Nytoa'ausi x Al-Hattal x Hauzu'l-Kausar
The Southlands
The Southlands
Meepfur
A small, dark cub stalked his way through the tall (or tall to him, anyway) Southlands grasses, the pale gold tuft of his tail flagging brightly behind him. His crouching walk was awkward and unpracticed, but he was trying. There was this..little...shiny...bug-thing..in front of him, and he wanted it! He just had to find out a) if it was tasty, and b) why it was so..so...shiny.
Around Hauzu's neck dangled a living, weighty blue necklace -- Zuri the snake, and currently the cub's only friend. Thankfully, the reptile didn't mind the bumpy ride; at least it was ride!
Al-Hattal had settled underneath a tree for what shade he could get, watching the romping cub with a singularly grumpy expression. His tail twitched at irregular intervals, and every now and then he grumbled something unintelligible to himself.
The black lion was Not Happy. Silly, pretty lioness he had a fling with had togo and die, and some stupid little snake had to come tell him about it, and now he was stuck with a damned cub. And the stupid little snake.
Things were not supposed to happen this way. He was supposed to be always unattached, free to wander and have his fun with the ladies. Not take care of a cub.
He sighed heavily, giving his tail a frustrated lash. Game=over.
This was so not fair.
Around Hauzu's neck dangled a living, weighty blue necklace -- Zuri the snake, and currently the cub's only friend. Thankfully, the reptile didn't mind the bumpy ride; at least it was ride!
Al-Hattal had settled underneath a tree for what shade he could get, watching the romping cub with a singularly grumpy expression. His tail twitched at irregular intervals, and every now and then he grumbled something unintelligible to himself.
The black lion was Not Happy. Silly, pretty lioness he had a fling with had togo and die, and some stupid little snake had to come tell him about it, and now he was stuck with a damned cub. And the stupid little snake.
Things were not supposed to happen this way. He was supposed to be always unattached, free to wander and have his fun with the ladies. Not take care of a cub.
He sighed heavily, giving his tail a frustrated lash. Game=over.
This was so not fair.
Meepfur
Hauzu'l hunkered down just behind his six-legged 'prey,' tail swishing busily behind him, and tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth in concentration. He waited, waited...
..and pounced! It was clumsy, but the scarab hadn't had any idea someone out there had it in for it, so now it fluttered and buzzed desperately between it's attackers paws.
Hauzu bent his head to have a sniff at the little critter, only to get wing-buzzed in the nose. He shook his head indignantly. "Heeey, don't do that! It's mean, an' I caught you fair an' square you..you..."
"Sssscarab," Zuri supplied, tongue flicking. "And of coursse he'll do that, he doessn't want to d- err, get eaten. Sself-defensse and all. But that'ss how thingss go, Hausszu. Lionss eat thingss. Sso do ssscarabss, but I don't know what."
..and pounced! It was clumsy, but the scarab hadn't had any idea someone out there had it in for it, so now it fluttered and buzzed desperately between it's attackers paws.
Hauzu bent his head to have a sniff at the little critter, only to get wing-buzzed in the nose. He shook his head indignantly. "Heeey, don't do that! It's mean, an' I caught you fair an' square you..you..."
"Sssscarab," Zuri supplied, tongue flicking. "And of coursse he'll do that, he doessn't want to d- err, get eaten. Sself-defensse and all. But that'ss how thingss go, Hausszu. Lionss eat thingss. Sso do ssscarabss, but I don't know what."
Meepfur
"Oh," Hauzu expressed his semi-understanding in that one simple syllable. "I guess that makes sense. Maybe. Why's he shiny?"
Kids and questions, oi. Didn't matter the species, they always had to ask crazy questions. "Ssame reasson I'm blue and you're black. He just iss. Now are you going to eat him, or keep getting buzzssed in the nosse?"
"Gonna eat 'im," the cub determined, and proceeded to do just that. He munched away on the insect with a thoughful expression, swallowing before pronouncing, "'s crunchy. Not bad, though."
Kids and questions, oi. Didn't matter the species, they always had to ask crazy questions. "Ssame reasson I'm blue and you're black. He just iss. Now are you going to eat him, or keep getting buzzssed in the nosse?"
"Gonna eat 'im," the cub determined, and proceeded to do just that. He munched away on the insect with a thoughful expression, swallowing before pronouncing, "'s crunchy. Not bad, though."
