Gao moved toward his home very excitedly. He simply could not wait to be home, he'd seen on of his sisters on his way back, but he hadn't told her his new name. He was saving it for his friend. He really hoped she'd made it to the swamps okay. Gao was simply bursting inside, he couldn't wait to use his new name.Hara was lounging about on a log in the middle of the swamp, her cubs were off playing with their friends and she finally had a moment to herself. The days since she had arrived at the swampswere all filled with strange new things she'd never seen or heard, oreven experienced before.
Her ears twitched as she listened to the sounds of other lions moving about their day.
Gao walked quickly throught the swamps, he passed by his mother's den but she was not their and he wondered breifly where she was. He kept moving forward looking for the black coat of his friend.
It was a long time before he saw what he thought could be her, but the colors and markings matched so he bounded over. "Hara," he called, "Hara is that you?"Shaking her head in almost shock, she stared at the lion before her. "...Gao?" Hara paused, blinking several times. "Well I guess you're not Gao anymore... are you?" She laughed, smiling happily. She hadn't seen her friend since she had still been on her way to the swamps. It seemed like that was ages ago. "Come over here more, and tell me of .... well everything!"
Gao smiled brightly and came over lightly bumping Hara's head in greeting. "No I'm not Gao anymore. I've found my new name and I'm so glad your here. You didn't have any trouble getting here did you?" Gao sat before and laughed lightly. "You first, the I shall tell you everything."
Grinning at the no-longer Gao, the lioness took a deep breath,"Hmm. Well I managed to find my way here fairly well I think. I had my cubs safely and they've been running around the swamp as if they were meant to be here. It's nice, I'm glad that they have a home at such a young age, rather then being a rogue like I was... but I'm rambling! you must tell me of how things were for you!"
Gao smiled brightly, he'd almost forgotten about he cub. "I am glad you and your cubs are well. I hope to meet them soon. I will have to show them some of my favorite play places." Gao settled down getting comfortable before he started on his tale.
"Well, I traveled alone for a while meeting a few others for a while. Until I came across a family of lions who were on a journey. The cubs mother was taking them to meet thier father. The family was very nice and two of the cubs taught me to climb. It was rather hilarious and I'm not terribly good at it."
Nodding and taking in all of her friends words, storing them in her memory she smiled at him,"It certainly sounds like you had fun! And you got to learn something new. It must have been a good journey. I only hope my cubs will experience a journey just as wonderful as yours sounds." She smiled thinking fondly of her two cubs, then looked him in the eye, a palyful grin on her lips,"So. What's your name then?"
Gao laughed slightly, "Not yet." He grinned slightly. "Thats not all I did. While I was with the family I realized just how important family was and they even had another visiter. His name was Achal. After staying a few day with the family we left and traveled together. He told me all about his life and his travels and it only made me realize more how special and important family was. After I parted with him, I found my name is was so obvious. and meeting my sister just outside the lands it was even more affirmed."
Grinning Hara laughed, she was eager, but she certainly did like hearing what he had to say. "Well. I'm glad that it went so well for you! I must agree that family is so important." Her face took on a dreamy look, seemingly lost in her own memories."You must be eager to start your own family after that," She teased, a grin on her face once again.
Gao smiled," I'm not sure I'm ready just yet. I need practice. It is so fun, to be around family though." Gao grinned, "so shall I tell you my new name now?"
Gao sat up smiling bright rather over dramatic, but it mattered not to him. "I am now Vatsal'Faraman and I am very pleased to be reaquainted with you."
Giggling Hara hopped off her log and boed before the now Vatsal'Faraman,"Well the pleasure is all mine Vatsal. If you don't mind me calling you that." She grinned, feeling rather glad that she could now spend more time with the firends he had made on her way to this pride. "How exactly do you plan to practice having a family?"
Vatsal laughed, "Of course I dont mind. Call me what you like. We are friends after all." Vatsal bowed back, but arched a brow at her question. "I dont think one can practice having a family, I'm not even entirely sure how one goes about getting a family. I was thinking I needed practice with cubs." Vatsal gave a nervous laugh.
Nodding her head, Hara sat down,"Well You could always meet my cubs. I'm sure they'd like you! I must warn you, they are a bit ... crazy." She laughed, siwshing her tails across the swamp floor. "Are you happy to be back at last Vatsal?"
"I can do crazy and I'd love to meet them. What do they look like are they as pretty as you?" Vatsal question was innocent, but it was how he truely felt. He really thought Hara was very pretty. "Yes, I am very excited to finally be home and I can't wait to tell my mother, and my uncle, the king, my new name."
Giggling Hara smiled,"I Think they are the most beautiful things in the world. But I am their mother. I'm rather biased." She was feeling a warm fuzzy feeling towards Vatsal, though she wasn't overly sure what it meant. "You haven't told them yet?" Hara was rther surprised that he hadn't gone to see his mother yet.
"I'm sure they are the most beautiful cubs in the world." Vatsal laughed slightly and tilted his head to the side looking at Hara, slightly drawn into his own thought. He blinked when she spoke and sighed, "Well I passed by my mothers den and she wasn't there, but I promised you would be the first one I told. I wanted to keep my promise." Vatsal's white fur tinged pink slight across his cheeks. His heart was beating fast and he currently wanted to run.
A very faint blush crept across Hara's skin, but her black fur covered it well. "I'm glad you did keep it Vatsal. I'm really glad that you've returned as well. Though it is unfortunate that your mother wasn't in her den..." Looking away, Hara felt a bit embaressed, and she still couldn't figured out why.
Vatsal smiled and nuzzled his new friend, "She is around here somewhere. How about we find my mother and uncle together? Maybe we'll even come across your little ones."
Hara nodded in agreement,"That sounds like a good idea to me! I'd love to meet your mother and uncle. And I'm sure the cubs will love you of course." She grinned wondering what her cubs would do, and hoping they wouldn't jump on him or or anything.
Vatsal grinned and turned to head of to find his more. He looked back at Hara smiling, "Shall we then?"
~Fin
