[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Umeme grinned. "Yeah, it is very hard to grasp. But what's even harder to grasp is that we've planned for this for so long, but also for almost just as long, things got in the way. But now it really is just a matter of waiting..."

When her sister mentioned that Delano still wasn't ready, Umeme placed a paw on Lina's shoulder. "You know, I think that when he will see me and Muroki with our cubs, I think he will change his mind. I think all he needs is a little bit of encouragement."

---

As they walked back to the den, Delano tried to talk through the antelope in his mouth. Even though he knew it was mostly for Umeme, he couldn't help but get quite hungry from it. "We haven't been doing much lately," he answered, "mostly helping you guys out and all that. Running around and getting me back into a state that I can even call reasonable."

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina smiled at her sister's attempt of reassurance. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing." she said. While there was no telling for sure when Delano would come around, she loved him enough to know that starting a family with him was going to be worth the wait. "We're pretty occupied with checking on you and helping out at the moment anyway. I think it would be for the better if he got his encouragement after this whole thing is over." She giggled.

~~~

Muroki smiled. Although not with Umeme, he too has been running about quite a bit lately. "Really?" he asked through the antelope in his mouth. "Perhaps you should change that up a bit. We really do appreciate your help, but we also have Umeme's parents who help out. Auntie also drops by every now and then." He knew his brother couldn't see him, but he would have smiled if that weren't the case. "So feel free to take some time for yourselves. Really."

They carried on walking until, after what seemed like forever for Muroki, they finally arrived back at his den. Placing the antelope down inside by the entrance, he quickly rushed over to his mate's side. "I'm back." he said, happily giving her a loving nuzzle. "And I caught something for you." Walking back over to the antelope, he dragged it over to his mate so that she wouldn't have to get up in order to eat from it.

[DGFone]

Umeme also laughed. "Yeah, I think so too. But if you want my advice, if you want to have cubs with him, you better start thinking of having them soon, so that they won't be that much younger than mine and Muroki's. You know how really young cubs interact with older ones. It's not always pretty."

Her nose picked up the refreshing scent of a kill just as Muroki and Delano came in, carrying a nice looking antelope. "Muroki, what a catch! Did you get it on your own, or did Delano help you out?"

---

Dropping off the antelope, Delano walked outside with Lina as to give Muroki and Umeme some personal space. "How is she?" Delano asked, "not too grouchy yet?" Muroki had already warned him about how Umeme would sometimes get irritated very easily, and how sometimes it was very hard to avoid that happening.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki smiled as he placed the dead antelope down in front of his mate, once again lying down and nuzzling her lovingly. "Delano got there after I'd already caught it." he said, licking her cheek softly. Sometimes he could get really happy whenever he got back to her after going to hunt. "He helped me carry it... Credit's to be given, though, because he and Lina do help me out quite a lot in hunting for you." He chuckled, putting a paw around her. "I'm glad you didn't have to wait for me to come back on your own." Realizing that she was probably still hungry, he removed his foreleg from her so that she could start eating if she wanted to.

~~~

Lina chuckled, once again blushing beneath her fur. "I'll keep that in mind." she said. The two sisters were pretty much on the same page because Lina was still looking forward to having cubs with Delano just as much as she had been a month ago. She walked outside with her mate, sitting down by the entrance of the den. "So far so good." she said with a smile. "She doesn't really like not being able to move around as much as she's used to, but I think it doesn't bother her as much if she has somebody to talk to."

[DGFone]

As much as Umeme liked the feeling of Muroki's paw around her, she was still hungry, so she was quite grateful when he finally let her go so that she could eat. "This is too much for me, have some yourself." With that, she leaned down and began to eat the delicious meat. Even though Muroki had always told her that he would need to be able to take care of her by himself in this situation, the fact that he got a lot of help didn't bother her. Whatever worked for them was fine by her.

