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 Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 3:57 pm
It was with a spring in her steps that Rahima walked through the grasslands. No longer mourning her brood so depeserately and her dispair lifted, she was joyful and lighfooted. Rahima had feared the worst but it had turned out to be a flase fear. Seeing one of her sons, Ewan, and hearing tell of the other twin had robbed death of a once willing lionness. She no longer felt old and ready to pass on. Her living family were alive and prospering.
To night the stars seemed bright to her and the moon was heavy and full in the sky. Beautiful and silent save for insects calling, it was if she were the only one out on the savanah.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:25 pm
A small golden-yellow cub frolicked through the dry grasses, chasing imaginary bugs as he hopped every which way. He loved being out during the night, even if it wasn't the safest time for a cub to be out on his own, and Chuju'kinyago was alone quite a bit these days. His mother seemed distant, and his father very nearly non-existant. It was almost tragic, but he was really just too young to understand it all. He just knew that he was a little lonely, the only cub in the litter and his parents disinterested in his rearing.
No matter! The short attention span of the young helped him to forget that he was even mildly upset at the thought of being alone as he resumed chasing the imaginary beetles through the grasses. A cricket hopped out in front of him, and he grinned happily, if a little maliciously. Finally! Something real to chase! He thought, pouncing after the small brown insect.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 4:41 pm
Something bigger than a cricket was moving off to one side and a ways away from her, the red lionness noticed as she walked. All playfulness dropped away from her manner and she lowered herself to start stalking towards it. It was downwind, unfortunately, but she hoped it was dinner that was rustling nearby.
Such a surprise to stop a few lion lengths short and realise it was a cub! She stood up properly and called over, friendly. Maybe it's parents were around and could advise a wanderer such as she on places to avoid in this area.
"Good evening!"
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:17 pm
Fully engrossed in chasing his bug, Chuju didn't notice the lioness until he had plowed into her, and lay on his back staring up at her. "Oops! Sorry lady!" He said with a sheepish grin on his maw, black tufted tail flicking whichever way it pleased. He righted himself and sat glancing up at her a little nervously. She seemed a good deal bigger than his mother, who had probably been too young to bear cubs, thus the distance between her and her child. She just didn't know what to do with him.
Ears flickering he giggled to himself. "Good evenin' t'you too." He said a little too loudly. He was still quite young, and annunciation was not his strongest point just yet. "I'm Chuju. Chuju'kinyago, but Chuju's eas'yer ta 'member." The small cub added, puffing out his chest proudly at managing to say his whole name.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:25 pm
"A pleasure to meet you Chuju." She smiled down at him, not caring a wit he'd bumped into her. No harm done and he was a cute little fellow. A bit like one of her fosterlings had been long ago.
"I'm called Rahima of Huruma." The red lionness, bowed her head, showing him all the respect of a full grown lion three times or more his size. That and smiles usually please cubbins well enough, she'd always found.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:32 pm
Giggling again he rolled onto his side and pawed playfully at Rahima's foreleg. "Rahima's a pretty name." He said pensively, "Whatsit mean?" A quizzical expression crossed his face, deep brown eyes sparkling mirthfully. He was an endless ball of energy and didn't stay laying down long, opting to jump back in forth in front of the grown lioness, pretending that he was stalking a mouse hiding behind her legs.
Perhaps the fact that he had no siblings allowed for him to be somewhat socially inept, he didn't play much except with imaginary companions, thought up and forgotten shortly thereafter.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:43 pm
"Compassion and Mercy. And what does your name mean?" She was happy to play as well, laying down, tail flicking, and make the odd bat at an insect. She'd not hurt one of course, though Rahima probably could have caught a grasshopper had she wished. But it was amusing to muck around with the youngester. She was in high spirits, after all.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 5:58 pm
"Means... pale mask. Thass what Momma said a'least." He didn't know if it was the most creative name or not, but it didn't really matter to him, a name was ony a name after all, it didn't always define who and what you were. Chuju couldn't blame his mother for being uncreative after all, it would have to be difficult for her, rasing a cub instead of growing up herself.
