Some of the pride's youth had set out on their quests, which just served to remind Taja that their own cubs would be going soon next. She wondered how many would return, of the group leaving now, and how quickly?
She had just finished helping with bathing some of the cubs, and they were out with the other girls. Taja had returned to the den for feeling a bit drowsy, settling down towards one of the walls of the rocks to rest, not sure if she'd have company soon or not, but loving the feeling of the shade. With a contented purr she rested her head on her paws and shut her eyes for a moment, stretched out and comfortable.
Aali was concerned, they had left already the pesars who were old enough. On the brink of adulthood and they had been pushed from the comfort of the nest. He thought of the dangerous, rogue males, females who would lash out. He hoped none of them got lost, injured, what if they had trouble hunting? Still he had tried to prepare them better then he and others before him had been prepared. Still...none had returned yet and it made him sullen, then again it had only been a day or two they would not be expected back so quickly. No he should wait at least a week before getting really concerned, and some would take much longer then others.
He headed into the den after his long patrol eager for the company of one of his beloved Banu. A soft smile found its way across his muzzle as he spotted Taja. She was as beautiful as the moment he had first spotted her, and motherhood had enhanced the traits in her he loved best. He moved quietly behind her not wanting to disturb her if she was sound asleep. slowly, carefully he settled himself behind her and rested his head beside hers on an outstretched paw of his own.
It seemed like she had only just settled in when Aali padded into the den next, no doubt just returning from patrol. Smiling softly as he situated himself behind her, between herself and the wall, she kept still, eyes shut, and spoke up softly. She could see something was weighing on him even without seeing him. The air about him just seemed to feel a bit tired, which generally was caused by concern and overthinking.
"I don't need to see your thoughts to know something is troubling you, my dear sultan." An ear flicked, the one furthest from his so as not to disturb him, but she then turned her head towards his with a gentle nuzzle.
He smiled softly at the sound of her voice and returned her nuzzle with tender affection. He was lucky to have her, each of his banu were a rare gift to him filling his life in different ways. He licked her cheek before sighing and letting his head roll back onto his paw.
"I shouldn't worry so...but I keep thinking of the Pesars on their quests. It's only been a few days, but I'm worried for them already waiting for their return. It must be even harder on their parents...my nephews I worry for them. I've let it distract me so badly that I've forgotten the lovely banu need to be placed in loving paws as well now."
"I'm certain all will be well, we need only wait to see the rewards their return will bring." She shifted once more to rest her head across the back of her mate's neck, nuzzling her face against his mane a bit. "They do... they seemed to grow up much too fast."
He gave a soft nod, he knew her words were true, once the males returned successful the pride would have many Pads and new Banu. Keeping new blood was an important part of the pride things became perilous when females ran low in supply or the lineages began to cross. He thought of their once dwindling numbers and knew that traditions had to be kept if not somewhat altered. Before the males were sent off with no proper training, not the males were shown how to hunt, how to defend themselves. Before they were totally alone, now Aali had contemplated sending out a few older Pads to keep an eye on things without direct interference, simply to ensure their own didn't meet any serious peril.
"Time always moves fastest for the young." He sighed and nuzzled her.
"Though I do think I will enjoy being able to spend some quiet time with my beloved banu again once the younger ones have homes of their own. You and the others have had little time to rest ensuring everyone is safe, taught, and fed."
"We're doing what we do best, it may be tiring, but at least it's satisfying." She replied contently, though she knew she didn't speak for everyone. Lela, even after all this time, didn't adopt the pride's mindset, she simply put up with it. One couldn't really say Angani was cruel, his females weren't abused, really, but as Lela explained it he definitely liked to fight the more resistant ones, and at the moment there were just two in his harem.
But at least she wasn't as miserable as she had been upon arriving.
"We did have a pretty large brood, didn't we?" She couldn't help but chuckle, thinking back on it, and that before one added Aysel's cubs, their den was filled with all the little ones, especially as they grew.
He smiled and licked her cheek again glad that she felt a sense of satisfaction. Taja was a good banu, a great mother, and a good sister to the other females of the pride. Recently he had toyed with the idea of making her his Sultana. She was certainly deserving of the title, but poor Aysel would probably feel badly. He loved Aysel dearly and she too showed many excellent qualities but of late his sultana had been so occupied hunting and helping raise the cubs he wasn't sure she had the time to visit with and see to the other banu and beybanu in the pride. Still it was something to leave for a later moment, Taja was so kind she would probably resisit taking Aysels position.
"You've done well, but once the cubs are grown and on their own you'll have deserved a nice long period of rest." He chuckled and nodded at her statement, understatement. The two litters had been so large and the den overrun with cubs. He was lucky to have his banu all of whom seemed to do very well with cubs. Still with so many little ones around getting some time alone had been a challenge.
