[ORP] Chatter [Closed; for pride members]

[SilverLutz]

The arrival of the new Iselelo made Han's fear creep back into her chest until she realized who it was. Not only was this a former Bonelands cub, but as realization dawned she heard him say that he'd protect any cubs as if they were his own. She knew she could trust him for his birthplace alone. Lions raised here knew the ins and outs of the pride and, while she was disappointed Jasiri was gone, she knew that Gabedi would do him proud. Maybe even moreso.

She settled down as Bangizwe returned to his perch on the rocks and glanced over at the equally pregnant Dania settled herself down not too far from where she had laid.

"That will be us not long from now," she said, deciding to strike up conversation. "Looks a lot more fun than this, hm?"

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

Sanele turned to the lioness who had spoken, smiling brightly. "Liyana!" Standing again she moved a pace in order to bump cheeks with the dark-coloured lioness. "It is good to see you! How is your mother?" She asked, tone bubbly as always. "Isn't it your brother who is the Enda out watching those hippo for the Mkhulu?" She asked, clearly excited for both news on Liyana's family, and on the hunt. Sanele was notorious in the pride for almost always knowing what was going on and where, though she was never malicious or rude with her knowladge. Rather she seemed to genuinly care about every member of the pride and tended to recall even the bloodlines of each family, though how she did it was a mystery to most.

AstoriaFallen

Hehe isn't she? ICly she has firekin blood in her.

Looking over at the voice Dania smiled shyly, nodding her head. "It really does... I feel like I could explode at any time. Which would be very messy as there is a lot of me to go around right now.." Blushing she chuckled softly, grateful for the friendly tone of the other female. Pausing a moment she watched the four tiny cubs as they bumbled about in their uncorrdinated cubby manner. Turning back to Han she tried to hide her nervousness over the upcoming birth. "I really hope everything goes ok... How are you coping?" Dania didn't think she was doing avery good job of being a mother-to-be. She constantly worried, she couldn't really eat and every twitch of her belly made her jump.

SilverLutz

 

[Talencia]

Suphi had gone to wish the hunters well, but hadn't lingered at all. That sort of hunt wasn't at all suited to her more studied (or some would say, lazy) approach. It would involve a lot more movement, exertion, and heavens, even swimming and mud! No, that definitely hadn't been something she cared for at all. She was quite happy to let others go and handle all that mess. She'd stay here safe, clean, and relaxed, thank you very much!

However, it was clear that many of the lionesses were worked up over the hunt. Suphi wasn't sure exactly what stirred unease in each individual, though it was clear the pregnant lionesses had more than just the hunt on their minds. One individual in particular caught her eye, though. Uthuli looked likely to fret herself into a nervous breakdown if she kept this up. Having made up her mind, the tubby lioness strolled over to greet the other female with a chuff and a cheek rub.

Before Uthuli could speak, she immediately asked, "How do you keep those white markings so bright? I just can't seem to keep dirt from my own!" She swiped a paw across one cheek and hitched a shoulder. Granted, her own white was much more significant than the dark brown lioness' lovely delicate cheek markings and body spots, but it seemed a good icebreaker over something unrelated to the hunt.

Puhterodactyl

Intuthu was sprawled in the middle-ground. She hadn't bothered with going to wish the hunters well... she had every confidence they'd do well, and that they would come back victorious. It wasn't in her nature at all to worry. She hummed a low, soft tune to herself, almost an inaudible sort of purr that changed pitch and cadence. She'd sat up alertly when Bangizwe had jumped suddenly from his perch, but she'd relaxed again when the two males parted again, apparently on at least a truce. She was getting the hang of how the pride worked now, though she still didn't know everyone. She did sense some tension still from Bengiwze, but all seemed well.

