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"Tis fine m'dear... wish I could do something other to help your pain," he wasn't surprised to notice that what he was saying was true; that he really did wish he'd been able to do something. Alas, his powers didn't cover that area of the spectrum. There was little he could do, but what little was in his paws to do... he would, indeed, do. As they walked, he narrowed his eyes, and the darkness around grew a notch thicker; the change was barely noticeable, however, it was enough that they'd be concealed, shrouded in it and thus, hidden and safe.

He was unable to alleviate her pain, but he could conceal her from danger till it ceased. It was then it occurred to him that normally a lioness in such a aahhh.... state, wouldn't have been out on her lonesome. Whilst helping her reach the tree, he drew in a long breath, but smelled no lions nearby, "What were you doing out, all alone m'dear? Shouldn't you be resting?" he'd been mated long enough to know what a pregnant lioness looked like or behaved, and this was... strange, needless to say.

Watching her almost buckle under her own weight, his eyes grew wider, "Oh... oh.." for a moment, he hesitated, and then, he helped her down, curling his body around her, his eyes narrowing further till the darkness seemed to thicken again, "S'okay," he told her, and though his voice was raspy and nothing short of strange, he was trying to comfort her "Everything's going to be fine..." it was a lie. He knew that much; could smell that much, but somehow, it help like the only thing he could say.

She drew in a deep, shuddering breath as the wave of pain evened out and let her think more clearly. Her eyes had shut tightly and every sense seemed to have been dulled in that solitary moment. No, right then, she knew that everything was certainly not going to be alright. Why had she not stayed with Kebwa just a little longer? At least then, she would have known before she left and been more apt to stay with him for the duration of all of this period.

Still, as she opened her eyes to the darkness (which was much darker than she remembered, had the sun really gone down so fast?) she found his presence a comfort, even if his words were well-intended lies. She did not know him, she was merely thankful there was a kind soul out there for her in her time of need. "Traveling is in my nature," she said slowly, "I have no home and I've always been alone." Aside from the short time she was with Kebwa, of course, but such painful things were better left unsaid.

Another wave of pain spread through her and despite her better judgment, she found herself turning her face against his dark fur, the tears welling up in her eyes. The tears were not sprung forth from pain, but instead from fear, and the knowledge of what was happening. Oh, her ancestor's have mercy upon her, but she knew what was happening.

"Shhh..." he lifted a paw to his maw in a hushing motion, a rueful smile upon his lips, "S'okay, don't talk. Explain later," the smile was offered, if anything, because he knew just as well as she knew, that nothing was alright at that precise moment. In fact, everything was terribly, terribly wrong, and there was nothing he could do about it; it simply wasn't in his power to change this, "Maybe you do have a home. You've just not found it. Or perhaps the whole landscape's your home...." her pain was visible on her face, if not on the way she turned to bury her face against his pelt, and the god closed his eyes away from the scene.

Even with his eyes closed though, he could smell blood, and even before she started crying, he knew what was happening, "You know, we all have homes, m'dear. It's just.... the way we see them that is different. But every creature needs somewhere. Someplace where they know everything's going to be fine. Where they know the sun will come out at dawn....where they know the moon will come out at night," he knew it was idle talking and made little to no sense. He knew all of that just as well as he knew the fact she probably couldn't hear him, but rather, merely heard the sound of his voice through the pain.

It didn't matter. Roho wasn't talking in order for her to understand something; he wasn't trying to put a point across, or make his view known... he was talking just so she could have something to focus on, through the fog the pain was doubtlessly causing. Even if that something was just his voice.

Her voice trailed away at his hush, and she was thankful that he no longer expected an answer of her. Given the right to remain silent, she no longer felt her inbred manners swaying her to speak, forcing her to keep up the conversation, and she let her urge to fall into the instincts of sorrow and pain overwhelm her. She still, however, refused to give up her dignity and even as she cried into the dark pelt of his body, she didn't give in to hysterics or sob mindlessly as many a lioness would have in this situation. She had strength and she would be strong now.

Despite the fact that his words were meant to fall upon def ears and be nothing more than light in the darkness of this time for her, she still registered it in her mind. Tomorrow, or the day after, or perhaps the day after that she would revisit the knowledge he was imparting, whether he meant to or not. She remembered details clearly, and she would remember these words now. She had never considered that the whole world might be her home, instead of not having one at all.

