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 Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 4:27 pm
 It was raining, again. Athena shook out his mane as he slide under the rock ledge he'd found to hide under. At least under here he would be able to lay on a dry spot and his fur would dry out. He wasn't sure if he should be happy it would fluff extra or not since it would be more frizzy fluff than normal. After reflecting on that a few moments, the lion decided he would just be happy for the dryness and worry about the rest later.
The rain picked up and the lion shuddered. As big as he was, he still didn't like the idea of being out in that mess and being rained on. Hate was a strong word, but it might have been accurate for his feelings toward this weather. He sprawled out on the dry patch under the ledge and let his fur air out. He could wait out the storm here and adventure out once it was dry again. That was his hopes anyway. The gods would decide if he got what he wanted.
Athena had to heft a sigh at the whole situation. He had met plenty of beautiful females and handsome males over the last few weeks, but nobody that seemed to want to stick around. It made him feel even lonelier when he was stuck by himself under a rock during the rain with no one to miss him while he was here. Heck he didn't even have cubs that would know he was their father and loved them. He was completely alone in the world right now.
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Posted: Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:33 pm
 Zenobia plodded though the wet, mushy ground. The lioness laid her ears back. She hated rain. It made her fur stick together. In this pounding rain she was miserable. The mud stuck between her paws and covered her legs.
She glanced back behind her. The lone cub from her litter that had chosen to remain with her instead of going with his father trailed behind her. Zeno checked to be sure he was keeping up alright. She needed to find somewhere they could bunker down. Wait out the rain.
Her red eyes scan the area. There. Was that an over hanging? As she approached her nose told her there was someone else already there. It seemed slightly familiar. "Athena?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 1:24 am
 Zenoba plodded along behind his mother, the rain made him miserable and he was pretty much covered in mud, athough the rain was washing the worst of it away it just seemed to cling to his fur. His tail was low as well as his ears and he walked hunched. Would this rain never stop? He wondered to himself as they walked, it seemed like they'd been walking forever, his legs ached, his paws felt strange with all the mud caught between his pads.
He smiled bravely and stood straighter whenever his mother looked around at him. Eventually he just couldn't trudge much further, after all he was still only a cub, despite being on the larger side. He was about to tell his mother to wait when she stopped and Zenoba sighed in relief. However she moved on again and he followed, his nose picking up strange lion scent as they neared the shelter. Peeking from behind his mother when she spoke as if she knew the other.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:25 pm
Athena's mood seemed to just get darker and darker. He hated being lonely, he hated being wet, and he certainly hated having nothing but rain to stare at. He was just about dry when his nose picked up the faint scent of other lions. Maybe this day would not be so bad. He could only hope that the other lions would not be hostile and wish to kick him out of his little dry spot. That would be upsetting to say the least.
The male was not expecting to catch a familiar scent among the two he could detect, let alone hear a familiar voice. He looked over at Zenobia with a grin and a loud purr. "Well, hello again, beautiful!" Covered in mud and drenched clear through, she was still just as pretty as the day he had met her. And what was this? A cub? Athena's eyes lit up at the sight of the cub. "Hello, young one!" Athena thought Zenoba was adorable.
"Why don't you both come in out of the rain and dry off a bit. This weather is horrid, is it not?" Zenobia didn't get to step very far in before Athena touched noses with her and gave a rumbling purr as he nuzzled her cheek. "Would you like some help drying off and cleaning off the mud?" Okay so maybe he was a little forward for how they had parted. "Or just to share the ledge while you do so... It is nice to see you again, beautiful."
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 1:56 am
Zeno had to stifle a giggle lest she hurt Athena's feelings. It was sheer blantant flattery to call her beautiful in the state she was in. Still the lioness blushed by turning her head slightly to the side with a smile.
"Thank you Athena. I couldn't think of worse weather to try traveling in." She stepped in and touched noses with the large fluffy lion. "Thanks, we are soaked through and through. Athena I'd like you to meet Zenoba. Zenoba this is Athena." Zenobia drew her dripping cub close with a foreleg.
