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 Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2014 6:52 pm
 Wow. That was all Rieseln could think right now. She walked around the edge of the Pridelands with her jaw hanging open, taking in the lush, green trees and grass. There were herds of animals everywhere she could see, drinking at watering holes that weren't dried up, and off in the distance was a magnificent rock. Pride Rock, she had heard others call it. She wasn't sure how a rock could have pride, but perhaps it was just called that because of the name of the pride. Not bothered at all by the rather uncreative naming scheme, she pressed further into the lands. All of the creatures she passed greeted her kindly, even the smallest meerkat. Grinning as she walked along, Ries took in the sights. She enjoyed the life of a rouge since she could go from place to place, and now that her little litter was old enough to let her be on her own again, she had taken up traveling to some of the big name prides she had come to know. She really wanted to see what the Firekin were all about, even though she knew she wouldn't be welcome there for very long, if at all.
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 11:00 am
Hadaya had been having a few interesting days, after coming out of his den and feeling recovered enough to seize the world. He had been forced to mediate a fight between two strangers, and then ended up being friends with them, and he was sure that things would only continue to be strange from there. He was used to his days being full of awkward and weird things, though, so he tried not to get overwhelmed at any time.
He was just a little out of practice, since he had been in his den for so long, with his illness. It was good to be outside and feeling healthier now.
He saw an unfamiliar face and padded toward her, offering her a gentle, slightly goofy smile. He was still not good at being social, at least as far as keeping his awkwardness in check went. He was very nice, but he just... was goofy.
"Hello there!"
He slowed so she did not think he was about to attack her, swinging his tail behind him and tucking it around his leg.
"I don't think I've seen you around here before. How are you?"
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Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2014 1:55 pm
Ries grinned as a little family of some kind of bird scurried across the path she was walking on. Aw, they were so cute and fluffy! She almost wanted to follow them to see if there were more, but someone called out to her and distracted her. Turning to look at whoever it was, she gave the male a grin in return. "Hello," she said, her tail flicking in delight. Oh, he was from the area! That must have made him a Prideland lion. How exciting! "That's because I'm not from around here," she said cheerfully. "And I'm quite well, thank you! Gosh, everyone here is so nice," she added with a little laugh. Even the lions, it would seem, which was great. She had always heard that the Pridelands were a very welcoming place and so far everyone had proved that to be true. "I'm Rieseln," she said, not wanting to be the only rude one in the area. "I've always heard about how great the Pridelands are and I decided to finally check it out for myself."
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Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 12:39 pm
Hadaya smiled at her, then saw the little flock of birds and got distracted by looking at the cute family as well. He was goofball sometimes, and he cleared his throat as he looked back at her. Hopefully she had not seen his very short attention span at work there.
He smiled at her introduction, nodding his head warmly and walking a bit closer.
"My name is Hadaya. It's very nice to meet you, Rieseln. Welcome to the Pridelands! It is a very nice place to live, I have to say. But I might be a little bias, I've been here for so long now. This is my home and has been for a few years now."
He sat down when he was near to her, chuckling. It was a nice place, and he really liked the area. He had come from a far off place, wandering for a long time, before he got here, and he was always thankful he had found this place. It had given him a lot of happiness, so far.
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Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 1:13 pm
Ries did notice the quick glance to the little family of fluffy birds and it made her grin. Aw, he thought they were cute too. That made him even more cute in her eyes. He was a little fluffball of smiles and good vibes and that was quite a bit different from the last few rouges she had come across. Pridal life really did help settle rambunctious males down a bit, but when they were already sweet? Even sweeter. "Thanks! And I can safely say from the few minutes I've been here, it's been rather perfect." Were she not a roamer she might have liked to settle down here, but the rouge lands called. She blamed her father's blood, as he had been a rouge all his life and settled down in her home pride with her mother to raise her and her brothers. Her first few weeks of life were spent out in the rouge lands, so they had always called to her. "So, is that big rock really called Pride Rock?" she asked, nodding off in the distance. "I heard stories about this place and I thought it was kind of silly that the Pridelands were a pride with a place called Pride Rock." She grinned just a little bit, her ear flicking as a bug buzzed by. "Just a lot of pride. Although I guess you guys have a lot of pride since it's a nice place."
