Unexpected News

[Apologies for my overwhelming amount of muse to spare :'D This happens very late at night in October 1st, perhaps between the former date and October 2nd's early morning. Closed to Chumvi, Kula and myself.]

It'd been a long day.

Not necessarily because it was bad, but the lioness had made quite a few acquaintances just a few hours ago, which was an exhausting activity itself. More importantly, though, her encounter with Chumvi had worn her out emotionally, brief as it was. And yet... yet she suggested they meet again. It's not because she really felt like interacting with him further, but there was something she really needed him to know. And if she didn't do so now, she wouldn't be able to in the future. The lioness was running out of time.

Nosetrills expanded as she inhaled deeply, letting the air out in a soundless sigh; she'd expected him to come, but she'd been sitting there for quite a while with no results. Simply giving up hope he actually cared about her enough to make a brief appearance, Zukkiza rose to her paws, tail flicking behind her as she turned around to leave. She was cut short, though, by the grass -which didn't look so golden anymore under the moonlight- rustling behind her. Could it be?

She turned around once more, and her gaze met with that of the lion she'd been expecting to see.

"Hey."

The lone male had made his way leisurely through the grasslands, his head low. A slight bounce in his step was all that seemed him. It had been a rough time for the male once Zukkiza departed from the gathering with Chippy and himself. Though not too long ago she’d made an arrangement to meet him here tonight. It was the first thing she said to him that was more than a slight greeting. A glint of life had emerged from the depths of his vibrant gaze, though that was covered by his wild mess of a mane. Strands of the curly locks took it’s usual spot along his line of sight, though it didn’t seem to both him much. The obscurity was lessened by the silvery sphere overhead which released wispy tendrils to light the way.

Each silvery stroke lapped at the arch in his back, illuminating his somber pelt slightly. He was nearing the female now. Zukkiza’s scent was a beacon for the brute, showing him the way. Nostrils twitched urgently as he was met with the aroma of the female, though something was unusual about it. He’d noticed it not too long ago. It seemed almost…soothing. Welcoming and warm. The scent caused his tongue to stroke the roof of his mouth slightly, pupils dilating.

What was that smell? She wasn’t sick was she? That’d be awful. The mere thought had his paws lifting with urgency, tail whipping with the sudden movement.

However through the silence of the night, each of his foot falls were suddenly painfully obvious. Finding it necessary to tone down, he slowed to a trot, his movements careful. With his muzzle parting the golden blades of grass he was met with the half turn frame of the female he’d come to meet. Her gaze met his and instantly he felt warmer. The beating of his heart took on a new speed, sending blood pounding through his veins, filling him with a small dosage of courage. Stepping boldly though the grass, he did his best to keep his head held high. Perhaps if he appeared stronger and more suave, she’d throw herself at him as before. The depressed shaggy look couldn’t possibly be inviting. A single word spilled into the crisp air, her usual simple greeting. Though he didn’t let that dampen his optimistic mood. Stepping forward, he inclined his chin upwards, a gentle smile gracing his features. His tongue swiped along his teeth before he spoke, his voice like that of honey, “Zukkiza,” Barely above a whisper.

Unable to stop his paws, he strode directly towards her, ears lowering as he moved to nuzzle her. It was her stance and expression that stopped him short, however. Momentarily frozen, he gazed at her grave manifestation. Paws shifted, transferring his weight from paw to paw anxiously. Plopping down rather gracelessly, he dipped his head, so that he may capture her gaze and coax the words from her mouth. Tilting her skull, he was able to peer up at her with fully dilated eyes, though that may have been a bit difficult to see considering his mane hadn’t moved back as submissively as he’d have preferred.

"Zukkiza."

His voice brought a feeling of fondness to her ears the lioness couldn't bring herself not to like, just as she couldn't bring herself to utterly despise him despite her best attempts to do so. The muscles along her shoulders tensed as he leaned in closer to her, and, for a moment, Zukkiza contemplated returning his affectionate gesture. She, however, decided against it, and the thought was dismissed as fast as it had even occured to her. Watching him make himself comfortable, which was for the best considering what he was about to hear, the lioness cleared her throat, opting to sit back on her haunches before raising her voice.

"I wanted you to come because there's something you should know." Her ears flattened down to her skull, and the feline's glowy, amber eyes never left Chumvi's own, more yellow-tinted ones. For a moment, she was hesitant; should she just make something up in the spur of the moment as to avoid telling him the truth? should she just turn around and not say anything? Perhaps not letting him know was for the best; What if he didn't even care? No, no. Zukkiza shook her head lightly to get rid of the thoughts before focusing on thinking how was she going to tell the admittedly gorgeous lion before her what she had to say rather than on a way to run away from the situation. Zukkiza inhaled deeply before letting out a sight that would've been soundless if it wasn't for the silence of the night, which made every little sound all the way more obvious and detectable.

