Uru ran her tongue over the body of her new cub, her fourth litter that only held just one child. As she gazed down warmly at the new life, she was secretly glad it was just one. Anymore would had made the process much more painful than it already was.
The cub was a pale tan with a large nose, and much more robust form than any other cub that she had born. If there had been more then there was every chance that the birth could had went wrong, large cubs often struggled when they came into the world and some took their mother's life as a price.
Once more the blue lioness felt the joys of being able to name another child of hers and once more there was the pain of the cubs that were not lucky. But unlike the last time, her pain was not as harsh. The survival of Mufasa and Taka had filled her with joy and hope and lessened the sting of the thorn from her past.
Uru went back to bathing her new child, trying to decide which name would work. Her nose inhaled the warm scent of cub-breath, the sweet mixture that came from the mother's milk...and the perfect name.
Like that day long before, Uru uttered the words for the naming ceremony and bestowed upon the child the name of Nunka. It meant sweet smells for she felt that he would be warm, kind, and loving to the kingdom and the pride.
He was her precious Nunka.
The joys of her new son increased by the reactions from her mate and sons. Ahadi's two-toned blue gaze looked proud as he gazed at the new son that had just entered the world. Of the cub's future there was no certainy, but for now the King would not worry about where his third child's place would be in their circle.
Mufasa and Taka were in stunned silence. Their eyes widened in awe and wonder as they regarded the cub that laid in Uru's arms. "Wow..." Taka's voice was soft, as if he could not believe that this cub who had not been there last night was now there.
"What is his name?" Mufasa asked, being able to gain some of his voice enough to wonder what the new cub was to be called. Above the heads of their two boys, Uru could see Ahadi waiting to see what name his mate chosen for this child.
"His name shall be Nunka, it means sweet smelling things." Uru replied and laughed a little when she saw the looks of confusion of Mufasa and Taka's face. Carefully shifting Nunka, the Queen lightly patted both cubs on the head. "It is really just a name and we shall see if it will be a good fit for him."
Nunka's birth proved to not be the only bright spot of the Pridelands during the early years of Ahadi and Uru's reign, for only a few days later did the Queen head for the border to bring two lives that might change the future of the Pridelands.
Thursday, January 8, 2015
Naming of Muffy and Taka
Uru rasped her tongue over the tiny bodies that were in her arms. Alternating between the two little boys who responded to her attention with little mews but did not wake from their slumber.
The Queen was trying to think of names. To the Galelanders, a name was the greatest gift you could give for it had power and potential, the perfect name could lead to greatness while a name that did not fit could lead to despair.
As the periwinkle-colored lioness bathed each cub, names danced around her mind like the wind currents that played above the Gale. There were so many names to choose from, each had its own power. But when she came across a likely name there would be something that would not fit.
Her heart couldn't help but ache despite the fun she was having trying out names for her children. These would be the first cubs, the only cubs, to have names. They would carry this gift with them for as long as their circle continued.
The greatest of joys...The deepest of sorrows...all in one.
A young mother laid in the den that she had chosen from one of the few safe places in this land of rogues. In her forearms were two cubs and at her belly were two more cubs. A large litter was uncommon for a first time mother, and for one so young. But the birth had went smoothly and all four cubs were healthy.
Uru was exhausted, but despite her body wanting to sleep, she just couldn't. Her gray-blue eyes kept trailing over her new babies, taking in the appearance of each one and feeling her heart and being fill with warm love.
But the grandest gift...was the ability to name the life she had created. But her body finally got its wish and she fell into a gentle slumber. Tomorrow she would give them names.
The princess quickly learned that being a rogue mother was more difficult than being just a normal rogue lioness. There were no pridesisters who would bring her food while she rested or watch the cubs while she went off to hunt. As for the matter of food...her body was weak from birth which hindered her speed. When she returned to the den, her belly was hollowed with hunger and as she laid down, the babies squirmed to her belly to get what milk she could produce, but it was limited. She had to try harder or else her cubs would die from starvation.
