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 Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 9:35 pm
 Large jaws spread in a broad yawn, muscles stretching as the dark lion padded his way through grass and rock toward the one who waited for him. Behind him, twilight grew in the distance, deep orange sky casting his form in shadow, sun rising with each step as if it were following him curious of his path.
Perhaps it seemed odd for the lion to be returning home at such an hour, an hour when most lions were waking to the dawn after a peaceful night's sleep. But for the scout, night was his domain, wandering the borders while others slept in safety.
It was odd, returning to his night patrol after his leave, spending his time at the den he shared with his expecting mate. But with the birth of their cubs came his return to duty, an adjustment that perhaps they all would have preferred to delay.
Even so, they were happy, their lives complete together under the stars that had brought them together such a short time ago, a time that seemed an eternity away now. Bushido's heart was filled with joy, a warm smile spreading across his maw as he neared the den, a light in his eyes as his gaze fell on the form waiting for him there.
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:09 pm
A pale figure waited by the den in the retreating darkness. She didn't mind the slight n** of the chilly evening, trusting that soon enough the sun would be up to warm the den, and she'd probably be too busy trying to keep up with their children to notice the heat then. Besides, with her mate making his way to the den now, the chill wouldn't be a problem at all. His larger form would warm that empty space, better than hers and the cubs alone could.
She smiled tenderly and rose to her dark socked paws, purring deeply an moving forward in one fluid motion to greet him, head and neck brushing against his.
"Good morning, love. I hope your patrol went well."
He worked hard for the well being of the pride overall, even in guarding what small strip of territory he did compared to the size of the land. He was always diligent, and their still young family would grow up healthy and well to show for it.
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 10:45 pm
That warm smile broadened, a soft purr rumbling at his mate's greeting, nuzzling against her in his own greeting. Kani was a warm and gentle soul, and he could not help the uplifting in his heart he felt each morning as he returned home to find her waiting for him, such a simple yet cherished moment he could not have imagined his life without.
"It was a quiet night. I hope yours went smoothly as well, no trouble from the cubs?"
Stepping through the den at her side, blue eyes fell on the five small forms sleeping with in, settling on each in turn. So peaceful as they slept silently, though he had his doubts as to whether they had been so when their mother had told them it was time for bed.
There were times when astonishment still struck Bushido at the realization he was a father. So much had changed so fast for the couple, and though they had found each other but a short time ago and their young family was still new, it felt as if they had always been as they were now.
"So peaceful."------------------------------ Unknown to her parents, a small form stirred within the darkness of the den. Roused from her sleep by the sound of soft voices, pale eyes opened to fall on the only other mass of white to share their den. Even if it was father's mane and not his pelt like her own, Meiyo felt less alone in the sea of dark fur when he was home.
Shifting silently lest she wake her siblings or alert her parents, Meiyo rolled from her side to her chest, her chin resting on one paw, eyes half-closed watching her parents in silence.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:42 pm
"Well... Hoshi managed to upset a termite mound, but... nothing out of the ordinary at least?" The lioness seemed nothing if not helplessly amused by their children's antics, after all, she did so love seeing them express their personalities, however quiet or lively they may be. Their children, their family, her world.
Now she understood how Juhudi felt, she thought, for even as difficult as it might be at times keeping up with Hoshi as the ring leader, and stopping the bickering between Hoshi and Meiyo (who was really just too young to cope with her sister's much more brash personality), she wouldn't change a thing about them. "Our little stars are quite the handful. At least she's starting to finally let Meiyo be a little. Honestly, it's like having a little mom and I around." She chuckled, letting Bushido settle first before taking the spot immediately beside him, contouring her body to fit in against his.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 9:35 pm
"Souls as different as theirs will often be at odds, they will learn that it takes both to create harmony."
Or so he hoped. The oldest and youngest, it seemed they were as opposite as their pelts, one bold and daring, the other timid and insecure. Surely there were many long, hard-learned lessons in the future, and heaven willing, he would be there to guide them.
