[PRP] Passing By

[mouselet]

It was, Hashiel decided, a good thing that he liked kids. Between his duties as a Nanny and his own brood, he had kids all over him all day long. And to think he and Adivyta had kids! Oh sure, it was old news, but the fact that leopons were only rarely fertile...it was something of a miracle. Between them and his love for his mate, Hashiel could almost forget about the twinges in his muscles, the coughs stuck in his throat...

Hashiel knew for a fact by this time that he had the disease, but the leopon was unwilling to alert his loved ones to his predicament. At the sound of footsteps which didn't match up to his pace, the male looked up to see a lioness walking nearby, and a familiar looking one at that.

"Duchess Eione! Good day!" he called out.  

[mouselet]

The leopon laughed aloud at the lioness' pause. Her expression and greeting certainly made it clear that she knew about him, even if they'd never actually spoken before. And she had probably hesitated for lack of knowing which twin he was.

"Hashiel, m'lady," he filled in for her with a smile. Nowadays the leopon didn't mind enlightening those who couldn't tell him from Shulinav, and reflected on the days when he'd tried to look just like his brother with nostalgia.

"Oh, I'm fine. Just on my way home from someone else's den," he continued. The male wasn't really ready to admit how strong the disease was. But as the Duchess was also a Healer, she probably knew that he'd been showing signs nearly all his life.  

[mouselet]

The leopon smiled again as he reflected on the day he'd had. All cubs and juveniles seemed to have a talent for knowing just where to stick their noses in order to cause maximum chaos. So just about every day was a different set of messes, problems and chaos.

"Oh, sure it's good to see kids acting like kids and generally causing chaos for the rest of us," he replied. Eione seemed like the kind of lioness who would make a good mother, in his opinion, but he was certain that the Matron and Matchmakers were already hinting as much to her.

"What about you?"  

[mouselet]

"Oh?" Hashiel was intrigued as he didn't know too much about the Duchess personally. He knew that she was a Healer, but not much more than that. She certainly seemed to be a nice lioness, and he'd heard a rumor of a potential mate that had been seen around.

"I suppose busy is good for you," he continued after a few moments. He left the rest unsaid.  

[mouselet]

"Do I?" Hashiel seemed surprised by the question. He had to consider it seriously, biting back an instant denial. If there was anything his mother had taught him, it was to never lie to a Healer. Saskiranel had told him that she couldn't be that upset with him for lying to her about his health, but he should never ever lie to a Healer. Not in this pride.

"Not at the moment," the leopon answered after he'd given the matter some thought. Various aches and twinges, a nagging coughlike feeling, none of these were new and none of them should be much to worry about...yet. If something did get worse, he knew to go find one of the Healers and tell them. He wasn't stupid!  

[mouselet]

The leopon gave another smile and nodded in acceptance of the lioness' response. He had the feeling that she understood him perfectly. But he knew he wasn't that badly off yet. And he wouldn't subject himself to another round of examinations and testing when he could be home with his children.

At least, not yet. Nothing was that urgent. Yet.