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 Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 1:38 pm
 The past however-many hours had been long, bloody, and generally nightmarish. And yet it was not yet over. He had witnessed the birth of five cubs which were undeniably his, and then forced their mother to take a vow of silence and remove herself from the Kuroi'Nera lands. That had been incredibly unpleasant in every way.
Only after seeing Tesanya off had he really given serious thought to what his next actions would have to be. He would have to find a nanny to care for the cubs, since their mother was gone and even if she wasn't, she had made it quite clear she wanted nothing to do with them. He would also have to explain himself to Nyoka. Of the two tasks, the former would be easier, and so he undertook it first, finding not only a nanny for his four healthy cubs, but another whom he swore to secrecy. The other one would care for his fifth, weakest cub, keeping him hidden from everyone else in the pride.
At last he could delay no longer. He had to tell Nyoka, and hope she hadn't found out from some other source. Like from the nanny he'd arranged for the majority of his litter. Or, worse, the nanny he'd arranged for that pale son of his. He hoped by the spirits that she had been sufficiently intimidated and greedy to hold her tongue, or she really would lose it. Nyoka put so much importance on blood and heredity. If she were ever to discover that he'd sired such a sickly cub, things could only go badly for him.
Not that he anticipated this would be a particularly fun meeting either way. He tried not to worry as he waited to be admitted to Nyoka's chamber.
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Posted: Thu Sep 16, 2010 3:09 pm
 Her cubs were out and being taught by another cheetah today. Their siring was not of importance to her now. They were her little sins and that was enough for her not to want to look at them, except of course. When another was around. Like Nanashi, the one whom she vowed her life to now.. Dysi had abandoned her and that was enough for her to hate him..and the children that were meant to be his. Sadly, her blood had to go towards the rejects but everyone knew them as cute bundles of joy and such. The pride could look after them while she tended to the affairs of slavery. That was the main course now. Having to let go a lion.. now she had to wait for the prides to respond.
Speaking to one of her council men as they plotted out the well being of the pride and if they should bring in more lions in to slavery. Nyoka didn't like much the idea but she couldn't say no when most of the prides were that of lions. Already irritated but not quite showing it except for her famous tall telling tail of hers. Flickering almost dangerously about. Lions. The most cursed species to every walk the earth. Oh, she just needed Nanashi now.. to calm her worried mind.
Until the council member bowed his head to leave. "Tomorrow~ we will continue this discussion." Her words left no room to say 'no' to her. As the other council member looked up with a regal walk.. his eyes slitting. "Mananakbo." Stating his name as he brushed pasted him. Tail flicking up as if showing how he knew his status but never knowing that Mana was probably above him in Nyoka's eyes. She thought of Mana like... her right paw. Without him, a lot wasn't possible.. but of course she probably would have to find someone better. But to her. Mana was special..
He knew how to carry himself and knew when to bow. Knew went to shut it, and when to excuse himself. Loyalty. That's what she saw him in.. devoted to her words and yet didn't easily get seduced by her. Another trait she admired from him. Until the imp himself- her nose caught his scent. Ears went up. The scent of a foul smell came after that.. The smell of blood. "Mananakbo." She voiced his name.. soft and tender like.. as she always greeted him. Unknowning of his treachery. But of course by the end of the day she would have known and probably would have hunted him down. But that hadn't happen. Instead. She looked softly in his direction. The sun was out and about, an early riser her mate was..
He often left and she trusted him dearly. The one that had given her almost as equal as Dysi gave her. Love. Could one call it that? Very unlike what Mana had with her. Their relationship was pretty straight forward. He did what she said- and she trusted in return. Cared for him- and gave him a home- away from the prying eyes of the lion pack in which he came.
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Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 5:44 pm
"Councilor," Mana murmured, acknowledging the council member as he brushed by.
He did no more than that to show respect. As far as he was concerned, the council members held positions similar to his. They served according to Nyoka's will and they could only make suggestions which she could follow or not, as she chose. Mana didn't often make suggestions, not unless they were solicited, but he did offer her information to help her make more informed decisions.
"Lady," Mana said in response to her greeting.
He didn't incline his head, though he might have done so and possibly garnered a little more sympathy. He wasn't coming to her as a beggar, though. What was done, was done, and he would not bow, scrape, and beg for forgiveness. He had too much pride for that, and he had been through too much already in the past hours to have really the proper fear of the repercussions his actions would have.
