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 Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:53 pm
 A lone lioness sat panting in the comforting shade among the roots of a huge tree. Her tail flicked restlessly back and forth until finally with a heavy sigh she slid herself down eventually stretching out on her side. In that position the reason for her exhaustion was apparent in the enlarged belly revealing her pregnancy.
"I can't believe I let him talk me into this," Niade grumbled. Although Athena was more than living up to his promise of caring for her, Niade did not like feeling so helpless. She longed to run and hunt with the others. She probably still could after all there were lionesses that managed on their own, but Niade was not made for it. It was really all in her head, she felt so weighed down both physically and emotionally.
Though she would never admit it, Niade was scared out of her mind that she was carrying new lives within her. She had never really given much thought to acctually having cubs, in fact she had always felt quite the opposite. Then Athena had come along all charming and cajoling, playing to her pride and her need for admiration. There was a certain satisfaction that she would be the first to present Athena with cubs, but damn did she want it over with...
Fully intending to nap while she waited for Athena to return to her, the sound of paws on the dirt surrounding the tree alerted her. It wasn't Athena, he would have called out to her... She rolled to her stomach and from there lifted to a crouch...
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:04 pm
 Belial had been following some distance behind Athena and his band of females ever since Niade had joined them. Niade was Belial's sister and he wasn't about to fully trust the fluffy lion with her care. He'd known it was a very real possibility that Niade would wind up pregnant, but he was quite surprised when he spotted her that morning. Her belly was showing now and she had left the traveling party and found herself a spot to rest among the roots of a huge tree.
Belial had waited for the others to leave presumably to hunt and for Niade to fully settled before he left his own hiding place among the rocks and grasses. Her bearing had been so unlike her that Bel finally felt the need to check on her. He made no effort to hide his approach and knew she'd be quite defensive. Before he looked down among the roots he allowed his bracelets to jingle, a sound that should be very familiar to her and finally called down to her, "Niade, sis?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:17 pm
The sound of the bracelets and the all too familiar voice were greeted with a growled string of curses. Niade had known Bel would show up eventually, of course he would choose a time like this when she was feeling completely miserable.
"Ok, bro, come on down, get it over with...." she grumbled with a few more choice curses.
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Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 7:28 pm
While he wasn't expecting to be welcome, his sister's reaction to him acctually caused him to pause. She's really not taking this well... He wondered for a frightened moment if something was wrong. Her next words were a bit more reasuring inviting him down into her root lair. He wasn't really there to tease her about her pregnancy but really it wouldn't do to disappoint his litter sister.
"Wow sis, that's some welcome," he said as he moved among the roots to the hollow within. "You're looking positively glowing however. I'm sure you and your fluffy friend are so proud."
He sat down beside her and nuzzled her completely negating the teasing tone of his comments. "Really I'm sure he's very proud of himself, now how are you feeling?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:43 pm
Athena was happy with how the morning hunt had turned out. He tried to avoid taking the females with him whenever possible since he wanted to care for them as much as possible. But with Niade pregnant and thus not insisting on going with him every chance she got, or hunting on her own, the other females had seemed more reluctant to let him go alone. They had caught two waterbaffalo, was an adult with a broken leg and another a calf that appeared to be child of said adult.
The calf would not be a usual target for Athena, but the creature refused to leave the female that they went after. The herd took off when the lions had made their presence known, so the choice was to try to leave the thing to care for itself, which it did not seem to know how to do, or eat it as well. The big fluffy lion had turned his back on the little creature to let it live, but it had started throwing a fit. When he looked back the little calf had managed to fall down the embankment it's mother was laying on, and it looked like it had injured itself as well.
Athena had then ended it's pain for it and decided it would be just the right size to take to Niade so the others could settle down a little ways away. Niade had not been taking being pregnant well, and the male worried about her. Had he known how badly she would take this, he would never have asked her to do it. At the time he had asked, Athena had not had any but Zenobia with him and she had a cub of her own to care for. Now things were different, there were other females, most of which liked Athena enough to want cubs with him.
Athena gave a long sigh and carried the waterbuffalo calf on his back. The others broke off and settled in the shade not too far from the tree they had left Niade at, and Athena went onward alone. The male perked his ears as he got closer and heard voices. They did not seem angry, so he did not jump to alarm, but he did quicken his pace. One could not be too careful, but it also would not due to lose his gift for Niade along the way. He trotted along and when he saw who was speaking to Niade, Athena relaxed further. It was her brother, nothing to worry over. "Good morning, Belial. I should have brought you something to eat as well, but I did not know you were here."
