Kosuke had just returned from tracking some wayward cub, when he spotted a golden bird flying overhead. He watched it for a bit, eyes narrow, as it circled, flapping slowly. For a moment, he thought it was just any other desert creature, out to hunt. But then recognition set in, as he realized... That was the eagle that was always with Shula. As the bird dipped down, he kept his eyes on it, wondering what it wanted.
Landing on a rock, Pende'shumusi flared out her wings. When she'd finally settled, she turned her eyes up to Kosuke. "You may want to get to your den, your cubs are coming!" When the first signs of labor had started, Shula had sent the eagle out to find Kosuke. She could see the shock in his eyes, before watching him go. Letting out a light huff, Pende crouched, then jumped into the air, beating her wings to follow.
Shifting in the den, Shula tried to find a comfortable position. In the time since she'd discovered her pregnancy, she'd.. Well, ballooned. Thankfully, the cubs seemed to 'sleep' at night, and were rather active during the day, all moving around. Now, they seemed to be displeased. Then again... When her body was preparing to send them out into the world.... Of course they'd be displeased. She panted a bit, one ear flicking as she watched the bright entrance to the den, waiting for Kosuke to arrive.
And arrive he soon did, ears pricked forward as he peeked into the den. "Shula...?" Carefully, he crawled in, nose twitching. He soon found her, near the back of the den, looking uncomfortable. "Is there anything I can do? Something I can get you?" He'd already prepared the den with the skins of prey animals, intent that his children wouldn't be sleeping on dirt and sand.
The lioness offered a smile, one paw resting on her distended abdomen. "No, there's nothing much you can do... Just be here for me.." She winced, her smile vanishing, as she rolled over slightly. She wasn't liking these contractions... They took her breath away, and they were making her cubs unhappy. When the contraction ended, a spot on her abdomen seemed to poke out for a bit, as a cub shifted in the womb.
Kosuke could only watch... That made him sad, for some reason. After a while, he went out to pace, now and then glancing in the den. What felt like forever passed, as the sun marched across the sky. On a rock near by, he spotted the eagle, also watching and waiting. When he heard a bit of a roar from the den, he went back in, anxious about what was happening.
Panting heavily, Shula lay on her side as she felt the push and pull of the contractions. She shifted, squeezing her eyes shut for a moment before, running on instinct alone, she pushed the first cub into the world. Though it was a mess, she could see the vibrant, red coat, inherited from herself. Shifting to be able to do so, she moved the cub closer to her belly and groomed it, cleaning everything away as it - No, he - Started to squeal. When the cub was clean and nursing, she smiled at Kosuke, hoping he admired their first-born son as much as she did.
He was, first and foremost, amazed at the fact lionesses DID this kind of thing. Then he was amazed at the cub, vibrant and lively. The dark mane seemed to blend with the black streak running from the cub's nose to the base of its tail, while dark stripes marked his cheeks. Kosuke let out a rumble, smiling as he gently butted his head against Shula's. "He makes me think of the rising sun..."
"Then I think we should cal him Wook.." She licked the cub, smiling, before settling down to await the next cub. Several minutes later, she was pushing again, delivering a second cub. This time, it was a girl... And through everything on her, it wasn't hard to see that she'd later bring them heartache. Grooming the sand-yellow cub, Shula rumbled at her. Poor cub...
Kosuke felt a bit sad, staring at the pale yellow cub. "Poor little thing..." He sighed, then opted for a name he hoped would bring her good tidings later. "Should call her Paniwi..." He also found it fun to say. Paniwi... It rolled off the tongue easily enough.
Shula nodded, finishing grooming the cub. Another several minutes later, she felt the pressure and pain again, pushing hard. Letting out a pained roar, not one but two cubs came, one after the other. No wonder it'd hurt so much, the fourth cub seemed eager to get out! Though she was starting to tire, she moved both cubs close and groomed them both. The third cub was the same color as Kosuke, while the fourth was, despite Shula's grooming, the color of dark blood. It took her a moment, but she soon realized it came from Kosuke's mane. Finishing grooming them, she smiled at the two girls, before smiling at Kosuke. "They're beautiful... Mzia'hari... And..." She paused, not sure what to name the fourth cub.
