[JRP] In the Morning (Fiore and Nayla)

[stella cinere]

Naledi'Layla

It had only been a few days since the small cub explored the outer world only to discover that is was a bit of tragic scene a rather darken landscape and fog that crept across the ground curling around the boughs of once long forgotten trees. It was rather quiet in the pride, the sun barely escaping over the edge of the land, she had the habit of waking up earlier, somehow the eerie silence that lingered in the darken world appealed to her more than the sun shining. That wasn't to say she was a rather depressing cub it just reminded her more of what loomed beyond. Nayla was one of the lucky ones, she was immune to the disease that lurked, she could eventually get out while others could not. In way it made her feel rather sad, no one complained really they all seemed happy, but she felt that it was a bit unfair. Exploring the land in solemn just allowed her to think about it all, like a rather silent mediation she thought as she continued to make her through the pride, paying little attention to where she was going this morning.
 

[Painted Moose]

Over the past couple of moon cycles Fiore was slowly adjusting to life back in the pride. The search he had risked his very life for in the rogue lands had proven fruitful, and now he knew his best friend still lived. That by itself was enough to calm his soul as entered the twilight years of his life.

The middle-aged nanny padded out into early morning's embrace, feeling only the slightest crick in his diseased bones and the lightest of coughs on his lips.

"What have we here?" He murmured to himself. As a nanny, no, as an adult, he became acutely curious and protective all at once when he saw the little cub out on her own. Fiore recognized her face as being one of the newer youth that had joined, but a name...Oh, he was terrible with those. Maybe she would recognize him, though? He approached her warily, hoping against hope that he wouldn't frighten her. "You shouldn't wander around on your own, little one." He smiled. "But if you don't mind an escort, feel free to continue your walk."  

[stella cinere]

"Eep," Nayla cried as a voice sounded giving her a greeting, she didn't mean to be frightened or give off such an impression but she didn't even realize the older lion approaching her. Her cheeks grew red as the embarrassment of being afraid of even of one of the nannies started to set in.

"I'm sorry!" she replied quickly shaking her head, "Iiii.. didn't see you. I just thought I was out alone. Though." Nayla shuffled her paw across the ground, she was probably in a bit of trouble now that she thought about it. Now matter how much she wanted to prove to her mother she was big enough to follow her around, even if it was outside of the pride she insisted she was far to young. Really she just wanted to help her own mother out as much as possible and getting into trouble was not one of the ways helping her. Instead it would just make her worry more than she had before.

"I'm in trouble aren't I?" She asked peering up at the brown spotted lion.  

[Painted Moose]

Fiore couldn't help, but to chuckle. The mindset of cubs never failed to amuse him, and their little spazzings? Adorable. It was one of the many reasons he had chose to be a Nanny in the first place.

As much as wished he could, he couldn't coddle the cub, and tell her everything was alright. "A little. You haven't wandered far, but still, you shouldn't go off on your own. Not until your older, at least." He admonished gently, "It's just not safe, and what would I do without you around to brighten my day?" Fiore smiled, reaching out to ruffle her little feminine mane.

"Now tell me, what were you up to, anyway?"  

[stella cinere]

A frown appeared on Nayla's face as he mentioned to her that she needed to be a bit older if she wanted to go out, those words again. How old would she have to be? Don't get her wrong it wasn't that she didn't like living there in the pride she didn't want to leave it she just felt a bit helpless.

"Brighten your day? How do I do that?" She replied looking at him strangely, she knew she brightened her mother's day but how could she brighten someone whose job was only to watch over her? She thought nannies were suppose to be caring but grumpy time as if they were happy to care but then when the time was up wanting to shoo the cubs away. Maybe she just didn't understand what a nanny did, not that she wanted to be one it didn't seem like a whole lot of fun. Him ruffling her mane made her feel even shorter than she already was despite being a rather friendly nature.

Looking around she realized she really didn't know where she was going or what she was up to really she was just thinking and moving in a direction. Giving him a bit of a smile to put off the fact that what she was about to say was probably not something he wanted to hear, "errr I was up to nothing."  

[Painted Moose]

"Just by being here. Isn't that cause enough to happy?" Fiore smiled fondly, looking down at the young cub. Since the ability to have his own offspring had been taken from him, he was more aware than others just exactly how precious cubs could be. "Your smile warms my heart, and these little trips keep me on my toes."

And as for her explination, all Fiore did was quirk up and eyebrow, giving the 'uh-huh' face. Thanks to his trouble making friend, Xennek, the older lion had plenty of experience with that kind. "Well, since we're already out here, how about a little game?"  

[stella cinere]

"I guess that's true," Nayla replied looking at him with a little bit more of a curious face. He was a little bit odd but he was rather nice in which Nayla decided that kindness was better than being odd, creepy and mean. She looked at him again and gave a bit of a mischievous smile as he mentioned cubs keeping him on his toes, she was that she wasn't any better.

"Ok then let's play a game! Eerrrrrrrr," she paused realizing she never learned his name, it wasn't that she was horrible with names she just never seemed to ask for them it was as if she just assumed right away if they knew her that names were a part of formality. "Errrrrr I'm Naledi'Layla, or Nayla for short but I think you know that but I don't know your name other than nanny mister…."  

[Painted Moose]

Fiore laughed, and flashed her a comforting smile. "Call me Fiore. Now, what kind of game should we play?" Or rather, what kind of game could he play that A) he remembered the rules to and B) he could keep up with her. As spry as his spirit was, the body containing it was weakening more by the days.

"We could play tag, or hide and seek, or..." he paused, stroking the end of his chin with his paw. "Maybe something a little different, like keep away or leap frog." Still, even to his ears the games he suggested sounded old and outdated. Maybe retirement was closer than he had originally thought.