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As Njalo approached and drapped herself over the red-backed female, Sanele grinned widely, twisting her head up to lick Nja's cheek in an enthusiastic greeting. As the bongo-coloured female cooed over the cubs Sanele seemed content to lay under the other female, Njalo's muscular weight not seeming to bother the experienced Umzingeli. "Hello Nja, I heard you are going to be going on the Inqira to help Ukwazi." No one really knew how Sanele sometimes found her information, but she always seemed to know what was going on within the pride, even before the lion in question at times.

Nja's admiring look and amused comment prompted Ilanga to laugh from where she lay catty-corner to Sanele and her new Nja-blanket. "Indeed they are very lively already." She agreed, casting an amused and doting gaze over the pile of squeaking cubs before glancing at her two cub-sitters, Sanele having brough Maditah over earlier in the day with the offer of helping transport the litter to the Inqira. "I do, and Ifunci comes and helps frequently too." In truth, Ilanga had much to thank the Ahluke for, as Ifunci held boundless enthusiasm for the cubs that were his youngest half-siblings, and Ilanga often entrusted them to him while she went for brief walks and the odd short hunting trip. Though usually one of her sisters or Sanele would be there also, as honestly the litter was almost too much for just one lion to control. And she knew they would only become more unruly as they grew and before they started to understand the rules of the pride.

Across from the pile of cubs, Maditah greeted Njalo shyly, but with a warm and friendly smile. After volunteering to help with Ilanga's litter she had been meeting far more of the pride than she had previously, as everyone from other Busisa to experienced older Umzingeli had come to visit with the cubs and offer their congratulations to Ilanga.

As Eowyn walked up Sanele looked up and over Nja's drapped body to smile an easy welcome to the new lioness. "Hello Eowyn." She greeted, unsurprisingly knowing the busisa's name instantly. There was very little Sanele didn't know after all. Ilanga was the one to answer her however, the proud Cinga smiling at Eowyn from the other side of the pile of furballs. "Yes they are." She nodded, briefly feeling that small pang of regret that the old Inselelo would never know of his last litter within the Ithambo. "Just over a week old." She added, looking over the pile proudly. Seven fat, healthy and very loud cubs.

No sooner had she bared her teeth than another cub came up to her. What part of her body language did these pests not understand? Turning her golden gaze to Chikomborero, she narrowed her eyes and didn't answer any of her questions. Soon a pale lioness came up to them as well and she let the two talk while she turned to go back to her tree. It was within earshot of everyone so she'd know when it was time to go, but there was way too much insanity going on for her to deal with.



A little late to the party, Udaka appeared with a grim expression on her face. She had recently taken part in the hippo hunt and had earned herself some well-deserved credit within the pride, and now it seemed she was to assist in another less than savory way. She knew cubs were important to keep the pride alive and well, but they were not her thing, so to speak. They were unruly and rambunctious and got into more trouble than they were worth. Still, she knew it was her duty as a lioness in this pride to act as if they were her own and to defend them with her life. She hoped to have a litter of her own some day to further cement her position within the pride as an upstanding lioness, but that was about the only reason.

She stood to the edge of the group of adults, still feeling slightly out of the loop. Udaka wasn't the most social of lionesses and had trouble making connections with others, but perhaps helping look after the cubs on this adventure would change that.