There was a cave partway up the cliff--high enough to be out of danger of flooding, low enough for the air to remain thick and wholesome... especially when it had the heavy scent of rain upon it. Kizuka gave a happy sigh as she finished pushing larger, heavier rocks up into a line at the entrance of the cave. An adult could get over the barrier easily, but younger cubs would have a difficult time with it. A few sticked wedged between the rocks, and carefully choosing ones with flatter edges would stop them from rolling away or being knocked aside by someone careless. That, she thought, should make this place perfect. There was a slight trickle of water near the back of the cave that pooled an inch or so deep before moving on into another crack in the floor. Likely there was a cave beneath this one that was also watered by the cave, and so forth--now that the waterfall was flowing again, many of the old streams had begun to return. Across from the water source, there was also a slight pit in the floor. It was just big enough that two adult lions could curl up in it together---well>
Kizuka paused with a chuckle as she thought that over, surveying the place again. Ushaufu was a larger lion that any Mistweaver male... so he would likely spill over its edges a little. That was fine, though; they had Kimaji who would still share a cave with them and it was likely Momo might need a babysitter--which was a good part of the reason Kizuka had fixed the barrier up.
To her eyes the cave looked... well. She only had distant memories of Jasisi... but she thought her mother had kept their family's den in much the same order. Then again... The spotted lioness's eyes roamed across the cave she'd claimed for her own use. She was fairly sure this was that same cave.
It' rained non-stop. For a couple of glorious, glorious days, and granted, Ushaufu had found it hard to fly in the weather, however, such an idle thing did nothing to keep his spirits down; he'd not seen rain for so long... which was amusing to note. He could have been anywhere, and instead, he'd stayed here, upon a dying jungle. The fact it would slowly, but surely revive made some sort of warm... strangely fuzzy feeling swell in his chest as he moved across the soggy ground and up towards the cove he and Kizuka were sharing.
Other pridal members had picked out other coves and caves, however, as a mated pair, they'd been allowed their own. Or at least, that was what the male had figured.
Upon reaching his destination after the long walk and part-flight he'd taken, he arched a brow at the entrance; all the rocks, piled up with love and care, "I doubt the water'll ever reach this high, Kizuka. It's not harsh rain. It's actually rather nice," this said and once he'd stepped in, he walked to the side and proceeded to shake his body free of water.
"its not for a flood," Kizuka replied with a chuckle. She moved away to keep herself from getting wet--she'd only just become dry! The female laughed softly at the spray anyway, despite the annoyance it might have once caused, and only looked at him again when he'd finished. "I like the rain as much as any of us do, don't you worry about that."
Returning to the mouth of the cave, the female looked outside at the water still dribbling loosely from the clouds above. They were lighter now, almost finished for the time being... but already there was a rash of fresh green over everything. When the sun came out again, the place would sparkle like emeralds. "but we won't want any of it running down the floor to us during our sleep, for starters.. and if the cubs are ever left with us, we'll need to make sure they don't go wandering off the cliff-side."
"Not for the flood?" he arched a brow, his head tilting to one side, however, whatever reason behind the rocks and the words were soon forgotten as he flopped himself carelessly down, his gaze moving to the entrance. There, he watched the streams of water cascade over the top of the cave mouth, and down bellow, and silently, he knew that the other pride members were watching it too. He'd never tired of it, "What do you make of it?" he asked as he patted the ground beside him, smirking in an inviting manner, hoping to tempt her to his side, "Momo's cubs?" ne nodded somewhat, the tsked loudly, "They're growing though, the rascals, and I don't know if you recall how hard it is to keep a cub in place when there's miles to explore. Especially cubs that have wings and are not bloody well afraid to use them," he chuckled lightly, then patted the ground beside him again, "My wings are dry," and this said, they appeared, prepared to be used as a blanket over them. He was laying in the dark, and even if someone were to walk in on them, they would easily be confused for shadows, "Come."
"You sure you want to do that?" She chuckled, moving closer to him. The female rubbed the top of her head against his jaw, cuddling into him before she sprawled against his side. As much as they disagreed with one another, they were also a rather loving couple. Thankfully, she was old enough that there had never been a truely mushy stage between them. "Anyone could walk in...
"And yes, they are. Cubs grow rather fast don't they?" There was a strange sort of light in her eyes as she considered that, her mind going back to the spotted daughter she'd raised upon this land. Were she the type that cried she might have, for nothing more than relief. Kizuka wasn't that sort of girl, however, and instead merely sighed with that emotion--she'd always been so worried that cubs of hers would never know their heritage... but look at Kimaji! The girl had taken to the land as surely as Kizuka ever had. There was love in her heart for the Storm King and she'd learned all her lessons well. Only now that the worry of the drought had been washed from her shoulders could she truely relax into the joy of just... being. And she was so, so tired lately..
"its beautiful isn't it? More beautiful than I remember.. though that might be for the circumstances," the female gave a dry laugh. Her voice still hadn't recovered and likely wouldn't.
Disagreeing, as far as Ushaufu was concerned, was all part of the healthy life of a couple. how boring would it be if either of them were always with the other? They argued because they cared, and the way she sprawled against him, and he lay his wings, in turn, around her in the form of a blanket, were proof of that, "Why the hell not; it's been... rather peaceful since... well," a small pause followed as he looked up at the ceiling, "The coronation, actually. Haven't seen certain faces, and something tells me we'll see lil of them, too. Sometimes... some peeps can't take a no for an answer. Maybe it's for the better."
