Runya was enjoying her day. Since the cubs were born she had been rather busy, falling more in love with Helios, even though he was still a jerk and she would beat him in any fight or challenge they ever had, no matter what, taking up a lot of her time. She was very happy with her life, and taking care of the cubs had been a very big highlight to it, though she had never imagined herself to be a mother. Particularly not one to a whole litter of boys.
It made her wonder what having a little girl would be like. Were they any different? Were they even worse to keep track of and train and discipline? She knew she had been a handful of a cub, always moody and looking for trouble, but the boys hadn’t seemed any different to her. Maybe that was, of course, due to their genes and not their gender.
In any case, she found herself thinking more and more about having another litter. With the cubs no longer cubs, but adults in their own right, she found the den to be a bit lonely. She would have to broach Helios with the idea. Maybe beat him at a spar and then tell him she wanted another litter.
One of her sons, with a proud white mane and bright red fur to match her own, was Naur. He was a good young lion, dutiful, intelligent (enough, anyway), and strong. Very strong. He stuck to training diligently, and was dedicated to being the best lion he could for his pride. But he wasn’t a bad guy, either, as he still had some gentle qualities to him. Like visiting his mother and bringing her a gift just because he felt like it.
She saw him dragging a newly killed zebra toward her, and she stood, looking at him in wonder. How far had he been dragging that? And had he killed it on his own, or with help? Why was he bringing it here, when his new den was across the pride lands? She smiled at him, padding over and rubbing his head affectionately, leaving his mane mussed as she was wont to do.
She had learned a long while ago that the boys didn’t like it when she did that. Which was, of course, why she did it.
“What are you doing here, son?” She asked casually, sniffing at the carcass eagerly.
“I thought you might like some food, but I know you haven’t been in a very good mood, so I didn’t know if you had gone out to catch anything.”
So he had noticed her melancholy mood, brought on by all the brooding she did over thoughts of a new litter, an expansion to her wonderful family. She smiled at him, shaking her head as pride welled up in her chest. He didn’t understand the look she was giving him, but smiled back, thinking he had done well. He sat down, indicating that she could eat.
She bent her head and tore into the thick thigh of the beast, ripping away the fur and tossing it to the side. Though most lions seemed to just chew their way through anything, spitting unsavory bits out as they encountered them or just not noticing them at all, Runya always liked to skin her meals before she got into eating. Fur just left a very disgusting feeling on the roof of her mouth, and she did not like that. Naur watched her, knowing he had picked that habit up from her, as well.
“Thank you for this, Naur. You’re a very good boy. Nothing like your father, when he was your age,” she laughed teasingly, but there was love in her expression. Naur knew that his parents might liked to spar and fight and call each other names, but if he had ever seen true love before, it was between them. He often wondered if he would be able to find a female that matched him so well. So far he hadn’t met anyone striking, who seemed to click. Though there was that visitor he wanted to at least see again…
Mind trailing, he shook his head and brought himself back to the conversation at hand.
“I’m glad you’re happy,” he said simply, flicking his tail behind him. He took care of his family. He’d fight for his brothers if ever he had to. He’d protect them, train with them so they were stronger, so he was stronger. He would defend his father in any situation, and stand with his blood regardless. In that, he was a very loyal creature. If not a bit simple in the way he thought.
“Have you been eating well? Clearly you can catch these things, but if you aren’t eating them I don’t think it’s doing you any good,” Runya said, thinking he was likely to just take the carcasses to friends, or to lions who were sick or needed food. He had clearly been hanging around Iroh a bit too much. Not that she minded the things the Sergeant taught her son, as it seemed to make Naur happy and confident.
“Oh, I eat. I don’t give things away. I just brought it to you because I thought you’d like it and I know it’s your favorite. Are you feeling better today?”
“I am, thank you.”
“You’re welcome, mom.” He grinned, feeling pleased with himself. He got up, nodding his head. “I’m going to go to the borders and walk around,” he said, not including that it was because he wanted to go and find that visitor of his again, and see if she wanted to talk some more. He wasn’t keeping secrets from his mom, per se, but he didn’t want her teasing him or making him feel silly about his interest in a rogue. Anyway, she didn’t need to know about all of his friends and doings, did she? She, of course, was more aware of things than he would have liked.
“Alright, love,” she said, licking her lips before moving to rub his head again, mussying his mane one more time. He just sighed, lifting his paw in an effort to push it back down into place. He bid her a good rest of the day and then padded off. Runya shook her head, watching him go thoughtfully. Yes, if they came out like him, like the rest of their handsome, strong, brilliant boys, Runya didn’t see the issue with having another litter.
And maybe this time they would get a girl.
Word Count: 1097
