Orah felt her heart fluttering in her chest, anxiety making her breath sort and her nerves jittery. Someone had lied to her... Was it Ukoo, or the male that had brought her here? It was just too much to fathom... why would someone lie to her? Her, the one that never did anyone hard, who couldn't even remember where she was from. It shook the foundations of her world, and it wasn't a comfortable feeling.

Was she that easy to lie to? Was she so blind to who people were that she could be fooled so easily? Orah couldn't help whining inside her head at how unfair it was. She'd never say it out loud, but inside, her coward came forward and made incessant noises at her. It wasn't fair, but could she really stand up and make Tariq reveal the truth to her? Did she have the will?

Well... she'd find out soon enough, because suddenly she was at the den she'd shared with the others, nervously shifting paw to paw as she searched the darkness. "T-Tariq? Are you here?"



Tariq was in a good mood. And why shouldn't he be? O'tep was certainly coming around, Ukoo was...well, she was going through something, but she was slowly coming around, too. And that b***h Weyard was long gone by now. Things were going well. There were clouds in the sky shading the sun, and Tariq was cool in his den. He was pleased. He was content. And then there was a tiny voice, like a murmur of water...

Ahhhh, yes...Orah! She was such a mild female, Tariq had almost forgotten to mull over her accomplishments. Orah was soft and sweet, but full of twisted, winding mystery. It seemed like ages since he'd last seen her, but his newest litle dove's voice was a more than welcome sound upon his black ears.

Rolling over hastily to his stomach to meet his banu's eyes, Tariq flashed her a smile and coiled his tail. He adjusted himself, front paws cupping the front of his elevated place.

"Yes, Orah," he answered dimly. "What would you like?"



The site of the dark male sitting calmly in the den poked holes in what little courage she'd managed to gather. Her ears fell back against her head as she dropped her eyes to her paws, shuffling them as she stepped in. She was silent for a time, trying to work out what she wanted to say... but the words fell apart when they left her mouth.

"Ukoo told me I could not leave!" She finally burst out in a rush, her eyes teary when she darted a glance up at him. "She said... I would be killed if I was caught. You told me when I came here that I was a guest, Tariq. This... it wasn't supposed to be permanent... I was to have the choice...." She stumbled over herself as the words tripped over her tongue, falling in ungraceful jumbles. Orah's composure was never strong at the best of times, and she was greatly shaken now... could she make him understand? What would he tell her if he did?

When her voice trailed off, she shifted about restlessly, unable to meet his eyes and unable to even sit. His answer would decide a good many things for her, as well as provoke a lot of deep thought either way.



A loud, velvet laugh echoed through the den, bouncing off all sides of the strange walls like cubs in play. Tariq'ra'd relaxed his posture, head lolling to his left shoulder. He regarded Orah for a moment, pink eyes scanning her, wondering at what might be going on in her pretty head.

"Orah..." he rolled, stare growing lax. His voice was quiet, almost comforting. "I would never kill you. You can leave any time..." he shifted, sitting up more. "...if I give you permission. But if you wish to leave, then I will give you permission." he said confidently. His gaze flickered over the lioness's face, thinking, always thinking. Part of him meant what he said, but he wondered if he'd really be able to let such a soft thing free from his talons....

"But do you really...want to leave?" he asked quietly, slowly, seeming to wonder at his own words. He didn't understand why she'd want to leave, really. It wasn't as if he had treated her badly. The pride was a lush, lively, beauiful place...what more could a female want in life? Food, home, shelter, friends, cubs, land, water...a male....



His words washed over her and slowly relaxed the restless body, smoothing down the hackles raised by the shadowy threat she had thought she saw.

"I'd just... I thought I was to be held against my will, that was all..." She said hesitantly. "I don't really want to go, but I couldn't have lived as a prisoner." Orah spoke quietly, soothed as she thought through what he'd said. It made a sort of sense... the world was a dangerous place. If one had to have permission to leave, if they could be scared into not wanting to leave... then they would be kept safe, wouldn't they? It wasn't something she truly agreed with, but she could understand it. Ukoo just hadn't known the whole truth, that's all. She was kept here for her own good, but any of them could leave when they wished.

