=--------------------------------------------------------------------------= ___ _ _ ___ ' | ` |__| |__` oooo | | | |__, .ooooo. o 88 ---------------------------------------------------- o8" `"o8 88 ooo oo888oo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo ooo ooo d8' " 88 8 ,8' `8. 8"8 8 8 o8' 8 8"8 8 d8 88 8 88 88 8 8 8 8o' 8 8 8 8 88 oooo 88 8 88 88 8 8 8 88o 8 8 8 8 88 di 88 ,o 8 `8. ,8' 8 8.8 8 `8. 8 8 8.8 `88. ,8i o88ooooo'o8o `"ooooo"' o8o o8o o8o `8o o8o o8oo o8 (c)"88oood' =--------------------------------------------------------------------------= The Lion King is copyright 1994 by the Walt Disney Company. This MUCK in no way constitutes a challenge to this copyright. =--------------------------------------------------------------------------= Administrative contact: TLK Admin Registered users: type 'connect ' to connect. Guest users: type 'connect guest guest' to connect as a Guest. For finding a name, type 'names' after connecting, and to apply for a character, type 'help pcapp'. Web-based character application: http://www.thumper.net/tlkmuck/join.htm *If the MUCK is DOWN, please email the Admin so they can restart it!* =-------------------= NO HUMANS BEYOND THIS POINT! =---------------------= [ January 30, 1999 ] Knemi and Banliogan's cave Slowly padding into this cave, you take a look around. Cozy and inviteing it is, after a long travel or just to come home to. Soft scents tickle your nose and play on the air in this cave, smelling of flowers... which wouldn't be such a surprise if the flower petals hadn't been cleaned out of this cave long ago, the only remains a few spare blue and pink petals. Tho the flower's soft feel is gone, the cave floor isn't at all rocky, which makes it good for walking upon and laying on for a nap in the sparce sand, scattered about from people comming in or going out. A small hole in the back of the cave, in the roof alows water to dribble down and onto the floor, along with soft, warm beams of light that illuminate the place... of course, after awhile of erosion, the floor got worn down to a bowl-like shape, perfect for drinking out of. The walls of the cave are somewhat smooth, and if someone were to lean on them they wouldn't get a rock in their side. It's mosty quiet in here, besides the soft purr of a resident when they're home... Mostly this place is inviting, and full of love, for the residents here have much to be happy about... Back [out] to the main cave... You can see... [IC ] [Knemi] hmm. [IC ] Tahzhoo, a young adolescent lion, apparently healthy [IC ] Banliogan, happy. [ZZZ] Ajabu Knemi Knemi, a lioness about halfway thru her adulthood, looks healthy as she stands on sturdy legs before you. Her movements are probably best described as a flowing river, her muscles moving with silent comand from her thoughts. Her tail is tipped with a soft brown tuft of fur, but the rest of her (besides her paws, muzzle, and underbelly which are a creamy yellow color) is soft tawny. Her eyes are a jungle greenish-blue, and sparkle in the right light. Tho the seasons haven't been very kind to this lioness, she's seen more than enough happiness to keep her going.. it's reflected in her smiling eyes. Her belly sags a bit, as if she's well fed and cared for. Banliogan ,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-., | | | Finally, after waiting so long, Banliogan has past | |his adolescent stage of life and entered into the ranks| |of adulthood. His mane now a beautifully full, flowing| |sea of brilliant fur, as white as the rest of the fur | |that covers his body right down to the tuft of fur at | |the tip of his tail. | | | | His size is average for a lion of his age, but he | |quite strong due to the amount of time he spent playing| |while he was growing up. All of his body is very well | |proportioned, except for his paws, which he has been | |told are larger than normal. | | On his left shoulder there is scar, now almost | |hidden by fur, and he walks around with a distinctive | |limp, favouring the right side of his body. And about | |the only other blemish marring his appearance is a | |small nick out of his left ear. | | | | He looks around with nice crystal blue eyes, and is| |only rarely seen without a smile. | | | -.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.-=-.,_,.