He knew the time was soon.

His breathe came heavy as he trotted out to the last spot he (albeit vaguely) remembered meeting Aarani the first time. Viné couldn't be sure she'd remained there, and doing so would be against his better judgement, but Aarani would not be one that just listened when spoken too. So, he did not object if she remained, only hoped she didn't. He thought if he didn't find her here, he'd head to the forest. That interaction would not go well, he knew, but he wanted at least a moment with his new born cubs and if that meant hobbling himself before the female that lead it (who he still thought was Kim), he'd do it.

That was the plan he'd made as he left the bluff.

That stopped being the plan when he reached the area Aarani had held up in.

The smell of blood wafted on the wind. Not the kind from a fresh kill. He knew the smell, an echo from an old life. He turned toward it, following it as quickly as his newly healed leg would allow.

What he found was this; Aarani too still, too limp on the ground. The sound of suckling cubs, and two hovering over her. A female and male. "Aarani!" A angry growl announced his presence as he approached. He couldn't be sure why the male was there, but no reason could be given that the former sovrigen would accept. He saw the female, knew her. it was Inez, and for a moment he was confused to see her here. Recognition had his eyes linger on her for just a moment longer, then to the older cub that he did not know. Was this one Aarani's?

Unimportant, only Aarani mattered. He fixed on the male. "Who are you." He gruttled, ready to fight the male to protect the cubs and Aarani.

@Aarani @Oberon @Ira @Inez

"..."

There was.. a lot going on. She was only partially aware that @Inez was around, had been confused when the herb had been politely shoved in her face. The lioness glanced up to the unfamiliar woman that smelled heavily of the lagoon and quietly ate what was offered, completely unwilling to second-guess her healing prowess. It took what felt like all the energy she had left, but Rani did chew and swallow what was given. Being a fussy patient wasn't really an option at that point. Her attention drifted to @Ira next as she pleaded about seeing the ocean. Ah, yes, how could she have forgotten? "Of course, sweetness. We will see the ocean soon, I promise." And being that she wasn't one to break promises, the woman sucked in a sharp breath and moved to shift her head up. Was it wise to move? No, of course not, and the world spun as she did so, but she was fighting. She would fight. There were too many things she had left to do in her life; quitting now was not an option. And then her eyes snapped towards the man of the hour, all bitter and iciness as he stormed on the scene. "Viné, easy," she asked, her ears wilting against her curly locks. "He's here to help, he won't hurt them. Trust me." Rani raised her eyes to meet his, begging for him to understand -- to trust her, to know she wouldn't let anything happen to their children. And speaking of.. Aarani shifted to glance back at the litter, noting with pride how quickly Ira had stepped into the role of big sister. "It's okay, Ira. He can see them." The lioness gave a reassuring smile and turned to @Viné, eager to see his reaction to the mewling babes. Was he.. happy? Unhappy? It was impossible to tell with him. "Two sons and a daughter," she offered up, pressing against @Oberon for comfort as she navigated the murky waters the situation had flooded them in. "Can.. can you all give us a moment alone?" she requested softly. "I'll be okay for another few moments, I promise." Now that she was determined, now that she was sandwiched between two men of her interest, well.. she needed to figure some things out. But, overcome with exhaustion, Rani lay her head back down.

he tensed when the man appeared. remembering the blood and the attacks on the shore so close by, his fur puffed up and he bore his fangs in a snarl. it was only @Aarani's words that calmed him down. if it was up to Oberon, he'd smack Vine away and tell him to fuck off. he was too late and his scent was so faint on Aarani that he barely registered the man in her life. he shot the former king a hard stare, knowing he had claimed @Inez against her will. faced with him now, he wanted nothing but to claw his ugly mug.

he resisted for the sake of @Ira and Aarani and the cubs, and unwilling to place his pride mate in a dangerous situation anyway he moves away. bumping his cheek against the mother's idly, he utters "I'll be close by" before unwrapping himself. he spares a glance at poor little Ira, who had been kept away from Vine for the purpose of protecting her from him. but Oberon would not request the girl come with him. it was not his place, and she wanted to be with her mother regardless of who showed up.

