((RP done over AIM. Randy2love in Orange, Ac.Wings in black. ))
It had been merely a week since their arrival. The cubs had been ajusting to the new life of their new home. Asenath herself had taken a great interest in the Prince Jarom but still loved to play with her sisters and spent most of her time with them or with Siku. She looked up to the female almost as if she were their mother since she didn't remember her real one.
It was at this time that she started to thread her way between Siku's legs, her large red eyes batting up at her. "Have you seen any of my sisters, Siku?" She asked in an all too angelic voice, considering she was normally up to some trouble such as running off.
Eyal was purely at home now. It showed in the way he reacted, how he knew every part of the land and became prouder and maybe kinder. He was laying out in the sun, feeling rather lazy after so long of traveling. It was unlike him but he was pleased to be home in his pride and with his king. He glanced up at Siku with a smirk, watching the young cub pester her. He wouldn't admit it much out loud but he was taken with the three females and loved them all dearly. His gaze slid up to Siku, his tail twitching. Four. His mind corrected. Four females.
The thought was quickly shaken from his head as he lifted it to give a great yawn. "Siku..." He said as he stepped down from his rock, his pawprints heavy against the ground. "Is she pestering you?"
"No, daddy!" The young cub voiced innocently.
The young lioness shook with laughter as the little cub danced and twirled around her paws. Eyal's children were so energetic, espeically Asenath. She was always up for adventure and ready for anything. If Siku didn't know better, she'd have to say that Asenath reminded her a lot of herself at that age; always scrambling about looking for something new to occupy her thoughts and ideas.
Ever so slowly Siku scanned the ground in hopes of finding one of the little cub's sisters. She squinted her eyes in hopes that it would help, and in no time she saw an array of yellow tuft showing past a rock not too far away.
"Well my little one, I think I see Tesni sleeping not too far from where your father rests." The jungle lioness replied as she gave away the cub's sister's hiding place. To justify her act of betraying one of Eyal's other cub the young lioness thought that Tesni needed to play more. After all, what would one gain sleeping the day away anyways? Besides, it was better if it was her discovering Tesni slacking than her fatherl, Eyal.
Speaking of Eyal....
Siku's eyes fell away from Tesni to focus in on her father. The great male's eyes she could see were focused on the cub at her feet. Yet when they suddenly rose to meet hers, like a antelope spotting it's predator she quickly darted her eyes away from his. Like the days before when silly things such as meeting gazes with Eyal, Siku could feel something wriggle and squirm in the bowels of her stomach. Not only did she feel sick there, but her chest too felt strange. It felt like...she had a million butterflies released inside of her and they found their way into her chest and couldn't find a way out.
The lioness nearly jumped out of her fur when Eyal's deep voice tickled her ears. A dozen shivers rippled down her spine as the question, 'How does he do that?' came to Siku. It just wasn't fair. How did the male get such a power that he could control her enough to reduce her to a lump of swirling jitters?
Kisikusiku stared up at Eyal with a look mixed with sick happiness and confusion. It wasn't until she shook her head to free herself from the quivers when she realized he had asked her a qustion. "Um...N-No. Asenath is fine. She's been very good. No trouble at all." The lioness replied with a genuine smile at the male.
Asenath whirled on her little paws and grinned almost evily. Oh she had a mischevious side to her a mile wide. She darted off to her sister's naping place and grinned. She stopped short and wriggled her hindquaters in the air before pouncing. "TENSI!" She shouted, playfully bitting at her sister's ear. "WAKE UP! TENSI!"
Well if Eyal didn't know she was sleeping before he did now. He turned his gaze from Siku and let out a low snort. He looked toward her again. He was unsure of the way she shivered and shook at times or the way her voice quivered when he was around. Maybe she was afraid of him but he doubted it. If she was that would be a very sad thing for him indeed. Her smile made him raise his head a bit higher and lift swirl his ears to face her. "Good..." His deep voice rumbled as he approached closer to her, looking out. "The cubs certainly spend a lot of time with you." He commented idly, sitting down so that his tail was very gently brushing against Siku's side, flickering as he watched his daughters. "I was thinking... I did promise to teach you to fight, didn't I? Perhaps its also time for the cubs to get their first pouncing lessons... for when they become huntresses."
