|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 10:45 am
It had been weeks since she'd first realized she was going to have a second litter, and after some reassurance from the other pride members, trusted that things would work out fine. She might still have been nervous about caring for what was shaping up to be a large brood, but was confident at least in the fact that she wouldn't have to do it alone again.
These days she kept to her den when she could, venturing out for fresh air, but never straying far. She knew that the cubs would come any day, and didn't want to find herself away from the comforts of said home. Night was just fading to the early sunlight, and the pangs were rousing her from her sleep. Her senses blurred back into sharp focus as she woke, the discomfort enough to jolt her from sleep with a groan.
It was time.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 2:53 pm
No longer as alone as she had been, Kinja had her daughter living not far from the den that Kinja herself had chosen when her second brood was born. The old lioness hadn't strayed from that old tree before but now there was a reason. Kimya was expecting again, and with her daughter so close Kinja would be able to oversee the birth and help Kimya along if needed. Mainly she'd be there for emotional support. The grandmother to be (again) was looking forward to seeing the birth of her grandchildren. It would be the first birth she'd witness that consisted of her grandcubs despite all the grancubs and great cubs she had (unknowingly).
Night had begun to fall, and Kinja was already past the border of the Pridelands and slinking through tall grasses to her daughter's den. She'd been doing well with not being caught, not that she worried really. With Kimya living in the pride there would probablybe no complaints to Kinja visiting, but the old lioness couldn't break the Firekin mindframe that she had developed over time in the desert.
Finally locating the den, Kinja glanced around before slipping inside. It was a rather spacious den. Not large enough for Kinja to scoot herself out of the den's entrance all the way, but certianly big enough for Kimya and the cubs. Upon entering Kinja noticed Kimya's deep breathing and uncomfortable look upon her face. "It seems I came just in time." She spoke softly, not wanting to startle Kimya incase the younger lioness hadn't noticed her mother's entrance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 3:29 pm
Kimya was relieved when a familiar voice broke the silence, and looked at Kinja in just such a manner.
"Mother!" She called, for the moment ignoring the shifting forms in her womb. "I'm so glad you're here. I think there are a lot more this time."
And she was clearly nervous about it. The lioness lowered her head to her paws again, claws digging against the ground as another pained contraction came. She had enough sense about her that she knew her mother was no threat to the cubs, and though instinct told her to do this alone, having Kinja for moral support was certainly a wonderful option.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 23, 2007 7:38 pm
Kinja purred softly trying to calm and relax her daughter. "It's alright Kimya. It's no more different than having one. Just focus on each cub as it comes."
Continuing her purring, Kinja dared push herself into the den a bit further. Taking on her motherly duties to reassure her cub, Kinja lowered her head and licked Kimya's forhead before pulling away. Kinja knew how delicate a birth was, she had gone through two herself, so she didn't want to crowd Kimya anymore. Carefully she inched away from Kimya, her body now a blockway to anyone who wished to enter as she stayed in the den's entrance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:51 pm
She could not have been more grateful for the comforting presence of her mother at that moment. With the purring to encourage, Kimya finally began to let instinct take over.
The pains had become very precise. Several long moments later and the discomfort yielded it's reward. Her second daughter, first born of the litter, laid on the den floor. It was a bit difficult, but Kimya managed to maneuver herself to pick up the small bundle, bringing it between her paws to begin cleaning away the mucus sac, first from her nasal passage and then the rest of her body, just as she'd done for Imara when she was born, just as Kinja had once done for her. A striking pelt of golden brown lay underneath, a solid brown stripe running over the cub's head, it was eerily familiar.
"Mother...! She looks just like Kamal!" Kimya breathed in awe, placing a few more encouraging licks to the young one's back to coax her to breathe deep her first breaths of life. Short breaths signaled that the second would not be far behind, and Kimya made sure to get the first little one to her stomach for warmth before the process continued.
With little less and no more discomfort than their elder sister, two girls more followed. First, a solid brown cub, resembling her father in simplicity, yet beautiful in her mother's eyes all the same and none the less. Another just like her uncle, pelt as black as night, with stars of coal blessing her pelt. The first three were followed by two boys, at which point the lioness was sure there'd be no others, but the pains continued.
It was in fact, two cubs later, two more girls, that the litter totaled a staggering seven cubs.
