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 Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 12:54 pm
It was just a hunch. Nothing to get excited over. Just a hunch. No positive proof.
She'd been repeating that mantra softly off and on for two days, but truthfully it didn't seem to work. Tai was very strongly convinced that she and Ezeoha had succeeded in conceiving, and that soon there'd be new lives to celebrate, to raise again. In the end she couldn't help but seek the young male out to give him the "news", though it was hardly any news at all. They had been aiming for that after all, and with no solid proof it would neither be a surprise nor for certain until the cubs, if there were truly cubs, were born.
Swiftly the mother moved from Pride Rock and into the heart of the Pridelands, the grasses sweeping high to brush and tickle her sides as she padded through the land. Ezeoha had mentioned enjoying his solitude, would he be out here somewhere, or out there elsewhere?
"Ezeoha?" She called curiously, eyes sweeping the area.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:06 pm
The litter that he had almost been positive that was on the way had finally made it, and admittedly... it was going to be a handful. There were seven darling new lives for Ezeoha to enjoy, and he found every single one of them to be precious to him. It had been hard enough to leave them with their mother so that they could nurse and rest. All Ezeoha wanted to was sweep them up into his paws and hold them against his chest. He wanted them to know that he was their father, and that he loved every single one of them. The golden pridelander even had the pleasure of helping name the cubs, something that at times he missed for various reasons (one being that he didn't know he had gotten a female pregnant). The cubs had turned out to be a perfect combination of Ezeoha and Kohpi, with just a few surprises thrown in there. One cub had turned out brown, and another one black. They were in his genetics, of course, but it still surprised and pleased him. Some part of him didn't like Denahi showing up in his latest batch of cubs, but he could deal with it.
The lion had been on his way back to his den when he heard his name carried upon a sweet voice. His red eyes blinked, because that voice was definitely familiar. It was the voice of someone he had been intimate with, and in fact belonged to a lovely white lioness whom he did enjoy being around. Tai. He smiled softly to himself, and began to head in the direction of which he had heard that voice. He wondered what had brought her out to the edges of the Pridelands so soon, because surely the cubs, if there were any, would not be arriving for any time. Ezeoha was sure that she wouldn't even know for certain if she was pregnant or not. It was still too early... Hmm... maybe she wanted to give it some more shots and the reproduction-thing. Now, that was something Ezeoha would enjoy, some more alone time with Tai.
"Tai!" He called out to her when he finally saw her, and closing the distance he greeted her with a quick nuzzle against her cheek. It was a small, slightly affectionate action, one he deemed himself able to give in the case that she was carrying his cubs.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:34 pm
Ah, there he was! Tai stopped, smiling as he approached, and purred as he nuzzled his face against hers in feline greeting.
"Hello again, Ezeoha. I was starting to wonder if I'd find you today." She commented. "Are you doing well today?"
She thought she detected.... the scent of new life? Had he another litter just recently? Her tail swished a few times behind her, growing a little more anxious and showing it in rare form. She wanted to know for sure if they had their own on the way, if she'd be able to experience motherhood again. Why did mother nature have to take so long to give answers, she thought with mock annoyance and genuine mirth.
"And, is that the scent of newborns, Ezeoha? Congratulations, if so. You must be very happy." She smiled.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:47 pm
"Hmm, I'm sorry. It seems I make it difficult for anyone to find me. If you ever want instructions to my den, I have a son who's identical to me that lives in Pride Rock who'd gladly show you the way. It'd keep you from spending wasted time looking for me." He knew Shaji would lend a willing paw to anyone who came about looking for him. He had taken up with Kiasi for the soul purpose of helping her raise her cubs, so he could be dragged away for a little bit to show Tai where Ezeoha lived if the lioness ever came to need him direly. That was the good thing about having cubs, some of them turned out to be rather miraculous creatures, and Shaji was one of those. He put everything and everyone before himself, which had oftentimes caused his family some troubles when it came to making sure that he was well. "I'm doing well, and you?" he replied, hinting slightly with 'you' as in to include any possible signs of life within her.
A grin broke out across his face when she smelled the scent of new life on him, making it quite clear that he had indeed had a new litter to enjoy spending time with. It wasn't something a lion like Ezeoha could keep hidden. He prided himself on being able to bring new life into the world, and could never hide it from someone like Tai. "Yes, it is! And, thank you, I'm quite happy. There's seven of them, and all look either like me or their mother, which makes me quite proud. It took all of my will to get me to leave them alone for a little while. They are precious."
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:27 pm
"It seems to be a very joyous time in the Pridelands." Tai responded with a soft croon, expression equally soft. "My 'sister' only recently had a large litter herself, and I just spoke with a young female also bearing cubs. If you count yourself, Ayato, and me, it's a sure sign that spring must be around the corner if not already here." She laughed gently at her own joke, not going too high in volume, but sounding no less sincere. "I shall have to remember that, though if all is well I might need to send someone in my stead next time."
It was true, her duties kept her very busy at Pride Rock, always little ones to tell stories to, to look after, and then there was the pleasant joy of sunbathing that she couldn't bring herself to skip. The time would come soon, if she was as they hoped, where she'd need to send someone else to deliver the news to Ezeoha.
"Likewise... I can be found at the communal dens there with my other children, if you've ever a need to find me. I came to tell you that I think that we might have succeeded. It's only a hunch but, they have yet to prove me wrong."