"I would be grateful if you felt I had earned such a privledge." She smiled, though truth be told she was doing exactly what she'd hoped to be doing one day, admittedly a bit less conventional than her upbringing taught her, but still. "Our," and she said this in reference to all of the cubs, not just the ones she had carried and birthed. "children have some time yet, besides, though they're doing so well with their lessons it might not seem that way."
"Rest shouldn't be a privilege it's something you should all have to be able to do what you need to. You are most deserving of rest and relaxation Taja, you and the others have done a wonderful job taking care of the cubs and each other. I must admit I feel badly for neglecting you all...I was so concerned for the young Pesar about to embark on their quests. I can only imagine how my father must have felt sending out generation after generation...with only the hope that they would return. It must have been hardest to send me and my brothers...it will be hard for me to send out our sons..." He sighed softly glad that he could share his worries with Taja. She was constantly there for him, soothing his concerns, helping him to feel better. He would have to find some special way to thank her, maybe he would ask Vika's advice on what a female liked.
"It's not neglect that I feel, love, though I have missed spending time with you as often as we have in the past. You have a lot of responsibilities, though, we all understand that. As long as everyone is happy, so am I. I promise you this." She smiled a bit more then, drawing her head from his mane to groom his face a little bit, affectionately. "As long as we at least still have moments like these you need not worry about me."
Her concern was more for him. She understood how he must feel, watching so many of the pride's promising young males leaving with no promise that any, some, or all would return. She felt the briefest flicker of... something, wondering if it was akin to how Lela's and her own parents felt watching them go, especially since they hadn't returned.
"I'm sure that they'll do their pride and their king proud. I wouldn't be surprised if vizier Faiz's sons were to return first. I'm certain they'll live up to their father, as will our sons."
Her eyes shut with a soft, crooning purr this time, tenderly brushing her head against his as she stopped grooming.
"We'll all have more time together once the little ones have places of their own. It's good to have a moment like this with you, you always seem to soothe me." He smiled as she moved and relaxed when he felt her tender grooming. It was nice to have a moment to think only of his banu and relax, he was often so busy patrolling and seeing to the other Pads that he didn't allow time for such luxuries. Yet what he had said was true Rest was something needed and deserved by all, even himself.
"Faiz taught his boys well, but I have a feeling Tariq's sons will be vying to return just as quickly. so many of our young males already have banu here waiting for their return, it will make them anxious to be back all the faster. I do worry about the banu though...if their Pads don't return they are left with an uncertain fate." He was curious what Taja would think, if she would offer some advice or offer to reassure the young females left behind to wait.
"I'm glad. I love you, I want to see you happy and relaxed." The purple female chuckled, shifting to rest on her back, still at his side, but looked up at him as she stretched her body lightly. Her tail swept gently against the ground, brushing against his paw and tail a few times as she stared up at him with red eyes. "The problem is more in how long to wait before doing something, isn't it...?" She inquired softly, thinking, then suggested. "... Perhaps if too much time has passed you could entrust them to one of our sons, or your brother until further decision can be made. Messenger birds would have been useful too..." She murmured the last of her musings softly, almost as if to herself, but she did not try to hide that she had spoken.
"I love you too Taja..." He smiled down at her as she rolled onto her back and let his tail flick against hers. Blue eyes gazed into her rich wine colored ones and he softly strokes his paw over her shoulder. He nodded softly "Yes...it musn't be too short a period nor too long of one. One of my childhood friends only just recently returned to the pride. It took him so long yet he did make it, hopefully we won't need to wait half so long for the others. Perhaps a few moons before we start looking for temporary homes for their banu." He looked at her startled by her brilliant suggestion and surprised he hadn't thought of it himself. "Birds...though would have been incredibly helpful...perhaps we can befriend some before the next males go forth on their quests..."
"I think that sounds like a good plan." She smiled in response, then ventured further. "If I may... Sika may have some good ideas for how to draw some in." She did seem to have a friendlier disposition than most, which was saying a lot given the overall attitude of the females of their pride.
"Thank you Taja, your advice is sound as usual." He nuzzled her pleased that he had some new ideas to put into action. "You should rest now...I already interrupted you before..." He smiled and moved to curl around her protective yet ready to sleep a bit himself. The days and nights had been long and he seemed to have allowed too much time to be spent fretting and patrolling.
"You too, love. You deserve it more than anyone."
Though she may be a bit biased in saying so right then. She gladly turned again so that she could curl into his warmth, content to sleep for a while as they waited for the rest of the girls and the children to return where she'd resume her duties as one of his banu once again. For now though, they had both earned the right to rest.
