Blue lightning (Jasiri, Kopikala'nani )

[Annchen]

Tanakako

Jasiri did a double take as something blue streaked by. Right, one of the odd kids. What had been normal when he still lived in the roguelands was now something out of the ordinary, and he had yet to get used to seeing Njalo's foster cubs around. He hadn't bothered to learn their name; "lusizi" worked just fine for now if he should have to adress one of them. Besides, who knew if they'd even stick around?

The yellow male wasn't as convinced that unnatural and light colors meant a weak individual, but they might decide to leave simply because of the way the other lionesses talked to them (or about them). Njalo was a well liked lioness, so few would say anything to her face, but he'd heard plenty of ill-wiled talk about these cubs already.

Until they passed their Ukuzalwa they'd be lusizi, and even after that he suspected that they'd still be the odd ones out.  

[Tanakako]

Annchen

Kala had been practicing her hunting skills. At first she had stalked her sister, but after a while Ku’e had gotten fed up with the game and refused to participate. So instead Kala had discovered and promptly recruited a little brown lizard as her target. The creature may have been much smaller than her, but it was fast and she spent more time chasing it down than stalking it. Panting hard she raced after the brown streak, its weird waddling run far faster than it seemed it should be. Suddenly a pair of tall yellow legs loomed out of the grass and she veered wildly to the side, loosing her footing and went tumbling head over tail.

Skidding to a halt she sat up, dazed and disorientated. While she and her sister had been growing well, now that they were being fed on a regular basis, their early lack of nourishment so soon after birth had slowed both of them down. Kala was now reaching adolescence, but was often still mistaken for being younger. Though she knew she was still considered a cub, she was starting to develop an awareness about the pride that she had so far lacked. Namely that she and her sister were generally given a wide birth, even by the other youngsters. And muttered comments stopped when she drew too close. She had also started to notice the sideways glances of the older lionesses, and while she had no idea what they were about, she had realised that something about herself and her sister was different.

Now having completely lost her lizard playmate, she stood and shook herself free of dust. Yellow legs! Curious and knowing she really should apologise for almost colliding with who ever it had been, the young blue female padded back the way her tumble had taken her.

Wow.. he was big. Not as big as her dad, but then she recalled her father from the day he had left them with their grandma. Peering up at the large yellow male she smiled brightly. A gentle girl she always tried to make friends, despite the cold shoulder many of the pride seemed to prefer.

“Hi there. Sorry ‘bout that’”
 

[Annchen]

Tanakako

"Hello. In a hurry somewhere," he asked with slightly raised eyebrows, but he couldn't help smiling slightly in return when she beamed up at him. The young female was full of energy, and reminded him of his own cubs when they were young. It was easier to tolerate a female Lusizi, especially when they started to grow up a little. As long as they didn't compete with his cubs for food he had no reason to growl at them. The males were different. They might be young, but as soon as their mane started to grow in they were competition.

One of his sons were still around, but Ifunci seemed to be perfectly happy in celibacy and Jasiri suspected that the male wouldn't have lasted long if he'd left. Perhaps he wasn't giving his son enough credit, but he had nearly died when those rogues attacked.  

[Tanakako]

Annchen

Bright golden eyes gazed up at the male with all the wide-eyed innocence of the young. Kala was not a simple cub, but she was also not the brightest. Perhaps living and being raised by Njalo had influenced her, but the little blue female had also inherited her grandma's sweet temper and sunny outlook. She had also quickly developed the same odd habit of referring to herself in the third person as Njalo. But since her father had also done the same until he had left the pride and subsequently dropped the habit, no one seemed too concerned.

Smiling shyly she shook her head. "Kala was trying to practice her pouncing... But the lizard was so fast she lost it!" Glancing back the way she had just come, where the lizard had escaped her, she giggled softly. "Kala's sister didn't want to play, so she tried to play with the lizard. But she thinks he didn't want to either."
 

