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It seemed the sun was setting, though looking to the horizon one would see a sun just fully exposed. No, the sun she was thinking of was time. From the moment she innocently met that leopard, to now, her life revolved around her cubs. For a while, she felt she was their whole world, the one that proved food both from her body then going out and hunting. For all the inconstancies of their young lives, being born in one place, brought to another, and all the males that entered their lives and left, she was the consistent. Her and Kamaria had always been there, always active the lives of the unexpected little wonders.

Sighing softly, the young mother reflected on all the lions, and the leopard, that had entered her life and left it. From her mother and aunt, to Aten, Kyp, and most painfully, Thili. While she tried her best to hide it from her cubs, and mentally accepted it, her heart ached for the dark lion that took a piece of her very heart with him when he left all those months ago, still hadn't returned. There were others that could leave her life; six little lives she had watched grow and now feared might strike out on their own. They were nearly grown, still juveniles but getting closer to the point they would be able to completely fend for themselves.

Her left hindfoot twitched violently, the only outward sign besides her troubled eyes that showed she was upset. It was a habit of hers, hiding everything that bothered her, letting out only the foot twitch to show much of anything.

Breathing in the early air, the salt becoming almost unperceivable because she was so used to the ocean air, she pulled herself back from her thoughts. From her den, she could watch the waves creeping forward then pulling back. She could not pull back; the lioness had tried to spend every moment with her cubs, teaching them as much as she could, including trying to make up for their lack of a father. Odd balancing teaching, especially to her boys, that males should stay around those they love and having to contend with Thili's love of her and her cubs and yet he left.

Looking to the dark den, she called, "Wake up, my darlings, who wants to come and explore with me?" One response was typical, and she knew it would come. However, would any of her other cubs like to come and spend time with her? Sewelo always did, but it seemed she had almost no time with any of the other cubs unless it was all of them together.



Typical, Sewelo was up as soon as he heard his mother's voice, not as mindful not to bump into his siblings, the bundle of energy and fur was racing out of the den before sleep was even completely gone.

Nuzzling his mother's leg, the black and white leopon yawned before proclaiming, "I want to go!" Anywhere his mother went, he wanted to go.

Sewelo hadn't realized that he had woken up his brother; then again his mind wasn't on his sibling. Though the result was great, grinning widely, he met his brother’s look with a sheepish one of his own. A large smile can fix anything; at least it was his quick fix before a run to the other side of his mother.

Sentatla gave a soft but disapproving look to Sewelo, while she was delighted Asphamet would come out to join them, it was how he was woken up that wasn't good. Getting the same big grin, she shook her head and chuckled lightly before turning to the darker cub. Waiting to let him scratch in piece, she then dropped her head to nuzzle her little son and give a good morning lick, "Good morning, sleepy head." Seeing as Asphamet was awaken before he wanted to be, she offered him the chance to decide where they would go.

Looking up to the waves, her eyes traveled to the roguelands to the far distance, there was no dark lion in the distance. Turning her attention back she asked him, "Where would you like to start, Asphamet? A walk on the beach, the waves or into the jungle, you get to choose?"

Sewelo gave his opinion, "The waves are a lot of fun!" Then again, they had lived in the Bahari lands since they were very young, he wasn't the only one that got out and played constantly, after all.

Sewelo was always an up and ready to go little ball of energy, the fact that some of his siblings were not escaped him completely. Grinning, he sat and wait for his brother to say what they would do first in the morning. With so much to do, so many things to get into, there was no time to waste!

Waves? Awesome! Jumping up, he was all ready to play when he got the cuff to the ear. With such a scary rawr, he mentally promised revenge and bound after his brother, determind to get to the water first. Ocean water would be bound to really wake up mister sleepy-fur.

With a gentle smile, she watched her cubs play. Such different personailities, Asphamet's would serve him well, being impusive and always on go can lead to dangers. The Ocean only knows how lucky Sewelo has been with his attacking anything in sight, only to have what he went after to be friendly. Those were worries she hardly had with white-tiped tailed son. She found it interesting to see what they inhereted from their father, and of her. Asphamet was the only one to get her white tail, even if it didn't have a tuft.

Following after the cubs, she was silent and reflecting, but always on the alert. Nothing, not even a hermit crab could come near her most preciuos loves, her cubs, without her seeing.

