[PRP] Stacking three rocks (Quba, Faust)

[KasaiLoki]

Another lazy day - at least, the dark lioness thought. It wasn't so much a bad day, but the smaller feline just did not like to do much. She wasn't a great hunter, she had scars on her flank from the botched hunt years ago to prove that. Besides, her sister was the one who got the skills in the family. Quba, she...well, she was good at sleeping? Lounging? Soaking up the sun light in her dark pelt? Those were great qualities to have, were they not? Well, in the bright blue female's eyes they were.

One could find Quba near a particularly unsteady rock formation. She had spread her weight across the structure, balancing herself and the shifting rocks beneath her as she got comfortable. Others who would look to her would think this position would not be relaxing at all, but for the masked lioness, she thought otherwise. She could sleep anywhere.

 

[SilverLutz]

Faust had settled in fairly well since his arrival to the Bonelands. The females had accepted the change in power and the additional Abaholi with surprising ease. They even accepted a new Inselelo, another from the pride that the other to Abaholi had come from. Faust had no problems with a fourth male in the pride - there were so many females it seemed only fair to them to have options - and now that the cubs of the former Abaholi had all be chased out, it was starting to feel like home.

He padded slowly along the grassy ground, enjoying the feel of the blades against his toes. He had lived most of his life in the desert and had burned the pads of his paws on hot sand for so many years the grass was like a balm against them. It was still hot, of course, but there was shade and plentiful (to him) water and more than enough prey. This really was paradise.

A bit of movement caught his eye and he lifted his head from watching his paws. A dark female was stretched rather precariously on some rocks not far from him. The words of his friend Nike came to him after a conversation they had had a few days ago, for him to try to talk to the pride members a bit more. He wasn't the talkative sort, but since he was one of the males in charge he did think getting to know more of the females might benefit him in the end.

Heading her way, he lifted his head just a bit and slowed his walk so as not to intrude. Just because he was an Umholi didn't mean the females allowed them do to whatever they wanted.

"I believe there are sturdier rock piles elsewhere," he observed as a few pebbles tumbled down from under her paws.

KasaiLoki

 

[KasaiLoki]

SilverLutz

Quba was a newer schooled lioness. Although she was born in the pride, her views on the lion leads were quite indifferent. She dared not let the males know this however, but when it came to mingling with others outside the pride, the darker lioness was usually at the front. (When she wasn't sleeping of course).

The female felt the shifting rocks beneath her, and listened as a few pebbles gave way and tumbled to the soft ground. She sighed, rolling over at the sound of footsteps nearby. It was only when the male's voice spoke the roused her head from its perch. Her tail lightly tapped the rocks, hearing them groan over the fluctuating weight.

Her ears perked forward, listening to the Umholi's words.

"Sturdier piles are no fun." Quba stated, feeling the wobble as she lifted herself. "Besides, others are more likely to lounge on those then these. Therefore, I will always have a resting spot." She stated matter-of-factly. Her paws shifted as she jumped to the ground. The structure remained upright, although a good storm, wind gust, or less balanced lion could send it crumbling.

Her ears swiveled as her blue eyes took in the other male's look. She wasn't good with names, so if his was spoken to her before, she hadn't remembered. Quba tended to stay off by herself, mingling mainly with Umoya, her closest friend. She sat near the male.

"Quba." She introduced herself with a small nod of greeting, lifting her paw to her heart to emphasize that this was her name. Not that is really mattered much. Did the males of the pride remember every lioness under their rank? There were quite a few felines in the pride, so she would not blame them if they didn't.
 

[SilverLutz]

No fun? Faust tilted his head just a bit at that. She enjoyed the challenge of balancing on the precious boulders, it seemed, not to mention the options she had when it came to sun bathing. Faust had never really been one to simply lay around and soak up the rays as other lions were wont to do, but it seemed to be the activity of choice when not migrating, hunting, or patrolling here. It was such a huge change from his former life that it would take some getting used to, he was sure.

As the lioness introduced herself, Faust took in the details of her markings on her face as a way to recognize her. Most of the females around here weren't very fancy with their markings which would make it a bit hard to distinguish on sight, but there were those like Quba whose appearance would help him remember just who they were.

"Faust," he returned even though he knew it was much more likely that she knew his name. There were only four new males, after all. "Certainly not the most conventional of resting spots but I can see why you enjoy them. Were you born here?" he added, changing topics rather swiftly.

KasaiLoki

 

[KasaiLoki]

SilverLutz

"Pleasure, Faust!" Quba said with a smile, her tail curling around her hind paws.

