[PRP] Reunion Revisited (Awani, Divy, Hashiel)

[Talencia]

Divy was positively glowing. She always loved it when her mother visited. It was a rare treat, one that always came as a delightful surprise. Awani wasn't good at giving notice ahead of time, so it was never expected when she showed up. Sasta had come barreling through, crowing about grandma being here, then went barreling out again, leaving Divy breathless with excitement. Hasiel hadn't been in the den at that moment, so she'd bolted out to find her mother on her own.

Now the two were strolling side by side back towards the den at a much more sedate pace. Divy was hoping Hashiel was back by now. She always felt joys were better when shared with him, and this was one such instance. It just wouldn't feel right if her mate wasn't there to savor the reunion with her. "Hashiel? Are you here?" she called as they approached.


As she walked slowly next to her beautiful daughter, Awani couldn't help the swell of pride. Adivyta had grown into such a confident, loving adult, well worth admiration. She gazed up at Divy with a smile. Sasta's enthusiastic greeting was all the proof of Divy's skill as a mother that the leopardess needed. It was amusing that most of her children were at least slightly bigger than herself, but that was especially true for Sliabh's brood. He was such a large male, even for a lion, that it was no wonder they'd all grown big and strong!

She turned her head towards the den as they drew near and Divy called out. She was very fond of Hashiel, loving him for his own sake as well as for being such a good mate to her daughter. She was looking forward to spending time with them both while she was here and catching up on family life. It was one thing she liked about Kitwana'antara... the focus on family and friends was strong here, moreso than any other pride she knew of. Not everyone was deeply loving, of course, but the bonds that held the pride together were stronger for the trials they endured together.  

[mouselet]

Hashiel had, in fact, managed to make it home sometime between Adivyta's departure and her return with her mother. As the moons went by, it was taking him longer and longer to walk the distance from the pride's heart to his own den. It wasn't that his pace had slowed, but the leopon had to rest far more frequently nowadays. Not to mention that, on a rare occasion, he'd have to stop to allow a dizziness to pass.

Nothing he wanted to worry 'Divy about though. It was selfish of him to keep this from her, but even though they'd both known he had the disease all his life, that wasn't the same as being confronted with its all-too-rapid advance.

He shouldered all those thoughts to the side as he recognized the pair advancing upon him and his olive eyes lit up in pleasure.

"Of course I'm here, Divy! The more surprising thing is that your mother is as well!" Awani was...not predictable. Much like his own father in that way. The two were born wanderers and while they did return time and time again, there was no way of knowing when that would be.

To avoid any awkward questions, he declined to get up, nodding happily at the leopardess instead. 'Divy, on the other paw, was a joy to behold any time and every time he saw her.  

[Talencia]

Divy bounced happily over to her mate and gave him an enthusiastic nuzzle, puasing to lick his ear as well. It was no secret where Sasta got his affectionate nature! She was oblivious to his remaining reclining, instead sprawling next to him and waving a paw. "Mother, come relax with us! Our home is yours, as always!" Though Awani had more children here than just Divy, the leopardess did usually stay with these two rather than any others. Divy privately was quite pleased at this honor, but also didn't begrudge that her mother spent a lot of time with her siblings while here as well. Not everyone in the pride with an out-pride parent got the privilege of visits, much less having said parent stay with them. The leopon knew she was quite blessed in all areas, her mother's visits being prime among them.


Awani approached the den, a typically restrained but warm smile on her face in greeting to the warm-toned leopon laying there. However, something undefinable made her pause and look closer at Hashiel. It was a small, niggling feeling, causing the faintest of creases between her brows. Something was off, but she couldn't quite figure it out in the moments of welcoming. She chuffed her love to her son-in-law without reservation and obligingly laid herself down in front of the happy couple. She gazed at them for a moment in pleasure. She was grateful her daughter had found happiness, and refused to allow herself any wistfulness for herself. Her lifestyle just hadn't really lent itself to "happily ever after" like Divy had.

"Ah, actually," she spoke in response to Divy's usual offer of hospitality, "I will be staying somewhere else this time." She held up a paw to forestall protest and hurried on, to prevent a hurt expression from crawling across Divy's face. "I'm not alone this time, dearling. I've brought Toby and Hara with me." She beamed at them both. "They wanted to meet all their half-siblings, and since we were traveling to find a new home, I thought we should come by, so you could all meet each other." This meant, of course, that the two were in the visitor section, where they would be kept safe from the disease. "It hardly seemed fair to leave them alone, so I'll be in the visitor's dens while we're here."  

