[ORP] New life in the land of Bones

[Tanakako]

((This is an open rp for anyone who wants to come see the newest litter of cubs to arrive in the pride. ICly, Ilanga is showing her babies off to her two sisters, but will certainly welcome curious visitors. The cubs are still very young, and wont be moving very far.))

The proud new mother lay resting under the shade of an old wind-blasted baobao tree. Her vulture was for once near at hand and not high up in the sky, though she was above her ground-bound bonded. Idla sat perched above her lion friend on one of the lower branches, near enough to keep a close eye on the new family but high enough out of the way that she wasn't in danger of being pounced on. Not that the cubs were at that stage yet. They barely moved, squrming over and around each other and uttering mewling little cries to be fed. Idla didn't understand the attractino, she prefered older ones that at least talked. But she supposed, she was glad to see her friend looking so happy.

Ilanga shifted, resting on her belly with her front legs stretched out comfortably in front of her. She was alert, keeping a watchful eye over her tiny cubs, but her entire posture was of relaxed contentment. Though it had taken longer than she had expected, she was finally a mother. And she knew Jasiri, the old Inselelo who had been beaten soon after their time together, would be proud. Her only regret was that he would never know about his youngest cubs, his last litter in the pride. Maybe one day one of her tiny sons would go out there and find his father, but that was a thought for the future. Right now she had more important things on her mind, like her sisters coming to visit their tiny nieces and nephews.

CaliWolfe

Andranis

 

[CaliWolfe]

Ukungcola was usually notoriously calm. Her entire posture emphasized it. It wasn't atypical to see her walking with a slight slump, her shoulders not tensed and she appeared unconcerned with any potential dangers heading her way. Her face always echoed an expression of happy content with her lazy eyes rolling over the landscape at a leisurely pace. To say she was acting a bit out of character was an understatement.

She wore a big grin and walked with a quickened pace. It's not to say that it was seemingly impossible for her to walk so fast, Ukungcola had hunted before and could be speedy when she wanted to. It was merely unusual for her to do so outside of hunting. Yet here she was, half trotting across the landscape with a happy smile on her maw.

Ilanga was a mother! She had been expecting for a while and now that the day was finally here Cola was fighting to contain her growing excitement. She was the first of the sisters to give birth to a litter, and although the father had been defeated and his position taken over by now, it was satisfying to know he had helped bring new life into the pride.

She spotted the baobao tree in her line of sight now and slowed her pace down to a healthy walk. "Ilanga, how are you feeling?" She asked as she came up to the new mother and gave her sister an affectionate nuzzle.

Tanakako

Andranis

 

[Tanakako]

The distant movement caught Ilanga's attention as she groomed one of the darkest cubs, a little girl with white swirls. Raising her head she called out to her sister. "Cola!" Grinning broadly, her expression one of absolute job and pride as she stretched up to return her sister's greeting, careful not to dislodge the tiny cub stretched out across her paws and wriggling with high pitched mewls.

"How are you?" Beaming she dropped her head and nosed at the squirming cub. "Look, she is dark just like you." Turning she corralled two more cubs closer, both dark but with golden swirls, the legacy of the father Jasiri. "Three of them!" Grinning fit to burst she beamed up at her sister. Letting the two cubs sprawl at her sister's paws she reached over, nudging another of the cubs, a pale boy with white swirls, back into the pile of furry bodies. "They are all healthy and voracious." She replied. "I never realised how much they eat, or move. Despite not being able to walk I keep loosing them," Laughing easily the Cinga smiled over her babies, completely and totally smitten with them.

CaliWolfe

 

[Andranis]

Somewhere behind Ukungola followed Imvula. The stone-brown lioness had already been antsy about her dear sister hunting a hippo with the rest of the pride, which had turned to horror when she found out Ilanga was pregnant. What if something had happened to her while hunting?!