There, at last, no more pains. It was with exhausted relief that Kimya laid her head down, panting tiredly and resting her eyes. All seven were cleaned of their birth sacs, all seven settled at her side, free to feed.
"I did it, mother... they're beautiful, seven of them...!" A tired laugh, the adrenaline slowly wearing thin from her system. Indeed, it was a brood that any mother would be proud of.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 10:20 am
Kinja watched as her daughter went through the labor pains. It made Kinja ache to see her daughter in so much pain, but knew it was something that Kimya could deal with. Afterall, this wasn't her daughter's first time going through this. The litter was certianly going to be larger than Kimya's last though so that would be the real test for the young mother.
As cub number one was born Kinja oculdn't help but feel her breath hitch in her throat as Kimya cleaned the newborn. The cub was familiar, oh-so familiar and not because the little one resembled Kamal so much. Oh no, this girl was an exact replica of herself, Kinja, well...Kinja when she was Kimondo. The colors and patterns were identical! Kinja couldn't take her eyes off the little one. It was like looking at her younger self.
It wasn't until the next two cubs were born that Kinja managed to rip her eyes from the first born. A cub of pure brown and another who looked so much like Kinja's dear Hakan.
Four more cubs followed and each one was beautiful in it's own accord. There had even been a cub that looked like a replica of Kimya. It was amazing how many clones there were in the litter, but Kinja doubted that any of them would take after their look-a-like relatives.
Moving towards Kimya, Kinja rubbed her head against her daughters, her purring never stopping. "You did. I am so proud of you Kimya! I dare say you have beaten me out with the sizxe of this litter." She chuckled as she looked at the little ones. Her eyes scanning them all, but stopping unconciously upon the first born. It was certainly odd how fate worked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:34 pm
Concerned with how he had met Kimya the first time, a little lost and without anyone but her daughter. The next encounter, he had seen her pregnant! At first, he had hoped the father would be around, but that was not the case. So who would be there for her when she was going to bring the lives of her litter to the world? Other than her daughter. This was a pride, she belonged to the Pride Landers and he had longed believed that they were there for one another. Without many other reasons, he saw it as his duty to be with Kimya when she needed a male around to keep her happy and give company. However, he was far from being a mate of any sort.
The golden lion had traversed from Pride Rock after meeting with an old friend. Having stopped by Uncle Ezeoha's den to assure the lazy flirt that he was still alive and intact, he made his way to where he had met Kimya the first time.
Approaching the den, strange scents wafted from the den itself. He was able to pick out Kimya's easily. But the scent of many others concerned him. The scent of blood made him worry even more. Red eyes, ones known to be from the royal family, looked around to find no signs of struggle, everything seemed serene enough as usual. However, Zeki approached with careful paws. Was she raped again by the father? Did a group come and taken her away? Negative thoughts ran around his mind.
... Or perhaps she had given birth?
Hoping that to be the case he descended into the den to find himself behind a female. Against the fall wall was Kimya but he could see nothing more than her face due to the female before him.
"Kimya? It's me, Ezekiel."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:18 pm
Kimya gave a tired purr in response to Kinja's affection, saving her energy to let her body rest for now, though she was still awake and aware. "And they all need names." She observed with a small smile, feeling unusually chatty and loose now that the task was done with. She looked to Kinja hopefully. "Mom, do you know any words for shooting star...?" It reminded her of the male that she'd spent that night with, who, even though he was no longer there, she was grateful to for helping her along in life, for helping her heal.
A shooting star, a short lived sight in the night sky, but just bright enough of a flicker to let the moon know that she wasn't so alone.
"Zeki, what are you doing out so early...?" She asked, a bit surprised, but not minding as she glanced past Kinja at the golden pelted male behind her. She greeted him as such to hopefully assure Kinja quickly that Zeki was not a threat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 2:32 pm
Kinja smiled at Kimya as watched her daughter gaze down at the newly born cubs. It was a wonderful sight to see as the little ones scrounged to find themselves a means to drink moms milk. The tiny squeaks were music to Kinja's ears and almost made the female wish for another litter, but the old lioness knew that having an other litter would not be the smartest of things for her to do now. She was getting old, and she had no where to support another litter. Having to raise her last litter as a rogue had been quite the challenge and not something she'd want to pursue again. Kimya, having found a pride, was much better off now. Even without the father around she'd have the support of the pride. And, if Kinja knew the Pridelands, everyone would help her to the best of their ability.
