Ameer was enjoying a little quiet time, he didn't much like to hang around the others his age. It wasn't that he thought himself any better or worse he simply found the the others enjoyed spending their time with the girls too. He himself had come to see females as rather troublesome ever since he almost drown thanks to ones antics. He found that they talked too much, complained too much, primped too much, and generally weren't half as much fun as the guys. He couldn't wait to go out on his quest just to get away from the abundance of females in the pride. Of course he would be out in the world seeking a female but maybe the females out there weren't so bad. Perhaps he could find a nice quiet small female that wouldn't cause him any troubles.
Yes these were the thoughts that occupied his mind and since he was relaxed and had never seen a lion or lioness fly he wasn't looking up. No instead he was looking out at the lake thinking how nice it was to have some calm and relaxation in his young life. He hoped to someday be able to exude the type of peace and serenity his father managed to.
In her jaws she carried very precious cargo. The little one wasn't even old enough to be weaned yet, and giving her up, the very idea, broke her heart, especially separating her from her sister, but she'd wanted to do it while they were young so that there was a chance that they wouldn't miss one another as much. She had only given the young female cub a name, and now...
The little one had squirmed at first, but as Teuli teleported the two of them to their destination and now decended towards the lake, only after making sure there was only one cub present there she landed, dropping her invisibilty illusion as she went.
She had another cautious, anxious glance around, not wanting to be taken off guard by any males, or cause trouble for Aali by raising questions. After briefly studying the cub then she made sure he was the only one that could see her. Anyone else happening by would see the illusion of him doing exactly as he had been.
Only then did she set her bundle down, speaking gently.
"Hello, young one..."
Ameer jerked up startled out of his relaxed frame of mind, what in the world? Where had this female come from, he had been along just a moment ago! His eyes suddenly widened as he looked at her closer and saw wings and her tail...there was something very strange about this female. He blinked a few times trying to make sure he wasn't just overheated imagining things. Nope she was still there, she still had a bundle of something infront of her.
"Hello..." He started off uncertainly before puffing his chest out. If he wanted to be like his father he couldn't let himself be taken off guard by some female. They were always making trouble for him it seemed, and this one had gotten so close he must have been pitifully unaware of his surroundings.
"I am Ameer, son of Sultan Aali, Emir to the Ukuucha'Wafalme Pride!" He tried to look intimidating but the female was quite unique and rather a lot larger then him. He glanced around noticing he was away from most of the adults who were watching his siblings at play.
The goddess' first response would probably have been to blink in surprise at the pride and energy he spoke with, but she was honestly too lost in the thought of what she was about to have to do. She did, however, ease into a soft, sad smile after a moment. His son, then, probably his heir from the sound of it. "Emir Ameer, it's an honor to meet you... I am Teuli'ukilia, the patron of Sacrifice."
She decided to introduce herself with a less intimidating title, not wanting him to mistake her introduction for disrespect or an attempt to one up him. Young males and their egos could be quite fragile, but particularly childrens'. She meant no disrespect, besides.
"I don't mean to be an inconvenience, but if you would be so kind to me, young one, I'm here to have a word with your father, the Sultan. Would you bring me to him, please...?"
The bundle between her paws blinked sleepily at the male in front of them, only for her eyes to go wide in surprise. The baby clumsily moved closer to one of her mother's paws, realizing that they were someplace very different from home. Teuli's heart both melted and broke a little more.
He was a bit surprised at her title and how kind and soft her voice was. She sounded a bit sad as well, perhaps that came with being a patron of sacrifice. It didn't sound like any fun at all and he hoped she wasn't here to make his father as sad as she was. He had seen how burdened his father had already seemed lately, returning late from patrols, and talking in hushed strained voices with uncle Faiz and Vazier Tariq.
"You stay here...and I'll bring him to you." Ameer finally told her trying to pretend some measure of authority. No doubt this strange female could vanish as easy as she had come but hopefully her desire to speak with his father would hold her in place. Of course if she was as much trouble as other females she'd be gone just as he brought his father. Then he would look like a liar or a fool, his nose wrinkled at the thought. He looked at her for a long moment before running off to fetch his father.
