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 Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 4:15 pm
However, as it was, the petite huntress was alone. She didn't particularly care to admit it, but she'd grown used to the presences of others, ever since she'd been 'rescued' by the Sky clan, and those few moments of day when she was all alone were not particularly cherished any more. Taika was extremely missed, but the buck had mentioned something about mating season approaching and wishing to head towards the mating grounds to check out the so called 'selection' of the season.
The lioness had tilted her head at her familiar, visibly confused by her thoughts, but had otherwise smiled and wished her luck. Now that she was alone however, Tsi'hilu found herself pondering what Taika'd meant about 'selection'. She couldn't mean.... could she? Did bucks do that? She'd always thought that most creatures mated for life, but then again, she berated herself, she'd always been a romantic deep down. A romantic with an extreme necessity for unadultured love. She figured it stemmed from her childhood, making it impossible for her to under why any creature would mate just for ... the sake of calves? Baby bucks were calves. So yes, a calf.
Tsi'hilu's mind screeched to a halt, the female forcing her eyes tightly shut, her paw coming up to rub them as she attempted woosh away the thought of Taika with babies out and away. Either way, she'd seen Taika leave before, and come back empty handed, growling over 'good for nothing morons that can't take a joke before stampeding away'. Thus, even though the buck was gone, the petite lioness knew she'd be back. Empty handed. Again.
"They just don't have fangs..." she smiled as she whispered the words to the wind, a small chuckle following them, "You need one that has fangs. In the longrun... for now though," she strained her ears again, allowing them to twitch as she watched the few gracing beasts up ahead, "Dreams blow across the grassland. None for me though."
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 5:34 pm
THAT was a sobering thought, to say the least. He'd been a wanderer since his mother had deemed him old enough to kick out of her care and on his own. Sure, he could have teamed up with his brother, but that hadn't seemed a good prospect at the time. Until he'd met Misae he'd gone in whatever direction pleased him, without reason but liking to keep him in a place at any given time. Even then, he'd rarely stopped for more than a day--what reason was there to stay? Now, to come into a land dreaming of it being your home... that was strange and almost caused Nyota to once more turn on his heel and leave.
His daughter was behind him, though. No, not literally--he'd purposely left her a little ways behind. She was hungry and he knew she could follow a trail very well. As far away as they were from any potential danger from other rogues --Read: Hadithi--he no longer questioned letting her have a bit more leash. Now, if she showed up with another male on her tail this time--Once more Nyota had to fight the urge to turn around and run; this time to find the girl.
He bit back that one too. He couldn't coddle her for her entire life... but he could put his foot down about finding a mate when she was still, in his eyes, a child. It could be questioned whether she'd ever be grown by that sight, though.
But all of this was distracting him from his task at hand.
Nyota put his nose back to the scent he'd picked up that morning. He knew this one, it ran stronger in his blood than did the knowledge of his newfound "homeland." As he continued his way along the trail he'd been following all this while his eyes were open for a sign, any sign, of the white female he was "hunting." Her scent was strong.. it shouldn't be long.
"Dreams blow across the grassland. None for me though."
The male's head jerked at the whisper the wind had blown him. He turned his head, looking up above the grass to see the object of his desire sprawled across a rock with her back to him. For a long moment he just stared upon her, then seemed to gather his senses to himself and put on his most confident air. "A life without dreams should be a dull one," He mused, strolling around the rock to lift his face to hers and grace her with a smile, "but I wouldn't think yours to be such."
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 9:49 am
His appearance was a blessing, and the female purred loudly no sooner had he spoken and revealed his presence to her, "Oh... I have dreams," she told him softly, turning her frame to face him fully, amused at the fact they were face to face yet she remain above him, "The ones blowing across the grasslands were not mine though," a pause as a slow smile crept upon her maw, almost hesitant, "Till now," this said, she coughed softly, scooting over to the side to allow him space were he willing to join her, "Feel free to join me; the rocks do offer a pleasant place to sunbathe; I was trying to kill time till Taika got back from the mating grounds... wherever they are," as she lay down once more, she curled her tail around her form, the fluffy tip one of very few places not marred by tattoos, "I was feeling rather lonely; the gods must have deemed a good moment to grace me with your company."
