|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 10:53 am
Sometimes, when it wasn't too bad, he could make his way to a deep sand pit. When the sun had heated the sand, it made for a wonderful balm to his joints, and reasonably soft as well. Unfortunately, today was not a day when he could make it that far, and he ws getting too big to simply be carried there. So he had learned to make do. Just outside the den, there was convenient mostly flat rock. It was a dark grey, veined with rusty red streaks. It soaked up the sun wonderfully by afternoon, making it very like the sand pit. Granted, it was much harder to lay upon, but the heat radiated up and eased the deep ache, making it easier to bear laying upon the hard surface.
Mornings and rainy or cloudy days were ineffective to heat the rock, so he was glad that they were well into the hot days of summer. He hadn't eaten yet today, but that was due to loss of appetite, not lack of food. He'd eat later, when the pain wasn't a sharp presence in the front of his mind. With a deep sigh, he relaxed onto the rock and gazed dreamily straight ahead, letting his imagination take him somewhere he could move about freely and without pain. His orange eyes defocused and a smile curved his lips.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 2:02 pm
 They say it's a sign of intelligence to be able to learn from past experiences and avoid doing the same mistakes twice. If that was true... N'Seka was just not very smart. He had gone exploring among the dens again, he had overestimated the distance he was able to walk - again - and now his paws had started to hurt and he wasn't even half way back home. Oh, bother. At least he had turned around before it started to hurt this time. Perhaps he was not completely dense. And he wasn't alone either, an older cub was resting on a rock nearby so he limped closer to him, an idea forming in his mind.
"Ahem," he said, to catch the attention of the masked cub, "Hullo! Can I come visit for a while?"
It wasn't the greatest idea ever, perhaps. But if he could stay here until he wasn't tired and achy anymore it would feel less like he was stranded and had failed exploring. Again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 1:49 pm
It wasn't hard to come back from his daydreaming when someone spoke up nearby. His eyes refocused alertly, and he raised his head to smile at the cub. This wasn't one of his siblings, which was an enjoyable change. "Yes, you may come stay for a visit," he replied cheerfully. "Its fun to meet someone new. I'm Ruko." His expression invited the youngster to share his name as well. "Where were you off to on such a nice warm afternoon?"
His tail flicked back and forth a little, but otherwise Ruko held pretty still. It helped to not move most of the time, especially when he had the heat from the rock or sand. Moving made everything ache again, which tended to distract him from whatever he was doing to pass the time. He'd normally be imagining wild and fanciful tales, but he did indeed enjoy the company of someone else. It was nice to sit and talk, a different way to pretend all was well. Moaning and groaning about his hurts and ills would do nothing to help them get better, nor would brighten the day of anyone near him. Thus, he refrained.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:34 am
"I'm N'Seka," he said as he settled near Ruko, he sighed contentedly as he finally got off his feet, "Yejide is my mommy and I have lots of brothers."
He had sisters too, but they seemed less important to mention since he had a lot more brothers than sisters. And boys were better, that's what Yezekael said. N'Seka loved and admired his big brothers, and willingly acted sidekick if needed. Ruko might be about the same age as his brothers, but it was always hard to tell. There could be a noticeable size difference between healthy and sick cubs so all bets were off when it came to lion kitlings and youth.
"I was exploring," he explained to the other boy, "But not very far... Mom would worry."
And... his feet would get sore. His action radius was pitiful even on a good day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 11:06 am
Ruko smiled more at the younger lion as he eased off his paws. He would have to put a bug in Beo's ear about this one, for he clearly loved to explore, but didn't really seem to have the ability to do much of it. He nodded solemnly at the mention of his mother. "It is always good to keep mothers from worrying," he agreed. He didn't have his own mother, but an adopted one. He didn't mind, though the amount of siblings he had put a strain on her to show attention to each and every one. Ruko was very close with various siblings though, and didn't feel the lack at all. Even so, he knew that mothers tended to be the worrying type, and that they did not deserve to be vexed.
"I'm more than happy to share my rock, if you like," he offered, scooting himself very carefully over to make room. It was a wide rock, and would accommodate them both easily. "Are both your parents in the pride?" he asked pleasantly. "I only have my Dad here, but lots and lots of siblings," he explained. "My dad sort of brings cubs back to help the pride get strong." He clearly was proud of him, rather than feeling neglected or ashamed of his father's behavior. Some might have frowned on his father's methods, bringing his own cubs home from different flings, despite having a mate at home already. But Ruko understood the need, and knew his father loved his mate. That never seemed to be in question in his mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 10:53 am
N'Seka crawled up the rock and was delighted to find it nice and warm. He had to remember that sun warmed rocks felt really good on sore feet.
"No, just mom," N'Seka said. He wasn't one to really worry about where he came from, and while some of his brothers were aware of the fact that Yejide wasn't their birthmother he never seemed to know or care about it. Mom was mom no matter what.
