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 Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:34 pm
He watched her from the corner of his eyes as she settled into a less-than-chipper mood all of a sudden, and despite himself, he couldn't help feeling but a little sorry for her. His life might not have been spectacular, but his mother had always been loving, and he'd be very upset if he ever forgot her.
"Just like that, yes. Sometimes it's lonely, but it's better to be in charge of myself." His tail twitched and he frowned, looking off into the mists. It was irritating, this empathetic feeling in his gut. "I can remember my mom, everything about her. I think maybe you were just too young when you got lost."
He shrugged again, following her up over the large root in their path (though it was considerably easier for him), and tried to pass this off as if he didn't care one bit. He was trying not to, after all, why should he give a damn? She was happy now. "Your Babu sounds smart," he muttered, wondering if the older male had any special way of making the cub shut up.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:39 pm
She didn't think she'd like to be by herself, not for more than an hour or so in any case. No one to play with. No one to chat to. No one to be close to. No, it sounded like a sad existence to her. She was a social cat through and through.
Her ears drooped. He remembered everything? Was she the only one who didn't? Even Babu, old as he was, remembered his parents clearly. And then she cheered up again, nodding eagerly. Her babu was very, very smart indeed! She didn't know what she would have done without him.
"He's the best lion there is. He saved my life, brought me here to live. Without him I wouldn't have made it. No way! Maybe you can meet him someday, if you stick around here and get used to the mists long enough." She smiled up at him, eyes twinkling.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:50 pm
He turned his head to look down at her, a frown clearly in place as he considered her for a moment. Her moods could swing from side of the spectrum to the other in a single second. It made him wonder what she would be like when she was grown.
"Best lion there is, hm?" he said with a sigh, staring at the mists with irritation. As far as he could tell, she hadn't led him anywhere, and it might be forever be they cleared the damn place. "I suppose I could meet him, if it's alright for me to go to your sacred spooky ghost pride and all." He had no idea what the rules were on outsiders, but they did go through a lot to keep them away.
"I'm kind of hungry after all," he admitted finally, irritation on his face. He'd have liked to have left the pride and gone on his way, but he didn't think he could do that without food and water first.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 12:55 pm
She didn't seem bothered by the frown, seeming not even to notice that she might be bothering him. Even if he'd come out and told her straight that she was being a pain, she'd probably just shrug it off and continue as if nothing had been said.
"Uh huh." She nodded. Then her eyes brightened and she gave a little bounce, being careful not to tangle her paws in the next set of roots. "Reeeally? Sure! I mean...um...I think it might be okay." And if it wasn't, were the pride really going to get mad a cub? She was too cute and innocent to know any better! "It'll definately be fine. Babu won't mind."
And, as if she suddenly she gained a sense of direction she gave him a nudge with her head and darted off in the direction of their den. "There might even be food there, too~!" She chimed.
And as they drew nearer.
"Babu! Babu! Wake up! We have company~!" It was likely the whole forest could hear her, ghosts included. She turned back and threw a grin at her newfound friend. "Come on, hurry up!"
Not too far away a tired male lion raised his grizzled head from his paws and snorted into the mists. What had that granddaughter of his gotten up to now? Company? A member of the pride, then?
He rose onto all fours, shook the twigs from his fur and moved out to greet them.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:09 pm
He had to admit to being irritated when she suddenly bounced up and made a beeline for her den - her sense of direction in these mists was better than he had originally suspected. She probably could have led him out of here with ease. Was she just too busy talking?
He simply sighed and turned to follow her, grumbling under his breath as he tried to keep up with the energetic little girl. She knew the lands better than he did, especially in the density of the mists. "You're that sure, huh?" he mumbled after her, hoping as they drew closer that he wasn't about to walk into a beating willingly for trespassing.
"I, uh," he stopped short as the older male emerged from the den. The mists were thinner here, and he could see better. He suspected a little further and they would disappear all together - it must have been the pride heart, or close to it. "Hi?" he said lamely, ducking his head a bit and frowning.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:14 pm
She skidded to a halt as she spotted the pale white lion and turned to check that her companion was still following. Oh, great, he was!
"Babu! This is my new friend!" She chirped then fell quiet. "Um, what did you say your name was again?"
The white male laughed. Well, if this new face was a friend of his granddaughter's then they were certainly new friends if she didn't even know the young male's name.
"Hello." He replied. "I am Kebwa, Lu's guardian. She hasn't been bothering you, I hope? She's a good girl but trying on the patience at times." He gave her an affectionate nudge. "You're not from around here, are you, lad?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:22 pm
He snorted at Lu as she asked him his name again, tempted to roll his eyes at her, though he wouldn't be quite so rude in the face of her grandfather here. "Machweo," he repeated for her again, then swept his eyes up to the larger male.
