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 Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:18 am
If her parents could see her now, what might they think? Their daughter had set out to rejoin the Firekin, not really knowing who she was, only who she sought and where she belonged. She had found herself out here, found her purpose, purposes, even, plural. Recently she had discovered that she was pregnant, though how she knew, exactly, she wasn't totally sure. She just felt a few of the changes. Now she made her way back from her newly appointed task with just one goal in mind: Find Azarax and tell him the news.
How did she feel about it... Well, she was thrilled, inwardly. For as quiet as she was Azarax, Kadogo, Uuo, and Ursa knew best what a strong family streak she had. Ties to family and friends were everything to her, and she hoped that the news of cubs of their own might at least help a bit with the pain Uddhava's soon leaving would cause. She wasn't related to the little cub, but he was family all the same, if you were to ask her. He was Azarax's younger brother, and more recently his younger sister had arrived too. With his coat color, though, he'd be forced to go once he reached adolescence.
To that effect she also felt a little nervous. What if one or more, or all of their children were also deemed Huria? There wasn't worry so much about Azarax's side, but hers, of the family. Her father had been blue, and all of her siblings carried that in some way. Somehow she had come out... "lucky", bearing some of her mother's marks, but in her father's mane's coloring.
She had to think positively though, even if the cubs came out blue, at least they'd have until adolescence with them, though it could never feel like enough. She was worried also about how the other children and the newly accepted Safi might treat such cubs...
So many questions, yet even those daunting thoughts weren't enough to numb her joy. It was easy to follow his trail once she'd picked up Azarax's scent. She hoped he wasn't busy at the moment, so she could pull him aside to talk.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:44 am
His paws seemed to have a mind of their own as he walked, keeping an eye and an ear out for anything that might seem even remotely suspicious. Patrolling not only helped to put his mind at ease, it also kept his body in shape, even if the exercise was light. More than that, though, it was a golden opportunity for him to be alone with his thoughts and to think things through. There was a surprising amount of them. Never before had he thought that he might be one to take so much time to contemplate the numerous aspects of life. And yet, here he was.
Lately, what weighed on his mind was Uddhava's fast-approaching adolescence. With each day that passed, the golden lion grew stronger, more capable, older. He wasn't the tiny, helpless little creature he had been when he had first arrived, but it was still a stretch for Azarax to realize it. When he looked at Uddhava, all he saw was the round face and merry eyes, clumsy oversized paws... That little thing that had made life so sad and awkward for while. And then, it had gotten better.
He still had little idea as to what he was supposed to do with cubs, but Uddhava had shown him that at least he could survive. They no longer scared him the way they used to, but they still made him uneasy.
And yet, it was ironic. He had wished for Uddhava to grow just a little more, to become more of a lion than a little alien critter mooching about the den, and now... He shook his head. The day was too fast approaching, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:54 am
She spotted him then, wandering what seemed a bit aimless, but not. Approaching her mate she greeted him with her usual calm about her.
"Azarax..."
His thoughts had been heavy recently, understandably so. She wanted to help but she had, after a time, finally learned that all she could do was be there for him, that nothing would simply make things better, nothing but time and continued support. She did her best from then on, trying to help him feel a little more light hearted rather than dwelling on the past, and to look forward to other aspects of the future, such as maybe being able to meet Udd again one day, seeing what a capable adult he'd become, being happy for him that he'd be able to see the world and would have family at his side that cared for him as much as Azarax had, enough to give up the rest of the family just to find him. Udd was very lucky, despite all the tragedy of their mother's death, he was... He had many that loved him, including Azarax, and he'd live. Ripuka and Azarax had made absolute certain of that.
Now there was new life to look after, or there would be. She hoped that Udd would be there long enough to meet his nieces and nephews soon.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:02 am
His ear swivelled at the soun dof Yin's familiar voice, and he turned his head toward it. A light seemed to spark through his golden eyes as they landed on the ocelot-spotted pelt of the white lioness, and a small smile graced his features as he changed his course toward her.
"Yin," His voice warmed as he greeted her. It was always such a joy to see her, and she seemed to provide a sort of parallel world for him to enter into, to escape reality whenever he needed to. It wasn't too often, but with Uddhava's upcoming departure, he was glad to make use of the bliss Yin's presence offered.
"You were looking for me." It wasn't so much of a question as an acknowledgement, an understanding. He could tell she had a purpose, even from the sound of her voice. The way she had called out his name. There was something more behind it than a simple greeting, and whether that was good or bad, he knew he would find out soon.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:20 am
It always gave her a tamed feeling of elation to see him brighten up just by her company alone, a combination of being glad to know that she could bring him such comfort and an affirmation of the love that had budded between them. She felt the same joy, and for that feeling to be reciprocated, she'd never have to worry about doubts seeding in her mind, that much she was certain of.
