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Description
"Regarding the case of Takatifu's entry into the pride we have decided the cub will be approved," Obi announced in a smooth even voice. "Kuishi seems to see something of value in you, boy. Perhaps I too will see it when the time comes." There was a subtle smile to his muzzle. Takatifu felt his heart burst from his chest at the sheer amazement of it all.

Maisha the queen loftily lifted her head, not seeming to be in agreement. "My eyesight needs no time to adjust, I can see it quite clearly myself as is, Obi."

Ashera ground her teeth together at the blatant disrespect of Takatifu, the black leopard staring holes into the queen's hide. She couldn't risk opening her mouth though, the hopeful gleam in Takatifu's blue eyes spoke volumes of how important this was to him. Obi waved his wife off, giving her a pointed look that her words were not appropriate.

"The boy will require boarding arrangements, won't he my king?" Lord Kuishi addressed the white lion king, eyes politely averted and head bowed in standard protocol. Obi sat on a high raised stone alongside his wife Maisha and his Shadow Marozi Hanbaboon. Other lions of the council silently watched Kuishi speak to Obi. "The leopard does not live near enough to the kingdom for the lad to be here routinely as he should be. Besides, we all know only lions belong in the pride. As such I will house him with my family, we could use the extra paws around the den."

Obi made a face of contemplation, green eyes momentarily sweeping towards the cub. Takatifu tried lifting his head a little higher so he need not look as stunned as he felt. Ashera layed a protective paw on Takatifu's back, nervously watching the lions as they spoke of what would become of her little one. "Very well Lord Kuishi, if you speak highly of the child than you may have him. I trust your wisdom, my friend."

Wisdom indeed, Takatifu thought to himself, turning to look at Lord Kuishi as the large lion drew himself up to his full height. Obi gestured for his brother-in-law to rise, no longer asking for the formal pleasantries. Ashera had tried defending his case to king Obi to have the cub accepted into the pride and thus the royal guard but for the entirety of it was a lost cause. There were several breaks for private discussion before they were right back to where they began, on different sides of the playing field. Obi was too cautious of Takatifu's mysterious origins, no matter if Ashera claimed time and time again she was his sole guardian and parental figure. He did not mean anything cruel by it but Obi had to think carefully. Before he could ask for them to be escorted away, Kuishi spoke up boldly from the council to vouch for Takatifu's reinstatement.

He'd never met the lion a day in his life and so wondered why the high ranked male would defend him to the king of all lions... Everyone began to depart from the meeting, leaving only a few scarce behind in the meeting room. Ashera watched as Kuishi bowed before Obi and made his way over towards her and Takatifu. She couldn't help but give him a critical eye, hovering about Takatifu as she knew what was coming.

"Now boy, say goodbye. I'm going to take you to see your new home. The leopard ---" Kuishi was cut off.

"Ashera," Takatifu corrected sternly without missing a single beat, Kuishi was surprised the boy was so bold.

"...Ashera will be allowed visitation rights but she can not stay with us." He didn't miss the visible amount of pain on Takatifu's face as he turned to Ashera. Both of them knew this was coming but still were not prepared to be separated.

"Give us a moment please, Lord Kuishi." Ashera gave a nod to the lion who returned the motion. "It... it won't take long."

Takatifu saw Kuishi step away to grant them some privacy, instead he stopped to stand at the exit of the cave. Ashera's breath was loud and heavy as it tumbled from her lips, Takatifu raised his head and was worried his guardian would cry. She was firm in her composure, wiping a paw along her eyes before regarding him finally with warmth and love.

"This won't be forever, Takatifu," Ashera told him as she gathered the cub close to herself, the leopard pressing her face against his cheek. "You... you can come home any time you want. I'll visit often, send a messenger when I can find one willing... You just make me proud, okay?"

Takatifu swallowed, his throat felt tight all of a sudden as he returned her embrace with a fierceness that could make men crumble to their knees. "I will Ashera, I promise." He pulled away to give the leopard one of his trademark cheeky grins, even if his muzzle struggled to hold it as his nerves shivered. "You won't forget me, will you?"

