Life was good for Tulia. Not only had her pride found their forever-home, but she was making new friends left and right. Good friends, ones that she knew would be her friends for the rest of her life. It didn't matter if they were around in her day to day life; once a friend, always a friend as far as Tulia was concerned. Now there was something else nagging on her mind, something that she clung to with every ounce of her being.
Tulia wanted a family. She wanted her own cubs to raise. She knew that she couldn't do it alone, of course. Sebae would never expect her to. Sebae had told her that she needed to wait until the pride was safe. There weren't going to be any more excuses. Tulia was a very determined lioness, at least about this topic.
Now there was just one issue. Who would agree to play daddy?
Mkhai had similar aspirations, though they played a back role in his mind, overshadowed by a newfound laziness in his position. The male had gained a bit of girth since he had gained his station in the pride, but he had not become complacent. There had been a long lull, but with the arrival of the young girl cub it seemed that that lull was coming to an end. He wasn't sure if the dens were now entirely safe, but if the females thought they were he would certainly go along with it. This was why he had fought to stay, was it not? He had no eye on any female in particular, though he had been wandering of late and met none that raised his interest any more than those in the pride. Peculiar, perhaps he was fond of them all.
Perhaps Pankaj would cater to her little whims. He was a nice enough lion, although Sebae scoffed at his coat; her sister called him 'girly' which seemed odd to Tulia. Not only had the lion shared his breakfast with her on numerous occasions, but he was intelligent enough to hold a conversation with her.
Okay, okay. He was also the only lion she'd really come into contact with. Her options were limited. Tulia mulled this over for a moment as she wandered about a small snowmelt stream that had carved its way into the land near the den.
It was hard for a blind lioness to meet other lions. Either she had to be introduced, or she happened upon them on occasion, or she literally ran right into them. As it was, since Pankaj seemed to be the only male she knew, she'd have to talk to him about her ponderings the next time she talked to him, she supposed. Sebae would be furious, but... well, Tulia wanted babies.
The dark lion had come to a rest by the stream, having decided to spend the day hunting. He hadn't caught much, enough to sustain himself but very little to add to the pride's stores, and the effort had tired him. He noticed the lioness approaching out of the corner of his eye and grumbled lowly, not recognizing her. No, she was friend, he recalled her coat pattern in one of the higher ranking females, but something was off about it. "Are you in need of something?" he called out, hefting himself to a seated position. He was large, even ignoring girth he was an intimidating figure to many, part of the reason he had held his position in the pride since his adolescence. "There's not much game out this way."
Tulia blinked at the voice; it was familiar, yes, but not one that she could put a name to. She turned to look in the general direction of the male's voice, ears perked. "No, no. I'm fine. Just deep in thought. The water helps my mind, I think." Tulia laughed sheepishly at herself, not wanting to babble but unable to help herself.
"I am Tulia. I recognize your voice, but I do not know your name." Her words trailed off in the form of a question, and she carefully stepped a bit closer.
"Mkhai, Tulia, you have a sister here as well, yes?" He remembered having been told the names of all of the females by his father, but they had come and gone as the pride's safety had been questioned. Couplings had hardly been important at the time and so he had moved his priorities elsewhere. Now though, it seemed that things were returning to the old ways and there was a dull comfort in it. "Just be sure not to fall in, then," he laughed, unaware of her condition.
"Yes, Sebae. My twin!" Tulia crept a bit closer, seating herself. Her tail haphazardly flicked into the crystal clear stream, but Tulia didn't seem to mind. "She is a new member of the council. Sebae found this land with Esti's help," Tulia boasted, obviously quite proud of her sister's actions.
"Oh, I won't fall in," she chuckled, clearly amused by Mkhai's comment. "This little stream and I are very dear friends, you see. She is my path to new friendships; I've met two lovely lionesses thanks to her, and now you, Mkhai!" Tulia beamed at a spot near his tail. Close enough, right?
The lion did not seem to notice that she was not looking directly at him, figuring perhaps it was a quirk of this new form of the pride. He yawned and stretched out, taking in her appearance. Sebae, he remembered now, though her twin seemed to be of a softer coloring. "A good luck stream then," he chuckled, feeling a tad selfconcious as he noticed his belly shake a little with the action. Perhaps now the the females were at attention again he would have to strengthen himself up again. Certainly enough so that if challenges were to start again he would be able to hold his own. "I regret to say that I've been rather reclusive myself, though my family is longstanding."
