Moose: As badly as it killed her, Zephyr had remained behind when a large number of her pride mates moved out to chase buffalo. The thrill of adventure sang a sweet song to the lioness, but she had a sick mate to contend with. Kou's health had been rapidly declining. He had good days, days where she thought he might pull through, but they were become fewer with each new moon.
"Keep your head up, or you'll taste seawater." Zephyr grinned. Kou had wanted to see the ocean today, so here they were, wading into the shallows. She kept close to his side in case he were to lose his strength.
Kou chuckled back to his mate. It was a weak, raspy sound, but one full of love. "Fine fine, mother." His teasing was only half warranted; frequently his head would dip down out of weariness, coming close to the water lapping at his legs. He knew he wouldn't last much longer in this world, but he didn't want to spend his final days trapped in his den.
"Do you think Zaid's ever gotten over his fear of the ocean?" Kou wasn't entirely sure the lion ever would. He'd seen his brother supposedly 'die' in a great storm, only to be caught up in it himself. He was young yet, but traumatized. Kou had never seen a lion panic more than when his cubs touched the waves.
"No, but at least he least he'll go out into it now."
The two stayed like that for a while, just musing about family and silly little things
nessiaing: Aolani padded softly over the sandy shore. The tide was starting to rise so each step she took the water came further up on her toes. She wiggled them back and forth enjoying the feeling of the water on her fur. Aolani had been born after the great storm and as such had never had a reason to fear the water tough she did respect it a good deal.
As the young lioness strolled she spotted the couple further along the beach. She frowned a little as she recongized the couple as her cousin and her cousin's mate. She had heard that her cousin's mate was very sick and she wondered what they were doing here in the water. She hoped that it was a sign that Kou was feeling better.
Moose: Kou looked towards his mate, eyes drifting out over the sand before landing on a familiar pelt. He cast a tired little smile Aolani's way, and rose his paw to wave her over. "Hello there. Are you out to enjoy the waves as well? The sea is fairly calm today." Otherwise, it would have been doubtful that he would have been in it. Kou covered his mouth for a moment to cough, though thankfully the fit subsided rather quickly.
Zephyr turned to look, and when she spotted her younger cousin she smiled as well. Though, she was much later in greeting her, since Kou's coughing took up her full attention. Even little coughs worried her these days; each one seemed to take more energy from him than she was willing to let go of. When he gave her a look that said 'it's fine then she allowed herself to greet her cousin. "Aolani, girl, you get bigger every time I see you. Soon enough you'll be old enough to go cliff diving."
Kou coughed in to his paw once more, though this time it was faked. It was followed by a stern look at Zephyr who only laughed it off.
"Oh come on, she's totally old enough for it."
"Old enough to find something better to spend her time on."
"Pfft." Zephyr waved her paw.
At least that hadn't changed. Kou could still see parts of his rambunctious lover peeking out, though his illness had killed some of her spirit. Zephyr just wasn't the same these days; she rarely left his side, and he hadn't seen her do a daring stunt in months.
nessiaing" Aolani finished her stroll over to Zephyr and Kou. She smiled in greeting to Kou. She could see some of the playfulness shining through that she had seen in Kou when she was younger. In truth Aolani hadn't been around much before Kou got sick but she could remember bits and pieces of the lion he use to be. She hated seeing him decline in health this way.
"Zephyr" she greeted her cousin giving her a gentle nuzzle as she settled in the water next to the couple. She made sure to stay close to Kou should anything happen she would be there to help her cousin with him.
"It's great to see you both out here." she told them her voice full of sincerity. She eyed her cousin with a bit of worry. It was obvious the decline in Kou but what she felt like others might be missing was how much it was taking out of Zephyr too, Aolani made a note to hang around their den more perhaps she could lend a helping hand.
At the mention of cliff diving Aolani let out a hearty laugh, "I will cliff dive only if you go with me Zephyr." She teased sticking her tongue out a the older lioness.