"Help would be very much appreciated Athena." For a moment she leaned in against the fluffy lion, trying not to get mud on him at least, the water she couldn't help. "I for one can't wait to be dry again." She set to work on Zenoba; getting him clean, dry and warm. Zenobia felt slightly silly for the way she'd parted from Athena when they first met. He was still as sweet as she remembered.
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Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 1:58 pm
Zenoba smiled nervously as his mother introduced him. He blinked hard and nodded at the large male. He wondered why his mother went slightly pink when she looked at the big male.
he snuggled close when she drew him in, his wet form beginning to shiver. he misled again and ducked his head in respect when the male asked the to stay in the shelter and his mother accepted. He wasn't as please about the washing he was getting, but it did make him feel warmer and after a minute of squirming he sat still while she cleaned him up, his head rubbing against her chest.
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Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 5:17 pm
Athena watched Zenobia and grinned when she seemed to really be happy to see him again. So whatever reason she had had for running off must have been a passing concern. He nuzzled her cheek when she leaned against him. Perhaps she would stay and be the first of his little family. He was still holding out hope of that Niade that had hunted with him the other day finding her way back too.
Athena cleared thoughts of others from his mind as he set to work grooming the female. He let the cub grooming to her, since well, she was the mother. He might be able to help her with the cub later, if she would trust him, but that would take some time he knew. Of course, the cub might not like him anyway. They did have personalities of their own after all.
He started on the neck and worked his way down, trying his best not to groom any spot that would interfere with Zenobia's caring for her cub until after she was done. Thus her front paws and face ended up being last to get groomed and dried. He did the paws immaculately, taking every bit of mud off the white fur. He had plenty of practice with such on his own white mane.
When both mother and son were dry, Athena laid back down, spread so that they could join him, or snuggle in their own spot without being crowded if they wished. "That is very true... I was glad to find this overhang to hide under... rain ruins the fluff." He winked at the lioness and purred at the cub. "Zenoba is a fine looking cub. I am sure he will be a strong lion when he is older... I notice no father is about, if you do not mind my asking, what happened, lovely?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 18, 2011 9:37 am
Zenobia purred as she groomed her cub clean. Finally he was clean to her satisfaction and she gave the top of his head a final lick before letting him go. In turn she was feeling relaxed from the impeccable groooming from Athena. It felt good to be fully clean and dry again.
"There you go Zenoba. Clean once more. Thank you Athena, I can't remember being cleaner." She went over to where the fluffy male was laying and nuzzled him. Content to wait out the rain, Zeno laid down beside him and snuggled up. Letting Zenoba choose where he'd like to lay down, but left her belly opening invitingly for him.
"I was doubly glad to find this overhang and you here. We can't have the fluff ruined," she giggled. "He is a lovely cub. I'm very pleased to have him." Zeno nodded.
"You may ask. I came across his and his sibling's father during my travels. His pride was looking to expand their numbers. I agreed to provide him with cubs. Of the litter, only Zenoba choose to come with me. The rest returned with their father to his pride."
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Posted: Sat Feb 19, 2011 2:18 pm
By the time the male came over and began grooming his mother, Zenoba was starting to fall asleep on his feet, he groggily heard his mother and the other lion conversing but he didn't pay much attention. His mother's rhythmic licking was making him sleepy.
When she had finished he looked up, almost dissapointed she'd stopped, despite his protests earlier. He watched as his mother moved and snuggled into the male. He half smiled and lay against her, keeping her body between himself and the imposing figure of the male lion.
Yawning he looked back up at his mother when she mentioned his father. "mother needed someone strong so she wasn't alone" he said simply, the first words he'd uttered probably that day entirely, before nuzzling up into Zenobia and lightly dozing off.
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:08 pm
Athena gave a smug grin at Zenobia. He was glad she liked the grooming he had given her. He was quite thrilled to please her really. After how they had parted, he had been quite worried he would never see the pretty female again and it made him sad. It always made him sad when he had to part company with someone even when he knew he would see them again soon.
And here she was, nuzzling him, complimenting him, and generally pleased with him. Athena nuzzled the lioness back and purred. He draped his tail over her belly and gave the cub a gentle nuzzle as well. "I only regret you did not have my cubs, Zenobia!" He grinned and licked her cheek. "He is a fine cub, I would like to help if you would let me... I love cubs." He would have replied to Zenoba, but the cub seemed to have fallen asleep rather quickly.
