Muli waited for Chuk. She'd settled Orophin with the remaining three of her cubs, and now...was the time to talk with Chuk. To find out...to find out what was going on. What was going to happen to THEM. She hoped...oh gods she hoped it was just some great misunderstanding somewhere, somehow. She loved him. Loved him very, very much. And the thought of what they had being broken...Well, Muli didn't want to think of that. She loved her tales, but she didn't want to end up being one of the sad ones.
Muli wanted a happy ending, as best they could get in life. She wanted lots of little ones with him, lots of good songs to sing and stories to tell. She wanted to see him when her eyes closed for the final time. But...was that still possible?
Chuck slowly made his way over to Muli. His eyes watched his paws as he ran it over in his mind again. After what happened earlier, he snuck away to think, to try to make sense of what was going on. He made his way back to their den, his ears flat in shame. He looked up to see Muli sitting there, his ears fell back against his head again, and his tail fell between his legs. He didn't know what to say that would make it up to her, let alone what to do. He hoped she would understand. He didn't want to loose her.
Muli's ears perked up as Chuk entered, and she turned to him. There was sadness in her expression...but hope too. Hope that they could fix whatever was being broken. "Chuk...we've got to talk." She moved in front of him. "What...what happened?" She prayed that it was some accident, that his feelings for her were still there...
"I know..." He said as he sat, curling his tail around his legs. He held his body low, his head down. "I.. I don't know what's going on." He admitted. "I do remember there being a cheetah," he said as he remembered the past events. He quickly stopped when he realized what he had said. He suddenly looked up at her, his eyes wide and apologetic, "But it was before anything happened between us! We hardly knew each other, and I didn’t know my feelings for you yet, I swear!" He looked her over, "I'd never leave you… ever… You are the love of my life, and I’d do anything to keep you with me. He said softly as he watched her.
Could she believe him? She shook her head at that thought. Of course she could! He was Chuk! He was her beloved, her other half, the yang to her yin. And she loved him. More than she would ever be able to express. "I believe you." She smiled sadly. "I do. It's just...odd. He looks so much younger than our bunch..." Perhaps cheetahs were pregnant longer than lions or leopards? Or maybe he was just slow to grow...
He looked down in thought, "I know... I can't make sense of it either..." He said as he placed a paw over his mates. "I don't feel right letting him go though." He said "Would you be alright, if he stayed with us?"
Muli nodded, loving the simple comfort of his paw on hers. "I was wondering about that. I wouldn't feel right letting him go out there alone either. It's...it's sad enough he got here alone." She nodded at him. "I don't mind. He...he is not mine, but he is a part of you. And he's done nothing to deserve my disdain. So I do not mind." She would not turn the cub away. She had ever right to...but she would not feel right at all doing so.
He smiled widely. That was more than the reaction he thought she'd give. "Thank you Muli..." He said as he leaned in and embraced her. "I love you. With all my heart, and there's nothing in the world that would change that." He whispered in her ear as he smiled.
Muli nodded and nuzzled him in the embrace. "I love you, too. And just as your feelings will not change, neither will mine." She sighed. "I am sorry for having gotten mad at you earlier. I was just...frustrated. And caught off guard." So very off guard.
He shook his head, and leaned back to look in her eyes, "Don't be. You had every right to be mad at me. I should have explained it earlier, or given you a warning." He licked her cheek.
Muli nodded. "Well then...I believe we can once again share the fault. I certainly could have waited until Orophin wasn't around. Poor boy looked so guilty." The look on the cub's face had been heartbreaking! She hated seeing a little one so...so torn. She had been so thoughtless towards him for that moment!
He nodded, "I hope some time with the other kids will ease him a little." He said "And hay, maybe the kids will like having another little brother around." he laughed lightly
Muli grinned and nodded. "Yes! Perhaps it will be a good thing for us all!" She chuckled. "I do miss the sound of small paws running about. It was unexpected when we had the little ones...but I wouldn't trade being a mother and by your side for anything, not even the greatest voice in the world." She loved cubs, and she missed having her own small ones so much.
He leaned over to embrace her again, "Neither would I love... neither would I." He said as he wrapped his tail around hers.
Muli purred, leaning into her mate. Everything was okay. THEY were okay. "Maybe...we can still take that travel we were thinking of. And...keep an eye out for his mother." She did want to meet the cheetah...if she'd caught Chuk's eye, once upon a time, she must have been something. And she wanted to know how Orophin had managed to sneak away! "We wouldn't leave for a bit though...little one needs to get some good food back in his system." She would make sure of it.
He nodded. They were in need of a good travel. And they needed to catch up with their other cubs. They should start planing on what to do, or just go whichever way their feet would carry them. Either way, he was glad everything was alright between them.
