It was late in the afternoon that Omi first began to feel the pains of birth coming on. She knew that the cubs were coming, and they were coming now. Luckily, the green lioness had prepared herself somewhat for what was going to occur. After some searching the past few days, Omi had found a nice, quiet, secluded area in which she could have her cubs and raise them for some time until they were able to travel some distances with her.
Her birthing area was well hidden, and it was by chance that she had stumbled across it. Her blue eyes had been scanning the area for anything that would be suitable, and whilst she was walking, one of her paws caught a stone and she had a small tumble. Initially she was scared that perhaps the cubs had been harmed, however she felt they were safe so her mind soon left the worry behind. There on the ground was where she'd noticed it. A small hole, just big enough for a lioness to squeeze through, was underneath a fallen Baobab tree, propped against a large boulder. If one didn't have the vantage point she had then they wouldn't know of its existence.
She soon was on her feet and investigating, and found that the hole widened out underneath the tree, and extended underneath the rock. Omi smiled to herself. This would be the perfect spot to have her cubs. She looked down to her large belly and beamed. She never expected to have cubs so soon in her life, but when things happen they happen, and Omi wasn't going to complain. She did worry that perhaps their life may not be the best, as she lived the life of a rogue, and wandered a lot, but she hoped one day they might forgive her, and they could find a home together.
Omi was soon comfortable in her makeshift home. She'd managed to gather some stray leaves and grass to provide her and the oncoming cubs with some comfort whilst they were going to call the den their home. She was happy that she'd found the spot, and that the cubs would have a secure place to get their feet before she and them set out.
The pains came soon, and she wasn't ready. It was then she really began to hate on the lion who had gifted her with the cubs within her womb. The night she had her affair was a rough one, Omi had gone quite some time without food or water, and she was wondering whether or not she was going to make it. Then, what seemed to be out from the very earth she was walking on, appeared a brown lion. He said he had seen her a ways off and could tell she was struggling, and he soon made his way over to assist her. He said his den was not far from where they were, and he had plenty of food to share and there was a small source of water nearby. Too weak and malnourished to say otherwise, Omi agreed and he helped her as they walked towards his home.
It took a couple of days for the green lioness to regain her strength, and during that time she got to know the lion who was her saviour, what his story was and how he came to be here. He was interesting and charming, like someone she'd never met before. He was confident and he was also handsome, and Omi soon developed her first crush. It didn't take much time until it developed further, and the two spent the night together. It was then Omi had felt her most vunerable, and most safe, falling asleep in the paws of a man she had grown to love.
However the next morning he was gone, and she was hurt at first, but that is the way of the rogue, she thought, and decided that their time together would be a happy memory. It took some time but soon Omi began to feel sick, as if something wasn't right. She grew more hungry than she had ever been and started getting heavier and heavier. She realized she was pregnant, and thought of it as a parting gift from their relationship.
But now, as she lay in the small den, as the pains of birth pulsed through her body, now she hated him. Hated him for bringing such pain upon her, for doing this to her body. It was alright for him, she thought as her contractions sped up, he didn't have to bear the cubs, didn't have to do anything. No, it's me that has to do everything. She roared as the pains grew, wondering when it would end.
Then, in an instant, her first cub was born. A daughter! Colored brown like her father, Omi nuzzled her close and cleaned her off, her heart full of joy at the new life she had created. Then, more pains began, and soon after them another cub entered the world. This one was a daughter as well, but she was colored dark, like her father and sister. Omi smiled, if her father was here now he would be proud, he had never harboured the feelings that her mother had towards her. She manoeuvred the cub to be next to her sister, and cleaned her up as well. Once more the pains began. How many more are there? Thought Omi to herself. Soon after she gave birth to her third, and final cub. This one was a boy, and you could tell he was part of the family, his coat carried the green that was present in her brothers, her and her mother, but with some brown of his father mixed in. She cleaned him up and placed him next to his sisters before settling herself down to get some rest.
The next morning Omi was up early, the cubs were hungry and made a lot of noise. Not that she minded, to her they were the most precious things in the world. I guess I have to give you guys names, she thought as she looked down upon them, their bellies full, sleeping soundly in a small pile. She thought a moment in her head before saying their names out loud. Even if they could not hear or understand, they would soon learn. She touched the brown girl, the first born, pronouncing her "Aiyana." She moved to her second child, her second daughter and the middle one. "Your name will be Tendai." Finally her paw came to rest on her son and the youngest of her three. "You, my boy, will be Ilhami."
Omi smiled and sighed, her job naming her cubs done, but the job of parenting them was only beginning.
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