"I'm sorry, Tariq, for interrupting your rest with my foolishness. I should have known better. You did tell me I could leave before, I have no reason not to trust what you say." She turned shy, wondering if he would hate her now for suggesting that he might be capable of killing a lioness just for wanting to leave the pride. "I hope you aren't angry with me..." There was a touch of hope there, a desperate wish for approval.



Hmmm...Orah was interesting. She seemed so soft on the outside sometimes, but inside...something was becoming more apparent about what was inside her mind, how she thought, what her views were.... Tariq made a mental note, a very special note, to pay more attention to his newest banu--to talk with her more and get to know her better.

Maybe he'd let her get to know him better, too....

"You have good manners, Orah." Tariq remarked after a pause. It was a rare compliment--high praise for a female. Then he smirked. "I'm not unhappy that you came to...'disturb' me," he said, paw waving in gesture as he grinned. "so you don't have to apologize. In fact," he hopped down from his spot and took a stretch. "I'd love it if you came to talk to me whenever you like." His pink eyes flashed, like flames to attract moths. Whether Orah would grow to like him remained to be seen, he thought. But he knew one thing.

He was coming to like her more and more.



The female's gaze lifted as he rose and stepped closer, soft doe brown touched with an eagerness for acceptance. If he gave her what she craved, she would follow him like a lost puppy for eternity... or as long as they lived. Orah would not have been able to explain how she was, if she'd even thought about it. What was... was.

And right now... he was looking at her in a way that made her shiver inside with a deep craving and an aching shame. She knew, deep down, that she didn't deserve such regard, but she still wanted it, needed it. The idea of leaving was even further away from her mind now than it had been when he first took her in. Maybe it wasn't a bad thing to stay here. She could comfort Ukoo, perhaps become friends with O'tep... everything she could wish for, right here. And he was the one to give it to her.

A tentative smile touched her face as she lowered her head, always the submissive one. "I would like that... to talk with you. I don't often have someone to talk to here. I'm not forward enough to introduce myself to the males, and the females seem full of their own concerns most of the time."



Tariq's chest rumbled with a low laugh once more, claws stretching to touch the earthen floor. The den was rich with the scent of lions, but with it were the scents of cool mist, earth, and grass. Tariq breathed it in a moment, wondering if it would always hold those scents--the scents that filled it now. But now wasn't the time to lose his train of thought. Orah was obviously happy with what he had told her, and Tariq was more than happy with Orah. There was only one thing left to do: get to know her better.

"You can stay by me, then, Orah. And the other banu will be nice to you if you interrupt their 'concerns', don't fret about them." he laughed. The male stepped closer, eyes glancing up over the female's head and out at the land beyond the den. They wandered back to the face of his banu. "Would you like to go get a drink with me?" Tariq offered boyishly, grinning. He was feeling strangely giddy, but he tried to suppress it. He nodded to the direction of the water, hair falling to shade an eye.

Sharing a drink was a lovely way to talk more...and that's what needed to happen. Talking. Growing closer. Friendship, and then...

Ahhh, life in the pride was good.



"I think a drink sounds lovely." She said softly, stepping aside so he could precede her from the den. It was only polite, after all, not like she deferred to him for another other reason... Well, maybe. "I will try to be more open to the others, and see if I might make more friends here. With how kind and the other banu have been, it would only be right to return the kindness." She stepped out smartly when he took the lead, her pace graced with her new ease of mind.

This would be fine. She was fine and the world was fine. There was no reason to worry, not when Tariq to watch out for her. He was understanding and kind, everything she could wish for. It would be easy to fall into belonging here as the others did. Did she want that? A part of her yearned greatly for it, so for now... she was content to see where things went.