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 Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 12:32 pm
In many ways, nothing was different at all. They were continuing life like they always had. There was a little less arguing, a little less bickering, at least on the more genuine side of things. They teased more, but other than that, life seemed to be just the same as it always had. Yet, deep down, something seemed to have been altered entirely. Maji could feel it in the air between them every time they stopped to take a breath, every time they lay in the dark of night after a long day, before sleep took them into dreamland. That simple decision they had made to stay together had changed everything, even though nothing had changed at all, and though it wasn't bad, being unable to figure out why bothered him to no end.
With a sighing grumble, he rolled over onto his back in the long, thick grass. Bright, pink eyes stared up at the clouds rolling by overhead, the sunset throwing curious tones of orange, pink, and violet through their fluffy billows. It was giving him a headache trying to figure this all out and yet he wouldn't dare bring it up to Kinga - something about the topic just seemed almost forbidden to mention, at least to her. His paws crossed over one another atop his chest, his tail wagging slowly and stirring the tall blades behind him. Whatever it was, he hoped it became clear to him soon, because he never liked to be in the dark or confused about anything.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:23 pm
Maybe everything was just like it had always been for Maji, however, nothing was the same for Kinga. Her random encounters with those strange winged lions (which she was still only half sure were not figments of her imagination) had brought forth feelings and ideas she'd been too much in denial to face. Faced with the truth, the female was unable to do much was accept it... if at least silently. So thus, while her mindset was changed, her movements and her attitude towards Maji remain unchanged. If only because she did not want to scare him away.
She still tried to bicker with him in an attempt to keep him obliviously unaware of just how much she had changed, however, it was getting harder and harder to not scream in his face just what she felt. Kinga knew he was frustrated, that he could feel a slight bit of change in the air, and yet, he could not figure out just WHAT it was. She had seen the frustration dance in his eyes, but still she kept her maw shut.
The dog trotted through the meadow on her way back to where she'd left Maji; she'd gone to take a fast drink for a nearby pond. She found him staring up at the clouds and could not help but creep up on him from behind to loom over his form, "You look thoughtful," she told him, her tail waggling, "What're you thinking about?"
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 1:40 pm
Her sudden reappearance shocked him out of his thoughts, the soft pondering look on his face replaced with widened eyes as his body jolted quickly. Then, with an irritated grump, he relaxed his form once more and let his features fade into a frown, brows creased into a deep 'V'. He didn't fuss at her, just simply stared up into her eyes as she loomed over him for a moment, trying to bore holes into her skull. He wasn't exactly mad, just being a big grump, as always. That was what he was good at, after all.
"Nothing, actually," he lied, looking away from her once he realized that staring up into her eyes in this position was actually kind of awkward and uncomfortable for reasons he didn't know how to explain. "I wasn't thinking about anything, I was just looking at the clouds," and because he was having to lie and cover up what he was thinking about, he was only growing grumpier by the second. He sighed softly and rolled onto his side, turning his back to her, and stared out through the tall grass.
Hell, but he wished whatever this was would pass so they could just go back to being the way they always had been. He was so confused and she was the only one he ever talked to, yet he couldn't turn to her for help, because she was too deeply involved in it too.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 2:46 pm
A brow arched as she kept looking at him from that strange upside down angle, "Huh," she said for all answer as he jolted, as if dragged forcefully out of his thoughts, only to frown up at her, "Cranky," she told him, taking the time to stare down into his eyes, unflinching; she knew him well enough to know he wasn't angry at her, just startled that she'd crept up on him. A small tilt of her head signalled that she didn't buy his story even for a second, but her mild shrug made it obvious she didn't think the situation called for her to pursue an answer, "Not a very you thing to do. I'm the dreamer out of our awkward pair. You're the grumpy pants. Don't steal my role," it was obviously meant as a bit of a joke, a jab in an attempt to get a reaction out of him.
This position made her want to dip her head down even further till their noses touched. It was becoming horribly difficult not to follow the impulse, however, kinga refrained herself, only managing to lowering her head an inch before snorting a bit and pulling back up just as he rolled away from him, "You're crankier than usual."
Laughter erupted from somewhere to their side and a large hyena entered the scene; his maw was covered in small cuts and his appearance was gruff, much resembling the stereotype of his species. However, there was a spark of something; mirth, happiness... that sat him aside, "I bet he's just frustrated, lass," he told her as he neared them. His form was bigger than their and it was obvious that in a fight, the hyena had the winning hand dealt before hand, however, it was obvious he wasn't looking for a fight, "Yah know," he continued, "Frustrated, as in... he probably hasn't had... uh, you know! Maybe he just needs a bit of attention from you! After all, it's healthy for mates to re-establish their deep bonds and all that rot. Works wonders for frustration, let me tell you!"