Safaia
A very dull-coated lioness shyed in the grass, watching with her equally dull eyes. Her tail had burrs twisted into in, her pawpads cracked from the lack of care....Nyota'ausi was a wreak. She never cared about her appearance, for she never cared to interact with other creatures. Not even birds, rodents, bugs! Nyota had a weird feeling against other animals, like she wasn't good enough for them. She was a dull creature, a near pure plain brown coat, only interrupted by 3 large scars on her left shoulder. Plain plain plain. She wore her coat, and her scars, painfully.
But for some reason, watching the little cub and snake interact was something she had never seen, and she just couldn't keep her eyes, and ears, off of them. Focused too much on the cub, her mind discarded the fact that there was a male there...a very dark, and big male...
But for some reason, watching the little cub and snake interact was something she had never seen, and she just couldn't keep her eyes, and ears, off of them. Focused too much on the cub, her mind discarded the fact that there was a male there...a very dark, and big male...
Meepfur
Hauzu'l made something of a face now, smacking his jaws together strangely. He had bugbits stuck in his teeth, and it felt so weird! With a dramatic sigh, he flopped down onto his stomach and set to trying to pick his teeth clean, gingerly making use of a claw.
"Careful," Zuri warned. "Don't need you ssliping up and getting blood on me."
"'m fine," the cub asserted, going back to his teeth-cleaning. The pair was totally oblivious to any company aside from the grudgingly watchful eye of Hauzu's father.
Al-Hattal was not so careless as to not notice; he might be annoyed with this whole affair, but some part of him was actually taking the responsibility seriously. Maybe that was part of what annoyed him so much.
The lioness clearly wasn't well off, so while ordinarily he wouldn't have had any suspicion, her appearance made her questionable. But, she could just be having a rough time of things.
He cleared his throat, and said pleasantly, "Good afternoon, miss."
"Careful," Zuri warned. "Don't need you ssliping up and getting blood on me."
"'m fine," the cub asserted, going back to his teeth-cleaning. The pair was totally oblivious to any company aside from the grudgingly watchful eye of Hauzu's father.
Al-Hattal was not so careless as to not notice; he might be annoyed with this whole affair, but some part of him was actually taking the responsibility seriously. Maybe that was part of what annoyed him so much.
The lioness clearly wasn't well off, so while ordinarily he wouldn't have had any suspicion, her appearance made her questionable. But, she could just be having a rough time of things.
He cleared his throat, and said pleasantly, "Good afternoon, miss."
Safaia
Never having good senses, Nyota spooked as the other lion spoke. She stumbled up, creating quite a mess of noise in the grass, her posture not of strength and grace. Her heart raced, her breathing was heavy, and the whites of her eyes were quite easy to see. She stared at the dark male, trying to grasp her voice and say something. Her jaws moved, but nothing came out, just inaudible noises.
Suddenly, she sat down in a submissive sulk, wrapper her tail around her legs, and peered at him from beneath her hair tuft, her head sunken in her chest. She was noticed, caught, and there wasn't anywhere she could get to now.
Her muscles tightened as she spoke, but it was more like a squeak then anything.
"H-h-hello..."
Suddenly, she sat down in a submissive sulk, wrapper her tail around her legs, and peered at him from beneath her hair tuft, her head sunken in her chest. She was noticed, caught, and there wasn't anywhere she could get to now.
Her muscles tightened as she spoke, but it was more like a squeak then anything.
"H-h-hello..."
Meepfur
At the ruckus, Hauzu only just managed to miss slicing his own gums, much to the amusement of Zuri with his hissing chuckle. "Oh, shutup," the cub growled at the snake, who only laughed more.
Standing and creeping forward towards the lioness, he sat on his rump not far away. "I think you scared 'er, Papa Al-Ha," he informed his father matter-of-factly, before letting the lioness in on a 'secret' in a hushed tone, "Papa's jus' grumpy, but he ain't bad.
"My apologies for startling you," he offered, shooting the cub a warning glare. Couldn't it just be quiet for once? "I'm Al-Hattal." No 'Papa,' thank you.
Standing and creeping forward towards the lioness, he sat on his rump not far away. "I think you scared 'er, Papa Al-Ha," he informed his father matter-of-factly, before letting the lioness in on a 'secret' in a hushed tone, "Papa's jus' grumpy, but he ain't bad.