"Indeed." She stated with a nod, "Although mom and dad are no longer around." She had lost her mother at a younger again, and her father had been kicked out of the pride for new blood to enter. It was the way of life in the Ithhambo'hlabathi, although Quba did not quite like it. Her sister, Amanzi, on the other hand, had a different view than Quba. It is what made her the 'better' lioness of the two, or so she believed.

"You like it here?" She asked. He probably did. After all, if he was like any males surrounded by all the females, who wouldn't?
Since Faust came from the rogue world, Quba had to ask. "Question for you, have you ever heard of stacking three rocks upon themselves to be successful?" This was something Amanzi always told her growing up. Amanzi believed it, after all, she was a well-abled lioness. Quba still thought it as a pile a lion dung.  

[SilverLutz]

Faust realized a bit too late that some of the lionesses within the pride might be more chatty than he cared to deal with. Quba seemed nice, but she was asking him a lot of questions already. His fellow Abaholi knew he was more of the silent type and his good friend Nike generally answered her own questions without him having to say a word. He shrugged slightly by way of answering her first question, as he was still unsure if being one of four males was really a good payoff for all the work that was involved.

Back in his old pride he had been one among many, no one really looked to him for anything more than stepping on him on their way to greatness. The life in the Wardog pride hadn't really been for him, but it was all he had known and where he had spent most of his life. This was better in that aspect - he was no longer in the desert, no longer fighting every day to make ends meet. Now, though, he had risen in the ranks incredibly quickly and had duties he never had before. It was tough work, but he supposed it was worth it to be away from his old pride.

"No, I can't say I have," he said, answering her second question. "I'm not sure what rocks have to do with success...is it a superstition?" He figured it must be. Some of the other Wardogs had various things they'd do before a battle to ensure success, but he'd seen plenty of them do that and then end up dead not a few hours later.

KasaiLoki

 

[KasaiLoki]

SilverLutz

Quba shrugged, to answer his question. "Maybe for her." One of these days, the lioness would figure out the meaning behind the words. There had to be something more than just stacking the three rocks. Something different.

"She won't tell me." Even though the lionesses had both aged, the dark lioness still felt herself being looked down upon when compared to her sister. She inwardly scoffed. One day, Quba thought to herself, I will figure it out and be better than Amanzi. It was just a little sibling rivalry at its finest, was it not?

"You probably have a lot to do, and here I am keeping you." The masked lioness stated. Their meeting had been brief, but as an Abaholi did they not have other things to do other than socialize with the pride?
 

[SilverLutz]

Faust gave a little 'hm', curious despite himself. Perhaps he'd have to seek out her sister - if she was here in the Bonelands of course - to speak to her about these stones. It was interesting even if he wasn't sure he believed it. Stacking three stones didn't seem to be quite the difficult task.

"Not much," he admitted, although his stomach gave a loud growl at that precise moment, making him wince. He had been doing quite a bit of patrolling today and perhaps it was time to seek out the lionesses that had gone hunting for the day. Hopefully they'd been successful.

"But I believe I do need something to eat." He paused for a moment, tilting his head as he considered his options. "If you wish to join me you may come along." That seemed polite, right? He was still working on his social skills that his new rank required of him, but he felt like he was doing a good job of it.

KasaiLoki

 

[KasaiLoki]

SilverLutz

sorry for the delay! 1 more post from you and we should be good : )

Quba glanced around Faust when his stomach growled. She could not help but crack a smile and a small giggle. It was as if the lion's stomach had a mind of its own, interrupting them.

"Sounds like it." She affirmed, humor in her voice. The lioness thought about it, but ultimately shook her head. "Maybe next time," she offered. "The hunt group should be just over that ridge." Quba nodded towards their left. "I think that was their plan of attack for the day," she finished with a yawn. For a lioness who slept most of the day, she still found herself very tired, and a nap just sounded much better than an actual meal.

"I'll see you around, Faust," Quba said with a small wave of her paw. She made her exit, leaving the Abaholi to go for his meal.  

[SilverLutz]

The polite turn-down was met with a nod from Faust, glad that the female didn't have issue telling him 'no'. He knew there were those that would do whatever a male told them to do and he wasn't keen on the idea of bossing others around. Thankfully most of the lionesses here were quite independent and had no qualms being in charge.

"Nice to meet you," he said with a little bob of his head in return before turning in the direction she had pointed out to him. Hopefully there would be enough to go around and for him to have a larger than normal share. He was pretty hungry today.

KasaiLoki

And fin!