|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Dec 24, 2010 9:01 pm
A large part of Pur wished her parents would just say it. Clearly they both knew what she had done. If they'd just ask if she'd done it, things would be so much easier for her. She could admit to it, just by saying "yes" and without having to actually speak the words which would describe her transgression. But her parents didn't seem inclined to make this easier on her.
"I did, Mother. He was hurt, and I felt responsible. I thought it was sort of my duty to try to help him as he recovered."
She looked pleadingly at her mother. It had been one of those actions she'd taken on her own without consulting anyone. At the time Pur had been convinced it was not only the right thing to do, but the only thing to do. It was as much her duty as her obligation, and she felt so guilty for running away and leaving him to contend with that monster of a lion. There was every possibility he might have been killed for his attempted heroism, and she had just fled like a coward.
He'd been so big, and so brutal. Even looking back now, she wondered if perhaps she had encountered one of the violent and vengeful gods, and what she could have done to provoke his ire. There was no way it would have been right for her not to return to at least thank her savior, or give him his last rites if he'd died. She was glad he hadn't died, and she was glad he'd saved her from...what he'd saved her from.
It was harder to meet her father's eyes, particularly after his probing question. He knew. And he was going to make her say it. This was probably only the beginning of her punishment. She took a deep breath, straightened up, and made herself look first into her father's eyes, and then into her mother's.
"At first I was simply helping by treating his injuries - they were extensive - and bringing him small kills." Pur wasn't really much of a healer, but fortunately the wounds had all been clean and straightforward. They were just severe. "As he recovered we talked more and I got to know him better. I mistook my gratitude for his help and his pleasant demeanor for love and the last time I saw him I offered myself to him."
She had to pause to keep her tone steady. "A true gentleman would have refused, but he didn't and I didn't realize my foolishness until it was too late. I left immediately after, and I told him not to follow me. I think he hasn't, because I have not seen him since."
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 2:19 pm
Ah..and there they were..the words Maua had been trying to tell herself wouldn't be spoken, certainly not from the mouth of her oh so well behaved Pur. But they were...and sudden;y everythin else made perfect sense.
She was furious...that Pur would follow the same path as that wretched Nyota made her want to strangle both daughters and certainly her eyes snapped with such anger...but it wasn't exactly the same as Nyota she reminded herself and that beyond anything else held her temper from going any further. Pur was ashamed she told herself..she wasn't flaunting this mistake in front of the others and most importantly she seemed to realize that it was indeed a mistake. Pur was salvageable.
She glanced about them cautiously..to ensure none of the other meddling nobles were close enough to hear before she spoke again. There really was no mistaking the conclusion she'd reached, and now that she looked there was an unmistakable pudge at her daughters midsection. "And what shall you do now my daughter that you are with his cubs?" She whispered, trying to keep her anger from bleeding through..but she suspected only half way succeeding. "I expect by your shame that he was not at the very least noble colored" she added in a slightly more frosty manner.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 27, 2010 3:38 pm
So, she finally told them the truth, Kivuli had figured that was what had been bothering her the last little while, but hearing those words confirming his suspicions cut him deep. Pur had always been so well behaved, always knew what she should and shouldn't do, and here she was sitting before them admitting to her fling with a rogue. It was similar to what had happened with Nyota, and yet different at the same time. Nyota had stayed with the rogue and renounced herself from the pride, but Pur had returned and was obviously feeling shame over her moment of weakness. He looked over at his mate for a moment, noticing the anger that was filling her eyes though it was no where near the pure rage that had been there the day that Nyota had told them she was pregnant.
Heaving a deep sigh Kivuli then returned his attention back to Pur. Maua was already asking questions that he too wished to know the answer of. "I have to say that I am very disappointed in you Pur." Kivuli's voice was calm and even, it took a lot for the male to get angry and it was best that one of them remain calm while the other got angry, Maua was clearly angry which left Kivuli in charge with being the level headed one. "Your mother and I have been under enough stress because of Nyota's foolishness in getting herself pregnant and now you too have followed her down that path. I thought you had more sense than to do something like that."
There would need to be some damage control of course. Pur could have the cubs in the pride, but if they lacked the colors of nobility then they would be forced to live a commoners life and bring great shame to their family. But running Pur off to have the cubs outside of pride was not an ideal situation either. "We have worked so hard to keep our status as nobles and it is becoming tiresome trying to constantly hide things from the others ears or making up lies about the goings on with your siblings. How many more times must Maua and I try to cover up a shamefully act from our family." Most of what he was talking about had to do with Nyota's actions in the past, she was gone now and so they had hoped things would return to normal, but now this was another slap in the face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 7:01 am
"With his cubs?" she gasped.
The possibility had not occurred to her, and it was a sickening prospect. Surely that couldn't be so. The king and queen had wanted cubs for nearly her whole life, and only produced them recently. Even Nyota hadn't gotten pregnant after only one night, had she? Oh, gods, what had she done? Had any creature ever been so wretched as she?
With a sense of drama that she could hardly have helped developing, growing up as she had, Pur had no difficulty placing herself in the paw prints of any number of disgraced heroines, some of whom had even acted in ways almost identical to her own loathsome behavior. She decided to take her cue from those characters, fictional though they may have been, and act with dignity.
