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 Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:27 am
It had barely been a whole of three weeks, and already she was noticing changes. She'd just moved in a few days after picking their den, her appetite had changed since moving in, growing larger. On top of that she noticed she was forming strange but familiar bumps, and she was starting to feel more tired than usual.
While Bushido was resting one day she'd slipped off to see her grand mother, and her mother, and her aunt. All three confirmed the same. Her father was going to have a litter of kittens all of his own when he found out.
Kani exhaled tiredly though, as she waited for Bushido to come home so she could give him the news. She sat a few feet from the entrance of the den at sunrise that morning, eyes on the horizon.
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 3:18 pm
 The weeks had gone by in a blur, though now it seemed an eternity had pass since that night he'd first met Sheshe'kani under the stars, two souls who had at last found completeness in a single moment. His life had changed since that fateful night, and though honor still guided his path, there was now a brighter life, and the road before him was no longer trod alone.
With a light step through tired limbs, large paws carried him home. As the night ended, so too did his patrol; and he was free to rest, to revel in the companionship of the lioness who awaited him.
As he neared the den, blue eyes fell on her tawny form, a smile spread across his maw. Silently he wondered if she had waited awake for him all night, though he hoped she had not for she needed sleep as well. Even so, it filled his heart with joy to see her there, waiting in the morning air to greet him.
His steps hastened, dispelling whatever distance still remained between himself and his gentle mate. A warm smile on his maw, he lowered his head to nuzzle softly against hers in affectionate greeting, again feeling complete at her side.
"Good morning, I hope you sleep well?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 7:14 pm
The moment that the familiar dark hide came into view, his mane shining like a ghostly halo in the twilight moon, Kani rose to all fours with a subdued, but loving smile. She closed a few steps distance as he did, purring contently as they exchanged hello's after his long night's patrol.
"I sleep better when you're here with me," She commented with a small smile, almost sheepish, but it was true. The den was cold when he wasn't there, at least to her. "The patrol went alright tonight?" She questioned, moving to back to his side so they could walk together back to their den. She waited until he'd settled inside so that she could curl up beside him, draping her forepaws over his.
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:31 pm
His smile was apologetic, tail flicking lightly to brush against hers. He too slept more peacefully when Kani was at his side, their bodies close, a gentle consuming warmth shared in the cool den. He would have certainly preferred spending his nights with his mate than watching for stray cubs and unknown strangers, but he had committed to his patrol and he could not abandon it. Still, perhaps he would request a change in shift, one that would allow them more nights shared alone.
"I'm home now, we can rest together." A nod of his head, "yes, it was uneventful tonight, quiet and peaceful."
A yawn split his maw, a stretch warming muscles before he settled on the cool floor, a soft purr as Kani curled against him, his own form curled around hers, his head resting against her shoulder. She was warm, comforting, and he found himself wishing for an eternity at her side.
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 8:38 pm
"I love you," She smiled slowly then, licking his muzzle lightly before they completely settled.
It never felt more peaceful than this, than it felt right here and now. With him curled around her smaller frame, his head resting over her shoulders, his mane tickling gently at her face (much like Juhudi's once had when she was young and had his attention mostly to herself during the day). She felt completely at ease.
So it was no wonder, then, that after a few seconds of lying in each other's hold, purring in their contentment, her voice gently broke the silence again with a loving murmer. "Bushido... I'm pregnant,"
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:01 pm
Stunned silence, the lazy flick of his tail suddenly still. He blinked once, twice, blue eyes staring into pale ones as if deciding whether he had heard her right. But he couldn't have imagined it, he wasn't that tired was he?
"P...pregnant?"
It was perhaps the first time in his life that he had stuttered, stunned into a complete lack for words. He certainly did not object to cubs, as he loved his mate it would be a cherished gift to share a family with her. But he had not been prepared for such news, and even less so for the calmness with which she had spoken it (thinking back however he would realize he should not have been surprised).
"You're sure?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:10 pm
The female couldn't help but chuckle a bit behind closed jaws, shifting to turn onto her back, pawing at him playfully.
"I'm sure... I was there when my mother found out she was expecting our little brother and sisters... I even double-checked with her, grandma, and my aunt."
She'd been trying so hard not to get her hopes too far up, but the idea of having a family of their own, little lives that they had created, to raise, nurture, play with, protect, and share their love with, it was too much. And then her active imagination kicked up again. How many would there be? All boys like her aunt Tai? Mostly girls, like her mother and great grandmother? All girls? Would there be twins? And what would they look like?
"I could hardly believe it!" She laughed, happy, joy bubbling from every word, every movement, her eyes especially. It was just the icing on the cake, as if life couldn't get any better. She'd hoped that she'd be able to mother children of his sometime, but was much too shy about the topic to come outright and ask -that-.
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:32 pm
He watched her in silence a moment longer, his muzzle nudging against her paw, eyes closing at the soft touch. Cubs? It all seemed surreal, but he was sure he wasn't dreaming.
"Really?"
He was still in a daze, words failing before he had a chance to speak them. Cubs, a family of their own, a bond that they would forever share, that would grow stronger with each passing day. It was indeed a wondrous event despite how unprepared he had been, how he still was. Despite his age, Bushido had spent little time around cubs, and was thus unsure of how to care for them.
Blue eyes settled on his mate again, the joy that emanated from her bringing a broad smile to his own maw and a soft purr to his throat.
"Do you know how many?
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:14 pm
"Not an exact number yet... but I think at least two."
The smile was a bit smaller this time, as a bit of uncertainty came to her finally.
"Are.... I mean..." He seemed a bit speechless at first, and then he kept asking if she was sure, and if she really meant it. She couldn't help but worry a little that maybe he was unhappy with the news and masking it for her sake. "Is this what you want...?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 10:34 pm
Even amid his thoughts, the shaken tone was not missed. He realized that his own uncertainty must have worried her, something he had never wished or intended.
His expression softened as he gazed at his mate, his head lowering to touch his nose against hers with a gentle purr.
"Nothing would make me more happy, than to share a family with you."
Slowly, one by one, his doubts began to drift away, replaced by the joy of what they had shared, of the life they had created. Cubs, at least two, what would their new family be like?
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:20 pm
Her smile returned then as the nervousness passed, brushing her nose against his too, relaxed now again.
"Hmm..." She grinned some, moving enough to detangle a little, taking to grooming his mane. "I love you." She purred.
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:35 pm
He shifted against her, head shaking to ruffle his mane, raising one paw to bat at her playfully. The smile on his maw was as broad as it had ever been, eyes shining brightly as he sneaked a lick of her cheek.
"And I love you."
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:20 am
"You should get some rest... you had a long night," She purred, nuding him gently with her nose, watching him with pale blue eyes. "I'll be here when you wake up, just like always."
She settled back down at his side again so that he could get comfortable once more. Sometimes it seemed like her heart could burst just thinking about how much she cared about him, how much she'd grown to love him over such a short span of time. He was more than just her star, he was her world, and she'd do anything to make him happy, to be there for him. Knowing that she'd helped to create small extensions of himself, that would grow up, maybe to be just like him, was more than she could've hoped for, just as it had been more than she could have hoped for in finding love that lonely night.
"Just like I always will..." She murmered, licking his cheek in return again, affectionate.
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