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 Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 2:37 pm
 Noyana felt much happier since she got to stay with Mat. She couldn't understand it and her mind was always wrestling, but it was certainly better than straining her eyes for a spot on the horizon. The oddest of things were happening to the lioness recently... She was doing things that, not long ago, she had told herself she'd never ever do... Ever. She had thought Mat cute, heck, she even avoided dirt if she could to keep her coat as clean as she could. She couldn't understand it, yet something in her knew exactly what it was... And slowly, Noyana's heart and her mind were getting to be on the same page. She had feelings for Mat. Not just feelings, but lovey feelings. She found it cute how he always tried to hide things, like being discrete about the way he cared for her -- telling her to go home when all he wanted was for her to be tucked away somewhere safe. She was catching on to his subtle signs, and it altered the way she acted too. Could it really be true? Could the male really care for her? She shook her head as she stared out over the grasslands, unsure of what to think, or how to act, or what to do. She was pretty sure that if she blurted it out, she'd feel better, she was growing tired of bottling these emotions up. She snarled almost inaudiably at that thought. Emotions, they were fine until they got all frilly like hers had. She vigorously shook her head again, hoping to get those stupid ideas out, but with no success.
She sighed and silently accepted it. She couldn't stay a tomboy forever, eventually the estrogen in her got the better of her. She determined, though, that this meant in no way that she should turn all weak. In some instances, she supposed it would be alright to be soft, but in others, she could still be her normal self.
Now all she needed was Mat to talk to... to tell that secret to, if he'd listen. This was so... humiliating.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:13 pm
Mat laid upon his back, taking up a good deal of the room in the burrow, snoring rather softly. Something he had started to do since his time away from home. Before it was just a quiet breathing, now it was the rather obnoxious sleeping habit. Perhaps he found it masculine, either way, he did it. A sudden twinge on his side made him scratch idly before opening his eyes a sliver. His paw fell over to feel nothing. Normally, he would think nothing of it, just more room for him... however, his mind spun. Where was Noy? He sat up rather swiftly before looking around him; she was gone but her scent was still around. She was still here... or was her scent from the day before still here? . . . His mind thought of what she could have done or went to do. She could have just gone out to hunt... she seemed to like to do that. She could have gone out to get more water for him... Or she could have headed back home. The latter was the best option he knew of, better safe at home than out here with him. He rested his head back down and purred to himself. That was until he had another thought; his father. Immediately, he jumped up and headed up, bumping into the side of the very female he was just thinking about.
"Umf!" he yiped, falling a ways back. Mat's emerald eyes glanced at her yellow form. He scowled, as usual, and scoffed.
"What are you doing up so early?" looking around in another paranoia fit, cautious of anything that could be near. Mat took the time to stretch out some rather sore muscles that he has not used in such a long time. Doing so was able to show of rather nicely developed muscles and a scarred, dirty pelt. His yawn revealed his rather sharp fangs that were just ready to break something, his claws extending to show how dangerous this male was... if he ever meant it.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:22 pm
Despite how loud Mat's snoring was, Noyana was a heavy sleeper too, and had learned quite quickly how to block it out, so she didn't notice when he woke up. She did, however, notice when he ran into her, sending her lurching forward. She caught herself, but the feather fell out from behind her ear. She picked it up between to toes and promptly tucked it back behind her ear before she answered his question.
"I was just thinking, Mat. Don't worry, I took a detailed look around before I came out," she said before he had the chance to scrutinize her on this point. Her eyes scanned the horizon again before she turned back to him, just in time to see him stretch. She always took the chances she could to see how his wounds were healing up without being obvious. At this point, Noy thought to herself, I'd say they're as healed as they'll get. "What are you up so early for?" she asked, avoiding the topic she'd been mulling over for as long as she could to think of how to word something as awkward as that.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:43 pm
He licked his lips before looking back at her.
"At least you picked that up already..." he sighed and sat as well as he could, his head not held up too high, but it was alright. He did not want to seem like some oh so powerful now that he knew he wasn't. His father's beating instilled a lot of thoughts into his head, something he never wanted. He was afraid... he knew he was afraid now that he had to look around everytime he got a chill down his back. He always thought he was the strongest around, able to take down anyone, able to kill anything... meeting his father and losing, that was not so much of a fact. He sighed and got up to his feet again, walking around a bit, but not far from her. It seemed like a pacing but it was not the tradition back and forth, he just roamed around rather aimlessly, his limp was still there but only every other step.
"Well, you weren't next to me so I thought you either went hunting or to get water. Then I thought you went home, at least then you wouldn't be out here with me," he paused in talking, but kept on moving. "But then I thought my father could have gotten to you. You do know I am serious about this, right? My father will kill you if he had the chance."
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:59 pm
"I know you're serious, Mat." Noyana said truthfully. She always felt really bad for him when she saw him jerk awake and peek outside. Noyana had never lived in fear, though she was getting to get there. She remembered what he had looked like... covered in blood on the ground seemingly dead... that always struck fear into her. Though she had jokingly teased Mat about being smaller in the past, he had grown well past her size. If he wanted her dead, there would be nothing she could do. Imagine, someone stronger even than that. She would've shuddered but he would've noticed, so she kept it inside.
