[SirMax]

"S-sure..." said Tom, blushing slightly as he nodded.. Something about the way she said it sent shivers down his spine... "What's Kuhna Lovers Anonymous?" he asked curiously, as he set his paw on her own.

[[32]]

[SpringsSong]

Erica coughed.  "It's a dating service for Kuhnas.  It's... not quite faring so well.  Most of the Kuhnas that have been submitted are those of Fire, and some from her assistants." She said, shaking her head.  "Isn't it beautiful out here, Tom"? She asked.

{9}

[SirMax]

"Yeah... It is..." murmured Tom, looking about at the waterfall and the surrounding lushness of the area, greenery sustained by the abundant waters. "So.. do you.. erm... wanna take that walk?" he asked sheepishly, blushing slightly.

[[33]]

[SpringsSong]

"Yes." She said, smiling as she stood up and began walking towards one of the falls, then turning around and waiting for Tom.  "So, how have your trainer's endeavors with breeding gone so far, aside from Radien and the other girl?" She asked.

{10}

[SirMax]

"Pretty well."Said Tom, following after Erika happily. "Whenever he gets a room he usually has a successful breeding. He's having a trouble with a few out of room relationships, though. Like Aksel."

[[34]]

[SpringsSong]

"I see." Erica said, chuckling.  "My trainer hasn't had to worry about out-of-room relationships much; I mean, look at us." She said, smiling broadly.  "And then, Tasera's met this black and purple Ancient male that she kinda seems to like.  And of course, there's Tali and Sethor.  I'm not sure about Fleur or Galen, or the three adorable pups that live with us now... a??, they are going to grow so fast..." She said, recalling the female and two male pups; the latter two were very protective of their sister...

{11}

[SirMax]

"Yeah..." said Tom, smiling slightly. "We have a few new pups at our pen too. Wonder why they grow up so much faster than kits?" he placed his paw on Erika's as he smiled slightly, gazing at her contentedly.

[[35]]

[SpringsSong]

"I dunno... maybe it's because they can breed year-round, whereas we have seasons." Erica said, nuzzling Tom.  "Or maybe that's just how they are." She added, remembering when Tali had first come to the Arena, just a plain, black pup with crystal-blue eyes.  "The fastest any of the pups have grown is after four days for us.  Fire came in during the middle of her school day and saw Tas just sitting there looking all pretty with her purple Ancient markings."

{12}

[SirMax]

"Wonder if they have any more pups if they'll grow up that quick...?" asked Tom curiously. "Maybe it's some kind of genetic thing?" he shrugged and nuzzled her back. "We have a kit in our pen that's been a kit for five weeks. One of the first ones born in the season."

[[36]]

[SpringsSong]

"Same here; except that there are two of them: Aya, the Spectrakuhna, and Abhilasha, the Doomsberry Kuhna.  Fire's very protective of Lasha; what, with her being 'the first Doomsberry'." Erica said.  At this, there was a rustle in the bushes and two timid little mews.  Erica rolled her eyes.  "Not now..." She said, walking over to the bush where she was promptly...


Adonia, "Nia"-----Rhyia, "Rhy"

...tackled by two kits.  "Mother!" Both of them cried, purring happily.  Erica sighed in relief.  "Girls, do NOT scare me like that!" She said, chuckling.  Adonia turned to Tom and asked, "Who're you?"

Erica coughed.  "He's your stepfather, dears.  He's my lifemate." She said, smiling.  "And Tom, these would be two of our lovely children; even though their father is a different Kuhna.  This one is Adonia, a Berry Kuhna," here, she pointed to the muddled kit, "and this one is Rhyia, a Common Kuhna." Both girls looked up at their stepfather and smiled.

{13:1 x2 [I figured they ought to meet their stepfather. ^_~]}

[SirMax]

((...XD I just realized I've been misspelling Erica's name.))

"Hello Adonia, hello Rhyia." said Tom, smiling and placing a paw affectionately on their heads. "Nice to meet you two." he glanced up at Erica and smiled. "So how are you enjoying life at the arena?" looking back at the kits, he patted them before pulling them close to him.

[[37]]

[SpringsSong]

Adonia smiled.  "It's fun!  There's two other kits there besides us, and they're really fun to hang out with, even if Aya loves to research." She said, nuzzling up against her stepfather's leg.

Rhyia purred.  "It's very entertaining, watching the visitors try to get past the Stargoyles to see us.  They have to, like, have Ryen escorting them or something." She said, laughing.

Erica chuckled.  "It's been interesting since these lovely girls came to live with us.  You're always wanting to make sure they're perfectly comfortable and nurtured...  It can really take the energy outta ya after a while." She said, smiling at her daughters.

{14:2 x2}

[SirMax]

"Stargoyles?" asked Tom, bemused. He hadn't visited the Arena, and didn't know the procedures and goings on. He should have guessed that Erica would be a good and very caring mother, of course. She'd been so tender and nice with him even after Rina being such an idiot... Of course she'd be like angel to her own kits.

[[38]]

[SpringsSong]

"Yes, Stargoyles.  Fire adopted eight of them for the purposes of guarding the Nursery on request of Ryen." Erica said, patting her two daughters on the heads.  "I don't blame him for wanting guards.  I feel a little better having guards there, too.  I have waited a long time to have kits, and now that I have some, it's only natural that I want them under the best care when I'm not around." She said, recalling her friendship with Amethyst, one of the lead guards.

"And then there's the Sun Leaflets and the Blackberry Slitheys!  They're such good entertainers and storytellers, like Auntie Tasera." Nia said, smiling.  Erica also smiled.  "Blackie's even teaching me a few tricks.  She and Shadow are so nice to us, aren't they, Rhy?"

Rhy laughed.  "Hey, Solina and Lunaro tell pretty sweet jokes, too." She said, her little tails wagging vigorously.  It was quite evident that they were enjoying life at their mother's home.

{15:3 x2}

[SirMax]

Tom smiled. "Maybe I should move to the Arena?" he said, laughing slightly at the children's exuberance when talking about their home. He certainly didn't have anything like kind of love for his pen. It was just where he lived, and while he liked the other Kuhnas and other pets there,  he didn't have such an attachment to it.

[[39]]