Uru forced herself to her feet and once more left her cubs. She would be successful and bring down enough food that would fill her belly and make her milk flow, and then, once they were safe and well fed, she would bestow names upon her children.
When she left them the second time, it was the last time she would see them alive.
Uru would not let the same mistake happen twice. When she found the best place for her cubs, she refused to let any other lioness near it. Any lioness who happened by was sent off with a warning and a nick from claws.
The birth was slightly hard, but Uru had grown since the first time and now she was ready for the challenges of raising cubs as a rogue lioness. After a painful spasm, the first cub came, and there was silence.
The blue-gray lioness turned to begin lapping at the little mass of fur, but her breath caught in her throat. The cub was perfectly formed...but very still. She tentatively licked at it, waiting for it to inhale sharply and let out a mew or wail. But there was nothing. The cub was stillborn.
Blinking back tears, Uru carefully shoved the little corpse away. She would have the remaining cubs and then set out the preparations for burial.
In minutes there were three cubs in a cave of silence. The second cub had came in silence and like its first sibling, it did not respond. The third and finaly cub was the same. Three cubs...all born dead. They were born and died nameless, as was the fate of the cubs who did not live to see the sun.
A mew jolted Uru from her painful memories. She had been licking the little orange cub firmer than needed and he finally had enough and chose to protest at the attention. His chunkier brother merely yawned before nestling back to sleep. At that moment the Queen knew the names she wanted to give her two precious cubs.
Uru gently touched her notched pink nose to the larger cub's head. "I say these words before The Great Spirit and the Kings and the Queens of the Pasts." she said in a soft voice. "This cub you see before you shall be known as Mufasa. He will be the future king of the Pridelands, but also the first of my children that bore a name. I pray that you will grant him knowledge and wisdom to lead this kingdom and protect the people within it."
The newly named Mufasa let out another large yawn and Uru smiled fondly, licking his large nose tenderly. Her attention then went to the smaller cub and she repeated the sacred words once more. "And this cub shall be Taka. Not for the filth of the world, but because he got the chance to receive the greatest gift...and the wish that his siblings could had been this lucky. Let him run and play and bring goodness and light to the kingdom and that he will never know the pain and darkness that I had to suffer."
As she leaned down to lick Taka's little notched nose, the cub screwed up his face and mewled in protest which made her give a light laugh. She could forsee many future battles over washing in the future, but for once it seemed to be a future that she had always wanted.
If only it hadn't turned so dark.
The Queen was trying to think of names. To the Galelanders, a name was the greatest gift you could give for it had power and potential, the perfect name could lead to greatness while a name that did not fit could lead to despair.
As the periwinkle-colored lioness bathed each cub, names danced around her mind like the wind currents that played above the Gale. There were so many names to choose from, each had its own power. But when she came across a likely name there would be something that would not fit.
Her heart couldn't help but ache despite the fun she was having trying out names for her children. These would be the first cubs, the only cubs, to have names. They would carry this gift with them for as long as their circle continued.
The greatest of joys...The deepest of sorrows...all in one.
A young mother laid in the den that she had chosen from one of the few safe places in this land of rogues. In her forearms were two cubs and at her belly were two more cubs. A large litter was uncommon for a first time mother, and for one so young. But the birth had went smoothly and all four cubs were healthy.
Uru was exhausted, but despite her body wanting to sleep, she just couldn't. Her gray-blue eyes kept trailing over her new babies, taking in the appearance of each one and feeling her heart and being fill with warm love.
But the grandest gift...was the ability to name the life she had created. But her body finally got its wish and she fell into a gentle slumber. Tomorrow she would give them names.
The princess quickly learned that being a rogue mother was more difficult than being just a normal rogue lioness. There were no pridesisters who would bring her food while she rested or watch the cubs while she went off to hunt. As for the matter of food...her body was weak from birth which hindered her speed. When she returned to the den, her belly was hollowed with hunger and as she laid down, the babies squirmed to her belly to get what milk she could produce, but it was limited. She had to try harder or else her cubs would die from starvation.