She laughed and nodded in agreement. "Indeed, a good luck stream!" She liked the sound of that. It was a perfect term for the tinkling little stream. "Perfect." Another chuckle, and then she fell silent for a short moment. A thoughtful look clouded her expression. She wasn't thinking about cubs now, but wondering yet again if it was obvious that she was blind. It didn't seem to be the case; both lionesses she'd met previously hadn't known until she'd baldly stated the truth of the situation.
"Why have you been reclusive?" she posed the question, her voice full of curiosity. She wouldn't mention her blindness just yet; maybe he would mention it first. "Sebae and I are newcomers to the pride," she added as an afterthought.
"My father always told me that if there is peace, it is best not to interrupt it with your own troubles," he told her, contemplating what the pride's revival would mean for his daily life, "I've felt troubled lately, perhaps it's the years setting in." He had thought about age a lot lately, the prime of his early adulthood had been spent during the lull, wandering about and he had little to show for it. Now that he had returned though he felt accepted he still seemed to have little. No longer any siblings or parents, no cubs of his own. And yet it seemed natural at this point, as if the lull had intended for many to feel this way.
"Your father sounds like a bright lion," Tulia grinned. "Those words are worth repeating to my sister. Thank you," she paused, shifting to make herself a bit more comfortable. "It's odd that you should mention feeling troubled as of late. I've been feeling something similar to general unrest." Tulia cleared her throat; she knew what was causing the feeling of unhappiness and all-around emptiness. "I think it is because while I am ready and ever-willing to start a family, well... it's hard." She left it at that, not feeling it necessary to explain her blindness unless the lion asked.
He paused, attempting to discern her meaning. She was forward, if he understood her correctly, but perhaps that was the new way of this kin. Not that he would complain, it would make his life easier if the females were willing to communicate what they truly felt. All the same he did not want to misinterpret her and cause problems for himself down the road. "Have you not taken a liking to anyone?" he asked roundedly, shifting his posture to emphasize his stocky build, "I've seen a female males around that would be happy to take a beautiful female such as yourself." Perhaps too much, he thought afterward, slouching a bit, he hadn't gotten much better at this during his time away.
Tulia couldn't help but laugh. "While this might be true, it is hard because I am blind." It was strange that he hadn't seemed to notice. "You might be seeing many males around that would be happy to be a father to my cubs, but," she paused, grinning sheepisly, "I have not!" She said it all without self-pity; this was just the way things were to Tulia; there was no sense feeling sorry for herself.
With a deep rumble he began to laugh, primarily at himself though he couldn't help but find the humor in the whole situation. There he had been posturing like a fool and she couldn't even see him. Suddenly he realized that she might take his laughter the wrong way and he coughed, silencing himself to a few dull chuckles. "I ah, I didn't realize, I apologize." He nodded his head to her, "Well then, all the more reason for one to seek you out instead." Too much again, he mentally slapped himself, while it was true he was given a good bit of liberty in this group he would not do well to push boundaries he did not yet know.
Tulia laughed heartily at Mkhai, shaking her head. She liked him! She hadn't been expecting a laugh, and she wasn't the type to instantly suspect that she was the source of someone's amusement. "You might think that to be true; I think that the blindness puts off lesser males." She snorted laughingly and shook her head. "Perhaps they are frightened that I would not be able to look after a litter of cubs on my own; it is hard to say. Males are fickle creatures," she joked, still smiling.
"You seem to do a fine job of taking care of yourself," he noted, falling into a more comfortable, albeit lazy looking, position. He stretched, itching a bit at his paw. For a moment he remembered the tiny simple lioness he'd scared off just before returning home and felt a pang of guilt. Perhaps if there was something different with Tulia there had been something different about that one. All of a sudden it clicked in his mind, the creature had been deaf not stupid. Oh what an oaf. After a moment he remembered that he had been silent and worried that it would upset her, fumbling quickly, "That is to say you seem well acquainted with traveling around here yourself, surely you could teach cubs the same."
