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 Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 9:53 pm
 Isithunzi found herself prancing across the grasslands just outside of the drum circle. The female found herself humming her own tune, that if she wasn't pounding a drum, she couldn't help but dance to the catchy tune. Not only did she prance, really, but found herself doing high, but short leaps where she found it appropriate, along with some paw-pounds and foot-slides, her tail lashing about behind her.
Yes, Isithunzi was lost in her own rhythm, and why shouldn't she be? The Pride's youths were growing up, even her own daughters! She always dreamed (ever since her old pride reformed, that was) that the numbers would grow to those of the old days, before the plague. Everything was so much fun... And she knew it would be again once the numbers found their rhythms, every day would be a party.
She danced and hummed and pounded the earth below her until her song came to a climactic conclusion. She hoped that her song would be carried on many generations down the line, if for no other reason, because it was rediculously catchy.
"Ah..." Isithunzi purred happily, sitting and watching the grass sway, facing toward the Pride's borders.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:35 pm
 The little black and spotted juvenile heard the most unusual sound and her ears pricked in mild curiosity. She had settled comfortably within the confines of the pride, but still held reservations about interacting with many. Instead of playing rough and tumble games with the other cubs and juveniles, the young girl found herself much preferring to seek out of her own games, to hear her own music, or to just plain watch. The cogs of her mind never ceased to work, and because of this the introverted little cub found that she was a bit of a loner compared to her siblings. It wasn't a bad thing - but it wasn't good, either; how was she ever to become one in the Pride if she didn't find her place with others?
Ah, but it wasn't easy. The world was a frightening place, and Jumuu had understood that every sun cast its shadow; every day held its night and every life held its death. There was great beauty within the world, yes, and like her family she could hear the rhythm that spurned the world. She could hear a song, a beat, but sometimes she wondered if it wasn't like the others within the Pride. Did she walk to the beat of a different drum? Maybe. Part of the girl was afraid to find out, afraid of what was to come.
In a small sense, Jumuu didn't want to grow up. Change and the future was a frightening thing and the little cub didn't do well with it. She never had, and probably never would, but it was an necessary evil. It was needed, the world couldn't live without it, and such was the way of things. Slowly, ever so carefully, the girl caught sight of the source of the beats - It was Isithunzi, the grey and black Wesigubhu. The teacher of the Pride, this was the lioness she needed to meet, she needed to learn from. . . .
And the black lioness couldn't hide from her forever, oh no. Perhaps the only thing more terrifying than change was bringing shame to her family within the Pride and within the other members eyes. No - she had to talk, she had to learn, and she had to ultimately do a little growing up and maturing.
Giving a small gulp, mouth suddenly dry, the small female gave a small swish of her tail. She had to admit, to watch the drummer dance caused her inward delight and curiosity - she looked like she was having fun, and that was something Jumuu often didn't get an opportunity to indulge in. Not with her walls; not with her fear. As the grey female settled herself, Jumuu decided it was now or never - it wasn't as if the lioness was going to eat her to bits!
Padding closer, making sure her steps were loud enough to be heard, the little girl found that words escaped her. She didn't' come too close, so as not to disturb the other should she prefer her solitude and rejected her advances; so she hesitated, tail swishing rhythmically behind her as a small greeting was uttered. "H-Hello. . . . " Dipping her head, and keeping her gaze averted, she couldn't find the words to compliment the dancing. She wanted to - but she also didn't want the grey one to take offense at her words for watching.
Was it proper to compliment a dance? Sometimes the young cub wasn't sure. Feeling a bit awkward, not sure what to say, to do, or where to look, Jumuu did look rather a pathetic sight. She had potential for something - but she had yet to conquer her own spirit.
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Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2008 8:40 am
Isithunzi turned around to the little voice, seeing another of Juke and Muujiza's cubs peek her way through the grass. "Oh, hello there!" Isithunzi said cheerfully. She didn't remember this cub's name either. She had the boys sorted out in their litter, but not the girls. This one seemed a bit timid, so she gave an extra-friendly smile. "What are you up to today?" She asked with a slight tilt of the head, making conversation. Just as she had done with the girl's brother, Isithunzi didn't hint at all about the girl's drum quest that she needed to do sometime soon- the girl would have to come to that herself. She kinda hoped the girl would get to that idea, Isithunzi was in the mood to do a drum quest- today was a bit of a dull day when left alone.
