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Rashida sat in the den, stretched out on the cold stone floor as she yawned. It was early morning, and Azrael was up, stretching his muscles already. She would be unable to sleep if he was up, and so she knew that was her queue. Rolling over onto her belly, she looked over at Samm. Ani, and her three boys were likely out causing a ruckus around with other pride members. But Samm, the ever loyal sweetheart was still sleeping in a little ball. She stood, and stretched out her paw to touch him gently.
"Rise, my sweet."

Azrael had been woken by the sounds of the birds outside. Sometimes he hated those damn things, he wasn't exactly ready to be awake. However there would be no way to sleep now, and he had work to attend to. Like hunting to bring some lunch home for his family. But that could happen here shortly. He still had to wake up after all. He yawned, pink tongue curling out from his maw, and then watched his mate nudge their youngest son with a smile.

Samm was sleeping deeper than he usually did, unbeknownst to his mother, Samm had spent half the night awake, thinking about stuff, nothing in particular and nothing he would really remember either but he'd woken up with a strange feeling and couldn't go back to sleep for a while. He jumped out of his sleep, instantly alert, his fur on end until his eyes slowly focussed on his mother and he hung his head, ashamed he'd startled so when waking "Sorry mama, i guess i was having a bad dream?" he explained, not sure why he'd woken up like that, he couldn't remember dreaming, maybe it was instinct borne from long ago, racing through his blood that made him jump the way he had. Samm didn't know but he knew his mama got worried when he woke up like that and he rubbed his head against her, purring a little to reassure her he was alright.

Azrael watched his cub, and he lay down on his belly to look at him. He was a handsome boy, his red pelt almost like the one his father bore. He saw the good in his eyes though, the good his mother no doubt bestowed upon him. Samm was a good cub, but then again they all were. Even if Ani was a bit devious at times. "What on earth could you have been dreaming about, boy?" He asked, though his tone wasn't harsh, but curious.

Rashida used her paw, pulling Samm in against her and nuzzling him back. Blowing a puff of air from her maw, she watched his little mane fluff ruffle and smiled. He was getting bigger, and it was harder to draw him close to her. He was heavy, but still he followed her movements. He was such a good boy.

"Aw, thats no good, my angel." She said, licking his cheek.

Samm yawned and leaned against his mother slightly, looking at his father. The male was a good role model for a guard, for a strong stoic personality, as a father he didn't let his cubs want for much, aside true affection but Samm knew his father showed it in other ways, in the way he was less stiff sometimes if he was proud, or slightly smiled when he thought no one was looking. Samm would never call his father out on it, merely observed and stored the information in his mind. "I don't know dad, i don't remember" he said, before giggling at his mother's attentions, shaking his head and smoothing his mane tuft down again, a smile on his face

Azrael had no idea his son knew him just as well as he did. He was unaware that Samm knew the little things he did when he was happy, or when he was proud. He was rather happy that no one really knew about it though. He never really paid much attention to it himself. He just knew he loved his family, even if his features didn't show it all the time.

Rashida giggled. "Oh Im sorry, am I messing up that little bit of a mane you have there, my son?" She asked with a grin. She stood, stretching out her legs, her claws unsheathing from grey toes. She was a pretty lioness, though she heard it often she never really believed it. She was far more interested in her babies, her mate, and her life to care about what she looked like.. Though Az pointed it out often.

Samm smiled at his mother "No mama, it just gets in my eyes that way" he said nuzzling against her leg "Where's Dene?!" he asked, looking around and only just realising he was the last of his litter to wake, "I thought up a fun game last night while i was thinking ......oops" he said, letting slip to his parent's that he'd been awake in the night. His ears lowered and he glanced towards his father, more concerned about his reaction than his mother's, she was the kind one and his father was the strict one, both teaching him valuable lessons, both needing each other as buffers against whatever they did. In truth his parents made a pretty great team.