Imaginary butterflies flitted about his head and he snapped at them playfully, dancing from paw to paw, eyes following what only he could see. Some might have called him crazy, but the imagination of the cub had only taken over so that he might have playmates where he couldn't find any.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:11 pm
"What a fine name your momma gave you." He was blessed with plenty of white - the colour of the spirits - the red lionness noted. To her mind that would bring him luck. A mask though, hmm...an interesting idea in a name. Suggested there was more to the seemingly cheerful cub than met the eye, though perhaps it was not so yet. He was still young.
"Is your momma around, Chuju?" Rahima asked, watching him play.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:30 pm
"I don't... know..." The golden cub reclined to his haunches, trying to think of where, and when he had last seen his mother. It couldn't have been too long ago, but, it could have been a while, considering he was weaned, and able to catch small snacks for himself. "She was at the den... a while 'go. I don't 'member when though..." He said puzzledly. This was quite the conundrum. Why couldn't he remember his mother, and where she was?
"Follow me?" He asked, cocking his head and bounding off back in the direction he knew the den to be. As he approached, a growing sense of unease filled him. It smelled... cold. And empty. Like nobody had been there for a long time. Days, at least. "Momma...?" Chuju whispered, his only reply a dull echo of his own voice off the rock back of the den.
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Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2007 6:38 pm
Rahima was please if wary while following the cub to the den. She had no assurence that his mother wouldn't be angry at her for intruding, nor if there could be an equally angry father around somewhere. The worry of that and the smile she'd been wearing since she said goodbye to her son both faded when the pair reached it.
It was clearly empty and scenting the air in the small cave tentively, Rahima thought it probably had been for a few days. Cold, the smell of the other lionness faint...this didn't look good.
"Oh Chuju...are you sure this was where you last saw her?" She frowned, worried. Not another abandoned cub!
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Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2007 10:31 am
"I..." Chuju screwed up his young face in concentration, an attempt to reason and recall zooming through his mind. "I think so. Sh'was always here ba-fore." Confusion crossed his face and he padded through the small den, snuffling and sniffing at all the places he could, every nook and cranny, but it all smelled empty. Finally he sat down, a defeated slump in his shoulders. "I don' know where she is. Momma? You can stop hiding now!"
He didn't understand this at all, she had always come back when he called, a strained smile for him, a word of kindness, maybe even an apology, but... the when... The when he just couldn't recall. "I... don't. When?" He said frustratedly. "The sun went up and down... two times? Three? I found mices when I was 'ungry. Where did Momma go?" Since he couldn't answer these questions he glanced back at Rahima, hoping the older lioness would know. She looked smart to him.
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Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2007 2:04 pm
"I do not know, little one..."
Three days, perhaps, the cub had said. From the fading scents and the coolness of the den Rahima was sure that that was about right. Another sad incedent in the grasslands, another youngster alone...or perhaps not. The mother could have been injured hunting - or killed, but let's hope for the best - or just having trouble getting meat and so taking a longer trip than usual. Rahima scolded herself from instantly thinking the worst, but young were abandoned reasonably regularly, for it was a tough wild life most led. Best not to leave Chuju'kinyago alone, however.
"...If you wish I can wait here with you and see if she'll be back."
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Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:36 pm
Chuju'kinyago was young, but not foolish, he sincerely doubted that his mother would return. She had been gone for long times before, but this last time, the last time he saw her she had smelled different, both angry and terribly pleased with herself, and like a strange lion that he hadn't met. She'd shooed him away, growling, which had confused him, but she'd often been moody, and was often in a better mood when he came back from playing. None of it made sense though. Why would she leave him? Would he ever see her again?
Nonetheless, he nodded and padded back over to Rahima, rubbing up against her forelegs. "Okay. Thank you." The little golden cub said quietly. At least his mother'd had the decency to teach him his manners before she disappeared.
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Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2007 1:58 pm
Rahima lifted a paw and placed it around Chuju, almost like a 'hug'. Poor little guy...She had left her own cubs roam alone but not when they were this young, and had always let them know where she'd be. Hima was not a model mother but it was worrying. The red lionness was not as young as she used to be and she knew that she'd get attatched to the cub if she stuck with him too long.
"We'll wait here for a day, then you can join me - if your mother is gone, I'm sure we'll find you somewhere."
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