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Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2008 4:04 pm
Jumuu shifted a bit uncomfortably, and her tail swished rhythmically behind her. Golden eyes stared at Isithunzi's paws and slightly off to the side, not wanting to be rude. Still, golden eyes glanced nervously up as as she was addressed, and Jumuu wasn't so insensitive not to respond to a smile. Thankfully this grey one didn't seem aggressive or too brash. . . .
Maybe she could relax some. She'd have to meet and interact with those in the pride sooner or later, as they were new additions to her family. Jumuu knew she shouldn't be so nervous about the world around her, knew she shouldn't be so intimidated by everything. But she wasn't perfect; her problem was her intelligence and she knew without a doubt all the danger that lurked within the shadows. Life was more than just sunshine and rainbows and meat. . .
Life was dangerous.
And soon, very soon, she'd be sent on her way to find her own music and her own path of life. Ooooo - she just didn't want to have to go. Giving a small flick of her tail, the young cub offered a whisper of a smile before heaving a shrug. "I'm. . . . I'm not up to much, really. But I . . ." There was no use beating around the bush; heaving a sigh, she pawed at the ground. "I came to find you because I . . . . because I have to make a drum."
And that was that. She didn't sound particularly excited about the prospect, but she was curious about it; this new pride was entirely different to her, but something told her it was right. This place was meant for her and soon as she came of age she'd find her place easily. The problem was finding herself AND facing maturity and age. . . .
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Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:20 pm
Isithunzi was a bit surprised at the solemnness of the request, but she managed to hide it perfectly. Most juveniles were eager to start their quest, Jumuu seemed reluctant. Ah well, at least she'd sought Isithunzi out and had the drive to start, that's all that one needed in this.
"Well that's great! I've had the hankering to make a drum," Isithunzi said, rising to her feet, giving a quick stretch, then sitting back down, tail flicking absentmindedly behind her. "So, remind me again of your name? I've already taught Ronan about his drum-making, I'm sure you heard some of how it's done?" Isithunzi asked. It was no big deal if she had or hadn't, Isi just wanted to get an idea of how much she had to teach. "And have you got any ideas for your own rhythm yet?" Last question for now, last one! Isithunzi told herself in her head. She really liked to know how much she'd have to teach, so asking about what a "student" already knew was a good way to get a grasp on the work she had cut out for her. Isithunzi waited patiently for responses to anything she'd said.
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:28 pm
Jumuu glanced up a the silver lady, ears pricking as she began to ask questions. Uh-oh. . . . She knew Ronan had made a drum, but hadn't exactly questioned her other siblings - or even himself - about it. Still, she figured she'd best be honest even if it did kill her. Or get her in trouble.
"I'm . . . I'm Jumuu," she explained, tail twitching lightly behind her. "And I . . . I kind of know how it's done. A little. I . . . I know we make it with shells and leaves and twigs and can decorate it however we want!" That part seemed fun, at least to Jumuu. She could decorate, she could collect shiny things and make it beautiful. "But," she added with a small sigh, "I don't know much more besides that."
Now, rhythm was a different story entirely. Well, sort of. Golden eyes lit up briefly at the mention, and the charcoal cub couldn't help but wriggle her rump with a moments excitement. "And I think - I think I know a little about my rhythm. Sort of. I . . . I practice sometimes, or at least try to make up my own beat." Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. . .
A small smile was trying to form, but it was having a bit of difficulty. Maybe this drum thing wouldn't be so bad. . . Maybe. It was the going away part she didn't look forward to, and that part happened after she got her drum!
Oh well.
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 10:58 am
Isithunzi smiled at the little juvenile. "Nice to meet you, Jumuu." Isithunzi chuckled at the black lioness before her, that sigh was so cute! "Well, there's a reason that the lions come to me for their quest, we don't expect you to know everything! By the time we're done today, you'll be able to make your own drum whenever you want!" To teach how to make a drum- that was one of Isi's main jobs for the pride, she loved having a purpose. Especially one she felt was rather significant, what was a lion without the ability to make a rhythm? A sad lion, that's what.
"Rhythm is harder to teach than making a drum, some never fully understand it, and there's nothing wrong with that, but it really does create a full feeling in the soul. I'm glad you know some about it, most your age do..." Her voice trailed off as she went to whisper in the juve's ear, "...but you seem to know a bit more than everyone else." She gave Jumuu a wink before rising to her paws. "Well, let's get started! We start with a gourd, they come from a tree that are over in the east part of the Pride. They form the base of the drum. You ready?" She asked as she turned herself to face the proper direction.
