Life was full of obstacles. Life was full of mistakes. And Durion always managed to keep running into those obstacles, and kept making those mistakes. He couldn't help it. It just happened. Some part of him wondered if he wanted to be like he was; wanted to keep making mistakes. But he never dwelled on that long. Thinking about the negative for too long was never a good idea, especially for Durion. He had lived with the negative for too long to keep thinking back on it. But still, he couldn't help but wonder. He couldn't help sometimes, even for a split second, thinking about what his life would've been like if the things in his past hadn't happened...

Blue eyes reflecting clouds gazed up at the sky where Durion stood, thinking. But it was time to stop thinking, he told himself. It was time to get moving again. Pointing his head back down to earth, Durion sank into his normal mood, head high as he walked and muscles rotating with each long step. The grass was smooth under his paws, and the more he walked, the more trees he noticed around him. There was an odd sense of familiarity about the place. He wondered if he had been there before. He narrowed his eyes, glancing left and right. Had he been there before...? Or was he being paranoid?

The lion jumped over a log ahead of him, landing coolly on the other side, eyes wandering around the area. It was strange...

A thick tree branch blocked the lion's path and he moved it up with his shoulder, walking casually underneath it. But as he was going forward, something caught his eye on the other side of the tree, not too far away...It was a familiar-looking young lioness. Mouth opening, Durion turned around to get a better look, not remembering the tree branch.

And he ran right into it.


It was a beautiful day. The sun filtered through the large trees, creating a dappled, spotted effect on the vegetation and the ruins. Kitou had decided that this part of the pride was her favourite place to play, despite her father's warnings that it was too close to the borders, and not within the guard's hearing range. But she didn't mind - she knew all the hiding places inside the ruins, and outside of them. Should someone appear, she'd just run - she was small and could fit through smaller spaces because of it. Big lions and lionness' couldn't.

Why, where she was at the moment, lapping up water was the small watering hole, she knew of three hiding places in her immediate surroundings. Directly behind her there was a small hole in the bottom of a tree, dug by a Ratel who'd then deserted the den. It was just big enough for Kitou. Then there were the ruin to her right, with numerous different hiding places, and to her left was a dense patch of the jungle, with bushes and logs galore in which she could essentially 'disappear'. She was perfectly safe.

Lifting her head, shaking herself to wake up her tired legs, she turned to face the borders, emerald eyes gleaming. What adventure awaited her today, hmm? One paw came up to playfully paw at the pouch that hung around her neck, gifted to her by the En Gedi's healer for the promise she'd shown in the art. She was certain that was what she wanted to be - a healer. All thanks to that lion she'd met - and speak of the devil?

The sudden sound of a crash caused Kitou to squeak, jumping high into the air and beginning towards her closest hiding place - the hollowed tree roots. But as her eyes turned towards the source of the noise, she found herself confronted by an extremely familiar face. "...Mister? ...Mister!"

Voice thick with concern she darted towards the male, touching her nose to his in a sign of affection before stepping back, worry on her face. "Are you alright?" spoke the cub who didn't speak often, forehead creased in concern.


Eyes screwed shut with pain and teeth grinding, the male coiled his limbs, waiting for the pain to subside. He wasn't one to blubber about pain, but he had just ran into a fat tree branch. It hurt. But then he heard a little cry. This cry made the hair bristle on his back for how startlingly familiar it was. Seconds later, there was something cold pressed to his nose. Blue eyes snapped open and met with green ones. Durion gaped.

He knew that face.

Blinking quickly, eyes darting up and down the juvenile's body, Durion tried to get it through his head that he had been there before, and this was the very little lioness who had helped to heal him when he had fought with that crazy cheetah. This was really her. He was really back. It was happening.

WHY?!

Ignoring the hot pulsing in his cheek, the lion rolled to his stomach and stood. He shook the dead leaves from his mane and turned around, towering over the lioness. The last time he had met her had been...Like a revelation. But it had made him feel weak then; weak in his emotions and self-erected wall. He didn't want that. It was dangerous. He wanted to remain cold and hard, ignoring others' needs and ignoring his own troubled past. It was easier that way...It was easier.

The last time he spoke with the lioness, he hadn't spoken. They hadn't even exchanged names. What was he supposed to do...? Confused, wanting to run away, the dark male merely stood there, staring down at the girl, a pensive look on his face.


She watched him carefully, green eyes wide as he watched her back, in a way that made her feel a little uneasy. But she didn't mind - he'd hurt himself! Again! It was just like last time - although last time, it had been a lot worse. Taking a small jump back, she craned her neck upwards as she stood, before tilting to the left a little, looking at his back. She couldn't see any scars, so that was a good sign. Her healing had worked!

