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 Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 9:06 pm
He had found Namir, he had found Vikesh and Otieno. He had found some of the old pride members, it had been so long that he had been out in the roguelands, circling like a vulture looking for them. He had become quite thin in his days away from the pride, he needed to go home, wanted to go home. He didn't take the self-proclaimed fortune-teller seriously at first but soon felt it had been long enough. He had intended to head home to ask for permission to remain, to resume his old duties and stay home. But now, now things were different. He had to stay with the pride now, he had cubs to take care of. Cubs he wasn't entirely sure how to explain to anybody, either.
It was late morning, and the four cubs were asleep. The previous evening, when Thoth had settled in with them for the night, he hadn't realized just how close they were to home. They were getting hungry, and he couldn't really do much to help them. Once he had them, he knew the urgent need to get somewhere he could get them food. He had to hope there was a lioness in the pride who was capable and willing to help, he wouldn't like approaching a higher classed lioness and asking for their help but he would do it if he had to. He promised to take care of them.
It was lucky cubs slept so much, and that they weren't so hungry they couldn't yet. It was harder to move small cubs when trying not to disturb their sleep, so he had left them curled together, safe and hidden.. and he was on the lookout for any danger- and anybody from the pride.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:30 pm
As she worked herself crazy walking 'calmly' to the water, she spotted a familiar purple lion right up ahead of her. If she hadn't been so thirsty and in such a hurry (though that was quite hard to tell), she might've shown a little more warmth and excitement at seeing Thoth. After all, the purple gaurd was from a time before all of this ice queen garbage she was currently stuck in. However, she could still be polite and even a little friendly on her way to get water. As she moved closer, with every intention of breezing past him, she nodded her head lightly. "Morning, Thoth. It's good to have you back." Her voice was somewhat hoarse.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 6:44 pm
Thoth wasn't expecting to come across someone so soon, as soon as he caught sight of Lela he came to a complete stop and looked around. He wasn't home all the time, he shouldn't be surprised to find out he was already in the pride's territory. But if a priestess was here, he had to be actually quite far in. This was good news for the cubs, really. He didn't get a moment to be excited, though, for the way the priestess spoke- hurried and hoarse- he couldn't help but push it back down.
"Khathelela," he greeted her, nodding his head respectfully. He'd been gone so long, he barely had any time to watch the gradual changes in Lela. To him it seemed very sudden, but he knew his place and wasn't about to comment on that- however, the way she sounded was curious. Priests were well taken care of, she sounded almost unhealthy. And he watched her as she clearly went to go by him, not hesitating to step out of the way but not really hiding his wonder at seeing her and her behaviour.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:12 pm
Lela gracefully made her way past the gaurd. She almost kept on her unmerry way, not even thinking to say much more to Thoth until suddenly she stopped. Slowly, she dropped her head and turned it to the side, without turning her body around. She stared at him through her right eye, her face not fully facing him. Her tail dropped and moved from side to side for a few moments as she considered. As she considered, she looked him over. There was a clear wonder on his face, in his eyes. And, she hadn't talked to him in an awfully long time. She hadn't even heard anything of him since he had left. Was it really polite of her to just leave him standing there? At least, that was her logic reasoning. Deep down, under the cold, at the warmth in the center... she wanted someone to talk to.
"Thoth... Walk with me, will you? Tell me how you've been." She turned her head forward again and took up her original pace. She assumed that Thoth, being a well behaved middle class gaurd who held some respect for her, would simply go along with what she had asked and go with her to get some water. She also figured she could get him to talk a bit until she managed to drink something.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:23 pm
The cubs were a big concern in his mind, Thoth did not want to get too far from them. But they were safe together and hidden well, and there did not appear to be any danger nearby- and on top of that, he could hardly refuse the request of someone higher up than him, both in class and rank. So, of course, he nodded and stepped up beside her to walk. He stayed about one step away and behind so while they walked together he was not the one leading.
"Well," he said, considering his words carefully as he had been asked to tell how he had been, "I've come to ask to stay home this time, I've been searching for a while now."
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:38 pm
It didn't take long for the pair to reach the source of water. Lela hardly managed to hold herself back, daintily reaching her head down and lapping up water slowly, with class and calm. She was comfortable around Thoth, sure. He was from the war, from the time of her parents. Comfort didn't have a real meaning for the lioness anymore, however, so she didn't even consider letting down her gaurd. She was going to drink, but she was going to look like a proper priestess doing it.
