Therese had been looking forward to taking a few hours off. She’d made plans to meet up with Kisukari in her free time. It’d be nice to have some girl time. The lioness had been very giggly of late, but wouldn’t explain why. Therese had eventually just shrugged it off as “something girly” that others did. She hoped she wouldn’t be taken by it whatever they did today.
The white lioness had arranged to meet Kisu in a common area since the other lioness didn’t know where she lived yet. Therese made a note to show her so she could stop by if she wanted to. She stood around waiting for Kisu to show up.
The last two days had been warm and pleasant. Ashta had been taking the bedding furs and rugs out to air in the bright sunshine. With practiced paws he beat the dust out of them on the first day. There was quite a bit of dust in all those rugs. He’d had to take them quite far away so the dust didn’t blow into any dens to beat them. Today he was making sure they got as much sun and fresh air as they could. All morning he’d been arranging and laying them out to his liking.
The white male lay unsuspecting outside his master’s den. Resting and watching the furs so no unscrupulously types would think they could steal them. Maybe he couldn’t stop anyone if they wanted to steal them, but he sure as hell would tell his master exactly who had stolen his furs. Ashta felt a slight smirk barely cross his lips. Oh yes, anyone on the wrong side of his master would soon regret it.
Kisukari was awfully proud of her plan, she just needed to make sure it all came together. She hadn’t told Bousvor what her plan was, though she was sure he knew she was up to something because she had been giggly for days since devising it. She had left the cubs playing by the dens while she went out to visit Therese. They would be fine without her for a while, but she would have to rush back to them – the perfect excuse to leave the duo alone together. She giggled to herself as she approached the common area.
“Therese darling!” she called out cheerfully. She was very fond of the other thrall, feeling rather responsible for her and enjoying the companionship she brought also. “I’m so glad you could get away. I am just dying for a walk, come!” She said, encouraging the female to follow her, eager to head towards the familiar den that was only a short walk from where they were meeting.
It didn’t take long for her friend to show up, else she would have gotten impatient. Therese turned as Kisu called her name. “There you are! I was worried your master had found a task for you, or your cubs had woken from their nap.” She smiled. Not that she’d truly been worried, but it didn’t hurt to say so. Their time together had allowed her to feel much more comfortable around the older thrall.
“A walk?” The lioness looked baffled a moment, her tone just a touch disappointed. She’d gotten some time off just to go for a walk? Well whatever. After a moment’s reluctance, Therese followed. Time with Kisu was still time with Kisu, no matter how they spent it. “Where did you have in mind to go?” Maybe they’d go to the edges of the pride. Her master never took her out viking.
Ashta thought he’d well and true enjoy today. His sole purpose was to lay out here and guard his master’s furs. Although he might appear to be lazing or drowsing in the sun, he was completely on the alert anytime paw steps sounded near his area. With practiced ease he could watch others passing by without appearing to. He was a master at it. Several sets of toes passed by without incident.
“Oh no,” she assured her friend with a warm smile. “Bousvor is off…somewhere.” She waved a dismissive paw. She should probably keep better track of him, but he came back to the den every night (except for when he was out on Vikings), and so that was all that really matter. After all, if he died, she would have to put up with some other smelly viking and that sounded horrible.
“Don’t sound so disappointed Therese,” Kisukari giggled at the younger thrall. “I’m sure the walk will be…enlightening.” She beamed. “I have just the place in mind.” She said, her paws determinedly heading towards Ashta’s den. She knew she would have been told off for her meddling, had she told anyone her plan, but she was sure that Astha and Therese would thank her for it later. They were going to make such a cute pair! “How has your master been?” She asked Therese, chatting to pass the time as they drew closer to the den. “I do hope he doesn’t mind me stealing you away for a little while!”
Dens passed by, but they weren’t the ones she was after. She spotted the male lazing in the sun by his den and couldn’t help but grin as they drew closer.
”Again? Left you beh…. Well you do have the cubs to think of. How are they doing by the way?” Belatedly she realized she’d forgotten to ask about the litter. Deep down she worried what the other members of the pride would think about the malformed cubs. Would they order they be left in the rogue lands to die? She didn’t think Kisu, and hoped Bousvor, wouldn’t allow that to happen.
“Sorry,” she replied guiltily. Therese knew her friend was being kind by spending time with her when she could be caring for the cubs. “He’s fine.” There wasn’t much else she could say. Therese felt the following silence wasn’t going to be awkward. Thankfully it wasn’t. “Oh I’m caught up on my chores so he didn’t mind.” They passed dens that she wasn’t familiar with. Clearly she needed to explore more.
The sound of more paws hitting the ground and a familiar voice brought his head up. Ashta gazed at the brown toes he recognized and called out a greeting as the brown female passed. “Greetings Kisukari. What are you doing out here and not with your cubs?”
Then a set of black and white paws traveling with the brown caught his attention. For a moment he was speechless as the white lioness came into view. She was nearly all white with only a few black markings. Ashta struggled to keep his jaw from hitting the ground.
“The cubs are doing well,” Kisukari said cheerfully. She didn’t like to think of her cubs as malformed, they were her perfect angels, and so she rarely thought of how the rest of the pride would view them. She would fight to make sure they had a healthy upbringing and knew they were loved by her, always. “Growing like little weeds!” She giggled.
She was so excited when Ashta called out a greeting to her, waiting to see his reaction to Therese, and it certainly did not disappoint. “Oh Ashta!” She greeted warmly, “hullo, I forgot you lived around here.” She could barely withhold her smile. “The cubs are resting and so I am just taking a walk with my good friend Therese. Have you two met before? Therese, this is Astha, thrall of Phosphor and Astha, this is Therese, thrall of Ensis.” She watched the duo expectantly, not sure what was to happen but sure that sparks would fly. How could they not? They were perfect together, or so Kisukari had decided.
