Kata was like her siblings. DESPERATELY trying to impress the Boss Lady. Father said that she was everything to them.. and little did she know that she was going out of the pridelands for the day. Oh noe. Her black ears lifted when the sound of footsteps from within the caverns of the caves.. She had just finished 'showering' herself. Now that she felt she was big enough to handle herself. Though shen't NEVER tell her nanny that.
Nyoka's hunches rolled as she slid through the caverns. She didn't know what she would stumble on. Usually she was only in there to hear the echos of the caverns. Walls held many secrets.. you must only hear them out. It was as if she was all over being covered and taken in by them at times and would spend sometimes hours just by teh caverns. Hearing them... This time. When she was walking to her usual spot the bright coat poked out. Well the speckles of bright spots.
For that brown fur was now matted slightly.. but looking as if it was just cleaned. A smile crossed her maw. "MMmm.. that can't be my Katapatan.." She chimed..
And thats how she ended up out here. In the 'roguelands'. Her eyes..went big.. and with thoughs came the back drop. It was just the forest ring and once she stepped one foot. It was like the whole world collapsed under it. Spreading her digits and feeling it- it was. Weird. Like she just passed a barrier. That protectective barrier that saved her from everything. Not even feeling like she had fur! Like.. like.. as if she was naked! She looked up in to Nyoka's face as they walked the lands outside of the pridelands. It felt foreign and she didn't know what she felt about it. The lands were harder.. and the smells were different. It was the FIRST time she'd been out. And even then she didn't really like it already. Her stomach turned..
But Nyoka was there and she didn't want to look as though she was afraid or not up for a challenge because she was up for anything the boss told her to. But not overly doing it so. She dipped her head and leaned over to Nyoka's paws hitting the ground. “So.. we go 'out' to get food?”
“Yes my dear Kata.. we do.” Really she was talking about the grunts. Thats what they are for after all. “Even if the grunts do that work. They get it from out here..” She whirled herself around in such a slow and fluid motion, that she looked like a wave. Crashing behind her as she stood and looked over her should. “The world out here is... a horrible place.” She shrugged. Her tail coiling and uncoiling. “But you must learn it- to learn your home. You must know that out there- all that is.. also helps us.” Nodding. But as she read her little Kata- she knew that even the thought wasn't pleasant.. and that made her smile.
“But that isn't til later.. but I wanted to show you just a little of the outside of those large protective walls. Home.” Nodding. “But you must know them regardless..” She leaned forward and nudged her snout against the little one's head almost pushing her aside. “Come along. Another step and we will go home.” She joked and gave her an encouraging smile.
Kata huffed- unwanting to but it happened. Quickly shutting it and then looking down in to where her paw 'was' for she had moved it a while ago when Nyoka was talking. Then only to set it down. Holding her breath as she did it before taking another step. Leading her other paws to do the same until her whole body was on the 'outside'. Her fur stood up on her neck and she was almost.. crushed. But she tried to hold it but she was slightly nervous and scared. Her tail was up and unwanting to touch the foreign ground.
“There. That wasn't THAT bad.” She tilted her head and softly moved back in to the pride. Then with her tail she pushed the cub right in to the rogueland's sandy dirty and walked right on in to the pride lands. Laughing softly as she felt that it was NEEDED for the cub was just ACHING for a good push. That laugh held her til the pride.. The pride's forest ring was thick and she knew it so closely that it wasn't even hard to stride right on in. Nodding to the 'hidden' members of the pride that scouted the area. They chuckled some in the trees.. Hidden away from preying eyes. Yes. They preyed on everything that crossed their path.
Even the cub that was pushed in to the ground. Her belly touching the ground.. and when it did- along with her face. She quickly rushed up and followed after Nyoka and once she was in pace with her she slowed down and straightened her back. Posture going in tone with her body movements. But they mimiced her father' s and not like Nyoka's. Which was a female's step.. not a male's step. She was sure of where her paws were going and didn't wave her body like girls did. Looking forward and heightened her head- her tail padding to each side. Shaking her head off then straighening it again. “I'm sorry...I feel like I failed.”
Nyoka turned then looked forward again. Walking with the wave of her hips. “Dear. I know your not ready for that big of a step. Your but a juvineile only getting in to your fur.”
Kata gasped slightly but inwardly.. that felt like a slap in the face but she held her tongue and felt even worse about it. Failing just WASNT in her family. On top of that- she thought she was the most sought from Nyoka but when she realized she was just another of the litter.. It hurt. But when Nyoka flucked her out from the caves. She thought she was...special. Only to see now that she was just getting teased.
“Hey.” She stopped.. and softly lowered her head.. “Listen. You'll grow in to it. Your not expected to grow up sooner than your supposed to. Thats what the nanny is there for. To teach you til your an adol.. and ready to hit your missions. Your feather said you all won't disappoint me, and I'm not disappointed now.” Looking the girl straight in the eyes. Seriously. “I don't think you should grow up any sooner.. but I know these 'outings' will help your development. You'll grow in to your fur. In the meantime. I'll still be teasing you along the way.. but I know you will be great. YOU wouldn't let me down. Would you?”
When she was looked in to her very soul by the eyes of the boss lady. Her fur went down and so did her ears as her body still stood her ground. But the strength in her blood conbated being shy and the compliments- though it was very little was encouraging. Her father talked well of her? The feeling of being 'proud' was emident and she held her head high. Then gave a strong few nods. “Yes Lady Nyoka. I would never let you down. Like father. I am loyal to your every word and thank you very much for your teachings.”
A smile creeped over her dark blue face.. yes. Another solider to add to her line. “Thats the spirit.” She saw mana all over this cub.. the way she stood her ground though she put her ears back and she looked still intimidated. It didn't much matter entirely because soon. This one would be on the front line and would be willing to give her life for her. That was the important part.. and loyal was what she needed from these cubs- and thats the skill she was trying to protect so fiercely.. and it seems she wouldn't be let down. Not by any of them. Except Zuri would was.. rather sickly the last she known of him. “There. Now lets continue our 'teachings'” As she turned to the pride and continued walking.. Coming up to where the crater had opened and two male cheetahs were standing guard.
She gave a nod to them and continued on her way- with cub in toe.
“Yes Lady Nyoka.” She bowed her head before taking a big step before getting back in step with the Nyoka. Re-living the feeling when she touched the outside of the boarders of the pride. It was.. so different.. But that only proved to her how much she still needed to learn. That almost scared her. She didn't know what was enstore but she was happy. On the inside.. she felt a little happier being picked out by Nyoka today. With these teachings- she might stand a chance of becoming just like father. The right hand of Lady Nyoka. Or the future boss. She was so excited inside- that it gave her butterflies but she tried to even hide her happiness over the ordeal. But she smiled.. softly and genuinely. For just a moment.... before she quieted down and nodded to the passing guards. She was along side the Boss- and she knew.. at least somewhat she stood a chance..
With every passing day. She was closer to her goal and she knew it.
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