Nkosazana was proud of her new home, proud of her new name, Sith, though only four living souls knew it. She had shed things like fear in exchange for an inner calm, a deadly calm. Her hunting skills had slowly increased and she considered herself a fair fighter, certainly not the best, but not for lack of trying. Yet despite all her newfound happiness something strange lingered within.
The demon who was so bound to her soul made her stomach tighten, her chest ache, and her skin feel aflame everytime she crossed paths and shared words with two very special males. It was as if she were oddly connected to them, somehow belonged to them. Yet she tried to rebel against the very idea, but she was weakening, and now she was at her weakest.
The tournament, it meant so much for the pride, for the future...but as much as it thrilled her she felt her insides tense and chill, not just one but two males she cared about would be fighting. Oh the fights might not be to the death, but...when demons were unleashed...
Her paws carried her towards Usare before her mind could even contemplate visiting him. The fight drew nearer...
Usare was pacing back and forth near the den that he shared with Amin, frowning slightly. He didn't understand... what their brother had done. -Why- he had done it. Iartuupe may not have been the best leader for the pride, but he HAD been the Aran'shale. And besides that... why the hell would Drathir suddenly want to follow Morifaer?
It confused him... made Usare feel just a bit lost, off-balance. Even though they had never been really close... he would have never thought ... Drathir would do something like this.
"Usare?" Zana moved closer, she was only bold because she felt familiar with the male, felt she owed it to him to be there. She was worried, for the first time in so long, she truly worried. Drathir's bloody battle had left her wondering not only it's purpose but the impact it would have on the entire family. Family had been so important to her, and it still was, she just wasn't sure where her family was among the pride. Who did she belong with now? She was as torn as her half black half white pelt, as conflicted as she had been when the voice of the demoness had first commanded her.
"It's almost time..." She murmured finally in reference to the tournament, yet she felt the time was coming for many other important things. She hesitated then, perhaps he needed this moment alone.
Usare jumped just slightly at the suddenly voice intruding on his thoughts. But once he realized who it was, he sighed softly. "Zana ... Sith," he breathed her name quietly. "Yes... it is, isn't it?" The young male definitely seemed distracted, lost in his own thoughts. It wasn't that he didn't welcome Zana's presense... he just ... didn't know what to do about any of this.
"Drathir's actions seem to have made many unstable...confused...it is worth thinking about..." She moved slightly closer and sighed softly sitting herself down slightly behind him. "Yet...not now, now you must focus Usare...I know this battle will be honorable, fair, but you could still be hurt if you don't watch yourself."
Her voice trembled slightly then, how silly now to be afraid for him, he was grown and knew perfectly well what to do. Still she was filled with unease and it showed in the straining of her muscles beneath her inky fur. Her ruby eyes darted over his form trying to see more then possible with mere eyesight.
Usare blinked at that, and focused on Zana a bit more. Was she... worried about him? Oh dear... Smiling faintly, Usare leaned a bit closer to the female and purred softly. "Zana. I've been in plenty of fights... I'll be fine." He -did- had old scars, and he should be able to wear all his armor-pieces as well. Not that any of that protected really vital areas, but it was still ... a sort of status indicator. And, he wasn't afraid of pain. Even if he did get hurt, things would still be all right.
She tried to smile then nipped his ear softly and sighed. "I know...I know you'll be alright, but still...you know I'll be watching with baited breath." They had all learned to fight, even she had trained and learned the demoness inside her rejoicing at a visible scar. Still Zana herself had enough vanity that she had carefully tended to her skin and no scars save one were visible unless one pushed her fur aside to see.
Still she could admire Usare's many battle marks, she raised a paw and placed it softly against a scar. Yes, he would be just fine, silly to worry...but the demoness inside her still felt tense. She wanted to-what was it? Protect him? Stand by him more likely, yes that was what she felt, annoyance that there was nothing she could do to help him. How incredibly illogical, Usare didn't need help, and certainly not hers. She slid her paw down off of him and looked up at him silently wondering if he felt anything at all...for her.
Usare tilted his head slightly when Zana put a paw on one of those scars of his. "I know you'll be watching," he replied softly. "And waiting for me, no matter what the outcome... right?" Blinking at her silence, he whuffed at her a bit and then bumped against her shoulder. "Really. I'll be fine... you don't have to worry."