"My apologies for startling you," he offered, shooting the cub a warning glare. Couldn't it just be quiet for once? "I'm Al-Hattal." No 'Papa,' thank you.
Safaia
"Umm....um..."
Nyota looked from the cub to the male. So...they must be related. Which made Nyo all the more nervous, for the male could smack her around for 'stalking' his cub. Instead of freaking out even more though, Nyota focused on her breathing for a moment. Breathe....breathe... Sometimes she would be able to regain some sort of sanity if she just focused...
"I-I-I'm N-Nyota'ausi." Her words studdered at first, and flew out in a slur. She was nervous, and try her best, she wasn't doing too well. Her tail wrapped itself tighter around her legs while her head raised just a bit out of her chest. It was kind of hard to see with her chin digging into her neck.
Nyota looked from the cub to the male. So...they must be related. Which made Nyo all the more nervous, for the male could smack her around for 'stalking' his cub. Instead of freaking out even more though, Nyota focused on her breathing for a moment. Breathe....breathe... Sometimes she would be able to regain some sort of sanity if she just focused...
"I-I-I'm N-Nyota'ausi." Her words studdered at first, and flew out in a slur. She was nervous, and try her best, she wasn't doing too well. Her tail wrapped itself tighter around her legs while her head raised just a bit out of her chest. It was kind of hard to see with her chin digging into her neck.
Meepfur
"I'm Hauzu'l-K..Kausar," Hauzu told her brightly, stumbling over his own name. The whole thing was a bit of a mouthful for the young cub. "And my friend's Zuri!"
"Pleassure," the snake hissed dryly.
"I don't bite, I promise." Al-Ha grinned easily. "You don't look like dinner to me, anyway."
"Pleassure," the snake hissed dryly.
"I don't bite, I promise." Al-Ha grinned easily. "You don't look like dinner to me, anyway."
Safaia
"O-okay...."
Her muscles relaxed, but she still wasn't so sure. For some reason, she felt very out of place, and instead of a frightened sort of shy, she was shy...in a girlish sort of way.
"S-sorry if I interrupted anything....I just found...um.. Zuri and...Hauzu?..'s play intersting...I've never seen anything like it."
Her tail loosened around her legs, but the tuft still lay infront of her. Her posture was still slumped, but she didn't show as much deadly fear as she did at first. He did say he wouldn't hurt me..
Her muscles relaxed, but she still wasn't so sure. For some reason, she felt very out of place, and instead of a frightened sort of shy, she was shy...in a girlish sort of way.
"S-sorry if I interrupted anything....I just found...um.. Zuri and...Hauzu?..'s play intersting...I've never seen anything like it."
Her tail loosened around her legs, but the tuft still lay infront of her. Her posture was still slumped, but she didn't show as much deadly fear as she did at first. He did say he wouldn't hurt me..
Meepfur
"Are girls always nervous?" Hauzu whispered to Zuri, fascinated.
"Ssome of them," the snake hissed into his ear, "Now be polite."
Al-Hattal shook dust from his great mane before replying. "It was nothing that couldn't suffer interrupting, only what those two do from day to day." There was a certain bored annoyance with that fact in his tone. "They entertain each other; but I've not had the entertainment of another closer to my age in some time."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Nyota'ausi." Damn, he was rusty at this charmer thing, wasn't he? Stupid cub.
"Ssome of them," the snake hissed into his ear, "Now be polite."
Al-Hattal shook dust from his great mane before replying. "It was nothing that couldn't suffer interrupting, only what those two do from day to day." There was a certain bored annoyance with that fact in his tone. "They entertain each other; but I've not had the entertainment of another closer to my age in some time."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Nyota'ausi." Damn, he was rusty at this charmer thing, wasn't he? Stupid cub.
Safaia
"Ummm..o-okay then. I know that there isn't much to...do in the Southlands..."
Nyota shyed a bit, and took a little step backwards. She watched the exchange of words between cub and snake, but couldn't pick any of it up. Her round ears flicked from the cub's location to the adult, curious as to how they treated one another. Sometime seemed weird...but she couldn't place it. Besides it...wasn't her place to do so anyway.
She itched her foreleg before speaking again.
"S-so you been around here long? I....don't normally run into other lions..."
Nyota shyed a bit, and took a little step backwards. She watched the exchange of words between cub and snake, but couldn't pick any of it up. Her round ears flicked from the cub's location to the adult, curious as to how they treated one another. Sometime seemed weird...but she couldn't place it. Besides it...wasn't her place to do so anyway.
