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 Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 11:48 am
 Tsubame was large. The cubs were growing and it was getting close to the time they enter the wide world, or at least Tsu hoped. It was true that it didn't seem like she was carrying as many cubs as she was with the first litter, then again it would be very strange to be having eight cubs again.
With a sigh she shifted position again, it seemed that she couldn't find a comfortable position. If it wasn't one cub moving it was another with a paw in her rib cage. Soon. Gods, I hope soon she thought as the lake waves lapped at her front paws that dangled in the cool water.
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 1:44 pm
 Staring is rude.
Azhar was not a little cub anymore and he’d learned his lessons well. And yet, he couldn’t take his eyes off the colossal shape of the blue lioness. Were he not a young lion who took pleasure in watching others, the dark would most likely be wondering how a banu could possibly become so fat… as it were however, after the initial shock, Azhar quickly concluded the lioness was most likely pregnant. Just pregnant. But to the still easily impressionable Azhar… it looked so painful.
He stepped closer to the water’s edge, peering at the massive blue belly curiously for a few moments before turning to a more polite – and practiced – formal behavior.
“Good morning.” She was clearly much older than he was so he was reluctant to use her title without at least knowing her name. “I’m Azhar’Hilel, son of Pad Anwar’Mazin. May I join you?”
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 8:58 pm
Tsubame sensed being watched and a covert peek showed a dark colored young pesar studying her. She didn't find this offensive, but rather funny. Unless she was mistaken this pad had never gotten to see a pregnant lioness up close before.
She smiled and looked over at him when he introduced himself. "It is a pleasure to meet you Pesar Azhar'Hilel. I am Tsubame, Beybanu to Pad Achal. You are welcome to join me but do forgive me not getting up, it takes more time then one would expect." She laughed softly at her own 'fat' joke. Tsu was quite aware of how she looked, a petite lioness with a straining belly full of cubs, in other words a small elephant.
"So Pesar Azhar'Hilel what brings you out to the lake side today?" It was polite to ask such questions but Tsu was really interested in the answer, just about anything was preferable then focusing on the cub who was already practicing hunting while still in her belly.
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 10:13 pm
While honesty wasn’t always the policy, Azhar couldn’t possibly imagine having a conversation without first addressing the most obvious matter and getting it out of the way. Of course, there had to be a more suitable way of doing it than bluntly asking if she was with cubs or plain fat.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you Beybanu Tsubame. Please don’t get up!” For one so used to keep his tone even, the little lion’s voice cracked a little when he feared the blue lioness was actually considering standing. He paused, keen eyes watching the lioness carefully. She was very pretty and polite, no wonder she was a beybanu. “I like coming here. Are you… pregnant?”
He had the unmistakable urge to get closer and touch the big blue belly but that was a line Azhar knew he shouldn’t cross. Still, he felt tempted and much more interested in the situation than he thought he’d ever be.
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Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2011 11:09 am
Tsu quickly smothered the smile that threatened to spread when the young pad's voice cracked in fear of her getting up. It was just so adorable but she felt that her smile would be taken the wrong way so instead she nodded 'gratefully' and shifted a bit to seem like she was settling back down.
"As do I and yes I am pregnant." This time she couldn't help but laugh. He was just so blunt. "Ahh, to be young again. And quite blunt in all observations." The smile just wouldn't go away so instead she looked out over the water. Trying to change the topic Tsu asked, "It is quite peaceful hear with most gone is it not?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:06 am
Azhar tilted his head just a little, trying to figure out if “blunt” meant rude or honest in this particular context. It wouldn’t do to have rumors going around saying the Vizier’s grandchildren were rude to the banu they encountered – then again, considering his grandfather’s reputation perhaps that was actually expected of him. His father, however, wouldn’t be very pleased so Azhar had no intentions of letting the wrong kind of thing reach Anwar’s ears.
But Tsubame was smiling and didn’t appear the least bit offended so the young lion decided his musings to be of absolutely no real importance at the moment. And she was indeed pregnant which meant he hadn’t offended her accidentally.
“Yes.” He agreed, considering the lioness’ words slowly. “Maybe a little too peaceful.” Considering the lake was one of the best places to watch the interaction between the pride members, Azhar couldn’t really say he was very happy when the lacked what he considered to be the main attraction. Again, his eyes drifted towards the big blue belly of the small lioness. “Will they be born soon?”
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 3:12 pm
Tsu laughed knowingly, "Ahhh so you are one of those who enjoy watching others." She has done that many a times when there was not much that needed to be done. Watching others gave her insight into who they were and how they reacted to others. The way a lion walked told others how he was feeling, if he was arrogant or shy, in a hurry or just killing time. The way a lioness watched the area around her showed if she was looking for someone, if she was skiddish about something, or if she was just watching others for fun as well. So much could be learned just by remaining silent and watching the world go by.
"Tell me what do you see when you watch him." Tsu nodded to a young pad who was hurrying from one side of the lake to the trees about midway of the beach. His stride was confident but quick, not quite a run but not a stroll either. He wasn't looking around but rather was focused on his destination.
"Hum?" She turned away from watching the lion to glance at Azhar'Hilel. "The cubs? Yes if the God's are kind they should be born soon."
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 7:19 pm
The young lion’s fiery eyes sought Tsubame’s for an instant, with the concerned expression of one who is wondering if his mind is being read. Only after dismissing the possibility as an absurdity did he consider what she was saying.