His smile somewhat sheepish, Bushido settled on the den floor. Purring softly, as she settled at his side, the dark lion curled around her smaller form, chin resting gently against her shoulder, a genuinely apologetic look in his eyes.
"I am sorry to leave you alone with them so often."----------------------- She had quickly snapped her eyes shut, laying motionless lest either parent realize she wasn't asleep. If they knew she was awake they would have stopped talking and sent her back to sleep, and she wanted to hear what they had to say.
But as her ears dropped at the mention of her name, she thought maybe it would have been better the other way. It wasn't her fault she and her sister didn't get along. Hoshiko had two other sisters who looked just like her, sisters who provided constant companionship and endless games. And Meiyo, she was alone with her striking white pelt, was it really so wrong to not want to be left out?
It was a few minutes of such thoughts before Meiyo finally dared to open her eyes enough to peek at her parents who now lay together on the den floor, their eyes away from the sleeping cubs. Now that they weren't watching, the little cub felt a bit braver, silently rising to her paws, cautiously approached the two forms that dwarfed her own. Her sisters asleep, it was a perfect opportunity to have their attention to herself.
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:05 pm
"They will... the stars are meant to share the same sky, after all." She smiled again softly, brushing her head against his head where it rested on her shoulder. "I understand, your duty is important... but, maybe sometime soon we could all spend a day or two together."
Not that she wanted him to feel guilty, but she also knew how little time he got to spend before he was off to patrol, and she worried that one day it would catch up with him if he missed sleep to prolong that time.
Her pale eyes drifted to their youngest daughter then, sensing the movement by sound. It seemed one of their little stars wasn't asleep as she'd first thought. Her immediate thought was that the little one must have had a nightmare or, maybe even not feeling well. Worry was the first thing she felt as she looked at the young one, her voice soft and loving as she inquired as to what might be troubling their girl. "Meiyo... what's the matter?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:05 pm
A small smile on his maw, Bushido allowed his eyes to fall closed as he rested against her. It had been a peaceful night, but as long as any other, and now his eyes grew heavy.
"I would like that."
His voice grew soft, a yawn parting his jaws. It was likely he would have fallen asleep then, the warmth creeping gently through his body, that is had Kani's voice not met his ears again.
Blinking, his head raised, it took the dark lion a moment to realize that Kani had not addressed him, but had in fact spoken to the small form of their youngest daughter. Was it that late already? Or had the young one simply risen early because of the activity in the den?
"Did we wake you?"---------------------------- Eep, spotted! The little cub froze in her tracks for a moment, not certain whether she'd be told to go back to sleep or not. Though how she thought she'd manage to sneak between their paws without being seen, or why she thought they would react any differently once she reached her intended destination between them was a mystery.
But no such command came, and summoning her courage, the little one crawled between her parents until she came to rest at two sets of paws nearly as big as she was. Looking up at her father, she shook her head at his question, she didn't want him to feel bad.
It was a few minutes before she spoke, her small form brushing against each parent in turn, relishing the brief moments she had to share with them alone. But previous thoughts returned to her, and before she even realized she had spoken, the words simply blurted out of her mouth, eyes looking up imploring at both parents.
"How come I'm not a triplet?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:02 pm
Kani's fears momentarily subsided, her thoughts calming to a soft buzz once more as Meiyo settled between them. With an encouraging purr she let her, leaning down to nuzzle the child gently. She could certainly remember time spent alone with her father, cherished moments that she always looked back on with gratitude and affection, and hoped to be able to help create and encourage such moments between her children and mate. It seemed like Meiyo had more serious matters on her mind, however, and she took her mother by surprise with her question.
Lifting her head again, Kani looked from Meiyo to Bushido, at a loss for what to say. Why wasn't she a triplet? Where was this coming from, was she really that insecure about not being identical? The young mother began to fret a bit, feeling the insistent but gentle pull of guilt weighing her down. She could't think of how to respond to that... and so she hoped that her mate did.
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:45 am
A gentle smile on his maw, Bushido gently nuzzled his daughter stifling another yawn, one large paw curling around his little cub as if he expected her to curl up and go back to sleep. However as he soon realized, his youngest had more on her mind than just the attention of a nap with her parents.
