When Ekun got to thinking, it was rather dangerous in one way or another. And she'd been doing quite a lot of it lately. It had started with small things...like why Ayo' was the only one who kinda looked like her. And why she had red eyes instead of her Mama's green. And then other creatures mentioned fathers...and it suddenly clicked in Ekun's head. She and her sisters and brother had to have a Papa too right?
But where was he? Ekun sighed from where she lay near her Mama. Only one way to find out...
"Mama...Where's my Papa?" A simple question, right?
Phye'li's ears pricked then, and she turned slowly to blink at the cub she had come to call daughter, one of her several beloveds. Of course she'd known this question would come sooner or later, but she'd really been hoping for later. Rumbling softly, she sighed, shifting to sit on her haunches, tail curling serenely about her toes. "Well, Ekun, I'm really not sure where your Papa is." Somehow she knew that this question would only be the first of many.
Ekun's ears drooped, but she did not let it deter her...She wanted to know what she could. "Well...Is he the one I got my red eyes from? And the reason 'Rai is all red and Shai is splotchy red?" Curiosity was Ekun's very nature...and she was hoping it wouldn't gt her into trouble this time. "And...how come he isn't with us?"
Phye'li wrinkled her nose faintly, "No. I'm not entirely sure where your eyes come from, dear, perhaps a family member of my mate's that I have yet to meet." She said softly, "And yes, your father is red. He is red with green eyes, and he looks a little like me, only red. You have a similar pattern on your rump...like on mine and his." Phy pointed out. "And...well...he isn't with us, because he doesn't know that he is your father." Even though Ekun was a youngster, Phye'li refused to lie, if her young ones were asking.
Ekun was very much confused now. Didn't know? "Did he...go away before we were born?" Ekun was finding her questions only brought more questions with them. "And...How come he's got rump spots like us?" As far as she'd found...only her Mama had spots like her...Even Shai only kinda had them.
She nodded, "He left long before you were born, sweetheart." Murmuring, she shifted weight on her front paws, tilting head slightly. "And he has rump spots...because...well...I have been your mama, but I'm not truly. I did not give birth to you, but instead to your papa." She had been loathe to let that bit of information go, but the child deserved to know. "Your mother left you with me, because she could not raise you herself." But she had loved them, wishing to be a mother again. "Your father's spots are from me."
That...actually explained a lot. So...her Papa had left a while ago...and her mother had left them with Mama. She smiled brightly. "Even though you're Papa's Mama too...you're still Mama to me." She moved to try and nuzzle Phye'li. "What do you think Papa would do if he knew about me and my siblings?"
The lioness heaved a grand sigh of relief, having been fearful of Ekun's response to such a revelation, and she purred, ducking her head down to nuzzle back. "I don't know what he'd do, dear, but I'm sure...that he would love each and every one of you. Your papa is a very kind lion, albeit perhaps a mite impetuous. But...perhaps he will mature in time."
Ekun nodded. "One day...when I'm bigger...I'm gonna find him so I can tell him." She purred happily, feeling as if a weight had been lifted from her. "But not until I'm bigger. And...I'll tell 'im to visit you more. 'Cause you miss him, don't you?"
"Well, I wish you luck in that endeavor, my dear." She said sincerely, "And I do miss him...he and his brother, though his brother left when he was young, as did his father." Phye'li looked almost wistful then, "But I've been happy, since I've had you and your brother and sisters." When she spoke of those she had taken under her wing, the brown lioness seemed almost radiant.
Ekun felt proud that she and her siblings had made their Mama feel happy. And she intended to keep doing that for a while. And she hoped that one day she could be a good mother to her own cubs. Ekun's face gained a look of 'wait a second...' and she looked back to her Mama. "Where DO cubs come from?"
