Many things could be said about Armada, but being subtle was not one of them. It wasn't in her nature, something which was probably more genetic then she would have liked to admit. So when she realized she was pregnant, she went directly to the source. And pulled the trigger. “I'm pregnant,” She said flatly. “They're probably yours. I expect you to take care of them.”
Vlam couldn't speak, but if you listened hard enough, you could hear the scream in his mind. At least his face showed his feelings, as his jaw dropped and his ears flattened so hard against his skull the might have made imprints. 'What?' he mouthed. It seemed... it seemed a joke, surely. This was the first time he'd seen the strange lioness since his recovery, and now she was standing in front of the medical ward looking more sour then usual. She looked real. That scared him. In fact, until that moment he'd never been scared of anything so clearly.
Which was probably terrible, in retrospect, since he'd nearly been murdered.
“That's all I had to say,” Armada said snidely, as thought she didn't care to elaborate. He didn't doubt she was under some scrutiny from her superiors now. The motoujamii preferred cubs to mated individuals, and Armada was as tight laced as they came. Judging by the look on her face, she wasn't exactly happy to even be speaking to him at that moment. Which troubled him, as though the ghost of his old self was still lingering- somewhere, unseen. She was already turning to leave.
He couldn't tell her how he felt. He couldn't even make the words if he tried. With her back turned, she wouldn't even see his attempt- gaping like a fish trying to breath on land. It was humiliating. A few lions passing by stopped and looked. So Vlam did the best he could to close the space between them. He rounded in front of her, trying his best to block her from leaving.
Not that he had the words for her.
Armada looked at him with a stare that was downright cold. “What? Now you're interested?” She said simply. She stepped around him with a sway. He'd always admired how strong she was. She was not exactly lady like. Privately, he wondered if that was part of the reason why she resented him. That the best she could have done was...
Vlam shook his head vigorously. Which made it look like he was saying that he wasn't interested. So he panicked, and waved his paws out in front of him. She seemed less than amused, and pushed past. He didn't have the words to stop her. Even as he struggled, she gave up her own fluidly. “I'll tell you when they're here. You'll watch them when I am on duty. You'll be a good father, or you won't live to hear the end of it.”
The white lion staggered, the reality of it all driving adrenaline through his veins. His weak legs staggered him as he tried to maneuver back in front of her. He hadn't even realized he was walking away from his own post. Moving farther away from what seemed like a perfectly good afternoon. 'When?' he mouthed, but she didn't seem to be paying attention.
And Armada was having enough of it. She shrugged abruptly, and stared at him with those strange, strange eyes of hers. “There's nothing more to talk about. They aren't here yet. I'm late for my patrols.” He noticed the twinge of regret on her face. She'd have to stop those patrols soon if she was going to give birth. She was pregnant! The second time it knocked the wind out of him, and he had to sit. She didn't seem to notice the panic in his eyes.
She started to leave. And she probably would have, had a shrill voice not broken the one sided onslaught Armada was wrecking upon him. Vlam didn't have to turn his head to know it was Ea. The sheer dread of it all filled his veins. Ea! No! This wasn't what he wanted...!
“You got a problem?” Ea said, sauntering out into the main stretch as though she owned the place. Which in all fairness, she did. “I've got sick patients, and you're not one of them. Unless you want to catch the plague, I'd turn yourself around.”
Armada squared her chin, and shoved Vlam aside. The white lion was powerless to stop her. “Listen, Ea. I'm not here to deal with your bullshit. I'm talking to Vlam. This is a serious matter. Why don't you go back to your little cave and play doctor? I'll call you when I need a midwife.”
Vlam's eyes widened in horror. Which was the exact opposite of Ea's, whose narrowed so tightly they might as well have popped out. Ea had always been a clever lioness. She didn't need to have the situation explained to her farther then that. For a moment the words simply hung in the air like a slap in the face. A duel had begun, and it was nearly over in a single shot.
But Ea was anything but down for the count. “Oh? A midwife?” She said in a voice that was too catty to be sincere. In fact, she seemed to revel in the flimsiness of it. “Really? You and Vlam? I'm surprised you know they're his! Shouldn't we wait until we see what they look like first? We wouldn't want you embarrassing yourself, now.”
