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 Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:23 am
 Maditah had spent time settling into the pride. Despite coming from a family that functioned very similar to the Ithambo, she had still needed to discover her place in this sisterhood. Her partial blindness had been a hindrance at first, as she struggled to integrate into the hierarchy, but thankfully she had long since honed her hunting skills and the disability didn’t truly hold her back, so the other lionesses soon stopped questioning her ability and she settled down to life in the pride.
Now that she was back where she was supposed to be, part of a large sisterhood with the security and safety such a thing provided, her natural instinct was once more pushing at her. She wanted cubs. Though her life as a rogue, brief as it had been, had seen her loose almost two full litters, she felt safe enough to try again, with hope that this time all of her cubs would survive to adulthood.
Currently, the scarred lioness was resting in the shade of a large rock, a small group of her pride-sisters were nearby. Lifting her head Maditah felt restless. But they had hunted earlier and everyone else seemed to be sleeping off the meal. Pulling herself to her paws the subtle tri-coloured female stepped up onto the rock’s flat upper side. She needed to do… something. She just wasn’t sure what.
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:39 am
While the others slept through the heat of the afternoon, Bangizwe was far from restful. The golden male was stressed, worried about unknowns and wary of everything around him. His position was still uncertain with his line so thin in the pride and the support for him as an Umholi so minimal. These thoughts kept the Umholi awake during the days and nagged on him while he patrolled.
His amber mane shook as his head turned to look down at the lionesses who surrounded him. Just his presence was enough to make them feel safe it seemed. The corners of his mouth tugged upward into a faint smile. This was part of the good that came with all of the worry. Bangizwe's head suddenly raised as something out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. It was one of the lionesses, but as he had heard the others speak of her, she was new and thus a Busisa, a rogue. The words spoken about her were not always kind, but the lionesses that had said them weren't exactly the most open-minded either.
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:17 am
The movement of the large male caught her eye, though she hadn’t realised he had been at the centre of the group that had been resting near by. Turning round neatly on the rock she realised it was the new male. He had joined roughly at the same time as she herself. She had tried to follow all the comments and opinions the other females had about the situation, but as far as she could understand half the pride considered him suspicious because he had arrived in unusual circumstances, but the rest thought him a good strong choice for Umholi because he had fought of some rogues. And then there were the two Umamas who seemed to have each picked one of the two males to support.
It was all a little confusing, but she had watched him and he seemed both calm and capable of protecting the pride. He was also new, which made him rather less intimidating to her than the other male, a big red lion who she had only really seen the day the split pride had regrouped after a series of attacks and accidents. Shifting on her rock the lioness wavered. She wanted to talk to him, if only for the company, but he was Umholi and she was still somewhat intimidated by the title, if not the lion. But she had come from a smaller pride and had been very close to the male that had protected them. She missed the conversations and the simple calm he had exuded.
After another long moment of indecision, Maditah hopped down off the rock and started to walk towards him. Maybe he would wish to talk, and it would ease some of her restlessness.
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:56 am
Careful to not disturb the other lionesses around him, Bangizwe rose onto his paws. Stepping around them with about all the grace of a young rhino, he finally made it out of the small sea of sleeping bodies. Breaking into a small jog, the Umholi moved to meet her between the sleeping groups.
She had moved to come to him first, but whatever she needed would have likely woken the others. Be it something was wrong, questions for him, or anything. He was new, questions were an inevitable part of his life right now.
"Your name is...Matidah, right?" Bangizwe asked, his voice breaking partway through the question as he was still trying to get a grip on the pride's language. It was different from the common one spoken in the rogue lands, but hopefully it was good enough to get by. Of course he had gotten her name wrong, but he didn't know that yet. He only had what he could remember from overhearing the lionesses' gossip to go by. There were too many lionesses to truly know them each by name just yet.
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:14 am
Surprised when the large male stood and made his way over, she nevertheless was grateful. While she preferred to be part of a large pride, she had yet to connect to this one as much as she had her last, so she was still a little uncertain around some of her pride-sisters. She was even more surprised when he spoke her name, or a close approximation of it. And her own grasp of the Boneland’s language was about as good as his. Her old home had used something closer to the far more common tongue of the roguelands. Smiling as he drew close she slowed her own steps. “Almost, it’s Maditah.” Her own words were hesitant, though it was clear it was the language she struggled with and not speaking to the Umholi. Though she did dip her head politely, indicating her submission to the far larger male. “I’m sorry if I disturbed you… “ Glancing behind him to indicate the collection of sleeping females she smiled softly.
Now that he was there, she wasn’t sure what to say. She didn’t know him well, certainly not enough to curl up against him, or to talk like she used to with her old leader. However she craved that connection and Bangizwe had that same calm assurance.