"Picking names out is the most fun for a mother." Kinja commented as she looked at the cubs. Each one would develop their own personality. SOme would grow into the names they were given while others grew to not resemble their given names at all, but it was still always a joy.
At Kimya's question, Kinja grew still and looked at her daughter. Of all things...shooting star...
Covering up her uneasiness Kinja smiled. "Well, the only name I know of that means shooting star is Kimondo."
Her uneasiness, thankfully, wasn't drawn out for a lion had made his way into the already crowded den. Kinja, being the protective mother that she was, moved to stand over Kimya and the cubs incase the lion was not a friend. She showed no other aggressive motions. She didn't want to scare the lion away should he be a friend of Kimya's.
The lion's call for Kimya and Kimya's response was enough to calm the old lioness and she moved into the den a bit more to allow the lion to see Kimya more clearly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 3:59 pm
One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Seven little bundles of fur were nestled against the female's body. Cubs. She had already given birth and she did not need him near, she had her mother. Was this the one that would not come to the Pride Lands with her daughter? Strange to meet her, however, having a member of her family pregnant and ready to give birth it was no surprise. He took a few steps and laid himself down, Kimya looked so peaceful with them and having her mother being protective... she would have been just fine, though the memories of his own mother and father. It just seemed out of place that there was no male beside her to share the moment. To share the responsibility. To share the love. He gave a slight smile.
When he found that special someone, he would be there for her.
"Well, after meeting you, I thought I should be one to be around for you since you seemed so lonely. And after finding out that you were pregnant, I thought I should be around a little more to... make you feel more comfortable. And to find you had already had your cubs, it seems getting up early wasn't early enough!" he laughed lightly afraid that his laughter would startle the cubs. He didn't want to tell her, but frankly, he woke up this early every day to run.
"If my opinion counts, I think Kimondo is a nice name."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 6:33 pm
She was distressed, and that was for certain.
This environment she now found herself in was cold and far too open, particularly compared to the warmth and secure snugness of mother's womb. The little brown cub hated it, hated the cold and the open space. More than anything, she wished she could go back. Within her birth sac she wriggled helplessly.
Then she felt a presence above her, and the touch of something warm and wet. Before she truly knew anything, she knew this presence was her mother. The instant her tiny mouth and nostrils were clean she sucked in her first breath of air, using it to fuel a squeak to express her displeasure. She was not displeased for long, though, as mother's methodical cleaning had quite a soothing effect, and soon she was lifted and gently set down beside another tiny body, that of her elder sister.
The brown cub's first instinct was to feed, and she immediately set about fulfulling this need. Wriggling and scrambling about blindly, she clambored right over her sister to reach her mother's teet. Latching on, the tiny female began to nurse and, even through all of her mother's continued birthing, refused to let go. Only when she had had her fill did the second-born daughter relinquish her grip and rest against her mother's chest, contented. Her other siblings, having been born and now surrounding her, seemed to make this outside world an awful lot less cold.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 8:24 pm
"Kimondo... it's perfect." She smiled softly, gently grooming the little female again. Her thoughts went back to Al-Hattal again, his words, and she contemplated sharing them but ultimately decided not would be better. The irony was lost on her, utterly lost, regarding her mother and that name and the first girl's appearance. Kimya looked over each in turn again before Zeki's arrival.
"Thank you for coming... it's nice to know that I can call others friend." She smiled softly, nodding her mostly subdued gratitude. "I think, Katiti-bia for this one..." She nosed the Kimya-"clone" gently, then licked her solid brown daughter reassuringly. "... and perhaps Ikwezi for her."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 29, 2008 4:50 pm
Beside Ikwezi, Katiti-bia was also protesting, though she was a bit too stubborn to let it go with simply feeding to dismiss her distress. She cried a bit more, requiring or demanding more attention from Kimya before her fuss would be soothed. When at last she too had settled contently to feed, Kimya relaxed.
Three named, and four to go, but even once that was done it would be well into the hour before Kimya felt the need to rest. She was riding high, high on the cloud of excitment that came with new motherhood. With each cub cleaned thoroughly of birthing fluid and sacs they created quite the picture at their mother's side, nursing and clinging to life. It might not be the best circumstance, but it was still the start of a marvelous new life. Mother at her side, her friend Zeki at the entrance, and seven glorious new lives curled and tucked against her.
Kimya couldn't have been happier then if she tried.
~ Fin
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
