Welcome to Gaia! ::

As far as he knew, there was no difference between him and any other lion, except for the lack of a tail tuft. It brought to mind what he would want to ask his mother once he got home though. Gearing up for running, he stopped and looked to Thili, his response completely muffled by the rat in his mouth. Looking forward over the furry victory, he reached a paw out and shoved aside the leaves before putting his paw down and repeated the process the whole way home, slow work but he was determined.


Pulling herself up, the lioness appeared from the darkness of her den, a smile and eager look on her face. Violate eyes were pulled first to her young cub, spotting the rat in his jaws. "I see the young hunter was victorious, very nice catch, Sewelo!" Praising her young son, mother's protective instint had her checking him for bites and such as he came to her for a nuzzle. "Why don't you show that to your siblings?" Her suggestion was taken by the cub and he went further into the den.

Looking back to Thili, she smiled once more and spoke, "It looks like the hunt went well, I am very glad to hear he did an amazing job. Thank you for taking him out like that. By the looks of his fur, either there was no blood, or you did a very good job giving him a bath, I hope that wasn't too much trouble either." The young mother was partly at fault, she turned bathing into a game and played as much as she bathed encouraging the squirming a bit.

Looking over her shoulder a moment as her excited son crept to the back of the den to retell his story; she soon turned her attention back to the male. Her smile, warm and happy, faded as she heard what her son had asked. Dropping her ears, she gave a sign and lowered her head a moment, looking at her paws.

This was bound to happen, but she wished with all her might that it wouldn't. If only she hadn't known so little or had been able to truly snag a mate. It might not have been as bad if Thili didn't intend to leave; at least her cubs would have a constant father figure. Pulling out the memories of her past, she delved into them and explained to the lion, "I was hoping he might never know, from the start I hoped ignorance would be the solution. His father, Kyp, was a rogue leopard I crossed paths with; back then I didn't know much about where cubs came from, so when we parted ways, I thought nothing of it until later when I discovered I was pregnant. I held hope I could find a permit father for the cubs, then maybe they wouldn't know the difference and ask about their birth father." There was no anger, just a heavy weight of what she saw as failure pulling down even her tone. She should have been able to do better, but the lioness was so young, and just didn't know what she should have known.

Since there was no avoiding the questions, she came up with the quickest answer she could, "I still don't want them to feel different from other lions, I guess I just want them to think they are regular lions with the added abilities of a leopard. I'll tell them about their father though, so you don't have to handle those questions." It wasn't far to make him deal with this part of her family, she was the one that caused the mess, and the problems that followed should be hers to deal with.

Manging a smile, she did look up to add, "I do want to thank you for all you have done for me and my family, my cubs get to see what a true lion can do, your a great influence and role-model for them. Especially Sewelo, he really looks up to you." Later, when the lion wasn't there, she'd also tell her cubs he was how a real father acts, so they know.

For her, it was more then not knowing about hybrids, she didn't know that the act she had been introduced to could create cubs to being with. She wasn't forced, just learned hands on about a lot of things then and after. Even as he pointed out future problems, his soft tone was a soothing or more so then the ocean's. He was right of course, "I'll wait until they are adolescents and can better make their own decisions." Then, hopefully, they would have the maturity to take what happened and transpired as what it was and be just as happy being who they were.

Not just his companionship, and taking on the role of fatherhood as well as providing for her and her family, but it was also his advice that meant a lot to her. Strange how one charming and kind rogue could walk so easily into her life like he did, like he had always been there and belonged. By now, she felt he did, but was adult enough to understand he would leave so she held herself back.

Not breaking contact with his deep gray eyes, she listened to his stammering, pulling more effort to make sure she didn't miss anything. Her smile never fell, and for a few moments, her eyes lit with hope and her heart fluttered. He really wanted to be a more permanent part of her family! It was the best she could never dare to hope for.

His then asking her to forget it dimmed it down a little, but the lioness had the hope now and dared to push a little, "You might be tired when you come back as well, there will be a place here for you to rest." It was possible she might find another father figure for her cubs, but someone that had both mother and cub's heart would be rare to find, so she wasn't banking on it. Instead, without right out saying it in the exact words, she used a slightly less forward but same message approach.

Shifting her paws, like she wanted to move but held her self still, she reminded herself once more that he would one day leave, but return again. It also might be too much to push for a closer connection, a nuzzle maybe, so instead she kept herself there, looking at the moonlight bathed lion and thanking the ocean for bringing him to their shores.


