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Umeme was watching from the bushes, using her superb tracking and stalking skills to watch over Zara. She'd been acting weird lately, though Umeme hadn't thought anything of it at first. Zara was always weird to some extent, it was just a matter of getting used to her. But what had really caught Umeme off guard, was her increased affection towards the cubs. She loved Umeme's cubs dearly, but lately she'd been very overprotective, and even a little emotional. That was when she'd begun stalking her.

Now, here she was, hidden in a bush, watching her mate pace back and forth ... FAR TOO CLOSE TO THE BORDERS! Her blood was boiling, but she wouldn't react just yet. There could be a number of reasons she was out there, none of which were good. But she would still hear her out. Further inspection showed a new side to Zara, anxious, worried, confused? Umeme tried to shrug off the feeling of discomfort she felt, but it wouldn't budge.

"And just what do you think you're doing out here all by yourself?"

Finally, she broke the silence, though she did not reveal her hiding spot. She wasn't quite ready for that. Her plan was to agitate and spook Zara, before finally revealing herself.

It took every thing she had not to begin laughing at her overreaction. It was so difficult, that she found herself biting her lip to prevent the stifles of laughter from escaping.

"That stance wouldn't scare away a hare!" She quipped, catching on to the suspicion that her mate was out here for something more than sight seeing.

"I asked you first."

She mumbled matter of factly, still waiting on her mate to answer her question.

Until then, she would lie in wait. If by chance Zara, did catch her scent, she would simply move. She wasn't an elite guard for nothing. Her feet were as swift as a cheetah's.

Well, Zara definitely had her attention now. Tilting her to the side, she tried to figure out what had gone wrong between the two. What could have happened that would require a talk so far away from their sisters..

"Alright, i'm all ears then." Her words were stiff, as she stepped out of the trees slowly. She took one glance at her mate, and offered her a shy, yet sweet smile.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

The closer she got, the more she could feel the tension surrounding Zara. It was highly uncomfortable, but also extremely worrisome. Finally, she pulled her feet under her, and stared into her mate's eyes, trying to read her mind.

"Well if that's not the most ridiculous thing i've ever heard! What about Simba, Ta-lem, and Chasi?" For a moment, Umeme was offended that Zara didn't think them her own! Of course they were her's, she had been there for them since they were only a wee little spot in Umeme's belly. Though the two hadn't confessed their feelings until just before their birth. Zara had still been there through it all. "They look at you as their Mother Zara ... Why would you not think of them as your own?"

Though Umeme prided herself on being sharp, it wasn't until Zara's final confession that she picked up on what the female was leading into. Her semi-smile fell flat and her sincere look returned. Her eyes glared into Zara's and she reverted back to her days as an elite guard .. and not a consort.

"Absolutely not. ARE YOU CRAZY?" Her tone became louder as she went, and she could feel her anger boiling within her.

"You are not going out there alone. End of discussion."

Umeme was disgusted by Zara's words, but in her heart she understood every word that Zara spoke. She never thought she would enjoy being a parent ... until she'd become one. The same was now obviously true of Zara. But that did not change her position on the subject.

"And what am I to do if you do not return? What am I to tell our cubs?" Umeme began to growl herself, trying to fight back her aggression. It was very misplaced, and Zara didn't deserve it.

"There are males out there who do not like our way of life. It is dangerous for you out there! Far more dangerous than it is for me."

As Zara moved closer to nuzzle her, it felt like all of her emotions began to melt away. Intaking a large breath of air, she slowly released it and stepped away from Zara's gentle embrace.

"Fine. Go. But if you don't return, I will never forgive you." Umeme stood there, locking Zara in her cold glare. Her tone was sincere, and she was more than certain that Zara understood that.

As the tears began to roll down Zara's cheeks, a rise of guilt grew in Umeme's chest. She had been far too hard on her mate. She just knew it. Shaking her head in disappointment she approached Zara once more and patted her paws gently, while nuzzling deep into her neck.

"No, you do not, under any circumstance, come home every night. You go out there and do your best. Return once your goal has been accomplished. I will come here everyday, sometimes with the cubs, and others alone. I will wait for you." She paused a moment, thinking of how much she agreed with Zara's words.

"It's not me i'm worried about getting hurt. I know you can do this, though that doesn't prevent me from worrying. So go now before it gets harder to say goodbye. But know this, if you are gone longer than I was on my quest .. I will go looking for you. Nodding her head, she placed a gentle lick on Zara's cheek. Effectively wiping away a few fallen tears.

She knew Zara knew how long she'd been away ... she'd seen the anxiety on her face when she'd finally returned. With anxiety like that, it was obvious the female had been counting the days with a very exact science.

Umeme accepted Zara's nuzzle, though for a bit only one thing was going through her mind. How was she going to explain this to the cubs? They were far too young to understand this part of the pride's culture, the two had decided to wait before teaching Chasi about this particular deed. But did she really have a choice now? Of course she did! She would just have to think of something to tell them, something that would be believable at such a young age. Perhaps Zara was sick? No, they would worry far too much for their own good. Business? No, the pride didn't do much business with other prides, they were very secretive in their actions.

Umeme didn't snap back to attention until Zara's mention of the cubs, at which point she merely shook her head. "You won't miss a thing, i'll tell you everything that has happened when you return." Again she nuzzled up against Zara, knowing full well her mate was now stalling.

"I know you will, now go before I change my mind." Stepping away from her mate, she walked behind her and gently nudged her in the flank a few times to get her going.