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 Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:02 am
Amani had finished cleaning the den and was wandering through the pride while her pad spent time off by himself for a bit. It wasn't that Amani didn't love spending time with Nywele, but every once in a while it was nice to get out, to see what all changes had taken place while she had been gone.
She paused in front of one of the more noisier dens, knowing that it belonged to her brother Faiz. He was probably busy at the moment, but she could at least look in, right? Greet the family. She hadn't met nearly as much of her new family as she would like!
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:12 am
Mzuka'hila knew there was another lionness. Another lionness stealing her time with Faiz away. He hadn't stopped talking about his sister, and although she'd sat and looked interested, nodding in the right places and smiling, she was beginning to feel like all he'd ever talk about from now on was his sister. It was like...he'd practically forgotten that she was his Beybanu. Mzuka wasn't jealous - of course Faiz would love his sister, yet in a completely different way. There was no jealousy like there had been between her and Tuliua, where they'd been competing for his affections. But there was jealousy that his attention wasn't on her as much anymore.
She'd had nine cubs, and had enjoyed the amazed stares and congratulations she'd received. But now that all seemed to have faded, leaving her with the nine cubs to care for. And with Faiz busy with this sister, she wasn't even getting any help. Laying in her den, head in her paws, looking rather grumpy, Mzuka sighed. It wasn't fair.
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:15 am
"Greetings to the den," Amani called as she got closer. "I am Amani, sister of Faiz, aunt to some extremely adorable little ones," she added, not seeing anyone straight off that she could talk to. "Is there anyone here?" Of course there was, she knew, she could smell them, but it was only polite to enquire whether they wanted to be known or not.
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:18 am
Huh?
Mzu glanced upwards at a voice, blinking in confusion. Surely the Banu couldn't be back yet, they should still be out hunting, and it was far too early for Faiz to be back. A name was given, one that triggered a memory, and it was soon confirmed. So this was his sister? Pushing herself to her feet, approaching the entrance, Mzuka forced a smile as the other lionness came into view, mildly surprised by how purple she was. She obviously got that from wherever Aali got his. "Mzuka'Hila, Faiz's Beybanu. Most of those little ones are mine."
She inclined her head a little, not wanting to cause a bad first impression, allowing her smile to grow a little. "It's nice to finally meet you, Amani."
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:21 am
"And you as well, Beybanu," Amani said with a brilliant smile. "Or should I call you sister?" she added. "I have wanted to meet the mother of so many beautiful little ones, I was positive she would be a beauty as well, and I was right!" She seemed honestly overjoyed to meet the other female, it shone in her eyes and the easy smile she gave the other female. "Of course, I would expect my brother to have excellent tastes," she added.
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:24 am
She had a pretty smile...she and Faiz obviously both got that from their mother. Not that Aali didn't have a pretty smile...y'know, just Faiz's was prettier. Sister? Mzu blinked, surprised by the friendliness so early in a conversation. "I...yes, you may call me that," she offered after a small pause, smiling to try and reassure the lionness. The compliments seemed to flow out of Amani, and Mzu felt her cheeks heat up, a grin betraying her as she looked to one side, embarrassed. She was so nice! She really hadn't been expecting such a nice sister - one that was clingy, or overprotective, or just a plain b***h, but not such a friendly, easy-to-get-along-with one!
"Thank you, Amani," she replied bashfully, watching her paws as she fiddled with a stone on the ground, "You're too kind. It was hell carrying them all, I'll tell you." There was a pause, before she looked up with a kind smile, "How about yourself? Are you still with Aali?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 8:29 am
"No, actually, although it was nice being with my half brother for a time," Amani said honestly. "He's such a sweet person, and a wonderful leader. But his eldest son was saved by my new pad, Nywele, and I was given to him in thanks," she explained. "He's a very wonderful pad to have. But I wish to hear all about carrying so many young ones! I have not had the pleasure of having cubs yet, you know. It would be good to do my research now, before Nywele and I--" she flushed modestly, but a little smile pulled at her lips. "Conceive," she finished shyly. "Since you have had so many I'm sure you're the one I need to ask!"
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Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:09 am
She wasn't with Aali any longer? Mzu blinked, surprised - she hadn't heard anything of this Nywele, or one of Aali's sons being in danger. Her smile thinned for a moment, in irritation that Faiz hadn't told her. Did he not think her capable of understanding such things? But now was not to time to be thinking of this, and the smile was soon back again. "As long as he's kind to you, and you're happy," Mzu spoke, sitting herself down.
Hearing about carrying cubs? Mzu felt her cheeks get warm once more. Faiz had been sure to mention more than once how moody she'd been, and how much inner strength it had taken him to not snap back. And he hadn't - not once. He'd just sat there and taken all the abuse she'd hurled at him. "It's certainly an...experience," the blue lionness began, her face thoughtful, "It's not particularly comfortable. I believe its easier the less you're carrying, though. Obviously it was...extremely uncomfortable for me." She sighed, running her tongue over her teeth thoughtfully, not sure what else to add. "You'll act...different, too. All the hormones and stress 'cause you to act rather...unpredictably. I gave poor Faiz hell, I've been told..."
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Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:16 am
"Oh dear," Amani said. "The poor guy," she added with just the tiniest bits of amusement. "I'm sure he handled it perfectly well, though. Faiz has always had a lot of patience. Did you have strange urges? Or desire strange foods in the middle of the night?" she asked, making herself comfortable. Her tail twitched behind her, showing how very interested she was in this subject. "What about the other banu? Did they help with the birthing?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:17 am
Mzu allowed herself a small giggle, shaking her head. She really had been horrible to him, looking back, "He dealt with me very well, actually. He didn't once snap back, just took it all. I'm luck I have such an...understanding Pad." Strange urges? Mzu frowned, trying to remember. Her children were growing so quickly, the boys would soon be old enough to leave on their Coming of Age. She wasn't looking forwards to that. Tuliua was worried out of her mind at the moment, with Ilyas and Zeki out on theirs.
"I tended to be a lot lazier - I slept for the majority of the afternoon, since I was too exhausted to do much else. And more than once I made Faiz go and catch me a hare in the middle of the night, only for him to return and me to be asleep."
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Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:20 am
Amani started laughing with delight. "Oh, how I wish I could have seen that!" she exclaimed, picturing her brother's face as he walked into the cave with a hare, only to see her sound asleep. It probably took him longer to catch that hare than he would admit, too. With as many banu as he had, she really doubted he did much hunting of his own. She then imagined asking Nywele to do the same thing and burst out laughing again. "Oh, I hope I don't do that to my poor pad!" she exclaimed. "He'd be gone forever and a day just trying to find the poor hare!"
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Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:22 am
Mzu smiled alongside her new friend - could she call her that yet? Mzu had never had many friends, and wasn't exactly sure when you could officially label someone as a 'friend' rather than an 'acquaintance'. Amani began to talk about her Pad doing the same thing, and Mzu's smile grew to an amused grin, as she shook her head. "The things we do to them, eh?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:26 am
"Oh, but I can't wait to tell him," Amani said, her laughter turning to a sweet smile. She liked this lioness very much! She was glad that Faiz had found such a good beybanu. "He's going to be so proud, I know he is. It will be our first litter, and no matter the size I'm sure we'll spoil them all shamelessly. Then she looked at Mzu, cocking her head slightly. "They grow up so quickly, though," she said. "Is it hard to watch them, knowing that sooner than you think they'll be off to start their own families? That the girls will be going to someone you don't know as well as you'd hope to, and the boys are going out into the rogue lands?"
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