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 Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:45 pm
Bekile paced slowly back and forth in the front of the small shelter that she had found/claimed for herself. Far from the main pride area, the young lioness had secluded herself, telling only a single soul where she would be and how long she should be gone, a time that had already passed. Fear gripped her that instead of her 'sister' coming to check on her it might be her brother...Ukosa came as quickly as she could when she heard Bekile’s call. She had agreed to stay near Bekile as her pregnancy neared so that she could call when she needed her help. With cubs growing inside her, Ukosa needed to watch her step, but the birth was still a ways off for her. She couldn’t help but feel excited for Bekile. Hopefully this wouldn’t be another false alarm.
“I’m here, Bekile,” she called, emerging from the brush. She could hardly keep her voice calm as she looked at the lioness she’d grown so close to over the weeks. Her first sister-in-law. She nuzzled her in greeting, slightly out of breath from her run, and looked the blue lioness over eagerly. She looked absolutely huge! “Is everything alright? Is it time?”Bekile chuckled weakly shaking her head, "I do not know Uko. My back and stomach have been cramping but not very much or for very long. Oh Uko what if something is wrong! They are already late!" The first time mother paused in her pacing to gaze at her sister , her violet eyes wide in alarm.“In my experience cubs rarely ever come when you expect them to, and there are times even after they’re born they still won’t come when you call,” she said lightly, hoping to calm Bekile down. She circled Bekile, taking a look at her backside and sniffing her. Satisfied that there was no cause for alarm here, she put her ear to Bekile’s tummy and suddenly found herself struggling to contain a big smile. “Everything seems alright back here. I can even hear them moving.”
Comforting Bekile gave her more fulfillment than she ever imagined. She wondered why she ever became so withdrawn. Of course, it was all because of that stupid lie, the one she told because she thought it would preserve her dignity rather than imprison her, a sufferer in her silence for years and years. For the first time since she was a girl, Ukosa felt like she was really part of a family. This was her fresh start.
She circled back to Bekile’s front, tail twitching up high in anticipation, though she also seemed a little disappointed. “Maybe their little paws are kicking you too much. Right now it’s hard to tell.”Bekile sighed in relief only to gasp as the fur and muscles along her stomach rippled. Her head jerked around as she tried to glance at her hindquarters. The sudden rush of fluids stained her ducky blue fur nearly black as she bellowed in pain and fear. This couldn't be right! Something had to be going wrong, Bekile just knew it. Startled by Bekile’s panic, Ukosa spun around half-way and gasped as she realized what was happening. She leaned against her, helping support her weight as she walked her to the shelter.
Ukosa vividly recalled the agony of pushing out her first cub. No matter how many years passed, no female could ever forget their first litter. Even though Ukosa only had one cub she had been utterly unprepared for the birth pains; the first strong contraction nearly crippled her, so she expected Bekile would soon have trouble staying on her feet.
Poor Bekile. Ukosa wished she knew how many cubs to expect. After pressing her ear to her sister-in-laws tummy so many times she knew they could expect more than two. Once when Bekile asked Ukosa guessed a number of three, four on the outside. Only her cousin Kigu had a litter this large. Ukosa knew what to expect, but she could only guess how it would feel.Thank the gods for Uko, without her Bekile would have subcome to panic which could be deadly at the best of times. Taking a deep breath, Bekile nodded slowly calming down as she saw that Ukosa wasn't worried. Had the older female being stressed things would have gone wrong quickly. Instead, the two lionesses took shelter in the large hallowed out tree. A faint whimper spilled from the young female muzzle but she knew they pain had yet to truly begin. Ukosa nuzzled her softly. She warned Bekile of the pain during their talks. Of course there was talking about it, and then there was experiencing. Bekile nodded saving her breath for her fight ahead instead of talking. Despite the reassurance she was sure that she was being ripped apart, this just couldn't be normal. Dark ears flicked back and forth nervously as she turned her head trying to see what was happening.Ukosa moved to the other side of the shelter and cleaned away some of the bloody liquid so she could see what was happening. Bekile needed to clean away most of the fluid herself; along with the cleaning of the cubs, this was an important part of giving birth for any mother, so Ukosa did as little as possible. She knew better than to try to shoulder the whole burden herself.