He did accomplish what he truly meant to do though and that was all that really mattered at this point in time. She needed his presence and his voice assured her that he was here, this nameless savior who was truly doing nothing but holding her in this crisis. He could not reverse what was happening, but he was helping her in an act of pure selflessness. She would thank him later, and she felt thankful deep down at this very moment, but all she could do was cling to his voice and bury her face against the warmth of his side as the pain washed over and over again. Her body began to heat up uncomfortably, her throat growing parched and thick and she tried desperately to shrug the heavy pelt from her shoulders. A sign of her rank in her pride, but nothing but a burden at this point.

He honestly would've have figured she was really actually listening to what he was saying; his voice was offering in a small attempt to get her to focus on something other than the pain... on something other than what was happening. Had he known, Roho would have possibly put more thought into what he was saying, "Birds think of the sky as their home. We think of the earth as our home. It doesn't matter if you travel, m'dear, you take it with you, where ever you go, don't you think?" the scent of the blood, the tears... the fear, it was strange, intoxicating, reminding him of times long past, when his mate had died in a similar situation; while this female was giving birth to still young, his mate had died in order for their child to survive.

It was an opposite situation in many ways, and yet Roho only saw the similarities; death and tears and pain and loss, "Shhhh... here," reaching around with care, he tugged off the pelt she wore, only just noticing it, making a mental note to figure out what that meant, later when she could talk. Even now, he knew he would stay with her for a while, till she was able to move again. Even after the horrible event, she'd never be able to move... not for a long while, and she would be vulnerable. The god had little to no clue why he was even doing this... just that he should, and thus he would, "Everything'll be okay... everything'll be fine, love. Sometimes, something are simply not meant to be, and not even a God could change that."

Curling his frame protectively around her, he closed his eyes, for even though it was sad, death had it's ways too, and it's reasons. He could not begrudge it, not with a domain such as his, "It'll all be fine in the end..."

In all honesty, it would've been a lot easier to carry her if he'd had his wings to balance and hold her on his back, but then again... he couldn't risk to show her those. He wasn't sure if she'd have scowled at him, or if her features would've sported fear, whatever the answer, it wasn't one he was horribly keen in finding out, and so, the God closed his eyes against the thought, his ears flattening back into his white mane, "I'm fine, m'dear..." turning his head, he offered her a small ghost of a smile, "It's been a long time since... I've had anyone to talk to like this. If a bit of fatigue on my part is all it takes, I will gladly do it," he flicked an ear, a small amount of hesitation marring his movements as he pondered how to answer her. For a moment, he wasn't sure if he should give her his full name, in fear she would know what it meant; telling someone his name was 'dark soul' was hardly an ice breaker, "I... you may call me Roho," he told her softly as he continued padding along. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't his full name either, having opted for an in between that would save him some awkwardness, "It's a pleasure."

The frown was, indeed, never seen as Roho walked on under the cloak of darkness. His nose, as well as his instincts told him it would be dawn soon. So long they got far away from the scene of the tragedy, they would be fine, "Dawn is fast approaching," he informed her then, more as an afterthought than anything. While he hadn't noticed the fact she was frowning, he soon enough noticed her lack of answer, and even as he padded on, he turned his head to he could peer at her out the corner of an eye, silently wondering if she was alright or if she'd fallen asleep due to all the stress and pressure. She chose that moment to answer him, just as he was about to open his mouth, and he found himself tripping over his own breath, clearing his throat in order to compose himself, "Ah," it was all he said, his ears flattening back once more; he remembered the plague. It had devastated many a pride, and had thinned the population of lions so horrible that many had described it as an era of darkness.

Bullshit. He'd never had any control over that. How could they say such things? His eyes hooded with unreadable emotion, "Do you still wish to go there?" he asked her in a whisper, "Or do you wish to go elsewhere now?"

"Roho," she repeated, rolling the word on her tongue as she settled her weary head onto the curve of his shoulder. Something about the way he worded it made her think that it wasn't his full name, though there was nothing about it that truly made her suspicious - what reason would he have for hiding or lying about his name? "It would be, any other time" she said softly, in response to him. It was not meant to offend, just simply adresseding that she couldn't say that the circumstances of meeting him were truly that pleasurable. Quite the opposite, really. She was grateful, but she would have enjoyed meeting him in a different circumstance much more.

Dawn, already? She nodded, tiredly, at his words and let her eyes drift up to the horizon. It did appear lighter, and she knew that they were both probably in need of rest. If it were nearly dawn, then they had been up all night while.. "Then we should find somewhere to rest soon, yes? Even if you would exhaust yourself for my company, I'd prefer if you didn't do that on purpose." She tried to find a smile in her, but simply settled for a little quirk at the corner of her lips.

