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 Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 4:00 pm
 Vaako was returning to the swamp lands for one of his usual visits. He was very proud of his cubs though he had to admit he found some them rather peculiar... and amusing… sometimes. But peculiar. Tarmha was perfect, of course, that went without saying. But Isokisi still didn’t speak, Riddi was… well, he was nothing like Riddiq, Bokkie seemed to have some serious coordination issues and Cin… Cin was perhaps the most "normal" of his boys. He was gentle and it was clear he cared deeply for his siblings. But considering the kind of relationship Vaako shared with his brother, even Cin’s temperament was oddly foreign to him.
True to character, Bokkie had somehow managed to get his entire right side covered in the darkest mud Vaako had ever seen and Mohana was patiently removing the brown layer from his white coat. His little Tarmha was watching… no, supervising the arduous task and Vaako decided to look for the other boys: Cin, Riddi, Isokisi... Now where were they?
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Posted: Wed Nov 09, 2011 6:40 pm
 Cin had been on the other side of Bokkie, working on trying to get the sticky stuff off his ear, but was finding the task a little more difficult then he could handle, plus the mud tasted awful.
Deciding that this was one of those jobs that Mother did best. So he bowed out politely and jumped up onto one of the higher roots sticking out of the fetid mud. Looking around him, he saw father just a way up ahead.
He wondered about his strange pale eyes, they almost made him look blind, but he'd never asked about them. Cin was a rather smart cub for his age, you only asked if you really needed to know. He did however meet those eyes with a very direct gaze of his own. His tail swaying behind him in lazily.
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2011 6:33 pm
“Cin.” Vaako greeted his son with a small smile, somehow managing not to grin when he saw the cluster of little stars dancing behind the younger lion. “Where are your brothers?” He hoped Riddi was with Isokisi. Vaako worried that his youngest son might have trouble finding his way back to the den when he couldn’t even ask for directions. Not that thought the boy to be stupid, far from it. Vaako could clearly see the spark of intelligence in Isokisi’s eyes but he still worried about the boy’s future. But he was supposed to worry. That’s what parents did.
He glanced towards the small group and almost frowned.
“And how did…? Never mind…” No, it wasn’t important to know the details. Bokkie didn’t appear to have suffered any injuries – though he wasn’t counting his son’s pride at this point – so it was best to pretend he hadn’t noticed the improvised bath. “What have you been up to?”
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Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 12:32 pm
Cin tilted his head, regarded his father, " This and that, he answered him without any cubbish hesitation, " learning how to stalk, manage the swamp, " he glanced at his brother, " I tend to take the higher road if I can. Its not hard to find if you look carefully, and you father, what have you been doing?"
His tail, swished behind him. Already he was a large lion, promising that he would grow to be as bulky as his dad, but there was a kindness in his eyes, and while he was direct, there was a softness in his voice.
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Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 12:22 pm
“Manage the swamp?” Vaako repeated seriously, the corners of his mouth slowly lifting to form a small amused smile at his son’s description. There were many times when he felt as if he were talking to a miniature adult when addressing Cin. It was something that had grown up seeing in his brother Riddiq who seemed to have been born with an adult mind so it was a familiar – though not particularly comforting – feeling. It was good that Cin’s similarities with his uncle ended there. Personality-wise, that is. Physically, Cin was shaping up to become one of the largest of his sons. Bokkie was large as well but Vaako could tell that once all that cubbish fat fell into place, his pale son might become a very tall lion but not a particularly broad one. Cin… well, he might even grow to become just as big as his uncle.
“This and that...” He replied much in the same way his son had had answered him. He shook off the pelt from his back to make himself more comfortable and removed his leg warmers before continuing. “Looking for your uncle, talking to some strangers…” He paused, looking up to his dark daughter for a moment. “What about your sister? Is she doing good? She hasn’t been sneaking off, has she?”
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Posted: Thu Dec 08, 2011 4:26 pm
Cin watched his father with older gaze, his golden eyes taking in what he was doing, while he answered his dad's question, " Yeah, manage the swamp. There are high roads and low roads. Places you can travel without getting damp or wet, or dirty. Shortcuts, long loops. Open spaces were you can stand and fight if you had to, and mange your opponent or prey into deeper water..you know..manage the swamp."
Cin tilted his head the other way, as he place a paw on his dad's shoulder, " You'll find him dad, you can't search forever and not find him. I don't think things work that way. When I get old enough, I'll help you look too, then the odds are better."
" Sis..." Cin rolled his eyes," Sis is always trouble, but she's a good girl. When she sneaks off, we just go sniff her out." He frowned a little, " Maybe I better teach her some of the high roads...just to be safe. What do you think dad?"
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Posted: Fri Dec 09, 2011 4:01 pm
There was something akin to approval in the adult’s bright eyes – slowly narrowing as if hit by an unexpected ray of light - as he watched the little cub in front of him. If he hadn’t looked away someone might’ve seen the wide grin that had briefly crossed his features. Cin might be gentle but he wasn’t stupid. And as Vaako recognized a familiar cleverness in his son, he was certain that Cin, no matter how kind, would never be called weak.
“You don’t have to…” Honestly, he was actually a little worried about Riddiq meting his cubs. His brother had no right to pass his usual silent judgment on them no matter how odd some of them were. Riddiq wouldn't be aggressive towards his boys, would he…? They were family, after all, and Vaako trusted his brother enough to think he’d never harm the boys… well, not without a really, really good reason. But while Cin was easily recognizable as Vaako’s son, the same couldn’t be said for Isokisi and Bokkie who took after their mother. It was a troublesome thought. “Your uncle likes to be alone… it’s best to stay out of his way.”
