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 Posted: Mon Jul 20, 2015 7:51 am
 The sleek tawny-coloured lioness yawned hugely, clean, muscular limbs stretching out across the sandy ground where she had been resting. Flopping back into a completely relaxed pose, the Cinga purred in pleasure. It was so nice not to do anything for an entire day. Usually she was out patrolling the pride’s land, tracking herd movements and chasing away intruders, like those damn baboons that kept pushing the boundary and her temper. Usually such an active lioness, this day of just sleeping, sunbathing and socialising was utter bliss. Ilanga was probably one of the less-well known lionesses in the pride, being as she usually kept to the outskirts with her vulture guide. But spending the day reconnecting with her sisters had been a very welcome change. Soon enough she would be out there again, her and Idla in the vastness of their home. But for the time being…..
Rolling onto her back she gave a languid stretch, lean frame stiffening before relaxing back into the dry, wonderfully scratchy sand. Demurely folding her forelegs against her chest she gazed up into the sky, grinning as the shadow of her companion winged across the endless blue. Idla was enjoying the strong thermals that rose over the heat-baked ground, doing a fancy display of acrobatics high above. Soon she would go hunting, and Ilanga supposed she should consider feeding herself as well. But for the moment she was simply too relaxed to bother moving.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 6:35 am
 Jasiri was not patrolling the borders today, and he should probably settle down to relax somewhere. Who knew when he'd next need his strength? Napping the day away was a great investment, as long as he kept an ear out for trouble.
He'd decided against one of the more desirable spots of shade since it was currently inhabited by a large group of females loudly discussing something or other. Oh, they'd make room for him there if he demanded it, but he doubted that the discussion would stop. Not very relaxing, in his opinion.
Instead he wandered towards a sandier area of their current territory. Perhaps a relaxing sand-bath would do the trick to get some tension out. As it turned out others had the same idea.
"Ilanga," he said, nodding in greeting, "No bird around today?"
Jasiri didn't care much for vultures and couldn't wrap his mind around the bond the Cinga and Enda appeared to have with the ugly creatures.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:10 am
Twisting her head round as he walked up, she grinned broadly up at him but didn’t move from her prone position. “Greetings Inselelo Jasiri.” The lioness had never been known as the shy and retiring type, indeed it was her forthright and bold attitude that had landed her as a Cinga. So she remained belly-up, forelegs folded demurely over her chest, her bright pale green eyes gazing up at him brazenly.
“Oh, Idla is up there somewhere..” She raised a forepaw lazily, motioning up at the vivid blue sky high above. The dark speck of a bird was just visible, high up soaring on the powerful thermals. “I decided to take a day off. Imbali and Maru are both out so I’m not needed.” It was a rare day Ilanga stayed within the heart of the pride, and as such she was more of an enigma to many of the pride. Confident and sassy she knew her own mind and worked well solo. For now though, she was in the mood for company, and the pride’s handsome Inselelo was a good choice of companion.
“Care to join me?” She asked, tail curling across the sand lazily, an inviting smile curling across her muzzle. As a lioness in her prime Ilanga had yet to mother cubs and these infrequent chances of male company were certainly welcome.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:28 am
Well, why not? Jasiri answered the invitation by settling down next to her with a relaxed sigh. He tried a few different resting positions before he too ended up on his back. It was an odd way to lie, but it did scratch that itch between his shoulder blades he could never seem to get to. A bit of wiggling took care of it and a pleased noise escaped him.
"Up there huh?" he said and squinted up at the impossibly blue sky. It was hard to tell what kind of bird was up there. They were less ugly looking up there he supposed, but he didn't voice his opinions to the Cinga. It would probably be as stupid as saying a lioness had an ugly cub.
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 7:41 am
Ilanga’s grin widened as he flopped down beside her. She had been used to the Umholi being more standoffish, at least they seemed that way to her. Jasiri’s wiggling was both cute and endearing, not that she would say it out loud, but she couldn’t help but watch him as he settled, her head tipped to the side. If he turned towards her it would put them almost nose to nose, and she decided that she wouldn’t mind at all.
Chuckling she turned her head back to stare upwards, expression both content and sensuous. “Mmhmm… she likes to fly. Which is lucky for me. Some birds are impossibly lazy, but I rarely have to carry her. Sometimes I can hardly keep up with her…” But she didn’t really want to talk about her companion, as much as she loved Idla, she spent all her time with the vulture. Rather, she was far more interested in the Inselelo beside her. “How are things lately? I am afraid I am rather behind on the pride goings on.” Not one to enjoy gossip like most females, Ilanga was interested in the health and wellbeing of the pride, and what better way than to get the information form the lion’s mouth?
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 2:13 pm
"I imagine that would be bothersome," he agreed. If a bird landed on him they'd be lucky to get out of the ordeal alive, but he'd seen both Enda and Cinga lugging around their vultures as if the lazy creatures lacked wings.
Jasiri thought for a moment. What was new?
