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 Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 11:10 am
The large blue male didn't know where exactly to start. His mate ran off, ditched him for the immortals, and left poor Kiza alone with his only son. Since he had no idea of where in the world his only daughter was. Though, there was still a feeling for ... another lion. Long ago, he helped a young cub named Sheshe and eventually his mother accepted the little one as well, as one of her own. After the family grew, they all grew apart, and the siblings separated. Even though Sheshe was like a sister to him, he always had a special feeling for the lioness, and it wasn't a family kind of love. It was, a normal kind.
Even though he somewhat ditched Sheshe long ago to be with his previous mate, he figured he would give it a shot, and try to get another 'chance' out of the lioness. Sighing, he padded slowly through the grasses, his ears lowered in sadness. He was still sad about Mtima, but he had to get over what happened and well, look to the future. Sheshe was a mortal, and well ... thats how things had to be. Kiza had yet to inform Wahabu of his plans, though he didn't want to tell him just yet. He had to see Sheshe's reaction first.
And so, he searched for the grey lioness, with the limp leg. That was the only way he could remember her by.
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 11:21 am
The lioness he sought was dozing in the opening of her friend Shomoro's den, taking a well-deserved break in the absence of the huntress and her sons. Life had slowed down considerably since they'd matured and no longer need active shepherding, although it looked like things were going to be picking up again sometime soon. Feo, Kimbilio, and Arasi had more siblings on the way. She'd better take whatever peace she could get before then.
Times like this did have their downsides, though; chiefly, they gave her time to think. About her past, the lioness who'd raised her, the friend who'd said he'd always be there. Mostly they seemed like distant memories, even glimpses of someone else's life. She'd become part of another family, helping to raise four rowdy children who now and then were difficult for the lame lioness to keep up with. She was needed, caring for others and being cared for herself.
Lemaa'sheshe was content...almost.
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 5:22 pm
Kizamaji continued to look for his friend, everywhere. He walked through the tall grasses for a few moments, until it lowered once more. He spotted a den, quite large, actually. With one single lioness laying outside at its opening. Most likely ... guarding? His ears perked with curiosity, as he slowly walked towards the den. He spotted grey looking markings on the lioness, and came closer to see if he knew who it was. His maw opened with surprise as he viewed the one he was seeking. "Lemaa'sheshe... ?"
He knew they all split up, but he didn't realize that she had found another family to live with. Maybe it was a bad thing to come here in the first place. He looked away, looking towards his own home. His empty home. He turned back to the lioness and awaited to see if she would awake. " ... is that you?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 6:29 pm
Mm, so nice and warm and comfortable...but a sound from without tickled her ears. Had one of the boys come back? After a half-reluctant sigh, a fond smile touched her lips, and she opened her eyes to greet perhaps Arasi or Feo or Kimbilio, or some combination of them.
To see not yellow or brown or black, but blue, the likes of which she hadn't seen in quite some time, was a shock that shot through her system like a lurch. The shock was plain on her face as the smile that had been intended for one of Shomoro's children disappeared, replaced by something near expressionless. Was it good shock or bad shock? It would be difficult to tell.
"K-Kiza?" she half-whispered, seized by a panic of not knowing what to say, of a rush of all kinds of emotions all at once. What was he doing here, why would he be looking for her? Was something wrong? Maybe...no, it couldn't be. Nothing could be wrong with their Mama Miamba.
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:25 pm
He smiled as she responded. "Yes, Sheshe. Its me, Kiza." He looked down at the ground for a moment. "I uhh ... came here to well, say a lot of things to you, but for one thing, to apologize. I didn't really well, stick around with you much after I found a mate, but she recently ... ditched me. So, I wanted to talk to you. I've been thinking about you a lot lately." He was thinking about her a lot because he felt so bad about ditching her before. And now, it was time to make up and well, start something new.
"Mostly because well, your more than just a friend to me, Sheshe. ... I really ... liked you. A lot." His ears folded back. "But, I ruined everything when I chose someone else. Things went wrong. Though, I love my two children, one was ... crazy and left after attacking her brother. I always just wanted a normal family. That would always be with me. All I have left is my son ... and hes already an adult. I feel bad keeping him around with me." He paused and then stood up, looking towards his own den.
"Would you be possibly interested in walking with me ...?" He felt bad asking her to leave the den she was watching, but he would feel even more awkward if some random lions showed up.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:14 pm
For a moment she was relieved, fear falling away. Although she really ought to go and see her adoptive mother sometime...it had been more than just awhile since she'd laid eyes on the loving lioness. Even those thoughts faded, however, with Kizamaji's halting speech.
Her ears fell back, expression falling in a combination of concern and confusion. He was...his mate gone, his son grown, his daughter gone. His..insane daughter? She'd had no idea. Her heart ached with pity for her old friend. Poor Kiza!
Another lioness might have been offended or bitter over being 'abandoned,' or watching someone else be chosen over her, but that was not how Lemaa'sheshe's mind worked. She'd never felt angry with Kiza, nor had she considered herself abandoned; he had simply gone another way, and though it saddened her, even come close to breaking her heart, she had never held it against him.
