Tahja
The sun was rising high by the time Mosi made it back to the family den, exhaustion setting in slowly, but she stubbornly fought it back as she so often did. For once she didn't want to collapse into sleep as soon as she got back, but to actually spend some time talking things over with Juhudi, spend some time with him, relaxing. The days were longer now, her workload not much different, but the emotional toll that much more taxing. The lands were still grieving and in shock after what happened, having their queen and princess stolen right from under their noses, and for some of the older generations it was a second slap in the face after having just lost Mufasa and Sarabi before.
The dark lioness dragged herself tiredly into the base of the tree and took a preliminary sniff, wondering who was home. Was their second litter out, was Shin here?
"Anyone home?" She called tiredly, sliding down to rest on her stomach to one side of the tree's inner walls.
The dark lioness dragged herself tiredly into the base of the tree and took a preliminary sniff, wondering who was home. Was their second litter out, was Shin here?
"Anyone home?" She called tiredly, sliding down to rest on her stomach to one side of the tree's inner walls.
Amon
Settled in the branches of the hollowed tree that had long served as the family's home, the aging lion looked out beyond the taggled limbs to the grassland beyond. A soft sigh, tail flicking lightly against the trunk beneath, a rare worried expression touching his features.
It seemed history had repeated itself, and looking back now it did not seem that long ago that the old king Mufasa had fallen. Since that time he had found love, family, his children had been born and grown, two beautiful litters, it had seemed peace had returned to the land. And yet it had happened again, the queen had been lost, taken off to where he could not imagine. If such a terrible thing could happen again, what of his children, of his mate, were they in danger too?
An ear flicked, catching the soft sound of steps below, of a familiar voice. A smile crossed his maw, though it could not erase the worry, the fear from his expression.
"I'm up here. There's part of a zebra down there if you're hungry."
It seemed history had repeated itself, and looking back now it did not seem that long ago that the old king Mufasa had fallen. Since that time he had found love, family, his children had been born and grown, two beautiful litters, it had seemed peace had returned to the land. And yet it had happened again, the queen had been lost, taken off to where he could not imagine. If such a terrible thing could happen again, what of his children, of his mate, were they in danger too?
An ear flicked, catching the soft sound of steps below, of a familiar voice. A smile crossed his maw, though it could not erase the worry, the fear from his expression.
"I'm up here. There's part of a zebra down there if you're hungry."
Tahja
Ah, so her mate was home. Mosi did a quick sweep of the den, though her nose picked up the smell before her eyes caught sight, the necklace on her neck clacking softly with the movement. With a low rumble she advanced on the corpse and settled down to make a quick meal of some of it, fangs easily slicing meat away as she began to devour it.
A pause, and a few moments of silence, and finally she joined Juhudi up above still grooming the blood from her muzzle with a few quick licks. A heavy purr, and she tiredly buffered her head against his before lying down next to him.
"Where are the brats?" She asked, though only using the term in sarcasm and endearment. Their children were -always- pawfulls, but she loved them dearly, and wouldn't use such a term maliciously.
A pause, and a few moments of silence, and finally she joined Juhudi up above still grooming the blood from her muzzle with a few quick licks. A heavy purr, and she tiredly buffered her head against his before lying down next to him.
"Where are the brats?" She asked, though only using the term in sarcasm and endearment. Their children were -always- pawfulls, but she loved them dearly, and wouldn't use such a term maliciously.
Amon
Ears flicked within the red of his mane, catching the sound of each movement, though he made no movements from his perch, trusting his mate to join him when she wanted. It had been a difficult time, especially for her and he knew to allow her space if she needed it.
A soft smile as her head touched his, gentle purr as he returned the gesture, resting against her shoulder. It was a warm touch, and for some reason he felt suddenly as if he needed to cling to her, to hold him to her forever and not let go, as if a fear that he would lose her as well had suddenly taken hold. Perhaps it was understandable following recent events.