The little cub who had been dreaming peacefully to the point that she was wearing a big goofy smile on her face jumped a mile high when her name was called. She cried out loudly and scrambled to her feet at the shout while fleeing blindly to the corner. With a racing heart she whirled her head around to see what exactly had awaken her in such a rude fashion.
The sight of her sister, standing where she had been snoozing and looking so proud of herself boiled the cub's blood. Immediately she bounded forward and leaped at Asenath. "ASENATH! YOU BIG BULLY!" She screeched, aiming to pin her sister down and teach her some manners.
Siku's eyes were torn from Eyal when she heard the cub's shouts as they scrambled back and fourth. A light chuckle rose from her throat before she turned to look back at Eyal. She certainly took notice of the tuft of fur hat glided two and fro over her but the young lioness didn't voice it. Siku remained silent and simply sat back to enjoy the touch.
Her ears rose at Eyal's words and for a moment she rolled the idea around in her head. He did promise her that, and the cubs needed to learn....especially looking at how clumsy they were now. Especially Tesni as she scuttled about like a sand crab in her search to pin down her wayward sibling.
"Yes, I think that would be a good idea. Just remember, they're little so you shouldn't push them too hard. If you do, they won't like practicing and it'll be very difficult to teach them." The lioness reminded him with a smile on her face. "Then you'll have a whole bunch of healers like me, and I don't think a warrior chief wants that of his cubs." She teased although she couldn't see his cubs shuffling through the tall grass in search of a certain herb.
Asenath giggled wildly at the way her sister jumped. She grinned, her head held high. "I came to play but you were sleepin! How borin'!" She responded turning tail when Tesni came after her. She laughed as she bounded over sticks and rocks to avoid the pounce, sneaking off to hide behind a rock and wait.
"Yes...I think I know how to make it ...fun." The word rolled oddly off his tongue. He turned to Siku. "Having healers isn't a bad thing... if they're like you." He looked forward. "You may teach them if you want. They will do well knowing how to heal, hunt, and fight."
"Well I wanted to sleep you big meanie!" The little yellow cub hissed as she paused in her wild chase. Angry and narrowed pink eyes watched the other youngster slip beyond the rock for cover. Still seething with rage, Tesni growled and stalked towards her sister's hiding place. She wanted revenge. It was ridiculous to be woken up just for this! All she wanted to do was take a nap. Why did she have to go and be disturbed?
"Show yourself, Asenath! Or else!" The cub threatened before she hopped behind the rock. Of course she was expecting to run into her sister so she leaped forward at full speed.
Siku chuckled at the thought of Eyal attempting to make something fun. It sounded pretty silly coming from him. Yet she had to admit, the older lion was capable of making a bad situation enjoyable. He had already proven that to her plenty of times, so it wasn't impossible.
"Well, that's sweet of you." Once more a shiver raced down Siku's spine when Eyal complimented her. Probably he didn't think of it as much, but his words certainly had an effect on her heart. In just a few moments it was already racing like a cheetah in her chest. "If you want me to though, I wouldn't mind teaching the girls how to heal. Like you say, it'll come in handy when they're older."
Anseath ran at full speed to escape her angry sister. She giggled in mirth unable to contain her laughter behind the rock. "Or else whaaat?" She mocked from the safety of her rock. She glanced up in time to see her sibling coming at her and let out a wayward squeal more befitting of a bird before scrambling to get out of the way.
