[PRP]Mother and Daughter (Embamba and Barazahi)

[Light Atago]

Raza was returning from one of her many wanderings. She knew it was a bad habit she was getting into, but she didn't mind. She enjoyed meeting new people, none of which were as pretty as her. It boosted her ego.

The moonlight shone on her back as she quietly slunk through the tall grasses. She knew her father would have freaked if he knew she was out, so she would always wait until he wasn't watching. She had always felt sneaky, but she knew it was just a matter of time until someone noticed.

Their family was still on the way back home, to the Mteo'nyungu lands. She could only hope her return would go unnoticed.
 

[Kisoni]

"Barazahi." The blue form sneaking into their little camp hadn't gone unnoticed--in truth, she hadn't gone unnoticed the last few times she'd snuck out. Embamba laid in the tall grass, unmoving as her daughter came back from that night's adventure; that stillness was likely why Barazahi hadn't noticed her yet. Now she lifted her head to look at the girl who wore her mask so proudly. For many nights she'd waited for her daughter to come to her on her own, but it was time for this to stop. Or, her mind amended, to admit it to one parent, at least.

The lioness got up, free from the dizziness for the moment, and padded over to where her daughter stood. Dropping down once more beside her, she invited the girl to her side with a slight gesture of her paw. No one else seemed to be up, and Embamba was more than prepared to deal with this without bothering Ndege. He had enough to worry about, being in foreign lands, he didn't need to know of this unless it were absolutely necessary.

"Where have you been?" The question was neither angry nor condescending, merely curious in a fashion. She reached out to straighten the fur on one of Raza's ears with her tongue.  

[Light Atago]

Raza jumped a little at the gentle call of her name. She gave a sheepish smile as she headed to her mother and sat at her side. I knew it... I knew I shouldn't have gone out tonight! Raza scolded herself. She was unsure how her mother would react to the truth, but the truth was the only thing she could think of right now. She relaxed at her mother's coolness to the situation.

"I've been... wandering about the nearby land," Raza admitted. "I've been curious! Dad always keeps me away from so many things!" She said defensively.  

[Kisoni]

Feelings warred in the mother's head and heart. Being curious about the world "outside" was certainly something she could understand--after all, she'd been protected and coddled her entire life! The weakness in her own limbs, that she could feel even now, was something their whole party had feared would be passed on to one of the cubs. So it didn't seem to have happened, but Ndege in particular had been somewhat over protective of their offspring. Of course, they were also in heathen territory, which could be a major part of the equation. ... But their cubs had been raised in heathen territory.

Embamba shivered involuntarily, though her daughter would probably write it off as illness rather than disgust. The lioness licked Raza's ear again. "Curiosity isn't a bad thing, Raza, you shouldn't be ashamed of it." That seemed to be the first obvious answer to this. "But you shouldn't be running off in the middle of the night. You could have gotten hurt!"

She had to wince at the last part. How many times had she loathed her family for saying that? It didn't make the statement any less true, and Embamba let it roll off her back so that she could deal with the "problem" at hand. "Its the middle of the night and we have a lot of walking to do tomorrow; you need your rest. Besides, what would have happened if you got into trouble and we didn't know where to find you?"  

[Light Atago]

Raza simply nodded. Her mother was right, and she knew it. "I wouldn't be able to get away with it in the day," Barazahi defended, "but you're right mother. I won't go off at night."

Still, a question rolled through her head. Why did the Pride dislike rogues so? What about those of another species? She wanted to voice these questions of hers, but feared what answer she'd get would conflict with what she thought. However, it had to be asked.

"Mom, what's wrong with rogues? They're creatures, like us," Raza said. She understood they weren't as beautiful as members of her pride, but other than that, were they not the same?  

[Kisoni]

THAT was an interesting side track. Embamba watched her young cub as she tried to wrap her mind around the answer. As the insects sang in the grass around them, an idea slowly dawned behind her golden mask. What WAS wrong with the rogues? She'd never really stopped to think about it before, just... went with it. Raza's eyes were curious and pleading for an answer, though, and Embamba frowned. "They're heretics, Raza," She said softly, unable to help that she thought the answer was obvious.

That didn't seem like enough of an answer to even her ears. With a sigh, Embamba looked away to settle her own thoughts on the issue. Eyes roaming over the sleeping forms of their companions, Embamba wondered if any of them knew how to explain this. It would be better not to wake them, though, especially Ndege. Her gaze lingered there even longer; he seemed stressed out a lot, and she worried about him. It would be good once they were in their pridal lands again.

She drew her answer from there, "They're Heretics. They do not follow our way, and do not perform the rituals to keep darkness at bay. In them, they hold the Darkness... Its better that we keep to our own, Raza, for with the Darkness will come destruction; so it has been fortold, so it will be."  

