[ORP] Life lessons, but who's the teacher? (Marik/Cubs)

[Kieko]

Nymphaea had been entirely serious when she indicated that she expected more cubs than she'd had in her last litter. As one after another had been born, Marik kept wondering if it were possible for him to hold up his end of the bargain on his own. The reminder of the second male, the second thrall, washed only a slight relief over him. What would happen if the two of them could not work together well? He supposed, as pessimistic as it was, that with their lives on the line they'd find some way to handle the cubs together.

In the territory of the Myrsky, Marik had access to clean water and fresh kills. Even surrounded by hardened lions in harsh lands he felt more at ease and more at home than he'd been in the roguelands. Lions were not meant to be alone and his life had been hanging by a fragile thread before the heavily pregnant, pink lioness had found him.

When the cubs were very young, still nursing and with eyes unopened, he had time for his wounded hindquarters to continue to heal. Nymphaea had torn out the infected tissue with her claws and cleaned the surface underneath. With frequent washes and a protective eye, Marik found he was walking with more ease.

It was time for him to hold up his end of the arrangement. These cubs were his responsibility to care for and entertain. He was to be their father-figure, as she'd put it. But what exactly did that entail? Venturing to the den, he peered in to see which of the tiny lions was awake.  

[Syrius Lionwing]

The youngest male of the litter stood out a little from his siblings, his stark white coat and black markings set him apart from his much more colourful siblings whom sported almost every other colour that could be thought of. His mother was particularly happy to see red in amongst his siblings though he really didn't know why.

None of his siblings were singled out really and their overly large mother treated arch of them with he same gruff care. She did seem to favour his sisters but his mother was far from a regular viking and she constantly told them that. His mother was amazing. She was huge and she had certainly passed those traits on to them. He knew that when he grew up he would be an amazing viking and make his mother proud.

Steinnar had been awake for a while. While his slightly older sibling snoozed off the late breakfast their mother had given them before going off to stretch her legs he had forced himself to stay awake is mother said the Thralls would be by before they woke and he wanted to make sure before he fell asleep. It was then that he was wide awake when the dark male with teal highlights popped his head in to their den. He was ready to greet, jumping to his paws he charged head first at the male.

"You smell funny. Whichisyou?" He queries standing in the mouth of the den, trying to make himself look extra big. He had only really seen glimpses of those his mother called 'the thralls' but now she had left and he was in thei care he had to make sure they were good. "Well which is you? Mumsaysthatoneismarrriyikandotherisfogzywhichisyou?" He blinks owlishly his words melding together.  

[Kieko]

Syrius Lionwing

Marik hadn't the opportunity to bond with any of the cubs and with such a large litter, it could be challenging to get any of them alone for one-on-one time. That morning, however, the newest Thrall could take advantage of the fact that most of the cubs hadn't yet woken up. All except Steinnar, of course.

While the bony and aged lion had never raised a litter of cubs himself, he had some idea about the general care and size of new baby lions. The enormous litter of cubs were striking in size already. They would grow to be an intimidating group. He silently mulled over the moment in which his students would inevitably become the new masters.

Marik had a paw up and ready to tumble the cub as he ran toward him. Given the nature of the viking pride, he could only presume that the cubs would be even stronger and more determined. "Marik," He answered quickly so as not to leave the little white one wondering. He paused a moment to allow for his scent to be taken in and recognized. In exchange, the teal and ashy male observed the curious nature of Steinnar's dual colored eyes. There was much in the cub which did not appear much like his mother. Marik's curious mind wandered briefly.

"I think it's time we've gotten to know one another," He commented, settling down on his belly so that the younger one could better climb and inspect. "Do you have any questions for me? Or the world, maybe?"  

[Syrius Lionwing]

The wall eyed youngster smiled and wrinkled his nose as the older male sat. Stepping forwards he sits on the big paws without a thought or care in the world. This was someone his mother had said was safe to approach and his mother was always correct. "Mother says that you need to eat but that you won't eat us." He states using the gray males paw as a stepping stone he stands and puts his forepaws on Mariks face his duel eyes inspecting carefully.

"She says we have to be nice to you because though you have to do as we say that doesn't mean we have to be cruel." He sits back down resting happily on the big males paws a smile on his pale maw. "Mama says you are to be the daddy for the moment, though mama said you aren't really the daddy. He pauses for a moment "What does a daddy do?" He tilts his head though a short attention span meant a strand of stray mane caused him to bat out playfully his tiny black claws leaving their sheaths.

Once captured he pulled the mane towards his mouth. With a mouth full of mane the little cub made a face blurting out the soft fibres and laughing. "You lots of hair tastes funny."  

[Kieko]

Marik was more than a little amused. This was pretty new territory for him so it'd be a learning experience for the two of them. It was both a relief and surprise to learn how much their mother had already shared with them. At the very least this cub seemed to be taking to the news relatively well.

"That would be true," He answered slowly about that first part. "Like you, I am a lion and require fresh meat in order to survive. I will also help in teaching you how to hunt. Do you have a favorite?" He meant food, of course. Marik didn't know how much Nymph explained about each scrap that was brought to them - or really even if they were regularly eating solid foods - they were old now, right?

As far as the cubs being nice to him? The older male let out a light chuckle. While he needed to obey their direction, there was no need to be cruel. That was something new to him... something different from his experience among the demons. Abeni had only hurt him to bring out his demon, to draw on his true power-- The older male shook the thought from his head.

"I--" Their daddy? He would act as their parental figure. He would teach and guide them. But... he hadn't quite prepared himself for what that really meant in the context of the cubs. Hearing it from the pale male's tiny mouth as he stared up at him with bicolored eyes drew a thoughtful expression from him. "Well, a daddy..." He started. It was fortunate that the young lion had no concept of how uncertain Marik was in this regard. It was good that the much older male had years of experience in masking his emotions and forcing down his insecurities and uncertainties. "Helps to protect all of his cubs. He teaches them to hunt, fight and be strong. He is a teacher and friend."

Syrius Lionwing

 

[Kieko]

Syrius Lionwing

 

[Syrius Lionwing]

Kieko

Steinnar looked up at the big gray male, his curious gaze fixed squarely on the adult male. "Hmmmm not sure, the kind that's red." He nods an affirmative to this, the query was almost foreign to him his mother hadn't really explained to him what meat she was fetching, just that they should eat it. It sometimes tasted different depending on what day it was. "Mummy says that if its red and bloody and she fetches it we should eat it. Mummy knows best." He nods sagely, what his mother said was basically the law, the truth, the everything, his world was small and his mother was large.

When Marik explained what a daddy was, he liked the idea a lot. His mother hadn't really explained to him what it was that a daddy did, or in fact didn't do, she'd simply told them of the males that would look after them.

"Can I learn the hunting? I'm strong." He puffs out his tiny chest trying to make himself look larger than he actually was. "Mother says that we are all strong cause she is strong."