"Where does he find cubs?" N'Seka asked, ears tilting forward, "Doesn't cubs need a mommy?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 11:17 am
Ruko smiled at the younger lion, warmed in his heart by the sweet nature N'seka expressed. "It's true, cubs need mothers, fathers, aunts and uncles. But mostly it's that cubs need love, just like everyone else." Unable to help himself, he leaned over and gently cheek-rubbed in gentle affection. "Whether the love is given by mother, or by father, or even by friends, it's the love that matters most."
He paused to consider how to tell this youngster how Sliabh brought home cubs. It wasn't exactly the kind of thing one tells cubs who weren't needing to know. He was tempted to tell a fanciful story to both distract the two of them as well as avoid the question, but he decided that this was not the right situation for storytelling. "All the cubs my daddy brings home are his own," he answered truthfully at length. "Our mommas either don't want to come here or can't, because we get so sick here." Also true enough, overall. "But we don't mind, because our daddy has a mate here too, and she looks after us." Ruko had never quite felt right calling her his momma, though, so he hadn't. "Besides, all us kids keep each other company too." He smiled with laughter in his eyes. Even though he had his bad days, oh the mischief he and his sibs could get into!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 11:52 am
Cheek-rubs were nice, no matter who gave them to you. Perhaps love was the same, really. He closed his eyes and made a happy noise in the back of his throat. N'Seka could really relate to that last part about siblings too. It didn't matter if mom was off doing something or paying more attention to another of his siblings. They all had each other and kept each other company.
"My big brothers help me all the time," he said, "And I get to play with their friends who come over too. At least if I don't mess up their games."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 1:43 pm
He slanted the younger cub an amused look. "You too, eh? Well, we know they love us, even if we are pains in the tail to them." He certainly knew that from his older siblings. They usually weren't very interested in him at all, at least the oldest ones. The next oldest from his litter were more tolerant though. Then there was Haruma, their 'eldest sister'. She wasn't really their sister at all, but their daddy had adopted her and her sibs as his own, so to the family, she just was a part of the chaotic and happy whole. He settled down against the warm rock with a sigh, realizing he'd have to move soon to a different spot that hadn't quite cooled as much as what was under him currently.
He hated to admit it, but he was beginning to feel exhaustion creeping up on him. He had thought he felt better than that, but it seemed visiting was taking more out of him than he anticipated. His eyes slid closed of their own volition, making them doubly hard to drag open again. He shifted on the rock, altering his position just enough to benefit from further heat. His lids dropped heavily, but he dragged them open again to look sideways at the cub. "Mmmm... I'm sorry N'seka, but it seems I need a nap." His whiskers slicked back in a feline smile. "I don't mind if you join me, but I don't want your momma to worry about you either." A frantic mother's cries and tears were to be avoided at all costs! Mothers shouldn't have to go through that kind of thing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 1:15 pm
N'Seka was getting a bit sleepy up on the warm rock, but the older boy was right of course. Yejide would worry and send his brothers out for him, and depending on who found him it would be more or less fun to be escorted back. He flexed his tiny claws and extended all toes to feel if his paws wanted to cooperate again. It seemed promising enough, and if he could just go straight home there should be no trouble.
"Naps are good," he said as he yawned and stretched his back, "But momma might get worried. Do you know the best way home?"
N'Seka knew where he lived, sort of, and he assumed everyone else would too. It was the most important place in the world after all. His siblings lived there, and his momma... So naturally everyone should know where he lived. Perfectly logical in his opinion. He showed an afterthought that was unusual in asking for help, because while he would probably get home eventually he wasn't sure he knew the closest way from here. And if he simply backtracked he'd have to jump and climb in places. It had seemed like a good idea back then, before his energy ran out on him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:58 pm
Ruko chuckled throatily, his weariness not touching his humor. "I am afraid I can't know where you live, since I just met you," he pointed out gently. Such cubbish innocence was to be treasured, not made fun of or mocked, in his lofty juve opinion. "I can, however, suggest that if you stick to the pathways, I bet you'll find your way home pretty easily." The well-trodden dirt paths were clear and often were the swiftest way between two points, at least for those who could not fly or climb. "Don't be afraid to ask someone for help along the way, if you seem to get lost," he advocated as well. "Everyone here will help if you ask."
He felt a twinge of regret, ears wilting. "I would come with you, to be sure you got home safely, but...," he trailed off sadly, laying his head on his paws as exhaustion tapped against his skull. "Just stay on the paths. You'll get home safely that way." His eyes slid closed, almost against his will. Oh yes, it was definitely time for a nap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 1:17 pm
N'Seka lowered his ears, a bit disappointed that Ruko didn't know. It made sense that he didn't when he explained it like that. He nodded at the suggestions the older boys made. All of them made sense and the cub started to smile again. Ruko was just as smart as his big brothers, maybe smarter too. But he didn't want to overstay his welcome so he decided to try to find his way, and perhaps ask an adult if he saw one. His paws felt better so he should be able to make it just fine.
"You should come visit us when you're not tired," he said, "Then you will know where I live."
His logic was still not flawless, but perhaps if he could find his way home by asking adults Ruko should be able to do so too. He started off down the nearest path, but then remembered his manners and turned around to give his new friend a cheek rub.
"Bye Ruko," he said, "See you!"
After he finished saying his good byes he started his slow walk down the path home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
