[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Umeme couldn't help but smile at what Laini was telling her. In many ways, she was looking forwards to starting a family with Muroki, and from what Kasi's mother was telling her, there wasn't much that they needed to worry about. However, she did recall how nervous Muroki had been when they had first met. "Yeah," she muttered somewhat fondly, "he was so nervous at first. Sometimes, he could hardly speak because of his nervousness." She giggled, staring at Muroki, who was sill chatting quietly with Kato, "but I think he got over that. I mean, the way he became friends with Kato. I wouldn't have believed you if I hadn't seen Muroki so nervous myself."

She wasn't sure if Laini wanted to talk about her sister any more, so Umeme chose to remain silent about that. She did wonder what it would have been like to have known Delano and Muroki as cubs. Of course, "not to far" was a very different statement for a cub than a grown lion, so there was a very real possibility that she and Lina never got to see them when they were young because the walk would have been to hard on them. There was one way to see if that was the case, though. "Did Kasi ever get to visit them as a cub? I don't recall him being gone often, but we didn't exactly see each other every single day."

[TheWhistlerify]

Laini found herself chuckling as Umeme told her of how Muroki had barely been able to talk to her sometimes because of how nervous he'd been. "I can imagine." she said with a smile. "But they're cuter when they're nervous." Chuckling once more, she glanced at Dakari, who pretended to have missed her comment. "Maybe he got over it after realizing that he could be confident around you." she said with a shrug. "I have to say that seeing him calm Kato like this is kind of touching... I just hope Desta and his parents don't get jealous." Again, the last part was obviously intended as a joke.

"You should have been there when we first took Kasi with us to meet his cousins." she continued after a short silence with a short laugh. "It was the first time my nephews saw another cub. Muroki was so nervous that he kept hiding behind his father's legs. His mother had to pick him up because he refused to come out..." Thinking back about it, she remembered just what an adorable cub Muroki had been. "We didn't take Kasi with us very often until he started to grow out of cubhood."

Lina meanwhile considered going to sleep for a while, seeing how Delano appeared to be peacefully resting this time. However, just as she was about to close her eyes, she saw her parents walk into the den. "Mom? Dad?" she asked, surprise washing over her as she got up and ran over to her parents, embracing them both. After everything that happened it felt great to have them there.

"We heard what happened..." said her mother as she hugged her daughter, obviously relieved to see that Lina was unharmed. "Are you okay?"

"We're all fine, mom..." For the first time in what felt like forever Lina could say that and genuinely mean it.

[DGFone]

Laughing at the idea of Muroki looking cuter when nervous (which in many ways was true), Umeme almost missed her parents walking into the den. If it wasn't for Lina's excited flight to them, Umeme would indeed have not noticed them. "Mom! Dad!" She hopped over and joined Lina in hugging her parents.

Out of the corner of her eye, Umeme saw Muroki looking up at them, but no doubt not very eager to join in. After all, he wasn't exactly in the best condition to receive life threatening hugs from excited mothers-in-law. Still, Umeme winked at him with a sly grin. "Delano is asleep," she explained, "but Muroki is up." Just in case, she also hurriedly told her mother. "No death hugs this time, mom. He needs his air."

[TheWhistlerify]

Laini couldn't help but chuckle as Umeme also rushed over to greet her parents. It reminded her of when she and her sisters used complain about them being embarrassing and annoying when they were little. Speaking of embarrassing... Looking around, she saw that Kasi had gone outside. He must have heard her and Umeme's talk and realized that he was going to get teased by his mother once it ended. As much as teasing could be fun, she decided to let him off the hook. For now.

Umeme's mother smiled as Umeme joined them as well. It was a relief to see that both she and Lina were dealing with the events well. "Of course, honey. He's hurt after all." she said reassuringly. "And besides, I only hug like that on certain occassions." Chuckling, she and Umeme walked over to Muroki, leaving Lina with her father. When his mother in law saw the way Kato was peacefully sleeping next to him with his head on her son in law's paws she couldn't help but smile. "Well isn't that just sweet..." Muroki blushed, which was noticable because of his pale fur. "How are you?"

"I'm fine, ma'am." he said, feeling relieved at having not been hugged to death. "Thank you for asking."

Lina meanwhile looked at her father, smiling. It's been a while since she'd spoken to either him or her mother. "I'm glad you both came here..." she said, feeling even better with having her parents around. "Uh... How's it going?"

[DGFone]

Umeme walked with her mother over to Muroki, also grateful that he didn't receive any of her famous hugs. She lay down next to her mate, nuzzling fondly. "Kato's taking a real liking to you," she said quietly, so as to not disturb the prince. "You know, your aunt was just telling me how nervous you used to be around strangers," she chuckled a little, "and if I remember correctly, you were indeed. But you really got along with Kato well fast."

