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"I just don't get it Mlinzi! You always seem to have a girl hanging onto your shoulder, how do you do it?" Frustrated and a little depressed, Mezlijin paced around the enclosure the two had stopped in his movements making patterns in the dirt. "I try and try and try, but girls just don't seem to like me at all." Mezlijin paused a moment, his heart dropping in his chest. "Do - You don't think its because i'm a hybrid do you?" The tone in his voice, pleaded for his friend to lie to him, but he knew he never would. Mlinzi was known to be an avid truth teller, nothing anyone could ever do to him would make him tell a lie. But he prayed his friend wouldn't deal him heart crushing blow.

"It has nothing to do with you being a hybrid, don't be so ridiculous!" The slightly older male, lazily tossed his paw at the leopon in dismissal. "And don't you dare turn me into some ladies man. I hardly even know the females who flock to me, half the time it isn't even welcome." Of course his statement was partially a lie. He always welcomed friendly attention, though alot of the time females were after a different type of attention. An attention he wasn't willing to give most of the time. "You're too young to worry over females, don't give yourself a heart attack - my herbs can't cure one of those." Mlinzi laughed at his own small joke, before looking into this friend's eyes. He was obviously torn, but what was there that he could do for that?

"Oh don't give me that! You always have a huge smile on your face when they come around. Its like they're hypnotizing you or something. It drives me crazy!" Mezlijin kicked the dirt from under his feet in anger.

Anyone with eyes could see he was jealous – but Mlinzi didn't have eyes. Or at least, not eyes that worked all that well. It also didn't help that he'd known this leopon since his birth. He had long since looked over his faults, not that jealousy ever would have bothered him before this. Mlinzi let out a heart laugh, attempting to stifle it with all of his will, which turned out to be very unsuccessful. “I don't necessarily have a 'huge grin' on my face because i'm happy. You see, ladies just love attention, and tend to get upset when you turn them down. You should NEVER turn down a lady, Mezlijin. No matter how unattracted to her you may be. You must always be a gentleman.” Minzi paused for a moment thinking over his words, “Of course, there are limits to your manners, but you should get the idea what i'm speaking of..” He had to admit, it wasn't his place to teach his friend the birds and the bees, so he was winging it at this point – embarrassing and annoying. Why couldn't we just be born knowing these things? Well it would likely ruin childhood for nearly everyone ... sighing he shrugged his shoulders, just as the leopon jumped in with a rebuttal.

“No, I actually have no idea what you mean.” Mezlijin sat staring his friend down, a look of pure confusion on his face. The heck was Mlinzi going on about this time? Maybe he'd eaten some weird herbs again? It was highly possible, in fact it was something he was known for. He may be a wise lion in some respects, but when it came to new herbs, he simply had no sense, but to eat. “You're telling me to always use my manners, but then you're saying not to...” Stumped, Mezlijin could do nothing but stare down his older counterpart.

“Mezlijin, I happen to know your father taught you some tricks of his trade.” The older lion sighed, pawing himself in the face in exhaustion. He really didn't want to have this conversation, but it seemed to be looking more and more like he had little choice in the matter. “You know how you came to have so many siblings – now put two and two together.” Outstretching his paws, Mlinzi touched the two together, enunciating his words with body language.

“OH!” Well, if he hadn't felt like an idiot before, he did now. “So you're saying I should treat them nicely, but the choices I make past that are my own?” Those were simple enough words to live by. But he still didn't think Mlinzi was telling him the full truth. “But that's now what you do Mlinzi! I bet you have a litter of cubs somewhere in this pride!” Mezlijin snorted loudly, his brash thoughts getting the better of him for a second. Come to think of it ... he'd never seen any cubs who resembled his partner in crime. But he'd been seen with dozens of ladies.. Something didn't add up, but Mezlijin's brain wasn't quite quick enough to eat his words, before the damage had been done.

He wasn't sure what to say to that comment. In fact, the idea that it was even brought up took him off guard. It had been a growing fear of his for a while now, something he had buried deep down and kept to himself. But now it seemed his fears were starting to attract the attention of other as well. It was true that of all the ladies he'd been with, not a single litter had been birthed with his right to Fatherhood. It pained him to know this, because all he wanted out of the world was to share himself with them. To father a litter of lions before his time expired. Something he felt could come at anytime. But so far nothing had come of that, despite his best efforts. Could it be that his cubhood illness had truly had that strong of an effect on him? As to altar his ability to reproduce as an adult. NO! He didn't want to accept that, and wouldn't. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him. Brows furrowed, Mlinzi managed to pull himself for his own thoughts. A look of crushing defeat evident in his eyes. He knew his friend hadn't known any better when he spoke. But he didn't want to talk about it any further either.
“Some guys just have all the luck ... I just happen to have alot less. You'll be an Uncle before you know it Mezlijin.” Forcing himself to his paws, with no more words necessary, he stood and walked away.

Watching with a sullen look in hos eyes, Mezlijin simply stared at Mlinzi as he walked away. He had no true words to speak, obviously he had said something he shouldn't. But he had no idea anything he could ever say would have that effect on Mlinzi – OF ALL LIONS! As Mlinzi faded off into the jungle once more, the leopon was left to reflect on his words, and the words he had been left with. Time would only tell how long it would take him to realize the error of his ways.

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