Casting around for an opener she hid her nerves under a practiced calm. “How are you settling in?” That was safe… wasn’t it? And true in that she was honestly interested.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:27 am
The Umholi nodded at the correction in her name before glancing back to the sleeping lionesses. There was a smile on his face before he suddenly erupted in laughter, "You definitely didn't disturb me, Maditah! Truthfully, it is nice to escape their affection. It can be...overwhelming." Within meaning to, Bangizwe had inadvertently answered part of her question at the same time. His attention turned back to the pale lioness. "I'm learning. Their language is certainly the hardest thing for me. The terrain is not nearly as difficult as trying to grasp the proper words to say that I am hungry." More laughter, but this time fainter, quieter.
"What of you? You're new as well, are you not? A Busisa, correct?" The terms of the Bonelands were becoming more familiar as days passed. Gossip between lionesses was commonplace and being and Umholi, he heard quite a bit of it from those who surrounded him. She, among others, had popped up in such conversation.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:04 am
His easy laughter teased her own smile forwards. He had a nice laugh, and she wondered why she had never heard it before. Relaxing considerably, her smile warmed, a hint of her old confidence returning to her. Maditah had been the lead female in her old home, but much of that lioness had been lost in the intervening period when she had struggled to survive out on her own, prideless and unwanted. “I’m glad. I can’t imagine what it is like to have so many lionesses around..” She knew perfectly well how females would gossip, and had seen her old pride sisters gang up on a male when it came time for mating. The poor males had been virtually harassed, as each lioness wanted his full attention. Maditah had been the King’s favoured because she had never demanded attention. Content to mind her own business until he approached her. They had been best friends as well as parents to several litters of cubs.
Pushing away the memories tainted by sadness, she settled on her quarters, nodding her head un understanding. “It certainly isn’t the easiest thing to learn. I suppose it is because we are not natives here… I have learned simply to not speak without thinking, after I accidentally said the wrong word and gave offence to another when I was new.” Puffing out a breath she smiled wryly. “So they call me.. I believe that is the rank I will always hold. Not that I mind. It is a good home, it reminds me of where I am from.”
Smiling softly she looked up at him, curious. “What of you..? May I ask how you met Njalo’sasa?“ Maditah hadn’t personally met the bongo-coloured female, but she was something of a celebrity in the pride and she had heard much of the umzingeli.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:19 am
"Njalo?" The question surprised even him. Fondly, Bangizwe's head turned towards the outer borders of the pride as he smiled fondly. "It's...a long story and while it's one that I'm sure would bore you, it's one don't care to tell." The heaviness of his words sunk in as he looked the Busisa across from him. "Not yet anyways."
"Would you care to take a walk with me, Maditah? I could use the company." Despite being one of the Abaholi, his existence seemed lonely. Sure there were lionesses all over him, but he hardly knew them beyond their faces, names and ranks. He was an Umholi, a lead male and eventually a sire to many. He guared the borders and the inner-pride from an assortment of threats, but...when he came home, it all seemed the same. There were some that greeted him and while he cared for them all, there were none that he was truly glad to see again. Getting to know even just one would allow him a friend in this new pride and that was something her desperately needed right now.
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:40 am
“I’m so sorry..” Blushing she dipped her head. She hadn’t meant to bring up a bad memory for him. Apologetic and hoping she hadn’t upset the male too badly, she nodded. “Of course, I didn’t mean to pry.” About to try and find a more cheerful topic, his offer surprised and pleased her. Looking back up she couldn’t help the warm smile of appreciation, nodding her head firmly. “I would like that very much.” Standing once again she padded over beside him, indicating she would follow where he led.
“It has been strange, being here. There are so many in the pride and yet.. it often feels isolated.” Smiling up at him, her pale eyes holding a warmth under the ragged scars that carved across one side of her face, she chuffed a soft laugh. “Not that I would go back. Being a rogue was not something I enjoyed…”
As they set off the pale female was quite content to talk of inconsequential things, staying clear of the more sensitive topics. Maybe one day she would be able to discus her past with him, but for now her story of betrayal and loss was something she kept hidden, the scars within not yet healed.
Quaj ((Aww, Bang!! Want to just give him a huge hug. End after your post?))
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:52 am
She was certainly an interesting lioness if the scars on her pelt were any indicator, but as she spoke, there was something else layered on her voice. Was it sadness?
"Wonderful, your conversation will be appreciated, Maditah." Bangizwe offered her a kind smile as he walked slightly ahead of her, but still close enough to keep her close to his side. There were many things he wanted to ask her, such as her time as a rogue, which she had hinted at ever-so slightly, the scars upon her face and side, her life before going to the unclaimed lands and before the Ithamo'hlabathi. Of course he would not pry, those conversations were best left when they were better acquainted with one another. For now, just listening to her speak and having someone to converse with would be enough.
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