- Tahzhoo --- 'Tahzhoo' --- an adolescent lion ----------------------------------------- If you only cast a quick glance at him ... ... you will notice merely another adolescent lion, one among many others, with the usual tawny coat and a tail tip of slightly darker color. While still lacking any sign of a mane, he's already quite strong and tall for his young age, looking healthy and obviously lacking any scars or disfigurements When looking at him more closely ... ... you will see a well-proportioned, sturdy body with muscular legs and noticeable large paws, the typical head of a large feline and a medium- sized tail ending in a bushy tip. His well-groomed coat varies a bit in color: while most of his body is tawny like scorched grass, with the under- side and the insides of the legs tinted and the tip of the tail shaded, the tip of his muzzle and his chin are blending into a creamy white, whereas a stripe across the back of his ears, his lips and the tip of his nose are black as the night, contrasting with his friendly looking amber eyes. Neither too muscular nor too slim his stature seems to be a good balance between weight and size, giving you the impression that he must be a fair hunter and good fighter, able to protect himself from at least some of the threats lurking around. And it's only when you take time to observe him for a while, maybe even dare to look in his eyes, that you will discover a lot more: His whole appearance exudes friendliness, playfulness and helpfulness, but there is also some distrust and caution, maybe due to unpleasant experiences in the past, and the vague impression of a determined, vigilant will based on a peaceful and somewhat selfless mind, able to take a lot of strain, but yet quite sentimental and vulnerable. Keen amber eyes expresses a great deal of curiousity and a sense of humour, and if you are sensitive enough you may even detect a certain pensiveness, empathy, some melancholy and - somewhere deep, deep inside, behind all, buried under the present - apparently a trauma or two... Kiwanja Kiwanja is a Lioness cub, barely more than newborn. Her woolly coat is the pale tawny of desert sand, densely patterned with deeper brown cub spots. Her ears are pressed back against her head, and her eyes are closed. Any movement she makes is uncertain and clumsy, on stubby legs and oversized paws, each toe of which bears a cub-soft transparent claw she is not yet able to keep sheathed. Kiwanja flops limply onto the rock floor. Knemi relaxes as the cub settles on the floor, letting her head hang as she pants.. The young lion's ears flatten ever more and he stops padding around, looking startled at the lioness... Though a smile appears on his face when he saw... his first new sibling! Knemi manages to gasp out a, "Somebody take care of.. somebody.." through her panting.. Kiwanja just lies there limply, without strength even to whimper, her eyes still tightly closed. Knemi pants s'more as she looks back, and then moves to give the cub a starting wash.. Kiwanja squirms at this, the rasy touch giving her motivation to whimper pathetically. Tahzhoo almost jumps to the newborn cub, excited, happy, agape... "Awwwww....!" He looks at his mother, "What do I have to do, Mom? Should I take over licking her clean?" Knemi picks the cub up as gently as she can in her condition, and moves her a foot or so to be near her tummy.. she washes the cub's face shakily before wincing and letting herself lay back strait.. "Yeah..." she mutters, shutting her eyes from pain and groaning again.. Tahzhoo follows the cub picked up by the lioness, lays down and starts to lick the newborn live between his forepaws, carefully, and purring while doing so... Kiwanja squirms, but her whimpering slowly lessens and she too begins to purr. Knemi tenses up once more and gives another low roar in the back of her throat.. She looks over at Banli, almost spitefully.. and snatches hold onto his manefur with her teeth, biting down with the pain, and most possibly pulling his hair out. ;> Tahzhoo cleans the cub thoroughly, only slightly started by the new roar of his mother... o O (Did I look like that too, back then...) Knemi's tightly shut eyes open to half lid as her second cub comes to settle on the cave's floor.. but she doesn't quite let go of Banli's mane yet. Akitepe's tiny body writhes, struggling within the web of fluid he's covered in, wondering where the warmth went... Kiwanja can't close her eyes, as they are not yet open in the first place, but she relaxes, drifting into sleep in her brother's paws. Banliogan meeps quietly as his manefur's mangled by the mandibles of doom. ;> Knemi slowly relaxes her grip on her mate's manefur, spitting out long white strands of fur onto the floor near her.. "S..sorry, Banli.." she mumbles as she starts moving her front back to give Akitepe's face and form a little wash.. Tahzhoo notices another movement, another cub squirming on the ground. He gets up again, padding towards it to take care of that cub as well... Akitepe tilts his face up to the tongue as it washes over his face, and the very first breath he takes he takes with it the scent of Mother. When he exhales a thin, watery mewl comes from his throat. Hey, this isn't so bad... Kiwanja creels in indignant distress as she's uncerimoniously dropped