As he turned his red hued gaze upon his mate, the male smirked, "Bloody well do. I remember Kimaji when she was a cub," again he paused, "I remember me," he shook his head then, turning to lick the top of Kizuka's head, "The most beautiful thing I've ever seen," he wasn't, however, looking at the rain anymore
That got a laugh which would have been a blush where they capable of such feats. She did the next best thing, ears laying back in slight embarrassment and tail twitching happily. "Deception flatters," She chuckled, "But i wonder when he tells truths."
lifting her head again, Kizuka drug her jaw along his chin, nipping lovingly at him. "I remember you as well... it seems like such a long time ago now.. things have changed... things are going to keep changing."
"Only to you," he murmured as he groomed the top of her head some more before rubbing his forehead against it, like a house cat would've, "Only to you; and you better believe that's true."
Ah, he really did remember himself. Mentally, he hadn't really changed, however, on the outside, there'd been huge changes to go along with the growth. He'd never get a full mane either. The thought amused him now, "I remember you once told me I'd get my mane; guess you were wrong," he tilted his head to allow her better access to his neck, however, after a moment or two, he did stop her; being male... he could only last for so long, "Well, the world's an ever-changing place after all," he arched a brow though, silently asking her what she meant.
"Yes.. but there are opinions you can have about those changes, despite the fact that you can't stop them from happening." Kizuka leaned in to n** his unprotected neck. It was a sign of gentleness, though, and trust.. not domination. She rubbed herself there, then, and settled down with herself wrapped to his side as best she could get it.
She'd been feeling strange for a long time now, weaker or suddenly even more hungry than she'd been before. For a good while she'd thought that it was just sickness or pains from regaining strength... but she'd had to admit that that made little sense; especially when the thought of Momo had once again made her remember her last pregnancy. At first she'd been so scared that she'd slipped a little into denial about it. Then, the rains had returned and..... well. She considered it to be a good sign.
"Mmmmm?" well, something at the back of his mind was honestly telling him that his mate was trying to get at something more than idle talk here. After a pause, during which he actualy managed to purr somewhat at her nippings, he licked her head again and turned his full attention back on her, "Is there something you're... getting at?" honestly, she could have told him the skies were pink, or purple and he'd have believed and accepted that, but if she didn't really tell him where she was getting at....
"You seem restless; there's something in your mind. What is it?" his gaze, like hers, strayed towards the mouth of the cave where they watched the rain fall. If anything, the rains were a good omen. Anything that came from them, or for them, must've been one too.
She couldn't help dancing about this subject, to be honest. It wasn't something she was at all certain how he was going to react to... and she didn't want it to be shouted for all the pride to hear, either--at least not right now. And.. well... she was nervous. The last male she'd trusted not to walk out on a family....
Kizuka flicked an irritated ear at herself. Ushaufu was not Triv'an. "Well.. there's going to be more cubs about soon that will need the barrier from the cliff... and i should think they won't have wings to catch themselves."
"More cubs?" At first, he honestly had no idea what she was talking about; in fact, at first he frowned. His first thought was Kimaji, but as far as he knew, she had no mate, and rogue weren't fond of the territory yet.... his second thought was Momo, but oy. Her cubs were barely weened entirely. There was no way she could handle a second batch.
The third thought struck him like the thunderbolt that roared over their heads, and his brows shot up to hide inside the tuff of hair that hung over his forehead. His maw opened, and then closed; last time he'd had that thought, he'd made a fool of himself, so this time, better guarded as he was, he looked down at his mate and pointed a claw, first at her, and then at himself, "You and me?" there was no anger, and no distress in his voice or features, only surprise.
As it was, however, he REALLY shouldn't have been so surprised. They WERE a healthy couple after all....
"I... should have known better," She chuckled, "I've been putting on more weight.. my cycles came back as normal.. I probably should have stopped---well, there's not much we can do about it now."
She shot him a look, thankful that he wasn't over reacting and cuddled back against him. "Not that I would want to. The rains are back.. the land is healing.. they'll be on my milk long enough that it won't be extra strain on hunting.. besides, its bound to be a small little, I should think, what with my just recovering."
"Well," he was, in fact, taking it very well indeed; truth be told, he had come to terms with the idea of cubs on that first incident, whiles back when he'd panicked over her health. The idea was... idly nice, "It just means you're healthy again, for which i am extremely grateful, because lord knows I'd been worried sick for a while," relaxing back down from the surprised pose, he tucked her head under his chin and purred, "Small litter, huh," he chuckled then, rubbing his chest against her frame, "Well, how ever many there are, I bet they'll all inheri your natural beauty and my extreme intellects," modesty aside, of course.
That got another laugh as well as a good deal of relaxation from his mate. She'd told him, he hadn't blown up, the rains were back, the queen was in place, and.... life was good. For the first time in a long time, life was good. She settled down with him and smiled softly to herself. "They'll also get your modesty, I'm sure."
"Modesty?" he made a show of wrinkling his nose as he looked up to the cave's ceiling, "What ever does that mean anyhow. Never heard that word," he smirked down at her, for he knew she herself knew that to be a joke. Jokes were good; they relieved the tension that could have built up in the atmosphere. This done, he let out a sigh and leaned back against the wall of the cave, much like she was leaning against him, "All's good," he echoed her thoughts, "All's good."
"Very good," She agreed with a nod. So tired.. so very... very tired. Without a word of warning, the female drifted off for a happy little nap.
