The evening tide was in, dancing on the sand and rock of the pride's shoreline. Mahatma'kanja watched the moon rise, settled on the outcrop that overlooked the sea. It was quite a wonderful spot, and he found himself here quite often. While the number of cubs to share the pride's stories with were few, it was still a peaceful place for all, safe and comfortable. Even the Kizingo'zaa had been accepted as allies, creating a sense of security that the gypsies would have their back, and the Bahari would share what they had to offer. Their relationship had started off rough, but it'd gotten better.
Her children were grown, far beyond the fear of being stolen away in the night... Or the day. She did worry about them, like any mother, but now her worries were more mundane. Would they find the right mate? Would they even FIND a mate? What would happen if they didn't? When would they start to fret about her babying them? They were her babies, after all! The wave-marked lioness sighed as she walked up the path to where her mate was. She DID miss her babies being cubs... As she lay down next to her mate, draping her front paws off the side of the rock, she let out a rumble when he nuzzled her. "Enjoying the view, love?"
The male smiled, resting his chin on his mate's head. He so loved having her by his side... Her personality was one he love to see, as it shifted and moved like the sea that marked her. She could be calm as the sea on a moon-light night like tonight, or as fierce and turbulent as the sea during a storm. He let out a sigh, closing his eyes, still smiling. "Aye, and the view just got better." He grinned as she swatted his shoulder, then looked back to the sea. "Beautiful night out..." The sea was calm, the world at peace. Life in this exact moment was absolutely perfect.
The lioness chuckled, grooming his ears. "You are always so poetic, Ma'atma." She turned her own attention to the sea, settling against the teal male. The waves sang below, a quiet melody in the night, lit up by the gentle light of the moon. She looked down at the beach... And suddenly moved so that her paws draped over the edge and she leaned foreward slightly. "Ma'atma, look! Ze turtle eggs, they are 'atching!" Before her mate could even respond, she was up and hurrying back down the cliff to the beach.
Ah, her endless exuberance... Mahatma pushed himself up, leaning slightly to look. And there it was, the sand was alive! Here and there, tiny flippered turtles crawled out of the sand and started hurrying for the ocean. "Well, then! So they are!" He got up and went after his mate, padding across the sand to where some turtles crawled out of a nest. He crouched down, watching them with interest... And then had a bird land on his head. "OY!" He reared up, roaring and swatting at the gull. "Get OFF me head!"
Dimbwi crawled along the sand, smiling as the little turtle she was following made it to the sea. The waves greeted many tiny reptiles, and such a thing made her smile. The ways the circle of life worked! What WAS it like in the sea? She sat back, tilting her head and watching many of the babies crawl along... And then jumped in surprise as one crawled across her tail. She laughed as it scurried on, otherwise oblivious to her presence. "Little scamp!" Her attention was drawn, though, to Mahatma and the gulls he was now swatting at. Even in the dark, they were trying to eat the turtles! She frowned, charging at some and swatting with a roar.
It seemed like many birds had come for the little turtles! For what felt like hours, Mahatma ran back and forth across the beach, swatting birds away, making sure to not use his claws. A few roars had them scurrying, and soon not only did they leave the turtles alone, but the wave of baby turtles abated. The beach was soon quiet and still, empty save for the odd shore bird, a few crabs, and in that particular patch, the two lions. Mahatma let out a huff of air, sitting next to Dimbwi. "Well that was excitin'!"
Flopping into the sand next to the male, Dimbwi laughed, rolling onto her back. Sand would be clinging for a while, but she didn't care. "It was!" She then reached up, pulling him down into the sand with her. "I 'ave 'ad fun, chasing baby turtles. But..." She licked his cheek. "I would enjoy chasing cubs again." She wasn't going to lie, she REALLY wanted more cubs. Maybe next time, they'd have a big litter! Much like the rest of his family, really - Mahatma was from a big litter, and his parents were each from big litters. On his maternal side, big litters continued to run strong! Dimbwi, on the other paw, had been from a small litter, and her parents each had only one full sibling. When she'd had only four cubs, a part of her had been sad. She wanted a big, boisterous litter with lots of babies!
He wasn't startled by her statement, not in the least bit. Mahatma himself had wondered if they'd ever have another litter. How big would the next one be? One cub, two cubs... Eight? He enjoyed having a big family, and while having brothers and sisters and aunts and uncles and cousins galore in the pride was great... He also wanted lots of children of his own, so his kids would know what it was to have lots of siblings of their own! It was also a path of logic in his mind - Lots of children meant they had lots more children of their own, which meant the pride as a whole would grow! Growth was good! It was wonderful!
He leaned his forehead against Dimbwi's a broad smile on his face. "I was wondering when you'd say that... I'm ready when you are to have our own little wave of turtles!"
She could have squealed with joy, but she suppressed the urge, instead lovingly nuzzling her loving mate. "I look foreward to it!" The question was... How would their sons and daughter react? Not that it mattered, they were still having more children! She could hardly wait!