[mouselet]

He, of course, leaned over to nuzzle Divy back, wordlessly expressing his love and adoration for her in a few short moments while his mother-in-law looked on. He remembered how nervous he'd been the first time his mate had brought Awani to meet him, but the leopardess herself had pushed his fear aside and reassured him.

It was funny, he thought then as he did now, that both his and 'Divy's lion parents were pridemembers, and their leopard parents the rogues. Sure, the genders switched when you went from one pairing to the other, and while 'Divy had all the half-siblings in the world he himself had none, but it was still quite interesting.

"Toby and Hara?" Hashiel asked. He only vaguely remembered the names, but it was clear from the leopardess' words that they were other of her children. And leopons, if he remembered correctly.

"While we'd be happy to offer hospitality to them, I'm sure they wouldn't thank us if they were exposed to the disease," he continued with a lighter tone. The precautions were, after all, quite simple and the reason why the visitor dens existed in the first place. Awani might sleep here with impunity, having no lion blood with which to catch the sickness, but it would be cruel of her to leave her susceptible children (though they were adults in their own right) on their own in a strange pride.  

[Talencia]

"Toby and Hara?!" Divy gave a girlish squeal, sounding much younger than her mature years at this point. Somehow, being around her mother tended to bring that out in her, even though she hadn't really been parented at all by the leopardess. Though admittedly, she tended to be more youthful around Sliabh as well. "They're here? You brought them? Oh my!" She looked primed to leap to her paws and go dashing off, though a glance at her mate seemed to settle her a bit. "As if I didn't have enough brothers and sisters to dote on," she added with more muted amusement, dampening her effusiveness instinctively. "It'll be wonderful to get to know them! They were still pretty young when you last visited, weren't they?" She settled her body more, leaning slightly into Hashiel, though whether to seek or offer comfort and support wasn't really clear. She just knew that he needed her, and she needed him.


Awani had to laugh at Divy's reaction, shaking her head. "Thank you for the kind-hearted offer, Hashiel. I know you would host them if you could, and have told them so. They are both eager to meet all of you, including their nieces and nephews." Heavens knew Sliabh's brood produced enough family to keep them busy for moons catching up with them all! She didn't plan on staying that long, but at least long enough for familial ties to be re-established and bonds begun. Family was important. She gave Hashiel another ruminative look at that thought before moving on.

"Speaking of nephews, I left Sasta with them." She broke into a wide grin at the mention of her very bouncy grandson. "He's grown so much! I can only imagine how big Mstari must be!" They were quite a mixed group! "Are there any plans on maybe another litter, someday?" She tipped her head and gave them an amused look. "I'd love to be a grandma again."  

[mouselet]

It did please Hashiel how his mate chose to use him as a pillow and an anchor. Or was she, consciously or not, providing him the anchor he needed? Not a thought he wanted to dwell on, especially not in front of Awani.

Though it was quite true that 'Divy had more siblings, nieces, and nephews than even he could readily keep track of. Frankly, Hashiel was happy that his family was of fairly small size. Though he wouldn't begrudge Adivtya her pleasure in her own bloodkin.

"I'm sure you'll have an opportunity to see all your grandchildren before you leave," the leopon replied with a smile. They were all in the pride...somewhere. Some were harder to find than others, especially once they'd chosen to move out of their parents' den.

"Though I'm not sure if we're planning another litter...after all, the first was such a surprise!"  

[Talencia]

Divy beamed at her mate. "Such a wonderful, wonderful surprise indeed," she murmured and nuzzled him. She reflected at their mutual astonishment when her belly had swelled. Such love had been poured into that magical time when she was pregnant, and when the cubs had been born. They'd had a wonderfully mixed litter, fulfilling a longing Divy hadn't even realized she'd had. Every hybrid grew up assuming he or she was infertile, though it was likely many of them wished for the ability to produce offspring at some point in their life. She and Hashiel never would have guessed they both had been so blessed. Just imagine if one of them had, but the other hadn't... they'd never have known!

But now that she thought about it at the suggestion of her mother, another litter did sound awfully nice. She cast Hashiel a subtle look, consisting of a faint raising of her brows, slight folding of the ears, and a begging look in her eyes. She wouldn't address the issue in front of her mother, but now that the idea was conceived, she very much indeed wanted another litter. They could, couldn't they? She'd beg prettily later, charm him into agreeing. They had loved being parents. It'd be fun to do it again!