"Of course I'll walk with you," she answered softly, rising in her awkward way.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:30 pm
Kizamaji's eyes lit up as he watched the weak lioness stand up to go for a walk with him and then he felt bad. He walked over to her side, helping her to stand up. He didn't realize that she had learned to get up and all, since he always remembered helping her. Though, she was an adult now, and he was now sure she didn't entirely need his help. She had gotten all here by herself, didn't she?
"Thank you, Sheshe for coming with me." He walked beside her, and looked into her eyes with a smile. "Is there any place specific that you would be interested in walking to?" He figured he would ask her instead of just choosing somewhere. That would be the nice thing to do.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:42 pm
Sheshe smiled a little for him as he helped her rise. For a moment, it seemed as though no time had passed at all, and everything was just the way it always had been, with Kiza there to support him.
"Anywhere is fine," she said, "As long as it's not too terribly far." She'd have to make the trip back too, after all.
The lioness fell quiet for a moment before offering, "I'm sorry about your family, Kiza." And she truly was - he was her best friend, after all, and she didn't want to be sad. "How's..how's Mama Miamba?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 6:52 pm
Kiza nodded with a smile. "Don't worry, i'll help you back, but I promise we won't go far. Under a nice shady tree would be a fine place to chat for a while." And so, the male led Sheshe towards the closest tree he could find. Of course, he had much to tell the lioness of all that had happened.
"Don't feel bad. I think ... it was just ... a bad move. My mate left be because she said we wouldn't be living long and then she fled away from the Pridelands in a hurry. I was rather confused." Even the expression of his face showed confusion. Though, as she mentioned Miamba, Kiza had much to say! "Well, for one thing, you have 4 new brothers and one sister! Isn't that neat? Mother found a new mate and had a huge litter of cubs. Even as she gets old, she still finds a way to make herself feel younger. And shes doing great. The cubs are really fun, too. Though, I don't get to see them too much. As i've been flooded with my own thoughts ..."
They approached the tree and then Kiza motioned her to sit down and then he followed her. The shade made it feel much cooler out, at this time of day.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:03 pm
"That's terrible," she remarked sadly as she was led away to chat. "But why would she say something like that? It's not like you're old or something." It was thoroughly confusing, and sounded like a very strange excuse to her. Perhaps...perhaps his mate had been crazy as well? And that was how his daughter had gotten that way?
The confusion fled briefly though, when she received the news about their mother. "W-we do? Really?" Sheshe brightened visibly. "Oh, I have to visit! Five cubs must be difficult." Though she didn't add in 'at her age,'it was clear that was on her mind. "I'm really good with cubs!"
The little lioness settled comfortably in the shade.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:17 pm
"Well, because she was ... immortal. Though, thats not why I came here! Not to talk about my ex-mate." He chuckled lightly, with a grin on his maw. "Yeah, Mother is actually really good with them. Probably from raising all of us." He nodded and then cleared his throat.
"Though, there is a reason I came to see you, Lemaa'sheshe." He looked down at the ground for a moment, afraid to tell her how he felt. "You see, the truth is ... that well, I kind of like you. A lot. After my mate left me, I pretty much drowned myself in my den, alone. Thinking of what to do next for the most part. Then, well. I started thinking of you and all the fun we had together. And how wonderful you were ..." His ears folded back with worry, as he was afraid of how the lioness would react to his ridiculous words.
"And so, I came looking for you. And then I found you. The reason I came to find you was to ask you ... if you'd like to well, come live with me. I need someone, Sheshe and well, that someone is you." He swallowed loudly after he spoke.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:41 pm
Her ears fell back in surprise as he spoke, and for long moments it felt as though her heart and breath had stopped. Everything had stopped. He...he needed her? But she was small, she was crippled, she was the one who needed, the one who'd always leaned on him. How...why?
Had he known how much it all meant, how she'd loved him quietly for so long? That her heart had been near to breaking when it seemed impossible he returned her unspoken feelings? Had their mother told him?
"Oh, Kiza." Tears sparkling in her purple eyes, she rose and went to him, butting he head softly under his chin, his gray mane tickling her cheek. Had she ever been so happy, so sad, all at once? She felt as though her heart might break anew, so overwhelmed was she.
"Oh, Kiza.."
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:57 pm
Kiza looked away for a moment, only to return his view as Sheshe began to cry. He looked confused, and then questioned her. "Sheshe ... is something wrong?" As she put her face into his mane, he smiled. He was happy that she was not angry or upset about what he had said -- but more happy it seemed. Maybe things were going to turn out like he planned in the end, anyways.
"... Sheshe I truely missed you so very much. Its so great to finally see you again."
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:07 pm
"No, no, nothing," she assured him through her tears, letting her weight rest against him, "I'm just.."
"I never thought you knew." It was all so hard to believe, still only barely sinking in. "Oh, Kiza...I missed you, too. So, so much."
Still, even in her ecstacy other thoughts made their way through, and suddenly she worried, tensing ever-so slightly and glancing in the direction they'd come from. Kiza wanted her to live with him, but what about Shomoro? She was pregnant again, she'd need Sheshe's help! The huntress didn't have a mate, after all.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 8:24 pm
He held tightly onto her, as he watched her tears. "I've always had a special feeling for you, Sheshe. ... even when we were only cubs. Even when I first met you, I knew we'd be good friends."
He purred lightly, but felt her worry. "Are you sure something isn't wrong, Sheshe?" He asked once more.
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