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 Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 12:47 am
Her eyes slitted as she walked with her shoulder blades moving like her hips did to the beat of the pride's terrain. The heat wasn't a thing since they were below sea level.. so the crater's walls were just high enough to avoid to massive heat waves.. but her body didn't look as though it were touched by a single unrefined fur patch. She rose her head as though she owned the place, walking as tall as she could possibly get and looking as elegant as ever. It was DRILLED in to her, so .. what else did she know? A time for rest could never be in her schedule.
Today, she was on a mission. She had sent Mana, early morning to check on his cubs and asking of course, like always how they were holding up. If they were even worth being her. With her insecurities.. what would she do without Mana putting up with her and staying her right hand. She gave out a soft sigh as she came across her destination. Lifting her head up to where his den was. There was a path engraved in to the crater walls.. going to every den. But her destination was Mana's den. Where he left his cubs anyway.. to a nanny. Like she had thought he would do.
So predictable sometimes.. unpredictable lead to these complications though. Those cubs.. but she did have a motherly side.. and without any of her own in the pride.. her making excuses for them not being here.. She would NEED souls to look out for. Trotting up the path as though she were just a passing by sight... before arriving at the den and jumping on to the ledge of the den's mouth. Her tail pacing behind her as her silhouette was casted across, grasping at the light and eating it away....
Her head held high.. but yet humble in her own right. "Hello." She said quite honestly. Eyes slitting and looking in to the den as best as she could, but in secret as though she were waiting to be greeted. "Is anyone home?" Her voice carrying on like a murmur in to the cave.. as if haunting like.
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Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:01 am
 As per Nyoka's orders, had gone ahead to prepare his cubs for a visit from the Boss Lady. He wanted them to make a good showing, but there had been a certain inflection to her tone which alerted him to the fact that she would rather the cubs didn't know she was coming. Well, it wasn't as if his cubs had ever given him cause for embarrassment before, but at the same time he was reasonably sure they hadn't received surprise visits from Nyoka before, either.
"I know it's not the usual day that I see you," he was explaining to the cubs. "But you may as well learn that routines rarely get to stay that way, and today is the day I'm here."
Actually, it was something of a miracle that he'd managed to keep to a routine for visiting his cubs once a week as it was. He was a busy cheetah and Nyoka's requests and needs weren't exactly patterned around his schedule. Rather, his life was ordered around her desires and since the cubs had been born he'd been doing his very best to be an ideal right hand to the Boss Lady to make up for the debacle with Tesanya.
 Imbra had learned not to bounce around her father and enthuse when she got to see him very early on in her life. It not only annoyed him, it seemed to actually distress him. Anything she did which was particularly cub-like seemed to have that effect on him, really, and so from an early age Imbra had been in the process of ridding herself of all cub-like behaviors. She'd made herself learn to walk at the same speed as an adult so that she could keep up, and she'd learned to run and jump very early, and was now very good at it, and had several siblings to compete against whenever she felt inclined to do so. And her legs were growing longer every day.
She listened to her father talk with wide eyes and ears turned toward him; however, she could sense that there was something more to his visit than just some disruption in his schedule and wondered what it was. Was there some sort of danger? She rather liked the idea of that, because then she could show off how good she was getting at fighting and running and jumping and all those other important things. Also she liked the thought that if there was danger, her father had chosen to come to his cubs, perhaps to protect them.
A female voice from the entrance captured her attention, interrupting Mana's explanation and causing Imbra's head to swivel toward the entrance. She was ready for a fight if it came to it, but it didn't sound like one would be necessary. She wondered which of her father's many female friends this one was.
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Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2010 8:37 pm
Kata (* will change to her cub's image soon * )'s head reclined for a moment before realizing whom it was that came in and quickly got to her feet. Padding forward and with an awe sorta look at first before it became a modeled bow of her head. To show respect. She was labeled the quiet one from their nanny and only when she was out 'learning' was when she got pushy to her nanny but not overly so. She we well mannered and usually took Tarou along to some of her 'teachings'. She even got to meet the Boss Lady when out observing.. and a beautiful silver coated cheetah named Giselle.