"Mat..." she said, "I worry about you, you know. That's why I came out here in the first place... And that's why I won't leave you. Do you know how awful I'd feel if something happened to you while I was safe back in the Pridelands? I wouldn't be able to live with myself." She said, pawing the ground for a moment. "Mat, I..." She sighed. Now or never. "I think I love you," she avoided eye contact with him, really unsure of what to expect.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:21 pm
"Well if you know I am serious then why are you still out here. I don't care that you can't live with yourself. Just go home! I don't care if you lov-" his paw fell. Wait... what was that? For once in his life, the very first time ever did his blood flow differently than it did. Usually it only flowed similar to this when he was angry with rage, ready to tear something apart... but here... here it was as if he just fell over a bone and all his siblings saw him. However, it wasn't humiliation or embarassment... well, perhaps a little but it was something more! His cheeks flushed a crimson read similar to those of his siblings. Something was caught in his throat that prevented him from talking. Something stopped him from thinking. Those three words played over in his mind over and over; over Tufah's words. Over his mother's scoldings. Over Tahka's mockery and taunting. Over his father's warnings.
"You... love... me?" he questioned. He looked down at his paws, scratching the back of his neck trying to think of something to say. He knew the word, he loved his brothers. He loved his sisters. He loved his mother. But never ebfore had anyone said that they loved him. Why would they? He was a rough person with a rather sharp tongue. He found her annoying and she was always persistant!
"You know... you could have found Shou or Haiba better than me..." he muttered, actually stuttering. She was the one who had followed him out of here, found him half dead after his mauling. She had no reason to have done so but she did... "I mean, Shou's nicer and Haiba fits you better..." She did hunt for him... Tufah did that for him, but she was his sister... "You do know I am not very social like Tufah..." She did get him water when she told her not to go... well, in a way. "You know I am a rough male, I-I can hurt you anytime..." She did stay with him....
CRAP! He was getting that stupid feeling too!
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:36 pm
Part of her had expected a rant about how not to do that ever again... that he was humiliated by her, but part expected something nicer, though she couldn't tell what. His reaction emboldened her enough, though, to explain herself. "Yes, Mat. I love you," she didn't look away this time when she said it. A sheepish grin crossed the lioness' face and she blushed before she looked away.
"Shou and Haiba are nice guys, don't get me wrong Mat, but... I... I don't... I don't feel the same when I'm around them as I do around you. They're good friends, that's how I feel around them. I know you're not like Tufah, and I'm fully aware that you could beat me to a bloody pulp if you wanted, but would you?" She chuckled, more to force herself to go on than a laugh at the situation. "Somehow, I know you wouldn't. I feel it strongly; you wouldn't beat me up. i don't know about you," she said, though it was a blatant lie, she had a decent feeling she knew this well, "But I love you." She smiled again, embarassed. She, too, had managed to blush so it was visible through the fur.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 5:00 pm
Mat grabbed his head, trying to push the thoughts out of his head. Why her? He was of sacred, true royal blood! He had a higher standard! ... but she was strong... she was a good hunter... and caring... But love!? Did he love her? Could he love her? Shaking his head he let out a mighty roar before stalking back into the den. He sat in the darkness trying to sort his thoughts. She loved him. She has told him three times in a single moment. Was she sure? She even confirmed it! She got along with Shou and Haiba. She didn't feel the same way around them as she did him. She knew that he wasn't like Tufah, social and all that and that he could hurt her if she wanted to. But she thought he couldn't hurt her?
"If you want to see proof that I can't hurt you? Get down here and see for yourself, I'll show you that I can!" he cried back out.
... he had to swallow his pride and do what must be done. he had to accept the truth that she could be wrong about him. He was a lion of Taka's bloodline, the true lions of teh Pride Land royals. He may not be the smartest, but he was one of the strongest in the litter and he was going to prove it.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 5:06 pm
"I know that you can, Mat," she said as she went in as he had said. She had full faith that he wouldn't. "I know you can, I don't think you will," She expected a slap in the face with a claw-filled paw, though. She awaited it as she descended into darkness... It would not change anything in her mind. Noyana had more than once been booted with a sharp hoof by a beast fighting for it's life... unless he was planning on murdering her, she didn't imagine it could be too much worse. Maybe it could, maybe not. She kept those opinions silent as she sat and waited for whatever it was he was planning on doing.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 5:27 pm
Mat roared and swiped at her hitting her, however, something he never saw himself ever doing, he licked her where he hit. He remained in silence for a second as his paw remained on her shoulder. It was not the strongest the could have hit her with; in truth, he had mixed feelings about it. He wanted to hit her to show her that he meant it. But these feelings prevented him like a fist being held back by another's hand.
"I can hurt you, Noy... I will hurt you sometimes..." he murmured, looking down at his paw. "But I like you too..."
