Tsubame didn't really know why she decided to come with Achal when he asked when they met again but she did and now she was walking quietly to the left and slightly behind this male that she decided to follow. For the first time in her life she felt some connection to another except maybe her mother once long ago. He asked and she wanted to, that was all that mattered to her at the moment. Besides I can leave if I want, she thought when in fact she wouldn't leave the first lion who said he was her family. "So, um, Achal, where are we going?" she asked quietly as she walked through the grass at his side.Achal looked back at his new friends. Tsu, he'd met before when he'd met Lila and her family, but they'd gone their separate ways. It was such a surprise to see her again that Achal had thought it fate. When she spoke,he smiled and shook his head, "I have no idea really. I've just been wandering about for sometime. I don't really know what I looking for, but I'm sure I'll find it soon. I glad to have your company. Traveling is so much better with a friend."
"Oh well yes, traveling with a friend is much better" Tsubame said with as much conviction as she could come up with, she had never actually traveled with anyone much less a friend before. Even she knew she was lacking in quite a few social areas, traveling with companions not being the least of one. She was silent for a while again, just watching the land around them. The tall grasses interspersed with trees and the occasional mountains in the background faded to a soft blue by distance. The mountains reminded her of Achal's striking pelt, so for a little she just watched as he walked through the grass. His muscles stretching and flexing with each step and his mane fluttering in the slight breeze. Not understanding her thoughts or the funny feelings they were giving her she shook her head trying to dislodge them and said, "So, um, well, do you enjoy traveling with friends?" She instantly silently cringed, didn't he just say that?Achal looked back at Tsu once more and smiled, wondering why the female seemed to ask questions he'd already answered. She'd done it the first time they'd met as well. Achal nodded, "Yes, very much so. I traveled with Gao for a while after we left Siti and two other females for a time before now. I love making new friends and I'm not so fond of being alone. I like being surrounded by others. I want to have a large family and soon I will be well on my way."
Achal continued forward feeling light and calm. "Would you like to hear a story while we walk?"
He didn't seem to mind her asking a question he had already stated and had in fact expanded on his original statement. While he was talking Tsubame relaxed even more, her steps becoming less precise and more fluid.She knew that Achal would never hurt her but old habits die hard and she was expecting a sarcastic remark in the least so when Achal just took her question at face value she was happy. "It sounds as if you had a great time with the others and others in general." she said as she was thinking of some of her own travels, alone and avoiding others when ever possible. Rarely had she ever encountered others that were openly friendly, normally the others were just distant and didn't stay long.
"A story would be a great way to pass the time." Tsu remembered briefly her own mother telling her stories but those were the last ones she could remember other then the ones she told herself. "Whats it about?"
Achal moved forward looking up at the sky. "How about the story about the lion who tried to fly?" Achal looked back at Tsu and grinned. The story had been one his mother told him and he had loved it. It was very funny to him.
Tsu cocked her head, "A lion who tried to fly?" That was a tale she had never heard before. "How would a lion try to fly?" she was quite curious about this tale after all flight would be a great way to get around if it was possible. As she waited for Achal to begin his story she saw a lone bird wining its way across the sky, "Could you imagine flying like that bird?" she asked with a nod to said bird.
Achal nodded, "Yes he tried to fly and you'll see. He tried many ways to try to fly." Achal walked for a moment trying to gather his thought, remembering all the parts to the story, and he was about to begin when Tsu spoke again.
Achal looked up at the bird and shook his head. "I can't really imagine it, I'm not sure I would enjoy flying all the much, but I bet Lila might like it." Achal smiled and looked back at Tsu. "Now the story begins with a young lion who loved to watch birds fly. He spend most of his free time watching them fly about, land, and take off again. He was absolutely fascinated by them, so one day he decided to befriend one."
"Yeah I could see Lila soaring like the gods." She smiled at that thought before Achal started his tale. A lion befriending a bird? she thought as he told his story. She had never really seen a lion befriending anything that was potentially a meal, wild dogs, hyenas, yes because they too were carnivores but herbivores like birds and rabbits she had never seen before. When Achal paused in his story she waited patiently for him to continue, staying silent as they continued to walk through the grass.
Achal took a breath and continued, "He continued to watch the birds everyday, but none would come near him, for they feared they would become his dinner. So he decided if he wanted a bird for a friend that he would have to catch one. The very next day in the wee hours of the morning he did just that, climbing a tree and jumping out of it to snatch a bird out of the sky in mid flight."
"The birds screeched, but was otherwise unharmed. 'Hey, what the matter with you. Don't you know birds aren't a lions dinner for a reason.' The young lion frowned and laughed a bit, 'I don't want to eat you. I want to be your friend. I want to talk about flying.' The bird looked at the young lion as though he was crazy, but sighed and relented anyway.
