It was another glorious day for Kaja. His cubs were all growing up right before his very eyes. It made him so proud! On this particular day he had woken up rather early, his mate was still sleeping soundly. His nose touched her softly with much tenderness before he went out of their den. Their cubs were either still sleeping or off somewhere already. They were so big now, that it was only a matter of time before the den would be empty once more.
His eyes gazed down to the shore as he made his way quietly, lost in thought. The lull of the waves were a soft background to his thoughts.
She was no exception. Early early, Sabbia had made her way out of the den and visited the ocean for a few hours before the sun was up. The sea green lioness still moved so awkwardly in her own way. She hadn't been the most social when she was a cub, always gone to the tide pools to make her crafts. Many things that she made she brought home for her parents and siblings. In her own way, she was telling them just how much she loved them all and often thought about them, though she didn't stick around the den much.
That's because the den was always chaotic. If one sibling chose to stay home, more of then did. Like the twins. Which always involved wrestling and a volume level that gave her a headache.
Her paws moved leisurely over the sand as she made her way back up to her home with her latest piece; a necklace with several beads and feathers strung together, and in the very center was a whole sand dollar. She'd made it with her daddy in mind. Upon seeing him out of the den already, she blinked and picked up her pace a bit, necklace swinging from side to side as she called out a muffled greeting.
It didn't take long for Sabbia's voice to reach his ears as he blinked. No, he didn't imagine it! He was worried he was thinking too much about his cubs, until he paused to glance around. His eyes landed on one of his two daughters. The one who took a lot after him. He face warmed up in a tender smile as he returned her greeting.
"Sabbia!" He turned slightly to take a step in her direction. While not on the large side, it didn't take him more than a few steps to be at his daughter's side. His nose reached forward to nuzzle her affectionately, "You're almost always the first one up, it seems."
She nuzzled back against him with cub-like enthusiasm and nodded. She usually was always the first one up. Without warning, she slipped the necklace around his head and watched it settle on his mane in an awkward way. He'd adjust it later. Right now, she looked eager to tell him something. Something she'd been meaning too for a while now.
"I usually am the first one up," she admitted with a small laugh. "I wake before the sun most mornings to watch it rise at the shore. It's so pretty." That, and she spent her mornings with.. Nohokai. "I... watch with a friend.. usually."
Her action caught him by surprise as he heard something clink on his mane. He gazed down as his eyes widen in suprise. There was a necklace around his neck, made by his daughter! His eyes roamed over it, full of bliss as he turned back to his daughter. "Oh my...you've outdone yourself with such a wonderful gift! I really love it, Sabbia!" A treasure from his daughter.
With a nod he replied, "Your mother and I would watch the sun set and the sun rise during our travels to our home here. While it is very pretty to see, there's just something so special about it with the sea," He paused, "Tell me Sabbia, how have you been?" He didn't miss the look in her eyes.
A bright smile made it's way across her face, and her fur looked a little pink in the cheeks as her father praised her work. Her ears folded back and she shook her head like she always did. "You're welcome," she replied, voice sounding soft and sincere.
"I've been doing... good. I've got a lot on my mind lately.." And she was surprised Feana hadn't brought it up by now. But her fib that her parents knew probably did the trick. "So, I've been going to watch the waves, hoping... to work up the courage to tell you something." Her voice faulted at the end and she broke up with a little whine. Why did she feel so nervous? Her father would be proud to know what she had to say! Or something like that.
Raising her paw, she showed off the bracelet Nohokai had made for her. "This... I didn't make this." She told them that the first day she came home with it. "....A male named Nohokai did. ...A-and..." She took a deep breath, hoping she wouldn't have to say it out loud.
He watched her curiously, watching her face turn pink and the nervousness said it all. The bracelet that she showed him confirmed his earlier thoughts. His little girl was growing up!
A warm smile spread across his face as he nodded and finished off what she was trying to say, "And you've both taken a liking to each other? Oh dear! I'm going to see my place in my little girl's life replaced by someone else!" He teased her lightly, hoping to help loosen her up a bit since he could sense her nervousness.
"This Nohokai, does he treat you with respect? Does he make you happy?" While he didn't quite know who she was talking about, since it must be a new member, he did know those were the top two questions that he'd ask the male if he were here.