She shifted her attention from the male to the mothers of the pride. She beamed benevolently at them. One lioness had birthed her cubs already, but two more were still swollen and encumbered with their litters. Helping with cubs was one of the things she was well suited to, due to her calm and patient personality. Little fazed her, which was helpful not only with handling cubs, but also with assisting nervous mothers. With how many cubs it looked that they would be having, there would be plenty of chances to be of assistance. It would feel good to offer the pride something she was good at, aside from the typical hunting responsibilities. She heaved herself up and moved closer to the quietly chatting pregnant lionesses. She wouldn't interrupt, but it might be a good idea to get to know them a little better.

Tanakako

SilverLutz

 

[SilverLutz]

Han had to nod slightly as Dania spoke. She was in a similar state, although she didn't feel exactly like she was going to explode. More like she was going to slowly suffocate under the weight of the cubs. Her lungs were weak enough as it was, she wasn't sure she could handle much more of this.

"As well as I can," she said with a tiny smile. "I'm ready for them to come, though. Although...not just yet," she added, realizing she might curse herself to have them before her niece returned from the hippo hunt.

A new face scooted a little closer to them and Han turned her golden eyes to the grey lioness. "Ah...hello. I"m not sure we've met." There were females joining all the time, so it was easy to lose track of who was who.

Tanakako

Talencia

 

[Annchen]

Jagazi hadn't helped with the cubs, instead she had been stranded with another creature to escort back. The bird could probably find her way back just fine, but it had decided to tag along with her for some reason, and she had slowed down accordingly. Maybe it trusted her since they'd sort of hunted together that time... Or it followed her because it was dark still and the secretary bird wanted a guide. She arrived among the last ones from the send off and scanned their rocky home for a certain grey lioness. She found her chatting to the pregnant ladies. Wow... Both Dina and Han looked so huge, as if they'd pop any minute. She tried not to stare.

"Hello Intuthu," she said, "Your sister left her bird in your care tonight."

---

Inyoka'dla had walked behind Jagazi from the meeting place, and the lioness had adjusted her pace to allow her to do so. She didn't mind following the brown female for a while, but unless she started to feed her tasty treats she'd stick with Inkungu. When they reached their rocky temporary home and located the black haired sister she took wing for a short while. She landed on a rock near the mothers.

"Hippo hunt," she announced, "I stay here."

Talencia

 

[Tanakako]

Dania nodded slowly, a look of understanding in her soft eyes. "I agree... It would be rather awkward right now with the Mkhulu underway." Dania wasn't actually sure who she would have with her when the time came, she hoped Ilanga might at least be close but the Cinga was so rarely around she doubted it would happen. In fact she should probably sort out some kind of agreement with someone.

Looking up as the grey female approached, Dania smiled shyly. "Hello. You are... Intuthu yes?" She may have not been a socialite of the pride, but Dania had lived there her whole life and she tended to watch and listen rather than get involved. So she at least tended to recal names, even if she didn't actually know them.

SilverLutz

Talencia

 

[Talencia]

Intuthu wasn't hovering, but was pleased to be acknowledged after the lionesses finished their conversation. She bobbed her head at both their greetings, blinking slowly in relaxation before settling down near them. She purred soft appreciation at Dania's memory. "Yes, my name is Intuthu." She squeezed her eyes shut briefly in contentment. "I used to have a different name before my sister and I joined, but I like being here and having a new name. It's nice to have a home again." Her voice was soft with honesty and pleasure. It felt good to belong again. "I was hoping that I could offer to help either of you with your little ones when they come," she added, looking a little less sleepy and more focused and intent. "We'll have so many cubs to look after, and I won't have a litter of my own for a long while yet."

She looked up in mild surprise at having someone march right up to them and address her directly. "Greetings Jagazi," she replied, with a glance at the bird. "Thank you for seeing her safely to me. I hope she wasn't much trouble?" Not that Inyo was likely to be trouble. The bird didn't seem to have enough imagination to cause much in the way of difficulty. "Things went off well?" she asked politely then, though her tone revealed that she was certain nothing could have possibly gone wrong. It just wasn't in Intuthu to anticipate or dwell on bad things. She was too mellow for such worryings. Perhaps that was why she was drawn to the pregnant ladies rather than the fretting ones.

