(AIM log between Sabra Knight and I. WC: 1,705 )
The rogue lion was troubled. Ever since he had run into that beautiful, strong lioness thoughts of cubs had haunted him. She was a tricky one that was for sure. Getting him to lie with her just for the hopes of having a litter fathered by him. "Oh by the gods I hope that didn't happen." He groaned softly to himself. Sekayi was off hunting and he was supposed to be doing the same, but it was just so hard to focus!
He needed someone to talk to. Not Sekayi though. That 'cub' would throw a fit if he even heard that Xennek could have possibly gotten a lioness pregnant. Not that loving was a bad thing...but Sekayi tended to hold grudges against those who flung and left the female alone to raise the cubs by herself. Not that Xennek worried. That lioness was a strong one. Any cubs that she had would be in good paws, no father needed. Probably a good thing, he just couldn't see himself as a father after all. "I'd be a horrible one." Xennek smacked the surface of the water hole with a sigh.
The real question was...did he actually have cubs out there and if so how many?
The rogue leopon was thrilled. Ever since Mani had wormed her way into his life, every day had become an adventure. He often travelled farther away from his family group, for longer and longer days at a time, thanks to the new found confidence that came with a little woman at home. Of course, he didn't know how long she'd last, but since he didn't expect anything, what was it hurting?
It came as no real surprise to him when he stumbled upon the darker lion from before in a rather....melancholy mood? Safi's ears pricked. Oh now, this was something he had to see.
"What's up?" He questioned curiously, padded carefully over to the water. His normally stealthy walk was nixed, for fear that the older lion would attack if he felt threatened.
Xennek wiped the water from his maw with slow movements. Still he couldn't help but to whip around at the notice of another's presence. Now who? Oh. The lion blinked as he recognized the leopon from before, "Ah. It's just you again." Shaking his head he dipped back down to take another drink before sighing.
"It's nothing really." Xennek finally replied before looking closer at the leopon. Could it be possible that this other feline who had relationships as well be a father already? His gaze narrowed in contemplation and the lion found himself studying the white feline. Maybe. But then again...what if he hadn't? Ah, the innocence of youth. Xennek looked away and let out a sigh. He missed those days.
"Have you fathered cubs yet?" He asked suddenly looking back up at Safi.
Safi laid himself down leisurely beside of the other male, his gleaming fur set off by the water so near to him. Nice to see you too, he thought sarcastically, raising a paw to smooth down the front of his mane. Still, he wouldn't verbalize the thought because he knew that the lion was going through a rough patch, that much he could tell without being told.
What was tormenting his fellow lady killer? A man in his prime shouldn't be looking like a wet piece of hide.
And then he popped the question.
Safi's heart stopped beating for exactly thirty seconds before it resumed, sending shivers up his spine. "Have you?" Was that it? Fatherhood? He dare not say the word outloud!
Xennek watched the leopon before turning back to the water again. Normally he would crack a joke or at least comment on the way the hybrid was acting, but he just didn't have it in him at the moment. The thought of cubs kept ruining his humor. Why was he so stupid? He should have just kept running that time. Really!
Sitting the lion watched Safi closely and watched his expression when the question was asked. How was he going to react? Huh. Xennek sighed. Not as loudly as he would have, but still the leopon did pause. "I don't know." He replied stiffly, "But a female that happened to spend time with me hopes so. If I have any luck at all then she'll be sorely disapointed."
Safi shook his head with a sympathetic sigh. "Didn't I warn you about that sort of thing the last time we met?" There was only so long a male could lead females on without getting tripped up himself, especially if he wasn't a hybrid. The white male dropped his head onto his paws, turning his orchid eyes up to his companion. "For your sake, I hope she is too."
He shook his head and sat back up, his face suddenly serious. "The best you could do for her is not to return, or if you do plan to return, never stray. That is, assuming she is with cub." After all, the only reason Safi dallied with females was because he physically couldn't be a father, but if he could...he would rather die.