Azrael's eyebrow arched as he said he had been awake, and he looked at the juvenile with a confused gaze. "Hmm." He said, an irritated growl deep in his throat though he wasn't really that irritated. It was just a way to make sure the cubs knew that wasnt right.
"Night time is for sleeping." He said, and then began grooming his paw.

Rashida tsked Samm, but looked outside. "He's probably running around outside with Castiel, as usual. Though young man. You'd best start sleeping at night, because otherwise you'll be too tired to ever get to play those fun games with your brother." She said, her tone motherly but her eyes were still kind. She never yelled at her cubs, never raised her voice to them. They got the point without her needing to that. She sighed and smiled.
"What is this fun game anyway?"

Samm nodded vigorously at his father "Yes sir, i know.. i woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, i just kept thinking about things and it wouldn't let me sleep til i'd thought them" he said, as if that explained everything. He knew his father wasn't entirely displeased, the look of confusion alone showed that, if his father had been angry, he wouldn't have let confusion leak into his expression. He stooed up and was about to head out of the den when his mother spoke "Oh yes Cas!..." he trailed, "It's a secret" he said in a stage whisper, he'd tell her later when they were all getting ready to sleep, he could tell her all about the game he was going to play with Cas and Dene, but especially Dene, he and his elder brother had a rather .. competetive edge, they tried to best each other whenever they could and this game he'd thought up could be fun. He might tell his father in a minute but he wanted to keep it a secret from his mother, at least until he'd won and he could gloat about it back at the den.

Azrael nodded, a chuckle rising from his throat. "That a boy. We raised you well." He said, before walking over to nuzzle Rashidas's cheek and offer Samm a nudge of his head before he turned to walk towards the edge of the den. He smiled to them, nodding his head in goodbye.
"Now then. If we are to be eating anything for breakfast tonight, it is probably best that I go and fetch it." He said, and with another nod, he turned and exited the den.

Rashida rolled her eyes and giggled, leaning into to blow more air at Samms head. Then she too, stood and nosed him.
"Alright young man, if you are looking to go and cause trouble ya best go now." She said, motioning him away with her paw.
"Because when father returns, it will be time to eat and you know what he will say if you aren't back in time." She said, her voice still that motherly tone, but she had that playful gleam in her eyes.

Samm positively beamed at his father's chuckle, and he almost died of happiness right there and then when his father nudged him, rare was it for the male to show his cubs physical affection like that. He watched his father leave and ducked as his mother messed his mane again "moooom" he whined playfully, reaching up to smooth it down with a paw. He nodded at her and shot out of the den, catching up with his father for a moment "Dad... i wanna tell you the game before you go......"

Azrael was a bit off guard that the boy had followed. After all, the meals wouldnt catch itself. But he nodded, and looked down at him with a curious look in his eyes.
"Is that so? Well do it quick, Sammy. I am in a bit of a hurry. You understand." He said, and stopped walking as he looked down at the cub.

Samm almost wriggled in his skin, his father had just called him Sammy, he thought that it was the first time his father had ever called him by anything but his given birth name, and the affectionate term spun Samm's head, today was AWESOME!. "I'm gonna teach Dene and Cas... and the others... how to find someone without smelling them... it'll be good in a fire or something huh dad? We have to track and listen hard!" he said excitedly, his body wriggling as he was so eager.

Azrael grinned, nodding with a chuckle.
"My boy, if you learn that you will be one hell of a force to be reckoned with. Be careful." He said, and before he left he looked back.
"Take care of your brothers. I'll be back soon." He turned to leave, and without letting Sam see it, he was smiling.

Samm grinned and risked giving his father a hug, granted it was only his leg and it was only for a moment before he ran off, not daring to risk his father's good humor more and upset him "I will dad BYEEE!!!" he called as he ran off, he stopped short and ran back to his mother "Love you mom, be back with Dene and Cas soon" he said before dashing off again to find his brothers