[Light Atago]

She was concerned when her mother glanced at the family. That was the last thing she needed, dad being asked this question... He'd totally explode. She practically sighed when Embamba turned her head back to Barazahi.

She pondered what her mother was saying. They never seemed full of darkness to Raza. In fact, they seemed just as friendly. Perhaps sometimes things aren't as they seem, Barazahi thought to herself. She nodded at what her mother had to say.

She guessed if something or someone was going to be dark, the darkness wouldn't prance about revealing itself. It'd hide itself; be deceitful about it's existance.

"I never thought of it that way... That clears things up," Raza said happily to her mother with a quick nod. Her mother was right. "So... You're not mad at me?" Raza asked tentatively.  

[Kisoni]

It was probably a good thing that Raza changed the subject, as Emamba didn't have the words to put it across. The seed that could have shaken her own beliefs faded, and she smiled at her daughter. Was she mad? Embamba's ears flicked. In all honesty, she should be, part of her concience noted. The girl could have gotten herself hurt--especially if she's out consorting with heretics.

That got a frown from the Lioness. Embamba tilted her head a touch, as the other half of her mind spoke up. How often had she, herself, wanted to go off on her own? If she'd been given the chance, wouldn't she have spoken with the heretics and saw what wonders the world had to offer? But then, she had seen them, if from the safe circle of her family and watchers. Some of them seemed nice, but there was always a shade of uncertainty there. Plus, there had been quite a few that werne't so nice, especially when local game was considered.

Realizing that she was getting off topic, Embamba turned back towards her daughter. "Mad? ..... No, not exactly. I do wish you'd stay with us, Raza. Its dangerous out there, and things that may seem sweet at first can turn bitter in the end. What if you had been hurt and we didn't know where to find you? Or gotten lost? Or.." Embamba could imagine a million possibilities. She stopped herself, and picked up the point, "Don't do this again. I'll speak to your father about being more linent, but we'll be back with the Pride soon and you'll have plenty of safe places to explore."  

[Light Atago]

Barazahi was a bit embarassed, and had a bit of a hard time trying to think of how to react. Although, she hadn't honestly expected her mother to not be mad at her... Still, it was an awkward moment. Raza couldn't think of anything else to do but to revert to the cub deep within her. She broke eye contact and flattened her ears to her head.

"I won't do it again mother," Raza said sincerely. Her mother had been right, she could have been hurt or something, and nobody would know... She also knew now... Those rogues she had met... She shivered. They probably were covered in darkness, only not showing it. To pull her in. She was glad they were headed home.  

[Kisoni]

"Thank you, Dear." Embamba reached for her daughter. She pulled the girl against her side with a paw that seemed strong for the moment, and lowered her head to begin cleaning Barazahi's coat. It wouldn't do for Ndege to smell outsiders or anything strange upon her; even if a bath wouldn't get rid of the smell, it would dull it.

For a long time she listened to the song of the night all about them, gently bathing her wayward daughter. One couldn't call Embamba an unloving mother, even if she was a little "soft." In truth, she identified with Raza a little too much in this situation. It would be nice to have a little more leash, but that wasn't likely to happen.. for either of them. Giving Raza's coat a last lick she smiled upon her, "You should get some rest."  

[Light Atago]

Barazahi nodded to the thought of rest, and highly appreciated her mother's care for cleaning her. She could have let Raza have to take care of it herself, and get in trouble if she missed any spots, but she felt safe since Embamba had done it.

Barazahi got up and headed towards her sleeping family, but stopped soon after she had started over there. She turned back to her mother. "You know mom, If only you were mostly blue, you would be far more beautiful than I." Raza knew her mother knew of her slight narcissism, so this would be a huge comliment. In Raza's mind, the only female that was a rival as far as beauty went was her own mother.  

[Kisoni]

Embamba chuckled. Her daughter's was were, indeed, quite well known amongst their family. She didn't bother taking offense to that, and rather let it warm her heart. The lioness leaned in to nuzzle her daughter's cheek, then stretched where she lay. She would remain up, for insomnia was one of her greatest weaknesses, but smiled upon her sweet little girl, "You'll always be the beauty queen of my heart, Raza.."  

[Light Atago]

Barazahi nuzzled her mother back, glad that Embamba had shown her the truth in all of these affairs. She smiled at her mother's compliment, happy to be with her family. "Goodnight mother," Raza said warmly, as she turned to go lay with her sister and brother. She hoped deep in the back of her mind that her mother wouldn't be up too much longer.

She laid down and let her eyes slide closed, and she drifted off into sleep.