She itched her foreleg before speaking again.
"S-so you been around here long? I....don't normally run into other lions..."
Meepfur
"Papa." Hauzu rolled his eyes. His dad was totally scaring this lioness, even if he didn't mean to. The cub sidled closer to Nyota, smiling gently. "He's jus' big an' silly, 's all. Boring, too."
Zuri sighed, still dangling around his charge's neck. This father-son pair was so hopeless.
"Now and then I cross paths with someone." He shrugged, frowning inwardly. Her liked the ladies and all, but this one was a little too..odd...for his tastes.
"I've been around," Al-Ha replied, "But I move around quite a bit."
Zuri sighed, still dangling around his charge's neck. This father-son pair was so hopeless.
"Now and then I cross paths with someone." He shrugged, frowning inwardly. Her liked the ladies and all, but this one was a little too..odd...for his tastes.
"I've been around," Al-Ha replied, "But I move around quite a bit."
Safaia
Nyota glanced over at the cub with a curious expression. She wondered just what he meant...she felt more relaxed with a cub then a big lunky adult...cubs were easier to deal with, and they couldn't do too much hard.
"Silly and...boring? How's he boring? I'll tell you, it's hard to be more boring then I am" she said, the quizzical look still on her face.
She glanced up at Al-Ha, trying to read between what he'd said. Her dull-brown eyes studied him before she spoke, much softer then she did with the cub.
"Others, huh..." her voice frail. "At least I haven't crossed paths with them....but...oh nevermind."
She turned most of her attention back to the cub.
"Silly and...boring? How's he boring? I'll tell you, it's hard to be more boring then I am" she said, the quizzical look still on her face.
She glanced up at Al-Ha, trying to read between what he'd said. Her dull-brown eyes studied him before she spoke, much softer then she did with the cub.
"Others, huh..." her voice frail. "At least I haven't crossed paths with them....but...oh nevermind."
She turned most of her attention back to the cub.
Meepfur
"Doesn't plaaay," he pouted, now that he'd found a new ear to talk into. Not that he'd ever been able to find Zuri's. "Jus' grumbles all the time an' sits around." Hauzu flicked his tail emphatically. "I don't think you're boring. You're new." X3
"Sso I'm boring becausse I'm not new?"
"No, you're..you're fun. Usually. Not always grumpy like Pa," he clarified.
Well, nevermind that. Al-Ha huffed and rested his head on his paws, closing his eyes halfway. Damn cub even got all the attention.
"Sso I'm boring becausse I'm not new?"
"No, you're..you're fun. Usually. Not always grumpy like Pa," he clarified.
Well, nevermind that. Al-Ha huffed and rested his head on his paws, closing his eyes halfway. Damn cub even got all the attention.
Safaia
Nyota watched as Al-Hattal seemingly pouted that he wasn't getting all the attention. For the first time, Nyo perked her head up, looked at him, curious. What was his problem? Ah well, no use in aggrivating him. She didn't deal well with adult, but she liked cubs. They could be fun, and helped her take her mind off of things.
"No play? Why wouldn't he do that?" She turned her attention back to the cub, little bits and pieces of old memories flooding back into her head. She'd gotten plenty attention when she was a cub, so it was hard for her to imagine that.
Hearing him say 'new' made her laugh, if lightly. "New? I suppose you're more new then I am, though."
"No play? Why wouldn't he do that?" She turned her attention back to the cub, little bits and pieces of old memories flooding back into her head. She'd gotten plenty attention when she was a cub, so it was hard for her to imagine that.
Hearing him say 'new' made her laugh, if lightly. "New? I suppose you're more new then I am, though."
Meepfur
"I dunno, doesn't like to. Maybe he doesn't know how." Hauzu frowned. "It's okay though, Zuri plays. Papa doesn't have to."
"He sshould," Zuri interjected.
"Oh, hush! I like Pa whether he plays or not." He hmphed, then brightened. "Am I? I guess so. I am little. But you're new to me!"
Right, next lesson...don't talk about people when they're right there. Uuugh, this was so embarassing. Safer to just..pretend to nap. Yes. That would save his dignity.
Riiiight.
"He sshould," Zuri interjected.
"Oh, hush! I like Pa whether he plays or not." He hmphed, then brightened. "Am I? I guess so. I am little. But you're new to me!"
