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 Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 8:50 pm
Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me,
Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee;
Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day,
Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away!
Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song,
List while I woo thee with soft melody;
Gone are the cares of life's busy throng,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea
Mermaids are chanting the wild lorelie;
Over the streamlet vapors are borne,
Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn.
Beautiful dreamer, beam on my heart,
E'en as the morn on the streamlet and sea;
Then will all clouds of sorrow depart,
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!
Rengo slipped through the Kusini lands quickly and quietly, blending in very well with the night air that had enveloped the little land. Well... he would have if his mane wasn't so pink! The moon was hidden from view this night, an empty moon, but the stars were brilliant! Stars were always brilliant in the Kusini lands, that was what Rengo thought.
But he had not time to watch them, he was feeling guilty and a little ashamed. He had left Njozi to her own devices all day in the Kusini Pridelands! Alone! He'd gotten a little carried away talking with his brother Njozi as well as meeting some of his newer siblings. Still, he felt like a big jerk for not trying to find her earlier than this.
But... well.. Njozi had helped him sort out a lot of things in his mind, more solidly anyhow. He had feelings for Nafsi, strong feelings. He wasn't sure how to tell her, but he'd been convinced to at least give it a shot. If she didn't feel the same way... well Rengo could only pray to the Harvest Goddess that it would not affect their good friendship!
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 6:55 am
Green paws padded against the grasses softly as ears flickered with the soft rustle of the wind around her. It had been a while since she had last set paw in the Kusini and spent most of the day wandering around and taking mental pictures of the place. It was always good to remember all you could of places you had visited, especially since you were bound to return.
The leopardess had spent most of her day on her own, speaking only to a few of the members. Nafsi didn't mind though, not really. She enjoyed having a bit of alone time, time to think about everything, the day before, her past travels, the future and most importantly, to her, her lion companion.
She had grown attached to him, that much she definitely knew, but how deep did her feeling run? The female knew that she wanted to hold on to him, if only for a little longer. She didn't want to lose his company but was that just her feelings as a friend or something more? At the current moment she was trying to decide.
She tilted her head backward to look up at the stars that litter the night's sky. She stopped walking right then and closed her eyes, as if by doing so she could hear the voices of the wind and stars that often guided her along.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:16 am
He was going to head to some of the Kusini land marks but after a few more minutes of walking he found he didn't have to! He stopped dead in his tracks, gaze landing on the green leopardess. Lucky!
He stared at her for a long moment, his chest hurt and he was trying to think of how to actually express his feelings toward her. Oh oh it would suck if she rejected him.. He wanted to thwap Njozi in the head for ever letting him come to this conclusion!
"Nafsi." He called out softly, feeling his paws moving forward but not really believing it. No, no he should have just turned around and thought things over! "Have you enjoyed your day?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 7:29 am
Her ears twitched at the sound of his voice and she felt her heart skip a beat. Her eyes fluttered open and she turned her head toward him. She smiled softly at him. "Rengo." She said with a nod letting his name roll off of her tongue with a slight purr escaping her. "I have, these lands are rather pretty."
She turned her body and walked a few steps toward him before hesitating and stopping. She didn't know why she just did. Quickly she settled to her haunches and wrapped her tail around her paws. "How was your day?" She inquired unsure of what else to say.
This was a bit awkward and she didn't like it not at all. It felt like there was heavy air between them. "Is something wrong?" She questioned tilting her head.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:13 am
He was glad she hadn't been bored at all, or upset with him for being gone so long. Well she did like her alone time, everyone did! Right?
She started to come near him and then stopped, sitting and waiting. He came slowly toward her and sat himself beside her, smiling slightly as he looked up at the billions of little stars all above them. This was relaxing, the stars. "It was okay. I met the new little ones my mother and father had.." He said slowly. "Some of them anyhow." His ear twitched and he smiled softly while thinking about them. Cubs were adorable, weren't they? His tail flicked and he could feel the awkward tension as well but he didn't know what to say in it.
Ah, but Nafsi was pushing him to the point. "N-no... nothing is really wrong." He said carefully. Was he ready? No... no not at all. "You know our history revolves a lot around the stars. It was said long ago that we're born from stars." He said slowly and then chuckled. "Which is of course a little... silly now since we all know how cubs are born between a male and female.."
He faltered and then stopped talking. That was probably the most awkward thing he could bring up at a time like this! "Er still. It was a beautiful myth. The sky over the Kusini lands has always been so beautiful, it was very soothing when I was a cub. The Harvest goddess favors us on nights like these, when everything is so beautiful.." He glanced at her, trying to work himself up to actually tell her!
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:33 am
"So then a surprise was waiting for you here, new siblings." Nafsi replied thinking back to one of their previous conversations. Having young siblings around must be fun, but she didn't know having only had one brother who was the older of the two. "Was it a pleasant meeting?" She asked trying to move things along.
She frowned and furrowed her brow and his reply. Something was wrong, but if he didn't want to tell her it was fine. She could tell by the way he changed subjects and only said that nothing was really wrong, meaning there was something...right? She decided against pressuring him for an answer, he would tell her when he wanted to there way no reason to rush it.
