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 Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:21 pm
 It had been a long afternoon for Ihlo. The previous night and the morning had been spent in increasing discomfort, something that was alarming poor Ihlo. She was worried something was wrong. Of course, at this point, she was very very round indeed and it hadn't occurred to her that the discomfort and pain could be the start of labour.
She only discovered that when her waters broke.
After a brief panicky moment, shared with Njozi, she scuttled into their den. What followed was a lot of growls and grumbles, and general yowls of which Ihlo never knew she was capable.
It was worth it though.
Shuddering slightly from the exhaustion, Ihlo gazed down at her children. Hers and Njozi's children. Beautiful children, little angels and fallen stars.
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Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 11:31 am
 Njozi really hadn't been any more aware of what had been going on with his beloved mate than she had at first, although he had begun to get increasingly worried about her as time passed. He'd spent all night restless, which was saying something, as he usually slept like a log. The next morning hadn't been any easier, and he had just been about to go and get the elders when everything had suddenly become quite clear - of course, she had still had to tell him. Couldn't really blame the poor fellow though, could you? He wasn't female, and it wasn't as if he had had to do this before.
From that moment forward, he had planted himself at the entrance of their den, and unmovable guard that might as well have been made of stone. Nothing would get in to harm his beloved while he was here, not while she needed him. Despite her cries and her sounds of discomfort, he knew his place, knew where he was most useful, and he resisted the urge to abandon his post and go into the depths of the den.
After she had fallen quiet for some time, Njozi pushed himself to his feet, though he hesitated before he stuck his head through the entrance. He assumed that she was done, and therefor that it was alright for him to venture and see all of her hard work, but he didn't want to walk right in on her if she wasn't ready for him. Chewing at the inside of his lip, he blinked at the shadows that masked the den in the late afternoon, and let out a very soft call of his mate's name, "Ihlo?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 20, 2008 3:46 pm
Ihlo could just about see the form of her mate flickering about the den entrance. A gentle smile played on her muzzle, growing wider as she heard her name whispered.
"Come..." she replied in equally soft tones, already that warmth of motherhood glowing in her voice.
The transformation was startling. Oh, she didn't look physically different, aside from a very exhausted expression, but there was just something new about her. And it wasn't the five new additions to the family nestling against her stomach. She seemed to glow, as if instantly imbued with all the age-old wisdom of motherhood.
Ihlo craned her neck down a little, to gently lick at her cubs' heads.
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Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:47 pm
At Ihlo's invitation to come farther into the den, Njozi took a few slow steps, his hulking blocking out most of the sun's rays. For a moment, he stared into the darkness, only capable of making out the pale shape of his beautiful mate, but his eyes slowly began to adjust and they immediately widened as they fell upon the little balls of fur curled up against their mother's side. His jaw gaped and he simply stood there staring, lost in the moment, staring at the little family as if he had no idea this had been going to happen.
After a moment or so, he coughed, shook his head, and slowly took a place across from Ihlo. He leaned over the little bodies of his cubs, smiling from ear to ear, bright red eyes shining as he stared down at their little figures. "They're so tiny," he whispered softly, his voice low and carrying tones of awe and amazement. He shook his head, then glanced up slowly at his mate, his grin not faded in the slightest. "I don't know what to say, they're so.. beautiful."
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 7:49 am
"I don't think anymore need be said," she continued to whisper in serendipitous tones, like a divine mother.
If she had the energy, she'd have moved over to nuzzle her mate, but that would have disturbed the cubs anyway, so she merely shuffled as if to move closer. His expression was a sight to behold and a memory to treasure, the sheer look of joy and pride on his face made Ihlo feel so solid inside. Like she was invincible. Reality was far from the truth though and her eyes occasionally drooped.
"Our little angels..."
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Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 11:16 am
He shifted until he could move closer to her, confident that being this close to her and the cubs wouldn't bother her or step on the toes of her protective maternal instincts. He leaned in to nuzzle her, offer her comfort, share the feeling of joy with her that was radiating from every part of his being. He felt as if he could barely contain his excitement, his happiness, that he might burst at any moment, and yet he appeared outwardly as calm as he could possibly be. He knew his cubs needed rest, that his mate needed rest, and it was likely only that little tidbit that kept him from leaping for joy and acting quite the little fool at the moment.
