The older lioness looked up at the moon in the night sky, wondering. The last, well, first stranger she had befriended had been quite nice. Perhaps the whole rogue idea wasn't so terrible after all. The only downfall she could see at this moment was being alone. She was very exposed, as there was never anyone there to watch her back. With a sigh, she nestled into the grass, longing for more comfort than it could offer. Abandoning all she knew was tough, but she never felt like she would fit there. And while they surely would say how wonderful it would be for her to be there, she knew deep down it was only a facade. Mafunde had been the problem, and she removed herself from in.
Glancing over to the lioness she had met recently, she could only wonder what her ultimate goal was. The white lioness was very blunt on what she wanted, but was that really the truth? The older female thought differently. It must be the attention factor. Why else find someone to create children with?
---
Kohaku's orange eyes narrowed slightly as she saw the black and white lioness eye her again. What was her problem? She had never seen a flaw in her plan, only the fruit that she would reap at the end of it. She would have what she wanted, and never have to do anything again! Right? It had to be right!
She picked at her teeth, the meal that they had caught together marks ago a memory that only a full stomache reminded her of. While it wasn't bad being alone, she also liked working with someone to get herself a meal that was better than a half-dead hare. That was all she was able to catch on her own. She may be a bit larger, but the lioness had much to learn in the skills of a hunt.
"Why the long sigh?"
---
Mafunde's ear twitched, a long moment stretching before she answered the question. It was not one easy to answer, even if a sigh was an easy way to release some stress. "There is no where to go," she answered. "I have no home to return to, and no one to go into. While you are on your wild chase for a male, you have a home and family to return to. I still don't understand why you search the way you do. Aren't there many males at home that you could choose from, if your pride is indeed as large as you say it is?" It didn't make any sense to her, but then, females younger than her never seemed too smart. Mafunde would never say she was, but she had gone through enough experiences to know what was stupid, and what was not. She couldn't say Kohaku's was the latter, that was certain.
---
Kohaku rolled her eyes, but the darkness that cloaked them made it impossible for the other lioness to see. Good, since she was soooo tired of having to explain something that seemed just so obvious to her. Rustling around a bit, she stretched before answering, wondering where the closest watering hole was. She was thirsty.
"Becaaause I don't want anyone to know who the dad is. And if the male is from far away, then no one will find out!" She grinned, her tail flopping behind her happily. "Besides, that whole love thing is sooo overrated. My grandmother got along just fine her whole life. She only wanted the kids out of it, so I'm sure it can't be bad at all!" She adored her grandmother, even if she didn't like telling anyone. Kohaku liked to be a little different, even if she was sweet. Not everything underneath was what it seemed like, and she wanted it that way. To strangers? She'd never see them again so she didn't care.
---
"I guess that is a small point, though one that is silly." The dark lioness shook her head, even if the action wouldn't quite be visible with the dim moonlight surrounding them. Kohaku was easier to see with her whilte coat, and only the bits of white on Mafunde were visible at the moment. "Though it sounds like you are more turned off on the fact that a male might claim dominance over you if they manage to impregnate you. Or perhaps demand something more significant that you didn't see in your actions."
The older lioness sighed again, but she couldn't help a small laugh, either. "You're playing with fire, white one, and I am sure if you're not careful, you will get burned at some point. Maybe not now, but if you ever play this game again you will not be so lucky. A second time is much more dangerous than the first."
---
Kohaku stuck her lower jaw out. White one? She knew she was a solid white, but really...that almost felt like an insult!
"I'm sure I'll be fine; my grandmother did much of the same! She never ran into any trouble, and raised everyone well." She huffed, but continued on her excuses. "If no one knows the father, then it can't be used against me. Especially the male. I've seen too many times where girls are stuck with the stupid boys because the boys think they deserve to be around. Hmph!" Males were so stupid; they were only there if the females wanted them there. Otherwise they just needed to disappear.
---
Mafunde was a little...confounded on her opinion. She had adored Yanisin, though she wasn't sure she had actually loved him, deep down. She was paired with him, and though she bore him 4 strong sons, it didn't seem to be quite enough. She had continued to be the third wheel, until she decided to break herself off completely. Her sons were gone anyway, she didn't feel like there was a strong enough reason to stay.
Were men not really worth it in the end? She contemplated that thought for a moment.
"Interesting point," she said carefully. "I'll honestly say that I don't think I've ever been in love, but the children I bore were definitely the love that was missing in my life. Gone as they are, they'll always know I'll love them. There is comfort in that, I assume."
---
Blech, love. She didn't believe in it. Too many stupid factors that could make it fake. Might as well just toss it aside and work towards what one wants. At least one would have more control over that than an 'attack' of love.
She merely only offered a nod though, not wanting to complicate things too much. Debating wasn't really her best trait, and she'd probably revert to a childish tantrum if the other didn't understand what she knew.
Instead, she pounced on something she was curious to know. "What was it like having cubs?"
---
She pondered on the question for a moment, wondering how to reply. There were many things she could say, not everything as golden as she had made it sound.
"Honestly, it was hard. Everything about it is hard. Carrying them, giving birth, feeding them, watching them, raising them well, teaching them." She remembered hurt paws, tears, hungry cries, complaints, fights. Especially with so many boys.
"In the end though, it's worth it. No matter how much it seems to suck in the middle of it, it's definitely worth everything you have to go through."
---
Honestly, this had just made the white lioness all the more excited. They didn't just have to be little minions for herself. They also could adore her. She might not have to mold them; they might just do it all on their own!
More determined than ever, she nodded excitedly. "That's incredible," she said, though she knew she should comment on all that hardship stuff. Pah, it's not like she'd be alone in it, her family would certainly help out. Wouldn't they?
At least her grandmother would. Hmmhmm hmm.
"It really does sound worth it in the end," she added on.
---
Mafunde wondered if she had at least somewhat changed the mind of the lioness before her. She had a sinking suspicion that she hadn't, but she wouldn't let herself dwell on that. She knew that there were much worse things out there, and at least if she wanted to have children so badly, they would be raised well and taken care of. Not left alone, or starving, or abused.
She also had an idea that the girl would probably slip into something that she wasn't going to realize. Not love, but a bit of maturing from her actions. At least, she could only hope.
---
The two of them continued to relax, letting the night grow as they chatted, mostly about children, and how each of them were raised, and the best way to raise children. It was a light topic, and one that amused each of them until they decided to fall into a deep sleep. The next day, the while lioness would be gone, and the speckled one wouldn't mind either way. She would just hope the best for the white one's future.
