What a LOVELY day-- nevermind. [Mapatano/Ingi/Ajili] - FIN

[wooga Paes]

Paw after paw, Mapatano moved forward, ears folded back in annoyance. Why, why did Umoja get to scurry off ahead? Mapatano missed home just as much as he did, if not more, and he he was stuck with the outsiders. Normally he wouldn't have hesitated to keep up with Umoja, but first off, he was told to stay with them. Second off, they'd helped them. Well, more so that fat little cub helped them. The mother hadn't as much, though perhaps her having brought the afore mentioned cub to life counted for something.

Still, he wasn't pleased to be stuck back here with them. But he'd stay anyway; despite being a meek pride, catastrophe had struck recently. Trespassers would not float anyone's boat. If Mapatano hadn't met them before, and had stayed back like all the others, it wasn't unlikely that he'd bristle at the sight of outlanders on such an inconvenient time. Mapatano was, right now, their pass to safety in the lands.

Though, perhaps it wouldn't help much that they were here with the son of a traitor. It was Mapatano's father who'd betrayed the pride; it was his ftaher who'd nearly killed Ubawa's mate. Mapatano was not like his father at all, but even then, he wasn't exactly the most.. popular pride member. Sometimes he felt like they were just waiting for him to step out of the line.

"How's it going back there? " He said, though didn't bother to look back. His tone wasn't exactly rude, either, though he certainly wasn't doing an effort to enjoy the trip.

Hisa, gliding back and forth, but staying near the ground, turned her head and looked at him, circling him closely once and shaking her head before perching, once more, on his shoulders.  

[[. Rozu .]]

Ingi was too busy pouncing on every bug in sight to really pay attention to where they were going. (Though he did make an effort to look up and make sure he hadn't strayed too far from the group.) Zigzagging through the tall grass, small cub worked on his "hunting" skills as he stopped to pounce on another unsuspecting grasshopper.

This latest one was quite good at escaping him, however. Letting out a growl of frustration, Ingi took off after it, but before long he found himself tripping and rolling to a stop. Letting out a sigh, he tried not to let his defeat get to his head and he bounded back up to join Ajili and Mapatano. "You see that? I almost had him!"

Looking up at the male, pudgy cub couldn't help but admire him, despite his less then peppy attitude. Not having a father figure around for so long, it was almost refreshing to be in his presence. Padding ahead and up to his side, Ingi put on a little grin and admired his large and powerful looking paws. "Wow.." He said under his breath before bouncing up in front of him. "Hey, you wanna play a game?"  

[[Eskimo]]

"It's going well, Mapatano. How is it up there?" Ajili answered, smiling. Though she wondered if that sounded right...Things actually weren't going well. There had been an earthquake, her home was destroyed, she was out looking for her mate with her cub, and now she was being lead around by a lion she barley knew. But no, no, no. It really was going well. It had to go well. Everything was on the bright side; at least, she wanted it to be.

Speaking of brightness, it was such a refreshing yet strange thing to see how bright the sun was. They had been in the darkness for a long time. Ajili hadn't really thought about what time of day it was. It was a beautiful day, despite the tragedy that had fallen over the land not so long ago. The sun was bright, a slight breeze blew through the grass, the air was crisp and warm, her little cub was playing and bothering the other male lion...Wait.

...Ingi was WHAT?

"Ingi!" Ajili called out in the sharp tone only a mother could use. "Leave the big lion alone." she said, her voice softer that time. Her little cub was very excited and rambunctious, despite what they went through and how tired he really should've been at that moment. Well, he was her little boy, after all. Her's and her mate's...

Ajili's mind wandered into darker thoughts, but she quickly shrugged them off. She wondered what the other lion, Umoja, was seeing right then? Were they close to the heart of their home? Ajili bit her lip and wondered just how bad the damage was there, and if they would even be accepted? How long would they have to stay? Why were they even there?

Too much over-thinking, Ajili thought to herself. It certainly was somber, trudging behind a strange, new lion and trying to look out for her cub at the same time. Once she had told her cub to leave Mapatano alone, things had gotten rather quiet. No, that wouldn't do. Silence brought unhappy thoughts. It also brought her body to dwell on how hungry and tired she was.

"Isn't it a gorgeous day?" Ajili asked cheerfully, trying to get a conversation going.
 

[wooga Paes]

As Ingi ran around, Mapatano made a note to ignore him, trying to keep himself from lashing out. He wanted to dart ahead and just sprint the entire way home until he found anyone. Anyone at all that could tell him what had happened while they'd been gone, but nope. He had to stay here.

But then the little cub came right up to hime, and his ears folded against his skull. The lion opened his mouth, and immediately felt Hisa's talon squeezing against his back. "Ow! " He hissed, looking back at her. "What was the for?! " The red kite gave him a stern look, tilting her head. "You know what it was for. " He blinked, then grumbling slightly, looked back at the cub.

"I'm uh.. tired right now. I'd rather not play. "  

[[. Rozu .]]

