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 Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:42 am
Frowning, she settled her rump down to take in her surroundings, wondering if maybe someone would just appear to her. That was a proposterous idea and she turned her thoughts away from it almost immediately. Safuma did not have 'the sight' that her nannies had mentioned, that was for sure. Ears moving in all directions to take in the sounds, Safuma sighed before flopping forward so that her head rested on her paws and then rolled onto her side. She was tired and her paws ached from looking aimlessly to no avail. She needed a break before she could set off again in earnest.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:07 am
Wahabu was having a fine time trying to keep himself occupied an keep his mind off his troubles. He was trying to forget about his mother, and perhaps focus more on those he might find around here- Kubwa in particular. He had to wonder where his friend had gone that even his mother didn't know where he was. Lions did not often just disappear, afterall. Habu wasn't even sure that was all he was going to do, he thought about hunting if he couldn't find Kubwa but.. he didn't feel much like it even if he really needed the practice.
So the adolescent continued on his walk quietly, not noticing anyone that might be nearby. He was caught between being focussed on what he was doing and not paying attention to anything really.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 11:53 am
The little cub had unwittingly fallen into a light sleep while she rested against the cool dirt in the shade of a boulder. The vibration of paw pads and soft scratch of nails on pebbles however was loud enough in her ear from her position that she was jolted into awareness. Lifting her head, her ears swivelled in all directions until she found the source. She could barely make out his light mane and pelt above the grasses, but he was most definitely older than her and most definitely a male. He could more than likely teach her plenty, if he didn't mind. No, it didn't matter if he minded actually, she didn't like to lord around but she needed to learn how to be an adult and if watching someone else was the best way then she would do so.
Hauling herself to her feet in one easy movement, the young cub pounded after the older lion. Making no effort to be silent about her movements and hide in the grasses. She recognized him as a Prideland lion and knew anyway that she had learned the land well enough that she could get away into an old warthog burrow or some other creatures' old, small den. Though she made no effort to hide her approach, she didn't offer an introduction when she reached him either. She wanted to watch, but if he acknowledged her than she would speak. It probably was meant to be the other way around, that she should acknowledge him, but once she drew close she realised she'd never really interacted with an adult outside of her own family and she halted just behind a sprig of grass that was poor hiding for the little cub but it eased her mind.
Staring at the male and his light coat with dark markings, she flicked her tail with interest as she decided he was the one who would teach her. He seemed right, if even just for now.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:06 pm
Wahabu didn't realize he had a stalker right away, even with her leaping after him and throwing all caution to the wind. The Pridelands was a wonderful place, not everywhere could a lion, especially a cub, just start after a stranger like that. It was hard not to notice the cub once she came to a sudden stop and made a poor attempt at hiding. The adolescent couldn't help but glance curiously over at her, but he wasn't quite sure what she was doing, or if she really wanted to talk to him.
"Hmm," he murmured, and turned back to his walk. Habu would see what she did if he kept going, but now he was paying more attention to her than whatever had been on his mind before. It was even some decent practice for the inexperienced hunter, trying to listen to what happened behind him as he walked.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 8:28 pm
The cub frowned when the male continued on as if she wasn't there. Maybe this was part of it, maybe she was just supposed to follow him and he knew what she was doing all along. Her frowned deepened for a moment as her brow furrowed in thought. Was she supposed to follow him? Her tail flicked in agitation against the dirt, watching the male walk away from her as she considered her options.
At last she took to following him, darting from bush to rock always with her body as close to the ground as possible and her shoulder blades moving in a rhythm familiar to any big cat as she stalked her 'prey' as well as any young cub could do. Occasionally she would misstep and crack a twig or cause a pebble to go skipping over the terrain, but for the most part she would wince and slowly a smile was claiming her features as she found stalking to be quite entertaining.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:01 pm
Habu didn't hear any more sounds right away, and wondered if he was not reacting in the right way or if he should even be bothered about it. He didn't get much time to think about it, for she soon was back on his tail and snapping twigs here and there along the way. He'd never had a stalker before- not really since his sister would play her crazy games, anyway. Luckily, this stranger was a cub and he clearly had an advantage over her so even if she meant him harm he felt it was more likely to go in his favor than in her's.
This was a cub that was following him, so Wahabu decided not to think of it in such a dull, serious manner. If anything, he should treat it more like a game- but how could he make this more fun and game-like?
Glancing back to see where she was in a rather obvious way, he started to weave in his path a bit- testing to see how closely she was following the path he took. He could keep a small grin off his face as he zig-zagged.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:21 pm
For a moment the cub stopped in her tracks, raising her head and arching a brow as she watched the older lion begin to change his path. She was certainly put-off by the sudden change and her crimson eyes were wide. This was certainly a change of pace, and his longer legs could already cover three times as much distance as her little ones.