Uru forced herself to her feet and once more left her cubs. She would be successful and bring down enough food that would fill her belly and make her milk flow, and then, once they were safe and well fed, she would bestow names upon her children.
When she left them the second time, it was the last time she would see them alive.
Uru would not let the same mistake happen twice. When she found the best place for her cubs, she refused to let any other lioness near it. Any lioness who happened by was sent off with a warning and a nick from claws.
The birth was slightly hard, but Uru had grown since the first time and now she was ready for the challenges of raising cubs as a rogue lioness. After a painful spasm, the first cub came, and there was silence.
The blue-gray lioness turned to begin lapping at the little mass of fur, but her breath caught in her throat. The cub was perfectly formed...but very still. She tentatively licked at it, waiting for it to inhale sharply and let out a mew or wail. But there was nothing. The cub was stillborn.
Blinking back tears, Uru carefully shoved the little corpse away. She would have the remaining cubs and then set out the preparations for burial.
In minutes there were three cubs in a cave of silence. The second cub had came in silence and like its first sibling, it did not respond. The third and finaly cub was the same. Three cubs...all born dead. They were born and died nameless, as was the fate of the cubs who did not live to see the sun.
A mew jolted Uru from her painful memories. She had been licking the little orange cub firmer than needed and he finally had enough and chose to protest at the attention. His chunkier brother merely yawned before nestling back to sleep. At that moment the Queen knew the names she wanted to give her two precious cubs.
Uru gently touched her notched pink nose to the larger cub's head. "I say these words before The Great Spirit and the Kings and the Queens of the Pasts." she said in a soft voice. "This cub you see before you shall be known as Mufasa. He will be the future king of the Pridelands, but also the first of my children that bore a name. I pray that you will grant him knowledge and wisdom to lead this kingdom and protect the people within it."
The newly named Mufasa let out another large yawn and Uru smiled fondly, licking his large nose tenderly. Her attention then went to the smaller cub and she repeated the sacred words once more. "And this cub shall be Taka. Not for the filth of the world, but because he got the chance to receive the greatest gift...and the wish that his siblings could had been this lucky. Let him run and play and bring goodness and light to the kingdom and that he will never know the pain and darkness that I had to suffer."
As she leaned down to lick Taka's little notched nose, the cub screwed up his face and mewled in protest which made her give a light laugh. She could forsee many future battles over washing in the future, but for once it seemed to be a future that she had always wanted.
If only it hadn't turned so dark.
Journey to a New Home
Young Sarabi huddled against her mother's front limbs, watching a beetle scuffle up a stalk of yellow-brown grass. This morning she had woken up at her mother side in a pile with her three sisters. Tonight, however, she would be in a new place without her mother, without her sisters, with strangers.
She would not be alone of course, her best friend in the world was going with her. Sarafina was trying not to fidget as her mother washed her, smoothing the creamy-colored fur. Sarafina's mother, Ua, offered to let Sarabi sleep with them and the young cub agreed. Ua was like a second mother and Sarabi knew that the honey-yellow lioness would take care of her.
Still...there would be so much she would miss. She would miss Diku's snores, Naanda's soft lilting voice as she sang little Dwala to sleep each night, she would miss Dwala's bright sunny smiles and high-pitched giggles. For the first time Sarabi wondered if this was how her sister had felt.
Nadra had been a teenager when it was decided that she would marry into the Deltalands. It had been painful to watch her big sister walk away, leaving behind everyone she knew and love to one day marry a stranger. Sarabi couldn't see why Nadra hadn't spoke up. The pale lioness was sweet-tempered mainly, but she could be stern and stubborn. But to the shock of Sarabi and her two sisters (Dwala wasn't born yet), Nadra agreed and left with not a single protest.
But now it was her turn to go. A deal had been deciding by the pride to answer a request made by Queen Uru of the Pridelands. The Queen requested two girls that could be companions to her two sons and perhaps one day could marry them. There were plenty of female cubs in the Grass Whispers pride, but the two cubs choosen had been Sarabi and Sarafina. They would not go alone of course, their mothers could accompany if they wished.
