[PRP] Well, that was unexpected...

[Amy D]

There wasn't much that could knock Adi'sa from his pedestal of joy at the moment, not even his great friend's diminishing health. He had an injection of elation to his heavy heart every time he looked to Tailsin. His mate.

Adi'sa was by no means a non-loving or unromantic lion, but with great gaps in his upbringing, he'd had a lot to learn about relationships and very little time to learn them. But Tailsin, for all he could bless her, was so patient and understanding with him. And together, they'd built something special between them, something entirely unique as well considering what they were both like. It made him smile to think that no one else in this world had a relationship quite like theirs.

Setting out from their den - yes, THEIR den, a shared home now - Adi'sa walked with his dearest and for once, they were minus birds. The landscape was drenched in morning glow and the sounds of the jungle were just beginning to stir. This pair were awake before everything else.
 

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Tailsin should have been the happiest lioness in the world and in some ways she was. Nothing made her happier other then to know that Adi loved her and it always made her smile and her chest feel as if it were to burst. However she was female and recently she had been eating more, in fact she couldn't stop eating and so she was getting fatter and fatter! She knew Adi didn't mind but every girl wants to look their best for their guy!

She followed him out of their den on into the forest. They had got rid of the birds recently to spend some quality time on their own to get use to the whole mate thing. It took some pursuading but the birds had finally let them be and so she had enjoyed this time with her mate more then anything because she had known that the two birds wouldn't suddenly appear. She did miss having them about but it was nice without them too.

She let out a soft purr and walked up beside her mate and rubbed against him. This was how life was suppose to be. She walked beside him, a smile shining across her face. At last she was at home and so so happy!  

[Amy D]

Tailsin could always bring out the playful side in Adi'sa and after returning her affectionate nuzzle, he started to pad along faster, then into a sort of skipping-run, stopping occasionally to look back at her and smile.

And whatever weight Tailsin was gaining, he was totally oblivious. He was never the picky type to notice someone for their features like being tall, short, fat, thin, muscular, skinny, etc. In fact, he could barely recognise any of those in himself. He wouldn't describe himself as stocky or short or thin and twig-like.

"I can't believe how quiet its been without the double-trouble," he commented idly. There wasn't much these two had discussed and talked about since becoming mates, but Adi was likely to forget stuff now and then.
 

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Tailsin smiled as Adi started to move a little faster and so she did as if she were chasing him but as he slowed so did she and she was grateful as a strange pain seemed to be going through her stomach though she just ignored it, she must be out of shape. They had been rather lazy these last few days.

She winced a little and then ignored it, listened to Adi speak.

"It has been perfect!" She smiled and sat down suddenly, another pain seemed to hit her and she really wasn't sure what it was. Where they had got to they could see a lot and the view was pretty amazing.

She let out a yawn and watched Adi, wondering how long it would take him to notice she had stopped. She would do this every now and then and time how long it would take him to notice because then she could tease him about it later.  

[Amy D]

As she caught up, Adi trundled off again in a strange game of non-physical tag. He loved to come out this way, it was a great view of what lay before them, most of it already trodden by his paws and yet, he never got tired of it.

He was admiring the view, with a quick nod to the trees just in case certain birds had decided to follow, when he noticed the lack of warmth sidle beside him. He looked over his shoulder and just caught Tailsin yawning.

"Still tired? With all the sleep you got last night?" he smiled and approached. "I didn't think I was that draining on you."
 

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"I don't know I just seem to be - ouch!" Another cramp flew through her body and she curled up. It hurt more then the others and she really didn't know what was wrong. She had been having these pains for a day or two now but they had hardly been noticable and now they really hurt, so much that she wasn't sure what it was.

"Adi.... ow it hurts." She didn't know what else to say. She was hurting and the pains seemed to be coming quicker and quicker. What a way to ruin a perfectly good day. She curled up even tighter before letting out a rather loud and painful roar. What was wrong with her?  

[Amy D]

Adi'sa looked at Tailsin, a little alarmed at the sudden turn of events. She had eaten a lot recently, perhaps she'd eaten far too much and she was suffering for it now. Might explain all the sleep too.

"We'd best get you back to the den I think..." he nodded and said with a resolute tone. He leaned down to her and nuzzled her, trying to encourage her to unfurl and at least rest against him so they could travel back.

Thankfully, the den was not all that far away, but they might have to break their bird-less vacation. Nili was the only one he knew of that would know what o do if Tailsin was ill.

"Looks like you'll be getting some more rest anyway," he said, offering a smile.
 

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Tailsin managed to stand up and smile at Adi, oh she was so happy to have him here. She leaned on him as they walked back. She was having the same thoughts that he was.

"You need to get Nili and Doea once I get back."

It was rare that she would ask to see the birds but she needed them here, she really did need them. Nili would know what to do and Doea, well, it was just good to have her around.  

