Tolacca, Auna, Snowden, Ronen, Sivinith

Auna walked shoulder to shoulder with her sister, knowing they had no time to seek out a new den for Tolacca to call her own. The kittens were on their way. So Auna led her weary sister to the den of their mother's. "Here it is, Tolacca. Good luck." The two sisters nuzzled each other before Tolacca slipped away into the darkness of the chamber.

Auna laid down outside the den, worried about her sister, who was very frail.

Snowden came padding towards the den with Ronen in tote. The two greeted Auna before hanging back. "So, who's the lucky father?" Snowden asked.

Before Auna could reply, a large leopardess came sauntering towards them, her eyes flashing. It was their mother, Sivinith. "He's a cougar." And in her voice there was a hiss of disgust. Auna turned her eyes down with Snowden opened his in amazement. "A cougar...? He must be awfully nice, at least, if Tolacca choose him." Snowden pointed out uneasily.

Sivinith shook her head, "It doesn't matter. A cougar is a cougar, and none of them are 'nice'. If he ever shows up here, he'll regret it, let me tell you." She went on, certainly angered that her daughter hadn't choosen a snow leopard as a mate.

Tolacca, Auna, Snowden, Ronen, Sivinith

The family remained near the den, at first basking in a mixture of joy for Tolacca, and an uneasiness over the whole cougar deal. But in time, they began to talk, and all ill-ease was put to rest; for the moment being. Ronen began to attack his grandma's tail, pouncing on it and worrying it over. She took the punishment for a bit, then turned the tables and attacked Ronen; of course, in play.

It was several hours later when a muffled squeak came from the dark chamber of the den. Auna stood quickly and peeked into the den. A moment later, she turned to her expectant family, "There's three! A male and two females."

Sivinith stood, her previous look of resentment gone, and replaced with joy. Snowden looked so happy, one might think he was the father! Even little Ronen was looking eagerly towards the den, but he of course couldn't see anything there.

Sivinith looked to Snowden and Ronen, "We'd best head out. She doesn't need a little monster running about being noisy." Ronen gave a playful growl at being called a monster, but he knew the tone was an affactionate one. Thee three headed away from the den, leaving Tolacca, Auna, and the three new cubs.

Namir

Namir returned after a long while, dragging the carcass of an axis deer with him. It had been killed by a wolf, but Namir wasn't at all against stealing a meal from a canine, especially when it menat feeding his new family. Struggling with the heavy prize, Namir brought the carcass a few feet from the den and released it, looking up at Auna, "Uh... Tolacca's sister, right?" He asked, slowly licking the blood from his jaws, and hoping that he hadn't ventured to the wrong den.

Tolacca, Auna, & Cubs

Auna stood quickly and nodded to Namir, "Auna's the name. And you've come at just the right time. You've got a son and two daughters." Auna stepped aside, allowing Namir to peek into the den if he wished.

From within, Tolacca stirred, though her energy was all but spent from the labor. Adulthi had the snow leopard shape of her mother, but was lacking in most of the rosetts. Her fur was a pale tan-buff.

Namir, Namalt, & Xxalt

"It's-ah, nice to meet you." He spoke quickly, but could tell that she wasn't being rude. Relaxing, Namir tore a large peice of the deer's haunch and carried it to the den. Hunching down, he crept in and nudged the meat towards his mate. And as he did, he looked to the three kittens. The other two carried his shape. The little male looked most like him, but had those rosetts running all over his back and legs. And the other female was a perfect blend of the two. "Namalt, and Xxalt." Namir whispered, naming the cubs.

Namalt turned towards the faint noise and peered up at the massive for of her cougar father. A small, but high-pitch squeak was let out. Namir nudged the little kitten back to her mother, then crept out of the den.

Tolacca, Auna, & Adulthi

Tolacca purred contently and took the meat, eagerly devouring it to replenish her lost energy. "Thank you."

Adulthi clambered over Xxalt, and found a place closer to her mother's warm fur, where she snuggled up and fell to sleep.

Namir, Namalt, & Xxalt

He nodded, "Quite welcome." Then he backed out of the den and began to eat his fill of the carcass. When he was full, he tore off a large chunk of meat and tossed it towards Auna, "I'll be back in a bit. I'm going to burry this and look for more food. It's a gamble to have young in the dead of winter." He added, remembering back when he had been rescued from starvation by the wolves. Taking up the carcass, Namir dragged it away to the Caches.