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 1:33 pm
Niade bit back another nasty retort. The fact that he wasn't rubbing in her condition made it hard to remain angry. She sighed and nuzzled him back.
"I'm not enjoying this at all, brother," she admited. "I dont' know how Clermeilli managed, even under her circumstances she was still so happy to be a mother. I thought maybe once I was pregnant the whole maternal thing would kick in for me, but it hasn't... well not much." At that moment there was a kick and she looked fondly at her belly and purred. She laughed at the amused expression on her brother's face. "Yeah, it's all very confusing."
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 3:20 pm
Belial watched as his sister just let the anger fall away. He purred at her comfortingly when she nuzzled him back and just let her speak. He was quite surprised in his closeness to feel motion from the cubs within her and by her response to it. There it was that spark in her that showed she wasn't completely without a maternal side. He shook his head and looked at her with an amused smirk.
"Well at least we know you do have some maternal instinct in you sis," he replied. "And though I'm sure Athena is doing quite well providing for you, if you don't mind too much I think I'll stick around for a while. Fluffy-boy's got the others to concern him too, but I can focus on taking care of you." He smiled. Unlike Niade, Belial was looking forward to parenthood and this unclehood would be good practice.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 4:56 pm
The lioness debated refusing the offer, but the truth was she did need the support and consistant company. Niade felt bad taking up so much of Athena's attention, this would help him as well. "Thank you Belial. I really appreciate that."
Niade considered telling her brother more of how she felt when Athena arrived. She purred. "Good hunt this morning?"
"You're very welcome," he replied. He watched her face and it seemed she wanted to say more but then the other lion showed up. "Good morning, Athena. I'm quite alright; I'll hunt for myself later."
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Posted: Sat Aug 13, 2011 6:55 pm
Athena looked at Niade and gave a happy purr in return at the dark colored lioness. "It was, the others are all settled in with their own meal. I thought you might wish to dine alone." He slid the calf off his back and nudged his kill toward Niade. He wanted her to be happy and he figured this kill might help at least made her comfortable. He stepped forward and nuzzled her neck affectionately, giving her ear a lick before letting her too the food.
Athena caught a feeling off the two and wondered what he had interrupted. Knowing how Niade and Belial had been getting on before she started traveling with him, Athena did wonder if they had had another spat. The spats were, as he recalled, as much Niade's doing as Belial's, though, so nothing that he should be taking sides on. "Well, you are of course more than welcome to hunt for yourself if you feel you must, Bel, but there is more over with the main group."
The Fluffy lion figured he might need to give the two some more time to talk. "I can always go over and bring some back. There is more than enough to feed one more, I assure you. The ladies did a wonderful job of scaring the biggest creature they could find toward me... well, more like they scared the rest of the herd off from a nice big female with a broken leg. The calf was a bonus we did not expect... it refused to leave when we tried to chase it off, so rather than let it die slowly, Niade got her own personal dinner."
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Posted: Thu Aug 18, 2011 1:26 pm
Niade was greatful for the thoughtfulness. "Thank you Athena, it's quite nice here in the shade and it takes some pressure off the others." Though she was fine with Athena caring for her, having the other lionesses defer to her at meal times in support of the cubs within still bothered her. She moved closer, nuzzling the fluffy male, before tearing into her meal.
Belial shook his head. "It's alright. The ladies deserve their meal. Though perhaps when their done you could introduce me? With Niade focusing on growing your cubs, I think I'll stick around and lend a paw." He didn't even give Athena the option of if it was ok with him, so long as Niade wanted him around, he'd be there. "You certainly don't want to deal with any jealousy issues from focusing too much on my dear sister."
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 6:54 pm
Athena chuckled and looked at Belial. "I doubt the others will be jealous... I really do not belong to any of them or they to me. We all coexist and lend a paw where needed. We would be happy to have you along, so long as your sister is comfortable with it, and you do not make advances that are not welcomed. Same rules for you as for me really. Or anyone in our group."
