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 Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 5:37 am
The sun would set and with it the darkness of night would fall like a sheath upon the land. Yet the world would never truly be dark, for even in the shadow there up above were the stars; the kings of old, studding the inky blackness with their guiding sparks. They were the eternal fires of the sky, always there to give comfort.
Amari felt their comfort now and as he lay basking under their gentle, white glow he felt the curve of the smile on his maw and the excitement of what was soon to come.
Maawio's usually slender form had ballooned over the passing days and somehow he knew that within her stirred more than just one little life this time. In her first pregnancy her belly had only a slight roundness to it, her state subtle and lady-like. This time however, she seemed heavy, so much so that hunting had become impossible and it had been up to him and his son to try to provide the food.
Whilst they had been unable to bring anything substantial down, they had caught smaller prey which they had offered to the expecting lioness.
It was here outside the den that he lay, knowing that any moment she could pass into labour and he would again be a father. He was outside purely as a guardian, to make sure no one disturbed her and no predators tried to slink around. His close friends would often forget that whilst Amari was the big, clumsy, friendly oaf he could also be firecely protective. He was a dominant male and though the Pridelands had tamed his somewhat wild and unpredictable outbursts, the violent streak would always lay dormant.
If anyone was to approach whilst Maawio was in such a vulnerable position he would not hesitate to throw his weight around, that was for sure.
Thoughts of defending his beloved mate from harm took his mind back to his own past, to the time when he had been nothing more but a scraggly little cub. He had been the youngest of three brothers, a rough and tumble sort who often landed himself into trouble many times.
Originally his mother had been from a Pride but when she lost her mate she had deserted them and discovered only afterwards that she was pregnant. When he and his elder brothers had been born they only reminded her further of her loss and so she had given them no time. She fed them, hunted for them. Taught them the essentials but never got emotionally involved.
She had watched with lfieless eyes as the brothers had fought and bullied the younger until finally Amari had snapped and turned upon his siblings. The violence in him shocked his mother and in the end she abandoned him. Amari had never seen her again and the last words she uttered were ones that had chilled his heart.
"Such a dissapointment you are. You will grow up to be a violent, worthless rogue and I want nothing to do with a son like that."
The worst part was that she had almost been right, almost. He had made many a mistake as a juvenile, but the worst was fighting with Asikari and breaking up with Maawio. It was finally her gentleness that had tamed the violence within him and helped him forget what had happened in his past.
His gentle, friendly eyes turned to gaze back into the dark gloom of the den before once again moving to scan across the grasslands. There seemed to be nothing about other than the bugs - whose chirp filled his ears with pleasant music.
And he listened to it until the dark sky began to lighten. Black into grey, grey into pale blue and rising up from the ground was the sun, a great orange disc that lacked the lustrous strength that it had at midday.
In the morning it was easy to look at, calmer, soothing and beautiful. Just like his mate. She was his sunshine and with her by his side the clouds could never darken his day.
Little did Amari know that it was this new sun which would see him become a father to five little cubs.
This day would be one of the most memorable in the adult male's life.
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Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:12 am
The adult female lay in the den, the shadows concealing some of her ballooned form. Both of the parents knew that this time, they were going to be blessed with more than one tiny life.
It was perhaps intuition that woke her, or the nervous thoughts that had crowded her head in the past few days. Maawio lay awake, her sapphire eyes dark and fixed on the ceiling of the den that was tucked away in Pride Rock.
Maawio had been born into the pride, and though she had a anxious stuttering life to begin with, she remembered the male that had changed everything. Amari. Even the name brought a smile to her maw. He had given her the strength she needed, the strength to run away. So she'd plucked up the courage and they'd escaped. Escaped into the world which Maawio had seen so little of.
It seemed like she had fled from nothing however. The Pride was struck by a plague, of which Maawio had only seen the sickness. One of the few times she'd met her mother she was immobile, but the golden juvenile thought it would pass. She never even imagined she'd return as an orphan.
Although Wingu had pressured her daughter, Maawio felt a great loss. The number of lions in the pride dwindled to a mere few, but the past few seasons had seen the pride thriving once more. She and Amari had continued to help the pride and she gave birth to her one son. She looked over to her sleeping adolescent and tears sparkled in her eyes.
She remembered the heartache of leaving Amari and dismissed it from her mind. There was only the future now.
Maawio was worried, she'd done this before and her body was perhaps more capable of giving birth, but she knew that it would be painful, and that with more new, vunerable lies than before, she may struggle.