With the birthing beginning now, she needed to bite her tongue to keep from saying anything.Bekile gave her sister-in-law a frightened look but luckily for her, her body knew what to do even if Bekile's mind didn't. When the next contraction rippled her body, she snarled pushing. Her claws dug into the wood as she felt and accepted the pain.Ukosa’s eyes widened. She shot Bekile a meaningful look before returning her attention to her task. The first cub was coming now...For once Bekile's stocky body and wide form worked for her, easing what would have been a hellish ordeal for another lioness into merely an unpleasant one. After the first cub, a little male so dark he looked black, the others seemed to come at a rush. A light blue female, another dark male but with with the white forelock like her father and brother, a wildly patterned girl, then the last and the smallest of the litter a oddly spotted little tan male.
Bekile lifted her head weakly to look at the kittens nestled against her side, a weak but steady purr spilling from her exhausted body. She gave Uko a tender lovingly look before moving to clean up the afterbirth before grooming the newborns. For the first time in a long time, she felt whole again....
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:54 pm
((Alright guys remember NO speaking until after Bekile names them before the rest of the pride...))
Weeks,nearly a month, had passed since the dusky blue lioness had disappeared from among her pride to hide away from the world with only her sister-in-law to bring forth her newborn cubs. The time of seclusion had ended now as all five cubs had opened their eyes and began to move about the tiny shelter.
Bekile smiled down at her litter as they tumbled about her, yes it was defiantly time to rejoin her family. Getting to her feet she nudged the little ones until they all followed her. Movingly slowly she began the trip back to the pride's home, suddenly eager to show her new little family to her father and brother.
Umntanami blinked after his mother, before bolting after his siblings. He wasn't about to be left behind! Streching out his stubby little legs, he raced to hide under their mother's stomach, peering out at the world from between her front legs.
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 8:00 pm
Dusan could keep up with his mother by now. Still a tad wobbly, he looked back at the littlest male and paused, pink eyes focused on little Umntanami. With a little smile, he moved that way and gave the tan male's cheek an ecouraging lick before looking to the rest of the litter and his mother. Jerking his head in a 'come on' fashion, the first born pranced back up and tangled himself around his mother's legs, giving a heavy purr. He wanted to say something, but he felt he shouldn't. He knew he shouldn't actually.
The world in which they were about to see was going to be new and exciting for him.
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 9:53 pm
Parisa walked behind her other siblings, choosing to observe the outside world, and appreciate the newness, beauty, and danger it held, rather than running headlong into it.
Her pale eyes squinted at the bright light that filtered through the trees. It hurt, but eventually the light became less hateful. Instead, she came to welcome the warmth that the brightness brought to her pale little body.
It was then that she stepped in to something wet that she was drawn from her elegant poise. A disgruntled look came over her face, as she lifted her, now dirty, paw to look at it. Eww.
She looked to the others to see what they thought of this,...squishy mush.
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Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 4:04 pm
Easily the largest of his siblings, Mushipa'nyanga trailed on after his siblings and mother, taking up the rear to keep an eye on the others. He didn't want anyone, Umntanami especially, wandering from the path. Dark violet eyes narrowed, his face set into a scowl, that was quickly becoming a usual expression for him as he trudged on through the slowly thickening mud as they approached the swamp lands.
Mushi wasn't the least bit bothered by the mud and gunk clinging to his fur, his soft white tail also getting coated as it switched between dragging the ground, and lashing about in agitation.
He could not see any logic what so ever in a ceremony such as this. What was the point of their mother showing them off to others, just to announce their names? He would escape the whole thing if he could. Sadly, someone had to stick around and keep an eye on the others. He had appointed himself as that someone, whether they liked it or not.
Huffing out, the grumpy young cub picked up his pace a bit to walk closer to his family.
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Posted: Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:47 pm
The small strange coated female had no problem with the muddy surroundings as she stomped through it. The squishy sound amused her as she purposely stomped about. This was fun, this was new , this was exciting. Of course, this small strange coated cub, had no idea what was happening. The ceremony was something beyond the cub at this point as she jumped and squished and jumped and squished.
It wasn't til the young cub got mud in her mouth did the cub stop her playful squishing. It was awful. The strange coated female spit and gagged as she kept up with the rest of the litter and her mother.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:08 pm
Bekile laughted softly as she stopped to let all of her cubs catch up with her on the trail. She remembered her own first experience with the thick, heavy mud of the swamps. Nuzzling each of them gently in turn, she headed once more back down the trail.