"Well that's true enough," Awani laughed. She hadn't much considered the concept of grandchildren when she'd agreed to breed a litter for Sliabh, nor when she'd comforted Sadi and ended up with him as her mate. She really couldn't have expected the blessing, once all her children were hybrids. Not that she'd ever change her choices. No, not ever, she vowed silently to herself. She'd never regret either male, nor the litters she'd born for them. They were all special, all wonderful. The supposed lack of grandchildren would have been worth the love that swathed them, the love that she'd gotten in return. But wonder of wonders, here was her daughter, with another hybrid no less, producing grandchildren, some of whom could go on to give her great grandchildren. It was enough to bring a tear to the eye of the tough leopardess.  

[mouselet]

Hashiel raised an eyebrow at his mate's reaction to the suggestion of more children. He hadn't suspected that she would be so enthusiastic about it. The male hadn't truly given much thought to the idea - what with the progression of his own illness, he found his duties as a Nanny much more difficult than they had been. The thought of coming home to more cubs hadn't been an attractive one.

But, it was very true that he and Divy had enjoyed the experience. And while he wasn't certain if his health was up to caretaking, it would, he supposed, be cruel to deprive his beloved of something that she so desired.

And if they timed things well, she would have them...after.

"Yes, and you can pester Sasta and Mstari in particular for your lack of great-grandchildren," Hashiel added with amused dignity. After all, there was no reason the leopard and lion couldn't have children of their own, and what's more, they were of a perfect age for familial pressure to be exerted over their lack of cubs.  

[Talencia]

Specifically mentioning their 'regular' offspring brought a faint frown to Divy's muzzle. It was probably just the typical motherly worries, she assured herself, but it seemed like both of them were somehow growing away from her. Mstari was... well, unfathomable to Divy nowadays. And Sasta seemed restless, bordering on unhappy, though he endeavored to hide it. She suspected that he was feeling driven to roam abroad. She hadn't spoken to anyone about her fears, though, and hadn't wanted to trouble her mate with her silly female fancies. Her mother though... perhaps they could talk about it later. "Have you seen father yet?" she asked her mother instead, pricking her ears forward in an attempt to shift the conversation.


Awani didn't see the odd look cross her daughter's face, for she was watching Hashiel instead. At the mention of another he looked... well, really he looked rather tired. Worn out. The leopardess hooded her eyes so that her concerns would not show, but she frowned inwardly. This was not right at all. He was too young to feel as tired as he looked. Perhaps it was her imagination, but he also seemed thinner, less muscled than the last time they'd met. She flicked a look at Divy, wondering if she'd noted it yet. To all appearances, she'd guess not. She switched back to watching her son-in-law with concern, but was wakened from her musings by Divy's question.

"Hmm? Oh, no, not yet. Usually we give each other a little time before we meet up." Truthfully, Awani had never wanted to appear clingy, as if she expected something of him due to their one-time assignation. So she always took pains to give im space when she was here, though in truth she found his company delightful every time she visited. Talking with him was one of the highlights of her times here that she looked forward to. "Speaking of which," she added, rising to her paws, "I really should be going. I need to check that Toby and Hara have settled in, and that Sasta hasn't smothered them with nuzzles yet." She flashed a shared grin with them at the image. For some, Sasta's affectionate nature was smothering. "Do come soon to meet them! They are eager to get to know both of you."

She leaned to nuzzle them both and chuff lightly in their ear. Oh how dearly she loved both of them! She paced away, pausing after a time to look back at them cuddled close together, looking at ease and in love. Her heart was troubled by Hashiel's subtle signs of disease, but it wasn't for her to interfere in. After all, what could she do? This was not her home... she had no home, just now. Hmm. Tailtip twitching, she turned and trotted out of sight, mind and heart weighed down by thoughts that were unwilling to be shared just yet.  

[mouselet]

Hashiel nuzzled 'Divy in a silent apology. The difficulties they had with any of their children were, he knew, not something they liked to talk about, but it was, unfortunately a part of growing up. On both ends. But that was a discussion for later. Or at least, after 'Divy's mother had left the den.

"We'll be sure to visit you all before you leave again," he promised Awani as the leopardess turned to leave. He didn't know much of Toby and Hara, but given their mother and half-siblings, Hashiel didn't doubt that he'd like them.

As his mother-in-law departed beyond his sight, the leopon turned to his mate with a sheepish smile. "You know, I think there was something I'd wanted to say, but then you two came in," he told her with a chuckle.

"Now what was this about wanting more cubs...?"