"Father, Mananakbo." When taking up her further steps towards him and already Imbra was at his side. Though they seemed sometimes likely to see one another than the rest. She still felt the need to never 'raise up' alarm about it. Laid back, and observant.. Her ears flopped forward. "Ok." She commented on things sometimes needing change. This, was one of them and she was hoping to find more time with her father. If he would stay long enough.. Though he wasn't always there- she felt the need to be proud and always feel honored to be Mana's offspring. Others like Giselle and a few other entertainers said the alike.
It wasn't til Nyoka brought herself close to the den that Kata turned her head away and behind Mana... only too see a very curvy- figure in the mouth of the den. Her tail padded and immediately. "Thats- thats Lady Nyoka!" Almost surprised in her voice as she wasn't accustomed to and went down on her forearms. Bowing.. Hoping not to embarrass her father in the slightest in front of her.
Nyoka smiled... as she soon was revealed. Mana had not told them. That, was a good thing. She wanted to know them as what they were- and not acts of betrayal. Which she was being rather generous at that. Taking her steps in- with her head midway to not seem too intimidating. Taking her place beside Mana- she nodded him in to acknowledgement before glazed her sights over to the cubs. They were growing rather fine indeed. They both acknowledged her- but she knew there had to have been more..
"The others?" She turned to Mana for an answer, and the Nanny didn't seem to be in her line of vision.. so she was unsure of what had happened to the rest. She knew one's name- Tarou but not the other sadly. She would find out soon if she had the time to. Looking down at the two. "You have manners but you don't have to bow.. I instead to see you." Lowering herself to Kata's face and immediately the cub scrambled to get up. Her lure over these cubs- she didn't know if they were scared- or if they were just being threatened. Like most times, it was exactly that. Singled out, she knew most wouldn't act this way.
She'd have to make it a point in her times between scoutings and roaming to single each and every cub out.. Her tail padded as she awaited an answer from Mana- raising her head and straightening her back. A sly grin- he had been on her good graces every since the argument between them and at least she knew that he was trying to make up for it. The cubs seemed.. well mannered so far. As what she could see of them now anyways, just two.
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Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 2:00 pm
 Tarou sat up straight and listened intently to his father. Although he was only a juvenile, he was already beginning to behave like an adult. In fact he already seemed bored with the games he played as a cub and eager to move onto more challenging activities, like hunting small prey. Perhaps Mana's reaction to his cub-like traits inspired Tarou to snuff them out at a young age. Or perhaps Tarou was simply born a stick in the mud. At least his strange behavior didn't seem to be having a negative effect on him. He rarely cried or seemed unhappy, as far as anyone knew, and seemed to take life in stride.
When Tarou saw his siblings' surprised reactions to Nyoka he held in a smug grin, for he had already met her. Still, he straightened up a little when she walked into their den. Regardless of their past interactions he still wanted to make a good impression. However, when Kata climbed up onto Nyota's back, Tarou's claws tensed with jealousy. Determined to get her attention, and the attention of everyone in the den, Tarou piped up, "Good morning, Boss Lady! It's nice to see you again!"
He walked up to Nyoka and bowed.
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Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2010 9:49 am
Imbra fumed privately as two of her siblings recognized and were recognized by a small cheetah who was apparently the boss lady. She'd never met Lady Nyoka before, and she was beginning to feel decidedly left out. A very large part of her wanted to pout and demand to know why her father had never introduced her to Lady Nyoka. It didn't occur to her that maybe he'd had nothing to do with her siblings' knowledge of the boss lady, and that he might be as surprised by their foreknowledge as she was. She was mad!