to the ground. Knemi gets Akitepe's face washed at least.. and then stops Tahzhoo.. "No.. let Banli.." she mumbles, glancing over at Banli.."You take care of her.." she points her nose towards the little girl before wincing.. Tahzhoo nods and returns to the firstborn cub, comforting her with some more soft licks while laying down next to her again. Banliogan shakes his head a little and offers a quiet purr to her as his fur's released, "It's okay." Then he turns and moves over so he can pick up the next arrived tiny cub, and proceed to gently clean the goo off him. Akitepe meowls again in tiny echo of his sister's cry. As he's settled down in Banliogan's paws he works his own, kicking all over the place and trying to get a grasp on just what's happened to him... Kiwanja once more relaxes, drifting into sleep, her little mind near- overloaded by the experiences of birth and brother washing her and getting dropped onto rock and... Knemi trembles a bit, out of being tired.. she growls, pushing once again.. She stops tho, the cub half-in half-out.. some sort of complication? she pants softly before pushing again.. Knemi gulps in cooler air before looking back at the unmoving body.. she takes a moment to calm down.. and then moves back, picking the cub up in her maw and moving it so she can clean it.. but it doesn't make any sound.. no movements at all.. Cub Body ...No life exists in this shell of a body. Weak little unworking limbs and shriveled ears add to this poor little girlcub's sad story, the lioness cub who will never see the light of day, for her eyes are tightly shut for all eternity. The circle swiftly turned past her, casting a shadow on her existance and letting her die at her own birth. Tahzhoo looks up, somehow sensing that something isn't alright - maybe because of the sudden silence? He looks at his mother and the motionless cub... Knemi pants softly, her heated breath moving over the dead girl's body.. her eyes are empty of emotion as she picks the cub up once more and sets it down more closer to the exit of the cave, saying nothing, but her closed eyes say enough. a little tear trickles down into her fur.. but is interupted by a large wince. Knemi bites her lip through the first pain, but then lets out a moan-roar of pain, every muscle in her pushing, it looks like... Knemi grunts as the last cub leaves her, coming to rest on the floor.. Attacked by a sudden fear, Tahzhoo nudges the lioness cub between his paws a bit, somewhat relieving when he noticed her purring. Kiwanja's purring increases in volume, as if to proclaim her life. Jali squirms near her mother with soft cries. Akitepe is oblivious to the trials of both life and death.. he remains squirming in his father's paws, counteracting the soundlessness of his sister by voicing another watery mewl. Banliogan watches Knemi quietly, eyes unintentionally glancing towards the tiny unmoving body nearer the exit of the cave for a brief moment, before he looks back down to his son in his paws to continue his grooming.. Akitepe rubs his head against his father's tongue, instintually bathing himself in the lion's scent. Hunger begins to claw at him from the inside, perhaps testimony to his squirming Knemi lets her head lay on the cave's floor, sides heaving.. she takes a moment to rest before groaning loudly, "Next time, you're having the cubs, Banli." and moving to pick up Jali and move her to be near her tummy as she washes the cub gently.. Akitepe rolls onto his side again, flailing still-useless limbs. Jali squirms as she is lifted and is cleaned by her mothers rough, yet gentle, tongue. She crys at the cleaning and kicks with her unstable legs. Tahzhoo looks up and smiles, noticing another sibling taken care of by his mother, and the second one flailing his limbs below his father's head. Three silbing! The young lion beams, forgetting about the fourth one for a moment... Knemi continues washing Jali with care, even tho she's almost wasted from the labor.. she makes sure that the cub can get to it's first meal, and then with a long sigh, lays back down, hoping that the cub'll take care of itself for the moment and be busy eating.. "They.. they need milk." she mumbles, just about loud enough for Tahzhoo and Banli to hear. Banliogan leans down and carefully picks Akitepe up in his mouth, and moves him over to his mom's belly so he can familiarize him with her scent, and get something to drink. Akitepe gets deposited by his mother's side and squirms, voicing another strong mewl. As he stumbles about, writhing, he happens to find his sister, and lurches close to her, finding her ear with his mouth and beginning to suckle on it eagerly. Jali cries as her ear is sucked on, but at the same time, she has found her mothers nipple and begins to suckle. Akitepe goes *tthp* *tthp* *tthp* on