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 Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 10:09 pm
[Ooc: This RP does take place some days after Ausi'Juu meets Adanna and the kids, as well as Daimyn's simultaneous meeting with Nukta, AND after the un-written reunion between Nukta and Ausi'Juu.]
While sleeping under the stars had certainly become a custom for them and had yet to loose it's appeal, Ausi'Juu thought that since they were going to formally stay within the Pridelands and maybe start their own family soon, they probably should think about finding a place to stay besides in or out of her extended family's den.
She roused that morning and stepped out of the cave. It was just going on dawn and the grass was still damp with morning dew. It felt chilly on her ankles and paws though not in an unplesant way. The female had emerged from the makeshift cave to give herself a morning stretch, and allowed her Jade-colored eyes to gaze off in the direction of the monumental landmark in the distance. Pride Rock, the place where she'd met the king of these lands, an incredibly kind soul and a kindred spirit, to her, a welcomed stranger to a weary traveler. It was his compassion that led them this far, and thanks to the kindly royal she'd finally been reunited with her remaining child, her baby boy.
She carefully stepped around his now grown figure in the dark. Her son was by no stretch a large male, but he wasn't scrawny either. If anything he was somewhere between lean and muscled, a bit favoring the latter. That was no doubt in thanks to his father and the other male side of their gene pool. Yet signs of his rogue-life still shone clear. Beside him slept his mate, and their two children. Jini (her precious and darling little grandson, whom she already loved to pieces like only a grandmother could) sleeping peacefully between Nukta and Adanna's paws while Mosi lay sprawled on her back between just Nukta's. The dark little seer (as Ausi'Juu was beginning to suspect after a few conversations with her granddaughter) looked perfectly comfortable in her haphazard position, it was a touching sight, the four of them.
Her goal, however, was the larger white figure to one side where she'd previously been sleeping as well. Her mate...
Ausi'Juu smiled softly with a tender affection that was far from maternal, approaching before purring just into Daimyn's ear with a gentle nudge.
"Daimyn," She whispered. The night before the two had decided to get up early and search for their own den, and she'd mentioned this to Nukta as well to let them know they'd be moving out if they had any such luck. "it's morning," She smiled, wondering if he was truely asleep or just resting still.
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:11 pm
It was a heartwarming to see the family retunited; Ausi'Juu and her son Nukta; Nukta and his mate Adanna, and their two cubs. Ausi's grandcubs. It was also a bit uncomfortable to be around them sometimes. He didn't know how to handle himself around them.
Right now though, all he wanted was to finish out his normal sleeping pattern. Augh. Sleeeeeep~
It took a few tries to get Daimyn up, but he finally opened his eyes, blinking a moment. Why was Ausi'Juu waking him so blasted early?
..Oh. Right. He'd agreed to get up early today... at the crack of dawn. Grumbling a bit good-naturedly about whose idea this was, the white male staggered to his feet and managed an affectionate headbutt without toppling over.
"Okay, I'm -- up," he murmured quietly around a yawn. "Where to?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:25 pm
Ausi smirked with harmless mirth at her lover's obvious distaste for the early hour. Truthfully she felt like sleeping in longer too, but this was the type of hunting that they needed to start on early, lest they be at it until the wee hours of nightfall. The sooner they found someplace, besides, the sooner they could christen it.
.... What?
She just smiled and gave him a consoling kiss on his cheek, turning and leading the way out of the den. It wasn't like the others were light sleepers, well, except for maybe Jini and Nukta. Their mother and sister slept like the dead, though.
They passed by several promising prospects on their way, but none of them close enough to the heart of the Pride for their liking, or more specifically for Ausi'Juu's liking. She wanted to know that they had the protection of the Pride nearby in case their cubs should wander, ever. Not like last time. Privacy wasn't good for anything if it became permanent.
Besides, she reasoned out loud to herself as they rejected another potential pre-dug den, it would mean their cubs were closer to the other Pride's youth, and that would give them a better chance to get to know others, them, or him, or her... It was either of their guess if their first and so far only official attempt had been a success, but Ausi was in no real hurry to try again until they at least had a suitable home picked out, within their home.
Their search continued, stretching on into the day well past noon when finally they reached the great Pride Rock itself. It stood majestically over the miles of grasslands, a beautiful stronghold of fortitude and tradition. It seemed to give off a sense of peace, just by it's presence alone, standing just as strong as any of the many kings that had taken turns standing on it's ledge.
Ausi finally paused under the shade of the great ledge and glanced about left and right with her eyes. "Hm.... see anything...?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 2:47 pm
Daimyn scanned the area here, beneath the shadow of Pride Rock which stood like a monument, a testament to the kings of the past. There was more than just Pride Rock here; there were many rock outcroppings around it which seemed to lead up to the ledge.
Without a reply just yet, he padded up to one of the smaller piles of rock inlaid into the ground. He scented the air and his nostrils were flooded with Pridelander scent, but nothing else. He nosed around this place for a moment before moving on. Something was here, he could sense it...
And there it was, as if it had been laid out to welcome them. Snugged right up against one of the larger rock formations was the entrace to a small cave. At first glance he almost missed it -- the angle of the sun lit up some of the inside wall, and it blended in seamlessly with the rest of the rock -- but on a doubletake, he spotted it.
"Ausi'Juu! Look at this," he called, before peering closer and scenting it, finding it clear before entering.
It was larger than it looked from the outside; easily deep enough for both he and Ausi to fit comfortably lying down nose-to-nose, and wide enough for the same. It was easy to see why it had been missed; it looked like a mere rabbit burrow from most angles on the ground unless you were facing it directly from the outside.