"Oh heavens no! Like a leopard's spots that pattern won't ever change from my skin," Ashera told him, smiling. She pressed her forehead against his, another sigh escaping her heaving chest. Her composure was slipping and Takatifu wanted to spare her the misery of losing it in front of the royal lions.

"I better go, Ashera. Lord Kuishi is waiting for me," Takatifu told her softly.

"I know... I know..." She closed her eyes and pulled away, as if the movement physically pained her. "You get enough rest and eat your supper, you hear me? And... and wash behind your ears and remember to unsheathe your claws for better traction and don't ever trim your whiskers and..." He gave her a look, amused despite the ache in his heart. "...play nice with everyone and stay healthy. You'll always be my leopard cub to me, even if you run with lions."

They shared a smile before with hesitance the two broke apart from each other. Takatifu moved to stand near Kuishi, his eyes never leaving Ashera's form. His paws felt like lead and the watery smile Ashera gave him from across the room made him know the feeling the mutual. Kuishi lead Takatifu away towards his new life. He cast a look over his shoulder to regard the cub.

"You're better off here in the pride with us, lad." The cub turned to look at Kuishi, who by now had turned his back on him. "Now we better lay down some ground rules."

"Ground rules, sir?"

"Ah good, you know better than to refer me with my name alone. Titles are a must here, Takatifu." He stopped, letting Takatifu pause at his side in confusion. "You come from a simple background but I will train that peasantry out of you yet. However know this, you will be living with my family and though you are not my son your actions will reflect everyone inside my household. Do you understand that? I do not wish to be made a fool by speaking up for you in front of the king, stray. So I expect you'll fall into line and remember your place for the sake of my wife, daughter and myself."

The harsh edge to the words and stern glistening of his green eyes were hardly like the gentle Ashera and so, Takatifu felt intimidated by the lion who would now be taking care of him. "Yes, sir."

Kuishi nodded his head once. "I will introduce you to my wife and daughter at supper tonight, for now we will go train with the other recruits. I may as well see what you're made of in the meantime."

Description
"Regarding the case of Takatifu's entry into the pride we have decided the cub will be approved," Obi announced in a smooth even voice. "Kuishi seems to see something of value in you, boy. Perhaps I too will see it when the time comes." There was a subtle smile to his muzzle. Takatifu felt his heart burst from his chest at the sheer amazement of it all.

Maisha the queen loftily lifted her head, not seeming to be in agreement. "My eyesight needs no time to adjust, I can see it quite clearly myself as is, Obi."

Ashera ground her teeth together at the blatant disrespect of Takatifu, the black leopard staring holes into the queen's hide. She couldn't risk opening her mouth though, the hopeful gleam in Takatifu's blue eyes spoke volumes of how important this was to him. Obi waved his wife off, giving her a pointed look that her words were not appropriate.

"The boy will require boarding arrangements, won't he my king?" Lord Kuishi addressed the white lion king, eyes politely averted and head bowed in standard protocol. Obi sat on a high raised stone alongside his wife Maisha and his Shadow Marozi Hanbaboon. Other lions of the council silently watched Kuishi speak to Obi. "The leopard does not live near enough to the kingdom for the lad to be here routinely as he should be. Besides, we all know only lions belong in the pride. As such I will house him with my family, we could use the extra paws around the den."

Obi made a face of contemplation, green eyes momentarily sweeping towards the cub. Takatifu tried lifting his head a little higher so he need not look as stunned as he felt. Ashera layed a protective paw on Takatifu's back, nervously watching the lions as they spoke of what would become of her little one. "Very well Lord Kuishi, if you speak highly of the child than you may have him. I trust your wisdom, my friend."

Wisdom indeed, Takatifu thought to himself, turning to look at Lord Kuishi as the large lion drew himself up to his full height. Obi gestured for his brother-in-law to rise, no longer asking for the formal pleasantries. Ashera had tried defending his case to king Obi to have the cub accepted into the pride and thus the royal guard but for the entirety of it was a lost cause. There were several breaks for private discussion before they were right back to where they began, on different sides of the playing field. Obi was too cautious of Takatifu's mysterious origins, no matter if Ashera claimed time and time again she was his sole guardian and parental figure. He did not mean anything cruel by it but Obi had to think carefully. Before he could ask for them to be escorted away, Kuishi spoke up boldly from the council to vouch for Takatifu's reinstatement.