"come on, Inez" he says quietly, not requesting or demanding but giving her an option. Oberon glumly took a seat away from the gathering, his back to Aarani and Vine as he stared across the field. "is she okay now?" he asks in a low voice to the budding healer. they could not leave the woman and her children in the fields. the ground was bloody, the smell of cubs would attract predators... Scilla was closest. he would willingly harbor Aarani and her cubs there if it was safe to move them there.

FAIRY BLUE FOR YOU I'D SMASH THE STARS

i'm falling down into my shadow holding my breath the deadly night is waiting don't be scared

code by corvus, art by sally

Time was what would be needed to help @Aarani. She had given herbs to heal, but she wasn’t really a practiced nursemaid as this was the first birth she had helped with. Well besides from one other outside of Amaryllis but she was just a babe than herself. Only about six months old at the time. Still she remembered some of what had happened. She remembered herbs, rest and food. Oh yes food would do well to help the new not her regain her strength. Looking over the woman she looked at the cubs and smiled. “Everything will be ok young one.” She chuffed softly to attempt to try to calm @Ira.

Eyes than turned to @Oberon before her attention fall upon @Viné. Ducking her head she backed up to stand behind Oberon. She would allow the red lion closeness to Aarani because that was what she wanted. Saying nothing she looked between everyone before she turned her attention to Oberon and spoke to him. “Food would do her good. If you like I can see if I can find a hare or something for her.” She whispered. She wouldn’t need to go far she was sure she could find something within the field, but honestly she would prefer it if the new mother and all her children where safety back at the Lagoon. They where too out in the open here.

there was very little that could be done in that moment to soothe the rattling of ira's chest -- but she did know that having @Oberon and @inez there helped. it helped her feel not so alone, not so helpless, as her mother laid before them in pain. the girl pressed easily into the warmth of both @Aarani and her newborn siblings, heart calmed by visions of beaches, and sunsets, and idyllic scenes of family -- but it all came to a screeching, abrupt halt when anger flooded the scene.

it shattered her picturesque reverie in an instant, snarls and growls polluting the air around them, like an angry, bitter storm cloud that hung atop their heads. ira tensed instantly when @Viné arrived upon the scene, spitting rage, with a temper that ira could not understand, and did respond well to. there was an instant shift to her demeanor, seeming to almost shrink in on herself at the sudden presence of the red-tinged man -- and yet still, she would not move from her post. she refused to, even when her mother requested time alone with the caasimir. and though ira would not meet vine's gaze, she would give the space needed, pulling her chest back to allow him a better look at the babies, if he wanted to see them. for the first time in her life, the girl was being stubborn, remaining purposefully at aarani's side and not caring what it was that needed to be discussed. good or bad, she would be damned if she let her mother out of her sight again -- especially with a man ira did not know. they were supposed to be together, after all, and so together they would stay.

He did not like the sparsely maned male. And he suspected the feeling was mutual. In a past life no male was trust worthy; they all had their own motives and not one aligned with a female's wants or needs. Perhaps he was jaded, but two lifetimes were enough to cement his feelings on both sexes and little would change it.

Close by was too close in his eyes, but it couldn't be helped. Aarani had passed out just a moment before and he did not trust the rough birth to not have taken its toll on her. The healer was at least someone he was familiar with, and it was easier to trust her. He would accept them close to his cubs only because of these conditions, begrudgingly.

The little thing did not move on like the others, and it cemented Viné's theory that she was one of Aarani's young. Fine. He was no cub killer and if she wished to remain by her mother then she could meet her new siblings. "Tell me if Inez is needed again," He said softly to Aarani, moving to pointedly turn his back on the male. Taunting and temping him both; take the bait and show Aarani he is not worthy of her. "Have you named them yet?"

@Aarani @inez @ira @Oberon

"..."