Jali's ear, too comforted by the actual familiarity of the suckling to realize that.. well, there's no milk. Jali squirms and trys to move her older brother, but fails due to her small size. Tahzhoo nudges the little lioness in her paws towards the nearby nipples, whispering, "There, young one, get yourself a first meal..." Akitepe falls with his sister, and ends up atop her, still suckling on her ear. Good thing they're both tiny cubs. He almost seems to be drifting off to sleep. Knemi starts calming slowly, her eyes helf open.. the dead cub forgotten for the moment, she watches the cubs with a small smile and a happy purr... Kiwanja squirms the remining distance, barely her own length, then noses about her mother's belly fur, becoming frustrated and about to voice a protest when...success! She latches on. Jali cries loudly as her brother lays atop her, causing her to loose the nipple that she had been suckling on. Akitepe tumbles off of Jali onto her other side as she squirms, but, in all his instinctual strength, remains attached to her ear. Well, this is quite a pickle for both of them, isn't it. Tahzhoo smiles when he sees the cub starting to suckle. Looking up he shifts his attention to the lioness, his voice revealing anxiety about her, "Are you alright, Mom..?" Knemi takes a deep breath, exhaling her warm breath towards the cubs slowly.. She smiles.. "Uh-oh.." she murmers through her purrs.. and looks at Tahzhoo.. "Yeah... I think that was the last one.." Jali continues to cry loudly and squirm furiously, trying to get her brother to stop suckling her ear! @.@ Knemi stifles a chuckle.. and moves her head over to give all three cubs a gentle wash. doesn't take long; they aren't very big at the moment. :> Akitepe finally gets rolled away from Jali from the aid of his Mother. Now, totally without /anything/ to suckle on, he finds himself on his back. He voices a tiny, questioning... mmmewww? Jinja arrives from "Main Cave of Uzima Valley". >> Jinja pads in out of the shadows as quiet as a ghost. Jinja A young looking lioness stands before you. She's around one year of age maybe a bit older. Her fur is strange though, it's mostly white with lighter streaks of gray here and there, blotches almost of a honey tan can be also seen in her fur makeing it a cream looking color, her underside a slight darker color, her ears tips are black along with the tuft of fun on her rope like tail. Her muzzle being normal size and tiped with a black nose with black whiskers as well. Large paws along with her strong legs make this cat a very strong hunter, her claws being hidden inside her paws unless needed, there color ebony black while her fangs are a boney colored white. Scars slightly run over her muzzle and ears from past fights, her shoulder still have smal patches of fur missing, the fur slowly growing back in. She now slightly looks toward you, her eyes are a strange green/blue color, not a true albino it would seem. Tahzhoo nods and smiles, taking in a deep breath. Then he glances at his father, closing his eyes for a moment, before watching the cubs again. Knemi noses Akitepe, helping him get righted, and hopefuly on the right course to some food... "There y'go.." she murmers to her new son.. Jinja slowly pads in head lowered a bit and ears perked forwaed before she lowers to her haunches watching with a soft smile. Banliogan smiles, and quietly moves over to Knemi's side and gives her a soft nuzzle. "I don't think I lost as much fur this time." Knemi lays back, nuzzling Banli softly.. "You learned something from the last time, did you?" she gives him a smirk and a loud purrr. Akitepe shufflewrithesquirmshifts for awhile, until... Eureka! With a vice- grip (well, for a few-minutes old cub..) he latches onto the teat and begins to suckle, paws giving him kneading purchase. Kiwanja kneeds at her mother's belly with her forepaws, cub-soft claws extending. Knemi's ears perk a bit as she sees Jinja, and she smiles once more.. "You missed all the action, you know." She winks, resting her head against Banli a bit. Jinja softly chuckles ears twitching, "I seem to do that alot." She offers a soft grin. Banliogan flicks an ear in Jinja's direction, taking a moment before he turns his gaze away from his cubs over to Jinja, "Hullo." Akitepe is startled by his older-brother's cry, and breaks away from his feeding, wobbly head dropping to the cave floor with a sharp mewl. Jali meews and is glad her poor ear is free from her brothers vacumming mouth. She quickly makes her way, wobbling and shuffling, next to her sister and brother. With a cry she can't seem to find a teat to suckle on, so she trys and take her older sisters share. Kiwanja shoves against Jali almost absently, not about to give over. Ajabu groans in his sleep, rolling over with all the