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~Newborn cub dialogue~
The lioness curled around her newborn child, licking clean the babe of the blood and membranes now that the umbilical cord was cut. She would tend to her offspring diligently, as everyone else knew; there could be no mistaking the task of motherhood, of rearing the next generation. When the pride had first settled in Tanzania, only Milele and his demonic-looking half-brother Tuzo had held the line and kept up appearances to protect the family; their territory was stolen from the local inbred pride, but with five recently grown sons to bolster numbers and strength, the family could now relax into their new duties as permanent residents.
The mothers could sleep well at nights now, and so could their children. With many sons and the king watching over them all, life was just a distant haze for the unopened eyes of the newborns. Milele personally came by to inspect each one, either for keeping or for trading, but the end result was always the same: they would make it no matter who else tried to breach their borders and take back the kingdom. The king promised it on his life, and the lives of his sons.
~Cub dialogue~
As you carefully skirt a wide ring of armed rangers, cautious of being seen and shot by them, you can't help but notice there appears to be a gathering of young cubs in the very center of humans. Curiosity piqued, you manage to slip through a gap in their circle, making your way towards the chattering children. Both human and lion alike aren't alarmed by your presence; if anything, the cubs start mewling and squeaking excitedly, beckoning you from afar.
Up close, you see that they're all making things, crafting decoration and pretty jewelry. Some of them are wearing it, others run off to show their parents or to give to their friends, and you hear the compliments and gasps of surprise when they're presented to them. The crimson-eyed little girl, in the middle of them all, is apparently teaching them how to craft and wear their own adornments.
"You have to make sure the string is tight and sturdy, or else it'll break apart with a few strides. You also don't want to lose your gemstones when you're chasing prey, either. It takes skill to run with delicate chains wrapped around you." She sounds very knowledgeable about the subject; likely her mother or her brother taught her how to do this, and now she's passing the lessons on to younger relatives.
"Oh, hi!" she calls to you. "Would you like to craft with us? We're making body paint and piercings for the adults, but you can have rings and chains and headgear if you want, too." Her welcoming attitude is both refreshing and surprising, but the humans nearby make you a bit nervous. "Don't worry about them," she says reassuringly. "This is all part of my mom's plan. We need humans on our side more than ever, especially when there's poachers about." She shudders, visibly disturbed. "Come sit down with us and make some nice things. It'll help you feel better."
You consider her offer as she pats the ground beside her, beaming up at you like a dedicated princess in training. It's true, for the rangers are guarding the cats, and there appear to be scientists studying them from disguised shelters. It is a safe place to stay, just for a while. You're not in danger among these creative cubs.
~Adult dialogue~
Decorated in tribal ornaments and shards of ruby, the princess reborn is on her way passing through the closest perimeter of the king's den, seeking out disruptions like a submale would. Her brother Kioo is already busy with another matter, so she's following in his pawprints. Maana had taught her well; nature would be on her side if she respected it, and now there were humans armed with guns nearby as well--protecting the lions, not hunting them.
It's a bit scary to see them so close, but you keep a careful distance and don't take your eyes off them on your way towards this royal lioness. Vizuri sees you coming and stops, sniffing, ears flicking. She patiently holds her tongue until you're right in front of her. "Hello. Welcome. This is quite close to the king's kopje, if you're wanting an audience with my cousin. He won't bite, don't worry." She chuckles reassuringly; maybe she's the one someone finds if they don't encounter the queen, either accidently or because they wanted to meet the rest of the royal family.
"We're kind and gentle to our friends and family here, so just come asking for support whenever you need, okay? Those guards there are keeping us free of poachers. They want to know how and why we're crafting things, wearing them." She touches the tinkling ruby held together by strings around her neck. "Otherwise, like with my headpiece, we found them and adopted them. Then we offered them as gifts, either to each other or even to some of our prey animals. I have a friend who is a rhino, and he has these gold rings around his horns that I gifted to him. When the people see that rhino and see the rings we're wearing as well, they know there must be a connection."
She's interesting and open to discussion, if you'd like to settle down and talk with her. The royal upbringing also makes her privy to knowledge about past kings--in particular, that which Maana, through Sababu, had told her. You either make your decision to stop and chat for a longer period, protected by those rangers keeping a watchful eye, or you carefully excuse yourself to return to your own pride. Even if those guns aren't aimed at you, you'd surely hate for them to fire and scare the daylights out of you while you're having a nice conversation!
~Immortality dialogue~
Among Jugram's pride, the tawny Vizuri, guarded by her family, took her vows of immortality, donning her gourd baubles and shards of red glass. Kioo began the incantation: "From earth you once touched, and again on earth you are bound. From the moment you were conceived, to the grass you nursed in, to the cavern you slept in and the kopje you walked upon, earth has been your guardian, marking you as its child as much as Mother's."
She laid down in the circle of rock and dried plant, arranged so as to channel natural energy. "Earth has been your defense, and so you shall help defend it in return for protection gained. This will be your bond, your contract, your everlasting promise to something that may last as long as the sun itself." Kioo quietly added under his breath, "We may soon need all forces and elements to take back the home that was ours. Defense works just as well as offense in this carefully constructed plan."
Almost like a dream, Vizuri's immortality took hold much like the vines of a reaching plant crawling towards the sun, sinking deeper and deeper into her soul until she felt anchored to the planet itself, her homeworld. When she awakened, she seemed to understand the connections of plants and rock, of how water carved out rivers and what caused the very ground to buckle and quake at times. Like her other immortal family members, her crimson eyes acquired a glow that never dimmed whether night or day.
She walked from the ritual ground back among Jugram's pride, showing them how different her senses would sharpen as the days passed. Perhaps they would learn from her, if she would show them.
~~
Sole cub from Maana's fourth litter, "Vizuri" is the Swahili word for well, speaking of a state of being. Sababu predicted that a cub would be born from her line as a reincarnation of one that Sababu had personally had in the pyramid kingdom: it's greatly believed that Vizuri is the reborn form of the daughter Sababu had had for her first litter ever, a single daughter from a passing king during Inkohlakalo's reign. The crimson-eyed lioness had allowed her to be traded away, later killed, in another kingdom, but evidently her grief resurfaced when she returned to earthly form. With Vizuri now given a second chance as well, Maana connected with her in the same manner that Sababu wished she could've with her firstborn forgotten daughter.
(Stats when immortalized: 858. Father: Кейго, a pale Tsavo from Vrora's pride. Mother: Maana. Reincarnation of Sababu's first cub ever born in her previous life. Had four surviving offspring after being immortalized.)
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