[PRP] Leaving Already? (Yareha x Kilua)

[mouselet]

Yareha nodded in response to the lioness' question. It had been a fairly interesting and educational day since he'd met Kilua. He and Latitare had heard the myth about the pride's relationship with the avians and even if the white lion gave the story little credence, he couldn't deny the respect and care avians were viewed with in these mountains. It was...a welcome change.

"Yes, though of all the places I've seen on my journey, this is the first I would ever want to return to," he confided. And not just because he and the eagle had felt so welcome in these lands. There was, after all, this beautiful lioness before him, whom he had NOT slept with, had not even hinted that there were ways to pass time beyond conversation to and he only hoped that if he should return, it would be to find her happier than she was now.

Latitare was circling above them, talking to other birds or just exulting in the air currents and their sudden changes. They had both seen the naked longing Kilua showed to any avian and had quietly agreed to do what they could to not make things worse for her.  

[mouselet]

The white lion laughed with her. "If I do make it back here, through the mountains again, I probably won't be willing to leave after that!" he joked, making light of the difficulty of the terrain. Truthfully, there was so much that could go wrong and very little of it would Latitare be able to help him with if it came to it.

"There may be more to fear out there," Yareha admitted, "but I'm not yet ready to settle down in any one place. There's still so much out there for me to learn!" he explained, gesturing widely with one forepaw. Yes, there were all sorts of people out there who would attack him for reasons he could only guess at, not to mention those who simply weren't out there to help anyone at all, but safe as the Aka'mleli was, it was so very isolated that he was afraid of that too. Even when he'd kept to the Mwezi, there were still so many rogues passing by. He felt he'd miss that variety, did he choose to remain here.  

[mouselet]

Yareha grinned crookedly at the lioness. "I think my education is best served by continuing to meet new people that I may or may not see again at this point." Not to mention the temptations everywhere and how much harder they would be to overcome if he got too settled in mind and body.

"Oh, I'm sure. Latitare has never once been lost in his life, so I know we can always come back," he assured Kilua.

And he was pretty sure that they would both have their own reasons for wanting to return here.  

[mouselet]

"I see no reason why you should have to leave these mountains, if you don't want to," the white lion reassured her. Kilua hadn't spoken much about her past and he had respected that, trying to appear more interested in the pride than this representative member. He didn't know if he'd succeeded, but he hoped he could at least make this parting easier on her.

"Yes, I am quite certain we'll return here. Perhaps then you'll know of our coming ahead of time," Yareha offered. He could see how it cut at her, to not have an avian partner of her own. The lion reasoned that when that bird came, it would be so perfect that neither Kilua nor bird would be able to imagine life with a different partner.  

[mouselet]

Yareha shook his head with amusement. "Oh, how you mock me!" he cried out in false sorrow. "Seducing even my dearest friend away from me!" A loud snort drifted down from the winds above.

It was good that they could joke like this, and be friendly. And still have nothing significant between them otherwise. If he could do this with all the attractive, single lionesses he encountered, Yareha would be in a good position.

Though, he had to admit, at least to himself, there probably weren't many out there like Kilua.

"I'd have to catch him off guard and pounce him," the lion reflected. "But he is such a fast little fellow, I don't know if it would work."  

[mouselet]

Yareha laughed aloud at that. "No, Latitare takes his flight very seriously. If he ever had trouble flying, he would likely refuse to eat any more than necessary for days!" The lion made a show of looking around conspiratorially before adding more to that statement. "Between you and me, I would prefer it, as I shouldn't have to hunt for his meals too in that case!" There was a louder snort than before from above, but otherwise no response from the soaring eagle.

His smile faded somewhat as Kilua's voice took a turn towards seriousness. Yareha nodded solemly.

"I promise, I will come back to you," he swore to the green and white lioness. Then he smiled, forcing the mood back somewhere in a more cheerful realm.

"However, in order to return, I must first leave. So, let us bid you farewell and be off and on our way!"