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 Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 1:28 pm
[Misilivuma: Sarge // Ilyes: xo kairi] A huge, pale shape padded along the western boarders of the pride, pausing occasionally to gaze at animals moving in the distance, their small shapes like dots on the horizon. The sun blazed through his white hot mane. His stony eyes gleamed like rubies. He licked his muzzle, still tattered and torn from his fight with the Firekin so many months ago, and slowly moved on, continuing his patrol.
Although he seemed serious, nothing made him happier than walking the boarders of the pride alone, taking his daily turn on patrol. He had even fended off a few males hoping to break into the pride and steal some of its females. For the first time in his life Vu felt like his training was truly paying off. Ilyas, for one of the first times, was being allowed to wander by himself. Growing fast, he was no longer a cub, innocent and defenseless. His claws were growing, his teeth were sharper, and he was toughening up considerably, muscle bulging through his skin from the play-fighting he participated in with the pride's other cubs. He still wasn't old enough to leave - still not old enough to go out alone into the rogue lands and capture a female. But he soon would be. He was growing bigger by the day, eating more and more. His mother and sisters joked that he would get fat, but he never did. He certainly hoped he never did - obesity was not something the male particularly wanted. He wanted to be lean and fit, just like his father.
Smiling a little to himself, Ilyas strolled through the Ukuucha'Wafalme lands quite casually, glancing around. Numerous females were returning to the dens, carrying fresh kills with which to feed their Pad and harem. He didn't spot Mzuka'hila, his Daddy's favourite, but he wasn't surprised. She'd just given birth to a humongous litter - Ilyas didn't even know it was possibly to have nine cubs. He certainly hoped he never had to deal with that many. His poor Papa seemed exhausted.
Looking up, Ilyas suddenly realized he was near the borders, and winced inwardly. Papa had said he could wander, but not to go near the borders. Damnit! He didn't want to get into trouble! And there was even a scout, surveying the borders just there! Ohhh, he'd have to make a stealthy get away. Turning, Ilyas began to creep away...
And prompt tripped over a rock, landing flat on his face. "OW!"The guard stiffened and whirled in the direction of the sound. He almost bared his teeth before he recognized the sound of a cub’s squeak. Only a few weeks ago that sound would have been alien to him. But this wasn’t one of his cubs. He could recognize them by sound and by smell even at a great distance. Being a father brought on such amazing changes.
Vu bounded toward the sound. As the cub came into view, he called out, “Hello there! Are you alright?”
In no time he was standing over the cub. Although not yet fully grown, Vu was quite an intimidating male. He was huge, taking after his father, with rippling muscles and small, piercing eyes. The scars covering his face and paws made him even more intimidating. Recognizing the stripes on the cub’s dark pelt, he realized this must be one of Vizer Fiaz’s sons. Strange to find such a young cub all the way out here.
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:34 pm
Ilyas heard a call, asking him if he was alright. His first thought was of his father, and excitement rose in him and the prospect of having time to spend alone with his Papa. Zeki was always there in lessons - having his Papa to himself, even for just a little while, was something Ilyas would love to do. Glancing up with blue eyes, rubbing his sore nose, Ilyas gave an involuntary whine, followed by a disgruntled huff as he realized it wasn't Faiz - it was some other male. Probably one of the scouts. He looked pretty young, though. Not that much older than Ilyas. Surely he couldn't be a scout already? ...That wasn't fair!
Although, as he was suddenly standing over Ilyas, he did look pretty huge. The juvenile blinked, cranking his neck upwards before realizing that was uncomfortable, pushing himself to his feet instead with a slight growl, shaking his legs out. He took a step back so he didn't have to crank his neck as much, nose wrinkling a little at the scars littering the larger male's face. ...He was a pride member, right? The thought that this could be an intruder suddenly flashed through Ilyas' mind. He didn't think he'd seen him before...he couldn't die! He was too young to die!
"W-Who're you?" he asked, trying to remain composed. And he did pretty well, he reckoned.
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:50 pm
The cub’s growl didn’t faze him. Instead, he looked puzzled. Without hesitation, the older male replied, “Vu, one of the guards. Aren’t you one of the vizer’s kids?”
He cocked his head at the skittish young male. Maybe his father wasn’t around here and he thought he was going to get in trouble. Or maybe he was up to something. Vu narrowed his eyes. “I hope you weren’t planning on having a little adventure in the rogue lands. It’s too dangerous out there for a cub your age.”