He looked up at her and licked her quickly again over where he had hit.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 5:44 pm
It was a good thing Noyana had prepared herself for a blow, even though it still caught her off guard a little. It was a blow dealt hard enough to push her to the side with the momentum, but since she had braced for it, she didn't fall over. She felt warmth gush to the area, he'd drawn blood, but she didn't know how much. She didn't whine, not a tear came to her eye from the pain, she had gritted her teeth and taken the blow silently, and now had to unset her jaw. Like she had predicted, it was much like a hoof of something fighting for it's life, only a bit worse.
"I already knew you could hurt me," she said, a little agitated that he actually had the nerve to hit her, but she left it there. She knew he could've done worse, so she didn't complain much about that either.
Her anger dissolved as he licked her. She knew he regretted it, if only a little bit. "I can get it," she said softly, pulling away a bit. She didn't need someone to lick her wounds, she could do it herself. She wasn't a wuss. She didn't mind Mat doing it, though, truth be told.
She let out one big sigh before she heard his words... '... But I like you too...' She blushed again and smiled at him before she started to clean her cuts herself.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:11 pm
Mat watched her paws leave the area of his, his heart twinged a bit, but nothing that bothered him. He looked at her fur turn a slight orange color. She was... blushing? It made Mat smirk a bit that he something over her, though it sort of made him feel bad, making him want to comfort her.... What was he thinking!? He thought about why again and again, why did she love him so much? She liked his family; there was three others to choose from, Tahka the wise and cunning, if not a trickster, Shou the smart and strong, if not nice, and Haiba the cute and soft but cunning one. Why did she choose him? They had only met her once before all of this; so why was it so hard to comprehend? He glowered to himself before looking over at her.
Her deep yellow fur, one too deep to be related to the Royal family. She was a rogue, a strong one too... her blood must be a good one for she was probably a great hunter. She was caring and... he was getting nowhere with this! He was only going in circles and it just ended up complimented everything she did! Her fur was yellow, her markings were strange, but interesting. Why couldn't he think negatively of her easily anymore!? She was annoying! She was persistant! She was a... was a... why!?
He growled and came to her side again, nudging her.
"Why do you love me, huh? What is so special about me, of all of siblings?" he growled, but not much of a threat but to tell her that he was serious about what he was asking. "I want to know exactly why you like me... everything." his voice sort of died off at the end at 'everything'.
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:32 pm
"Well," Noyana said, starting to ponder where to start and how to word things. "Mat... You care for my wellbeing, whether you like to say you do or not. You keep a hard exterior on, but I can see that deep under that rough outside, you really care about those around you. You care so much that you're willing to risk your life to counter your father, you're willing to be alone in exchange for my safety. You said you sent Tufah to deliver the message, why don't I see Tahka, Ru, and Haiba out here willing to help save their family too? I don't see that determination in them that I see in you." She said, hoping she wouldn't rile his anger at the criticism of his brothers. "Besides that, even if you say you couldn't save me from your father, I feel safe around you. Plus, you don't treat me like some powder-puffy girl who can't handle anything. You challenge me, and I feel like we're both changing..."
She chuckled. "Besides all of that, there's a basic instinct in all of us to go for the strongest individual," she said, raising her eyebrows at him and looking over his body like she used to for scars, only this time for muscle mass, which Mat had a lot of. She meant this more as a compliment than an actual reason, but she didn't know whether he'd pick up on that. "That's just an extra, though, even if you were fat, I'd still love you."
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 6:48 pm
He listened. As each word came out of her maw, his brows furrowed more and more. He listened to how she talked about his caring about her. How he had sent Tufah away to deliver a message to her; apparently she never got it. Tahka could care less about his brother, actually Mat believed Tahka would rather have him dead. Shou... Haiba... he was curious why they weren't here. And Sarafina too... His determination was nothing compared to hers it seems... actually, he never quite noticed his own. But the changing was true. He never treated her like a "powder-puffy girl" because she never seemed like one. She had always seemed strong and capable of holding her own; but he doubted how she could compare to some selected few. Mat only smirked at the comment about his attraction to her by being the strongest individual. He would not deny that he was strong, but strongest was a bit far now that he had met someone stronger. If what she said was true and her instincts sought out the strongest... she would be chasing his father. Even he would not allow that; so he'll go along with it.
The more he spoke, the more his brows furrowed because he knew it was all true. He grabbed his head as if a paw to face slap and fall back into a flop, laying on the ground, belly up.
"Fine! I get it... love me, I like you too, stay with me if you want," he admitted. His paw resting over his right eye and scar, his other laid out beside him. His face was already red but he did not care. "Just... just don't get in my way, alright?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 7:58 pm
She smiled, glad that he seemed satisfied with her explanation. "Thank you, Mat." she said as she headed over to him and licked his muzzle quickly, then headed towards the opening of the small den. "I'm going hunting, I'll be careful, and I'll bring it back here," Noy said as she scanned the surrounding horizon before dashing off. Noyana double checked that her wound was good enough to go for a hunt after she got out of the den, it was, and she set out with a new energy in her step.
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