Zosie
Alili was meeting Bryne again. She had been incredibly proud of the adolsecent after their first spar, and she had noticed Bryne was growing into a young adult. She was lucky to find someone so much like her, even if she was slightly less boisterous. They wouldn't be sparring today, Bryne didn't know it yet, but Alili's belly was fluttering with the stirring of new life. Mbari and Alili had become mates a few weeks ago, and they could not have been happier. The dark lioness walked around with the obvious glow of love radiating from her body, and soon she would glow with obvious signs of pregnancy too. Her blue eyes looked out for her friend across the grass as she thought happily about how she could teach her cubs to spar - and to have fun!
Seaki
Bryne had been growing again, just emerging as a young adult. She was no longer a child, after all, and - while she was no longer a child, she didn't feel like the wholesome adult she expected to feel like once she became of age.
There were a few things that would never change. One, he love of sparring, where she was headed now, of course! And Vogel. Lovely Vogel who she had planned to ask his parents to court him as soon as she told her parents. Sometimes she would flush with the thought, and whisper them to Vogel as they walked, and his blush was even more pleasing.
Still, today Vogel was home - not really with his parents, but in a spot he particularly liked where the crows would come and nest in his mane sometimes, much to his pretended displeasure. So today, Bryne was alone as she made her way to find Alili for a spar.
Zosie
Alili's eyes continued to scan the horizon until she found her friend! There she was, and looking grown up and quite beautiful. She smiled as she heaved herself off the ground - she already felt heavier! Alili trotted over to Bryne and bowed her head gently. "Bryn'! The lioness had a tedancy to make her friends name as short as possible - it wasn't intentional, but due to her accent. She'd picked her accent up from her dad when she was small she'd heard, and for some reason it had just stuck. "'Ow are yah?" Nudging her shoulder affectionately, she smiled widely at Bryne.
Seaki
The first thing Bryne noticed of her friend was that she looked... different somehow, though she couldn't quite place it! "Alili! Hello," Bryne greeted fondly. "I'm faring quite well, actually," She felt kind of strange, walking about without Vogel - he was normally at her side and she found herself missing him a bit.
Maybe more than a little.
"And you? How are you doing?"
Zosie
"'Am good!" She roared, although she seemed a little gentler and slightly quieter than usual. Turning her head, Alili looked for Vogel and let out a chuckle. "Didn't bring ya cheerleader today then?" She joked. In all honesty it made it a little easier. Alili had to tell Bryne because sparring could be dangerous, or so Mbari had told her. Alili didn't see what all the fuss was about, they were both sparring in a friendly manner, but Mbari had worked himself into such a frenzy - quite adorable actually, and she had promised not to spar. It would make her grumpy, but soon she would have little ones to teach! She looked at Bryne seriously for a moment. "Bryn', 'm sorry, we can't spar today..."
Seaki
Bryne grinned at her friend, bouncing on her toes a bit. "Oh, no - he worked himself into a tizzy at the thought of meeting my parents," she gave a small chuckle. It wouldn't be so bad, though Vogel had it in his mind that their judgement of him mattered. They were unofficially courting as it was.
Of course, that's when the news came - no sparring? She blinked in bit of a surprise. "Are you sure you're okay?" She asked, concerned. Alili loved sparring! Surely she was ill - but, she looked far too healthy for that!
Zosie
"Ah!" Alili excalimed. "Meetin' the parents eh?!" Giving Bryne a wink she motioned for her to sit beside her as she collapsed untidily onto the ground. She'd done that fairly early on, meeting the parent, as Mbari and herself as start off as just friends.They had recently told their exciting news to Maawio, and she had been overjoyed. Alili wondered how Bryne would react and she hoped that it wouldn't change their friendship. She assumed she would be a little miffed at losing her new sparring partner, but Alili would be back in the game in no time once the cubs were born... That is, if she got a spare moment! "I am okay, but, I am 'aving a family." She motioned happily to her stomach, and with no other words, blinked at Bryne with a smile.
Seaki
"Well, he's met them before, a few times - but we've never declared our intentions before them," She sighed. It wasn't something she'd thought about until they were late into their adolescence and, honestly, they just fit!
She watched as her friend flopped to the ground, though her concern turned to surprise at the news! "Cubs?" She said in a breath - not particularly a question. It was somewhat of a shock, and Bryne found her heart pull in a longing.
"Bless, that's - that's wonderful!" Sparring be damned, she could always spare with Vogel. "I'm happy for you." She couldn't quite push the yearning for cubs from her mind, or likely her face!
Zosie
They sounded like they were doing things the nice old fashioned way, and she thought that was wonderful! They really did seem like a pair that were in love and would go the distance. She would have guessed they were childhood sweethearts, but she wasn't sure, either way it seemed like they certainly were close.
Alili was so glad that she was happy for her and let out an excited squeal. "Thank ya, 'm so excited and Mbari is too, ya must come meet him, but he's not a type for sparrin' mind. He's very different to me." She giggled and looked at her friends face, which was wide with the expression most females began to wear at adulthood when they heard of cubs - longing. Or perhaps she was just imagining it. Alili could picture Vogel and Bryne with their own lovely family some day, and it would be great if they were all friends still.
"Ya can cubsit if ya like when they're 'ere, as practice!"
Seaki
"Vogel and I will come visit you both then!" The thought of sparring was far from the younger lioness's mind while the thought of cubs overtook her mind. Perhaps she should speak to Vogel... She grinned at Alili, and then flushed. Of course she was read easily. Her want for children. She almost sighed, but she gave a gentle smile instead.
"I would like that," she said softly. It would indeed give her practice in raising her own children, though she the news felt a little surreal still.
Zosie
It sounded fantastic, and Alili's heart was ready to burst. She hadn't imagined life would pan out this well, but it had and she was so excited.
"Tha' will be wonderful! I look forward to it!"
In the past few months she'd gained a mate, new friends, and now a family. Everything right now was perfect. [End]
