(pretty formating later)

Tanwyn moved through the grasses slowly, leading Emil towards the hidden den excitedly. She moved deftly and silently, smiling. Meiah was having cubs soon, and Tanwyn was excited to see the new lives developing in her older friend's swollen belly. Once close, Tanwyn motioned Emil to come close, whispering.

"Meiah said her babies are coming and I thought it would be good if we herlped in case she needs someone." Tanwyn nodded, then watched, excited.

Mah'Rie'Meiah lay on the den ground, breaking hard, claws raking the ground in pain from contractions. In her mind she was damning the rogue whom impregnated her, damning her father for abandoning her, her mind full of fury....

She gasped, feeling something pass, and twisted a bit.

She'd given birth to two small cubs in rapid succession, a boy and girl, unbeknownst to her, entwined. Meiah paled. Twins? Lovers? She shook her head, moving to groom the young ones gently.

The young male finally cried softly, moving towards the large warmth next to him, finding a spot to nurse and settling to suckling greedily, small mouth moving rapidly. Meiah blinked, and smiled, all motherly. Not having the father was frightening, but it meant the cubs were hers. All hers.

Tanwyn squrealed, seeing the cubs born. It looked painful, but when the new lives emerged, she beamed, kissing Emil's cheek, and trotted to Mah'Rie'Meiah. Meiah was tense until she recognized it as Tanwyn, scenting Emil, and smiled softly.

"Hello, Nanashi, Emil." Shje still lacked a clan name for him. Tanwyn purred.

"Your babies are adorable!"

Meiah blinked, then smiled, grooming them again gently.

"They are, aren't they?"


Emil was uncertain this was a good idea, but...he wasn't going to begrudge Tanwyn this. And from the stories he'd heard, childbirth alone had to have been a harrowing ordeal. He winced when Tanny squealed, the ear near her going down in an attempt to lessen the impact. It didn't really work. Shaking his head, he followed the adolescent lioness. "Hello Meiah."

The little girl was silent a little longer then her brother, then mewled pitifully and wriggled about. When she found the scent of food, she latched on. She didn't like this place AT ALL! It was cold! The only good thing so far was the food!


Meiah smiled warmly at the younger male, motions cleasrly un-territorial. Tanwyn peered, and Meiah moved to let them see more clearly.

"So... Are you two used to cubs?" She asked. The young male squeaked at the new warmth next to him and cuddled up, meowling until warmer and nursing again. BNeh! This place wasn't cuddly enough!

"Not really. I don't stay close to the pride dens. I like exploring too much. First time I left the pridal lands I met Millie!" She smiled, pawing the male. Meiah smiled, watyching her play with him a bit.


Emil nodded. "A bit. There are some cubs in the Matembezi. I've never dealt with them this young, however." They seemed so....tiny. And easily hurt. No wonder most mothers didn't leave the den for quite a while after the cubs were born.

The little girl squeaked in surprise at the warmth that cuddled into her. This was new! Not unwelcome though...It was oddly familiar and WARM. Mostly warm.


"You can meet them if you want." Meioah offered gently. Tanwyn's ears pricked, and she approached slowly, laying down to speak to the cubs.

"Hi, little ones. I'm your aunt Tanny!"

Meiah pricked her ears. Aunt? .... She blinked, then smiled, nuzzling them both a bit, but smiled at Tanwyn and Emil acceptingly. THEY could ber near her children. All they liked.

"Meiah? How are you going to eat if you can't leave the den?"

"I'll figure it out."

Tanwyn frowned, giving an involuntary shiver at the idea of bearing cubs alone.

"Can I help?"


Emil sniffed at the cubs carefully, then smiled back a bit at Meiah. "They look like you." Save a few markings and colors. But overall...the two cubs definitely looked like Meiah's. When Tanny brought up the topic of food...he frowned.

"I can help, as well."


Meiah blinked in surprise, and looked at her children in silence. She licked her cubs thoughtfully, seeming to shudder. In reality she cried, hiding her tears several moments before looking to them, facial fur damp.

"Thank you."


Emil smiled slightly. "You're welcome." He placed a forepaw over one of hers for a moment. "Tanwyn considers you a friend...as do I." Even if she was odd, like Tanny, she'd actually bothered to deal with him, and neither had the obligation of 'family' to force her to do such.


Meiah smiled, then chuckled.

"I don't think Tanwyn has you on a low level like frioend. More like-"

Tanwyn turned red, suddenly nowhere to be seen, hiding. "--a potentyial cmate, I think."


Emil blinked....and had most of his fur been any color other than black, he likely would have had a bit of a red or pink tinge himself. "I uh..." CRAP. He didn't know how to respond to that. Or deal with it.


Meiah blinked, then smiled, laughing gently.

"I guess I'm the only one who noticed. Sorry."

Tanwyn's middle toe stuck up.


Emil coughed, giving Meiah a very 'not amused' look before looking to Tanwyn. "We...can talk about that later, if you want?" It was something they would need to talk about eventually, obviously. Better sooner than later.


"Later is good." She peered out, covered in grasses and burrs. Meiah blinked, beginning to laugh. The tiny male squeaked unhappily at the disrruption, and clamped down on the food. Itt was harmless, but did make Meiah laugh at her son, who meowled unhappily. Stop mopving, food!


Emil nodded, then moved to try and help Tanny get all the...stuff out of her fur. "Don't hide next time."

The girl-cub mewled unhappily, ceasing her feeding. Why were things moving?! What was going on?!


Meiah shushed to both, grooming them reassuringly.

"Easy, little ones, mother's here."

"Y..Yeah.." Tanwyn looked sheepish, grooming her paws. The tiny male gave a baby huff. Stupid food!


The little girl snuggled back up and went to eating again for a short while before burping and curling up. She had a full belly now!

Emil chuckled, both at the cubs and at Tanwyn. It was nice, having moments like this, without his family around. It was calm.


The male squeaked when he was full, cuddling into the warmth closeby, making baby-purr efforts. He was happy and content. This was enough.

Meiah smiled, as Tanwyn got herself cleaned, and sulked at ever being dirtied. That wasn't fun!


Emil helped Tanwyn groom, then looked to Meiah. "What are you going to name the cubs?" He was honestly curious.


"I'm naming them after my father's parents." She smiled. "My son is Ein and my daughter is Angileena."


The white-maned adolescent nodded. "Those sound like good names." He leaned against Tanwyn a bit, looking to the cubs before looking back to Meiah. "Perhaps you'd best get some rest, since the cubs seem to be doing so."


Meiah nodded.

"I suppose."

Tanwyn looked thoughtful, and lay down, guarding the entrance. Nobody wouldf hurt HER friend. ERver.


Emil rest next to Tanywyn, "Sleep well, Meiah." He'd go hunting later, so the three of them could eat. For now...he'd help Tanny guard their friend.


Meiah curled up, sleeping and guarding her cubs. Tanwyn yawned herself, absently cuddling into Millie, and rest her own head on his paws, eyes closing sleepily. His company... Was nice.


Emil smiled slightly and rest his own head across Tanny's shoulders, closing his eyes but staying alert nonetheless. He could get used to this.