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 Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:13 am
Birth Order:
1st - Thalion's Boy - Kohana Subiani
2nd - Kimaria's Girl - Eeva Subiani
3rd - Masamune's Boy - Taradhia Subiani
4th - TrinityCowboy's Boy - Taladu Subiani
It had been a long while since the golden lion and orange avian had left them. And since then, the three musketeers had become two. There was Ameh and Phib, but Ona had to admit it wasn't the same.
Even still, it was nice and peaceful since then and Rehema and he had really been able to get to know one another properly. There had been moments of tenderness and love and Ona'raha knew now, more than ever, that he loved her greatly.
Time alone was not to be taken for granted, because Ona knew that it would not always be just the two of them. One day there would be a family. It was what the both of them had wanted, after all.
But in all his innocence, Ona'raha had never stopped to think that they could be in the process of doing just that.
Rehema's appetite had grown voracious and the poor lion was exhausted with attempting to hunt at every given opportunity. Besides, Rehema being on the podgy side meant for nicer snuggles. She made a good pillow!
However, today he'd managed to catch a hare and it dangled in his mouth as he went in search of the female it was for.
At least today the hard work had paid off.
The past few months had been test after test for the lioness' patience. There was never a time she was unable to fend for herself her. Not since she had become a young huntress. However, the rounder her belly got, the less her body was willing to respond to her demands. More recently, it became more and more common to see her laying on her side asleep.
She'd been a good deal more snippy as well, though she tried her best to keep her temper under control- especially around Ona. Some times she'd be angry, other times she'd seem almost depressed.
That morning as Ona had left, the lioness had pulled herself to her feet and sought out a small, but sheltered, ledge to lay herself under. She laid for hours, breathing hard and swearing at whatever god had decided it fitting to put her body through such torment. To further her struggle, the lioness fought to keep her growls and roars as silent as possible. It wouldn't do to have her mate return just yet.
Hours later, the lioness laid on her side, still panting hard though a look of releaf had washed over her, replacing the strife that had masked her for weeks. Four small bundles of fur huddled close to her belly, all of them nursing quietly. Three beatuful little boys, and a single girl who seemed to be a near carbon-copy of her.
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 9:21 am
When Ona reached the main den he was startled to find Rehema gone. She hadn't said anything about going for a walk, though he had to admit she'd been going through difficult times lately. He wasn't sure what they were and he'd been a little afraid to ask in case he'd get his head bitten off.
Even still, he worried about her. He had to protect her! He was her mate, her partner.
Then a little voice in his head told him to calm down. Rehema was a little grumpy but she wasn't silly. She wouldn't go wondering off. She probably just wanted to stretch her legs.
Even still, he decided he might go and look for her anyway. So, scooping up the hare again he tried to pick up her scent over the furry body in his mouth.
He found it a little further on and it wasn't as fresh as he thought it might be. He'd been gone for a good long while and it appeared she had been as well. Maybe she'd left shortly after he had?
Concerned, the little male continued on, pausing to drop the hare every now and then to rediscover the scent. Luckily she hadn't gone too far and he caught sight of her dark body beneath the ledge that she had sought out.
But there was something different now. Her scent was mingled with something else. Something that made him nervous. He didn't know what it was!
Dropping his kill on the grass he quickened his step and lowered his head to call out to her. "Rehema! Rehema, are you okay?"
The lioness slowly cracked one of her eyes open at the familar voice. She smiled softly and lifted her head up from the ground, albet weakly. "Over here." She called. She had her back to the mouth of the cave, so the cubs were hidden from his sight for the moment.
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:00 am
"I was worried. There was a funny scent with you." He said softly, looking a little tearful. "Why are you over here? Was the den too hot?" He lowered himself and crawled forwards on his belly, resting his chin down against his forelegs.
"Are you mad at me for being gone so long?"
The lioness couldn't help but chuckle, "Stop that now, I just needed to find somewhere a little out of the elements is all." She dipped her head to lick along the bridge of her mate's nose. "I have a suprise for you."
He blinked. "A surprise?"
He noticed then that Rehema was acting odd. Not odd in the usual way, being snappy or grumpy and then being sad, but odd in a different way. There was a glitter in her eyes and a mischievious look in them that told him she had a secret.
But what?
He crawled forwards, whiskers flinching slightly, ears drawn towards her. He didn't have a clue what she was talking about. How could he? His parents had never had the time to teach him such things and he'd grown up alone.
"Rehema?" He breathed questioningly. "What sort of surprise?"
She licked him once more and slowly leaned back just a bit. There was a mew of protest from one of the cubs that soon died down once more to a content purring.
"See for yourself." She nodded down to her belly-which, Ona might note, had deflated quite a bit. "Aren't they beautiful?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2008 10:12 am
He could not have looked more shocked if he'd tried.
As Rehema leaned away to reveal the surprise that lay hidden behind her, he felt his heart give a funny little jerk. His eyes bulged, his jaw fell open and he felt himself dissolving into shock. But then the shock flared and became warm and joy and pride filled his eyes with tears.
He opened his mouth to speak but was too choked up. So he shook his head, wiped his eyes against his paw and leaned forward to touch one of the tiny bodies with his nose.
"Our...babies." He whispered.
"Our babies." She repeated quietly. "Four... three little boys and one little girl." She sighed happily and leaned her head against Ona's shoulder. "Their eyes won't open for a little while...but this one- She poked the little golden boy, "Looks very much like his father."
She purred and slowly shut her eyes once more, "I'm so happy."
Ona'raha Subiani was speechless. All he knew was an incredible love had swelled within him, love for his mate and love for the cubs that he had not been expecting.
Four little surprises lying there at their mother's side.
"They're all so perfect. All of them." He nuzzled Rehema again. "I couldn't be happier than I am right now." He whispered.
He was touched with an incredible sense of joy and he moved closer, lying to protect his family from prying eyes. He realised then that he shouldn't have worried about being too afraid to growl at another. Instinct had taken over.
Ona'raha, peaceful as he was, would certainly not stand for anyone approaching his family. Not anyone, friend or stranger.
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