The night was colder then usual, still even. The soothing and yet sometimes annoying chirps from the bugs that inhabited the Pridelands were even still that evening. Something was amiss and with her trips to the ever growing Nzasi becoming more frequent, Zimran took this stillness as a sort of omen. Being of divine nature herself, these kinds of signs were ones she could not just ignore and move on with her night visits to ill children or the like. No, she had to visit the young, expecting mother that evening and that was exactly where her paws began to take her as she moved through the dens of Pride Rock towards a familiar family's den.
Mohombi, a loving father and mate, sat up already awake as he looked over his daughter with a firm frown of displeasure on his face. How could he not see any signs of this before it had actually happened? While it was her choice of course, he respected that much at least, but there was no way he could agree with it. Still, the feeling of soon becoming a grandfather was one that was...an interesting feeling. One that made him feel more elderly then he already was.
"Mohombi." Came a soft whisper of a voice. Zimran had finally arrived and was currently standing in the entry way into their small personal family den, one of many it seemed. "How is she doing this evening?" It was a simple question, one that she likely already knew the answer to but still the question itself may raise concerns that the expectant grandfather had not voiced to anyone else.
His head turned, his unkempt mane moving slightly with the motion as he looked back that goddess. The male's head dipped slightly out of respect, not for her divinity, but for her rank as the head nanny and also in thanks for her nightly visits. Just as quickly though, Mohombi's attention turned back towards his resting daughter. "As well as can be expected. I am worried about complications though. What if there are more then two and her body does not survive the toll this will surely take on her? What if-" Before he could speak another word, a paw was placed on his mouth.
It was no Zimran's paw, but rather his daughter's. Nzasi glared slightly up towards her anxious father. "I swear dad, you're more worried then I am." Of course she was trying to stay calm considering he wasn't. With Zimran's help though, she was becoming more and more comfortable with the idea of being a mother. Sure it would be hard and probably keep her from doing things she wanted to do in her youth, but it wasn't all that bad. "You here for another check-up, huh Zimran?" Nzasi asked, her attention turning to the nanny who nodded in reply. Just as quick, her gaze turned to her father. "Well then, your time to leave I suppose for a bit. Personal stuff."
Mohombi's ears went back his orange eyes looking between the two lionesses for a moment before nodding. At least his daughter was in good paws even though his heart was telling him to stay with her. Even his instinct was telling him that the moment he left something would happen and he would regret it. Despite those feelings, he turned away from them and let his paws carry him out of the small den area to leave the two alone in peace for the visit. "Let me know when you're done." He requested just before leaving.
Zimran turned her head to watch the dark male leave from over her shoulder. Once he was out of sight, her head turned back around to look down at the resting to-be mother. "So, how have you been feeling? Resting plenty, getting enough food and water I assume considering how worried your father seems. Chewing on those leaves daily I hope." All things she had suggested throughout previous visits to Nzasi in hopes that this adolescent pregnancy would be as smooth as possible. The last thing she wanted for anyone were complications with the birth or even the pregnancy itself.
Green eyes rolled at the question, accompanied by a huff from the smaller female. "I can't go a few hours without someone telling me something I should be doing instead of what someone else told me to do. It's a lot to deal with, you know? All these lions telling me what I should and should not be doing." Her neutral expression became that of a frustrated girl, confused and upset that even in this choice, she was being told how to live her life.
With a sadder frown, Zimran nodded. She slightly understood the feeling back when she had talked with her half-sister Xiu Xiu about her pregnancy with a rogue's children and then again when they talked of a god she was courting at the time. Thinking on this, her expression fell even more knowing that she had not spoken with anyone in her family aside from her son, Airion, in quite some time. "I understand that. While these are your children, we only wish to help, pass wisdom and small 'tricks' that aided us in our pregnancies." She continued her words quickly, leaving little time for the expectant mother to make any comebacks. "But, not all will work for you nor should they. Your body is your own and only you know it best. While take any and all advice into consideration, only do the ones you feel comfortable with. I would not suggest herbs or anything if I did not think they would help and seeing you actually chewing on them, well, that brings joy to me that you would take my suggestion into consideration."
"Hmph, it's not like my brother would give me a choice, or my parents. Whatever is suggested to me, they make me do even if I don't want to!" Despite her sudden womanhood, she was still a young lioness and while others still saw her as such, Zimran did not. That was what she seemed to like about the goddess. She saw her as a to-be mother that just happened to be a little smaller and not as wise to the world yet. Hours passed and their conversation went on in private until the moon was high in the dark night sky. The silence within the dens, minus the snoring and deep breathing that could be heard through the echos of the chambers, was chilling to say the least.
Just as their time together was ending and Zimran was getting ready to leave, a sudden roar of pain echoed through the dens. Nzasi's eyes were clenched shut and her body curled inward, hoping it would null the pain that was spreading through her body along with the aches and cramping her entire body was feeling. "W-what is this?!" She yelled, her eyes staring up at the equally surprised nanny. She had been expecting to go back to resting after Zimran left, not suddenly feel like her body was trying to consume itself in some kind of a fit of rage. Tears, for one of the only times in her short life, began to form at the corners of her eyes as the pain only continued to get worse instead of better.
"Breathing, Nzasi, breathing. We talked about this a week ago. You have to breath deeply." Zimran was not expecting this so soon. While Nzasi was due soon, a few weeks maybe, this was a little early. She had to coach the poor thing through this and make sure that her father did not try and aid as it may just make the situation worse. There was no deep breathing being done on the part of the obviously in-labor teen.
As if on cue, Mohombi came sprinting through the mouth of the off-shoot den, his eyes wide at the sight of his daughter in so much pain. He wasn't able ot get too close though before Zimran's turned to look over her shoulder at him, giving him a firm shake of the head as she went back to giving Nzasi an example of the breathing she was instructing her to do. His previous frown was back, but this time he was full of worry. He knew this day would come, but so soon?!
"Go, you'll distract her. Go to your mate, tell her that your daughter in delivering. If she calls for you, I'm sure you will hear, but if you do not, I will call for you. Do not worry." Zimran quickly said, her words calm and steady despite the situation. Her attention had never left the adolescent despite her words that were aimed for Mohombi. "Breathing, remember your breathing."
With a heavy heart, Mohombi nodded, his eyes meeting his daughter's one more time, exchanging brief smiles as he approached her, giving her a loving lick on the top of her head. "I'll be outside with your mother. I love you, Nzasi."
"Love you too, dad." Nzasi replied quite calmly despite her current situation. With clenched eyes, she rolled onto her side, chest heaving, raising her round belly with her breaths. This would be over soon enough and right now, she had her coach to help her through this. It was only a matter of time until more nannies joined Nzasi in the chamber to aid if any problems surfaced.
He left the den this time a father and hoping the next time he enter it he would be a grandfather. His teeth clenched the moment another roar echoed into his ears. He wanted to be close to her, but as Zimran had said, he would distract her and right now, they needed to focus on the task at hand. Perhaps speaking with Ankara would ease his fatherly worry, with the simple thought present, he moved away from the sounds to seek out his gentle mate.
[Word Count: 1684]
