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 Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 2:07 am
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Hearing her name called from behind the tall Cinga turned, catching sight of the very obviously pregnant Dania. Grinning she trotted over to her, pleased to see those blue eyes a lot brighter and her coat was glossy once again. The lioness had also been eating, which was a good sign, as her muscle had come back, pregnant belly notwithstanding, Dania almost looked as healthy as any other pride member. And considering how bad she had gotten all those months ago, Ilangafcert was relieved.
"Dania! You are looking well." Grinning at the smaller female's blush Ilangafcert butted her gently on the shoulder. "I'm teasing, but you are, and soon to be a mother, congratulation!"
Her smile warmed as she saw Ilangafcert turn and trot back to her, grateful that she didn't have to try and catch up. Beaming as the larger lioness drew close she sqpwiftly blushed at Ilanga's playful words. "Yes.... They are Bangizwe's." She offered, pride touching her vocals. Glancing over at where the tall Umholi stood talking with Andhaka, she caught his swift look and large smile. Blushing brighter she ducked her head, but felt a happiness she had never experienced before settle in her chest. Maybe finally... She was doing the right thing.
Looking back at her friend she smiled. "So you are going on the hunt?" The amused nod made her chuckle. "I expected nothing else. I do hope it goes well, and spray and stay safe ok?" Spotting a lioness she didn't know glance their way she blushed again. "I need to lay down, I will be here until you all go. Come say goodbye before you leave ok?" Ilanga's easy nod and friendly head bump made Dania blush and giggle again. The tan lioness was so.... herself, bold and brash and did as she pleased. One day Dania hoped to be just a tiny bit like her. Taking her leave she waddled over to some shade where she could watch but would be out of the way, and settled down.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 2:23 am
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Grinning as her youngest sibling appeared suddenly beside her, Sobala bumped the darker female with her shoulder. "I know, I think everyone is eager to see how this first Mhkulu turned out. Though I don't think there are half as many actually hunting as have gathered here." Glancing over at a few obviously pregnant lionesses, Sobala nodded to them. "Them certainly, and we even have youngsters here." There was a very obvious bright blue girl and a more traditional tan one. Sobala wasn't sure the blue cub would ever go hunting, not with that fur colour, but she put it from her mind. Regardless they were both far too young.
Her sister's next question brought her gaze back again. "Probably a Umama, if one is coming... Otherwise, I've no idea..." It was the first Hunt after all, these things needed to be worked out as they went along.
Grinning as their eldest sister arrived, Sobala grinned unrepentantly at the bump she received from Koku. "We know, Koku." As their sister settled between them Sobala cheekily draped herself over Koku. "And I am being patient. It's this one who is wiggling about like a cub." Grinning at their young at sibling as Sobala teased her playfully.
(Sorry for multi-posts but I am doing this from my phone. DX ) |
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 4:05 am
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 Inkungu was excited for the upcoming Mkhulu. Her sister wouldn't join them this time, but it was exciting to hunt with her pride sisters. It was exciting to belong to a pride that could take on big prey animals like this. She had decided to join without thinking about the possible danger of going after prey this size. She figured the females of the pride knew what they were doing, and it sounded exciting!
"Now, you stay with Intuthu and be a good girl," she said to Inyoka'dla, "Mommy's going on an exciting hunt."
She moved around in the crowd, smiling and nodding to the males and females she encountered. The secretary bird stayed in the outskirts of the crowd, and Inkungu was sure she'd stay with her sister when the group moved away.
She stopped near Siantaidh, taking a moment to admire the precious little cubs. Inkungu hadn't been in the pride long enough to care about the stigma about certain colors, and if she saw a glimpse of the offending tail tuft she didn't think of it as anything unusual.
"They are adorable," she cooed, "Just perfect... You're so lucky to have them."
Inkungu very much wanted cubs of her own, but she was happy for Sian and only a little bit jealous. She knew she'd have hers soon enough, and for the moment her secretary bird companion endured being handled like a baby.
---
 The bird watched the crowd of milling lions from the sidelines. She coked her head, head feathers fluffed out, not sure what to think about this. The lions were going to hunt, that much she understood. She was not allowed to join, and Inkungu had emphasized that there would be no snakes this time and that she should stay with Intuthu. Inyoka'dla
---
 Kokumo had been present for a while, and she'd watched the crowd swell. Buna was nowhere to be seen, not that she was looking. Well, maybe she was looking for her, but she didn't care. Well, perhaps just a little... It wasn't surprising that she didn't show since Buna was against all new things on principle.
