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 Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:10 am
Yes, she had done it. After the last argument with her mum, Nissa had done something that would have her mother spitting fire.
Set in one ear were four little studs, a similar stud had also been driven through her bottom lip. Another similar ornament decorated her brow and upon her head sat the completed headdress, her pride and joy.
The feathers rustled on the breeze.
"So Phusa, what do you think?" She had chosen her sister to be the first to see her in full, sparkling dress. "Pretty cool, huh?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:15 am
Phusa just stared at her sister, what was she suppose to say? Her sister looked hilarious but she held her laugh back and just smiled with a nod, "Yeah but why?" She was a little curious after all if this was Nissa's way of getting attention it was clear that Phusa would have to do something like it!
Phusa couldnt stand those feathers though, they just looked so stupid! Who would want feathers on their head like that? It was just well weird.
"Mum will kill you."
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:20 am
Nissa giggled as if she could barely wait to see her mother's expression. Phusa was right, she was doing this to get attention, to make her point known - if it wasn't already.
"I guess this is my way of showing mum that she can't keep telling me what to do for the rest of my life." She flicked her tail. "I want to make my own choices and this..." She gestured the piercings and headdress with a wave of her paw. "Is the first choice of many."
She curled her tail with delight. "Mum is gonna freak. I can't wait!" She huffed. Any attention - even if it was bad attention - was good in Nissa's book. "Actually I'm surprised she hasn't come to find us already. It's past curfew." She said the last word with a mocking tone.
And as if the mention of Ivie'lingwa had summoned her, the green lionness approached. She could smell her daughters but as of yet, she could not see them. A few more moments, however, and that would change.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:24 am
Now Phusa loved her sister dearly but there was something in her that made her feel somewhat annoyed and angry. Why was her sister about to get the attention that Phusa craved on a daily process? It wasn't fair! Maybe Phusa should suck up to her mother a little? No. She wasn't that keen on her mother, she felt, like her sister, restricted in so many ways and there were secrets that Ivie wouldn't tell her daughters.
Phusa saw her mother come and decided she wanted some attention before her sister got it all. So within a second she ran over to her mother and sat in front of her.
"Who is our father mother? I want to go and find him." That would get some attention. Mother always seemed to avoid the subject.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:29 am
Nissa opened her mouth to say more, but apparently Phusa wasn't willing to stick about and listen. The white, blue and black lioness turned to watch where her sister was going.
"Hey--" But her words were cut off as she saw her mother.
Her heart felt heavy as she remembered the words spoken between them just a few days ago. Ever since that heated argument Ivie had grown passive and calm. It was as if she was pretending the whole argument had never happened.
Nissa felt guilty, though in her heart she knew the things she had said had been true.
"Phusa, love, there you are." Ivie pasued and looked at her daughter with a critical eye. No mud, no dirt. Good. Atleast she could trust one daughter to keep herself out of trouble.
"I've been looking for you. It's past curfew." She nuzzled the top of her daughter's head. "Time for a nap, now, okay?" Then her daughter spoke and Ivie's eyes narrowed. She raised her head and spotted Nissa. So, the troublesome one was putting these ideas into her sisters' heads.
"What has Nissa been saying, Phusa?" Her tail flicked. "Your father is not here and never will be."
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:43 am
"Nissa didn't say anything!" Annoyed already that her sister was getting the attention again!
"I just want my father because he might give me some attention around here!" She scrunched up her face and turned to walk back to her sister grumbling. Why was it Nissa got the attention when Phusa worked so hard to get it? So not fair!
Maybe it was the tantrums he could hear but Dhar had returned, mostly to see if Ivie was ok. he cared about the green lioness more then he could let on and had been looking for her for a few days now. The sound of voices had caught his attention however it was only when he recognised a voice that he stopped and really listened. He heard a few words but couldn't really work it out too well.
He quickened his pace a little, aware he was near someone else's pride and he didn't want to intrude but at the same time he was sure that was Ivie's voice he could hear, he could hope!
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:56 am
"Oh yes, my fault again!" Nissa strutted forwards, coming to a halt beside her sister. Apparently the two daughters were ganging up on their mother, a mother who had kept so much from them.
"You can't keep us in the dark forever, mum." Her tail thrashed, her face pulled into a scowl. She felt somewhat braver with Phusa at her side.
"And look at you! Just LOOK at you!! What have you done to your beautiful face? Sticking thorns into it! Why would you do that Nissa?" Ivie was seething again, probably as a lot of mothers would.
Nissa was still a baby after all.
"Take those things out of your face and leave feathers to the birds. You aren't a bird Nissa, you're a lioness!" She huffed. "Phusa, come here this instant. Your father is not here and he never will be. So you'll have to make do with me."
