Her existence within the Bahari'mtoto had always been a quiet one. As life had moved on for several of her cub mates, some progressing into the next stage with break-neck speed, she had plodded along at much the same pace as she always had. She'd always been this way, preferring to watch the world as others meandered through their day to day duties. Yet as time had gone on she had begun to appreciate that there were some twinges in her that she hadn't anticipated. Oh they had certainly warned her that eventually it might happen, but it had come with such ferocity that it had caught her completely unawares.
"Now there's a pensive look if I've ever seen one," the voice was soft, but recognisable as one of the older lionesses. She'd grown to know her, though they had rarely spoken, she was a prominent figure among the Bahari and based on her lessons...Soleil had discovered that she had been fairly instrumental in several of the Bahari's policies. It was one of the fabled alchemists, Zephyranthes was her name and beyond that, Soleil knew very little!
"A lot on my mind," Soleil confessed with a wry smile as she turned her gaze towards the lioness. It seemed that while the pink lioness had struck up a conversation, she'd come here with a purpose, and though she might have spoken she was in the process of collecting something; seaweed perhaps?
"As does everyone who stares so glumly into the water," Zephyr replied and flicked her gaze up towards the lioness. Her gaze wasn't critical, but she certainly had a shrewd expression as she went back to her work. She'd known of that look as she'd had it at one time in her own life. It wasn't a look that lacked direction, it was simply an expression that belied a desire for something more than one couldn't necessarily achieve on their own. "So who is he then?" she asked curiously, sweeping the seaweed (as Soleil had correctly surmised) up on to the shoreline and into a nice pile nearby the paler lioness's paws.
"He?" Soleil seemed appalled, although she did have to concede that perhaps there might be something to the pink lioness's words. Did she have anyone that important to her? Had she actually crossed into that land already and not realised it, or was she simply craving it because all around her, those she'd once known, had found exactly that.
"It'll come," Zephyranthes announced after a few moments, matter-of-fact as always as she ceased in her activities and took a seat. The waves gently lapped up against her rear, soaking the tufts of fur on her legs and tail. All in all, it was a rather tranquil scene and one she could thoroughly appreciate given how hectic her life had been ever since she'd met Gus and very quickly had his children... Now that had been a whirlwind.
Soleil lifted a brow.
"It will," Zephyr smiled reassuringly. "It did for me, and it will for you; sometimes what we want isn't immediately forthcoming and it takes a while to come to the fore," she pointed out. "Once it's out there, there's no avoiding it and things fall into place from there," she added.
"I thought the aim of the game was to chase it," Soleil murmured.
"Maybe for some," Zephyr shrugged. "I was a little too busy to chase after anything, it had to walk right in to me," she stated, and by that she meant literally. He'd showed up to deliver some lost souls (including one of the Bahari hares) and it had simply gone from there. To Gus's credit, he'd done the majority of the chasing and it had been to his benefit...once she'd made the decision it simply snowballed from there. He'd wormed his way into her heart and then she'd simply made a decision.
...And promptly informed Ram of it.
Far be it for the great pride leader to refuse her demands, though she could safely say he never had. She suspected if fate was the same for Soleil, then he was unlikely to stand in the way of her happiness either, though Zephyr doubted the quieter lioness would have it in her to be quite so forceful and opinionated.
"I'm not exactly busy though," Soleil remarked, certainly not as busy as Zephyr tended to be. After all the pink lioness was often seen flitting here and there gathering something for someone, and more often than not Soleil had noticed the odd Stormborn lion slipping in to collect something. To this day, it was still a closely guarded secret as to exactly what it was the Hlare did for the Vikings.
"What others deem 'busy' is entirely personal," Zephyr dismissed her remarks. "However if you are so inclined to pursue such things, then you can certainly do so," she pursed her lips. "But if you are going to chase something, I'd suggest you work out what that something is, otherwise you'll simply be chasing your tail."
"...A valid point," Soleil admitted.
"Although if I could offer you one small piece of advice?" Zephyr hesitated briefly, but it was at times like these when the younger lions were vulnerable. When they were first seeking what Zephyr knew Soleil wanted, they were inclined to make irrational decisions and that often ended poorly for everyone.
"Yes?"
"Lust isn't love," Zephyr murmured gently and shook her head. "Take your time and don't leap in to things with your head filled with passion; take a breath and think first," she tilted her head to the side. "If it still feels right after that, then go for it."
Soleil nodded, it was true that she wanted to companionship, but as much as she loved her mother she didn't want to be subject to the scrutiny of traditionalists whether they were young or old. If she were to find her companionship, and fill that hole that she currently sought, then she was going to have to be careful. Lions her age were known for their impulsive decisions and it could spell disaster in the end. She would take things slowly, start with baby steps, and if it progressed from there and she found someone willing to walk that path with her...then she'd see where it went from there.
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