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Ruber was, as befitted any Firekin, practicing. He didn't have a partner this time, and was simply going over the basic movements of combat. He like dto think that he'd improved a great deal since joining the Motoujamii-Simo, though of course he'd been quite skilled before.

That didn't prevent him from losing, but there was losing and then there was losing. He could see a lioness coming towards him, now that he was looking up, and recognized Nuria. He'd lost a duel to her, yes, but he'd won in the end, the lion remembered with a lazy grin.

He thought about calling out to her, but decided against it. He didn't exactly need more holes torn in his hide.

He was surprised, at first, when the big lioness came straight for him. But then his arrogance provided him an obvious explanation - she must've come to a realization that she did, in fact, like him. Or at least was carnally attracted to him. She hadn't seemed to protest much that night they'd spent together...

"Of course," Ruber answered, straightening up and looking her in the eye. She was quite big for a lioness. "What will we be talking about?" He wasn't really curious, he had his guess as to why she was here. It was simply good conversation.

Ruber's eyebrows went up appreciatively. Ah, so she had come around at last! He hadn't been certain, given Nuria's rather strong will, that their one nigh twould be enough. So he'd been careful to give her space ever since then. But it seemed his waiting had paid off!

He was always ready for an encore, especially with a fiery lioness like Nuria.

"Well all right then," the red male answered suavely, following after the other calmly.

When the finally made it to the lioness' den, a place Ruber had never been before, he waited patiently, though eagerly, for her to speak. She seemed to become nervous for a moment, before finally letting the words loose in a rush.

Pregnant? The father? It took several long moments for the words to sink in. When they did, the red lion grinned from ear to ear.

"That's wonderful!" he replied. "I've always looked forward to raising cubs!" And with the shared blood between them, it could only help his long-term chances with Nuria. But that was less important than the children themselves.

Yes yes, both parents raised cubs. That was the right way to do it after all, and it made Ruber think well of the Motoujamii-Simo that they required this of all their members. The male nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course! Why wouldn't I want to help you raise our kids? They'll be as much mine as they'll be yours, after all." Ruber saw only the logic and joy in this requirement and he had to admit that he was rather excited about his impending fatherhood. His very first chance to try and outdo his parents and be a better father than Aureo had been.

After all, he'd be here, living in the same pride with the kids.

"That would be rather convenient, thank you," the male accepted the not-quite-offer graciously, if not eagerly. After all, the den might be roomy enough for one, but with two, things would get a bit tight. And well, if something happened that was entirely due to close quarters, it couldn't possibly be his fault, right?

Yes, Ruber was that shameless.

But aside from that he was genuinely excited about the idea of being a father. And he was sure that Nuria would find it in herself to be a good mother. His own mother didn't exactly have a weak will, so he supposed that the lioness would be a good role model for their children.

Ruber considered the question. There were preparations to be made, of course, but he didn't know what all of them should be, by Firekin standards. There was only one thing he was sure of, aside from the raising them together and staying in Nuria's den for the time being.

"Names," he said aloud. "We need to think of names for them. How many do you think there'll be?" Personally, Ruber was hoping for a large litter. He was one of six himself, and had enjoyed having multiple siblings to pick on, torment, and otherwise beat up. The male thought large litters were good for the kids.