Time seemed to pass by faster than she could even count anymore. The world had been on a stand still just a bit ago, now it seemed like she blinked her eyes and Natintrapa's life went into fast forward. New members, and new babies. Of course, now the cubs were all icicles. She couldn't say she mind. She love seeing the pride grow. It was her's and Urza's true accomplishment. Though, their kids were their greatest joy in life, she still couldn't help but to be proud of the land they called theirs.
Cold, yet beautiful. Dangerous if you didn't know how to live on the land, but amazing when you did. They had taught everyone well, and even the cubs seemed to know things better than the adults. She was glad of this. She was getting old and wouldn't always be around when the world stripped her of the land. She just hopped everyone would be able to move on about the land when her and Urza left it. It worried her, but she knew her son would do well. He was a great lion, and he had grown up so well. He was responsible, and knew his duty.
She stretched in their den, noticing that Urza was not there. He had left his two hares sleeping in the corner. It only meant that he hadn't gone far. She stirred more and then finally got to her feet. She didn't wake Miri, there was no need. She'd be back to sleep soon. She moved to the outer part of their den, that over looked all of the pride. Not many were out, the snow was coming down hard, and it was still night now. Though, you could see, barely, the on duty ice guards doing their duty to protect them.
Everything seemed to go well. Her eyes fell upon the male that had gotten her to raise from her slumber. "You should get back to sleep, my King" She said with a purr. He didn't sleep as much as he should, and it worried her greatly. Perhaps the same things that were on her mind, also filled his with worry and wonder.
Her voice almost startled him. He had been watching over those doing their duty. Though could only see so much til they vanished into the cold night. It wasn't as cold to him anymore as it once had been. He sighed and smiled as he looked at his Queen. "Don't worry about me" He spoke softly. Of course, that was something she couldn't do, and he knew that. He could only ask this of her. His worries were deep sometimes, and he couldn't help but to stay awake watching.
He wanted to make sure everyone was safe, yet he couldn't always do that. They hadn't had an avalanche in a while. He wasn't sure if that should scare him, or he should be happy. Of course, that wasn't completely true. They had small avalanches, though most were done by his guards to keep them safe. It was safe to trigger what might become into a dangerous avalanche. Was better when it was controlled. They had been good at keeping on that since the last major one happened. It was nice to feel that sort of security. Though it only went so far.
"I am just making sure everything's running smoothly." He spoke as he turned back towards the den. She wouldn't be happy til he was back asleep. Which he admitted to himself he needed badly. He had felt much older than he should with all the stress, though he couldn't help it. Running a pride was harder than he could have ever imagined.
"Oh shush," She started. "You worry far too much" She did too, but she didn't want to point that out to him. "They are doing their job, and a good one too. We're lucky with out pride." She continued to ease his mind. At least, that was what she thought she was suppose to do the most of. "We've trained them well, and they've trained their children. Things will turn out just fine." She spoke softly. "The winter is suppose to be a happy time, not a bad."
She had a point. Winter was the least of their worries. It was the summer that threatened everything. As long as they kept the hills not completely over packed with snow during the stormy winter, they'd have no issues with the rest of the year. No avalanches to worry about. The only thing they'd have to worry about would be someone coming into the pride that meant harm to them.
That wasn't an issue either. These lands were sacred, and protected from that sort of thing. Their worrying was much like new parents worrying about their cubs. "Let's go back to sleep." She suggested. "You'll see, tomorrow will come, and everyone will be perfectly fine." She insisted. Of course they would. They had guards for a reason after all. Plus, none of the seers have sensed anything but good fortune. At least, that's what they seemed to be telling them. Of course, their powers weren't completely reliable, but they had helped them quite a bit in the past.
He nodded. She was right. Always right, he seemed to find. She was such a great lioness and he'd be lost without her. "You're right, I shouldn't worry." That didn't stop him from worrying though. It was like he couldn't help it no matter what he did. He just wanted to make sure everything would be good. Especially after he was gone. "I've become and old worry bird" he said with a chuckle.
He needed sleep, and she knew it. She knew things without him ever having to speak them. He nodded again, Took a last glance out into the snowy night. It was falling hard, and he could get lost in thought watching blow around. It wasn't quite a blizzard, but it had threatened to become one. That was okay with him, just meant they had to be more careful, and only guards and hares were allowed to venture out of the caves til it passed.
"Let's get some sleep." He finally said, even though that was not what he wanted to do. He was only doing it because she asked. He moved into the cave, not looking behind him because he knew quite well that she was following him. At least that's what he always thought. "Sleep, and tomorrow will be fine."
A smile crossed her face. Good, he was finally listening. She followed him into the cave as soon as he went it. She yawned and peeked around the very dark den, seeing all three hares comfortably sleeping. Good, she didn't want them to have been woken up either. At least she knew they were happy and sleeping. It was one small ease to the mind. She looked at Urza as he flopped quietly back down, and she curled next to him letting her tail rest upon his own. Tomorrow will be a good day. She let her eyes drop, and slip into a light slumber.
[Finished]