Tsubame was quite interested in the story Achal was telling. "He caught a bird in mid-flight? that had to be nearly impossible." She was curious as to what the bird could or would teach the lion. As they were walking the grasses seemed to thin a bit and the soil became more hard packed and dry. There were still trees but unseen by Tsu there was a blue haze in the distance marking a large body of water.
Achal smiled at Tsu and laughed, "Its very possible if you are small enough. The lion was still young, not mention very determined."
Achal looked forward and noticed that there scenery had changed and they seemed to be coming upon a lake. "Why don't we break for a drink when he get to the water a little further ahead and then I can tell you the rest of the story. What do you say?"
"That sounds like a good idea." The dust that was being kicked up was starting to bother Tsubame but she was not willing to tell Achal that. The blue haze of the lake was slowly defining itself into a large fresh water lake in the distance. Tsu knew it was fresh water because the air smelled different than it did when close to the cost, that strange salty fishy smell was not there instead it was more of a fresh slightly fishy smell. "So how long does it take the lion to figure out that he cant actually fly?"
Patrols, something that was once left to the Pads, but they were a task that the Sultan himself had taken up. He enjoyed surveying the lands and ensuring everything was secure, plus the pride was a bit smaller then it's glory days. Still that something something he hoped to see rectified. His light blue gaze reached all around and he blinked and headed out a bit more as he spotted two distant figures. Had they come to join the pride, or stir up troubles? Best to be friendly and wary at the same time. He quickened his pace to meet them before they managed to get closer to the great lake and into the heart of the pride."Greetings!" He called out still some distance away.
Achal was about to answer Tsu when he noticed someone coming toward them. He frowned and stopped moving forward looking at the other trying to gauge his intentions. He stepped in front of Tsu to protect her as the other neared them, but at hearing his greeting from a distance her relaxed slightly.
"Hello," he called out. He stayed in front of Tsu although he was no longer so tense. "We are travelers passing through, we mean you no harm."
Achal most certainly had no intentions of starting a fight and by the scents wafting around him, he know realized what he hadn't before. It seems he and Tsu had walked right into a pride lands.
Tsubame was weary when someone called out to them from a distance. She stayed behind Achal but not because she was afraid, although the lion coming towards them was a bit intimidating to her, it was something about his bearing. When Achal said that they were just passing through she stayed silent but kept her eyes peeled for any others who might be around. It was while she was looking that she finally realized that they had walked into someone else's territory.
Aali moved closer his eyes flicking from male to female and taking in the protective way Achal stood. At least they weren't hostile, a couple traveling by, yet in these scarce times the female might be fought over. He himself had no inclinations to fight though, not after a successful raid.
"Our lands are not usually open to passers by, but you must have traveled long to reach us. Come, I will escort you to the lake before you go on your way. It would not be wise to linger without knowing our ways. Some Pads might be tempted by an unclaimed female roaming about." He nodded his head towards the lake as he started to lead them towards it. Clearly he was only addressing Achal and keeping his gaze off of Tsu.
Achal nodded and gave a small smile as the male offered to escort them to the lake. He looked to Tsu smiling, but the smile was instantly turned into a frown at the rest of the males words.
"What do you mean unclaimed female?"
He starred hard at the male for a moment, "If you are referring to Tsu, she is mine. She is my mate and he who seeks to take her should be prepared to be mortally wounded."
Achal was never one to fight, but for his family he most certainly would. He was deadly serious and did not even register that he threatened an unknown male, in unknown lands.
Tsubame stayed silent as the strange male offered to escort them to the water but when he talked about an unclaimed female she did a quick look around, there were others out there two? She didn't realize that Aali meant her. She knew that the lion was not talking to her but that was quite alright with her, she had trouble talking to strangers anyway.
When Achal said that Tsu was his it finally dawned on her that Aali meant her when he mentioned an unclaimed female. Her tail lashed a bit in irritation at being called unclaimed, was she not herself? And anyway, what the heck was Achal? Minced meat?, but she kept her mouth shut since speaking her mind never did her any good. Instead she stepped a touch closer to Achal, just enough to lightly rub shoulder to shoulder with him, before stepping back.
"Ahh good to hear then good to hear, don't worry Pads never encroach on one another's harems none would seek to take her from you. Females are very special to our pride, they are a sign of each Pads strength, intelligence, and ability. Some seek unclaimed and rogue females to increase the size of their harem and offer their banu companionship and aid." He smiled and stopped at the lake sitting down pleased by Achals obvious care for Tsu.
"Ah forgive me, introductions are in order. This pride is the Ukuucha'Wafalme, and I am Aali Sultan of these lands." He relaxed a bit but kept his gaze focused on Achal, after all they were just traveling through.
Achal relaxed immensely at the males words, but he was also confused by them. "I do agree that females are special, but what is a pad, a harem, a banu. I have never heard these terms before. It sounds very interesting."