Armada bristled. The two lionesses were barely a nose length from one another at this point. Somewhere in the background, An poked her nose from the ward. Her eyes seemed to brighten with delight. Apparently good old fashion drama was still alive and well in the motoujamii. She knew better then to call out to them. Not when Armada was winding up her next attack. “Of course I know who they belong to,” She snapped. “Look, I don't really care. You can have him, god knows, you need someone who can't argue with you.”
And that's when An ran back indoors.
Vlam didn't think he could have been more horrified at that moment. A monster, crawling up from the depths of the desert couldn't have filled him with more dread than watching Ea and Armada stare one another down. This had been a good day! What was happening? Armada had dropped this in his lap, and now she was driving Ea away from him. And he'd never been more confused and conflicted in that moment. Children! Ea! Even if he had had a voice to speak, he doubted he would have been able. So he tried his best to move between them.
But Ea wasn't having any of that. She jerked her paw out, and roughly pushed him aside. Armada might have had strange eyes, but at that moment Ea's wild ones were on fire. “Oh! Really? You've got a backup plan do you?” The black cat tossed her head to the side in a rather cruel laugh. “Who? Please tell me! I'm dying to know.”
Armada winced. Her claws dug into the sand. Vlam didn't doubt that the other female's temper was curved somewhat by Ea's parentage. As far as he knew, Armada and No were rather good friends. But Ea's words had hurt her. And he regretted being apart of it, in the way he was. Armada wasn't usual. He'd liked her for that! But he...
“I'll tell you what, Ea.” Armada growled. “I'll tell you who it is when you tell me whose waiting on you. Because I bet that list isn't very long.”
Ea laughed. “Oh, really? I wasn't aware I even needed to keep track! Are you really that desperate?”
Armada blinked, and took a step back. Her fur bristled, and she shot a look towards Vlam. “Whatever, Ea. I don't have time for this. I'm late for my patrols, and I've said what I mean to say. Vlam. I'll tell you whenever they're here. But I'd like to see as less of you as possible.” She remarked flatly, turning with a whip of her tail. She went a good couple of paces before she called back. Her words were a bit softer then she meant. “And I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings, Ea. I didn't mean to make this complicated.”
Her apologies did little to waylay Ea's temper. She trembled in rage, and for a brief moment, Vlam saw sorrow twist across the young lionesses face. The dust plumed where Ea stomped down her feet. “Oh yeah?!” She shouted. “I don't have any feelings, so! Whatever.”
Armada didn't call back. She left them, sitting alone. Ea seemed frozen in rage. He didn't have words. So he panicked. For the second time he found himself unable to explain himself. He tried to mouth that he loved her. But if Ea noticed, it only seemed to make her angrier.
She shoved him aside with a jerk of her paw, her face suddenly winced together like she'd been stung by something. He could feel her claws in the movement. “Get off me!” She shouted. “Go away! What do you want? I've got a lot of work to do! I don't need you around here!”
Vlam froze. He didn't think it possible to hear his heart breaking, but he could have sworn he heard the shatter. Ea paced, her tail whipping around behind her like a wild bull. When Vlam didn't move, she started to buck in rage.
“I said get lost!” But he couldn't move. So instead, Ea turned to leave. “Fine, whatever. AN.”
“Uh- yes!” An said, poking her head back out of the hollow. Her grey blue eyes were wide in surprise. “What'd you need?”
“Make sure Veru doesn't die, or whatever. I'm going to see Fia.” Ea snapped, moving away before anyone could argue with her. The blonde lioness grew quiet and nodded her head. Vlam felt half his heart leaving with her.
He'd never felt a pain quite like this. It was a stab, clearer and sharper then the one to his throat. It left him dull. He didn't even notice An sitting beside him. For a long moment they sat, watching the spot where Ea had been. Studying the scene, like it was crime or a puzzle.
As Vlam tended to his broken heart, An finally spoke up. “I think she'll be alright.”
Vlam turned to her, his face more sorrowful then he wanted. He could tell because An gave him a pitying smile. The sort of look a younger lioness had no business giving an adult. Like she already knew more about life then he did.
“Really, don't worry. She's just mad.” An said. “She's always mad. I'm sure she'll come around.”
Vlam wasn't so sure he agreed.