So here they were, waiting to see a strange Queen who would take them from all they knew. Sarabi trembled and struggled to fight back tears. Nadra hadn't cried as she was led off to her new pride. The older lioness had made Sarabi promise to be brave and strong and to watch out for their sisters. Sarabi had to be strong!
A gentle rasp of a tongue across her head made the beige cub look up. Her mother was smiling down at her with sympathetic eyes. "Why don't you take a nap?" her mother suggested. "It will still be a while until the meeting. Rest to gain your strength." Sarabi wanted to protest that she wasn't sleepy, but her mother's words made her paws feel strangely heavy and...it would be time she could have with her mother. A gentle brush of fur told the beige cub that Sarafina had left Ua and was now pressing close beside her.
Satisfied, Sarabi closed her eyes and slept.
Sarabi woke to her mother and Ua greeting somebody. Orange eyes opened to see the two Grass Whispers lionesses greeting a third who had appeared. The young lioness's eyes were wide in awe at the sight. Queen Uru (Sarabi decided this had to be her) was a beautiful lioness with blue-gray fur and gray-blue eyes. She had scruffy fur on the top of her head, cheeks, and a ruff of fur running down her neck.
The Queen dropped her gaze to the two cubs and she smiled. "Is this Sarabi and Sarafina?" the two mothers nodded and Sarabi felt her mother nose her out from underneath her, where the periwinkle lioness could see her better. "This is Sarabi." Ua did the same to her daughter and Sarafina was at her side. "And this is Sarafina."
Uru gazed between the two and apparently liked what she saw because she nodded before her attention returned to the two lionesses. "Will you both come with them?" Sarabi tried to read any ill-intent in the royal's words. She heard stories of how many prides didn't approve of mothers joining their cubs in their new home. But Uru's voice held no malice, it sounded gentle as if she understood the pain that a mother could feel to lose their child to an unknown land.
"As much as I want to come along, I must return to my other cubs." Sarabi heard the sadness and longing in her mother's words and had to struggle hard to keep from turning around. She knew that she had turned around, then she would end up crying. Ua once more spoke up. "I will accompany both girls to the Pridelands and stay as long as I feel needed." Uru smiled to her. "I am sure you will always be wanted." she replied.
It was over much too soon and the time to depart was now. Sarabi wished that the lionesses would talk some more, just so that she could keep her mother around for just a little bit longer. But the time for words was over now and after saying good-bye, Sarabi could only watch as her mother turned and began to walk off, back to the Grass Whispers.
She did not look back, not even once.
She would not be alone of course, her best friend in the world was going with her. Sarafina was trying not to fidget as her mother washed her, smoothing the creamy-colored fur. Sarafina's mother, Ua, offered to let Sarabi sleep with them and the young cub agreed. Ua was like a second mother and Sarabi knew that the honey-yellow lioness would take care of her.
Still...there would be so much she would miss. She would miss Diku's snores, Naanda's soft lilting voice as she sang little Dwala to sleep each night, she would miss Dwala's bright sunny smiles and high-pitched giggles. For the first time Sarabi wondered if this was how her sister had felt.
Nadra had been a teenager when it was decided that she would marry into the Deltalands. It had been painful to watch her big sister walk away, leaving behind everyone she knew and love to one day marry a stranger. Sarabi couldn't see why Nadra hadn't spoke up. The pale lioness was sweet-tempered mainly, but she could be stern and stubborn. But to the shock of Sarabi and her two sisters (Dwala wasn't born yet), Nadra agreed and left with not a single protest.
But now it was her turn to go. A deal had been deciding by the pride to answer a request made by Queen Uru of the Pridelands. The Queen requested two girls that could be companions to her two sons and perhaps one day could marry them. There were plenty of female cubs in the Grass Whispers pride, but the two cubs choosen had been Sarabi and Sarafina. They would not go alone of course, their mothers could accompany if they wished.
So here they were, waiting to see a strange Queen who would take them from all they knew. Sarabi trembled and struggled to fight back tears. Nadra hadn't cried as she was led off to her new pride. The older lioness had made Sarabi promise to be brave and strong and to watch out for their sisters. Sarabi had to be strong!
