"Well, now you're just being silly."
"I most certainly am not. I am not a silly lion."
"You're acting like a silly lion. Very convincingly, I might add."
"Well, I assure you that I am not, nor have I ever been, a silly lion."
Inara eyed Ojore as they walked, a dubious expression furrowing the line of her brow. She was certain he was being silly, but his tone of voice made her wonder otherwise. She'd known him since she was a cub. They were both middle-class, and while he'd been older than she was, well, Ojore was her preferred hunting partner.
Ojore was determined not to let Inara see the twinkle that gleamed in his eyes. He thought teasing her was absolutely the most hilarious thing, and it made time pass rather quickly while they were on the hunt. More often than not, though, his laughter frightened off prey beasts, and he had the feeling they would return to the pride empty-handed once more.
"So you're being serious when you say that if I eat a bird that's eaten a seed, a tree will grow out of my stomach?"
He almost snorted. Almost.
"Yes."
She really was so gullible. He thought it was adorable, but he'd never tell her that. Not yet, at least. Someday, perhaps. He hazarded a look in her direction and saw the completely puzzled look on her face, and suddenly she was stopping to press her paw against her stomach before casting him a worried look.
"Does it feel weird right here, Jore?"
Ojore almost lost it, but forced himself to keep it together. He paused alongside her and reached out with a broad paw.
"It kind of feels... lumpy."
Inara had thought it felt a little lumpy, too. "Probably just. You know. Probably just something normal."
Ojore nodded sagely.
"Yes, probably."
He immediately continued walking, because standing next to her and looking into her eyes was making it increasingly difficult to keep a straight face. Part of him couldn't believe that he'd gotten her to believe his utterly outlandish prank, but another part of him found her naivete utterly refreshing and entirely too adorable. There wasn't anyone else in the pride that believed him the way Inara did, and it didn't just happen now and again.
It happened on an almost daily basis.
"If a branch starts coming out of your mouth, I'll run for help."
Inara hurried after him, looking absolutely mortified. If there was a tree growing in her belly, how much time did she have left? Probably a long time. Trees didn't grow very fast. That made her feel a little better. Surely she'd have enough time to see her parents one last time, and her siblings too. It would be important to make sure they understood what was going on - if there was even a tree growing in her stomach right now.
Maybe they'd plant her somewhere nice. Somewhere the Great Lion's gaze would glint down on her favorably from the night sky.
Ojore could see the wheels churning in her mind. He always could. If anyone knew about the teasing, he had to wonder what they'd say. He doubted they'd make fun of her - which was good, because if they did Ojore had little doubt they'd come away with bruises and claw marks. Ojore had no claim on Inara - yet - but he was completely protective over the younger lioness.
"I should tell my parents."
"Tell them what?"
"That I might have a tree grow out of me. I want to be sure they'll plant me somewhere nice."
Ojore laughed, but quickly turned it into a rather hoarse sounding cough. He forced his expression into something far more serious than he was feeling. It really was a challenge in self-control. An exercise in self control. It was training. Yes, that was a nice way of thinking about it. Made it sound less funny. Training. Serious training.
"I'll make sure they plant you somewhere nice, Inara. If you even have a tree growing in you right now. Who knows, it's probably just something normal. You haven't been bitten by flies lately, have you?"
He watched her ears flicker.
Inara wrinkled her nose and flicked her ears. Flies? It was hard to say. She had an itchy spot on her back leg that might have been something caused by a fly, but then again maybe she was just worrying about stupid things.
"Why?"
"Well, that lumpy bit might just be fly worms."
Fly worms? He had no idea what he was talking about, but the expression on her face was worth it. He was almost starting to feel bad about how awful he was being. Almost.
"Fly worms?"
"When a fly bites you, they spit worms into you."
Inara's step faltered.
"They spit worms?"
"Yes, and then the worms gather together and make lumps."
"Lumps."
"Lumps. Maybe that's why you're so lumpy."
Inara wasn't sure what was worse, worms or a tree. Probably worms. She could have sworn she felt something squirming through her veins.
"I'm not feeling well."
"We're going back with empty paws again?"
Inara nodded. Everything on her insides was starting to feel a little squirmier, or maybe it was branchier. It really was hard to tell at this point.
"They won't let us come out to hunt if we keep coming back with no food."
"What if there's worms and a tree in me?"
It was at that point that Ojore burst into laughter, and it only took a few moments for Inara to realize that she'd been utterly and completely had.
"I knew you were fibbing!"
He was laughing too hard to answer her.
Inara made a frustrated sound, thumped him lightly with her paw, and marched off. She wasn't really mad at him, but she had to pretend that she was. He always laughed and followed after her - just as he did at that moment - and apologized.
"I'm sorry, Inara, I swear."
"No jokes tomorrow, Ojore, promise!"
He always did.
"No jokes, I swear."
Inara gave him a look.
"I swear!"
"Fine. I believe you. But I'm still going home."
There was no heat in her voice, and by the time he'd walked her back to her den, she was laughing at her own foolishness and he was laughing with her.
(wc: 1059)
