(This is backlogged, basically that we allowed the cubs to be born without a birth RP and later decided to do this, so it's okay if the cubs have been RPed.)
Zapaliti:
It started out like any other day. Sun shining, yellow grass, and Zapaliti was fat. She'd been both restless and lazy lately, which was unsettling on the one hand, but on the other she was too tired to do anything about it. For once she didn't mind Makaa's keeping her near the den. Somehow or other, she knew it was getting close to time for somethign to happen. Besides, if she got any bigger she'd simply explode.
As the day wore on she started to second guess herself. Maybe this wasn't the time...Watching Makaa wander around or just sitting with him, she was content. It was only when, as the sun touched the horizon and Makaa once again had wandered further away, that she suddenly sat bolt upright. She sat utterly still for several long minutes, and then wordlessly rose, slinking gingerly into the den.
Makaa'yamoto:
Makaa had gone to see his father and step-mother, to talk to them a bit about what he was to expect. He wasn't stupid, he talked to them individually. He knew that his father had not been present for his half-siblings' young lives and he knew his father was touchy about that. So for the most part, he talked to Koho. He was worried about Zapa, his Zapa, and the cubs she was carrying.
He walked back towards the den they had taken just outside of the Pridelander boarders, as they weren't members of the pride. He paused in the dying light and sighed, Ndevu perched carefully on his shoulder. He would be a father... Was he ready for this, were THEY ready?
And what if something went wrong? Was it selfish of him to think that all he wanted was for Zapa to be safe? He sighed again and continued walking, heading back towards home and his mate.
Zapaliti:
Within the confines of the den, Zapa curled in the corner and tried to brace herself. She knew it would hurt, and she knew she could take it. Her mother had, and hers before that. Moreover, she was a firekin, and that made her strong enough for anything. And this was a pain she found herself relishing. Her cubs, Makaa's cubs, would soon be here. She was ready, she thought, and eager to see them, know their names, hold them close in her paws, not her belly.
And for the love of all things, she was ready to not be fat anymore.
A low groan escaped her and she slid to the floor, straining just slightly. Not yet, but almost...part of her wondered where Makaa was, and part was glad of his absence. This was nothing he could help with, and he would worry if he saw her in pain. No, no, she grit her teeth and bit back another sound. Soon she'd have to push...Vaguely she wondered how many...She'd feel awful if Makaa had to sleep outside tonight because she was occupied in the den.
Makaa'yamoto:
Makaa got to the den and looked around. Zapa was no where in sight outside, which meant she had to be within. It was quiet, perhaps she was sleeping. He raised a paw to his shoulder, letting his tiny friend climb onto it, and set it down so the mouse could run off and do whatever Ndevu did at night. Makaa then stepped into the den, his eyes adjusting to the shadows.
He saw Zapa near the back, curled up and tensed. He frowned softly and took a few steps towards her.
"Zapa? Are you alright?" he asked in a hushed voice. Did a bit of worry leak out into his tone? Perhaps a little bit. His heart started beating faster with worry and he tried to control himself. He knew there would be pain when the cubs came, his step-mother had told him that much. But what if something went wrong? No, no he couldn't think about that. Everything would be alright.
Zapaliti:
Zapa looked up at the first sound of Makaa's approach. She knew it was him, but instincts made her wary, and she nearly hissed at him when he dared to enter the den. This was her sanctuary, and she needed to have peace and quiet to do her wok now. "...I'm fine. Just...The cubs are coming, Makaa. I need...room." She pressed back against the wall. If he chose not to leave, she wouldn't force him, but it was clear it was what she wanted.
Especially so when the first contraction hit, and a look of startle broke over her face. Her body responded immediately, pushing, and she made a muted mewling noise. It HURT! She shook her head and looked again at Makaa. "...If there's trouble, you know I'll call for you...For now though, they're coming." Should she send him away? Ask him to tell his family? No time to choose, she tensed for another wave of pain. The cubs were rushing al of a sudden!