A gentle rasp of a tongue across her head made the beige cub look up. Her mother was smiling down at her with sympathetic eyes. "Why don't you take a nap?" her mother suggested. "It will still be a while until the meeting. Rest to gain your strength." Sarabi wanted to protest that she wasn't sleepy, but her mother's words made her paws feel strangely heavy and...it would be time she could have with her mother. A gentle brush of fur told the beige cub that Sarafina had left Ua and was now pressing close beside her.
Satisfied, Sarabi closed her eyes and slept.
Sarabi woke to her mother and Ua greeting somebody. Orange eyes opened to see the two Grass Whispers lionesses greeting a third who had appeared. The young lioness's eyes were wide in awe at the sight. Queen Uru (Sarabi decided this had to be her) was a beautiful lioness with blue-gray fur and gray-blue eyes. She had scruffy fur on the top of her head, cheeks, and a ruff of fur running down her neck.
The Queen dropped her gaze to the two cubs and she smiled. "Is this Sarabi and Sarafina?" the two mothers nodded and Sarabi felt her mother nose her out from underneath her, where the periwinkle lioness could see her better. "This is Sarabi." Ua did the same to her daughter and Sarafina was at her side. "And this is Sarafina."
Uru gazed between the two and apparently liked what she saw because she nodded before her attention returned to the two lionesses. "Will you both come with them?" Sarabi tried to read any ill-intent in the royal's words. She heard stories of how many prides didn't approve of mothers joining their cubs in their new home. But Uru's voice held no malice, it sounded gentle as if she understood the pain that a mother could feel to lose their child to an unknown land.
"As much as I want to come along, I must return to my other cubs." Sarabi heard the sadness and longing in her mother's words and had to struggle hard to keep from turning around. She knew that she had turned around, then she would end up crying. Ua once more spoke up. "I will accompany both girls to the Pridelands and stay as long as I feel needed." Uru smiled to her. "I am sure you will always be wanted." she replied.
It was over much too soon and the time to depart was now. Sarabi wished that the lionesses would talk some more, just so that she could keep her mother around for just a little bit longer. But the time for words was over now and after saying good-bye, Sarabi could only watch as her mother turned and began to walk off, back to the Grass Whispers.
She did not look back, not even once.
A Cub's First Love
Aw...Sarafina. The young lioness was a beauty, her fur was sleek and creamy-colored. Her eyes were a lovely shade of light green. She was thoughtful and clever, and though young, had the promise of being a prized huntress.
Taka could not say when this weird feeling began, but now he wanted the lioness to look at him with the same adoring, lovey-dovey eyes that Sarabi gave his brother.
The young reddish lion didn't know why his brother was bothering with Sarabi. She had lovely dark beige fur, but her body looked bulky, her paws too big, her head too square.
A little voice often told him that he should be grateful that it was not Sarafina who was taking a liking to Mufasa, that would had been bad. But this...this had to be worst.
It was not that Sarafina didn't acknowledge him, the pale cub often was the first to greet him when he would approach the little group. She was friendly and often tagged along with him. It had to be good signs...right?
Taka felt a little thrilled at the attention his crush was giving him and began doing what his brother did. Offering little gifts. Like flowers and other stuff that girls liked, though it was kind of hard to know that, even when most of your relations are female.
The two princes were too young to be courting, but it didn't mean they couldn't build up some affection before they were old enough to really consider the matter of love and mateship.
Sometimes, love just best started out young.
Sometimes, young love just wasn't enough.
Hot tears ran down the youngest prince's cheeks as Taka stalked to the lower ledge of Pride Rock. The young male was starting to sprout his mane and he knew this was when love started to move from silly cub fantasies, into possibilities.
But it looked like his plans were ruined. Again. Why did Sarafina have to be so blind?! He fumed to himself. He thought they were making progress, he thought that Sarafina may be considering more of him...how could she not see that he was in love with her?!
