It starts...

"I slipped." he smacks his paw in the mud.
"Yeah, it looks as though it's been raining a lot. I was discussing this with your mother earlier." Katai nearly slips himself in the mud.

"Darn..." Jaini covers his head with his paws. A flash of lightning and thunder scares him to death and he runs in between his dad's paws.

"No dad, I can walk alone." Jaini says covering his head still.
"Jaini, just get on my back and we'll be able to return faster!" Katai calls out above the noise of the rain and thunder.
"Yes c'mon. It's raining pretty fast and it could get worse!" Mutae calls out also padding back to the den with Kuta.
"Now stay on my back Jaini, no games at a time like this." Katai lifts him up onto his back and heads back to the den struggling to see in the rain which was no pouring down like a blanket.

Jaini still covers his head with his two paws, "Dad, I'm gettin' all wet."
Katai takes him off his back and carries Jaini in his mouth, "Don't worry, we'll be back soon." he says struggling to see in the rain.

"I can't see you but I can hear you!" Katai calls over to his mate.
Jaini cuddles into his mane and tries his best to keep dry.

Jaini burries his face, "Dad...hurry." he says trying to keep dry.
Katai was still struggling in the rain, "It's funny how everyone else made it back ok." he says walking a bit faster.

Katai captures a glimpse of pride rock through the mist, he starts to run to get back quick and safely.

"Great..." Katai says as he lays down on his side. "It's getting misty outside now too..."

Katai lets Jaini go out from his mouth. "Gah...I'm wet." he moans.
"Oh quit your moaning Jaini. We're all wet." Katai sighs and lays down next to Asha snuggling up to her and the cubs.

"Ok..." Jaini starts to shake his fur. After he does it his fur all puffs out.
Katai laughs a bit as he shakes his fur and mane too making his mane puff out.

"Hehe, I have a little mane now don't I?" Jaini asks happily pouncing on top of his dad and biting his ear playfully.

"Only a small one!" Katai laughs nuzzling his son.

"I hope so..." Jaini grins happily pouncing on Asha.

"Obviously and lion cubs get manes right dad?" Jaini asks grinning.
"When they're older, yes. Don't worry, you'll have one someday." Katai nuzzles Jaini.

"Good." Jaini grins feeling the top of his head with his paw, "Nothin' growing yet except a small strand."
Katai laughs, "I wasn't like that myself."

(Thanks! :cheese: )
"When I was a cub I had a little bit of a tuft on my head...probably that's why my mane is all thick and fluffy." Katai grins.

"So does that mean I'll get one...?" Jaini asks grinning widely.
"Probably...more than likely if you've got some of me in ya which you have." Katai rubs his paw against Jaini's head and back.

"Darn...I bet I'd be last." Jaini sighs and touches his head with his paw again, "I mean look at dad's mane!"

"I better do..." Jaini lays down sadly.

Jaini sighs and looks up at his parents, "Dad, how old was you when you started to grow the small tuft you were talking about?"

"I was just a little older than you are now, don't worry though. Like your mother says, you'll get one. You can know that for definite because look at me." Katai smiles to Jaini showing him his large and fluffy mane.

"I hope I don't have a scraggly mane though myself....I wanna look handsome!" Jaini laughs a bit.

"Doubt it...thick manes make any lion look handsome." Jaini rolls on his back.

"Yeah...but doesn't handsome mean 'good looking'?" Jaini asks curiously.

"Nope but would you like to go out with a lion who's incredibly ugly?" Jaini asks.

"Pfft...well is dad both cos' sometimes I don't think he's very nice." Jaini's ears droop a bit.

"Pfft...not with me he aint." Jaini smirks.
"Well if you want me to be nice with you you've gotta behave." Katai smirks and gives Jaini a quick lick along his back.

"Um...I guess so, at least I'm not a loner." Jaini grins pouncing on top of his parents.

"I bet I'd be a great hunter! Better than dad and my brothers and sister!" Jaini grins happily.

"Might?! I will be...c'mon can I go hunting?" Jaini asks.

"No...can you at least teach me to hunt...today?" Jaini asks giving his parents a pleading grin.

"Dad can then...c'mon dad." Jaini tugs on Katai's ears and tail.
"I don't know...it's up to your mother. I'd teach you how to hunt small prey and that's it." Katai grins pinning Jaini down by his tail.

"Small prey...as small as a butterfly?" Jaini asks.

"Any more small animals?" Jaini asks curiously.
"Butterflies aren't tasty either..." Katai laughs.

"Aww, c'mon. Just show me anyway." Jaini smiles happily tugging on his parents tails.

"Tomorrow then...please?" Jaini asks.
"Hmm...what do you think Asha?" Katai smirks looking around to her.

"Aww..." Jaini sighs and his ears droop. "I'm bored...I hate being a tiny cub. I wanna play with some friends."

Katai sighs too, "We all was cubs once."

"Alright...can I play tomorrow though?" he asks.
"It's fine by me." Katai smiles and nuzzles the young cub.
"Thanks dad..." Jaini nuzzles his dad back purring loudly.

"Um...ok." Jaini goes to get some milk, "I'm thirsty anyways."

Jaini sighs, "Alright..." he goes and takes some milk.

Karia opens her eyes and goes for a drink too.
After Jaini finishes he wipes away the milk with his paw, "Finished!" he exclaims.

"Ok...where shall I sleep though?" Jaini asks.
"Sleep in between us." Katai smiles and leaves some room for Jaini to lay down.