Pausing her talking, the petite female's head lifted from where she'd held it over her paws, emerald eyes scanning the lands around her, seeking something, no doubt, "Is Misae here with you, too?" slowly, her gaze returned to him, having no shame in seeking his eyes, head tilting in innocent question, "Are you here to stay?" of course, she hadn't quite meant exactly what was fleeting through Nyota's mind at the time, but rather, was asking him if he was going to stay a while, just like last time he'd passed by the territory.
After all, she'd deeply enjoyed both the pale lioness' company, and Nyota's own. In fact, they'd been greatly missed after they'd departed; to a point Tsi'hilu had found herself with no will to hunt for days. She'd eaten what the pride had taken down, but it had been sad to note that such an efficient huntress would refuse to hunt; some had feared she'd reverted back to her silent cub-hood days. Taika had remain by her side during the time, telling her he would come back, that she could bet her pretty blue feathers on it, however... Tsi'hilu knew Nyota was a wanderer. He went where his heart told him to go; never could she have phantomed the male was doing just that, and that his heart was in fact, intending to stay, "I missed you," she offered him a smile then, "You'd be surprised at how peaceful these lands are. Nothing much happens around here... it's in fact, quite dull, as far as that goes; I figure your life would be further more interesting, wandering about."
Not that she minded peaceful; oh no, she'd had excitement enough for a lifetime during her childhood. It'd been a battle for survival, and finding herself within a loving pride was a nice change; it was like a breeze of cool air on a scorching summer's day, "The gods smile upon this land," laying her head peacefully on her paws, purring never receding, the lioness motioned towards the land with a smile, "What brings you to my life today?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:35 am
"She is, but not about at present," He chuckled and hopped up upon the rock to join her in the space she'd offered. For that he was glad, for it offered him a chance to be close to the one he'd come for. Nyota curled himself on the spot she'd offered and pressed his side to hers. Folding his paws over one another he gave her the most gentle smile he could have offered. "Taika has gone off to mate? That's a surprising thing, for one that's met her, but I wish her luck in that if its her wish." His words echoed his own thoughts, though she wouldn't have known that.
In fact, the male was still reeling over her question of staying. How HAD she known? Or had she? It was entirely possible that the female had meant something less permanent for she knew as well as he his own wandering techniques. This wasn't the time to balk, though. Nyota was on a "hunt," perhaps the most important one he'd ever ventured upon, and hesitation was not something that would do him any good. "I am, actually, if the land will have me. I've... traveled far and wide, even before my daughter came to my side. From lake side to sea shore, rarely stopping for anyone or anything. And then, when we went to the sea, a Truth hit me."
Nyota chuckled, but he didn't elaborate on that "truth," "Rather soundly, at that. The truth that I had a place I'd rather liked as home and yet I'd left it." The male turned his gaze to her from where it'd been roaming across the Savannah before them, and offered her a smile. "This land speaks to me like no other, as do certain creatures that are upon it. I thought to come back and offer myself to them, and see if they would have me."
No, he didn't offer her what he was truly thinking of offering her... but it was close. For now, she knew all she needed to know--he did not want to rush this hunt in the slightest. Of course, "his" Tsi was a sharp one. It was possible that she would know what he really meant without his elaborating on it. "That is what brings me, my Lady. A place to cool these mischievous paws of mine."
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 1:42 pm
Tilting her head, Tsi'hilu remain silent for a long while, merely watching him before she smiled and finally opened her maw to speak, "She always goes there; every single time, when the time comes around for it. However, she'll come back empty handed, just like every single time before," there was hidden mirth within her eyes, sparkling as she spoke of her familiar, "It's not as surprising when you know that, is it?" turning towards the herds, she motioned towards them with her head, "They have no fangs, you see. Taika will never find a lover amongst them. They lack something she needs; I've always thought that the male Taika falls for will have fangs," a pause before she turned to face him, blinking at her own words, "Metaphorically speaking, of course."
