Welcome to Gaia! ::

His body was stark against the pale sandy beaches, but that didn't really matter, this was where he belonged, he was a lion of the sea,and though he could remember his life inland, remembered it happily infact, he knew he could live no where else and the fact that something wonderful had happened, something he wished to shout to the world, made it all the better.

He knew he would not be able to stay still until he found someone to tell of his good news, his dark, onyx like eyes shone like jet black marbles the smile on his maw spoke of his joy. He was going to be a father again and the news was ready to burst from his chest. Yet it seemed the beach was empty, where was another lion when he needed one?

Tamu had not necessarily acquired a companion, but was certainly not alone as she tread the beaches in her own little world, talking to herself mostly of things pride related. Thank the stars Kwaruza was so useful!

But her little companion, a tiny sparrow, fluttered about her and landed on her back now and then, acting, and sounding, like a haridresser! It would pick any bugs and parasites from the dark fur and talk to her about all sorts of inane gossip, mostly related to the bird's world. But was oddly still fascinating to listen to.

Tamu stopped rather suddenly, wondering why on earth the dark lion was sat in the middle of the beach, by himself. She knew his face, and should have known his name, but her fatehr wasn't the best at remembering names himself and had always managed to mix someone's up as he told her of all the lions he'd assigned ranks to in his days.

"Shoot...I know it starts with a 'k'," she muttered to herself, re-starting her gentle amble along the sands towards him.

The large lions ears perked as he heard the soft footsteps on the moving sands. It was odd how through time he was able to hear anyone coming on the sand, it was a pert of being a guard, being alert, even when he was in the brightest of moods, he stood and turned to face the approaching female. "Ar good mornin' to ya lassy an how be tha tide farein' ye on this fine kettle o mornin?" He chuckled,flashing his white teeth which sort of blended with the marking which streaked up his face and separated the blackness that was his chunky face and wavey mane.

He looked at the young female, watching her quietly for a moment, he had seen most of tambuzi's cubs so he knew this was one of them and if he remembered rightly this was the heir. He chuckled to himself, his memory served him well, he had to remember faces, that was another part of who he was, he couldn't protect what he didn't know. "I be thinin' yer Tamu right? last I saw yer face ta face yer was alot younger, but not any less pretty." He chuckled roguishly flickering his long tail as he once again sat comfortably, he knew that standing he was a beast that could almost be seen as frightening for his size and dark colouration. It only took a kind word from his maw though to make anyone realise he was the gentlist of giants.

Still, his precise name evaded her, but she knew it to be K-something. Khepri jumped to mind, but sounded a bit too girly really...she did, however, know him to be a guard. So...why was he away from the borders....?

Her face wasn't aggressive, more a picture of slight bemusement and polite bewilderment. Mostly at his accent and her mental attempts to decipher what he'd just said.

"Err. yes, I am Tamu. You'll have to forgive me, a lot on my mind at the moment, I DO know your name...sort of...," she started, apologetically. "Tis a pleasure to bump into you regardless."

She bowed her head gently, that little sparrow still hopping about her back and shoulders, grooming her.

"The sea seems to be quite happy today, quite calm."

The dark male gave a hearty chuckle and shook his head "Don't ye be worryin' none lassy, I aint half as memorable as I like to think." He grinned playfully. "Nahodha'kota lassy, tho most just call me 'kota tis much easier ta be a rememberin." he gave a cheerful wink.

He glanced to the bird which fluttered about Tamu's head and chuckled. "Nice lil thing, always liked birds I did, one tol' me all abou' tha sea when I was a youngin' made me come to tha sea 'e did."

"Aye I was a thinkin' tha mah self, I was a lookin' fer someone to spread me good news guess I ave found you so you'll be tha firs' ta be a knowin'." He puffed out his broad chest then his darkened eyes capturing the sunlight. "Tha mate an I are spectin tha pitter patter 'o tiny paws." He beamed proudly, he couldn't have been happier if he tried.

"KOTA! I knew it was a 'k'. I'm guessing you know Khepri then, the other 'k' name I was thinking of. I knew you couldn't be Kwaruza or Kayin because I know for a fact they are both girls," she laughed.

Tamu blinked at him for a moment, wondering what he was referring to and then the aforementioned sparrow fluttered into view to wave her goodbyes and promise to bring more gossip next time. She smiled at the tiny bird.

"Oh now that IS good news indeed," she beamed at the obviously excited father-to-be.

The big male gave a very hearty laugh indeed "Khepri be my mate lassy, may firs' mate so ta speak." He chuckles at his own little pun and flickers his tail happily.

"Aye we were begginin' ta think we wouldn' be blessed agin' but tha gods 'o tha waves mus' be a shinin 'pon us. We be reaconin a couple weeks an we'll ave a bunch 'o little fishes fer tha waves." He smiled calmly, he already felt protective of his unborn brood.

"I should really go an speak ta ya pa I be needin' some time away from tha dueties ta care fer Khepri." He raised his ears for a moment then, he didn't like to abandon his post so to speak, but Khepri was his world and she came first above all others, though he knew he would give his life for the pride while Khepri was pregnant she needed extra care and young cubs were hard work.

"Well thats what the Pombuka are here for," she said, offering him some reassurance. "They don't just babysit the youngsters, they help with the mothers as well. You should go speak to Sevati, she's a most excellent Pombuka and would be delighted to help no doubt. She's had a lovely litter before and is quite experienced. You could even ask Kwaruza about any help as well."

