icedemon2020: Jabari slid out of the den that he shared with his mate. He yawned widely as he stretched his legs. This was the first time he had slept like a pup in ages. He had been concerned about his children's whereabouts. He knew where two of them where-one of them actually put her den next to theirs-but he wasn't really sure about the other four. He had a feeling two or three of them might have branched out away from the pack that they had joined before the pups were born. Thinking of his children, he turned his attention to Kipenzi's den, wondering when she was going to wake up.
Kaori_luv: Shu didn't sleep much longer after Jabari left her side. She was so use to him being with her, ever since she was still very young that she usually woke within minutes of her mate. She shook out her fur climbing out the den into the sunlight.
"Good morning Jabari," she said moving over to nuzzle her mate, "did you sleep well."
icedemon2020 : Jabari shook his head slightly as his train of thought was interrupted by Shu. He turned around slightly to look at her and smiled warmly. "Yes, love, I did sleep well. I figured I might as well let life take its own course with our children. At least two of them managed to stay with us." He scratched an ear with his hindfoot for a few moments before turning his attention back to his daughter's den. "Now, on the other paw, I am wondering why Kipenzi seems to want to sleep past the sunrise."
Kaori_luv: "You really shouldn't worry so much love. We did the same, did we not. I left my home with you before I was even fully grown. I am sure our pups we're fine." She smiled and leaned against her mate.
"As for sleeping past sunrise, we are earlier risers. It seems we did not pass on that to our pups. I doubt that Rajit it up either. I am sure we will see them later in the day." She looked toward her daughters den shaking her head lightly. She missed the days when she woke with the sun and simply cuddled with her pups until they were ready to greet the day.
Icedemon2020: "Yeah, you're right. They have every right to go wandering on their own now that they are adults. Heck, they could have done that ages ago," Jabari said, agreeing with Shu. He rested his head on top of hers as he stared at the sunrise.
"Kipenzi did wake up with us a few times," he pointed out to her. "But that was when she was a pup. Now that she is an adult, she does tend to sleep in until a mark past sunrise." He smiled slightly. "Oh, well. At least in about an hour or so we will know if Rajit and Kipenzi are still alive."
Kaori_luv: Shu couldn't help but to chuckle at her mates words. He worried more than her and she had thought it would be her to worry more. It only endeared her more to him. She knew that with him her pups would always be looked out for. He amazed her.
"Yes, we will know soon and the will be tackled by them. Now, however, we have time to ourselves to talk to about maybe the prospect of more." She didn't specify, she didn't feel she needed to know, thinking Jabari would understand she was talking about pups. She did wish to possibly add more young one two their family.
Icedemon2020: Jabari tilted his head slightly to one side as he pondered about that. It was time for them to fill their empty nest again now that their five children were grown up. Heck, it was time for him to start thinking about both more children and the prospect of thinking about nudging both Rajit and Kipenzi to get mates of their own.
"Perhaps," he said in a low tone of voice. "Though first we need to widen the den a little bit. I think a bit caved in after we kicked the children out of it when they got too big for them to stay in it."
Kaori_luv: A smile came to Shu's maw and she nodded. "Yes, toward the back. I definitely do not think we would be able to welcome more little ones without fixing up the den a bit. I think it could use a bit of widening next to where we sleep as well."
She stretched and started toward her daughter's den, intent on taking a peek, just to make sure she was indeed there and still asleep. "Do you think we will be made grandparents any time soon. Neither of them seem interested in a mate, though our pups that have gone on adventure of their own might have settled down like we did."
Icedemon2020: Jabari shrugged his shoulders as he watched Shu wander over to Kipenzi's den. "Who knows. Perhaps they did or maybe they are still settling into their new lives." He didn't want to tell his mate that he wasn't really sure if any of his siblings or his parents had any children of their own. It had been ages since he had seen his brothers and sisters (heck, even his own parents) though he knew that they were in a good place.
"This kind of thing takes time. I am sure they will find mates for themselves eventually," he said to her in a calm tone of voice.
Kaori_luv: Shu ducked down into her daughters den to see she was indeed still asleep. It wouldn't be forever that she would be able to just look in on her daughter who lived so close to her, so she took full advantage. Her son moved a bit further off not really caring for his mother desire to peek in on him, not that she didn't do it anyway.