It was only after he'd told her of his intention to stay that the lioness' maw opened to form a silent 'o', her ears perking with obvious interest, "You're staying then?" the idea seemed to have thrilled her, for whereas before she'd been languid, her form had swiftly perked up, her petite frame almost vibrating restlessly, "Here, I mean, for ever?" the thought had never crossed her mind; however, now that it had, she found it pleased her greatly. Just why remain a mystery to her; she wasn't about to question happiness though, no matter the form it came in, "A truth?"
Allowing him to elaborate was one of the hardest thing Tsi'hilu had found herself doing in her life. She'd never been much of a talker, yet here her mind was supplying question after question; who, what, why? How?
She wanted to know what he was thinking; what lurked deep inside his mind, and slowly she found herself leaning forth, almost as if sure that she'd be able to read the answer in his eyes, "Creatures? Well, we do have great hunt here, and the pride is sweet enough... they don't usually take in rogues, but I'm perfectly sure if I put in a good word for you, they'll accept you with open arms. Tis a growing pride; they need strong members that are able to care for themselves."
It was amusing to note that despite being a helpless romantic deep down, never once did it occur to her that SHE was the reason he was here; in fact, it was probable the poor male would have to scream it in her face before she'd understand that singular piece of information. Tsi'hilu was not used to being loved; at least not in such a fashion. Her childhood had left her scars; being unwanted, even though not entirely true was edged into her heart. The idea of someone wanting her for more than a friend was alien to her; no one'd ever tried to court her. She'd watched others being courted, true, but not herself; she'd always thought that perhaps she was too small looking... too delicate. And just perhaps, too silent. Even though she was demonstrating just how NOT silent she could be, given the right approach, "I know where you can cool off your paws," she said suddenly, and slowly she got up, shaking herself off, "If you're going to stay, you should get to know the place a bit better," and this said, she leaned into him, nudging him up, with her head and shoulder, turning just once to sniff his neck.
He smelled... salty.
It was that notion that caused the lithe female to dip her tongue out of her maw and run it over his cheek in a long swipe, her cheek leaning against his ever so slightly before she pulled away. As if nothing had happened, her smile edged upon her maw, tail swishing happily behind her as she peered over her shoulder, "There's a lovely pool, just around the corner," jumping off the boulder, she led him to the water, her paw stopping to grace over it's surface, "You can cool off your paws here," offering him one last smile, she turned and slowly entered the water, her tattoos never vanishing... the paint never smearing over her coat, not even when her whole frame vanished under the water for an instant. Her head then emerged again, her bangs plastered over her forehead, "It's rather cool; join me?"
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 3:24 pm
Nyota hadn't expected so happy a reaction but he wasn't adverse to getting one, either. It was actually rather nice to know she'd be happy to welcome him--though he wasn't sure about the rest of her pride. It didn't matter, though. No matter what they were like or what they believed in, he'd go along with it... for her.
That was likely the closest thing to a truly "romantic" thought he'd ever had in his life, and Nyota wasn't entirely certain what to think of himself for it. He didn't stop long to ponder it, instead wanting to pay more attention to her. That was when she licked his cheek as they were standing to head towards the lake she'd mentioned. He straightened immediately, puffing his chest up a little as a smile came to his maw--really, he couldn't help it, it was natural. He jumped off of the rock and dipped his head in a 'bow' to her, waiting for her to take the lead, which she did.
It was, as she said, only right around the corner. This area was very beautiful, he reflected, eyes never straying from the back of the white lioness he'd come to see, it was a place he would be able to live with, in the end. Of course, he'd always found beauty in the strangest places--even that graveyard he'd wandered through at one time. Somehow, this seemed different.
