[PRP] Reconciliation

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The dark lioness was not, as a rule, fond of going into rebel territory. Not because she thought she'd be attacked - far from it! Nyeusi knew she'd be accepted, if not welcomed. It was simply that there was no point in spending her time amongst those who agreed with her about the need to bring down Shangyue and restore the Great Lion's favor to the pride. So it was much more productive to spend her time in the main pride.

However...she had to admit to some concern over her father. Orion had been injured while fighting Tyfu. It was remarkable that he'd lived to tell the tale. It was a miracle that he'd slain the cruel lioness.

Considering that the lion would be some time recovering, it only made sense that Orion had strategically removed himself from Shangyue's immediate reach. Which meant that if she wanted to see him, Nyeusi had to go to her father.

His familiar form was reclining near the water. So the lioness headed that way and settled herself next to Orion, not speaking for several minutes.

"So...I think you're one up on Grandpa now," she offered. She felt somewhat guilty for how she'd overlooked her father as a cub and focused her hero-worship on Uchanjaa - and see how well that had turned out.  

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Nyeusi snorted. If Uchanjaa had really been trying to make good on the threats he'd offered Shangyue, things would be a lot different now. As a Guard, her grandfather had the training to fight and kill other lions. Her father had almost certainly gotten lucky. But she wasn't going to say all that just yet. Not unless Orion insisted.

"It's good that some members of our family want the Great Lion to watch over our pride again," she replied piously.  

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The lioness stretched in the quiet. "We needed time to rest, recover, and plan," she replied. Not that Nyeusi had any real role in the rebellion, but she knew she was one of them even so. "Umepatwa is a martyr that we must avenge, and Tyfu was proof that we can do this." The black female looked over at her father.

"You did that for us all," she told him. And it was true. Not only had Tyfu been rumored to be unbeatable, but she had also been one of the most visible symbols of Shangyue's reign. With her gone, the King must certainly be feeling uncertain and worried. Why else would he make any kind of attempt on Nyeusi, much less such a pathetic one?  

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"It will. I know it," Nyeusi confirmed for her father. She wasn't, as far as anybody knew, a Seer, but nothing could shake her faith concerning the future of the pride. She was proud of her father. But...he seemed to miss her mother. The lioness wrinkled her nose slightly. She hadn't refused to speak to her mother the same way Halili had refused to speak to Uchanjaa, but that didn't mean she approved.

Her mother was something to be dealt with another time. Nyeusi would only worry about her tonight if her dad got really mopey.  

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The lioness snorted again. "That's because things are finally happening," she answered, voice thick with disdain for those who had refused to commit until they'd seen more than one lone lioness standing up tall. Actually, her father fell into that category too, come to think of it.

Well, she'd overlook it. This time. After all, Orion had managed to kill Tyfu and that had to count for something.  

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"They don't call me brave," Nyeusi replied. "They call me insane." The words were stated simply, with no emotion. It never occurred to the lioness to think that those talking about her might mean the word literally, rather than as a synonym for "brave and reckless".

She had to smile as her father offered her the same words Vesper had, though she wouldn't hurt his feelings by mentioning it. "It's true, daily more people open their eyes to the truth of the Great Lion's blessings," the lioness said.  

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The female rolled her shoulders in a shrug. She didn't have a lot to say to any of those statements or questions. Nyeusi held no position of note amongst the rebels, and didn't care to. The closest she'd come was being asked to help plant flowers by Kimondo. And after the Huntress had returned to find all the moon flowers she'd planted dead, she'd flat-out refused to go any further down that path. Really, they didn't have that many flowers to waste, and if all of hers were going to die, why bother?

"If you really want to go and spread the Word, I guess you could," Nyeusi offered at last. Despite his recent martial victory, she didn't see her father as a warrior of any kind and so she was reluctant to force him into harm's way.