He paused and glanced behind his shoulder to make sure she was still in place. His eyes narrowed curiously on the movement of the bundle but he shook off and headed to the den. "Papa! Pa-Err Father?" He corrected himself trying to catch his breath and sound more dignified.
Aali forced himself awake from a small nap and listened curiously to his son before blinking and quickly moving to his paws. Teuli had always had a special place in his heart, he had missed her. She had shown him there was more in the world then mere mortality. Her courage and strength as a Goddess of Sacrifice had helped bolster him to become the humble sultan he was now. If she had returned he knew it meant that either she would stay this time, or she had come with a daughter of her own for the pride. In his heart he hoped it was the former, eager to give her a place to call home. He rushed ahead his son following.
She found it difficult to stand and wait in the open, especially since it meant she had to trust that Ameer wouldn't go fetch a bunch of pride members to come capture her, though escape would have been simple, but she didn't generally suspect children of deceit. She agreed uncertainly, waiting then for him to return as she soothed the cub at her paws.
When the two returned at first they could see nothing where she had been, but she quickly altered her illusion again to include the two of them. Once again anyone that happened to look their way would see a simple hushed conversation between father and son, but the true scene was just beginning.
"Hello, Sultan Aali... I hope that you've been well since my last visit." She greeted with a soft smile. He seemed hopeful, she hoped he wouldn't be terrigly disappointed with her decision.
Ameer saw the way his father looked at the strange female and he knew he had done well by bringing him back. Apparently they knew each other, but it was really strange, how had this female gotten past his father? Why wasn't she a member of the pride and what was she doing in the territory unclaimed? He waited hoping his questions would be answered.
Aali smiled broadly as Teuli's familiar shape came into view, he ran over and nuzzled her. "I have been well, but I'm better now...seeing you here...." He gazed at her a long moment before realizing there was something right at their paws. He looked down and then back up with a mild frown. "Your not staying...." He said softly, but it wasn't as much a question as a sad fact.
She greeted him in kind, briefly brushing her head against his, if nothing else she considered him a friend. It saddened her that she may not be able to see him again, but continued visits would be unwise from this point on. She offered an apologetic smile this time, shaking her head softly.
"I'm sorry, but I'm needed elsewhere, I cannot... give up on this station that I agreed to look after. I would only be putting someone else in my position, and the idea breaks my heart. I wanted to keep my promise."
She looked from Aali to the little female trying to hide, desperately. Reluctantly she drew her paw back, leaning her head down to gently nose the cub into standing, trying her best to keep her voice from breaking or shaking.
"This is.......... This is my daughter."
She trembled a bit, realizing that she couldn't do it. Leaving her daughter with a name... picked by her would be too much. As it was she was likely to visit the lands just to see how she grew, but she couldn't say goodbye now if she left her with that precious name.
"She needs a name still..."
He listened to her his heart ached for her, she was strong but he wanted to shield her from her duty. He had hoped she would choose to shed her heavy burden and join them. Now he knew that she couldn't not now and maybe not ever. He gave a soft nod having little choice but to accept her decision. He gazed down at her daughter and softly smiled, she had promised and she intended to keep that promise. He knew that she didn't have to, nothing bound her but her word. It was obvious that she made a great sacrifice in bringing one of her precious children to them, but then again that was what she did.
Ameer peered curiously as the female pushed the bundle open. He gazed at the smaller lion and smiled until he realized it was a girl. He sat back not impressed one little bit and already understanding his father was going to let this strange female go.
Aali smiled down at the tiny cub "I promise she'll be well loved here Teu, well taken care of, and shown a family and friends who will always stand by her." He glanced at his son and smiled. "I think perhaps she should be Ameer's charge, he has no banu of his own, and it would do him well to look after another."
Ameer looked up startled by his fathers words half confused and half honored. He knew that a banu of his own was a rare gift especially at his age. He looked at the female, at how sad she seemed and slowly he walked over and curled around the tiny cub. "I'll...take good care of her."