"I'm sorry to have disappointed you both, and to have added to your worries. It hadn't occurred to me that this might be...that I might be pregnant. I hadn't thought to make plans for the possibility."
The idea of martyrdom was also appealing. Not necessarily in the truest sense of the word, for although Pur was melodramatic enough in her mind to wish herself dead at this shame, she was also far too practical and aware of the realities of a noble's life and the difficulties it would pose for her family if she were actually to commit suicide. Not to mention, she didn't really want to die. She just wanted to be invisible and forgotten until everything was all right again.
"I could...I don't know. Go visit Nyota and her mate until the cubs are born, and then find someone else to raise them. The pride is my home, and I love it here, but I don't think I could stand to live here bearing that shame, and knowing what shame I had brought to you. But it wouldn't be so unusual that I might go visit my sister, would it? For an extended visit, perhaps?"
Not that Pur had any intention of seeking out Nyota. Her sister would be so smug and mocking, it would be beyond Pur's ability to endure, and she'd be forced to kill her. Besides, she had no desire to hear Nyota go on and on with her stupid ideas which were so wrong when it came to commoners and outsiders. Obviously Maua was right about them, and this whole debacle just proved it.
"I mean, it's a thought, anyway."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 28, 2010 10:15 am
Maua was far from mollified about this whole thin - but at least Pur was apologizing and thinking of logical solutions. Oh she was still angry..and sorely disappointed but she could wail and weep about the turn her family was taking later - in private...with Kivuli.
Right now of course she had to remain composed and figure out how the best way to deal with this unfortunate accident. The thought of poor Pur having to be subjected to Nyotas nonsense for so long was grating ...but it did make a small bit of sense "Certainly you would have to go someplace safe, but you bring up a good point...no one in the pride would consider such an absence particularly questionable, many youth go off to learn of the world before returning to take up their duties here.." she agreed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 8:40 am
Kivuli was, for perhaps the first time in his life, lost for words. He still could not believe how foolish Pur had been, and now they had to deal with another sudden pregnancy among their children. The large male simply gave his head a shake trying to find the right words to say here, but what more could he say? Pur had already offered to leave, to save them the embarrassment of such an ordeal. If only Nyota had been so thoughtful with her mistake then perhaps him and Maua would not be under so much stress lately.
"Leaving would be for the best." He finally said, though it pained him to know that Pur would be living in the harshness of the rogue lands because of her mistake. She was a pride lioness and the rogue lands would be hard on her. "It will not be easy for you to live outside of the pride, but I have faith that you can do so. And when your offspring are older and able to take care of themselves, then we expect you to return and take up your duties once more." It certainly wouldn't do for Pur to becoming too accustomed to rogue life that she never wanted to come back to the pride.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 10:28 am
Later Pur would reflect on how willing her parents were to go along with her plan to leave and she would feel more than a twinge of bitterness, but at the moment her mind was filled with tragic heroines and martyrdom and that sort of stuff and nonsense, which left little room for her to feel particularly put out by her parents agreeing she ought to leave. In fact, she actually felt pretty good about herself for the first time in a long while. Not only had she confessed her sins, which made her feel significantly better, but she had worked out a way to do penance which wouldn't even cause anyone else in her family to be embarrassed by her foolishness. She had much to be proud of, though also much to be ashamed of.
"I'll begin making preparations. It may take me a few days."
She had no idea what she would need to bring with her, if anything, or what sort of preparations would be necessary, but she assumed there would be some to be made. If nothing else, she could just start telling people that she intended to go visit her sister for an extended stay. That would help matters, she was certain. Of course, those who knew her would know she and her sister were not close, but they would also know she was dutiful, and could feel obligated to continue to reach out to her anathema of a sibling.
"I'm glad you want me to return," she said meekly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 05, 2011 12:52 pm
Maua's harsh angry eyes softened slightly at Pur's meek response, she did love Pur..she truly did, she even loved Nyota deep down inside when she thought about it but well..it was impossible to make that love known. Pur had disappointed her it was true but she also seemed to be aware that she'd made a mistake and that Maua thought was a step in the direction to recovery. Surely she'd never make such a mistake again.
"Of course we want you to return.." she told her daughter gently "We never wanted you to leave....it is only your own future we're thinking of..." Surely Pur knew that such a shame as this would be hard to live down if the rest of the pride found out...how would she ever find a nice noble lion to live happily ever after with like she and Kivuli did if she didn't take steps to protect her own self respect?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:24 am
Having sat in the same spot since arriving Kivuli got to his paws and closed the distance between himself and Pur, giving her a loving nuzzle. "Take as much time as you need getting ready. It won't be easy to do this, but we are proud of you for making this sacrifice." He took a step back to look into his daughters eyes. "I'm sure you know of the dangers of the rogue lands but promise me that you will try to stay safe, raise your cubs well and when you can return to us. We will be anxiously awaiting your return." And Kivuli meant that. Pur had so much great potential for this pride it was a shame her life was momentarily being interrupted by a foolish decision. Nothing they could do about that now but let her go and pray she returned home safely.
His head swiveled around to Maua, he gave her a reassuring smile and then settled his gaze back on Pur. "If you need help with anything just let us know. You are still a part of our lives, and this family."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