"It probably means that the first of each species was a gift from the stars. That our very first ancestors were born from the stars. After all how can we come into existence if there isn't already something existing to form us?" She asked in a slightly dreamy tone. "Though you do have a point my pink maned friend." She tilted her head backward to look up at the stars once more. He was right, there was something about them and the area they were in so much prettier than other places she had been in. It was as if the night's sky was darker giving them more to shine against.
"This night is beautiful isn't it? Almost like something you could only find in a dream..."
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:44 am
He nodded slowly. "It was alright, nothing too special." He admitted. He wondered why he had been so shocked that his parents had more cubs at first. But his parents loved each other very much, it was only natural to want to fill the den again when their first 'little ones' were starting to leave, right?
He cleared his throat and just kept nodding to the things she was saying, his mind was a little distant. Maybe a little foggy. His mouth felt dry and his heart was hammering against his chest. Now or never!
"Nafsi.." He said quietly, this time looking directly at her. "I think that... uhm... over all the time we've spent together... I've... developed more than friendly feelings for you." He rushed the last part, but there you had it! He said it! Way to be romantic about it Rengo >_>.
He kept quiet after that, just watching and waiting. If she rejected him he told himself it would be okay, they could still journey together and be friends and all that!
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:57 am
Nafsi nodded deciding to let the subject drop, Rengo didn't seem to interested in continuing it. After that she started to space a bit, thinking about everything.
When he called her name she turned her attention fully back to him. "Yes?" She instantly fell silent with his sudden rush of words. Her heart started to pound and she found herself at a loss for words. Had he really said what she thought he said? It had to be, now that she thought about it and all of the hints he must have left in most of their conversations.
"I...I..." She tried to speak but she was having a difficult time doing so. She wanted to respond so badly but she had a hard time finding the right words. "Do you really mean it?" She finally said in a whisper as if he was just toying with her feelings, something she knew he'd never do but she had to be sure. "Because....because...I....think that I have..." Her voice trailed off. What was she having such a difficult time?! "I have too." She finally finished.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 9:14 am
He smiled really broadly and started to purr, nodding. "Yes, yes I do!" He said, quite firmly yet still quietly. Oh how great it felt to have her say that she also shared these feelings!
But what now? His tail flicked and hesitantly and unsure of himself he moved to nuzzle her neck slightly. "That makes me so happy Nafsi.." He whispered.
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Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 5:46 pm
Nafsi smiled broadly at the male before her and returned his nuzzle with one of her own. "I'm so glad you do.." She whispered into his ear just breathing in the scent of him. It felt so nice to have him there and to know he cared about her the way he did. "It makes me happy to Rengo....so very happy." Her voice was hushed and she just wanted to stay in that moment.
"To be honest I was scared...." She mumbled not going into full detail, perhaps he would know what she meant without her telling him. Surely he had those fears too right? The fear that he wouldn't except her feelings because she was too 'old' or something like that.
Her heart still pounded but slowed ever so slightly going only a bit faster than normal.
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 6:22 am
He just smiled and laughed, snuggling into her side comfortably. This was... so much easier than being confused about his feelings!
"So was I." He whispered, tilting his head up to watch the stars. "Terrified, actually." His tail curled around her slowly, easily. Ah but... how was he supposed to tell his mother? Oh he could worry about that later! He should enjoy this!
"So.... you'll be my mate, right?" He asked softly, but there was no hesitation in this. He grew up in families surrounded by mated pairs, he thought that was only the right thing to do, even if they had both shared their feelings for each other.
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 7:58 am
Nafsi nodded into his neck before pulling back to look at his smiling face. "Of course." She paused to nuzzle him again. "I wouldn't have it any other way...." This day seemed perfect now.
"After we see everything that you want to see do you want to keep traveling or would you rather settle down?" She was fine with either of the two options, it wasn't as if they couldn't go back and forth between the two but she wanted to know, because it was always good to know things like that.
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 2:18 pm
"Well... after the jungle I think I would like to see the mountains." He said, quietly. His words were calm and comfortable. "Have you been to them ever?" That would be a long trip.
His left ear twitched. "But to be honest... afterwards I would like to come back here... if you wouldn't mind too horribly much." He wouldn't, if that was what she truly wanted.
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:46 pm
"Only once but I was but a cub then." Nafsi replied softly. "I don't remember much of it." There were a few places she hadn't been to, or had but remembered very little and the mountains were one of them. She couldn't even remember why they had left the jungle that day to go there. What ever the reason had been it had been important, she was sure of it.
She shook her head. "I wouldn't mind at all, these lands are beautiful. Besides you didn't spend as much time as you should have when you were younger." She paused crinkling her nose. "I suppose that's my fault though." If coming back to these lands would make her new-found mate happy she would do it. It would probably make Ny happy too and she didn't want to remain on bad terms with the small lioness forever. "I'd follow you anywhere Rengo."
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 4:16 am
Then they could explore it together, couldn't they? He smiled and continued to purr, a slight yawn breaking apart his maw. He was getting tired! But he wanted this to last.
"It's not your fault." He said quietly but firmly. It was no one's fault. "It's honestly not something you or I should be faulted for." He stated, and then smiled at her. His ears perked and he laughed. "I always thought the same thing about you." He said pleasantly. He'd follow her anywhere.
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