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 Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:09 pm
Hippolyta padded quietly through the densite, nodding greeting to the lionesses who spoke to her in passing. They had never been a large pride, which she didn't think was a bad thing, and it meant that everyone knew everyone reasonably well... and all knew their queen and had spoken face to face with her. She couldn't hardly imagine what a pride must be like where one could go most of their lives with only seeing glimpses of their rulers. She liked to think the bonds of sisterhood and family made them stronger than such prides, even if they had superior numbers.
There was only one face she really cared to see tonight, but she replied politely, even warmly to any who spoke to her. She felt a nervous fluttering in her stomach at the thought of what she was planning to do, but the turning point of this decision would be made only with the counsel of the lioness she sought out. Pausing before their den, Hippolyta peered inside and called softly, wondering if her love was home, or out taking care of her duties. "Ebere? Are you here?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:10 pm
"Back here m'love." In public, Ebere was the ideal consort. She never argued with Hippolyta, instead deferring to her with little said other than 'Yes my lady.' or 'As you wish my queen." In the private of their home though was an entirely different story.
The mint green lioness was carefully arranging some sweet smelling flowers, her golden eyes lighting up when she looked to her dark mate. The smile slipped just slightly seeing Hippy's solemn mood. "What happened?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:16 pm
Hippolyta laughed as she stepped into their shared den, passed the sleeping form of their daughter Ariadne. Ever the easy going one, she slept the sleep of one untroubled by worries of any kind, assuming all would be right with the world as long as her mothers were in it. Long past childhood now and blossoming like a flower, but still as sweet and sometimes immature as a cub.
"Nothing has happened, love. I just had a lot on my mind, is all. But I suppose that isn't really news, lately. What are you doing?" She skirted the subject she wanted to broach and settled instead for peering at the flowers arrayed nicely on the stone. They were lovely, of course, and suited the lioness who arranged them. "Have your duties kept you busy?" She said, settling down on her stomach to cross her forepaws before her.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:17 pm
"Mmmhmm, they are fine. Now spill it," Her smile was warm as she regarded her queen and her love from the corner of her eye. To anyone else it would seem as if her attention was only on the arrangement she was making, but Hippy would know that while her paws where on one thing, her attention was solely on her. "It's nothing wrong with the girls is there?" She knew Hippy worried often for her first daughter and heir, almost as much as Ebere worried for Shoshanda.
The white leopard was snuggled happily with the sister she relied on so heavily to get about. To say the sister were close was an understatement.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:19 pm
Dark ears splayed in embarrassment and she looked up sheepishly from her paws. She hadn't wanted to come to the issue so quickly, but her mate was blunt as ever, a trait she tended to love AFTER the fact. She looked down again and flexed her paw, watching the black claws pop from the velvet pads and glint in the light coming from outside.
"Have you noticed that there are no cubs in the pride anymore, Ebere? All the ones that came of the time I was gone are grown now, full warriors and hunters. I've noticed it and... it worries me a bit. I think maybe... our sisters are, if not fearful, then disinclined to suffer the touch of males again." She frowned as she watched her claws slide in and out as she flexed. "I don't blame them, truly its understandable, but... I'm worried about it."
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:27 pm
"Mmmm an understandable worry." She nodded her head, white tipped ears twitching as she stepped back from the arrangement to see how she liked it before nodding and turning to face her mate with a gentle smile. "So what can we do about this? Neither Aria or Sho are afraid of males but neither can have cubs even if they wished too." Despite Hippolyta's opinion, Ebere had remained firm and taught her girls that not all males were evil or to be feared that many were capable of great love.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:35 pm
Hippolyta's splayed ears pinned back as she glanced over at the girls, a line appearing between her brows. She felt a mish mash of things over that reminder. She felt a flare of protective love at the thought of a male daring to lay a paw on their sweet little girls and the ache of loss at that those girls would never know the joy of raising a daughter of their own. Sharing your mate's children was a joy of a different kind, but to not have your own... Hippolyta shook her head, pushing that away.
"I wasn't even thinking of that Ebere. I wouldn't force anyone to have cubs if they didn't wish to, whether or not the felt comfortable with males. No, I was... sort of thinking..." Her voice trailed off as she stared at her paws, feeling awkward now. Before, it had been merely a matter of finding a male and doing the deed, no harm no foul, but she had not had a mate waiting for her at the time... She had no idea how Ebere would react to this suggestion. "Well, as queen, I would lead best by example." She said finally, looking up at her mate with a frank and honest expression, open to her. "I think it is time I had another litter of cubs, both to bolster our numbers and reassure our sisters."