"Chumvi, the night at the cabin, it wasn't just... I know what happened there might've been nothing special, and I know this may or may not mean something to you, and I thought you really needed to know even if I wasn't and still am not sure if I want to tell you, and I think-" There was a stutter to her voice, and the lioness's salmon tongue seemed to tangle on itself as to not let her speak. She growled, closing her eyes shut for a second before breathing in deeply again and repeating the process for a few moments. Finally, her eyes fluttered open again, and she was able to fix her gaze on Chumvi's own, mane-covered one; "Chumvi, I'm pregnant."

The atmosphere was heavy with the news that obviously seemed to weight the female down. Eyebrows arched, lips forming into a frown. She couldn't seem to get them out until she finally began, the lyrics swirling around him. Their gazes met and held fast, never breaking. From this angle, he could seem how she truly felt. Anxious, confusion...fear? A tightness in his throat induced a low growl, as if to clear his throat and his worrisome mind. He prayed she get on with it before he blew a gasket. The fur along his spine prickled, running down the full length of his vertebrae, displaying his uneasiness clearly. "I wanted you to come because there's something you should know."

Know what? What could be so important he'd have to know? She wasn't leaving was she? That would devastate him entirely. If anything, he'd go with her wherever her paws carried her. But what if she didn't want his company? She may have asked him to come here tonight but she never showed an happiness or affection once he arrived. She'd remained put, her sharp eyes burning into him. Jaw slackened as he went to speak, as if to urgently ask what this was about but he words stopped him immediately, "Chumvi, the night at the cabin, it wasn't just... I know what happened there might've been nothing special, and I know this may or may not mean something to you, and I thought--"

A vicious sound escaped his clenched throat, irises ablaze as he rose slightly, in a defensive pose before he cut her off abuptly, "What makes you think it wasn't special to me? Eh? If I remember correctly, you're the one that left me the following morning. I hadn't seen you for the longest time since then and I just t--" Her words hadn't ceased though what she said next had the words dying in his mouth, pupils constricting as he froze. She'd paused, her eyes closing before finally: "Chumvi, I'm pregnant."

"Wha.." He seemed lost. Jaw remained hanging open as he fought for something to say until he launched himself forward. Paws grappled around her neck as a series of purrs escaped him. Before he could remember her disdain for him, he was rubbing his cheek against hers before leaping back with a panicked sound. Descending his head he gazed nervously at her rounded stomach, he'd though she was just eating good. "Did I hurt them?" He questioned gently, his nose prodding the region.

Chumvi's softened amber irises remained fixated on her stomach before he reached forward gingerly, his tongue trailing along the area lovingly. He'd never experienced this. Sure, he spread his gene around yet he'd never seen the cubs, never saw the lioness' round stomach. This time Zukkiza returned. She'd showed him what would soon be their family. "You hate me." He said as he rose his head to meet her eyes, "But I'm going to change that."

Her heart felt heavy for a few moments, gaze no longer fixated in the lion before her. Zukki had opted for looking down at her paws instead, worried about what he'd thought about the news she was bringing to him. "Look, I get it if you don't-" before she was able to drag on any further, the lioness's frame was against the ground, Chumvi's own figure pressed against her. A sigh of relief left her parted jaws, and she found herself being so happy about Chumvi's reaction she allowed herself to return his affections. As he jumped back, Zukkiza couldn't help but to give him an endearing look, "You didn't hurt them." He actually... he cared about the wellbeing of his cubs. He did care. That was much more than she could've ever hoped for, and it filled her with joy to know she wasn't the only one concerned for the lives yet to be brought to this not-so-kind world.

A tickling sensation on the area she'd been so fiercely protecting from foreign touch for the past few months stopped her happy train of thoughts, but she didn't flinch or draw back defensively. Her throat didn't emit a menacing snarl, it merely rumbled in contempt. She knew Chumvi'd never hurt them, never hurt her, and it was technically as much of a right to him to interact with the unborn cubs as it was hers. And since he did actually want to interact with them, and he did actually care, and he was actually willing to help her keep them safe -or at least she'd assumed so-, she was all the way more inclined to not deny him what was rightfully his.

Her ears twitched slightly at his next, brief set of words, her eyes meeting his once more. He was actually bothering with making her change her mind about him? That brought a newfound kind of smile to her lips, one she hadn't shown for months, and Zukkiza could swear her heart fluttered a little in her ribcage. He could've just helped her with the cubs and not really care if she hated him, but Chumvi wanted her to at least like him instead. That meant he definitely was concerned, not only for the cub's wellbeing, but for her own as well. And it brought her a wonderful feeling to know so. The lioness nodded her head lightly, "Okay." It was a simple yet meaningful response, because she was willing to let him try to make up to his mistakes, which she wasn't going to do willfully before.