For a long moment, she considered his question. What purpose did she have for going back to the lands now? There were no cubs to birth there, to give rights to. Yet, she couldn't think of any place she would rather be right now. If they hurried, perhaps they could reach the lands before the snowfall. Her home was a gentle, cleansing place. Quite suddenly, though, she felt ashamed of herself. Bringing her head up, she frowned, staring down at him. "I would like to still go, for they are lands of.. peace and healing. I wouldn't ask you to do this for me, though. You have already done enough."

"Yes. Roho," he confirmed as she rolled the name, as if to taste how it sounded; soul, it was a nicer... meaning than his real name, and one that at least wouldn't get others to stare at him. Had she caught his little 'lie', per say, he'd have told her he simply disliked his full name, which was the truth, really, for he did so despise it for it's meaning. A sigh was offered, followed by a rueful smile as he turned his head just slightly once more, "They say the night is darkest just before dawn," he couldn't tell her that good would come from it, not really, but at least he could give her something, some shreds of hope to hang onto till she were able to perk up from the depths the situation had tossed her into.

For a long moment, he was silent, his ear twitching forward and backward alternatively, as if he were deep in though. It'd come as a shock, that she was worried about him. No one ever worried about him, for whom should worry about Darkness? Digesting the fact the lioness upon his back still had the strength to worry over a stranger whom she had just met, even if he HAD helped her in her time of need, was hard for him, and he found himself drowning in thought. It was only after minutes had gone by that his brain reminded him that he should, in fact, answer her, so thus, he cleared his throat, "Yes," and then as an after thought, "We will be alright," he firmly believed that as he padded on, his eyes piercing the night deftly, even as dawn begun to break over the horizon. He knew she was considering his earlier words, and thus, he let her, busying himself with trying to find an appropriate resting place.

His blood red eyes soon fell upon what looked like a natural cave... a hole in a ledge of rock, and he headed towards it, hoping it wasn't already inhabited. Her words drifted softly towards him as they reached the cave, his form lowering so he could let her slid slowly to the floor, his maw still carrying the pelt which he places delicately to the side, "Maybe... it's peace and healing I need most, too," he answered her, resting his eyes on her for a long moment, "We all have our demons."

"My atu used to say that," she said softly, her voice a strange mix of fondness and sorrow as memories washed up over her. She sorely missed the older lioness, for all her fussing, she had been very much like a mother to her. She had taught her the ways of life that would guide Khalla until she died. "Everything always heals itself," she said with a soft nod in his direction, though with her record, she had little faith that her wounds would remain so. It seemed that she kept bursting the stitches.

His phrasing of the words struck her oddly, though they weren't unwelcome. He had already begun to use the term 'we', after having been with her for such a small amount of time. It was not unsual for living souls to want to be near her, or any guides for that matter, and they often attached themselves - or so she had been taught. She brushed the thought away, shaking her head to think on it later.

Instead, she let her self slide slowly from his back, reclining against the floor of the cave happily. She was glad to be able to rest and be not a burden to him now. He could rest, as well. She tugged her pelt a little closer, resting her head upon it, in need of the familiar object. "If that is what you need, Roho, I don't doubt that those lands can help you. They are a place of age-old tradition and ritual."

There was no way for Roho to know, to understand what it was she was; he wouldn't have guessed it in a million years, and yet, at the same time, deep down, he knew the answer even without her telling him. Something about her pale pelt, and her soulful eyes... there was something about her that seemed to mark her as a creature of light; one that should never have been forced to endure the tragic events that had been weighted upon her shoulders that night. He couldn't have pinpointed what attracted him to her; maybe it was the light, like a moth to a flame, he thought dimly, but he couldn't have even begun to explain it, had he been asked.

There was only a small ounce of hesitation before the God inhaled deeply, only to release a long sigh, "I hope so. Lately.. I'm not sure what it is I need," and that said, he slipped within the cave, his side framing the opening so that anyone that wished to come inside would be forced to confront him first before reaching the lioness, "I just want peace of mind. It's something I've been denied for many years," it never occurred to him that he looked young enough that he shouldn't have lived 'many years'. Then again, the female might brush it off as a form of speech. Regardless, he lowered his head till it was resting on the floor, red hued eyes closing just as the dawn came forth, "You should sleep, m'dear..." the dawn always made him drowsy, but he knew that he'd remain half awake, alert enough that he'd be able to react if the time called for it.

His eyes then cracked open to regard her in the dim light, hooded, before they closed again. No, he wasn't sure what it was that kept him there; only that he should. So thus, he did. Maybe he'd actually be able to grasp that peace of mind he'd been seeking for so long.