Lina's and Umeme's father smiled at his daughter fondly. "We're both fine, Lina, thanks for asking." He quickly explained to her how someone related to the queen and king had showed up at their den, with news that Delano and Muroki had been attacked and seriously hurt. "But I'm glad to see that you are all okay," he finished. "How's Delano treating you? And news that might be of interest?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki smiled as Umeme mentioned the fact that Kato has taken a liking in him. He too greatly enjoyed the prince's company. There was something about Kato's lively spirit and innocence that made him a fun lion to be around. "I suppose it's because he's younger than me..." he suggested, returning her nuzzle. After all it's harder to he nervous around someone who's smaller than you. When he suddenly remembered that his mother in law was there he stopped nuzzling his mate, despite enjoying it a great deal, and cleared his throat a little nervously.

"Dear me..." said his mother in law, surprisingly not teasing them about it. "Will you two be okay on your own until that shoulder gets better?" she asked, looking concerned.

Lina rubbed the back of her head with a paw as her father told her of how he and her mother had found out of the events. "Yeah, it happened after the trial, and right outside of the king's residence out of all places..." She smiled, however. "But we're all fine." She looked at Delano's sleeping form as the two of them headed towards him and the rest of their family. "Delano and I are fine." she added with a smile. "I think he stopped having nightmares... Finally..."

[DGFone]

Umeme nodded quickly in regards to her mother's question. "We're actually going to go back and stay with Lina and Delano while they will recover. It's going to be safer for them, if a little crowded again." She smiled at Muroki, who nodded in agreement. "Sometimes we'll stay at home, other times at Kasi's, but as long as one of them is still recovering, we'll stick together." She grinned at how Muroki gently removed one of his paws from beneath Kato's head in order to place it protectively around Delano's sleeping body. Umeme laughed. "Oh, Muroki. Always the hero!" Despite her mother being right there, she couldn't help but nuzzle him once again.

Lina's father nodded, glad to hear more good news. He remembered the first time around when Delano had nightmares constantly, and worried constantly when he head that Delano was going through them again. There was still one thing he needed to know though, and it wasn't something good. "Lina," he said seriously, "is it true that," he motioned at Delano's paws, "that he did that to himself?" When Lina nodded, he reached out and pulled her into a hug. "Well, it's over now, isn't it? We won't have to worry about it anymore."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki nodded, agreeing with what Umeme was saying. Not only would it be safer for Lina and Delano, but for himself and Umeme as well. His cheeks turned completely red again as Umeme laughed and called him a hero when he placed a paw around Delano, nuzzling him lovingly as she did. "Well, uh, I wouldn't say 'hero'..." he stuttered, smiling with embarrassment as Umeme licked his muzzle.

Umeme's mother only chuckled, especially when at some point Muroki just couldn't keep ignoring her daughter's affection and nuzzled her back. "That sounds like a good idea." she said, once again not teasing the two of them. "Living together again for a while will be fun, I'm sure of it." she added, even though it looked like the two of them were caught up with each other and were barely paying attention.

Lina found herself slowly nodding her head at her father's question, her ears dropping against her head. Even though it was behind them now, she still wished it hadn't happened to begin with. "I know. Everything will be okay from now on." she said, returning her father's embrace as the two of them came to a stop next to Delano, who was still sleeping.

[DGFone]

As her mother suspected, Umeme was no longer listening to her, too caught up in her nuzzling of Muroki to catch what her mother said. As for Muroki, deny as he might at describing himself a hero, to her, that's who he was. Perhaps some day, she will even bother to get him to understand that. A very humble hero, perhaps. Too humble.

Lina's father followed his daughter over to Delano's side, both glad to see that he was breathing and alive, but a little concerned at the fact that Delano was sleeping. After all, Muroki was awake. But then he remembered that Delano had not gotten much rest for several days now, and was most likely making up for the lost sleep now. "Hey, listening, Lina, there was another thing I wanted to know..." He grinned at her, "so Muroki and Umeme have moved in to their own den, and sure, they are going to be with us for now, but that got me wondering: have you and Delano thought about doing something similar lately?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina went ahead and sat down next to Delano, watching him with a smile as he slept. It felt great to see him rest so peacefully for a change. Of course, she felt her cheeks heat up as her father asked her whether she and Delano had any plans of finding their own den as well any time soon. Because he never teased her or Umeme as often as their mother would, it was even more embarrassing whenever he did.

"Well, uh... It did come up before all of this happened..." she started with a shy smile on her face. "Delano said he didn't feel ready at the time, but I'm hoping that, after he recovers, maybe..." It was a little hard to believe that she was so nervous to talk about something she was looking forward to so much. Noticing her father continue to grin at her, she frowned in a way which said that he should tease her sister and brother in law instead because they would most likely have cubs sooner. So, if her father wanted grandchildren, they should be his target (and her distraction).

Muroki continued to lovingly nuzzle his mate, eventually wrapping his remaining paw around her and pulling her closer to him, causing her to giggle. This also caused Kato's head to drop down to the floor, but he slept through it.