Tanakako

SilverLutz

Annchen

 

[SilverLutz]

Han glanced between the two lionesses, glad that she wasn't going through this alone. She had someone to commiserate with and someone that was willing to help once the cubs arrived. She was very thankful for the help, knowing she'd need all she could get.

She remained silent for a while, lowering her head to her paws as one of the cubs started kicking again. Oi.

Talencia

Tanakako

[Away for the weekend so if I do post, it'll be short like this one. Just assume she's listening!]  

[Tanakako]

Dania listened, fascinated by the grey female's words. As she had only every had one name, the idea of changing it felt... weird. But then, there were two of her, for she was one half of an identical set of twins, so did that count?

Confused by her own thought she pushed it away and smiled shyly. "Any help would be most appreciated. Honestly, I have never done this before..." A hint of nervousness crept into her voice as she turned her head to nose carefully at her swollen belly. One of the cubs was moving around again and it felt strange. She would be relieved when they were out safely, at least her body would be her own again.

SilverLutz

No worries, have a great weekend. I'll be quite busy myself.

Talencia

 

[Annchen]

Jagazi offered the lion equivalent of a shrug. How did it go? Hard to say since few hunts derailed before even starting. If something went wrong it was usually later.

"Yeah, I guess," she said, "No one was left behind as far as I could tell, and the bird was no trouble."

She wasn't sure if she should stick around or go somewhere else but she decided she might as well rest here as anywhere else. Her mother, aunt and sister were all probably around somewhere, but it was hard to pick out faces in the dark.

"Bit weird for Andhaka to join the hunt," she said, mostly just to keep the conversation going. "But I guess it's good with some protection just in case..."

---

Inyoka'dla watched the pregnant lionesses, first with one eye and then with another. She noted that they were both heavy, but she had never seen a pregnant mammal up close, and it was unclear if she understood that they were about to have cubs soon. When she had satisfied her curiosity the secretary bird started preening. She was tired but wouldn't dream of sleeping without taking care of her feathers.

Talencia

Tanakako

SilverLutz

 

[Tanakako]

Sanele listened attentively as Liyana spoke, ears flicking forwards. "That is good to hear. I should try and catch up with her sometime," She replied, speaking of Liyana's mother. Nodding her head she briefly wondered what the Enda was up to, helping the lionesses probably, after all a hippo was a large creature, surely everyone would be in on the attack.

Tilting her head thoughtfully she made a low, husky sound in her throat. "Well, Most of the latest news is kind of here.." She nodded towards where Gabedi had settled, as his arrival after beating Jasiri was probably the biggest news beyond the Mkhulu itself. Turning to look at the pregnant lionesses resting nearby she smiled fondly. "Dania is due any day now." She observed, though it didn't take a gossip to know that much, as both Dania and the lioness with her were obviously bursting at the seams.

After a moment's thought she hit alon a few smaller bits of information, which she felt Liyana would enjoy and spent a short time filling the dark lioness in on some of the hunting gossip and the general state of the land they had moved to and which would be their home for a while.

AstoriaFallen

.

 

[Excited Apathy]

Eowyn lounged near the fringes of the group, trying not to look like as much of a newcomer as she felt. Once the lionesses had accepted that she wanted to stay, she'd had little trouble, but still... She was jolted from her thoughts by the arrival of a rogue male, dark eyes on the males as Bangizwe rose to investigate. While the matter was settled quickly--and the question of who had defeated Jasiri answered--she found her heart was still thudding in her chest. Forcing herself to relax, she cracked a large and obviously faked yawn.

She should have gone on the hunt. Then she'd be doing and not fretting.  

[SilverLutz]

Han gave a soft hum of agreement. This would be her first litter as well. Probably her only litter, at that. She really wasn't cut out for this she had realized a little too late. Still, she knew her time would be soon. She hoped she'd feel better after the cubs had arrived.

Smiling slightly at the bird, she turned her attention back to the grey lioness. "Have you had any litters of your own previously?"

Tanakako

Talencia

Annchen