Achal sat at the lake and looked to Tsu, to make sure she would stay close before looking back to the sultan. "The Ukuucha'Wafalme," he said repeating the name to himself. When the other male introduced himself Achal could feel his cheeks color. He did know the term Sultan. He gave a small respectful nod and smiled, "I am Achal, a traveler from very far away. I have no pride and have never had one." He looked to Tsubame. "This is Tsubame, my lovely mate."
"I enjoy knowing things. Would care to tell me about your pride?"
Tsubame didn't really understand what was going on, Pad? Harems? Banu? Sultan?, it was a good thing that Achal voiced the same questions she was wondering about because like Achal she liked learning things she just disliked dealing with others for the most part. Tsu sat just a bit to Achal's left and slightly behind, for some reason it just felt natural to be there.
She nodded her head in greeting when Achal introduced her to Aali and blushed slightly, although it was difficult to see with her coloring, when Achal called her lovely. By this point Tsu's curiosity was piqued, what was this pride called Ukuucha'Wafalme, so when Achal asked for more information she spoke for the first time in Aali's presence, "Please." The one word was spoken just moments after Achal finished revealing her curiosity to know more.
"Ahh of course of course, I'm sorry I'm afraid I'm not properly accustomed to dealing with newcomers just yet. A Pad is one of our males who has proven himself worthy of caring for a harem. A harem is a group of banu claimed by one male, and a banu is a female who is a good mate and or mother, one who knows her place and serves her Pad well. Females who are untrustworthy, bad mothers, liars, or dangerous are called Kajira...they are not tolerated within the pride." His voice darkened at having to explain about the Kajira, but they were out there after all. No he much preferred to think about the lovely and sweet banu who coddled their cubs and loved their Pads. That was the way things were supposed to be and the way they liked to keep the pride.
He bent then for a sip of water glad to have explained things to the couple. He glanced up at Achal with a smile. "I do not know your eventual destination, but you look strong and capable, you would be a welcome Pad, and you have already proven capable of caring for a female." He glanced at Tsu with a smile, she had manners, he liked her.
Achal took in all the information the sultan gave. He could tell by the males tones, that Kajira were not exactly welcome, but from their description he could understand why.
Achal stared silently at the sultan for several moments after he had essential been offered a place in the pride, a home. It was something he had not been offered before. He thought to his sisters and daughter. They were all grown up and they no longer needed him. He knew he would miss them, but he could visit them. It was just for some reason it seemed as though this was an offer he should take.
"We are simply traveling. I wanted to see the lands after raising my three sister and my adopted daughter. I always felt like I was looking for something, but was quite sure what it was."
Achal looked to Tsu before turning and nuzzling her. "What do you think Tsu? Do you think we could make this place our home?"
He looked her straight in the eyes, the decision was hers.
Tsubame listened attentively as Aali explained about pads, harems, and banus. Over all it didn't seem like such a bad pride, but for the Kajira that is. When Aali basically all but invited Achal to join she knew that he would want to. Tsu listened when he talked about his sisters and daughter and could tell by his tone that he missed them, family seemed to be the one thing Achal wanted even if Tsubame didn't quite understand the reasoning behind it, to her family always left but she knew it meant something different for Achal. She didn't notice Aali glancing at her when he bent to take a drink, she was watching Achal, waiting to hear what he would decided.
She was shocked when Achal turned to her and asked her what she thought. She thought that he would have said just said yes even though she knew that he wasn't like that. Not wanting to rush into anything Tsu took a moment to think about it before saying, "I don't see why not." and returning Achal's affectionate nuzzle.
He listened carefully and found himself sympathetic to the male, obviously he cared for family, and family was what the Ukuucha'Wafalme was all about. Equally important was the moment he turned to Tsu, he consulted his banu which meant he really did care for her, and her opinions. He knew that some were unwilling to hear the opinions of a banu, but he privately enjoyed long conversations and the opinions of his own. It was refreshing to see a confident male, and he smiled broadly when Tsu answered and nuzzled him.
"You are both quite welcome, I'm sure you'll fit right in in no time at all. Friendship and family are very important to us, the Pads as brothers to one another and the Banu as sisters to each other." His smile was quite fixed now pleased to see another couple would enter their ranks and perhaps in time Achal would find another banu to include in his harem.
He smiled brightly at Tsu, it seemed as though they'd found a new home. He turned to the sultan with the bright smile still on his face. He could only continue to grin as he listened to the sultans words.
"Thank you very much Sultan Aali. It seems as though I have found what I did not really know I was looking for."
He turned to Tsu again, "I guess that makes me a pad and you my banu."
He nuzzled her affectionately and whispered, "We're home."
Tsubame just nuzzled Achal back not saying anything just mentally reminding herself to ask Achal when they were alone exactly who or what a Sultan was.
He smiled and stood "Come I'll show you to a comfortable den so you can both start to settle down." He felt so very content to welcome them into the pride, things were going smoothly and soon the entire pride would be filled with the love and laughter it ought to be. He would find the time to explain things better to Achal at a later time.
Fin