Dead leaves showered down onto her and Kitou giggled, wiggling about to shake them off of her. She looked back up to him, eyes sparkling with excitement as she watched him. And sparkling with trust - she trusted him. She didn't know why - she'd only met him once before. But she was a naturally trusting young lionness, and he'd been fine when they'd first met. Why should he be any different now?

"Do you want me to heal you again, sir?" she spoke quietly, mouth stretching into a small, almost shy smile. She had a special weed in her pouch, that when chewed released a juice that helped with swelling and pain. So if his cheek hurt, she could heal it, but even better than last time!


What the hell?

She wanted to heal him? Again?!

It was even more confusing than last time. Why did she trust him? Why did she smile up at him like that, green eyes hiding nothing, and happiness and trust resonating from her. It wasn't right. It wasn't normal, was it? Did she always trust everyone? Sure, he hadn't been a jerk the last time, but he really was a jerk. Honestly. He wasn't good. His soul was charred with bad deeds, some of which he didn't even care about. And that only made him worse. He wasn't fit to be around a cub...Especially one as good as this one.

Brows furrowing, Durion tried to put on an intimidating face, raising his hackles and appearing menacing. He hoped to scare her off. Already his head was becoming fuzzy from the strange things her innocence did to his head. Soon, she'd have him completely and he'd be a blob of raw emotions and confusion. He didn't want that again.

Tail lashing, the lion made a move like he was going to attack the lioness, attempting to startle her away, but his paw snagged on a fallen vine and the lion was flung forward, landing flat on his stomach. Wheezing as the air was knocked out of him, the lion pulled his face out of the leaves, spit some out, and looked to the lioness. He tasted blood in his mouth and realized his cheek was now bleeding. That would spur the girl on even more to help him.

Gods, why him? Why did they shove good things in his path to make him regret the bad he'd done? It wasn't fair.

Durion took in a deep breath and exhaled a long sigh. His eyelids relaxed and his face looked lost. "You should head home to your parents, kid." he said gruffly, glancing away.


What was he doing? Kitou lifted a paw, forehead furrowing in mild confusion as she watched Durion appear to look menacing, with his hackles raised. Was his neck hurt, perhaps? Or maybe it just itched, and he needed to wiggle it around a little. The youngster giggled a little, batting her paw about as if she were pawing something in mid air - a sign of her amusement, and that she wanted to help/play. She could do both at the same time, right?

She was usually so quiet, but with this stranger - or was he a friend yet? She didn't know - she just seemed to open up a little more. He made her giggle and act more playful, and she quite liked that. She felt more like herself around him. When he suddenly moved towards her she jumped backwards, thinking they were about to start a game of tag, although she squeaked and skidding backwards further as he caught himself on a vine, slamming forwards onto his front with a loud 'thump!' that sounded very painful. Although it had been a rather amusing sight, Kitou only felt concern and worry as she rushed forwards again, touching noses once more.

"Are you alright?" she purred quickly, checking him over instinctively. His cheek! His cheek was bleeding! Automatically she turned and fetched a large leaf, from the same tree she had the first time. She returned to his side with it, using her small yet pointed teeth to rip it into a more suitable size, not stopping even as he spoke, instead ducking her head down, allowing her pouch to slip off onto the floor over her neck. Nimble paws opened it, removing a small piece of weed which she took in her mouth, beginning to chew.

A bright smile was his only response to the demand, obstructed by the weed in her mouth. Once she'd ground it to reasonable mush, though, she placed it onto the leaf, smearing it about with a paw. Removing the debris, she then carefully took the 'bandage', pressing it gently to his cheek and holding it there.

"You need help first. And you're much more interesting," she finally answered, lighting up her face once again with another bright smile, "Do you mind me asking your name, sir?"


Oh, dammit to hell.

What was the use putting up a fight? What was the use trying to scare her off? Even if he hadn't tripped over that vine, he wouldn't have been able to scare her away; not because she wouldn't have left, but because Durion would've caved and lied down by himself in the end. It was not something he was proud of at the moment. To be manipulated by a juvenile wasn't exactly something you go around shouting at the top of the hills.

Blue eyes flicked over the juve's face, examining her smile and still confused, after all that time, as to why she always smiled at him. The weed she chewed didn't have much of a scent, but it felt good pressed against his cheek. ...Wait, why had he allowed her to put that on his cheek?

DANGIT. He hadn't wanted to be healed again! Ugh...But resistance was futile. He had already lost this battle. But that was a scary thought. It was with a strange, startled look at the juvenile that he realized he was actually scared of her.

