[PRP] Family Secrets

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There'd been a big to-do recently concerning one of Avahk's cubhood friends and the grey lion was concerned for her. He wanted to make sure Kamia was okay, and to offer what help he could. She had cubs, and so did he, and they weren't too dissimilar in age, and what gap existed would seem much smaller in a year.

He was glad Tseva had insisted on coming though. His mate had been slightly overwhelmed when they'd returned - not by the size of the pride but by how much of it he was related to. That had made the former Swampie shy, and now that she had a convenient excuse, she was trying to be more sociable. Or to glue herself to him, Avahk wasn't entirely certain which.

"Kamia?" he called out softly as they came near. "Ota? Is everything okay?"

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Tseva would normally have stayed near her cubs, but when she'd thought longingly of the friends she'd left behind in the Jini-msemi as Avahk explained his errand tonight, he'd invited her along. It hadn't taken long to arrange for someone to keep an eye on their children and she had to admit she was intrigued. Avahk spoke of these two lionesses and their long friendship together, but he didn't seem the least be romantically inclined.

Presumably they were related to him in that case.

Regardless, the black female was determined that there be no other lionesses in Avahk's mind before her. So while she did want to make friends, her deepest motivation was much more personal.  

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The grey lion relaxed somewhat and smiled at the white. "And you. I guess that's the downside of parenting - suddenly having no time to see my own friends," Avahk offered with a resigned grin. It had been an adjustment, to say the least. And, of course, Tseva griped relentlessly about how he hadn't been present when she'd been raising their first litter.

At least one of the two of them had experience? Avahk was certain he'd have managed to screw something up otherwise.

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Tseva relaxed as she recognized the lionesses who had greeted her when she and Avahk had first returned to the Mwezi'Johari. Maybe she was just being paranoid. But the black lioness had seen lions whose eyes wandered once they'd gotten a girl pregnant or once the cubs were born. She didn't think her mate would be one of those, but the fear wouldn't go away, not with the general tension level in the pride.

She'd have hinted that they could leave, after all, she'd left her own pride for him. But the one time it had been brought up, Avahk had point blank refused to abandon his home and kin. Now wasn't the time for that argument again.  

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Avahk nodded, accepting Ota's felicitations. "You'll have to come by and see them before they're old enough to choose actual ranks," he told the lioness. They were getting very close to that point, and then they'd probably want to start moving out. The way any kids did eventually.

He raised an eyebrow at Kamia and her comment. Or rather, her tactfully not saying that if Shangyue hadn't raped her, none of this would have happened. But he wouldn't say any of that aloud.

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"At least there are fewer of them this time," Tseva muttered with a dark look at her mate. Honestly, you'd think he'd have told her sooner that he came from a large family and that his father was one of eight! But know, she hadn't learned that until much, much later when the lot of them had left on Pilgrimage.

"There's blame to be had, but we are adults here, and it's no use pointing paws," the black liones said firmly. She had heard some rumors, but was patently not listening to any of them, good or bad.  

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"Yeah...I may have heard something about that. Prince Meshach was protecting you?" Avahk asked, seeing no irony at all in granting the purple lion his true title. The male was aware of how he'd stood up against Shangyue two years ago, but had failed to incite the rebellion he'd clearly hoped for. And Shangyue's supporters had easily quashed any hopes there'd been.

It had been interesting to learn that Meshach was still nearby. Perhaps he hadn't given up as thoroughly as Avahk had thought.

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Tseva had heard that the cubs had been taken from somewhere not too far away, but again, hadn't really listened to details. Unless if the whole pride was on fire, she didn't want to hear about it. And she really didn't need another fire in her life.

So she was quiet and let Avahk speak for the two of them. He knew these people, this pride, far better than she would. Of course, she might know it better if she tried harder...but it was still not easy for Tseva. She missed her home.  

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Avahk blinked at that. High class...that explained a lot. And yet, not enough. The lion frowned as he thought this through.

"He let you all live? I know he didn't go out of his way to kill anyone after the coup, but that doesn't change the fact that he's been willing to shed his own family's blood before," the grey lion observed darkly. "Or maybe he's just keeping you around until he's got a legitimate Heir." That sounded more like the Shangyue Avahk had seen. The lion had been canny from a young age, planning out his attacks before executing them flawlessly. In order to increase the pride's stability, the King would need an Heir. Regardless of what Shangyue thought of Kamia's rebellious leanings, he'd want an Heir that was firmly in his control.

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Tseva stayed quiet as the subject turned to death and rape. She was scared, not simply for herself and her cubs, but for her mate, his friends, and the cubs sleeping in the den just beyond. To talk of the King, and the coup, and his penchant for death...the black lioness wanted to cover her ears and block it all out. Or drag Avahk away. But he showed no signs of wanting to leave...  

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The Hunter snorted. "Early? He's been in power more than a year already. Cubs when he took over are adults now, and having cubs of their own." It wasn't early at all from that perspective.

But his frown grew as Kamia discussed her daughter Antara. He'd taken the girl because she was his eldest? What on earth did he intend to do with her? At least Kamia was right about the boys. If all went well for them, they could live in relative obscurity.

"I'd be concerned for your daughter then. He can't have anything good in mind for her," Avahk cautioned.

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"It makes me wonder how he could take the throne," Tseva muttered, more to herself than anybody else. The more she heard about this Shangyue, the less she liked him.

"But how can you stand it? To have your daughter in his paws? To know your sons are only somewhat safe?" the lioness blurted out as she tried to imagine what life would be like if she were in Kamia's position.  

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Avahk snorted again, expressing his opinion for how much faith he had in Shangyue's ability to keep his word. He wasn't thrilled for the girl's future that Kamia spoke of, though he knew she was right. Still, it just sounded like a messed up life and nothing he'd wish on any cub.

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"It still sounds awful," Tseva said with a frown. "I just don't understand though. If he's so horrible...how did he end up King? And why is he still in power?" The black lioness had been fighting to not understand for so long now that she surprised herself with her questions.