He was too late. He had failed. He had failed the love of his life, the lioness he wanted to take as his mate. The one he wanted to raise cubs with. The lioness he had wanted to grow old with. Gone. His world seemed dark and over. What was the point of him going on anymore? He wasn't a young lion, and it had taken him many passings of the moon and thousands of miles traversed before he finally literally stumbled upon Gopala. The universe had aligned to bring them together only for a few nights before it decided to rip them asunder. Had he sinned so badly in a past life that he deserved to lose her like this? He couldn't fathom an alternative where Gopala had brought this on herself. Even though she had been the one who had decided to drink the poisoned water, no one forced her to, but that was neither here nor there.
Gopala's body was still and cold and stiff. The ancient leopardess healer spoke not a word and lowered her eyes, almost sad for those lions whom she had expressed disdain for earlier this morning. She bowed her head, excusing herself from the moment, leaving Parokakari with Gopala but taking the herb. The large orange lion sprawled his body across his would-have-been-mate and inhaled a shaky breath. He had never experienced loss of a close loved one. His father had left his mother before his litter was born and when he came of age to leave his mother and his sisters, he left unceremoniously. He had not made any connections until he set up roots in the Jini-msemi lands with some lions he met during the Queen's games. They convinced him to make it official and join up, and he considered it the best decision he had ever made. It brought him Gopala. Even if it was not for very long.
He moved his head, his sad eyes looking at her closed ones and he breathed another sigh heavy with sadness. He licked her cheek, like he used to when he was trying to comfort her, but this time it was for his own sake. He was slightly aware of the leopardess returning. She began to do something around Gopala's face. He assumed he was preparing her for some sort of burial rites. Oh, he could not let her do that. He felt obligated to take the body back to the Jini-msemi's pride lands to let her parents say goodbye. Would he be chased out of the pride as a murderer? Would anyone believe that she had drank poisoned water? The leopardess surely would not return with him to substantiate his claims. He half-watched as she began to mess with Gopala's mouth. Did she put something in there? It confused him, but he was not familiar with the burial rituals of the area. He would let her continue to work. He nuzzled his large head into Gopala's side. Having rested it there for a while, he felt warmth. He liked to pretend that it was hers instead of his own being reflected back at him. And if he did not pay too close of attention, he could let his mind be tricked into thinking she was breathing, too.
Wait.
She was breathing!
Parokakari leapt to his feet, and with eyes wide, looked between the healer and Gopala. The leopardess' attention was still all on Gopala, but Parokakari did not know where to look.
