[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Eventually, Delano did stop tickling Lina and lay down on top of her. "How was that for a morning wake up call?" he asked teasingly, before giving her another long, loving kiss. "You know.... it's kinda surreal that we're mates now," he said after a while, "all this time, something kept happening, and we never got to really be together, well, up until now." He rubbed his head against hers. "And now that there's nothing going on... We're finally truly together, aren't we?" Smiling, Delano stared into Lina's eyes, enjoying how the light reflected off of them.

Umeme let out a sigh of contentment when the noise from outside of the den quieted down. Although she too giggled when Muroki licked her. "Yeah, stay here with me," she whispered back, "they can take care of each other." She really didn't feel like moving around yet, especially with Muroki in the den with her now.

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina was about to protest to Delano tickling her by saying that she'll get back at him eventually or something of the sort, but she was cut off by Delano kissing her. Not that she had a problem with kissing the love of her life, but it gave her a short moment to decide that in case of telling Delano that she'll get back at him, she could simply do it when he was least ready. "Yes, we're finally and truly together." she said with a smile, gently rubbing her nose against Delano's as they continued staring into each other's eyes. She did have to admit though that being tickled wasn't that bad.

As soon as the noise of Lina's laughter quieted down Muroki let out a satisfied sigh. "Hmm, that's much better..." he mumbled, his words barely comprehensible, which only showed that he was still rather sleepy. He pulled Umeme even closer, leaning her head against her shoulder with another yawn.

[DGFone]

Delano grinned at Lina, wondering whether or not he should ask what was on his mind for the past few moments. Eventually, he decided to do so. "So what do you want to do today?" he asked Lina, "I mean... yesterday we went to the waterhole. And it was really fun, but I don't think I'll be able to do that today..." He let out a small laugh. "Yeah... I don't remember being this stiff in a while now." He smiled at Lina. "But as sore as I feel now, yesterday was completely worth it."

Umeme allowed Muroki to pull her closer to him, and even turned her head so that they were facing each other, although she saw that his eyes were mostly closed still. "Not going anywhere for now, I see," she mumbled, "I like that." She was ready to fall asleep again, and from the looks of it, Muroki was too.

[TheWhistlerify]

Up to the point where Delano asked her what did she want to do today Lina hadn't really thought about where they could go and what they could do. To be honest she wouldn't mind remaining there with Delano for the rest of the day, but thinking about it, perhaps going somewhere which was not the entrance of the den the entire pride used was a good idea. But with Delano's body being so sore, probably as the result of not having been physically active for a long time, the posibility of simply running through the meadow was out of the question. "We can just take a walk I guess. Find a spot to lie down where the danger of my mother showing up doesn't exist." she chuckled, knowing how things tended to sometime become awkward when her mother was there. Also, moving his legs and stretching them a bit might just make Delano less stiff.

[DGFone]

Delano laughed at Lina's joke. "Yeah, that sounds like a good plan," he said, not making any attempt to get moving though. "I sure do hope that you know where your mother will be, because I'd hate to find us with just her around. Because if she does... it will be quite awkward."

He chuckled a little bit, remembering Fadhili's little jest from the night before. "I was thinking about what she said last night though," his grin faded, and for a moment, Delano hoped that what he would tell Lina wouldn't make her feel bad. "It has nothing to do with you, Lina. But I was just thinking... I'm not ready for cubs. At least, I don't think I am..." Delano hesitated, waiting for Lina's reaction.

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina couldn't help but chuckle as Delano understood what she meant and took it in as the joke it was intended to be. "She's still asleep, so we're safe as long as we leave before she wakes up." she said, again joking about what she was saying. When Delano suddenly mentioned what her mother said last night, she stopped smiling and began to grow slightly nervous, only for the stress to disappear once Delano told her that he too was not ready to have cubs yet.

She was worried about having to tell him that she wasn't ready and risking somehow hurting his feelings or making them grow distant from each other, but he shared her opinion. As much as it was sometimes tempting to just give in to her emotions when they were alone, she didn't want to end up doing something they both might regret. "It's okay Delano, I'm not ready either." she smiled at him and gave him a short nuzzle, "Should we get going? Before my mother wakes up that is..." again she chuckled.

[DGFone]

Delano visibly relaxed when Lina stated her feelings as well. He gratefully returned her nuzzle, chuckling as well at her joke. "Yeah, that might be a good idea," he muttered, but still made no effort to move. Perhaps it will take some effort from Lina to move him now. He grinned at Lina as he even made an attempt to get up, but his legs refused to move his weight up for now. "It's alright. I'll get up, ehh... eventually." He lay back on the ground next to Lina. "Besides, you're mother is still asleep, and it's very early. What do we have to worry about?"

Inside the den, Umeme was about to fall asleep again when a rumble moved through her stomach. She frowned, not realizing how hungry she was. She placed a paw on Muroki's muzzle, hoping he was still awake as well. "Muroki, I think we'll need to hunt today," she muttered, "I think I'll take mom and Lina with me, and well, it might not be such a good idea for you or Delano to come with us. Those manes really stand out in the savanna, you know..."

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina raised an eyebrow with a playful expression at Delano's miserable attempt to get up. She didn't think that not being physically active for an entire month would give Delano such a hard time. "Oh, darn..." she said with a chuckle, rolling back onto her belly and lying next to him. "Well, you can never know when it comes to my mother." even though Delano was probably right, she couldn't help but have that slight little doubt.

Muroki's ears twitched slightly when Umeme's paw suddenly rested on his muzzle. By breathing in through his nose he was able to recognize it was hers because it carried her scent. Still sleepy, the only parts of what he said that he actually understood was the part where she was going to hunt and the part where he could stay and continue to sleep. Yesterday had left him more tired than he thought it would. "Oh..." he mumbled sleepily, "Alright, you be careful and... have fun... and stuff..."

[DGFone]

Umeme grinned at Muroki. Looks like he won't be going anywhere for a while. "You know hunting isn't fun. Besides, you won't be coming along, so that makes it even worse." She playfully put on a sad frown, not really caring if Muroki heard her or not. "Alright, we'll try to be quick... I hope I will see you today for more than a few moments though." She gave him a loving lick before getting up to her feet and moving to the outside in order to tell Lina to start getting ready.

Delano heard someone making their way out of the den, and stared at Lina, his face frozen in shock. "Maybe it might have been a better idea to move..." he whispered, only to relax when a yawning Umeme emerged, and not Fadhili. "Oh, it's you. Morning, Umeme..." he muttered, ignoring Lina's smirk, who clearly enjoyed being correct.

Umeme yawned again, nodding at Lina and Delano. "Morning you two," she said, "hey, Lina, listen. We will need to go and hunt something today, so would you mind not leaving until I wake mom up?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina watched the entrance of the den, somewhat in horror, until Umeme walked out and relieved whatever worry both Lina and Delano had about the posibility that it was Fadhili who was about to walk out of the den. "Hey Umeme." she said, listening as her sister took away the day she had planned to spend with Delano. Still, hunting was important. "Okay." the last time she went hunting with her sister and mother was a long time ago. Perhaps it'll be a good idea. She looked at Delano, "You wouldn't mind if we went later right?" she asked, batting her eyelashes at him. "I mean, we do need to eat."