"Ugh," he groaned, closing his eyes. "damn kid..." he muttered, just out of ear-shot. He inhaled deeply, still recovering from having the air knocked out of him. He folded his paws and rested his chin on them, finally letting go and allowing the juvenile to minister to him.

"Durion." he said quietly after a moment, as if he had been unsure of his own name.


As she was checking his back over, to make sure the branch hadn't scratched him, she jumped when she felt a sudden exhalation of air, quickly racing back around to his face. That had been a groan! Was he hurt somewhere else? Or maybe her medicine wasn't working? She whined softly as if to apologize, moving forwards and running her small tongue up the length of his nose, before pressing her nose to his once again. It was a sign of affection she used a lot.

"Are you hurt somewhere else?" she asked quietly, almost as if she was afraid. She didn't want him to be hurt. No-one deserved to be hurt, no matter what they'd done. Forgiveness, forgiveness and more forgiveness was not only what she'd been taught, but what was in her nature as she wriggled her way underneath the lion's chin, dropping herself in between his two first paws. He was so big! Even though she'd grown a little since their last meeting, she still fit snugly between his two front paws. She laid there, shuffling about a little to get comfy, before she extended her head upwards, rubbing the top of her head against the underside of his chin with a fond purr.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Durion. I'm Kitou." she replied with a lick to his chin and a fond nuzzle, before settling down between his paws again.


It suddenly occurred to Durion that he was receiving affection. He'd slept with all kinds of girls in his life, sure, and some were cuddly, yes. But it had never been...Kind affection. The last time he felt that kind was when his mother was...Well, before everything happened...

Eyes clouding over with thought, the lion flicked his gaze down to the lioness, heart clenching as she kissed his chin. If she knew what he was, he thought, then she wouldn't act like that...She would run to her parents. He would be shunned. Though Durion had conned many, his "profession" was virtually unknown. He never told anyone. No one knew. So for a little girl, innocent and kind, to act this way around him, made him feel sick and unworthy. She had to know...He wanted her to leave. He was afraid that by staying around him, somehow she would become...tainted.

"Kitou..." he murmured, testing the name, gaze flickering over the trees ahead. He narrowed his eyes, mouth drawing into a deep frown. He thought of how he was supposed to talk to a young one. He had little experience with children. He knew he couldn't talk to her in the way he'd talk to another adult. She was too young; too pure. She wouldn't understand. "I'm..." he started, still thinking of what to say. "...A bad man." he said, words weighted with all the truth they held. "I've done bad things to good people." He avoided looking at the lioness, the paws she was lying between almost trembling, afraid that with one touch he would somehow kill her with the blackness inside him. "I'm a bad man." he said again. The words struck him hard, because as he said them, he really understood them.

He really was a bad man.


He glanced down at her and received another smile, this one warm and reassuring. Trusting. She'd have to introduce him to her father - show him the friend she'd made, and how she'd help him! Her Papa would be so proud! Admittedly, he might be a little angry... She wasn't supposed to talk to strangers. But Durion wasn't a stranger. Not really. No, he now has a firm place in her heart as a friend.

He said her name, and her smile brightened, eyes sparkling with excitement. She cocked her head to the left curiously, wandering what he was going to say. She had to strain her head a little, especially from where she was sitting underneath him, but she was fine with it. She didn't mind.

Her forehead soon furrowed again, though, the female watching him. A bad man? Bad in what way? She watched him carefully, emerald eyes searching his face - he was definitely being truthful. And sincere, too. The sincerity stood out from his face all too clearly for Kitou, whilst for others it might not be. Bad things to good people? She was sure he hadn't meant them though, right?

She watched him closely for a fair while, silence enveloping the small clearing. But then, suddenly...she reached up again, licking the underside of his chin and nuzzling it with her nose, a deep purr rumbling in her throat. "It's alright, Durion. I forgive you."


Durion tried to breathe, but he choked, confusion washing over his mind and making his eyes widen. The phrase his lioness friend uttered had been completely unexpected. And even more unexpected was the additional nuzzle and kiss he received.

What the hell was WRONG with this girl? Didn't she know what a bad man was? Didn't she understand what he was telling her? And how could she say she--she--forgave him when she hadn't even heard all the things he'd done? It didn't make sense. He was confused. It was startling. And already, he was a pile of mush in front of the girl. Her sweetness did strange things to him. He wasn't sure he liked young ones anymore...They were unpredictable.