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:36 pm
Ebere just arched a single brow, her lips twitching as she began to smile, "Well then. I have to admit I have always wanted to see you all big and glowy." She laughed a little at Hippolyta's expression. "What dearheart? Think I would throw a fit or fuss at sharing you?" Moving closer, she rubbed her cheek along Hippy's.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:37 pm
Hippolyta had the most silly, embarrassed expression on her face as her mate mentioned big and glowy, squirming on the floor of their den. She had never really been one to think of her appearance, so to have herself spoken of in such a loving manner... She huffed softly, one eye squinting shut as she rubbed that cheek against her love's.
"I wasn't sure what to think... I've never done this before! Easy going and loving you might be, but you are the first mate I have ever had. And will be the last if I have any say in the matter." She muttered at the end, licking the beloved cheek. "I'll miss you while I'm gone..." She said, her voice getting gruff as she swallowed a surge of melancholy. They hadn't been apart since they'd met... but it was silly to think they couldn't possibly be parted. They weren't children... "Hopefully it won't take too much time to accomplish... and after, I think maybe we should do something to lighten the mood up around her. Maybe a festival of some kind. I've heard of other prides that hold celebrations at different times of year."
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:42 pm
"Actually.." Ebere got a slightly sly, slightly guilty look on her face. "Uhh if you are willing to listen, I might have a suggestion." One ear flicked back for a moment knowing Hippy wasn't going to be exactly happy with what she was about to say. "I did meet a rather charming young rouge the other day. He and his brother are traveling through. From our talk, he is intellegent, well mannered, and frankly rather large and handsome. If his brother is agreeable, I do not see why they could not father cubs with us."
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:44 pm
Hippolyta frowned at her mate, the tip of her tail twitching. Her sweet, gentle, kindly love... had been within speaking distance of a male? Either that male had been too close for comfort, or her stubborn lover had traveled rather far without telling anyone.
"Just where did you speak with this male?" She said, trying to push down her protectiveness and jealousy... and yes, a little irritation at the cause of it in front her. "You had a guard with you, I hope." She had told her, time and again, to never wander alone... and never outside the lands without someone to protect her. A shiver of fear cool Hippy's irritation and she got up to move to sit shoulder to shoulder with the green lioness. "Its not safe to go off by yourself..."
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:48 pm
Ebere licked her cheek gently, "You know I need time alone sometimes love. I went only as far was the edge of the forest. He was not aware he was in our lands and immedatly offered to leave." She shrugged smiling at her gently, "I would come to no harm from him sweetie, and if I was in danger you know very well how loud I can scream." She didn't point out that despite being a healer, she was just as much as a warrior as her mate. Hadn't she fought side by side with Hippy when the drove the males away, even with her belly big with cubs.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:50 pm
It did little to ease her worry to hear how powerful Ebere's lungs were. "It didn't do much for my mother." She said softly, as a reminder of what had happened before they had ever met.
It finally registered though, what had come along with that statement. "You... you would want to bear cubs with me?" She said softly, a bit of surprised pleasure softening her voice and her face. She had seen her mate pregnant once, but to get to enjoy it this time... A bit of her true age started to show through her demeanor, showing the world she was not nearly as old as she tended to act. She smiled shyly, her ears perking forward.
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:55 pm
"Of course," Ebere blinked surprised she had to ask then smiled gently. She knew Hippy stilly found it hard sometimes to believe the level of devoution Ebere had to her. She pressed her cheek back to the dark lioness's, "I meant what I said that night. Where you go, I will go. My home is where you and our cubs are."
She casted a fond look over at the two sleeping girls, "Besides those two will delight in being big sisters, the more cubs the merrier." Her eyes took on a playful glint, "you do know though if we both have large litters...we will need a bigger cave."
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Posted: Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:56 pm
Hippolyta laughed, tossing her head with a girlish look.
"We already have the biggest cave on the cliff!" She chuckled, her tail swishing over the floor. "We'd have to sleep in the meeting den, if we didn't fit in her." She shook her head as she too turned to watch the sleeping girls, her face turning warm and soft, alight with a sort of peace she had found here in this little family.
"Its decided then. And if these males of yours are your choice, then... I will accept that. It will make things easier in the long run and... now that I think over the idea, I would rather enjoying having our cubs actually related by blood."
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