Sabbia actually managed a laugh and slowly started to relax. So her father did get it! That made things so much easier. Sitting down in front of him, getting comfortable for the talk that would probably take a bit, she looked up to him again and answered his questions. "...We... we consider ourselves mates... He gave this to me... when he asked me if I'd be his. ...I've known him for a while.. Since... I was little." Not a cub, but a juvenile.
"It started... off us playing in the water all the time. But as I grew... he... he started bringing me gifts every day.. to help me craft. Then.. it grew to something more than friendship. ...He's...." She paused and laughed softly, "he's ...very gentle and makes me happy when I'm with him. ...Feana met him not too long ago... A-and... he's older than me... so... she didn't like it." Truth was Feana didn't like many mates her siblings took at all. Unless she'd known the mates for a while.
As she got comfortable, he turned all ears to his daughter and listened quietly. With a nod here and there, he waited till she was finished.
"I am so happy to hear of this, Sabbia. Sometimes, the best relationships start out with friendship. Like your mother and I. You never know when love will strike." He paused quietly, "That is good. So long as he treats you well and you are happy, I couldn't ask for anything better! I want all my cubs to be happy...even if I know one day that they'll leave to go off and start their own families. I was just thinking about that earlier...how the den will feel so empty when your siblings and you have gone out on your own."
He curled his tail slightly, "You know, I am much younger than your mother. I know for many, age may be an issue, but I think, happiness should be a top priority. I know Feana has her ways, but they're all with the best intentions. Family is really important, afterall. Does Nohokai have family here?"
"He... doesn't..." she answered truthfully. Sabbia found it so sad her mate didn't have any family to call his own here. "...I want to be his family... to have our family be his. I don't think Feana wants to be his family..." Nothing was ever sure with her. Curling her own tail and then thumping it in the sand, she shrugged.
"I want.. you to meet him soon... I think you'd like him. He's... ...well, he's a little goofy at first. But he speaks from the heart and he still plays with me in the water." She didn't really know how to describe her mate. Other than being utterly in love with her. But that was embarrassing and she didn't want to say that. "Leaving the den is going to be so hard." He wasn't pushing her into anything she wasn't ready for. He'd freaked her out once before with wanting to meet her family; but she'd been so afraid of Feana. But now that that was over, she could actually get him to meet everyone else.
With a soft chuckle, "I don't think I could say or do anything that make you decide otherwise! Being so young and in-love is a wonderful thing. Becoming mates doesn't have to be all serious, there's no reason why we all can't still be goofy and playful!" He could remember the blissful days before the litter, family was a whole different kind of bliss.
"Then its settled! He can become apart of our family. The more, the merrier!" With a wide smile, "He must be able to handle all the questions everyone will have, I am sure." He could only chuckle at the thought of his cubs and mates questioning this new male.
He reached out to touch her nose with his, "When you feel the time is right, then your mother and I will supporting you. As always, our den is your den, so make sure to come by from time to time."
His eyes twinkled, "My little girl is all grown up! Now I wonder who will be next!"
She gave a gentle laugh and nosed his nose right back before adding a little playful n** to his chin. She could always be goofy with her family. They didn't see it as strange behaviour like some of the more serious members of the pride. "He handled Feana... very well, so... I'm sure he can handle any and all questions?" She wasn't too sure how many they could all come up with that wasn't the same ones repeating.
It always touched her how understanding her father was. She kne her mother would be happy, but question and dig for information from Nohokai. That was just her mother's way of doing things! "Maybe our twins'll be the next ones!" The prospect for mates for those two were always high. At least, she saw a lot of females who would eye them when they came down to the beach together.
"..But.. I need to talk to him.. To let him know that.. it's almost time to meet you all." She expected a few rough patches with certain members, but all together, she knew it would be a very good experience for everyone. "I love you, daddy."
With a soft purr to his daughter, he was just so happy. "I love you too, Sabbia. And please take your time, when you both feel comfortable...perhaps if he met just your mother and I first? I can only imagine the twins..." He laughed softly.
: "Wouldn't that be something...perhaps we shall see what will happen with them. We never know!" He could only hope for the best for all of his cubs. They were his world afterall.
"Just make sure to let Nohokai know that we, your mother and I, will approve of him and that he can be family."
"I will, daddy." She nosed at him again before pulling away and smiling. With a goodbye, the girl went back down the path too the beach to find her mate and let him know the wonderful news. Her heart was full of good feelings and she had other things to think about now. Like getting him to the den when everyone was there. The questions and the talk ahead with Kai of moving in.