Kinga only managed to stare, her mouth hanging open in what might have been seen as fear. Oh god, oh god. WHAT?!
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 3:39 pm
"I'm not stealing anyone's role," he grumped, looking over his shoulder to throw a cross look at her. How was he supposed to explain what he had been thinking about without letting her know that he had been thinking about her? And, more than that, he'd been thinking about why everything about them had changed and yet.. not changed at all? Even thinking about thinking about it made his head hurt. She was right when she said that thinking just made one have headaches, period. Maybe that's why she was the dreamer.
"And I'm not crank-" he cut off as he heard the rustling, accompanied by the laughter. In a second, he had leaped to his feet, his fur bristling as the hyena crept onto the scene. It only took moments for him to realize that he meant no threat and his bared teeth slowly disappeared behind his lips once more, though his fur was still a bit on end from being snuck up on for the second time in less than five minutes.
"What in the world are you babbling about?" he muttered, eyes narrowing at the hyena in front of him. Oh, he knew pretty well what he was saying but that didn't mean that he believed it. "I think you've got the wrong idea of what's going on here, buddy."
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 4:13 pm
Kinga was still busy picturing herself running around in circles like a beheaded chicken in her mind's eye, thus when the males began to talk, she could only gape at them.Oh good god, not like this, she thought desperately as she tried to kick her mind out of second gear in an attempt to think of something (anything!) that would drag the conversation out of the slump it'd suddenly reached.
Sadly, it did not bode well for her, for no sooner had Maji spoken that she snapped her head towards him to glare. It had been an instinctual reaction to the fact he hadn't even so much as entertained the notion for more than two seconds. In fact, she was half sure he hadn't even entertained it for that long. Frustration crept up upon her and rather than the previous fear she found herself grumping.
"Ah! Ah!" came the hyena's words as he lifted a paw to point at the female, "See? I don't think I'm too off the path! I know what I'm sayin'! I know what I see when I see it!" then he let out a horribly dramatic sigh as he sat down on the ground, his head lifting up in the air, "Oh woe is me!" he voiced, "If I still had my babykins with me, we'd be doing it EVERY SINGLE NIGHT, I can tell you that!" he lifted a paw and wiped away a nonexistent tear before facing the male, "Gosh you're such a fool for ignoring what's right in front of you! Lookit!" he motioned towards the female, "She's like.. .there! Almost like presented in a silver platter! What more can you ask for?" then he licked his lips, "I'd take 'er myself, but I think she's not all that interested in my charmin' good looks and personality, are yah, lass?"
Kinga was now busy coming to the conclusion that half the Savannah was mad. If those strange wingy-weird lions hadn't confirmed that notion, surely this hyena had, "Uhhhh....."
"S'what I thought!"
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:09 pm
"I don't know what in the world you're talking-" he began, turning his gaze to look at Kinga as he pointed at her, already feeling her eyes on him. He had just assumed she'd be staring at him in an attempt to hint that she wanted to leave, but what he saw there sent a jolt through him.
Was that crazy b*****d of a Hyena right? She looked.. upset? For a moment, he didn't know what on earth could possibly make her be upset, and then he realized she was not only upset, but glaring too. She was mad that he hadn't.. hadn't what? Hadn't even considered what the nutjob was saying? He let the past few weeks, since their conversation, roll back over him and a lead stone formed in his gut. This is what he had been missing, this oh-so-obvious piece to he puzzle. Everything just seemed to click in place and a flood of emotion and realization washed over him. He opened his mouth as if he might say something to her - apologize, make a snarky remark, anything to break the uncomfortable silence and make her change the look. That.. heartbreaking look.
"Uh, whoever you are," he said, clearing his throat as he looked over at the hyena again, "I.. don't know what you're saying or what you think you see here but maybe you should just go." He nodded his head in the direction the male had come. He just wanted him to leave - he needed to talk to Kinga alone.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 5:42 pm
She saw the way he looked at her and for a split second... just the briefest of seconds, she thought he'd caught on. Kinga felt hope shimmer at the the pit of her stomach, and then, he looked away from her and denied her again. A growl rumbled in her throat as Maji spoke again, but this time the lithe brown female did not stay to continue listening to the conversation. She sent Maji a firm glare before turning around and hoping over a large bush, her form vanishing through the tall grass; she seemed to be heading in the direction of the watering hole, and for whatever the reason, she not only looked upset, but as if she were running away from herself, rather than from the two males.