"It's nice to meet you, Kebwa," he managed to speak and dip his head in a fluid motion, thanking the gods that he didn't sound like a complete idiot. "She's been.. helping," the emphasis he put on the last word certainly made it seem like his patience was a bit more than 'tried' at this moment.
"Ahh, no," he shook his head and offered Kebwa a small smile. Despite his being older and larger, he seemed to be the peaceful sort, and that settled Machweo down a touch. "I was passing through, got lost, and ran into.. a ghost." His eyes fell back on Lu at that moment, brows furrowing as he recalled their rather annoying first encounter.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:27 pm
Why was he getting all snorty? Had he mentioned his name already? Wait...maybe he had. Oh well, she'd make sure not to forget it this time. Machweo. Good name. She nodded and grinned, stumblign a little as her babu nudged her.
"Yup! I was the ghost, see?" She seemed very proud. "And I was helping. I was very good, see? Seeeee?"
She was bouncing again.
Kebwa seemed to notice Mach's tone and gave his granddaughter a sideways glance as if to try and calm her. The look didn't work.
"Well done." He replied, knowing she was proud but knowing also that he'd have to give her a lecture on approaching strangers and bringing them to the pride. He didn't mind, but others might and he didn't want her getting into trouble.
"Seems like she only managed to get you further into the mist than out of it." He replied. "If you like, I can show you the way."
"No!" Lu interjected. "He can't go yet. He's hungry, Babu, don't we have some food left over?" Her eyes were large and pleading and then she cast them towards Mach. "You are hungry, aren't you?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:34 pm
That cub was going to give him a headache, he was sure of it. Her bouncing and chirping little voice - there was really only so much he could take! But, despite that, he offered his best smile to the older male. Just as he was about to reply, though, he was cut off by a rather frantic Lu.
All at once he felt bad for her and a bit put off. Was she going to be one of those clingy little cubs? The thought made him frown a little, even more so when he remembered that she couldn't remember her parents. Maybe she just wanted a friend. He sighed to himself and shook his head, sending his half-mane flopping around his face.
"No, actually, we came back because I told Lu I was hungry. I think I've been travelling too long in the mists here, no way to see to hunt or find water." He made a dismissive gesture towards the mists behind them with his paw, his frown still in place.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:38 pm
He nodded thoughtfully. "Very well. There should be some decent meat still clinging to the bones of that carcass we dragged here a couple of days back. You may help yourself to that. And, I don't see why you can't rest up here a little bit before heading back out. I'm not sure if the pride would agree, but I wouldn't forgive myself if I helped you back out there only to have you collapse from fatigue." He wasn't sure how likely that was, but there wasn't any point risking it, was there?
"Lu, go show him where the food is, okay?" And, with a nod, he moved back towards the den.
"Okie dokie!" She replied, eager. And, with a happy smile she bounced off in the direction of the food, throwing glances over her shoulder to make sure Mach was keeping up.
"It's not far. Just over here." And as she reached it - half covered with leaves and branches - she began to shove them aside so that he could eat.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:48 pm
He gave Kebwa a deep nod, extremely grateful for what the older male had to offer. Sometimes Machweo let himself go a little too far and a little too long before he realized just what kind of shape he'd gotten himself into. "Thank you very much," he said, then turned to follow the girl once more.
On one hand, it was nice to be going to eat - but on the other, he wasn't sure how much more of her company he could stand alone. She could be so very grating. Still, he followed her with a quick pace, eyes watching her ilttle form as she began to uncover the meal. He helped her push aside some of the larger pieces before flopping down in front of the carcass.
"Thank you too, Lu, for all your help," he finally muttered, before leaning in to strip away a piece of meat.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:50 pm
She watched him for a long moment, silent for perhaps the first time in her life. He was a curious one. Quiet. Moody. He needed cheering up and since her babu told her that she had cheered him up, she was pretty sure she could lighten someone elses life. There wasn't much to it really. Just being herself was apparently enough.
And then, finally, she spoke again.
"You know...you should stay here for a while."
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:54 pm
He paused to look up at her as she spoke again, not having even realized that she had stopped. Perhaps he had just been too immersed in the meal he'd been given, or maybe it was simply that silence went more unnoticed than noise. He chewed on the meat in his mouth, watching her, using it as an excuse not to talk.
He had told her he wasn't looking for a pride, and yet, she was speaking seriously to him for one of the first times since they'd met. Did she really want him to stay so badly? He remembered the conversation they had had about her parents and how she didn't remember them, and that swelling of pity was like a heavy stone in his stomach.
"Alright," he muttered, leaning down to rip away another strip of meat, "but only for a little while."
/fin
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