|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 9:43 pm
Worried, but now determined, Shiri decided that she could no longer hide from what was inevitable. In the soft glow of the moonlight, Shiri paced back and forth, debating just how she would bring it up. Kei was not an idiot. Certainly he had noticed her strange behavior.
Releasing a deep breath, she tried to clear her head and approach him. He would likely be resting at this time of night. Busy with her thoughts, she could not remember where she saw him last before she wandered off on her own. The site of his black form sent a shiver down her back. Now is as good a time as any..
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:07 pm
Kei had remained silent about Shiri's occasional odd behavior. He had figured if she had something to say thaen she would seek him out. Little did he know she was looking for him at that moment. His mis matched optics blinked as he sat upon his haunches, tail flicking as he eyed the ground about him tiredly. Since the lioness had returned to him his sleeping patterns had changed due to there daylight travels as opposed to his night guided ventures on his own. At this time he was beginning to grow tired.
It was then that the male's ears flicked and he glanced over his shoulder, hearing approuching footsteps. They were soft and as he looked he found that they were Shiri's. The expression that she wore thoguh was not one she normally would show off. He curious and happy side was now replaced with what seemed to be a nervous posture and determined expression.
" You okay?" His husky voice asked, one of his brows rising at the inquiry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 10:19 pm
At most times, Shiri adored the fact that Kei could read her so well. This time was not one of them. A few months had passed since they had met and each day only seemed to bring the two lions closer together. They were becoming very close friends and their encounters and adventurers they went on with one another were something Shiri would not trade for the world. Even all the new surprises in the pridelands could not compare to simply watching the streaming river sitting alongside Kei.
As she approached him now, he questioned her and she found that she was speechless. Already things were not going as planned. How could she tell him something that could possibly hurt him so much and bring them back to where they were when she first returned? Shiri's body began to tremble at the thought. She could not bare to lose Kei, especially when she had already found herself so close one time before.
Still unable to speak, Shiri took in a deep breath and offered a very weak smile.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:27 pm
It was obvious when Shiri was unable to conjure up a reply that something was on her mind. Was she leaving again? At least she had come to him this time before she left. That much he would be grateful for. Taking a step nearer to the female he allowed his welcoming and carefree expression to change to one that of seriousness. Certainly she had come to him in this manner to tell him something.
Lowering his head to Shiri he sat before her, tail flipping about him, shaking out his mane. He spoke once more, growing weary of the silence between them.
" Shiri? Is something wrong?" He asked then, mis-matched optics centered on her and her alone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 20, 2007 2:40 pm
Shiri took in a deep breath as she watched the large male before her. He looked worried and his expression only reminded her more and more of when she first returned. Was he worried she was leaving again? Was her actual news any different than leaving? Shiri's tail wrapped beneath her legs in a sign of absolute submission and guilt.
She came to realise, however, that the longer she dragged on the silence, the more awkward the situation was going to become. Standing tall and attempting to rid herself of the guilt, Shiri finally responded. "Nothing is wrong, Kei, but I have been needing to tell you something... of why I left and what happened while I was away..."
And with a nervous smile, the lioness breathed out and continued, "I have joined the pridelands. Ever since I was younger I have felt a strong connection to the pridelands... I couldn't take you... and I was afraid you would try and tell me not to go.."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:43 pm
Kei had sat back on his haunches as Shiri finally began to speak. It looked as though she was having an inwards battle with herself. As she shifted her stance and held herself tall Kei could see that she was proud of the words escaping her maw and in truth, they made Kei's heart fall. He had lost her to the pridelands? No, she had come back. But why? For him? Furrowing his brow Kei continued to listen. She spoke of her connection to the lands and the dark male merely nodded. After a moment of silence once Shiri had finished speaking what seemed to have been bothering her for some time Kei stood and took a few steps nearer to the female. " Shiri, I care about you greatly, and there are things i wish you would and would not do, but I have no place to to tell you such. If you were afraid that I would have stopped you, I understand, but know now that I would never force you away from what it is you want, whether i agree or not. " A sigh escaped the male and he looked down, the news of her being one with the pridelands still sinking in. " I understand.. " Was the only other thing he could manage to say, unfortunately his thoughts were too mixed up to sort into a cohesive sentence at the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 12:44 pm
Shiri was glad that Kei listened to her fully and when he responded, his voice was gentle and calm. She was both thankful for this and also unnerved. If he was upset, she would much rather him express this to her. Unknowing of how he was truly feeling was somewhat bothersome. As she prepared to continue their conversation, Shiri's body sunk slightly. She was still proud to be a pridelands member, but now felt as though she should not have taken on the task alone. Kei was her closest companion and she should have taken him along with her. "Thank you, Kei..." she whispered, longing to approach him and offer a comforting nuzzle, but finding that her feet were too frozen to the ground, unable to move. Her mind searched for something to say. She had expected the conversation to be so different. "...I was left, as a cub, near the borders of the pridelands... I think my parents might live within the prides borders.. I feel as though I must at least check.."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 3:22 pm
He heard her reasoning, their stories almost similar yet worlds apart. Remembering his mother, and the pain he and his family had gone through to escape, or were forced out, of that place Shiri had so willingly went into. A tail twitch was the only gesture he gave, not very informative either.
