Alili was meeting the golden coloured lion again. Their first spar had gone well, once she had convinced him to stop shaking and apologising and he managed to get a few blows in. There was something very sweet about his gentle nature. He had thanked her over and over again for being so “nice to him”, and she had found that rather sweet. She did not doubt that others may find him foolish or weak, but there was a strength inside him that Alili could see just out of reach. In the passing weeks they had spent together, she had already seen a big change in him. His boldness was growing and in their last spar he had even managed to best her- even if just for a moment. Surprisingly, she had found herself overjoyed at that moment. Their meetings had become a high point of her days, and they found themselves spending more and more time together.
What had started out as a chance meeting had grown into a relationship where they were able to draw the best from one another. Alili's boisterous nature combined with Mbari's fear meant she was just a little more mindful of what she said and did, but not too mindful as to baby him, she was not one to patronise.
It had started as a gentle flutter in her stomach, an admiring look as he began to stutter less, and then even more butterflies when he did stutter. There was something endearing about him, he had obviously struggled with things his entire life, but was trying to better himself. There was something about him that almost made Alili want to stop him, and tell him that he was perfect the way he was. Was there really no reason to worry? She supposed when it interferred as much with his life as it did, then perhaps she would get fed up herself.
Sure enough, the dark female had discovered that she was falling for him, this gentle and paranoid gold lion. She wanted to look after him, to make sure he had nothing to be scared of again, but she herself was scared now. Alili had no real experience with love, or anything of the sort, and she feared what she would say, and what would happen. What if he did not feel the same? Rejection was not a common thing in her life either. She had security in the pride, and though she sometimes longed to see her family more, and pined for the mother she never really knew, she was comfortable. What if it changed the nature of their relationship and they could no longer see each other? The gentle fluttering in her stomach turned into a lead ball that sank with each further question. “This must be how Mbari feels about everything.” She thought to herself. It certainly must be hard. Other lion's brains varied and were so different in the way they worked.
The sun would be setting soon, and they had agreed to meet before dusk in the promise to one another that today there would be no hunting, no sparring, just talking. She had decided she wouldn't tell him. Maybe he would be too scared, and maybe if he felt the same, it would be a great step for him to make the first move.
Mbari was pacing anxiously on his way to meet Alili, taking a few moments to run up and down on the same spot. His avian friend, Kamba, fluttered near his shoulder. “Relax, Mbari!” She had been his mentor in his early days, helping him through some hard times along with his family, but recently she had found that she was needed less and less. Their time spent together was diminishing and Mbari often asked why. She would just c**k her head and tell him bluntly that she had something to do. They were always within the agreement that Kamba would attend to her life and her free time how she saw fit, but in truth, the pink bird was trying to wean herself away from Mbari. She had become a security blanket, and as much as she loved her golden companion she knew it was time for him to move on, he was far too old for this kind of thing now. It pained her, but it was what was best for him.
“I can't relax, what if she says no, or that she doesn't like me, or what if it ruins the friendship?” He pulled a pained expression. His feelings has intensified the last few weeks into something very strong indeed. It wasn't a surprise really, they had spent so much time together and grown very close. The avian settled and folded her wings neatly, coming to rest on his head to stop him bobbing it frantically. “I've met the girl! She's lovely. She ain't gonna hurt you!” She tutted gently and hovered in front of his face. “Come on, let's go. I'll leave just before you get to her.” She promised.
“Aghh, okay.” The male plodded on with a sense of defeat but took a few deep breaths and thought of how far he had come. He had come to the decision to tell Alili how he felt on his own, as he did with Tsukiko a long time ago. There was no use in leaving anything to chance now, he had to be bold and make his own decisions and lead his own life again. Screw it. He would do it.
“There's no use acting like an adolescent, you're far too old for that!” The bird blinked at him with as much of a smirk as a beak would allow.
“I-i know.”
He could see her in the distant, a black shape walking towards him, and his heart stopped for a moment. He could feel its fast thud beating against his ribcage but he pressed on. No use in worrying, no use in worrying. He said it over and over in his head until his paranoia began to ebb away. Finally, he broke into a run, his brown mane tumbling over his shoulders. He hadn't thought about what he was going to say, or how he was going to say it, because that would only make him worse. Instead he just thought about getting it out there, in the open. The setting sun cast an orange light over him, making his pelt almost a mirror image of the sky, all red, orange and gold.
“'Ello!” His dark companion called out to him as he was a few feet away from him, but he kept running, with a smile on his face now.
He stopped just before her, his whole body flushed with blood and looking straight at her, his breathing hard from his run.
It said it before he could even consider otherwise.
“Alili. I'm in love with you.”
And not a single hint of a stutter.
