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There was something about being recognized as a warrior that made Hawnu strut a bit more than being known as a the son of the current rulers. While being related to the rulers was nice, it really didn't mean anything now that he was an adult. Hawnu wanted to impress his family and his pride with his strength and power, and being a warrior was just the thing for that.

He wanted to protect his family and those who lived in these woods with every fiber of his being. He used to have a bit of a troublemaker in his youth, but he had grown out of that and it had been replaced with a fierce desire to fight and prove his worth. He didn't want his royal blood to determine his importance. Even if he had been born to a normal mother and father, he would have wanted to rise to the top. And he had! Hawnu was well-known through the pride for his mischievous streak when he was younger, so now he impressed the older lions with his strength and loyalty.

There was one weakness for the large, lanky lion, and that was a pretty face. There were many females who spoke to him and he found himself tripping over his words, even if they weren't being flirtatious. It was a beautiful thing to find a soulmate, and as a big, strong lion he would be expected to make big, strong cubs. That would be hard, though, with his 'suave' way with the females.

Ah well...maybe he could fight off a rouge and impress someone and not have to talk to her ever. That would work, right?

Hawnu, impressive at fighting as he was, still needed to keep his eyes and ears peeled in this, his safest place. To him, he was invincible in his home forest, walking among the trees like a shadow. But even shadows bumped in to one another, as he did with something that snuck up behind him. Real shadows would simply pass through each other and continue, but when he was touched, Hawnu's hackles raised and he turned quickly, teeth bared. No one in the pride that should be there would be moving so silently. It must be an intruder!

But as soon as he caught sight of the white female, he froze. She was certainly from this pride, and he felt his heart hammer in his chest, caught by the surprised look on her face as well as her beauty. White fur was considered rare here, a sign of purity and light, and while he had seen a few with white pelts before, none were as beautiful as she.

"I see you, sister," he stammered, the formal greeting coming to save his hide as he bowed his head. He focused on his toes instead of hers, this helping to clear his mind. "I'm sorry if I startled you...I didn't hear your approach." Nor had she heard his, apparently.

"Yes, of course," he said, lifting his head after a moment. Anything the lady wanted to keep her from talking to him again! But something strange stirred in Hawnu's chest, and he found himself wanting to talk to her. She was pretty, of course, but there was just...something that kept his attention on her rather than on his toes, as would be the case normally.

"I'm sorry," he said again, trying to find the proper words to say. "I don't seem to know your face. I'm rather bad at knowing those in the pride." There were plenty who knew who he was, but names and faces had always been a bit hard for him to piece together. He'd certainly never seen her before and, the thought struck him, maybe she didn't recognize him either.

"I'm Hawnu," he added with a very, very weak smile, his voice faltering just a bit. Show him a huge predator attacking his family and he was a vicious beast, unstoppable by any force of nature. Show him a pretty lioness and he was as docile as a lamb.

Hawnu's ears perked up as the lioness said she knew who he was. He shouldn't be surprised, really, but in this case he was glad his reputation preceded him. It was always nice to be known, and at the same time it was nice not to be bowed to excessively. Once upon greeting was more than enough, considering he himself did it as well.

"Oh...no, it's no secret. But I feel as though I should be known for what I strove to become, rather than what I was born as," he said, lifting his head a bit higher and speaking more clearly. When he spoke of his passions his shyness left him and his confident, cocky attitude returned. "There are some who would use the title of prince as an excuse to grow fat and lazy with their lives. I see it as a title to be rid of and replaced with something I earned."

His confidence back, he turned his attention back to the female as she gave her name. He tilted his head just a bit, frowning as he thought. The name did sound familiar...but, as was his curse, his shyness around females kept him far away from their gossip circles and he had only heard the name once or twice in passing, never a reason why it was being said behind it.

"That is a very lovely name," he said, trying to keep up his confidence. "Fitting of a lovely lioness and nothing more."

Hawnu nodded very slightly, happy with his lot in life. Having been born a male he'd never inherit the title of ruler, and he was fine with that. He didn't like telling people what to do, he liked being able to settle disputes by raking his claws over someone's face to prove he was right. Words didn't come to him easily, but he did try!

The thank you made him nod again, but the little nuzzle of a kiss threw him for a loop. He sat down heavily, a rather ungraceful move for a lion of his size and precision in movement, his golden eyes a bit dazed. Oh dear...how was he supposed to react to that? She kissed him! It had been a quick, sweet thing, one might give to any pride member...but she kissed him! No one had done that before!

"You...um..." Hawnu swallowed heavily before trying again. "Kiss. Nice. Oh gods," he groaned, turning away from Mtoto in embarrassment.

Hawnu found himself face to face with Mtoto again, her smile and slightly pink cheeks making his own face heat up in embarrassment. Thankfully he had black fur, so it was impossible to tell. Her words made him look away, but just with a turn of his head rather than his whole body.

"Don't apologize...I'm just...it surprised me," he said a bit gruffly, trying to get his pounding heart under control. She liked him? Like...on, you're cute, here's a kiss? That must be what she meant. They had just met, after all! But the way she said those words and the way he wanted to give her one in return made him nervous. He had heard of soulmates before, of course, but he hadn't given it any real consideration.

Clearing his throat, he sat up a bit straighter, although he was still shifting from paw to paw. "So. It's okay. I'm just not the best at things like that."

Hawnu kneaded the ground slightly in a nervous habit that cats of any size never really stop doing. He kept his eyes on Mtoto, although he didn't really make eye contact, rather he'd stare at her shoulder, or just beside her head, or at her nose. It was a little trick he'd picked up over the years of dealing with pretty ladies. Some of the lionesses he spoke with enough so that he was used to them, but new lionesses always caught him off guard. And if they were as pretty and as magnetic as Mtoto was...well. He was a lost cause.

She didn't seem to mind his stumbling way of speaking, though. He gave her a grim grin, rolling his eyes at himself. "Oh yes. Impress the ladies." He did a good job at that by letting his tales of conquest and victory pave the way before him, so all he had to do was walk that nice, clean road. The lionesses would swoon on their own. But when they stopped to talk to him, Hawnu was lost.

"I get better," he said slightly defensively after a moment, keeping his head high. That much was true. With Mtoto it might take some time to be completely normal around her, but already he was showing signs of improvement. He wasn't stammering quite as much and he could look at her body rather than avert his eyes completely. Perhaps it was that draw she had...something that made him want to keep talking to her, to impress her, to show off and make her want to stay, too.

"So," he said quickly, trying to change the subject. "Why were you trying to get around without being seen?"