It was best not to disturb the young one. "That pride is all the richer for having your cubs in it, beautiful. I envy the male for being able to be with you even that short time... and I do hope you will consider at least letting me help with Zenoba. Having more paws to help hunt is always a good idea anyway, especially true when one has a cub to feed." He could not have been more charming if he tried. He was really hoping she would stay around at least for a bit.
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Posted: Tue Feb 22, 2011 10:05 pm
She watched her cub come cuddle and appear to quickly fall asleep. Zeno was pleased that he relaxed so quickly. They really had been traveling too much. The pale lioness fretted a moment that she'd been pressing him too hard. It was still taking her time to adjust having someone with her, particularly the young cub.
Her ears twitched as Zenoba spoke and proved he wasn't as asleep as he appeared. She gave a chuckle and affectionately licked the top of his head. "So true love." When so many of the other cubs had decided to go with their father, she was afraid Zenoba would feel he had to go with them. Zenobia was grateful when he chose to come with her.
"Athena!" She laughed, "Maybe someday." Zeno teased the big lion. Her purr filled the sheltered area. "He's the best. Indeed I can tell. Why haven't you had cubs before this?" She was curious.
"I hope his brothers and sisters do well where they are." She gave a soft sigh. When the deal had been made, Zenobia hadn't thought giving them up would be hard. Her feelings had surprised her though she'd stuck with the agreement that most of the cubs went with the father. More still was her reaction when Zenoba choose to stay and traveled with her.
"Athena, you may help if you'd like and Zenoba accepts you." After all, it would be the cub who had to put up with the attention. She almost smiled at that.
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Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2011 8:14 pm
Athena smiled at how Zenobia took to being a mother. Some females did wonderfully at it, some did not. It was not until they had cubs most times that you really had any idea about how they would be with their own. Some hated other people's cubs yet could be the sweetest to their own. With a lion like him, it was a little easier to tell because he loved them to death already. He really did hope he had cubs of his own some day. Keep them close to himself and finally have family that loved him.
He gave a smug look at how well Zenobia took his comment about having his cubs. He would help her with Zenoba and see if she still wanted his cubs later. Even if she did not want cubs with HIM, he would help her with any more cubs she had. Maybe her cubs would view him as family and stay around too? He could only hope on that front. It made him sad when he thought about how many times he had had an opportunity to have cubs and missed out.
Athena thought well enough of all the females he had met that he doubted they would just go off and not at least come back to tell him he had sired cubs. "I seem to have ill luck for the moment on siring cubs. But I am sure that will change someday. Hard to sire cubs on the first try, and most females do not stick around too long when one is traveling." He shrugged fluffy shoulders and licked her cheek again. "I am sure your cubs will do well anywhere they are, just like their mother."
Athena purred loudly and looked down at the sleeping cub. "I hope he will... perhaps when the storm clears we can have him ride on my back for a bit of the traveling day so he recovers from being so exhausted. There is plenty of space for him in my fluff, afterall!" The lion grinned and nuzzled the lioness laying up against him. A traveling companion of a beautiful lioness and a cub come with her! How lucky could a guy get?
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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:27 pm
The lioness was amused by the way his attention seemed riveted on her. She was flattered that he still viewed her so highly. Zeno thought he might have been fairly lonely after she'd left him. Well he would have her cub to play with now, at least for awhile. She wondered what Zenoba would do with his life.
"I'm sure you will find someone who will travel with you." Zeno smiled, but had to think. It was true a lot of females didn't stick around a traveling male. There were surely other female rogues so eventually he would find one. Athena was such an easy going lion that she was surprised he hadn't found anyone yet.
"As am I. I kept them with me for a number of days to give them the best chance. As you can see, they weren't small cubs." She hoped that size would help them resist the disease of where they were going.
Zeno nodded, "that is a good idea. I think he might perhaps like that." She felt slightly guilty about going so fast for the young cub. Maybe now that Athena was around he could help slow her down to Zenoba's pace.
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