(( A'Lora - o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o
Nashorme - Manda ))
A'Lora and Nash had started to settle into their new home...the little den that she'd discovered on their first day out. The cobwebs had been cleaned out and it was starting to feel truly homey, something that undeniably delighted the tiny lioness. Patting down a rough bit of floor with a paw, she then crept outside to greet the pleasant evening air. She really did love this place, and it suited her like none other...now...just where had that mate of hers gotten off to?
Nash had left a little while ago, just to explore... and whilst he was doing so, he had heard of a small ceremony to be held when all the clans gathered soon. Of course, there were several ceremonies to happen then, but ... the ceremony that interested him was the Rain Ceremony. Supposedly it was meant as a confirmation of vows, sort of, or a renewal of such - between mates. He had heard that mates were expected to trade small items during the ceremony, so he'd been looking for something suitable. There wasn't any reason he couldn't ... go ahead and give 'Lor something -now-, and they they could just trade again at the ceremony.
Sniffing the air as the breeze stirred her fur, she caught a waft of the other's scent, and with cub-like enthusiasm, she darted towards the direction in which Nash was coming from. Leaping to and fro, tail swishing happily behind her, blue eyes were alight with glee. It was always a new adventure, a brand new day now that they were settling, a young couple in a peaceful land, there was much promise everywhere she looked and she was eager to embrace it wholeheartedly. "Nash...?" Calling the other's name in an almost sing-song fashion, 'Lor's voice rang out, easy to be heard for a good distance.
Nash smiled at that, rather glad that he'd just gotten finished with what he wanted to give the other. He had found several smooth rocks and carefully polished them so they shone - as well as some feathers from around a bird's nest. Finally ... after a long while, he'd convinced the bird to come down and weave dried grasses into a sort of necklace with the stones and feathers. It had taken some negotiation, and promising and Nash standing a good distance away, but it had been worth it. "Over here!"
Ears pricked, and laughing softly in anticipation, she came sprinting over to the other, and once she reached him, she was, perhaps, a bit out of breath, but as bright as ever, and so she sat before him, tail curling about her haunches. "Mmm? So where have you been, melda? I've been tidying up and taking care of things...but it really is never the same without you." And though she had more to say, she paused, allowing time for Nash to reply, as was polite.
Nash smiled at that and purred softly, having quickly swept the necklace back behind him with a paw so she wouldn't see it right away. "I was just ... exploring a bit, getting the news," he replied easily, eyes bright with a playful sort of mischief. "I found out something very interesting..."
"Oh did you?" Her favorite sort of news, after all, was the sort borne on the paws of her loved one. Ears pricked, he had her full attention, a wide smile on her delicate features. Ah but he really did look handsome today, she mused, meeting his eyes and feeling as though she could lose herself in them once again.
"Mmhm," Nash hummed, admiring her smile and the delicate set of his mate's features. Tail tip twitching just a bit with a slightly hint of mischief he tilted head. "Did you know... that this pride has a gathering of all the clans now and again?" he asked, wanting to draw it out a little now.
"I had heard something about it..." She agreed, nodding her head, and wondering where this was going. He obviously had something on his mind, a place he was taking this, and curiosity was killing the bardess. She had to keep from wiggling about like a cub over the unknown...Nash had such strange effects on her.
Well, that was good ... now to move on here. "And..." he continued, pausing for a moment after the word for dramatic effect. "Have you heard that there is a ceremony during part of the gathering for couples to ... ah. Get married to one another, formally?"
Her eyes widened slightly, "No...I hadn't...I...I hadn't heard anything like that at all." 'Lor admitted, tail curling about her, the tip flicking back and forth. Just...was Nash taking this where she thought he was? Her heartbeat quickened for a moment, and she was almost leaning towards the other in her attentiveness.
Nash grinned at that, just the barest hint of a smirk in his expression. "Well, there is ..." he replied slowly, blinking quite 'innocently' at his mate. "Isn't that interesting?"
Her ears slowly went to lay back against her head, and she glanced up at the other, looking quite suddenly kittenish. "And is that all?" She probed, knowing well that he was likely playing with her, but it made her fret and she didn't like that, not at all. She'd rather he just tell her or ask her or whatever he was going to do already!
The smile didn't leave Nash's face, however and ... after a moment or two of keeping her in suspense, the larger male bowed down a bit, stretching paws out toward his mate. "So ... will you marry me, A'lora?" he asked, formally. Then one paw swept backwards and he tugged that necklace out from behind him and picked it up delicately in jaws to offer it to her.
Blushing red beneath her fur, she nodded quickly, "Yes! Yes of course..." Leaning in, she nuzzled at the other, lapping at his muzzle for a moment in a feline kiss, before threading herself through that necklace. My, but it was lovely...she had to wonder where he'd gotten it! "Goodness...how pretty..." She murmured, melodic voice throbbing with happiness.
"I'm glad that you like it!" Nash replied with a little wriggle of his own, pleased that she was so obviously happy and had said yes. "Apparently it's traditional for couples to exchange something at the ceremony... but ... I wanted to go ahead and give you this before," he confessed softly, nuzzling at her a bit.
"Thank you, Nash..." She replied quietly, "It really is beautiful." That means that she'd have to get him something too, mm? Well, there was but a little time for shopping, and she planned to make the most of it! But...there was something they really should do first. "So...what do you say we celebrate our imminent marriage, melda?"
Nash tilted head a bit at that and then smirked faintly. "Oh I don't know ... we've already ahm. Christened our new den, haven't we..." he trailed off, looking rather thoughtful.
With a look, she arched a brow at the other, and then jumped, pouncing him, ending up half atop him as her lean frame wasn't enough to bear him to the ground easily. "Well if the den isn't to your liking, I have no issue with right here..." It wasn't like anyone would be coming by. Her musical tone had turned sultry, playful almost.
Nash made a little startled noise at that, not -quite- a squeak, but it was close. "I have no issue with the den..." he returned with a grin then. "But if you're that impatient, melda..." Leaning up, he licked her cheek with a smirk. "Right here is just fine with me ..."