Without a word he slipped into the water with her, feeling a particular sort of itch he'd long since noticed was there beginning to fade as the current washed his fur and skin free of the salt that'd remained there. Some may have gotten used to the smell of it and the way it rubbed your skin when it got through the layers of fur... but Nyota hadn't ever particularly cared for it. In this, the bath was a relief, as was the creature he was effectively bathing with. "Could I impose on you to be my guide then?" He asked with a chuckle after they'd both risen to the surface again and he'd tossed his mane from his eyes.
"If I'm to stay, I would need to meet the pride leaders, as you said, and seek their approval... and would need a guide in your ways and customs. I've seen many lands in my time, and most groups have their own customs and rituals an outsider would have little idea of... I expect this land isn't any different." It was a question, though he hadn't phrased it as such. He thought, however, she would know that.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:54 am
It was easy to understand why Tsi'hilu was happy about such a change; despite loving her pride, she had few within that she was close to. The most prominent one was Wally, and she wasn't precisely the best of friends either; it mostly had to do with the fact the pride thought Wally and Tsi looked like opposite twins, one black, one white.
Either way, having someone she knew and cared for near was almost like... having a family again. Not quite, but it was a step in the right direction. Her parents were no longer there; she'd learnt to accept their death, and that of her brother long ago. Despite the fact the Wolf clan had been small (hell, it'd just been her parents, her brother and her), she liked to remember it was being a happy place.
There was no way for her to know that her thoughts were not all that correct; even before death, the Wolf clan had been splitting due to problems her parents had had with one another, alas, it was all the better the white lioness had been to young to understand or even remember. Smiling at him as he bowed, she did likewise, moving her head slightly, a feminine motion as her answer to him. As the swam, she watched him cringe and sigh in relief and laughed softly, a melodic sound, "Is it because of the salt? Where were you, to have salt clinging to your fur?" a pause as she seemed to ponder, "When you get out, you should groom; it'll take it all away; some of the Ela that returned after the grand journey came like that. Took them a few days to rid of the taste fully," she smiled, stepping out of the watter, her tattoos unharmed by the water, her frame shaking as she got rid of the excess water.
"Of course," the answer was given to him with no hesitation as she lay down at the shore of the pond, her front paw dipping in the water, moving the clear surface, "And indeed... though right now, there's merely one leader; wise, old... but I'm afraid won't be lasting long. I'll take you to the pride when you wish to meet them; it's small, no many made it through the plague, but the blood is clean," there was no need for her to explain what she meant, she knew, and merely smiled; most of them weren't even blood related. They had been scattered out of each separate clan; there was only one clan right now. The Sky clan. The rest had dissolved... the main clan was formed by the remains of the others, "There are customs," she said, her tongue coming to groom out her paw, passing over her markings, "The tattoos, the names... I'm unsure if I've told you, but I'm actually pure white. The markings you see are tattoos. There's a custom that every member bears his or her life, detailed in the markings upon their body," she placed her paw down again, her eyes looking up, "And the name. My name is Tsi'hilu Waya; it tells you my name and my clan."
As she spoke those last few words, her eyes grew sad; it was hard to miss, "Right now only one clan remains, but see, I'm 'waya', I'm from the wolf clan. it was very small; just my parents, my brother and myself in it. But they're no longer here. I was adopted into the Sky clan," the bangs that were still plastered over her forehead bothered her, and swiftly, she moved her paw over them, sliding them back, making them look awkward, yet she didn't seem to care, "Each clan is lead usually by a female; my mother was the Wolf clan leader. I was meant to be it's leader once she passed away; the Ela also believe that those few lions born pure white are cloud marked by the gods themselves. They are cherished specially," she smiled at Nyota then, almost blissfully before she padded the earth beside her, motioning to come forth, "My mother charished me especially because I'm cloud marked. I'm pure white. I think, right now, I am the only cloud marked ela."
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:11 am
"I was at the sea," He responded, then dipped himself under the water again. This lake had some deep parts and seemed to be free of predators--at least those that he could see. Still, it was good to get himself up upon the shore as quickly as possible. He shook himself free of water a good distance from her, and when he was done joined her where she laid. "A great, huge body of water that's full of salt and stretches out to the horizon. Salt even clings to the air, there, and makes it impossible to get rid of no matter how often you bathe yourself."