As if summoned the golden lioness felt her first contraction, a wave of anxiety hitting her stomach along with the subtle pain. They were a fair amount of time apart, but she felt she needed to inform Amari all the same. She waddled out of the den, her movement sweet as she padded towards the male awkwardly and licked his cheek.
Her soft voice echoed. "The circle of life calls once more."
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Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:24 am
He turned to her, making out her gentle golden cuvers in the rising sun. She looked gorgeous and the roundness of her stomach only eccentuated her beauty. She carried new life within her, the life of his children and for that he loved and admired her for her strength and courage.
"Are you okay sunshine?" He whispered back, a soft smile on his maw as he shifted closer, close enough so that their sides pressed together.
From this close position he could feel movement within Maawio's own form and felt assured of the healthy cubs. "I bet they're going to be a handful, these little 'uns." He grinned, moving to nuzzle her. "I take it the sun will rise not only to warm us three this morning?"
There was apprehension and excitement visible in his tone.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:01 am
She swallowed, the words sticking in her throat, anxiety giving her a throbbing headache. What if one of the cubs was to die? She hoped she'd be strong enough to give birth flawlessly. Perhaps she should wake Mbari...
Her eyes looked over Amari, an apprehensive smile upon her maw. "Yes, just a little nervous. Exicted, but nervous." The contractions were now closer together and coupled with a feeling of nausea. "I believe they will be." She lowered herself, eyes closed as she felt another contraction.
Mbari heard voices and woke to the image of his mother lowering herself onto the ground. Scared, he approached his parents with a worried look. "Ma, are you a-alright?" He glanced around the den. "I-is it the cubs?!" As his mother looked equally worried and in pain, he turned to Amari for an answer, his amber eyes searching the males face.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:05 am
"It's okay, don't be nervous my love. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." He shuffled slightly away as she settled herself but drew nearer again to lay beside her, his body resting so it brushed gently against hers.
It was then that his son approached and with a wide smile the male nodded, moving to rub the bottom of his chin against Maawio's golden shoulder blade.
"It's okay Mbari!" He soothed, "yes the cubs are on their way. You're going to be a big brother! Your mother will be okay but bringing new life into the world is a lot of hard work."
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:13 am
Maawio turned to lick at Amaris face happily, feeling content and more relaxed by his side than ever. As the contractions worsened she screwed up her face in pain, but focused on the two warm beings beside her for energy and comfort.
She pushed with the contractions, and after a while, the first cub slid out, a little golden boy. Maawio pulled him towards her and cleaned him thoroughly, then nudged him carefully towards her stomach and his father. She didn't have long before the contractions started up again...
Mbaris frown didn't lighten and he sat down next to his mother, the nervous and usually scared cub was also extremely protective. He kept glancing from his mothers round stomach to her sapphire eyes.
"I'll be here t-too, Mother." He was thankful of Amaris soothing voice. He watched on sadly as his mother fought with the contractions, until she pushed the first cub into the world. Mbari was in awe and smiled at the little boy sweetly. He had the same colour pelt as both him and his mother. "Awwww...."
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:25 am
((Just for everyone's references the cubs will be born in the following order: 1st - Kim's boy - (x)2nd - Zan-chan's boy - (x)3rd - Chemi's boy - (x)4th - Dragon's boy - (x)5th - Felyn's girl - (x) we shifted them round somewhat from the original order, sorry about that @__@ )) He waited with his breath held and as Maawio gave the final push he could not help but sit up to take a peek at his first born. Instantly he moved over and washed the little one, his coat shone like the sun and his heart sweeled with joy.
"He looks just like you Maawio." Amari breathed, he would be happy if all their children possessed fur as bright as the sun. "I think you should name him my love."
He picked up the tiny fuzzball with great care and set him down by his mother's belly, watching fondly as he squeaked happily and began to feed.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:45 am
She raised her head to look at the tiny golden cub and gave a wide smile. She knew there were more to come but it wouldn't hurt to stop and name him before the others came into the world, would it? She'd already given names some considerationg and she eyes shone as she gave the first-born his name. "Chunaka." She whispered. Maawio knew the meaning of many phrases, words and names. Chunaka, meant to set heart on.
The feeling of having him feed was unusual, and brought her back to the day when Mbari was born. However she knew this time there'd be more than one cub feeding from her.
Mbari nuzzled his mother gently, still a little nervous and his voice shaking. "W-ell done, ma!"
