Syrius Lionwing
The big lioness was out on an adventure. It was nice being out and about. She'd been wandering for a few days, her paws were taking her where ever and where ever had lead her here. Where ever here was. She was thinking it was time to turn back though, the call of home always started to tug at her tail after a few days and she was reaching that few days mark. A pale bird fell from the sky and landed on the massive chocolate lionesses back. "Can't see much this way SMM, don't you think its time to go home?" Gyps clicked her beak, the white vulture pulled at her friends ear carefully. "Soon Gyps, I just want to see what's around the next bend. We can head home at night fall."
A stocky hybrid paced silently through the undergrowth. She’d stepped away from her pride and the duties it placed upon her shoulders to think alone. Najwa had left her familiar at home as well, for Miyako was a new mother herself. Something the hybrid could never be. Another serval had also birthed a litter at practically the same time; combined that with the growing lion litter. It was truly, in her mind, a living pride now.
No longer a dream or a hope. It was real.
Could she lead them successfully? Now that they were a solid group dedicated to the ways she’d taught them, should she step down in favor of one who could reproduce and take her place among the hybrid ranks?
The hybrid came to a place that opened up some. She settled herself to watch the sunset, lost in thought. Currently she only had two of the three advisors she wanted. One, amusingly enough, was her very own mother. Najwa felt she might be biased toward the question and didn’t feel comfortable asking her.
The sound of rustling made her turn her head and it was with a step backwards that she laid her eyes upon the hybrid. The deep brown lioness turned her light green eyes upon the approaching female. A slight head tilt told her nothing. She had seen hybrids in her life time but a part of her was never sure what to make of them. They were strange to her but not unknown. "Hello." She smiles lightly, settling herself in to a sit "Gyps, get off." She snipped feeling the vulture slip down her back. "Alright alright!" The pale vulture spread her wings and hopped to the ground looking up at the dark female. "Kinda looks like a lion." The vulture clicked her beak and narrowed her eyes carefully. "Kinda."
Najwa nodded her head in greeting to the lioness who greeted her. Normally she was shy of strangers, but tonight felt in the mood for some company. “Greetings traveler.” She watched the pair, and gave a warm smile as the vulture came over toward her. “My father is a lion,” Najwa commented idly with amusement.
“I happen to know a couple of nice male vultures who’d like to meet a nice female like you, if you’d be interested in joining.” She glanced at the lioness, curious if they were rogues roaming, or belonged somewhere. It seemed her recruiting habits died hard. “Would you care to sit and enjoy the sunset with me? I’m Najwa.”
SMM smiled "Mother a leopard?" She queried gently looking over to the setting sun. "I'm afraid my little vulture friend here belongs with me." She smiles beneath her fur mask and looks the hybrid female over. "There is a pride around here?" She said pride carefully, many prides she knew accepted hybrids she had even seen a coalition or two in her life time. Pride seemed so loose to her. Gyps clicked her beak and huffed. "Not likely lady. I live too far away from here to settle with a male." She looks to the brown lioness who seemed greatly amused by the proposal. She was glad her friend had said belongs with her instead of belongs to her. They had a partnership after all. "We would like to watch the sunset with you. This is Gyps and everyone calls me SMM" She was curious about this female and though she knew a good few phrases about curiosity she was happy to let the thought leave her mind as quickly as it had come, she could fight her way out of any situation that might arise, she was a reaver of the stormborn after all, she had iron in her blood.
Najwa grinned at the lioness as she guessed her other parent. “Right on.” She nodded approval at the refusal to break up. They encouraged close bonds with their partners as well. “You’d be welcome together. I have a serval friend myself. She’s at home nursing her litter though.” Now here it was awkward. Did she talk openly about it? They did still prefer the shadows, but they were starting to get big enough now that they would be hard to go unnoticed all the time.
“Well let’s call it a gathering for now shall we?” While she thought of the group as her pride, maybe the others didn’t. “Perhaps I could ask for some impartial advise of you?” Najwa waved a paw to invite them to sit beside her for the best view. “It’s a pleasure to meet you SMM and Gyps.”
The hybrid laughed at the refusal from the bird. “Then I shan’t tell them of your rejection and spare their feelings. However, if you ever want a clutch and need a good male, I’d recommend them. We’d welcome any chicks that would like to join us. They’d have a good pick of whoever they wished to partner.” Familiars were high in demand and low in supply. Any chick would probably have several vying for his attention.
