Chepi was slightly annoyed in the way only Chepi ever would be. Her sister was now married, her sister... who would marry her sister and what was worse... her sister was pregnant! Fat as a hippo! Though of course being fat isn't what annoyed Chepi the most it was the fact that she was getting attention because of it. In all honest truth Chepi was slightly jealous of her sister for possibly the first time in their lives. She had never cared too much about anything her sister did as she was always so sure she was completely insane.
"Arun?" He would understand right? Arun was awesome and she was happy to have him in her clan now. They had their own den and everything and it was perfect. She had her mate, her husband and he wasn't going anywhere.
"Arun, Nita is getting fat.. and the fatter she gets the more attention she gets. It's just not fair!" Even with being clan leader it seemed Chepi was still ever so immature sometimes.
At that moment the striped lion was lazing quietly in the warm sunlight, basking in the life that was his to enjoy. After a lifetime of hardships, things were finally the happily ever after he had always so wanted. He had been accepted into a pride who now welcomed him as one of their own, he had not only become best friends with but had fallen in love with the most beautiful lionesses he had ever seen, and what's more, she returned his love. Chepi, his princess, loved him in return. He still could not get over this fact, his entire being overwhelmed by the complete adoration of it all. She was perfect beyond all belief, and what's more, her mother had even given him permission to have her as his. Even then, laying there, he could not think of one more thing that could make it more perfect.
The sound of dried grass rustling brought Arun to the present, his ears perking immediately at the sound. Almost automatically he lifted his head, rolling back onto his stomach and into a sitting position, his head bowed respectfully. Old habits died hard -- being a rogue by birth, he felt he owed every single pride member an infinite amount of respect. They did take him in and all. Being with Chepi didn't change this much. His posture, however, quickly relaxed as he recognised the lithe form of his princess, a grin spreading across his face. "Chepi," he replied, getting up to greet her, his ears perking as she dove into the whine that only broadened his grin, "Ahh, so Nita is pregnant..." Pausing, he tilted his head at her curiously, amused, "She's not getting more attention from me. Are you jealous?" It was an honest question, actually, the wheels in the auburn lion's head turning
Chepi smiled as Arun spoke. Of course Nita wouldn't be getting his attention and it was Arun's attention that was worth having. She smiled at him before walking closer to him and rubbing up against him.
"Sorry I didn't think...." She let out a soft sigh before sitting next to him, leaning on him slightly. Was she jealous? Yes she was but would she admit it?
"I hadn't thought about cubs before... but then I never expected Nita to..." She trailed off, it didn't really need to be said. The sisters had never got on and in truth it would be a miracle if they ever did. She was happy with Arun and the two of them, it was bliss. Would cubs ruin it? She let out a soft sigh and looked up at her mate, admiring him for a few seconds before she remembered what she was going to say.
"Have you thought about it? Cubs?"
Arun just chuckled in reply, taking the few steps to close the gap between them, nuzzling her affectionately, trying to soothe whatever worries, whatever insecurities, whatever cravings for love she was having. He would give it all to her in a heartbeat. She could have anything from him, anything at all. She had simultaniously stolen his heart just as much as he had offered it readily. The gentle pressure against his shoulder was comforting even to him, and Arun curled his tail around her, tilting his head to rest his chin on the top of hers.
"Why are you sorry? You have nothing to be sorry for, love," He replied, nipping her ear affectionately. The comment of cubs did not come altogether as a surprise, although the male lion did pause in response, a breath's time passing before he spoke up again. "Thought about it? I... have and haven't, honestly," he replied thoughtfully, followed by a sheepish laugh, "Don't laugh, but I use to fantasize all the times about being married and having cubs with you, before I realized you loved me back. But then when I was with you, when I AM with you, you're... everything. I didn't think of cubs because I was too busy thinking about YOU."
Wow. That really was cheesy. Pausing again, the lion tilted his head down to nose her, looking ever the more awkward and sheepish. Really, he felt like such a pansy lion. "... do you want cubs?"
Oh how Chepi loved him. If there was anyone who could turn Chepi to mush or calm her down it was him and right now she had the largest grin on her face.
"Oh Arun...." She wasn't sure what to say to begin with, she was just so happy. She loved him so much and it was nice even though she knew it, that he loved her back. Oh and that he use to fantasize about them having cubs and being together, she liked that bit a lot too.
"I... erm... " Did she want cubs? She had to pause for a minute or two to think about it, she really wasn't that sure.
"Yes... I think I do." Seeing Nita pregnant had stirred something in her and the maternal instinct was clearly coming out. Yes she wanted cubs as well.
In the moments preluding Chepi's response, Arun suddenly felt sorry for the moments he had taken to think about his answer. Those seconds before she replied felt like lifetimes, and the striped lion felt like he was almost holding his breath. He had to tell himself, no matter what the answer, it didn't MATTER -- he had her, and she was everything. He didn't need anything else in the world, not a pride, not a den, not a steady supply of food, if he had her. Still, there was a tiny part of him hoping... hoping for something that, as a rogue, he would have been horrified at the prospect of. Oh how pride life had changed him. Matured him, even. Well... in some ways, anyway.
