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 Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:22 am
The night, while the stars and moon were still in the sky outside, was still and silent within the den of Mohombi and Ankara's family this evening. All except for the gentle sound of two small new arrivals. Zimran could not help but smile with pride as she looked down at the young mother and her small litter. They were healthy and while few in number, the delivery was a success and there was nothing else the nanny could have asked for. Well, except for maybe an older mother and one not an adolescent, but this is what Mkodi and the circle of life willed it seemed, for this young lioness to become a mother so early.
"You did well, Nzasi," Zimran spoke gently and as quietly as she could to lean down to give the young lioness a reassuring rub on her cheek.
"I've already sent word for your parents, they should be here any minute now." The nanny whispered, at least wanting to let the young mother know that company was coming. Her words were met by a nod from Nzasi.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 11:27 am
Ankara entered not long after Mohombi, slowing her pace quickly as she entered the den. She had been set on chiding Mohombi for his inpatients, as the cubs were not going anywhere any time soon, however as she stepped inside the den her gaze fell upon Nzasi and the two little ones huddles between her forelegs. Her own thoughts mimicked the question Mohombi asked aloud. The lioness stepped forward and rubbed her head lightly against her daughters as she looked down at her new grandcubs. "They are beautiful." She spoke softly, smiling down at the trio.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 12:24 pm
Zimran could not help herself as she narrowed her eyes at the rather loud grandfather, shushing him with a rather annoyed, "Shhh." Her attention quickly turned from Mohombi back to the cubs. They were beautiful and it made Zimran proud to have helped bring them into the world. Though she took several steps back, giving the family plenty of room to now greet the new arrivals. In fact, seeing the joy, pride and fear all mixed together gave the goddess a warm feeling in her belly, one that she would probably try to explain to Persikka later, once she had gotten some sleep of course.
The new mother returned her mother's gesture, giving her a nudge under her chin. "They're fine, dad. Come see for yourself." Nzasi's head pulled back, turning downward to look at them but also to give their grandmother room to actually look at both of them and for their grandfather as well. "They most certainly are. They take a lot after both their father and you papa." She said, smiling back at Mohombi who was still standing by the entrance of the den. The two cubs yawned, moving rolling over in her arms, getting more comfortable in the arms of their mother and with the added warmth of a kudu pelt that Zimran had gotten brought in for Nzasi to lay on in hopes of being more comfortable.
Mohombi swallowed hard as his shaky legs approached the three lionesses. What made him so afraid? Was it being a whole new role model for a new generation? Was it that his daughter was so young and already a mother? He didn't know and it kind of scared him. All of that melted away when he looked down to see those two cubs, a boy and a girl laying in his daughter's forelegs. He could not help but smile widely with pride. He was really a grandfather now and his little girl was growing up far sooner then he had expected. Whatever had happened in this den in-between the last time he saw her and now, it had changed Nzasi from a rebellious young lioness into a full-fledged motherly lioness. Never had he seen her so gentle towards anything.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 12:30 pm
Ankara moved slightly aside as well, allowing for Mohombi to come forth to see the new little ones himself. "And what about you?" She questioned, sitting herself beside Nzasi. "How are you feeling?" Having had cubs of her own she certainly knew how tiring an ordeal it could be, but Nzasi was much younger than she had been, so of course she worried for her daughter.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 12:43 pm
Zimran motioned for Mohombi to approach her as she made her way towards the mouth of the den, leaving the mother and grandmother be as they talked. She would not pull either of them away as they chatted about both the cubs and the experience. It was their time and Mohombi would have his to be a father to his daughter late. For now there was something that she could not help and it was causing her to worry as she stood in the mouth of the den, sparing a glance to look at the two lionesses huddled around the newborn cubs. While it was a wonderful sight there was still that something bothered her.
The father and now grandfather glanced from his grandchildren to Zimran a few times before finally approaching the goddess, obviously confused why she wanted him to step away from the four other felines. Regardless of the reasoning, Mohombi did as she wanted and moved as silently as he could over to her as to not disturb Nzasi and Ankara. As he made the short journey, it felt much longer. Worry began to seep back into his mind. Was something wrong with one of the cubs? Or possibly even worse; Nzasi? Oh how he hoped his mind was just being worrisome and nothing was truly wrong. 'Oh geez, stay calm, stay calm.' The lion thought to himself to keep from possibly panicking.