The lioness moved to lay down beside the hybrid female, she didn't feel at all threatened by the smaller female so she could listen and watch the sun set and offer advice. She was certainly old enough to do all of those things. "What can we help you with?" She queried stretching out her paws. She puzzled at the phrase a gathering but she wasn't too bothered about the wording, a group could be called what ever it wanted to be called, she knew that. She shrugged it off and turned to Gyps. "Hey yehhhh Gyps, you could make some little tiny budgies and..wait vying?" The lioness raised a brow beneath her fur mask and tilted her head. "Hush SMM or I'll tell this poor girl your full name." She stretched her wings and with a short flap she landed in the middle of the big lionesses back and settled herself comfortably. "I have no need of chicks, and how would I look after them with you never still? Its not like you can be left on your own while you're out and about." She decided not to say reaving, her lioness friend occasionally liked to pillage, and other times she just liked to explore, she was a weird reaver. "Gyps and I come from a land maybe three days travel from here, we are known as storm born."
The hybrid sat silently for a moment. Her eyes half closed as she kneaded her paws, organizing her thoughts. The sun was turning the sky brilliant colors and shined brightly in her eyes. “I use to be alone, then I decided to gather those who would enjoy my teachings that I had learned as a young cub. To my surprise, I’ve found many who have gathered under the banner and I would say we are close to being called a pride.”
“It’s come to me recently, if I am truly suitable to lead them. As you know, I’m a hybrid. Therefore I am unable to have cubs to pass down the title when I grow old. I would have to pick an heir. Should I do that now and let someone else lead, or continue to lead myself?”
She chuckled as the lioness teased the bird about chicks. “Aye SMM. We currently have more members than familiars to go around. Everyone is encouraged to bond to a familiar. I’m sure several would attempt to have any chick attach to them. There would be no harm done to the chick and the chick would have a final say too.” They wanted to encourage close bonds of trust between partners. Like she had with Miyako, and SMM clearly had with Gyps. She enjoyed the banter they had back and forth.
“I see. They are lucky to have you.” She felt a moment disappointment when SMM admitted they already had a place to call home. At least she had some pleasant company for a short time. “Storm born, they sound interesting.”
The chocolate lioness looked at the female for a long moment, it seemed a lot to her to run a group. She had always been a reaver she had no ambition to become a captain, that meant looking after others and she didn't want that task on her head. This female before her though, hybrid or no, seemed to have a very sensible head on her shoulders. "It seems to me you have already made up your mind my friend. You should rule for as long as you feel able and pass the reins when you feel you must." She paused for a moment. "You know I have heard of hybrids bearing children though that I know is a rarity, perhaps consider, what you have just suggested with chicks and adopt a litter of cubs and groom an heir." Gyps shook her head, occasionally her partner could say sensible things, it was a small percentage, she herself couldn't get her head around this bonded thing. She supposed she and SMM were closely bonded but that had started as a convenience and became a great friendship. "It sounds strange, I have never heard of such a thing before." She clicks her beak in a contemplative manner. "The stormborn are not like that." SMM nodded in agreement. "Though some certainly have companions they share their time with it is not really a requirement, most friendships like ours are born out of need and convenience. A smaller body like a jackal or a great flighty bird are very handy to have if you don't know the territory. We like to explore." She nodded an affirmative "But when home calls we always know the way back."
She blinked as the lioness laid it out so matter of factly. If she wasn’t ready to be the leader, then she wouldn’t have gathered them in the first place. “Your sight was clearer than mine,” she murmured humbly. It was good luck that she’d met this lioness when she had. Najwa knew she’d figure something out when the correct time came.
The hybrid was startled by the lioness’ mention of hybrids having cubs. If only she could have her own cubs! But she was not going to torment herself with a rare possibility. “Oh, but I couldn’t steal any member’s litter.” Najwa wouldn’t deprive a mother of her pride of her cubs just so she could have one. It wouldn’t be right. Could she find an abandoned cub? That might be an option, but it would take dedicated searching away from her pride. Something she wasn’t quite sure she was ready to do.
“I suppose many don’t do that. Personally I like the knowledge of having one I can rely upon no matter what.” Bonds made everyone strong, and stronger bonds made the pride grow. “You have something many others in your pride don’t, it sounds like. Cherish it.” The sun had finally set and dusk was growing strong. Najwa felt the call in her heart to return to her home. “Indeed we do,” she murmured softly. “I thank you both for your time and company this night. I must return home. If ever you are this way again feel free to stop by.” She rose to her feet for a stretch then padded quietly into the night.