“He looks like he’s in a rush. But you can never tell much just with one quick look… we’d have to follow him. We have to really look.” Clearly that was something he wasn’t interested in doing anything of the sort especially when he was pretty sure the young Pad was an idiot he’d met before. Tsubame’s condition was far more interesting at this point. “There are many here who know how to hide what they really are.” He stopped abruptly and looked away as if he’d already said too much to a complete stranger. He’d never been one to be careful of his words but he was slowly realizing how powerful they could be as tools and weapons. But the blue lioness was easy to talk to, had a certain cleverness that Azhar appreciated and well, she was with cubs. For some inexplicable reason, the young lion’s defenses were terribly low. “Soon… They’ll be a little younger than me… I wonder if one of them will become my banu. Or maybe they’ll all be boys…”
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:18 am
Tsu nodded. "Correct. He is in a hurry but if you notice his stride, his tail, and his spine you can tell that he is not stressed, angry, or annoyed. Wherever he is going its nothing that will likely bother him or he wouldn't be going so fast. The fact that he is in a rush but not stressed could mean that he normally just moves fast." She smiled, "But again you are correct in order to learn much more about him we must watch him for a longer period of time. Either right now or observe him whenever he shows up during a time of 'watching'." Tsu was pleased that this young pad was quite bright and he picked up on her meaning quite fast.
His next comment though made her smile fade, "This is always the case, not just here in the pride lands. Always. Not everyone you meet will be nice or kind or sweet. They might act that way but there is normally another motive behind it." She smiled softly, "Granted most are quite nice anyway. My motive, before you ask, is some company that doesn't grate on my nerves. Namely, you dear."
"The cubs? If they stay to form there will be a even number of boys and girls. Pad Achal is pretty lucky that way." Tsu took a moment to mentally calculate the ratio. "Lets see there are exactly 12 girls and 12 guys in the pride but 2 girls and a guy left outside of the pride with their mothers. So he is just a bit over on the female side of the scale." She laughed for a few moments before slowing down to just a smile. It would be quite amusing if they are all girls she thought to herself.
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Posted: Thu Sep 08, 2011 9:41 pm
Azhar listened to the lioness’ explanation with a curious expression, eyeing the male differently now as if to see if it was indeed possible to take any conclusions from a quick glance. Interesting… The blue beybanu was indeed clever. And willing to teach her cleverness, which was something Azhar greatly appreciated. And she didn’t seem to be worried or offended no matter how bluntly he put his feelings into words – she even seemed to appreciate it - so he didn’t feel defensive or afraid that she might be able to read him a little too well. Perhaps there were many beybanu like this, maybe it should even be a requirement of such rank. The young lion made a note of it: it was something to think over later.
“Hum?” Azhar made a curt inquiring sound, frowning just a little before he managed to get proper control over his expression, forcing it to a more neutral state. “Outside? Why didn’t he bring them back to the pride?” Well, now that he thought about it, his big sister’s mother didn’t belong to the pride… and apparently he had a half-brother in a different – and rather strange – pride. Perhaps this situation was more common than he believed…
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Posted: Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:47 am
"What?" She was curious what was going on through his mind when he frowned just slightly before making his face more neutral. When he asked the next two questions she mentally shrugged and turned her mind to answering his question.
"Well to be honest I don't know why. I think Achal talked two the mothers and they decided between them. He is like that, where he is conscientious of others and their feelings." Her smile was soft and a bit dreamy. Achal was her Pad, the father of her cubs, and her love. If more pads were like him this would be a very peaceful pride indeed. With this in mind she decided that she would share a bit of wisdom from a banu's point of view. "Pesar Azhar'Hilel, remember that although you will one day be a Pad you don't have to be a mean Pad. Strength comes in many different forms, not just strength of body." She smiled softly and yet brightly. Maybe the young soon-to-be pad would understand that even though his banu's are female that it doesn't make them worthless. Maybe he won't and just think that she meant that he should develop not just his body but his mind. Either way he would have learned something that is quite useful.
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Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 10:07 am
Azhar pretended not to hear the first question, somewhat relieved by the notion that his mind wasn’t really being read by the clever blue beybanu. He then listened carefully to her words with his ears pulled forward and eyes wide open and bright, shining with interest. Some of it he already knew. He didn’t want a harem like his grandfather’s, he didn’t want to be constantly defied by his own banu and he most certainly didn’t want to have his banu run off on him or hate that they had been given to him. He would much rather take his father’s example and create a peaceful family where cooperation flowed and the beybanu’s opinions were highly respected even if Anwar was clearly the one in charge. Even so, Tsubame’s words were a good reminder that every banu had a mind of its own, with their own views and hopes. Only a fool would ignore such things and focus only on his own ambitions.
“I understand. I’ll remember that.” He said very seriously, nodding once. Silently he considered the matter of outside banu never joining the pride – kajira might be a better term for them as they hadn’t been taught the ways of the pride. Azhar decided that he would need to have a word with his father regarding this matter. “I will leave now, beybanu Tsubame, if you don’t mind. I told my mother I would return soon.”
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Posted: Mon Sep 12, 2011 11:36 am
Tsubame nodded back. This young pesar would grow to be a good pad. Tsu had a feeling that maybe he might be right. Maybe one of the cubs would indeed become his banu.
"Well I don't want to make you late. Until we meet again Pesar Azhar'Hilel." She smiled and watched as the dark pesar wandered back the way he came.
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Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2011 11:47 am
"It was a pleasure meeting you.” Azhar said formally with a little nod, taking one last look at the beybanu’s massive belly before turning to leave. How many were in there, he wondered. And would they really be even in terms of genders? He’d have to find out later even though he wasn’t even sure why he found the idea so amusing. It actually made him smile a little.
- FIN! -
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