"Of course...I'll always be there for you...no matter what." She could feel it, the words beneath the ones she managed out loud. She wanted to say more, she had to tell Usare how she felt, how much she...yet even the word. Love, it sounded so weak, so pathetic, and everytime she even thought it, it was not only Usare's image that came to her mind, her heart had wound Amin and Usare together, so different yet she cared so deeply for them both. How could she proclaim her love for one without feeling like a traitor to the other? How could she tell them both how she felt? Yet...she would have to, she had to tell them both at some point.
Amin would fight in this tournament as well, and she knew she would see him before his own battle, she longed to, yet in this moment nothing pulled her away from Usare either. She gave a weak laugh as she felt him bump against her and then leaned in closer.
"I know I don't have to worry...but I will...I can't help it...because...I care about you Usare, I feel something so special when I'm with you...I love you, but it's not just love...the demon inside me, she's bound to you as loyally as can be." She nuzzled his chest for a moment before drawing back and shaking her head.
"Yet...that loyalty is divided...because all those feelings...are doubled...for I share them between you and Amin." She closed her eyes then feeling oddly whole, and mildly terrified that she had managed such words of gravity.
Usare blinked slightly at that... then smiled. "Sith..." he said softly, speaking to her demon as much as to Zana herself. "I know that you care about me. Though you've never said it before... but then, again. I guess I haven't said it either." Stepping toward her, Usare leaned down a bit and nuzzled at Zana's cheek.
"I love you too... and I'm sure that Amin feels the same way." Purring softly, Usare nipped at an ear lightly.
A soft purr escaped her as he spoke her true name, a name she had gone through, well what felt like hell, for. Her eyes opened then and she was surprised that Usare spoke those words, suddenly the worries were lifted. She felt something click into place and inside she knew there was only one more special piece of the puzzle to complete before she would know exactly where she belonged.
She arched closer to him rubbing happily against his fur and feeling a warm thrill as she felt his purring against her ear. "You don't know how much it means to me...I'm glad I told you..."
"Oh I think I can guess..." Usare answered, a little smirk under his words. He could feel her warmth against him, and smell her lovely scent beside him. "I'm glad you told me too, though. So that I could tell you, for sure."
There was a little pause then ... and Usare tilted his head. "I think there's something else that I should tell you, though..."
Zana nuzzled against him contentedly and smiled softly at his words. Indeed if he too had carried the secret feeling inside he must have been able to guess how she felt now that she had been honest. She hoped Amin would understand as well, but she wasn't going to spoil this moment with further concerns.
She tilted her head up to peer at him with curious blood-red eyes. What else would he tell her? Good or bad? She tried to better school her expression away from nervousness. "Yes?" Her voice had lowered, softened, time was slowly running out for them before the battle.
Usare smiled at her tone, and nuzzled at Zana just a bit. "You don't have to look so worried about it ... think. There's something that I know about you, that you don't know about me." Flicking tail tip back and forth, he tilted head. "Want to guess?"
"You know plenty abou-Oh..." She was stunned for a moment, she knew how private a demon name was. Only three others knew her true name, and if she could have excluded the pride's leader she probably would have. Yet Usare was going to share his with her, it was serious then this bond between them. Very serious, the demon within her seemed to arch and stretch reveling in the knowledge that was about to come.
"Your name..." She murmured softly and smiled at him her ears perking eagerly.
Usare purred at that. "Smart, aren't you?" he complimented teasingly. Leaning in closer to one of those ears, he half-whispered his demon's name to her, the sound almost more of an edearment than anything else. "Apollyon..."
Apollyon, inside of her Sith seemed to twist and curl around the name, caressing and eagerly binding it to her memory. Indeed they belonged, weather in the body of a lion or someday in true form, they belonged. Yet there was a space, an empty gap and she still felt as if she were waiting, she knew the missing piece.
She purred and arched against Usare happily. "Apollyon..." She knew their time was up, he had a match. "Goodluck...my love."
Usare smiled at that, and nuzzled against Zana once more before stepping away. Offering a cocky sort of grin, he struck a little pose and tilted ears toward her. "I'll see you once this first round is over... no matter what happens."
