Parvana:
Parvana snuck away from her family's den in the mid-afternoon. No brothers or sisters tagging along, she'd made sure of that. Because she didn't want them coming along. She was going out in search of Obi and that was special to her. Would it be selfish to think that she wanted time with her friend to herself? Maybe, but she wouldn't dwell on it too much.
She didn't go all the way to the lake this time, but instead to the place where they had split apart to go to their family dens. They said they'd play with each other again, so she hoped he'd show up today.
Obadias:
Obadias was walking back from the lake. His mother had let him out after a midday snack and he had immediately gone to the lake in hopes of finding the pretty blue cub he'd spent time with before. She hadn't shown up though, and in the end, he had grown bored with waiting. Playing in the water wasn't as fun when he was alone, so he had sprawled out on the bank until he was dry. When it had reached mid-afternoon, he sighed and began to trek back towards his family's den.
Perhaps she had just been busy, or maybe she just hadn't wanted to come see him again? He stared at the ground as he walked, wondering where else she would be.
Parvana:
Parvana was still walking when she saw a dark shape heading towards her from the direction of the lake. She narrowed her eyes a bit and as it got closer she saw the greenish-brown mane and stripes and knew it was her friend.
A smile on her face, she quickened her pace to him.
"Hi Obi. I'm sorry if you were waiting for me..." she said when she was finally in speaking distance.
Obadias:
Obadias's head shot up when he heard the familiar voice, struggling to keep his sudden delight of his face at the sight of the familiar blue coat. He quickened his pace a little to move towards her. “It's okay!” He hurried to assure her, so as she didn't think he had spent the entire day waiting for her or something and make him look silly. “I wasn't waiting long. I was just taking a walk,” he said. He peered behind her, expecting to see her brother or sister lurking nearby. “You're alone today?” He said, sounding slightly disapproving. He never liked her being alone, she could get hurt.
Parvana:
Parvana looked down guiltily when they finally stopped and dragged one paw through the dirt.
"Only for a little bit. If I didn't see you at the lake, I was going to go right back to the den, so I wouldn't be alone for too long," she explained, her tone that of one who genuinely felt they had been naughty and felt bad for it. She glanced up at her friend and smiled a bit.
"Forgive me?" she asked, perking her ears up a bit towards him hopefully. She didn't want him to be mad at her.
Obadias:
Obadias tried to keep the disapproving look on his face but it fell off at her obvious honesty. He knew she wasn't the type to run off and hide from her family for any reason, she was a good Banu. “You're forgiven,” he said, smiling slightly at her. He couldn't deny the fluttering in his chest when she mentioned she had been going out solely to look for him. “Are your family going to worry if you're gone long?” He asked, wondering if they had time to go for a walk or to play or anything, or if he had to walk her back to her den already.
Parvana:
Parvana smiled sweetly again when he forgave her and she shook her head.
"No, I don't think they'll miss me. My mamas and papa know that some of us go out to play, but not too far. And Mama said it was okay to have friends and to go play with them," she replied, leaving out what else her mama had said. It made her sad, to think about not being able to see her friend if she was someone else's banu when they grew up. It kinda made her want to ask her daddy to pick Obi, but that didn't seem like something a good Banu did.
Besides, they were still little, she had plenty of time to play with her friend now.
Obadias:
Obadias perked up when she said she could stay a while. He liked spending time with her, she wasn't like his sisters and definitely wasn't like his brothers, so it was a really good change.
“Father says that I should be careful who I talk to, 'specially girls, since their Pads won't like me talking to them,” he said, sounding slightly confused at the thought. “Your papa won't mind, will he?” He'd be warned about Banu, since the Pads sometimes got possessive, especially with other Pads. They were still cubs, but he didn't want to anger her father, just in case.
Parvana:
"I don't think he'll be angry. Papa's really easy-going. I think he'd get mad if you weren't my age, though. 'Cause if you were older, you might steal me away, but you won't, right?" Parvana asked, giving him a shy smile. She didn't think he would try and take her forcibly for his harem... No, he wouldn't. Obi was her friend and he was sweet and kind. He wouldn't steal her by force. And he couldn't really challenge her father anyways.
