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 Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 5:46 pm
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"You need to calm down."
Mkate was pacing restlessly, the snarl across his face growing with every moment passing. He had pushed boundaries before, but he was charting towards unknown territory when he forced himself into the king's chambers. A guard was tense, watching for a sign from the king to escort him out, though the order had not come yet. King Tau was allowing the frustrated lion to vent his frustrations, though it was clear that venting was not the limit to Mkate's motives.
"Calm will not do anything. Calm will not bring my murdered mother back to life. I fail to see anything change, and so I have come here to press for that change myself!"
The anger in Mkate's voice was clear, as he nearly yelled out the last phrase so loudly it echoed in the chamber. Certainly, more ears were now pressed towards the outer stone to try and hear in what was happening. Tau did not necessarily hide himself away in Pride Rock, but he did like to keep his business away from the general eyes of his people.
"Calmness will not do that, no; but I do not wish to see brash action take your life away, as well." Tau glanced down towards the pacing Mkate, his violet eyes narrowing in frustration. Tau may be younger, but he felt like the elder in this scenario, in more than one way. |
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 6:03 pm
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During the day, Wahabu was rarely far from Pride Rock. It was part of his job to be available there, so he usually was. It wasn't hard for a guard to come find him when Mkate showed up to harass the King about his mother's unsolved murder. He could sympathize with Mkate's loss, he was an only child for some time and had been so close to his mother.. Wahabu had been like an only child and close to his mother when she left, but she had gone of her own accord because she was a god and needed elsewhere. She had not been murdered. Not the time she left.
"Mkate," he said sternly, walking into the chamber to find his grandson pacing and the King trying to keep everything under control.
It was mere coincidence that Kituwe was nearby then Wahabu was called to help with Mkate. The younger son of the Council member had been visiting with his father, and considering a visit with Tau.. he trailed in behind the brighter, older lion and glanced from Mkate to Tau and back again.
"You can hear your shouting all the way at the foot of pride rock, you know," he said, not accusing or scolding, simply stating fact. |
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 7:06 pm
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 7:20 pm
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"Mkate," Wahabu repeated, more firmly this time and stepping closer, "Nobody is taking Biskuti's loss lightly."
Unfortunately for the Pridelands, having so many lions in their population meant they had a lot of work to do asking around if anybody had seen or heard anything.. and it meant that signs of anything suspicious would be quickly covered up.
Kituwe scowled when his remark was flung back at them and the volume increased. He, too, was younger than his nephew and, unlike any of the others there, had had a pretty easy life. He could only imagine how he would react if his mother had been killed, and Mkate didn't have the benefit of a father to lean on.. but he did have family.
"The messengers have been asking around for information," he offered, "They're taking this first major job very seriously. Hamamu especially."
His niece had been working hard on Mkate's behalf and Kituwe only knew that because he'd been approached a couple times, by a couple different hares. Her hare must have gotten her family involved, which made since they were all involved with the Postmaster.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 7:38 pm
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Mkate was a fool, a brash, headstrong fool who never thought about the consequences of his actions....but even he had to let himself be cowed when his grandfather chastised him for his behavior. The rage still echoed within him, but he was calm enough to stop pacing. He stilled for the most part, the tip of his tail still twitching in frustration.
"Thank you, Wahabu. Though I may be king, it seems that at times it is family that is best suited for calming nerves and soothing tempers." Tau knew that he was not a beloved, nor completely trusted, king. At least Simi was still around, although he was not in the chamber at the moment.
"While you are here, Kituwe, have the messengers discovered anything recently about the...incident?" He was wary of mentioning the lioness' name, not wanting to set off Mkate again. Then Tau may actually have to use force against the upset lion.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 8:03 pm
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 8:38 pm
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"Thank you. I will ask for a report right away. I assure you we aren't letting the matter fall to the wayside." Tau wasn't sure what to think of the murder, so he was doing his best to not think about it too personally. This was the real first test of his leadership, and he was doing his best to handle it responsibly.
