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 Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:05 pm
Mafa rolled her eyes, shaking her head in response to Tukutu's words. Not even a father would help Mabozi now, as Tuk was obviously well aware of. Would that have ever helped? Maybe. But there was no changing the past.
"Don't bother, Tukutu. No need to start now. The boy's off doing his own thing. Managed to sire a litter."
The female shrugged, shaking her head again. How that had managed to come about, she could never know. The whole prospect did make her feel surprisingly old. Her own son having pups. Making her a grandmother. It didn't make her feel very grand. Mafa's eyes narrowed as she stared off at a pile of bones. She was pretty bitter about that. Well, at least the pups had turned out all right, from what she could tell. Sighing to clear her head, Mafa returned her gaze to Tuk,
"No, there was a window of time where you could have helped. It's long closed. Not that you mind, I'm sure."
Mafa's last words were uttered with a bite to her tone. The dusty creature huffed and turned her head quickly away, feeling her frustration rising the more she looked at the male.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:12 pm
Tukutu snorted, his own frustrations growing. He knew better than to talk back to his Alpha, but sometimes it was hard to remember that Mafa was the alpha. Sometimes time disappeared, and he could only remember the times when there was nearly no one living here, and it was just Mafa, Banzai, and him. Not that he was every really wanted, but he was used to that. Stick around long enough, and they would eventually want you around. Perhaps even miss you once you were gone, if only because the thorn in the side would actually be gone.
He flicked his tail against his rump, the mane of hair along the back of his neck slightly prickling. Ah, anger. Such a bad thing to display. He kept most of it at bay, molding the rest of it into irritation than full blown anger.
"That window closed once you got enough pack members," he grunted. He knew better than to bring that up again, though, and quickly hid it underneath a different subject. "Not that you want them. You got what you wanted in the end, though, didn't you? An heir. But you still don't seem happy." His eyes narrowed, but he didn't dare to look at Mafa. He would rather not get a deserved smack across the face if he could help it. "Or I just can't read you anymore. Maybe Mabozi's stupidity did only come from me," he said, half-joking.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:28 pm
If only, if only. Mafa would never say it aloud, but her frustrations came from Tukutu's up and leaving in the first place. She wanted him around; she really did. And she missed him when he was gone. However, she turned her feeling of missing that dumb male into bitterness and frustration. Tukutu was the one thing that remaind steady in her life. He reminded her of when she'd been happy; before everything got so complicated. Before she had completely walled her heart off. Mafa'd rather be hated than admit that she missed him.
Through the corner of her eye she could see Tukutu become irritated; his blase shell wearing down. She was getting a rise out of him. This pleased her. At the same time, he'd knew what buttons to push with her.
"It closed when you left. I don't recall asking you to desert me."
Abandoment, that's what she resented so much. She wanted him to be loyal. If not to her as the alpha, then to the pack itself. Either would work. Mafa scoffed quietly as the subject of her heir came up. Tawala. Mafa hadn't seen that girl in months. The girl was strong headed, eager to get out on her own. Not exactly what Mafa had in mind. Not that she'd admit. Her next words came rather quietly,
"Whatever you say Tukutu."
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:38 pm
It was shut. And he had done it all himself. The severity of what it meant hit him like a brick wall. His body remained still, but his face grew stiff as his mind pieced everything together from the years they had been together. He honestly hadn't thought it meant that much to her when he had left. He had taken it as a trip to find more members for their pack, but he had taken his time, and didn't realize how long he was gone. He also hadn't told her. How would he act if she vanished? Perhaps not the same, but the pain would still be there. They weren't what he would consider friends, but they were comrades.
More pieces fit themselves together for Tukutu.
His breathing growing a little heavier than before, his eyes grew sharper as he looked up at Mafa. It wouldn't get him anywhere to shoot daggers at the ground.
"Then what would you have me do?" He didn't bother trying to defend himself over his abandonment. It would be pointless, anyway. Tukutu was terrible at arguing, and would lose to anything, anyone. Especially Mafa. He knew his question was a heavy one, and didn't really expect an answer.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 9:55 pm
He'd been gone when she'd wanted him there the most. Could she forgive him for that? Was it within that shriveled black organ that Mafa called a heart to trust and accept the male again? One thing was for sure. Tukutu was her past. There was no forgetting him. Slowly, Mafa turned her head back to face him. Enough with childish games. Mafa gazed intensely into Tuk's green stare. She shook her head lightly, her tone steady and much softer than usual.