Eyal sat down beside her and let out a mighty yawn, showing off all his teeth. He gazed over at her then streached out, digging his claws into the earth. "Good. Soon... I wouldn't want them to end up wounded dirting a hunt. Maybe the King would be willing to make you the healer of the pride." He picked himself up and started off. "First thing is first. Those two need to know how to pounce. They're doing terribly."
Tesni snarled and as quickly as she could the little cub scrambled after her sister. With all her might she tried to grasp a piece of hair or fur between her outstretched claws. "I'm gonna get you!" The youth howled, barreling after her sibling as she leaped over wayward rocks and broken tree limbs. She was in hot pursuit now! Anseath wouldn't win!
Siku glanced to the side Eyal sat on and smiled as he yawned and relaxed. Her blue eyes graced over his form that no longer stretched due to tense bulging muscles. The male was back in his land, where he could relax and be at ease. "I think they're doing pretty good if you ask me. Both excel in agility, and yes their pouncing could use some work but they're just cubs, Eyal. Let me play. I used to do that with my siblings all the time." Her eyes then fell back to watching the youths leap and run. "They are of your blood. I wouldn't worry too much. If they get hurt, even if I am not classified as a healer I will still heal their wounds. I did that for you, so I will do it for them."
"No you're not!" Her sister called back at her, trying to escape. She glanced over her shoulder and let out a cry, runing faster to try and find something safe like a tree.
Eyal glanced back at Siku then to the cubs. "Yes but the earlier the age the better..." He glances up then sighs and nods. "Alright then."
Tesni growled and pumped her muscles with high hopes that in doing her speed would increase. With enough speed, her trickster sister would be easy to capture. Already she was riding close to her tail. If she so desired, Tesni knew she could reach out and possibly grasp the tuft of fur in her mouth. "You're...Mine!" Tesni snarled as she leapt forth, her paws outstretched to resemble the huntress stance.
Siku smiled at Eyal and nodded her head as she too glanced out to stare at the two young cubs. There was so much life running through their little bodies. Their father's determination and strength shown like the sun in the way they moved and held themselves. They were their father's cubs alright.
Asenath might have the brains but speed isn't her ally. She's so concentrated she has her eyes closed trying to escape Tensi's wrath. "AH!" The cub cried out as her sister suddenly landed on her and caused her to tumble to the ground in a fit of limbs and her tail.
Eyal lifts his ears and shifts as the two tumble, ready to dive in should either one get hurt and need him. Being a father had change his views on his cubs in extreme ways. He was protective of them. They were his blood and if they were harmed he wouldn't hesitate to destroy whatever caused them pain.... unless it was each other. Then a scolding was needed. He lowers his head, keen eyes focused on the cubs.
A loud yelp was released as Tesni and her sibling fell to the ground. For a moment she scrambled to keep her sibling pinned due to loosing her grasp once they had collided. But being a quick one, her paws latched onto Asenath's shoulders and pushed her against the shifting dirt.
"Ah ha!" The little cub roared with pride. "I have caught you, sister." She cries out in fierce jubilation. At last! She had caught the mischevious one using a move that rarely gave her any luck.
"Shhh...Eyal." Kisikusiku murmurs from where she is seated. Her blue eyes look to the anxious male as she shifts from where he stood to gaze at the playful cubs. "They are fine. Perhaps you won't have to be very strict with pouncing now. It seems one of them has already gotten the jist of it." The lioness states calmly as she watches Tesni roar and hold down her sister.
Still in the midst of pleasure, Siku glances to her friend and teacher. His muscles, like his cubs, are tense and thick against his fur. With every movement he makes they bulge and reveal just how powerful he is. He is such a strong lion...a wonderous teacher...
Suddenly, Siku breaks the wistful gaze. Her heart fluttered like a bird once she realized that she had been staring at the male too long. The blue orbs search the ground for something else to focus on as the lioness attempts to quell her quivering heart. Why it shakes and lurches she doesn't know, nor does she wish to. Eyal was a close friend...nothing more.
