Jipima had slept extremely peacefully beside the one she had decided she loved. She knew that they had only spent a little time together, a few days, but it felt like enough time to her. He made her heart flutter like a hummingbird’s wings. They related to each other so well while they were still different.

His simply actions towards her made all the difference. He was exactly what she had been looking for and she refused to settle for anyone else. No he was hers, or he would be. Very soon. They were so close, so close to sealing everything and choosing each other above all else.

She felt certain that they were destined for each other. She had spent her childhood figuring out exactly what she wanted in a male. What prince-like qualities they just had to have. Every male she had met had been overruled because of something. Genge because they were related, distant cousins but related none-the-less. Ew. Kukuruza because he wasn’t a lion, even if cheetahs had the frame and build that she adored she wouldn’t settle for anything but a lion. There weren’t anything but lions in her home, with one exception.

As for the other males she had met…well most she hadn’t even bothered to remember their name. To her they were simply boring. None were interesting enough to remember.

Having decided that she had waited around long enough she set out to leave home, with permission from her parents and family of course. Bidding farewell to her siblings, parents and grandmother she had left the Mteo lands in search of something new. Something exciting.

Only a few days into her travels she had found exactly what she was looking for. He had the perfect build, he wasn’t overly muscular but he wasn’t incredibly thin either. His coat was just the prettiest color combination she could have ever imagined. And he was a romantic. While he might not have meant to come across as such he did.

He was simply perfect.

He was affectionate as well, his tender touches that sent shivers down her spine, in a good way. And the way he smelled. Simply amazing. She couldn’t have asked for the gods to give her a more perfect match.

With him in her thoughts she started to stir suddenly feeling very, very cold. Slowly opening an eye she expected him to be by her side but he wasn’t anywhere to be found. Confusion flickered across her features as she opened her other eye and started to sit up.

“Malhor?” She called out quietly uncertain. Maybe he had just gone to hunt, that was what he had come out for originally. She shook her head. He would have told her…wouldn’t he? Panic struck her as she scrambled to her paws and turned in a circle once, twice, three times.

Still there was no sign of him. Where had he gone? Why had he left her?! She thought they had been making such progress! “Malhor!” She called again this time louder and much clearer. Still no answer.

Why?

Why had he run off and left her alone.

“No. No. No!” She cried out shaking her head fighting the incredibly strong urge to collapse to the ground and cry. “No!”

Why, why did he have this affect on her? She shouldn’t be feeling this way. She knew there was a chance that he would leave her. After all he hadn’t called her his mate or his princess. He simply let her call him her prince. Did that mean she was nothing to him? No it couldn’t, he had said so himself.

“I’m going to find you.” She mumbled to herself as she gathered her composure together. If he really did leave it had to be for a reason. Especially since the night before had been so…wonderful.

Inhaling deeply she started to trot off in the direction they had been heading for the last few days. Towards his pride. She was sure she would find him then.