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Mkaa had less idea than ever what he wanted to do. He hunted with the pride, trying to be useful, but truthfully it was quite an alarming ordeal- especially when hunting in a large group. Then there was the more solitary job of scouting, but that held more potential for serious chaos, not just hunting. Then there was Kiwimbi.. he was never like that. Never managed to be social enough to really make a friend, or whatever.. they were. Or had been..

He was very, very confused.

And then he was surprised when he spotted the familiar shade of blue in the distance. He was definitely not the type to look for others, or even approach them once he did spot them but.. Kiwi was an exception, he might be confused but he knew he liked her. And what was wrong with that?

"Kiwi," he called, picking up his feet and jogging closer.

He was smiling, he wasn't that anxious and he was pleased to see he got a smile in return when he called out. He was no master of social interaction, but he was OK with one-on-one. Kiwi was quickly reaching up as high as his parents and his sister in his mind, he wanted to think they were that close. His optimistic thoughts were interrupted, though, when she frowned. Her smile did not need to change, the rest of her body was frowning. Unfortunately for Kiwi, Mkaa's sister had had cubs and he knew what a pregnant female looked like. Fortunately, though, he wasn't looking for it and was more worried about her words than her appearance.

"W-what's wrong?" he said, tensing and tilting his head at her slightly- but he did not sit down as she recommended. The suggestion never really made it through to him.

He didn't register that she looked down to her own middle, he kept his eyes on hers and not where they went. She was so serious, he couldn't begin to imagine why, truthfully. Sometimes was up but.. there were so few.. things it could be. Something he should notice? His mind wandered too quickly, his well-practiced pessimistic imagination going wild.. until she said exactly what was wrong.

Mkaa blinked and then looked down to her middle, then back up to her eyes- and then did a startled double-take at her middle, jumping back a bit. It was as if her belly had just jumped out. He stared at her middle now, speechless. And finally.. he sat down.

His eyes did not move, even when she jumped and eventually moved closer. His eyes were already out of focus when she moved, he was staring at her but beyond her at the same time. Mkaa was not a social lion, but he was not completely without understanding. She would not be so nervous if they were not his, unless.. but no, no. She made it clear the full reason she was so upset was that they were his. He had pushed such possibilities from his mind when nothing happened sooner, when everything seemed to go back to normal..

Finally he realized he should probably be saying something. He looked up at Kiwi again, his ears turning and unable to help but frown. It all felt like he was being scolded.

"I- I'm sorry," he muttered, not sure what else she was looking for.

"You're not?" he asked, perking up a bit but not looking completely convinced. It was easiest to react when he thought she was angry with him, then all he had to do was apologize- but something told him, despite the new twisted feeling in his middle, that this was better. Scared and worried, she said, describing his own feelings with those two words as well as her own. He looked down again when she moved closer, sitting nearer. Her belly was pretty obvious, but now she looked more comfortable at least..

"W-why would I be mad?" he asked, stammering after she said they were close and she didn't want to lose that. It was optimistic, they would figure everything out together. She wasn't just telling him out of courtesy, she did want his help.. wanted him? Maybe.

Then he realized.

"Kiwi, aren't you- I mean- your home..?"

He looked at Kiwi with wide, pale eyes. She was so amazing, there was just something about her. She was worried but she was so excited and she was being so honest. He almost felt out of place beside her, it wasn't fair to her. He wasn't without his own confidence, but there was something worrying about this particular situation. He couldn't be so lucky, but here she was, and here they were and.. she wanted him to go with her. Asking her to stay here was not a possibility, that much was evident in her voice. She had lived here when she was young but her pride was home, he would not know it existed if she had intended to stay here.

"What's it like?" he asked, his ears finally turning forward once again and staying here. He still looked nervous but he was feeling.. better.

Mkaa listened carefully, trying to repeat every detail she said in hopes of remembering, preparing himself. There were no other options, he would go for Kiwi, for their cubs.. and he would adjust. It was a relief to hear it was smaller, that was likely to be the biggest problem for him. Knowing everybody might make it less terrifying even at a large size, though it would make it harder to keep to yourself. But there could be no more of that, either. His eyes fell to Kiwi's middle again, wondering just how many cubs were in there. He had so many siblings, how would he handle if she had that many? Tearh had only had two, though. What about Kiwi?

"I'll go with you," he said, his ears turning back again but now he smiled sheepishly up at her, "I have to. Will they let me stay?" He didn't have much idea of how you go about joining any other pride, he knew rogues often joined the Pridelands but he knew not all prides were the same.