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Things had changed quite a bit in the last few years. Ugomvi was going by Ugomvi now rather than her old pride name, she had passed on the ruling title to her daughter, and once things got settled with her, she and Vodnitvar had left the Kizingo'zaa for good. Things were turning far too turbulent there, all of their children were grown, and they felt like they could finally live for them rather than the pride as a whole. Neither Ugomvi nor Vodnitvar had fit in very well among the Kizi - they were a relaxed but cunning pride where the mated duo preferred brawn over brain. They needed a lifestyle that would suit them both, which had brought them to their new home. Things were going well so far, they had both settled into their new roles...and yet something was missing.

Ugomvi bumped gently against Vodnitvar as they walked, her eyes trained on the surrounding area. Vodnitvar walked along silently as well, a little scowl on his face. They'd been trying for months now to have another litter of cubs but they feared Vodnitvar's age was finally starting to show. They had been unsuccessful where all their attempts before leaving the Kizi had produced rather large litters. Ugomvi had insisted they didn't need to raise another litter of cubs for the Væringjar to feel like home, but Vodnitvar had insisted and together they had come up with a plan.

Hunting for a surrogate shouldn't be too hard, they figured. Just head out into the rogue lands, propose their request to a passing rogue, and boom. Done. Vodnitvar didn't like the idea of his mate laying with another male, but he desperately wanted to bring up a litter of cubs with the mentality of their new pride. He had nothing against the Kizi - he had found Ugomvi there after all - but the Væringjar was far more in line with his more militaristic mindset.

"Perhaps we should try another day," Umgovi said quietly. The sun was starting to set and though more lions were about in the evening and night than during the day, she didn't want them to be far from the pride after nightfall.

"A bit longer," Vodnitvar insisted. "I have a good feeling about this." As good as he could, anyway.

The voice surprised both Ugomvi and Vodnitvar who had been looking in the opposite direction of the approaching male. They turned quickly, but both were pleasantly surprised to watch the stranger approach.

"Well...he's not completely blue," Ugomvi murmured, but she clearly was assessing the blue stripes that decorated the dark male's back. Vodnitvar snorted softly and tried to tamp down the jealous feelings welling up in his chest. This was what he wanted. It had been his suggestion. And the male might even refuse! And they needed to make sure his temperament was sound...

"Something like that," Ugomvi said as the stranger approached. "I assume you're doing the same?"

Hawnu surveyed the two, unsure of their intentions. The female was looking him over rather intently, but with interest. The male seemed to be bristling and avoiding eye contact. Unsure of what to make of that, Hawnu shifted his weight on his paws in case he needed to fight. His demeanor was confident but friendly.

"Something like that," he echoed with a little grin. "Just waiting for a party to return to my pride, I was going to greet them and escort them back. Not sure what evening they'll return, though, so I figured I'd better start waiting for them now so I don't miss them. I'm Hawnu," he added, hoping that giving his name might ease the two into some sort of comfort.

Indeed, the words from Hawnu seemed to relax both Vodnitvar and Ugomvi. She looked up at her mate with raised brows and after some hesitation Vodnitvar gave a little nod. They could spend some time with him and see if he was up to snuff. Just because he looked the part didn't mean his personality did, though Ugomvi was hopeful.

"Nice to meet you, Hawnu. I'm Ugomvi, and this is my mate, Vodnitvar. We're on a little mission of our own that's taken us out of our pride," Ugomvi said as Vodnitvar gave a little nod of approval. "It makes sense to stick together even if our missions are different, does it not?"

"Three lions are stronger than one, or even two," Vodnitvar rumbled, flexing his claws into the dirt just a bit. The rogue lands could be quite dangerous after all, and if anyone should happen upon them they'd think twice about attacking a group like them. Now that he was allowing himself to observe Hawnu he was noticing just how powerfully built the other male was. That was good, at least. They couldn't be raising weak lions in the pride they lived in now.

"Oh, sure!" Hawnu said, clearly happy to have someone to chat with. "I was going to stick around for a bit in this area a few hours after the sun sets. I wouldn't mind some company."

"Good. We can talk," Ugomvi said as she motioned for the two males to follow her to a tree she'd picked out to relax under. Hawnu and Vodnitvar both followed, one unaware of what the night might bring, the other painfully so. But if all went according to plan, Vodnitvar reminded himself, they wouldn't have to leave the pride again and could finally have their new family. He just hoped none of the cubs would look too much like their biological father.

WC: 1169