Sakhr was still reeling from his meeting with the odd silver lion. He wasn't sure how someone could be so disassociated from reality, and he was very concerned for Alouette's welfare. He hadn't even been able to see her - and she was his cousin, and he'd promised that he'd look after her and he hadn't been able to do that, either. It was frustrating, scary, and kind of disappointing.
He wasn't looking forward to talking to Parmelia about it, that was for sure.
Sighing heavily, Sakhr made his way into the den he shared with his wife. She was there, waiting for him - of course - and her expression fell when she saw that he was alone. Without Alouette.
"She didn't come with you."
"No. I'm sorry, love. I wasn't even able to see her - and the lion I met wasn't a normal lion. I'm not sure what he was." Sakhr shook his head, clenched his jaw, and shot Parmelia an earnest look.
"Was it Daska?"
"It might have been? I can't remember if we ever exchanged names. I am almost certain they're all ******** crazy. Maybe coming here hadn't been the best idea." He sounded disappointed, upset with himself, a little angry. Most of all, he sounded sad.
Parmelia nuzzled his chin.
"I appreciate you trying, beloved. I could not ask for a better husband. And the truth of the matter is, if she is happy and content, well. So am I, I suppose. I just wanted to see if you would have better luck than I did."
"I didn't."
"Banish it from your thoughts, Sakhr. I am happy here. I will make new friends - like Runa - and Tasnim will be looked after, and … well, perhaps we can start a family."
Sakhr's eyes widened slightly.
"I feel like it's the right time, Sakhr."
"Well, I've always felt like it was the right time. Though, traveling with a herd of cubs would not have been the most comfortable way to migrate. So, perhaps you are right. Perhaps this is the right time." He looked a little sheepish.
Parmelia smiled.
"My family - my family lines - are rather large. I am used to a big family - just as you are, Sakhr. Do you remember? How big our families were?"
Sakhr chuckled and nuzzled his wife's cheek.
"How could I forget? I am certain I was related to more than half of the pride." He was silent for a brief moment. "I am glad we left. I am glad to be here, with only you as my wife."
Parmelia purred softly.
"Come show your wife, then, just how glad you are to be here with only her?"
Sakhr let out a gruff purr and grinned before carefully tackling his wife, spending the next stretch of time showing her just how glad he really and truly was.
--
"Do you think we'll make good parents?"
"Are you kidding me? You're going to make an amazing mother. And me, pff. I'm going to be the best dad that ever lived."
Sakhr's cocky statement had Parmelia laughing softly, nuzzling up close alongside him as they rested in the cool air of their den. He was ridiculous, but it was part of the reason she loved him. Always willing to make a fool out of himself in order to make her laugh. She was lucky to have him.
"I'm still worried about Tasnim. I do hope that she finds happiness in Runa's home, but I do not like the thought of her being a saltwife. It just seems so…" Parmelia grunted, "second best. Just like back home."
Sakhr was silent for a long time, brushing his paw through his wife's soft cheekfur.
"I think that we are all growing as adults. Finding our own happiness. I think that Tasnim will do fine in a home as a saltwife, in truth. She's always had that urge to please, to be a good banu - and she would have been a fine banu, just like she will make a fine saltwife." Sakhr fell silent for a moment, watching Parmelia's mismatched eyes for any hint of what she was thinking. She was so unreadable, his Parmelia, and this moment was no different.
"I suppose I just want everyone to have a love as grand as ours." She thought, briefly, of her own parents. They'd been happy, too, she supposed - but they'd also been happy sharing that love with her father's other wives. Parmelia frowned slightly, shaking her head before pressing her nose to Sakhr's gently stroking paw.
An impossible desire, she knew it, but Parmelia couldn't help the way she felt. The very thought of sharing Sakhr with another lioness had her feeling sick to her stomach. She couldn't tolerate the thought.
"Not everyone can be as lucky as we are, I guess, Parmelia. I think it should be enough that everyone is here, and safe, and fed. I promised that much, and I guess if I stop to think about it, I haven't really let anyone down. It bothers me that Alouette has found herself in the situation she's in - and Tasnim, too - but… they aren't being abused, mistreated… all in all, I guess we're not all doing too bad, are we?"
"When you put it that way…"
Sakhr laughed brightly. She was so full of sass and emotion and strength that he was amazed that he could call her his. It was a little awe-inspiring, when he really thought about it - and he thought about it a lot.
"I love you, Parmelia. I don't know if it's possible for me to love you more."
"Oh, stop."
"I do. I'm lucky to have you."
"You're being ridiculous, you know. But. You know I love you. You keep me grounded."
"I try."
"Shut your face." There was laughter in her voice.
Sakhr started laughing too. They could be so ridiculous sometimes. It was so easy to act a fool around her.
"Sleep now. You'll need your strength for later."
That sent Sakhr into another bout of laughter. It wasn't long until they slept, wrapped around one another, secure in the love that the other held.
Life was good.
WC: 1025