"I don't know."
She wished she did. That she could command him to do something to fix their shattered relationship. To go back to the time when they were both pups; foolish, happy, and unburdened. How? All the thinking in the world couldn't help her here. Mafa kept her cool despite her turbulent thoughts; her exterior never faultering.
"Something has to change."
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:08 pm
The tension that had grabbed hold of Tukutu ebbed slightly, but he could feel the ache in his muscles from how stiff they had been. He didn't waver from her stare, as much as he wanted too. He had learned to 'bow' to her, but it was obvious that it wasn't desired. Repsect, yes, but not blind following. He couldn't help but huff at that. At least it would be like that, right?
"Well," he said roughly, feeling his anxiety release itself in the form of a soft growl. He could sense that there was something she wanted him to say. Blast everything for him being too stupid to figure it out. So instead, he would grasp at broad terms. Hopefully he would hit something that would slowly repair what he himself had destroyed. If anything was there. Silly, hopeful hyena.
"Change can come slowly," he said cautiously. "One thing at a time."
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:34 pm
"There's always room for change."
It took two to change something. Of course she realized this. Mafa was a creature stuck in her ways. Stuck in her midset. It would be trying. It would be hard. But, perhaps, with some motivation, she could do it, for him.For the last remaining fragment of her heart that was floating around. There was a long silence between the two for a long time. Mafa didn't want to force conversation. There was power in silence; she knew that. Finally, after a while, she sighed sharply,
"You might want to start by sticking around."
Mafa steadfastly held his gaze, intentionally trying to see how long he could pull it off. She could tell he had something bottled up in that empty head of his, but it also wasn't her place to pry. With anyone else, of course, she'd poke and prod until she got what she wanted, but not with him, not right now. Respect was the name of the game here. To get it, she needed to give it; she knew this well. Only a select few knew the privledge of Mafa's respect. Tuk had known it. Long ago.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 10:40 pm
Tuk smirked. All right, so obviously it was going to get worked out. Knowing her, and knowing himself, it would be a while. But time wouldn't be a problem to him as long as there was hope. Such sugary dreams, but hey. He could indulge in them, if only to himself. He stared right back at her, his smirk only appearing after the long silence. He wasn't dumb enough to run into everthing headfirst. Not with his track record.
"Deal," he said. He didn't know what he would do, but he'd at least attempt to look busy. And that indeed was a lot for him. Lazy was the name of the old Tukutu~! This new one would be... a bit lazy, as old habits died hard, but he could also be a little bit mroe like a consort and show that he actually scared about the status of the pack. At least, make sure that they were content with their lives. Most of them.
Okay, this was going to be hard, damn it.
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Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 11:04 pm
There was always more time. Time healed all wounds. Hopefully it would heal theirs. Two stubborn mules finally learning to budge. I would take a lot, no doubt. Tukutu's gaze didn't waver. Maybe he was getting braver. Maybe it was a sign that he wouldn't run off at the first sign of any complications. Maybe Mafa was just reading too far into the little things. Though, those little things were all she had. That smirk of his brought back fond memories of their puphood. That cocky little b*****d. Perhaps she missed someone genuinely having the ability to stand up to her?
"Deal."
She'd see how well this transition would go. Mafa stood slowly, her expression remaining blank and unchanged. In all honesty, she didn't expect much from him. She could do everything on her own; she really didn't need help to run this pack. But it'd be nice to have some support. Just in case. The female took a few steps backwards, still facing Tukutu. Her tone was vacant when she adressed him,
"It starts now."
With her words, Mafa turned from him, flicking her tail as she walked away. Obviously content with the results of this meeting. Once she was a few feet away, the alpha's pace slowed; her head turning back to look at Tukutu once more before she left. It was then that she smiled at him, as small as gesture as it would seem to an outsider. A genuine smile. It was the first time in a long while she had felt the urge to. A spilt second later, her head snapped back and Mafa continued along her way. What the future held, only time would tell.
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