Playful cub would have continued to pester the lion if it wasn't for his mother's stern voice coming from behind him. Ears pressed against his head as Ingi backed up, hesitantly obeying Ajili's request. "I wasn't bothering him! I just asked if he wanted to play! Promise!" He refused to believe that Mapatano was that grumpy in general, he was probably just in a bad mood after being in the dark for so long. He just needed a little cheering up, that's all.

It was a beautiful day, the sun was great to feel on his fur after feeling nothing but damp and cold when they were in the caves. It was surprisingly nice, it seemed odd that the weather would go back to normal after the earth had gone through such a dramatic scene. Mother nature worked in mysterious ways.

A little saddened by his game idea being shot down, Ingi plotted other ideas that could keep them busy. "Ok... Well," Idea! "Have you ever killed someone?"  

[[Eskimo]]

Ajili's jaw dropped.

Where did Ingi learn to ask a question like that?!

"I-ING-" Ajili sputtered on her own words. She admired her cub's attempt at starting up a conversation (which she had somehow failed to do), but to use that as a conversation-starter was certainly a leap. Even though it was a startling question, something inside Ajili did wonder...

...DID he ever kill anyone?

"Ingi, I told you," Ajili said, after taking a moment to regain her composure. "Leave the big lion alone. He's probably very tired, love!" she said, wincing, hoping the other lion wouldn't be too bothered by his question. She frowned at her cub. Goodness, he was cute. He was so plump and darling. A surge of motherly love flowed through her and she decided to let it go. Who cared what he asked Mapatano?
 

[wooga Paes]

Okay, now that was... a surprise. Immediately Mapatano's ears perked and he turned his head to stare wide eyed at the cub, dumbfound. Hisa, on his back, seemed even more surprised, and amused. The red kite fell off his back, chuckling as she landed on the ground, then rolling to her feet and hopping after him, shaking her head in laughter.

"Did I WHAT? " He gaped, before looking ahead in time to avoid a tree. "No! Unless.. you mean prey. " He wrinkled his nose, and inwardly was glad Umoja hadn't been around to hear that. Hisa had already gotten off the floor again to re-claim her perch, though her eyes still closed and she still smiled in amusement. "Good one, kid. "

After the surprise was gone, though, Mapatano was quick to close up again, and perhaps speeded his pace a little-- though not a lot-- as if to escape this. Make it stop!  

[[. Rozu .]]

Well that was definitely a bigger response then he was going for. If his mother's surprised expression didn't force him to back down, the look that Mapatano gave him surely did. Dipping his head, he dropped his gaze and nodded slowly. "Sorry..." He mumbled under his breath. If it wasn't for the laughing bird that was following them around, he probably would have given up all together.

She was quite peculiar and Ingi couldn't come up with an explanation to why she was still sticking around. Not wanting to get a similar reaction to his last question, Ingi padded up close to his mother and turned his voice into somewhat of a whisper. "Why do they have birds with them? Umo.. Umoja..." He had to think rather hard to remember the second lion's name. "Had a bird with him too." He wondered if where they were going if there would be more birds, hopefully no big scary ones!  

[[Eskimo]]

Bending her head lower as she walked, she murmured an answer to Ingi. "I don't know, Ingi love." she said. She spied a dusty spot on his head and licked it off quickly. "Perhaps you should ask them?" She gave him a loving nuzzle and then looked back up at the back of Mapatano.

She was a bit hesitant to send her cub off with MORE question-asking, but if it was the bird, maybe it would be okay? ...What was the bird's name again...? Ajili blinked up at the sky in thought. Well, it didn't matter for right then. She was a bit interested to know why they were sticking around with birds, and why they called them their "bonded". They seemed rather close. Well, maybe it wouldn't be so bad sending Ingi off to ask that question; just that one. Maybe it would brighten Mapatano's mood to talk about it rather than, err...If he had killed anyone?  

[wooga Paes]

For a moment Mapatano considered commenting on his little burst over here, but instead just kept walking, then turned his attention to Hisa, after freezing. "Hisa, do me a favor. " He stopped, then flicked his tails, hoping they'd notice the sign to stop as well. He didn't really say what he wanted, besides "Be careful. "

And the kite was off his back in a moment, and Mapatano had stopped to sit, keeping his eyes on the sky. While vultures were sitl a thread, and even here he'd often seen them buzzing around, for now there's been a clear, and at the right moment. Now, Hisa wasn't usually the one to do the hunting; kites often fed on carrion, but there was a rabbit over there and it was unlikely that Mapatano would catch it himself, being this far.

Despite being a kite, Hisa proved ehrself to be a good hunter, for not too long after, Hisa was returning in a hurry with a dead rabbit in her talons and a vulture behind her. The vulture, however, quickly fled once she got close to Mapatano, who promptly snarled at the buzzard.

"Good job, " He smiled as his bonded flew over him, dropping the rabbit at his feet then swooping around to land next to him. He was happy to have a rabbit after days of eating those awful cave rats. "You may go first, you did all the work. " Mapatano lied down, content on taking a small pause, despite the anxiety to reach home. "The vulture situation is bad. " Hisa complained, her feathers ruffling in annoyance. She didn't hunt oftne, but when she did she hated being interrupted like that!  

