Julia had a problem; it was a serious problem that she knew she'd have to deal with soon. Actually that was an understatement, because there were in fact three problems according to the shaman, and they were growing inside of her as she thought about it. The lion in front of her, cutting up the koalas into choice slices for her and her friends, was the reason these three problems were going to have to be dealt with eventually. She knew that the blame shouldn't be placed completely on him; after all, how could she? He didn't even know what had been the result of their very intimate relationship. And Julia didn't know if she even wanted to tell him just yet, especially given the way she knew he'd react.
Kuendesha absolutely, positively did NOT trust Kyabe. In fact, if it were up to her he'd be dead the moment he set foot in the Kuatan Jungle, and for some reason Icarus was actually siding with her on that. When Julia asked why, he would simply say that he's a lion from his and Saul's past in the Wastelands, and that he originated from his birth pride. However, Julia regretted not asking more, because every time she would try to press Kyabe for more details on his past, he would simply say that it was painful and that he didn't want to burden her with his problems.
In any case, the cinnamon-colored lion assured her that his past wasn't important, nor was the misgivings of Icarus or her mother. What was important was what they choose to do with the past, and he was choosing to be a better lion for it. And, the very day he had told her that, their relationship became much more intimate; she had lain with him that very night. And from that night on she would no longer see him as a dashing, mysterious rogue but as a divine being incarnated on Earth. And he was finally going to meet her friends and cubhood playmates; from the scent in the air, that was going to happen right now.
"Julia? You in here?" It was Jai calling out, and Julia's heart sank. "Uh-oh." She said, knowing exactly what this would mean. "What's wrong?" Kyabe asked, concern welling up in his voice as he did. Julia simply looked at the pile of koala meat on the den floor. "I see. But, we aren't on Icarus' land; we're not breaking his law by eating these." Kayabe reassured, but that wasn't what Julia was most worried about. "I know, but what if Jai decides to tell Icarus where you found these? What if Mom finds out I've been here with you this whole time?!" Julia said that last sentence with a start of panic in her voice, to which Kyabe simply placed his arm around her to calm her down. "Don't worry. Kuendesha might be headstrong and controlling, but she's not a fool and we all know it." Although Julia wanted to believe him, she knew Kyabe was misjudging the lengths her mother would go to get her way.
What Kyabe didn't quite get was that, as Julia and David neared adulthood, Kuendesha seemed to respect their boundaries less and less as time went on. In fact, she had often acted as though she didn't respect either one of them at all, especially when she'd try to provoke them with her temper and would shout them down whenever they dare to 'talk back'. Julia would never forget the day she roared at David when he told her that he needed some alone, just because she felt the need to say whatever it was that she had to say. Julia swore she saw David's arms tense and his claws unsheathe when Kuendesha closed the distance and essentially challenged him directly. David, unsure of who Icarus would have to back up if a fight were to ensue, simply picked his battles and walked away. However, when he did, Julia could see just pure rage and anger in David's eyes, which only built up further as Kuendesha kept throwing parting shots as he walked away. And that was just because David dared to talk back to her.
Julia looked Kyabe in the eyes, her question practically written in her face. "Well, there's something else that might drive Mom over the edge, too." Julia said solemnly, her blue eyes meeting Kyabe's brown ones. He could almost read her thoughts, but he preferred to let her voice it. "I'm pregnant."
And like that, everything changed. Not only because Kyabe had to process what was just said, but also because it wasn't just him who heard this. "What?" Kyabe said, not realizing that he was saying that in unison with David, who was now standing at the entrance to the personal den. "We're going to be a family?" He said, as though he were no longer in control of his body or mind, but expressing what was going to happen. Or, rather, what he was expecting to happen. "You're pregnant?" David finally voiced when Kyabe had finished speaking.
The expectant parents looked over to the entrance of the den, and standing there dumbfounded at what he just heard was Julia's twin brother, and just behind him was Lana, Akato and (most worryingly) Lana's baby brother.