"Soleil..." She was like the sun, especially with a white spot on her face. He admired the three girls so far, wishing quietly that the yellow was red. Like her brother, the yellow cub had a black streak from nose to tail base. The cub that shared his coat coloring bore markings much like Shula's, only in Shula's red. It was like her front paws had been dipped in bright red blood... The third, indeed, was a deep red, with white markings popping out against the coat. Four cubs... Shula'd birthed four cubs... And yet, he had a feeling... There were still more.
Indeed there were, as the contractions picked up again, feeling almost like they were trying to hurry the cubs out. Once again, as she pushed, she let out a roar of pain, two cubs coming at roughly the same time again. Was her womb trying to kill her or something? Or was it trying to get her cubs stuck? As she groomed the cubs, she noted more girls, one being blood red like herself, the other the same red as Kosuke. The first, indeed, looked a mix of them both, with her black paw splatterings and his eye markings. The second looked much more like Kosuke, with his dark red marking her with most of her eye and belly markings. What surprised her most was the black dot on her chest. That was an interesting twist on her forehead marking... "I think for the first here... Motowino..."
Admiring the two cubs, Kosuke smiled. Surely these were the last two? There were a lot of girls, too... It made him wonder, was he destined to fight off boys and boys and boys? "Mmm..." He leaned over, grooming the so-far-last-born cub. "Nuraya..." So far, most names were dealing with fire and the sun. He had a feeling... They all would. "And all lovely..." He paused, looking at Shula. "Are... Are there more...?"
Shula couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, Kosuke..." She paused, one ear twitching. "Yes, yes there are more..." She grimaced, claws flexing in one of the skins. After several minutes, she was soon pushing, delivering a seventh cub into the world. As she groomed it, she noted the fiery orange coat. She'd seen that same coat on some relatives of Kosuke that were floating around the pride. "Look at that coat..." It was almost like fire.
Kosuke stared at the cub, the same color as both of his grandfathers. He could just see the fun he'd have with this one... "Habari'washa..." He let out a smiling sigh, then licked Shula's forehead. He certainly HOPED this was the last one!
As tired as she was, she was able to relax and take a short nap. Not even half an hour later, though, she was awoken from her nap by more contractions. She didn't have to look to know Kosuke was worried, before her focus shifted entirely to bringing the eighth cub into the world. As the cub was delivered, she let out a short roar, before tiredly moving it close to groom. The strange markings reminded her strongly of her sister, to the point it seemed to even have an ornate mask up its face. Correction, HIS face. Graced with a mane and tail tuft of what looked like living fire, the cub looked like he'd be a demon of a lion. He was very soon followed by a ninth and smaller cub, one she knew to be the last of the large litter. As she cradled the tiny cub in her paws, she was reminded even more strongly of Jyotika. "Oh, Kosuke... He's so small... And his brother looks like he brings fire with him..."
The male was certainly surprised by the last two cubs. The fact they were boys thrilled him, even if one was small. Settling so his body wrapped around the other side of the litter, he rumbled at Shula, smiling. "They're all fine cubs, even if one's a Huria and one's a runt..." He didn't mind either one so much. His previous five Huria children had taught him to appreciate them. He looked at the last two cubs, the last two boys, pondering over names. Running his tongue over the wild-marked cub, he rumbled, "Keahilani... And his brother... Tyson..." Both strongly looked like Jyotika, Shula's sister, though Keahilani... Well, he held a strong resemblance to one of Kosuke's uncles. Mask markings seemed to be inherent in his father's side, thanks in part to his paternal grandmother. He swore he'd seen another cub with a mask marking in his older sister's litter.
Smiling tiredly, Shula purred. "Nine beautiful cubs..." She felt so proud, pleased with herself. Stretching a bit, she let out a yawn. "I think, now... It's time to sleep..." Laying her head down, she smiled at Kosuke as her eyes slid closed. It didn't take long before she was asleep, finally resting her exhausted body.
Glancing out of the den entrance, Kosuke made note of the fact it was after dark. He let out a yawn of his own, soon settling with his mate. Using his body, he created a shield from the cold night air, effectively keeping the cubs warm between them. He, too, soon found sleep, enjoying slumber after so much excitement.
