It had been some time since Moto'ubele had been able to focus wholly on her crafting. Her new mate - or whatever he was - was hardly a distraction, but he had relaxed her. She'd grown to understand that their time together had done some healing for them both. When she had first found the miserable wretch, he was barely a bag of bones. But there was a demon inside him - perhaps not one as strong as her Bifrons, who spoke to her as her inspiration for her work, thanks to the blessing of Sanaa - but a demon nonetheless. So naturally, she took him back to the pride with her to care for him. She could have excused it as simply trying to nurture the strength of a weakened demon, for the sake of the pride of course - and she very probably did - but there was no avoiding the fact that she was absolutely attached to him. She had never known any love other than loyalty: loyalty her noble Firekin blood, loyalty to her dear brother, loyalty to her new pride, and loyalty to her craft. So she had to quietly adjust to the soothing feeling of Yiska's presence. It was almost as if he had the power to quell the fire in her heart to a gentle smolder. So, naturally, they mated. Bele had been iffy about it for a while, wishing to avoid the consequence of cubs at all costs - for she so bitterly loathed them. But it was, of course, unavoidable. She birthed a litter of gorgeous demon spawn, each more beautiful than the other. She couldn't help but swell with pride when she looked upon them - all large, clearly showing her Firekin blood and their father's own bulk, with rich red and black markings so characteristic of demons, and those eyes, those bright green eyes, that shone with such contrast against their coats. Those eyes gleamed like jewels in the night, as any proud lion's should.
Oh yes, their hellfire children were so, so beautiful. And so, so annoying. Bele knew she could not blame them for being foolish or rowdy, for that's how all cubs are - but she still hated it. She had hardly a moment's peace now to focus on her crafts. In the very least, the cubs were now juvenile, and not so reliant upon her every care, but they were bolder now. Bifrons was growing restless. Only Yiska's presence by her side kept her temper in check.
"Mom! Mom!" Halailla came tumbling into the den, scattering some stray piles of material that Bele had worked so hard to organized. He had been outside hunting bugs, not too far, of course, for how could a young demon be trusted to wander? "Mom, I caughted the hugest locust just now! Come look at it!"The lioness bristled slightly at her son's brazenness. "Mother," she corrected. "And it isn't 'caughted;' simply say 'caught.' You know to respect formality with your elders, Halailla, and I have not raised you to speak with such grammar. You are a proud demon, do not speak so lowly."
"Yes, Mother," he said quickly and robotically, having said it thousands of times before. "But really, come see my locust!" The cub's chest was puffed out, a proud grin on his face. Oh, he'd caught butterflies, beetles, leaves, even rocks - playing as the young always do. But this was a truly impressive insect and he wanted to show off.
"Halailla," Bele answered, her patience wearing thin. She wanted quiet, and she wanted to focus. She didn't want to look at some squashed bug. "Show your father. I'm sure he'd love to help you hunt." And it was likely true - her mate was certainly better with their children than she was.
"Father, will you come see?" Halailla was eager to address his father instead, wearing a winning smile and pleading eyes. The dark red cub wasn't usually so excitable, but this could potentially be the first time that his father would actually help him with such an important skill - and a lion's first time hunting, or at least, lesson to hunt, was certainly not a memory to be forgotten.