Asenath glared up at her sister, struggling to get free. "Get offa me Tensi!" She says trying to push her off. It wasn't fair that she got pinned! She wanted to be as fast as her sister.
"Shh what? I didn't say anything..." He grumps then lays down, still watching. When his daughters both let out yelps, he rises up again only to settle. They're both find. He sighs and lays his head down like an impacient dog unsure of what their owner's doing. "Do you want to start your training?"
Tensi grinned down at her squirming sibling, her grin fitting that of a cackling hyena. "Not until you declar me the winner." She stated as her smile only grew longer. "I have defeated you. You must say that I won!"
Siku chuckle warmly at the sight Eyal's parental jitters. When she was younger she never would have dreamed of the mighty hero twittering over his youth as he did now. Her interest certainly was sparked when Eyal asked over the cubs bickering, 'Do you want to start your training?'.
The lioness, still young and naive, looked to Eyal with great curiousity. Of course she wanted to learn how to fight as well as he. So there was only a breath of silence before she said, "Yes!"
"Good... also we're going to give you hunting lessons. I doubt you ever learned to hunt, did you?" The large male asked, his green eyes focused on her. He kept one ear in the direction of his playing offspring to make sure they came to no harm. He stood and began to stretch. "Tomorrow at dawn, before the cubs awaken you and I shall go about your training. Get plenty of rest tonight."
Siku turned her eyes back on Eyal after watching the girls argue back n' forth as one attempts to wriggle out of the other's grip. She smiles up at him as she listens to his words. He certainly looked out for her, since not many lions would take it upon themselves to teach a grown lioness how to hunt and defend herself.
"Alright." Her smile only grows upon her maw, "You caught me. I'm a terrible hunter why do you think I always volunteer to watch the children and let you do all the dirty work?" The tease was as light as a feather, Siku's eyes dancing with joy at the thought of getting up and spending some time with Eyal. After all, it had been many moons since they spent some time alone. Since Eyal returned to his pride he had been busy working and managing the troubles that had gone on while he was away. So of course there was no time dedicated to just her.
"I'm all for it, Eyal. Just don't break my neck alright?" She adds in with a chuckle as Tesni lets out a courageous roar that mimicks that of a baby boar.
Eyal smirks at her as if he knew exactly what she was talking about. He moves closer to her and puts a paw against her shoulder and gives a light shove. "I won't... but be mindful of the rest of you." He responds with something bordering a playful look. He gets down enough to stretch, hindquaters in the air then reverses it to stretch out his back legs.
He smirks at Tesni's roar and lets one of his own out that scatters birds from their tree.
"Holy crap!" Asenath squeals at the loud noise, stopping long enough to look over to her father.
A sweet tingle buzzed the lioness's black shoulder as Eyal's strong paw rested upon her. It was a feeling she couldn't explain...but it was occuirng more and more frequently when she was around the great lion. There was little time to think about that though, for seconds later Siku was overcome with a fit of laughter from Eyal's borderline playful words. He never made too many jokes, but whenever he did it was a guarnteed laugh for the lioness. Yet no matter how many times she begged and pleaded with him he would not make his jokes frequent.
The kind blue eyes that now followed each and every family member of Eyal's with motherly concern focused on the father as he arched and stretched his muscular body. What a sight to behold....Wait....
Siku shook her head ferociously as the hazy thought rang through her mind. Ridiculous!!
The lioness was ready to get up and flee the scene so she could focus on her thoughts but was brought to a stand still thanks to Eyal's mighty roar. Once again laughter overtook her form as she watched the cubs freeze and stare open mouthed at their father.
Even boldest cubs showed fear once in a while.
"It takes pratice." He told the two of them with a chuckle then walked passed them. "Asenath, Tesni... That's enough for today. Its time to go to bed." He told the two of them as the sun was setting. "Jaron will babysit you tomorrow while I teach Siku some lessons."