Finally the weight of what she had done the remembrance of his own cub hood and his care for her stopped swirling enough for coherent thought. Not willing to lose her, seeing as she had left the pride lands to return to him, if only for a little while even if he didn't completely understand why. There she could make more friends, maybe even find her family, he didn't see where he fit into the picture besides the moments they shared.
Holding back the story of his cubhood, the dark male finally spoke again, his voice just as claim and gentle, though there was a slight edge to it, "Just be careful Shiri, I don't want to see you get hurt." His care was evident, while he couldn't recall when he started to care so much over the lioness that had stumbled into his life, he could no more deny it then he could change his pelt. However, he also knew many things that tempered his actions. It was her life, her decision, but he still wished to do whatever he could actually do to see her safe and happy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 4:52 pm
It was so much more difficult than Shiri imagined to face the male and explain just why and what she had done. Kei was different than all the other lions she had met. While on the exterior he appeared cool and almost cold, Shiri understood that it was simply a shell to hide what he really was. Kei was gentle and patient and offered Shiri a kindness that she had never experienced. It was all so similar to what Shiri had done to herself so many years ago when she was only a kitten.
Still not quite able to move herself, the lioness simply adjusted her form so that she may look at him better. Continuing her story with ears folded, the lioness' tail began to creep towards her back legs, "Kei, I..."
And pausing for a moment, the golden female turned a pale shade of pink. This was not the right moment, she feared, and yet she could not think of a better time. Kei meant more to her than she cared to lose and now she needed to express just what she was feeling. Shiri was not used to company of others and Kei was no exception. Despite this, she had grown attached and the male seemed to fit himself into whatever small holes were left in the female's heart.
"Kei, I don't want to be without you," the lioness whispered.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:09 pm
Nothing but calm, the large dark lion stayed where he was and observed the lovely golden lioness through mismatched orbs. It was easier to observe what she might be feeling by watching her actions and hearing what she was trying to say. Still, as always he stayed silent and let her find her voice.
He could have spoken, reassured her, but it seemed better to let her get what she was feeling instead of stealing it away from her. While coming off some times as a jerk, he was normally a considerate lion. Sometimes he might seem too eager to just move on; patience was a skill he had not just for the hunt. The good qualities he had may not always show to everyone, but this one stripped beauty had brought them all out and more. He had bitterness and loneliness over the loss of his family, growing up alone, but he never thought of himself as missing anything. Funny how you don't know what’s not there, until it is.
His ears lowered when she told him she didn't want to be with him. It wasn't rejection, for he didn't want to lose her either, it was because he couldn't take that step that would leave him with her forever. Stepping forward, he gave her neck a rough, care filled nuzzle telling her. "I care for you so much Shiri; I'll be right out here for you. I just can't join the pride, too many bad memories and feelings. I am sorry." He really was, he cared so much for her yet couldn't join the pride she now belonged to.
Pridelanders he hated them, now he had a reason not to hate so fully, because he was in love with one of them. Wait, did he just think the word love?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 7:30 pm
Shiri waited, her eyes watching Kei for any sort of response. She was vulnerable, having made the first move and leaving herself out in the open. This was something entirely new to her. Never had she shared this connection with someone else. Never had she actually cared to remain in someone else's company.
Like he often did, Kei kept his features relaxed and at ease. It was so difficult to read him at times, despite their growing closeness to one another. With a light sigh, Shiri couldn't help but express her inner turmoil.
And then Kei offered a nuzzle. For a moment Shiri believed he would agree and then he spoke. He was sorry and so was she. Would things have been different if she had never gone alone? If she had trusted him, would he have trusted her?
Returning the nuzzle briefly, the lioness lowered her form and smiled gently. "I understand," She whispered. Like Kei, she was also skilled in hiding her emotions and forced back her sadness of the situation.
Feigning a yawn, the lioness rolled onto her side and looked up towards the sky. "I must admit.. i'm somewhat tired."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:06 pm
She chose to show how this was affecting her, at least a little, with that sigh. Part of him understood, he also wondered if sharing what happened in his past would help her understand why he couldn't think of going to the pridelands. It might not be a bad idea, but it would wait for now.
Watching her behavior, he shook his great mane and laid down flush against her side, his tail sweeping over hers. "I don't believe there is any rule saying a pridelander can't spend one more night here in the roguelands." First time he said the word pridelander without anger or resentment. For him, she was the lioness he had met on a hunting mission, not what he normally associated with the lands that rejected his mother, sick as she was, with her cubs out into a certain death.
"I have a story for you, Shiri, but you'll have to wait until the morning to hear it." Giving her a nuzzle, he smiled gently at her, giving his impression of how a fake yawn should look, real enough to really stretch out the jaw and even stretched out his front paws and claws for good measure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