"Come and go as you please, but if you do not plan to stay away and we are not planning to stay long, please let someone know for safety's sake. Niade would have our hides if we left you behind by accident, or something horrible happened to you." The fluffy lion grinned good-naturedly at Bel. He liked Niade's brother, even if the other lion might not be very thrilled with him for 'taking away' Niade. Perhaps it would make Bel happy to have others around again?
Athena had heard about how others had left Bel and had seen how much it impacted the lion. "I could always use a hunting partner that is not the females... i like to sneak off and surprise them with meals rather than have them help hunt most of the time. Be prepared for them to insist on going if we get caught though." He grinned again and gave Niade a winning smile. "they are all wonderful hunters."
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 7:34 pm
Belial was reasured by Athena's response. He didn't really want to get close to this other lion, but the fluffball wasn't all that bad. This would be a temporary arrangement; for as long as Niade and her cubs needed him.
"Sounds like a fair arrangement for everyone involved then," he replied grinning back to show his acceptance of the ground rules.
He chuckled at the idea of the "big strong males" sneaking off to hunt for the ladies. "Sounds like fun. It's always nice to have others to hunt with. It's something I've missed lately." He sighed and tried to avoid looking at the others for a time. Chances were that Athena knew about Niade's and his past, of their own fighting, and of other friends who had parted ways. The last thing the proud lion wanted was to see pity in the eyes of another male.
Niade was focused on her meal and was soothed by the rumble of the male's talking though she had no idea what was being said. There was acceptance and that was all that mattered really, that and getting this delicious meal in her for the health of herself and her cubs.
It was just as well she hadn't heard Athena's last comment. She had not be in shape to be a wonderful hunter at all lately and the comment would have brought her right back to the moodiness that had brought Belial there.
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Posted: Tue Aug 23, 2011 6:39 pm
Athena grinned at Belial. "I am glad it suits you. I am sure the company besides myself will agree with you. Such beauty is a wondrous thing to have around oneself. Try to make friends with Zenoba. He needs more than just me to show him how to be a proper male... One must wonder at the fact that Zenobia trusts me to help raise her son." He directed his smile at Niade and chucked to himself. If she stayed distracted he could make his next comment without facing wrath. "It is still debatable on whether your sister will trust me with the cubs I helped her create."
The fluff ball gave himself a shake to fluff up further and put a paw on Belial's shoulder. "I think the company will do you good as much as it does me. And I hope that you and Niade do not have any hard feelings between you, especially not on my account. Family is a very important thing to have... you are part of my family now, Belial, if you wish to claim me that is." He gave a lopsided grin and waited for Niade to finish her meal. If there was nothing left, he would drag the carcass away so that she could relax without the smell. If there was, he would offer it to Bel before doing so.
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Posted: Sat Sep 10, 2011 8:25 pm
Belial was glad of Niade's distraction, but he couldn't help grinning at Athena's teasing comments. "No wonder she's happy with you, there's a familiar feel to it all. I think she misses our half-sisters." He sighed thinking about the family he would likely never know. Well there would be more family very soon and he would be a part of their lives. How much so would depend on them. Though he welcomed the idea of traveling with the larger group for now, Bel doubted he'd remain for an extended period.
"Family is very important, I'm happy to see the family grow."
Niade looked at the remains of her meal. "I hate to interrupt, but Bel would you be nice and get rid of this for me?" Surprisingly there were a few scraps of meat left for a snack, one of the reasons Niade asked Bel to take it. He'd have the chance at some food to delay having to hunt for himself or joining the others before he was quite ready.
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Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2011 3:01 pm
Athena chuckled at Belial's comment. "Perhaps she does, or perhaps she just likes having a fluff ball around to spoil her... not that the ladies always let me do it... as I said before, I often sneak off to hunt so they cannot insist on going along. I think you will like Zenobia and the others very much. They are all wonderful, but Zenobia has to be the sweetest of them all next to Niade." He looks at the scraps of meat on the carcass. "Looks like your sister left you a snack if you want it, Belial."
"If you want help hunting when you do get hungry again, you need only as and myself and probably most of the females will certainly be glad to assist. On that same note, though, I understand if you would rather hunt on your own too. You are welcome to come and go as you please. None will stop you or push their presence on you, but we also would enjoy your company if you choose to give it." The fluffy lion went over and nuzzled Niade lovingly. "Do you wish me to stay here with you or let you have some time to yourself, beautiful?"
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