commotion. He then lifts his head, BLINKING suddenly as he hears mewing. He's on his feet in a flash, "HUH?!" Ajabu Emerald eyes with all the depth of the deepest sea catch your own, ablaze with a look of both friendliness and detatched things missing in his life. The form of which those eyes are set upon is that of a lion, young and inexperienced, yet he has seen too much in too little a time. The hide which covers his body is of a ruddy hue, lengthly legs dabbed in rosettes from the childhood of which he hasn't let go of yet - obsidian in hue, dark as death, black as sin. His build is the average for a middle adolescent-aged leonine male, a mane touching his neck as ragged, englongated strands of his fur doused in the black of night; hardly anything there. Even though with his calm appearance, he shouldn't be underestimated. Ajabu's mouth drops wide open, ".... siblings!" He says happily, looking between his parents, "... more of them! Oh wow!" He looks them over, shaking off his sleepiness, "They're so small..." Knemi's ear moves towards the mew, and she looks over to see what's wrong.. she moves to nudge Jali towards an open teat gently with her nose, purring softly still. Akitepe's head bobs up and down weakly as he tries to make out of the watery sounds all around him. His paws shuffle, and he seems to be trying to look towards whoever is speaking at the moment. Ajabu leans his head up and down, looking the new ones over. He blinks once more. Perhaps he is easily surprized, "Sisters..?" Banliogan turns back to give Knemi another nuzzle, and ask, "So what are we going to name them?" Tahzhoo swivels his head to the arriving lioness, happily nodding his head in order to greet her, "Hello Jinja!". When his ears catchs up his brothers voice, he swivel his head again, this time snickering, "Look who's awake at last...". He lifts to his paws and pads over to him, cheekrubbing him with a purr, "Hello brother!" Knemi sits back a bit and looks at the cubs once more.. "Yeah...You've got to be very gentle with them.." she answers Ajabu with a chuckle.. Jinja chuckles softly and lightly nods to Tahzhoo, " Hello." Kiwanja Kiwanja is a newborn Lioness cub. Her woolly coat is the pale tawny of desert sand, densely patterned with deeper brown cub spots. Her ears are pressed back against her head, but her eyes are open, the filmy pale blue-grey of the very young. Jali noses about in her mothers fur, trying to locate where the teat is. She hears voices about her and squirms, a bit scared of the noise, but occupied at the moment trying to find food. Akitepe drags himself about again until colliding with his sisters... Being that they smell like him, he begins attempting to bury himself against them while his head keeps bobbing towards everyone who's speaking. Ajabu smiles and returns the facor from Tahzhoo, purring loudly. He smiles at Knemi, and then at Banli, and then to the unfamiliar lioness. He doesn't care. He's overjoyed. He looks back to Banliogan once more, "Ahem.. Dad...." He noses towards Jinja, "Introduce us..?" Knemi purrs softly.. "We better be more quiet, if we want them to ever settle down again ttho, you know.." she smiles to her older sons. *hinthinting* Banliogan looks to Ajabu, a slightly surprised look appearing on his also overjoyed face, "You've never met Jinja?" Akitepe continually tries to be involved in the conversation. He mewls. Ajabu shakes his head to his father, "Nope," He says, keeping his voice quieted. A little bored by the introduction of someone he already got to know, Tahzhoo returns to the cubs, laying down next th his mother's belly and watching them silently, a much more interesting thing... He looks quite pensive. Jinja looks over to Ajabu lightly and gives a slight nod of her head,"Hi." she offers with a light smile. Banliogan grins and stands, walking over to Jinja and giving a light nuzzle in greeting as he arrives at her side, "Well then, this is Jinja." He looks back to his son, "And Jinja, that's Ajabu." He moves back to Knemi with a glance at Jinja saying she doesn't have to sit so far from everyone. Kiwanja is burrowing against her mother, doings her best to ignore her sibs, and is not much of a sight, especially as she's facing away from Tahzhoo. Jali cries again as she is slightly pushed away from the teat she had just found, just as her brother collides into her. Why is she having so much trouble finding food. She trys again, and ends up squirming away from her mother, crying at her loss. Akitepe's head bobs up and down again and he mewls after his father's deep baritone fades away. Ajabu chuckles and nods a hello, adding a smile as well, "A pleasure, Jinja.." He too moves over to the cubs. "Aw..." He says, referring to Jali, whom he noses towards food, "There ya go.." He whispers... Knemi stays where