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 Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:33 am
 It was much later than he'd thought when Hashiel finally made it back to his mother's den. He and 'Divy hadn't spoken much after her surprising confession and his mind was all awhirl. The leopon literally hadn't been able to think of a single thing to say. Oh yes, he'd certainly enjoyed lying there, curled up with the younger leopon and oh the ideas and urges that were blossoming in his mind... ...but oh, what on earth did he do now? He hadn't the faintest idea what a male was supposed to do when a female said that she loved him. The boy was so preoccupied, he managed to trip over his own forefeet on his way into the den.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:37 am
 Saskiranel always slept lightly when she didn't know where all of her children were. Though they could hardly be considered "children" anymore, each of them having grown up into a fine adulthood. She was proud to have raised them, and even more pleased that none of them had truly shown signs of carrying the disease yet. Well, Hashiel and Shulinav did a bit, but nothing truly debilitating. It seemed their father's leopard blood had passed down some resistance to the plague. One of the benefits of mating outside one's own species, especially when one knew the disease afflicted only lions and those who had some lion blood. The lioness started awake at the unexpected sound outside. Picking her way through the slumbering leopons, she came to the mouth of the den where a familiar tangle of striped fur and white mane had fallen. The Guard sighed. "Hashiel, what are you doing at this time of night?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:40 am
That voice was guaranteed to get Hashiel's attention at any time of the day or night and he raised his head to meet his mother's gaze, green eyes to green eyes. She didn't seem too angry...yet. The leopon got to his feet and looked around sheepishly. It was late...but he wasn't sleepy yet and he couldn't think of a better person to talk to about his dilemma.
"I'm, uh, home?" he offered, knowing it was a poor attempt at any kind of excuse. "But Mom," the leopon pushed through his nervousness, "do you think we could go somewhere and talk?" He fidgeted under her gaze, waiting for her response and hoping it would be in the positive.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:42 am
The lioness blinked. He came home stupidly late and he wanted to talk? Something was certainly going on here and the Guard's eyes narrowed as her youngest son fidgeted before her. An adult in body, he was still an adolescent in so many ways. The Guard sighed and decided tomorrow was going to be an exceedingly long day. Even if she refused his request, she wouldn't get much more sleep tonight.
It was an old habit of hers, to sleep lightly and come completely awake once jarred. Then, of course, it was nearly impossible for her to fall asleep once more. So she might as well do something productive.
"Fine. This way, so we don't wake anyone else up," she told him at last.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:46 am
Hashiel's demeanor perked up as Saskiranel agreed to talk. His mother was a stern guardian, but she was still their mother and there when Hashiel and his siblings needed her. He'd hoped she wouldn't be too mad for him waking her up and this seemed quite promising.
The leopon followed his mother around the den to a place that was sheltered from the cool night breeze and where their voices wouldn't carry towards the other sleepers. He waited for the lioness to settle herself and when she gave him the look that said to spill it, he did.
"Well, um, you know 'Divy, right? She's a friend of my, a leopon in the pride, and we hang out a lot and talk a lot," the male realized he was rambling and shut his mouth nervously.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:48 am
No, Saskiranel did not know who this 'Divy was, but it was a telling sign, that the leopon (and really, were there that many in this pride?) was female. Hashiel was certainly the right age for love and the lioness couldn't think of anything else that would involve the opposite sex and make her son such a nervous wreck.
But as he trailed off and closed his mouth, she gave a small sigh. Wasn't that just like a boy? Not knowing his own mind about the subject and babbling about everything else that wasn't actually important?
"What about 'Divy, Hashiel?" she prompted at last when it became clear he was waiting for her to say something.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:51 am
"She...she said she loves me," Hashiel nearly whispered the words, still not totally certain he could believe them. Still completely unsure what he should do about it. Oh yes, the leopon was his best friend in the world, except maybe for Shulinav but sometimes you needed to get away from your twin and he never needed to get away from 'Divy, but he wasn't sure how to deal with this confession of love.
"What do I do, Mom?" he asked hoarsely.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:52 am
Saskiranel blinked in surprise. The girl had told Hashiel she loved him? And here she'd thought her son had a crush and was trying to ask how to tell the girl. But no, the claw was on the other foot and he was asking her for advice on how to deal with it. Oh, her idiot son.
"Well, do you love her?" Such a simple queston. But the most important one of all. And Sas needed to know this answer above all others before she gave any kind of sagely wisdom.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:54 am
The leopon stared at his mother. The simplest question in the world. Did he love 'Divy? He'd never been in love with anyone before, so he wasn't sure how it should feel. Oh sure, he loved Saskiranel, and his brothers and sister, but that wasn't the same. That was family. This was...this was the sort of love that created a new family, right?
Did he love her?
"She's...she's my best friend in the world," he mumbled. "I would do anything for her, she knows that."
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:59 am
It was only years of practice and training that kept Sas from slapping the boy across the nose. He was nearly oblivious! No wonder he was such an emotional mess right now! Well, it was a good thing he'd actually sought her out for advice instead of simply muddling around on his own. The lioness sent a prayer of thanks to the Goddess that She had seen fit to allow Sas to find out before things went sour due to Hashiel's ineptitude.
"No, she doesn't know that until you tell her, my son!" Saskiranel hissed at him. "You need to tell her you love her in return! Oh you may think she knows, and she may even suspect, but she won't know until the words come out of your mouth!"
The lioness breathed deeply, trying to calm herself. When she felt she could keep control of voice and body once more, she spoke again.
"Tomorrow, rather today, you will go find 'Divy. You will tell her you love her too or I will kick you out of this den with my own claws. And then once you've done that, bring her by and let me see her for myself."
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:03 am
His mother's sibilant remarks were like a slap in the face. Saskiranel only used that tone of voice when she was truly frustrated and Hashiel was frightened that she used it on him now.
"Y-yes, Mom," he agreed hastily. He had to tell her he loved her? Well, the leopon supposed it did make sense. And his mother would know best after all. She was a mother and had presumably gone through something like this with his father. (Which was very strange to think about and he forcefully pushed the thought aside.)
But then his eyes widened as he was given further instructions. He had to bring 'Divy here? To meet his mom? That was...also frightening. But he didn't want to be kicked out either. At least, not by claws. By this time the leopon knew that his mother did not make idle threats. And if it was somewhat absurd for her to be punishing a grown son, that didn't make the threat less real.
"Yes Mom," he agreed again, swallowing his nervousness with a gulp and a twitch of his tail.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:05 am
"Good." She was pleased that he had at least agree to do as she said. If he didn't see the reasoning yet, well, she hoped this 'Divy loved him despite that failing. If he was beginning to understand what she meant, so much the better.
"Unless if there's anything else you need to ask me, I'm off to sleep." The lioness got to her feet and eyed her son. There was a chance that she could manage a few more spans of sleep if she got back to it now. Of course knowing her son, it was even odds ithat he had some additional problem to bring to her attention.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 9:07 am
"No, nothing else." She'd given him quite a lot to think on, not to mention his assignments for the coming day. Hashiel heaved himself up and followed his mother back into the den.
Hopefully, she was right. Hopefully, she would like 'Divy. Hopefully 'Divy would like her. Hopefully he wasn't about to get himself verbally flayed in the morning.
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