The hyena whom had witnessed the whole ordeal let out a soft whistle, "Wow, looks like she's mad, eh?" he flicked a large ear before reaching up with a hind foot to scratch at the base of his neck, "I'd go after 'er if I were you!" he told him, "Looks like yer a bit blind, Romeo. Anyone would've noticed the look she was giving you when she leaned in and you were on the floor, mate. I wanted to eat 'er all up on the spot!" a dramatic sigh escaped his maw as he brought up a paw, "Oh, but I do miss my babykins at times like this. Maybe I should find myself a lass too. I miss gettin' those looks," this said, the hyena stood up and turned to trot away, "You be'er hurry, lad! Someone my snatch her right up from under yer nose, what with the glorious amount of signals and scent she's been givin' off," no doubt, it was the later that had attracted the blasted hyena over in the first place.
Meanwhile, Kinga had reached the watering hole and sat down at the shore, glaring at her reflection on the water. Damn, but she was a fool, wasn't she?
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2008 7:18 pm
"Kinga, wait, I-" he began, whipping around to follow her as she bolted off. The look on her face made him feel like the most worthless piece of trash rolling across the savannah, and all he had wanted was to stall the conversation long enough to get this weird hyena to leave. Why couldn't she understand that, what was so wrong with stalling? She didn't really want to have this conversation in front of a stranger did she, much less such a perverse stranger as this one? He wanted to curse him for bringing this up and causing him so many more problems, no matter that he made everything clear all at the same time.
"I'm bloody going," he hissed at the Hyena, his fur bristling again. It wasn't exactly a threat at Oth, but more or less begun because he was just getting to frustrated. He just wanted him to leave, especially after all those lewd comments directed towards Kinga. It was his last comment that struck a cord with Maji though and caused him to turn towards the direction she had gone. The hyena was leaving and damn him, but he was right. Now that he was looking for it, he could smell it. Why hadn't he before? He must have been fooling himself, hiding it from himself, just to keep himself from seeing the truth. What if the hyena was right and someone else was attracted by it? Oh s**t.
"Kinga, Kinga wait!" he called out, taking off with a leap as he plundered through the long grasses blindly following her scent. It was strong enough he didn't even have to pause and think about it, it was almost like a physical trail. He finally found her as he broke free of the grasses near the watering hole, watching her stare at the water. Well, she was safe, and now that he knew that.. the adrenaline in his veins was ebbing quickly. What the hell was he supposed to say to her? He could hear his breath, harsh and loud as he panted, in his ears along with his heartbeat as it drummed wildly against his chest. He wasn't sure what he was supposed to say, there were just too many things to consider and too much to think about. Damn, but what were the chances of that idiot showing up? Fate did wicked things to innocent creatures.
"Kinga, I'm.. sorry, I just wanted him to leave," he began, licking his maw uncomfortably as he stared first at her back and then at his paws, "he was.. being so rude." He drew a deep breath, then took a few steps forward hesitantly, his voice shaky. "It's not, it came out all wrong before, you know? I wasn't.. I wasn't trying to say that this, us.." He groaned to himself and squeezed his eyes shut, cursing himself internally for his inability to talk like normal at this moment in time. What was so difficult about this? "It's not that I don't like you, I'm only kind of shocked and maybe I'm just stupid." He grimaced at his self insult, but he knew it was truth. He was so slow not to have seen this before.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:16 am
She heard him rather than saw him approach; her eyes were still trained on the water, her brows knitted into a deep V like shape as she glared. Her head never lifted from that position even as he spoke, however, no sooner had he finished his tirade, the female allowed her ears to flop back against the nape of her neck, "It's okay," she cut him off, clipped, "I don't need your excuses. It's fine."
Finally, her head turned towards him, and rather than angered, she just seemed tired, "Rude?" she questioned, "He was saying the truth. That's all," a small chuckle escaped her throat, "It's so embarrassing that a stupid hyena noticed before you did...." then again, she'd only noticed because she'd been forced to face the facts heads on by those strange winged lions, "You didn't even pause to consider it... us, even for a moment before shooting that hyena down," Kinga's eyes returned to the pool of water, "What's so wrong with me that you couldn't even consider it for more than a second?" A sigh escaped her maw as she pulled herself back to her feet, a paw reaching up to rub at her eyes, no doubt to brush away unshed tears, "It's okay though. It's fine."
As she stood up, she shook herself off of excess dirt and dust that she had accumulated during her mad dash over here through the tall grass, "I don't want you to like me," her eyes turned towards him, "I love you. Even with all your faults," her upper body stretched on the ground as she tried to rid of the kinks she'd earned from her running at top speed, "I'm going... to take a nap back at the den though," as she turned to leave, she paused to offer him a sad smile over her shoulder, "It's okay though. I wasn't expecting things to change."
