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 Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:14 pm
She had almost become accustomed to sleeping in during the time that they had spend away from their home; a laziness that she knew she should not settle into. In an attempt to remedy that she had spent half the night waking up at random intervals, taking little cat-naps from time to time... Waking fully with the dawn.
She had pushed herself up onto her paws, stretching her weary body out before walking in the direction of the dawn. That was the way... She knew it. When they had come here they had been running towards the setting sun. The rising sun... It knew the way home now, just as certain as she was that she would know it the closer they got.
How long had it been now since they had been away? The others... Her friends... Her brother... How had they fared? Was life becoming what it once was again? There was, certainly, only one way to find out. They had to go home.
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:27 pm
The feeling of excitement was vastly present in Betoto's mind and body, but there was also fear and anxiousness.
Would everything be the same upon their return? Was anyone hurt? But Betoto hated to overthink things. Whatever happened had, well, already happened. Despite how upsetting that was for her, Betoto tried to prepare herself for the worst. Though she hoped for the best.
During the time they spent away from home, Betoto felt her bond with Auri grow stronger. She felt closer to the lioness than she ever had and knew what it was to have a best friend. "Do you think we're almost there?" the leopardess asked after a long period of silence. In truth, Betoto knew the pride's surroundings perhaps even better than the lioness did since she had been there longer, but it was the only thing she could think of to ask.
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:33 pm
She paused for a moment, glancing back over her shoulder towards the leopardess. A deep breath filled her lungs with air as she closed her eyes, tilting her head towards the wind. "Closer... We're getting closer. We have to be." She nodded, a smile of reassurance curving the corners of her muzzle. So often it was Betoto who reassured her... It was nice to be the one speaking comforting words for once.
Her eyes opened as she resumed the pace she'd initially started. "Do you think... They'll be happy to see us? I mean, of course they will be... But..." Her nose wrinkled slightly as she shook her head. "I bet Shujaa has been far too serious lately. He's always too serious when there's no one around to lighten his heart."
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:46 pm
Betoto nodded in agreement, feeling the same. She could almost feel the pride as they walked, as if it were reaching out to them, going to appear at any moment.
"Happy to see us?" Betoto echoed, quirking an eyebrow at Auri as if it were a ridiculous question. "They'll throw a party." she said simply. After a small pause of staring, Betoto flashed a grin, unable to hide the fact that she was joking any longer, though Auri probably knew she hadn't been serious anyway.
There would be no parties upon their return...It was not a time for celebration.
"Mfalme Shujaa." Betoto said in thought, smiling warmly at his memory. "We'll be there to lighten his spirits soon enough, Auri." she said determinedly, glancing at the lioness. "And the kijana..." she murmured, thoughts drifting to a time of playing and stories. She missed it all more than she could ever explain.
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:57 pm
"Mm... A party? No, not for us." She laughed at that, shaking her head slowly. It was an amusing thought, yes, but she was certain that they'd be put to work the moment they returned... That thought seemed a bit more realistic; a bit more comforting. It gave her something to look forward to as she pressed onward.
He had not spent much time in thought about his sister or about the leopardess whose care he had entrusted the only living member of his family to. His thoughts had been with those who were here with the pride, on making things safe enough that the two he had sent away would be able to return to their home.
It was now, though, that he found himself pausing to send a thought out as he wandered the borders, searching the horizons. Things were starting to settle again; warriors were returning, hunters were hunting... Cubs were being born... It was time for Auri and Betoto to come home from wherever they were. "Fortune, guide them safely..."
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:08 pm
The more Betoto thought of throwing a party once they returned to the pride, the more she was put off. The idea of their pride, or any pride, celebrating in such a dire time was a disturbing thought.
"Mhm," Betoto agreed. "I'm sure it'll be a while before there's want for celebration." she stated distantly. But she was sure that those times would come. Brown eyes shifting to the ground she walked on, Betoto thought more and more about their return to the pride. Would the be happy to see them? Would anyone be happy at all? How was Imara'Shujaa? What if he--
Betoto sighed loudly and shook her head, willing away her thoughts. Familiar scents were filling her nose and brought her to happier thoughts. She felt her pace quicken on its own.
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:22 pm
"Not too long... There's a time and place for everything. We just... Need something to smile about." She nodded, leaning over to nudge her companion gently with her shoulder... And then she caught the scent. "Shujaa." Closing her eyes she took another deep breath.
"It's him. Shujaa!" She called out and then, heedless of any danger that might still be lingering in the area, took off running. Her brother's scent was not one that she would ever forget and, for a moment, she felt almost like a cub instead of an older lioness. "Imara'Shuuujaaa!"
His ears swiveled towards the sound carried by the wind as it shifted, bringing with it a familiar scent as well. Shujaa. The voice echoed in his ears as he recalled the last words he had heard it say; the angry look in her eyes that had accompanied it. "Auri..." He murmured, lifting his head so that cool, blue eyes could search the horizon. "Auri'haiba... Betoto." Was it really them?
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:32 pm
Betoto caught the scent of Imara'Shujaa just after Auri did. Her heart skipped a beat in excitement. She looked to Auri, grinning, but found that Auri had already started to run. Betoto's feet scrambled beneath her and she bolted after the lioness. Her heart and head were pounding. With ever leap she took, the scents of home were growing stronger. She ran in sync with the lioness beside her.
After just a few short moments, Betoto sprang through a line of trees and out into the open.
In front of her was what she knew to be the Mzawa'kondo. Her home.
And there was Mfalme Shujaa...! Betoto wanted to run and greet him, but her legs were stiff and frozen to the ground. She simply gaped.
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:43 pm
She paused as her eyes found her brother standing before her, heart pounding as she tried to sort reality from the dreams she'd been having lately. "Shujaa." Her words came almost breathless as one paw moved forward followed soon by the other as she lowered her head, butting it against her brother's broad chest. "Shujaa. You're safe. We're home. Home."
He would have chuckled at his sister's actions, leaning his head down to return the nuzzle. "Welcome home, Auri..." He spoke softly, his voice deep and soothing as their father's had once been. He nuzzled her gently once more before stepping back, glancing up over the pale lioness to look at her leopard companion.
"Betoto..." He smiled as his eyes found her. "You brought her back safely... You both came back. Welcome home."
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 6:47 pm
Tears tugged at Betoto's eyes at the loving reunion between siblings. But she blinked them away quickly, clearing her throat. At Imara'Shujaa's words, she felt herself swell with relief and accomplishment. She had done as she was asked...She had kept Auri safe and well. And they had both returned. To top that, nothing appeared to be wrong with Imara'Shujaa. He looked fine, putting aside his somber attitude.
They were finally home.
"Thank you, Mfalme Shujaa." Betoto said, barely able to find her voice. She walked towards the two lions and stood beside them, smiling.
It was truly good to be home.
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