A lot of questions had flooded his mind, racking his brain and leaving him feeling as if he was rendered useless or nothing more than a lump of limps, flesh, and fur. He had done well with keeping a well suited mask vigilantly upon his face- deterring the swelling emotions, both good and bad, from brimming too far over. But now that he had found spare time to himself it seemed that the crimson and black striped male had separated himself from both Rin and Kip and, as wandering paws were prone, meandered along the outskirts of the rogue territory alone. He was happy no doubt, happy that good fortunes had returned to him after a long, desolate drought and onslaught of misfortune. It had become an epidemic of disappointment and grief but now he was only just beginning to see the light breaking through the darkness. At last the dawn was coming yet the journey in order to reach the end had only just started. Black dipped paws silently padded across the dry grass with a mindful step, his paws being placed almost methodically in attempt to keep his presence unknown while only the rustling winds and restless eyes of the night could detect him. A forlorn breeze caressed over his face if only both to comfort him and to mock him with its icy touch. Mpinduzi bunched his muzzle slightly and fanged a small snarl rather displeased with natures insult. He was a strong lion, an individual whose soul was rebellious yet stalwart in fighting for his own beliefs and the love of his life, Rin and Kip, but even the strongest of fortresses weren’t completely invincible and, although secretive to their maker, were free from faults. Perhaps this was the greatest deception of all: The idea that things in the world were simply to be left standing for time and all eternity. Whether it was the slow corruption and deterioration caused by nature or another’s own claws nothing could simply exist forever. But, perhaps there was one thing that he had come to realize which broke this ‘rule’, so to speak. He hadn’t believed that there was such a thing to be able to withstand time, to endure separation as well as being resistant to the winds of change and to the opposing forces that sought to tear it from an individual mercilessly. Even when he himself had become separated from it Mpinduzi believed that he would never come face to face with such a thing ever again but it would seem that the very thing which he had lost had unexpectedly returned to him. This mysterious thing was love.
He had never been a believer in such a feeling as Duzi had been more of a womanizer, a helpless romantic whose sharp tongue and charm easily could cause a female to melt with each soothsaying compliment. And, truth be told, his strange accent often only escalated the ladies to fall head over paws for such a suave, sophisticated and smooth character. It must have been his rough and tumble looks- his messy, unkempt and tattered mane and his deep, warm crimson orbs that made any bluest forget-me-not eyes appear cold and desolate. One couldn’t simply forget his exotic looks; those stripes that streaked across his body only added a more wild and, daresay, feral look. Lastly, one could say it was his prior ‘occupation’ that was so interesting. Duzi had been, for a time, a mercenary. It wasn’t hard to imagine really if one knew the male well enough but the idea of a mercenary atop everything else seemed to perhaps be the cherry to top it all off. At least once the male had been nearly every compliment under the sun but he never rejected them- he simply thanked the individual and persisted in simply dishing out two times more the praise to the beautiful soul who took notice. To say the least, yes- he was quite a helpless romantic, a player and a male who had simply swept the ladies off their paws one too many times. To him, it had become an art form. Others had thought of him as attempting to be somewhat modest in saying that romanticizing with females was what he lived for and, to their disappointment of assumption, one would perhaps be surprised to learn that it wasn’t the ladies that truly pulled at his heartstrings.
It was the thrill of battle.
It called to him. Whenever there was a rising brawl or an escalating rebellion Mpinduzi could hear it calling, no- pleading for him. Anxious claws unsheathed themselves greedily, kneading into the earth and tearing up its surface with impatience. That all too familiar flow of adrenaline would trigger, causing his veins to surge with the sweet toxin that would boost his strength, if only for a few moments, and dull his pain receptors and let the heathen fight on. But the large in stature male simply didn’t fight just to fight and shed blood- no, he fought for a purpose and for the benefit of others who needed someone, anyone, to help them when oppression restricted them and their future seemed bleak. But it seemed that not all ‘knights in shining armor’ continued on the straight and narrow path. Duzi eventually did go astray from his so called duty and become a soul who could be hired to fight or do tasks which were displeasing, horrific and tasks that other individuals, those who held a higher rank within a militia type lifestyle, simply refused to do. It would seem that most often than not they were a bit too high and mighty to get their paws a little dirty. These ‘tasks’ had ensured the male food and provided him with an assortment of things of which he had, once, believed he needed. Mpinduzi had become a jack of all trades, one could say.
But what had brought him here, now, in this moment? What had changed? Certainly he was still the same lion yet his priorities, his lifestyle, seemed radically different. The order had drastically been altered then it once had been religiously lived from day to day. What exactly had been the influence, the direct result of such a switch?
Love.
The same culprit which had broken the ‘rule’ and withstood every attempt to dismantle it entirely was love.
Love itself had been something which had brought him enjoyment, amusement to say the least, but it also had helped develop the start of something new- something unknown to him which was the very element that kindled his relationship with the fiery lioness, Rin. Love wasn't just fun and games, it was a burden at times, stressful and depressing while, on the other paw, created moments that could never easily be forgotten and helped weave a new future for a happy couple. It was elusive and seemed to hide in the strangest of places or could be found in the most unexpected individuals but when it was right, and timing couldn't be more perfect, the love bug struck without mercy.
It was all starting to make sense now. The symptoms were certainly all there and now that the pieces of the puzzle were being collected and connected one by one it seemed unmistakable.
Mpinduzi seemed to stop in mid step as he lifted his head upwards slightly as his eyes blankly stared in front of him. Of course he had known that this was love but the impact of it all, its depth, seemed to suddenly be clicking with a realization that this was unlike any other relationship he had ever had before. Not to say that the other ones weren't, well, rather fun but his current love rested with a lioness who brought meaning into his life; she presented him with a love which rendered him speechless and often left him pining to simply be in her presence. Although it couldn't fully be explained as such a thing was so complex yet could fully be understood in Duzi's mind it seemed that words lacked to truly explain such a marvelous thing. Standing there underneath the looming crescent moon as only spectating stars and constellations Duzi took a deep breath and stared upwards.
Somehow it seemed all of his thinking had lightened some of the many burdens which had toppled over his shoulders for so long. The male rotated his shoulders and exhaled.
It was all going to be okay. Although he couldn't quite see the end of the journey Duzi knew that they'd reach it sooner or later. And when they did surly they'd look back and realize that it was through their journey that everything, both good and bad, not only had a purpose but made them stronger.
Looking back towards the winding trail he had made, the male pivoted around and began heading back towards his slumbering mate and daughter.
It would all work out.
