[JRP] New blood (Jabez, Veri, cubs)

[Annchen]

Veri was once again nearing the diseased pride Kitwana’antara. And once again it was because of the mortal Mith. Well, sort of. She had made him a favour, and she needed one in return. He should be fairly settled in the pride by now, or so she hoped. The burden she was going to lay upon him would be easier on him if he’d settled somewhat. She strode across the savannah, wondering when the first scout would show up. It might be some time yet.

---

Déjà vu. Jabez had seen that silhouette before, only now the Goddess was alone, and she walked in a peculiar way with her wings in an awkward position. He was scouting quite far from their border, but it looked as if she was heading for pride grounds. He shook his head, bemused. He had never seen her leave or heard of the departure, but then their pride had been a bit preoccupied lately. Two different groups of warrior lions had taken an interest in them, and he didn’t like it one bit.

This visitor was luckily not likely to fight him, however. He showed himself and walked over to meet her. This time he managed a slightly more fancy bow.

“Welcome Veri, Goddess of Blood,” he called, “Why the honour of this visit?”  

[Annchen]

The same scout she had met with Mith appeared, but much further out from the pride border than last time. Veri briefly wondered why, but decided she didn’t care. She was grateful that the leopard had scouted far today, and she was pleased to meet someone who knew a little more of her. Less explaining was a good thing. She strode forward in the same slow pace she had kept up for days now, and inclined her head in greeting.

“Greetings Jabez the scout,” she said formally, since he seemed to expect that, “I beg forgiveness for not bowing down to you today.”

She looked over her shoulder to check on the small bundles of fur. They were still asleep on her back, and didn't even stir.

---

She hadn’t told him her reason for the visit, but he supposed Goddesses could be as mysterious as they wanted. And then he followed her gaze. After a moment of confusion he remembered his mother’s stories, and he suddenly realized why she held her wings so awkwardly. Oh, hell no!

“You’re not giving them to me are you,” he asked, just to make sure. The glare he received in return made him backpedal a bit. “Ok, just asking.”  

[Annchen]

The leopard was quick on the uptake, but Veri could not know that Jabez mother had been in a very similar situation with another Goddess who had no interest in rearing her young. Interest wasn’t Veri’s problem, not really. But she knew cubs were vulnerable, half-god or not. She preferred to hand them to someone that could keep them safe, and away from the influence of gods.

“I have come to leave them here,” she said, silently amused by the scaredy leopard, “But you are not expected to mother them. I need you to take me, and them to the mortal Mith.”

---

Jabez exhaled, and realized he had held his breath. Ok, wow. What was it with Goddesses and dumping their kids on unsuspecting people? Well, he was glad it wasn’t him. Having lion sisters was one thing, but he’d be seriously unhappy if he’d been forced to play single father to a bunch of them. Mith? Poor b*****d. He sneaked another peek at the cubs on her back, and wondered if that black fur meant that Mith had been busy with this lioness before they got here. One thing was for sure, he was not going to ask!

“Uh, sure,” he said, dropping the formal speech, “Just follow me I guess.”

She didn’t, and he looked back at her to see what was up.  

[Annchen]

Veri had lowered herself to the ground, careful not to disturb the sleeping cubs on her back. She fussed with the four of them, carefully lowering them to the ground. Eager paws started to knead her belly and she stretched her stiff wings as the sleepy cubs started to eat. With a bit of luck they’d eat and then sleep again.

“Have you carried young before,” she asked, still looking at her cubs. She could balance them all on her back unless they started squirming, but it was slow going. Another maw to carry them would come in handy.

---

Jabez didn’t know if this was something he was supposed to even look at. It was surreal to see the large Goddess behave like any mother, and it felt wrong to watch the intimate scene. He looked away, studying a tuft of tall grass as if it was the most interesting greenery he’d ever seen. It almost made him miss her question.

“What?” he said, and settled his gaze on a spot in the air next to her head instead, “I guess? Larger ones, those that try to explore and needs to be carried back before they hurt themselves or get lost.”

Would she want him to carry one? What if their little heads popped off or something?  

[Annchen]

The leopard looked as if he was ready to bolt, and she sighed. What now? Had she said something to alarm him? She wondered if more of the scouts were out this far, but she doubted she could draft two more to help her carry. Creatures in prides liked patrolling from what she had gathered, and they didn’t like leaving large stretches of border unguarded.

“It won’t take long,” she said patiently, thinking he was afraid to leave his patrolling for too long, “And it will only take longer if I carry them all myself.”

Her cubs started to finish up their meal and she busied herself with the necessary cleaning. Two of her sons crawled away while she worked on her dark daughter, but she trusted the leopard to catch them if they decided to take off. They weren’t exactly quick, even if their tiny legs worked furiously.

---

Jabez watched with increased fascination as the one white cub worked its way towards him. It looked a lot like Veri, and even had tiny wing markings on his back. He scanned the grass for the other little one. The little guy had crawled around in a circle and was going back towards his mother. It was almost completely black, but with white and red tufts of fur on his head and tail. He made a double take when Veri turned one of the remaining cubs over to clean him. The little face had a startling white marking that almost looked like a skull. A bit like that healer... Yejide.

The white cub seemed intent on making a run (crawl?) for it so he grabbed it by the scruff and carried it back. The little one stopped squirming as soon as he lifted it and didn’t make any fuss. They were so tiny!  

[Annchen]

Veri finished up and placed her two sleepiest cubs on her back again. She stood up ever so carefully and grabbed a third one in her maw. Unable to speak with her son in her mouth she gave the leopard a pointed look and started walking. It was easier to balance two cubs than four so she managed a slightly quicker pace, even if she was still walking very slowly. Hopefully they'd meet more pride members closer to the border, because she knew her cubs might decide to wake up and need to be carried.

---

Jabez didn’t have much choice, did he? The tiny black cub had toddled back to him and now tried to gnaw on one of his front paws. The teeth were sharp, but so small they couldn’t doo much damage.

“Come here little dude,” he said softly and picked up the cub. Like the white one it didn't protest at all when he lifted it, and there were no signs of heads popping off. Jabez followed the Goddess, hoping nothing would attack while he turned his back from the border.

-fin-