(Private for TheWhistlerify)

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Mjuvi gave Marini a small nod. He was glad she was grateful, and did not feel like he had to delve into why she was acting so withdrawn, not yet anyway. He already felt as though she was his responsibility, despite being not too far away in age. "Tell me if the leg pain gets any worse" he muttered, "Not sure I can do anything about it, but maybe just telling someone..." he didn't know what to say, so his voice became quiet. Clearing his throat, he moved away towards Dakari.

The older lioness smiled approvingly of Dakari's willingness to be helped. She knew how males could be like, trying to be self-supportive. Everyone needed help from time to time. Her pale green eyes softened as he told her of his plans to move the kill away. Smart move, she thought. She was about to say so, but Dakari's younger brother walked up beside him. "How didya get the cut?" he asked, trying to sound as concerned as he could, glancing at Marini briefly.

Nura turned her head away to check on her daughter. Akina appeared to have fallen asleep on the bigger Siri, who was beginning to doze off herself. Her lips curled into a smile. It was grand for Akina to have a playmate, and she was sure Siri appreciated it too. Now that she was to stick around for a while, she hoped their friendship would grow. From the amount of play they had that day, she very much doubted that it wouldn't.

[TheWhistlerify]

Marini doubted, or at least hoped not, that the pain in her leg would get worse, but she gave Mjuvi a small nod of approval nevertheless. Because she was just as clueless as to what to do about it as he was, she wasn't surprised when he told her that he hadn't a clue either. As he made his way over to his brother and Nura, she went ahead and looked around a little. Siri and Akina were asleep (or in the process of falling asleep), while Mjuvi's adolescent sister was looking at the two cubs with a warm smile. Looking back at Mjuvi, she felt her cheeks heat up and looked away when she noticed him glance in her direction.

Dakari's attention turned back to the deep cut on his cheek when he found his paw once again making its way in order to scratch it. Frowning slightly, he lowered it back to the ground, at which point his brother came over. "What, this?" he asked in his usual, cheerful tone, as if the injury held no significance whatsoever (while it still hurt - even if not as much as initially). "I got kicked in the face..." Again he spoke as if it was nothing. "And it just might leave a Scar."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Mjuvi cringed when he realised Marini had caught his glance, and decided to try and pry his attentions away from the young, mysterious lioness. The adolescent couldn't help but smile at his brother's attitude. Dakari didn't seem bothered, even if it looked nasty. Mjuvi liked to think he'd be like his brother, but the reality was that he'd be grumpy and would be sulking around if he got kicked in the face.

"If it does leave a scar, you could tell strangers that it was from a brave fight with another lion" he said with a grin, "That'd get some oohs and aahs". Nura rolled her eyes, listening to the conversation. "I personally think fighting is a bit reckless, no matter what the reason. A battle scar wouldn't impress me" she voiced, although not disrespectfully. Mjuvi gave a 'humph' of disapproval.

He still wasn't sure about the lioness, whom was far too young to be mothering a cub. Deciding not to retaliate, he moved towards his litter mate. Nura watched him move away. At the same time, she got up and sat by Dakari. "Now, let's have a better look at that 'battle scar', Dakari" she said with a chuckle.

The light brown adolescent flopped beside Laini with a small frown. His eyes traced the bundle of fur that was the two cubs, both appearing to be asleep. He was sorry that he had snapped at Siri earlier, but he assumed she'd forget about it soon. "That Nura" he began, speaking to Laini in a voice that Nura would not be able to hear. "I don't mean to judge, but she seems a bit young to have a cub, doesn't she?" The young male restrained himself from glancing at Marini again. He didn't want to become too friendly after his more hostile approach to Nura; he did not want to be made out as a hypocrite.

[TheWhistlerify]

Laini looked up at Mjuvi with a smile as her brother walked over and lay down beside her. It wouldn't be a lie to say that the prospect of Nura being rather young to have a cub hasn't occurred to her as well. "She does..." she said quietly. "But she's also on her own with Akina... Falling silent for a short moment, she then continued. "I doubt a lioness would leave her pride upon getting pregnant, especially if she's this young..." What she was indirectly trying to say was that they didn't know what ended up leading to Nura mothering a cub to begin with.

Dakari looked at Nura as his brother walked away. "I don't like the whole idea of fighting either, but I heard that, sometimes, one just doesn't have a choice..." Deciding to drop the unpleasant subject when the lioness sat down beside him, he grinned and decided to play along with her joke. "Why, you should have seen that other lion." he said, puffing out his chest. "He was huge and, um... Muscular and all that, I guess... But he was no match for me."

