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 Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 12:55 am
Happy, happy, happy.
Toroka was... well... happy. Everything had seemed to go right since she met Uovu. In fact, he had been occupying so much of her time that she hadn't gone to see Kit in a while. But hey, that wasn't too big of a deal, right? After all, Kit had a mate and cubs now - six of them, in fact. So she must be just as busy as Toro, if not busier. She wouldn't mind.
She was close to the Pridelands when she noticed a small hare hopping obliviously through the grass. Now that she thought about it, she hadn't eaten in quite a while, and her stomach rumbled as if to confirm this. Toro decided that Kit could wait a little while and so she lowered herself into a crouch, every muscle in her body tense.
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:07 am
 It was always the way, wasn't it? Coincidence was a strange, strange thing indeed... the way fate worked was by far mysterious, as it just so happened that Hantu was wandering just beyond the borders of the pridelands.
She was cautious - this was the first time that she'd left the reassuring shelter of the Pridelands, to stumble smack-bang into the middle of the unknown. These areas were all alien to Hantu, and she couldn't help but marvel at how many more scents there where about these lands. It seemed that creatures from all walks of life came here.
Hantu hoped that she wouldn't meet any of them.
Parting the grass with her forepaws, she stumbled about, straying further and further away from the lands. Every muscle in Hantu's body willed her to turn back, but she stayed strong and pushed on forward.
It was just a little further, just a little further. She just had to leave her mark on that tree over there, and she could go home. Then, she could be content - she could tell the others back at Pride Rock that she had completed the dare.
She was almost there - but then, a rustle!
Hantu bent low in the grass, her ears flicking back. Something was coming... something small, with the scent of some kind of preybeast...
Hantu blinked as she noticed the hare coming straight for her.
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Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2007 1:23 am
And with it came a lioness.
"GOTCHA!" she growled pleasurably as she leapt at it, claws unsheathed. But Toro's aim was nothing to brag about, and she went crashing to the ground face first. It was certainly the hare's lucky day.
Not Toro's. As if such a fantastic failure wasn't embarassing enough, there was a lioness right in front of her. A lioness that, as first, she mistaked for Kit.
"Oh, good, it's you," she said, licking her fur off. "I'm glad I didn't fall on my face in front of a total stra..."
The second she looked up, she stopped. "You're not Kit," she said stupidly.
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Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2007 5:20 pm
"I'm not Kit," Hantu agreed, and her eyes glimmered with a slight distrust, "Though, you darned well scared me out of my skin, you did! My heart's still hammering..."
It was true - the sight of the hare dashing towards her had been enough to give her a rush of adrenalin, but to see a full grown lioness diving towards her, claws unsheathed and fangs bared?
"Geez Louise," Hantu swore under her breath.
Man, she really needed a rest after that encounter.
"Thank goodness you were after the hare and not me. Because, for a minute there, you looked absolutely vicious," she lectured, shaking her head pompously, "I mean, really. You're a full grown lioness, you are, and yet you pounce like a cuh-"
She paused, a sudden realisation setting in. Wait, this lioness had said something along the lines of "Bla bla bla Kit...", right? And, Hantu deduced, that must refer to her mother, of all lionesses - Kit was short for Kitengele. Which was short, in Hantu's perspective, for 'mother'.
"... wait. My mum's name is Kitengele. You know my mother?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 09, 2007 1:58 am
Toro smiled sheepishly at Hantu. "Yeah, sorry about that. I've never been a great hunter... I mean, I can get by okay, but I'm certainly not about to impress anyone. Sorry for scaring you, really, I didn't mean to."
Then she stopped. "Your mother is Kitengele?" she asked, surprised. And then, all of a sudden, she started laughing. "No way! No wonder you look so much like her! My name is Toroka." She gazed curiously at Hantu, waiting to see if she recognized the name. "I've known your mother for... ah, ages now. It must be going on three years! You know, I've met you before, back when you were a tiny cub. Yeah, I remember now. Your brothers and sisters are mostly purple, but you take after your mother. Hantu, right?" She remembered that day, the day her best friend had proudly introduced her to her cubs. Several of the names had slipped away from her by now, but Hantu stuck out in her mind, because of the resemblance.