He groomed his paws and thought for a moment, trying not to wrinkle his nose at the over abundance of salt there. It would take a long time to rid himself of this, he thought, for he was so sick of the stuff he could hardly stand to do this. Only his insistence of being clean at all times kept him strong in doing it. "The wolf clan?" He pondered that. Oh, he knew what wolves were, surely enough. It seemed odd, in a way, to name a clan of lions after such, but at the same time... not as odd as some things he'd seen in the past. Nyota chuckled lowly at himself, considering once against his daughter's willingness to accept that which Hadithi had laid out for her. Oh, he'd seen the truth in those insipid blue eyes of Hadithi's. In fact, he thought he knew why Misae liked it so well upon that shore, though she did not. The things one would accept for....
"It would take a long time to learn to read these tattoos, I think," he turned his head to look at them, running his eyes over the lines and swirls made in the lines. It was an interesting design, more interesting yet that it didn't run with water or saliva. Leaning in, he took a brave chance in first nuzzling her shoulder blade the grooming down the fur on the back of her neck. He did this lazily, so long as she didn't push him away or otherwise react negatively, and let his eyes slip half closed as he did. A part of him wanted to continue on like that, down her back, but he pulled away, "I can see why your mother would cherish you, white coat or not... but the mark of the Gods suits you, I think. Though, the tattoos make for pleasant decoration."
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 9:41 am
"Mmhhmm!" it was a rumbled reply to his query, the lioness' purr have simmered down to a pleasant sound that was barely even heard as she continued, "Wolf clan; my name means Silent wolf, actually. Each clan's member takes on a name related to it upon birth, or in a rogue's case, upon joining- here let me," the last three words seemed to have cut off her explanation as she edged nearer; she'd seen him wincing at the salt as he licked away, and for some reason beyond her it bubbled a need to groom him herself, "I don't mind the salt," she explained without shame as sh groomed his neck and mane.
Truthfully, it was quote possible the poor female had no idea that her intrusion upon his person could have been deemed was... well, intrusive for one, and rude for another. In her mind, he needed cleaning, and thus, clean him she would, if he could not tolerate the salt; it was all very logical, as far as she was concerned, "Let's see," she breathed between licks, "There's the Sky clan, the Earth clan, the Wolf clan, and I've heard rumours the Shadow clan is actually still about," reaching a particular not in his mane, the female sunk her maw in it and worked it out, only leaning away from it once please, "I ignore if it's true ela blood, or rogues; either way is fine. The rest of us however, remain in the Sky clan. We've not got number enough to split into clans of old; life is good despite this. I even have my own shadow image of a twin," pleased with his mane, she moved down to his shoulder and back, and once pleased with that, she lay her head there, pondering, like she would have, had Nyota been Taika. The touch was chaste, innocent, "I met her when I joined them; she's pure black. They say that if I'm an angel, she's a little devil. She was the troublemaker, I was the peacemaker."
Not only that, but at the time, Wally had been the lioness of her age; in fact, till the cubs had been born, Tsi and Wally had been the youngest ones, "My mother was cloud marked too," her throat rumbled where it lay on his back, her eyes focusing to peek at him from her perch, "My mother was... perhaps a bit obsessive; she ignored my older brother in my favour a lot. I made me a bit silent in my need to blend in, and my brother a tornado of a child in his need to be notice," she offered him a smile again, "That's why my name is Silent wolf; I was very quiet when young... I've grown out of it, as you can see."
Looking down at her tattoos, the female wrinkled her nose in thought, "Some of them do it better than I do," she chuckled, however, it died slowly he leaned in to nuzzle her, her brows knitting only briefly; not in a frown, but rather, almost as if she were deep in thought, or perhaps concentrating on the feel of him against her. There was only one thought that crossed her mind then; it was different. She'd been acting almost as if Nyota were Taika, and suddenly she'd realised, in just a flash of a second that it was in fact, different. The contact was different, and the small electric shocks that ran down her body as he reached in to groom more sensitive places was in fact, nothing like Taika had ever done. It was, all in all, different, but not uncomfortable. Watching him pull away, the frown did finally appear over her features; it was strange however, for her features remain soft despite it.