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Posted: Fri Nov 07, 2014 3:36 pm
Hadaya chuckled, nodding his head. He felt like this place was perfect, but again, he had been built to think that after living here for so long. Recently, he had not been out and about enjoying the place because he had been ill, but now he was fully recovered, and reminding himself all about the home he loved so much.
It was rather nice.
"Yeah, it really is called Pride Rock, but I agree, it's kind of a... simple name. But still, at least it's easy to remember, eh?" He laughed, having not been around long enough to really know the origin story of the names. There did seem to be a lot of pride involved, but then, it had a couple different meanings to play with.
"Silly naming methods aside, this is a nice place to stay, and you're welcome to hang out here for a little while, if you're not looking for a new home! I can show you around, if you want."
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 9:55 am
Rieseln was glad a Pridelander himself agreed with her idea of the rather monotonous naming scheme. It might have sounded great and symbolic to the lions that made this pride, but to her it was just someone repeating themselves over and over. Still, it wasn't in her place to judge. And honestly, she didn't find it offensive or stupid. Just silly. "I'd love to be shown around," she said, jumping on the offer. "I'm sure I'd get turned around here with it being so large, even with the big rock to keep my sense of direction somewhat in tact." Maybe she would stay for a while...she doubted she'd be treated so hospitably when she reached the Firekin or a few other prides that were old and set in their ways. She might as well enjoy this place...and maybe even return to it later on to see how her new friend was getting on. "So you said this has been your home for a few years? Were you in another pride before?" she asked, eager to keep their conversation going as she started to walk.
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Posted: Sat Nov 08, 2014 7:03 pm
Hadaya just considered that maybe there had not been as many prides in this area of the world, when this one was founded. It was pretty old, after all, and it seemed like a lot of the bigger prides that took up a lot of space in the lands were on the newer side. More aggressive, where this one was casual and too well established to change much.
It was kind of like a staple, in some ways. He knew a lot of lions heard about this pride, and this rock, and he supposed it was easy to remember when everything was named the same.
Hadaya smiled and nodded as he turned to walk, knowing she would follow him since she was so eager to get a look around the place. He thought he would start at his den, then show her some of the watering holes and the hunting plains.
"I was in a pride, a long time ago, when I was young. But the pride went away, I'm afraid. It was called the Simbafutaji, and it was by the sea. It was a very nice place, but I'm happy here, too."
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Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2014 11:34 am
Ries did follow Hadaya, and eagerly at that. She trotted by his side, pausing when she'd get a little ahead of him to let him catch up. She didn't know where they were going, after all, so she had to let him lead. "Oh, that's too bad," she said sympathetically. There were a few that had joined the pride she was a part of because their pride had dissolved, and she remembered how sad they had been. She supposed she could see why: having to leave behind the place you were born, where your family was born, and venture off to try to find something that would suit your way of life. "But I'm glad you like it here," Ries went on, spinning in a little circle as she followed a butterfly. "It's so pretty! Most of the places I've seen so far have all been brown grass and cracked ground. Everything is so lush here it's...it's like the gods blessed this place or something," she said with a little laugh, glancing at her companion. "I wouldn't mind living here if I had to pick a place to settle down." She doubted that would happen, though. She had been in a pride long enough and now longed to stretch her legs and see the world.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2014 10:51 am
Hadaya watched her as she trotted ahead of him, smiling and keeping his pace, his head high and a smile on his face. He chuckled and nodded his head, indicating that it was ahead, and she was fine to run off ahead if she wanted to.
"It is really nice here. There is a lot of life, not just in the plants, but there are herds that pass through every season and, of course, lots of lions. We get lots of others coming to live here, and many visitors as well. It's nice, really, because, like today, I can just go on a walk and run into someone new."
He offered her a friendly smile, which was honest and gentle.
"You're more than welcome to stay here, everyone is very welcoming of new members! Like I said, I wasn't from here originally but now I feel like this has always been my home. Or maybe was just always meant to be my home."