Durion cursed under his breath, eyes narrowing. "I lied to a wild dog; told him my mate had been abducted, and her abductors wanted a ransom. He gave me all his trinkets, and I took off with them." he said, mind jumbling over all the things he had done. In a way, he had to tell them more to himself than to Kitou. "I've lied so many times I...Can't even count." he said sternly, growing more frustrated with the way the girl was acting. HE wanted to be hated; it was what he deserved. "I stole food from puppies. I lie to get what I want; I steal. I've...Killed. I've attacked innocent people just because..." He clenched his teeth, black claws extending and digging deep into the earth around Kitou. "Just because they pissed me off." he growled, now face-to-face with the juve. "I left a leopardess for dead; a leopardess I attacked. I'm no good, Kitou," he said, voice louder now. "so don't sit there and tell me you forgive me, DAMMIT!" he roared, pupils thin slits. Now she would hate him. Surely she--

...Why was her face...Like that? Durion stared, anger waning and lips parting.


He looked a little surprise, but she just dismissed that. She first began getting a little worried when she noticed his claws digging into the ground, looking up to his with a frown. And that...expression. He looked almost angry? Fear flashed through the youngster's eyes - had she said something wrong? Had she made him sad, or irritated!? Oh no - she was a rubbish healer! Rubbish!

And then...he started saying things. Things he'd done wrong. Horrible things. She was a little scared now, and not just because she thought she'd done something wrong. Because he...he was shouting at her. Her fragile ears hadn't been shouted at before, and she didn't like it. her ears flattened against her head in an attempt to block out the noise, but she never looked away. Just kept watching him, the fear in her eyes growing larger and larger, tears eventually rising in them. What had she done wrong?

He'd...killed someone? A small whine escaped her maw involuntarily as she sunk lower and lwoer to the ground, never actually moving but where she was but simply recoiling further and further away from his fear. She was scared. But...But Papa had always said to be brave. She blinked and a tear fell down her cheek, shortly followed by another.

"I-I'm sorry," she finally squeaked, even shuddering a little. She had to be truthful, though. She couldn't lie. "B-But I d-do forgive you, Durion. Whatever you've done, you can reverse the effects by being good now. Your p-past doesn't affect your future. P-People change."


People...Change?

...Huh...

Durion had never heard that before...

Body relaxing and claws sinking back into gray paws, Durion stared blankly down at the juve, mouth open as he watched her cry. He had scared her. Guilt tied a knot in his stomach and he closed his mouth, blue eyes wavering over her face. He didn't like to scare her...He swore to never do it again. Scaring her was the worst thing in the world; worse than stealing food from a puppy.

But she said she forgave him...Then again, who was she to forgive him? She wasn't a god...But in Durion's eyes, she was as good as one. Slowly, after Kitou's words, something was lifted from Durion. It was like a boulder shifted and fell off of his back. He felt lighter, from the inside out. His head was dizzy. He leaned forward slightly, wiping the cub's tears with his muzzled. If anyone had been passing by, they would've thought they were seeing a father with his daughter. And that was how close Durion felt to the juvenile. Why he felt that, he didn't know. But she was his friend now. His only friend. His tiny juvenile friend.

"Sorry," he murmured. And he was sorry. For everything. The memory of the lioness's stuttering words kept playing in his head; he was forgiven. People changed...He could change.

The male's head became dizzy and he closed his eyes, trying to regain his focus. He rested his head on his paws, beside the juvenile, and rested.

He swore to himself then and there that he would never allow a single bad thing to befall that girl; he would shield her from bad people like him. Even if it killed him.


Her small head watched as his mouth fell open, and she felt his body relax. Was he...was he getting less angry? She really hoped so - she hadn't meant to anger him. She was the one feeling guilty, her small heart beating three times as fast as it usually would. He wouldn't hurt her - she trusted him not to hurt her. But he was scaring her and shouting at her, and that was just as bad. Thinking she'd done something wrong...it felt like a pain, right in her gut.

But suddenly, he was wiping her tears. With his nose - affection. he was showing her kindness and fondness that her father usually would. But she didn't mind - had he forgiven her? Closing her eyes, she allowed a long purr to vibrate through her body and into his, letting him know that she was happy. She was happy that he'd forgiven her. She wriggled her nose around a bit, nuzzling him as he apologized. She didn't quite know what he was apologizing for but she accepted it with another purr.

"Me too," she whispered, barely audible, and it wouldn't have been if his face hadn't been so close. He moved his head, but only to lay it next to her body, and she quickly shuffling around so that when she curled up, her head was beside his, cheek to cheek. She licked the top of his nose fondly, as if to solidify her apology, before laying her own head in her paws beside him, curling up as her breathing steadied. She was safe now. Durion was going to protect her. And they were both forgiven.