The trail from the birthing den has seemed much longer when she had left the pride to give birth, than the trip back to her clan. Glancing around at the assembled members of her pride, Bekile's eyes caught her brother's. Turning to her cubs she gently nosed them forward one by one and for the first time in their young lives the cubs heard the soft, husky voice of their mother.
"Dusan." First born of the litter, dark mirror of his mother's coloring.
"Parisa." First born daughter, a light blue and dainty.
"Mushipa'nyanga." Largest male of the siblings, he seemed to be scowling at everyong.
"Tahki." The wildest and brightest of the litter, the little female seemed to have a playful spirit.
"Umntanami." The runt, youngest born and the only cub that had the clear markings of the rouge that fathered them.
Bekile's eyes filled with tears as she gazed at her now named babies, licking each of their foreheads lovingly before looking to her pride.
Tanami stared at all of the HUGE lions that surrounded them. His heart had jumped with joy when he heard his mother's voice. It was everything he thought it would be. Warm and loving, to the little male her voice sounded like love.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:18 pm
Dusan grinned as he heard his momma's voice for the first time, and the mirrored cub giggled and moved over to the other lions, his tail flicking back and forth. While a gentlelion, he was curious by nature. He wanted to play and romp around. He knew nothing of rules and rites in the least bit. He raised a little paw and put it against his momma's brother's leg before laughing and darting back towards his family. He zoomed between his mother's legs and nuzzled against her front paws, head sticking out, watching everyone with his vibrant eyes.
He was caked in mud, and didn't really seem to care unlike his sister. Which, he was going to go play with. Tackling Parisa, he'd attempt to push her down in the mud and then nibble on her ear. Just like any other cub would when surrounded with siblings to play with.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:19 pm
Unus stood proudly outside the den as he looked at his new family his eyes going from each cub before finally falling onto Bekile then lastly on Ukosa. Pride swelled in his chest as he looked into her eyes for the longest time.
He then bowed his head to his sister finally breaking his eyes away from the female too look at her. "They are beautiful Bekile." He said as he looked to the cubs his eyes falling onto the runt. He knew already he was going to have his hands full with the cubs. He couldn't wait he wanted to move and play with them and teach them things but they where still so young and needed to stay where he was till he was allowed.
That's all he needed to break one of the fragile bodies. He wouldn't wish that on anyone he had personally gone through his first children 'breaking' from a rouge male getting to them. He looked back to the cubs before a slight blush coming to his cheeks as he looked to Ukosa before looking away quickly as his mind began to think about their least meeting before they had separated for Bekile's sake.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:01 pm
Parisa had tried to stay as mud-free as she could, but the splashing of mud by her other siblings had, inevitably, gotten on her. When they were introduced, and they first heard their mother's voice, the little cub's heart sped, and she looked up at her mother with wide eyes.
She then looked out at the other, bigger lions. So many,... Her ears perked when Unus spoke. The male's voice was different from mother's, in some ways that she really couldn't understand,..but then again she was a cub. The world was a mystery to her.
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Posted: Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:25 pm
Tahki had been to busy spitting and sputtering from the mud to really pay good attention to what was going on. Still, she heard her name when it was called and smiled, forgetting about the aweful mud taste in her palet for at least the moment.
Tahki took a seat, not minding the mud, and just observed her brothers and sister as they all seemed to be having a good time. The spitting and spattering continued as she watch. It was really not a good taste, the mud. Something she'd remember for the next outing.
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:45 pm
Ukosa lumbered up the path at her side and kept a watchful eye on the playful young ones. All the cubs were so precious and beautiful. They were such a pleasure to be with, even the scowling cub. He made Ukosa smile the most. She found it so funny that he seemed to act like a grown up at such a young age. Once he met the other cubs of the pride she was sure he would find someone to bring him out of his shell. The little blue girl reminded Ukosa of herself a little. She wondered if spending so much time around the litter caused her personality to rub off on some of the young ones. The one Bekile named Dusan was a chipper little fellow. Ukosa wanted to keep a close eye on him. Sometimes it seemed like he was having too much fun to think about where he was going. The little tan male, on the other hand, hid under his mother and seemed a little overwhelmed by the proceedings. Ukosa smiled at him warmly.