Now, how did she answer his other comment. Technically, her father held no power anymore and although she could promote the other members of the pride as much as she liked, she did understand why he'd want to spend time with his mate. At the same time, they couldn't afford one less lion on the borders to meet and greet all newcomers.

"I promise, Khepri will be well catered for, the hunters hunt for all of us."

'Kota looked at the younger female and smiled lightly, he had been here a long time and he understood the need for protection of the growing pride, more so with young ones on the way. "Aye lassy I know Sevati and Ravi, and their cubs, I'd still like ta teach mah cubs o tha sea." he gave a cheerful wink "I aint askin' fer a constant time off lassy jus' a lil extra time til tha cubs are born. Khepri was kinda weak tha las' time she ad cubs and I don' want 'er gettin in tha state again."

He rolled his shoulders a little. "I worry bout her." A slight shiver rolled over his body, it was a very physical thing to see a very large lion shiver. "She be mah worl' lassy I jus' need ta know she'll be extra looked after."

"I can understand Kota. I can only imagine what becoming a parent must feel like but I'd have a good guess that it must be fraught with worry nearly ALL the time," she said with a smile and a soft understanding chuckle. "Before they're born, after they're born, even right up until they're all grown up."

Despite not being a mother herself yet, she had talked to her father countless times about his days as leader and father at the same time. Perhaps it had put her off slightly, at least until she felt everything was calm. But then it begged the question - with the sea being the way it is, would things EVER be truly calm?

"She will be, but if you're still concerned, we'll ask a Pombuka or mwani to be with her all day. And you could turn your attention to something else in the pride until the cubs arrive, like be a hunter for a while. You won't be away from her as much then."

The big male gave a gentle chuckle "Aye lass, yer always worry 'bout them, tha's a fathers place to do tha' tho." He gave a light nod "I aint never been very good at huntin' lassy, I'll stick to mah post if ye promise ta ave someone fetch me if anythin' 'appens, an, werll keep 'er safe when I aint thar." He looks at Tamu very seriously, he was almost charging her perhaps with the care of his mate.

"She'll 'preciate the company of one o tha pombuka no doubt, I start gettin' under 'er feet I reacon." He chuckles. "She says I worry too much, I says I don' worry enough an it aint worry it's love, I think mah 'eart would bout stop if she left me fer tha otha worl'" He smiles at the young female and looks back up the beach towards the dens where he had left his mate sleeping the morning away.

"Ye'll send someone up today fer me?" he turned his dark gaze on her a pleasing look on the dark males face. "Ah'll feel better if she's bein' watched over, other wise ah'll jus' be a worryin' my ears off all day instead o payin attention." he chuckles, trying to make light of the situation but he truly was worried about Khepri and the cubs that would come.

"Of course!" she assured him. "Khepri and yourself are dear to us all and to the sea, and if she wishes that the cubs will be fine, then they will be."

She offered him a big, confident smile and she did indeed look every ounce the leader at that moment in time. She'd known exactly what to say and what to do, and now that Kota had mentioned Khepri's previous litter, she could recall running to her aid.

"Like I said, you stay as close as you want to, even if you just want to guard the jungle or the shoreline to the north, and we'll see about getting someone to help cover the gaps in between. Even if you had stayed with Khepri all the time, we'd still send you a Pombuka or mwani to stay with you."

"And I can send Kayin up straightaway, she's proving to be a very good healer. I'll see if I can send Sevati or Zarin up later as well."

The big jet black male smiled, his pale teeth showing again though it was a very cheery grin."Aye lassy, ah'll watch tha jungle til tha cubs are born." His dark eyes smiled at the young female, he felt without her truely saying that she had taken her fathers place. He felt a little saddened but at the same time glad that the pride was moving on to the younger generation. he supposed he and Khepri were fairly old now they had been heer for such a long time, it was certainly good to see the younger genration taking their place.

"It'll be most 'preciated ma'am." He smiles getting to his paws "I should be a gettin' back, ah tol' Khepri to sleep in fer tha mornin, ah'll uh, wait until Kayin comes up if yer don' mind lassy, but ah'll get away to mah post after that." He twitched his ears beneath his dark mane then his onyx black eyes glimemring in a pleased sort of manner, he felt he had definately sorted something out and he could let his worry fall away, or at elast partially fall away, he would worry until the cubs started toddling and then he would have a differnt kind of worry.

being a parent was hard work but well worth the effort. "Thankya lassy." He gives her one of those roguish winks and pads on by back towards the dens. "If yer ever need anythin' lassy jus' you be a callin' mah name, I can be a 'andy beast if yav got any eavy liftin' ta be done so ta speak." he laughs and tencing those thickly bunched heavy set mucles bounds off up the beach with an even happier feeling than that which he had, had when he padded down the sandy shore.

"Not a problem Kota, and thats what I'm here for - I don't do it for favours, I do it for the happiness of the pride," she returned his big smile with one of her own. "You be sure to tell me when they get here, would love to see them."

Then Tamu watched as the dark male sank bank into the shade of the jungle just off in the distance, where most dens were made because they were far more comfortable than the rocks. She could be forgiven for swelling with pride a little and tottering on her way in a most pleased manner.