she is, maybe moving a back leg to become more comfortable once and awhile.. She looks at Banli, and nudges him.. "How about we name the last born that name we thought of.. Jali.. doesn't it suit her?" she moves to nudge the cubs back into place once more with a comforting purr.. Jinja lightly flicks her ears and nuzzles Banliogan back as she cocks her head, her tail flicking to her side before looking back to Ajabu," Nice to meet you as well." Tahzhoo o O (Well, at least I didn't have to struggle for a teat...) The young lion smiles, but his facial expression turns sad the very moment later, remember he didn't had any sibling of his own age to play with, either... Banliogan sits again at Knemi's side and nods with a grin, "Yeah, it's perfect." Knemi blinks as she looks up a bit and sees Tahzhoo looking so sad. Her brow moves to show concern.. "Tah?" she murmers to him. Jali begins to nose once again at her mothers belly and finally latches on to a teat and begins to suckle, shuffling her paws. Akitepe continues voicing a short mewl after everyone speaks. His head comes down on Jali's rear and rests there, after a tiny-pink-tongue curling yawn shows his weariness. Birth is tiring, y'know. Jali continues to suckle as her brother rests on her. Ajabu looks back up to his father, "Which one's Jali?" Banliogan moves around behind Knemi so he can lean over and point at Jali with his nose, and not get too much in the way, "That one, she's Jali." Ajabu smiles and nods, giving his sister with a name a lick on the head. Knemi chuckles softly, and steals a nuzzle with Banli as he comes close. "So who're all the others? What shall we name the boy?" she smiles. Tahzhoo looks up, into Knemi's eyes, his own ones revealing some longing... "Nothing, Mom, just a bit lost in thoughts.." Akitepe mewls again, after his mother speaks, as if he were answering. Knemi looks to Tahzhoo for a few moments, thinking to herself about having a talk with that boy, but her mind's on other things at the moment.. ... Banliogan purrs deeply as his head is still dipped close to the cubs, and he inhales through his nose, taking in their scent before looking to Knemi again, "Umm.. How about Akitepe?" Akitepe rubs his face against Jali's fur until his father speaks, and he answers, yet again, with a thin, bubbly meow. Knemi purrs a bit louder, and looks to the newborn boy.. "Well? how about it?" she smiles. "..I think that's a yes." she grins at Banli. Jinja curls her tail around her side as she watches from were she sits, a soft smile on her muzzle. Tahzhoo looks at his mother, then back at his father, while following their conversation about names. Kiwanja, satisfied and round-bellied, slumps beside her mother. Ajabu looks to his youngest brother, repeating the name. "Akitepe." He offers him a lick over the head as well. Knemi giggles softly.. "Blessing your siblings, hmm?" she smiles at Ajabu. Akitepe lifts his head and presses it against the roughness of his brother's tongue. His constant mewling does not cease, even once his head drops back onto his little sister's body. Ajabu chuckles and nods to Knemi, continuing to groom over his brother, "I suppose.. name the third and I'll 'bless' her too" He grins. The young lion is still lost in thoughts, still watching his newborn siblings, happiness, memories and something else mixing up in his facial expression... Knemi hmms, looking at Kiwanja.. "..Kiwa?" she suggests to Banli and the rest of the room. "How about Kiwa?" Jali looses her grip on the teat she had been suckling on and rests for a while. Ajabu looks up at his mother, "That's a little plain..." Knemi hmms. "What do you suggest?" she asks. Ajabu's sights trail around the room, landing on Jinja, "Howabout.. Kiwa.... Kiwanja!" He smiles a little, taking the last bit of the name from Jinja's. Jinja blinks slightly ears flicking foward as she looks over to Ajabu then over to the cub and smiles," I like it." she offers softly. Knemi nods.. "Sounds good.." she looks from Ajabu to Banli, to Jinja, and finally coming to rest on Kiwanja. "Kiwanja. Perfect.." she purrs softly, giving the lioness cub a gentle lick. Knemi smiles, and whispers to Banli. Kiwanja, newly named, squirms at the lick just to let everyone know she's responsive. Jali makes a cubbish yawn and turns herself over, resting her head on her mothers huge back paw. Tahzhoo mumbles the cub's name in a low voice, looking from cub to cub... Knemi purrs softly to her cubs, happy and calmed at last.. and, as to be expected, a bit tired too. She waits for a responce from Banli.. Ajabu grins happily, licking over his sister, whom he named, "You're so cute! Kiwanja..." Banliogan looks up to Jinja a moment, then back to Knemi and nods enthusiastically, "I think that's a great idea!" Knemi purrrs softly, "It's a quite