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Amuxiahd had been careful not to outright follow Kuhesh; she kept a careful distance and always had a reason to be in the area he was in. Whether it was simply hunting or looking for some water, she was always prepared. But on this particular day, she had decided that she wouldn't use excuses anymore. It had been long enough since their fight had happened; surely by now he'd had time to think and to cool his head. She approached him with a hare clutched in her jaws, the kill fresh and warm blood spotted around her lips from it. She dropped it in front of him, tail flicking as she glanced up to meet his eyes.
"Consider it payback for that hare when we first met."
Kuhesh had been very aware of the female trailing him. He didn't like it. He didn't like her. The problem was that in a way he kind of did like her. She was the first person he'd spoken too in ages, and even if she was high and mighty, and pushy, and nothing like the delicate females back home, she was...attractive, somehow. Ugh. He chided himself. He didn't deserve a female. Wasn't worthy, being only a half-souled lion. She didn't know that, though, and maybe...no. He pushed the thought aside just as she pushed the hare to him. He peered at her a moment, and then snatched it away. He'd been putting on a brave front, but really he hadn't eaten in days.
Amuxiahd simply watched the other snatch away the hair, delicately folding her legs beneath her to sit in front of him. Her tail curled around her haunches, resting carefully over her paws as she simply watched him for a long moment. There was a spark between them, and she was determined to find out where it would lead her. After a long moment of silence, she finally spoke. "So what do you plan on doing now, Kuhesh?"
It was a simple question, and the way she said it didn't seem to hold any deeper meaning. But there was an undercurrent to her words, an unspoken question lingering in the air between them. What is there between us, and what are we going to do about it?
Kuhesh made swift work of the hare. Blood plastered his muzzle red, and soon enough there was nothing but cracked and drying bones left of the poor thing. His eternally angry mood had been assuaged somewhat by the meal. An empty belly never made any one happy. He turned to regard the lioness for a moment, seeming to critically examine her. "Well, if I can find my way, I won't be of any trouble to you any longer. I will return to my pride and lay down my life for my failures. Hopefully after that I will have the honor of being born again as a complete lion, and not...what I am." He scowled. He didn't like to talk about his shortcomings. "And you? Will you find someone new to torment?"
Amuxiahd frowned softly at his words, shaking her head. "What you are? I won't pretend to know what your pride considers you to be, but I will say this. You seem like a perfectly fine, if somewhat abrasive, lion to me." She sighed then, glancing up towards the sky and simply watching the clouds lazily drifting along above her head. The prospect of him leaving was an unpleasant one, but in the end she knew that it might perhaps be for the best. If he hung around much longer, the Ushujaa might take notice. And it was obvious he had unfinished business with his own pride, and with himself. After a long while, she glanced back down, meeting his eyes. "I can show you the proper way out of these lands, if you'd like."
He laughed, a half-sigh twisting at the sound of it. Of course she wouldn't know. She hadn't been raised to The Way. He couldn't blame her for simply being naive. But that also meant that to her he was...normal. That thought was greatly appealing to him. She didn't think he was weak or crippled or to be pitied. Maybe she would even...No. He knew, and it was his responsibility to protect her from his faults. He stiffened, regaining some of his bad attitude. That bit of hope fading had hurt. "Yes. Show me. Now, please."
She didn't let the slight hint of disappointment show on her face; she shouldn't have been surprised that he was in a hurry to leave. He'd already spent a great deal of time here, so it was only natural that he'd want to move on. She got back to her paws and stepped forward, glancing over at Kuhesh with a smile that seemed almost sad. Perhaps it truly wasn't meant to be... It was saddening, but she wasn't about to let that rule her. "Of course. Just follow me, and I'll have you back to the rogue lands proper in no time at all."
Kuhesh was no newborn cub or idiot. He knew disappointment when he saw it. The lioness was bold, and terrible at hiding her feelings. If course, that didn't mean he understood why she felt sad to see him go. Hadn't they been fighting and bickering and screaming at each other just the other day? He rose to follow her, feeling badly conflicted. He knew what he was and wasn't supposed to do. He'd also learned to always respect a female though. No, no, he shouldn't...He growled to himself. Damnit, he wanted to do this!
It didn't take very long before Amuxiahd had led him back into the rogue lands, and she was careful to avoid looking back at him the entire way. She allowed her thoughts to drift, and for a long while they lingered on an idea she didn't even want to consider. As fascinated as she was by Kuhesh, the option of leaving the Aali'makabila to be with him was not one she was willing to consider. Just as she wouldn't dare to ask him to abandon his own pride to be with her. She stopped once she was at the farthest edge of land that could still be considered near her pride, delicately folding her legs beneath her. "This is as far as I can take you."
The male's thoughts raced and wandered the whole time he was following the lioness. His mind was at war with his heart, or perhaps just his hormones, and he didn't notice her stopping. He plowed right into her from behind. "Oof! Hnn...sorry. Wasn't paying attention." He stepped around her and took a few steps more, into the real rogue lands. Which way was it? He had no idea. Heading back into the wild where no one knew you and no one cared and you could never find your way...it wasn't appealing. Something small that'd been resisting gave out in him, and he turned back. "I think...I would like to stay. One night. And go in the morning, maybe." This was wrong, but he didn't care.