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:00 am
Phusa turned around and looked at her mother.
"I'm not going anywhere till I know where my father is and don't tell Nissa off, we can do what we want." She just stared at her mother, not moving from her spot. It seemed that Ivie's daughters were too much like her when it came to being stubborn. They were also far too happy to gang up on their poor mother. Well it was her own fault.
"No more secrets mother, or we go." Where that threat came from Phusa wasn't that sure. She wasn't that much of a baby anymore and her and Nissa could survive together, somehow.
As he got closer he could hear more of what was being said and soon the three that were clearly fighting were in view. Ivie had children. There father wasn't here? Did that mean? No, surely not?
He moved a little closer, his black mane getting in his way a little as he walked. He resembled the cubs a little, it could be possible, but was it really?
"Ivie..."
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:07 am
"I will NOT! I like feathers and I like thorns so leave me alone." Nissa stomped her foot, hackles bristling angrily. Though even though she might seem annoyed on the outside, on the inside she was practically laughing with joy! Her mother was reacting just as she wished she would!
She brushed shoulders with her sister, using each other to add to their strength. Yes, the daughters certainly were like their mother and that meant a lot of personality clashing.
Ivie gave an exasperated sigh and advanced a few steps, determined to get her daughters to see sense. "What am I goign to do with you two? Why do you insist on causing me trouble? Can't you see I'm only trying to help you, protect you? When you are grown and have daughters of your own, you will know why I keep you with me."
Yes, she was a rather clingy parent.
"Don't make me ask again." She huffed. "Let's go back before any more is said to make things worse. But don't think this is the end of it. Those things will not stay on you Nissa, and both of you must learn that you cannot talk to your elders with such disrespect."
Determined that that would be the last of it she turned away just as the soft voice tickled her ears.
Her heart stopped.
"Dharba?" She turned, the anger leaving her body like the wash of a wave on the sea. She had never realised it until that moment, but seeing him again brought her such a sense of peace. She looked into his eyes and then tore her gaze away, looking shamefully at her paws.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:15 am
Phusa was about to protest some more but the male appearing and the way her mother reacted confused the youngster. She looked to Nissa to see if there was any recognition of the strange male and then, at last, she moved. She walked a little closer to her mother, though slowly, not because she was scared but because she had never seen her mother act this way.
"Mother....?" Phusa didn't finish the question there wasn't really any reason to. She looked into the dark green eyes of the male, he looked familiar but she was sure she had never seen him before.
"Nissa, do you know who he is?" She turned to her sister, Nissa seemed to know alot and maybe she recognised him to?
"I hope I didn't interrupt anything, you seem to have your paws full with these two." He looked down at them again. There was no denying that they were Ivie's kids even without them saying mother, both well acted like her from what he had heard.
"How many others are there?" He spoke softly. He didn't say what he was asking about, he assumed she would realise. He also didn't ask if they were his either, he wouldn't have expected her to come and find him but if they were his would he have ever known?
"Ivie... are they?" He couldn't finish the sentance, not infront of the two girls. It was as if he was trying to talk in some sort of code.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:23 am
Nissa found herself creeping after Phusa, entranced by the newcomer. Like her sister, Nissa could not help but think that she had seen this lion before. He was extremely similar and after a moment of looking into his face, she knew where she had seen a lion like him before.
"He looks just like Fedha!" Nissa hissed quietly to her sister. "I met him the other day with mother. He's the male she's always swooning after." Ivie had never kept it secret that she was in love with a male, though she had never said anything, it was in her actions, mumbled in her dreams.
"Mother!" Nissa demanded. "Why does that male look like Fedha'kialio?"
Ivie raised her eyes slightly, wincing at Dharba's soft and kindly voice. "Yes, they're certainly lively." She smiled but the expression was weak and it faltered a few moments later.
"Four others." She replied. "Six in all."
She winced at his unfinished question and winced again at Nissa's demand. "Hush you two." She flicked her tail in their direction and wordlessly she raised her head to Dharba and, nodded slowly.
Yes. They were his children.
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Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:40 am
Phusa didn't get the random language the adults seemed to be talking in. More secrets.
"Mother, stop the secrets!" She demanded. She didn't know who this Fedha lion was and she didn't know who the lion infront of her was either but she did know her mother wasn't talking to them, so better off asking the stranger.
She marched straight past her mother and looked up at the male.
"Who are you and why do you look like the Fedha whats-his-name." She stared up at him, her blue eyes locked on his green ones. She wanted the truth.
Maybe Dhar was just being slow but knowing they were his gave him a mixed reaction for they didn't know who their father was and they kept talking about his brother.
