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 Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 2:27 pm
They were in the very outskirts of the swamplands, the earth turning back into dirt instead of sticky, gooey mud. The female was beginning to think that she'd never find her long-lost friend, her very first friend and one of the only lions to have ever been able to understand her. It was devastating, but she was glad that her mate, Matope, was there beside her.
Sighing, she turned her head to look at the male following her, her paws ceasing in their hurried steps. "Matope... I don't think he's here, nor anywhere close." Hani had become quite the pessimist when it came to Gana.
"I don't even think he'd like this place. It's too... muddy... for him, I think." Frowning slightly, the adult sat down and let her long tail curve around her to rest upon her paws blue-tinted paws. Rounded ears went back against her smooth skull as she turned her gaze towards the ground, that seeming to be the only thing stable in her search.
"He's not here..." There was much sadness in her voice, sadness that would probably never go away...
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Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 9:23 pm
The oozing, damp mud began to dissapear as they travelled further and further away from the swamp. Matope had started to see -- or rather, feel -- the difference between swamp and savanna, and found that he had actually grown rather accustomed to the swamplands; the relaxing, shapeable texture of the soil that resided there provided almost a mini-foot massage everytime his paws lifted up and down on his many strolls.
However, the dry ground here on the outskirts was comforting as well. It was the type of terrain he had lived on for so long. The large, brown male had a feeling that he'd be able to get used to the swamplands rather perfectly, and perhaps merely escape out here to reminisce about savanna every now and then (not that it was preferred over the heart of the swamplands, of course).
He was about to tell his lovely queen, Sehani, how much he liked this place, when she spoke aloud in a tone that he had heard her use before, but seldom experienced otherwise. Solemn sadness flowed through her words. Matope quickened his pace to catch up to her when she laid down, as to get a look at her face. It spoke as much gloom as her voice did.
Before he replied, he gently and gingerly licked the female near her ears, then said, "If... if he's not here, then he will surely be somewhere else. We can look anywhere, and travel wherever, if we have to." Matope peered into the orbs of Hani, as if trying to transmit optimistic energy. With a hardened expression, he added, "We will find him."
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Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2006 10:05 pm
Sehani didn't even glance at her mate. Her eyes were cold, emotionless, as she stared down at the ground. But they soon clouded as the feelings of a great loss began to creep up upon her and overwhelm her whole body, blacking out a few of her senses.
"I don't even know why I'm looking, Matope. This isn't even the type of place he'd stay. The mud.. he never did like the stuff." A slight sigh escaped the female's lips.
Finally looking up at her mate, she suddenly smiled. "You really think so?" she questioned, wondering if he was truly as confident as he was appearing to be. Perhaps he was, perhaps he wasn't. Hani preferred to think that he was, being as his eyes didn't even show any sign of faultering soon, and it was normally the eyes that gave away all inner feelings.
They would find Gana.
Randomly looking up, she spotted a cave. Dawn was soon approaching, and she figured that they would most likely need to settle down for the time being. Unless Matope wanted to make the journey back into the swamplands at night...
But she was also tired, exhausted even, from the days travels. It would probably be wiser to settle in for the night.
"Maybe we should turn in for now?" the female suggestioned, letting slip forth a small yawn. "My paws are aching a little, and my eyes seem to want to fall..."
Hopefully he wouldn't mind.
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Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2006 5:02 pm
The brown-colored male gazed into the eyes of Sehani. Did he really think that they could find Gana, or did he say it only because it would make her feel more secure?
Matope broke the stare for a moment, turning his head to peer out into the distant savanna, an unsteady look upon his face. No, he was sure that they would keep on searching, for finding this friend would be very important to Sehani, and the orange-maned lion would probably do just anything for his mate. He didn't know how long it would take, but strengthened by his love for the grey lioness, Matope would never give up until they found Gana.
When he let his gaze fall back onto the female, she was looking into the distance as well, but at a particular place. She suggested rest, and, truth be told, Matope wouldn't mind a short break; the travel was rather tiring.
"Perhaps we should pause our search for a brief moment, then," he replied. "We can rest at that cave, if you'd like. Are you hungry?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2006 10:13 am
Sehani noticed the unsteady looked upon her mate's face, and it worried her slightly. Had he really only said that they'd definitely find Gana to make her happy and appease her for now? The mere thought infuriated her, and so she attempted to settle herself down by thinking firmly in her head that he had meant what he said. Matope would never just say something to make her happy... that mean he thought her more of a cub than a real lioness. And that she for sure knew he didn't think.