Very deliberately Imbra made her way toward Nyoka, but she refused to fling herself at her like Kata and Tarou had done. Instead she held herself back and aloof, from which point she executed a very careful bow like Tomkrie had taught them to do. Every line of her body, while perfectly correct, bespoke her outrage at being kept from making this important connection. She knew the only way to achieve any really good position in the pride was to please Nyoka and she resented that her father had not seen fit to help her.
She kept her words to the bare minimum when she acknowledged the boss lady: "Lady Nyoka."
-----
Mana looked up on Nyoka's arrival, a little surprised by the fact she'd arrived early, but not hugely so. Nyoka liked to surprise people, and showing up before she'd said she would went right along with that. It wasn't the first time she'd done something like that. He had long since ceased to be bothered by it, and had learned to simply be ready that much earlier than he was supposed to be. He hadn't expected his cubs' briefing to take as long as it did.
It pleased him, however, that Katapatan and Tarou remembered their manners, though he was completely taken aback at their familiarity with the dark blue cheetah. When they'd spoken before, Nyoka had said that she wanted to meet his cubs, which he had taken to mean that she had not yet met them. Obviously this was not the case, given the way Katapatan and Tarou reacted to Nyoka, and she to them. He wondered how Tomkrie had neglected to mention something like this to him, and resolved to have words with her about that.
It was then that he noticed his firstborn's reaction, all stiff limbs and offended body language. Not all of his cubs had met Nyoka, it seemed. That was an interesting turn of events, and he wondered at that, too. Was Tomkrie playing favorites, or was Nyoka? He didn't believe it was chance which had caused this to happen. Mana didn't really believe in chance. Spirits, certainly, but not chance. Chance was just a silly idea.
"Good morning, Lady," Mana said softly, echoing his cubs' sentiments and then explaining why she saw only two cubs. "I was told Zuri was feeling poorly, and so he may not be in a state to meet you."
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Posted: Sun Dec 26, 2010 8:40 pm
 Zuri had been a ways off from his brother and sisters, not feeling like himself but ignored the feeling as it wasn't too bad. Staring off in the distances, his inner thoughts about hunting and fighting, he almost missed the presence of his father. It had been sometime since he last saw him, so he was a bit weary at seeing him. Never the less, he gathered closer to all three of his siblings as if to protect them from what their father had to say or want.
" Hello father." Zuri's tone was polite and a bit distant, his stance standing still and silent. Another noise dragged him away from his father and what he saw caused his eyes to widen farther. " Who-." He blurted in shock before he shook himself mentally. " I mean good day Boss." Zuri walked up next to his brother and bowed perfectly as well as with grace.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 12:45 am
{ Btw Sarge, Kata didn't jump on her. Nyoka just lowered herself to her height and nudged her head I believe.. D:
Sorry for late reply guys! }
Her tail waved evenly as her body stopped and looked the children over. Examining their posture. Understanding their delightful faces and their reactions. All equally different and all unique. Giving Mana a slightly bow of her head in acknowledgement. "Dear Mana." Her voice softened as she turned to seek Imbra's face. Starring at her and lifting her chin with the top part of her paw. "Aren't you a beauty.." Then lowered her gaze to Tarou.
That boy- he was something else. She loved the way he was growing up to be. "Why hello again.." As he bowed she gave a soft laugh. "Your so endearing little Tarou. Growing fine I see." Giving him the slight praise and when she looked to Mana as the wind of the other cub caught her ear. She frowned. "ill?" She repeated after him and when she looked ahead to hear the short of voice of the small white cub. She almost gasped, but it sounded more like a short of her breath. Green eyes would look over his blurting only because she heard of him being ill. That didn't sound to well and maybe it was because of his rogue mother and surely maybe his coloration had something to do with it?
Never knowing that Mana had sired a white cub. It look surely like him just the same. "Hello." She turned to Mana taking the name and addressing the young one. "Zuri? *eyeing Mana just to make sure she got his name right* you need not to stress over being about if you are to rest." Then she circled back to the other cubs. "Katapatan." She stated.