fitting name.. seeing that Jinja might be.. if she'll accept the role.. a godparent for them.." she looks over at Jinja with questioning eyes and a smile." Jinja smiles as she watches Kiwanja, she looks back up to Knemi ears twitching as she nods her head as she speaks,"I would love to Knemi." Jali feels her mother moving and mews as she rests her small head on Knemi's back paw. She trys to turn over again to find where the sounds are coming from and topples over on her sister. Kiwanja makes a startled sound that can only be called a squeak at the sudden weight on her. Ajabu draws his head up a little, "Can I be one of their guardians? I promise I won't let -anything- happen to them. Anyone who messes with -my- little siblings can consider themselves severly hurt." He grins slightly, "Just kidding.. but I would defend them fiercely if something came up." Knemi smiles proudly, looking from Jinja to Banli and back again. "I'm sure you'll do wonderfully.." she purrs to Jinja before looking back to the cubs... she blinks at Ajabu.. and chuckles. "What did I tell you about that?" she smirks jokingly before looking to Banli. "Well? what d'you think?" Jinja chuckles softly as she nods to Ajabu," there be sorry that's for sure." she winks. Finally shaking his head violently, as if to get rid of disturbing thoughts, the young lion move his head forward in order to make some sort of contact with his siblings. Ajabu tentatively lifts Kiwanja off the ground, placing her gently into his paws, ".. you're so pretty." He grins at Jinja. Kiwanja lets out a breath in confusion at this sudden movement, then begins purring as she relaises she's been sved from Jali's flopping on her. Knemi moves to wash the remaining two cubs all over again, waiting for Banli's response.. Ajabu smiles and returns the purr, grooming over his little sister. A contented smile is planted firmly on his face. There's hardly times when he's happier... Kiwanja remains relaxed and purring, calmly taking in all these Lion-scents and becoming used to being moved. Ajabu gently lays his head across Kiwanja, but refuses to put all of his weight on her. In fact, he hardly puts any on at all. He leans forward, nosing his newest brother. Jali crys as she lays alone, and begins to squirm away from her mother again. Akitepe blinks as Jali squirms out from beneath his head. He's drawn from his doze sharply, and as his chin hits the cave floor he sounds another loud mewl. Jinja turns her head lightly looking and watching the moving Jali, she chuckles softly. Knemi nods to Tahzhoo.. "Hey guys.." she leans over and whispers to the two remaining cubs by her side.. "It's your brother Tahzhoo.. Well, and your brother Ajabu.. that nut." she purrs softly, and then lets Tahzhoo move over a bit closer. Ajabu laughs playfully, grining up at his mother. "-I'm- the nut?" Knemi nodnods, and grins jokingly. "Yep." she chuckles. Knemi lays her head down on her paws, purring soothingly to her children, a humm slowly emerging. Jali wobbles and squirms as she reaches some fur, she begins to nose about in it. Not realizing that she is trying to suckle on her older brother Ajabu nearby. Ajabu acks and laughs gently down at Jali, leaning down and licking over her, purring. He then noses her in the right direction, Knemi. Knemi's tailtip flicks softly against the floor as she lets herself relax momentarily. Knemi hmms.. and moves over, picking up Akitepe gently and placing him back down in a circle of her forepaws. She purrs softly to him and gives his head and neck a few gentle licks.. Akitepe mewls in response to his mother's purring, tilting his wobbly head up towards her. As if he could see her, he 'gazes' long in her direction, his tiny body vibrating in purrls. Tahzhoo looks around for a 'free' cub to take care of himself. Jali cries as she is nosed by Ajabu, and squirms away from Ajabu and trying to find some more food. Ajabu blinks as Jali squirms away, ".. sorry?" He turns his attentions back to his other sister, whom he supposes fell asleep. Knemi leans her head down, resting her forehead lightly on her new son's back and side, her eyes closed as well as she continues to purr. Jali stays inbetween Ajabu and Knemi, wobbling her head and mewing. Kiwanja remains still, but for the rise-and-fall of her breathing. Akitepe squirms against his mother, but is comforted by her scent and presence, and quickly begins to loll towards sleep. Seeing two cubs asleep and the third one between his brother and his mother, the young lion sights softly, thoughts starting to sneak up his mind again. Knemi lifts her head a bit, gently giving the place on Akitepe where her forehead rested a moment before a few tender licks. "o/~ Ingonyama ifile, Ingonyama ifile.. Lala kahle.. o/~" she murmers the lullaby into the boy's fur quietly