Nzasi shrugged as much as she could without disturbing her new cubs. "I'm feeling already. Zimran gave me a mixture of herbs soaking in water that helped with the pain a little. I'm exhausted though." And if on cue, her mouth opened wide as the lioness yawned. "Only two of them but it was a lot of work. More then I thought it'd be actually." Sparing a glance to her father, she turned her attention back to Ankara, "So how is dad doing with this whole situation?" She could help but ask, worry obvious in her voice.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 1:01 pm
Ankara nodded slowly as she lay herself down by the new mother. She couldn't blame Nzasi for being tired, even if it was only two cubs. If a little pain and weariness was the worse of it then her daughter would be fine. At the question Ankara looked up towards Mohombi, who had moved to the mouth of the den to speak with Zimran. Her own worries flickered through her mind, but she pushed them aside. If something were wrong then she would learn of it soon enough, but for now she was determined to keep calm for her daughter's sake. It wouldn't do to get Nzasi worried over what could possibly be nothing, not now.
"A little worried perhaps, but what parent doesn't worry about their children. However I have no doubts that he is proud of you, as am I." Ankara smiled gently at her daughter. "You and your cubs are healthy and well, what more could we ask for?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 1:08 pm
"Yes?" Mohombi asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing's wrong," The heady nanny replied, her voice a little lower then his to not allow the others to hear them. "I was just curious...have you had any word from their father? As far as I know, he hasn't come to visit yet and I'm sure word has spread a little at least." It was odd, to say the least. Normally the father would have come visit, or at least in all the cases of pregnancies, which was few, that Zimran had dealt with with. Maybe he just didn't know? Something as simple as that or Nzasi didn't want him in her life. She didn't know and didn't feel like bothering the new mother with a question like that just yet. She did though feel as it was his right to know.
"Come to think of it...no. I haven't. Though that doesn't mean he didn't play romantic and visit her when we weren't around." Of course Mohombi would suggest something he would do. But Zimran bringing it up now just wanted him to meet the father of the litter even more now. Shaking his head, he repeating his earlier statement though a little clearer. "No, I haven't seen him or really heard of him at this point. I figured he was just a rogue she met on the border, though I could be mistaken." Which he probably was anyways.
"Maybe that I had been a little older?" Nzasi replied to her mother's last question with a worried smile. While she knew she hadn't been expecting an answer, it just needed to be said. "I just hope dad doesn't flip out or something even worse. Last thing I need is him worrying about every little thing I do. Yeah, yeah, I know he's my father, but I'm growing up. I don't ne-" Her words were interrupted by another yawn, one that lasted several seconds longer than the first one. "-need a cub-sitter." She finished, once it had subsided.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 1:32 pm
"You are old enough to find your way in the world. Your choices are yours alone to make. Just know that we will always be there for you." Ankara replied with a smile, glancing over at Mohombi before returning her gave to her daughter. "I know you are. We can't help but worry though, it's just what comes with having cubs, whether they are yours or your child's. If you feel we are hovering around too much just let me know and I'll make sure you get some space, even if I have to drag your father away by the tail."
"You should try and get some rest now though. You certainly deserve it." Ankara smiled, both at Nzasi and down at the little ones. "I hope you'll forgive a couple of worrisome old lions if they hang around for tonight at least."
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:39 pm
"Hm...alright then. I'll see what I can do to track down the father." Zimran took a moment to glance over to the two lionesses again and then back to Mohombi with a smile across her face. "For now, perhaps you should get back to your family. It looks like they could probably use you over there." Without even allowing Mohombi to actually reply, the goddess slipped out to make her way back to Persikka. She was glad that one expecting lioness was taken care of and that she could also rest now. She had been up all night as well and even though she was a goddess, she was still tired as any mortal.
Mohombi turned his head to look back at the two, a faint, genuine smile on his maw as he saw the two of them beside one another. By the time he turned back around to thank Zimran and tell her that that was probably a good idea, she had already left. Chuckling at her swiftness, he made his way over to his mate and his daughter. Giving Nzasi a gentle nudge on the head, he settled down on the other side of her, his tail coming to curl up over his back leg. "What your mother said. You should get some rest. I know you and your siblings took a lot our of your mother, I can only imagine what it was like for you."
"Heh, you don't even want to know, dad." The young mother replied, a playfulness in her voice that hadn't been seen since she was a cub. Laying her head down around both of her sleeping cubs, Nzasi slowly drifted off to sleep, surrounded by her parents and their love. There was nothing more she could have asked for in the world at that very moment. Everything was perfect in her mind.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:51 pm
Ankara smiled as she watched Mohombi make his way back over. She watched silently as he lay down on the other side of Nzasi. Whatever he and Zimran had spoken of didn't seem serious enough to warrant her knowing, at least not right now. She would have to ask him about it later. For now she lay her head down. All the worry and waiting had left her tired, and the older lioness slowly drifted off to sleep as well.
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Posted: Mon Feb 04, 2013 2:53 pm
Mohombi stayed up, keeping guard for several more hours, glancing down at any of the four felines around him when they stirred or made a noise; particularly the two sleeping cubs that had curled moved closer to their mother's face. It was several more hours before Mohombi to joined them in sleep, exhausting himself from the excitement of the day.
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