Obadias:
“How do you know I won't?” He teased, puffing out his chest in an attempt to impress her. His smile ruined the threat and he had a feeling she knew he wouldn't do that. He was too young and he wouldn't beat her father in a battle for her, and if he wanted to not fight her father, he would have to take her a run, which was out of the question, since he liked his pride. He did like the idea of her in his harem though. He always thought her Pad would be lucky to have her, imagine if it was him? He pushed aside the thought, sure her father would choose someone much better for her instead of him.
“Let's go for a walk,” he said, nudging her lightly. “or we could go to the lake or something.” He just wanted to get away from their dens. He didn't want his sibblings to come out and find them, his brothers were too nosy and his sisters too noisy.
Parvana:
Parvana smiled back at him, reaching up at pawing lightly at his cheek.
"'Cause I think you're too good to try and take me away," she replied honestly. She knew it was good to be meek with pads but she liked being honest with Obi as well as her sweet little self. She nodded when he suggested they go for a walk.
"I think a walk would be really nice," she said, leaning a bit against him when he nudged her.
"Did you tell your papa about me?" she asked, curious. She'd talked to her mother and uncle about Obi, but not her papa. Of course, talking to her uncle had been prompted by him, and she mostly just asked her mama if it was okay to be friends with boys.
Obadias:
Obadias was faintly surprised when she padded his cheek but he liked that she was so free around him. She was a good, quiet banu, but it was good that she still had some spirit to her. There was a difference between a good banu and a mindless drone, he believed. “Maybe I'm just lulling you into a false sense of security,” he retorted jokingly. He enjoyed the little while when she lent against him, a little reluctant to move now. Instead of starting walking, he rested his head on top of hers. He had seen other Pads doing it when their Banus, sort of tucking them under their chins protectively. He stayed that way for a little while, before pushing back, a little embarressed.
“Father? No, I haven't,” he said, staring off as he started to walk, slowly so she could keep up. “I mentioned it to mother that I found a friend. She was happy but she didn't ask about you too much.” He'd tried to tell his father but he was so busy that he found little time to approach him about it.
Parvana:
Parvana fell into step beside him, letting her shoulder touch his as they walked. She glanced at him when he mentioned his mother and smiled. She was glad his mama approved of them being friends.
"I'm glad you mama is happy. My mama said it was good to make friends, too," she replied, leaving out the part about her uncle. Her uncle had seen them after all.
"What's your mama like?" She had a feeling she was really nice. Obi had to have nice parents to be as he was.
Obadias:
Obadias smiled to himself as they walked, glad she hadn't been feaked out by his earlier action. She was walking next to him as well, which pleased him. Before she had walked slightly behind him, showing his authority over her but now, they just felt like cubs, not a Pesar and a Banu. “I don't know many cubs around the pride, beyond my siblings,” he admitted, “It's always good to make friends.” He peered at her. “You didn't tell your father about me too?”
He tilted his head as he thought of how to describe his mother. “She's very kind and a good Banu,” he said simply. He didn't know much about her, really, other than how she appeared to him. “She really good at taking care of us,” he added. He didn't realy know what else to say. “What about your mama?” He asked, ccruious.
Parvana:
"All I know are my siblings and you, and some of my cousins. I haven't met all of them," Parvana replied, missing that he looked at her when he asked about her papa.
"No, I haven't told my papa. He's busy a lot with my brothers or uncle and I don't like to bother him," she answered and smiled while he told her about his mama and it grew when he asked about hers.
"Oh, my mama's kinda like that. She's really playful with us and Papa and sometimes she gets into trouble, but Papa still loves her. I love my mama, but I only wanna be kinda like her when I grow up. I think I wanna be a Beybanu, but I don't wanna get into trouble and I'm not too playful, not like she is. I like being calm and quiet, like my other-Mama."
Obadias:
Obadias nodded when she spoke of not wanting to bother her father. “I know. My father's very busy too. It always seems like I'm bothering him when I try and talk to him.” He sighed but smiled anyway, “but I have my siblings and mothers, so I'm not left wanting.”
He peered at her as she spoke, spotting the wide smile and squishing down one of his own. She seemed to almost glow when she was happy, or maybe that was just him when he saw her light up. “I think you'd be a good beybanu. You are playful,” he pointed out, “just you're quiet playful. That's good. M'sure you won't get in trouble for it either.” He smiled reassuringly.
Parvana:
Parvana turned her smile on Obi and tilted her head a bit to one side.
