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Willy was in a pretty good mood, though he missed his twin sister at the moment. She was off with her new guy, and not having much else to do, he was running for no particular reason whatsoever other than just cause he could. When a lioness, who was in obvious distress crossed his path not too far ahead, he paused to look behind her but saw no pursuit. Curious, he changed his course to follow, running hard to catch up grateful when she did finally slow down for a few moments. He barely caught the words "It doesn't matter," before she was off once more, though not quite as fast as earlier.

Thinking hard, not wanting to scare her off, but knowing this is one damsel in distress who needed saving at least in perhaps the form of a friend, he took off hard at an angle till he was level with her at a distance and began closing the distance little by little till they were practically side by side (with a good 5 feet between them) matching his strides to her own. He glanced at her, bit his lower lip and wondered if he should say something or just continue as is, but finally he piped up, "Whatever your running from, seems they've given up the chase awhile back..."

For a few minutes, silence reigned between them, Willy matching her stride for stride as he thought of what to say. To say the least, the idea of running from your memories just didn't seem...right. After all, no matter where you were, your memories remained right there inside your head....maybe if she were to hit her head and cause amnesia? He glanced at her and decided that'd be a stupid thing, to someone who wanted to run and was possibly suicidal, to suggest bashing one's brains out.

"Ya know," he said finally, looking at her, "it seems to me that running from memories is a bit futile, because when we try to run from something, it's usually behind us. All your memories are in your head, and when you run, your head is in front of your body, so wouldn't that mean your just running towards them when you try? Kinda defeats the purpose," he shrugged, and gave her a smile. "Now maybe if you were to run backwards...?"

Really he was trying to lighten the mood, make her see he wouldn't harm her. By nature he was a playful sort, and loved to sneak attack/pounce his sisters and play jokes on them when chance permitted, but he also had a much softer side that liked to help cheer up others when he saw sadness or someone in need. She most definatly fit the bill of someone needing a friend.

Willy slowed down, glad to see her laughing, liking her already and very intrigued by what horrors she could be running from, but too gentlemanly to ask right away. "That's the thing, though...no matter which way you faced, eventually you'd have to stop whether from exhaustion or from getting your leg stuck in some random rabbit hole and falling on your face. Either way, your memories are no further ahead or behind you then they were when you started...." Unconsciously he moved a little closer to her, fighting the impulse to step in front of her so he could look in her eyes. He felt it best that if she were to make the choice to stop running, it'd have to be purely her own and not influenced by him physically.

"A friend's troubles are never a burden, Sioka," Willy stated seriously, glancing at her and wanting her to know he meant everything he said. "A true friend is one who is willing to help bear another's burdens, when our own becomes too much to bear. They may not know exactly what it is that happened in your past, and it matters not if they every truly know, but are willing to walk by your side and just be willing to support you when you cannot walk any farther yourself. These kind are very rare, and seem to only appear when you need them most..."

He felt slightly weird now as he was partially rambling, but he did feel a strong urge to get to know her better. She was so beautiful and sad, an autumn leaf hovering between life by staying attached to the tree, or death and falling, and felt the impulse for her to know that he'd be her friend for as long she'd have him. Perhaps they would not remain together for long, as it was the fate of life that few lions ever remained in one's life for long, but still...a true friend is what he is, and what she seemed to need. Maybe they would only travel life's path together for only a few steps, he had a feeling this short time would be something he'd never forget.

Smiling sheepishly he added, "The name's Willy, by the way, and it'd be my pleasure to be your friend for as long as you'd have me."

Willy gave her a big grin, but then was silent for a long moment as he studied her, his grin slowly fading to something more akin to a worried frown. He wanted to ask her why she was running, he wanted to help, but knew not how nor if she'd actually tell him. Finally, his mind made up, he asked quietly, "Why are you running, Sioka?" What horrible thing in your past haunts you so terribly that you must always be moving? he added mentally. If she ran, he knew he'd follow her, if only to gain her forgiveness for being so forward.

Willy was actually surprised when she stopped that he continued on for a step or two before turning around and sitting next to her. "Sounds like he was a wonderful guy...the question lies, though, was did you know the hyenas were attacking him? The only way you could truly blame yourself was if you KNEW of the battle and yet made the conscious decision not to come to his aid. It's another to come to one's aid too late, or not knowing of the incident at all till at the time. I may not know you long, but I highly doubt your the type to be so cold-hearted to turn your back on someone with whom you'd been inseperable up until that point and obviously loved."

He leaned forward to softly lick what tears he could see from her face and lifed her chin with his nose. "Hold your head high...forgive yourself for what you had no control over. It's a fact of life that death comes to all, and some it is unjustly early. He didn't pay the price he did cause he felt abandoned, but because he was defending what he loved, and the fact he wanted you to be safe and happy. Beating yourself up and running will never bring him back, and I know in your heart you know that. I'm not saying don't grieve, but be glad for the gifts you've been given...the fact your alive, and the gift of knowing that in this life and the next there is someone who loves you still."

Willy half wondered if he'd put his paw in his mouth with what he said, granted he was making quite a few assumptions with what he said, but he just couldn't believe someone so full of sadness and grief could ever be so cold-hearted as to ignore the call of a loved one in need nor even go so far as to watch it happen without putting a paw forward. It just didn't fit in his mind...that and he was developing a crush on her as well, but he wouldn't be so stupid as to take advantage of her, not when she was this vulnerable. She deserved so much better than that.

Willy shivered at her touch, and grinned when she thanked him. Without much thought, he twisted around till they were shoulder to shourlder and nudged her lightly. "C'mon...run with me....but instead of running from your past, focus on letting it go. Put all your sadness, grief and pain into your steps, and with each time your paw touches the ground let all go, a little at a time, till it's gone. You have alot to live for, Sioka, and your future's a blank, just waiting to be filled, and be glad for those gifts you've been given. Spread your wings and let your soul be free..." He trotted a few steps forward, his gaze locked on hers and beconing her to come with him.