Principle or not, Kokumo would had liked her mother to see them off. Even Han had showed up, and she was pregnant enough to be excused. Kokumo worked her way towards the other lioness, trying not to step on any tails or toes.
"Hello Auntie," she said and rubbed her head against Han's in greeting, "Now don't you dare giving birth before we get back, you know I want to go with you if you'll let me."
They hadn't really discussed it yet, but Kokumo would very much like to be one of the lionesses helping Han when the time came.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 5:59 am
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Sturm didn't mind the way Kala spoke. If anything, it added to her unique charm. He had been with the Bonelands lions for a few months now and was privy to their preference of natural colored lions, but having grown up in the rogue lands he had seen some very colorful characters, both literally and figuratively, and not one of them he had disliked. Then again, you'd be pretty hard pressed to find someone Sturm disliked.
"Oh, I don't know about that. Maybe you could distract the prey instead," he said, putting a spin on it. "They'd watch you while the hunters snuck up on them! Might be a good tactic."
---
Han looked up as Kokumo approached and for a small moment her worry drained away. It was always nice to see a friendly face. She returned the little nuzzle, a smile on her face as she looked up at the lioness.
"Oh, I'll try to wait," she promised. "I feel as though I'm going to need all the help I can get when the time comes." She nodded slightly, more than willing to let Kokumo join her when the time did come to have the cubs. Her words finally settled into her mind, though, and the fear and worry came back full force.
"Wait...you're not going, are you?" she asked, golden eyes shining with worry, her ears pressed back against her head.
---
More and more lions came to the gathering spot. Udaka kept to herself, though, not really one to strike up conversation with a stranger unless it was warranted. She simply watched, getting to know her pride mates by observation. It was very interested to see how they interacted with one another and she was curious to see who was related to whom. There were generally just a few common fathers from what she understood, so there had to be a lot of half-siblings roaming around.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 3:04 pm
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Kokumo was happy for Han, and she looked forward to helping out. She had two sisters (both dark like Buna, and capable of making her self conscious about her lighter pelt) but no nieces or nephews yet. Helping Han would be her first taste of motherhood. Perhaps one day Han would be the one escorting her to a safe birthing place. But she was getting way ahead of herself...
"I am," Kokumo said, and she managed to look both excited and a bit guilty at the same time. "We'll be fine..."
She'd imagined this conversation and prepared arguments, but she'd imagined her mother's hard headed arguments and not Hans worried expression. It was heartbreaking.
---
 Jagazi wasn't going to hunt today, and if someone asked she'd be able to come up with a multitude of reasons. Her paw was a little sore, her mother had asked her not too, she'd promised to help with cub sitting... It wasn't that she was scared. Nope. So far no one had asked, so she didn't have to offer any explanation.
It was exciting to mingle with her pride sisters, however. Spirits were high all around and there were plenty of pride members who wouldn't be going too. She felt a bit better, and she was glad that she hadn't just sulked somewhere instead of coming.
She glanced around, a bit relieved that the new Inselelo was nowhere to be seen yet. It wouldn't be possible to avoid him forever, but she hadn't forgiven him for throwing her father out.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 5:27 pm
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"Just like old times, but with an audience who will never let us live it down," Andhaka snorted. He'd managed to maintain a fairly lean physique, another product of his extreme consciousness when it came to appearances. It was a tiresome preoccupation to have - how to look, what to do, what to say, how to say it - but he still considered his situation somewhat precarious, and he would rather be safe than sorry. He needed to not only be strong, but look strong.
"So of course, you courageously volunteered to stay behind," he teased, tracking Bangizwe's gaze to Dania. "I see how it is." In truth, he was wary of their new Inselelo as well; Jasiri had been with the pride for a long time, and had endured the recent turmoil and changes, staying even when the females had chosen other males as Abaholi instead of him. He had been loyal to them, and to the pride as a whole. Now they had Gabedi instead, a male Andhaka had never been fond of even as a Lusizi. But he had won his place, and as long as he behaved and the females tolerated him, Andhaka would let him be...but he would also keep a close eye on him.
Awareness of curious eyes on her and her cubs made Siantaidh's fur prickle, a motherly instinct of unease that she deliberately squashed and tried to replace with her usually friendly manner. She smiled up at Umthunzi as she paused on her way passed, glad to see her fellow former huria. "Are you hunting today, Umthunzi? I must admit, I'm a little envious. Just a little."
