Makini was handsome, he was charming and he was royalty. No lioness in Africa would be able to turn him down, he was sure of it. Still, he had gone quite far from home in order to find his queen. His confidence was high, this was going to be so easy to accomplish there was no need to ask the first lioness you came across. Someone from a more distant land would certainly be most convincingly but also the most attractive. If for no other reason than she was from somewhere foreign to them.
He was keeping track of his path so he could quickly head home once he found someone, making sure he knew major landmarks. He'd heard of a couple prides around the area, he was happy to take a look around. He knew better than to go wandering through the lands of another pride so he was careful, but he was also daring. He wanted to find somebody. His first stop took him into the Pridelands, he could see groups in the distance and it gave him hope of finding some lucky girl. He just needed to find one he could speak to privately. With a smug smile on his face and his head held high, he walked along, keeping his eyes on the lions ahead of him and out for any that he might be able to approach.
Shani was not having a good day. Vikasini had not come home and she was worried, even though she was trying to tell herself not to. Her cubs, all of them, they were grown up now. They didn't need to be watched over all the time, they could be trusted to spend a night away from home even without warning. So Shani kept trying to convince herself, but it wasn't working out well when she thought about the lioness. She wasn't so inconsiderate, Vikasini would have thought of her, she was sure of it. While trying not to panic herself or anybody else at home, Shani had decided to go for a walk and see if she could find any sign of the absent lioness. She had wandered by busy areas already and was heading outward from there, nearing the pride's borders as she came into visible range of the yellow prince.
She took notice of him, at first almost mistaking him for a more familiar yellow lion. It was this mistake that made her head in his direction and when she realized it wasn't who she thought, she came to a stop. She didn't recognize this lion, he was coming inward from the border. He could be an outsider, which wouldn't be a bad thing except she was letting her imagination get away with her a bit. No reason to be suspicious, she reminded herself, but she stayed still and watchful.
Shani did not go unnoticed by Makini. The fact that she seemed to be heading in his direction put a smile on his face. He couldn't see her too well from such a distance, but having spotted a female at all was hopeful. He picked up his pace a bit, hesitating a step when she suddenly stopped, but continuing on despite this. He would have been surprised if he were not met with some suspicion, he was from a pride, he knew how some prides could be about outsiders. That didn't matter, though, as long as he could convince her of his friendliness.
Because he was friendly. And determined.
"Good afternoon," he called when he was in audible range, approaching with intent of striking a conversation whether or not the lioness before him wanted to try to make a getaway. When he was close enough to call out, he was close enough to make a judgement on her appearance. She didn't look too old or too young, she was quite attractive and, well, the color would not be mismatched or out of place if (when! he corrected himself confidently) he were successful. Definitely worth a shot.
"Good- good afternoon," Shani responded in a stammering, shy tone, "I haven't seen you before, are you from around here?" She might not have been so bold if she weren't so suspicious and she might not have been so suspicious if she were so worried. She also entertained the idea of being hopeful. Someone from the pride might have seen Vikasini around, but someone from outside the pride might have seen something that anybody she had easy access to wouldn't have. Her awkward muddle of emotions was apparent on her face, she wasn't even trying to hide it.
This pride must be paranoid, Makini thought to himself idly, offering his most charming smile to the lioness. He entertained the idea that it might just be the lioness, but that would be less optimistic for his plan. He didn't think of specific ways to be reassuring, he was only concerned with impressing her. So he stepped closer, still grinning and holding his head up high.
"I'm not from around here," he confessed, though never losing his smile, "I heard of the pride that lives here and was curious about its residents. I didn't expect to find someone so beautiful!" His initial aim was to start small and simple but he was willing to take a chance. After all, who didn't like a compliment? At least he knew better than to say he was here to pick up a wife. Queen or not, most girls would still like to feel special. Or at least more important than being the right gender and the closest to home. Nevermind that those things factored into his calculations.
