Welcome to Gaia! ::

Hroovitnir had been entering his den for the past week with the hopes that Ukombozi was hiding back there again. And for days he had been disappointed. He had started hanging around Bryn's den, and she was giving him hell for it, she knew exactly what was up. Ukombozi was close to the women of his family, so they knew everything about his personal life. Which was great. Just wonderful. He got no reprieve between all of them.

He sighed and with his head hung low, he entered his den, prepared again for disappointment and heart break. But the sound of breath and the heavy scent at the back of den filled his body with hope. His head shot up - and into the ceiling. Great, he would have another fracture in addition to the one he probably got from his duel with Phlegyas.

"Ukombozi! You're back! For how long? What do you need? Are you leaving? Please don't go." The words were tumbling out and he sounded like an idiot. Well, all of his cards were on the table, he was wearing his heart on his sleeve. Not that he had a table. Or sleeves.

Hroovitnir looked at her incredulously. Could he trust her?

"You want me to make you a freeborn, is that right?" He eyed her warily. What if in the past week she had fallen in love with someone else? Well then she should just get whatever new slice of man to do it for her. He recoiled from her touch even though he craved more of her warmth.

Hroovitnir nodded.

"You are right. You are exactly right. I can't do that to you. I will not do that to you." He watched her closely. Ukombozi had quite the temper, he knew, but he had never been privilege to see it, thankfully. He feared the day in the future when he would feel the lioness' full wrath.

"I will start whatever I can to make you a freeborn. And to make you my wife, if you would have me as your husband…"

Hroovitnir was elated, too. He cracked a smile, too, and purred. He tenderly pawed at her face. This reality was beyond his wildest dreaming, too. He could only assume that Bryn, Chayah and Kifuani would be happy for them both. Chayah and Kifuani would finally get off of his back for having a thrall, probably, though he toyed with the idea of capturing a new one. Maybe a non-lion this time, one he could not fall in love with. Yeah, that would probably be more wise. But he wondered what was next for the two of them, once Ukombozi became free? Oh, gods, what if they had cubs??! He must have made some kind of face at the thought of little cubs running around, biting faces and crying all the time and pooping everywhere because Ukombozi laughed at him. Well, they would take it as it came, he supposed. But right now, they were happy.