But her fears and worries had been put to rest, when her belly had grown with the new life and she'd eventually gone off to give birth. Now she approached, eyes shining and joyful. "Good day, Ilanga! You're looking quite well, and your cubs!" They were so precious! Two looked much like their mother, while some bore the dark colors of Ukungola. But the ones to catch her eye were the two girls who looked strikingly like their dispersed father. "Oh, look at how adorable they are!"

Tanakako

CaliWolfe

 

[Kaliforneum]

His father was gone. Ifunci knew that it was the way of things, and that someday it was bound to happen, but it had still hurt. Worst of all, Ifunci hadn't truly been able to say goodbye.

But his father had sired one last litter, little brothers and sisters that Ifunci was on his way to go and see. And perhaps he'd even be able to help watch them and cubsit them. Their father may be gone, but Ifunci was determined to be the best big brother they could ever hope for.

Would they hope for it? What if they didn't like him? Surely they couldn't all hate them. One of them was bound to like him, right?

The sight of the three sisters put the worries out of his mind. Tail swishing back and forth excitedly, he slowly crept up to them, head low and ears back slightly. He could hear their soft mews before he actually saw the cubs, and when he finally did see them, his heart all but melted. There they were, all crawling over each other, tiny paws swiping at the air, curling up with one another. Ifunci could hardly stand it.

"They're so small!" He whispered. Had he been this small? Well, he had always been rather small compared to other lions, but surely he had been bigger than this, right?

Tanakako

CaliWolfe

Andranis

 

[Tanakako]

Ilanga looked up past one sister to spot the second, her eyes lighting with pleasure. "Sister Imvula!!" She called in joyous greeting. She had known her darkest sister had been worried about her for some time. And Ilanga's independent and somewhat stubborn nature certainly hadn't helped alleviate her sister's anxiety. I will strive to be a better sister.. She promised herself, beaming at both of her siblings as the tiny bundles at her paws squirmed and mewed in their restless manner, Even though Ilanga was sure the tiny vpcubs had no idea what it was they wanted. For certainly she had tried all she could think of, milk, warmth, fresh air... And still they cried. She had come to assume that it was just what they did at that age... Since the heavens knew they could do little else.

After greeting Imvula, Ilanga heard yet another set of paws slowly approaching them. Twisting to peer round both Imvula and Ukungcola, her gold eyes widened on spotting Jasiri's oldest son, at least the one remaining in the pride, "Ifunci." She greeted, giving the male a warm smile. As the three visitors gathered closer, Ilanga beamed proudly, happy to show her babies off, even if she did have to keep leaning over and catching one wriggling bundle after another by the scruff and returning them to the safety of her flank. Ifunci's words made her laugh and nod. "Aren't they? But they seem to get about pretty well, considering they can't walk yet." She remarked, eyeing the gold and tan girl with golden swirls as she rolled off Ilanga's front legs and sprawled out infront of Ifunci's paws, her high pitched mews mostly of surprise at the sudden tumble than from any real hurt.

Kaliforneum

CaliWolfe

Andranis

 

[belloblossom]

Nomvula had been so surprised to see a dark-pelted lioness trotting across the plains, that her curious nature had gotten the better of her. Where on earth was she off to in such a hurry? Was someone ill? Perhaps more of a busybody than she ought to be, Nomvula found herself following a few paces behind the lioness.

Still new to the pride and too shy to introduce herself to many of the pride lionesses, Nomvula found herself unsure of the name of the lioness she was following. When she at last came to a stop, she found two other lionesses, one of which was laying with...

"Cubs!" Nomvula gasped delightedly, her heart warming as she approached the group, not aware that she may be intruding on a precious family moment. "Oh, they're darling! So beautiful!" She hadn't been aware of the lion who had approached until she was standing next to him and bumping into his shoulder, "Oh, do pardon me! I'm sorry!" She apologized with a bow of her head, before noticing the cub at his paws and she smiled at him and the golden-coated lioness, misunderstanding entirely. "You two have the most beautiful cubs, truly."

