Jumoja nuzzles the back of K'aaria's neck, purring quietly to her Ryuka curls up around Azwela, protectively and falls into a fitful sleep. K'aaria purrrs quietly as her neck is nuzzled...starting to let herself relax. Jumoja keeps nuzzling softly, seeing K'aaria finally begin to relax K'aaria smiles softly...the paw resting against it's partner now. Mohatu smiles looking at the two, "bless you kids..." K'aaria looks up to Mohatu...a rather bewildered expression on her face. "You know?" Jumoja looks up at Mohatu, smiling, but a bit of question at the comment in his eyes. Mohatu smiles, "About what?" K'aaria tips her head back to look up at Jumoja...uncertain what to say...but her eyes are smiling now...sure of her feelings. Mohatu growls deeply, "I don't need to know anything, I can SEE it." Mohatu grins Mohatu winks to jumoja, "Not confused anymore?" Jumoja smiles and looks back down at K'aaria, ears folding shyly a bit at Mohatu's comments. Then he looks back at Mohatu and grins, really blushing now. But he sounds sure. "No. :)" Mohatu chuckles, "Nice to hear..." K'aaria blushes as she looks at Jumoja. "You were confused...?" Jumoja nuzzles K'aaria softly. "Before I met you, I was." Mohatu smiles to K'aaria, "You seem to influence him in a good way." K'aaria lowers her eyes, smiling. "I'm glad I do." She turns to face Mohatu. "Dad.. I'll make him a good Queen. I'll learn everything I need to know." Mohatu smiles, "I'm sure you will." K'aaria flashes a quick look up to Jumoja. She says softly. "He showed me the lands. They're very beautiful." Jumoja grins softly and looks at Mohatu. "She was worried about what you'd think of us.. I should have known it wouldn't take you any time to notice. :)" Mohatu growls deeply, "It didn't..." K'aaria blushes again...but lifts her head up to Mohatu. "It's alright then?" Mohatu nuzzles, "Sure my dear..." K'aaria bites her lip, attempting to keep the huge smile that's threatening to grow from showing too much. Jumoja grins and nuzzles at K'aaria's neck again Mohatu chuckles, "So you saw the Valley?" Jumoja nods and grins... "We stayed overnight when we came back from Uncle Gesten's." K'aaria turns her head back to Jumoja, her eyes shining. She nuzzles back into his mane as she answers Mohatu's question with a "Yes..while we were at Uncle Gesten's." Mohatu can't help that and hugs both, "Kings, I love this sight." Mohatu growls deeply, "How is Gesten, by the way?" Azwela has arrived. K'aaria grins as she is squished between the two of you, attempting to hug back. Jumoja's grin grows broader as he nuzzles Mohatu during the hug, purring. "He is well... he showed us skating and snow... they were neat :)" K'aaria smiles. "He slept a lot..but he was really nice." Mohatu releases the two and nods with a smile K'aaria turns once more to face Mohatu..letting her body rest back against Jumoja. "The waterfall in the valley is so gorgeous. You must miss it." Jumoja looks over.. "Hi again, Azwela" Azwela nods from her resting place, "Hello." K'aaria looks up, not having noticed Azwela return. "Hi.." Mohatu growls deeply, "I do... But I don't like to see watching it alone.." Mohatu growls deeply, "when you two settle there, I'll visit you ... if you don't mind." Mohatu grins Jumoja smiles. "I think we would both insist, Dad. :)" Mohatu growls deeply, "Oh, even that? Maybe even more, you'll lock me in there?" Mohatu laughs Azwela heys, "She's too young to mate yet." she grins K'aaria blushes again...but nods quickly. "Lots of times...as much as you want!" Jumoja chuckles at Mohatu's comment Mohatu smiles to Azwela, "don't worry.. Time runs fast." K'aaria turns a deep red at Azwela's words....her eyes quickly dipping to the ground. Jumoja grins and blushes. "We both have lots of time yet." Mohatu growls deeply, "Oh great, now you embarrassed them." K'aaria nods to Jumoja, not looking at him. Azwela smiles to K'aaria, "Just don't forget what I taught you and you have nothing to worry about." Jumoja looks curiously at Azwela. "Taught her?" Azwela purrs, "The rest should come naturally" K'aaria peeks up to Azwela and nods... Azwela looks at Jumoja, "It's nothing." Azwela purrs, "Girl stuff" Jumoja ohs and continues to look somewhat embarrassed K'aaria's cheeks turn a a bright, hot red. She tries to hide that fact by busily studying her paws. K'aaria looks up at Azwela's whisper, helpless to explain. She just shakes her head. K'aaria shivers a little in the drizzly air..lifting her head up enough to let the winds cool her cheeks. Jumoja notices the shiver, and nuzzles K'aaria softly. "Want to go in?" Azwela rises, "That sounds like a good idea." K'aaria nods. "Please, it's getting kind of cold out here." Jumoja stands, smiling. "Coming along, Azwela?" Azwela purrs, "Yeah" K'aaria nuzzles Jumoja as she gets to her paws. [ UTATU ROCK -CENTRAL CAVERN- ] ________________________________________________________________ You are standing in a vast central chamber which you estimate to be located at t he very center