[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

"No, I haven't done anything like it before," Umeme replied truthfully. "As for how long it will take... uh, we will need to look at the walls of our den first, to see where it will be the best to dig it out, and even then, a lot depends on the ground and all that." There was always the possibility that they won't be able to dig something like it out, but they can always try. It was their home now, and they can spend as much time improving it as they wanted to.

---

Delano's face fell. "Oh, that..." The truth was, he still did not feel ready, but how can he tell that to Lina and not make her upset? He was able to hear her hopeful tone, how she really was looking forwards to it, but was he ready? He didn't feel like it. "Lina... I uh, when I will want to start a family, I know without a doubt that it will be with you, and uh... well, I really don't feel ready yet. I don't... I don't think I'd make a good father yet." He reached out and embraced her in a hug, wanting to calm her down.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki listened to Umeme's explanation, realizing that he actually knew less about this whole digging subjct than he thought. Heck, this whole part with the ground hasn't occurred to him despite how obvious it was supposed to be. "Well, how about we look into it in the morning, maybe?" he asked smiling as he licked the top of his mate's head. It was getting colder outside by the minute, ane he really couldn't wait until they got back to their den, even if he was a little nervous.

~~~

In a way, Lina had sort of expected that sort or answer from Delano, but that didn't make it any less disappointing to actually hear it. Truth be told, she couldn't see a reason for Delano to think that he wouldn't be a good father. True, it took him a while to open up to Kato, for example, but she remembered how well he and Muroki had bonded with the prince and gave him advice. "Um... Okay..." she replied quietly, leaning against him as he embraced her.

[DGFone]

Umeme giggled and licked Muroki back. "Sure, we can look over it in the morning." In order to escape the cold, the two of them walked faster, but not so much as to have Muroki struggling to keep up. They finally made it to their den, and went inside, grateful to get out of the cold and wind.

Lying down next to Muroki, Umeme placed her head on his comfortable mane and closed her eyes. "It's been a long day, so goodnight, Muroki."

---

Delano held onto Lina, hoping that he didn't disappoint her too much. He tried to tell her that with everything that went on recently, he still wasn't sure if he could safely say that they can finally relax and move on. At the very least, moving on for him was proving much more difficult, and this was why he didn't feel ready. "I'm sorry Lina," he whispered, "just... I don't know... I'm not ready right now."

[TheWhistlerify]

Going into the den and out of the cold wind's reach was definitely a welcome change. Being back inside their new den again was even better. Muroki smiled when Umeme rested her head in his mane as soon as he lay down next to her. He gently licked her forehead and put a paw over her, holding her closer to him as he allowed himself to relax. They haven't spent many nights in their new den yet, but he already felt like he was home. "Goodnight..."

~~~

It was true that Lina was disappointed, but at the same time she knew she couldn't blame Delano for not being ready, whatever his reason was. She also knew that, if they went on with this before they were both ready, it could very likely end up being a huge mistake. "It's alright..." she said softly, taking some comfort in the way her mate was holding her. "Care to go inside?" she asked after a short silence, briefly nuzzling him before slowly rising to her paws and heading into their small, inner den.

She went ahead and lay down somewhere in the middle, managing a smile when she felt Delano lie down next to her. Waiting for him was going to be worth it. She knew that for sure. After giving him a soft lick across his cheek, Lina rested her head down on her mate's paws and closed her eyes.

[DGFone]

Delano followed Lina into the small inner den. When he lay down next to her, he wanted to say something to calm her down, except for two things: first of all, he didn't know what to tell her. The second one was that she already seemed much calmer than moments ago, so perhaps just holding he was enough. With Lina laying next to him, he wrapped a paw around her body as he slowly drifted off to sleep. After today, getting some sleep felt like a really nice thing...

[TheWhistlerify]

A little more than a month later, Muroki woke up one morning and let out a loud yawn. He had no idea how long he slept (or when he'd even fallen asleep, for that matter), but it didn't seem to bother him very much. He looked to his left, smiling when he saw Umeme peacefully sleeping close to him. She's been pregnant for about a month already. It was still difficult for him to grasp the fact that she was carrying their cubs, but the very thought thrilled him nonetheless.

Being about a third of the way into her pregnancy, his mate was already incapable of hunting on her own. Her stomach was starting to get a little swollen, but not nearly as much as it would when the birth drew closer. Umeme was still okay with walking around, though, as long as she took things easy. The lion looked at her tummy for a short moment, still smiling. He would have nuzzled her or something, but knew better than to wake her up or to somehow annoy her in any sort of way.

Ever so carefully, he rose to his paws and walked outside, deciding he might as well get some fresh air.

[DGFone]

Despite Muroki's intentions of letting her sleep, Umeme woke up by the simple fact that the air got noticeably colder without him being by her side. Letting out a loud yawn, she looked around for her mate, frowning when she didn't see him. Slowly getting up to her feet, she left the den and sure enough, there he was. "Morning, hun," she said in the middle of another yawn, "what's on your mind today? I was hoping you could catch me something today. I'm always so hungry these days..."

It was no big mystery why she was hungry all the time, but it did mean that Muroki had to send a lot more energy hunting for her. Often he would get the help of Lina and Delano, since the three of them working together were much more successful than if Muroki hunted on his own. "Also, next time, I think I would prefer it if you would not leave me alone like that. It's so much warmer otherwise." She grinned at him, teasingly flashing her teeth as well.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki smiled when Umeme came to his side, having been woken up by the fact that she'd no longer had his body warmth to rely on. "Good morning." he said, placing a paw over her as she lay down next to him. "Of course I'll hunt for you." Hunting was something he had to do on a daily basis. It could get tiring, which was why he was very grateful for the occassional assistance of Delano and Lina. "All you have to do is ask." He winked. "I'm here to do whatever you bid me to..."

The male couldn't help but chuckle when his mate said that, next time, she'd rather have him stay by her side and keep her warm until she woke up as well. "I'll make sure to do that." His grin turned into his normal charming, handsome smile as he slowly moved his paw over to his stomach. "How's everybody doing?" he asked, leaning over and gently licking her tummy. Since she was a little ticklish there, he just couldn't help himself.

[DGFone]

Umeme rolled her eyes and groaned. The cubs weren't even out yet and Muroki was already starting to behave several years younger than he should. "They can't hear you yet you know," she told Muroki, playfully swatting his paw away so that he won't tickle her anymore. "Trust me, I'll know when they will start to realize what is going on outside. It's still too early."

---

Inside their own den, Delano slowly woke up, grinning at the warmth that Lina provided him by sleeping against him. Opening his eyes, he grinned at her and licked her across the top of her head. Even though she was still sleeping, he noticed her ears move at the touch. "It's morning, Lina," he whispered, "time to get up."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki couldn't help but chuckle. "I know they can't." he said with a smile. "I was asking you, actually..." Sometimes she found it really amusing when he acted a little immaturely and sometimes she wasn't in the mood. It was impossible to predict how she'd react to anything, really. Playfully grabbing the paw she used to swat his own, he gave her a loving nuzzle. "So on a more realistic approach, how are you feeling?" Now that she was pregnant he was constantly worried about her wellbeing.

~~~

Lina slept peacefully, a small smile spreading across her lips when she felt Delano lick the top of her head. She frowned playfully when he told her to wake up, shifting her head in his mane a little. "I don't wanna..." she complained, the playfulness noticeable in her voice. Her mate must have caught onto it because the lioness soon found herself pinned onto her back. Letting out a surprised yelp, she began to laugh. "Okay, okay! I'm up!"