He'd never met the lion a day in his life and so wondered why the high ranked male would defend him to the king of all lions... Everyone began to depart from the meeting, leaving only a few scarce behind in the meeting room. Ashera watched as Kuishi bowed before Obi and made his way over towards her and Takatifu. She couldn't help but give him a critical eye, hovering about Takatifu as she knew what was coming.

"Now boy, say goodbye. I'm going to take you to see your new home. The leopard ---" Kuishi was cut off.

"Ashera," Takatifu corrected sternly without missing a single beat, Kuishi was surprised the boy was so bold.

"...Ashera will be allowed visitation rights but she can not stay with us." He didn't miss the visible amount of pain on Takatifu's face as he turned to Ashera. Both of them knew this was coming but still were not prepared to be separated.

"Give us a moment please, Lord Kuishi." Ashera gave a nod to the lion who returned the motion. "It... it won't take long."

Takatifu saw Kuishi step away to grant them some privacy, instead he stopped to stand at the exit of the cave. Ashera's breath was loud and heavy as it tumbled from her lips, Takatifu raised his head and was worried his guardian would cry. She was firm in her composure, wiping a paw along her eyes before regarding him finally with warmth and love.

"This won't be forever, Takatifu," Ashera told him as she gathered the cub close to herself, the leopard pressing her face against his cheek. "You... you can come home any time you want. I'll visit often, send a messenger when I can find one willing... You just make me proud, okay?"

Takatifu swallowed, his throat felt tight all of a sudden as he returned her embrace with a fierceness that could make men crumble to their knees. "I will Ashera, I promise." He pulled away to give the leopard one of his trademark cheeky grins, even if his muzzle struggled to hold it as his nerves shivered. "You won't forget me, will you?"

"Oh heavens no! Like a leopard's spots that pattern won't ever change from my skin," Ashera told him, smiling. She pressed her forehead against his, another sigh escaping her heaving chest. Her composure was slipping and Takatifu wanted to spare her the misery of losing it in front of the royal lions.

"I better go, Ashera. Lord Kuishi is waiting for me," Takatifu told her softly.

"I know... I know..." She closed her eyes and pulled away, as if the movement physically pained her. "You get enough rest and eat your supper, you hear me? And... and wash behind your ears and remember to unsheathe your claws for better traction and don't ever trim your whiskers and..." He gave her a look, amused despite the ache in his heart. "...play nice with everyone and stay healthy. You'll always be my leopard cub to me, even if you run with lions."

They shared a smile before with hesitance the two broke apart from each other. Takatifu moved to stand near Kuishi, his eyes never leaving Ashera's form. His paws felt like lead and the watery smile Ashera gave him from across the room made him know the feeling the mutual. Kuishi lead Takatifu away towards his new life. He cast a look over his shoulder to regard the cub.

"You're better off here in the pride with us, lad." The cub turned to look at Kuishi, who by now had turned his back on him. "Now we better lay down some ground rules."

"Ground rules, sir?"

"Ah good, you know better than to refer me with my name alone. Titles are a must here, Takatifu." He stopped, letting Takatifu pause at his side in confusion. "You come from a simple background but I will train that peasantry out of you yet. However know this, you will be living with my family and though you are not my son your actions will reflect everyone inside my household. Do you understand that? I do not wish to be made a fool by speaking up for you in front of the king, stray. So I expect you'll fall into line and remember your place for the sake of my wife, daughter and myself."

The harsh edge to the words and stern glistening of his green eyes were hardly like the gentle Ashera and so, Takatifu felt intimidated by the lion who would now be taking care of him. "Yes, sir."

Kuishi nodded his head once. "I will introduce you to my wife and daughter at supper tonight, for now we will go train with the other recruits. I may as well see what you're made of in the meantime."