Then there was Tahki. From the moment she was born, Ukosa had no idea what to make of the little girl. She stood out so strongly from the rest of the litter that she worried some lions would think she was adopted. But she was playful and healthy, and with cubs that’s all that ever matters. She probably just took after a grandparent.
During the weeks with Bekile her tummy had bulged out with the cubs growing inside her. She felt relieved that the cubs would finally be joining the pride. Hunting was getting more difficult now, so for the last few days it was Bekile who brought home the meals while Ukosa watched the cubs. She liked to watch them rest against her belly during their naps and wonder if they knew about their cousins or felt when they moved inside of her. She would have loved to tell Bekile’s cubs all about the little playmates that were on their way, but tradition prevented her from speaking. She would tell them soon.
She lumbered at the lioness’s side, doing her best to maintain proper posture while carrying the extra weight, but at the naming ceremony her thoughts drifted, excited by all the changes unfolding around her. She felt renewed. For the first in ages, Hori was far from her thoughts.
Seeing the tears in Bekile’s eyes, Ukosa turned to her and softly nuzzled her cheek. They were closer now than ever before. Ukosa could not imagine life without her; Bekile, her sister.
Then Unus arrived. She wanted to giggle at his excitement over their new nieces and nephews. She went up to him coyly. “Well, well, whose this handsome male?”
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Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:55 pm
Unus face turned a flush pink as he cleared his throat as he watched her. He hadn't seen in some time due to them being apart for the birthing. Those long days spending alone thinking nothing but his new found love in the female Ukosa or the love he had for his sister that was going through something well life changing.
He looked around a moment before standing to lead her away from the other so they could have a more of a intament re coupling then what they could out in front of everyone. Sure they have been together for awhile know but they hadn't maid it to official yet they they where going steady only Bekile knew.
Unus stopped once they where a good distance from the other as he looked to his paws before looking to her all his emotions summed up in those gentle loving eyes that where screaming out the words he dare not say.
"Ukosa..." He said softly purring out her name in contentment of finally being able to say it before her.
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:41 pm
Ukosa shushed him playfully, touching her nose with his. She could hardly believe how oblivious he seemed. Did he think she’d some how gotten fat? The notion almost caused her to laugh. “Wait here,” she whispered, giving him a wink. “There’s something I have to say to Bekile before we go. I’ll only be a moment.” With that she made her way back to the clearing where the pride was gathered around the new mother.
All the attention being paid to Bekile made her nervous. She wasn’t used to such big crowds. Some of the lions she knew, most of them she still didn’t, but her greatest fear was that she would embarrass Bekile, so she sat close to her and kept her voice low. “I’m sorry about that. You know he hasn’t seen me in a month. I hope he’s not too eager,” she joked. She always liked to start off conversations on a light note.
“Thank you for letting me be there for your big day. These past weeks have meant so much to me, especially with my own cubs on the way. Unus doesn’t know yet. I’m sure he’ll be overjoyed when he finds out that he’s going to be a father as well as an uncle.” She smiled a little nervously, her eyes darting away. “You haven’t found your true name yet. I know that a true name is usually something you find yourself but, if it’s not too unorthodox, I thought I might make a suggestion? It came to me one day. I was thinking about how much everything has changed for all of us since we met, you and Unus and I, and with the start of our new family, I thought it appropriate…” She took a deep breath and said, “The name I had in mind is Kabusha. It means re-birthed.”
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:49 pm
Tear gathered in Be..Kabusha's violet eyes as she gazed at her sister, her heart swelling with love. She had often spoke to her sister, before the cub's birth, about how she felt that she had been given a new life here in the swamps and now...well she truly was a different person.
"I am honored Uko." Bumping her head gently agianst Ukosa's, she nuzzled her purring. "And I do feel as if I have been born again. A daughter of the swamps and then as a mother." Despite her tears, her eyes took on a teasing look, "Now go on sister, before my brother has a fit."
Kabusha smiled watching the two lions move away thinking how much her life had changed in such a short period of time. Chuckling softly to herself, she slowly herded her cubs towards the den that would be their home, mentally and physically exhausted from the long ordeal but happier than she had ever been.
(FINISHED!!! Now shoo and go play with them in the swamps ^_^))
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