Maisha yawned widely, fangs glistening in the cool of this particular mountain morning. It had been wonderful, having her family gathering back around her, and the arrival of Kari’s mate, the father of her own children, had been eye-opening. But she was so very happy for the two males. They were clearly in love with each other and Fuuen doted on his children, just as much as Kari had done since his arrival. She got the feeling that the pair of them would not be long for the mountain land though. Fuu she knew was a roamer by heart, his wild blood was too strong to be tamed by any home, and Kari… Nothing tied him to these mountains any longer. His mate had come back to him and while he clearly loved his extended family dearly, the litter was not his. She didn’t see why the two males would stay, not when there was a whole world to explore all over again, now they were together.
However, all the recent excitement had awoke an urge within her. The same one that Fuuen had woken that had resulted in so much joy in her life. She felt restless and her den was too big. Yet she did not particularly desire a mate, not as Kari and Fuu did each other. Maybe if she found someone worth the effort.. but she was not a young lioness freshly arrived at adulthood, but a mature female with a litter themselves full grown. No, it was not a mate she desired, but another litter of cubs.
After another great yawn she rose and stretched her long, lean body, chest dropping to the ground as her tail curled high over her back. Straightening, she set off, no clear goal in mind but needing to move while she considered her options.
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Jamal paused, looking curiously up at the mountain peek above him. He had no idea where he was, only that it was a long way from home. It had been a spur of the moment decision, to leave his pride and venture out into the roguelands. But he was only following his brother Shahin, who had left almost as soon as they had become adults and only went back to visit their mother. Neither male was entirely comfortable leaving her there all alone, but their two sisters Jumaana and Shakira had remained in the pride and wile both males felt possessive of their family, both had needed to explore the world. The only difference had been that Shahin had left as soon as he could, Jamal had wanted to wait and make sure the girls were ok before going exploring. That had lasted until well into their adult year and then he had been distracted with pride happenings. But finally, everything had settled down, the pride was stable, the Bahari had been accepted as good neighbours (he didn’t much care what the others though, he had to be convinced they were safe to have around…) and thus it had finally felt like the right time to leave his family and go on his own quest.
That quest had brought him here, to this strange mountain with its strange scents. Lions clearly lived here, he had met one already a big pale male who had been incredibly intimidating, but then Jamal was not small himself and after a brief and short discussion on his intentions, he had been left to explore. Though only after the big male had extracted a promise that Jamal would not get too close to the interior of the pride.
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A short way higher up the mountain, Maisha was slowly wandering along a well known pathway. She wanted cubs, that was easy.. but she had to find a male willing to give them to her and then not interfere with her raising of them. Oh, she was happy enough for him to play a role in their upbringing, but she would not put up with any over bearing attitudes, nor any male trying to tell her how to be a good mother. She had managed perfectly well alone when Fuuen had left, neither of them knowing at the time that their night of fun had resulted in anything more than memories…
Such a male was not as easy to find as one would assume. The pride was heavily family-orientated and the males were progressive in their thinking, but it meant that most would want to be more involved than she felt entirely comfortable with. The obvious answer was another Fuuen… well, not the lion himself, though she would not refuse if he ever suggested it.. But another rogue, a male who would do as she wished and then leave. Maybe they would see him again, maybe not, but she had plenty of role models among her friends and family for any future offspring, the lack of a father-figure didn’t concern her. Besides, she liked her kids to be independent, just as her first litter were.
Suddenly she spotted someone coming up the path towards her. He was a large male, his patchy coat strangely stripped. He had to be a newcommer, or a visitor, because a ghost was shadowing him off to one side, unknown to the male himself. She glanced through the thick cover at Szürke, letting him know that she would watch this male for a while and let him get back to his duties. After the pale male had slid away undetected, she continued her walk, letting the pathway bring her and the stranger into each other’s line of sight.
“Hello there.”
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Jamal had been walking slowly, head turning as he gazed up and down the mountain. It was a very beautiful place, though the faint chill in the air made his coat prickle. He didn’t feel it too sharply and so paid it no mind. Though he guessed it would get irritating fast, used as he was to the far warmer climes of his beach-side home.
The sudden voice up ahead made him start, head swivelling round until he spotted the pretty brown lioness coming down towards him. Smiling he continued to walk up the mountain path until they drew close to each other, then he stopped. Dropping his head in a bob of greeting.
“Hello.” He smiled.
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