As cubs are apt to do, Sewelo was bounding out right after, interrupting anything else that might be cub conscious. "They didn't believe me, about the rat that I got myself, or that we were special, especially my little sister, she says lions can all climb trees." Since the truth had been be accepted by the young cub, having it denied was irritating.

Sewelo, had no idea his timing was what it was, the argument just got fruitless so he went back to his support base. It was nice coming out and seeing both lions happy, everyone should be after all, even the argumentative ones in the back. Delightfully unaware, he had finished his problems so he listened carefully to the solutions. A day of climbing had his front paws dancing with anticipation, it would be so much fun to try and go climbing with Thili! Only being told he was expected to act special as well did he calm down. So, no more little arguments with his siblings? That didn't sound fun, but it was expected of him.

Yawning at the suggestion of bed, he started to pull up the protest that he wasn't tired.

Her cubs always amazed her, such as Sewelo's timing, a beautiful moment diverted off course. Then again, another moment was around the corner, watching how well Thilivhali handled the problem, she just smiled and let him take care of it. The first time she moved was when she saw the protest coming, mothering experience catching the warning signs. Leaning down, she nuzzled her cub, brushing against the lion on her way, purely by accident of course. "Now, go on and rest, tell everyone that I'll be in shortly." Licking the little cub, she pulled herself back up right and watched him finally give in, being told by two different lions that he respected, and scampered back into the den, a minor argument starting back up as he told them no more petty fights, sleep claimed the brood before they could agree on what petty was.

Hearing it all from her spot, she just shook her head and chuckled a little, motherhood was no shortages of chances to laugh. "You really make an amazing father, and are an amazing lion." Complimenting him on how he handled the mini-crisis with her son was unpracticed mastery. She could see he had a good sense on what to do and what to say. Having been a encouraged and emboldened by the knowledge that he wished to be a permanent father and part of her family, she took the chance to compliment him, though a moment later her eyes were draw from his by her tail, for a moment she thought it was something else, really.

Her son's protest might have worked, if she hadn't wanted this time to be alone with Thili. It was not so much the chance for affection, for that was not exactly something a cub shouldn't see, but the sense she had that more serious and distressing topic might come up. A Rogueland raised lioness as she was, the idea of lions staying was more unfamiliar then leaving. Everyone she had ever known besides her sister had left, so she was prepared for it and accept it as a fact of life. While attached to the lion, the reality of it was something she could accept with a strong front. Her cubs on the other hand, they were the ones that would more likely need time to understand, especially Sewelo.

His words meant a lot, and she smiled warmly, if a blush could be seen under her red fur, it would show, though her shining eyes didn't hide anything. Purring strongly in return, she delighted in the nuzzle. It was a nice feeling, to have affection shown and she'd never tire of it.

Like the crashing waves, he spoke the reality that only made her smile fall a little and her expression warm even more. She believed his promise, and agreed with the timing, "I understand, they might not, but don't worry, I'll take care of things here while you find what your looking for." Looking back to her den once more, she added, "If you leave before the tree climbing experiment, I'll go with them instead. It was wonderful having you here, and I'll eagerly await your return, no matter how long your gone." Completely meaning it, she backed up her statement by edging a little closer and giving another nuzzle.

With understanding, she was encouraging the journey because she wanted him to be happy as well.

Happy to hear he would stay around to climb the trees with her cubs so they could see that indeed, lions made poor tree climbers. She would have had an easier time being a lioness and lighter, but poor males just have a lot of muscle. With a deep chuckle, she advised, "Try climbing the trees near the sand," While it would be nice for him to stay, she wouldn't want it because he fell and broke something. Besides, raining lions was not nearly as amusing when they were hurt after landing.

Restless as she had been, the young lioness was content but not exactly happy being stuck in one place, an appearance by the wonderful lion she had been lucky to meet really made the transition easier. After encouraging thinking of staying and being ecstatic over it, it wasn't mentioned aloud. As with the strange fireworks somewhere, a whole population of moths with the ability to warm up had been relocated, certainly she felt light enough to float by their power.

The lioness wanted to try the same protest that her son had attempted, that she wasn't tired, just to spend more time out there with him. Freezing time was not among her powers, so she settled with one more nuzzle, taking longer and imprinting his scent, now marked with the smell of the sea since he had been there, and the feel of his tick mane against her cheek. "We'll be up and waiting, good night, Thili. Rest well." Pulling herself away, she stood up and prepared to go back into her den.