"Why are you so big?" she asked suddenly, though her tone was clearly joking. "You're supposed to be, y'know, little. It couldn't have been that long already! Really?" By now, the lioness seemed to be talking to herself, amazed by how grown up Kit's daughter was. "That must mean I'm getting old." Toro grinned at her.
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Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 2:32 am
"That's quite alright," the young lady forced a smile, though it ended up looking less of amusement, and more of concern, "I was asking for it, anyway. Really, I shouldn't have strayed so far away... I mean, seriously, what was I thinking?"
Although this Toroka lady had not been out to impress anyone, Hantu felt a burning shame that she, in fact, had.
Her shame was short-lived, however... the stranger seemed to light up at the mention of Hantu's mum, and Hantu, too, felt a little spirited as the conversation turned from awkward to light-hearted.
"You're Toroka, are you?" Hantu said, excitement rushing through her, "Oh! Mother's talked about you a lot, seriously! It's hard to shut her up about you sometimes," she paused, and winked at the lioness, "Don't tell her I said that, though. I'm supposed to a perfect little daughter, and I don't really want anything to break that illusion, you know?"
She grinned, and her shoulders loosed - she felt relaxed. If this Toroka was the Toroka her mother had been talking about, then it was safe to be near her. But then again, if this lioness was just an imposter...
Hantu felt herself tense up against once more - like all cubs, she had been told about stranger danger. She resolved to retain a tad of suspicion for 'Toroka'. One could never be too careful!
"Well, it's nice to meet you again, Toroka," she continued, with no apparent change in her tone, "Though, yeah, I can't quite remember meeting you before. I was too small, then. But, as you can see, time goes on, and we've all grown! Every one of us!"
She grinned.
"Everyone gets older," she teased, "But the question is... where have you, the famous Toroka, been? Sounds like you haven't visited our family in quite a while! Maybe while we were littluns, or asleep, but... still."
She paused, and chewed her bottom lip, thoughtfully. She'd try and test this lioness - see if she was the true Toroka. After all, there had been a few whispers around the Pridelands of abductions, and Hantu certainly didn't want to be taken away from her beloved home.
She'd see if this Toroka was real or not.
"Say, although I've heard the story time and time again, it's kinda' slipped my mind. How did you and Mother meet, anyway?"
Her eyes glittered deviously - this was Hantu's indirect form of a challenge.
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Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 9:07 pm
Toro was clearly pleased that Hantu knew of her, despite her lack of visits. "Really? Ah, well, y'know, we go back," she said, laughing.
And then came the questions. She felt herself grin, raising her eyebrows at her friend's daughter. She certainly was a clever one! Besides, caution was always a good trait to practice. The Pridelands might be a safe place, but you could never be too careful. "I see your parents raised you well," she said with a smile.
"Kit and I met when we were young - she was barely more than a cub! I lived somewhere between the Graveyard and the Pridelands... still do, in fact." For the briefest moment she hesitated. All this time, and she was still in the same place, doing the same things? Suddenly nothing she had ever done seemed meaningful... but now was not the time to dwell on it. "Your mother was pretty clumsy when she was younger, and while she was running across the field, she ran smack-dab into a rock. She wanted to go to her father, y'know, she's always been kind of a daddy's girl, but her home was a little too far to get to."
Toro sat down. "I heard the thud, and then the crying, so I went out to see who was making all the racket. There was a cut across the top of her nose and she had clearly never been injured before, not enough to cause much bleeding, anyway. So I helped her clean it up, and we started talking, and.. hey, the rest is history."
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:06 am
"Wow, the Graveyard?" Hantu asked, eyes widening and mouth agape, as if she were a cub again, "I've heard Mother mention it a few times, but I've never quite understood it all. The Maziko..."
Hantu seemed to forget about Toroka for a minute, as if she was lost in the story, the gears in her mind clicking and whirring, trying to imagine what the Graveyard would be like. Sure, she'd heard a bit about it, and she had been warned to stay away (hyenas, she'd heard from other cubs, killed any stray lion cubs with a quick snap of the neck). However, as risky as the place sounded, Hantu found it - like any other Pridelander - almost a novelty.
"So you've seen the Maziko?" Hantu grinned, remembering Toroka, "I bet it's got nothing on the Pridelands. No offense, or anything. Say, Toroka, are you from the Maziko?"