Right, next lesson...don't talk about people when they're right there. Uuugh, this was so embarassing. Safer to just..pretend to nap. Yes. That would save his dignity.
Riiiight.
Safaia
Nyo blinked at the little cub, then laughed. "That's true, I am sorta new...but...you're new to me too. So that way we can both be new?"
Nyota mused over the words that the little cub said. Didn't know how to play, hmm? Sure seemed like it to Nyota. Before she'd left everything she knew and lived here, everyone knew how to play. And he seemed to only know how to be....weird.
She inched closer to the cub's ear, to whisper a little plan to him.
"Maybe we can teach him how to play?"
Not that she thought the cub would agree to it. She didn't really want to be near the adult, but if he agreed....she'd just fill his mind with ideas to bug his father, and keep her a safe distance away.
Nyota mused over the words that the little cub said. Didn't know how to play, hmm? Sure seemed like it to Nyota. Before she'd left everything she knew and lived here, everyone knew how to play. And he seemed to only know how to be....weird.
She inched closer to the cub's ear, to whisper a little plan to him.
"Maybe we can teach him how to play?"
Not that she thought the cub would agree to it. She didn't really want to be near the adult, but if he agreed....she'd just fill his mind with ideas to bug his father, and keep her a safe distance away.
Meepfur
"Yeah, we can both be new!" Hauzu agreed with enthusiasm, nodding.
Oh, plotting. Wonderful. Where had Zuri's quiet, peaceful life gone?
Then at her whisper, his eyes widened and he grinned, whispering back, "We could? D'you think it would work?"
Oh, plotting. Wonderful. Where had Zuri's quiet, peaceful life gone?
Then at her whisper, his eyes widened and he grinned, whispering back, "We could? D'you think it would work?"
Safaia
Nyota smiled and when back to whispering to the little cub, thoroughly enjoying herself for the first time in....a long time, if she had to think about it.
"Yeah. You know what lion tails are for?" Nyota tried to hold back a laugh. "They're for playing. Why else would we have them? I'm sure that his tail is just itching to get played with..."
"Yeah. You know what lion tails are for?" Nyota tried to hold back a laugh. "They're for playing. Why else would we have them? I'm sure that his tail is just itching to get played with..."
Meepfur
"Issat what they're for?" Hauzu blinked, running this concept through his child's mind. "That why they..move around an' stuff? 'Cause they wanna play?"
"Pleasse keep in mind that thiss iss lion tailss, not sssnake oness," his companion felt obliged to point out.
"I can't tell where yours is, anyway. You're like..all tail, Zuri."
"Am not."
"Pleasse keep in mind that thiss iss lion tailss, not sssnake oness," his companion felt obliged to point out.
"I can't tell where yours is, anyway. You're like..all tail, Zuri."
"Am not."
Safaia
Nyota, smiling inside, did her best to keep a serious look on her face as she continued. "Oh yes! Otherwise they just get in the way. Have you seen his moving around a lot? If not...perhaps it's sad that no one is playing with it, right?"
Gods, this was too entertaining to Nyota! She was having much fun....too much. She hoped that it would all go well and friendly though.
She gave a little not to Zuri, acknowledging what he said. "Ah yes, I forgot. Always lion tails" she said, giving a silly smile.
Gods, this was too entertaining to Nyota! She was having much fun....too much. She hoped that it would all go well and friendly though.
She gave a little not to Zuri, acknowledging what he said. "Ah yes, I forgot. Always lion tails" she said, giving a silly smile.
Meepfur
"Usually it jus' moves around when he's grumpy." The cub scratched his ear, looking deeply thoughtful. "Maybe it wants to help cheer him up?"
Zuri nodded his thanks. "I would like to sstay without kinkss in myssself."
Zuri nodded his thanks. "I would like to sstay without kinkss in myssself."
Safaia
Nyo nodded. "I think it shall. He's so sulky, he's just ignoring his poor tail. And that's not a nice thing to do." Nyota shook her head, looking a little sad.
"But." Nyota said quickly. "To get to the tail before it wriggles out of the way is to pounce on it....like how you caught the beetle earlier?" Her eyes glistened, humor brought up at the thought of the big lump of a lion getting startled by his own son.
"But." Nyota said quickly. "To get to the tail before it wriggles out of the way is to pounce on it....like how you caught the beetle earlier?" Her eyes glistened, humor brought up at the thought of the big lump of a lion getting startled by his own son.
