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'Too many paths, too many decisions. SO MUCH TIME!'

The thoughts continued to pound through the lion's head as he attempted to put he and his companion back on the right track. Not that she even knew they were lost. Well, maybe she did, but she hadn't said anything to him about it. To which he was greatly appreciative, he knew he wasn't the best navigator but she didn't know where they were going!

A low growl erupted from the male's throat as he became more annoyed with the circumstances. He knew that tree, they'd passed it at least twice already. It was a weakling of a tree, far smaller than others of the area, definitely not fit to survive the harsh environment it lived in. In a way, he felt sorry for it, but in another way entirely he wanted to rip it to shreds.

As the growling of his chest subsided, Ulimi heaved a sigh and rose his nose to the air, before looking back pathetically at his partner in crime. He didn't like to admit defeat, so perhaps he could play it off. He just had to figure out how.

Somehow having her near him made him feel slightly less tense with the given situation, but nothing would entirely wipe out his feeling of worthlessness. She had put her faith in him and he'd ripped it to shreds. As he attempted to look her in the eye, he found it near impossible. His guilt truly was eating him alive.

Sighing heavily, the male took a step closer to his companion and plopped onto his rump. Expecting her to do the same. "Yeah, just a small one though. Taking a long one would just be a waste of our time." Which wasn't entirely true considering he'd been wasting their time for quite some time. What with not knowing where they were going and all. Again his guilt began to eat him alive. "Unless you're tired or something. Then it wouldn't be a waste of time so much as stupid to continue." He responded quickly, standing on his feet once more and parading around Nefertari checking her over for weakness and imperfections. He couldn't find much to be honest, though his opinion of her had changed since their original encounter. His tongue had formed a bias to her, and his heart had as well. though he knew she wasn't entirely perfect. For once he found himself somewhat capable of holding back.

"So what do you say - short break - or long break? It's entirely up to you my dear. I can find numerous faults in either plan though - in case you'd like to hear them."

Staggering back as she placed a paw in his path, Ulimi was taken aback. He hadn't really counted on her agreeing or disagreeing with him. Truthfully, he didn't really know what he expected of her most of the time. She was quite an unpredictable a female, and he rather liked that about her. She was sweet, accepting, and had a heart of gold. He didn't deserve the right to stand by her side as a travel companion, much less anything else. Which made his thought process even more cluttered. He knew he shouldn't be falling for her, but his heart didn't really give a damn what he thought. He was a brash, brute who deserved nothing more than the infamous females he'd met on his journey, nothing near what Nefertari was.

Shaking himself out of another stupor, he smiled slightly at the female before stepping back from his staggered position. "Alright then, just a short one though. We didn't come out here looking for trouble, I would hope we won't find any." He paused a moment before continuing. "And with you tagging along, i'm sure we're bound to bump into some trouble eventually." He looked away from her face, noticing her tail flitting behind her slowly. There was something about it, that attracted him, but he could never even begin to place his paw on it...

"Well look at you calling the shots." A wide grin spread across the male's face as he looked back into her eyes. They were so enchanting, he could look into them hours, though they were definitely not as gorgeous as that confounded tail ... "If you keep up that attitude you may not need me anymore." He shot a wink back at her, feeling his heart nearly skip a beat at her wink. It was an annoying, and agonizing sensation, but it felt so great. He didn't want to lose it, but he couldn't allow them to run free. She wasn't meant for him, it was as simple as that.

Shrugging off the ache in his heart, the male went back to looking around the scenery, trying to avoid eye contact with her as much as possible. At least until his heart could calm a little. In the meantime, he'd recalculate their location. He was missing something simple in his directions, and if he could just figure out what, they wouldn't be lost much longer..

Ulimi winced at her words, it was a little painful to realize she could leave him at any moment. Yes, she had promised to travel with him to the pride, and to follow him elsewhere if that was his intention. But, such feeble words could be changed in an instant all she needed was the right male to come along... No, he didn't want to think too far into it. "Or perhaps since you're such a leader today you'll leave me here alone while I catch come rest? Suddenly, I don't feel so tired anymore.." He smiled forcibly, knowing his words were true, but unsure whether she would take them as a joke or not. He hoped she'd catch the joke, though she was a rather sharp lioness..

'Dammit.

I'm screwed.'

He thought to himself as he continued to survey the landscape. If he didn't shut his mouth soon, he was going to end up losing her sooner rather than later! So lost and trapped within his own insecurities, he had no time to catch onto her statement's hidden meaning. Much less decipher it.

"Hmm, you're right this place is unnaturally dry. Makes you wonder what lions would actually choose to stay here.... Weird ones no doubt." He turned mid rant, and noticed the female's new stance, what on Earth was she doing? Obviously not attempting to fight him, her stance was terrible.

Holding onto his tongue wasn't worth it anymore, he simply had to laugh at her, and laugh he did. "I hope you aren't planning to defend yourself against would be kidnappers with that stance." He paused to take a breath between giggles. "It's much too loose! See, this is how you should be standing."

Ulimi crouched himself down, allowing his butt to point upwards just as hers did. His stance was just a flimsy, if not more flimsy than her own but wasn't that the point? She was trying to play with him ... right?

"Come on, show me what you're made of." He mumbled, his tail swaying back and forth happily. "Or I may just be the one to lock you away on some cliff for eternity!"