before leaving him cradled in her paws. Akitepe drops into a quiet sleep, eased only by his mother's comforting. His head drops against his paws, his breath a constant vibration. Ajabu finds himself enwrapped by his little sister's, Kiwanja's, small charm. He barely knows her, yet he loves her so much already. That goes for all his new siblings. Kiwanja yawns, muttering to herself in a winsome, contented way she she once more settles into her mother's fur. Ajabu sighs contently, "I love siblings..." He grins over at Tahzhoo. Knemi looks over to Tahzhoo.. "Hon?" she says softly. come'ere, would you?" she moves her head towards a spot near her. Jali lays away from any warm fur and whimpers at the coldness she feels. Her tiny body becomes a bit cold. Ajabu blinks as he takes a good look at his older younger brother "You all right Tahzhoo?" he then mrphs, leaning down and picking up Jali and placing her in his paws next to her sister. Knemi leans a bit, trying not to upset Akitepe, as she mumbles something to Ajabu. Jali mews as she feels the warmth of fur, which is her sisters and Ajabu, and she squirms closely to Kiwanja, as she is finally comfortable and slowly drifts to sleep. Ajabu nods a little to Knemi, and then looks over to the other lioness in the vacinity, "Hey.. Jinja... you want to hold one of them?" He smiles. Dropping out of his thoughts and having missed his brothers remark, Tahzhoo perks his ears to the voice of his mother, "Hmm?" He nod silently and gets up, padding over to the spot the lioness motioned to. Knemi glances down at Akitepe for a moment, and then back to Tahzhoo, murmering to him over the new baby boy, "C'mon.. something's wrong.. how about telling me about it?" she purrs. Akitepe sleeps peacefully.. until he rolls onto his side, his huge head (hey, it's a newborn. They all have humongous heads.) pulling him over. He wakes up and kicks a moment, mewling as he tries to decide which way us.. Up, was it called? Knemi moves a paw or so to help right Akitepe before looking back to Tahzhoo, concerned.. Tahzhoo lays down again, right next to the lioness and nuzzling his newborn brother for a short, yentle moment. "Past, Mom, it's past..." Ajabu too turns to look at Tahzhoo, concerned. Many-a-time he finds himself depressed, but it depresses him as well whenever someone whom he's loved from birth carries the burden as well. Jali sleeps a top her sister, resting her head on Kiwanja's neck. Akitepe throws tiny paws, berating Tahzhoo's nose with feather-light touches as he kicks until he's righted by his mother. His head wobbles a moment, then drops down to his paws once more. Knemi's ears perk slightly. "...You miss it?" she asks softly. "Miss being just about this small?" she gives a little smile.. Jinja looks over to Tahzhoo softly as she listions. Ajabu purrs and grooms over his two sisters, trying to make their sleep as comfortable as possible atop his paws. He looks back up to Tahzhoo, awaiting his reaction. Knemi purrs softly to Akitepe (and Tahzhoo too, actually) as she waits for an answer from Tahzhoo.. Akitepe lifts his head again, looking blindly in every which direction. His tiny paws shuffle on the ground, as if he were travelling a great distance. Tahzhoo sighs softly, "No, Mom, I miss something else...", he closes his eyes for a moment. Knemi moves to nuzzle Tahzhoo gently, making sure she doesn't squish Akitepe in the prosess. "Well what is it?" she asks softly. process.. yeah, that looks better. Akitepe mewls a watery mewl, as if mimicing his mother's voice. Jinja humms softly as she watches Tahzhoo, having a slight feeling she knows the reason, she slowly turns her head watching over the new cubs. Ajabu continues to groom his sleeping sisters idly while focusing his major attentions on Tahzhoo. Jali rests easily as she feels her loving brothers groom. The young lion looks at the cubs, one after another before answering his mother's questions, "It's past, Mom, talking about that now will only hurt someone..." Knemi blinks, looking at Tahzhoo.. "..You sure?" she murmers, moving to give Tahzhoo a nuzzle.. Tahzhoo nods silently. Ajabu looks between his mother and brother, smiling reasurringly. Jali gives a small cubbish whimper in her sleep. Knemi nods back to Tahzhoo before giving him another comforting nuzzle. "Alright." she murmers in a purr.. Tahzhoo leans against his mother, rolling on his side again. Just like another, only bigger cub he slowly starts to fall asleep, pensive eyes still open. Knemi glances over to Jali as she hears the little noise.. "Y'know.. I'm so lucky to have all of you around.. having just one cub at a time was a pawful.." she offers Tahzhoo a smile. He grins at Knemi and then blinks, "Hey! I was your first cub.. was I really -that- much of a pawful?" Kiwanja drifts into sleep.