[PRIVATE: DGFone & Thewhistlerify]

[DGFone]

Delano walked into the den nervously, noting just how uncomfortable Muroki looked. Is that what he would have to go through as well? "How is it going?" he asked Muroki quietly, knowing better than to speak loudly. Otherwise he could end up with two angry lionesses. "Errm... how long were you stuck like this?"

Lina of course, didn't seem to be very interested in Muroki. That made Delano think of an idea. "Hey, Lina... what if you take Muroki's place, that way the two of us can go and catch a very nice meal for you and Umeme. How does that sound?"

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki managed a small smile. "Not for too long..." His tone did suggest, however, that something like this could sometimes last for hours... The very soon to be father's expression lit up when his brother suggested they went hunting and he looked at Lina, very dearly hoping that she would agree and switch places with him.

To his delight, after what seemed like eternity, his sister-in-law nodded her head in approval, slowly walking over to the two of them. "We need to do this very carefully..." he said as she somewhat lay down beside him and prepared to take his place.

"Do I look like I was born yesterday?" she retorted.

"No ma'am." The two swittched places cery slowly, and once he was free Muroki didn't wait to see whether Umeme wasn't as sound asleep anymore or not. "Let's go." he said, walking over to his brother's side.

[DGFone]

Delano, also not wanting to wait any moment longer when he was potentially going to get himself shouted at, followed Muroki outside eagerly. "I can see why you kept telling me to watch out for Lina," he told his brother when they were far enough away. "She can be... a real beast when she's angry." In many ways, scarier than even Sanders ever was.

"But it does mean that we will need to actually bring something back. They will have our heads for lunch if we don't." And so, the two brothers began to find some suitable prey to hunt down.

---

Unknown to the two lions, Umeme did in fact wake up from the motion. She lifted hear head off Lina's back, frowning in annoyance. "Well he didn't take very long to flee." Her frown turning into a smile, she looked at her sister. "Lina, would you mind helping me get outside? I would like to get out to the fresh air."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki couldn't help but grin as the two of them began to look for something to hunt. "So can Umeme." he said, even though his brother already knew that. It felt nice to know that he wasn't the only one going through all of this. He let out a loud yawn. "This is more tiring than I thought it would be..." They continued to look around, eventually spotting a group of antelope ahead. "That should do..." he yawned once more. "Hey, maybe it would be best if you tackle the antelope down... I'll do the chasing this time." Delano was probably not as tired as he was.

~~~

Lina chuckled at her sister's comment about Muroki running off. "I sent them to hunt something for us." she said, smiling back at her sister. "Sure, I'll help you get outside." Getting up slowly, she then allowed Umeme to lean against her for support as they both carefully made their way out of the den. "You must be really excited." she continued, sounding quite thrilled for her. "I wonder when they'll come around... Do you feel any different?"

[DGFone]

Delano nodded. "Yeah, I'll tackle it. Just make sure that it will run towards me." With that, he slicked off, getting into position while making sure that their future meal wouldn't notice him in the process. He knew that Muroki wasn't in his top shape, but hoped that his brother was well enough not to ruin the hunt.

---

Umeme lay down again outside the den, greatly enjoying the warm air and the sun. "Feels like any moment now," she admitted. "I really do think it can happen today." She grinned. "Can't wait. And I imagine that Muroki can't either."

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki also nodded in agreement before stalking his way through the tall grass, heading towards the other side of the small herd they'd decided to target. His job was the easier part of the hunt, and he made sure to pay close attention to where he placed his paws as he walked. He wished he could just scared the antelope and be done with it, but he was going to have to make sure they ran directly in his brother's direction. So, trying to draw some strength from wanting to get back to Umeme's side (their cubs could be born at any second now), he took in a deep breath and broke into a run. His brother shouldn't be too far away, so the effort wasn't going to last long.