Therese was pleased to hear the cubs where thriving. It showed Kisu was a good mother who loved her cubs dearly no matter what they looked like. “I’m glad! When they start eating meat, you are going to have your paws full though. If you need a little extra help feeing them, let me know. I’m sure my master wouldn’t mind too much.” Her tone saying she would help even if her master did mind.
When a male from a nearby den called out to her friend she stopped surprised. Why it surprised her, Therese couldn’t say. Obviously Kisukari would have other friends in the pride. She eyed the male. He was nearly all white. His posture though suggested he was very timid, and he never seemed to raise his eyes to meet hers much less higher than her ankles.
”My master does,” he mumbled. If Phosphor wanted to move, so would he. His fur felt hot for the first time that morning as the white lioness, introduced as Therese, stared at him. He glanced away, uncomfortable; her sharp eyed stare and her white coat throwing him off balance metamorphicly.
“N-nice to meet you,” he mumbled again. Ashta was determined to not raise his eyes any higher than their ankles! With any luck they’d just pass on by and go do whatever it was girls did. He had absolutely no clue what to do with these strange feelings that were popping up!
“Thank you,” Kisukari said to Therese at her offer to help hunt, honestly touched by the offer. She knew that feeding seven mouths would be hard, and she had honestly been worried about what would happen when that time came. She knew Bousvor would help a little, but it was her job to provide for him, not the other way around. Her pride barely let her ask him for help now when her body was still rather exhausted from pregnancy.
Kisukari couldn’t help but pout a little at the rather lack-lustre response between the pair. Ashta wouldn’t even raise his eyes – though that was nothing new to Kisukari at least. Still, what if Therese thought him rude? “Therese is such a sweetie, she’s offered to help me with the cubs when I need to hunt for them,” Kisukari gushed, smiling at Therese warmly. “Ashta knew me before I got pregnant. I am afraid he saw me in one of my temper tantrums.” She wouldn’t admit that it had been directly after she had seen Therese given away, not wanting to embaress the female by bringing it up.
She nodded briefly at the thanks. Her attention was quite focused on the white male. He seems so… timid and weak. Therese wasn’t sure she wanted to scorn him or sympathize with him. The way he wouldn’t lift his eyes though bothered her. Something was going on there. Something she felt she didn’t understand.
“Oh he did?” That didn’t really tell her much in truth. Therese hunted around for something to say. Anything. This moment was getting more and more awkward by the minute. Only Kisu seemed oblivious to it. “Would you like to come with us?” The lioness blurted out before she could think about it. Oh stupid! She wanted to get away from him, not spend more time with him!
He nodded. He’d heard the while lioness make the offer. “I could help too if you need it.” Ashta felt stupid making the same offer that had just been made by Therese. He wasn’t copying her really! Oh he really wish he was anywhere else but here right now. The white male pressed himself as close to the ground as could be. Wishing he could fade into it or hide under one of his master’s furs.
He coughed awkwardly at Therese’s question. Glancing side to side he thankfully spotted a graceful way out. “Can’t. Gotta watch the rugs.”
“Oh you’re both so sweet,” Kisukari gushed, and she was honestly touched. She knew Astha was feeling pretty awkward right now, but she was honoured that he would offer too. She had such lovely friends in the pride, she was surprised to find, and couldn’t wait for them to have cubs of their own. She was probably getting ahead of herself, but still, you could just feel the sparks between them. To anyone else, it would be awkwardness, but to Kisukari? They were sparks. She was oblivious to all else.
“Aww that’s a pity,” she mused as Ashta turned down the offer, disheartened before perking up again. “Oh, Therese, why don’t you keep Ashta company while he watches the rugs? I should probably head back to the cubs, make sure that they haven’t ruined the den before Bousvor gets home, or else there’ll be hell to pay.” She made it sound so dire, but really Bousvor would probably just get grumpy. Still, it was the perfect excuse to leave the duo alone. “I’m sorry to cut our walk so short, Therese darling, but you should call past the den tomorrow,” she said with a warm smile. She didn’t want Therese to think she didn’t want to spend time with her, she was just so busy matchmaking and she would only get in the way if she stayed.
Gratefully, relief came from the male when he politely declined the offer. Really what had possessed her?! Just as she was about to walk away, her friend pipped up. “What?!!!!” Therese stared at Kisu. Stay with him? To watch rugs no less! Her hackles rose a moment. Then she began to suspect something. Kusi giggling, and being too damn bubbly crowded her memory. She smelled a long dead kill.
Instead of turning angry, she let her fur relax on her shoulders and turned on the honey. “Of course dear. You shouldn’t be too long from your cubs! Stars know what they might be getting into. Off you go then. I don’t mind keeping him company on such a boring task.” She quickly shooed the other lioness off.
The sudden turn of events had completely baffled Ashta. He couldn’t see why Kisu would give up her walk and leave her friend here with him. His task wasn’t exactly exciting to anyone, except maybe him. At first he thought the beautiful female was going to refuse and stalk off. At least she’d be gone. There was no way a gorgeous lioness like her would want a male like him.
What was going on? The white male jerked as suddenly Therese was agreeing to stay. Now he was beyond confused! Females! Wisely though he kept his head down and left it to them to decide.
Kisukari had a feeling that Therese might have caught on to her plan, but she smiled none the less. “You’re so sweet, Therese,” she said to her friend and allowed herself to be shooed off. “’Have a good afternoon you two! It was so lovely to see you both!” She beamed to herself as she stalked off, honeslty a bit concerned having left her cubs for a while, but mostly just delighted at her own genius. They would be settled down and having cubs in no time!
-fin-
