curling his tail around himself, he sat up straight and spoke to her between licks, feeling calmer already as he was distracted with his task.
"For new blood," he answered easily, the idea coming to him. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the full truth, either. If it so happened she became interested in his homeland and wished to follow, he would tell her the rest. For now he just wanted to answer her questions. "Our family lines are old, so youth are sent out to find unrelations to bring back and add fresh blood to the almost dry gene pool."
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