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Shambe grumbled, progressing slowly across the plains. He moved slower now, and was beginning to feel a slight regret. It had been a few weeks since his last encounter with who he now supposed was the mother of his cubs, but the encounter was still fresh on his mind. She wasn't pleasant, but she was beautiful. His mind wandered but his body kept its pace, keeping the cub between his front legs moving with him. She seemed small to him, stunted somehow. Maybe he'd picked the wrong one. All he knew was that he wasn't enjoying this. She had been useful to him a few times, but not enough to merit the responsibility.

Cashile was playing a game with herself, loping paw over paw between her father's feet. He had been quiet since the last argument he had had with the big cat. The cat had slapped daddy, and since then he had seemed angry. It couldn't be at her though, all she had done was smile and sing to him. He wasn't listening though. She sighed, her miniature frame seeming to vanish beneath him.

Shambe was oblivious, as he often was these days. The insufferable cub had been keeping him up at all hours and it was beginning to show. His usual manic smirk was replaced by an irate scowl, his head tilted forward to cover his shadowed eyes. She was always asking questions, questions that didn't mean anything to him. Why was the sky blue? How should he know that? He caught a familiar scent and the fur along his back bristled. This one, he remembered this female. She was strong, confident, irritating just like the cub. Normally he would have put on a friendly face but the best he could manage was a false looking grimace. He pushed the cub with a leg, guiding her in the direction. She was a female after all, she might now how to shut her up.

Cashile was distracted by the glint off the clasp at her father's chest, peering upward so that the top of her head was nearly obscured by his fur. He never let him touch it, he was mean. All she wanted was to try it on. He had so many shiny things and she had none. She deserved some. Why were they moving? She glanced out from her hidden spot, noticing the brightly colored female that had come into view. She was pretty.

With the cub had come a new sense of self awareness, one which triggered itself with the female's closer approach. Looking he almost swore that he was hallucinating. Her. It wasn't a thought of condemnation but rather one of pure disbelief. It had been a long time and she appeared somehow changed, but she still intimidated him. He had bigger problems now than seeking her approval, and he could feel those problems pressing up against him curiously as he stiffened. She knew something was wrong. He tried his best to mask it as they made their way toward her. Remembering his manners from before he stopped a fair distance away and sat, exposing the cub that now rested between his front paws.

Cashile was confused until he stopped, then her confusion morphed into a sort of wonderment. They were going toward her, that meant that maybe daddy would let her play on her own, if he wanted to talk. She started to move forward but felt herself restrained by his paw and a look of indignation settled on her face. If he was going to be mean still then she would too, he hadn't even introduced her yet. Come to think of it, he hadn't spoken at all. That was strange for daddy, usually he was telling them all about his poor beautiful daughter by now.

He had to resist the urge to snap back at her, but she was right. The cub was the only reason he hadn't run tail high when he had spotted her. It wouldn't run, and he wasn't even sure it would be worth picking it up to keep it. Not that he didn't enjoy its company from time to time, but it was always asking for something, it needed a mother. Mothers knew how to handle them. "This," he said, putting his paw on top of her small head, "Is Cashile, my daughter." Take her please. No, he couldn't pass her off just like that, if it came back to Aqila that he'd taken the cub just to toss her away he'd be in serious danger.

Cashile looked up at her father when he touched her, one ear pressed flat again her head by the paw. Her dark eyes were curious, searching his face and then the strange female's. She didn't look like mommy she was much, well, bluer. He was talking about her though, she liked being the center of attention. "Daddy says I'm the prettiest," she added, giving a beaming smile that betrayed her ego.

"Wait," he called, stepping forward. As much as he hated to admit he needed help she was right. He was tired, downright exhausted, and he didn't know what to do about it. She could help, she said. Perhaps she could help without an immediate repayment. He knew how these deals tended to work, he would owe her. It all would depend on what he would owe. "What can you offer her?" he asked, pressing a paw against Cashile's chest, "Specifically." He would of course want all the details before agreeing to anything.

"Daddy..." Cashile trailed, staring at the female. She wasn't sure she liked the way things were going. Daddy sounded distressed, and this female was talking nice words. So many nice words but so sneaky. A pleasure. She wasn't sure what it meant but it sounded like more than one thing. Afraid, she pressed back against her father.

Shambe considered the offer, running his paw down the cub's pack. A group could provide a safer home for her, and he might be able to visit. It would certainly reduce the annoyances and complications he had found in his recent endeavors. She would be happy there, he thought, any good father would agree. She would thank him later. "You'll watch over her yourself?" he added, becoming comfortable with the thought. Exposure to other females would be good for her.

Daddy was going to give her away? Cashile frowned, a film of tears welling up in her eyes as she lifted her head to look at him. But wait, the lady had said about royal. She knew that word, that was the word daddy used when he was talking about princesses. She could be a princess! Her pitch black eyes widened, a hungry look coming into them. She had always deserved to be a princess.

For a moment he cringed, his hold on the cub tightening until she began to squirm beneath his paw. "That's really my business," he replied, a certain coldness in his voice, "Though I suppose there's no shame in it. I'm simply not the parenting sort." His face held a peculiar smile, as if he were proud of the fact, "And she seems to have become quite valuable, perhaps I should look for another if the terms bother you." He wouldn't, but it never hurt to bluff to get to the truth, "She's perfectly healthy, she simply... Tires me." His hold relaxed and he returned to sliding his paw up and down her back in what he felt was a rather comforting motion.

Cashile was decidedly uncomforted. Daddy had pushed on her like that before, when she had scared off the creatures he was sneaking up on. But it wasn't fair then, they didn't know he was coming. He had yelled about having no food and her being useless. Daddy was mean sometimes. She couldn't understand what he was talking about, but it sounded like he often did when talking to ladies, ladies he wanted to help them. And they usually did, Daddy told her she was why. So this lady, was she going to help them? She didn't seem as interested in Daddy, just her. "I'm a good girl," she added in a bold little voice, peering up at the other.

"Cashile, answer her," Shambe ordered, pushing the cub forward, "Nyoka here would like to be your new mother, she deserves your respect." He hoped the pleasantry would dissuade any further teasing, he was growing tired of the back and forth game. The sooner this was over with the sooner he could push it out of his mind and get on with his life. After all, he'll have done the proper thing, she would be fed and cared for and he would have his freedom.

Cashile peered up at her, now pushed wholly into the spotlight. It was where she was most comfortable, she had found. The distractions of the people around her tended to be lessened. "I am," she answered, smiling cheerfully, "I also sing, and dance." She did a little rhythmic two step, humming along. "And I'm pretty."