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Nyunya was reacting before she'd even really assimilated what she was seeing. Her legs were propelling her across the ground, and she had covered half the distance beetween them before real worry and concern gripped her mind. Nyunya was assuming, of course, that it was Ithibati's pregnancy that was affecting her like this. She knew nothing of her foster mother's liason with her hated birth father, couldn't even begin to guess at the emotional bombshell that was due to be dropped on her. She remembered well the many grievances of pregnancy, lethargy and weakness only a few of that many, so it was a perfectly natural assumption for Nyunya to make.

"Mother," she said softer, reaching Ithi's side and leaning down to nuzzle her cheek gently. "Are you all right?" Nyunya was now fervently wishing her mate, Taabu, was with her. The petite lioness was sure that, with her condition, Ithi needed to be out of the sun and into the cool shade, to rest. Taabu was a big and strong lion, and he would have been able to give Ithi all the support she needed to get to someplace better suited for a pregnant female, but Nyunya was small in comparison to her love, and would have a difficult time helping Ithi move, for her adoptive mother was bigger than her.

Nyunya's own heart ached as she took in her mother's deteriorated state. She began to wonder just how far Ithi had been travelling, if she'd been alone. "Don't try to move yet. Just rest. Please." What had been happening since she and her family had parted ways? It was becoming clearer to her that it was something awful. That feeling wasn't improved by what Ithi said after.

She suddenly had a cold, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. "What... what's wrong with her?" Her voice got a touch breathier in her concern. Her birth mother, Denge, was Nyunya's idol. The little lioness knew she had a temper, and after meeting her father had a good idea where it came from, but she balanced it out, mostly, by being like Denge, having Denge's kindness as a part of her. Now that her own litter had grown past the cub stage, Nyunya was entertaining ideas of finding out where her mother was, and either taking them to see her, or bringing her to them if the distance was too far. If there was something wrong with Denge... the trip would have to be sooner rather than later, for Nyunya's own peace of mind. She had to know her birth mother was all right.

Never did she entertain the idea that Denge was gone. It was a place her mind had never gone, and never wanted to go. Of course she knew death was a part of life, but she never wanted it to be part of Denge's or Ithi's. Not so soon, if ever.

Time ground to a halt.

Nyunya clearly and distinctly felt her heart stop in her chest. What seemed an infinite amount of time passed before she felt it almost reluctantly start up again. The sun was beating down hot on their backs, but Nyunya's blood ran cold. Denge... was dead? No, it couldn't possibly be true. Ithi was wrong, it was as simple as that. Denge had only been here a little while ago, the day Ny had found out she was pregnant. Her mother just... couldn't be dead.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "She's not dead. You're wrong. No." But even as she said it, she knew, in her heart of hearts, that she was the one who was wrong. Ithi loved Denge; she wouldn't say such a thing were it not the painful truth. But just because she knew it deep down to be true didn't mean she had to accept it. She wouldn't for a long time, perhaps not ever. It was too painful, and too unreal, to be accepted easily.

At Ithi's next words, however, Nyunya's world was again rocked to the core. She didn't flash it around and make it obvious, but Nyunya was a smart girl. From what Ithi said, even in her shocked state, it took her less than a second to make the vital connection: these cubs... were Nyekundu's. It meant he'd again hurt someone she loved, and the scars that now touched her foster mother's face only added insult to injury. Her infamous temper rose in her, and she latched onto it, because it helped keep away the mind-consuming grief that was slowly creeping in. Anger at the one she would never truly acknowledge as her father, the one of her parents she would rather be dead.

Her claws scratched the dirt unconsciously, though what she really wanted to do was lash out at something, and when she spoke, her voice was tight with the anger that pulsed through her. "Oh, I'll make sure they never know him. My own cubs don't even know his name, and they never will if I can help it." She'd just unconsciously agreed to look after these cubs, without mentioning it to Taabu, but at this moment she didn't realise or care. If she could consider it an insult to her father to not allow his cubs to even know his name, she would feel vindicated. And it would be saving her siblings from a cruel, twisted lion who deserved death more than any other she had ever met. Ithi's cubs would always be family to her, be her brothers and sisters, but this time... it would be true, at least half. They would be connected by blood. It was a tiny ray of light on a dark horizon for Ny.

Ny didn't feel sick quite yet. There was a coldness and a numbness around the edge of her awareness, the edge of her heart, but acceptance and acknowledgement had not even begun to set in yet, and so there would be a time before the full force of all the agony and gut-wrenching misery hit her. All she did was press her face into the fur of her adoptive mother and stay there still, to comfort Ithi if nothing else. A bombshell may have been dropped on Ny on what was otherwise a perfect and pleasant morning, but she couldn't forget Ithi's suffering was as terrible as her own, worse because Ny's hadn't even taken hold yet.

"I love you, too, mum," she replied after a moment, voice quiet. She pulled away after allowing the exchange of affection to continue for a brief time, always too brief in these situations, but they could resume later. Right now, Ithi needed somewhere to rest, and for Ny to hunt for her.

"Come on, we have to get you somewhere you can lay down and take it easy. My den isn't far from here... you can lay there, and rest. Taabu won't mind, and my cubs will be happy to meet you at last." She tried to smile, too, but it wasn't as bright and beautiful as it usually was. It was a pale imitation, but she tried at least.

Nyunya led her mother along in silence, not sure what to say, and not really sure if she wanted to do much more talking. She had thought today was going to be a good day, a day of peace and quiet and solitude, and being a mother and mate, those things were rare in her life now. Instead... she had her mother back with her, who had suddenly become the bearer of the worst news Nyunya could ever have received from anyone, barring one thing: that Taabu and/or her cubs were gone. She might pull through her mother's death and reach the other side in tact, but not if any of those were taken from her. Growling lightly under her breath, she shook her head to try and clear it of these depressing thoughts.

She hadn't wandered far from her home. It was a short trip back to the den she and Taabu raised their children in, and she turned back to look at Ithi finally. "It's there," she said, jerking her head toward the mouth of it. "You can rest in there while I find something for you to eat."

Silence continued from Ny as her paws took her to the mouth of her den. A quick peek inside told her her own cubs were thankfully out, most likely with their father. Never before had she been so relieved when Taabu took them out without letting her know where they were. She stepped back far enough to let Ithi move into the shaded den.

"Is there anything you need me to get for you? Do you need me to hunt for you?" Running a critical eye over Ithi's frame, Ny thought she did indeed need Ny to hunt for her. Ithi looked nothing like the healthy lioness she'd been when Ny was last with her.