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 Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 1:41 pm
He would protect his family.
The cubs had been a surprise, those three. He had thought himself too old. Of course, he had thought himself too old, or too grumpy and undesirable, for love. And yet that happened, and cubs naturally followed.
Raruo knew all about fighting and defending, about strategy and war. He knew about strength and skill, speed and tactics. He didn’t know too much about cub rearing, or being a mate. He hadn’t known how to give his heart to someone, but as it turned out it hadn’t been that difficult at all.
He loved Kaihdin, with everything that he was. And he would defend her to that degree.
With things still moving he stole some time to visit her, to make sure she was settled in her hiding place, and to make sure the cubs weren’t scared. They were a mixture of stubborn and brave, their father and mother, and he knew they would be fine through these strange events. A bit too young yet to understand what was happening around them, he knew the one most at risk was his heart herself.
“Kaihdin,” he said, spotting her and going to her. He nuzzled his big nose against the side of her muzzle, rubbing down along her neck with a sad sort of need behind the loving action. He pulled back, not wanting her to drown in his large, graying mane.
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 6:15 pm
But she wasn't even sure if she would want to return there, after the war was over.
"Come, darlings," she cooed to her three offspring. Looking at them reminded her so much of Raruo that she couldn't help but smile. But thinking of her mate and what he was going to face made her face twitch downwards. If she had had her way, he would be with her now. Here, with their cubs, where he belonged. But he would argue that he belonged out there, with the other pride members, fighting to protect herself and their family. That's where he belonged.
She closed her eyes and knew she couldn't fight him anymore. She didn't want to. Not with so much violence and sadness around them already. So Kaihdin put on a smile again and nudged her cubs closer in the shelter. Then her mate trotted up, and she smiled in joy to greet him. Her head followed his when he backed off; she didn't want to let go of his warmth.
"Raruo," she whispered in return.
Just for a moment, one fleeting moment, she didn't want to remember that they were readying for battle. This felt so much like what they had used to do before everything bad started to happen. With the new cubs nearby, and he was always closer.
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Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2010 9:55 pm
Raruo didn't want to pull too far away from her, either, keeping his head close. He rested his forehead to hers, his nose pointed toward the ground, eyes closed as he took a deep breath. He lingered in the moment, taking in her scent and just feeling her near him before he opened his eyes and moved his head back. He tilted his head at her, examining her expression and seeing the sadness and worry she was trying hard to hide.
She didn't need to agree with him. He understood she was trying to keep things from getting too heavy, too difficult. There was war all around them, and this, their love and just being a family, was meant to be simple. Of course, now it wasn't. He wanted them to be safe. He hadn't told them they were in danger, and didn't know if she knew. But if she didn't speak of it, he wouldn't.
Maybe he should have. Hopefully, if he did his duty and protected them as he had promised himself and the spirits he would, it would not be a decision to regret for either of them.
He looked down at the cubs. The youngest born daughter, Salata, had clumsily padded over to her father and was rubbing his paw affectionately. She looked so small. Helpless, really. He bent down, drawing his paw back and she looked up, the two bumping nose. Raruo closed his eyes, feeling a tightness in his chest as the innocent, oblivious little cub licked his nose and let out a giggle.
He looked up at Kaihdin once more, everything feeling heavy.
"You will be safe here," he said lowly, like he was scared of the cubs hearing him.
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 8:44 am
It was war. There was danger all around; how could they possibly ever be safe? Even after the war, would there be stragglers of the other side that would come to prey on the pride? What would happen?
Nothing, she told herself, as Raruo looked at her. He would protect them.
Salata's siblings tottered over to join their parents, each grasping onto some part of the adults in some way. They were Kaihdin's life, now. All her energy was focused on keeping them safe, happy, and utterly oblivious to what was going on around them. Oblivious to the war, death, and destruction. Maybe they should know, but they were young. She could picture the innocent questions they would ask: "What's war?" "Who're the bad guys? Why are they bad?", etc.
She'd wait 'til they were older to share what they had lived through at such a young age.