"I bet you'll be a great Pad, maybe even a Vizier. I'd be really lucky if my papa picked you to give me to," she said, not realizing what she was saying until it was out. She blinked in surprise at herself and looked down with a blush.
"I mean... I bet your banu will be very happy," she added with a small nod.
Obadias:
Shifting in pleasure at her compliment on him as a pad, slightly surprised at her mention of a Vizier. His father was one and he had always wanted to follow in his footsteps, but he was too unsure of himself to lead anyone right now. Perhaps, as he aged, he would grow stronger and more sure of himself, and be able to try for Vizier. Maybe.
Flushing at her comment, barely hearing her second comment, ammending what she'd said. He smiled, peering at her with kind eyes. “I'd be really lucky too, if your papa chose me to have you,” he said, returning the compliment. He shifted his gaze back to the ground, shifting awkwardly. It was true though.
Parvana:
Parvana blinked up at Obi when he spoke, blushed again, and smiled. He liked the idea? Oh, if only she'd be lucky enough for her papa to pick him. Then she'd always have her friend. But then, she supposed it depended on her papa meeting him, maybe even who his papa was. And for all she knew, her papa wouldn't just give his daughters away, at the very least he would trade them for banu for her brothers or half-brothers. And what if Obi's papa didn't want to trade? It was a puzzle, for sure.
"Maybe we should start heading back now," she finally said when all of a sudden a red butterfly flew up from behind her and landed right between her ears, the young lioness not even feeling its weight through her fur.
Obadias:
He shifted, waiting for her response to his comment. When she suggested going back, he panicked, but he had seen her smile from before, so perhaps he shouldn't be so worried but what if he had worried her or something, but she had said it first. He shook off the worry, blinking in surprise as a butterfly flew onto her head. She didn't seem to even notice it.
What to do? He could tell her, but she may freak out. He could hit it off her head, but then he may hit her. He could even tackle it off, but he didn't think he'd get that high. Hesitating, he moved towards her until he stood just in front of her. Stretching up, using his slightly larger form to his advantage and nudged the butterfly off her head, careful to scare it but not hurt her or it. Waiting to see where it went, he pulled back and smiled lightly at her. “Butterfly,” he explained, peering around to see where it went.
Parvana:
Parvana's eyes widened as Obi stepped closer and then he nudged something off of her head. Blinking, she looked up to see the butterfly winging away into the afternoon.
"Oh it's so pretty. I didn't even notice it," she said, giggling a bit as she watched it go. She looked back down at Obi and gave him a fond little nuzzle.
"I'd have been worried if it was a bee or something. My papa says my name means butterfly, though I don't remember attraction them before," she giggled some more as she confessed her mild fear of bees.
Obadias:
He was distracted by the butterfly fluttering away that he didn't notice her until she nuzzled into him and he turned back, startled but pleased. He returned it, before smiling at her. “I like your name,” he said, “It really suits you.” He was being honest too. She looked like a little blue butterfly.
“Don't worry, I would have gotten rid of it if it was a bee. It wouldn't have stung you,” he said, protectively. He hated bees too, but he would have let it sting him before it hurt her.
Parvana:
"My hero," Parvana replied sweetly when he said he would have gotten rid of the bee and not let it sting her. He really seemed like the protecting type and she rather liked that. Pads were supposed to be good warriors and protectors of their banu, at least from what she learned from her father and uncle and brothers. She should take him to meet her papa sometime. She was sure he'd like Obi.
She was glad he liked her name, she liked his too.
"And I like your name too, Obadias," she added with a nod. "Do you know what it means?"
Obadias:
Flustered but pleased at her comment of being a hero, he decided he liked that. Didn't matter if he was going to be her pad or not, he would be her hero. That was better than a pad, right? Puffing out his chest a little, he was determined now. Way better than being a pad.
He tilted his head to the side and crinkled his nose a little. “Obadias means Servant Of God. Mother says it suits me but I don't see how.” He shook his head, and shrugged. “I like your name much better.”
Parvana:
Obi puffed out his chest again, something her brothers sometimes did when they were feeling big and important. And Parvana liked making him feel important. She was certain he could be a hero. He'd be a hero in her eyes, that was for sure.
"I think it suits you, though. Like... a divine hero or something maybe. You know? I donno, but either way, I like it. And I can call you Obi," she replied and paws playfully at him. She really liked Obi and was glad he was her friend and that she could come out and play with him. Well, not so much play, but spend time with.