"Ah. You did, didn't you?" Xennek held his head, "But it wasn't my fault this time! This one - she well...she literally jumped me!" The lion smacked the water lightly in frustration, "She was a she of course so I didn't fight her...not that I really could when the err....stirring was already there. You should've seen her, strong and beautiful."
"That's another thing." Xennek sighed and laid his head down on his paws, "She didn't seem to care if I stayed around. She just wanted me to get that job done." The lion suddenly glanced over at Safi as if a new thought hit him, "Wait? Why is it that you don't have to worry about this stuff? I know you like things the way I do - can't you reproduce?" He tilted his head studying the white feline. He was a hybrid, but still...hadn't hybrids produced offspring before?
"She jumped you?" Safi's eyes buldged. He was quiet for a moment, trying to find the right thing to say before an idea made him give a hearty laugh. "Strong and beautiful, huh? Sounds to me like the player has been played." He grinned, giving Xennek a poke on the shoulder. "I want to meet her now just to see what kind of a female she is."
He settled back down on the ground, easily lounging without the need to move, just talk. The young leopon turned his head towards the water with a bittersweet look. "I don't think so," he mused. "I've had a female cheetah in my company for a little while, and she hasn't..." He shook his head. "If someone in my litter is fertile, it certainly wasn't me."
"Yeah yeah." Xennek shook his head with a chuckle, "She was pretty stubborn about things and just finally got her way." The lion paused, "For her sake I sometimes hope she was successful, but at the same time hope it wasn't with me. Surely she's already found another male to do the job."
The lion watched Safi with interest. So he wasn't fertile then? Or was there something wrong with the cheetah? Not that he would say that part outloud. "It's always chancy. Especially if a little while turns into longer." He mused outloud, "Who knows? I guess you'll just have to wait and see who has cubs before really knowing if anyone was fertile. As it is, you should consider yourself lucky in that regard....unless..." Xennek looked over at Safi with a small grin, "Dont' tell me you would be willing to brave fatherhood?"
Safi nonchalantly waved it off. "Where would the justice be in it if I was the one who was fertile, and not my monogamous siblings? They're the ones who deserve the cubs, not I." He shook his head, then with a lazy turn, flopped onto his back.
Safi returned Xennek's grin with one of his own, but this time, this one held less concern for the lion and more for himself. "Can you really see me as a father?" He laughed and shook his head. "I have no urge to be freaking out like you."
"Is there much justice in this world?" Replied Xennek with a bitter laugh. The lion watched the clouds as Safi talked, "Oh. Well perhaps that will be the case then. Who knows?" He chuckled softly before looking back over at Safi.
"True. That is a hard one." He laughed, "No telling what those cubs would have to endure! Then again can you see me as a father?" He shook his head, "Neither of us should be freaking out about this. It's a sad world when free lovers have to worry about extras coming into play."
Safi laughed, and stretched his back out onto the warm Earth. He gave a sigh of contentment. "It's not worrying, it's preparation. You have to be ready for it someday, Xennek, because unlike me your chances are alot higher." He rolled his head to the side. "Besides, would fatherhood really be all that bad? Especially if you had a loving mate at your side, and a place to call home?"
Xennek sighed, "I suppose you can say that." The lion closed his eyes before slowly opening them again, "As it is I'll try my best not to get tied down to anything that I'm not ready for." Would it really be that bad? A normal lion would probably be fine with it, but he...he was constantly worried.
His bloodline wasn't always a happy one after all.
But if it was...the lion could honestly see Safi's point there. It wouldn't be so bad being a father then. "I guess." Xennek chuckled before rolling over and pulling himself up, "As it is I better head back. Not to a mate, but a cranky companion." He grinned, "He hates for me to leave him alone without reason. I'll catch you around, Safi."
Walking away, Xennek realized that he wasn't quite so nervous anymore about his latest fling. Still he would be catious from now on about any relations he had. Or at least he would try.