Kaihdin nodded once, bending down to lick the head of her son, Castor.
"I know. We'll wait, here, until you come back."
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Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2010 9:57 am
The Veteran nodded, wanting to offer her a reassuring smile but not finding it in himself. He was still the gruff, grizzled war lion he had always been, even if she had found a way to access the softer part of his heart. Or rather, he knew, become that part.
"Just keep them happy, huh? No need for them to be scared. Or for you to be. I'll be back soon enough, and this whole war with those traitors will be over."
Now he grinned, more of a smirk, confident and almost teasing. He moved to nuzzle her, rubbing his head to hers and down her neck, lingering in that closeness for a long moment. He drew back and took a deep breath, steeling himself.
He would protect them, with everything he had.
"And you'll be okay here? No heroic stuff?" He asked, eying Kaihdin suspiciously. He didn't want the healer to try anything dangerous while he had his back turned.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:18 pm
"Of course," she smiled in response. The cubs, innocent, only wanted to play games these days. The only trouble they got into was wandering too far from the den, but they knew something was up since they had moved. And they had stayed very close to their mother during this time. She hoped their closeness would not die down while the war waged on for...an undetermined amount of time. She'd just keep both eyes on their cubs.
Kaihdin sighed into her love's giant mane, taking in a last breath of his scent. The closest word explaining the gesture would be the human word 'hug,' but that didn't come close. It was so much more intimate than a hug. More special.
And she wasn't ready for him to step back, but she knew they had to say good-bye soon.
The lioness smiled and nodded patiently. "Yes, dear. I promise not to try anything dangerous while you're gone. I'll wait for the wounded to come to me, not the other way around. Better?" she teased slightly.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 4:28 pm
"That sounds good to me," he said, nodding. He would have laughed, knowing she was teasing him by saying she wouldn't go out looking for the wounded, but he was actually worried about it. After all, there was no real knowing what anyone would do, and if she thought he was wounded somewhere and not coming back because of it, she might try and come find him.
Or maybe he was being protective. Overly so.
He lingered, not wanting to part from her yet. Sighing, he looked down at the cubs, bending to nudge each one with his nose affectionately. "You three be good for your mother." His warning was meant to be stern but Salata licked his nose again and he sighed. They'd be as much trouble as they always were, he imagined.
He smiled at that.
"I suppose I should get going," he said, wanting to and yet not. He knew his duty, though, and couldn't linger too long.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:09 pm
Of course, Kaihdin neglected to promise that if he was the one wounded, she would be out on the battlefield in an instant, searching for him to help. She'd leave the cubs with another mother, or a nanny, or someone that could watch them for just five minutes while she looked for him...
The image of him wounded popped into her mind and she frantically pushed it away. He knew what he was doing when it came to fighting, she told herself sternly. He was not going to get slowed down or tired quickly or hurt in any way, shape, or form. He had them to provide for once he came back. She knew he would not jeopardize his strength and capability of protecting them in this war.
She smiled back at him, glancing down at her cubs before nodding to him.
"I suppose so. Don't want you to be late for the roll call," she smiled half-heartedly.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:24 pm
The seasoned Veteran nodded. It wasn't his first war, which was good and bad. He had experience, but he had age. He would just have to see where the spirits wanted him, and what would become of him when all was said and done. For now, he had to do his job.
He smiled and nodded, shaking his head before moving to nuzzle her one more time, for good measure.
"I love you," he said, his voice low, the sentiment just for her.
He moved back from her then, nodding reassuringly, then turned to pad off, toward whatever destiny was awaiting him, them, the pride as a whole.
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Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 5:37 pm
The warmth of his face against hers was there for one second and then gone, along with a whispered sentiment that wrapped around her heart and glued itself there. Then her heart and his words flew up to lodge in her throat. He padded away before she could get her voice to work again. So as he left them, with their cubs sitting by their mother's feet, she whispered her reply as she struggled against the tears she had fought so hard to push against.
"I love you, too."
END
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