[[. Rozu .]]

Ingi watched at the kite flew off and into the vulture filled skies and the round cub cringed as he watched the ugly creatures fly around her. He was even more surprised to see one tailing her has she brought back the rabbit, ducking beneath Ajili as it grew closer. "I-is it gone?" He would ask, peaking out from behind her front legs.

Observing the rabbit that was dropped at Mapatano's paws, Ingi felt a pang of hunger tug at his belly. Though this kill belonged to those two and he debated whether or not to ask for some. Maybe if he was lucky, they would offer some, but he tried not to get his hopes up.

"Do you think we're getting closer, Mamma?" Ingi would ask, looking up at his mother with a curious expression. Where were they going, anyway?  

[[Eskimo]]

"Don't be afraid, Ingi!" Ajili said warmly, moving her legs away from him. "It's gone. Come over here, now."

Without questioning the unasked-for rest Mapatano suddenly took the liberty of taking, Ajili got a little closer to where he lay and decided to lie down as well. Just ignore his meal, she told her hungry self. She'd find a kill soon enough. She just needed to rest for a bit...And she couldn't possibly leave her cub in the hands of an unfamiliar lion (however trustworthy he seemed) and a bunch of vultures flying overhead. Oh, dear...The vultures...Poor Ingi didn't like large birds. Especially vultures.

Ajili nuzzled Ingi close to her and licked the top of his head. "There, there, now," she she cooed. "don't worry about how close or how far we are to wherever we're going, love." She smiled kindly and gave him a reassuring nod. She could see the hunger etched on his face even though he didn't say anything. Her poor boy! How hungry he must've been. They'd only had a bit to eat here and there along their journey. "Ingi," she began. "I'll get you something to eat as soon as I know you'll be in a safe place." She tilted her head to the side in a playful manner, as if to get down to her cub's level so he would understand. "I'll find you a nice, fat hare just like that big lion has. But right now, he needs it. He's got to have a little meat on his bones, hmm?" she said loudly, not realizing what she said could be taken as offensive.  

[wooga Paes]

Hisa smiled. "Yees, its gone. " She tilted her head at the cub, and continued to pick meekly at the hare, leaving most of it for Mapatano. She spreaded her wings to take off as she usually would, but just by looking up she saw the vultures, and shaking her head folded them again.

"I'm sure its alright if you stay nearby. " Mapatano's whiskers twitched, and with what seemed like relief, Hisa was off the floor, and soon opened in a wide arc around the group, though she couldn't reach any of the thermals she loved to ride on, it was great to be off the ground. Kite's spent most of their time gliding, after all.

However, she'd hardly had the chance to leave before she heard Ajili speak, and already sensing the problem swooped back to land on Mapatano, who'd just started to eat the rabbit.

".. Wait. So you think I'm malnourished? " Mapatano said sharply, flicking his tail tip irritably. He wasn't exactly an unhealthy lion; he lived in a pride, he was a decent hunter and his very bloodline supported him to not be exactly... well, scrawny. And.. she was acting like he had to eat more? Mapatano wrinkled his nose, and Hisa, while understanding his annoyance, nibbled on his ear, as if to tell him to calm down.  

[[. Rozu .]]

Don't be afraid... It's just a bird. Don't be afraid!

Nose wrinkled as he felt his mother's tongue run across his head, though he felt comfort by her warm presence. His paws began to ache with so much walking, but the last thing Ingi wanted to do was to show weakness, wanting Ajili to believe how brave and strong he is. Like Daddy. The thought of his father gave him hope, hope that he may find them, or maybe that he was already here and waiting for them at the end of their journey.

Stomach grumbled as his mother mentioned food, though he tried not to think about it. Yellow gaze lifted to Mapa curiously as he spat a question back at his mother, confused to why he seemed so angry. Malnourished? Big word, he wasn't really sure what it meant. Tentatively, he padded out from behind Ajili and sat back on his haunches. "What does that mean?" Cub would ask, head tilting to the side.  

[[Eskimo]]

"Oh, not at all, dear!" Ajili said simply to Mapatano, smiling. The sun and grass were loosening her up and she was beginning to feel more comfortable; more like herself. Fresh air always helped any sad mood to brighten up. "You just need to eat a bit more, is all." she gave him a motherly nod, flicking her tail. "Lions these days eat so little, trying to keep up their 'figures' or some such." Ajili sighed. "But don't worry," she reassured him. "once we find a nice spot and I find something to hunt, I'll fix you up something good, hmm?" she said in a semi-babying manner. Some conversation was doing them a lot of good, she thought. Things were really looking up; at least, to her. To needed to continue feeling good. She needed to stop focusing on the bad.

Turning her attention to her son who had just asked her a question, Ajili answered quietly, "It means he's a bit unhealthy, love. But that's not what I said." She smiled and stared around their surroundings. Yes, that was the way things should be. Look on the bright side of things, be strong, be brave. She sighed quietly to herself. She knew she could make it; her and her son.