Prologue: Arrival

[Insanek0]

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[Insanek0]

Dabiku nodded weakly, "...o-okay... I'll try..." and, with the strength she managed to gather, she got up, keeping her head low and groaning in pain as she made her way towards the tall grass, once there, she noticed a tan, muscular, big lioness coming towards them. She didn't seem pleased. "...damn..." Dabiku whispered as she crouched in the grass, trying to hide. But it was too late to hide.

"Come out, I can see you!" The tan lioness said firmly. So there were lions in this place... but why... hyenas too? Dabiku froze. What could she do? Despite her fear, she was still... groaning and twitching. The lioness approached and stood above Dabiku. "Tell me your name now!" Sarabi said with a growl, her teeth bare.

Dabiku lowered her ears and whined. "I'm... D-Dabiku... sorry if we... ugh, entered your lands. But... but..." said that, Dabiku fell on her stomach, not able to control her cub. Who seemed to be really in a hurry. "...we're trying to find shelter-- I'm pregnant... please, have mercy. We'll leave... ugh."

The big lioness raised her eyebrow. "It's fine, but we'll have to ask the king if you want to stay-- also, you seem to be having your cub. Come on, I know a cave where you can give birth to your cub. Here isn't the best place, especially with the hyenas and your young friend. You are very young to be pregnant... but I won't question that. My name is Sarabi." After the big rambling, she offered a gentle smile. "...so, try to get up." With her muzzle, Sarabi poked Dabiku's stomach, trying to bring her up.

Dabiku got up, but... there was something weird about this place, obviously, but she would accept shelter for now. She didn't have much choice. This lioness was... so sweet and friendly. It was almost suspicious.

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu looked up at the strongly-built lioness—Sarabi was her name, apparently. She seemed friendly enough, since she said she would take Dabiku to a cave so she could have her cub safely. The dull-furred yearling was unsure if she should introduce herself to the tan lioness yet, since her name wasn't asked for. She stood back, and she paused, and then she introduced herself to Sarabi, "My name is Adimu."

[Insanek0]

Sarabi took Dabiku to the cave, and then, Dabiku laid down, wanting to get this over with. "...Augh, it hurts...!" Dabiku whined as she gave birth.

Sarabi looked at her with compassion, "Calm down, all lionesses have to go through this. I've gone through this too. It'll be over soon, dear."

"I... I hope so!..!"

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu watched from a distance with a worried look on her face. She certainly hoped that Dabiku would be okay. She didn't like it when her sister was in pain. Watching the birth felt kind of weird to her, yet she just couldn't look away.

[Insanek0]

After a while, Dabiku gave birth to two cubs. Both females. One alive. Sarabi looked at the cubs with a sad expression, "...well, one of the cubs is alive... but the other... I guess she didn't make it. I'm sorry, darling, these things happen." But then, she smiled slightly, "The other is tiny, but she will survive, I suggest you feed her right away. Also, a name. What will you name her?"

Dabiku looked away as soon as she knew one of the cubs were dead. She didn't feel sad, and for her, that was the worst part. She was... more sad that the other had lived. She didn't want any cubs. She never did. "...thanks... but, it'll be fine." Slowly, she approached her cub to herself and let her feed on one of her nipples. She didn't look like anything just yet. "...Z-Zira..."

"...Zira? Are you sure?" Sarabi felt like this name was weird, but... it was only up to the cub's mom.

"Yes..." Dabiku frowned as she watched Zira feed.

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu finally approached when she could see that the cubs were born. She frowned slightly when she saw that one of the cubs was dead. That was a bit unfortunate, and the other cub was small. Oh well. These things happen, right? She sat nearby, and tilted her head. Zira? Didn't that mean "hate"? Of course, she wouldn't question this. She could sort-of understand why Dabiku would name her daughter a name that meant "hate".

[Insanek0]

Sarabi observed Dabiku for a few other moments and then her ears perked up. "It's time for hunting. If we're sucessful, I'll bring you and Abimu some food. Abimu," she turned to face the younger lioness, "don't let anyone see you or Dabiku. You should stay here a few days before meeting the king." Dabiku nodded at Sarabi, but stayed quiet. Once little Zira was done, she liked Zira, cleaning her. After that, the tiny infant fell asleep peacefully.

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu looked up to Sarabi, and she listened carefully, and nodded when the larger and bulkier lioness finished speaking. "I understand," she responded. She didn't want to put her sister, her young niece, and herself in danger, of course. It would be best to stay hidden.

