[PRP] Quality Time (Mzuza x Ayodele)

[MoonRazor]

Every day, Mzuza awoke and found herself marveling at the wonder that was her life. The children - the first children, anyway - were grown. Rei was around. The new children were growing. There seemed to be magic all around her - real magic - and for the longest time, that had seemed more than enough.

She hadn't felt the need to move rocks with her mind (or at least try to do so) in order to feel like there was something special going on in the world, and for so long, the small pebble that hung around her neck had been just that: a pebble.

Mzuza hoped that would never change, that somehow or other, she would remain this happy forever. She understood that everything was temporary, and that nothing really lasted forever, but maybe, just maybe, this would last long enough to see her through to the rest of her life.

Because there was nothing she loved more than opening her eyes to the sunlight streaming into the den and setting afire the coppers and golds that colored her children's pelts. There was nothing she loved more than watching the little rascals wake, one by one, and dash off for another long day of adventures and good fun. They made everything more worthwhile.

Today, the copper lioness lay half-asleep on a sunning rock, legs stretched out lazily before her. Every once in a while, she shifted to let the sun warm some previously unwarmed spot and smiled at how utterly lazy the day was. Oh yes, life was beautiful indeed, and Mzuza planned on enjoying it while it lasted.  

[DavyJnah]

Creeping slowly, the small cub stuck low to the ground before pouncing at her sunbathing mother. Her sharp teeth sinking in but not enough to pierce only enough to feel like an annoyance as she chomped down on her mother's tail. It wasn't something she usually did, but she felt like being a bit different today. Releasing her mother's tail she swatted at it with her paws, a grin on her face.

"Hi mom!" Her voice being a bit louder than she had expected before she bounded over to her mother's side, leaving Mzuza's fluffy tail alone. "Did you see me catch that beetle earlier?" She had been pretty exceptional if she didn't say so herself. It hadn't even expected her to pounce on it and then play with it. It was only later that she learned it was a dung beetle and shied away from such a creature. Gross. "I even roared at it. Wanna hear it? I think it sounds pretty cool." Not even waiting for her mother to respond she gave it her best and let loose her squeaky roar. "I could probably scare everyone off huh!"

Ayodele then rolled off the rock and to the ground, getting dirt in her golden fur. Probably going to earn her a cleaning, but she didn't care as she batted at the tall grass here and there. "I'm gunna grow up and be a mighty lioness!" And roared at the grass as she tousled with it.  

[MoonRazor]

Little pinpricks along her tail drew Mzuza's attention, and almost languidly, she raised her head to glance down at her tiny attacker. By now, the copper lioness had learned to expect antics like these, and even before her bright eyes took in Ayodele's blonde form, she knew it was one of the cubs.

Sometimes, Mzuza wondered what it would be like to have smaller, more tight-knit litters. She loved the hustle and bustle of a crowded den - and even more so now that Rei had returned for good - but she had to admit that it meant trading intimate time with each child for a rowdy, full house.

Still, she couldn't complain. Her first litter had grown, most of them into fine, responsible young adults. Rei was back, there were more children in the den, and Akairo and Twigg still hung around as honorary members of the family, pitching in to help with the children wherever necessary. Mzuza couldn't imagine a better living situation.

And there were, of course, moments like these that Mzuza knew she would cherish forever, those moments during the cubs' childhood that resonated with the child inside her. She could remember, almost like it was yesterday, the jokes and tricks she had played when she was Ayodele's age.

Smiling, the lioness lowered her head to nuzzle the little cub as she came bouncing over. "Hey there, sweetheart," she greeted her daughter. It didn't matter which cub came up to her, she always seemed to recognize a part of herself in them. "Well, of course you could!" She said with a nod, stifling a laugh as the cub roared and rolled about in the tufts of grass.

"You just keep practicing," she added. "That roar of yours will ring through the Pridelands one day, and every wildebeest in the land will hear it and tremble."  

[DavyJnah]

Her tiny ears perked up at her mother's compliment. It really warmed her heart to hear such words of praise, her soft red eyes sparkling with bits of cheerful tears. Leaving the poor bugs alone she bounded onto her mother's body, snuggling into her soft sunbathed fur. It was the sneeze that caught her off guard caused her to become unbalanced for a moment, righting herself as a cat like herself would. "You think so?"

Laying with her head on her paws, she grinned widely at the other female. What games could she get mother to play with her? "So mama, what are you doing?" The tiny cub swaying side to side on her elbows as her tail swished against her mother's body. Maybe they could go somewhere interesting together. Or maybe her mother could teach her something. So many other or scenario's that could happen. She was the type of cub to stay relatively close to her family and not wander too far, so doing something with them was always nice.

"Maybe we can go pouncing on things! Or to the watering hole! Or chasing stuff! Or playing with the grass!" The small cub exclaimed, giggling some.  

[MoonRazor]

DavyJnah

"Of course I do, Ayo," Mzuza said with a smile. "Especially if you've been practicing. The great Kings will see how much effort you're putting in, and they'll be more than proud to help you out." One day, Ayo and her siblings would grow up to be fine young hunters that would serve their home proudly. Maybe some would even take after their father and seek promotions to scouting.

At her daughter's next words, Mzuza shook her head with mock exasperation. "Oh, just wondering when your older brothers and sisters will bring some... friends home to meet us," she said with a laugh. Now that they were all grown, it was time they started looking for lions to settle down with, have a family maybe. There was nothing she wanted more than that for all her children.

"Well, the waterhole sounds like a good idea," Mzuza agreed, rising carefully and ducking into a nice, long stretch. "And we can pounce on things on the way there, how about that?"  

[DavyJnah]

MoonRazor

The cub pounced at her mother's tail once more, trying to catch the fluff in her paws before trouncing over to her side. "I hope they bring lots of friends." Grinning as she started to strike out further from her mother. "And I like that idea. I will catch all the bugs too." What a happy little playful cub she was. She wanted to aspire to be great. With a small snarl she pounced on the nearest thing, a rock. Viciously attacking it between her paws before once more going a bit further. "Come on momma, catch up!" Already taking the initiative to get on pouncing the poor defenseless bugs she could find.

She was already racing towards the watering hole. She could just play around it and see all sorts of creature who may be wandering about. Hopefully some birds would be playing on the side area that she could chase. Having already spent some time with her father she had needed this motherly bonding. A grin spreading across her face as she ran around scaring up the smaller game. Even bugs! So many bugs she was pouncing on.

"I love you momma!" She called back to the larger female. Having fun and also getting dirty. She knew though not to get too close tot he waters, who knew what was lurking in there that could snatch a small cub. But she rolled in the mud, dirtying herself up. This was the best day ever.