"There is a matter of some urgency I must bring to your attention. It regards my cubs."
Mana said this in a straightforward, no-nonsense manner, think that if he treated it as if it were any other matter, she might do the same. He just had to show her that he could be professional in this, just as he was in everything else. That he had fathered the cubs made no difference. Or so he kept telling himself.
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Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 2:39 pm
When the councilor left- she felt a little more at ease that Mana had come to her. Politics. She looked up when she heard the tone of voice Mana used. Something was bothering him and it was obvious but she would have never expected those words to come out of his maw. Never without her being the main puppeteer to it. Sure she said to have fun with the ladies but so unwise to sire cubs with such lowly females..
She was in a sitting up position but she had laid slightly back and relaxed when she smelt mana.. but with his words- came a surprise and she leaned forward and up. "Greetings." She said almost waiting for him to tell his thoughts. "Oh?" Almost questioning it after he said it.
Why .. did he sire cubs.. and with whom. Was the immediate two questions that came to mind as she looked away and then at him. "Your cubs." Lifting her body just slightly as she brought her paw to maw and started to lick and groom herself. As if uncaring for the fact that he spilled his 'urgent' beans. "The matter that you are- having or have." Trying to lead him again in to speaking his mind. Her voice didn't waver- she seemed pretty laid back about the idea. Though a slight disappointed but laid back about the ordeal. "I would hope its with someone with excellent genes.. and not waste them with a lowly female.... Shall I be expecting more excellent high grunts like their father? Loyal. Dutiful and trustworthy?" Almost saying it in a high regard- yes she had put Mana high in hopes. With a expectingly soft voice almost as though congratulating him for siring cubs. Her tail padding softly and curling in and out with her lax attitude.
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Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 6:30 am
"Yes, mine," he confirmed.
The sense of calm detachment he felt was odd, and entirely unexpected.Ordinarily Mana's senses would have been on high alert and he would have been analyzing every action and reaction, every turn of her ear and every twitch of her tail. However, the fact of the matter was that he was drained, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and if Nyoka felt it necessary to mete out some punishment for fathering cubs, that was just the way it was. He had known pain before, of the sort to drive him half-mad. He did not think anything Nyoka could visit upon him would be so bad as that.
"And they have been born. They are with their mother in one of the birthing dens."
He did not offer to take her to them. If she wanted to go, that was fine, but he did not think it would be a good idea for Nyoka to meet Palia at this point. Not with Palia in the condition she was in. It was entirely unlikely that she would show anything like the respect Nyoka expected. Particularly not if she was woken from her much-deserved nap. If he'd had to go through something similar, he didn't think he'd ever want to wake up. It occurred to him that someone ought to see to cleaning her up.
"The mother is quick-witted and daring. I do not believe my cubs will be a disappointment to you."
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Posted: Sun Sep 19, 2010 5:25 pm
Surprised. She moved her body up; in a fluid way and looked at him with eyes filled with 'what was he thinking' sorta look. Coming up to her paws as she looked at Mana.. Getting straight close to his nose. Listening to him and taking in every detail of him. How he wasn't as sharp as he was and he looked.. different.
"Hm." Stating as she took him in and then circled him for a moment.. hearing his words and coming to a conclusion. Maybe this would weaken him and she would hope not- his blood meant a lot to her. He was loyal. Nodding as she came up to his side and softly grazed her tail against his shoulder.
"She sounds like she isn't scum." Taking a few steps away. Almost about to lay back down as she loosely spoke. "So who is the lucky mother of your cubs anyhow~. Abhishri? Aija? Aiko?" All seemed like candidates to seduce Mana. Looking deep in to her cave and looked at the ways where she could see her forsaken cubs. They were growing up and thankfully without her. Flicking her tail as she had her back to Mana, not in a disrespectful way.. but more just thinking. As she named the girls she only laughed on the inside- and chuckled as to who blinded him with such 'quick-witted- and daring~' personality he had come up with. "I hope they are not~ your strong and loyal blood I only hope the cubs got at least that from you." Softly nodding as she re-experienced having to birth the cubs. Closing her eyes as she replayed one being taken from her. She wished at that moment that he would have token them all. But being a protective mother at that moment and rather rash she didn't know she would regret protecting the cubs.
