[Closed] The Sea Token

[KiarasMate]

Having her thirst quenched now from the questionable tasting water, Uzuri gave one final thoughtful glance up the rocky slope that the river flowed down before she turned to make her way back towards the more peaceful scenery of her pride’s home, taking notice of the presence of two of her fellow pride mates, most likely sent by Mhindi to keep an eye on her, yet not minding this fact, Uzuri merely paid them no mind, as the two seemed to be trying to stay out of sight. Upon returning back to the soft sands, the wise old lioness scanned the distant horizon that hung over the endless sea, silently thanking Umi for another peaceful day as she made her way towards her typical sleeping spot atop one of the smooth surfaced rocks that were normally used for the pride’s sunbathing rituals. Still not feeling the urge to sleep yet however, Uzuri remained awake, her hazel eyes tracking the various movements of her fellow pride members as she thought about times past and what the future might hold for Mhindi, Janus and the rest of their delicately structured pride. With the constant threat from The Ridgelanders, Uzuri could no longer be certain about the safety and well being of her pride, yet her faith in both Umi and Mhindi was enough to ease her thoughts for the most part.

[Mike]

Perhaps it was fortunate that Hokori choose that moment to join the group and defuse some of the charging tension. "Act like a misbehaving cubby and that's how I'll treat you." Shani said in a high-headed reply to Kivuli's charge of seriousness. Hokori then suggested a raid on the coastlanders, receiving Kivuli's enthusiastic support. Shani had nothing against a little fin with their rival pride, but charging into their midst with no strategy was a good way to get themselves embarrassed or hurt. "So let's hear your plan then Kivuli, or were you hoping that brute strength and your magic nose would see you through?"

He beckoned to his pridemembers and quickly hopped up the face of a ridge until he had a clear view of the coastlander pride.

[KingKivuli]

Kivuli was busy scaling a high rock to get view of the rival terriory, whilst Shani spoke to him. When kivui was at the top Kivuli glanced over the Coastlanders beah with a grin on his face. Kvul then turned and looked down upon his friends How many times must it be said Shani. Lighten Fear not though I shall think of a worthy plan for you my king

[NightyByeSparrow]

Even though most of her face was still buried in her front paws, Janus' ears poked up and swiveled around in the direction of the pointy ledges way off in the distance. There was nothing to be heard as of now, but that was obviously because of the distance, the lioness's ears couldn't detect the smallest whisper from the distance, and Janus wasn't about to walk all of the way so that she could see the ledges in more detail.

"Hmmph." Janus yawned loudly, and looked over to see Uzuri back from her trip to the river. She forced herself to leave the shade for a while, and padded her way over to Uzuri, without interrupting her, as the ancient lioness was most likely deep in her thoughts, like Janus herself had been earlier this afternoon.

Janus decided to simply plop herself down a few feet next to Uzuri, and looked back in the direction of the rocky ledges.

[KiarasMate]

Having her thoughts being slightly disrupted from the sounds of shuffling paws near her, Uzuri looked over to spot Janus taking up a position several paws length away from her. Smiling warmly, the elder lioness called over to the youngest pride member in a gentle tone.

”Come join me here Janus. Let us watch the sunset together.”

Moving so that Janus would have enough room to seat herself atop the smooth surfaced sunning rock, Uzuri waited patiently for the young lioness to join her before she spoke once more.

”Looking out over the sea, watching the crimson sun slipping below the endless crashing waves, could there be any more of a perfect picture than that Janus?”

Gazing over at her fellow pride mate, Uzuri spoke softly.

”Tell me Janus, what is the most memorable thought that you hold dear to you?:

[NightyByeSparrow]

Janus quietly shuffled herself so that she was pretty close again to Uzuri, yet comfortable. Her smile lifted up again as she watched the sun seemed to drown in the waves.

"It's beautiful." The sunset seemed like a gift in itself to Janus as her tail swished among the flat rocks.

And yet, Janus seemed a little startled upon hearing Uzuri's question, spoken very softly to her. Before thinking about it quietly, she took a glance to the right, at her homemade area of shadow, made by sand brought from the edges of the shore and pebbles.

"It would have to be, when..after a few weeks when Mhindi and I were still cubs, I finally finished that nice shady spot for myself. When I was still building it, going to the shores and back to get all of the little pebbles and bits of sand and all of that stuff, I'm pretty sure no one thought I was really doing anything with it, but even now, it's just my place to rest whenever." Janus closed her eyes and everything she was thinking about today seemed to wash out of her brain like one of the waves. "And what about you, if I may ask?"

[KiarasMate]

Uzuri listened intently to what Janus was saying, nodding on occasion as she had recalled the day when the young cub had started to build her makeshift shelter. Uzuri herself had never questioned Janus’ actions, never being the type to hinder anyone’s creativity herself and seeing the joy and happiness that was brought to the youngster’s muzzle the day she had completed it gave Uzuri a sense of pride within her fellow pride mate. Once Janus was finished answering her question, Uzuri spoke in a quiet tone as the waves lightly rippled against the sands in front of them.