Kata's ears primed up and with the fact that she had hesitated. She was HATING herself over the act and even on the inside just burning up. But she made her way next to Tarou and sat beside him. Straightening her back like she tried to do every time she sat to form good posture. Giving him a soft smile that he knew the Boss Lady. That was good-. It was giving them points to know her, and even interact with her. From the way she acted with Tarou and addressed him.. it meant good graces, and she knew that. She heard it from the entertainers all the time. WHen she heard her name called- she lifted her head up and even her hind legs slightly. "Yes Lady Nyoka?" Giving her feather a look, to see if that was alright to say.
"Step forward and let me see you." Coming around and sitting, with her tail curling and uncurling as if to intimidate the cubs. "I would like each one, to see their posture and how they walk. Walking is a great part in how others will treat you." She told them, and really she was looking for the the pick of the litter. Whom was on the track most closest to what she imagen Mana's cubs to be in. Grow up loyal and fully prepared to protect her if she were ever in trouble. Or to be loyal even til death, and see how well they have been keeping up with their training. It did start now- did it not?
She stepped forward.. her back was straightened and her steps, she tried to make them even but she walked with her head high but not overly so. She tried to be as fluent as she could.. she had to train for it. But it happened, the entertainers she talked to always were helpful with their commentary. She didn't have a 'sway' to her hips like the entertainers tried to help her with. It was rather- more like how a fighter or messenger would walk. Kata, then walked back to where she sat, along side her brother Tarou. Bowing her head as a thanks to the boss lady.
"Imbra, Tarou. Like Katapatan did- can you walk in a line for me?" Showing herself to be taken lightly and encouraging them to walk how they walked. As natural. "Take a deep breath then go, as of course. Girls first." She had resided next to Mana, only to see with him, how his cubs walked. How they showed themselves to be. "They are in training for their specialty, am I right?" She side commented in a whisper so she knew where they were at and how long, and seeing if they learnt anything.
Though she was being rather critical- it was only for the best out of the cubs. She wanted to make sure they could make something of themselves.. as she told Tarou and Katapatan. They were special cubs.. unique in every way.. but tried to not say ANYTHING about their mother. For her- their Nanny was their mother and didn't want to EVER hear of them speaking about whatever that rogue's name was. Her eyes strayed to the white cub for a moment.. she was wary of him. She didn't know if being ill was it.. but she would hope that he too, would be successful when it was time for his inspection if he didn't feel up to it. Almost ignoring him as her eyes went back to Imbra and waited for her walk.
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 6:50 am
Mana gave a slight nod to let Nyoka know that she'd been correct in naming his fourth child. In an undertone he assured her, "Not very ill, or else he would not be here. He knows it is more important that he be healthy than anything else, and would not be allowed to risk infecting you with anything."
He didn't notice or return Katapatan's look. He was more focused on what Nyoka was asking of the cubs, and whether it was anything they had not been taught to do. When he heard her say that she just wanted to look at them and see how they walked, he gave a quick, relieved smile. Comportment was something they excelled at. He'd observed that personally as well as hearing favorable reports from Tomkrie.
"Not quite yet, Lady," Mana said in answer to Nyoka's question about the cubs' training. "Tomkrie thought it best to wait until they were more than cubs to start them in that, since as cubs they all wanted to be fighters it seems. Apparently their wishes have not changed, so I will have to arrange for them to be instructed in that. Unless you had any preferences for their training?"
-----
Imbra was not won over by the boss lady's examination and compliment. Of course she was beautiful, but beauty didn't mean much. Her father spent lots of his time with beautiful women and barely seemed to notice their beauty. She'd seen that in the time she spent with him. She'd seen how he would compliment them and fuss over them, but she had recently come to realize that it was all theatrics, and he was less interested in their good looks than in other things. She hadn't figured out what those other things were yet, but for now she was trying to be just like him until she learned what he wanted her to be.