~~~

Lina couldn't help but giggle. "I can't wait either... This is so exciting!" True, she wished her cubs would come around as well, but she was still happy that she would become an aunt in no longer than a few days maximum. "I know Muroki pretty much ran for his life, but I bet he wants to finish with the hunt qnd get back here as soon as he possibly can."

"Hi!" Lina looked sideways, smiling as she saw Kato walking in their direction. He was starting to get close to their size now and would enter adulthood in a few months or so. "How're you both doing? I thought I'd drop by."

[DGFone]

Delano waited in hiding until Muroki tore out of his own cover and charged the antelope. Startled, the animal broke into a run, trying to run away from the lion. As planned, the scared animal ran straight towards where Delano was, who waited until it was nearly on top of him before pouncing at it.

Jumping up at the antelope's neck, Delano felt his teeth snatch onto it and clamped his mouth shut tightly. Both predator and prey fell to the ground in a dusty heap, but as he regained his senses, Delano realized that he still had the now non-moving antelope in his jaws. His eyes widened in surprise, proud to have made the kill. "Muroki! I've done it!"

---

Umeme also looked at the direction from where the familiar voice came from. "Kato! What are you doing here?" She wondered if he knew that she was expecting the cubs at any moment, or if he simply came when he found the time to do so. "Muroki and Delano are out hunting. They should be back soon," she informed him.

[TheWhistlerify]

Like Muroki had hoped, the chase didn't last for very long. He would have come to a halt as soon as his brother had tackled the antelope to the ground but he caught up just in case Delano would need help. However Delano managed to kill the antelope by the time he'd arrived. "Way to go, Delano!" he complimented, smiling at his brother. "That was..." he yawned. "Great..." he closed the remaining gap between him and Delano's kill, eager to get back to the den and rest as soon as possible. "Let's carry it back."

~~~

Kato smiled as he came to a stop in front of the two pregnant lionesses, lying down in front of them. "I came more so that I could see you, actually." he said with the same usual hint of excitement in his voice. "I thought your cubs would be born by now, although I would have come sooner if I could." He remembered constantly telling Umeme and Muroki that they would be great parents and was quite thrilled to know that their cubs would be born soon. "How do you feel?"

[DGFone]

Delano was still somewhat in shock at how quickly he made the kill, so he simply nodded and allowed Muroki to grab another end of the kill. "Right, err... let's carry it back then." When he would help Muroki out, he was always the one to do most of the running and chasing, while Muroki would make the actual kill, for that was how they worked best. To be the one to catch the meal this time was somewhat of a different feeling for him.

Together, the two lions walked back, eager to get back to their mates, as well as take part of their kill for their own meal.

---

Umeme grinned slightly. As much as she liked Kato, she was getting quite sick of others asking her how she felt. "I'm alright," she said simply, "waiting for the cubs to come out." It really did feel like it could be any moment now, so she hoped that Muroki and Delano would come back soon. Muroki would hate to miss the birth of his cubs because he was out hunting.

[TheWhistlerify]

Muroki eagerly grabbed one end of the kill with his jaws, wanting to get back to Umeme as soon as he could. True, he had left the den at the first opportunity, but that was in order to avoid having to lie at the exact same spot for possibly even hours without moving. As much as he loved his mate, that was just horrible. "Nice kill, by the way." Usually he was the one to make the kills because he was a little bigger, which gave him somewhat of an advantage, but he was glad they managed to successfully mix things up a bit.

~~~

Kato wanted to ask Umeme how long it would be until the cubs were born, but figured that the lioness probably didn't know and decided to not ask any pointless questions. "I'm really excited and happy for you." he eventually said. "You too, Lina. I think you'll all be a big and happy family."

Lina smiled and chuckled to herself. Even though Kato wasn't as little as when she'd first met him he was still just as cute in her opinion. "Aww, thanks Kato!" She was about to say something else when, all of a sudden, she saw Delano and Muroki making their way towards them while carrying a dead antelope. "Hey, there they are!" she said, sounding happy to see that her mate was back.

Smiling, the prince got up and made his way over to the two brothers in order to help them carry their kill.