of the enormous monolith known as Utatu Rock. The room is not wha t you would expect a cave to look or feel like. It is square, and astoundingly s ymetrical. The walls are smooth to the touch without the slightest imperfection aside from strange horizontal and vertical grooves which appear to be cut into t he stone, partitioning the walls into large rectangular patterns. The color of the stone is also very bizzare, as instead of being grey or black like most, it is a golden sand color. The stone floor and ceiling are themselves perfectly sm ooth, making the entire room a perfect rectangular cube. Four large openings are present in this room, also perfect rectangles. One, located on the south wall, leads out of the cavern and onto the promontory. Two more, on the northern wall, lead further into the depths of Utatu Rock, while the last, located on the east ern wall, seems to lead to an ascending passageway to the very peak of the monol ith. The perfection of this place fills you with awe at it's alien beauty, yet also fills you with a peculiar anxiety as you know that nature doesn't deal in p erfection.... Azwela exits via the ascending passageway Jumoja smiles and nuzzles K'aaria warmly. "Where do you want to sleep?" K'aaria thankfully enters the warmth of the cave, shaking off her wet fur before she comes in too far. Turning to face Jumoja she smiles softly and says. "Where ever you do?" Jumoja smiles warmly and moves into the living cavern [ UTATU ROCK -PRIDE LIVING CAVERN- ] _________________________________________________________ The cavern you are standing in is much like the vast central cave beyond the doorway in the southern wall. It has the shape of a rectangular cube like the main cavern, but is not quite as large. This is where the Utatu Pride has made it's home, where it's members come to sleep, converse, eat, and raise their families. Scattered around the chamber are various piles of moss and grass used as bedding by the pride members. In the very center of the room there is a very wide raised platform upon which is more of the bedding material as well as a dried zebra pelt. It is upon this dais that the Utatu Kingdom's King and Queen sleep, surrounded by their loyal subjects. There are numerous exits in this room. One in the south wall leads to the central chamber, another in the eastern wall leads to the pride's nursery, and several more in the north and west walls lead to smaller private rooms. K'aaria follows you, smiling happily now. Jumoja heads to the nursery [ UTATU ROCK -NURSERY- ] ________________________________________________________________ This chamber is far smaller then the Central Cavern or the Living Cavern. This is where the Utatu Pride's cubs are kept when they are still young and need their mothers. Like all the other rooms in this vast stone mountain, this one is highly symmetric and the walls seem to exude a sense of being very ancient. The room itself is a perfect cube, the texture and color of the walls identical to that of all the other chambers, however the floor in here has been covered with a layer of soft mosses and grasses by the pride in order to provide comfort for cubs and mothers alike. There are three portals in this chamber. The first, located on the southern wall, leads to the vast Central Cavern, the second, in the western wall, leads to the Living Cavern, and the last one, in the eastern wall, radiates natural light. Perhaps this last leads outside... The exits to this room, with the exception of the one which seems to lead outside, all have large stones placed at their bases to prevent cubs from leaving and wandering off. K'aaria glances at Japheth. "He's still sleeping!" Jumoja smiles and waits for you, purring softly. "Here okay?" Jumoja grins. "I bet he gets up after we sleep and plays all night :)" K'aaria turns back to face you and nods. "Yes, this is perfect. It's nice and warm..and quiet." She giggles at you second comment. "For the moment at least." Jumoja grins, fading into a warm smile. He steps forward and nuzzles you long, running his muzzle along your cheek and neck. "I'm so happy we're together K'aaria.. and that Dad is happy with us." K'aaria closes her eyes, rubbing her face over yours with a quiet smile. "I am too Jumoja. I wanted him to approve..." She nuzzles a little deeper, purring now. "I'm glad you chose me...." K'aaria finishes with a very soft.."And I know I've chosen the right lion for me." Jumoja purrs back a bit, staying close to you, then smiles and purrs more deeply as you finish. "Then we've both chosen the right partner.. because I've no doubts that I'm glad to have found you.." He grins softly and pulls back. "But now that it's in the open, I bet Dad starts teasing. :)" K'aaria settles down at your side...smiling up at you. "I'll bet he will too...but I don't mind. Do you?" Jumoja curls around you, somewhat protectively. He smiles back. "No, not at all." K'aaria nestles back against you, tucking her head under your chin and yawning.