[SRP] Rumble in the Jungle

[Rennekae]

RNG Prompts

I need some help with getting this thing going so here we go. Going to try a prompt-based, post-style srp.
1. Nema on the beach after a pridemate has died, night time, Dhoru is there but asleep.
2. Nema and Dhoru on the beach after a pridemate has died, daytime.
3. Nema visiting Zuni to get some pain relief herbs for a dying pridemate in the Twilight Caves.
4. Nema visiting Dhoru while he is cubsitting; thankfully no work for Nema currently.

The den was formed by a large tree whose massive roots vaulted from the earth like the arched back of a frightened cat, carrying the soil with it. It created a hollow large enough to fit two adult lions, with ample room to move around, and offered protection from inclement weather and shade from the beating sun. Nema and Dhoru had chosen the then-vacant nest for themselves and moved in soon after they had officially become mates.

It was mid-morning and Nema lay alone in the den, sprawled on her side with her legs straight out. Dhoru had risen with the sun and gently nuzzled her goodbye before heading off to "work", watching the eight-week-old cubs of one of the pride's females so she could take a break and go hunting. Though, really, any lion that knew Dhoru knew that watching the pride's cubs was the furthest thing from work to him. Thankfully, Nema - an Usher for the pride, serving those lions who were dead or dying - didn't have any charges of her own currently, and so she had mumbled a sleepy promise to visit when she woke up.

The white lioness stretched wondrously and blinked her eyes open, rolling into an upright lying position with a mighty yawn. Trying and failing to shake her considerably bedraggled mane-tuft from her face, she resigned herself to a quick but thorough grooming before rising to her paws and heading off to find her mate and his wards.
 

[Rennekae]

RNG Prompts

Next!
1. Nema finds Dhoru at the beach, playing with the cubs in tide surf.
2. Nema finds Dhoru in a copse of trees, playing with the cubs in the leaves and roots.
3. Nema finds Dhoru at the mother's den, playing with the cubs in the sand.
4. Nema finds Dhoru at the cliffs, trying to teach the cubs to climb safely.

It only took Nema a moment to catch her mate's scent, and she started padding off toward where the trees grew thicker. She could hear Dhoru and the cubs before she saw them, all mock roars and laughter. As she neared the group, her mate suddenly sprang out from behind a tree, leaping over a moss-covered log and landing lightly before turning back to look over his shoulder. Three still speckled cubs clambered up on top of the log behind him and launched themselves at the large orange male with "fearsome" roars that drew giggles from the sweet lioness.

Dhoru immediately rolled back from the "impact" exaggeratedly, ensuring to wrap the cubs in his front paws protectively, and landed on his back where he lie spread-eagle. Feigning a cry of pain, he flopped his head to the side and promptly caught sight of Nema strolling toward them. He flashed his goofy grin and winked.

"Save me, my love!" he called dramatically, followed quickly by a very real, "Ouch! Hey, now!", as one of the cubs chomped down a little too hard with his needle-like teeth on Dhoru's ear.

The cub, a male as dark as night with a blue mask covering the top of half of his head and a white-ringed tail, folded back his ears apologetically and released the hostage ear. Not wanting to discourage the young one from playing, Dhoru grabbed him with one paw and held him while he roughed up his fur with his tongue, effectively rousing the cub back into the fight - though he played more carefully.  

[Rennekae]

RNG Prompts

1 or 4. Nema joins in on Dhoru's side.
2 or 5. Nema joins in on the cubs' side.
3 or 6. Nema opts to sit back and enjoy the show.

"I'm coming, my heart!" Nema cried, mock rushing to her mate's side.

The blue-masked male, Imaski, stood proudly upon Dhoru's chest, and shouted, "I got this one! You guys take her!" as his siblings scrambled off of Dhoru and pounced on the new enemy with enthusiastic battle cries. The first to reach Nema was the sole sister of the litter, Nila, a small bundle of blue with black feet and ears and a white bottom jaw. She raced forward and met Nema head-on, rearing up on her hind paws to grasp her head in her forepaws and chew on her ears. Meanwhile, Mikia, the largest of the three and all white save for his blue tail, ran underneath to attack her paws and legs.

"Oh, no! I am overrun!" Nema exclaimed gravely and feigned a collapse - effectively laying on Mikia and trapping the rowdy young cub underneath her. She was careful to keep her full weight from resting on the little guy to avoid hurting him but allowed just enough so that he was unable to free himself. She smiled widely as his paws scrabbled in the grass and the disgruntled cub grumbled at her to get off.

"But I can't. You have killed me," she smirked deviously. Nila, thoroughly enjoying her brother's plight, released Nema's head and rushed over to pester him instead, followed quickly by Imaski. Dhoru rolled over to lie on his belly and watched the whole ordeal with a bemused smile. After a few heartbeats, Nema rolled her body just enough to release Mikia, and the largest brother immediately tackled his siblings. The three continued to tussle in a heap of fur while Nema and Dhoru watched - sometimes being used as the high ground to launch better attacks.  

[Rennekae]

Dhoru and Nema watched the cubs play for a while longer, joining in occasionally, until the little ones seemed to tire themselves out and slumped together in a panting huddle. Casting her sapphire eyes to the sky, Nema squinted at the sun and noted how high it was.

"It's nearly sunhigh. Inati should be back by now," she said, turning back to Dhoru.

Dhoru nodded and rose to his feet. "Come on little ones," he said gently, prodding the cubs to their paws. "Your mother is probably waiting." When none of the cubs seemed overly motivated to get moving, he added, "And she's probably got food."

Now that got their attention. They were still primarily nursing, but their mother had started to let them have small scraps of meat, and they greatly enjoyed it. The little cubs happily trotted back to their den, chasing every leaf and beetle along the way, and rushed forward to greet their mother excitedly when they saw her - and that she did indeed have food. Dhoru and Nema reached Inati shortly after and the three exchanged pleasantries, asking how the hunt went, how the cubsitting had gone, and the likes.

"Would you like to share a meal?" Inati offered, indicating the carcass of the dik-dik she had caught.

"No, no," Dhoru declined politely, "You and the cubs savor your prize."

"We'll go pick something off the pile," Nema agreed with a smile.

The adults bid each other farewell - the cubs stopping their investigation of the dik-dik just long enough to say goodbye - and Dhoru and Nema did indeed head off to find something to eat. As they casually padded off, Dhoru affectionately bumped Nema's shoulder with his own.

"I can't wait until we have our own."

And Nema just beamed and purred.