She did know that he wanted her to impress Lady Nyoka, however, and so even though she thought it was stupid for her to want to see how they walked, she did as she was told. However, she couldn't dismiss her feelings of betrayal and jealousy as quickly as all that, so her gait more closely resembled stalking than walking, and when she had finished she turned around and stared defiantly at the boss lady, even while bowing once more. If she'd been a little older, she would have realized that her actions held a hint of irony, and that they were very like something her father would have done, though not to Nyoka.
The problem was that she could hear the adults speaking, even though they spoke softly, and she didn't really appreciate the implication that she didn't know her own mind, or that she might have been too young to be trained. She did want to receive training, though, and she knew that making Nyoka angry was a good way to never get it, as well as disappoint her father. Just the same, she couldn't help speaking out:
"I'm going to be a fighter, the kind everyone watches."
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Posted: Mon Jan 03, 2011 5:40 pm
Some part of his mind, a rather large part, believed that Mana paid him little attention because of his young age, so when Mana refered to them all as 'cubs' his fur bristled. Tarou was not one for silly nonsense like wishing upon stars, but whenever he had a private moment he would pray to the gods to make him grow up faster. The gods, having a certain respect for natural laws, always refused. Yet Tarou kept prayinig anyway. One day they would answer him.
He also prayed for the more practical gifts of strength and tenacity. These the gods also refused, for it was simplier to allow Tarou to develop them on his own, which he did.
When his turn came Tarou stood and walked slowly in front of the Boss Lady to give her a good look at him. He walked with his head held high, though not so high that his neck hurt, ears erect and chest puffed out. He kept his back straight; only the tip of his tail twitched from side to side, exposing his concentration. In fact he looked a little stiff. All his practice gave him a naturally proper posture. With Nyoka here he was concentrating harder than usual, trying to show off, and that made his walk seem a little unnatural.
Tarou believed in the importance of presentation. While he did not completely understand Nyoka's motivation for watching them walk, he did understand that proper posture had the benefit of showing how focused you are and therefore how reliable you are. Nor would he have questioned her request. Nyoka was the Boss Lady. One does not question the Boss Lady.
Finished, Tarou returned to his place beside his sisters. He sat with his shoulders straight and bowed. He wanted to show how thankful he felt for the oppertunity to present himself in front of Nyoka.
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Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 7:37 pm
Zuri watched as Nyoka, or boss lady according to his father, looked at him and called him by name. Then he continued to watch as the Boss Lady call out his siblings to walk in a line, each handling the process with grace and care. Before he knew it, it was his turn to prove that he was capable of making his family proud as well as making a name for himself. So looking straight ahead, posture straight, ears forward, tail curled, he took several confident steps. Each step was measured swiftly yet correctly, not once did he fall or trip.
He did not want to shame his father or siblings by making a mistake. His siblings were very important to him, and he did not want to see them effected by a horrible performance. Coming to the end of his walk Zuri gave a low bow in respect to Lady Nyoka before walking over to his brother and sisters to sit and wait to see what would happen next.
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Posted: Sun Jul 03, 2011 3:06 am
Her eyes casted over the cubs, each one being measured on how they presented themselves. How they moved, breathed, every inch that probably others would dismiss. Careful to judge them correctly and with each personality- non disappointed her. Even Zuri whom she hadn't gotten to see since he was born. Now making an entrance, she would have to congratulate Tomkrie for all her efforts. They were not a shame, even if they were rogue born. They did not let her down and that was the most important thing. Raising her head with a sly smile.
When the last one went, she smiled. "You have been hiding them then, they seem perfectly fit, Imbra seems to have been experienced with this already~" A smirk crossed her maw as she offered. "First born, it shows." Looking so excellent with posture, yet all the others came in very close in standards. "I am not disappointed. So you may all loosen up~" Looking the cubs over again... Seeing what they would do when they were 'at ease'.
