[PRP] New around here (Mng'Ariza[II] x Faust)

[KasaiLoki]

Her journey was long. Where she was going, she didn't even know. The land she had once called home was dead. Members had been slow to leave until only a few loyal to the land remained. Her uncle, son of the original queen, stayed though with his age, she did not know how long he would last. Riza made sure to say her goodbyes to her uncle, knowing she'd likely never see him again.

With a sigh, she continued on. At first, she traveled with the triplets (they were always together, it was hard to not classify them as separate entities) before parting ways. They continued north, while she started west. Part of her thought she should turn back and meet with her siblings, but the other part wanted a separation from her family. Her old pride lands were mainly that, a pride of an extended family tree. Sisters, brothers, cousins, second cousins, you name it, the Kusini'Mwezi lands were it. She shook her head, ridding the thought of her home pride. It was gone. It was time to move forward.

That was when she had stumbled across the Ithambo'hlabathi lands. The 'Bonelands' as some in the pride had named it. Full of life. Riza had decided this was where she wanted to stay, and with approval, had made her new home amongst the others.

Today, Mng'Ariza was scouting the lands, learning the terrain. It was different than the Kusini lands, which had tall grasses, forests and wild rivers. Here, her pale fur blended well with the dusty grounds. There were no dens to stay in, so finding comfortable ground for snoozing was needed. The lioness sniffed the ground, pawing at the softening earth as she sat, tail curling around her. A lightly breeze blew, moving the brown forelock from the charcoal blaze, displaying both of her crystal blue eyes.

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Faust heaved a sigh of relief as he flopped down under a tree. He never would have though marking the borders was as difficult a task as it was, but when a pride was migrating keeping their old borders enforced was hard. He had to locate trees and rocks and other things that had been scented or scratched up in the past and it was quite difficult to do, seeing as they hadn't been this way in quite some time. He was glad for a break, even though he knew it would be short lived.

A sound caught his attention and he lifted his head to see a lioness pawing at the dirt. He didn't recognize her but he knew strangers wouldn't be in the land for very long before the other lionesses tossed them out. He got to his feet and headed in her direction just in case she needed help.

"All right?" he asked, his voice low but not unkind.

KasaiLoki

 

[KasaiLoki]

SilverLutz

She was told the pride was always moving, but it just made everything else more difficult to learn. With a sigh, she kicked the ground. Next time, she would have one of the other lionesses show her the ways.

Riza made a small noise of surprise as the other spoke, approaching her. She hadn't expected to see anyone else out here, or at least where she was.

"Oh...yes...I think so..." but her bright eyes told it all. She was quite confused at her bearings. The lioness was a little on edge from the male, not having met him before, but from the scent around she knew he was part of the pride. "I haven't learned my way around here quite yet." Riza said to the male, giving him a sheepish smile. "Quite different from where I am from." Kusini'mwezi had permanent borders.  

[SilverLutz]

The reply made Faust snort very softly. She looked a bit lost, to be honest, and her follow up to the initial comment made him nod in understanding. He was a little out of sorts as well, but it was nice to know he wasn't the only one.

"We are still migrating so don't feel too badly," he said, trying to offer her at least a bit of comfort. "I am still getting used to the area as well." He tilted his head just a bit as she mentioned a previous pride. Ah...more and more alike with every passing moment.

"Where are you from? And what brought you here?" he asked.

KasaiLoki

 

[KasaiLoki]

SilverLutz

The words were a bit more comforting for Riza. At least she wasn't the only one.

"Oh..uhm," she hesitated ever so slightly. "I am from the pride called Kusini'Mwezi. It was once a grand pride, but it never fully regained its life when the former queen was murdered." The incident had occurred well before Riza's time, but it did not stop the stories being told. The Queen, murdered by her own son, where the blame was set on an innocent life. Riza was named after that queen. "Rather recent, a disease swept across the land, killing the crop and herds with it. We had no other choice but to leave." Most of her family headed towards the Pridelands, where more relatives lived. Riza, on the otherhand, headed the opposite way.

