Vittorio wasn't sure how long it had been since he'd left his home lands, but he knew that with every step he took away from them the sun became a little dimmer. His life had been with the sands, temples, and jewels; now it was scattered among the landscape like so many beetles.
For a while his family had stuck with the larger group, and that was fine, until his parents had decided to move on. In a few days they would travel on across the sands to Gods only knew where, and he would be here with her. He just needed his father to understand that. "I'm not going," Vittorio stated bluntly.
Kimya's disappointment was real, and very evident. Ever since the loss of their pride he'd felt that keeping his family together was even more important now than it had been. Apparently, his son didn't feel the same. The blue lion huffed and stepped forward, giving the younger male a pointed look, as if to say 'You'll go, and you'll like it!'.
It was only when he got really desperate that Kimya tried to discipline his boys. Usually Zana did all of that, but he liked to think that he could pull his weight. Mute or not, he could get his point across.
"Hell no!" It wasn't the first time he'd cursed in front of his father, but it was the first time he'd put his paw down. "Mom's been telling us for years how you two traveled the world together to get to this place, and how you came back from the dead just to be by her side." He growled and stepped closer, going to toe to toe with the petite male. To each other they looked like worthy adversaries, but to others they were a pair of bitchy pip squeaks. "Well, I want my chance. You can't just expect me to abandon her when I'm this close to making her mine!"
Okay, so maybe he was a little further away than he thought, but at least he was closer to being mated than Liran!
Kimya took a heavy, aggravated breath. There was just no talking to Vittorio when he got like this. He'd been stubborn as a cub, determined to go his own way, and that hadn't changed as he'd grown. It was a trait that Kimya could usually admire in the boy. Usually.
He shook his head and looked up at his son, his eyes pleading this time instead of demanding. Why couldn't he see how much this would hurt? Vittorio didn't see the bigger picture now, but in the future when he was without his parents, his brothers, wouldn't he miss the unity?
Vittorio paced the sands in front of his father. Muscular ivory paws made paths in the loose grains before he was calm enough to talk, though he was far from statuary. His paws needed to move. "It's not that I don't love you you, or the others, but if I don't do this then I'll regret it for the rest of my life. I love her, dad." He looked at his father, and in that moment his father would come to understand. "I think I always have. I tried so hard to impress her when I was younger, but she never....she just...I need to try before it's too late!" Even thinking about Mirashi with another male made his blood boil.
Kimya crossed the distance between them and put his paws around Vittorio. The look on his face said it all. He did understand; more than anyone ever would. This was something he'd had to do in his youth, and as much as he wanted to, he couldn't deny his son the right to try.
"Lo...oov..vvee...you," He croaked, his voice as raspy and broken as a rumbling storm in the mountains. It pained him immensely to speak, but it had to be done.
Vittorio just stared. This was the first time in his young life that he had ever heard his father speak, and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. How could he....? He'd always thought the older lion was mute! Evidently there was more to the story than even he knew.
He smiled awkwardly, torn between glee and manly pride. Still, he leaned into the hold and gave his father the comfort he needed. "I love you too, dad. No matter how much distance there is between us, we'll always be together, right?" Was that a squeak in his voice? Surely not!
Kimya nodded. There was a time when Vittorio would ride on his shoulders, content to watch the world, but now it seemed he'd found his paws. As sad as it was for him to see the lion off, he was proud.
He broke the hold, shifted in the sand and looked over his shoulder for Zana. Surely she would want to see him off, and he could only hope that Vittorio planned on making his rounds.
What was he...? Oh, yeah, mom. "Don't worry, I didn't forget her. I've already spoken with my brothers, so she's the last one on the list because....well, saving the best for last, right?" He chuckled awkwardly. No doubt his mother would be happy for him, but he was also worried. She could either make a big deal out of the whole thing, or bypass it completely.
At least it wouldn't be as bad as his talk with Liran.
"Come on," He started to walk. "If this doesn't end well, I'll need someone to tell Mirashi."
Kimya chuckled, the word a soundless whisper on his lips. Truthfully the cub had nothing to worry about with his mother, but there was no way Kimya would spoil the fun.
Hopefully this wouldn't be the last time they met. If the Gods were merciful, it would only be the first of many run ins, and maybe in the future Vittorio would have a son of his own.
That only made Kimya smile brighter. This truly wasn't an ending; only a bitter sweet beginning.
WC: 1009