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Tanakako

Kaliforneum

CaliWolfe

Andranis

 

[Kaliforneum]

Ifunci gasped as the cub tumbled, dropping down to the cub's level swiftly. He snuffled her, turning her about slightly with his nose to check for any injury. The tiny cub didn't seem to be hurt, but she was just so small. It looked like a strong breeze to blow away the entire litter.
"You gotta be careful!" He told the cub, not sure if the cub could even understand him yet. Perhaps he was really talking to himself.

He gave the cub a lick on her round belly and peered up at Nomvula. She was one of the newer lionesses to join the pride. "Oh that's alright! I'm not that fragile." Ifunci grinned. "Not like these little guys." Oh gosh, what if someone stepped on them? Or sat on them? It was just so stressful. He couldn't imagine how Ilanga was feeling.

"When will they start walking? Have they said any words yet? When will they get bigger? Do you think they know who we are?" The questions came tumbling out of his mouth one after the other. He'd never seen cubs this young, and this was one of the first litters that had been born since he'd become and Ahluke. He wanted to do everything he could to help, but he just didn't know that much about cubs.

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Tanakako

belloblossom

 

[CaliWolfe]

Ukungcola smiled with glee. Her smile only broadened as Imvula arrived followed by Ifunci. She smiled to them both with delight but her attention quickly snapped back to the cubs as they squirmed and mewed restlessly at Ilanga.

Cola watched them try and wiggle away. "Heh, they're already so adventurous!" She exclaimed. The dark lioness then bent her head down and helped steer one the cubs crawling on her paws back in Ilanga's direction. "Go on now." She nosed the little one gently

Her ears perked forward with curiosity as yet another member of the pride showed up. Had Ukungcola seen her before? Hmm. It was entirely possible that they had met but the name of the new lioness escaped her at the moment.

She gave a slight chuckle as the new arrival accused Ifunci of being the father of the cubs. "He's actually their big brother." She commented to the lioness.

Tanakako

Andranis

Kaliforneum

belloblossom

 

[Tanakako]

Ilanga kept an eye on all the cubs, but with both of her sisters there and the litter's half-brother, there were more than enough eyes and noses to keep track of the whole furry pile. Stretching out on her side she grinned up at the small gathering, content and pleased to have all her family near. Eyes brightening as she watched Ifunci worriedly nose and lick at the golden-coloured cub she knew she had found a possible babysitter candidate.

The arrival of another lioness prompted Ilanga to roll back onto her belly, being careful that none of her cubs were under her as she did. "Greetings pride-sister." She offered the stranger with an easy smile. As a Cinga Ilanga spent less time with the rest of the pride than most females, and so she was often out of the loop when it came to the newwest members. The new female's comment prompted Ilanga to laugh heartily, pale eyes sparkling as she glanced at her sister, nodding as Cola corrected their visitor. "These guys were sired by the old Inselelo Jasiri." She explained to the new lioness. There was a flicker of something in Ilanga's eyes, not regret exactly, but a kind of quiet wistfulness. Jasiri would never know of his last litter, having been beaten by the challenger before either of them had realised she was pregnant.

Turning her gaze back to her cubs' older brother, she grinned, amused by his rushed questions and obvious enthusiasm. "They are growing all the time, they have already got a lot bigger than they were." Chuckling she watched her cubs with glowing eyes, pride obvious in her expression. "As to the rest of it... I guess we will find out as they grow hmm?" She told Ifunci as she stretched her head forward, indicating to Ukungcola that she wanted her sister close.

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CaliWolfe

Andranis

Kaliforneum

belloblossom

 

[Andranis]

When Infunci approached, Imvula could only smile. There was just a hint of sadness in that smile, as looking at him made her think of Jasiri, as much as her sister's cubs did. But she couldn't hold on to the past forever, could she? She let out a chuckle, smile turning into a grin. "Everybody was that small once, silly! Even the biggest lions!"