Ulimi laughed slightly at her comment. "Yes, while you may be right that we are here now. We don't intend to stay here. Do we?" He purred lightly as he continued to tease the female with his stance. "After all, you're calling the shots right?" He growled contently as he watched her movements. Waiting for the perfect moment to take her off guard and run away forcing her to chase after him.

But instead, she brought up a more interesting challenge. A prize to the winner? Oh he was up for that, but what exactly should he demand should he be the winner? And what exactly would she ask for if she won? Would she ask to be let out of her promise? Was that what this whole thing was about? He couldn't think about it, he just had to win. If he won, he could demand she stay with him and be his! But did he really want to force her paw like that? Force her into a life she may altogether be against? His mind said one thing, but his heart said another.

This love thing - was pretty damn agonizing. But one look at that lovable face and that tail and he knew it was worth it.

Picking up right where she'd left off, Ulimi purred his response back allowing his body to playfully sway back and forth, hoping to tease her with his tail as much as she teased him with hers.

"Whatever it is you desire I suppose." He grinned a wide grin, lowered his paws once more and pounced very lightly onto the female. Pinning her at the shoulders, and grinning from ear to ear. "Tell me - exactly what is it you desire most?" The male leaned into her face gently, and then backed away just as quickly rolling onto his back and glancing over at her. He might as well let her win. If he didn't, she might never tell him.

Ulimi purred softly as Nefertari softly pinned him to the ground. Maybe he shouldn't give her what it was she truly wanted. He had to admit, he was enjoying himself with her just the way she was...

With a slight laugh, Ulimi put on a very thoughtful expression as he looked to the sky. "Well, barring any insult or injury, I suppose I would." He smiled again looking up at her. After all, if you were to harm me, how would I lock you away on that cliff? He paused once more. "Or even worse - How would you make your way along without me? I imagine you'd be terribly distraught if something were to happen to me."

Rolling out of her easy grasp once more, Ulimi lay relaxed on his back. Tail thumping, and a steady purr still rolling through his throat. "So, are you going to tell me, or do I have to force it out of you?" He winked happily, lost in a bit of ecstasy he hadn't experienced before. If he could just stay in this moment - he imagined he'd die a happy lion.

Caught off guard by her simple response, Ulimi's face twisted into sheer confusion. Were his affections for her truly that obvious? Even worse, did she care so little that she'd write off his attempts with such a strange and simplistic response. And who the hell was this other male she spoke of?!

His fur bristled along his back as Nefertari jumped to her feet and dashed away. He was hurt to put it simply. Her comment had gotten deep into him and really quickly at that. She really was planning to leave with another male, even knowing that he cared for her so much.

Completely lost within his own thoughts on her comment, Ulimi didn't even notice her playful chase, or her comment about force. He was just too sidetracked now. How could she say something like that? His mood had been so full of life lately that he'd had little time to focus on his constant search for perfection. But now, it seemed like that bubble had been burst. His heart was heavy, but his hopes still held pretty high. If he couldn't win her over with sheer affection, he would have to think of another plan. Afterall, she wasn't allowed to walk into his life, have such a strong affect and then merely walk out!

Strong in his will, Ulimi looked up from the ground, and noticed Nefertari looking back at him playfully, to which he responded in an entirely different way. "Would you really like that? For another male to steal you away from me?" He bit down on his lip to prevent further stupidity from escaping. This was a terrible idea, to spill his emotions to a female, but somehow it felt oddly right. "I don't think it would be quite as simple for him to take you as you might think. I can be very overprotective, and not just any male would be right for you. No - he'd have to be pretty damn perfect."

'Bah, perfect. There's no such thing, She should just settle for me, i'll give her everything she could ever ask for and more.'

The words echoed through the lion's mind as he awaited his partner's response. Fearful of exactly what that response might be.

The words hit him like a brick, leaving him both dumbfounded and extremely confused. If she thought all of things, why hadn't she told him sooner? Why on Earth was she stringing him along like her favorite toy? Then it hit him, that's exactly what she'd been doing. He couldn't rightly blame her for it, he'd been stringing along females for quite some time now. Until she'd popped into the picture... She had changed him, in a way he wasn't entirely ready to look into. Whether he enjoyed that special feeling in his heart, or would grow to hate it as time made it's toll; he truly didn't know. But he did know, that he wouldn't give her up even if that was her one wish. Sure, he would tell her he would. But when she decided it was time to finally leave, he'd always be there - in the shadows watching for even the slightest chance to jump back into her life.

His face began to radiate heat as he stood awestruck, his mouth slightly agape and his mind running over her words for sincerity. He didn't really know what to say back, he was simply too confused and shocked by her words. Elated? YES! But his mind had simply been taken over by shock. He could hear himself mentally willing his tongue to spout out something, but for once it remained a silent killer. Until, she tucked herself gently into his mane. It was then that he realized he felt complete. Oddly complete, and even though his lifelong search for perfection had never been completed. It still made him feel whole.

"I-I ......... you too." He mumbled quietly. Almost embarrassed to admit his own feelings. He knew she wouldn't find comfort in his weak uncommitted words, and so he forced himself to be stronger, and fight past his weak petty embarrassment.

Reaching a paw slowly from the ground, he wrapped it awkwardly around her back, holding her closer to him. Flinching in fear that she might retract her admission. "I love you too... Nefertari. And I don't know what i'd ever do if you chose to leave me." He buried himself into her shoulder as well, enjoying her scent and the warmth she provided.

"Thank you..." He mumbled sincerely. Unsure of exactly who he was talking to, but full aware of what he was grateful for.