Expectations [bhu]

[Moon]

Izaray
And Sugar, we're going down swinging

I don't know when I first felt it, probably thinking it digestion of the evening kill. I don't remember when I first suspected the truth and I barely recall coming to the final conclusion. My thought process was muddled and confused but strangely elated. I couldn't understand it. In a a rare instance, I longed for my mother who had joined my father in death. I craved her guidance and reassurance, but obviously she couldn't give me it now. When I realized there was no mother, no Anabi, waiting in the sidelines to give me advice, I thought of how I would tell my dear Ackecheta, my king. I hoped his reaction would be positive, that he would know what to do. Perhaps my instincts would shoot in before long, but now I only felt slightly frightened. And ecstatic. And even still, fiercely protective. I could take on an entire pride and they would all lie dead at my feet with the way I was feeling.

But as I lay, stretched out in the camp, contemplating this, I suddenly felt far too vulnerable. I curled in on myself, looking around. If the time came, would my pride protect me? Would our territory be safe? So many enemies in the land and I wondered if our numbers would be able to take it. But then I thought about it again, and I narrowed my eyes, daring anyone to try and harm my little secret. I would kill. Realizing this fed the fire inside me and I felt completely satisfied with my new thirst for blood. This fact encouraged me and I decided now would be the perfect time to tell my mate, my darling. While I was sure of myself and my instincts were powerful. I picked myself up and went looking for Ackecheta to tell him the news. I was expecting. Our lineage would continue.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Ezhno had stood much too rigidly on the side of normal. He had tried so hard to brainwash me and, for a while, had succeeded. Females hunt, males defend. Issue with that logic is I had seen too many of my lioness’ stand willing to defend their home. I had never fought alone. If Ezhno had not been so caught in tradition, he may have still been alive today--or at least would have died at a respectable age for an honorable reason. Pride is not honorable when it kills you. There was no doubt I cared deeply for my late alpha, and I missed him daily, but I did not aspire to be him.

It was with this thought I had set out to hunt something small. Izaray had been queasy in the evening and I blamed it on the heat returning. Our kill had only sat for several hours but with this damnable sun being merciless like it was in our childhood, things spoil quickly. I was not a doctor, but I felt the best thing that could be done is to give her something fresh to eat--one could be amazed by the miracles a fresh piece of meat could perform. And I had been fruitful, a plump rabbit, just big enough for one average sized lioness, dangled lifeless from my jaws. It had squealed as it died and it reminded me of when I was smaller. That squeal had given me chills as a child, and I would be lying if I said I didn’t still relish in the pain my power could inflict on another. I matured, that didn’t mean my lust for blood had faded away.

By the time I entered camp, chocolate eyes caught Izaray on her own hunt. I approached her from behind, placing the rabbit down silently in a small patch of dead grass to keep the sand from tainting it. I stalk up beside her. “Looking for me?” I purred it affectionately into her ear before nuzzling my cheek along hers. My childhood sweetheart was still the light of my world. So often love dies as you age, but against all the odds, I loved her as much now as I did when I was a flirtatious cub.

And now there was no Ezhno saying I had to wait my turn.

OOC//: Sorry it is kind of short--I will have more once Izzy shares the news because yay frantic father thoughts! :)

[Moon]

Feeling his cheek against mine sent pleasure through my body, and a small smile was permitted to appear. I turned to my mate and gave him a swift but affectionate lick on the muzzle, tasting fresh blood. My stomach gave a small but firm protest, though I still hungered for sustenance. Perhaps this was a small price to pay for motherhood, one I would grudgingly go through to ensure the safety and health of my offspring. Turning away from the smell, before my nauseousness came to the surface, I looked my mate in the eye and took a breath. "Darling, I have news," I began, confident in my tone, but unsure inside. I felt my stomach give a flutter, and my courage renewed itself.

"You know I was not feeling well yesterday, and how we suspected a spoiled meal. But..." pausing, I looked hard at my mate, once again wishing for my mother and her quiet guidance. But I shook this off and forced myself to continue and to face the future. "Ackecheta, I'm pregnant. We're going to have children." At this, I let out a relieved sigh and finally let myself smile, as small and worried as it was. He would know what to do. He would protect us.

OOC:// Mrrrrrrrrrr, I'm sorry Dx I'll get more detailed, I promise

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

My spine quivered with her affection. I had never once questioned my own feelings for the woman, though I knew there had been times I questioned how she felt over me. Jasninon had proven a great nuisance in our relationship, a thorn I had since yanked out and throw to the side. He still resided in Akando, but I knew where Izaray’s heart lay now. I could have confidence in our relationship now.