Maawio felt another contraction, then another, and she squirmed in pain, eyes snapped shut and mouth opening in mid-roar, though no sound was audible as she didn't want to frighten Chunaka or Mbari. Her tail thrashed about before curled around her leg as the second cub slid out. A little rusty coloured cub with caramel markings. He looked just like his father. She looked to him fondly and then back to the little male, reaching to wash him but a contraction stopped her.
Writhing in pain again she tried not to hurt either cub and hoped Amari would wash the second born. Her heart pounded as did her head. After many minutes of pushing and sweating, the third cub came into the world, Golden like his mother and two brothers, he bore the exact same markings as Maawio, except for the Amaris circular symbol that was placed on his forehead.
Settling down for a moment her stomach eased. Was that it? She smiled. "Amari, you can name both of these little boys." She gave an affectionate purr and nuzzled Mbari, who was a little shakey.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 9:55 am
Amari was moving to the second cub in an instant, his warm, rough tongue washing away any of the birthing fluid that covered the tlittle creature's fur. Sighing in relief as the creature wriggled and began to move Amari lifted him as he had done with the first and placed him neatly beside his brother.
However no sooner had he done that then a third cub was coming into the world.
"Well we certainly do have some eager cubs here." He joked, glancing over to Mbari as he moved to the third cub. "And look at that, it's another boy, a sbeautiful as his mother!" Amari purred and nudged the cub over for Maawio's inspection. It seemed as if perhaps her pain was ebbing, so was that it? Three sons into the world?
He had to admit he was a little upset that they had not had a daughter, but the three nweborn cubs were all so beautiful. Two golden and one dark brown - just like himself.
"The dark brown one." Amari chuckled, eyes glinting. "I think should be named, Kimeta'inkawu. We can call him Kim for short! Cute, eh?" He laughed and moved to snuggle closer against his mate, glancing fondly at the cubs. "And for the last...how about...Masega. It means honey, suits him don't yah think?" He did not really want to share the meaning of Kim's name just yet.
Maawio would probably beat him for it.
"What d'yah think of your new little brothers, eh Mbari?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:42 am
She nuzzled at Amaris shoulders, the only part her head can reach as her still elephantine figure couldn't meant she couldn't exactly sit up. Maawio nodded in approval.
"Kimeta'inkawu and Masega" She repeated. "Both beautiful names to suit our beautiful children." Looking to Mbari, she could see the joy contained within his eyes, only evident in his huge smile. She was eager to hear his opinion.
Mbari was lost for words. Cubs were something he'd always taken for granted, he supposed. He'd never truly appreciated the beauty of life and the difficulty of bringing someone into it. He felt sorry that he had given his mother so much pain before he was even out of her womb! As his father asked for his opinion he was truthful, grinning as he said it. "T-they're the most g-gorgeous cubs I-i've ever seen!"
He certainly was going to look foward to being a big brother, and no doubt he would be protective, and scared that something would hurt them,the way he felt about his mother.
Maawio gave a long sigh, as if to catch up on her breath, then a sharp pain took her by suprise. Another contraction? She almost cried out loud. More pushing, the pain almost burning her stomach, like a fist clenched within her. Pushing still, she gave birth to another cub, dark brown and golden. This time there was no resting as another contraction took place soon after his birth.
For what seemed like hours Maawio strained, sweating and panting to try and finally get this cub into the world. After almost an eternity of difficulty, the fifth cub slid out, a beautiful brown colour, without the hint of red like the males. A female. Maawio glowed before allowing her head to fall against the ground, breathing deeply from exhaustion.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 10:52 am
He laughed at Mbari's response and once again felt that the growth of their family had increased their bond. Amari had never been so happy in his life! He was with his mate, had the love of his eldest son and now had not three, not four, but five cubs!
And to behold his caramel daughter brought tears to his eyes.
They were all so tiny, so perfect so beautiful and yet her pretty little form was a blessing. One could tell that this daughter would be the most protected, for she was the only girl of two litters.
She was very special, though he did not think any less of his sons. He hoped they would all grow up strong and happy just like he was right now.
He moved to wash the two newest arrivals, the purr ever present in his throat as he made to survey them. "They are all so beautiful, and look, most of them even have my marks!" He beamed proudly, nosing his daughter before moving back to give Maawio more room, no doubt she was tired after all the work.
"I think perhaps Mbari should name one of the last two, what do you think love?" He asked, curling his tail about Maawio's in a loving gesture.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:42 pm
The rusty brown male with markings under his eyes like that of his mother curled up and squeaked as if trying to omit a mighty roar from his tiny throat. His pelt color was that of Amari, a strong color for the dreams and goals that already were filtering into the mind of the tiny cub. Not only taking after his mother and father in color, but also in strength and determination...and fun.