She addressed Toroka as she would a friend, now, to show that she had accepted the lioness as the genuine article. Relaxing, she sat down on her haunches, looking up at Toroka, many questions on the tip of her tongue. She did not relax her guard too much - she was still alert, lest anything go wrong, as that was Hantu's personality - yet, she found her mind wandering to other things, and the warning bells in her head were slowly being silenced.
"Not much has changed, you know," Hantu grinned cheekily, out of the blue, "She's still a big softie. A beautiful softie. My Mother."
Her eyes lit up.
"I'd bet she'd love to see you again, Toroka! Catch up on things, you know?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:20 am
Toro, too, was momentarily lost in her memories. She owed a lot to Kit, now that she thought about it. As a cub, she had been a loner, and having Kit as a friend... it had kept her sane. As sane as she could be, at least. Then Hantu's voice snapped her back to reality.
"I've seen the Graveyard," she said. "I don't know the specific boundaries of the pride or anything, though. And yeah, I've got to agree, I prefer the Pridelands. Your mom does, too. After all, why else would she be there?"
After a moment, she felt a sort of motherly tug towards the lioness, and she added, "But some find it really beautiful, in it's own way. Your grandfather, for one. I never met him, but I heard a lot about him from Kit." She smiled. "There's beauty in everything, but not everyone can see it."
Toro chuckled. "Oh, but what am I talking about? Anyway, I guess I already answered your question. I'm not from the Maziko. I've never actually belonged to a pride. That's just fine with me, y'know, I guess I never really wanted that environment, but I know that there are some lions - your mother, for one! - that need to be in that kind of place. It's another one of those 'everyone is different' kind of things."
"Oh, Hantu, let me tell you something... she'll never change." Toro giggled. "That's what's so great about Kit. She's genuine."
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:40 am
There was a brief silence, as Hantu took in all of Toroka's words. The Graveyard, which Hantu had until recently associated with Pridelander cub horror stories, seemed to have an all new meaning - this was the place where Toroka and her mother had met, where they had formed a friendship that had lasted until their adulthood. This was where her mother had been born, as a Maziko lion, before she'd moved to Hantu's beloved Pridelands.
If Toroka was right, then the Graveyard didn't sound like such a bad place after all - and Hantu felt something tug at her heart-strings. She wanted to visit this place, sometime, when she was older. Through the stories of hyenas, shadows and bones, Toroka was right... maybe, just maybe, this place could be beautiful.
And Hantu wanted to see it.
If only she could pluck up the courage.
"I guess I'm more of a homebody right now," she blushed, averting her gaze away from Toroka, "So I haven't exactly seen many things. I wouldn't know about other prides, or their lands. I'm a bit in the dark, really... not the adventurous type, unlike most cubs. The only reason I'm out here was because of a stupid dare..."
She paused, chewing on her lip in thought.
"... Which is... why I met you. Out here. But you... you could have been anyone! The world is a dangerous place, after all, so... so..."
She gave a deep sigh, and rolled into the dust onto her back, staring wistfully at the sky.
"Guess I should broaden my horizons a little more, huh, Toroka? To be a traveller like you... that would take real courage. I'm a bit like my Mother, really. Banding together in prides seems... right, to me. I'd hate to be by myself."
She chuckled a little, tail flicking in amusement as Toroka mentioned her mother.
"She is genuine," she murmered, turning her head to look Toroka straight in the eye, "But change is good, too. Well, I assume, anyway. I'm no traveller, but change gets things rolling. So I guess... both ways work, really, huh?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 12:48 am
Toro's expression softened as Hantu began to speak. Though she had never had any lack of courage, she empathized with the young lioness. She could only imagine how tough it must be, too nervous to get out there and do things, to be uncomfortable in new situations...
"That's okay," she said, offering a warm smile. "Some lions aren't into traveling and exploring. I think that you should try and make some more friends in the Pridelands, perhaps some older than you, and you can learn that way if you aren't ready to go out on your own yet. Draw off the wisdom of your peers and elders. I think it's important to be knowledgable about different places and prides, moreso than to actually see them for yourself."
"Traveling doesn't take courage," she said with a smile. "Courage is to acknowledge what you want, seek it out, and obtain it. Do you know how many lions live their lives unhappy because they're too afraid to try anything different? That's what you need to look out for, Hantu. If you're happy where you are, then don't change anything. If you want to do more and see more, then do it. And hey, you can travel with me any time. I promise to bring you back in one piece." Toro winked.