[Amy D]

"Of course," he replied, concern growing, and showing in his voice.

With every step, they got a bit closer to a warm, safe place, somewhere Tailsin could re-cooperate. It began to weigh on his mind what was happening to her. She was obviously ill. He walked with a sturdy pose and pace so as to keep her steady.

"I wonder whats brought it on," he spoke to her softly. "Have you been alright?"
 

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She nodded, "yeah I have been fine!" she wasn't about to make him worry about her more then he already was.

They finally reached the den and she crawled in and laid down looking up at Adi.

"Go and get the birds!" She hardly got it out before a large wave of pain swept through her and this time it was gone a second before another wave hit her.

"ADI!" She screamed as her breathing became heavier and she hadn't a clue what was happening. It felt.... it felt... how were you suppose to explain this other then painful?

It seemed hours passed in those first few minutes. Then something strange happened and suddenly she knew exactly what was happening. She was giving birth, she didn't know how she knew but she just knew and it wasn't too long before the first cub came out. It was a little boy and somehow instictivly she knew what she was doing. She licked the little boy revealing his colouring. He looked like Adi, his body was the same colour and she couldn't help but smile, looking up at Adi. They had a child... an actual child and for the moment the pains had stopped.  

[Amy D]

Adi waited until she had settled, uttering no words and dutifully set off on the search for his faithful guardian. But he had only taken a few steps when he heard Tailsin screaming. At first, he sped up, carrying on in his search for the birds. Then it was like someone slapping him and saying 'you idiot!' He skidded slightly and did an about-turn, rushing back to Tailsin.

The den was a markedly different place than he left. For a start, it had the addition of a small, wriggly thing...

"...whats that!?" was an instinctive reaction from the stony-stiff and gob-smacked Adi'sa. He knew in his mind, somewhere, what it was, how it got there, and why Tailsin had been feeling so ill. But it was a bit of a shock that seemed to have jarred his normally astute knowledge.
 

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Tailsin couldn't quite believe Adi's first words upon seeing his cub. She was about to shout at him when the pains hit again. More? What? She let out a soft but rather vicious growl as the process happened again, this time a little black cub, somewhat like her. However as she washed the cub she didn't have a chance to say anything as the process happened yet again.

This time a small brown cub came out and somehow Tailsin knew that was it and that she could rest and so licking the cub clean and then licking the other two again she laid her head down allowing the cubs to crawl about her taking in their new surroundings and their mother.

Tailsin just laid there with a silly smile on her face. How could she not have known she was pregnant? She let out a soft laugh and then looked at Adi, finally able to answer his question.

"What do you think silly!" She smiled and lowered her head again looking at her three beautiful children. What luck for Adi, two more girls and one boy, who looked so much like him.  

[Amy D]

Adi started as Tailsin began the process again, and he even darted out of view, a few paces back towards the jungle to find the birds. They'd know what was happening!

And then he darted back again, just in time to see the final cub arrive. He was like those stereotypical fathers-to-be, pacing about in anticipation, except he was just panicking really.

Even after it looked like Tailsin was at ease once more, he continued to pace about in this most bizarre manner. Get the birds...don't get the birds...she looked okay now, but what was he going to do about the squirming bundles?

Just what was he going to do...out of sight, Adi'sa stopped his pacing for a moment's contemplation. Out of breath slightly, and his heart thumping in his throat, everything ticked over. Panic finally ebbed away and allowed logic and reason to start working. He looked slowly towards the den entrance, like trying to fight a realisation.

This felt ten times harder than his struggle to grasp his feelings for Tailsin, and yet it had a little tug of nature. Something felt natural, something kept him rooted to the ground.

With steady steps, he approached and entered the den, his shadow falling over his family like a great big blanket. He followed suit, sitting down to curl about them all, as if penning them into safety.

His blue eyes fixed on his children, drinking in their appearance, their smell, their sound. That familiar expression on his face of everything trying to click into place.
 

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Tailsin was clearly taking this a lot better then Adi was as he had dissappeared out of view again and she wasn't quite sure what to do or say about it. She just waited and then he came in and curled around them.

"Are you ok Adi?"

She looked at him and just smiled she knew this was hard for him, he didn't seem to catch onto things very easily even when the three sleeping cubs in front of him. She just waited, she knew it would all fit in eventually and he would be happy. She couldn't believe that he wouldn't be. He had his own children to influence and bring up and had a son that was nearly identical to him!  

[Amy D]

Words didn't need to be said. There was just a knowing expression on his face, and a 'voice' in his eyes. For all his curiosity and accumulated knowledge, Adi'sa still lacked any decent ability to articulate himself. Ask him a question with a finite answer and he'd be fine. Ask him a question that was deep and he could struggle.

He shifted a paw to cover Tailsin's and smiled at her. Then leaned in to sniff and ultimately lick each of his children.

His. Children.