Meepfur
"Really?" Hauzu spared a look back at his own tail, craning his head at a strange angle to peer at it. "I didn't know that!" She had him hook, line, and sinker.
"Just like that? I can do it!" He nodded decisively, glancing over at his papa. "At least it can't fly away, right? It can't be too hard."
Note to self: Do not go along for this ride; instead, watch from a safe distance.
"Just like that? I can do it!" He nodded decisively, glancing over at his papa. "At least it can't fly away, right? It can't be too hard."
Note to self: Do not go along for this ride; instead, watch from a safe distance.
Safaia
Nyota gave out a laugh, much humored by the cub. Yes, cubs were always more interesting and fun then adults. Adults were so uptight, judgeful, and just plain mean to Nyota. But this cub was such a sweetie, it made her just joyful inside.
"Yes! Even better then hunting bugs, tails don't fly away. And they're always there for when you're bored, unlike bugs." She gave the little cub a wink now.
"Go on...try it. I'm sure you'll do great."
She laid herself down on her belly, her burr-filled tail lying idle next to her. No point in distracting the cub right before he does his 'work'.
"Yes! Even better then hunting bugs, tails don't fly away. And they're always there for when you're bored, unlike bugs." She gave the little cub a wink now.
"Go on...try it. I'm sure you'll do great."
She laid herself down on her belly, her burr-filled tail lying idle next to her. No point in distracting the cub right before he does his 'work'.
Meepfur
Right, definitely time to jump ship...err, cub. Zuri unwound from Hauzu'l's neck, slithering to the ground next to the lioness' forepaws. While he wasn't in for a front row seat, there was no way he was gonna miss this.
"O-okay." He nodded, gave her a winning grin, and tottered towards his napping target.
The little cub gave his father a wide berth at first, circling so that he could come up behind him. Doing his very best job of stalking, he hurried painstakingly closer, until the idly twitching tail tuft was within his reach. Looking over towards Nyota for a moment, he took a deep breath before returning his eyes to his target, and counted.
One..two...three! He pounced, and his aim was true, gaining him an indignantly wriggling dark tail between his paws.
Ever so rudely awakened, Al-Hattal jerked upright into a sit, heart thumping and eyes wide, his expression nothing short of 'WTF?!'. Turning his head, he eyed the victorious cub behind him. Black eyes blinked once, twice.
And then a great paw came down squarely on the golden tailtuft of his attacker.
His son's eyes widened, and he squeaked in surprise, looking from his father to his father's tail to his own tail. o__o; Sheepishly, he smiled up at the huge black lion.
Slowly, ever so slowly...a bemused grin crept across Al-Ha's face.
"O-okay." He nodded, gave her a winning grin, and tottered towards his napping target.
The little cub gave his father a wide berth at first, circling so that he could come up behind him. Doing his very best job of stalking, he hurried painstakingly closer, until the idly twitching tail tuft was within his reach. Looking over towards Nyota for a moment, he took a deep breath before returning his eyes to his target, and counted.
One..two...three! He pounced, and his aim was true, gaining him an indignantly wriggling dark tail between his paws.
Ever so rudely awakened, Al-Hattal jerked upright into a sit, heart thumping and eyes wide, his expression nothing short of 'WTF?!'. Turning his head, he eyed the victorious cub behind him. Black eyes blinked once, twice.
And then a great paw came down squarely on the golden tailtuft of his attacker.
His son's eyes widened, and he squeaked in surprise, looking from his father to his father's tail to his own tail. o__o; Sheepishly, he smiled up at the huge black lion.
Slowly, ever so slowly...a bemused grin crept across Al-Ha's face.
Safaia
Nyota just found this too good to be true! She broke out in a loud laughter when Hauzu had actually managed to pounce on his father's tail. What a success! She was figuring that he'd miss and end up rolling into Al-Ha, but the little cub surpised even her. Her laughter rang out for a moment longer before it died down, hints of tears at the corners of her eyes. Too great, he was never expecting that.
"Ahhh...ahaha...good job...Hauzu." Her breath was short from laughing to hard, but oh, did she enjoy that laugh.
"Ahhh...ahaha...good job...Hauzu." Her breath was short from laughing to hard, but oh, did she enjoy that laugh.
Meepfur
Zuri had half been waiting for the little cub to get knocked on his rear, but apparently 'Papa Al-Ha' had some good qualities buried way down there. Hmm.