It was only after a moment's thought, a brief pause that the lioness tilted her head to one side. There was hesitation in her eyes, however, she opened her maw to talk, "Why did you stop?" the words were not even voiced, but rather, whispered so softly they barely came out of her maw, instead mouthed almost silently.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:06 am
Nyota soaked in the information given to him as she groomed him. That was something no one had done to him since he was small, save a few licks from Misae. That had been ... well no, this was still nearly the same. Tsi was innocent in a way he hadn't seen in awhile, an innocence he wasn't desperate to destroy. In fact, he rather felt like protecting it. And so, he kept himself still and listening as she worked on his coat for him, grateful for her to do so.
When he'd had his turn and she'd asked him why, he blinked. That had been unexpected--indeed, he'd more thought she'd continue her slow commentary on her pride. More surprising yet was the tone. Oh, that didn't help him--he was a gentleman for certain, but still male. "I shant then," He knew he shouldn't continue, but he leaned in to do so instead. Slowly, deliberately he groomed down her shoulders and between the shoulder blades. For awhile he was silent, more caught up in this task than any studying he likely should have been doing.
"Well, it should make sense, should it not?" he asked, words slow as he asked them between laps at her fur, "That as the should-have-been leaders take mates, their families would re-create the other clans. Until that happens, the sky clan, as largest, would rule." It made sense to him, but he was an outsider and did not know how their system worked. "I would be asked to take a new name?"
That didn't really bother him--he wasn't exceptionally attached to his name as it was. It was relics of a time that, he supposed, he would now put behind him. Actually, it would be better to put such things behind him--especially if he were joining a pride. His preconceptions of how a male joined into one were brutal, at best, and not something that Tsi nor anyone else here was likely to appreciate. These prides were much more innocent than the one his mother had come from, and her ways had long since proven to be old fashioned by the thoughts of those around him.
This didn't matter, though. No, all that mattered right now was the warm body pressed against him, wanting his intentions. Nyota had to continue to remind himself that Tsi was far more innocent than he, but couldn't stop a few passionate nips along her shoulders and spine as he worked at her fur. If Taika had been there she would have kicked him.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 10:38 am
"What?" it was almost as if the female had been awaken from a reverie; as if she'd not really been there listening to him, but rather, someplace else. So thus, his voice was unexpected, and Tsi'hilu had to force herself to understand what he'd just said. It was hard though; she was finding it exceedingly difficult to think while he was grooming her, and had long since lost the battle with her brain. She'd switched it off, per say, and had lay with closed eyes, soaking in sensation after sensation, "What makes sense?" forcing her eyes open, the lioness backpedaled in an attempt to make sense of the words, however to no avail.
As he explained further she made a small 'o' motion with her mouth, breathing the word silently, "Uhm," she swallowed slightly, eyes blinking back some sort of haze that seemed to be seeping into them, "Yes and no; you'd only be asked... to take in the last name of the clan. If you take part of the sky clan, you'd take that last name... if you form part of the wolf, for example, you'd just on the 'Waya' at the end of your name?" it was amusing to note that she'd ended the statement as a question, as if she weren't truly sure just what she was talking about. It had more to do with his grooming than her knowledge however, that much was clear, "But you could adopt a full name... the easiest way to adopt it is by mating into the clan, but rogues can enter even without such a feat. They have to ask permission and join a ceremony; a naming ceremo..."
Her words had died even before they left her throat. She could not help it. The only conclusion she'd reached was that this was indeed different.
A gasp for breath and then the small lioness curled herself up and hid against Nyota's body, a response to his nipping. Her form was small, even for an Ela'wadiyi lioness; their breed was the smallest of the lions by far, which made it easy for the white form to practically hide against the larger male's brown one till she'd almost disappeared.