[Insanek0]

Sarabi smiled at Abimu and, with that, she left so she could join the hunting party. Dabiku looked at Zira and sighed. She was quiet since she had decided on a name for her cub. Then, she raised her head to look at Abimu. "...be careful around Sarabi, okay? And especially this king they talk so much about. It's... weird. Lions usually lead lionesses, in a way, but this is the first time I hear of a king."

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu turned her head when Dabiku spoke. "Right...." Sarabi seemed nice so far, but of course, she would have to be careful. And she wondered if this land was different from the others. After all, there was a king here instead of just the males. She nodded a bit. She would stay careful, then. This was a new land after all....

[Insanek0]

After warning her sister, Dabiku's gaze became a... sad gaze. A pitiful one. She was so scared; this cub reminded her of what her father had done to her. It was so painful. "...Abimu, I don't know if I want this cub... I don't know if I... if I can even look at her."

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu looked down at the cub when Dabiku began to speak. She didn't really understand. "But... why...?" She found there to be nothing wrong with Zira. She thought Zira was cute, except for when she was being born. That part wasn't very cute at all.

[Insanek0]

"Because she's... not only my daughter, she's my sister too, this is so... weird and... disturbing... not to mention she reminds me of father. Well, in some way." Dabiku looked back at Adimu and sighed. "...but, still, I know it isn't her fault. It's so horrible."

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu flattened her ears. "Oh...." She could sort of see how the cub might remind of Kifo. Sort of. Not completely. "I guess that is pretty horrible...." And kind of weird. So, Zira was like her niece and her cousin or something like that at the same time...? Confusing.

[Insanek0]

"And, what if the king doesn't accept us? What will we do? Life was hard enough for both of us without a cub, now... there's a cub."

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu frowned and sat down. What if the king didn't accept them? She wasn't sure, and she said nothing in reply. She sure hoped that the king Sarabi mentioned would allow them to stay.

[Insanek0]

After a while, Sarabi was back with plenty of meat. A lot, really. As much as she could carry. She stepped inside the cave and Dabiku watched her as she put the meat down. "...meal is served." Sarabi smiled gently. Dabiku got up slowly and limped towards the meat, biting and tearing smalls bits of flesh, which she happily ate. Sarabi then reminded herself of making a question. "Why you two have so many... wounds? Did you get into a fight?"

Dabiku frowned at her question, not so willing to share her saddening past. Her frown vanishing and before Abimu could give anything away, she replied. "Long story. Won't bore you with this personal crap."

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu turned her head when Sarabi returned with food. She smiled slightly. She was pretty hungry, and there was so much to eat. That was wonderful. She stood up and approached the flesh that was brought to her and her sister, and she ripped some off for herself, and plopped down on the ground, chewing and swallowing it. She stopped eating for a moment when Sarabi asked a question, and opened her mouth to answer, but then her sister replied at the last moment.

She decided to just go with it and continue eating.

[Insanek0]

"Certainly not. Well, if the story is long, you could give me a short version. Is that okay?" Sarabi asked gently, trying not to push Dabiku on the edge.

"..." Dabiku sighed, "fine. Basically, my father did something terrible and I had to punish him for it. Abimu is my half-sister, but we've been close to each other since the time when she was a little cub. She helped me on the punishment."

"...did something horrible? What?"

"...well, he..." she wasn't sure if she could tell something like that.

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu remained quiet and she took some more food, tearing a large piece off the rest of it, and she pulled it closer to her and ate it. She watched and listened to the conversation between her older sister and Sarabi, ears perked a little.

[Insanek0]

"...fine, I'll tell you, if you must know... my father... abused me. He's also the father of Zira. That's why I gave her such a name, that's why I got pregnant so young." Dabiku growled as she spoke, giving Sarabi a shocked expression. That was terrible.

"Oh, oh my..."

[RigorM0RTIS]

Then, Adimu's ears flattened. She stopped chewing and swallowed what was already in her mouth and she frowned a bit. It must have been awful. She wasn't even sure exactly what happened and she didn't know much about the incident at all. She just knew what Kifo did made her sister had cubs, and it was a very horrible thing. She paused for a moment. Maybe she shouldn't give too much thought about it. After that moment, she continued eating.

[Insanek0]

Sarabi frowned. "What kind of lion would do that?" Dabiku raised her eyebrows at Sarabi, then, tilted her head slightly.

"Just about any lion. After all, a male will breed with all females possible."

"...No, he won't."

[RigorM0RTIS]

Adimu continued eating until she was full enough, and she stepped away, and laid herself in a corner. She would probably prefer to not continue listening to the conversation. It made her think about what would have most likely happened if she stayed with that pride.

[Insanek0]

"Lions aren't like that, Dabiku. We care for each other, we don't... hurt each other, unless we absolutely have to." Sarabi said with a gentle smile.

"...what? How is that possible?"

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