Makaa'yamoto:
Makaa grit his teeth and nodded slowly, taking a step back from his mate. Zapa had pushed herself back, cringing from him. It was a horrible thing to see. And then she asked him to let her be, to go. He knew she would call for him, but...
"Are you sure? I could..." In truth, he didn't know what he could do. Just stay with her, of course, do his best to comfort her. His world was suddenly upside-down. Worrying for Zapa, wanting to do anything in his power to comfort her, that wasn't something he was really used to. But he wanted to try.
"If you need me for anything, even if it's just being beside you..." he finished, his voice a little strained as he walked slowly backwards towards the den entrance.
Zapaliti:
Zapa could see she had hurt Makaa by asking him to leave, but in truth she didn't want the birth to scare him. Or for him to see her if she got scared. Another contraction hit and she mutely nodded to him as he submitted to her requests. "Once the first comes...I'll let you know." She managed, grunting at the urge to push. "I don't know how many...it might be a while." She really didn't want him to worry for her. She could do this, she began to feel some tension ease...the cubs were shifting in her belly, straining to get out.
Once Makaa had gone she returned to the work of birthing. It was hard work, and she strained at it for a while. Instinct led her though, and soon enough, perhaps half an hour or less, even, since Makaa had left, the first cub lay curled at her side. A darling orange daughter, she was just perfect. So tiny...She started to call for Makaa, then bit the noise off as the second cub, a boy as red as his father, joined his sister. "M-makaa..." She panted, her voice tired but clearly happy. "Two now...one of each..." She couldn't be happier as she continued to push.
Makaa'yamoto:
Makaa nodded once more and left the den, turning around to do so. It took every fiber in is being to keep himself going. Once outside, he sat down with his back to the den entrance, his claws digging into the ground as if rooting him to the spot. Whenever he heard her, any soft sound of pain, he tensed, doing his very best to stay where he was. And then she called to him, telling him there was two. He was a father, a daughter and a son. He turned, glancing over his shoulder into the den, but he stayed where he was. She'd told him how many, but hadn't asked him to come back in. He would wait...
Zapaliti:
The third, fourth, and fifth cubs came faster after the first two, and by the time two more brothers had joined the first, and a third was on the way, she was thinking this wasn't nearly as bad as she'd feared. The boys were gorgeous, one black, one red, and the last white. She grinned, seeing her markings in some, and Makaa's in others.
Two more followed, leaving Zapa wondering if there would ever be an end to their number. Seven cubs! No wonder she'd been so huge! Both girls, they joined their siblings at her side. At last it seemed, she could lay back and rest. She was proud of her work, and her children...But her work was not done. To her surprise an eigth was born...And she smiled, holding him close and grooming him before placing him alongside the others.
"...Makaa!" She called into the darkness outside the den. She knew somehow that that had been the last. It was fitting somehow too. "Makaa...come inside. See all your children, Makaa. They're just beautiful..."
Makaa'yamoto:
Time passed so slowly as Makaa waited to hear her voice again. Gods, he hoped she was alright.
And then she called out to him, asking him to come back inside, to see his cubs, their cubs. He didn't need to be asked twice, he rushed into the den and came to a dead stop when he saw her with their cubs. Eight cubs, cuddled up to his beloved. He slowed down then, walking with soft steps and leaned down to nuzzle her as tenderly as he could possibly manage.
"They're beautiful... Are you okay, Zapa?" he asked softly as he continued to nuzzle her.
Zapaliti:
She was tired, so tired, but overjoyed when Makaa finally joined her. This was her family, now suddenly bigger, but even more perfect for it. She leaned into his caresses, letting her head rest against his side. It felt so good just to rest. The babies were all perfect. She'd counted ears and eyes and toes on them all. A perfect blend of the both of them. "Yes they are...I'm fine Makaa. Wonderful even. Tired, but wonderful." See licked his cheek and settled in to nap a bit while the newborns nursed. Between them and Makaa's warm body she couldn't be more comfortable.
