Compensate (aw)

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

My father told me happy one moon birthday, beaming like a fool as sunlight drenched the varied golds of his children's pelts. It was the first time that dreaded star was allowed to see the King and Queen's first litter, my siblings and I cooped in the den of our birth since we fell into this world. I walked on unsteady legs, moving slowly, though not due to caution. I had learned to walk to some degree within the first week, but my parents told me it would take time for it to be perfected and certain. I raised my lip in annoyance as I focused on the movements--I didn't have time. My brother was larger than me, thicker, and thus would be the one chosen for ruler. I would have to prove my superiority time and time again, I was sure. My father beamed over his first born daily, claiming he loved us all equal but doing a damn good job convincing us otherwise. I hated the man to a certain degree, my mother, too. They were fine leaders and decent parents, but too superficial to see I should be alpha.

"You're too young to worry about that nonsense, Pules."
"Enjoy being a child! Your mother and I regret growing up too fast!"
"Ambition will make you into something you hate. Trust me."

I mocked my father's words as I stumbled to a small rock near the den of my birth. I would take complete advantage of our first day out and begin working on making myself stronger. The largest is not always the strongest or smartest, and I would prove that. I pawed at the rough surface of the foot high boulder, eying claw-holds and measuring the distance with my gaze. Bunching up the undeveloped muscles in my back legs, I leaped barly and inched off the ground, digging my claws into the claw-holds I had pre-noted, draining my strength as I tried to do a chin-up onto the rock.

"Woah there, Pules, let me help you." I let out a snarl of protest as I felt my father's nose come underneath my tail, giving me the extra boost I had needed. I turned on him, bitter indignation flooding my brown gaze. My tail lashed behind me as I caught my balance on the surface, still only at my father's lower chest, even with the boulder's assistance.

"I did not need your help, Acky-che-ta!" I spat at my own incoherence, though blinking in triumph as I read the hurt in my father's expression. My victory washed away as that hurt shifted to anger, mild and stern--I hated getting lectures, it was so belittling.

"First off, Pules, I am your father. You don't call me by my name--it is rude. Secondly,"

[/i] the man shifted closer, keeping his voice quiet. I would be grateful for his consideration, knowing he was trying to keep the scolding between only us, but I was already set on being angry with him. "it is okay to accept help when you need it. I can think of a hundred times when I received help from your mother or one of the other lioness'." He considered thoughtfully for a moment, face smoothing as his expression gentled. "I have even accepted help from Jasninon, and you know how I feel about rival males." He smirked with amusement, clearly hoping his light tone would settle my own ruffled pelt.

"Well, I am not you." Thank goodness! I was smart enough to keep the second part to myself. "I don't need helps from yous or girls or boys or anyone." I turned my back on him, sitting neatly, looking over my pride from my perch--or pretended to. It is hard to look over the pride on a perch only a foot off the ground, especially at my size. My ears turned back towards my father as I caught his frustrated sigh and he shuffled back towards where he had left his mate and other children.

I smirked as I kept my attention set on what would some day be mine. I had won this battle.[/blockquote][/blockquote][/size]

[I L Y I C H]

Brother was being petulant again, which wasn't very much of a surprise. He was always so frustrated by Father. Not that the white pelted man deserved it. As alpha he had many duties, but still made time for us. We were but children after all. Pules needed to learn patience. It would come in handy one day. If he was so dead set on overtaking Ese's rise to power anyway. As the only female in a litter of three I had accepted the moment I understood the concept, that I would never be queen of this place. It was not my destiny. Besides I wasn't particularly fond of the idea. What exactly did those two idiots think was going to be so grand about a nice little title next to their names? It would mean nothing but babying the weaker lioness' and belittling the males around them. They would never be safe from challengers. Brown eyes narrowing slightly I finally stood from my seat just outside our birth den.

A lion was padding quietly towards Pules' place on his little rock. Father didn't much speak of the others, and even if he had I wouldn't have been able to place the young male's name. Besides hadn't Father just said he didn't like other males? I supposed the beast lumbering towards us on what looked like it was going to be a massive body was still rather young. Not old enough to be kicked out? When the pale lad came to a stop I trotted in the ramshackle way young cubs moved towards Ackacheta. There was something disturbing about him, despite the proper manors which he stood with. Back ramrod straight, and head held even. Almost militaristic. Like the stories we heard about the folami packs to our south west. His eyes were sharp blue and so vacant I wondered if he was just a human contraption thrown into our camp.

Of course I'd only been working on it for a couple of weeks, but trying to keep my own thoughts to myself was horribly difficult. This guy was either really stupid or a master at emotionless contact. I'd assume the second, based on the distance he kept between himself and us. No cause for tension. The brute wasn't within touching distance. A buffer of safety that he carefully kept in place. Coming to a stop at Father's left, I tipped my head up to stare at the young lion. He wasn't even close to full grown, but even this old he didn't have a mane yet. Maybe he wouldn't get one. Was that why Father let him stay? Did only competing males have manes? "Sire." The beast's voice was just as quiet and blank as his gaze. "Mother instructed me to inform you that the lioness' are returning with an elk." He spoke softly, voice an octave lower then Father's. Pules all but forgotten, I looked back to father curiously; waiting for a response to this odd man's speech.