Deciding on the best path, she let him get a few feet from her before starting forward again, going mostly in a straight line after him. If she were to follow his zig-zagging, she would more than likely tire before a hundred feet had passed beneath their paws. This way, she conserved some small bit more of energy. It wasn't long before she grew tired and bored anyway, and a huff of exasperation exploded from her tiny chest and past her parted lips. Dropping her rear end suddenly, she gave a little cry of frustration. "Is this all grown ups do all day?" Maybe Nsundu was right and all her mother did was boring, if this was all there was to look forward to.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:38 pm
Wahabu watched with amusement from the corner of his eye as he wandered on a very odd path with a small golden stalker. He slowed down a bit so it would be easier for her to keep up without making such an effort, but this didn't last long before she cried out. Finally, this got him to turn around and grin down at the frustrated cub.
"Only when they're being followed," he answered brightly. He hadn't even realized his mood had taken such a pleasent turn- ah, the wonders of cubs. Then he realized he was being referred to as a grown up, and he had to snort back a laugh.
"My name is Wahabu, who are you, little-stalker?" Habu introduced himself, not moving any closer or farther away but leaving the whole distance decisions up to the cub.
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 9:57 pm
The distance decision would most definitely be left for when she had caught her breath and the conversation had carried a tad. Scarlet eyes mildly wet with unshed tears of anger and worry that perhaps being grown up would not be so much fun, but after she was spoken to, the worried expression was swept away. Wahabu may not be an adult just yet, but he was certainly grown up to a young cub. When the older lion spoke to her, she dropped her head slightly and swallowed back the pout that threatened to surface. Safuma was not a whiney, simpering princess and she would definitely not let anyone else think that.
"My name's Safuma." After a few moments, her tail swished in the grass and she decided to explain herself in part, "I was following you to learn to be grown up. Nsundu said that if I couldn't follow Mama because she was busy teaching Sarakiva and Akida, that I should find someone else to follow."
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Posted: Fri Mar 23, 2007 10:03 pm
Wahabu watched her with a smile as she recovered from the worry about growing up and being confronted. He took a seat to make himself a bit more comfortable, tilting his head as she introduced herself. As she explained why she'd been stalking him, he realized who she must be- Habu was not up on everyone who was in the Pridelands, but it was not hard to know at least a little bit about the Royal Family. Besides, if her mother was busy teaching others something, it did suggest that there was a good reason.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Safuma," he offered a bow of his head, and then smiled at her, "Aren't you a bit young to worry so much about that? I'm a lot bigger than you, and I'm only just getting to figuring that out for myself."
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 8:40 am
She nodded without thinking, her head bowing absently in response to his own bow before she continued speaking as if nothing happened. Good, so he recognised her name atleast in part. It felt good to have her name known, though she quietly wished she had done something to make it so. Her brother and sister would, but she had not. Her name would most likely always be royal by birth and not by deed, she didn't even know if she would stay her through her adulthood.
"A pleasure to meet you, Wahabu." She pulled her head up as regally as she could manage at that, but pretending to be the princess she was was boring work and she dropped the charade attempt almost instantly. Allowing a half-smile, she shrugged, "It seemed like a good thing to do. Atleast then when I have to do something, I have enough experience to make a decision. I won't make a bad choice; ignorance is a poor excuse." She felt old with that statement, and shook her pelt as if to rid herself of flies though she hadn't the mind for it.
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 10:13 pm
Wahabu beamed at the little princess as she held her head proudly high, but was unable to hold it too long. To him, she seemed well on her way to being a good adult- he wasn't sure he'd been that polite when he was that little. Not only that, but she seemed to know what she was talking about and that made it hard to argue.
"If that's what you want to do, I won't stop you," he replied with a shrug similar to hers, "I still think you should be having more fun, but is there anything I can do to help? Do you want to observe anything specific?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:15 am
She returned the beam at him, her smile broadening when he inquired after what she wished to do. Her brow furrowed slightly after a few moments, however, and the smile soon faded for a more thoughtful expression. She hadn't gotten this far in her planning, and she certainly hadn't expected to be asked just what it was she wanted. Atlast she looked up to the male and smiled confidently, "If it gets boring, I'll make it fun. There isn't anything specific." She stumbled over the last word, but made it through without botching it too poorly.
Looking about her, she frowned before raising her head to him once more, "What did you learn to do as a cub?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 8:31 am
Wahabu watched the cub patiently as she considered what she wanted to do, it quickly became clear she did not have much of a plan other than observing whatever it was that adults did. He was pleased to hear that she intended to make things fun if she got bored, nodding along.
"I didn't learn anything particularly important as a cub, I explored the Pridelands and did try to learn to climb trees," he said with a shrug, "Explorations went well, I know my way around here pretty well now. Climbing trees always hurt my paws, though. Not big on that."
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 9:17 am
She looked towards a group of trees as he spoke, but when he mentioned it hurting his paws, she pulled a face and quickly looked away. If she knew injury likely awaited there, she wasn't one to tackle it so quickly. Safuma was no daredevil, though she was hardly a coward. Shrugging, she flicked her tail idly and looked up to the male, "I haven't really explored too much. I've been around, but not really. I know a few dens to hide in." She figured as a cub, that was the most important part.
Looking for something to be proud of, she watched the ground before quipping, "I caught a mouse yesterday! It was already hurt, though..." She frowned at the admittance, but the cub didn't like to make things too grandiose. Still, she had caught a mouse, and not knowing what to do with it, she had played with it for awhile before downing the little bit of meat with some investigation.
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