Sighing slightly as she looked back at the male beside her, she blinked. He had practically read her mind, and she was glad that he had mentioned the cave, for she was a tad afraid that perhaps the cave was a bad choice. What if there were other creatures living there?
No, best not think about that. Shaking her head, the lioness motioned to go forward.
"Not so much hungry as tired," Hani replied smoothly, walking forward a few steps then stopping to look back at him. "Are you hungry?" If not, then they could just probably go straight to the cave and rest.
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Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 8:29 pm
"No, I'm fine. Just making sure you were alright," he replied. As Matope took a few steps towards the direction of the cave, he paused for a moment, then nuzzled Sehani gently.
"Don't worry... even if it takes forever, we will never stop searching for him."
He trodded slowly, alongside Hani, the only concern on his mind being that of Gana's being. Perhaps this short rest would do good...
But for the first time, a panging uncertainty shot quickly and swiftly through Matope's spine. It was as fast as a sprinting cheetah, as elusive as a ghost's spirit, and as mingled as a rotting carcass left out on the hot savanna, infested by hungry flies, and yet, Matope still realized it. The feeling had never come before, but it still felt like it had some degree of importance. It was a question that had to do with Gana, and more specifically, his relationship with Hani... But for the time being, the dark lion chose to merely shake it off, hoping it wouldn't return.
Matope tossed his mane, hoping the feeling would leave with it. It was a truly odd sensation, and what it meant, he wasn't sure.
"..How long do you suppose our rest should be?" he asked, trying to take his mind off the thought that never was.
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2006 6:37 pm
Sehani nodded, not minding the question one bit. And would she? She was just glad that he had thought about her well-being in a time like this... not that there was much else to think about, however. Or at least that's how it was for her. For Matope it might have been a little diferent however, what with the strange things he was feeling and such. His seemed more detailed than hers, for she merely felt a tingling sensation in her paws, one that both comforted and stung her.
Yet she ignored it, much like her love had done. It felt quite minor, and she mistook it for a tired feeling, one that was attempting to tell her that she needed rest, and quickly.
Smiling at Matope's persistance, she took a small step forward, before stopping and purring slightly as she felt him brush her. The tingling feeling came back into her paws, but again she merely shook it off for tiredness.
"Well... as long as we need, I'd think. Not for too long though, we don't want to go worrying anybody with our absence." Yet little did she know that Asali and Matope's brother would be busy with cubs! Even more little did she know that she would soon enough be busy with cubs of her own...
But again, she shook it off with a slight flick of her ear, before she turned back towards him and smiled once more. "Well then, shall we be off?"
And with that she walked to the cave, knowing that her mate would be right beside her the whole way.
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 1:27 pm
Matope nodded as he followed his queen's pawsteps, proceeding closer and closer to the cave. "I'm sure everyone will know we're alright," he added optimistically.
Right before the pair reached the mouth of the cave, the panging sensation shot through his mind again. The dark lion's eyes fell onto Sehani. She looked beautiful at the moment, but as the feeling continued to linger, he began to realize more and more that it was more of a question.
Matope loved the lioness he saw before her, and because of that, he would never want to trouble her with an annoying inquiry at a time when the both of them were rather lacking of energy. He also had no reason or need to wonder about their relationship, for, at least on his side, his feelings for Hani grew stronger and stronger every moment.
And yet, the question grew clearer and clearer as he thought more and more about Hani and her friend Gana, until its clarity became as sharp as a lion's dark claw against a pale white coat. Matope had finally realized what this unsure sensation meant.
He didn't want to add stress onto this period which was meant for rest, so he waited until they entered the cave. That was when he used the temporary silence to meticulously choose his words, then utter, "Hani... I'm curious. Gana and you... were you ever more... ever more than maybe... just friends?" He knew that the two were very close to each other, and most likely meant nearly the world to each other, and not only that, they probably shared some very special moments as well. Matope felt this odd, horrid feeling inside for having to ask a question pertaining to Gana and Hani's relationship, but he also wanted to rid himself of the doubt or possibility that had rested in his tired mind. The orange-maned lion hoped that this question would not anger Hani, and also that her trust with him would be as strong as his trust for her.
