Umlindi’umame’s class was growing larger, it seemed. Recently, a mother had returned with a handful of cubs in tow – two of which were identical twins. Good fortune, that. But poor luck for the cub nurse. She was good with faces, yes, but when two faces were the same how was one to tell them apart? It made discipline and teaching difficult. Mear’ksh had essentially given her children to Umlindi to raise… a sudden and appreciated task.
The dark lioness, for all her dark allure, did enjoy children – enjoyed molding their minds and helping them build their own paths into the future. And, it seemed, these ones were seers too. More godchildren – though Mear’ksh had made it abundantly clear she was the mother and Umlindi simply a nanny.
The demons certainly were reaching high.
Ekaitz, having adjusted well to his separation from his mother was busily trying to stalk and attack Umlindi’s tail. He was young yet but from the time he could open his eyes to now, the young male had been rambunctious and energetic, to the point where he and Geshem along could wear their nanny out.
“Umlindi!” He cried suddenly, racing around to climb onto her back and gnaw on an ear, “Why aren’t you doing anything?”
“Because I’m watching you and your siblings.” She replied, flicking her ear out of his mouth, “They’re sleeping, like good little demons should be. Why aren’t you?”
Umlindi was laying on her side, the rest of the cubs asleep and nestled in a ball in the den behind her. Part guard, part den mother, a nurse’s job was to nourish mind and body of the future pride members – a job Umlindi took quite seriously.
“Because! That’s boring and I kept getting kicked… Not even Geshem would wake to play with me.” He feigned a pout as he slid back down and toddled to curl up in her paws, lifting and irritating Umlindi’s toes. “And you’re being a lazy butt and not doing anything either! I’m the son of a god you know! You should listen to me!”
He rowled as he reared up and batted at her face.
“That’s because you should be sleeping, Ekaitz.” She rumbled, pulling her face away from his sharp baby claws before taking a hold of the scruff of the cub’s neck, depositing him beside her once more, “You’re a demon before you’re godspawn, Ekaitz. Always. Do not forget this or your life will be a hard one.”
She eyed him as he began pacing once more, “Understood? Your mother placed you in my care because I’m charged with caring for you. The first lesson you should learn – that all of you should learn – is that you are demons before anything else. You are the worthy offspring of a royal lioness, strong and promising.”
“I know I know… you’ve said that a hundred times already, Yana’hine.” He frowned, mouthing the words as she spoke them. He knew them off by heart by now but their important hadn’t really sunk in yet. They were demons yes but they were also the children of gods, didn’t that count for anything?
“Good, maybe you’ll remember it.” She reached over and cuffed him upside the head, “And do not mock me little one. To do so is to challenge me and,” Umlindo buffeted him around some, making the cub stagger and yelp, “that is not a wise decision.”
She sighed and shook her head as she withdrew, “Have you come into your powers yet? Every godchild carries a spark of the gods within. Have you Seen anything?”
He growled at her and tried to bite her in earnest once she stopped harassing him, only to be shoved away again. “I can mock you if I want. I’m higher rank!”
And then he blinked, tilted his head to the side, “Powers? What powers? Can I be like Morifaer or Sparda? Is that what you mean?” Ekaitz began to posture and sweep about, head held high.
Anger flashed in her eyes but it was quickly dissolved by amusement and she shook her head, “I do not know what it’s like, Ekaitz, I am not a daughter of the gods. I have no special seed within to See as you might one day do. If you want to know more about it, talk to the priestess who dwells in the hotsprings. She is a Seer as well and teach you that perhaps.”
She flopped onto her side and shrugged, “Maybe the gods will even see you as a protégé to take under their wings. Morifaer and Sparda alike are strong in their own right, demons we should all strive to emulate. Is there one you favour over the other?” A curious question, that, for the cubs had little knowledge of the gods yet.
“You’re not a very good teacher, then, Umlindi. Aren’t you supposed to guide us and all that? I’m a Seer. I should have a Seer nanny.” He pouted and turned his back on her, tail flicking with childish irritation.
Without turning around, the cub shrugged, “I like Sparda. Because he’s my grandfather. Right? Why would I like Morifaer?”
“Or,” she hissed as he caught him up and rolled him over, pressing a paw into his throat as she loomed over the now frightened cub, “You could learn respect, Ekaitz. I’ll brook no haughty remarks from you. Ambition is good, but ignorance is not. Learn to mind your tongue before I take of it myself, understood?”
Flexing paws enough that he had trouble breathing for a moment, she waited for his eyes to turn truly afraid before backing off and settling back down near the entrance to the den, “As far as I know he is blood relation. Have you encountered any of your other relatives?”
Ekaitz backed away from his irate nanny, mrowling with upset at the chastisement. He knew she was being lenient… that other demons, as their social dictate, would be crueler in their punishments. He didn’t apologize, however, knew that would be further weakness. Instead, he kept his mouth shut and began to edge back towards the den.
“No, I haven’t. Should I?” He asked, confused. What did it matter?
She nodded without looking at him for she could hear the cub’s movements well enough, “Yes, you should. They are your family. The royal bloodline. You should, at least, be aware of who they are. When your siblings rise, I will take you to the Priestess and I will show you your family, more lessons. Look forward to them, Ekaitz.”
The cub nodded and slipped back into the darkness, mumbling. If nothing else, he’d learned he was too small yet to properly back talk the nanny. And… really… some of the things she had to say were interesting. Maybe he’d think on them this time around.
But first… the comfort of familiar, warm bodies would soothe his wounded pride.
(Self RP)
