"I'm not sure...I don't have as good imagination as you." he grins to Asha.
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"I'm not sure...I don't have as good imagination as you." he grins to Asha.
"Ah, I won't." laughs Katai. "How about if one of them's a girl we call her Maarifa (skilled) and if one's a boy we call him....Jalali (almighty)?"
"I sort of like those names too. I'm stuck." he replies holding his head. :confused:
"Yeah, I guess so." replies Katai.
"Neither can I." replies Katai giggling.
"Aww, thanks." replies Katai.
"Same here. It does get a bit boring though after..." replies Katai.
Katai day dreams about Asha an the cubs. He is silent.
"Huh, what?" says Katai stopping day dreaming. He blinks.
"Oh yeah, sorry..." he says smiling a bit not realizing she said that in the first place.
Katai curls up beside her. "How's that?" he grins.
?This is a story from my homeland, that I was told when I was a young cub. I hope you enjoy it as I have for long years. This is a legend passed down from generation to generation of my people. Long long ago, the earth was covered in cold and ice. All of the creatures suffered from the great cold, for the Great Spirit who lives in the stars was causing this great cold upon the Earth. It was in his belief that the creatures of Earth were abusing its sources : the predators were hunting more than they needed, the herbivores were overgrazing, and the world was headed to disaster. The Great Spirit came down from the stars, and came before all the creatures, his magical steps causing flowers to grow wherever he walked.((((note: from Princess Mononoke, but I liked the idea))) he said ?My brothers and sisters, I have given you all of the great gifts of the world. But you have used them in vain! My kindess and bounty for you has made you carless and lazy! Now you must learn to live in balence, never again shall life be easy for you!? And then the Great Spirit called his great cry, and ice began to cover the world. The world was changing: snow fell, and many plants died because they needed a warm climate. The rivers froze and the trees became dormant, their leaves falling to the ground. Life was going to be hard from then on, and it was. All the creatures suffered greatly- yet no one could do something about it. The animals tried to cope, but it was harder every day. The herbivores could find no food and were dying, and therefore the hunters could not hunt. All suffered, great and small. The cold was becoming worser by the day, and not even the warmest pelt could keep out it?s icy fingers of death.
In the far north, a small clan of foxes lived. Lumon, a young male with a bright, red pelt like the firey sun, saw the disaster this cold was causing. He and his loved ones were becomming thinner by the day, as food was nearly impossible to come by. The young ones were becomming sick, and many a fox were not immune to cold, for back then their fur was thin and limp. Lumon was horror struck. He was a very brave fox, and wanted to set out to find the Great Spirit and beg for his mercy.
?My family!? shouted Lumon when he gathered them ?Look at how we live now! We are suffering and soon will die, for this cold and ice prevents us from life. I swear to you, my family! I will find the Great Spirit! I will make him change his ways! I will not let my family die, not like this! The Great Spirit shall be found by me, or I shall die trying!?
Lamon?s family worried for him, begging him not to go. ?The Great Spirit gives and takes life. He is powerful and will crush you. And how will you find him? He lives in the stars, where no creature can reach him.?
Yet Lamon was determined as he was strong and brave, and his family knew his path was set. One dark morning he set out, bidding his family farewell. He was sad and cried, for he knew not if he would see them again. Lamon?s journey was rough and steep, for the land was hard and terrible. From the sky, the Great Spirit tried to block Lamons way, causing crevices and craters that were filled with boiling water. Yet Lamon would not be swayed-he walked for 5 days and 5 nights around the crater. When the Great Spirit rose rocky mountains in front of him, Lamon climbed them all, despite the raging cold and icy winds. The Great Spirit caused great thorns and branches to grow, and close around Lamon tightly, so tightly he could not move whatsoever. Yet Lamon was a smart fox and used his stealthy fox skills to slide through the thorns and branhces. The Great Spirit made gigantic beasts block Lamon?s way, yet Lamon used his sharp teeth and claws to swipe the eyes of the beasts, then used his swiftness to slink away from them. No matter what the Great Spirit tried, Lamon found a way. Yet poor Lamon was tired yet still he pushed on forward, through the day and night.
When Lamon came to the edge of the world, the highest mountain there ever was, he yelled out at the top of his lungs
?Great Spirit! I have travelled far from lands to the west to speak to you! You have tried to test me, and block my path, yet I have not stopped! I will not give up unless you speak with me! Show yourself, Great Spirit! Show me that you truly are what you speak!?
