Tahari nestled within a cave. Her cave. Not the one that she shared with her mother and grandparents. But...one that she shared with Valerius. She didn't know how to feel about this. Did she love him? There was no doubt to the strength of the vision she had seen, but it still left her restless. She wondered, what would happen with her feelings for Ishida? Oh, it was a one way love, and she knew it. But still, there was a tingle there that wouldn't just go away.
Valerius entered the cave, keeping his movements slow. Tahari was doing better with her visions, but sometimes the smallest things would still trigger her. "Hey," he said softly, keeping a bit of distance between the two of them. Even though it had been an little more intimate experience when she had come to him with her visions, he didn't want to pressure her. The family was still painfully aware of her affections for Ishida, and didn't know how to take the appearance of Val. He...well, his own visions were strong, but not painful like Tahari's.
She blinked, looking over at him. He was so respectful of her, moreso than even Ishida could be towards aunt Bara. Bara...oh how horrible her feelings had been towards her aunt that was more like a mother than her own mother. She sighed heavily, lowering her head back onto her paws. He looked over at her, concerned, but he didn't say anything. Really, sometimes she wished that he was a little more pushy. She wasn't as delicate as a flower, now. Just...sort of pathetic, huh?
He watched her. She seemed sad, but when did she not? Confusion tugged at her heart. She should love Valerius...but could she let herself try? No, she was trying now. This was why they were sharing their own small cave. Not too terribly big. Snug, with enough room to keep a bit of distance between them. This wasn't right, though. She didn't know if he was in love, but with how he acted towards her...there was something there. She raised her head up just enough so she could look at him, and because of this he let his eyes wander around the cavern.
"What?" she asked quietly. He took a long moment to let himself gather his thoughts, and turned to her. "I am just hoping that you are ok," he answered. "You have been very quiet the past few days." She let her eyes linger away, but not straying far. She didn't know how to answer, mainly because she didn't know what she would say. Would she mean what she had said, or would something unplanned come out? It terrified her, the more she thought about it. No, she just...she didn't want to. Glancing back over at him, it was obvious that he was waiting for some sort of answer. She shook her head at him, and his eyes lowered. Again, she had disappointed him. And for a moment, she looked at her paws, shocked. It felt like her own heart had cracked when she had seen that. Was this...?
He resisted a sigh himself. It wouldn't do any good for him to do so. She might read it wrong, and that would set them even further back. He himself didn't know if he loved her, but she was something to protect, cherish, and adore. So perhaps in some way it could be considered love. He almost wished to seek his mother out for this answer, but...then he would more than likely have to leave. He couldn't let himself think of leaving Tahari on her own, again. She probably wouldn't be able to survive another feeling of being abandoned. It has haunted her her whole life, even if she hasn't told him everything. Zuri had quite the guilt on her shoulders, and told Valerius everything that she could even remember. Even that large lion she had spelt with, so long ago, and how she figured out later that he was a god. And through bits and pieces of the past, Valerius saw how dangerous that god was. No, is. He shivers slightly, thinking about it, and wondering if that was why Tahari was such a mess. Perhaps. Or perhaps there had been enough heartbreak in her life to make her the unstable girl that she is.
Tahari watched him, though it was hard to peek at him from the corner of her eye. She didn't want to do this anymore. She glanced at him, straight on, and saw the slight shiver run through his body. He wasn't looking at her, but there was something bothering him. A vision? Or just remembering something? Perhaps about how crazy she could be, and how she was sometimes so hard to handle that she reacted against him without even knowing. Would she keep doing that? Hopefully not. She dreaded knowing about the future, as if it was something she might be forced into. But...was it just the idea of her resisting the visions? Honestly, probably. She didn't like visions, of knowing more than one little mortal should know.
But...she couldn't resist, and had to open her mouth.
"Val..." she said softly, calling out to him. It surprised even her, but the surprise reflected in his eyes. She was gentle in her speech, but never like this. "Don't...leave." She bit her tongue. This was what she was scared of. Was this how she really felt?
Valerius was blown away. Was a vision taking her hold so strongly she was saying things without realizing it? But no, she looked just as surprised as he did. She seemed conflicted, but he inched forward, hoping to give her a little reassurance. "Could you read my mind?" he joked. She glanced at him in puzzlement. "No," was her single reply. He chuckled. "I was thinking about my mother, but finding her would have meant leaving. Perhaps you lie, sleek blue one." He tapped her on the nose, just gently. She blinked, wondering what game it was that they were playing now. She was so inexperienced in this sort of interaction.
"I just...saw you shiver, and was fearful for a moment," she confessed. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore, but I don't know how I'd keep going if you left." Her eyes reverted back down to her paws, and Valerius just wanted to protect her from her own mind.
"I won't go," he answered again, more directly this time. "I'll stay here for the rest of the day, if you don't mind?"
Tahari nodded her head, resting her head on his foreleg. So much stronger than her own, even if she wasn't a petite lioness herself. From her father, no doubt. Still, he radiated strength, but comfort, and that was what she needed right now.
(1,147 words)