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 1:57 pm
A guard? ...Well, he was pretty huge, Ilyas supposed. Although surely those scars meant he was a bit rubbish at fighting? Anyone who was good at fighting didn't get hurt, right? Eh, whatever. Ilyas' tail flicked to the right as he gave a small nod at his question - yeah. He was Faiz's son, one of the Vizier's. So what? What he planning to KIDNAP him or something!? ...Wait, he was being ridiculously again. Aww, he wished Farrah was here. They could laugh and play a kidnapping game. He did love his sister.
Planning on having an adventure in the rogue lands? What the hell, he wasn't allowed to accuse him of that! Ilyas growled, crouching a little to take up a position that showed he wasn't pleased with the accusations. "No, I was just having a wander and wandered too far! And I'm not a cub!"
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Posted: Thu Oct 29, 2009 2:26 pm
That growling again. This time Vu’s fur bristled. Ordinarily Vu liked seeing such promise in young males, but the boarders were his turf and he expected cubs and commoners to respect his authority out here. Ilyes was no vizer yet. A deep growl emanated from his chest like thunder rolling across the sky, a warning to mind his elders.
“Out there, you might as well be. I used to think like you. I thought I could take on the world. When I was your age I went into the rogue lands with a friend of mine, thought we’d have ourselves a little adventure; came back with half my face ripped off. As if that wasn’t bad enough, I had to explain it to my mother.” He licked his tattered lips, focused on the memory.
Turning back to the cub, he added sternly, “You know, the last thing I want is to see that happen to some other cub. What’s your name?”
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 9:51 am
Woa, that was a pretty cool growl. Even Ilyas had to admit it. Well, to himself. He wasn't about to admit it to Vu, though, instead merely continuing to stand somewhat defiantly, although he did relax his stance a little, and held himself from growling back. He didn't want Papa to hear if he was being rude - he was already in enough trouble as it was. The story made Ilyas wrinkled his nose a little, blue eyes carefully regarding the scars on the older male's face. He certainly didn't want that to happen to him!
"...Ilyas," he mumbled in response to the question asked, diverting his gaze off to the left. He was curious...he couldn't help it as the words tumbled out of his mouth, "Whathappened?"
He wanted to know what to expect. He'd have to go off on his Coming of Age soon - he needed to be ready.
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Posted: Thu Nov 05, 2009 9:49 pm
Vu raised an eyebrow. This youngster should have run off by now. His ears swiveled around while he stared down Ilyes. For now they seemed to be alone. Vu took his job seriously, so he hesitated to delay in his rounds. On the other hand he should probably escort Ilyes back into the center of the pride to make sure he didn’t start any mischief out by the boarders.
“I was trying to protect my friend. Other than that there’s not much to tell, but I have other stories.” He stepped forward, towards the inner pride. “We should get you away from the boarders. Walk with me and I’ll tell you some.”
His mother’s tales of the god Mrost, Mufasa and the proud heritage of their pride taught him to appreciate the value of a good story. Those stories stayed in his heart to this day. After focusing so much on his training, Vu almost forgot the importance of telling stories rather than just remembering them. Having cubs reminded him of that.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:45 pm
Trying to protect his friends? Ilyas wrinkled his nose, but obediently walked beside Vu on their way back to the inner pride. Ilyas wondered - would he ever do that? Get hurt, to protect his friends? ...He would for Farrah. He definitely would for Farrah. He reckoned he would for all his siblings, and half-siblings. He was the oldest out of all of them, Faiz's oldest child, the eldest son. He felt it was almost his duty to protect his siblings, even Zeki. So he supposed he would his friends, too - friends and family all meant the same to Ilyas. Although it was impossible not to have favourites. He was still somewhat upset by the fact that he wouldn't be able to cuddle Farrah soon. He hoped she went to a nice Pad.
Realizing he'd not been listening, he blinked, suddenly glancing back up to Vu with slightly glazed-over eyes, making it pretty clear he hadn't been listening to a word. But he'd been thinking hard, about things that mattered. ...Hey, maybe he hadn't even missed anything. There was suddenly one thing he wanted to ask, though.
"...Vu? ...Oh wait, do I have to call you Pad Vu, or Guard Vu...? ...Whatever, can I ask you something?" He cocked his head to the left, expression sincere. He was being serious.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 2:55 pm
While they walked Vu started talking about an experience he had in the rogue lands. He wasn’t very good at telling stories. No one had to tell him, he could hear it in his voice. When he saw Ilyes wasn’t listening he wondered if he should feel offended or relieved.
