The day had come and gone although perhaps too quickly as already the sun was beginning to sink below the horizon. Brilliant colors that stained the sky began to dissipate into nights darkness while scattered stars emerged from out of the sky and appeared almost strewn amongst the heavens. The lioness's restless mind continued to cause her to amble across the rogue lands, walking aimlessly if in a continuous circle. Although as the sun retreated and left what sparse light still trickled amongst the shadows Kipaku'penzi exhaled softly. It was the close of another day and yet night's excitement had only just begun. There still lingered a small nervousness at the back of her mind but the young adult had continuously attempted to mask such an inner conflict. But try as she might the lioness still found traces of doubt lingering within her mind, restlessly clawing and vying for her attention. Perhaps it was fear but Kip would never admit to such a feeling- it seemed to teeter along the lines of anxiousness and the realization that perhaps this was it; this was the start of a new life with him. Forever. One could be sure that the result or consequences of such a thing couldn't readily be seen or brought to light but somehow, sooner or later, she'd feel its impact whether it was right or wrong. Already her heart and soul had rooted itself in a faux misconception that he was 'the one' and the thought of being unable to stay with him seemed to churn the most sickliest of sensations within her stomach that only caused her to grimace. Unknowingly she had already become tangled up in him, strung helplessly as these unbridled emotions and conflicting feelings, when combined, seemed to create a surreal love. Kipaku was being led blindly much like a herd beast to a predators ambush and yet all the while she remained oblivious.
A chill, brisk breeze wisped about her, caressing her cheeks with a cold touch. Kipaku'penzi flinched. The savannah's warmth was becoming unforgiving with plummeting temperatures, a rather unfavorable time as she had become rather accustomed to the warmth of daylight. But despite the temperature change her mind was still restless and continued to wander, dragging her along the outskirts of where he resided- where as of lately they had called 'home'. For a while home had been the recesses of the thick jungle with him, with her mystery male- an individual whose identity she vigilantly kept secret and it was here where she had come to believe that there was a new life to live alongside him. He was strong soul, a male who knew how to treat a lioness well and sweep her off her paws. Around him Kip felt as if she was floating, suspended in air and unable to touch the ground.
Around him Kipaku'penzi felt important, she felt loved. Complete.
Kip was a strong individual- she was headstrong and was a thinker but even with her persistence and stubborn streak it would seem that trouble was still to be found. She had always strayed far from it and kept herself at bay from temptation but as of lately it seemed that pent up frustrations and emotions had gotten the better of her and nor could they be held back any longer. She could no longer compete with her siblings, rather her half siblings, and too often was she all but forgotten by her father. Now more than ever it seemed that she needed to strike out on her own, make something of herself and live her own life. Perhaps this was to be the beginning of her life, a new life. While battering and conflicting thoughts seized her mind it seemed as if tears were beginning to welt up in her eyes, trickling down her cheeks. Kip didn't like to cry, she didn't like to appear weak or vulnerable and rather quickly she tried to snap herself out of the emotional funk, closing herself off once again. She was better than that- she was stronger than that certainly. Frustration was only getting the better of her. As a brisk breeze licked at her face in a mocking manner Kip shivered but gritted her jowls together, posture stiffening as she leveled her head toward the outline of a figure in the distance. Her eyes narrowed toward the approaching figure while silently her inner-self chastised her, telling her to pull herself together.
A thrumming purr rang out. "You seem upset, darling", a velvety, cool voice spoke, "something wrong?"
Kip chuckled sheepishly, brows furrowing as she battled her thoughts out loud. “'M fine. It's nothin'." She was lying of course but why throw her problems onto him? Perhaps he would understand but, at the same time, Kip tended to take things upon herself and let herself suffer rather than burden others. Blinking several times before pawing at her eyes, the lioness exhaled softly, tail flicking behind her.
"Nothing?" The male questioned, arching a brow. "Something that is upsetting shouldn't be considered nothing."
