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Isi was enjoying this pride a great deal. While he missed his family that was in the bonelands he had to say this was quite the step up for him. Having gone from being worth next to nothing to being a valued member of a pride was a very good feeling. He wondered why he'd ever really wanted to stay in his original home now. It was just so much better out here.
He also had a new rank and he was quite pleased with himself. He wouldn't say he was smug about it, just delighted really. He had purpose and meaning in his life and he hoped to actually get himself a long lasting companion. The way his homeland worked had seemed logical at the time but having been away from them long enough he realized he wanted to settle down and not just get with everyone.
A lasting relationship just felt like it held more meaning.
Taking in a deep breath he took a seat and looked towards the sky. The stars were starting to come out and he smiled at the beauty of them all.
He also had a new rank and he was quite pleased with himself. He wouldn't say he was smug about it, just delighted really. He had purpose and meaning in his life and he hoped to actually get himself a long lasting companion. The way his homeland worked had seemed logical at the time but having been away from them long enough he realized he wanted to settle down and not just get with everyone.
A lasting relationship just felt like it held more meaning.
Taking in a deep breath he took a seat and looked towards the sky. The stars were starting to come out and he smiled at the beauty of them all.
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Mulika had closed herself off to a lot of things over the past few rulings of their monarchs. There had been enough turmoil in the pride to make anyone who had stuck around through it try to turn into a recluse. Nowadays, things were pretty peaceful - at least no one was getting assassinated lately. Even so, Mulika was a hard lioness to get to know. Her own family hadn't been unaffected by the events of the past, and it was a hard thing for her to overcome.
She tried, by the Great Lion she tried. It was a new era, with new opportunities and a chance to heal. It just... wasn't easy. Mulika was a lioness still hurt, and the few friends she had knew that. They knew when to give her her space, when she needed time to herself to reminisce. Most thought that she would have opened up by now, but that still seemed to be a long ways off.
"Do you have anyone close up there?" Mulika spoke now to a naturally hued lion, who seemed to be a little lost in thought himself. She was pushing herself again, trying to be friendly and welcoming. The lion was one of the rogues who had joined the pride lately, and she didn't wany anyone to feel like they didn't belong here. Her usual attitude would have made anyone uncomfortable.
She tried, by the Great Lion she tried. It was a new era, with new opportunities and a chance to heal. It just... wasn't easy. Mulika was a lioness still hurt, and the few friends she had knew that. They knew when to give her her space, when she needed time to herself to reminisce. Most thought that she would have opened up by now, but that still seemed to be a long ways off.
"Do you have anyone close up there?" Mulika spoke now to a naturally hued lion, who seemed to be a little lost in thought himself. She was pushing herself again, trying to be friendly and welcoming. The lion was one of the rogues who had joined the pride lately, and she didn't wany anyone to feel like they didn't belong here. Her usual attitude would have made anyone uncomfortable.
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He had caught the sound of paws against the sandy earth though hadn't turned to look upon whomever it was until they spoke. He was sure he had someone from his family up there, just none that he knew of. "I might, I haven't talked to my family in a very long time so it's possible." He took a moment to admire the female before him. Her colors were striking, the yellow was appealing.
"What about you?" He said glacing back towards the sky before looking back at her. "Anyone you know up there?" He understood if she didn't want to answer that, he just figured while they were on the topic of conversation wouldn't hurt to ask, right?
He hadn't seen her before, though he was still fairly new. Having grown into his mane not long after he got here he was surprised some hadn't thought he was born here. Though anyone that had been there long enough would of known right away he wasn't from the pride. "Were you born here?" He wasn't sure if she was newer or if she'd been there for some time already.
"What about you?" He said glacing back towards the sky before looking back at her. "Anyone you know up there?" He understood if she didn't want to answer that, he just figured while they were on the topic of conversation wouldn't hurt to ask, right?
He hadn't seen her before, though he was still fairly new. Having grown into his mane not long after he got here he was surprised some hadn't thought he was born here. Though anyone that had been there long enough would of known right away he wasn't from the pride. "Were you born here?" He wasn't sure if she was newer or if she'd been there for some time already.
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"A few," she answered vaguely. It was unsettling that she was used to loss. The pride had been in turmoil before the new queen's rule, and lives were lost. Some dispersed, others joind the Great Lion in the sky. Mulika wasn't sure it was what she wanted to think about right now, but on quiet nights like this one these thoughts came easily to her. The pale yellow lioness needed a distraction, but rarely allowed herself even that.
"Yes, I was born in this pride. My father is Mwezi'moto, and my mother is Malkia." It was hard to walk through the pride and not run into one of Mulika's relatives. They were among the most widespread bloodline. No wonder some had left the pride, just to get away from the insane amount of family members that resided here. She had to wonder if she would have been happy to leave as well. But, she believed that her feelings and thoughts would have followed her where ever she went. It was better to stay put with her pride. Mulika knew nothing else besides them, and wasn't sure she wanted more than that.