Seemingly innocent and thus, with that. Her heart almost sunk when Imbra was praised more. Looking over to her brother when they were at ease.. Then to Imbra. Sometimes, she could only wish..
"Now you may all be wondering, why I made you walk~" A sly smile before she put a paw on her chest and lifted her chin. "A walk tells you a lot. About your personalities, your bloodline, and how you carry yourself. You can tell loyalty just by posture and read emotions with every movement you make." Possibly instilling this information would make them on edge but, they needed to know. "Try to hard, and you may mess up, it will come with time..Anyhow. I have a surprise for you all~ For doing so well- As your father is loyal to the paw. I must say, before your surprise... Do any of you have a thought in mind for a rank you want to take?" A tap of her paw made it so two fighters came in to the den. Sounding as if they were dragging the earth with them, something they were bringing in was big.
"Opps, so early~ ( She softly chuckled ) ~I thought I'd bring you a present~" With that, the fighters pulled in, along with dragging a rather big [ Zebu ]. Two had to pull it in. One a leopard and the other a cheetah.
"My present.." Her voice was soft and tender before looking at Mana. "May I borrow you for a moment~?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:47 am
Mana was pleased that his cubs seemed to have passed their inspection, though he might have been more pleased if Imbra could have done like her siblings and remained silent. He wasn't sure exactly what it was Nyoka was looking for, but he did know that it was better to remain silent in her presence until or unless she invited you to say something. Imbra should have known that, and while Nyoka might have plans to congratulate Tomkrie on her efforts, Mana's plans were more likely to result in stern words about his daughter's behavior.
"Thank you, Lady Nyoka," Mana prompted the cubs when she had a large zebu brought into the den. "You're very generous, and I'm sure my cubs are all grateful for the treat."
He waited until his cubs offered their thanks and moved toward the gift before he nodded in response to Nyoka's query. Certainly she could borrow him for a moment. He served at her pleasure, and whatever she wished, he would do if he was able, and if he wasn't, that didn't mean he wouldn't try to do it anyway. The mention she had made of his loyalty was not inaccurate. He was completely devoted to the boss lady, though his devotion was not in any way sexual.
He moved away from the cubs to create some space around himself and Nyoka, should she wish to discuss matters their ears oughtn't to hear. He had no doubt they would do their best to eavesdrop, and he couldn't fault them for that, but they had best learn not to be obvious about doing so.
-----
First born, it shows. Spirits. Whatever did that mean, Imbra wondered. Probably Lady Nyoka was referring to the way she'd spoken without being invited to do so. She wondered if the boss lady's reaction was a good thing, or if it was merely a comment on her behavior. She could see that her siblings had all been better behaved and more polite than she was, even though she was too proud to feel anything like remorse for her own actions.
She looked at the boss lady through clear blue eyes and watched her as she spoke and explained herself. It seemed to Imbra that a walk couldn't possible tell you all that, and then she wondered what her walk had told Lady Nyoka about her, and whether her father could read walks too. Could anyone learn to do it? She thought it would be a useful skill for a fighter, to be able to tell all that at a glance. With luck Lady Nyoka hadn't seen anything to disappoint her. She'd said she wasn't disappointed, but adults said things they didn't mean sometimes.
There was really no reason for her to speak in response to the boss lady's question. She had already given an answer by declaring her intention to become a currency fighter. It must have been directed at her siblings. Their answers would be easy to predict. All of them wanted to be like their father in any way they could. If they all could have been a right hand, they would have been.
When the zebu was brought in her eyes left the boss lady briefly to widen at the sight of such a large creature. That was really all for them? They were going to get so fat! Just the same, saliva began pooling under her tongue and she was excited about the prospect until she saw her father nod and make to leave the cave. Then the excitement soured in her mouth and she sighed, losing interest in the zebu.
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