Good timing, too. My ears perked forward in surprise as the news came falling from Izaray’s lips. I offered her only a surprised expression at first, brain not quite processing the true meaning of her words. Pregnant. Children. It was all so simple, yet just out of reach of comprehension.

And then it hit me all at once.

A tidal wave of emotions fought for custody of my face as my lips unfolded into a smile of insurmountable joy. “We are going to be parents!” I pushed my head forward and rubbed my nose against her’s. We would raise the perfect little soldiers--able bodied, obedient, and knowing their family loved them. “Oh Izaray, pardon me for sounding like a giddy child, but I am so excited!” I turned away and grabbed at the rabbit. “Here, eat!” I thrust it in her direction, speaking through its scruff, before placing it carefully by her feet.

Control. I wasn’t in control of myself. Ah, screw control. I was going to be a father.

OOC//: Okay, I lied. It might take a bit to get quality out of Cheta. I am rusty in writing as him, haha.

[Moon]

A quiet purr started in my throat as I saw his reaction, and I quickly became more confident in the situation. Everything would be fine. Our children would grow into fine soldiers, worthy of the Akando name. They would have childhoods that their parents had been mostly deprived, but they would be trained thoroughly. They would be perfect. "They'll be gorgeous," I purred, and looked down at the food he presented to me.

I wrinkled my nose though, unsure if my stomach could take the food before me. I sniffed tentatively and, feeling no objections, took a huge bite. I finished the morsel quickly and licked my maw clean of the blood, blinking gratefully at my mate. I took this time to make a sweep of the camp with my eyes, watching our pride. My instincts told me that I must be on guard constantly, with more to protect than myself. I wondered once again whether the rest of the pride would willingly protect me and my children.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

My eyes followed her every bite as she quickly inhaled my kill. I couldn't help but admire every little thing about her. She was more than my childhood sweetheart and mate now; she was to be the mother of my children. She would stand by me to gawk in adoration for all their 'firsts', and help me stay strong during those wars where things you don't mean fall past your lips. I remembered my actual parents, the soft-hearted unworthies. I realized now, as a matured adult, I did love them. I had never meant those 'I hate you's said in the heat of an argument. I also found some part of me regretting killing them--but looking at Izaray I knew I wouldn't change a single thing about my life. Every wrong turn I took lead me to Akando, and to my only true love. Nothing worth it is ever easy.

I watched her as she finished and looked around the pride with a prick of apprehension in her eyes. I flinched with it, knowing the cause. Growing up, Izaray and I had not been the most liked children, justifiably. We walked too closely in Ezhno's shadow for the members of Akando to trust our leadership in the beginning, I wouldn't have put it past them all to raise a rebellion, no doubt lead by the ambitious Jasninon. "Izaray, they no longer follow us in fear. Our pride respects our leadership now, for we have proven ourselves worthy of it. They will fight for you." I cooed it softly, careful not to speak illy of her father. Again, I knew I loved and honored the man, but I also recognized his flaws. I wasn't entirely sure Izaray was ready for that, yet.

Though, she had mourned her mother, so she'd clearly grown up a better feline than her father.

[Moon]

I nodded, and though I agreed that the pride was under our rule with much more ease than was shown in the beginning of our inheritance, I couldn't help my own uneasiness. Perhaps my mothering instincts were so going to be strong for these children. At least I knew they would be safe with me. I touched my nose to Ackecheta's, needing his comfort for a moment as I tried to put my thoughts behind me.

"Ackecheta, I wish to be parents worthy of our children," I said, thinking of something we both shared. Though the subject was tender, my voice remained determined and strong. "You wished for different parents. I thought my mother weak before. I realize now my father could have been a better leader. I don't want our children to regret our lives or any aspect of us and I don't want to regret the kind of parents we were." I lashed my tail, bring it up and almost touching the tip to my back in an agitated whip-like fashion. Thinking of our parents made me angry, of how I couldn't appreciate what I had in one and how I was blind to any faults in the other.

Our childhood wasn't awful, but when I looked back I realized we had to grow up much too fast and had no time to learn more and get out our childish nature. We probably would have started out better heirs to the throne and our pride would have taken our leadership with ease rather than suspicion and reluctance. I could hope for our pride to finally become a force to be reckoned.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

OOC//: I know it was short but I am braindead so want me to lock/move and that way we can actually have cubbies soon? If you want to play preggo izzy more, I completely understand and I will think up something <3

[Moon]

OOC: That's fine, I actually just wanted to see the way Cheta would react to the news ^^