Mkate still wasn't happy. He knew that he never really would be happy again, not with what had happened, and not with how slow he felt the response was. He wanted to be brash, to scream and yell and tear at the walls, but he wouldn't. It would only get him thrown out, maybe even banished from the pride...but he wouldn't go mouthing off again in front of his grandfather. "Yes, Your Majesty," he mumbled.
Tau nodded. "Someone will summon you if there is something I can share, Mkate." He turned to Wahabu, and nodded. "It is good to see you, Wahabu. I am sorry that you entered here under complicated matters." He nodded to Kituwe as well, thankful that level-headed company responded to the outburst.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 8:55 pm
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"You as well, Your Majesty," Wahabu said, offering a grim smile, "If there's anything I can do to help the investigation into my granddaughter's death, don't hesitate to ask."
Lead by example. It was one of the few things he had learned as a father to so many, sometimes it was all you could do without getting overwhelmed with all those eyes on you. There was a right way for Mkate to do this, yelling at the King wasn't it.
"Mkate, if Hamamu is working so hard on this maybe you can go be of help to her," he suggested, glancing sidelong at his grandson. Hamamu and Mkate made a good pair, and she could be trusted to help keep Mkate from getting overwhelmed or reckless.. and Mkate would be the only one able to slow her down.
Kituwe nodded instead of offering his help too. He was positive Tau knew that Biskuti and Mkate had a large family full of lions willing to help- even bigger than just Wahabu's side. Technically, Tau was her family, too.
He silently looked from Tau to his father and nephew.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 9:09 pm
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Wahabu certainly knew his weakness. If there was something to help keep him focused and not obsessive with his mother's murder, it would be spending time with Hamamu. She could help balance him out, hopefully. He could feel himself teetering between the edge of hysteria and grief, and it was hard to cope with.
"Yes. I think....I will go now," he said, offering a quick bow to the king before walking off. He knew of a dismissal when he heard one, especially when he had been too close to getting in undeniable trouble.
"Thank you, Wahabu. I am still learning the intricacies of these family lines, and who works best with who," Tau said with a sigh after Mkate left. "I am glad it is you and Kituwe who entered, and not someone with a grievance against me."
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 9:18 pm
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"The spots give him away as mine," Wahabu said after Mkate had gone, sighing.
"Sort of," Kituwe added helpfully. Mkate's shoulders were unique in the family but still a fairly useful identifier. He looked like his mother and grandfather more, which meant he probably looked like his great-grandmother more than Wahabu himself, too..
Really, any council member was probably a good choice for making someone chill when things got out of hand. All three were older heads of large families around here.
"Don't take what he said too hard, Tau," Wahabu went on, "The pride is too big for things like this to work themselves out quickly, that's not your fault."
He couldn't imagine anybody having any real grievances to bring before the King. Tau was so young and new, at best they would be testing him and themselves, seeing how far they could push and what they could get from it. Luckily, the majority of the pride was not like that.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 9:37 pm
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 9:50 pm
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Wahabu nodded seriously. From the start there had been little reason to suspect Biskuti had been targeted for a specific reason. Nobody could imagine her offending anybody inside the pride and the idea of anybody outside the pride picking a fight with a well-known friendly pride.. it was unnerving.
He sighed, wishing he had the heart to try pushing his visions to what had happened.. and hoping it wouldn't come to that.
"Of course," he said, giving a respectful nod and departing without wasting more time. Perhaps he'd go check in with Manuku and make sure he wasn't as close to coming undone as Mkate..
Kituwe gave his father a smile as he left and then walked closer to Tau before taking a seat, putting on an awkward, toothy grin.
"So, you're having a great day," he said, "Wanna hear about mine?"
His day, like most, had been pretty boring but if you knew how to just keep talking, it was a plenty satisfying distraction when you needed it.
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Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2016 9:53 pm
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