[Annchen]

Tanakako

Jasiri thought that the cub was talking about someone else. It wasn't unheard for a bunch of youngsters to run around creating havoc after all. He couldn't see her friend, but maybe that cub was shy.

"Yeah, lizards can be tricky," he said, "They're small, but they're quick like lightning and can get into the tiniest cracks."

He remembered chasing lizards in his youth, and he also had a vivid memory of the disappointment when he actually caught one. The skin was tough and prickly and the insides weren't very tasty either.

"You should ask you mo... your grandmother to get your next meal still alive." he said, "They're easier to pounch when they've already been beaten around some."

Njalo probably already did this since the cub was large enough to handle live but crippled food. Most of the females did that before letting their cubs get anywhere near a hunt.  

[Tanakako]

Annchen

Kala beamed when the big male agreed with her. If he had trouble with lizards too then she wouldn’t feel so bad about not being able to catch the thing! Nodding her head violently she couldn’t help but wiggle in place a little. She was still panting from her run and wanted to play, but it seemed most adults didn’t like doing that. Her beloved grandma was different and would play with the cubs as long as they wished. But Kala already knew Njalo was special, she was her dad’s mom after all.

“Oh, she does! That is fun. But Grandma is off hunting right now.” She hoped they got another playmate to practice with. But Kala was also rather hungry and Njalo was good at bringing back such tasty meals.. Kala was torn over which she would prefer. A small live thing, or a big tasty meal.

Tipping her head cutely she smiled up at the big male, then suddenly gasped, a paw lifting to her muzzle. “OH! She is Kala! Sorry!” She knew she was supposed to introduce herself at the start of a conversation, but maybe this male would forgive her this once.
 

[Annchen]

Tanakako

Jasiri nodded, Njalo was an experienced mother and hunter. Of course she would make sure her grandcubs got both food and training. Lusizi were often the last to eat, even if Jasiri imagined females had it a bit easier than males. Luckily food was not an issue at the moment, and as long as Njalo could bring home enough to do her part to feed the pride, no one would complain if she also fed her adopted cubs.

"Pleased to meet you, Kala," he said and nodded in greeting, "I'm Inselelo Jasiri."

Perhaps she knew that already, perhaps she didn't. At any rate it was only polite to offer his name in return when she had introduced herself.
 

[Tanakako]

Annchen

Smiling happily as he offered his name in return she giggled softly. "Kala will remember! She promises. She is good at remembering names." At least names that were unusual, or important. And surely an Inselelo had to be very important indeed! She hadn't really ,et too many males. Though she knew the Umholi by sight, Grandma Najalo had pointed them out to both cubs. And Kala had met a couple of other males who had vultures with them. But compared to how many lionesses she had spoken to, makes were very rare in the young female's world.

"Kala is very happy to meet you, Inselelo Jasiri." Glancing over her shoulder she wondered where Ku'e had got to. They should probably head back soon or Grandma will worry where they got to.
 

[Annchen]

Tanakako

"That's a very useful skill," Jasiri said, and it truly was. The complex family dynamic of mothers, daughters, aunts and cousins... Knowing the pride sisters made social interactions easier. When he was new here he had trouble trying to remember who was who, especially since many females were related and looked alike. It seemed so long ago.

"Run along now," he said as Kala started to look fidgety. He didn't want to keep her if there was somewhere she was supposed to be. "It was nice to meet you too, Kala."  

[Tanakako]

Annchen

Looking back up at the tall male the young lioness beamed happily, golden eyes bright. She liked it when others were nice to her, kind words were seemingly few and far between, aside from her grandma, and she was starting to reach the age where she understood what was being said just within her hearing range.

Wiggling slightly she nodded. "Oh, ok! Thank you, Inselelo Jasiri! Kala hopes she will see you again!" Turning round she started to dart off but skidded to a halt and turned back. "Have a nice day!" Spinning she dashed off, a pale blue streak through the tall grass.