She was pregnant. She knew she was, it couldn't be anything else. In the past weeks, Busara hadn't been feeling well at all. At first, it was only a small wave of upset that she would feel in her abdomen, and she hadn't thought anything of it. Even as a cub, she would get mild stomach aches for one reason or another. Then, a few of weeks later she began to feel downright sick. At the time, she had been worried that she had eaten something bad or caught some sort of bug. When the sickness didn't go away and began to get worse, she became really worried. The dramatic part of her had simply suggested that she was dying, however, the rational part of her told her that there was something going on with her body. Not knowing why, she had began to seclude herself from everyone else. Usually she general enjoyed the company of the others in the pride, but they'd only annoyed her when she was around them for some reason. Along with her self induced isolation, she'd also recently been feeling a variety of emotions much more strongly than she normally did. Her calm demeanor and level rational thoughts had apparently flown through the trees. It was only in the previous days that she was entertaining the thought that she might be pregnant.
It seemed like such an illusion that she would be pregnant of all things right now. Well, she couldn't say that it was for lack of trying. It had been her dream to have children of her own to raise and teach her ideals to. However, living in the dangerous and sometimes violent lands of the deserts was a constant threat to any new life. Busara had seen more than one body of a small cub or pup that didn't have the strength to survive even with their mothers. The sight had frightened her out of considering having a litter, she didn't think she could handle the death of any of her children.
However, since she had been living in the Ongozana'Ke, she had felt nearly as safe and at peace as she had with her parents in her cubhood home. Some time ago, shortly after she had arrived here, she had been sneaking out of the lands at night. Initially, it had only been so that she could have some space to herself without the overwhelming and constant presence of all the other members in the pride. At the time, she had been bewildered and her new life made her anxious. She was at a shifting point in her life and she had behaved recklessly in her fear of her rapidly shifting world. However, after she'd begun to settle down a bit, she began to meet a small variety of males in the lands just beyond her pride. A slight reddish tint crossed her face at the thought that that one had impregnated her.
Sighing to herself, she began to walk along the stream that comforted her even now. As she considered her predicament, the more she warmed to the idea. She'd always wanted cubs after all, and life had given her the opportunity. A smile slowly spread across her face the more she thought about it. I'm pregnant.......I'm pregnant! What would she do with a mess of cubs? She immediately shook her head as ridiculously sentimental thoughts started floating across her mind.To think, in a short time from now she would have litter to raise. Busara's mood lifted as she thought of all the things that she could teach to children of her own.
As she thought of her children's future education, she thought about the pride that she lived in. Would she teach her children the ideals held in the pride? Thinking about the culture here, she thought that she would incorporate the ideals of the pride in the upbringing of her children. Busara really did like her home, even though she hadn't been showing it. She would teach her daughters to be strong, independent and fearless and to not allow any male to treat them badly. She would teach her sons the same, but she would also teach them to be respectful toward females. Although, she didn't want her sons to feel unimportant or unneeded, so she would still teach them to stand up for themselves. Especially since there was a very strong possibility that any male cubs she had would leave when they were old enough to. Well, she would cross the bridge when she got to it, and she would let her sons make their own decisions regarding their future.
When she found herself at the edge of the pride, she stopped. Busara considered crossing the invisible border that separated her pride's lands from the rogue lands, but then she turned and started to head back. There was no need for her to go their now, she had gotten what she wanted. A sudden wave of the feeling of contentment washed over her and she felt more calm than she had since before she arrived to this pride. With cubs to take care of, she will have fully realized her dream that she came her for in the first place with Rasmas and the others.
It seemed so long ago now. Busara wondered if the other lionesses had gotten what they'd come here for. She wondered if Rasmas was happy living here in this pride that was ruled by females. Now that she thought about it, she realized that as long as Rasmas didn't have any competition, he would have a relatively good life here. The lioness wanted good lives for her children as well. She knew that she would keep her daughter here. The pride was a safe haven for females to grow up and thrive in, and she wanted to always know that her daughters were safe and nearby.
Once Busara had reached the large den that they all shared, she slowly made her way inside. She greeted those she pasted as she headed for a particular nook in the cave where she liked to sleep. Lowering herself to the ground, she let out a happy sigh. She was going to be a mother.