Almost forgetting mana was there for a moment.
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Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 2:17 pm
The fact that Nyoka was circling him helped ground Mana somewhat. It was something she did to put people off balance. He did that, too, though it wasn't a habit he'd picked up from her. It was probably a universal way of making people ill at ease, since it involved going behind them, out of sight, and forcing them either to admit that they were unsure of your motives by turning to follow your progress or forcing them to suffer by remaining still. Fortunately, that sort of mental torment, while not lost on Mana, was not as terrifying as it might have been to someone else. He had been raised as a subordinate in a pride full of aggressors, and as such subjected to lots of this sort of treatment.
"She isn't of the pride," Mana admitted.
He didn't wince or flinch or give any outward sign that he was aware of the punishment he had earned with that admission. He was aware of it, but he didn't shrink from it. He had broken the rules, and his punishment would be what it would be. He'd administered it a few times himself, and he knew he wouldn't enjoy it, but it was certainly survivable and only scarring if it was meant to be. He did not think Nyoka would choose to mark him permanently to teach him a lesson, though he was gambling on her fondness for him, which was very thin ice to tread on at the moment, he knew.
"The cubs will be raised to be loyal to you, Lady," Mana said. He didn't bother to mention that he wouldn't be the one doing the training, though. He thought it would go without saying that they would be left in the care of a nanny. No one who knew Mana at all would ever mistake him for the sort of cheetah to seek out familial entanglements.
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Posted: Sun Sep 26, 2010 9:46 pm
Right when she had stood there for a few.. she heard his answer. THAT brought her back to reality and not thinking of her own offspring. What. She almost couldn't comprehend.
"She isn't-"
Whirling her head around slowly as her shoulder blades looked very oddly extended out as she to her steps towards him again. "I'm sorry but I must have heard wrong. She isn't of my pride. Our pride. Yet you SIRED cubs off... a non-member? Well a new member- she is GOING to be. If she is not already~"
The cubs will be loyal to you- those words almost meant nothing as of now for his words had almost blown her fur right off of her skin.. That being sad.. a slight burrowing anger was lurking and her tail whipped slightly then stopped completely as her body was tensing up. She somehow knew his answer. How could he... Her paw was flexing ever so slightly and almost unnoticeable if one wasn't paying attention. 'No- he wouldn't. No.. It had to be a NEW member brought in. Yes. He was bringing in a new member- that happened to have his cubs is all. Right. Yea. Ok...' Almost trying to reassure herself of his loyalty to his blood.
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Posted: Mon Sep 27, 2010 6:29 am
Nyoka's shock and anger was unmistakable, but Mana stood his ground when she stepped toward him. This was bravery, of a sort, even though it came about as a result of irresponsibility. Slowly he would win back the balance and he would die a cat who would go on to a better existence in the next life, perhaps as a lion.
Enduring whatever punishment Nyoka saw fit to mete out was part of that, though a soft exclamation of "Spirits" escaped his lips on a breath. He did wonder if this was going to hurt or not, and whether it would be worse now or later. Undeniably it was best that he had told Nyoka now, as he had obviously been the first to bring this news to her, and so she couldn't confront him with it at a time and place of her choosing, and thus take him by surprise. He had done the right thing.
"She isn't," he said firmly. His voice didn't shake. Bravery, he knew, wasn't the absence of fear, but the decision to proceed in its presence. However, he was pleased by how calm he was able to keep throughout this conversation. He would have to learn to find this place again in the future, this calm, detached one.
"The mother has no desire to remain here. Moreover, I do not want her here. She will only interfere with the cubs' upbringing." Disagreeing with Nyoka, contradicting her, was more difficult. But he did it because he had to. He could not have Tesanya in the pride. She would hate him for it, and do whatever was in her power to hurt him. She might even strike at him through their cubs in some way. She certainly didn't seem to have cared much for them after producing them.
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 1:35 am
Her daydreaming was abruptly ended. Her eye almost twitched with the anger coming from the pit of her stomach. "You brought..a rough in to our lands." Her ears went back as she took the steps towards him. "Rouges are forbidden if not coming to our pride!" With very little time given to him to react- she took her paw and retorted it forward. Slashing his face and giving out a threatening hiss...
No one had seen her this mad in a long time. Other than Dysi and Linje of course. When she ran Linje out of their lands.