"I did it!" Hauzu crowed, evidently a bit surprised himself. He turned to look at Nyota with a huge grin, his own tail doing its best to flick excitedly despite his father's hold.
"Umm..I thought...maybe...your tail wanted to be played with, Papa, y'know? 'Cause it's been..lonely an' all," the cub found himself explaining, still a bit uncertain.
Al-Hattal looked from Hauzu to Nyota, then finally gave a defeated, but good-natured sigh. "I take a nap, and get plotted against by my own son." Raising his paw, he patted him gently on the head.
"Let me guess," he ventured, gaze flicking to the lioness again, "You put him up to it?"
"I did it!" Hauzu crowed, evidently a bit surprised himself. He turned to look at Nyota with a huge grin, his own tail doing its best to flick excitedly despite his father's hold.
"Umm..I thought...maybe...your tail wanted to be played with, Papa, y'know? 'Cause it's been..lonely an' all," the cub found himself explaining, still a bit uncertain.
Al-Hattal looked from Hauzu to Nyota, then finally gave a defeated, but good-natured sigh. "I take a nap, and get plotted against by my own son." Raising his paw, he patted him gently on the head.
"Let me guess," he ventured, gaze flicking to the lioness again, "You put him up to it?"
Safaia
Feeling like she had the cub 'on her side', she didn't fear the adult as she normally would of. She glanced over at him, but didn't meet his eyes.
"Y-yes. He said that you don't play with...him."
Of course, her little gain of comfort was short lived, once she had to actually speak to Al-Hattal.
She closed her eyes and gave a shrug, turning her head away from the duo. "But all I did was suggestto him that your tail was...lonely." She gave a little snerk at that, holding back another laugh. Instead, she flicked her own tail beside her, and looked to the cub to praise him.
"Little Hauzu seems to have a good hunting skill though" she said with a warm smile.
"Y-yes. He said that you don't play with...him."
Of course, her little gain of comfort was short lived, once she had to actually speak to Al-Hattal.
She closed her eyes and gave a shrug, turning her head away from the duo. "But all I did was suggestto him that your tail was...lonely." She gave a little snerk at that, holding back another laugh. Instead, she flicked her own tail beside her, and looked to the cub to praise him.
"Little Hauzu seems to have a good hunting skill though" she said with a warm smile.
Meepfur
Hauzu wriggled out from under his father's paw, giggling. Not noogies, noo. "Pa~!"
He scampered over to Nyo for 'protection' giving her tail a little pounce, proclaiming proudly, "Hauzu, master hunter!" Rarrar >3.
Al-Ha laid his ears back, feeling faintly embarassed and..well, a little guilty. "Well, yeah, maybe," he muttered gruffly. "Not used to this..cub thing."
He itched at the back of his foreleg, self-conscious. "'Course 'e is. His father didn't turn into a handsome lump of a lion without some work."
He scampered over to Nyo for 'protection' giving her tail a little pounce, proclaiming proudly, "Hauzu, master hunter!" Rarrar >3.
Al-Ha laid his ears back, feeling faintly embarassed and..well, a little guilty. "Well, yeah, maybe," he muttered gruffly. "Not used to this..cub thing."
He itched at the back of his foreleg, self-conscious. "'Course 'e is. His father didn't turn into a handsome lump of a lion without some work."
Safaia
Nyota, curious, watched as little Hauzu pounced on her own tail that still flopped beside her. "Oh no, not my tail too!" She laughed, her tail lightly struggling to be set free.
Her eyes fell on Al-Ha, watching him as we went from embarassment to a little vainity. She could see just why Hauzu thought his father was boring; he was. At least, in Nyo's eyes.
"Hmmhmm, really now? Well, just think of how great he could be if you played with him more. This tail pouncing just may help be an extraordinary hunter..." her eye twinkled in a moment of high self-esteem before she glanced away from him again, back to the cub that was next to her, his little snake friend still near her forepaws.
Her eyes fell on Al-Ha, watching him as we went from embarassment to a little vainity. She could see just why Hauzu thought his father was boring; he was. At least, in Nyo's eyes.
"Hmmhmm, really now? Well, just think of how great he could be if you played with him more. This tail pouncing just may help be an extraordinary hunter..." her eye twinkled in a moment of high self-esteem before she glanced away from him again, back to the cub that was next to her, his little snake friend still near her forepaws.