Aali nodded softly and gazed at Teu "We should name her Bat-Sheva, for she is the daughter of your oath."
Ameer perked up his head from where he had been staring at the smaller female, at his banu. "I like Adiva...she's....gentle."
Teuli stepped back, suddenly feeling as if the goodbye couldn't last long enough, and she thought of the parents that she'd done this very thing to in the past and did not know how she'd lived with herself for so long.
"Thank you." Was all that she could manage, tearing her eyes off of the small bundle of fur that was looking at the male faces around her and then her mother again with confused, wanting eyes. She had to look away, or she would fare even worse. Her look conveyed both her apology and her gratitude. She couldn't stay another moment, but she waited for his acknowledgement before she would allow herself to take her leave.
The little cub pawed at the larger one that kept her wrapped in the wall of his body, unsure what was going on, but wanting her mother, wondering why there was so much sadness going around. Still, she looked to Ameer with curiosity.
Aali nodded softly seeing how hard this was for her he moved to give her cheek one last small lick. "She will be Adiva'Bat-Sheva, and we will take good care of her Teu, do not be sad." Yet he knew she would be, but at least once that faded a bit she would know her daughter was well loved and cared for among friends.
Ameer could see the confusion in the young females eyes, and he knew by his fathers words that teu would leave now. He didn't want the cub to be sad. He curled around her and softly touched his nose to hers "Your Adiva'Bat-Sheva...and...your very pretty." He murmured softly against her ears trying to distract her.
Teuli nodded just barely, looking at her child one last time, memorizing her for the hundreth time in the last twenty four hours, and she managed at least a small smile. She was grateful that at least Aali had decided on a good home for her. Teuli shut her eyes, taking her leave then with that. Would she be back soon? She didn't know, but someday... she wanted to see how Adiva would grow in her new home, and she hoped that her daughter would forgive her some day for this.
"Momma?" Adiva called, it was one of the few words she still knew at this point. She felt the touch of Ameer's nose and looked back at him, ears flattening just a bit, either shy or confused, but she tried to repeat after him, just honestly too young to really understand that her mother wasn't coming back this time. "Adi.. va?"
Aali watched Teu carefully, he wanted to tell her to reconsider he wanted to ask her to stay. If only she would stay with them, raise her daughter here where she could relax and be...but no. He knew Teu needed to be where she was really most needed, her self sacrifice was a part of what he found so amazing about her. She was so strong he knew he had to try and make this easier for her perhaps if they left first.
"Come Ameer we'll show Adiva around and get her comfortable...I'm sure Taja or Aysel can get her something to...eat..." He knew the cub was probably barely weaned they would have to take care of the little one.
Ameer nodded at her realizing what was going to happen, Adiva was staying...her mother wasn't. He looked at Teu concerned for a moment, she looked strange and she popped in and out he didn't want to upset her he was actually going to have to take good care of her daughter. "Adiva..." He nodded softly murmuring against her ear and keeping a paw gently around her.
Teuli didn't see it, but she heard it when they began to go, she murmured a quiet goodbye, then reluctantly vanished, leaving so that she could be alone before she returned home to the Dawnwalkers.
Adiva whimpered softly when her mother disappeared, turning confused eyes back up to Ameer. "Momma?"
Where was she going? Was she coming back? They couldn't leave till mom came back!
Ameer watched as his father picked the small female up and he wished he were a little larger to manage it himself. Still the important thing was getting her home and fed, and settled down. He glanced back just one more time at Teu and couldn't help but sigh. Females...they were always trouble.
Aali gently picked up the small female and headed back to the den wanting to get her settled. He knew how hard it would be for her, she was young but she would understand someday. His banu were tender and they would probably make things much easier for the little one. He could also see the way Ameer looked at her, He knew his son would take care of her even if he preferred time alone.
After a moment the young cub went still when picked up in the strange male's jaws, though she did paw at the air briefly. She wanted to know why her mother wasn't there anymore, but at her age was far too young to understand. After some food and sleep, come tomorrow today would probably be too fuzzy to remember anymore.