Zukki really couldn't have hoped for anything better than this.

Her simple response held much meaning then what appeared, causing his heart to swell. Leaning forward he allowed his tongue to gently graze her cheek before withdrawing once more. Oh how he urged to nip at her neck. It was a signature move he'd took up using with this lioness. Back at the cabin of course. Though he doubted she trusted him and he didn't want to force his affection upon her. No, no. He'd have to be much more subtle than that. Gotta be smooth.

Once more his attention was returned to the growing cubs, his gaze glinting adoringly. Lowering himself to his stomach, he curled his paws to his chest, nuzzling the rounded abdomen softly. Light whispers fell from his lips in a playful, yet reassuring tone, "Hello there, I bet it's warm in there, huh?" Lips pulled in a smile, "I hope one of you'll be lucky enough to look like your mother. She has the softest fur, velvety and unlike any other creature. Maybe you'll have her eyes. Amber, like a hungry wildfire, though gentle like a dying flame." Eyelids lowered as he breathed hushed words to the unborn cubs, "Maybe...maybe one of you can look a little bit like me. I do apologize if you get stuck with an unruly mane, but hey," Puss streamed from his tongue, "You'd be quite the catch."

Murmurs had continued to fall from his jaws until he finally resided his chattering. Instead, he slipped into a hum, too upbeat and lively at first, though after a while he was able to turn it into a quiet, calmer tone. Babies were more into lullabies, right? The tune wasn't exactly of lullaby material, but Chumvi would get the hang of it. Once the cubs were born, he'd have mastered the ability. Or at least, he hoped. He had time to practice and harness the ability. After all, he'd be the babysitter most of the time. That is, he hoped. Cubs were so much fun, "I promise to be the best dad ever while remaining the biggest cub ever." His voice lifted into an excited pitch, "Oh, I'll show you all the best places to chase down mice or the greatest tricks to play on the other, oh!" Words tumbled from his lips in a hyper manner as he explained the tricks he used to play on the other cubs. Each story ended with joyous laughter.

He'd occasionally glance up to capture Zukkiza's gaze, his eyes shining as he offered her a smile. The sun had began to rose quickly than he realized, time passing rapidly. An ache in his muscles had become apparent but he ignored it. Laying here talking with his unborn cubs had brought him moire happiness than he'd experienced in a while.

She allowed herself to take his affectionate gestures, not having the willpower to be even mildly angry at him when Chumvi was being... well, himself. Not himself as in the slightly overly flirty lion, no; himself as in a new extent of Chumvi. He seemed excited and happy, curious yet careful. Zukkiza simply looked at him fondly, letting out a sweet, throaty rumble as his rasp feline tongue pressed itself against her own warm cheek. Though still not fully willing to forgive the lion, Zukki was going to enjoy this moment, because they both were equally full of joy, and she could almost tell the lives within her were also content with the situation. I mean, how could they not be? Their father loved them, and that was worth more joy and happiness than anything else in the world.

Zukki didn't draw her eyes from Chumvi's frame for even a second, giving him a look full of fondness and adoration as he spoke to the cubs, and, when he began talking about how he hoped they looked like her, describing her features as if she was a really gorgeous lioness, she couldn't help but to get a warm feeling that spread from the depths of her ribcage and to the rest of her body. He described her with such adoration Zukkiza couldn't hold back a wide smile, and hadn't she been so eager for him to go on and say more things to the yet to be born cubs, she could've reached down and nuzzled him, because he was just being so caring it made her forget about her grief against him. She even silently hoped one of the cubs looked like Chumvi, too. Moreso, she hoped one of them acted like this Chumvi before her eyes, because, to her, Chumvi was the most perfect living being at that very moment.

After a while of listening to the words that quietly slipped from his muzzle, he started humming a tune, which maybe wasn't what one'd call a lullaby, but, as he carried on, it seemed to grow calmer and more soothing. The lioness even felt her eyelids getting a little heavier for a few moments, though said fact could also be attributed to her lack of sleep today so far. And then, a while after, she heard the phrase she could easily tell filled her with positive emotions the most of this whole, priceless moment;

"I promise to be the best dad ever while remaining the biggest cub ever."

He wasn't going to just be their father, he was going to be their dad, and there's a difference, mind you. If her smile could grow any wider, it did, and another rumbly purr escaped her before Zukkiza sighed in contempt. Seriously, she couldn't have asked for anything better than this, and she really did want to shower him with her affections, but she didn't want him to move. She wanted him to keep talking with the cubs, to keep regarding them as fondly as he was right now. Because she knew like just a mother could know that it made the cubs happy. So she simply opted for listening to his stories, also letting herself giggle slightly at particularly fun endings; Her cubs would be a mischievous disaster with a father like that, she realized. She also realized she wouldn't mind that.