After several moments of drinking, she sighed contently and pulled herself back up to a more dignified pose. "You've done the pride well, Thoth. I'm sure my brother will remember it." She managed to smile at him reassuringly. It was true, after all, that Thoth had done a lot in the name of the Mwezi'Johari. Surely Unyezi would consider his request. Lela wasn't entirely sure how a king weighed service in such a decision, but she was positive it wasn't overlooked.
"Are you doing well? I hope the journey hasn't worn you down too far." She didn't actually sound all that concerned. Honestly, her mind was in another place at the moment. If Thoth had seemed injured, she would've been more genuinely concerned. Since he seemed fine, though, she was asking more out of courtesy.
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 7:48 pm
The farther they got from where he had stashed the cubs, the more Thoth's mind wandered and the harder he had to work to maintain his respectful attention upon the priestess. It was good of her to invite him along, he hadn't often associated with higher classed members outside of his own family.. and any that he had were long gone now. It was a sad thought, really. But he knew the pride was thriving now, even if it would take him some time to get to know everybody again. He would get to know those in his own class, and hopefully one of them could help him..
"Thank you," he said with a small smile, glad to be appreciated and hoping that alone was a good case for it. He did not want to use the cubs as an excuse, he wanted to have earned the rest. He'd found two lost priests and a hunter, and circled numerous times. He was not offended by her lack of concern in her question, he was thin but otherwise he was perfectly healthy- and with cubs, he wasn't sure but he assumed he was in for something more difficult than taking care of one's self while wandering.
"I am," he confirmed brightly, "How about you? If you don't mind my saying so, it's not often- or it wasn't often- priests would wander so far from the central lands, especially for a drink."
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 12:20 pm
Lela's snap reaction was to be mildly offended that someone in a lower class was questioning her work. However, she didn't actually do anything about that thought. It was only fleeting, and not very strong at all. It was more of a respect thing, in her mind. But Thoth wasn't sticking his nose around, either. He was simply asking a question, and a very legitimate question at that. However... this was a very delicate matter. It wasn't all too long ago that she had talked to her brother about damage control. She didn't want to go around blabbing about her niece's condition. Thoth was a long time gaurd and surely he was trustworthy, buuuut... It was just such a delicate matter!
She hesitated before answering him. It was clear she was holding herself back, setting up a few more ice blocks in her little wall before giving a half-truth. She didn't want to lie. Plus, how would that look later on, if something ... No, she wasn't going to even think about the bads here. Just act. Just act. "I'm watching a sleeping lioness in a cave nearby." She avoided eye contact, but tried not to make it super obvious. "This was the fastest place to get a drink." She managed to look over at Thoth and smile.
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 2:27 pm
Thoth kept himself in a submissive pose, but he couldn't hide his curiosity. He was almost confused when she said she was watching a sleeping lioness in a cave nearby, wondering first if something had changed- then wondering what someone was still doing asleep. It was so far from the last full moon, they were heading towards the next. That didn't make sense if someone was being initiated. He wasn't sure he should press for more information, though.
So he didn't.
"How have things been lately?" he asked curiously, always wanting to know about the goings-on during his latest absence. But this time he also had something else on his mind, "Many new cubs?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 6:47 pm
Lela was relieved that he dropped the topic. Such a long time member, and such a dedicated member, could surely see through what she was saying. Could surely see that something wasn't right. Thinking about this was making her uneasy, though. Of course, her niece wasn't alone, but... Lela didn't feel right not being there. It was her specialty, after all. She was the one who watched those who were under the influence of the herb. She shifted her weight on her paws a little and couldn't help but glance over her shoulder. This just wouldn't do. Her cool was melting away.
At the subject, of cubs, though, she visibly softened. She still had getting back on her mind, but she could stay just a little longer to talk about little ones. She looked at Thoth and smiled, genuinely. "There are a few, yes." She considered which litters he might already know of. "Din has a little girl. She's a cutie." There was a note of sadness in her voice, but she quickly recovered. "Both of my brothers' children are growing strong and healthy." She loved cubs. They were so bright and cheery, and so ready to love and trust unconditionally, no strings attatched. No responsibilities. Care-free. Soft, unhardened by the war and the move and life's little downs. "They're all so precious."