Her gaze flickered as the other lioness approached, and a new laugh bubbled out. "Hello, Nomvula!" It was a tricky task, but Imvula had taken to trying to remember everybody's names. Nomvula's had struck her with the most delight to remember, given how close it was to her own name. Or perhaps that was what made it easier to remember.

Tanakako

CaliWolfe

Kaliforneum

belloblossom

 

[belloblossom]

Nomvula was properly surprised when she was informed that the lion she had bumped into was not in fact the father, but the litter's older brother. She rears went down in embarassment, but she found herself giggling too, having been delighted by their replies. It was a good idea to find herself amongst this crowd, she thought, they all seemed like such a friendly bunch.

"Oh dear, I'm sorry for the confusion." She replied, casting an apologetic look at both mother and elder brother. "I guess I'm still finding my way around the pride." She was going to transition that into asking what all of their names were, when one of the lionesses suddenly greeted her by name. Turning to her with ears perked curiously, she tried to remember if she had ever engaged in a formal introduction to the other lioness before now. She didn't manage to, but not wanting to be rude, returned the greeting as best she couldn't "Oh, hello!...." She trailed off, embarrassed again."I'm sorry, I guess I'm still trying to learn everyone's names too. "

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Tanakako

Kaliforneum

CaliWolfe

Andranis

 

[CaliWolfe]

Cola shifted a little closer towards Ilanga and then bent down and licked her sister affectionately on the cheek. Her head tilted slightly upwards as Imvula introduced the new female in a way.

"Nomvula." She repeated the name. She'd probably forget it anyways, Cola was more of a face-remember-er then when it came to names. But to her credit she was making an effort to remember the new lioness's identity anyways.

"So you are new to the bonelands?" The brown lioness asked. No harm in doing that right, just asking a question? "I'm Ukungcola." She introduced herself. "It appears you've already met Imvula? And this one..." She rubbed her face against the new mother. "Is Ilanga. And the big brother to these little ones is called Ifunci."

Tanakako

Andranis

Kaliforneum

belloblossom

 

[Andranis]

"Well, not FORMALLY met..." She sat down beside Cola, tail curling around herself. "More I've heard others call her by her name and put two and two together and concluded, this must be Nomvula!" Her face broke into a grin, slightly sheepish as her cheeks tinged pink. "I think I remember it mostly because it's so close to my own name..." A thought happened that maybe, just maybe... She should name her future cubs like that, with names similar to other pride members. Not name them AFTER them, but SIMILAR to them. It'd be potentially a worthy challenge.

Tanakako

Sorry for

CaliWolfe

double quoting

Kaliforneum

had to

belloblossom

fix coding!

 

[Tanakako]

Content to listen as her gathered family chattered with the Busisa, Ilanga raised a paw in a lazy wave as Cola introduced her to the stranger. "Its good to meet you Nomvula." She offered, though left the majority of the talking to her far more bubbly sister Imvula. Her deep husky purr rumbled free under her sister's tongue, tilting her head into Cola with a contented half-yawn. Looking after seven highly energetic bundles of fluff was tiring after all, even if they couldn't actually go anywhere yet. Ilanga was mildly terrified of the time when they discovered real locomotion, rather than the clumpsy but surprisingly effective method of wiggling around on their bellies that they currently employed.

Ears pricking she decided to run her cubs names past her sisters, since the topic was currently being discussed. "I think I've settled on names for these ones." She pointed at the first cub, the little golden swirl girl who had tried to escape past Ifunci a minute ago. "Jaila... And Jasirku. After their father." She added, motioning to the pale tan boy with white swirls. "Kwelanga." She pointed at the plain gold girl with no swirls. ".. and Isikali." Her paw gently tapped the only dark boy with gold swirls. "This is Nesibindi." She motioned to the fast asleep tan boy with a tuft of gold on his head. "And these two are Intuthwane and Makhosa'zana." She smiled warmly at the two dark girls, near twins but for the colour and shape of their swirls. One white, the other gold. Lifting her head she looked up at her gathered family and Nomvula, gaze expectant.