Pilate had sent all the kids out to play and train. She could see them clearly from on top of a small boulder. She wasn't worried. Her cubs weren't so trouble some.
Chen, the normally bubbly bright boy didn't seem that intrested in playing thought. He curled up at the base of a tree, his tail laying over the tip of his nose. Ever so often he would heave a big sigh and look away from his romping siblings.
Pilate eyed her boy who seemed to be the only one not interested in playing. This was unlike Chen. He was always the happiest and brightest of all her childeren. Pilate glanced over at the other cubs. They all seemed fine playing and fighting , even Mizer seemed to be in high spirits for once.
She shook her head and padded over to Chen.
"Hey, you alright?" She nuzzled her little boy.
He looked up at his mother with sad eyes, " I am gonna disappoint you momma and that makes me hurt." He looked down at his feet miserably, but leaned into her nuzzles. "I don't wanna make you sad."
Pilate frowned. "You'd never disappoint me Chen. You're my little bright boy." The green cheetah licked Chen's forehead. "I love you no matter what."
"Really momma?" He perked up, his ears standing up as he looked up at her. She was the most special thing in the little males world and a smile from her was worth more than all the shinies in the whole world.
Pilate had the laugh a little. "Of course silly head. You'd never disappoint me." Pilate really did love her cubs. All of them. She had no memory of her family before so she wanted to make her cubs family experiance the best she could.
"It just...momma I don't wanna rescue some dumb princess!! I wanna just stay with you!!" He blurted out his troubles before he could stop himself then winced looking down again.
Pilate smiled and rubbed her head to his. "Then you don't have to. I'm still very proud of you Chen." So that's what this was about. Chen didn't want to leave her. Pilate couldn't hate her son for that. It was touching.
He purred his high pitched little purr as he rub against her. " But I don't wanna let you do either momma. I know you want her free."
Pilate shook her head. "But I want my children to be free as well. You don't have to save her Chen." She nuzzled him some more, "You can do what you want and be free." The cheetah wrapped a paw around him and started to groom him, "But first a bath."
Chen squeaked happily, perhaps it was unusually but the little male =loved= to be groomed be it by mother or one of his siblings, Heck he would even let a complete stranger groom him so long as they were nice about it!
Pilate was very gentle when it came to grooming , but she got the job done.
"There, all clean. I think you and your friend can go play now if you want." She smiled at him , "Your a very good boy Chen."
"Momma?"Chen blinked up at her chewing his lower lip. The idea had been plaguing him awhile but how did one ask such a big question?
"Yes what is it baby?"
He shifted his weight thinking " Momma what is a daddy?" he had heard another cub talking about having a daddy, and he wondered what it was and why it sounded so special.
Pilate frowned. She knew one day one of the cubs would ask. "A daddy is like Rahvu. " She gave him a quick lick on his forehead. She'd missed a spot, "Rahvu's not your real daddy but he wants to be as close to one as he can."
"But what -is- a daddy?"
Pilate had to smile now. She'd never known her mother or father and wasn't sure if she could completely answer that. "I think a daddies like a mommy. " She chuckled, "Only a boy."
Chen gave her a flat disbelieving look. Nothing could be was awesome as a mommy, not even shinnies where was awesome as mommy. "Uh huh.."
Pilate nuzzled him, "Don't believe me huh? " She smiled down at him . "One day maybe you'll be a daddy."
"That sounds kinda...icky." He wrinkled his nose as she nuzzled him, before rolling over on his back to paw at her ears. "Only momma and sissy aren't icky. Other girls...yeck!"
Pilate nuzzled him, "Other girls won't be yuck forever." She purred and rested her head on him. "One day you'll want to be friends with other girls."
"No way!" He gave her a shocked look before wrinkling his nose up.
Pilate laughed, " Well maybe.. there will be a girl that is special."
"Not as special as you momma!" He nodded firmly before snuggling closer to her warmth. No one could ever be as special as his momma!
"Maybe you'll find one close," She smiled and closed her eyes purring.
He gave her that disbelieving look again but laid his head on her's with a sweet little sigh. "Long as I can be with mommy I will be happy."
Pilate purred louder and gave him a rub. She soon after drifted to sleep.