Shani was taken aback by the confession, including the compliment. It only made her more suspicious of him as he seemed to be trying way too hard to actually be innocent. Her worst imaginings, however hard she tried to push them from her mind, were brought forward by the suspicious stranger. But beyond that, she was all too aware of the 'charming male' and the consequences of playing along to whatever nice things he said and did. Her cubs were evidence and reminders, though she would never trade their existence for anything.
"A traveler," she repeated, focusing most forcibly on just one part of what he said, "Have you noticed a pale yellow lioness anywhere on your way past the borders?
Makini was visibly put off by what she focused on in his sentence, though he wanted to hide it. He was curious about this lioness she mentioned, of course, but he was definitely more concerned abot his own quest, crown and general well-being (which included becoming king). But if she was this focused on this, the best way to get her might be to play along. Certainly if he looked like he cared, there would be more reason to be kind to him, to get to know him and possibly more.
"I haven't," he said, trying to sound apologetic, "Trying to catch up with a friend of yours? I could escort you about, if you like."
He took another chance. She was a pride lion, perhaps she would be wary of the borders. And if she was, and she wanted to go investigate them for this lioness, he was more than capable of taking a little walk with her.
"No, my daughter didn't come home yesterday," she explained carefully, eying the stranger who continued to make uncomfortable remarks without even caring to ask for her name, "I am taking a look around but I don't need anybody to accompany me." Shani was starting to feel a bit more self-conscious and extremely uncomfortable. She did see the value in having someone outside her family helping her look around, but a strange lion like this would not be who she asked. Now she really did take a step back, worried about manners but more concerned with the comfort level of the conversation.
My daugher.
Makini's ears turned at the words. This clearly meant that she was taken- and even if she wasn't, it was a turn-off. He needed cubs, coming home with a mate who had to wait for previous cubs.. well, it was a most unattractive idea. Still, he was a son of a wonderful mother and he could appreciate the concern over missing children. He certainly wouldn't be too happy about it if it were his own offspring. With a resigned, inward sigh, he eased up a bit.
"Could a cub get this far out from a pride without notice?" he asked, trying to sound more curious than accusing.
Shani would have been amused by the change in the lion before her if she weren't feeling so awkward and on such an important topic. Her own ears turned back when he asked about a cub getting so far from the central pride lands. She knew she was being a bit ridiculous, trying to search out a fully grown lioness who was truthfully capable of surviving on her own. She didn't need to be told that and she didn't want to be told that. Especially by a stranger. For once, she didn't really care what somebody thought. It made him stop being creepy and if there was any reason to worry about him tracking down a pride lioness that strayed too far from her home, it should not be such an issue while he believed she was a cub.
"You would be surprised," she responded coldly, taking another step back, "I'm sorry but I think I'll be on my way now."
Yep, this was a lost cause.
"Alright then, miss," he said, his own tone losing some of the kindness. Makini did not like failing, being rejected or being spoken to like that. He might not be at home but he was still a prince-- and he could blame whoever he wanted for not knowing it, no matter how ridiculous it was. He eyed the lioness one last time, deciding it wasn't that much of a disappointment anyway. He turned around, his mind still going over ways to spare his ego the rejection and intent on trying somewhere else rather than sticking around here.
"Good luck," he called without looking back. It was only a few moments of wasted time, no harm was done if he kept moving.
Relief swept over Shani as the male turned around and went off without a fuss. She felt a bit better about that, but then the disappointment of not having found any help in finding Vikasini sunk in. She watched the yellow lion walk off for some time, paying little attention and more looking past him than at him. Looking out towards the roguelands the idea became more and more ridiculous. She was overreacting, there was no reason to expect anything had happened. Vikasini was always out with her friends, she would be back soon with some grand story excusing herself from the previous night and Shani would feel silly for having spent her afternoon wandering around looking for her.
She hoped so, anyway.
Fin.
