|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:47 pm
Gakere was turning out to be much better than his mother had been at hunting prairie dogs. Mpenzi always supervised, but his head was too small to be stuck, and he seemed to understand the network of tunnels they had in the immediate area. He was a smart boy, having spent a few days watching the rodents and observing which holes led to which.
It was amusing, to say the least, especially when he caught one or two. He'd already caught one today, and had dropped it next to Mpenzi [to show Mother later], and was now stalking a hole while the lioness watched from a bit of a distance.
"Gakere, they don't make very good meat, so don't kill many."
The cub glanced back at her, a flash of his teeth in a half-grin. "Yes, M'penzi."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 07, 2010 11:58 pm
Matifu had been watching Mpenzi for days. It wasn't the loud ones that caught his eye, usually, but those quiet, strong ones that had a presence even if it wasn't always clear in how they held themselves. More importantly, however, what had come to his attention was how much time the busisa was spending with Nahmba's male cub. There was quite a great deal of energy being spent on a cub that would not benefit the pride.
He had been staring at the pair of them from a distance for a long time. Although he could not make out details, Mpenzi appeared to be mostly stoic, while the young cub she was sitting moved from place to place with some sort of purpose. It was all very strange.
Curiosity won out. A scowl over his face, Matifu walked the open distance between the two. He paused in front of Gakere, giving the cub an unreadable glance before he continued the rest of the way to Mpenzi.
"You've been out here for a long time, new one. Should I be concerned?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:08 am
Mpenzi had been watching Matifu for quite awhile, though she hadn't moved from her resting spot. She was, at heart, a hunter, and she noticed many things, though she often felt no need to comment upon him.
As he approached and stopped to ponder his offspring, however, she sat up, her amber gaze neutral though her expression was slightly amused, distant though not unfriendly.
"Umholi... Matifu," Her voice was a smooth purr as she took a brief moment to find his name. A brief flash of her teeth in a laugh as she glanced at Gakere, who had stopped beside a hole quite a ways away to watch them with his serious bright eyes. "Nothing for a male to concern himself with, no. The energy of a cub is everlasting."
A paw was placed on the prairie dog at her side, to draw his attention. "He is getting... Gifts, for his mother." Another pause, and she noted that he probably did not know her name, as she had only been here a few weeks, and she had only been approved in passing by the males. It had been the females to accept her, especially with Nahmba's fervent support.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:24 am
If Gakere's energy was everlasting, it would be a problem for Matifu. The urge to turn and look at the cub was there, but he did not. Instead, Mpenzi offered him something to look at.
He had to squint, his eyes having started to go bad with older age, but he could make out the distinct form of a prairie dog. Another glance to Mpenzi, and he had decided he had enough of the site of it.
"Hm," was his response. The fact that the cub had actually caught one was worrysome. It meant he had a brain, and a brain meant danger in the future. Perhaps, for now, it was okay. He was still young, but Matifu did not wish to have naive thinking stifle him and cost him his position.
"Gakere, come here." His voice was sterner, perhaps a bit louder than it should be. "Explain this." A paw was shifted towards the dead creature.
He appreciated Mpenzi, but Gakere was the more troublesome of the two situations for his mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:29 am
Gakere made no qualms about pretending he hadn't been eavesdropping, having stopped to stare long ago, and he stayed still only a moment after hearing the command. Granting a brief recess to the prairie dogs, he padded over to his father, stopping short of paw's reach to glance at the dead rodent, before looking back at the large male.
"It is a dead rodent, Father. M'penzi calls it a 'prairie dog'." He blinked. Was he not allowed to harm them? If he hadn't been, he was sure M'penzi would have told him. Still, she was new, Mother said. Perhaps she didn't understand all of the rules, as he didn't.
M'penzi fell silent, feeling Matifu's tension and the subtle contest between the two relatives. She did not move, however, her careful eyes watching the Umholi, rather than the cub.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:40 am
The answer caused his jaw to tighten. There was every reason to have assumed it was a sassy reply.
But, that did not make sense, even from something so young. Now, Matifu was left with choices, and his mind was still relatively baffled enough not to make the correct one.
"So it is." A long breath followed. And Gakere was catching these dead rodents for his mother. Perhaps the cub was as deranged and happy as his mother. He did not look it, but the strange mind could hide.
"Since it is dead, and dead food not eaten soon goes to waste, you should consume it now. A good male cub can eat the whole thing." It was perhaps a little cruel to deny both the cub and Nahmba this strange. . . whatever bond they had over rodents. But, the cub needed to learn his lessons now. And Mpenzi, too, before she got any ideas like Nahmba's that this cub could stay.
"I'm waiting."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:45 am
"But it is Mother's," He explained, unaware at first that Matifu knew this and did not care.
Gakere did not move. He stared up at Father, his young mind working at an incredibly fast pace. Was Father being deliberately mean? It was hard to tell, in a way, if he was trying to help Gakere or if he was trying to hurt Nahmba. Perhaps neither. He could simply be asserting his dominance.
His voice remained matter-of-fact, as it always was, rather than the petulance or happy oblivion of most youth, and he spoke slowly, his eyes still locked on Matifu's.
"I am not a good male cub, Father."
M'penzi hid a smile. Gakere was often told what a bad cub he was. In fact, it was only Nahmba that told him he was a good, brave boy. She had to wonder how this would end, but it was certainly telling her much of Matifu.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 12:56 am
"No," Matifu answered. The breath he had been holding was let out. "You aren't." This seemed to be answer enough for him. His eyes slid over the cubs tuft of fur and then returned to Mpenzi.
"I don't believe I ever received your name." Let Gakere think about how much of a mistake he was in silence.
"Nahmba will be glad that you are taking such good care of him." It was said more quietly, as though he did not wish Gakere himself to hear. It may, perhaps, be taken as a compliment for the cub himself, where it was not that. He followed with, "But he is trouble," to make sure Mpenzi understood.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:02 am
Gakere was quiet, having already decided not to tell Mother about this. It would only make her be silent, he knew, which she did when she was upset. He would ask Mpenzi about the interaction, later.
Mpenzi's smile was cool and collected as the exchange between the two males ended, Matifu releasing some of his tension in favor of punishing the cub silently.
She was glad for that, as it let her feel an inkling for respect for him, as an individual, and she nodded. "I understand." A pause. "She cares for him greatly, and will return soon to collect him from my care."
She glanced briefly at the rodent, but did not mention it. The pale lioness would be happy to have it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:13 am
Matifu gave Mpenzi a short nod. Her words developed a simple understanding between him. It was the kind that he more often shared with males, but was still equally as desirable in females.
The Umzingeli had not made a mistake. She was a good addition.
"When you are free of him, I would like to continue this conversation." The rodent seemed to be the thing that garnered the most attention, and Matifu left it with a hard glare. He left Gakere with nothing, as usual.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 08, 2010 1:16 am
Mpenzi watched him leave, before turning to Gakere, who simply rubbed his head against her forearm before picking of his rodent.
"Come, let us return you and your gift to Nahmba."
The two headed the opposite direction of the Umholi, and this was a good thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