"Most likely out finding their own paths."
How they had grown, long past were the days the den was filled with the many voices of tiny cubs. Each child had grown strong, and the day fast approached that even their youngest would move on to find their own lives, their own families.
"They have grown beautifully, strong. And yet, I cannot help worrying about them."
A soft smile as her head touched his, gentle purr as he returned the gesture, resting against her shoulder. It was a warm touch, and for some reason he felt suddenly as if he needed to cling to her, to hold him to her forever and not let go, as if a fear that he would lose her as well had suddenly taken hold. Perhaps it was understandable following recent events.
"Most likely out finding their own paths."
How they had grown, long past were the days the den was filled with the many voices of tiny cubs. Each child had grown strong, and the day fast approached that even their youngest would move on to find their own lives, their own families.
"They have grown beautifully, strong. And yet, I cannot help worrying about them."
Tahja
Mosi shifted her head to rest over his paws, feeling the urge to be closer, though the thought never crossed her mind that she need worry about him or their offspring. It wasn't that Mosi didn't care, but worrying was something that the female just in general didn't feel often, very rarely. With her it was more of a regret that things couldn't be less troubling, wanting them to have the benefit of growing without excessive worries of their own.
"Hmm.... but you're right, they have grown strong. Even Sauda, I'd feel sorry for whatever creature tried to lay a paw on any of those four." She rumbled a bit tiredly, but no less convicted. There had trutfhfully only been one moment that Mosi had felt fear for her children's lives, and that was the day that boar had attacked Sauda, but Mosi had been there to ward it right back off, still, it was hard to shake that memory. "They're older and wiser now, all we can do is guide them along and watch them grow." She finished. "It's hard to believe that the tree might be quiet again after all this time."
"Hmm.... but you're right, they have grown strong. Even Sauda, I'd feel sorry for whatever creature tried to lay a paw on any of those four." She rumbled a bit tiredly, but no less convicted. There had trutfhfully only been one moment that Mosi had felt fear for her children's lives, and that was the day that boar had attacked Sauda, but Mosi had been there to ward it right back off, still, it was hard to shake that memory. "They're older and wiser now, all we can do is guide them along and watch them grow." She finished. "It's hard to believe that the tree might be quiet again after all this time."
Amon
He nodded quietly, tail flicking as if in contemplation. He did not disagree with his mate, their children would certainly be capable of defending themselves should the need arise, strong hunters and scouts, they inspired a deep sense of pride in their father. But still he worried for them, it was that same protective nature that had caused animosity between himself and his son-in-law, as it would with any mate one of his daughters chose. It was the one thing that frightened him, that he could not protect his children from what might seek to harm them, whether physically or mentally.
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. This wasn't like him, to sit here staring at the horizon, consumed with worry. He was a kind creature, happy, always opptimistic, always believing that that who had fallen watched over them from the stars, that it was from there he would one day watch his own children.
"You're right as always."
The smile was geniune, his chin coming to rest against the top of her head, the touch of a purr rumbling in his throat.
"It has grown rather quiet lately, it's peaceful, though I miss the chaos."
He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. This wasn't like him, to sit here staring at the horizon, consumed with worry. He was a kind creature, happy, always opptimistic, always believing that that who had fallen watched over them from the stars, that it was from there he would one day watch his own children.
"You're right as always."
The smile was geniune, his chin coming to rest against the top of her head, the touch of a purr rumbling in his throat.
"It has grown rather quiet lately, it's peaceful, though I miss the chaos."
Tahja
"Of course I am." Mosi smirked a bit in amusement, letting him shift as he wished. "But it's natural to worry too. You're a worry wart like my father." She laughed softly, licking his cheek before resting her head again and allowing him to rest his atop of hers. The thought of the silence versus the chaos, and the way that he'd worded the phrase did give Mosi pause. She glanced up as well as she could from her position, wondering. "Are you suggesting we remedy that situation...?" She questioned.
