Life was certainly different, being with a mate, and finding a home all their own. Even if they were still on the move, looking for the perfect pride. He hoped they found one before they thought of cubs..Though the thought had crossed his mind. He wondered if Melda would want cubs after they found the place to call home.
But he smiled, pushing the thought away just for now. Cubs could come later, if only he really knew..

Looking beside him, he nudged the female walking next to him gently.

"Any Idea where youre looking to go?"

Melda had been feeling a bit different the past couple of days, though she wasn't sure why that was. Maybe it was just knowing that she was finally with someone who would protect her forever, who would never look at her like she was just some kind of thing to be used and tossed aside. Was having someone like that supposed to make you feel kind of sick?

Sometimes her tummy didn't feel so good, she couldn't say why. Probably nothing to be worried about, though.

"there was a pride I visited before. It was really open and welcome to new members. They danced and sang and entertained one another in the middle of this huge forest! It was... beautiful. I would love to live in a place like that. We should be close now, actually... this forest looks like the one I was in before..."

Bwana was busying himself outside of the den, always happy to find a moment to get away from his angry queen. She was starting to come around to him, thankfully, but that didn't mean it was safe to talk about the cubs while he was with her. Still kind of a touchy stubject.

Who knew cubs that weren't mothered by her would be one of her buttons?

Sighing heavily, he wandered the forest, large feather in his mane flopping down in front of his face very few steps. "Bloody thing," he muttered to himself, coming to a stop to try and straighten it out.

He smiled, nodding a little, before looking out around them. He wasnt sure if he harbored any kind of creative talent, but he would be willing to find out if it meant a happy mate. He was growing to love her, something he had no idea what it truly was before.. The more he thought about it, the more he realized he had already fallen, she had him for good.

"What if I cant sing or dance?" He asked her, looking down with a wink.

"Oh, you don't have to! There's lots of other things, too," Melda hummed lightly, "like teaching the kids. That's what I want to do! You can also go out looking for things like rocks and bones and furs to bring back for others to make costumes out of! It's really open to whatever. You can be a hunter, too, I think, though they didn't tell me everything."

She continued to look around, until she noticed a big purple lion sitting blowing a feather out of his face. "I think that's the king..." she mumbled, remembering the one she had spoken to before telling her what the leader looked like.

Bwana blinked, looking over at the two lions who had come into the forest. He hadn't seen them before- certainly he would have remembered such bright colored furs. Tilting his head to one side, he moved forward, wandering over to them carefully, just in case they meant to do him some kind of harm.

Though they looked too much like flowers for him to take them as a real threat.

"Hello you two," he said faintly, bowing his head in a respectful greeting, "what brings you two this way?"

He smiled and nodded. Collecting or hunting might fit him.. He felt sure there just had to be something for him in the pride. He nudged her gently with his muzzle against her shoulder, offering a pur.

He looked up at the large purple lion, and realized that this lion, was huge. He cleared his throat, and tried to sit a bit taller.

"Thats him, eh?" He approached with her, careful to keep a good distance. No need to be nervous..but he still felt that way.

"Good day sir."

Melda followed the lead of her mate, not wanting to look as eager as she was. It would come off as much too desperate if she pretty much sprang at the other lion. Were you supposed to spring at lions? Or did they get upset about that kind of thing? Kings, she imagined, were lions to be more careful around. Even if they didn't get made, one of their subjects might.

So she sat there, smiling and bowing her had at the purple lion.

"Hello! My name is Melda... we're... you're pride is lovely. You're the king, right?"

Bwana was all smiles as he watched the two. It was nice to see two lovebirds together. Recently the only mates he'd seen were the ones in his pride, and they were rather stuffy. Nobles. If not for the idea of his father, the difference in rank by color, he knew they wouldn't be so smug all the time.

These lions weren't purple, however. They would help ease the changes Bwana sought to bring about. Assuming they wanted to find a home in his land.

"It's nice to meet you," he offered, "I'm glad you like my pride. It's a very nice place, if I do say so myself. What can I do for the two of you today?"

Indeed he wasnt purple, but he liked the way they were. He and his mate just..seemed to fit. It was a pleasant feeling to know that she complimented him just as much as he complimented her.

"We're on a travel of sorts, sir, " He replied with a bow of his head, as he looked towards his mate. He hoped he wasnt stepping on toes by speaking for the two of them.. But he felt it was the job of the man to take care of his mate.

"We are actually looking for somewhere to call home.. A place to safely raise cubs."

Bwana smiled at the answer. Melda seemed content to let the male do the speaking, sitting there with a lot of nodding but no further words. He'd summed it up nicely enough already, what was there to add? Or maybe she was just a little nervous to be talking to the kind.

He got that a lot.

"Well, this place is great for cubs. I've had some here myself recently. There are a lot of cubs for them to play with, and a lot of safety here in the mountains. With this forest all around us, we're quite secluded. Though, I do admit, going too deeply into the forest is not a great idea. There's a lot we don't know about it yet." He chuckled lightly. What place didn't have a bit of danger?

He smiled, a gleam in his eyes. It sounded like this could really be the type of place for them. Safety for the cubs and his Melda were first things on his mind.. He loved her, and he would love their cubs just as much.

"Thats great! I dont know that Id want my cubs wandering too deep in any forest anyway. They can be dangerous." He said with a chuckle, hoping he wasnt out of element.

"You're right," he hummed, "I wouldn't let my cubs wander into a forest regardless of what kind it is or the mystery behind it. But I would be happy to have your kids meet mine, if you do plan on staying with us. They would love to have some friends. Once they're born, of course." He smiled at the thought. Something about a pride full of cubs was very pleasing to him.

He enjoyed the idea of things being happy and fun, with little ones bringing animals together. Nothing like cubs to help blur those lines of class.

"Well, if there's anything you need from me, I'm usually in the den at the top of the cliff. You can come to me with whatever you need. Just because I'm the kind doesn't mean I don't like to be of help to anyone," he chuckled.

"We'd very much like to stay, Melda and I. Its been her dream I think to belong to a pride like this."
He cast a loving glance towards his mate and back at the large purple lion.

"If you'd have us of course.. It seems like the most perfect place to expect cubs I would think..and anything to make Melda happy."

Melda smiled at her mate, nodding slowly. "Yes, this place seems perfect for a family. I love the idea of there being cubs they can play with- I want them to be happy and healthy." She wondered what kind of life they would lead there, though she wasn't afraid.

The king seemed more than welcoming. And the place was beautiful. She just hoped it wouldn't bore her mate.

"We're grateful that you welcome us," she added softly.

Bwana chuckled and nodded, watching them. "Not at all! Any and all are welcome in my pride. This is a place for safety and family. I hope you find the other members of the pride welcoming too." Hopefully the damn nobles wouldn't put up too much of a stink about non-purple members. More non-purple members, anyway.

He looked from one to the other, happy to see the two new faces in his lands.

He smiled, doing his best not to leap in the air.
"Thank you, sir. Its a pleasure to have met you."
He looked back at his mate, licking her cheek happily.

"We did it Melda.. We made it to your pride, and we can have cubs in the safety of the lands.. Come, lets follow and make ourselves comfortable. Its high time I find something meaningful in my life."
He replied, and pawed at her before looking at Bwana, and he was ready.. Ready to join a new life.