Wiggling himself around he squeaked again, his small tail curling and tracing over his siblings besides them. Feeling the warmth of them against his side. But his nose was pressed against Maawio's stomach, not feeding but smelling, knowing somehow that no harm would come.
Mommy.
Yup that was mommy alright. He knew it for sure. Moments before he was protected by her within, now outside he knew he'd be safe as well. Grow big and strong. All of it would come true. He poked around with his paws, feeling around him. Ending up gently pushing on his siblings backs, realizing that they were here too. That he didn't lose them in the journey here.
Nuzzling himself into Maawio's belly he squeaked again, not out of anguish or being uncomfortable, but to sound strong and announce to the world and everyone around him that he had arrived. Then he turned and wiggled again, as to situate himself and be nestled between his brothers and sister, and began to start feeding. His tail curling around his small form.
He knew another lingered here...perhaps two. But it was hard for him to distinguish anyone else besides his mommy. He wondered who else was here. Maybe daddy? Though he didn't know the words yet, he knew that Maawio and whoever else present would be his family forever.
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:24 pm
The youngest of this new, and quite giant, horde of cublings found her greedy little way through the stack and pile of pawing, digging little siblings. True, though she may have been the only girl, it was quite obvious even at this point that she meant to get exactly what she wanted.
At such a young age, unable to see, or speak, or even move very well at all - but even with all these things as a factor for this little beauty, she knew of one instinct and one instinct alone. Feeding. Cubs, at the newborn age, spent nearly seventy precent of their time sleeping and the rest feeding - boring, but that was how the life of a rapidly growing little squirt worked. So, as it was, she was eager for the taste of mother's milk.
Little squeaks poured rapidly from her mouth, her tiny little body wriggling slowly through the crowd of siblings aching for the taste of the first meal. Finally, with an ounce of satisfaction weighing on her little mind, she found the tummy and the means to fill her little belly.
Her squeaks ceased, satisfaction overriding every other basic instinct in her little mind - the voices of mother, father, and brother enough to calm even the most worried sensation of a newly born cub. It wasn't yet that she had realized that she was the onl daughter - it wasn't yet that she realized she could use her cuteness in a horde of brutes to get her way.
It wasn't yet that she knew she was going to be a little star.
((Eh, haven't got the feel of Kiasi'Nyota just yet xD Mm. She'll be spoiled though. Like most of silly girls <3))
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Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 7:06 pm
Instantly, as fast as his tiny limbs would move, he curled up and pressed his ears down, and curled his tail around his tiny body. It barely even reached. Sure, he was the second born of the litter so he wasn't exactly... tiny persay, but he was small enough. Such as was any other cub, and yet not as such.
Nothing made sense, it had been warm and dark and now it was bright and cold. Unconciously his eyeshadowed eyes scunched tighter as he gave a slight shiver. His matted deep dark brown fur clung to him in a manner he didn't like.
Wriggling his way towards a very familiar smell, he yawned and whined while doing so. There seemed to be something already odd with his behavior, though it was able to be pinpointed. Struggling a bit, he found his way to the familiar warm being and found it had food! Overjoyed the tiny glitter monkey of a cub clung to his mother and fed.
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Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:41 am
Maawio suddenly remembered. As she was so nervous and exicted, she'd forgotten about Eir and her blessing. The golden adult was blissfully happy, and so thankful that all of her cubs were safe, she almost forgot her exhaustion, looking down to the wriggling tiny forms of their cubs and smiling widely. "Thankyou Eir." She mumbled the words, and they were barely audible, but her grateful eyes welled with tears.
As Mbari saw the last two cubs, he felt a sudden pang of affection for his new little sister. Secretly he'd always dreamed of having a little sister he could protect, no doubt he'd be protective of all of them, but his little sister moreso. He didn't say a word, but he just looked down onto each little cub in turn, awestruck.
It was as if his mother could see it in his eyes and she nudged her eldest son sweetly. "Perhaps you'd like to name your sister?" Maawios sapphire eyes met the form of the second dark brown cub and smiled. "Inari." She said simply. Looking to Mbari her tired smile widened.
Mbari looked honoured and smile shakily. As a pridelander he had often been educated about the stars, and knew many names regarding them. Looking to the tiny brown body of the female he thought carefully. "Kiasi'nyota..." He paused. "Little star."
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