Amon
The lion paused, his head raised in startled surprise, a wry glance shot at his mate. A sentimental statement from a father who had not been prepared for the speed at which time passed, how quickly his children grew, her response had been unexpected to say the least.
"I--of course not."
The words left his mouth before he had a chance to think. But falling silent again, his thoughts drifted to the idea. Maybe he was, a kind-hearted lion, a cub at heart himself, Juhudi had always cherished the company of his children and his mate, of his family. Now the den seemed empty, quiet, though most of their children still shared the den (would Shin ever move out?), they seemed to spend more and more time away from home, occupied with their own games, friends, and the lives they had chosen.
"Well, maybe I am."
There was a playful look in his eyes as he spoke, a mischevious hint to his grin.
"And what would you do if I were?"
"I--of course not."
The words left his mouth before he had a chance to think. But falling silent again, his thoughts drifted to the idea. Maybe he was, a kind-hearted lion, a cub at heart himself, Juhudi had always cherished the company of his children and his mate, of his family. Now the den seemed empty, quiet, though most of their children still shared the den (would Shin ever move out?), they seemed to spend more and more time away from home, occupied with their own games, friends, and the lives they had chosen.
"Well, maybe I am."
There was a playful look in his eyes as he spoke, a mischevious hint to his grin.
"And what would you do if I were?"
Tahja
"...." She just grinned, having a feeling that he wasn't being entirely truthful with himself, but in a few seconds he'd probably realize this himself. Sure enough, a moment later, he confirmed her suspicions. The silent pause was proof enough of that even if his second reply wasn't.
She shifted, rolling onto her back, tucking her paws in against her stomach a bit to keep them out of the way.
"Do you want the truth, or the smartass answer?" She teased, reaching up a paw then to bop him harmlessly on the nose.
She shifted, rolling onto her back, tucking her paws in against her stomach a bit to keep them out of the way.
"Do you want the truth, or the smartass answer?" She teased, reaching up a paw then to bop him harmlessly on the nose.
Amon
His nose wrinkled, pale eyes gazing into orange, simply smiling as his head lowered to lick her cheek. She was beautiful, a trait he had never forgotten, though perhaps like all creatures sometimes do he had taken it for granted.
"When have you ever not given me the smartass answer?"
There was a hint of laughter in his voice, the gentle teasing between two energetic souls. A paw raised, settled to rest against her chest, his own nose nearly touching hers as he leaned close.
"But how about the honest one for a change?"
"When have you ever not given me the smartass answer?"
There was a hint of laughter in his voice, the gentle teasing between two energetic souls. A paw raised, settled to rest against her chest, his own nose nearly touching hers as he leaned close.
"But how about the honest one for a change?"
Tahja
A deeply amused laugh was Juhudi's answer, and Mosi used that same paw that had just batted his nose to slip around his neck, keeping him close so that she could lick his cheek in return, a rarely gentle and tender show of affection from the lioness.
"Who am I to say no...?" She purred, nuzzling her face against his, eyes closed.
"Who am I to say no...?" She purred, nuzzling her face against his, eyes closed.
Amon
A low purr rumbled in his chest, tail flicking to brush against hers. Paws resting over her shoulders, his head lowered to brush his cheek against hers, to revel in her closeness, in her touch.
"Who indeed."
His eyes closed, all worry, all fear, all the world forgotten for that brief moment. For now nothing else matters, all that mattered was that the two of them were together, that this moment existed now. And whatever may come, whether there were to be more children in the future or not, they always had each other, and so long as they were together, then that was all he needed.
"Who indeed."
His eyes closed, all worry, all fear, all the world forgotten for that brief moment. For now nothing else matters, all that mattered was that the two of them were together, that this moment existed now. And whatever may come, whether there were to be more children in the future or not, they always had each other, and so long as they were together, then that was all he needed.
