He was happy that his 'daughter' was home, and was happy to see that she was happy. He'd seen her friend from a distance, observed him. He'd get to know the lion eventually, but for now... He seemed to be getting a feel for the pride and the lands. Which Mle could understand. Xochiyotl had done the same thing. They weren't like Mle and Ying-tai, able to just jump in and do well. He'd observed others in the pride, and noted that a couple even had a hard time. The strange, large lion was doing well... But still taking more time than Mle himself or Ying-tai. Which... Speaking of... The white lion padded along the path, hopping up on a fallen tree that spanned a water way as he approached the lioness. "Ying-tai."
The gray and white lioness stretched on her back, slowly opening one brown eye. It felt good to be home, and she was thrilled to have met her new brothers and sisters. The whole litter was adorable. She just wondered where the red and diamonds came from, as well as the blues. Xochiyotl didn't have any diamond marks, OR blue on her. Maybe it came from her family... Or Mle's. Regardless... The gray and white lioness rolled onto her side, sitting up with a smile. "Yes, Daddy..?"
The grown male smiled at his daughter, pleased that she was so at ease with life. "I think it's time for you to take the last step into adulthood..." He sat down in front of her. "You need a new name." He could clearly remember the day he'd been given his. It had made him feel... Accepted. Of course, he'd joined as an adult, so it was different, as well, from Ying-tai's. "Tell me something about yourself, that you think should influence the choice."
"Well..." She sat up fully, one ear dropping to the side in thought as the other lifted up. "I know I made a lot of friends in my journey, from the desert to the swamps!" She smiled, eyes closing with it. It made her happy to know so many faces out in the big wide world. "I also learned how to hunt far better, and how to survive in different places. From the desert, to the plains, to the mountains, and back here again." Her skills in swimming in the swamps also helped with the river crossings she ever made.
Mle thought about her words for a moment. "A lot of friends... It sounds like you have yourself quite the web of connections there." His ear flicked. "Web of connections... No, that doesn't have quite the right sound..." He lay down, placing his chin on the pad of one paw in thought. "Maker of many friends? No..." Oh, this was going to eat at him for a while, wasn't it? "Many friends..." That part had a good ring to it, at least. It was just the REST he was having trouble with.
Ying-tai's ears twitched, listening to the meaning ideas Mle mentioned. Each one seemed... Not quite HER. Except the 'many friends' part. That part, at least, felt right. It felt like... Her. Or part of her. "Well, there's a bit more to me than my many friends..." What else was there, though? She just couldn't quite put her paw on it. It was right there on the tip of her tongue, too! In the mean time, somewhere, a bird sang, either warning a foe off, or saying hello.
He scratched his throat, still thinking. "Well, you found a lot of friends... A great deal of them, at that..." He paused, blinking, then smiled. "Find a great many friends..." That described Ying-tai perfectly! She seemed to find them everywhere, either in the swamps or outside. Even in the desert, she'd found at least one friend. Something of a 'cousin,' but still a friend. "That's who you are, then! Pata'chasi wenzi!" It was absolutely perfect!
"Pata'chasi wenzi..." The name rolled right off her tongue, and Ying-- No, Pata smiled. She stood up, going over and butting her head against Mle's shoulder. "It's so me!" It felt absolutely right, and perfect. It felt like HER. Completely HER. Then she paused. "So that means I'm officially an adult now...?" She'd get to make some grown-up decisions now! Well, except having hybrid children. She wasn't actually fond of the idea. It seemed... Weird.
The male nodded, his gray coat puffed a bit as he did so, smile on his face. "You get to enjoy all the perks of being an adult now, but remember the responsibilities, as well!" He didn't want her to break any laws or anything. That would be heartbreaking, to have her and her cubs banished if the father saw the birth, or somebody spoke around the cubs while they were young and before introduction to the pride. It'd absolutely break his heart.
Pata gave Mle a gentle, pleasant smile. "Of course, Daddy." She rubbed her head against his. "No hybrid babies... They're weird looking, anyway. And I won't let any boys near me if I have cubs." Well, except whatever boys were growing IN her at that point, then that was inevitable. "And I won't say a word around any newborn cubs." What if doing so made one deaf? It'd be a terrible tragedy for the cub! Or worse... It died from the shock of it! She shook the fears from her head. She'd NEVER let that happen!
He pulled her face down and licked her cheek. "That's a good girl! Now run along and rejoice in your new name!" He settled back. "While I enjoy a nap without any cubs pulling my ears." It was a boisterous litter, that was for sure. Ah, a relaxing moment... Mle settled down further, flopping on his side with a smile on his maw.
Pata giggled, licking her adoptive father's ear. "You have a nice rest, Daddy." Turning on her paws, she hurried off. Oh, what a happy day, she had a new name! She was excited, and wanted to shout it to the sky and the wind and the water. Okay, she was going to. "I got a new name, yippee!"
