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There were some things Fireheart was sure she'd never learn through her life but, time and time again, she was proven wrong. She had been positive she'd never learn how to hunt, or fight, or take care of herself, take care of a whole pride, how to be a good mate, how to be a good queen...and yet here she was, happy and content in her life having learned all these things.

But lately there was something that was bothering her. She couldn't put her paw on just what it was, and it was driving her mad. She had been encountering frustrating things daily, things that she'd never have found annoying before. She knew she had to talk to someone when Vodnitvar had stepped on her paw by mistake while giving her a good morning nuzzle and she had nearly ripped his ear off, both with words and with teeth.

She had been on her way to see her mother when it hit her. Or rather, kicked her. Fireheart nearly fell off her feet as something inside of her moved. It moved! It kicked her! What in the gods' name was...

Oh. Oh.

Fireheart returned home immediately, glowing with pride and embarrassment at the same time. She spotted Vodnitvar in the den still, his bright blue pelt standing out in the darkness. The poor dear...it looked like he had been pacing again. Hopefully this information would help clear his mind.

"I'm back," she said to announce her presence before entering the cave. She moved instantly to his side, butting her head lightly under his chin, nuzzling into his soft mane. It was certainly more of a normal greeting than what she had been giving him recently, but now that she understood what was happening to her, it cleared her hormones. At least, for the time being.

"Your leg must be aching, Vodnitvar. Sit down, dear."

Fireheart had to hide her smile now that she knew what their 'problem' was. Soon to be quite a few problems if she had anything to say about it. His request was met with a nod, and she sat down beside him so they wouldn't have to move. They'd done a good job finding a den to call their own, with a sandy rather than rocky bottom that was comfortable to lay in, just about anywhere.

"Yes, we do need to talk," she agreed, but she was very interested to see what it was he thought was wrong. His muttered words didn't go unnoticed, but she didn't fault him for saying them. She had been very moody and would probably continue to be for a few months.

"I'm very comfortable," Fireheart finally offered, content to sit beside her mate with enough room for them to touch if needed, but with enough space to have a conversation. "Are you?"

Fireheart's ears turned forward as her mate used her real name. They were so used to calling each other 'Fireheart' and 'Vodnitvar' that it was odd to hear 'Straw Dog' or 'Ugomvi'. She had to remind herself to use Straw Dog when they were in the presence of others, but on their own she never used it. Unless she was teasing him, which did happen on occasion.

She reached out a paw to press it against Vodnitvar's gently, not wanting him to worry. "I know what you did," she said solemnly. "And I'm afraid there's nothing you can do to fix it. What's done is done, and we'll move on. Although..."

She allowed herself to smile just a bit.

"I certainly wouldn't mind you doing it again. Not now...some time in the future. When we'll have a chance to breathe again. I get the feeling we'll have our paws very, very full in a few months time." She had been hanging around Riddle Mouth too much, she had. Speaking with riddles and keeping Vodnitvar guessing.

"But I do apologize for stressing you out and making you worry," the lioness murmured, leaning in to nuzzle her cheek against his mane. "Although...I doubt that will change any time soon. I just won't be the one making you worry. In fact, I'll be joining you in it."

Vodnitvar's gruff tone of voice didn't go unnoticed by Fireheart, but she let it slide. She was having too much fun teasing him. Besides, she had been growling and snapping at him the past few weeks, it was only fair that he should be allowed to grumble a bit, too. Especially while she was tugging his whiskers with all these riddles.

She watched with a slightly smug but mostly pleased smile as Vodnitvar's gears turned slowly, putting the pieces into place. It wasn't until he passed out that she knew he got it. She chuckled, rolling her eyes a bit before leaning in to nuzzle her nose against her mate's.

"Come on, dad," she murmured. "I'm the one with what feels like eighteen cubs in me, you can't be passing out on me like this." She was sure there weren't more than six, but if it were any less, they were a very rambunctious group. Rolling around and kicking already, and they were probably still quite small.

She lifted a paw to gently hit Vodnitvar's cheek, hoping to rouse him a bit quicker. "Don't make me drag you down to the sea and throw you in. You know I will."

As her mate came around again, Fireheart felt her chest warm with happiness. If the smile was anything to go by, he was as excited as she was. Leaning in a bit to help him get up, she nuzzled her nose into Vodnitvar's fluffy mane, purring happily.

"I'm positive about this. Unless the hare I ate this morning is still alive and kicking," she said, snorting just a bit. That would be rather comical could it happen. Mistaking oneself for being pregnant because of a hare jumping around in her stomach.

The question made her shake her head to clear her mind of those thoughts, although now she really, really wanted another hare to eat. That would explain the strange cravings for fruit and sweet things, then. She had never been fond of the stuff before now, and lately any berries or fruits she found she devoured happily. "If we're not, then we're out of luck," she said as she sat back, shifting to let Vodnitvar press his paw against her stomach. "Just here," she said, motioning with her own.

"One of them is very feisty today," she added. "It's how I realized I wasn't alone.'

Vodnitvar's comment made Fireheart roll her eyes and swat at his shoulder, claws sheathed so as not to do any damage, just leave a bit of a sting behind. "Watch that mouth of yours," she warned. Even though she figured out why she had been so grumpy as of late, it didn't mean it would change her demeanor any. The little teasing from her mate soon left her mind as he paid attention to the still unborn cubs just a small wall of skin and fur away. She flinched just a bit as the cubs kicked at their father's paw, her stomach protesting the constant movements.

"Well...I suppose there's no question that at least one of them will be a fighter," she mused as Vodnitvar lowered his head and...dear gods. She groaned softly and reached down to playfully push his cheek.

"You're a sentimental fool, I hope you know," she teased right back, "Talking to my stomach...it's a good thing there seem to be a lot of them, otherwise no one would notice and think you'd gone insane talking to my midsection." Some lionesses only had one cub, after all, and barely grew. She was decently sized already for how far along she was, so she knew she'd be waddling something awful when the time just before they arrived came about.

Fireheart did give him another love tap, this time against his cheek, but it was much gentler than the swat to his shoulder had been. "Look at you," she muttered. "Making all these assumptions about me." There was a teasing look in her eyes even if her face was frowning, though. She had grown very fond of teasing her mate, and it was amusing to do so out with the other members of the pride. They'd think she was really upset with him, but he'd walk off laughing and they'd chuckle about it later that night in their den.

"I think we'll manage," she said with a small nod before snorting. "Any cub of mine, boy or girl, will do just fine keeping away from 'icky boys' or 'icky girls'," she reminded him, leaning in to n** playfully at his cheek. "Besides...not all boys are icky," she purred, rubbing her head under his chin. As he had said earlier, she couldn't be more proud of herself, of her mate, and of her future cubs. She knew they wouldn't be the traditional Kizi family, but they would be one of the closest ones out there, she was positive.

"Hm...I wonder who they'll look like," she murmured very softly. "I do hope they have your lovely green eyes. But for the sake of camouflage, perhaps a bit more of my coloring would suit them well. You do stick out like a sore paw, my dear."