Ebere groaned as she flicked her ears back, retreating into the depths of their cave. She had forgotten how miserable it was to be pregant in the high summer months. She streched out on the cold stone with a content sigh, deciding to take a nap.
A long sigh lifted and dropped Hippolyta's shoulders as she paced back towards the cave she shared with her family, her steps measured and deliberate. It was good to be pregnant, to know soon they would have little ones running around, but it sure made it hard to keep up with the goings on in the pride. It was more of an effort to go places and harder to stand for long times. When she entered the darkness, she smiled to see that her mate had had much the same idea. Groaning softly, she lowered herself down to lay at Ebere's side, her chin coming to rest on her hip.
She lifted her head to peer back at whoever was laying on her and smiled lovingly to see her mate. "Well hey there beautiful." Her gold eyes were bright and her tone filled with warmth and love.
Chuckled softly as she cracked an eye open, glancing up at the face hovering over her. "Oh, hello luv." She sighed, shifting around to get comfortable. "Did I wake you up?" A wide yawn cracked her jaws and she stretched a leg back, spreading the toes and arching her spine. Her belly bulged as she leaned on it and she uffed softly before snuggling back up to her love's side.
Ebere gave a rough rumbling purr as she nuzzled the soft fur just below Hippy's jaw. "No sweetling, I had just laid down to rest. The heat is killing me and I swear they are trying to fight a battle in my stomach.?"
Hippolyta laughed, her body gently shaking on the cool floor of the cave. "All's quiet on this front, at least." She said as she tilted her head, rubbing her cheek against Ebere's rounded side. "I feel some wiggling once in a while, but that's about it. Even with all the worrying I do and all the walking around, which is killing my paws, by the way, they stay rather quiet. But at least active enough I know they're okay in there. Do they bother you much, dear?" She said softly, a worry frown creasing her brow.
"oh spirits no!" She laughed sofly. "Honestly, I am glad they are so active, means they are healthy." She relished the though of being a mother again, and to share this with Hippy... "You are so beautiful." She smiled down at her queen and beloved.
Hippy would have blushed, but settled for rubbing her face against her consort's side. "Thank you... you are far more lovely than me though." She chuckled, embarrassed by the compliment. It wasn't something she was used to hearing, save from Ebere. It was pleasing, but still made her uncomfortable. "I'm glad we'll be mothers together.... it sort of makes things a little easier. In certain ways."
Ebere chuckled softly, "Aye it will." Her gaze darkened for a moment, "They..they are going to come back right? For the.." It was hard on her to give up her infant sons, the first time she had cried for nearly a month against Hippy's side every night straight. This time it wouldn't be as bad, knowing they would be with their father's.
Hippy raised her head to bump it against Ebere's, offering comfort. "From what I know of them, I'm sure they will. Asper is a good lion. I'm confident he wouldn't just leave. And even if he does... the cubs will be raised here till they're old enough to take care of themselves, then... they'll just go out to find their own lives to live. We'll make it work." She said as she nuzzled her. Other lionesses had done it... it just wasn't ideal. She was glad that last time the father had come for the leopon cub... She didn't know what other mothers went through, that kept their cubs till adolescence.
She licked her mate's dark cheek. "I am sure they will."
The dark lioness smiled as she nodded, returning the loving lick. "Now, I think we should get some rest. The pride can run itself for a little while and pregnant lionesses shouldn't strain themselves. We have to think of the cubs after all." She smiled, settling her chin on her hip again. It was sort of amusing, really... to be the one to comfort Ebere, when the roles had so often been reversed. Maybe that was what motherhood did... made you more confident. It had at least, for her. She felt more relaxed than she ever had.
Ebere chuckled softly, " Yes oh great mistress." She wrinkled her nose teasingly but rumbled happily as she snuggled to her beloved. Time would be rough but together they and their daughters would survive anything.