"You weren't born here. I typically know most of the lions here, or at least you can tell from our markings which bloodlines we're from." New blood was good for the pride, especially considering how incredibly large some of the families had gotten.
"Yes, I was born in this pride. My father is Mwezi'moto, and my mother is Malkia." It was hard to walk through the pride and not run into one of Mulika's relatives. They were among the most widespread bloodline. No wonder some had left the pride, just to get away from the insane amount of family members that resided here. She had to wonder if she would have been happy to leave as well. But, she believed that her feelings and thoughts would have followed her where ever she went. It was better to stay put with her pride. Mulika knew nothing else besides them, and wasn't sure she wanted more than that.
"You weren't born here. I typically know most of the lions here, or at least you can tell from our markings which bloodlines we're from." New blood was good for the pride, especially considering how incredibly large some of the families had gotten.
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Her answer made him frown. He wouldn't ask the details but he made a note of it in case it was something that came up in the future. However the talk of the pride was an easy enough change of topic.
As she spit off a few names he tucked them into his memory, he wasn't exactly sure WHO they were but he figured they might be important later. If he ran into them unsuspectingly anyway, at least if they were still part of the pride. He knew there were a number that had left in the past given everything the pride had gone through.
He had heard some of the past of the pride, just not all of it.
"That must be nice, just looking at someone and knowing what family they are a part of." Smiling he watched the way the moon lit up her hair. "I joined a moon or so ago. Hopefully one day I'll have a family line of my own that people will recognize." Not that he was implying he wanted one right now or anything. It was just friendly talking.
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"I am no expert at it, but anyone who's been around long enough can kind of tell the different families. You don't have to even be a Historian," she answered pleasantly. The pale lioness seemed satisfied with the conversation turning away from loss. Mulika needed something to think about and distract her. Some of her friends considered her to be quite the downer if she was allowed to be. For the most part, Mulika tried to keep it to herself. The last thing he wanted was to burden others with her woes.
"If that's your desire," and she seemed vastly amused by the little comment, "I suggest staying clear of anyone with markings like scales, moons, and clouds. You'll be swept up into someone else's family line instead of being the head of your own." Mulika herself had two out of those three markings, but again her family was the largest among the Mwezi'Johari. She had relatives that she was completely unfamiliar with.
The family, in her opinion, had gotten a little out of hand. Too many large litters, and too many overproducers. Not that she didn't love them, it was just hard to escape from them all when she wanted to.
"If that's your desire," and she seemed vastly amused by the little comment, "I suggest staying clear of anyone with markings like scales, moons, and clouds. You'll be swept up into someone else's family line instead of being the head of your own." Mulika herself had two out of those three markings, but again her family was the largest among the Mwezi'Johari. She had relatives that she was completely unfamiliar with.
The family, in her opinion, had gotten a little out of hand. Too many large litters, and too many overproducers. Not that she didn't love them, it was just hard to escape from them all when she wanted to.
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He supposed experience comes with age and knowledge came with experience. He wans't really sure how old she was but she didn't really look it. "Well, in time I'm sure I'll have as good an eye as you. Being new I'm still confused by some of the families." He said with a light laugh.
As she spoke he chuckled and looked her over. "Well, it seems I should stay away from you then huh?" He teased lightly since she clearly had a majority of what she had just listed off. "I don't think it's a bad thing to be part of something so huge. It's nice to be part of a legacy like that." While he was sure he had a lineage of sorts that went back a distance it wasn't anything like some families that traced back twelve generations.
"It's nice being part of something new, but at the same time I miss my family." He shrugged his shoulders a litte. He wouldn't have wanted to go back to the bonelands though. He was related to too many there he never would have been able to live a real life anyway.
As she spoke he chuckled and looked her over. "Well, it seems I should stay away from you then huh?" He teased lightly since she clearly had a majority of what she had just listed off. "I don't think it's a bad thing to be part of something so huge. It's nice to be part of a legacy like that." While he was sure he had a lineage of sorts that went back a distance it wasn't anything like some families that traced back twelve generations.
"It's nice being part of something new, but at the same time I miss my family." He shrugged his shoulders a litte. He wouldn't have wanted to go back to the bonelands though. He was related to too many there he never would have been able to live a real life anyway.
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"Oh, you will," Mulika assured him with a soft, tender little laugh. The Mwezi's family lines could be a little bit confusing at times, but for the most part it was easy to see dominant traits between the families. She probably had an edge because she was a member of one of them, even if she was an older member. The gold lioness was by no means old, but she was certainly mature. It was a little embarrassing that she had no cubs of her own, but she had never been that interested in the other males in the pride.
Other things had simply continued to take precedence until she finally felt like she was behind the times a little. "Probably," she answered, amused by the comment. "Just imagine how terrible it would be for my children to try and find mates of their own when they grow up." So, she had skipped the dilemma entirely, though she wasn't sure she was happy with it.
