Author: Trilies
Genre: Friendship
Word length: 1317
Sypnosis: After her recovery, Sabor contemplates her family and her one friend.
Yaoi/Yuri/Pairings: Sabor&Lexaeus friendship, Sabor+cubs familyship
Notes: Again with the Kill the Hero thing! What can I say, it's a fun universe to play in. Speaking of which, this takes just shortly before the RP starts.
Names and Sunsets
"Mother! Mother!"
The cries of her cubs pester Sabor's ears and she heaves a deep sigh. Beneath her paws, she can feel Lexaeus' powerful back muscles flex as he pushes himself up from the floor over and over again. It's an odd ritual of his that he does everyday, along with his moments of silent sitting. Odd they may be, but Sabor finds comfort in his actions. The silence is pleasant, and when he does such movements,she finds herself blessed with a lovely napping spot. Along with being sturdy and warm, Lexaeus also does this ritual in the sunny places of his den. Oh yes, the perfect spot for her naps.
The current of which is being spoiled by her four rowdy cubs.
Reluctantly peeling open one golden eye, Sabor looks down at her four children. They are all tumbling about on the smooth wooden floor, falling over one another in their excitement. Smiles full of tiny sharp teeth are gifted to her. "Mother!"
"Quiet," she growls, shifting slightly on Lexaeus' back. Surely she had not been so noisy as a cub? Her brother, maybe. "The light is up. Go to sleep."
They don't listen, of course. They only continue to call for her, and scramble to get up on Lexaeus' back with her. Some leap up when he goes close to the ground, but one of the more adventurous ones uses the two-legs' arm. Little claws dig into his skin, but Lexaeus doesn't seem to mind. He only pauses so that the cub can reach his destination. With a plop, Obiajulu pulls himself over Lexaeus' shoulder and makes himself cozy by the two-legs' neck.
Obiajulu; the heart is consoled. While the young male is certainly energetic, the name seems to fit, somehow. Experience helps Sabor in seeing that he has a strong spirit. He will go far, she thinks. In fact, she suspects he is one of the reasons why Khepara survived.
As if thoughts can summon her, Khepara clambers onto Sabor's head and between her ears. Once a sickly little thing, Khepara is just as lively as her siblings now. Only she can match Obiajulu in energy, in fact.
"Mother, hear what we did!" Nabulung, the only other male, is barely hanging on. He's still trying to clamber up near her hind legs. It's not that he's clumsy; it's just that he's far too excitable for his own good. Perhaps his name is bad luck. Or Nabulung is simply a case of a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"We caught a Twisty White, Mother!" Along with those words, the last of her children makes her presence known by lightly digging her claws into Sabor's pelt. Ever since Lehana had discovered her claws, she has used them in every situation which allows it. They are her most precious delight and no matter what anyone says or does, she continues to use them. 'She who refuses' indeed.
Since it is obvious they will not leave her be, Sabor plays along with her noisy cubs. "Really?" she deadpans, and glances about the den. True enough, one of the Twisty Whites is nearby, nursing a wiggling leg. They're odd things, but Sabor knows that they will listen to Lexaeus, and thus are no threat for the time being. Besides, strange creatures they may be, but not even the black Lost things can withstand her fangs. "Good. You're learning quickly." It could just be luck, but that doesn't matter. Luck is just as valuable as skill, although the latter should never be neglected.
"Sabor." Lexaeus' deep voice rumbles through his body and the air. Nothing else is said after this, if only because they both know there's no need to. He knows nothing of the subtle nuances in purrs and growls, while she understands nothing of his overly complicated language. They understand one another through eye contact, tone, the subtle things of life. So through his tone, she understands that he is through with his daily ritual. Lazily, she swats Obiajulu off the two-legs and shakes her head so Khepara tumbles off her head. They both land with a thud and a yelp, dazed and confused. That gives Sabor enough time to shake off Lehana and Nabulung. They mimic their other two siblings in landing, but Sabor just ignores the noise. Smoothly, elegantly, she slides off of Lexaeus' back, paws padding softly on the wooden floor. As he gets up and stretches, she draws out her own limbs as well.
Other cubs might complain at the treatment, but Sabor prides herself on her belief that leopards are a tougher lot. In an instant, all the cubs are dashing about, continuing their training games. One of them, Obiajulu probably, darts off in the direction the light often sets. The rest scatter, going wherever they wish. Sabor watches them with a faint hint of amusement before looking back towards Lexaeus. He is moving towards the bucket of water he keeps nearby to cleanse himself. As he pours the water over himself, Sabor finds herself wondering things about her two-legged friend.
He is most certainly a fine male. Were he one of her kind, Sabor knows she would have found herself hoping to spot him following her in the trees deep in the night. From experience, she knows he is an excellent hunter; his patience lasts for days, and for all his strength, he knows how to remain quiet. Like the earth he is aligned to, he is a silent and slow, yet sure, mover. What more could a leopardess desire in such a strong, cunning, quiet mate? Ah, yet he is not a leopard. Perhaps two-legs' courtship rituals are like their language, overtly difficult, and that is why he has no mate and no cubs. Silly female two-legs, Sabor thinks with a snort as she watches drops of water slide down his thick muscles and as he slicks back his hair. All their silly rules prevent them from finding an excellent male to have cubs with.
Eventually, she turns her mind to cleaning herself while Lexaeus finishes up himself. His den has become quieter now, and as Sabor accompanies him to the outside place where they can see the sky, she knows her cubs must be playing their hunting game. They'll find no prey for a while; such tricks do not work on Lexaeus and the White Twisty has long since vanished through its secret paths. So Sabor both enjoys and stays wary of the silence as she sits besides Lexaeus.
Soon, it will be time for her to leave her cubs and hunt for them five. The hunting has been good, recently, meaning there will be no reason to tempt fate by paying a visit to the gorillas or the two-legs. While others may be suffering, may be preyed upon or stumble upon misfortune, all is well in her part of the jungle. Her cubs are all well, she has a safe place to eat and sleep, the hunting is fine, and she has a strong ally at her back. Perhaps this is a rare or unheard of situation for a leopard, but Sabor is nothing if not opportunistic. To survive is to find advantages, and her current situation is nothing if not advantageous.
Fingers gently rubbing at the pleasant spot behind her ears cause her to purr, and she glances up at Lexaeus. He is in his quiet state again, thinking, likely, on complicated two-leg matters. Sometimes, she worries at this state. Leopards do not make many friends, but she treasures his presence. Yet she can do little, so for now, she merely sits besides him and watches as the light falls.
Reassuring silence.
Then she hears a secret path opening, the voice of a two-legs speaking. She glances back into the den, looks over the pale haired two-legs who smells of cold rain. Lexaeus is not alarmed, so by extension, neither is Sabor. She only smiles to herself as she listens to the stranger's shrieks when her cubs pounce.