"Somethin' that can be ignored should be lef' ignored," Kipaku retorted.
The male paced around her slowly, his tail brushing underneath the lioness's chin while a sigh exhaled from out of his maw. Shaking his head, the male knitted his brows before pursing his lips thoughtfully. "You're a horrible liar, you know that?"
Kipaku furrowed her brows as she gritted her jowls together, sucking a breath from between her clenched teeth. Oh, he was good- perhaps too good. It was almost as if he could read her like an open book and such a thing was comforting and, at the same time, annoying. Her ears swiveled back slightly. "I just wan' ta' make a life fer' m'self but I jus' don' want ta' past ta' repeat itself ... again."
A sudden spurt of gentle laughter broke free causing the lioness to tense and narrow her gaze. For a moment she was not amused to say the least and was taken aback. But before anger could kindle it seemed that reassurance came, soothing what fur was soon to be ruffled. "The more we worry about failure the more likely it will be that we will be the cause of our own failure. It is good to be wary of the past but at the same time you cannot simply let that stop you from living. Life is for living and life is something that one cannot simply live alone, is it not?" The voice bore itself with a gentleness, a warmth which was inviting and smoothed out the rough edges which fear had all but tattered up while in its existence. A grin stretched across the mystery males maw. "What good is living if you have to wander alone? The journey is much better with a friend. Besides, whose to say that failure is bad? If you never fail then you'll never know your own strength or limits. What good is living if you can never know your true potential or push the envelope?"
"Life would be rath'a dull," Kipaku mused, managing to grin just a bit.
The males voice alongside the spoke words were soothing and fear seemed to dissipate slowly, tension loosening from her posture as Kipaku'penzi pursed her lips somewhat thoughtfully.
A smile stretched across the males maw. "So why are you letting yourself get so bent out of shape?"
"Because 'm afraid of livin' my life withou' ya." A warm smile stretched across her maw as the lioness exhaled a wreath of mist. Quietly she watched as the male stepped forward, his large stature towering over her frame as his features remained a mystery, shadowed by nights darkness. She could feel his warm breath almost dance across her fur, caressing her face as he leaned his face in closer to her own. Kip's heart seemed to race, pitter-pattering against her chest as she looked into the males eyes. "I don't wanna lose you.
The male paused for a minute before shaking his head. "You won't," he assured, "ever. I promise." Pressing his forehead against hers, the male licked the lioness's cheek delicately and thrummed a deep purr. "You and I, Kipaku- we're unstoppable. Just you see."
"Promise? Talk's cheap you know."
"I'd travel the sub zero tundra, I'd brave glaciers and frozen lakes, move mountains and raise the stakes- there is nothing I wouldn't do for you," the male whispered, quietly as he pulled his body in closer toward the lioness. "I would gladly give everything I had just to have you in my life."
The lioness nodded, brows knitting slightly as she flicked her ears. His words- did he mean them? He must. Why would he say otherwise? For a moment more Kipaku remained silent as her mind mulled over what exactly the male had just spoken, professed even. It was strange, to be honest, and it felt as if it was spewed out so quickly. Her posture tensed for a moment before she shook her body loose, free of the hesitation. "You and I," she exhaled, her mind attempting to come to terms with the whirlwind that was swirling around her.
Seeing that she was succumbing to this new realization, the male chuckled softly and brushed against her. "I think its time that we take the first step to a new life together," he suggested, curling his tail around hers. "This will be the beginning of a new life together." As a small, almost cunning grin curled upon his maw, the mystery male turned away and began to walk away- disappearing into the darkness from where he came. Kipaku was accustomed seeing him come and go but there was a part of her that had grown to long to hate the time they spent apart.
Just as the male immersed himself into the thick brush it was that Kipaku herself quickly, and quietly, followed behind him.
It would be that tragedy would strike- and the past would repeat itself although the scenario of its entangling snare would be different the effects would be felt just as before although from a different perspective.
