They were getting closer. Codail could feel it in the strength of her dreams...the pull of the mists calling her. She took a deep breath, savoring the dew-heavy air of sunset. The bellies of the cubs were still full after the previous night's hunt, and she had eaten quite well herself. The pale lioness stretched and looked back into the cave that was serving as den for now. Until the little ones were rested.
Then they would continue on...hopefully to a new home. Or at least an opening to a new home. Her dreams would not lead her astray. They had not yet...
It had been difficult... Excruciating even, for Múscail to finally leave the Pridelands. Ia'eh had been the heaviest protestor, having finally gotten used to Tama's company. And after a long day of travelling, the cubs had been tucked away in a safe place while their mother went out on the hunt. The only remainder of her time with Tama was the wilting flower tucked behind her ear, it's life slowly withering just as it felt her heart must also be doing.
"Was it truly neccessary, Great Mother, for me to feel such heartache?"
Codail blinked as the breeze blew past her. Strange...in the scent of damp plants and earth...there had been a familiar scent. An achingly familiar scent. Standing, the lioness looked about, then dared to venture a bit away from the 'den'. Dare she hope? After all this time...was it worth it to get her hopes up again?
The pale lioness paused slightly as something seemed to twinge at the back of her mind. A sixth sense, maybe, that told her to stay put for just a little bit longer. Múscail flicked an ear idly, and slowly sat down in the grasses. She wasn't one to ignores her instincts... Not anymore, at least.
There...the scent was growing stronger as Codail walked closer...And then she stopped. It was. She would know her twin's scent ANYWHERE. Codail couldn't help but grin and lope into view. "Muscail! Deirfiúr!" Her sister! Her wonderful, beautiful sister at long, long last...
Almost instantly, Múscail's ears perked forward and a grin lit up her face. That voice! That scent! Oh how long had it been! With a gleeful laugh, the lioness quickly loped over to her sister and bumped heads with her, rubbing her neck against her twin's as she had when they were still cubs.
"Codail! It's been far too long!"
Codail could barely keep from crying in joy and relief as she returned her sister's affection. "Agreed. Oh Goddess...I was so worried for so long...and then..." At that, she did cry. "When I couldn't find you, I was so alone, Muscail. I've never been that alone before. I'd lost Muinín, then the cubs, and then you..." Her voice grew quiet. "I am so happy to see you again..."
"You have more than just me now, dear sister. Come, meet your niece and nephews," Múscail said softly, playfully tugging her sister's ear in the direction of her den.
Codail coughed a bit, the tears stopping. "You...you had cubs?" So...her sister had passed from Maiden to Mother, as she once had. She followed her sister's tugging, a smile creeping onto her face. "Will I get to meet the father as well? Or...is he not a mate?"
"I'm afraid... The father and I did not mate under good circumstances... He forced me, and then stole away three of my little ones while I was still weak from the birth," Múscail said sadly, her ears falling slightly at the thought of her missing children.
If Codail was any other, she might have vowed to hunt down the vile male. But as it was...Codail was not any other. She was not about to separate from her family again. And her sister would need her, just as she needed her sister. "I am sorry, deirfiúr, that your passing was not as it should have been." She smiled sadly. "But I will help you with your little ones...for they are still yours."
"My little ones... They are my entire world, Codail," Múscail said softly as she approached her den. She peaked her head in, and smiled at the sight of Ia'eh protectively curled around her younger brothers. "They're beautiful."
Codail nodded. "Cubs do that to you...they crawl in and steal your heart away." She chuckled. "But I certainly do not mind." She smiled broadly at the sight of her sister's cubs. They were beautiful...and they were family.
"So what now, sister dear?" Múscail asked softly, smiling and turning to her sister. It had been some time since her last vision, and she turned to her elder sister for guidance.
Codail grinned. "Well...you could bring your little ones to meet their cousins. I think the den I found for now is a bit bigger than this one." She laughed softly. "I found a litter of cheetahs abandoned and took them in...then found myself pregnant after a night with a lion who was very sweet to a broken soul." She shook her head, smile still present. "The Goddess certainly answered my prayers."
"Such a large family in suck a short amount of time. Care to help me carry the little ones?" Múscail asked softly, smiling and carefully moving to pluck Ia'eh from the den. The cub blinked sleepily as she was lifted into her mother's jaws, before going back to sleep.
Codail nodded. "I would love to help." She stepped forward to carefully pick one of her nephews up. Such a large family indeed...but Codail didn't mind in the least. She had her sister again, and she would be surrounded by cubs. And there was the lingering promise of a new home hanging in her visions...
With a mouthful of cub, Múscail could only motion for Codail to lead the way. She and Codail would come back for the remaining two cubs after the first two were moved. It was their safest bet, after all.
Codail started off quickly. Her sister hadn't denned too far from where she had, so it was a relatively short journey. And her own little ones still slept. Even her night owl didn't stir. So the questions could come after they were done and both sisters had their broods together.
It didn't take long. One final trip back and forth saw all the cubs together, and Múscail couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips at the sight. She didn't even want to count all of the cubs. There were so many of them, after all!
Codail smiled at the sight of the cubs. Her own nine (cheetahs and lions included), and her sister's four. She couldn't help but feel her heart soar. They had a family again. Though they lacked mates, Codail knew she and her sister would get along just fine. They had each other and the little ones after all. "Well...hunting got a little easier, don't you think?"
"Much easier, dear sister," Múscail said softly, smiling and shifting to curl around her cubs. "Perhaps we should sleep for the night."
Codail nodded, yawning. "That sounds like a very good idea." She chuckled. "And I think we'll both have a very sound sleep..." She moved to nuzzle her sister, infinitely glad they were together again.