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Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2014 2:37 pm
Ries grinned as Hadaya smiled at her. He was so friendly it made her want to stay when he offered, even though the life in a pride didn't suit her that well. She didn't mind sticking around for a bit from place to place, but the urge to roam was definitely there. "Aw, you're sweet to offer. And you know what?" she asked, pausing to turn and face him, a little, sneaky grin on her face. "You make it very tempting to stay. I wouldn't want to settle down and start a family and then get wanderlust again, though," she said with a little sigh. "But..." She could always stick around long enough to put down the foundations of a family and then scamper out...males didn't like taking care of cubs all that much, right? She didn't mind, they were cute, and once they were old enough she could push them off to make their own way. Maybe they'd even come back here! "Do you have a lady lion I'm going to meet at your den?" she asked, flicking her tail back and forth in amusement.
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Posted: Sat Nov 22, 2014 5:50 pm
"A lady...?"
Hadaya looked sad for a moment, not sure how to respond. He glanced away from her, but he quickly mastered himself and his friendly, open look returned to his face as he turned his eyes back to her after a short enough moment. He smiled, shaking his head slowly.
"No, no lady lion will be waiting for either of us, I'm afraid."
He had a mate, and he had been very happy with her, but it had been some time since he saw her. He was not sure what happened to her, or where she went, but when he got sick he had lost track of her and none of his efforts to find her had ever come to anything. So he was finally, after months, allowing himself to move on.
It was scary, but it was necessary. After nearly dying, he wanted to experience the rest life had for him, and enjoy himself as much as he could.
"It'll just be you and me, if that's okay. I uh. I know that. Wait, that came out weird and I don't mean to imply... uh... I mean. I. Will stop talking."
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 3:32 pm
The tone of Hadaya's voice made Ries turn around, and his expression made her feel horrible. Oh...she had never considered the fact that he might have lost his mate. She slowed her pace to walk beside him as he tried to cheer himself up, her head bowed just a bit. "Sorry if I touched a nerve," she said gently, nuzzling his shoulder comfortingly with her head. "But at least you won't have to explain things to a cranky Miss Hadaya," she added, trying to lighten the mood. She closed her eyes as she pressed up against him, quietly inducing a vision of the past. Sickness, her body felt weak and ill. Loneliness...there was once happiness and love, but for some reason something had happened and he was alone. Sick and alone... Pulling away from Hadaya and opening her eyes, Ries couldn't help but feel horrible for the lion. The poor thing... He was stumbling over his latest statement, though, and she quickly grinned to dispel and remaining ill feelings he might have. "Oh, no, you can keep talking," she said happily. "And implying things, if you really want. I don't mind." Deciding the least she could do would be to give him an enjoyable few days, she curled her tail around his and smiled shyly at the other lion. "I wouldn't mind it being just you and me for a little bit if you don't."
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 4:16 pm
Hadaya smiled at her and leaned into her bump. He had gone a long time without affection, and he was very much an affectionate lion. He liked being close with others now, after he had grown out of his awkwardness. For the most part, anyway.
Well. It would always be a work in progress.
"No, no nerves touched. Things happen, and usually for a reason, so we just do what we can with it and move forward. I'm more than used to strange and difficult things happening, believe me." He laughed, a little ruefully because he had a lot of experience in bad fortune, but he did think he had a charmed life, as well. Things always worked out, in their way.
He tried not to be negative about things, since that did not help, and usually just made him feel worse.
"You don't mind, huh? Well. I. Uhm. Hmm. That's an interesting... thought. Uh." He felt her curl her tail around his and looked at her in surprise, then a sheepish, awkward and yet somehow coy smile crossed his features. "Well, then. My den is... uh... just over here."
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2014 6:26 pm
Rieseln snickered softly as Hadaya continued to stumble over his words just a bit. She leaned in to nuzzle his cheek as they reached his den before trotting forward into the cozy space.
"Ooh, I think I could get used to this," she said as she circled a few times and stretched out. She rolled to her back and looked at the male with a suggestive glance, reaching out a paw for him to come closer, claws extended just a tiny bit.
"Why don't you come show me around? I'm sure there's lots to see in here." She swatted with her paw, catching Hadaya's leg to tug him closer. The snickers and giggles and other noises that came from the den thereafter kept any curious creatures far, far away, leaving them to their business.
FIN
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