[LOG] Earth and Sky, and talk of heirs?

[Tahja Estes]

The jungle heat was no less intense than usual, but found Mteule seeking extra shade. As the sky priest dunked his head underwater, letting it saturate his fur as think down as it would sink he felt relief from the oppressive weather. He needed to speak with Kauta about things, about heirs for the pride, about their relationship-- (the most he could ever be to her was a consort, but if she didn't want to take a king then she could simply pass the title of king on to a male heir, and let him choose a mate, then there should be no issue with the priest and the royalty mingling.) --and about what direction the pride should begin to take now. More and more cubs were being born now, Matifu and Zumaridi's sister had returned bearing cubs, and they now had four new members to look after, though with them came one more capable hunter-- Kifijo. Now it was just time to restore some strength to the royal bloodline...  

[Tahja Estes]

Kauta, speak of the she-devil, had been lazing about on what had become her favorite resting place lately -- a rock on the ledge by the waterfall. Her mind was on similar things, though for more personal reasons, though she also had the pride's best interests at heart as well. She wanted cubs -- no, wanted Mteule's cubs.

Their first "attempt" -- if you could call it that, they hadn't purposefully been attempting anything of the kind, and only after the fact had she even considered the possible consequences -- hadn't stuck, and she'd decided it was high time for another. Seeing the new life in the pride, mingling with the mothers, and striking up conversation with the young ones, only strengthened this urge. And she, too, felt the unspoken pressure to further the bloodline she was the last of. The pride would fall apart again if there were no lion or lioness to lead them; she'd witnessed this firsthand alongside the twin priests. She needed an heir.

She opened her eyes as the scent of one Mbinu'Mataawa drifted into range, and spotted him in the middle of an attempt to cool off. Chuckling to herself, she made her way down off the ledge to greet him.  

[Tahja Estes]

Mteule was quite the sight after his little excursion, and lifted his drenched head to grin under the sopping masses of gray-blued fur that was his mane. It sogged over his eyes like a curtain, and he gave a light chuckle, tossing his head back and sending water flying in all directions in a neat arch. He couldn't really make out Kauta's scent right away, but it was slowly becoming apparent in his nose, making him turn his head in the direction from which she approached.  

[Tahja Estes]

Kauta grinned and took a step back, her eyes closing and ears going back against the spray of water that threatened to drench her. Laughing, she padded forward and nudged him gently with her head in a wordless greeting, his wet mane slicking back her patterned fur. Wet or not, she liked trying to bury herself in his mane.  

[Tahja Estes]

Mteule hesitated for a moment before relaxing with a soft smile, purring deeply in answer and batting his tail back and forth a bit. He enjoyed these moments of affection, even if they were still a secret from most of the pride for the time being. "And what can I do to please you today, highness...?" He asked, a bit of mirth in his tone, but he was also half serious indeed.  

[Tahja Estes]

She smirked a bit at that, coming up with two or three perfectly good answers that would fit the question... but probably not the way Mteule had meant it. She wasn't sure yet. So for the time being she settled with "I think you already have."  

[Tahja Estes]

"Then this is the start of a beautiful and promising day indeed. Kauta... there are some things that we need to discuss, however, about the pride. Heirs, mostly."  

[Tahja Estes]

Huh. Well, that was something she hadn't really expected... from Mteule's side, anyway. "Ah. Well, then, the answer is yes. I agree," she answered, figuring she and Mteule were on the same train of thought concerning heirs.  

[Tahja Estes]

Mteule looked a little surprised by her sudden approval, followed by a fleeting look of hurt, very brief. "Ah," He forced a smile, "Well, there's Matifu and Kifijo, but both of them are spoken for, so neither of them would really make a suitable king to rule with you, though you could always rule together without being together...? Or.... one of Matifu and Theluji's sons, even. What do you think, Kauta...?"  

[Tahja Estes]

Kauta eyed him, replaying his suggestions in her head, trying to figure out what in the world he was talking about. Obviously they weren't on the same page. She'd have to rectify that.

"Mteule..." She rose up then, looking at him with a soft but serious expression on her face. "If you can't be my king, then I don't want one. Any heirs of mine will be yours as well, no one else's."  

[Tahja Estes]

"...." Give that a moment to process. He tried working a response, his jaw moved, but no words came at first beyond stammered syllables. She wanted to have... h... HIS cubs? No one elses? "M... mine? Y-you want us to... a family?"

Oh, and once the shock finally wore away, how that priest began to puff up (and we're not just talking about his humidly drying fur.) with pride! She wanted her children to be his children, too, a family! A family of heirs and royalty, but a family all their own none the less!! Of course... him already being one of her advisors left no room for him to rule as king with her, though he already had experience doing a temporary job of it (only because Mteuli and Matifu had no intrest in the position, however temporary.), but if she really wanted to rule by herself, he supposed that could work. It just felt like she had choosen him all over again, but this time, the words seemed to have a stronger impact. She would notice a very visible change in demeanour in him now.  

[Tahja Estes]

Kauta smiled, nuzzling his shoulder, and noticing the sudden change, though he hadn't said much. It was more in the way he carried himself, the way his posture changed oh-so-slightly. It sometimes felt like pulling teeth, almost as if Mteule didn't want to hope -- ah, but when he came around, his response was worth it!

"Yes. I want US -- you and me -- to start a family. What do you think, Mteule...?" Her tone this time was playful, harmlessly mocking his inquiry earlier.  

[Tahja Estes]

Mteule rumbled a response, heating under his fur at the contact, but it was a purely modest and delighted reaction. He couldn't help but smile at her, eyes a bit shy still, but expression making it clear that the idea sat very well with him. "A family of our own? It's more than I could have hoped for, my queen." He replied warmly.  

[Tahja Estes]

"You should," Kauta agreed, trying to act smug, but failing with the next sentance. "Because what would the pride be without their Mbingu'Mataawa?" She settled next to him, curling her tail around herself and resting her head on one of his paws. It was an open invitation. For a brief moment she pondered over how the other pridemembers might take this, that she and Mteule were mated. Then she decided it didn't matter, because Mteule was here. With her.

Besides, she couldn't imagine anything but support from Mteuli, Matifu, Theluji and the rest.  

[Tahja Estes]

Mteule purred again and settled down beside her, running his tongue lightly over her muzzle a few times with a soft kiss. Parenthood would be a new adventure for the both of them, but one Mteule was more than ready and willing to make with her. And they were sure to have the pride's support...

"Just think, Kauta... soon, the Pride will be full again just like it used to be... Everything will be right again, but better."