She was not distressed, or even scared, as the movement might have indicated; in fact, she'd suddenly felt the need to press against him as far as she could almost as if in an attempt to merge herself with him. Confusion did seep into her eyes, followed by other emotions as she hid her head against his chest and under his chin, but she didn't seem distressed. A moment flew by, her features changing from thoughtful to confused, several times over and then she decided that perhaps, just perhaps, she needed to test something; she was a silent wolf. Perhaps it was time to take after her name sake again, if only for a few moments, to test something out.
The hesitation remain, if barely as she pulled her head from under his chin, looking up at him with wide eyes; there was innocence ringing in them, but at the same time, there was some strange sort of realisation. Leaning in, she had to sit up slightly to place her cheek against him, her maw reaching his ear, "I missed you," the words were once more whispered so softly that there would've been no way for him to hear them had she not breathed them in the lion's ear, and when she pulled away, her maw dipped to groom the curve of his neck. This time, however, the ministrations were different, as if she were seeking a particular spot, or as if she were testing what she was doing.
It was different. That she knew. What she wanted to know, was why. There was an inkling of a notion in her mind (After all, though innocent there was no way she could deny what a larger male form would do to her this close; she felt protected), but she wanted to know further, "Why?" there was no actual question; she wasn't expecting a definite answer as she nipped his neck, grooming the section she'd 'attacked' before pulling away, her head tilting, her expression solemn.
Why is the world spinning?
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:01 am
A lesser lion would have taken advantage of this. Hell, most other lions still would have taken advantage of this. Nyota had to remind himself that he was a gentleman. He'd worked for years to gain the self control and poise he'd come to use as naturally as breathing and to lose that now would be to lose a great deal of respect for himself. Beyond that.. this was not the time, nor place. The innocence he could see in her face, as well as the confusion, struck that home when their eyes had met.
For a good while he'd been in danger of losing himself to this. It was all he could do to stop from rising from his seat and... that wasn't a path to even tread upon, he decided, as one of his paws twitched to do so. He nipped the back of her neck one last time, then pulled away enough to press their foreheads together. Though he loved the attention to his neck, it would be better for that not to happen--not right now. He nuzzled their foreheads together instead, licking her maw once in answer to her question, then drug his cheek against hers. In her ear he couldn't help a soft whisper, "Why do you think I came back?"
He wasn't interested in the pride for the sake of the pride. Far from the truth, really; he didn't give two cents about the pride. No, this was what he wanted, right here with him on their rock. He wanted Tsi and from what he could tell.. he was going to have her. Perhaps it wasn't right to view her as a possession, but though the thoughts sounded possessive, he knew he would give of himself in equal to what he took from her. Such were relationships, he thought. It was the way that things worked with him and Misae, and this was different but.. all relationships functioned the same way.
Rather than allow her to question it aloud, he went ahead and answered himself after a long moment, "I came back... for you."
Moving to look back into her eyes, green on green, he spoke slowly so that he could think and chose the right words as he said them. This wasn't something he wanted to smudge, "You don't have to say anything to that now... indeed, it might be best that you don't. But I can't, in good conscience, stay without speaking truthfully to you of my intentions. I want this as my home, not for the land or the pride, but for the fact that it holds your loyalty, and I won't ask you to come away from it. I've never met another like you, and I know I shall never again."
For a moment he paused, tails shifting sligtly uncomfortably. He'd never been one for expressing his own emotions, but Misae's advice came back from before. "When I was away at the shore, I saw your face in the moon... I knew then where I wanted to be, and so here I am. I'm in love with you, Tsi."
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Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:00 pm
It was after that last n**, into which the petite lioness had arched, allowing something resembling both a mewl and a growl to escape her maw, that she decided that not only was this different, but it was bloody well welcomed, thank you very much.
And then... he stopped.
