|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2011 5:26 pm
 The day was dawning, warm and sweet, and Ampalaya had to get ready to go for more priest training soon. Orad, however, was still asleep, curled up between her and the exit into the main temple from their den. She didn't want to wake him when he wouldn't be on guard duty for a while.
Ampalaya cleaned herself up quietly, and padded over to Orad. She nuzzled him once, then went to jump carefully over him and into the main hall.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 4:41 pm
So attuned was Orad to his beloved mate that the instant her feet touched the floor of the den, his eyes blearily opened and he took a moment to gather himself. No Ampalaya. She was a studious one, and he loved that about her. She took her priestess duties quite seriously, just as he took his guard duties. It wasn't so much about protecting his pride -- it was about protecting his mate, and since she lived in the pride, he was protecting it by proxy.
Slowly shuffling to his feet, he took a moment to yawn and stretch before swiftly padding out of the den, hoping to catch his mate for a quick morning snuggle before she had to head off to the temple for her schooling. Spotting her a short distance away, he grinned and quickly caught up to her.
"Ampalaya," he said softly, not wanting to startle her, "Good morning, my love."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 4:52 pm
Ampalaya smiled broadly when she saw Orad emerge from their den, his mane slightly tussled from sleep.
"Good morning, my sun and stars. I didn't want to wake you after you had a guard shift so late yesterday, and I had to get up so early. Wei is going to teach me some of the prayers and rituals that I need to know for when cubs are born. There might be a few litters this year so all of the priests need to be prepared."
Ampalaya padded back down the hall toward him to give him a nuzzle. She liked it when they had time together in the mornings, but it didn't always happen. The guard shifts and the priestess training weren't on the same schedule, unfortunately.
"I'm glad you woke up to see me off, love. It always makes my day better when it starts off with you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 07, 2011 8:23 am
Orad gave a small, gruff purr, pleased at her affections. It seemed as though they didn't see much of each other, but that was fine. They'd found a home, a place where Orad didn't feel uncomfortable leaving Ampa alone in. Perhaps they could even start a family here when she was ready.
It had been on his mind of late but it wasn't something he yearned to bring up just yet. He knew he loved her and that her love for him was returned, but he didn't want to frighten her away or pressure her into becoming a mother, not yet. She seemed to enjoy her duties, and he wanted her to be able to master them before bringing up cubs.
"My sweetest queen," he growled playfully, "I would rather you wake me before you leave so that I might drink my fill of your beautiful face and refresh my dreams of you as I fall back into slumber once you've left me." Pretty words but he meant all of them. "I am glad to see you enjoying your duties. Welcoming new life into the pride must be an amazing experience." Drop hints much?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:49 pm
Ampalaya smiled prettily at Orad. "I'll make sure I wake you up, then, so you won't miss me. And it will be, once the cubs are born. And I'm hoping we could, um, help to add to the population soon. Now that we're settling in."
Ampalaya wasn't sure if Orad was ready to start trying for cubs - they had talked about it, in general terms, early on, but they hadn't really started discussing it since they had settled down with the Pride. This was a safe place, a god fearing place, and a good place for them to grow up. She hoped for cubs soon.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:07 pm
Orad chuckled at his mate. He was glad they'd found this place. She was fitting in perfectly, and, well, so was he. It was safe here, secure and friendly, and a perfect place to raise the cubs they both desired. Of course, he wasn't expecting her to say what she did, and his jaw hit the floor and those pretty pink eyes of his went wide.
All he could do was nod.
And nod.
He nodded for a few moments before his voice returned to him. "Yes! I ... I want to start our own family, as well, my darling. I just wasn't sure how to bring it up, but, well," he chuckled sheepishly, "I'm glad you did."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:34 pm
Ampalaya's relief was palpable. She nuzzled his chin with her cheek as she settled back down beside him.
"I'm so glad you think we're ready. I didn't want to push you into anything you weren't ready to do. But . . . whenever you're ready, I'm ready."
She was more than ready - she was eager. But even if they got right to work, cubs wouldn't be arriving for a few months, and she would have a lot of time to prepare for them. And preparation - both spiritual and physical - would be important. For one thing, she was still skinny from her years as a rogue, living on little food. She would need to fill out some more - and the other Priestesses had warned her not to be too anxious. Anxieties sometimes made bearing cubs difficult.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 9:21 am
Orad chuckled. He'd been ready, deep in his heart. He'd known all along that Ampalaya was the only female he would ever be with. From the moment he'd lain eyes on her, those pretty golden eyes of hers had him on lockdown. She was everything he ever wanted, and the thought of starting a family with his beloved lioness would only make him happier.
"I don't think we should try too hard," he warned, nuzzling her jaw. "I don't want you to stress out over having cubs. When the Gods decide to gift us with a family, we will know." He knew that deep down in his soul. They would be wonderful parents, and he couldn't imagine that the Gods would keep them waiting for long. Children would be such a blessing for them both.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:39 am
"I promise I won't stress, Orad. But, I'm, um, I'm going to have to start eating more. I'm going to look fat."
Ampalaya knew she was being silly about the food thing - it was important to keep her healthy and her cubs healthy. But she didn't want Orad to think she was ugly, and she didn't really want to be fat. She was probably just being silly about it though; Orad would love her no matter what she looked like.
She looked into his eyes, with their lovely markings, and at his spotted pelt.
"Our sons sure will be handsome, though" she said, trying too forget about being fat and focusing on how great it would be to raise their cubs..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 21, 2011 11:47 am
Orad knew that if he snorted and called her ridiculous it would only cause harm. Besides, there was a difference between being FAT and being FAT WITH HIS CUBS. A huge difference, and one that he was determined to make her understand.
"You will only be more radiantly beautiful in my eyes," he said softly, his vivid eyes speaking nothing but the truth of his words. "The mother of my future cubs could never be anything but a goddess in my eyes." He believed this with all of his heart. No matter how 'fat' Ampalaya might get, Orad would only think her more and more beautiful.
"I will have to beat the males off of our daughters if they look anything like their stunning mother," he said softly with a devilish grin.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2011 8:43 am
Ampalaya looked a bit alarmed at the idea that their babies would be finding mates. She didn't even have babies yet, and already she didn't want them to grow up. She had faith in Orad, though; he wouldn't let anything happen to their babies, especially not when they were still so small. He was too strong and good to let anything bad happen to them.
"Any unworthy male that came around would not be able to stand up to their father. But that won't be for awhile, right, love? They'll just be little for so long, they'll be with us for a long time before they are ready for all that."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:09 am
Orad nuzzled his beloved, chuckling softly at her alarmed expression. "Of course they will be with us for a long time -- in fact, they will be with us for as long as they need. I have no intentions of forcing my children to leave their mother before they feel they are ready." He looked disgusted just thinking about it. No, his children would have a home with their parents for as long as they needed.
"Now," he yawned softly, grinning sheepishly once finished, "I think you'd better tend to your duties and I need more rest, especially with all this talk of cubs." The grin grew larger, turning more and more devilish, "I have to be up for the challenge, after all! I'm sure we'll have our paws full!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:20 pm
Ampalaya's face lit up when she smiled. "Go get some rest, dear. I'm going to go get training - I'll see you this evening. I love you."
Ampalaya trotted out of the temple, glancing back at Orad disappearing into their den. She was so happy. They were going to be a real family. But now she had to focus on her training. They had to be ready before they could start trying for them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
