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 Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 6:52 pm
The sun was rising...
The land turned red and orange as it burned up the sky. Lefika lay against a tall, leafy tree, laying where the thick jungles began to thin, and watched the swaying of the open grassland. It rippled like the ocean. It had been a long, long time since Lefika had been in the great wide open. She missed it. A tear sprung to her eye, briefly, only to be brushed away by one of Lefika's well-worn spotted paws. She was tired, weary... a little queasy. She felt... strange. These travels through the jungle had changed her, changed her in ways she couldn't have predicted. She had found herself. She had found love. She had seen what real fear was in a young lioness' eyes. There was something else... something Lefika couldn't quite place. She sighed to herself and hoped Koda would join her soon.
God, it was such a beautiful sunrise.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:49 pm
Koda was very close by, and was curious to how Lefika was doing this morning. He padded lightly though the brush in the direction of the lionesses scent. He was hoping she was still close, from where he last spotted her. Either way, its not like he was lost. The jungle was a place he always hung out.
He pushed inbetween two large plants, and then spotted the beautiful female that seemed to be awaiting the arrival of the male. Smiling happily, he bounded over to her side, to greet her. As he passed her, he gently rubbed his fur against her own. She felt a little different than before, though. It was a small difference, but it was noticable. He tilted his head curiously.
"Is something different with you?" He blurted it out, all childlike.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:54 pm
Lefika knew Koda was there before he even showed himself. She could feel his presence. Knowing he was there, she lashed her tail and let out another happy sigh, purring a bit as he brushed against her. "Hello darling," she yawned. She was tired, too. She didn't really understand why she was so tired. She'd slept so well last night, after all.
All the same, it felt good to have Koda near her; his presence filled her with a soft, warming feeling. She rolled over onto her side to look up at him and chuckled quietly. "Different?" she asked slowly. "Different... maybe? Yes? No? I don't know." She shook her head. Yes, something was different, but she couldn't quite place it. Not yet.
She found her eyes drawn again to the rising sun and marveled at it's colors. "Oh Koda, isn't it beautiful?" she asked, laying a paw down on his paw. She wanted him ever closer and closer. No, she didn't want. She needed.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:59 pm
Koda just stood idle for a second, pondering what Lefika was saying. ... Even she couldn't place what it was, but she also felt something different. Afterall, they were both newtimers at this ... parenting thing, it was obvious they wouldn't notice at first.
"Hey, sweetie." He purred lightly, as the lioness drew him in. He slanted his eyes with a grin and then flail-plopped right beside his mate. "Its amazing, Lefika." He smiled more and more as he snuggled up beside her.
Koda licked her gently on the cheek.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:06 pm
Lefika smiled broadly when licked, and leaned up to lick back gently. She was absolutely, perfectly content. She had everything she could possibly want, right here. Wide open spaces, the beauty and majesty of natue, and the love of her life by her side.
Yet, at the same time, no matter how content she was, there was also a vague air of discomfort. No matter what she did or how she positioned herself, she just couldn't get comfortable. She found herself, as well, highly alert. Her attention was drawn instantly to every little noise. It was almost as though she had reason to be on guard... moreover, her stomach was now growling fiercely. She sat up, startled, and glared down at her abdomen. "God, I'm so hungry!" she cried. "Why am I so hungry!? We just ate last night." She frowned. It was becoming gradually clear to her that something was... off.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:14 pm
The male got all warm inside as a lick was returned. Koda was also startled as Lefika stood up instantly. He frowned, and then examined his mate carefully.
"Is something the matter, dear?" His voice was full of concern, and he was curious now more than ever.
He stood up and came beside her to comfort her more. As he came beside her once more, he felt the difference again. He twitched slightly. "Is something wrong with your tummy?" He looked at it, and then smelt it. He placed his paw up against it, and felt Lefika's heartbeat. It was beating faster than normal, but beautiful nonetheless.
"Theres a bump in your stomach. Did you eat too much and get a belly ache from last night?" He sounded soo childish, but it was just how he was.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:30 pm
Was she sick? Well, she supposed that was possible. She was a little queasy, and her stomach was rolling a bit. But she was starving too. Usually, when she got sick, she didn't feel much like eating at all... though she rarely got sick, as she was always careful to take good care of herself. She furrowed her brow a bit in thought. She was hearing Koda, but she was lost in her own head too much to really listen to him, and she said nothing. She concentrated, hard.
It occured to her slowly as the dawning sun. Her pale, steely eyes widened slowly as she thought it. The more the thought grew in her head, the wider her eyes opened, until finally it was punctuated by a sharp kick against the inside of her stomach, and she gasped.
"Koda," she said, turning to her mate, "I... I think I'm pregnant."
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:05 pm
Koda was in shock as Lefika mentioned it to him. Could he really have ... ... impregnated his mate soo soon? Blushing, he rushed back to her side comfort her more and more. He came as close as he could.
"Wow, Lefika ... ... thats ... great news!" He almost wanted to cry. He would finally have a family of his own. Smiling he directed his mate back to the ground. "Maybe you should rest more. That is probably why you have such horrible pains. You can lean on me, if you'd like." He laid down quickly, and motioned her to go beside him.
The young couple would soon be a lively family. Koda cuddled up with Lefika. "I can't wait, sweetie. ... ..." He licked his mate once more on the cheek. "I love you, dear."
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:25 pm
Lefika, too, couldn't believe it had happened so soon. Couldn't believe it at all. In fact, she was a little overwhelmed. Her head was spinning, and she was in such a great daze that she didn't realize her mate was approaching until he was already pressed against her. She glanced at him, slightly startled, but then found a little reassurance in his gaze. Enough to steady her physically, but not quite enough to steady her emotions.