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Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2008 10:13 pm
Despite his focus on the valuable information she was about to provide him- hopefully- he couldn't help but notice that she cheered up a bit on the subject of cubs. Another thing he couldn't comment much on, but he would take advantage of. He supposed females would be the best ones to ask about this. Her answers were less informative than he hoped, he had seen the royal bunch when they were quite small. He was surprised to hear of Din's daughter and Lela mentioning that both brothers had cubs now.
"Dinaledi has a daughter?" he asked, tilting his head, "Who with?" Last Thoth had heard, the high classed male had disappeared in the midst of being considered for royal nanny. But he hadn't yet gotten any information that he could use, but how could he get it without giving it away? More importantly, why did he feel like keeping it a secret? He opened his mouth as if to speak a couple times, but couldn't seem to find the right words. She was high class, a priestess and merely an acquaintance. He should be looking for Mitsuki, the midwife. But he didn't have much time before they woke up, and when they did he doubted they would be satisfied without food much longer. The more he thought, the more he worried.
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 7:31 am
There had been a time when Lela thought it might just be possible for her to be the one that Dinaledi was going to have cubs with. If a lion could blush, she'd be scarlet. This wasn't the direction she had wanted an innocent chat about cubs to go. "Yes." She tried to breeze it off as if it were nothing. "Some lioness from outside the pride. It was irresponsible, but he did bring a cub back from it." She shrugged, flicked her tail. She thought maybe, just maybe, it might seem like she didn't have a particular interest in the matter. There really was no hope, though. Her whole body was flicking and twitching with discomfort.
She was practically aching to change the subject. It was awkward for her to talk about Dinaledi, his child, and the whole affair that had brought the adorable little kid to this pride. It was awkward for her to talk about any of it with anyone other than her immediate circle, even. She didn't WANT to talk about it anymore, anyway. It was over, right? Done with. Gone. She needed a new topic. She frantically searched her mind for related things. "Oh, then there's the newest additions to our pride. Namir and Artemis are having a litter. They might've had them already, even. I've been a little disconnected from the pride the past couple of days." She'd been more than disconnected. Physically and mentally cut-off was closer to the truth.
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2008 10:27 pm
Dinaledi had a cub with an outside lioness? That was unusual to say the least, but he couldn't comment on the deeds of the upper class. His opinions, as usual, were tucked away. He could hardly go around talking bad about the upper classes, especially to the upper class. So he didn't say anything else on that topic.
What she said next was of interest to him, though.
"Namir made it back?" he asked, excited to hear it, "And he has a mate now?" And with cubs..! This was very hopeful. Very hopeful indeed! He would have somewhere to bring his cubs. His cubs. Then it really hit him that they were now his cubs. Even if he had not actually fathered them, he was their father. Suddenly he didn't look quite like he was paying attention, he only stared off distantly.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 5:14 pm
Lela was relieved the topic shifted so easily. She breathed out slowly, suddenly realizing she had been holding her breath, waiting for Thoth to accept the bait of a new subject. She relaxed, visibly losing the tension that had built up as the topic of Dinaledi had come along. "Yes, he does. She's quite pretty, if I do say so myself. I'm sure their cubs will be beautiful." She got a little dreamy eyed for a moment, but it passed. It was hard for her to stay in a good mood for very long these days.
As Thoth trailed off into his mind, Lela started to get antsy again. The thought of cubs had soothed her stress, sure, but it could only stay that way for so long. After all, her niece was asleep somewhere near by under the effects of an herb that had been deemed safe for lions who were OLDER than her. And, the possibilities of her waking before the full moon... Lela felt dizzy. She felt sick. She wanted to get back to Alcmene. She shifted her weight uneasily. "Have you seen my brother yet?" There was an edge creeping back into her voice. She was beginning to really lose her cool. This was no good.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 8:48 pm
Feeling an almost uncontrollable urge to return to the four cubs that were now in his care, he had to shove it back down out of repsect for the priestess before him. He had no idea she was slowly working her own way out of their conversation. His attention returned to her when she asked if he had yet had a chance to talk to Unyezi, and after a slight pause to review what exactly was going on, he shook his head.
"When I stopped last night, I didn't realize how close to home I was," he said truthfully, and realized the trouble with keeping his situation a secret- it would be known eventually. Not to mention it was almost imperative that he return to them and honesty was the best way to take his leave. She was a lioness, she would understand.
"I was distracted, I guess," he said and then lowered his head and smiled sheepishly, "My apologies, I'd say I rather am right now. You see, I- I- found some abandoned cubs."
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