It didn't surprise her that @Ira chose to stay around. It was downright endearing, honestly, and Rani leaned forward to plant a kiss on her cheek with a soft purr. A protective big sister was a good big sister and it warmed her heart to see how effortlessly she accepted them into the family. "He will not hurt you, my sweet one. He is grumpy looking, but he is not so beneath it all." Well, mostly. "This is my daughter, Ira." She flashed him a look that had venom behind it, a silent threat to whoop his red bottom blue if he didn't play nice. As tired as she was, Rani didn't notice how he positioned himself to Oberon in order to block his line of vision. @Viné spoke of Inez and the woman nodded, sluggishly processing what was going on before slowly moving upright. Her tail looped around the babies and their big sister, protectively and affectionately. "Only Ivaan for this one," she said, nudging the palomino boy softly. "Do you.. do you like them?" the lioness asked, frazzled, as her ears splayed off to the sides of her head. She hadn't thought it possible he wouldn't until right then, but suddenly she felt self conscious.. for no good reason.

all in all, this had turned into a rather traumatic and emotional moment -- for all of then. one minute they had been preparing for their move to the lagoon, and the next, aarani had been found on the brink of life itself. how was it possible that every time they tried to do something, there was an obstacle standing obtusely in front of them?

ira's eyes would flicker back towards vine curiously, cautiously, unsure of whether her silent defiance would be met with more hostility or not. thankfully, for now at least, it seemed as though she would be alright remaining close to her mother's side, and watching carefully over the newest additions to their family. her chest would rumble softly, leaning into aarani's touch, before she shifted her figure a few inches further from the babies, allowing the adults to do what they needed to it. ira, still gripped by fear and anxiety, would simply remain silent on the side-lines, letting them decide on names and all the rest, like new parents did. exit via rest.

Grumpy looking, she told the young one, but harmless. For her, yes, he was. Would always be. He'd never let himself fall into that confused anger again. It hung over him like a weight every time he looked at Aarani; a burden he'd always carry and always work to be worthy of the forgiveness he'd been given. "It is Nice to meet you Ira." he replied in his gravel lined voice.

The name was not one he'd have given a cub, but he accepted the outcome without complaint. He was a bearer of multiple names, ones he kept secret from any and all. Her question had him raise an eyebrow. "As if anything that was partly you could be anything short of perfect." He replied with far more poetry then Aarani was probably used to hearing from him.

His gaze turned then to the nameless cubs. "My family gives cubs multiple names. My mother came form a clan that lived by the sea and revered it. She gave me the name Dianthus as my father named me Viné." He bent the his head to nudge the white cub, "I'd name this one Urvashi and Astrotia. And the one that carries my pelt Sitri and Celosia." Now that each cub had at least one name, his gaze turned back to their mother. "Give the other two a name if you wish, then they can pick the name that fits them best when they're older." Like he had picked Dianthus for his life this body had before and Viné for his life after. "Ivaan can have his pick from Zoanthus and Vasago as well."

He wondered idly, if the cubs would pick their names close to their nature. Or if they'd simply claim the one that they were called the most. It was an interesting idea, to see which ones carried more blood of Casimir then that of Aarani or the weak soul that was Dianthus. Viné held no illusions that his influence, as far as blood was far removed from these cubs. They'd be Jezebella's great (great?) grandchildren. Perhaps the blood was strong, perhaps there needed to be a heavier paw to nurture their nature. Regardless, they were here, and the Casimir continued.

"You should rest." He whispered softly to her. Even moving so that she might use his flank as a resting spot. Even if it meant letting the other male have a better view of her. Her comfort was more important then his jealousy. He'd hoped the male would leave long before Aarani was ready to. He did not want to see his cubs carried away by him. Even the thought was enough to send him to murderous intent. Another male would not raise his cubs.

Viné sighed and settled, trying to forget the thought and simply enjoyed the presence of his children and his mate... Even if he'd yet to tell Aarani that little fact just yet. Soon.

.exit??

@Aarani @ira


Notes for adopters:
@Sana
Sitri is a Great Prince of Hell
Celosia is a small genus of edible and ornamental plant (yes, like the subarea :) )

@Urvashi
Astoritia is a genus of sea snake, specifically Stokes's sea snake

@Ivaan
Zoanthus is a type of coral, tipcially called dragon eye
Vasago is another prince of hell

"..."