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 Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2012 3:19 pm
Fenja seemed to have been finally convinced that Hantan’s cubs were safe in whatever pride they were living in.
It had a been a little hard to admit her… condition to Hantan but by the Gods it had been worth it just so that she could see that silly expression of his. She’d almost forgotten just how much fun it was to play with the younger leopard and it was nice to know she hadn’t lost her touch.
“Oh close your mouth, Hantan.” She said, suddenly looking relaxed and amused. Fenja had obviously underestimated the value of confiding a worrisome secret on a friend. “Yes, me. You don’t have to look so surprised. I’m on my way to their father’s pride.“ There was a very Hell-if-I’m-going-to-take-care-of-them-alone tone in her voice.
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Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:57 am
Hantan obediently closed his mouth. It seemed oddly fitting that Fenja would also be a parent soon. At least she seemed like the sort to know what she was doing. He wondered if she would join the father in that pride, but he'd always figured that the lioness was like him in that regard. Prides were weird, like she had said. He would take her advice and visit the pride where his cubs would live, but he couldn't see himself settling down with so many other animals. A tree, and perhaps a good friend. That was what he really liked.
"That's good then," he said, "Getting some help and all that. You're not going to join them to live there? Is it far away?"
He paused and took a deep breath.
"I'm sorry for asking so many questions," he said and smiled faintly, "This is just so very new to me."
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Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 4:04 pm
“Oh, trust me. I’ll make him help.” Fenja said with wicked grin that said that she fully intended to make the father of her cubs accept his new responsibilities. Her voice softened ever so slightly when she continued, remembering Hoaka’s chivalrous ways. “He’s a good lion. I’m sure it won’t be a problem. But I still have a bit of walking to do, he lives in a mountain pride.” Her tone indicated she found that notion not entirely to her liking. Actually, there were a lot of things she found odd regarding the purple lion’s pride. “It’s a weird place where pale coats are valued and females rank above males but everyone is free to leave so I really don’t care about it. I won’t be staying there though, I’ll keep myself to the border.”
She chuckled, making a slightly embarrassed smile that made her look younger.
“It’s very new to me as well, Hantan.” Not having a mother during her youth and now her first pregnancy made this a particularly trying time for the pale lioness but there were limits to how much Fenja would – or even could - share, even if it was with one of the few creatures in the world she called friend. Some barriers took longer to break if ever. “But I’ll be fine. I always am.” He threw a wink at the young leopard before her expression grew heavy with humor. “You know, I’d love to stay with you for a bit longer and see if I can still shock you like before but I have a mountain to reach. We wouldn’t want these kids to pop out in the wrong place, if you know what I mean.”
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2012 1:47 pm
The leopard chuckled. He could imagine Fenja demanding that the male did his share. The fact that she didn't intend to join this mountain pride was reassuring for some reason. Fenja would still be her old independent self, cubs or not. He comitted the tidbits of information about the mountain pride to memory. It was nice to know what kinds of prides there was out there, and almost all creatures liked a good story. The mountain part, and the fact that females outranked males were interesting tidbits that might amuse someone down the road.
Hantan got a really weird mental image of cubs popping out every which way, and his eyes widened in horror.
"That would be.... bad," he finally settled on, "I don't want to keep you."
He paused, thinking over his options. Hantan had an idea, but if Fenja didn't like it he wasn't going to push the issue.
"However," he said, gauging her reaction as he spoke, "I could travel with you for one day and help you hunt before I head to the Kitwana'antara. It will not slow me down much, but it might help you get there faster."
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 4:12 pm
Fenja allowed herself a long moment to enjoy her friend’s expression, looking thoroughly amused but her own expression faltered a little when he offered to accompany her part of the way. It was something the independent lioness would reject on principle and she surprised herself by actually considering the offer. After all, Hantan was one of her oldest relationships and she already had so few of those to begin with. Adding the fact that considering her current condition – and his circumstances – it was very, very unlikely that the leopard had any ulterior motives and Fenja found herself in the rare occasion of accepting someone’s help. Hantan knew her better than most and his offer hadn't been thought out of pity. He didn't want anything from her. He was just.. there and so was she and they could spend a bit more time figuring out how much she could still shock him.
“I can hunt just fine on my own.” She didn’t want to admit that hunting was slowly becoming a rather tricky activity nor how tired she’d began to feel lately but secretly she was glad that her journey had now become much safer. A lone lioness who had couldn’t run fast enough or climb trees was an easy mark and she had more than her own safety to consider now. “But I wouldn’t say no to a bit of company, I guess."
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 3:20 am
The leopard was pleased and a bit surprised that Fenja had accepted his suggestion without much fuss. He was glad to have offered, and looked forward to having a travel companion for a little while. Running with a friend would be a nice change, and this lioness was one of the few friends he'd be perfectly comfortable traveling with for extended periods of time.
"I never said you couldn't," Hantan said and winked, "But it will be easier for both of us to hunt together. And you could give me some pointers about being a dad and all that."
He normally hunted alone, but he had teamed up with others at times, and he could certainly see the appeal of it. A lioness and a leopard hunting together would confuse many of the possible prey animals they might encounter... It would be a good trip, and it would be a pleasant distraction before he went to find Saskiranels pride.
"Lets go then," he said with a grin, "You've got a mountain to reach."
((done?))
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