He drew back in surprise at the heat of anger in her eyes. Her parting words were so full of rage and hurt, he was baffled. What had he done? Was it really so hurtful to her that he did not wish to be her young dalliance? A flash of consideration for giving in to her a little preceded a strong sense of rightness. No, this was the way it should be, as unfortunate for her as it was. Despite his words otherwise, he was the Warlord's son, and needed to remember that sometimes. It wasn't proper for him to tag along after an aging lioness like a wild dog in heat. What beauty she had could have been so augmented by real affection, honest emotion, and less of whatever had flared at him so suddenly.
Confused, conflicted, and strangely troubled, he turned to pad slowly back to his den. As he walked, he concluded that matters of the heart really would have to be put to the side until he managed to get his fighting career on track. He had no time for girls, or at least, he'd make sure he didn't. This whole love business was entirely too complicated for him to mess with right now!