Asenath giggled and looked over at Siku. "Is mommy in trouble?" She asked lightly. Lessons normally meant someone was in trouble... namely her.
"No your moth....when did you start calling her that?" The male asked glancing over to her with curious expression.
"....Jaron has a mommy..." She said her little ears falling flat. "Isn't she ours?"
His mouth opened to reply but he couldn't fathome one. She might as well be... He glanced up at Siku, his eyebrows risen imploringly. 'Well, are you'? His expression seemed to ask.
"Awww! But daddy!" Tesni whines at the thought of going to bed. Yet even though she wants to stay outside and frolick, her feet lead her right after her father. Her ears perked at the name Jaron and they rose even more with the same question in mind that Ase held.
She quickly zig zagged below her fathers feet and chitter like a bird, "Are you going to make mommy work hard just like us? And is Jaron going to play with us?" Her voice is raised and pitched to the point of squealing by now. She pauses in her dancing to stop and listen for Siku's reply. She couldn't help but think of the lioness as her mother since she did everything that a mother was supposed to do. She fed them, looked after them, played with them, and loved them. What point in there could not stand for mother?
Siku had just begun to walk over to her little family and didn't make it to Eyal's side in time to receive the full blast of his look. But she certainly had heard their conversation and her simple calm smile graced her features. "Of course I am." She spoke with confidence as she bent her head to nuzzle both little girls. "I love them like any mother would, and if they consider me one and want me to be their mother, then I am."
Eyal was careful not to step on Tesni as she bounded around his feet. He had never heard them call her that before! When did it start? Still he supposed all cubs needed a mother, even a substitute. He was so brought up short by their comments he just say a yay or a nay to it!
He watched as Siku nuzzled each of them and felt a certain twinge in his chest. So she would take them as her own? His features relax and he nods. "Yes... that sounds about right. She'll be your mother." He agreed leaning down to nuzzle them as well, a bit more roughtly but the thought is there.
"YAY!" Asenath giggled, rubbing against her mother's nose with her own. "We gotta mommy!"
Tesni giggled and wiggled her enitre body with glee. How wonderful! A mother, they had a mother! Yet for as long as she could remember Siku had always been there. She was always taking them under her paws and nuzzling them gently. Her love had always been there, and the admiration she held for Siku had been around for too long now to recall how it began.
So what was so different now in calling Siku momma? She certainly didn't know but it was wonderful to be able to call her as she saw her fit. Mother....yes, Siku was their mother. Through and through, no matter what happened, Tesni was positive that Siku-no-momma, would never ever stop loving them.
Siku's warm laughter rang through the air as the cubs danced and jumped at her paws. She nuzzled their ruffled fur and purred in their little ears. "Yes, my beautiful cubs, you have a mother who will never leave or stop giving you love. After all, you're my little girls."
Asenath felt much the same way as her sister. She giggled and put her paws up over Tesni's back to try and get up higher for more attention. Her whisp of a tail flickering back and forth. She was just happy! She felt more like Jaron and his sibblings now! "I'm daddy's girl too!" Asenath said loudly, grinning from ear to ear. She had no idea her name meant 'belonging to her father'.
"Yes, now let's get you two to bed. Its passed sunset." Eyal chuckled and shook his head before he leaned down and picked up Asenath by the scruff of her neck. He gazed toward Siku and nodded for her to take his-their second daughter. He hadn't brough Siku to where they slept before but it was a chilly night. He started walking up the rise, where the more high statured lions slept and into a den-like cave where he slept with his daughters. There was a mound of soft grasses flattened by his weight. He slowly put Asenath down on it and looked to Siku, his green eyes reflecting the fading light.
Tesni giggled and batted at Siku as she reached down and picked up her wriggling body. The lioness chuckled against the tuft of fur as she managed to hold onto the scruff of the cub's neck with ease. With cub in her grasp, Siku trailed after the older male and her newly adopted daughter. She couldn't help but glance at the scenery of the area she had yet to discover before. Her den was in the opposite direction, much further down and away from many of the other pride members. Certainly she hadn't minded at the time, but as they entered the cave Siku realized just how much she missed the warmth other bodies could give even when one was not nestled up against the other.