Arun blinked a little as she replied, as if making sure he had heard her correct before moving. The grin that had faded into a patient, neutral look had sprung forth again, brighter than before. She wanted a family with him. It was as if this solidified everything for him, the reality that she really did want to stay with him forever. He had known before, of course, but it was just one more thing that just... made him sure it was not a wonderful dream.
It still sure felt like it though. One he hoped he never woke up from.
Licking her cheek, he resisted the urge to roll with her like the childish pair they were, instead just resting his head back on hers. "Well then that is what we will do." He replied definitely, simply, "And then you too will have all the attention. Attention you rightly deserve, I might add."
It was probably a good thing that Chepi couldn't have seen his reaction, his patient face would have probably worried her slightly. However he seemed as happy with her answer... no he seemed ecstatic. He wanted a family too. She nudged him playfully and then laughed.
"You do realise what we would be doing to the clan having cubs don't you?" She had a huge grin on her face as she spoke. It wasn't just a normal grin either it had the cheek behind it that Arun probably knew all too well by now.
"Any cubs we have will be right terrors! Oh and imagine what Nita would say if we had cubs." Oh that was something she would want to hear. She couldn't imagine Nita being overly pleased if Chepi ended up with a lot of cubs and being what Chepi and Arun were like the cubs were bound to be little monsters!
"Invoking our wrath and curse on them?" he teased right back, sounding all too pleased about that prospect. That was something he truly loved about her -- the fact that she wasn't one of those lionesses who made faces at the silly pranks he use to pull, she was someone who laughed right along with him, and actually pulled them with him! They could laugh together, and he sincerely hoped that they could teach their cubs to do the same. In a way, he was very much hoping that their cubs would be terrors -- it was a hard job, but someone had to keep the clan on their toes!
Finally unable to resist, Arun shoved his weight against his mate, rolling with her a little enthusiastically, until he pinned her gently to the dried grass. His grin was just as cheeky, that silly debonair grin he wore so often. "Nita would be furious. And our cubs would be so much better. She'd be madly jealous of you."
Chepi laughed as Arun pushed her over and they rolled a bit before he had her pinned down. She couldn't help but be highly amused by it and she lifted her head up to lick him. Yes they would have the best cubs.
"I am sure you are right. Our cubs will be the best cubs ever!" She laughed a bit before trying to wriggle free. There was no way she was going to let him keep her pinned down. She was much too good for that and so she would fight! With licks and nudges!
The wiggling prompted Arun to release his laughing mate, backpedalling a little, ready for a game of chase. Although they had come a long way, Chepi in becoming the leader of their clan and himself becoming the best mate he could be, there was no way this couple could be serious for too long. Life was to be enjoyed, and Arun wanted to enjoy every minute with her. Seriousness could wait -- right now, he was excited! They were really going to have cubs!
Slinking down into a playful stance, the striped lion flicked his tail a bit impishly. "Should I try to woo you again? Sweep you off your feet? I will catch you an itchy-bug and we can put it in the old-timer's sleeping-grass." With this, he gave her his silliest serious-look, as if he were offering her flowers or the pelt of their enemies instead of a bug.
Chepi laughed, she was already for playing when a bird messing about in the trees brought her back to her senses. She let out a soft sigh and smiled at Arun.
"You get to pick. I had forgotten but I need to go and see the cubs that were born recently. New cubs need to be seen at some point." She got up and walked over to Arun giving him a lick on the cheek.
"I can be quick... and will meet you in our den afterwards?" She spoke with her cheeky look again. She was sure he would know what she was getting at and it shouldn't take her too long to just go check that the new cubs were doing well. She wouldn't stay long, after all she had a hunk of a mate that needed her attention much more. Oh the joys of her job. She didn't want to go but she knew she had to, it would just have to be really quick.
Arun smiled at her laugh, straightening a bit as Chepi approached, returning the lick good-naturedly. "Ahh, maybe I should be the one who's jealous. You'd rather go see those new cublets over me," he teased, giving her a wink. Of course he knew that wasn't the case -- she had her duties after all -- but he couldn't pass up the opportunity to tease her. Not when her responses were just so adorable.
Turning a little, he gave a few lazy nods before nudging her on her way, he himself starting towards their den. "Take your time, I'm not going anywhere. And send your sister my love. I'm sure she will be oh so thrilled to have it." He wasn't actually sure how Nita felt about him, if he was perfectly honest, although considering the two sisters' relationship, he was fairly confident she wasn't as keen on him as she could have been. Which was fine. It made it that more fun to laugh with Chepi about it.
Winking again, he flicked his tail in her direction. "I'll see you soon."
Chepi laughed at him, she would normally get a little stroppy over him teasing her like that but she had cubs to visit as well as Nita. Sisterly affections or lack of had to be ignored with her job.
"I shall see you soon, I promise!" She licked his cheek before walking away flicking her tail under his chin as she left. She would defiantly hurry with her duties, there was baby making to be done!