Even if Gana and Hani liked each other more than... friends before, Matope decided that it wouldn't matter, for he would keep on searching with her. Although... this might all just be useless uncertainty, and maybe he didn't even need to spare the energy to worry about such a thing. The male wouldn't know until he found out.
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Posted: Sat Apr 08, 2006 10:35 pm
Sehani flicked an early slowly in his direction as she moved onward with her mate. Things were always so calm around him, and she enjoyed his company more than anything else in the world. His optimism made her smile warmly.
"Yes, I'm sure Asali and Jabali would realize that we'd probably still be out searching," she reasoned, thinking this very possible. Why wouldn't they assume that? Many a-days now had she and the orange-maned lion spent searching for the one called Gana. Surely they would find this day to be no different from the others.
Yet as she neared the cave then eventually entered it, the female got this growing sensation in the pit of her stomach. Whether it was good or bad, she couldn't tell. It both stung and comforted her razzled nerves.
Attempting to shake off the feeling with a slight shake of her head, Hani merely sat down, facing the one she loved so dearly and wished to spend the rest of her life with. But when he asked that prodding question, her fur bristled alarmingly. What had brought that random question to his mind?
"Gana and I? No... we've always been just close friends," she replied truthfully. "I've had this one crush on him, but nothing ever went very far."
A random pause.
"Why do you ask?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 7:05 pm
When the pair entered the cave, a cool rush ran over the male's fur. It was darker than outside, but still light enough to allow Matope to look deep into his queen's eyes.
"Oh," he replied quietly. A wave that was a mixture of love, comfort, and just the slightest dash of relief passed through his spine.
His next words came with a short pause, during which he chose his words carefully. "You know... I'm not completely sure." The orange-maned lion nuzzled Sehani affectionately before continuing on. "I think... I think my... my 'cockiness,' if it's the right word, which it probably isn't... is kicking in." His speech came out a little choked, but he went on nevertheless. "I... I love you, Sehani."
Another brief pause came, then he spoke again, this time with his head turned to the ground, on which a tiny beetle was scuttering to reach a hole in the wall. "I supposed I was just worried that... when we did find Gana... oh, I dunno. I suppose... I guess my confidence is afraid of.... dropping. I'm trying to ignore it, but I think... I was afraid... t-that..." He found speaking rather difficult to do. Many times he stuttered, or was forced to move his sight from one subject to another, none of them actually being Sehani in the later rounds.
"I wasn't sure if Gana would take my dearest away from me. Not in physical means, but by means of affection, feeling, and... love."
Matope knew the feeling was wrong. This had been the only time he had felt it, and he had even tried to brush it off, but in the end, because it never left, the massive lion felt that perhaps honesty would be the best way to go, because he did truly love Sehani. None of it would affect his enthusiasm of searching for the grey lioness' lost friend.
He knew it was wrong and he felt that it was a selfish thought... and now it would be up to him to admit that.
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Posted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:31 pm
Sehani sat quietly and listened intently to what her love was saying. He seemed really flustered, and her ears flicked worriedly when it seemed that he was having trouble getting out what was on his mind. She wanted to just snuggle up to him and tell him to let it out as it wanted to come out, but she was a bit impatient herself to hear what it was he was thinking.
Torn in two between options, the female merely sat there, her eyes watching him carefully with admiration and deep feelings for the male. He had captured her heart, a thing she hadn't thought possible for anyone, not even Gana when she had crushed slightly on him.
When Matope finally got his words out, a slight frown overcame her features. It wasn't necessarily to show that she was disappointed in him or anything, or perhaps it was. She just felt a little sad that he might think she'd leave him for someone she'd had a short crush on. And that had even been a long time ago! She was an adult now, and in much more control over her emotions.
Giving herself a few seconds so she didn't burst, Hani took in a deep breath. Then she slowly let it out, the air accompanied by words.
"Matope... I would never leave you. I might pay a little more attention to Gana when we find him.. if we find him.. but my feelings for you will never change." The lioness smiled and purred as she slowly moved over towards him. Her nose touched the bottom of his chin in a loving nuzzle as she settled herself beside him.
"I love you, Matope. Nothing, I mean nothing, will ever change that."
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