Their den smelled wrong since the stranger started living there. The pale yearling largely ignored the changes whenever he could, but he couldn’t fully deny her presence. Velasco, blessedly, didn’t push much and had allowed his son and new wife to find their own equilibrium within the home. Though that may have been more a lack of effort than a deliberate choice. Papá didn’t insist on hard rules very often. Bringing her home had been a rare moment when he’d laid down the law with his son. That had been a hard day. And now, the den smelled wrong.

Haipo moved out as soon as he woke, deliberately marking his trail on the off chance that Papá needed to find him. That only lasted for the first ten yards or so. Today, he didn’t want to be found by either of the adults he lived with. Walking lightly was a simple task for his small frame. He headed for the water, managing a detour to grab a slow frog on his way to the bank. Settling in with breakfast, he considered getting cleaned up after eating. Too many of the new scents from the den were getting into his fur.

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Miaran was acutely aware of the boy who shared the den with her and her sleeping husband. A subtle disdain arose within her towards the Executioner, and she took pleasure in the moments when the boy was absent. She leaned against her husband, marking him as hers while simultaneously asserting her own claim as his. Despite her attempts, she was unsuccessful in arousing the Prince and instead chose to stretch her legs. Departing the den, she traced the faint trail left by the boy.

Concealed within the shadows, she observed him with ease, a skill honed over the years, even in her current condition. Her rounded abdomen, though undeniably indicative of her pregnancy, did not reveal the extent of a large litter. Her consistent practice of maintaining her physical fitness ensured that her body remained toned and her muscles well-defined.

With focused intent, she scrutinized the boy until she finally stepped into his line of sight. A fleeting moment passed as she licked her lips, towering over him. @Haipo, would you prefer that I take my leave? Or would you demonstrate your abilities as a responsible big frère by assisting in teaching your siblings the virtues of strength? The question was deliberately framed to convey a certain nuance.

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At the sound of his name, combined with the scent of the stranger, Haipo sighed, ears pressing flat against his skull. Oh, what in sweet hell was this? He’d surely been thinking too loud to summon her here. He took another bite, chewing and swallowing as @Miaran voiced her request. Would she truly leave if he indicated he wanted that? Or would this come up again later? And what if she said something to Papá? That was too big a risk to take.

Green eyes swept over the lioness’s swollen stomach as his ears pricked up again. The truth of this pregnancy still hadn’t fully sunk in for Haipo, but that didn’t change what it was. He was going to be a big brother. Whatever cub or cubs Miaran brought into the world, they would be his siblings. Haipo remembered standing just inside Icefang’s den after she had given birth. The blood smell had drawn him in just as much as the crowd. And these cubs would be both genetically and physically closer to the yearling.

What was the better option? He could keep his distance, but Haipo was sure Papá would object to that. It would also be impossible, with everyone in the same den. And what good would come of it? Being involved, guiding and protecting his siblings, would be easier. It would also benefit the cubs. They would have another lion to look up to, another protector to keep them safe. He could be an active part of their lives, if he wanted to work for it. And he could make sure they knew there was someone who would never abandon them. Though Papá had claimed him, saved him, Haipo wouldn’t stand by and watch another cub go through that. Especially one of Papá’s cubs.

All of this flashed through the silent lion’s mind in a matter of seconds. Yes, he wanted to protect his siblings, even now when they weren’t fully in the world yet. He sat up, curly tail coiled around his back paws. This was the same sort of attention position he gave to Papá when the elder was giving him instructions. He offered a nod, meaning to show that he was agreeing to her second question. Whatever demonstration she might want, he would do it.

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Once the lives that Miaran carried within her were finally brought into the world, a bittersweet separation lay ahead; she would no longer share the same den as her own husband. As the cubs grew, a sacred respect enveloped the responsibilities of nurturing—the Deputies of her homeland would tread lightly, knowing better than to intrude upon a mother's sanctum. For the act of birth was a poignant chapter, a transient moment, while the den of nurturing was a different sanctuary altogether. The birth site, a cherished place of emergence, would eventually be shrouded in reverence and disassembled, a testament to the instinctual survival ingrained deep within their lineage.

Miaran’s gaze lingered on @Haipo; she studied him with an intensity born of longing and determination, waiting for the subtle nod that confirmed a shared understanding. Though she had been told that words were a barrier for him, her heart brimmed with the conviction that she could still impart wisdom. She would arm him with the strength to shield his siblings, to transcend the limits imposed by the nature of his existence as a X'uekai. Even as the shadows of doubt flickered in her mind about her place within the Brook’s borders, a fierce resolve ignited within her to embrace the beauty of connection, even if it was a choice she didn’t have to make.

Respect and loyalty were sacred currencies in her world, given with intention yet capable of being snatched away in an instant. Reti had once been a trusted ally, yet those bonds had been quietly dismantled. Aphrodite, despite the intimate ties of marriage, had revealed her own weakness, which corroded any respect Miaran had held for her. The tumult of these emotions swirled like a tempest in her mind until she found her voice—calm, yet with an eerie undercurrent of fervor that enveloped her words. The X'uekai is our family, even if we did not emerge from its embrace. So we both must endeavor wholeheartedly. I carry with me traditions steeped in my past, which may clash with the X'uekai way. But do you trust this journey, Haipo? Her chin lifted as she met the gaze of the young yearling.

table code by daanyen