Sewelo grinned at his own cleverness, running full into the cool waves to get nice and soaked. Sporting the look of a drowned rat, he moved into action. Running out of the waves, like he was playing tag with them, he kept going. Within two feet and bam! Shaking his fur throughly, he puffed up completely, and dislodged the water his coat was carrying to everything around him in an effort to get his brother.

Caught in the water fight, Sen pulled her head back to avoid getting salt water in her eyes, but other wise didn't run from the water. Laughing lightly, seeing the spirited fun as nothing but good natured, she looked to her other son. Probably not something he enjoyed very much, she thought. This play was important in her eyes, how he handled it would be telling and a good morning splash might be enough to perk him up.

This was all fun and games for him, his brother's reaction was like winning. Laughing loudly, he stuck is tongue out playfully at his big brother, acting every bit the younger sibling, even if they were only born minutes apart not years-- not like you could tell it.

Seeing how his brother was only fun to mess with when he was all grouchy, he asked, "Must you be not energetic? Come on, have fun!" The good natured jest was followed by a demonstration on how to have fun. Leaping into the waves, he never went far enough that it was too deep for him to stand, but he still had fun.

Settling near Asphamet, the young mother kept a closer eye on Sewelo then she did on Asphamet, the older cub was smarter and it was more likely she'd have to rescue her younger one. "It is not a bad thing to take things slower, Asphamet. The hare might be faster in the morning, but the tortoise doesn't get eaten, though, the cheetah aren't normal meals either." Her voice was warm and meaningful; they were safe here so he didn't have to worry about suddenly being awakened to fight off something. Here, they were safe to be cubs, always loved and cared for without the fears of attack. The only problems she felt they had were the lack of a father and the constant abandonment. Once Thili came back, even that would be a distant bad dream.

Wiggling his butt a moment, Sewelo jumped forward. Not only was the wave pounced, but now he had more white from the sea foam! Laughing, the self play was only stopped when his brother asked him a question. Stopping, he answered matter of factly, "Because, playing in the river later takes care of that, besides, harder to clean is the point." Grinning at his mother, he went right back to playing.

Senatla laughed warmly and replied to the little black and white cub, "You will still get that bath, but nice try." She saw right through that reasoning, some cubs don't like the baths. They were fun now, the excuses and the escape attempts. Asphamet was so cute, poor thing was still sleepy. Sewelo shouldn't have woken him up like that, though she enjoyed the time with him. Leaning over, she gave him another nuzzle. On the positive side, Sewelo would play himself out, for a few hours, give Asphamet the time to wake up more and there was more time to spend with her beloved oldest son.

It had been random affection, her poor cubs have been blessed with a mother who was naturally affectionate and felt she had to give them even more to make up for their lacking a father. Smiling warmly, her smile slacked a bit she heard how her little oldest son phrased his comment to his younger brother. "Asph, son, sometimes I think you are a grown lion in a little cub body, its not a bad thing, so long as you are happy." Old man syndrome as it were. She didn't want it to sound like she was critizing her son, so she added that she only wanted him happy, even though she found it hard to think he could be very happy when he seemed so removed from his other siblings. It might just be what she sees, however, and not the reality

While the rest of her cubs called her momma, mommy or mom, she was mother to him. She hadn't tried to do anything to get the full formal title. All she could think was that he was possibly trying to make up for the lack of a father by steping up more then he needed to, or using as a protective method. Whatever the reason, she didn't want his happiness ruined because of her, or because of anything. Perhaps it was just the way he was, she would never know, but if he was at least happy, then it was as it was.

Sewelo shot back, running back to the shore, "Says you, 'sides its just baths I don't like. Momma wouldn't let us play in the water if it were a bad thing." He had full faith momma wouldn't let anything harm him, so he was for the most part carefree. Shaking off his fur, he was nice enough not to do it right near either brother or mother. It was time to figure out how to get his big brother into the water.

Sewelo yawned, shaking his head as his eyes opened, the brown orbs on his big brother. It took him about a half a second before he figured out what was going on. Coping his brother's form, he began growling playfuly. Wiggling his butt, he tensed up and shifted his shoulders, before jumping to the side and taking back off for the waves. It wasn't running away, it was chosing his 'battlefield'.

Looking back, he stuck his tongue out in playful jest, tail moving side to side for balance.

Sen watched, sitting down and supervision their play. Smiling, she enjoyed watching her cubs interact and play around. This was the place they deserved, where they could be themselves and enjoy life without want for food danger from preditors, biggest trouble would be those preditor birds, but they couldn't lay a feather on her babies. As well, they were getting so big, nothing but other felines could possible threaten them.