"Oh Ivie what have you done." He wasn't angry, he knew her feelings for his brother and though he loved Ivie he knew she wouldn't love him as much as she loved his brother.
His attention turned to the girls, both asking about Fedha.
"Fedha is my brother..." He paused and looked at Ivie before continuing. "Your uncle." He then looked to the floor before moving closer to Ivie and nuzzling her softly.
"You should have told them."
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:27 am
Everything was happening so fast, so suddenly. Emotions swelled up within Nissa, had her eyes shimmering with tears.
No, no, don't cry. You're strong! Don't let them see you cry!
She snuffled, rubbed her nose with a paw and crept up after her sister. For once she was quiet, content to let her sister do the demanding, though right now she wasn't in any state to really take in what was being said.
"Mother!" She sounded like she was about to make a demand, but, suddenly shy of this lion who was apparently her father, she couldn't find any words. She huddled, uncharacteristacally against her mother's leg. Large eyes wide and unblinking.
Ivie, feeling similar to her daughter in that she was overwhelmed by emotion, just shook her head, blind for all the tears in her eyes.
What had she done?
Her head swam, she couldnt think. Instead she leaned against Dharba, burying her face into his thick, dark mane. Safe. His scent brought back memories of more pleasant times, memories when she could happy - if just for an instant. When she had been with Dharba, talking with him, being with him, she could be free, momentarily, of her love for Fedha.
It was true, she still loved that cold-hearted lion, but there was something there for Dharba too, though at the moment it was distant, so distant she hardly realised it was there. Maybe, with time, it would grow.
"I know." She whispered. "I wanted to." And she had. She would have given anything to have a partner to help her bear the burden of parenthood. Ivie had found it extremely hard. She remembered her own mother's parenting, how wonderful it had been. She adored Palesa with all her heart.
Where had she gone wrong?
She turned as she felt Nissa touch against her and a smile touched her maw. Maybe...maybe some females just weren't meant to be mothers.
"I can't do this, Dharba." Though she didn't make it clear what she was thinking, she hurried on. "I was afraid." Afraid of losing everything. Her children were all she had left. She hadn't seen her mother and brother in so long. Her own father had left her as a child. Her dearest friend hated her even though she loved him. And, when she found a male that she might be able to be happy with, she used him.
Some might say she had brought this unhappiness on herself.
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 3:35 am
Phusa wasn't about to get emotional, honestly what was wrong with her sister and mother? Their father was infront of them and they were close to crying! She shook her head and marched right up to her father.
"So why haven't you been around hmm? Why has mum brought us up without you?" She was demanding questions now, after all it was clearly his own fault for not being here and even though she wanted to know the answers she was, inside happy and relieved that she knew who her father was.
"You aren't leaving again are you?" She hoped not.
Dhar just looked at his daughters and at Ivie, who was in a right state. The poor lioness, she really wasn't too good at this whole living thing.
"It's ok Ivie, I am here now." He was here and he wasn't going to leave her side unless she really wanted him to go. These were his children as well and he wanted to help them grow up.
He then turned to Phusa who he couldn't help but laugh at. He could see Ivie in the way that she acted.
"I am not going anywhere unless your mother wants me to." He offered a smile to the cubs and then looked back at Ivie. He wanted her, he loved her. He didn't care how many times she used him, he just wanted to be there for her. He wanted to be her support.
"If you want me Ivie, I am here, always."
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:12 am
Ivie looked up hopefully. She looked into Dharba's kindly face, listened to his kindly words. He was such a gentleman, so loving. She stepped towards him, drawn to him like a moth. She wanted to tease the flames with her wings.
"Dharba..."
She hesitated, looked at him then looked away. What could she say? "I--I..."
She listened with such intent that her eyes almost bulged from her head. It was almost as if they were talking some secret code language that only they could understand.
But, Nissa, who was reasonably wise when it came to the frolics of adults, frowned deeply. So, her mother who was in love with Fedha had mated with this one...his brother no less! She cast an angry look at her mother and side-stepped.
Suddenly everything slotted into place. It had taken a few moments, but as she began to think more and more, she realised what her mother had planned. She had planned to use her children to win back the heart of that lion who would never love her. That was the reason for all those pretence games. That was the reason she was pretending Fedha was her father!
Anger flooded her body.
Scrunching up her face to hold back the tears, she cast a spiteful glance at Dharba and curled back her lips to reveal tiny, sharp teeth.
Then without warning, she interrupted Ivie's little moment with a declaration of her own. "I hate you, mother." And thrashing her tail, she cast a glance at Phusa and then darted away, tears flooding her face as she went.
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