---

Delano felt a small grin form on his muzzle. "Yeah, I know that feeling..." Much like Muroki, he would also grow bored of lying about when he was still healing, but with Lina being there to occupy the time, it wasn't as bad as it could have been. He could only imagine what Umeme was going through considering that he did not have cubs inside of him, but he did think that she had it easier: she had a rough idea of how long to expect to remain immobile. Perhaps he was a guy and simply couldn't comprehend what Umeme was feeling when things were not going to smoothly.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki usually preferred to wait for Umeme to finish eating before eating himself, even when there was more than enough meat for both of them. However he did not want to upset his mate in any way so, at her request, he began to eat as well. The meat was very delicious, and the fact that he'd caught it by himself for Umeme made the meal even more enjoyable. He had his fill before his mate, which was understandable, and continued watching her with a smile as she continued to eat.

~~~

Lina chuckled at Delano's comment. "They're doing great so far, don't you think?" she asked after a short silence. "I don't think I've ever seen Umeme and Muroki happier, and their cubs aren't even close to being born yet..." Resting her head on her mate's shoulder, she wondered whether now would be a good time to bring up the subject of when they would start their own family. "But I don't think you or your brother will be able to understand how she feels like the closer she comes to giving birth..." She chuckled again.

[DGFone]

Umeme ate quickly, but even after that, she still finished after Muroki. When she finally looked up at him, he was already looking at her, having finished his own meal some time before. She blushed beneath his gaze. "Thanks for the meat," she muttered, then reached out with hear head and nuzzled him, enjoying rubbing her head on his soft mane. "Shall we return to Lina and Delano?"

---

Delano chuckled. "No, I don't think we will," he laughed some more. "Muroki already told me some horror stories about Umeme when she's bot feeling all that well, and it's supposed to only get worse..." He glanced at Lina, somewhat nervously. "What will I be able to expect from you?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina couldn't help but laugh as Delano referred to what his brother had told him about Umeme when she was in a bad mood as horror stories. When he asked her what he would be able to expect from her she looked back at him, surprised at the question. This was practically the first time he was the one to bring up the subject he usually tried to avoid. The lioness felt her cheeks heat up beneath her fur. Should she think of this as a good sign? "I..." she paused. "I don't know." Smiling, she rested her head on his shoulder and rubbed her head against his. "Guess we'll just have to find out..."

Muroki smiled as Umeme finished eating (even if he'd known from the beginning that there was enough meat). He happily returned her nuzzle, once again placing a paw around her and affectionately licking the top of her head. "If that's what you want to do." he said softly, licking her once again. "They're probably right outside." As much as he wanted to just continue to lie there with her, he knew they could do that out of the den as well. He got up, waiting for his mate to join him, before slowly making his way outside with her.

His brother and sister in law were there alright and they seemed to be enjoying themselves even though they'd basically come there for him and Umeme. Still, Muroki and his mate didn't want to be rude by simply hanging out with each other and away from their guests. They'd have plenty of time alone later. "So how's living in your own den so far?" asked Muroki with a smile as he and Umeme sat down in front of Delano and Lina.

"It's wonderful." replied his sister in law with a happy smile on her face. Muroki chuckled. "Now I know why you two were so eager to get back to yours."

[DGFone]

Delano grinned at Muroki's question. "Yeah, we really like it there. That small inner den is really nice as well. We initially got that den so that we can stay in the smaller one when we have guests over, but we sometimes spend the night in it as well, even when no one else is there." He remembered how Muroki and Umeme also got their own inner den after seeing the one in Delano's and Lina's den.

Umeme remembered how they had finally decided to also dig out their own small inner den. "It took us quite some time," she admitted, "the dirt was stronger than we thought, but digging it away was very much worth it." She nuzzled Muroki. "Am I right?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Lina nodded as Delano went ahead and explained about the way they liked to use the smaller den they had within their home. "It really is great to use. We can spend the night in it if the wind from outside somehow manages to blow into the den or even if we just feel like it." She was still feeling very lucky at having found such a den. If anything, she wouldn't have minded digging one out as well now that she knew how useful it could be.

Muroki smiled, definitely agreeing that digging out a smaller, inner den was worth it despite how difficult it had been. "Yes, it really was worth the effort." he said, returning Umeme's nuzzle. Not only was it a very welcome addition to their den, but having it made his mate very happy as well. "I'm glad we dug one out." At first he thought he'd be completely unaware of what he was doing and that it would turn out bad, but it ended up exactly the other way around.