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 Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:23 am
 It was dinner time in the pride, and Xo's stomach was snarling at her. Being an adolescent had its perks, but also its downsides. The youngest of the non-adults got to eat first and she had spent the last few months getting the pick of the meals, taking the warm meat in her tiny mouth and making a mess of her pale coat. Now, though, she was older and had to let the younger cubs go first. There weren't many adults around, though, she thought to herself as she glanced quickly around. Her golden eyes settled on the dead zebra that was being more played with than eaten by the cubs - some were still drinking milk and really shouldn't even be touching that food at all! - and shifted to move forward when a paw was placed on her tail. She jumped and turned, eyes wide and claws out, ready to fight, but let out her breath when she saw who it was. "Mom...you scared me!"  Shukura laughed softly as she waved her paw at her daughter. "So sorry, Xo...I see your training is paying off, though. Your reflexes are getting better and better." The smell of blood hit her nose and she peered past her daughter to spy the kill for the younglings and padawans, a knowing look crossing her face. Her daughter was still growing, and as she was training to be a guard in the pride, her energy was drained nearly every day doing drills. She could understand her hunger, but she also knew she needed to wait. She was quite hungry as well, but patience and self discipline were highly valued in the pride. In fact...
"I think this might be a good time to work on your discipline, Xo," she said gently. They were both still younglings, not having gone through any of the proper tests, and this would be the first one that they could do on the path to becoming a padawan.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:33 am
He was absolutely starving, but he knew there was nothing he could do about it. He had enjoyed his time as a young cub, where first pick of the kills were his. But back then, just as these cubs here, he had not been smart enough to really enjoy that opportunity. Now though, he was having a lot of hindsight. This zebra's legs were extremely meaty, very lean meat .. the hunters had done an astounding job on this meal. But the cubs weren't noticing it! Of course he wasn't about to jump out and tear the meal from their paws either! That was ...
Ah! Right on time, Shinzi smirked as his Mother stopped Xo by the tail. It was so typical of her to have such a short reaction time. If the thought crossed her mind, she went with it. Probably not the smartest of ideas, but then who was he to argue with her? She was his sister, and being the youngest it wasn't smart to argue with her. He'd probably get his hide kicked. Instead he sat back and allowed Mother to tend to it. They'd enjoy their meal soon enough, and just like always there would be plenty of delectable meat to go around.
"Yeah Xo, don't get bent out of shape, we'll get our paws on the meal in no time. Just let them have their fun! Y'know, we were like that once too, and everyone sat back and let us have our fun just like they are." He shrugged to himself, and nodded towards the cubs still picking at the kill, giggling and playing the entire time.
"Just you wait, there's plenty to go around. You'll see."
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:44 am
Xo turned her head as she heard a familiar voice and snorted as her brother came into view. Pah...leave it to him to say something like that! She stuck her tongue out at him in retaliation - a very cub like thing to do...maybe if she acted like a cub they'd let her go tear in! - before sitting down, wrapping her tail around her paws so she could inspect it as if her mother had hurt it.
"Yeah, well I never just shoved my face into the guts like that," she muttered, nodding to one of the cubs who was playing with the intestines.
"Yes, you did my dear," Shukura said with an amused look on her face. "Wore them like the necklaces we all wear since you didn't have one yet." The look on her daughter's face - one of embarrassment - made her shake her head and move forward to nuzzle her cheek with her nose.
"As I said, Xo, this is a good time to practice your discipline. As a Jedi in training you need to be able to resist temptation like that, even when you're hungry, and let the little ones go first. Your turn is even before mine, so this is a nice little exercise. Zi, why don't you join your sister and I? We'll work on our training together."
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 10:54 am
Zi pulled up a seat on the other side of his Mother, and sat rather close. He wasn't a cub anymore, true, but he still enjoyed the feeling of being close to her. He couldn't imagine not being near her in some way, the idea that he might have to go off on his own some day to prove himself ... it sent shudders down his spine. Every time it came up, he would have to find something to busy himself with. Usually he would prefer meditation, but now was not a time for meditation. He wished it was a time to poke fun at Xo, but Mother would quickly put him in his place if he tried. Instead he would chuckle under his breath at Mother's comments. Remembering each and every one of them to be true.
"I remember wearing those, I was always really sticky afterwards! But it was fun, it made me feel grown up if only for a short time." A small nostalgic smile spread across his face as he remembered Xo, Astrith, and himself all making a playpen out of the carcasses that were there dinner. Many an adventure had taken place in their dinners, but adults wouldn't understand those. Heck! He didn't even understand them half the time!
Shaking out of his nostalgia for a short moment, he looked up at his Mother and nodded politely. "I think that's a good plan Mother. But do you think Xo's really cut out for it?" With a slight chuckle, he burrowed himself into his Mother's side for a moment, before peeking around and grinning at Xo.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:02 am
Shukura glanced at her son as he sat beside her and a fond smile crossed her lips. While all of her children took after both parents, Zi reminder her the most of his father. Xo was very hot-headed and she honestly couldn't say where the young lioness had gotten that trait from, and Astrith wasn't much different. Zi, while sly in his own way, was very calm and gentle, and was turning into a very handsome male. She worried he'd fall victim to more pushy females and, while she had no fears like that for her daughters, hoped they'd help their brother out should a girl show up to steal his heart and his senses.