"No sign of those attacking lions," he said, "But I guess you know that. Didn't I talk to you about the lack of tracks some time ago?"
Or was it one of the other Cinga he talked to? Jasiri had roamed far to make sure the attackers wouldn't be coming back and both the Enda and the Cinga had helped keep an eye out. There would always be threats and challengers, but those two seemed to understand that you didn't mess with the Bonelands. Either that or they had perished. (Jasiri hoped for the latter option)
"What else?" he continued, "I think the Bangizwe craze is dying down a little bit, but we'll probably start seeing cubs resulting from those testing the waters, so to speak. But he's chased off a good number of challengers already, both with Andhaka and on his own. I hear less negative voices now that he's proved to everyone he'll protect the pride."
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Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 3:17 pm
Ear flicking she tipped her head towards him again, watching him from under lowered lashes. Though her gaze was intent and sharp. This was information she wanted to know.
"I was there when Bangizwe appeared and Simo was attacked. I'm glad those two got chased off. Damn rogues," Huffing she wrinkled her nose, indicating exactly what she had thought of the two violent strangers, "I always keep an eye out, but it is good to know they are gone for good." Pausing she recalled one young male had been badly wounded, and in fact hadn't ihe been this male's offspring? What was his name....
"How is Ifunsi doing?"
Dipping her muzzle in agreement she chuckled. “I wasn't worried about his ability to protect the pride. Njalo is a surprisingly good judge of character. It will certainly be interesting to see how his offspring turn out. And isn't Andhaka expecting a litter or two also?" The mini-contest running rampant among her pride sisters over which male was more suitable amused her. Some disliked Andhaka's red fur, others didn't trust an Umholi that was so new.. She herself didn't really care about those issues. She was content in the knowledge that all three males were strong enough to protect the pride. Idly she wondered when the Inselelo would be completing his time with the pride. It did seem a shame that most of her pride-sisters were focused on the two Umholi when Jasiri was a very handsome male as well.
Tilting her head slightly she glanced over the male relaxing beside her. Very handsome indeed, and he was not snarly and grumpy like many males. In fact he was turning out to be present company indeed.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:32 am
"He's... better," Jasiri said, "He should be able to hunt again I think, and I think he's made a new friend. He'll be all right."
While it was clear that his son would make it and that the wounds seemed to be healing, he had still been worried about his lack of spark. The new friend seemed to have brought back some of that. Sadness and fear could kill a lion, even if injuries didn't, but Jasiri thought Ifunci would be all right.
"Have you had cubs?" he asked, turning his head towards her, "You wouldn't believe how much they can mess with your head!"
Maybe it had been different if he'd had more litters than one. Every cub might be more disposable, so to speak, if there were tons of them. But Jasiri doubted that. They were all grown up, and he still worried. It was embarrassing!
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 4:53 am
Nodding the robust tawny female smiled warmly. “That is good news. I had heard the wound was a nasty one. I will have to stop by and visit him sometime.” Though when the busy Cinga would have a chance she wasn’t sure. The question surprised her and she chuckled, curling her tail lazily about her quarters, the grass rustling with the movement.
“No, sadly. I always thought it could wait, but then we lost the Abaholi… I was a fool. And now Andhaka and Bangizwe are both swamped by desperate females… You can’t get within ten feet for the fur and teeth!” Laughing she shrugged nonchalantly, though it was clear her lack of motherhood concerned her. After a moment she rolled onto her side, facing Jasiri, her front legs tucked up close under her chest to avoid poking him in the face. “I would like cubs though. As Cinga I am so busy, it is easy to ignore the lack of them. But then I return here, and see all the mothers with their new litters… “ Sighing she dropped her head and licked one muscular foreleg distractedly.
Damnit, she hadn’t meant to bring the mood down. She was intent on enjoying herself today. But now that he had motioned it…. Maybe the day would be even nicer than she had predicted. Puffing a breath she looked back up at him, head tilted with a lazy, welcoming smile upon her muzzle. “There are no manic females around right now...”
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 9:04 am
Perhaps it had been insensitive of him to ask, but he hadn't known that she didn't have cubs yet. It appeared to bother her, but soon enough she seemed to cheer up again. Jasiri was well aware of the fact that he wasn't as attractive to the prides females as the two Abaholi. However, she seemed to flirt and not try to poke fun at him. He didn't mind some flirting, or general fooling around.
"Yes, I appear to be unmolested at the moment," Jasiri said with a grin, "We can't have that now, can we?"
He moved his head slightly closer, putting him nearly nose to nose with Ilanga. He kind of hoped that she wasn't just joking around. If she didn't move away he had a couple of ideas for interesting activities.
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Posted: Thu Jul 30, 2015 2:50 pm
As the handsome Inselelo moved closer, Ilanga's smile deepened. A low purr rumbled in her chest as she leaned forwards, closing what distance had remained between them.
This was going to be a very good day indeed.....
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