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 2:45 pm
He chuckled smoothly as he sat down, his tail curling at his side as he relaxed and made it clear that he wasn't going to be moving for a little while. "Well, I am under the belief that the Pridelands is forever trapped in the season of love. Recently there has just been litter after litter, and there are least several litters of cubs nearly at a time roaming about the lansd. I've made my few contributions, so it's easy for me to see that it is unlikely the Pridelands will ever stop having a hefty amount of cubs." He shrugged his shoulders and smiled briefly at her before continuing on, "Congratulatiosn on the births within your family, though. It must make you happy to think that you might soon be joining them. None of my relatives have recently had litters - or at least, litters that I am aware of." Some times he did not doubt that if a sibling had cubs, he would be the last to know. He had a good reputation in his family, one that everyone was aware of. It was harder to make friends with his siblings that way.
"I'm sure Uzalishaji, my son, would gladly come in your stead if need be." Ezeoha would consider it good fortune if Shaji came to him after having been sent by Tai. That would mean cubs were on the way, and it would also mean that he got to play a major role in their upbringing. It made him phenomally happy that Tai wanted him to be a part of the family. He wouldn't dare speak of how upset it made him when he couldn't take part in a family he had contributed to.
"I imagine that I will have no trouble finding you, you're likable, and your family seems to be rather large. I'd run into one of them eventually." An elated grin broke out across her face when she described her 'hunch', and unable to resist he stood back up and took a step forward so that he could nuzzle his cheek against her's once again. "Oh, I do hope we succeeded and that your hunch is not wrong. I cannot wait to witness even more new life."
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:13 pm
"Hmm... I suppose that's true. I'm glad, though, it means I'll never be out of a job." Another short laugh, this time as the lioness settled down following Ezeoha's show of affection. She didn't dare mistake it for anything serious, nor did she feel the need to try. They were after a common goal, a common love, all of which would be poured into new lives if they managed to create them. She wondered if they did what they'd have. Boys, girls, she'd only had two daughters so far, here, though she'd also had her adopted daughter, Zuri. She wondered briefly then how her other children would react. She really only worried about Azi though... She seemed... possessive as of late. "Yes, I am. I'm starting to think it must be a contagious desire in our family, starting new lives. As if it's not hard enough just looking after unrelated little ones."
She'd not have it any other way though, and was only joking.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:29 pm
"It means too that the cubs will have plenty of friends, and should turn out nice and balanced." Ezeoha was fortunate that all of his children were well-behaved. Even Nunda, who Ezeoha fashioned hated him from the depths of his heart, was a good lion. He had always been more interested in bugs than girls, but that had aided him in turning out into a fine lion, and Ezeoha would not change him for a thing... not even change the way Nunda felt about him. Ezeoha deserved it, for leaving Chinara. Of course, he hadn't meant for it to turn out the way it did. Ezeoha had helped bring into the world another litter of cubs, and he could not think of dumping them on China when the mother had dumped them all on him. So, he had separated himself from her. He had paid her visits frequently, but in the end it hadn't gone well. China had gotten sick, and Nunda hated him, and Ezeoha considered it the greatest mistake of his life. It still hurt him to think about it.
Ezeoha meant nothing serious by his affections. It simply came with the possibility of him being a father soon. He couldn't help but show affection to the mother of his possible cubs, and it demonstrated his loyalty to her... and loyalty to their possible cubs. "Ah, I wish the contagion would pass on to my family. I'd love to see my children settle down and start families of their own. But, they do like to take their time with these things." He chuckled softly, red eyes glistening with mirth. "Oh, but I think you secretly enjoy it, having all those little paws around to distract yourself with. You can't deny it to me."
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:59 pm
"Seems as though you've seen right through me." She teased calmly, resting her head on her paws. "Hmm. Lay with me for a while, Ezeoha. I've given up my sunning rock to look for you today, so it's your responsibility now to keep me warm." She grinned teasingly as she stretched out on the sun bathed ground, under the shade of the grasses that flattened beneath her weight.
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:07 pm
"I can be startlingly intelligent when I want to be, though with that I say I rarely want to be overly intelligent." Ezeoha couldn't help but chuckle throatily at her invitation, and he simply was not a lion to deny a lady's request. Rising to his feet, he took the few steps needed to situate himself next to tai. He laid down next to her, pressing the warmth of his body against her own. He wasn't as good as a rock, but somehow being living made him just a little bit better in this situation. Affectionately he licked her cheek, simply treasuring the moment. Rarely did he ever 'cuddle' with someone who was not a direct member of his family. He had cuddled with his children, and his mother when he was young... but no one else. It was a nice change, something he could become used to if he allowed himself to be. But, his relationships would never become something like this... and remain that way. They'd likely become good friends, and stay close until their cubs grew up and moved out. Beyond that, though, their relationship would likely dwindle into acquaintances once again.
It was vaguely depressing.
"I may not be as warm as a rock, but I hope still that I am better," he purred throatily, and inched closer to the warmth of her body. "I do so apologize for keeping you away from your sunning rock, though. I'll try not to do so in the future."
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:27 pm
Yes, he was better, much better than an inanimate rock, at least today when she craved that companionship.
"Yes, Ezeoha, you certainly are." The pale mother purred, shutting her eyes and enjoying the proximity and affection, crossing one of her paws over his in return, a foreboding answer coming to foretell the future as well as the present. "And I know you won't disappoint."
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Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:34 pm
His heart gave a little jump in his chest as he felt her paw close over his own, because rarely did he share this kind of intimacy. It wasn't the intimacy of two creatures in need, but of two creatures that simply desired the company of one another. It made him feel a little awkward, but also a little... nice. His paw turned, toes closing around her own in an affectionate gesture. Ezeoha knew at that moment how easy it was to love someone. It had been easy to fall in love with China, but that love didn't last. He didn't expect his affection for Tai to last and grow stronger. It would dwindle, but for the time being this was nice. "Hmm, I thank you for the vote of confidence in me." Once again another smooth chuckle rolled out of his throat, and he was simply enjoying what peaceful time he got with Tai. Soon enough it wouldn't be so peaceful, not with little paws running around in their den.
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