Still, since the arrival of the Safi she had been just a bit on edge in the open, usually, but today there was no tension, no feeling of being watched and no concern for the possibility of being judged by those that had once held infinite, self imposed rank and status over her, them. Two once slaves, one more wrongfully so than the other for the sake of his safety and tradition, were able to speak and move and act so freely now in the heart of the home that for many slaves had been like a prison. It gave her such a joy.
"I was, are you busy right now, love?" She asked quietly, greeting him with a purr, gently butting her head against his. She hoped he'd take the news well.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:30 am
Like Yin, the arrival of the Safi had weighed heavily on his mind too. He didn't believe for a moment that thirty-three of them could simply arrive and assimilate into the Simo, and that life would continue on as steadily as it had before. He couldn't, not only because he knew their motives for joining the Simo were not that they had seen change but was rather an act of self-preservation, but also because he had to. His position as General dictated his overcautiousness, his distrust. And while he knew he would feel guilt if, indeed, he was wrong, it was always better to be safe than sorry. If it meant he had to suspect a few of them unjustly, then he would do it.
He shook his head. "Any time of day for you, love," he said, smile stretching as he nuzzled the top of her head. "You know that." And indeed, if it meant he had run and catch the sun himself just to bring it and time itself to a stop for her, he would. He had his duty, and he had the love of his life. He knew which one was more important to him, and while he knew there would be times when he had to prioritize differently, Yin still came first.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:47 am
"I do... and I'm very, very fortunate for it."
She put thoughts of the Safi aside for the moment, thoughts moving back to the new life growing inside of her with the help of her mate, and smiling then she drew back enough to look him in the eye. Any time of day, he really was incredible. Her mother probably would have never believed such a beautiful thing would have come from such a long series of unfortunate events that led her to the Firekin borders.
"I have news... Azarax, you're going to be a father."
Her eyes smiled as she said this, watching for his response with eager curiosity.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:59 am
He felt a wave of love for her wash over him. He would never grow accustomed to it, even if he lived to be a hundred, he knew. And there would never be any words that could fully express just how important she was to him. She was his anchor to the world, she was the one constant factor he could count on in an everchanging world, and he knew he would be lost without her. But she would always be there.
She drew back, and as their gazes met, he felt something in the sparkle of energy between them, and he knew instantly it was something exciting. The unusual brightness in her eyes all but told him the news she relayed in words.
He was going to be a father.
For half a beat, he found worry festering in his heart. Cubs, now? Instantly his thoughts flashed to his own, and Uddhava's coats, and then to the newly-arrived Safi. And then to Udd's leaving, and... He took a breath, and when he did, he found himself peering deeper into Yin's neverending dark eyes, and instantly the worries vanished.
He saw the joy that gleamed in those dark eyes, an infectious joy, and a thrill ran through him.
He was going to be a father.
A grin split on his face, and he felt his heart race in exhiliration. Cubs! He felt as if he might burst, and foreboding as the idea of being responsible for little lives was, his mind had no room for such thoughts. Everything had been pushed out by that one simple sentence.
He was going to be a father.
"Oh, Yin," he breathed, as if in disbelief. The grin remained firmly on his face.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:43 am
The news, she'd dare say, was definitely happily received. She smiled brightly as excitement replaced fear and worry in his eyes.
"Isn't it wonderful?" She couldn't stop her own growing excitement, until it reached a point that she practically felt like a carefree cub again herself. She glanced towards her stomach and back up again. "We're going to be parents!"
It was as if telling him had confirmed this fact firmly in mind, and the calm air about her quickly vanished.
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:51 am
He nodded his agreement. "Nothing could be more wonderful, Yin." He said, a chuckle escaping him in his happiness. He knew that soon, he would settle in and grow more accustomed to the news, and then the gates would open for all the worries and fears in the world to come pouring in. He knew that it would happen, and he could only expect it to, not only because his way of dealing with fear involved sifting through each one and rationalizing them, but also because they were both new parents. Joyous and amazing as that sounded, at the back of his mind, he knew that it was cause enough for anxiety.
But he kept those thoughts banished at the back of his mind. They could resurface later, they could and they would. For now, though, nothing was more important than this moment. Because being in it, in this magical moment of adventure and discovery, with Yin, was like a whole new world altogether.
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