Rasul was all nerves as he walked toward Kame's den. While he felt he had established a good relationship with the older male he was fairly certain that the news he brought with him would be taken with a lot of well, energy. He wasn't quite up for celebrating yet, not knowing what any of them were supposed to be preparing for. Tasleem might, which is why he had come earlier than he had originally anticipated. She was still young, he wouldn't expect her to stay permanently, but he was planning to ask her to come on and help. She liked cubs, right? "Tasleem?" he called cautiously as he got closer. He certainly didn't want to startle her.
The odd eyed girl yawned as she rested, she'd been running and actually playing with her siblings all day. Pouncing and stalking each other in a rowdy game of tag. She had bruises along her body, she was sure, but that was the price one payed for family. Flicking her tail, she shifted and rested her head on her paws, looking out through barely opened eyes. Things were good at home. A voice caught her attention and made her look up to the opening of the den. "Yes?"
She was home at least. He breathed a sigh of relief, spotting her in the mouth of the den. His fur was caked with bits of mud and dirt, remnants of his efforts to help Litho get their own den ready for the new arrivals. Cubs, his brain short circuited a bit. Litho's belly was getting big, who knew how many were hiding out in there. She seemed happy, which made him happy, but also a bit terrified. "I've brought some good news," he said with his best cheery tone, though a bit of the cracked worry still hid underneath.
Tasleem looked to him with a smile. At least it was good news. The way he asked for her didn't seem like he came to be the barer of good news, so she was delighted with this. "Hello, Pad Rasul." She was a little flustered, but for this submissive Banu, it was not an uncommon thing. Shifting she came out of the den and into the light, blinking those blue eyes at him and looking like the picture of innocents. If not a bit twisted from her mask marking. Come to find out by some cubs that she was a very creepy looking girl. So, she considered herself lucky that Rasul would want her in his harem. She certainly didn't feel pretty; more like a fly in a bowl of milk. She stood out. And clearly, Tasleem had no self esteem despite what her parents tell her.
"Banu Tasleem," he said with a nod, not one to forgo formality in such a tenuous relationship. She truly had grown beautiful, a wonderful little oddity in an otherwise tedious place. He had told Litho about her and she had encouraged the visit, curious about the girl that had inspired his curiosity. "The news, yes," he said after a moment, realizing he'd been staring, "Litho is carrying cubs, our den will be overrun any day now." There was a mixture of fear and laughter in his voice. As excited as he was he truly had no idea what they were getting themselves into.
Under his scrutiny, Tasleem tried so hard to not shrink back and hide. Licking her muzzle quickly, she did look away from him while he stared and thought. But she snapped to attention at his voice and her ears flicked. A huge smile spread across her face and she gave a little bubble of laughter. More cubs! My, the pride was really booming, wasn't it? "Congratulations are in order! I shall have to pay Banu Litho a visit sometime soon." As always, her voice was soft, but full of the joyful emotions she felt for her.... friend?
"A visit, or perhaps a longer stay?" he said softly, testing her reaction, "She's going to need the help, if you'd be interested." Her belly was getting awfully big, he shuddered to think that it might match his father's most recent litter. He wasn't sure how he'd manage that if it did. "You'd be free to come back and forth as you wished," he added quickly, realizing that if the prospect overwhelmed him it certainly might her, "So you can adjust." And perhaps, when she was comfortable, stay for good and officially become part of the family. Family? The word hadn't truly struck him yet but he supposed that's what it was now.
"Help... with the cubs?" Oh, the idea did, indeed, overwhelm her. The pale lioness had to sit back and stare at him for a minute, mouth hanging open. That meant leaving her comfortable zone. Her den, her family, even! But it wasn't like she'd never see them again. But then he continued and breathed a breath she didn't know she was holding. Her tail flicked a little bit before she looked away again. She had to think. Tasleem really, seriously had to help. Rasul was her friend. In time, Litho would be her friend, too. She'd seen Litho about the pride before all this happened, but not in a while. She must be keeping to the den.. Tasleem liked cubs, so looking up, she nodded thoughtfully. "I could certainly help out, Pad Rasul. I hope I am of some use to you and Banu Litho." She didn't consider herself his Banu. There were no feelings there between them, but sometimes, that was how it was. She didn't know how to do much, but at least she could learn.
He breathed a sigh of relief, relaxing visibly as she agreed. One step closer to penetrating her shell. Perhaps Kame would have some advice for him on getting closer. She seemed to keep outsiders are arms length. "We would appreciate it," he said happily, "You're welcome to come and go, anytime of course, and you won't be expected to take care of them alone unless you want to." He couldn't imagine why she would, but he couldn't imagine much of what went on with the banus.
She could take care of them alone sometimes depending on how many there were. It would be something of a congratulation present for the pair. Kame would know a little on how to approach her, but it would take a lot and a while to get through the thick shell she built around herself. In order to be the perfect Banu, one had to have a thick shell. She just made hers a bit thicker because she could not afford heart ache. She knew she would shatter completely if she got hurt emotionally; so she tried so hard to keep everyone at a distance, but still be really friendly. "I appreciate that. I apologize if you find this arrangement difficult. I just feel really comfortable here..." she looked back to her den and sighed again.
"Not at all," he assured her, wanting to point out that he was on his way to run out his mother. He held back because he realized it wouldn't be the best impression of his strength. Still he knew what it felt like to be afraid, and he didn't wish to cause any of that for her. When she was ready she would make the decision herself, she didn't need him nagging her alone. Especially when his own paws would be full for quite a while with these little ones. He wondered suddenly how many would be daughters just like her, if any would feel this same anxiety? The thought frightened him a bit, but he tried to keep it off his face. "We will await a visit from you then," he said with a smile, nodding his head to her, "I'll be sure to send word when the cubs arrive."
"I.. I'll come today and.... s-sp..." She couldn't finish the sentence. Swallowing hard, she just nodded and gave a smile. "I'll come today, Pad Rasul." If there were any like her, Tasleem could teach them everything she knew about being a recluse and about building a shell around them that wouldn't be pierced by anything, much less a pretty face. Sometimes, a Pad relied on that; his face instead of his actions. Like the Pad Ilyas she'd heard of. He seemed to be all that the Banus were talking about now-a-days. She was tired of hearing about him. She was tired of hearing gossip period. "Thank you again."
"Thank you," he said as he began to turn away, "We'd lose our heads without someone structured like you." He laughed a bit as he went, but it was a reality. Neither he nor Litho were truly the sort to manage a family, or to encourage the healthy development of cubs. No doubt they'd all have something strange about them, and they were as like to encourage it. Tasleem could help ensure they would at least fit within the standards of the pride, she'd been brought up right. A memory flashed back to him, of his father beating young Nesrin as a lesson to his sons. He cringed, he'd never let his own do that.