Huffing and giving out a very very angry snarl.. Leaning over him and taking another swipe but of course this time- she didn't hit him. She didn't intend to- missing on purpose for more the heightened threat. Her nostrils opened wide and her anger was blazing on the inside..
"Siring cubs from dirt." She lifted her nose up and huffed. "You are lucky- if I can say that." Hissing.. then after her defensive position.. she lifted her head to the side. "Yes- she would." Slitting her eyes. "A don't know if I should take this as a betrayal.. as you should hope that your offspring show loyalty like no other- and skills like no other. For a not so good future awaits them if they are not." A slight growl. She was NOT happy and it could be see through her eyes.
Hitting him- and showing him- his place.. she thought she would never do. He was her right paw.. and she solely depended on him for all her serious decisions that didn't require Nanashi of course. At least he didn't show the interest of dirt blood. "I counted on your blood. Loyalty. Do you understand that the first to be sired can produce results above that of ours? Yet you waste it!" Grumbling...
"They will be looked at with a sharp eye my dear Mananakbo. I expect high expectations now- even higher now.. as I hope your blood is more overpowering than the disgusting untamed blood they processed from their ....mother." A gruff. Her tail whipping about.. ready to strike again if needed.. now she would need to figure out what she should do. Yes he brought new blood. Ones that were his but.. a rouge!? That almost ailed her.. in disrespect. She thought he belonged to her soully.. and would use the females she had given him.. "I never thought I'd say...but. I am disappoint." Almost hurt when she said it. Tossing her head to the side.. and feeling the anger course through her body. He didn't know.. he just didn't know how much she cared for pureblooded.. strength.
It looked as though her whole body had bristled and became uneasy.. as if she really felt ... unnerved. At what he did.. she didn't know what- but she would need time to forgive and see these children of his... and hope only for the best that his blood would continue his legacy.
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Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 7:40 am
The first strike caught Mana by surprise, and so he had no time to consider flinching away from it or attempting to block her paw. It was probably for the better, since he knew he deserved this. His mouth opened as he hissed breath in, reacting to the pain of being struck, but he closed it quickly and allowed his quickly-inhaled breath to escape slowly through his nostrils.
It took more control not to react to her second swipe, which he not only had time to anticipate, but very good reason to wish to avoid. Instead of doing so, he looked directly at Nyoka, meeting her gaze as she decided not to hit him a second time. He wondered if it had anything to do with his willingness to meet her eyes. For some cats that made a difference, how a person was willing to take their punishment. He guessed it mattered to Nyoka, but probably hadn't been what stayed her paw.
He listened to her seethe and did not protest when she referred to Tesanya as dirt. He didn't agree, but this was hardly the time to raise that argument. Tesanya was a rogue, and he had disobeyed the laws of the pride by bringing her into the pridelands. He would see to it that she took a vow of silence before leaving, no matter how difficult her ordeal in birthing the cubs had been, she would simply have to go through one more ritual, or Mana had no doubt she would not leave the pride alive.
Nyoka had every right to rant and rave at him, and so Mana sat silently throughout, trying to determine which of his actions had upset her more. Clearly she was infuriated that he'd sired cubs on a rogue, and that she would not be joining the pride. He didn't quite understand her concern about the strength of blood for the first litters a cat sired. It was all the same blood on his part. Not that blood was what started cubs, anyway. He knew enough about mating to know that much, though he would never claim a healer's knowledge on the subject.
"My loyalty remains unchanged, Lady," he interjected at last. It hurt to talk. "And you cannot know how it pains me to have disappointed you so deeply, but what's done is done. I will see to it the cubs are raised to be as loyal as possible."
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Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 3:12 pm
The anger was going to her head and being this ruffled up wasn't like her at all. Her perfect reputation would be damaged. So... She made herself become composed.. Hissing ever so slightly. He apologized.. and he looked in her eyes. Taking his punishment, that. She appreciated it slightly and he better have too or he would have strike him again. Make him learn the lesson. Especially knowing she had everyone in her beck and call but Mana was special to her. Loyal.. and now it was like a slap in the face. Everyone made mistakes.. and this was one she had to think about.
