Innocent Youth

[March 1st. Open to all the pridelander cubs (kuzimu included if she wishes), Sachel, and myself. Babysitter bondig thread!]

With no moon or sun to give the time of the day away, the inhabitants of the pridelands had to make-do with what they had. If the gentle breeze and slowly-but-steadyly dropping temperature were any indicatio of it, the sun would already have begun setting had it been visible. The perfect time for hunting. But food wasn't the only thing keeping the pride Zukkiza had slowly begun to consider a family busy, oh no; there were many matters to attend to. Hunting was simply one of many worries. Which was why dividing tasks amongst pridemembers was the easiest thing to do, and Zukki, along with Sachel, had decided to take the task of taking care of the youngest members of the pride. To many, it was a job; to Zukki, however, it was a nice break from duty. She loved the cubs very dearly, after all; her own or otherwise, there was nothing Zukki would rather do than spend time with them.

Her own three were sleeping soundly, bodies pressed against her. The trio were snorers when they were tired, and, after a day of play and frolic, it was no wonder all three snored softly beside her. Amber eyes fixed on them for a moment as Zukki gave them a fond smile, before returning her attention to the cubs that weren't her own. At least not in blood, because, in bond, she felt like a second mother to all of them.

Zukkiza regarded each cub with care before smiling to herself and purring softly; she saw so much in each cub. It mattered little who their parents were, where they came from, whether they had been wanted or forced upon her pridemates; they all were full of potential, and Zukki saw that. Potential to be so much more than the mistakes some had made them out to be.

"Stay close now hmmm?" The lioness purred in a soft tone, looking at Sachel for a moment as she mentally accounted for every cub present, just so she'd remember who was meant to be staying under their care. "It's getting late." She announced, her tone gentle but firm, determined to keep the cubs close and safe.

"Awwww! No fair!" Kion whined, the golden cub pouting up at the two adults hoping that looking cute would count in his favour "Can't we stay out a bit longer? Pleeeeeeease?"

Unlike Khola, Zahir and Raha, the young prince was bursting with energy. He didn't care that it was technically getting into what now was considered "night", he wanted to play and explore. Sure, having the adults around meant he couldn't wander too far but that wouldn't deter him. Kion was finally being allowed the freedom he had desperately craved before his cousins had come to Priderock and he was going to enjoy as much of it as he could.

Kuzimu sat further off from the rest of the brood of cubs. Being older than all of them, she felt a little like she didn't truly belong amongst the babysitting group. Back in the Outlands she was preparing to be a warrior and a huntress, taught to fight and survive in the harsh conditions of the arid wasteland. She had never been babied much, even when she had been a young cub like the ones she now found herself surrounded by, and seeing how innocent and playful they were in comparison to what she had known made her feel even more like an outsider.

The Pridelands were a totally alien place to her. She longed to have Nia, her younger sister, the one person who understood her. No doubt her sister would have made fast friends with the other cubs whilst Kuzimu sat and observed them like they were strange creatures she had never seen before. But Nia was gone. Murdered. Kuzimu was all on her own now and that thought robbed her of any motivation to try and socialise.