Bodaway watched the water flowing through the area, pondering for a bit how a river could flow and yet nothing grow. Well, almost nothing. It was a paradox in his mind, though he didn't wonder too long about it. The river quenched the thirst, and that was the important thing to the old lion. A lonely old tree grew, giving the lion some shade against the sun as he stretched out. It was a calming place for him.
She was taking a break from her cubs, heading to the river, when she spotted a red pelt under a tree. By the markings, it wasn't hard to surmise who it was. A smile spread on her maw, as Shula padded up to her father. "Enjoying some time alone, are we?" Not that he was too alone now, she was going to bother him even if he didn't want it. The red lioness found a spot, stretching out on the ground next to the old male. "And something's on your mind, I can see it."
The male chuckled, knowing he'd not be left alone today. "Hello, Shula... Escaping the cubs today...?" He leaned over, running his tongue over her face. He settled back into his spot, enjoying the sound of the river. "Myself... I was just wondering about the fact the river flows right here... And more greenery doesn't grow. I think the desert sun's just too hot for it, and dries the ground around it up..." The fact short grasses grew on the edge was amazing enough. They had to be very tough grasses.
The lioness watched the river, intently watching it herself. It WAS an interesting little paradox, wasn't it? In the distance, an antelope grazed, mindful of the lions though not finding a threat. The two were at ease, relaxing instead of hunting. Shula couldn't have hunted right now if she tried, anyway. "Of course I'm taking a break... Kosuke's watching them right now, filling their heads with ideas..." And showing his favoritism of Paniwi. "I wonder how he'd treat Paniwi if she were red or orange like her brothers and sisters..."
The male flicked his tail, turning gray with age by then. "Oh, he'd probably treat them the same... He seems to have a good head on him by now to do that..." Bodaway let out a yawn. "I think I may have to go speak with Kidondo... I think my title needs to go from guard to elder..." He let out a laugh, smiling. "These bones still have life left, just not enough to fight."
Shula nodded, looking at her father. "I think that's a good plan for you... You don't have the energy to be a cubsitter..." Then she smiled. "You're slower than your new girlfriend is." She saw the look in his gold eyes. Oh, she'd hit on something there! "I saw you the other night coming in with her... What was her name? I'm not sure I've seen her up close before... I mean... What DO you know about her...?"
The old male shifted, raising his head. "Her name's Sumu. She used to be a slave back before the pride went to war with itself." It was long before Shula's time. "You might be able to ask Savitri more about it. I do know that the experience wasn't kind to her.." Some things weren't kind to anybody, and he could just imagine how he'd have come out in the same situation. He wasn't young when the war broke out, far from it. He'd not have lived through that if he'd been a slave.
The lioness let out a hm, listening to her father. She tilted her head, pondering for a moment, before, thinking of something. "All this time... I've never known... What do you think of it all?" When she saw his confused look, she clarified, "The pride before the war, during the war, and after it... What do you think of all of it?" She knew what Kosuke thought. His had changed over the past couple years, from begrudgingly joining, to seeing parts of Kidondo's vision. What did her father, who'd lived through much of it, think of it?
"Well..." He scratched his shoulder. "I suppose I should start with history... I was raised, in part, when the pride was strong, all old blood, and kept slaves. I left as a juvenile, because I was foolish. But you already knew that part." He chuckled, smiling good-naturedly. "You see, a couple slaves had run off, and I wanted to impress the king of the time, Makadari, by bringing home new slaves. I got lost, and spent many a year out in the roguelands. In that time, Makadari's grandchildren, including Kimeti, Kidondo's father, grew up and re-established the pride." He had no idea how well known that part of history was known... But he felt the need to tell it.
Shula's ears went back. "Kosuke's mentioned Makadari before... He said he's a direct descendant, making our cubs direct descendants.. I suppose that means Kidondo's their cousin, doesn't it..?" What exactly was her father's lineage, though? She just knew it was bound to the desert, as much as many others were. What were his parents' names again..? Her grandparents, long dead before he'd returned home...
The old male nodded. "They are, in fact, cousins. I can see it in Kosuke's mane - His distant uncle was Kiu, Makadari's oldest son and the heir before Kimeti. Let's see... Kosuke's father is... It was Sinbad, wasn't it?" When his daughter nodded, he nodded. "And Sinbad's father was Mwali, a lazy sod of a prince. Not that he had anything to do at the time, eh?" He smiled, chuckling. "Which makes Makadari Kosuke's... Great grandfather, and the great-great grandfather of your children, as well as the grandfather of Kidondo, and great of his children." It was a rather complex web, really. "He's actually Savitri's great grandfather, too... But that's diverging from what I was saying." He'd gotten sidetracked. "When I came home from my long journey, I'd come to see rogues in a whole new light, and seen how prides welcomed others with open paws and boosted their own numbers. Much like what Kidondo saw when he visited the Pridelands and met No, I imagine..."
Her head was spinning. "So many generations..." She shook her head. "I'm afraid to know about Mother's side of the family now! So tell me more about what you think of it all, Daddy, you're getting off topic again!"
He let out a laugh, scaring the antelope away with it. "I'm getting there, I'm getting there.. So, I get home, and Kidondo's gotten himself in trouble. I returned home in time for that... But what was left of the pride was mostly related lions. I think Kiunguza was happy to see me if only for that.. But... There were still slaves. As it were, Mwali had returned home and sired a litter... And then Kidondo came home with a full blown rebellion. And now I answer your question... I sided with Kidondo, despite having some notions of the old ways still firmly in place. He has made points I agree with... The pride needs new blood from outside, but only those who are worthy. I don't agree with letting slavery go, but that can be handled. The biggest issue I've had is the utter disregard for the goddess that put us here..." He let out a sigh. "It's a conflicted answer, I know... But it's an answer."
Shula nodded, before rising to her paws. "I think I see what you mean... But having grown up without slaves... I'm not so sure about that part. I suppose slavery's the old way for good, but some things should be remembered again." She licked her father's snout. "You rest well, Daddy." She turned, padding away and leaving him to rest.
The old male sighed again, closing his eyes. Resting was good, that was for sure. He yawned, before laying down to nap.