”That is a good memory to hold dear to you Janus. You might not know it now, but there is a good life lesson to be learned in that structure you built. You see, every pebble and every grain of sand that you used to make it, they all play a role in creating something much grater. Alone, they would be seen as nothing, but when combined, they form a solid foundation that can both protect, and inspire. Do you understand what I mean? What else resembles that?” Uzuri asked, giving a quick glance around at all the slumbering lionesses, as well as Mhindi, as to give her a hint of what she was referring to.

Uzuri’s ears perked as she was asked the same question that she had posed to Janus moments ago, causing the elder lioness to pause in her dialect as she thought for a moment.

Hmm, quite the hard decision this one is Janus, as I have lived to see many a memorable sight but if there is one memory that stands out above the rest, I would have to say, it was the day that you and Mhindi were born. Your parents were the proudest pair of lions you could ever imagine and everything just seemed right with the world upon that day. Times were good for us then, not as if they are not now mind you, but we didn’t have to put up with those Ridgelanders like we do now. Anyways, that day remains special to me because it was the start of a new generation and was a blessing in disguise from Umi herself.”

Not wishing to delve too deeply into the reason why she thought this way however, Uzuri concluded her answer at this point, unsure if Janus was old enough or even ready to hear the situation that both her parents had gone through during those emotionally tough times. Leaving that subject for another day, Uzuri’s focus once more, returned to the distant sea as she spoke again.

”It seems that both our most fondest memories involve the creation of something new Janus. It’s very important to remember to keep your memories close to you, yet to not dwell in the past if it can be helped. Without looking towards the future, there would be no chance in anything new being created, whether that be new life, or new places to spend your time at.”

Smiling down at Janus, Uzuri leaned in to give the young lioness a loving nuzzle as she waited quietly for a response.

[Mike]

"What?" Shani said, cracking a smile at Kivuli. "I just made a joke, and at your expense no less"

Shani chuckled gently, turning back to the scene below. In the dim light of the setting sun Shani could see the coastlanders lazing about as they always had. He shook his head. The easy, lazy life they lived was another reason for Shani's distaste for the coastlanders. They bored him, and didn't keep themselves strong through competition and battles.

"It's too late to get one of them on their own tonight." Shani said to the others. "Let's keep an eye on them through tomorrow morning. They've got to go hunting eventually..."

[NightyByeSparrow]

Janus purred, from both this conversation and the nuzzle that had made her continue to keep talking. She thought no one had ever really paid attention to her fort, except for the time that once or twice, a fellow Coast Pride member would come along and stare at her when she took the slightest pawful of sand; at least, the bits that didn't fall out from in between her paws or just lost to Janus, and dump it on her pile.

"Ah, so you actually remembered me making that fort when I was a cubby? I really thought no one else remembered me doing that, the few that saw me." Not like feedback on the fort was the part of Uzuri's words that meant the world to Janus; then again, besides keeping Mhindi and her pride safe, what really would matter the world to Janus, who had barely left the shores where she still lived?

"Yes, you find a good life lesson in many things in an average day, huh Uzuri?" Janus joked, while then looking around her and Uzuri to realize what the wise lioness was talking about. "And yes, I do understand what you're trying to get across."

Janus paused once again, to just think of what to respond to. Like probably what happens to most of the lionesses (and lions) in the Pride, the day that she was born was simply a haze in her mind. Yet, Uzuri's unintentional reminder seemed to bring the haze to the edge of her mind, yet the image of everything was not clear. In fact, Janus's memory then went back to the day her father suddenly dissappeared into the waves, leaving the Sea Token behind him for Mhindi to claim.

"Every thing did seem better then...
"And still, I wonder what the Ridgelanders are up to right now." She lifted her head up to the rocky ledges that were high atop of her, and shook her head as an attempt to wash the fear away.

[KiarasMate]

Smiling contently at Janus, Uzuri nodded as she replied in her typical soft tone.

”When you get as old as I am Janus, you find meaning in everything that happens in life. Sometimes, those meanings are just harder to find than others but much like Umi has a plan for everything and everyone, so is there a meaning for everyone and everything.”

Swiveling her ears to pick up Janus’ last statement, Uzuri couldn’t help but let a low laugh escape her maw as she pretended to think long and hard about what Janus had stated, before she responded in a humorous manner.

”Oh…if I had to take a guess to what those scoundrels were up to, I’d say that they would be bickering amongst themselves. That’s what happens when you don’t have any lionesses around to keep order, you know Janus?” Uzuri stated, giving the younger lioness next to her a light nudge with her delicate fore paw.

By this time, the sun had all but disappeared under the horizon of endless waves, swallowed once more by the sea itself. Turning to Janus once again, Uzuri spoke quietly as she gave the young lioness one last loving nuzzle.

”Why don’t you get some rest Janus. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. Another hunt, so it’s up, bright and early at first light for the ritual. May Umi bless you with pleasant dreams my young lioness. See you in the morning.”

Curling herself atop the smooth surfaced rock, Uzuri was lost in sleeps grip within a matter of a few minutes. It never took her very long to nod off, although she was an exceptionally light sleeper, always being on guard for the faintest traces of any sounds that seemed out of the ordinary.