She nuzzled her daughter lightly not wanting to wake her before backing out quietly still smiling. She looked to Jabari, "I miss then being close and cuddled to us. I wish Rajit was closer."
Icedemon2020: Kipenzi slowly woke up as she felt something warm nuzzle her cheek before backing away, leaving her den cold. She blinked a few times to see her mother's body slowly backing out of her den and she yawned widely before following Shu. "Morning mum," she said in a sleepy voice.
Jabari's ears pricked up as he saw his youngest daughter crawl out of her den. "Good morning sleepy head," he said to her, chuckling for a few moments afterwards. "Do you want to see if your brother wants to join us?" Kipenzi gazed over at her brother's den and shook her head. "Nah, too far to walk."
Kaori_luv: "Good morning Kipe. Did you sleep well," asked Shu. She hadn't meant to wake her daughter, but she was sure seeing her face eased Jabari's worries. Their daughter was indeed alive and well.
She gave a small giggle at her daughter not wanting to go wake her brother, but she of course didn't mind especially after she heard her son's voice.
"I heard that Kipe. I don't live that far," he whined trotting over. "Morning mom, morning dad."
Icedemon2020: Kipenzi nodded her head slightly at her mother's comment. "Yes, I managed to sleep very well. Though I am not looking forward to today," she said with a sigh. "It is going to be a long day for me."
Jabari let his ear relax when he spotted his odd-ball of a son. He loved each and every one of his children the same but he had a soft spot for his odd son who didn't seem to match any of his parents. "At least you managed to wake up before the sun rose too far above the mountains," he commented to Rajit, though it was also directed at Kipenzi.
"Yeah, yeah, father," Kipe said to her father as she rolled her eyes, "So, what is going to go on now that three of us has branched away from you? Are you going to shove us away, too?"
Kaori_luv: Shu nodded at her daughter before looking to her son, "Did you sleep well Rajit?" It was a common question Shu asked them all each morning when they woke. She was one of habit, she really couldn't help it.
Rajit nodded, "yes mom. I slept well," he said before looking to his father. "I do not think I will ever sleep too long into the morning. You two always wake so early and I bet mom will come pull me out by my tail if I dare to sleep till high sun." He laughed lightly looking at his mom with a sheepish grin.
Shu shook her head at her daughter, "we would never push you away, but at the same time you have to make your own way in the pack now."
Icedemon2020: Jabari chuckled at his son's statement. Kipe, on the other hand, tucked her tail under her butt and whimpered slightly. "Don't make fun of that stuff, brother. Mother actually DID do that to me once." She shuddered slightly at the thought of that memory.
Jabari listened carefully to what his mate said to her daughter and nodded his head in agreement. "I'd have to agree to what your mother says. You two are going to have to learn to either fit into the pack or move out if you can't find your paws in it. Also..." He looked over at Shu briefly before continuing on. "You and your mother are concerned about why you two haven't found mates yet."
Kaori_luv: Rajit almost laughed at his sister's misfortune, but kept it in at the warning look his mother gave him. She turned away to try to his blossoming smile. He hadn't had this misfortune of being dragged out of his den, another reason why he hadn't stayed to close to home.
Shu looked Raj and Kipe with a smile content to allow Jabari do the talking. She wanted only the best for her pups whatever that meant for them, but she was unfortunately only but so content to wait on it to happen.
Rajit turned red at his father's words not really knowing how to respond, "uh well ... that is ... um." He looked to his sister, hoping for help. He hadn't even thought to find a mate just yet and he hadnt planned on it any time soon.
Shu tried not giggle at her son's stumbling, but it amused her.
"I um have morning duties to attend to," Raj mumbled trying to stir away from the question.
Icedemon2020: Kipe ignored her brother's looks for help. She, too, didn't want to discuss this with her parents...at least not right now. She turned her back slightly on her brother as she gazed down at the ground. "I haven't found the right male yet," she said defensively. "These things take time anyways." Without waiting for either of her parents to retort about what she said, she got to all four of her paws and bounded away.
Jabari sighed and waved his son away. Slowly, he walked over to his mate and laid down beside her.