It had everything they were looking for -- secrecy and privacy, but not so far away from everyone else that they were secluded or escaped the pride's protection.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 3:20 pm
When Daimyn stopped and lingered in one place Ausi'Juu knew something had caught his eye, something promising. She didn't bother to wander, then, and found her patience rewarded when he called excitedly over to her.
Ausi'Juu made her approach and came to stand alongside of her mate after slipping in through the entrance. There was just enough of an opening to allow sunlight to filter in, and despite the smaller entrance the den was certainly spacious enough. Ausi'Juu looked pleased, and inwardly felt delighted butterflies in her stomach. This was the place.
"This is perfect, Daim...! Some grasses or leaves for bedding and warmth, and it's right under the rest of the Pride. It should stay plenty dry when it rains as well."
Naturally she had to have a small walk around, circling the border of the "room" and spotting a smaller hole. Apparently a family of mice resided here, though she wasn't sure if the home had been or would be abandoned now. If it was merely an entrance then perhaps the mice would serve as good pouncing practice for the children.
She turned back to Daimyn delightedly, a grin on her maw.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:10 pm
Daimyn bore a smile on his face as he followed Ausi's inspection, taking note as well of the mouse hole he'd missed earlier. The scent of mouse wasn't strong enough to tell whether the family still stayed here or had moved along. Either way, his thoughts were echoing Ausi'Juu's -- they could pose no threat, and thus were ignored for now.
"Guess we'd better get to work then, mm?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 8:57 pm
Ausi'Juu smiled, nodding her agreement and approaching the exit again, but not without purring her affection, brushing her tail against his side and haunch.
"It might not be long now, do you think...?" She questioned, trailing off uncertainly as they stepped back out into the sunlight to search for the right bedding.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:09 pm
"Mm," was his reply as he walked alongside his mate, headed toward some of the longer grass. "Perhaps. Even if not..." He let his half-sentance trail off with an impish grin. The implication was there; it need not be voiced.
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 9:15 pm
"Not until all the preperations are done." She retorted with a note of finality as well as mirth. She smiled as she paused there, picking up again a few moments later. "I wonder what they'd look like, who would they take after in personality...? Will they all have your gorgeous eyes?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 10:44 pm
Daimyn hid his grin. As much as that idea appealed to him, he had to readily agree with her.
He snorted at her inquiry. "I hope not... some have to have yours."
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Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2006 11:10 pm
Ausi had a girlish laugh at that, ambling along at a lighter pace, a more childish smile on her maw.
"So, you think I'm gorgeous?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 1:54 pm
He laughed then, giving her a sidelong glance. "You should know that by now."
The grass here was soft and lush, the new growing in over the half-eaten old where the grassland grazers had come in and fed. He motioned to it with a paw. "Will this do?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:17 pm
"It does my ego a little bit of good to hear it again, now and then." She winked impishly back at him.
The grass beneath her paws slowly seemed to become more tender, and richer in color. True, that color and lushness wouldn't last always, but that was just the cost paid when plucking your bedding from the ground, rather than having it at fresh access. As Daimyn motioned forward to the grass ahead and beneath them Ausi lowered her head to have a closer feel of it. Several seconds passed while she finalized her decision, even though truthfully it had already been made.
"Yeah, this will be perfect," Consent, agreement, an end to their search! "it smells fresh, and it's certainly soft enough."
Oh, she couldn't deny, she was terribly excited, too excited to realize that she'd begun acting differently, however slight a change. Her playful bouts were becoming closer together, her serious way of speech and her reserved mannerisms dropping slowly one by one. The last year had been trying, with so much death and loss, and on top of that the duties of an heir? It felt good to be able to stretch their wings together, so to speak, without the responsibilities that their bloodline demanded. She was out here, for the first time completely free to make her own choices without her father or mother, sister, or pride for that matter, hanging over her shoulder guiding and pushing. They wanted kids? Okay, then let's work on having kids! Moving into our own den, decorating it how we want no matter how boyish or girlish or crazy or plain? Go nuts!
Freedom. Utter, unquestionable, true, honest-to-goodness freedom.
Her jaws carefully clamped down around as much grass as she could gather in one spot, biting down and pulling with a twist of her jaws. She heard the crispness as the blades snapped under her teeth and then settled the first clump down before moving to another.
"What do you think? About flowers I mean."
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:41 pm
"I consider it my personal duty to not let your ego get too inflated," he shot back, his tail twitching in amusement.
At any rate, he too felt the good mood Ausi was in. They had found a pride to call theirs, a home, and the freedom to do what they wished. And he had noted the change in Ausi'Juu. She was no longer quiet and cowed, she was outgoing and playful.
"Sounds good to me -- if you want them, grab them!" He bent to pick up his own load of grass and picked up his pace to a fast lope -- an unannounced race back to the den.
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Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2006 10:55 pm
Ausi'Juu just smirked at that, a playful glimmer in her eye. She'd just gathered a second bundle when Daimyn snatched his and ran. What the?--
"Hey!!"
She quickly nabbed both piles and expertly pivoted her body into a run, eyes narrowed with playful challenge. The afternoon sun was h igh in the sky, glistening off of Daimyn's pelt magnificently, and not for the first time Ausi'Juu found herself admiring his form-- an adult halfway to the top of his game, and she was just a few steps ahead of him in that department.
They ran like children, boundless and free, and as she began to close the distance slowly she seemed content with the fact that his stride was just a bit more powerful than hers. When was the last time she'd felt this way about a male? Not since she was an adolescent, falling for the first time!
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