“She gets into trouble a lot?” Vaako asked suddenly after a brief pause, looking somewhat alarmed. The comparison with his missing sister was far from amusing though he always made it instinctively. Both were dark with light blue eyes but as far as personality went, he’d always believed Tarmha to be rather timid especially when compared to the little spitfire that had been Jakyra as a cub. “Has she ever snuck out? Gotten lost?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:19 am
Cin tilted his head at his dad, watching him with eyes that were a little to sharp for a cub his age, " If my Uncle likes to be alone, why are you looking for him? Seems a little rude, if he dosen't want anyone around, and mom says you have to mind your manners, and with mom you sure better mind them." This was said with the absolute certainty of a cub who hadn't minded them once or twice.
"Sis, in trouble?, Nah..she sometimes likes to go out an explore a little, but not much. Usually the most trouble she gets into is getting the end of your tail all wet. Depends on which one of us she chooses, but I swear I am gonna have a bald spot there my whole life." He turned to look back at his tail where his sister often hung onto him.
"Still, best to teach her the high roads. She'll get adventurous someday, and I don't want her falling into one of the deeper holes, don't you think dad? "
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 2:40 pm
Vaako’s bright eyes widened for a moment as he stared down at his son, silently evaluating him. His children were no longer cubs in the eyes of the pride. Instead, they were called juveniles and given increasing amounts of freedom and responsibility as they began to learn the things that they’d require during their adolescent quest. Cin, in particular, was clever and perceptive and while Vaako didn’t like to talk about his past – especially in front of his young and impressionable cubs – he was forced to accept that Cin’s questions and curiosity were more than valid. He owed him an honest answer even if it was one he’d rather not give.
“Yes, you’re right. I’m glad you’re such a good brother, Cin.” He said with a gentle smile that was usually reserved for Tarmha alone. He lifted one large paw to pull the young lion closer to his chest and spoke softly, his eyes slowly drifting to their surroundings. “Come here, son. I need to talk to you about my family.”
He paused, wondering how he should begin the tale.
“My brother and I… Riddiq and I… we never really got along when we were young. I was born in the rogue lands. I never met my father and my mother took care of us but… well, she was not like your mom. And she spent a lot of time hunting so we were alone most of the time. I had three sisters then and a long time ago, one of them was taken by a cheetah when we strayed from the den. The rogue lands are harsh, Cin. Cubs die and go missing all the time. Lions fight, get injured and sometimes die for things as simple as trespassing.” He took one long breath, his sister’s name echoing in his mind. His maw twitched.
“I was about your age when Jakyra was taken. Riddiq and I left the den and we have been looking for her ever since. That’s why we stick together even though we’ve never really understood each other. And that’s what I’ll keep doing when you are old enough to go on your naming quest. It’s also why I worry so much about your sister. You… might have noticed…” An abashed smile crept into his expression but it was quickly replaced by the usual solemn look that Vaako usually carried, much more fitting of the responsibility of fatherhood, the blue-eyed lion believed.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:20 am
Cin looked up at his dad as he was pulled closer, realizing that he wasn't even close to being as big as he was, even though he was already bigger then most of the cubs his age and was fair certain he was going to bigger then most of the adults one day, but he would never be bigger then his dad. It made his little chest swell with pride. He'd never be as big as his dad, but he'd be close.
His ears flicked forward as he listened to what his father said, and as he spoke about his lost sister, Cin's aunt, he could feel how much it must hurt his father, cause he knew how much it would hurt him if he didn't have his own sister hanging off his tail all the time. Biting is lower lip, he place a paw on his dad's ruff and looked up into his pale eyes with his gold one, his young face very sincere despite his father's earlier grin. In fact were anyone to look at the two, there would be no mistaking them for father and son, almost identical were their expressions.
" I am sorry that Jakyara, my aunt, was stolen dad, and that you didn't have the safety that I've had growing up. Thank you for giving me that," Cin nuzzled his father's warm fur," Thank you for keeping us all safe so you didn't have to worry about us like you did your sister. I promise you dad when its time for me to leave on my naming quest I won't go unprepared. Will you teach me? Teach me how to be safe out there past the swamps? I'm big and strong, but it won't do me any good if I don't know how to use it."
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Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:49 am
Vaako looked down at his son for a few moments, slowly taking in his words. Sometimes he felt as if his children were completely unlike what he remembered of his cubhood and though he was glad for that, Vaako couldn’t help but worry that he wouldn’t be able to relate to them as they grew. In this case, however, there was actually something familiar when he listened to his son. It took him a rather long time to realize it but he could see a little of his sister Kofie in Cin and that thought warmed his heart. He wondered where his blue sister was at that moment, if she was safe and happy.
“Big and strong? Are you really?” he asked with a stern expression but a hint of playfulness to his tone. He paused for a moment as he considered his son’s idea. Training, huh? Granted, the last thing he had ever wanted was to give his boys the cubhood he’d experienced. He feared the training would change them, make them competitive or even cold and aggressive. But his cubs weren’t Vaako or even Riddiq… and it was true they would need to fend for themselves as soon as they reached adolescence and left for their name quests. “Alright. I will train you… and your brothers, too.” He supposed Tarmha would also require some lessons as well. The mere thought that his only daughter would soon leave the pride alone and unprotected was enough to make a shiver run down his spine.
“We start tomorrow.”
- FIN! -
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