When one of the stories was finished and he took a pause to look up at her like he'd been doing during his conversation with the cubs, she was happy to smile back at him, "You are going to be a great father, Chumvi." There was a warm and adoring tone to her voice she'd never quite heard before, and she guessed that was part of the whole process of being about to become a mother. She liked it.

Lounging around like this, it seemed a blessing in a war. No battle cries echoed in the distance, no vicious attacker followed suite, nothing disturbed the region. It was absolutely peaceful. Ever so often a throaty sound of pleasure would emit from Zukkiza, lapping against his eardrums and spawning looks of adoration. He'd glanced up in time to meet the largest smile she'd seen on her face, immediately drawing words from his mouth, "If only you could see your mother's smile, little cubs." Muscles bulged as he restrained himself from nuzzling her face at her following words. His ability to repress himself was only so strong. Pursing his lips he pulled himself from the depths of her amber irises, only to shift them to the sky overhead. The inky coloration had been drained, leaving behind a much more livelier shade of violet. Burnt orange had made it's appearance in the distance. Not long until the sun would take it's place in the heavens.

Exhaling deeply he lowered his chin to his forepaws, keeping the other tucked comfortably beneath his chest. "Do you have any ideas for their names?" This time, his question was directed to Zukkiza, though his eyes were resting on the sky. He'd scooted closer, his pelt mingling with hers as he urged to feel the warmth of both her and the cubs within her. The mass of curls had spilled over the lioness' shoulders, something he was used to. The familiarity was ridiculously comforting. He expressed this by allowing a rumbling purr to ignite within his chest, the sound tickling the back of his throat. Shifting slightly, he examined the horizon, his eyes squinting with this action.

He began to imagine how they'd look. Maybe one would have his dark pelt and her ear rims, along with her eyes. Or if a male cub took on the look of Kula. A mahogany pelt, yet thick dark curls and creamy toes. Oh! If a female got Sarabi's almond shaped eyes? His heart fluttered in his chest as he thought of all the possibilities. To see his family within the eyes of his own cubs. That would please him to no end. What about Zukkiza's parents? Would they bloom within the cubs?

Their personalities. How would they be? Flirty and rambunctious like Chumvi? Or caring and fiercely protective like Zukkiza? Perhaps they'll have an awkward odd ball. Though every one of their cubs would be loved, it would be nice to have a variety in their looks and manners. No doubt they'll grow up strong. Not to mention safe. Chumvi would do everything in his power to keep his children safe. Even if that meant the cost of his own. He vowed he'd take care of them as he lay, cuddled next to Zukkiza. The mother of his children. Would she allow herself to be considered his mate? His other half?

Perhaps not yet. But once he gained her trust - which he would. Maybe then she would represent the title of his and his only. At this moment he felt he could be no one else's. He belonged to her.

She merely dragged on smiling as he spoke about exactly that before drawing his gaze upwards to the sky, and Zukki decided she'd close her eyes for a moment, using her nose and ears to take in her surroundings instead. After a while, Chumvi broke the silence, inquiring about the cub's names. It was, indeed, a question that had kept the lioness awake several nights; she'd thought about some names, yes, though it all depended on how the cubs looked once they were born. "Yeah, I have thought about some names. I like Warithi, Raha, Baridi, Huzuni and a few more for male cubs." The lioness subconciously brought a paw to her rounded stomach as she spoke, resting it there against the cubs, "And for girls..." She paused for a moment, "There are a lot of pretty ones, but I think we should both take time to think about it." Really, it was as much of their father's choice as it was their mother's.

Maybe she should've told someone about her pregnancy before, she thought. She bet Dotty and Nuka could've helped her with the names, but since the incident with Mauko, Zukki felt it would've been insensitive of her to tell them she was also bearing cubs. Besides, Nuka'd probably get angry at her and throw a fit, since he did say bearing cubs was likely a mistake. So she'd decided against it. She couldn't help but to raise her voice in a hesitant tone, though, "Do you think we should tell them? Other people in general, I mean." It's not that she was scared of what they might think, she was more concerned by how they'd react; what if somebody attacked her? She couldn't take another beating like the one Zolita had given her, the cubs wouldn't make it through.

Her mind filled with concern, as did her voice, "Nottingham is not safe anymore. Nuka's army is too small and dysfunctional, Chumvi; what if something happens to me? What if something happens to them?" The lioness would never be able to live with herself if she were to know the cubs didn't make it through because of her own stupidity. She knew she couldn't stay in Nottingham, but he couldn't roam in the middlelands foever, either; the savannah was one of the main battle grounds, and the last thing she needed was to be caught in the middle of a conflict. Going back to Scar's army wasn't an option, they'd murder her for betraying them; the human villians didn't seem like a good choice, either, and she'd never be welcome in the pridelands. What was she gonna do?