The question was not entirely unexpected from one so timid, still it had caught Bushido off-guard for a moment. Why did children ask such questions so early in the morning?
With a wayward glance at his mate and a soft smile, he lowered his head until his blue eyes gazed directly into the pale ones of the cub.
"Why do you want to be a triplet, Meiyo? You are beautiful as you are. You are as you are meant to be, and that is what makes you special. You have your own light, as your sisters have theirs."
His voice was gentle and reassuring, spoken softly for only her ears and those of his mate.
------------------------
The little cub sat silently within her father's curled paw, pale eyes looking up expectantly at her mother and than her father. Surely they would have the answer, surely they could tell her why she was so alone among her sisters.
But to a cub who did not understand such things, the answer she received was not very satisfying, she had expected something more tangible, a real reason, or at least a real reason to a cub. At her father's words her eyes fell, looking to the den floor where one forepaw fidgeted against the sandy floor.
"But how can I be special? I'm different from everyone else, no one else has white fur, not even you. And...and...I always get left behind, and I wanna play too!"
She looked up at her parents again, pleading tears in her young eyes. The triplets always played together, why couldn't she play too? Instead she was always left out or bullied by Hoshiko.
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 1:25 am
Kani listened to her lover's answer for their child, at first taking heart that all would be well. She was both surprised, and understanding, when Meiyo seemed unsatisfied by this reply. At the sight of her tears, Kani's heart went out.
"Oh, Meiyo... sweet little Meiyo, being different is special. You're one of a kind... and," She smiled gently, reaching out with one paw to tip the child's chin a bit. "You're the only one of your sisters that has your father's special marks. Even if it's hard to see it sometimes, remember, your colors and pattens came from both of us. You're a very important member of our family, it wouldn't be the same without you."
Her mother leaned close enough again to brush her large tan head against Meiyo's smaller one, a deep purr persisting in hopes of taming their daughter's tears. She understood now how difficult it must be for Meiyo to understand, so young, but hoped that they could comfort the little one all the same.
"I'll talk to your sisters... I'm sure they don't mean to hurt you, Meiyo, they love you just like we do."
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 12:05 pm
He shook his head, sighing in a silent breath. She didn't understand, not that he should have expected her too. Like any other cub, she had wanted to hear a definite answer, a reason that made sense in her own mind, a reassurance that she wasn't different like she thought she was. Only with time and age would the young one come to understand the meaning of her father's words.
Gently he brushed his cheek against hers, the golden kanji they shared blending in the father's touch, white mane dropping over her pure white pelt as if to show her the traits they shared. With a soft paw he nudged her closer, gesturing to the sky beyond the den, the fading stars barely a twinkle in growing twilight.
"Have you ever looked at the stars? They are all different, some are large, some small, some form groups, while others stand alone, some are so distant that they can barely be seen, while others pulse like fireflies. Yet as different as they are, each star has it's own light, and without each any every one, the night sky would be incomplete. Just as we would be incomplete without you."
He smiled warmly, a gentle reassuring purr rumbling in his throat.
"You are special, and we love you dearly."
---------------------------
Sniffling, she looked down at her paws again, tail flicking pitifully against the den floor. One day she would understand that being the same had it's own problems, that it was hard to be an individual when you looked just like your sisters. But today was not that day, and as her sisters did not understand her, she did not understand them.
She brushed against her mother with a small, trembling purr, one paw raised to dry her eyes. She was the only one who had her father's markings, that made her feel a little better, a little smile touching her maw at her mother's words.
"Yeah..."
Her gazes shifted to her father, curling against his large paw, clinging to him with her own small one. She tried looking out at the stars, but to her all the stars looked the same. The stars were all the same color, not opposite colors like her and her sister.
But his voice was reassuring, and it did cheer her up some to hear him say they loved her. She wasn't sure she liked the idea of her mother talking to her sisters, that might make them mad at her. But at least it was comforting to know her parents would never leave her behind. A fact she was likely to forget next time she was trailing after her sisters, but for now it was enough.
"I love you too."
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