Cubs. Came with the responsiblity of helping them succeed in the pride. If they were even worth being in the pride. "They would have to prove that to me." She said.. grunting slightly. Irritated to say the least. "I may need some time to forgive you on this." Looking him up and down.. then she slowly walked up to him.. and passed her side next to him. Rubbing her face against his side. "It will take time but I will my Mana..As long as your words stay true. You ARE sworn to me.... I will not be betrayed." Using the word as though extremely harsh and dark..
Turning. "I would like to come see then. Of course. When the mother is disposed of. You will make sure that is seen though. Correct?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 7:48 am
One thing Mananakbo was not worried about in the slightest was his cubs' ability to prove their worth to the pride. At least not his four healthy cubs. There was one which he doubted would live. He should have just killed that cub. But to his knowledge he'd never fathered a litter of cubs before, and it was a little harder than he'd expected it to be. On the other paw, he didn't anticipate any troubles in getting Tesanya to agree to leave or swear to keep the pride's existence secret.
He didn't say anything as Nyoka spoke. He might have offered her reassurances, but they would sound like that, and he would rather just show her completed deeds. That would probably go over better than words anyway, at this point. It was a relief when she touched him, though. She had always touched him casually, so that was a normal thing which he chose to interpret as a sign that his forgiveness would not be too long in coming.
"Whatever pleases you, Lady," Mana said, inclining his head as one would when addressing a superior. "If there is nothing else, I will see to the matter of the mother. It would be best, I think, if her time with the cubs was kept to a bare minimum."
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 1:04 am
"Yes. Her time with them anymore than birth is infectious." She nodded in agreement to him and gave him another soft brush to his neck.. she slightly couldn't help to be a little angry but she couldn't hold that against mana for long. Being a male- she would expect it non the less. Just she always thought it'd be a member.
ARG. How she hated being wrong as she gave him the ease of not attacking him any further. He knew his mistake. "Try to keep it within the pride next time." She stressed slightly and then went off to the mouth of her cave. "I will see you out dear Mananakbo." Taking a very slow few steps. "I wish her dead. I wouldn't want to waste my men to kill a new mother after all. I know you can handle that work on your own. But if you can not- let a fighter know.. I am sure they will gladly help dispose of ..dirt. Like her." Her tail padding to each side very very slowly.. As if waiting on him to catch up and give her the bow to leave. Or the acknowledgement of him leaving.
"I expect you to take responsibility.. and that is all. I need loyal and able members. Not unworthy cubs. Now that you see my thoughts- I hope you respect them. Now off you go.. and remember. I WILL be keeping an eye on them. I will see to it myself if they fall short of what I expect of them." Ears back and looking now as though she just came out of a rough time but now she looked calm. Controlled and barely evil at most. More surreal looking as she displayed now leadership in her step. 'I care of my pride.' Sorta look. Bowing her head EVER so slightly in showing a 'goodbye' "I will see you on our walk near sundown." That was her farewell..for now.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 7:53 am
Mana remained silent, but privately he marveled at the venomous feelings Nyoka seemed to have toward Tesanya, a cheetah she'd not even met. He didn't have any illusions that the two of them would have gotten along even under the best of circumstances. They were too much alike, and Tesanya didn't seem like the kind of cheetah who reacted well to authority figures or veiled threats. Likely it would have been an explosive confrontation between the two, and he was pleased to have avoided that. Just the same, he didn't think Nyoka could possibly know that, and so he wondered how she could hate the other cheetah so readily.
At least her hatred didn't seem to be directed toward him. He'd only disappointed her. He would rather not have done that, even, but it was far better to simply be a disappointment to the boss lady than to be viewed as her rival or her enemy. At least, based on what she said she wanted done to Tesanya. Mana had no intention of killing the fiery cheetah if he could get around it in any way, but he would just keep that to himself. All he was required to do here was acknowledge Nyoka's words, which he did with a nod.
He followed her out of her den and bowed his head respectfully, thinking that it might not be so bad for him or his cubs if Nyoka decided to keep close tabs on them. Her attitude toward her own cubs was no secret, at least Mana didn't think it was. She didn't care for them because they'd been sired by the wrong leopard. Personally, hybrids bothered Mana, but he tried not to let his prejudices come into his dealings with the boss lady's offspring. Still, since she didn't care for her own cubs, his cubs stood to possibly impress her and rise to prominant positions within the pride if they performed well and met her expectations. He would see to it, somehow, that they did.
"Until then, lady," he said, dropping into a final bow and departing.
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