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Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2009 12:10 am
((Wooooah . . . super late but better late than never, I suppose. ;3 ))
The little cub blinked as Isithunzi whispered in her ear about knowing more than most. If she could have flushed she might very well have done so, averting her golden gaze and giggling a little sheepishly. "I . . . I don't know about that, Ma'am," she finally responded, her tail giving a little swish in anxiousness. If the lioness thought she knew a little bit more than the rest, that was all well and good but what if she really didn't!? And furthrermore, what if she let the silver furred lioness down and ruined the whole drum making experience!?!
It was just a catastrophe waiting to happen, really, at least as far as the little cub was concerned. Poor Jumuu had always been a bit grave and serious and she never was one to want to disappoint. No, she worried about everything it seemed, and making a drum was already stressful enough without having Isithunzi thinking such things.
Still, the little cub couldn't help but puff out her chest as her ears swiveled to better listen. So they needed a gourd, huh? "Ooooh, I . . . I think I know what those are too!" She added tentatively. "My brother tried to eat one, even though I told him no," she explained, crinkling her nose at the thought. Her brothers and sister could be so silly sometimes! Where would they be if she wasn't around to look out for them? Ooooh, she just plum didn't want to know!
"But I'm definitely ready to go, ma'am," she said with a brighter and less shy smile. She'd seen others with gourds before. . . maybe this wasn't going to be as bad as she had thought. Still, making a drum was only half the battle; very soon she'd have to go and find her own rhythm which was even more intimidating for the lion. She wasn't all that good with music though she tried very, very hard.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:01 pm
Isithunzi smiled at the cub's modesty. Jumuu was so cute that way! Some cubs were brimming with confidence, others were more shy, but Isi found them all enjoyable. "I'm sure you'll do just fine," she said, trying to boost the black lioness' confidence. She started to walk out when Jumuu seemed ready.
"Your brother tried to eat one, you say?" Isithunzi asked with a grin and a laugh. It sounded like it had been a comical experience, perhaps something Jumuu might someday integrate into her own rhythm. Who knew? Each young lion, cheetah... Each young creature held such potential for rhythms, and that was why Isithunzi loved her job. She was silent for a few moments before heaving a content sigh and pointing out, "Perfect weather for a drum quest. Couldn't be better." She looked down at Jumuu with a smile, her own eyes bright.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:34 pm
Jumuu couldn't help but grin a little broader as the silver lioness chuckled. The sight of seeing her brother attempt to get his mouth around an entire gourd and then attempt to chew it open had been comical indeed. "He looked ridiculous," she commented with a little giggle and swish of her tail. "And, and, and he didn't like the taste of it either! He should've listened to me, ya know," she added softly but strongly, giving a firm nod. Though she was shy, she always had her family's best interest in mind. She wasn't over confident, of course, but there were certain things Jumuu understood that just couldn't be.
The spotted cub trailed meekly after Isithunzi, golden eyes squinting as she attempted to locate local gourd trees. She wasn't entirely sure how far away they'd have to roam to find them, but she also didn't want the silver lioness to think she wasn't prepared or paying attention. ". . .when we find the trees, ma'am, uh. . . " She hesitated, ears flattening a bit and her anxiety spiking as a question formed. "Do we have to try to shake a fresh gourd down or do we just look for one already fallen?"
Tree climbing was something leopards were notorious for, not lions. And Jumuu was certainly no tree climber. She didn't want to have to try to wriggle her way up a tree to bat a gourd down. It would be catastrophe if she did!
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 11:12 am
Isi gave a few more chuckles at the idea of Jumuu's brother trying to eat a gourd, it was quite the amusing image. It wasn't far now, they'd be there in a jiff. She broke her attention from the tree to the juve when she started to speak again. "There are plenty on the ground, already broken from the fall and hardened by the sun," Isithunzi said with a nod. "So we don't need to shake them down or anything, they're just there for the taking, isn't that great?" Isi said, pondering in her head how nature provided them with all the tools they needed. The teeth and claws, the hides from kills to make and hold the drumhead, the gourds that nature just gave to them...
They crested the little hill, Isithunzi was quite familiar with it, and the tree came into view, gourds scattered all about the ground. "Alright, we're here!" Isi said excitedly. "You've gotta pick the one you want to make your drum with. You can sort of preview the sound it'll make when it's a drum by tapping your claw on the gourd, like this-" Isithunzi padded up to the nearest gourd, extended a claw, and tapped at it. This one made a deep, thick sound. "So you can go around and tap on them until you find the one you want!" She said with a nod, extending one of her paws towards the rest of them on the ground.
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