"And well...here I am." She turned her bright eyes to Faust. "And what's your story? Hopefully a little happier than mine?"  

[SilverLutz]

Faust listened to Riza's story with a neutral expression. It seemed hardship was common among those that came to the Bonelands, his thoughts drifting to his friend Nike. He had gotten her past out of her slowly but surely and she had done and seen some terrible things. He didn't think his own past was terrible, but he knew there were others that might.

"I was taken as a cub to a pride of warriors in the desert and raised there as a slave. Once I was old enough I bought my way out of the pits and became a War Dog, fighting and stealing to please the leader. The other Abaholi and I, as well as a female friend of ours, left with the hope of finding a more rewarding life here. So far I think it has met our expectations," he said with a little nod. Cubnapping was seen by many as a horrible thing, but Faust knew it could have been much, much worse.

KasaiLoki

 

[KasaiLoki]

SilverLutz

Riza could not help but gasp at the mention of being cubnapped. The Kusini'Mwezi lands had natural borders that prevented strangers from coming into the pride without a escort. Her head tilted curiously at the title of War Dog. It was quite an unusual title, being he was a female.

He mentioned the other Abaholi briefly. The term was still new to her, but she'd assume he meant another male. She'd have to find some more lionesses to get the lay down of the terminology in the pride.

She nodded, as if agreeing with the male. Although pride was constantly wandering, and it was difficult to find her bearings on the best of days, it still seemed to be a better life than what the Kusini lands offered. Maybe one day it'd be back to its former glory, but she knew she'd never see that calling the Bonelands her home now.

"Any tips on remembering the area?" She asked sheepishly. Even though he said he was rather new, he'd still probably knew a lot more than what Riza had.  

[SilverLutz]

Faust glanced around at the question, trying to see if there was anything worth noting in the immediate area. Unfortunately it was all just trees, and although they were unique and interesting to him, other lions might not feel the same way.

"I know that we are moving in the general direction of the desert that is to the west," he said, nodding in the direction the sun set every day. "Occasionally the winds will change and you can feel the dry heat it gives off being blown this way. That's a good indicator, if not always reliable. Other than that, I position myself using the sun."

It really was the only way to find direction in his old pride during the day. Midday was generally a time of rest to hide from the blazing sun so it was never an issue then, and of course any good lion worth their weight would know how to use the stars and moon as navigation.

"Other than that I'm afraid I can't be of much help. The other females who have traveled this way before might be better suited to answering those questions."

KasaiLoki

 

[KasaiLoki]

SilverLutz

Riza's gaze followed where the male nodded. On her travels from the Kusini lands, she grew accustomed from where the sun rose and where it would set. She took note in regards to the changing of the winds note.

"I'll scout out some of the other lionesses later." She'd need to, or perhaps just start traveling in pairs until she was comfortable in the migrating process. Otherwise, she'd probably find herself alone until the pride migrated back to where she was left. The light lioness could see her getting lost in the near future if she didn't start remembering these landmarks and scents.

"Thank you for the help....." she drifted off. Being new, she did not know other name's. She was sure some of the others had mentioned the males of the pride to her. Curse her memory.  

[SilverLutz]

Faust nodded slightly, glad to have helped even if it was only a bit. Coming to a new pride was difficult, as he had learned, and although he was still new he hoped to aide those that were looking for ways to integrate into the pride better or to find their way around. Soon they'd be settling down and they'd be able to learn the lands together.

"Faust," he supplied when it became clear she was looking for his name. "If you ever need assistance don't hesitate to ask. I'll do the best I can in helping." He gave her a little nod before heading back to the tree he had been resting under. The sun had grown stronger during the few minutes he had been speaking and a cool-down was definitely in order.

KasaiLoki

Fin!