Suddenly, the earth shook as Lamon rose up and upward into the stars, until he was before the Great Spirit
?I see your will is strong as iron, young fox. I have not been able to stop you,? The Great Spirit growled angrilly ?So speak now! Why do you disturb me??
?Great Spirit,? Lamon said timidly ?Please, you must stop this madness on Earth. There is no food, there is no water. The cold is destroying everything, and it is disturbing the balence of the world even more than before you caused it. My people are starving, my people are dying. Please, Great Spirit. This must end. You must stop!? Lamon yelled
?SILENCE!? the Great Spirit roared ?How dare you speak to me like that! No, young fox. This must be how it is! Now leave! You have done wrong and now you must suffer!?
?But Great Spirit! You used to be kind and generous! This is not how it is meant to...? stammered Lamon
?SILENCE!? yelled the Great Spirit, and Lamon was pushed back ?You will leave by sunset!? The Great Spirit was gone. Yet Lamon was clever and brave, and would not take no for an answer. The Great Spirit was not himself anymore. Lamon had a way. Before the sunset, when the Great Spirit was asleep, Lamon snuck up and stole his horn, which was the source of all his magic. When the Great Spirit arose, he was in rage. He came upon the earth, bellowing.
?Who has stolen my horn!? he cried ?Come forth, or the world shall end if I cannot perform my magic!?
?The world is already ending!? A lone voice spoke out, as Lamon stepped forward. ?I have stolen your horn, Great Spirit.?
?Why?? asked the Great Spirit
?Because you needed to see what was happening.? replied Lamon ?Look around you, Great Spirit.? All of a sudden, Lamon started to dance, singing a chant of the world. He danced, and in his movements showed the sadess and emotion he felt. The other animals followed him, and they all began to sing. They sand the song of sadness, of life and of death, of the world and the turning.
The emotion came out in rainbows of color as the animals sang and danced. The Great Spirit looked around him, and felt tears as he saw the poor suffering creatures emotion.
?Don?t you see?? said Lamon ?We have repented for our sorrows-we understand now we have done wrong!?
?Young fox,? said the Great Spirit ?You have wisdom well beyond your years. My brothers and sisters! I am ashamed of what I have done! I have blamed you for doing wrong, when I have commited a crime equal as you all! I have let my power take over me and forgot to be the Great Spirit. From this day forward, the Earth shall live in balence. The good times shall return-yet there can be no darkness without light. For parts of the turning of the world, the life shall be cold and harsh in the north and dry and desert in the south. Some places will even remain that was all year, for creatures who I shall grant the gift of livibility there. You must learn that you cannot appreciate the light if there is no darkness. I shall watch over now, and never become a tyrant. You must remember-the Great Spirit is everywhere, not just in the stars. He lives in all the plants and animals and unites them.? The Great Spirit left into the sky again, and soon the ice decreased-but still remained in parts of earth, for something like that cannot be undone completely. The climate became warm again in most places, yet hard and good times alternated yearly, which is why there are seasons. The dark and light shall live and balence, and all the animals learned to live in harmony together, in a circle of dancing. Yet The Great Spirt felt he should owe something to Lamon.
?Young fox! From this day forward, I shall reward the fox with a pelt as red as the sun, and thicker, smoother, and more beautiful and warmer than any fur! You shall have large ears to hear well and large eyes to see incredibly!? The Great Spirt granted the foxes these gifts, and that is why the fox looks like he does today. The Great Spirit made sure that all the animals were able to live in their lands. The acts of one brave soul can make a world of difference. Here ends the tale.?
Roku looked around at the creatures, as her story was over.
"Wow, nice story. That was great, honestly." says Katai also smiling.
"Good stuff." says Namabi also smiling.
Katai closes his eyes, making sure he doesn't go to sleep.
Katai opens his eyes and his mouth, he taps Asha on the shoulder, "Gives us one will ya." he says.
"Thanks." he says giving her a wink and a grin.
"I am glad you liked it! I will tell another story again sometime, if you like." Roku follows the other lions into the den. "Oh, Katai and Asha, I hope you have healthy cubs when the time comes! I can tell them stories....and perhaps they won't eat my tail." :-) Roku goes into the den, the fluffy cub firmly attached to her.
( :cheese: )
Katai puts his paw over her like he was hugging her.
Katai shakes his head, his eyes are closed since he is resting them.
"How far along are you?" asked Roku politely "When do you think you will give birth?"