[PRP] Here Today, Gone Tomorrow (Thuli, Laini)

[Mogami]

Thulisile was not feeling particularly cheerful today. All around her, the older lionesses were complementing how big and beautiful she’d become – with or without the constant reminders of her rank -, how very much she resembled her mother and how it wouldn’t be long until she was hunting with the rest of them. Being constantly compared to her mother and reminded of her low status in the pride was annoying in itself but Thuli was too preoccupied with other matters to pay too much attention to those comments. Namely, the impending departure of her brothers.

She was aware that she might never see them again and every time she looked at the growing hairs on her brothers’ chests, the blue-eyed cub got increasingly anxious.  

[Tanakako]

Laini had been spending more and more time lingering at the edges of the pride. He knew it was getting closer to when he would be forced to leave and yet.. he had discovered that he didn't mind. Throughout his entire young life, he had been treated well but the pride had made no secret about his position among them. He was Lusizi, and a male at that.. he was expected to leave quietly, not causing a fuss or putting any strain on his family or the pride. He knew and accepted that his destiny lay outside the pride, he had been taught how to provide for himself on his own, had grown up knowing the day he would be on his own would eventually come. The only reason he had not yet left in fact, was his family. His mother and his sisters and brothers... He knew he would miss them and once he left, it was unlikely he would ever see his mother or sisters again. He may travail with his brothers and it was likely the three of them would form their own temporary pride for a short while until they found their feet in the roguelands. But it was Njalo and his sisters that kept him here.. lingering just within the pride's boarders, keeping an eye on Thuli and Ora and Matifa as they grew into beautiful young lionesses.

He smiled softly, a well known sadness deep within him as he thought of his sisters and mother. The time was fast approaching and he knew it would not wait until he was ready to leave them, if he would ever truly be ready. He worried for Njalo.. the sweet but rather hopeless female who had given him and his siblings life. He hoped she would be alright without them around... that the younger Umholi wouldn't pick on her or abuse her trust. His sisters were altogether more mentally 'there' and while he worried for them as any brother would, he hoped they would be able to make a happy and fulfilling life for themselves within the pride.

Pulled from his thoughts by a familiar scent he blinked and looked around, smiling warmly when he spotted one of his sisters. "Hey Thuli!" He called out, hoping to catch her attention. Every moment seemed more precious than the last now that his imminent departure was real and not just an abstract idea.

 

[Mogami]

“Laini.” Thuli replied with less enthusiasm, looking at the hairs on her brother’s chest with mild spite. She felt like giving them one good trim which obviously wouldn’t really make her brother look younger but it might make her feel better. “You’re really big, you know…”

She was certain it wouldn’t be long until all three of her brothers were unceremoniously kicked out of the pride. Her only comfort was that they would probably stick together – at least at first – and maybe create their own pride where they would no longer be called stupid things like Lusizi.

“Hey Laini… do you think you’re going to like the lands outside the pride…?” a nicer character might’ve tried to breach the subject more carefully but by now one would assume Thuli’s family had grown accustomed to the blue-eyed girl’s bluntness.  

[Tanakako]

Tilting his head he raised a brow at her brief glare in the direction of his chest, a look on her face that actually made him glance down, wondering if he had got something stuck to his fur, but all he saw was the wispy mane already growing over his dark fur. The self same mane had also started to fall into his eyes at every opportunity, bringing a whole new meaning to the 'L'Oreal hair flick' action he caught females doing around the Umholi. This time however he resisted the urge to fling back his head in irritation and instead settled for trying to blink the stripy strands out of his way.

Her sudden and blunt question did not phase her brother at all and he merely kept that soft smile on his maw, knowing she had been worrying about loosing him and his brothers. "I don't know yet, sis. I suppose it will be quieter... " He flashed a playful grin at her before leaning forwards and bumping his shoulder to her own. "Why... wanting to get rid of me already?"
 

[Mogami]

“That’s not funny.” Thuli said while with an annoyed smirk, raising a paw to push her brother lightly. Alright, maybe it was a little funny. The young lioness was aware that her litter could be pretty rowdy, especially when all the girls were together in a confined space. She lowered her head and took a step closer to her brother so that her head was now very close to his chest.

“Maybe I should pull those hairs out. You can’t leave if you look like an Umzingeli, now can you?” Her tone was even and innocent. Too innocent, perhaps.

She wouldn’t bite her brother’s growing mane, not really, but considering her history so far one could never be sure just how far Thuli would go for amusement. In this case, her words were mostly caused by misplaced frustration and that was just as good a reason as any to cause mischief.  

[Tanakako]

He grinned at ehr retort, ignoreing her paw as she tried to shove him aside. He was far bigger than her already, thnks to both his parents all the cubs were large, but laini especially seemed to just keep on growing. Gazing down at her with a fond expression he reached out to loop his front leg over her shoulders as she moved in close, though his easy grin turned concerned as she continued to stare at his chest.

Her threat taken very seriously by her brother, who ahd been the target of many of her pranks and her temper when they were younger. Hurridly withdrawing his paw he tried to over his chet with it, eyeing her warily. "Now now... that is unlikely to help any..." Shifting back slightly on his haunches he watched her for a moment, until he was satisfied she was not about to lunge at his chest and start plucking him like a day old kill.

"It's going to be alright, you know... " He finally offered quietly, lowering his head to push against her cheek reasuringly. All the siblings were getting more and mroe antsy as the days passed by, but Laini was confident everything wuld be alright, after all they had been raised and taught by the pride's best huntress.