"Yes, beautiful little angels," he whispered softly as he stared down upon them, a smile stretched across his face, wide and uncontrolled. He simply stared down at the little bundles of fur, letting his mate lean her head upon his larger and more sturdy form. Then, with a little smile, he leaned down to gently lick her cheek. "But we can't call them little angels forever, my love, they need their own names."
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Posted: Tue May 06, 2008 7:59 am
Ihlo was far from over-protective at the moment. To feel her mate's sturdy form shuffle beside her, and then act as a pillow, was just what she was hoping for. She leaned into him, her entire being slumping into fatigue, her head nestled into his thick mane and resting on his shoulder. Her body then sort of curled a little, as if sweeping her brood tighter to herself and to her love.
The perfect family picture.
"Hmmm.....names...." she said dreamily, slipping in and out of sleep. When she was awake, she looked down at the 5 hungry cubs, wriggling and mewling with life.
They were all so pale. She wasn't sure if that was just because they were young or if they stayed this colour forever. She could have asked her father actually, if she had been so pale as a youngster. They all looked like little fallen stars. So bright, so beautiful. She could see flashes of her heritage, her father in them - one had a shock of red hair, whist others had the markings. And there were definitely Njozi's side peeking in - the creamy pair as well as the rich brown hair she spied on the other pale cub.
"This one...Illeana...bright star," she said, using her tail to point to the pale female cub.
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Posted: Tue May 13, 2008 12:34 pm
He watched her in silence as she shifted to lean against him and get comfortable and a soft smile spread across his maw as she curled around their litter. Shifting slowly, he let his body lay down as well, so that they formed a semi-circle around the cubs, though he made sure that Ihlo's head could still rest carefully against his form. Confident now that the cubs were well protected and shielded, enough to give his beautiful mate peace, he let his attention fall upon the task at hand.
"Illeana," he said softly, as he stared down at the pale female that looked so very much like his mate and his mother, and he nodded in consent. "That is a beautiful name for her," he said quietly, his smile one of adoration as he watched the squirming cub. "What about Faris for this little one?" he said softly, his tail brushing lightly against the pale boy with the shock of black mane, "knight."
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 9:17 am
"Oh yes...I agree. Faris. The little knight...just like his father," she purred peacefully, nuzzling into her strong mate as she mentioned him. She brushed her tail over the pale male cub as well, as if it were some kind of christening gesture, a blessing of the name.
Ihlo's eyes scanned over them all for many moments, time just drifting by serenely.
"This one...so much like you...Alta...hmm, Alta'mwokozi...shining defender..." she uttered, brushing her tail gently over the male creamy one. "And his twin...Atla....Atla'naledi...heavenly star, like from the day you brought the stars from the very heavens...."
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Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 7:33 pm
"I like those names very much," he said softly, laying his head lightly against hers, a soft purr on his maw as he looked down at the four named cubs that curled against their mother's side. "Such beautiful names for beautiful cubs," he whispered, staring down at them as if he could barely believe, even now, that they were truly here.
"I think, for the last one, the one that looks so much like you," he whispered, "the little white and red boy, his name should be Ingelosi." He smiled, nodding to himself, "angel, just like his mother." He turned his deep red eyes to look up at her, then leaned in to lick her cheek affectionately.
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Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 1:05 pm
Ihlo smiled widely, her face almost unable to contain her joy. They were all named. All healthy. All fallen stars. And she knew they would make her and Njozi proud. She could see so much in them, even now, and unlike her deepest fears, she was excited to see what would come next.
She stretched to return the affectionate lick and snuggled up beside him.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:38 am
Njozi settled comfortably against his mate as she snuggled up against him, his head held high as he watched over both her and the cubs that lay between them. He would watch over them while she slept, watch over them until she woke, watch over them their entire lives. He couldn't explain the overwhelming sense of pride he had just looking down upon them, but he knew that today his life had changed, that it would never be the same after this. He had a family, a beautiful family, to share with Ihlo. For the rest of his life, they would define him as who he was, and he took more pride in calling himself a father than he did in anything else in the world.
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