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 10:47 am
"I'm not trying to make excuses!" he hissed out, squeezing his vibrant eyes shut as he felt the familiar pounding of a stress headache throbbing in the back of his skull. "I'm just trying to reason this out, because I don't understand it but heaven help me if I'm not trying to make you understand." What hurt the most is that she might be disappointed in him, that he might have hurt her. He didn't want that, he didn't want that at all.
"He was being very rude! He was making.. lewd comments about things that he had no right saying about you." Truth or not, that hyena had had no sense of propriety at all and he couldn't understand why it didn't upset her even the tiniest little bit. Did.. did she want him so badly that she didn't care who pointed it out to him or how? That just made him feel more like a royal a**. "I didn't shoot him down, don't you understand that at all? I wasn't making any decisions, not right then, not with him standing there." He opened his eyes, looking up at her as if he could somehow make her see what was in his head. "I just wanted him gone, I was going to talk to you about it, but anything to make him leave.." he murmured, frowning as he said the words. It was then that he realized that he had been doing it to protect her - make the too-forward, slightly nutso hyena leave so that Kinga would be left in peace. All those comments about her were a little scary, they put bad images into his head.
As she turned to leave, a growl erupted from his throat so loudly that it surprised even him. Still, he didn't pause to ponder it, but instead leaped forward to block her way, turning to face her. It irritated him that he was trying so hard to say something to her and here she was, just going to walk away from him. "That's what I was thinking about, you fool! Okay? I was trying to figure out why everything felt different and why I didn't feel the same way about you as I did when Rhemi was a pup and we made that agreement for convenience." He took a deep breath, then let it out, as if he were trying to prevent a panic attack or something similar. "I'm slow, okay? I admit it, I don't get things as fast as you do and it takes some hyena making passes at you to scare me into thinking straight, but dammit won't you just stand here for a second and listen to me?"
He gritted his teeth, looking down at his paws, trying to think of what else he wanted to say. She bloody loved him, for better or worse, despite all of his damn issues. "I'm not sure what love is, Kinga. I loved my Rhemi, but this isn't the same. It is, kind of, but it's different all at once. I feel it, for you, and it has changed things. It's changed everything about us, even before that damn hyena waltzed in here."
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 5:24 pm
Startled didn't even begin to describe the way Kinga felt when Maji growled and leaped up to block her path. For a moment, she considered growling right back and headbutting with him (if not physically, then verbally), however, his words made her stop in her tracks, her ears perked. She allowed herself to backpeddal in an attempt to figure out just what he meant and her mind took her to earlier that day when he'd been looking up at the clouds.
Suddenly, it all made sense in her mind. Still, she couldn't help but feel frustrated, "Oooohhhh I asked you earlier, 'what are you thinking'?" she told him as she stopped a foot on the ground, "And you said 'nothing'! How am I supposed to help you, or tell you anything or understand when you rarely open up?" however, despite her words, it was clear that the frustration was mostly born from the feeling of renewed hope that was burning up within her; there was a chance. She had a chance. It was enough to at least get her back to moving... to get her to pull her head out of the dark hole she'd decided to jump into, "Talk to me then!" she barked, "I'm not leaving you..." then softer, as she closed her eyes, "I wasn't going to leave you anyhow."
Mostly because she was too stubborn to give up. After that nap, she'd have tried again, because it simply wasn't in her nature to let go, "Well," she told him as she reopened her eyes again, "It better NOT be the same, or I'd be rather weirded out, Maji," then she let out a sigh, "I think... that nap really is a good idea though," this time though, rather than walk away, she took a step forward and allowed herself to brush the top of her head against the side of his neck, "Together."
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 6:32 pm
"Yeah, yeah, I know," he grumbled with a frown on his mug, his brows drawn down into a deep 'v' and his eyes dropping from her gaze to stare at the ground as if he knew that he had done something foolish. She had asked and he should have told her, but when were things ever that easy? "I'm trying to talk now right, that counts for something, doesn't it?" he asked with a sighing huff, rolling his eyes up to look at her.
A wave of relief swept over him at her soft admission and he let a very weak smile dance on his maw. "Good, you.. scare me for a minute," he murmured, trying not to admit that watching her walk away had been physically painful for reasons he couldn't even begin to fathom yet.
"A nap," he muttered thoughtfully, suddenly aware of the dull ache that was pounding inside his skull from before, when he was trying to figure everything out in a second's notice. "That sounds good," he murmured softly, instinctively leaning his head into the contact he felt against the side of his neck, then calmly nodding his own head towards the den they had found for just a little while. He offered her what he hoped was a reassuring smile, keeping himself close to her as he headed forward, a hundred emotions boiling inside of him at once and, for the first time since it had all started, his entire being was consciously aware of their existence.
Now things had changed even more.
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