The lioness closed her eyes tight, reaching up to rub a front paw against them in an attempt to rid herself of whatever haze was marring them. It didn't help though, nor did the fact she could still somewhat feel little electrical shocks from where he'd been nipping at her, rushing through her body, making her restless enough she was sinking her claws into the ground and retracting them in turn; sinking and retracting, sinking and retracting. Once her eyes opened, darkened with a feeling she couldn't quite place, she found herself staring into his piercing orbs, his forehead against hers, and her words died in her throat.
Despite the questions in her mind, Tsi'hilu found herself unable to utter a single word; they all died out before she was even able to open her maw. And so, even as she opened her maw to try to talk, she snapped it right on shut at his request, blinking slightly up at him with wide eyes.
Came back for me.
Came back... for ME.
No one had ever come back for her. Wasn't that the whole reason why she'd been alone her whole cub-hood? Because no one had come back for her? And yet, here was Nyota, telling her HE had come back for HER. All other thoughts died in her mind, his voice resounding with that simple phrase within it, echoing, and she closed her eyes and tears slipped out silently as she wept. It wasn't out of sadness; far from it. In fact, those few words, were the sweetest, deepest thing anyone had ever told her before. Something as simple as that, and there was nothing the petite lioness could do to keep the tears from flowing.
There were no sobs, and no gasping for air; the tears fell silently from her eyes, even as she opened them to watch as he spoke. She found it rather hard to listen to what he was saying; she was vaguely aware she was concentrating on the movement of his jaw as they worked the words... the movement of his throat as he swallowed, but none of what he said hit home. Until his last few words.
"I'm in love with you, Tsi."
Contact. She needed contact.
And thus without a second thought, the female squirmed free from his forehead and dove in to cling to his body, her face buried under his chin as she rubbed her head there, over and over again. She clung to him, gripped onto his form almost as if scared he'd vanish if she didn't, and then... she cried silently, because words escaped her. She tried to purr, and smile, and sob, and cry and everything at the same time, so happy was she. But she was doing a poor job at it, needless to say and instead must've reminded him of a lost child.
Did she love him? She knew she did. But did she love him like THAT? She wasn't sure, but right now her mind wasn't cooperating and instead settled for the feel of his body against her as she moved her head and neck against him. She never figured she was, in fact, answering him already, in a more primal way than words could've offered.
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Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:21 pm
He'd made her cry. That was the first thought that really registered to him, though he had an inkling that it wasn't of sadness. No, she'd thrown herself against him and.. well that wasn't something someone did when you'd hurt them. Nyota felt his heart lurch in his chest even as he folded his chin over her neck and held him to her as best as a four-legged beast could hold another. Her tears had cooled the last of the remaining passion there, at least, and he could hold her without worry of losing his control.
The second thought that registered was disappointment. Oh, he'd never expected her to confess a love in return, at least not right away--or had he? If he were honest with himself, he hadn't expected it, no... but he had hoped. That hope was foolish, he knew very well, and so he nuzzled her shoulders as she shook against him and hoped that things would go well between them after this. Nyota wasn't one to give up easily, and even were she absent from his presence a few days, or nervous when she saw him he would not be turned away. Not until she asked him to go, at least.
The logical side of him supplied that she hadn't run away, which could only be a good sign. At least, he hoped it was. Hoping wasn't something that he was used to, either; the situation either was or wasn't and he didn't care what came next, he'd just deal with it. For the first time he realized he wasn't sure what he would do if she rejected him. That thought struck him out of the blue, and stabbed him with fear simultaneously.
Could he stay, even if she turned him down? He thought, perhaps he could. She didn't have to return his feelings, he thought, so long as she was happy with however he chose. Oh no, Nyota wasn't so selfless as that--he would be happy that she was happy... but he also wouldn't stay. He knew perfectly well that he wouldn't stay, for he was never one to hurt himself in anyway. And, yes, that rejection would hurt.
But it hadn't happened, he reminded himself and nuzzled Tsi's neck possessively. And if he had his way, it wouldn't...
For now, though. For now she could cry herself out and he would protect her. No matter what, he wasn't about to leave her side until she was ready to be apart from him for a moment. Keeping with that, Nyota snuggled himself against her side and settled in for the wait.
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Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:22 pm
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