"Oh, Zi...don't be mean," she said with a light chuckle, knowing full well that her son was only saying that to rile Xo up. She gave him a little nuzzle in return all the same, though, as her daughters had seemed to grow out of their 'snuggle with mom' stage.
Xo lifted her head sharply from her tail, which she had been licking, and glared at her brother. "Of course I am! I'm going to be a guard some day, little brother, so I have to be ready for anything. I could be out there for days with nothing to eat! Just think about that!"
She liked to remind Zi at every turn that he was younger than her, but 'little' brother wasn't quite fitting anymore. They had all been about the same size as cubs, but now that he was starting to get his mane, Zi was growing much quicker and larger than his sisters. Xo's nose met Zi's chin now rather than his own, and it silently made her furious.
"Xo, Zi, please," Shukura said gently. "Let's stay focused on our task. The cubs have gone, the juveniles are next. It's almost your turn."
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:13 am
"Ohhh I wasn't being mean Mother, I was only poking some gentle fun at her!" His gentle smile quickly faded and was replaced with a frown of sorts. His once perked ears, lowered to their sides and he remained silent for a while. He knew his Mother wasn't fussing at him in the general sense of the term, but it still hurt to be fussed at. He was such a sensitive sort, even the slightest hint of a tone was enough to break his hear sometimes.
When Xo peered over and begant o glare at him, his eyes perked a bit and a little life returned. He tried to smile, but he wasn't over his fussing just yet. He wanted so badly to comment on Xo's words, but he knew better than to do so. He would only be joking, but Xo was so dedicated to her cause, she would take his words offensively regardless of how he said them. Where as he himself hadn't even decided what he wanted to do for his pride yet! He was the bottom of the totem pole around here,if it wasn't for his age, he'd likely be the last to eat, simply for his lack of help to the pride.
Sighing to himself, the male straightened up beside his Mother and watched the cubs scampering off to their parents. He remembered those times too, the icky cooties Mother would give them as she tried to bathe them. He would always make such a fuss over a bath, but bath time actually wasn't so bad! He just liked to play with his Mother a lot of the time.
"You're right, heads up, mind clear. Discipline is key."
He had to fight himself as to not sneak a peak at his sister and wink, but he wanted to prove to his Mother that he could do this. Which was bt far more important than picking fun at Xo right now.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:23 am
Xo grumbled to herself but turned to sit on Shukura's other side to watch the juveniles dig in. Thankfully they didn't know where the best parts of the meat were and went for the mess the younger ones had made, slurping up the organs. She shook her head and lifted it higher, even as she licked her lips to keep from drooling.
"That's right, Zi," Shukura said as they sat and watched. She glanced from her daughter to her son and smiled very slightly, proud of them for being so dedicated to their training. Even though Zi didn't know what he wanted to do in the pride, he didn't shake the duties younglines had of knowing the Code and practicing for their eventual graduation to padawans.
"Thank you," she added, leaning over just a bit to speak softly in Zi's ear. "You know how Xo gets sometimes. She may be older, but you're setting a good example for her to follow." She nuzzled his cheek gently before sitting back, watching the younger lions eat. Ah...it hadn't been too long ago that her own children had been that small. Granted, they were still not yet adults, but she did miss the little pitter-patter of small paws in the den.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:37 am
Zi could see Xo out of the corner of his eye, she was still being a bit too childish for the task at hand. But that was just who she was, perhaps she would change whenever she actually became a guard and realized more was expected of her. But for now, Xo was Xo, and that was all she was ever going to be.
It wasn't long after that he felt his Mother's voice in his ear, he didn't move but listened to her words absolutely. He appreciated his good traits being pointed out. He was very sensitive, and personally didn't find anything about himself to be that great or astounding. Which perhaps might have something to do with why he hadn't chosen a career just yet. Why choose a rank .. when there is nothing special about me to add to the force? It really brought him down, but times like this when someone ... anyone brought up his finer points - he felt as though he were floating on air.
"You got it Mother." He whispered, hardly moving his mouth as he made the sounds. "Don't you worry, she'll be a fine guard one day. She just has to grow into it."
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 11:52 am
Shukura smiled at her son and nodded just a bit. She knew Xo was up to any task that was asked of her, but she did need to grow up a bit still. She knew she would, though. All lions did. She turned her attention back to the food and watched the juveniles lick their paws clean. They were much faster than the cubs since this was their food, and their tiny bellies were filled quickly. They moved away and a few adolescents began to move in.
"Very good, you two," she purred happily, leaning in to nuzzle Zi first, then Xo. "A wonderful example of discipline. You are free to eat."
Xo grinned as she was released from her spot. She returned the nuzzle and moved forward to take part in the meal, chewing happily on one of the legs. Ah...finally, she could get rid of that pain in her stomach. She slurped up a rather bloody bit of tendon happily, her tail lashing back and forth in the process. It tasted better than any zebra she'd ever had...maybe waiting hadn't been such a bad thing.
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Posted: Mon Dec 30, 2013 12:02 pm
Zi's tail thumped on the ground excitedly when his Mother finally gave the two the go ahead to chow down. He really was starving, if the grumbling in his tummy was any indication. But before he could even register that he needed to get up to eat, his sister had already beaten him across the field and right to the zebra.
He chortled to himself before slowly making his way over to the meal himself. Kneeling down next to his sister he nudged her in the side playfully and dug into his dinner.
Those lean thighs weren't going to eat themselves ... they definitely needed some assistance.
But not just from him, he would be sure to save enough for the adults to get their fair share as well.
END
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