"Oh God, Oh God," she cried, pressing a paw to her face. With the invitation, Lefika gladly leaned up against Koda and pressed her face deep into his mane. Unfortunately, Lefika didn't share Koda's joy at the thought of cubs. In fact, she was terrified. "Oh Koda, I don't know if I'm ready for this," she murmured into his fur. "I don't know if I'm ready to be a mother. I mean... I mean... it's such a big responsibility, and I've only really just started to get out and see the world. Now I'll have to settle down to raise them, give them stability. I... I..." She looked into his eyes for help. "I don't know if I can do this!"
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:38 pm
Koda smiled as Lefika rested her head within his bushy mane. Of course, as her eyes filled with tears, he sat up a little. His ears began to fold back slightly. "... ... Lefika ... its alright." He placed his larger paw ontop of hers, as he looked into her silver eyes. "I know your ready. ... ... but, you don't have to do this alone, sweetie. I'm ... here. I always will be." He turned slightly, to cuddle up and hug her tightly. "I know its a big responsibility, but ... together ... together, we can conquer anything. Together, we will be a mother and a father, and we'll be the best parents we can possibly be."
He clung to her, and shared her tears. He also shed a few as he spoke to her. "... ... I know we can do this." He whispered the final words to her, and then said no more. He was hoping that a positive reaction would come from what he said to her.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:02 pm
Lefika sniffled and reined back the tears she didn't even notice were starting to fall at first. She carefully measured her breathing out so she wouldn't hyperventilate. Having panicked sufficiently, Lefika tried to force the panic back down and regain her usual cool, stoic demeanor. Koda's words were soothing in her ears, like music. A smile began to tickle at the corners of her lips with all her mate's assurances. To have his confidence meant a lot to her, meant everything to her. If Koda believed in her, then dammit, she must be able to.
She grinned now, snuggling into Koda's grip. "You're right," she murmured. "We... we can do this. We've just got to work together." Her eyes sparkled a little, half from dampness but half also from something deep inside. "My God, I'm going to be a mother," she whispered with awe. It didn't sound like a burden anymore, it sounded... well... she just couldn't describe how it sounded to her ears. It was unreal.
Leaning against Koda for support, she finally whispered into his ear, "I love you, too." It was the first time she'd ever said such a thing. She was never going to say it until she really meant it.
She meant it.
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Posted: Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:58 pm
Koda continued to stay close to Lefika, as she seemed to calm down a little from all the sudden stress. Smiling, he nodded. "Lefika, you'll be the best mother ever. I wouldn't have chosen anyone else to be my mate."
A tingle was sent up his spine when the lioness whispered to him. "... I love you, too."
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:46 am
Lefika smiled brightly. Koda knew just how to make her feel special, perfect, so wanted... Nobody else had ever made her feel that way. She fluffed up her fur, purred, and snuggled tight against him. His words were all she needed, they were sacred to her. "And you'll be a wonderful father," she assured him. "You'll be able to teach them to play. They'll adore you." She nuzzled him under the chin. "And honestly... I never even thought that I'd ever have a mate before I met you." It was the truth. Lefika hadn't even thought herself capable of love. For the most part, she was relatively indifferent to everyone she met. Koda was different, though... special. Koda completed her, stood for a portion of her that was missing from her life. Koda was the playfulness, the childlike spirit that Lefika, an old soul, had never had.
"Now that you're in my life," she said softly, "I don't know how I ever lived without you."
She sat with him a while then, quiet and content, before another kick to the belly reminded her of the task at hand. She looked around at all the trees beside her and the open land ahead, and she looked to Koda with a great, grave serious. "We need to find a place for a den," she declared. Crisis averted, Lefika was back to something more like her old self, authoritative and headstrong. Business needed taking care of.
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:00 am
Koda nodded and then purred beside her even more. "I feel the same way, Lefika. I ... never had any luck at all of finding the perfect match. Of course, that was until I met you." He grinned, and then stood up as she did.
"Me neither, hun. I don't know how I went along with life without you around by my side."
As his mate brought up the question, he nodded once more. "Of course we do. It doesn't have to be permanent, though. I will make sure your wish comes true, so you can travel the lands and see all the amazing sights. We will be able to do it all as a family." He smiled lightly, as he looked into her eyes once more. He knew she was the type to migrate often, and he didn't want to hold her back from that. The large male padded a few feet ahead, ready to go find a nice little home for them to call their own, for the time being.
"Doubt we'll find anything out in the open. We might have to go a ways. Into the jungle, possibly. Although, I don't mind that place. We just need to make sure water and food are full in the area."
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Posted: Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:31 am
Lefika positively beamed, now. Koda's love filled her world just as much as the sunlight now filled the sky; somewhere in the middle of all this she had forgotten about the sunrise. By now the sun had nearly cleared the horizon and was almost hanging free in the sky.
She stood with her newfound resolve at the task at hand. She was still groggy and a little off, but at the same time she felt the adrenaline pumping now; a mother's energy to provide for her children. She laughed and gave Koda a little half-smile at his assurance that she would be able to travel again, thoguh she said nothing. She doubted it. Cubs need shelter, stability. They need home. Sure, they'd grow and she wouldn't need to protect them any longer... but how could she make them leave the place they called home once they'd grown accustomed to it? And if they wouldn't leave, how could she tear herself from them? No, she didn't imagine she'd be traveling again... at least not anywhere in the forseeable future. But that didn't matter. Her family was what was important now.
"Yeah, the jungle," she agreed aloud. "There will be good shelter there, lots of nooks and crannies for the kids to hide. We'll be protected." Funny, really. Lefika had never cared for the jungle, hadn't even wanted to go in. Now that jungle had changed her whole life... and soon it would be her home.
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