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 Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:07 pm
Azula had been wary at first, upon meeting the god of war at the outskirts of her pride's land, but after a brief exchange with the war-god she had come away certain of her decision. Not many could say that they had tango'ed with a god and come out with the better deal. Of course, Azula wasn't in it for something so foolish and petty as the bragging rights.
It would take work, dedication, and grooming, but she was certain that when this whole ordeal was over...
Well, she'd heard the rumor, whispered secrets from the rogue lands, that those sired by the gods posessed special power, a gift to see the past, present, as farfetched as it seemed, the future. Upon meeting with Mrost it was true that he didn't really confirm this, but he gave enough reason for Azula to believe that it was fact, and if it turned out to be untrue then she'd still have her own group of followers. Any that prooved to be uncontrollable she could deal with when the time came. Her focus remained... she would tackle the more draining portion of her quest, the birthing, with just as much strength and grace as she did every other trial that had come her way in life.
She was already quite aware of the benifits of having Tamu'meka all but at her beck and call, though she was careful not to let him feel she'd become spoiled if he continued to treat her as he did. She still hunted, actually, for quite some time into her pregnancy until she felt that she couldn't hold her footing anymore on the shifting sands with her new found weight. Damn, it seemed she was to birth quite the litter then. She could make it work in her favor, still.
It seemed fitting that with the rise of the blazing sun her little ones would make it known that they intended to be denied the fresh air not a moment longer. Azula awoke with a start, eyes flying shut once again immediately as the huntress became aware of an accute pain. Fangs bared with a displeased hiss of air, her claws raking tracks in the rock.
Her eyes shot to Tamu'meka's sleeping figure as the daze of her pain dissipated, blood-hued orbs narrowing sharply. He had to leave. NOW. She didn't want him doting upon her or pacing back and forth like some aggrivated ninny while she did this, and should he stay he'd quickly find himself the victim of her reprimanding claws (Verbal and physical alike), for it was likely she wouldn't be able to refrain from lashing out in anger.
"Tamu'meka! Get up! You must leave, -now-!" She growled loudly, buffeting his head roughly with her own.
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 2:39 pm
Tamu'meka hadn't paid much mind to the awkwardness he felt when he saw Azula's bulging belly, or when she hobbled about, not wanting to seem not-capable in the way pregnancy caused one to feel, but did so anyways. He, more or less, looked to the emotion of sheer bliss--these cubs were "his", even if his gut told him otherwise.
She insisted on it, and he believed it. They'd undeniably had gone through with the process of having a litter, so why would she have reason to lie? He trusted in Azula, more then he probably should in any female, and so as her head bashed against his own, he awoke calmly.
"Wha--?" His eyes were dazed with fog, body still weak from slumber. Why was she rushing him out? There was something queer about her motives, her eyes that protruded like two giant orbs from her skull, that glorious face now distorted in a fashion that only meant distress. He blinked, frustrated with what he could not think of, and loped backwards a bit, away from their resting grounds, being pushed and coaxed and snarled at by Azula.
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:01 pm
She was only satisfied once he was out in the shadows of nightfall, rising with surprising speed and balance despite her size, and retreating further into the darkness of the den. He would not come back in if he knew what was best for him.
It took quite some time, though shockingly enough she only cried out in pain twice through the litter's birth, two of the cubs prooving quite difficult to coerce into the world. The last cry came with a hard sweep of exhaustion, and echoed throughout the den, reverberating off of the cave walls. The lioness lay there then, spent, dutifully cleaning the last cub so that he could breathe. They were all settled now, a bit away from the spot where she had begun the process of labor, away from the birthing fluids, settling the cubs at her stomach to feed.
Despite herself, Azula felt a swell of motherly pride at the sight of them, though still it seemed less innocent than others. They were all healthy, even if the two boys were smaller than most of their sisters.
A boy with a pelt as red as fresh blood, only "stained" with streaks of white atop his head, and the hints of black and white upon his tiny toes. He was the first born.
Following after was a sight that made Azula smirk through all her weariness. A little girl, donning both Azula's black stripe and her tiger marks, though in whites and blacks with not trace of silver. Just after her came another girl, and Azula's crimson eyes, just for a moment, flickered with uncertainty as she stared over the markings. They resembled the wings of that god... Oh well, the streaks of gold and strange marks were easily lied about. She could just say they were the colors or marks of her mother, whom no one remembered she was sure. Her mother had been nothing extraordinary, Azula was quite disgusted by her, but she'd make a good scapegoat now.
Another girl, almost identical to the first, but with gold marks that reminded the silver-licked huntress of her weak and worthless half brother. Azula surpressed a growl at the mere thought of him, giving the girl a lick to prod her into feeding as she seemed more keen on protesting than eating.
Last, her last son, small like his brother, smaller, even. He resembled her as well with shocking black locks and a blazing white underbelly. All in all, she was pleased with the result and number.
"You can come back in now." She called out flatly, not for being apathetic, but for being weary.
Her crimson gaze glowed from the shadows of both her black mask and the shadows of nightfall and the den. What would Tamu'meka make of the cubs, she wondered. Would he continue to wonder as she suspected he often did?
She went to no extra effort to convince him of his paternity to the litter she carried, sounding desperate to convince him would only give reason to suspect. And even if that reason was well placed, she didn't want anyone to know.
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:34 pm
 The first born was silent, seeming indifferent to the sudden harshness of the new world and the cold air that chilled his fur, perhaps a hint of his yet unknown nature. Cold to the world though he was, the newborn did take a certain comfort in his mother's touch, small body shifting to lean into the warmth, a son's loyalty forming in those first precious moments.
Curled against his mother's side, feeding hungrily as instinct kicked in, driving his needs despite his desires. Small ears flicked, perking, then folding back at each new sound, silently aware as each new presence entered the world.
Finally having his fill, the cub yawned, tongue rolling as tiny jaws parted. Such a tiring day, though he did not know why, so for now he would sleep, a small ball of fur with his tail covering his nose.
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:03 pm
Calmly, rationally, if not clumsily, the male moved back into the den, eyes hanging, dry and blood shot. He tried to brighten upon the sighting of his kids, however already was passed that feeling, for as he sat in the shadows of the brush, he also watched quietly.
His body twisted as he sat beside Azula, his head lingering in the air, vision seemingly in a trance as it scanned each and every ball of red, white, black or gold. They were rather--beautiful, if it made any sense at all, and he grew slightly in pride over the lot, swelling with the masculine ego that always bulged in a male when two things erupted; he was witness to his soldiers doing their rightful duty, and finally seeing cubs that were fit for a king--much to his dismay that he was not, but it wouldn't ruin his moment in glorification.
As he swung slightly in and out of sleep, he looked to Azula, and hesitated to lick her head. She was weary, on edge, and with her cubs now exposed to the world it was not wise to kiss her now. Maybe later, he thought, and coiled his tail about his shivering body. His voice was hoarse, as if never prior to this had it been used, and croaked into the silence with a soft, rough and musky tone.
'You did well, Azula. They look astonishing...simply...'
Tamu slipped on his footing, and fell to his belly, eyes shutting wearily. He was just readying himself for sleep, when he jolted up, shook his head and took a few steps outside the den, still facing the cubs, and Azula.
'We did well, Azula. Did well.' He sat again, slumped still, and watched with anticipating eyes as one cub stirred. He'd try to sustain alertness, though not for Azula as much as for the cubs. He knew she was capable of holding her own in the blind night, as well as keeping watch over the little ones, but he too needed to keep steady, for two noses is known to be better then one.
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