Another Busisa approached, this one offering congratulations, and Sian's smile brightened further as she regarded Inkungu, dipping her head to accept the approval of her cubs with pleased humility. "Thank you, I'm very glad to have them, and very glad to have them out of me!" she replied with a laugh. "It's a good season for cubs, no?"
Ukulambile smiled brightly at Maditah, tail twitching with delight at having someone to speak to, one of the newer Busisa - one with scars that made her very curious, but she had been very good and not asked about them (nevermind that it was mostly because she hadn't yet had an opportunity to do so). "I'm sure it'll be fine!" she chirped, ever-optimistic. "Or sort of fine, at least. I mean, someone probably will get hurt a little, it's a big thing after all, but not bad, yeah? They'll be mostly fine and we'll have hippo, it'll be great!"
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 6:30 pm
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"Just like old times," Bangizwe echoed, his voice faded towards the last words, a layer of sadness clung to them. It's not like he looked fondly on his time in the rogue lands. It had been a lonely time in his life and one that had lasted too long if he had anything to say about it now. Now, it was better and at least if the lionesses could have a good laugh about it and would appreciate it, he'd be game for a Kwa.
The teasing broke the Umholi's moment of melancholy as a smile spread over his face. "Of course, I wouldn't dare make you take the burden of watching over the pride. Besides, I'm sure you'll eat enough for the both of us." Though it was likely Imbali's vulture would fly back to gather the rest of the pride so they could all eat from the kill, at least that was the plan.
The pale ex-huria's sputtered, at an obvious loss for words as Sian spoke to her. "I am. I'm sure we'll be hurting, not having you hunt with us." Her voice was soft, shushed and cautious, even with the few words that left her mouth. It was exciting, definitely. There were so many accomplished hunters coming with them that it would definitely be a treat to see them in action. She had only recently completed her ukuzalwa with Imbali being her hunting partner and so being able to head out on something like this was amazing. It was only thanks to the night sky that she was even out.
Hunting had been something she had excelled at during her lessons. It was one thing she felt good at in a pride where prowess in duels was the norm. Maybe it was her pale coat against the sands that helped her, especially with scarce prey. Regardless, excitement welled up in her as her mind kept spinning about the upcoming hunt.
As the cubs shifted against their mother, she lowered her head to get a better look at them, though keeping her distance out of respect for the mother. "I'm envious of them, actually. They are beautiful." She paused momentarily before adding, "It didn't...hurt too bad did it?" Umthunzi was no mother and was certainly not expecting, not yet anyways and so she was certainly curious how things had gone for the other ex-huria.
[OOC]
Warning: next post from me will have the group officially move out!
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2015 7:02 pm
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Andhaka had mixed emotions about his time as a rogue; it had, absolutely and without question, sucked. He'd been lost half the time, halfway to starving to death more often than not, but he had been free from his old life. And once he'd joined a band, he hadn't had to worry about the starving part anymore. Still, being a part of the Ithambo'hlabathi - being an Umholi in particular - was a vast improvement over rogue life.
"Maybe I should start eating your portion," Andhaka suggested with a chuckle. "You're starting to go a little soft around the edges."
"Maybe if they were a little older..." Sian mused wistfully, before shaking her head. "But I'll have to wait until next time. At least I should have plenty of time to get back into hunting shape before this happens again."
"It wasn't terrible, but I won't lie and tell you it was nothing, either." The lioness chortled. "But it's over now, and it is worth it. If you're thinking about it, I wouldn't be afraid. A little pain doesn't always have to be a bad thing, hm?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 3:56 am
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Inkungu laughed a little as Siantaidh admitted she was glad to have the cubs out. Her mother had always said that the final time of a pregnancy was uncomfortable to make you look forward to the cubs more.
"A great season for cubs," Inkungu agreed, "They will not go hungry!"
She beamed at Umthunzi, happy to be surrounded by her new pride sisters all talking about her favorite subject.
"I'm sure you'll be a great mother when the time comes," she said to the pale lioness.
---
"I'll be careful," Kokumo promised, "There's always a risk to the hunt, but without hunting we couldn't survive as a pride."
This particular hunt might not be entirely necessary for survival, but she was sure it'd be worth it. It would be worth it, and she'd be part of something new.
"I won't act stupid," she said with a small smile, "Buna raised me to take care of myself. Could you... could you tell her I said good bye? I don't think she's coming."
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