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Mjuvi never considered himself a gossip, but after the tragedy of their pride and the recent additions to what seemed to be a pride of their own, talking about Nura didn't feel at all unkind. Even if, in reality, it was very unkind. He didn't stop to think of what could of led up to it. "I would think not all parents would be proud if their daughter got pregnant at her age. I'm sure if it happened to you, Mother-" Mjuvi stopped. It felt odd to mention her, and he made the decision he wasn't all that ready too. He dropped the subject, but noticed Akina's small eyes fluttering at him. She closed them as soon as she saw Mjuvi looking. The adolescent frowned, had she been listening? He shrugged it off. The cub wouldn't understand anyway.

While Mjuvi didn't know the full story, he was right to assume that Nura's parents were not at all proud. This always seemed to linger in the back of Nura's mind, even if when she sat next to the friendly Dakari, grinning and joking around. The lioness grinned back. "No match at all" she said with a chuckle, leaning forward. With a slight hesitation she began to clean the wound.

The cleaning didn't bother her, for she had cleaned cuts Akina had obtained in the past. It was the closeness that bothered her. She didn't feel uncomfortable exactly, just, unusual for her to be this close to a lion she had just made friends with, and yes, she considered him a friend.

[TheWhistlerify]

Having not noticed the fact that Akina was awake, Laini also felt a little odd at the mention of their mother. "I... guess so..." she said somewhat hesitantly. She couldn't imagine herself become pregnant at such an early age. After all, she was much younger than Nura at the moment. Besides, it wasn't possble anyway because they weren't in a pride anymore. She also didn't know if they ever would be - having cubs in the future or not aside. That thought was rather depressing.

Even though he'd gladly accepted Nura's offer for help, for some reason, Dakari hadn't expected her to do, well... that... For some reason he just didn't see it coming even though it should have been quite obvious. He knew that she was only doing that to help him, but he still felt a little awkward in a somewhat pleasant way, which he knew he had no reason to because, again, she was just helping him out. "S-so, uh..." Great, now he was stuttering again. It would be best if he stopped talking.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

The sun was getting lower as the darker, but rather pretty evening sky took hold over the lands. Mjuvi's thoughts seemed to parallel his sisters as he took a few moments to look up at the various colours above him. Fathering cubs wasn't his main concern, even though some part of him wanted to be a dad. He liked being part of a pride, even if he had his moody moments. A thought occurred to him, and he didn't know whether he liked it or not. He glanced at the beings all around. They looked like a prides, even though Marini wasn't staying and he knew nothing of her. They lacked older members, but maybe that had its benefits.

The adolescent sighed and put his head between his paws, observing his older brother and Nura for a moment before shutting his eyes. She had finished cleaning his wound. "All done" she said softly, the lioness finished cleaning the wound. She moved her head away from his a little, catching Dakari's glance. The closeness made her cheeks a little warm. She moved away completely and began to smile. "It'll heal up soon, with any luck". She hoped she had helped, knowing she had would be worth going through the awkwardness, even though it wasn't the type of awkward she thought it should have been.

Mjuvi sat up suddenly, looking at the carcass. He remembered that Dakari needed to take it away, for their own safety, before nightfall. "Dakari, are you going to move the zebra soon? It's getting darker", he said, speaking quietly to not disturb the cubs. At Mjuvi's interruption, if you could call it that, Nura stood up. "Yes, the evening seems to be setting in fast. I best put Akina to sleep properly, soon" she sighed. Normally she'd settle down as early as Akina did, with her being so young. Now she was with company she was a little more reluctant to retire with her cub.

[TheWhistlerify]

Feeling glad that Nura had either failed to notice his clear nervousness (what with his stuttering and so on) or ignored it, Dakari continued to sit silently as well as perfectly still as the lioness continued and eventually finished cleaning the cut on his cheek. He knew that such a process was generally rather unpleasant, especially when dealing with a deep gush like his, but if there was one advantage in how nervous Nura's assistance had made him it was the way it kept him distracted enough in order for him to not notice the physical discomfort her actions caused.

His expression remained the same one of slight surprise when she pulled away and caught his gaze. Looking at her directly for such a small distance made him realize how beautiful her eyes were, but he soon smiled at her sheepishly and forced the distracting thought of out his head. "T-thanks, Nura, I appreciate it." Whether his wound would end up leaving a scar or not, the way Nura had cleaned it has already made him feel better. It was far less painful now as well as less itchy - not to mention that it would cease to make him uncomfortable sooner thanks to her. So, whether it would visually heal or not, he was still very grateful that she'd tried to help him.