He furrowed his brow, giving Ilyes a sideways glance. “Just Vu is fine. What do you want to ask?”
Now Vu didn’t see himself as very good at answering questions either. Warriors answer questions with their claws. That was what he was always taught. Imara obviously never counted on him becoming a father one day. A father who answers questions with his claws was not the kind of father Vu wanted to be, and if he ever met a father like that he would give him a taste of his own.
Fortunately, his cubs always asked easy questions. Why is the sky blue? Because the Sky God likes that color. Where do termites come from? From termite mounds. He had a feeling Ilyes’ question would be tougher.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:03 pm
Oh, Vu looked just as thoughtful as he did. Maybe he hadn't been speaking. ...That was good. Ilyas didn't want to get punished for being rude, especially when it had been unintentional. He was given permission to ask, and he cast his gaze downwards, watching his feet as he placed them one in front of the other. Left, right. One, two.
"When..." he began, before pausing, feeling his cheeks warming. Was this a stupid question? He found it strange, how he was suddenly more upset over losing Farrah than he was over Zeki and his pretty Banu. Was this what Papa had meant, with priorities? "When my sisters grow up. They'll go to other Pads, yeah?" It wasn't really a question, he knew the answer, "Will...Will I still be able to cuddle them? And play with them?"
He felt so silly for asking. And just as he finished speaking he suddenly remembered Vu had only recently joined the Ukuucha'Wafalme. So he wouldn't know the answer. ...D'Oh.
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:15 pm
He nodded at the rhetorical question, but when Ilyes asked his real question he said nothing at first. “My son is like you. He’s protective of his sisters and always looks out for them. I’ll still visit my daughters after I’ve given them away and I’m sure he will, too. I can’t imagine anything else.” He glanced at Ilyes, noticing his expression. “Oh, are you asking if that’s alright? Er…”
Being relatively new here, having yet to give away a single daughter, he knew little of the pride’s views on males going to visit their sisters and daughters after they were given away. He thought about it for a second.
“I guess I don’t know. But it feels right.”
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:23 pm
Hmm? His son? Ilyas looked up, blinking. Oh yeah...he had kids. He'd forgotten, for a moment - after all, despite his large size, Vu wasn't that old. Not adolescent, but not really adult, either. Somewhere in between. Ilyas wasn't sure how he knew - it was almost like Vu was physically an adult, but not quite emotionally yet. He didn't want to press the issue, though. He was only a Pesar, after all. ...Despite being the eldest son.
"But...it's different. Visiting, and then, like...cuddling. I love my sisters. I want to be able to hug them and talk to them. But...but what if their Pads won't let me?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:31 pm
Vu never thought of that before. He always assumed the other pads would understand. He realized that as the father he would be able to meet and choose his daughter’s pad and might have more say over how he interacted with his daughters than Ilyes with his sisters. Tough question. What would his father say in this situation?
“Well, you’ll have to respect that. If it really bothers you couldn’t you just talk to your father about it? He’s the vizer, after all.”
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Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2009 3:35 pm
Respect that? Ilyas wrinkled his nose. That was what Momma had said. He'd asked if she could try choose nice Pads, but she'd told him it was all up to Faiz. But his Papa was always busy, plus wasn't too happy with him at the moment, because of all the jealousy over Zeki. Ilyas pouted, glancing at his feet again. He should go apologise to his father.
"...He's busy. And I don't want to make him more busy just 'cause I can't get what I want." he spoke quietly, glancing up towards Vu again. "It's more...more that I'll leave, on my Coming of Age. Then I'll come back...and Farrah won't be Papa's Banu anymore." He sighed, kicking a pebble sadly, "I just...hope she gets a nice Pad. I wouldn't be able to stand it if he was cruel!"
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Posted: Sun Nov 15, 2009 12:44 pm
Vu frowned and simply looked straight ahead. He knew he sounded like an adult, observant and unfair. Even with adulthood creeping up on him he refused to believe he would turn out like the adults he knew all his life, stoic like his mother and father. He was a warrior but he wasn’t like them.
“I guess you’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Life can surprise you.”
No kidding. Life can surprise the living s**t out of you. Vu was still waking up surprised every day.
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