"Sometimes I wish I wasn't in such a large family. It is hard to maintain your own identity when you're greeted with 'Oh, you're one of Malkia's girls right?'" She sighed, and then tried to veer away from the subject a little in case she started to come off as too whiney. Mulika could get that way sometimes, but she was trying to spare her new friend her more disappointing personality traits.
Other things had simply continued to take precedence until she finally felt like she was behind the times a little. "Probably," she answered, amused by the comment. "Just imagine how terrible it would be for my children to try and find mates of their own when they grow up." So, she had skipped the dilemma entirely, though she wasn't sure she was happy with it.
"Sometimes I wish I wasn't in such a large family. It is hard to maintain your own identity when you're greeted with 'Oh, you're one of Malkia's girls right?'" She sighed, and then tried to veer away from the subject a little in case she started to come off as too whiney. Mulika could get that way sometimes, but she was trying to spare her new friend her more disappointing personality traits.
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He supposed he would learn in time the different linages. But he would leave that to the historians or those that wanted to keep up with such things.
"There is quite a lot of new blood in the pride now, so you probably wouldn't have to worry that much about it." He said a little amused by her comments. He would of had the same problem had he chosen to try and go back to the bonelands one day.
"Have you ever considered leaving? Then you wouldn't be bothered with so much of that sorta thing." If all her family was here though why would she really want to leave?
"There is quite a lot of new blood in the pride now, so you probably wouldn't have to worry that much about it." He said a little amused by her comments. He would of had the same problem had he chosen to try and go back to the bonelands one day.
"Have you ever considered leaving? Then you wouldn't be bothered with so much of that sorta thing." If all her family was here though why would she really want to leave?
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"Before? Yes." The Mwezi had been through so much, and she couldn't blame those who had left while they had the chance. Mulika had come close to leaving herself, but her faith in the great lion and her devotion to the rest of her family was what held her in place. Even now, she wasn't entirely convinced that she had made the right decision. Back then, perhaps she had simply been too afraid to act in the way she desired. She had been too afraid to leave, and so she stayed.
Now things were peaceful enough that she no longer felt the need to run off into the roguelands. Her faith had seen her through those trying times, even if it hadn't been rewarding now for her. She lived a peaceful, uneventful life. "I wouldn't have left to escape from my family's lineage, though. There were far better reasons to at times than that - but even then, I guess all those reasons weren't enough, because here I still am."
She smiled, "What made you leave your own lands and join this pride?" Her curiosity was genuine, but it was a move to push the focus away from her and back onto him.
Now things were peaceful enough that she no longer felt the need to run off into the roguelands. Her faith had seen her through those trying times, even if it hadn't been rewarding now for her. She lived a peaceful, uneventful life. "I wouldn't have left to escape from my family's lineage, though. There were far better reasons to at times than that - but even then, I guess all those reasons weren't enough, because here I still am."
She smiled, "What made you leave your own lands and join this pride?" Her curiosity was genuine, but it was a move to push the focus away from her and back onto him.
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Listening he gave a small nod of his head, "Sometimes you just don't have a reason to leave." At least not a good enough one, sure there were plenty he was certain that had thought about leaving in the past but here they still were.
"Me?" He chuckled. Now that was a bit easier to explain he assumed. "Well, where I'm from all the males must leave once they are able. IF they choose to stay they can never reproduce." He said giving a small flick of his tail around his leg.
"Me?" He chuckled. Now that was a bit easier to explain he assumed. "Well, where I'm from all the males must leave once they are able. IF they choose to stay they can never reproduce." He said giving a small flick of his tail around his leg.
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"That sounds terrible," Mulika answered with a little frown. She had no desire to have a lot of offspring herself, but to be completely unable to reproduce? That was a harsh price to pay to stay within one's home pride. There was little hope of genuinely starting a new family in a pride that would not allow biological children. She had no idea why that was the case for Buyisiwe's old pride, and she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
The pale gold lioness rose back up onto her feet and stretched her legs out in front of herself. "It is getting quite late, is it not?" she asked her new friend. The night had begun to drag on, and if they were out any later it would start to become day. It was time for her to rest.
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"It's my old prides way of live though... I can't blame them for that." He said somberly as he looked at her, watching her reactions, how she moved. It was nice to be in a pride where he wasn't related to almost everyone. Plus he would have a chance at a family here. That was what he wanted more than anything.
"It is, isn't it." He glanced towards the sky. "Perhaps I can escort you back to your dwelling?" He offered.
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Mulika wasn't expecting the offer, and it made her pause for a moment. She had to wonder if it was a friendly gesture, or something more. After a few seconds of deliberation, she pinned it on the former rather than the latter. The lioness smiled smoothly, "I would like that." She began to lead the way, pale tail swinging lazily behind her, markings that looked like scales glittering in the moonlight.
She was a fair lioness, pretty and petite, but there was a depth and grief to her that was unshakeable. Even she suspected that she could not entirely escape her own unhappiness now.
She was a fair lioness, pretty and petite, but there was a depth and grief to her that was unshakeable. Even she suspected that she could not entirely escape her own unhappiness now.