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:21 am
"Oh, well, making friends is something I'm good at!" Hantu's face visibly brightened, "I mean, that's the good thing about the Pridelands... there's so many others out there to talk to. And I suppose you're right, instead of talking to them about the weather, or the day's hunt... I should do my research, instead."
With that, she thrust herself forward and off her back, leaning on her forelegs for support. When she was sitting up, she extended a paw towards Toroka, holding it out, paw-pad up.
"It's a deal, then! If it's with you, I think I could go anywhere! Mother will let me, after all... it's the wonderful Toroka we're talking about, here. Not to... suck up or anything, but Mother does speak highly of her friends. So, please," Hantu dipped her head, trying to be as lady-like as possible, "If you could show me some of the world when I'm older, that would be... wonderful. After I learn some things for myself, of course. I'm not asking to be your shadow, or anything!"
She'd decided that she liked this lioness - she was full of wisdom, and although she seemed more of the average, everyday type, there was more to her than met the eye. Which was, Toroka had told her, the way things worked. Hantu was only just beginning to see it.
"I can see why you and Mother are good friends," she mused, smiling.
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:29 am
"Hey, kid, I'm glad to help," Toro said with a broad grin. She placed her paw lightly on Hantu's before withdrawing it. "I don't go too far any more, but I'd be happy to show you around the areas surrounding the Pridelands, and we could definitely take a few longer trips. Maybe some of your family would like to come. It could be one big, crazy outing." She chuckled.
Toroka had taken to Hantu quickly, her sincerity and humility quite endearing. It'd be a pleasure to have her around a bit. For the first time, Toro began to feel a slight tug of jealousy towards Kit - and for the first time she thought how nice it might be to be a mother. She wasn't getting any younger, after all, and she certainly wanted to have a family. But it had always felt like she had plenty of time to do so, and now... she felt a stronger longing. Maybe Uovu...
She shook it off. He was just a friend... well, more than a friend, but not a mate or anything. They had fun together but there was nothing real there. Right?
"Er, yes, traveling," she coughed. There was no time to think such crazy things right now! "Just lemme know whenever you want to go, hmm? Oh, and hey, I still need to talk to your mom." She grinned. "It's been great seeing you again, but I don't want Kit to think I've forgotten about her!"
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:03 am
"Oh, yeah! That would be wonderful, it really would. I'm sure my siblings would love it as much as I would - they're tons more adventurous than I am... well, at least that's the impression I get. The whole lot of them, " Hantu smiled, warmly, feeling much more excited than she had before. This was great - all she'd done was dare to leave the Pridelands, and already opportunities had been opened. She doubted she'd ever stray too far... after all, she couldn't handle being away from the place for too long, it was her home. But this - this was great! This was just the thing Hantu needed to get her out of her shell.
All it had taken was a little courage to step outside the boundaries.
"I'm really glad I met you," the silver lioness dipped her head again, eyes flashing with a blend of admiration and gratitude, "It's been one heck of a day. But, yeah, I'd better be off. The others are probably thinking that I've been picked off by a... hyena, or a killer springbok, or something. It's been great meeting you, Toroka. I hope you have a great night!"
She pivoted on her paws, and turned to leave, but hesitated for a moment.
"Oh, and by the way, Toroka... I'll give Mother your greetings, but if she asks about it, I met you on the borders. I'm... not sure I'm supposed to be out here right now, and... well, I kind of didn't let Mother or Father know where I was, so they didn't give me any permission. But you won't tell, right?" her eyes lit up, "It was only small, but it was my first real adventure!"
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:13 am
"I'm glad I met you too, Hantu. I've been wondering how you and your siblings have been doing. You're growing up to be a beautiful, smart lioness. Your parents must be very proud." Her eyes sparkled. "I'll come visit more often, so that you can tell me when you're ready to go explore a bit."
Toro winked at Hantu. "I promise, your secret is safe with me. I'll tell her that I was going to visit her, and I met you just inside the border, and we ended up talking for so long that I didn't have any time to see her, too. She'll be so pleased that we got a chance to talk that she won't think to ask any more." The lioness flicked her tail, smiling at the silver female. "Have a good night, Hantu."
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