The lion's rather empty and incomprehensible train of thought was soon interrupted by his younger brother. Dakari would have most likely remembered the zebra carcass himself soon enough, but the sooner he got it out of the way the sooner he'd be able to get some well-wanted sleep. "Yes, Mjuvi, I'll take care of it now." he said, getting to his paws as well before looking at Laini. "Would you mind taking Siri into the den with you? I'll be back in a bit." His sister nodded in approval and waited for Nura to take Akina, who was lying on top of Siri, before gently picking her younger sister up by the scruff.

Marini silently watched Nura and Laini head into the den with the two cubs as Dakari began to drag the remaining of their meal away. The idea of staying to sleep just like that in the open, especially in her condition, did not appeal to the young lioness at all. However, at the same time, she would feel just as uneasy if she went ahead and entered the den just like that. So far she hasn't had any reason to fear the group (Mjuvi not included), but they were still strangers in one way or another... It would definitely take her a while to get used to this entire situation.

[UncoordinatedPisces]

Nura's ears flattened against her head out of the warm feeling she felt after Dakari thanked her. It was a nice feeling to help someone, especially someone who had shown her great kindness. "No problem" she mumbled in response, before listening to the conversation between the two brothers. She stared after Dakari with a pleasant look in her eyes as he headed off with the remaining zebra. She felt as though he was becoming less of a stranger and more of a friend with each passing minute.

The lioness drew her gaze away from the male and back to her cub. She smiled softly at her sleeping form, before smiling at Laini. The younger lioness had been rather quiet, and Nura made a mental note to talk with her soon. She followed suit and picked up Akina as softly as she could, the cub didn't even stir. Siri also did not stir, fully worn out from a day of play. She walked into the den and into one of the corners, placing Akina down before lying down herself. The tiredness from the hunt finally kicked in as she yawned. She gazed out of the den, noticing the young lioness outside till looking conflicted. Marini puzzled Nura, and she thought it best not to wish her a goodnight, seeing how frail she was.

"I'll wish Dakari goodnight when he returns" she said lowly to Laini, "But I'll wish you goodnight now". A small smile seemed permanently painted on her muzzle, and although Mjuvi was still unsure about Nura, he had noticed it and decided he liked that about her. She caught his glance and nodded her head. "Goodnight, Mjuvi". The adolescent neither smiled or frowned, but he did nod back,
"Night" he murmured. He took a few steps into the den, however he realised Marini had neither entered earlier or followed his movements to head in.

He turned to her and managed to smile reassuringly like he did before. He left the den and sat beside her, looking down. His smile faltered a little. "Look, I don't know what's happened to you" he said rather suddenly, but quietly to not draw attention from Laini or Nura. "And I don't want to ask. It's just...I'd like you to sleep in the den, with the rest of us, out of harm's way". He realised that she had a problem with the rest of the group, and sighed as soon as he finished his sentence. After a moment to pause, he smiled again. "If you don't wish to come inside, I might just have to stay out here with you" he said with a quiet, but caring chuckle. He had no idea why he cared so much. Maybe because he had come across her first.

[TheWhistlerify]

Having taken Siri into the den and settled down with her, Laini smiled back at Nura. "Goodnight." she said, also quietly so to not accidentally wake Siri up. Even though the normally very energetic cub was already quite worn out, there was no telling what would happen in case her slumber was suddenly interrupted. Of course, the adolescent lioness had witnessed Nura help Dakari out by cleaning that nasty cut on his cheek earlier. While she'd seen her older brother act nervously around lionesses in the past, teasing him about it never seemed to get old.

As Marini watched everybody make their way inside, where it would obviously be safer as well as less cold during the night, she found herself getting less and less thrilled at the idea of staying outside on her own (not that she'd been very fond of it to begin with). Still, when Mjuvi came back and offered that she joined them all inside, she continued to hesitate. She did have a feeling that, if she could trust anybody in that group the most, it was him after everything he's done for her so far.

If anything, it was him saying that he would stay out there with her that convinced her. "Um, okay, I-I'll go inside..." She didn't know why (not that she wanted him to get hurt), but the idea of him staying outside as well, where it might be dangerous, was something she disliked even more. Slowly standing up, this time she didn't really think twice before leaning against the male for support. It was much easier to walk with his help, and there was also a part of her that enjoyed the physical contact.