Copying Eyal, Siku placed Tesni down beside her sister and the other two little girls who were already lost in the land of dreams. Quickly Siku straightened and began to walk towards the door. This wasn't her den after all, and as much as she enjoyed the comfort it brought, it wasn't her's to live in.
Of course her stomach tightened and her heart took on a feverish approach when she glanced over her shoulder to say goodbye to the lion. Oh how his eyes sparkled and shone brilliantly in the light...they were so beautiful. Yet that acknowledgement would be the lioness's secret since she knew Eyal would hate to be called such a thing. Even if it was a compliment.
The golden lion watched his daughters all nestle against each other in a tangle of limbs and warm bodies and smiled, a soft smile. He leaned down and licked each one of them in a loving way before he settled down. He turned to Siku and watched as she began to exit. She probably wasn't aware but he was up with the sun and often watched her slip out of her den into the sunlight. He didn't know he was staring. Just making sure she was up.
His ears flatten slightly as she turns to leave. Well shouldn't a mother be with her daughters? He glances down at the cubs then up to their newly aquired mother. "...Why don't you remain here...?" He asked looking away slighly and nudging a bit of the grass closer to his children. "... in the den. Its going to be getting colder."
It must have been easy for the older male lion to see Siku jump with surprise thanks to the light that the descending sun still gave off. The lioness whirled around to face him with wide eyes that held amazement. "W-What? Are you...sure?" She questioned as she slowly returned to the inviting bedding. "This is your home, not mine."
Eyal did notice her jump and his ears flattened. Did she not want to stay with them? He gave a long and slow series of nods. "Yes... You are their mother, are you not?" He asks then looks down at his cubs scooting over for her. "It is just as much our home as yours. I brought you here, didn't I?"
Siku quickly shook her head once she realized she had probably offended Eyal with her behaviour. Of course he wouldn't take it as her being surprised. By the look in his eyes and the way his ears fell flat against his mane, he must have believed she either thought too highly of herself or not enough. Probably the last thought would go well with how she felt about the situation. After all, Eyal was the warrior chief of this pride and she...what was she? The healer. Certainly it wasn't as important as the one who protected the pride from danger so now taking shelter under the roof of this hero made her fur fluff and the skin below tingle with nerves.
"W-Well..." The lioness hid her disdain for the stutter and rested herself in the soft grass; to show the male that she was going to stay. "Yes you did, and I thank you for that. I am their mother, if you don't mind but...I just...never thought I'd be sharing a den with you, much less with cubs." Siku laughed as she attempted to laugh away the jitters and quivers that ran upon her spine like ants. It was irritating, especially because she didn't know why she was feeling this way.
Eyal's ears rose again once she laid down. He crept closer to her, still keeping his cubs nestled safely by his stomach and laid his head down. "Well... it gets colder in this area... Its better if we stay together. The cubs could use someone else to help watch them in the morning too..." He closed his eyes.
Siku smiled at the male as he scooched his large body over to hers and managed to keep his little ones close. To help him in his effort to be near, Siku scooted her body for a few paces beside him. The smile upon her maw remained as she laid her down down beside his. "Alright, I'll stick beside you guys...and..." A mighty yawn escaped her before she could finish her sentence. "And...." A great attempt was made by the lioness to say more, anything really, but all she could manage before she drifted off to sleep was, "I'll watch over them..."
"Good... that sounds good..." Eyal answered tiredly. Cubs had a way of wearing all parties involved out. He managed to fall asleep rather comfortably. By the next morning he had his head laying over Siku's neck and was snuggled up to her side. Asenath was curled up in between the two of them after waking from a nightmare and was fast to sleep again.
Fin