The bottom ledge was not bare. A lioness, his age but slightly small, was already lounging in the sleeping spot, but her head lifted. Crimson eyes regarded the lion who disturbed her slumber.
Taka ignored Zira. She was his cousin and his age and probably just as much of an outcast as he was, but she was quiet. The younger prince found that he could rant off around her with no problems of stupid phrases of comfort that any other lion would try giving.
"Stupid Sarafina! Stupid, stupid lioness!" Taka snarled and paced. Zira did what she did best. Just watched and stayed silent. Nothing she said could make him feel better and it was a reward just having a little of her cousin's time.
Such time was ended by a high-pitched voice. "Hi Taka!" Both young lions turned to the voice to see a pale cub darting down the path leading up to the main rock. If Nunka noticed anything up or heard his brother's words, then he gave no sign.
Taka sighed and rubbed his face with his paws, clearing the tear streaks from his cheek fur. He did not want to upset his baby brother, nor did he want to take out any of his pain and anger on the young child.
Perhaps he was being rash. His mother once told him (and Mufasa) that sometimes you had to wait patiently for good things to come. Trying to seek it out may work once and a while, but the better rewards are worth waiting for. Well maybe he just needed to be patient and Sarafina would realize what a good, potential mate that Taka would be.
He would do what Queen Uru said and be patient...for now.
Taka could not say when this weird feeling began, but now he wanted the lioness to look at him with the same adoring, lovey-dovey eyes that Sarabi gave his brother.
The young reddish lion didn't know why his brother was bothering with Sarabi. She had lovely dark beige fur, but her body looked bulky, her paws too big, her head too square.
A little voice often told him that he should be grateful that it was not Sarafina who was taking a liking to Mufasa, that would had been bad. But this...this had to be worst.
It was not that Sarafina didn't acknowledge him, the pale cub often was the first to greet him when he would approach the little group. She was friendly and often tagged along with him. It had to be good signs...right?
Taka felt a little thrilled at the attention his crush was giving him and began doing what his brother did. Offering little gifts. Like flowers and other stuff that girls liked, though it was kind of hard to know that, even when most of your relations are female.
The two princes were too young to be courting, but it didn't mean they couldn't build up some affection before they were old enough to really consider the matter of love and mateship.
Sometimes, love just best started out young.
Sometimes, young love just wasn't enough.
Hot tears ran down the youngest prince's cheeks as Taka stalked to the lower ledge of Pride Rock. The young male was starting to sprout his mane and he knew this was when love started to move from silly cub fantasies, into possibilities.
But it looked like his plans were ruined. Again. Why did Sarafina have to be so blind?! He fumed to himself. He thought they were making progress, he thought that Sarafina may be considering more of him...how could she not see that he was in love with her?!
The bottom ledge was not bare. A lioness, his age but slightly small, was already lounging in the sleeping spot, but her head lifted. Crimson eyes regarded the lion who disturbed her slumber.
Taka ignored Zira. She was his cousin and his age and probably just as much of an outcast as he was, but she was quiet. The younger prince found that he could rant off around her with no problems of stupid phrases of comfort that any other lion would try giving.
"Stupid Sarafina! Stupid, stupid lioness!" Taka snarled and paced. Zira did what she did best. Just watched and stayed silent. Nothing she said could make him feel better and it was a reward just having a little of her cousin's time.
Such time was ended by a high-pitched voice. "Hi Taka!" Both young lions turned to the voice to see a pale cub darting down the path leading up to the main rock. If Nunka noticed anything up or heard his brother's words, then he gave no sign.
Taka sighed and rubbed his face with his paws, clearing the tear streaks from his cheek fur. He did not want to upset his baby brother, nor did he want to take out any of his pain and anger on the young child.
Perhaps he was being rash. His mother once told him (and Mufasa) that sometimes you had to wait patiently for good things to come. Trying to seek it out may work once and a while, but the better rewards are worth waiting for. Well maybe he just needed to be patient and Sarafina would realize what a good, potential mate that Taka would be.
He would do what Queen Uru said and be patient...for now.
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