"Ahh, thank you Mkhai," Tulia dipped her head politely. "There are some who don't feel the same way you and I do." She grinned, "Namely my sister, but she did say that I should wait until the pride settled on a home. Since we have, I just need to find a willing and, more importantly, suitable male that will be a good father to the cubs. While I intend on being the primary parent, I do want a lion who finds family to be imporant." She shrugged, a sheepish expression on her features. "I apologize. I tend to babble when I feel very passionately about a subject."
He nodded, "No no, it's perfectly alright." He couldn't help but admire the passion, it was something his father had always admired in his mother, despite her choice to move on to another suitor. "Your sister is concerned for you, but you could prove her wrong," he laughed, glancing up to admire her eyes. They did not seemed flawed, a similar blue to his own, fascinating. "What would make a male suitable then?" While he had previously just been curious he was not interested, flirting with the idea that perhaps this was after all the reason he had come back.
Tulia scowled, though lovingly, if that was possible. "I love my sister, but I would love to prove her wrong. I would love to show her I am as capable as she could be when it comes to mothering cubs." She shook her head, eyes closing briefly. When she opened them, she paused as if considering his question. "Someone with dedication to his children, although there might be many. Someone to raise my sons to be strong and well-mannered, and someone to treat my daughters as if they are priceless gemstones. Someone respectful, kind and gentle. Someone who would not ignore me once I have the cubs." Tulia laughed, tilting her head slightly. "Know anyone?"
He paused as if he were thinking about it very carefully, "You know, I just might." Shrugging his shoulders he laughed, "It's a shame he's long dead." His belly shook as the laughter turned into a more solemn note of grief. "My father had the same demanded of him, and I'd say he did his job quite well. I've been looking to settle down too you know, there might be a bit of his strength in me."
Tulia frowned the slightest. It was obvious that he missed his father; she couldn't imagine how she would feel if she lost her sister. "I can't imagine what it must feel like, missing your father so much. I hardly remember my own mother; Sebae has looked after me for most of our lives." Part of her felt like she should say something to console him, but part of her felt that he did have some of his father's strength in him and he needed no consolation. "Perhaps fate has brought us together, Mkhai?"
Mkhai offered a softened smile. It was a nice thought, one he was even willing to entertain at this point. The pride was becoming strong again, it would need a new generation to carry on that strength. And this Tulia, she was intelligent, kind, all the things he had admired in the females of his mother's time. Though he now knew she couldn't see him he nodded anyway, resolving the idea to himself. "I've never been much for fate but it would seem you are right. After all, you found your way here and I found my way back."
Tulia's laughter was carefree and genuine. "That much is true, Mkhai. Now," she gestured with a nod back towards the direction of the pride with a grin on her face, "I will allow you to escort me back to the pride. Sebae will want to meet you, I am sure. And as we walk, tell me what you look like? Especially your eyes. That is important to me. And after our cubs are born, you must tell me what each of them looks like." She had a bossy tone, but one that couldn't be taken seriously. There was too much laughter in her voice.
Without hesitation he got to his feet and came around the ridge to her side, nudging her shoulder gently as he stood a half step ahead of her. "Red coat, yellow mane, missing a leg you know," he told her jokingly, "Three eyes, one of em is black." He laughed, realizing that it may be too much, "I'm only joking of course, my eyes are blue, a lot like yours."
Tulia giggled, enjoying his teasing. She really did enjoy his company. "You sound simply dashing," she teased back, bumping her shoulder against his side as they walked. She hadn't expected to meet him today, but she was thankful that she had. Pieces of her life were falling right into place, and Tulia couldn't be happier.
"Good! Dashing covers the limp then I'd hope," he teased, speeding up and slowing down periodically as they ascended the path to the caves, "In all seriousness, black and grey with spots of bright green and blue," he laughed, "Our cubs will be colorful and strong, and I'll detail each one to you down to the most minute."
"They'll be beautiful. Sebae likes to joke that I'm a colorblind copy of herself, whatever that means." Tulia grinned, "It would seem that we make a rather pretty pair?" That was fortunate; though she'd love her cubs regardless of appearance, she was happy that she'd happened across a male who sounded rather stunning. "I'll hold you to that promise, Mkhai!"
