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 Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 2:57 pm
 He shifted nervously, hating the feeling and yet understanding it extremely well. There was something he planned to do today. Something that...well...could be life changing; for better or for worse.
He had been here for a few weeks now, learning and striving to be better. There were no signs of anything going wrong. In fact, he was flourishing and...well, there was her. He'd cared deeply for her from the very first meeting they had had all that time ago. And, meeting her again had been a blessing. A miracle! His heart had felt such joy at being able to rekindle that friendship and be given the chance to apologise to her for leaving without a word.
But he had been afraid...
Afraid of bringing pain to her after all that he had done. But that fear was done with and now...
Well, he had tried to leave her and this place but...he couldn't do it. He cared so much for her. Too much to leave her. He had not understood these feelings at first. Misunderstood them, even.
But now he knew that his feelings for her had gone beyond friendship and...he planned to tell her in the only way he knew how. A little old fashion, maybe. But that was the way he had been raised. He would ask her permission to court her and, if she accepted, he would give her his heart.
A beautiful but scary thing, indeed.
Now he was moving across the sand to meet her, the temperature cooling now that the sun was dipping in the sky again. It was his favourite time of day here in the desert.
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 3:15 pm
Makhi had never been happier since Altair had come to live in the same desert lands as herself. Truly, she had spent so long looking for him, only to give up her search, settle into a new life... Then he finds her? It almost felt like it was fate, giving her a helping hand.
Slowly, as the weeks passed, so did the fear that she would wake up to find her friend gone. She no longer felt, knowing it only as a vague memory of a past pain now. No, now she was feeling something much better. And much, much more confusing. She had tried to talk to Ilori about it... Which had helped to an extent. She had figured out what she was feeling at least, but only because he wouldn't stop making jokes at her expense. Her brother deserved the good kick he got for it...
The lioness paced now, knowing she would be meeting her friend soon with their patrols done, a frown on her lips, even though her mood was light. She knew what she felt now... But.. What did he feel?
Uhg!
She really was not at all good at these types of things. Raising yourself had that effect at times. Dropping onto her stomach in the warm sand, she buried her face under her paws with a confused groan. Should she just.. Ask him? No! That would just be embarrassing!
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 3:23 pm
What exactly was he going to say then? He hadn't exactly planned anything, in case he ended up losing his nerve and backing down at the most critical moment. But, now that he was thinking about it. Maybe he should plan something... After all, this was important and if he went in like a blundering idiot then he might not get his meaning across and it could all go terribly wrong.
"Okay, okay." He spoke quietly to himself. "Let's think about this, now. Not much time. Almost there." He shook his mane and exhaled noisily.
"Start off with a greeting. Tell her you...you have something important to talk about with her. Tell her that she is special. She...she means a lot. Then, ask her whether...whether you can court her."
He grumbled quietly. It sounded simple enough, but he had a feeling that once he was there, looking into her beautiful face, into those deep eyes, he'd lose himself and his words and it would end up being awkward.
But maybe that wouldn't matter. So long as she understood, perhaps a little clumsiness on his part would be overlooked? Welll...only time would tell and that time was soon drawing near. He could see her now, waiting, lying on the sand. Perhaps she was tired? Maybe this wasn't such a good time...? No. No! Don't think like that, don't back down now.
He trotted closer, slowing his pace as he drew near and gave a rumble of greeting. "Makhi." He spoke softly. "On time as always, I see." He settled himself a little ways from her and glanced out across the desert, his tail twitching with thought.
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 3:44 pm
Mercury eyes went wide at the sound of his voice as she shot up into a sitting position, obviously startled, before ducking her head in embarrassment as a paw raised up to brush away the stray bits of sand from her hair. " Altair... Good evening.. " She murmured out, offering him a soft smile as she slowly lifted her head back up to peer to the large male curiously. She'd been so distracted by her thoughts she hadn't even heard him coming.
She took a slow breath to calm herself down before she settled into a more relaxed position on her stomach once again, folding her feet down underneath her. " You're looking well. How was your day? No troubles, I hope... "
She asked something similar most days. Making she he didn't come across any trouble from anyone in or out of the pride. She knew he could take care of himself but... She couldn't help but worry and fuss over him.
Maybe she really should just ask and get it over with? If he didn't feel the same, then she would know, and they would just remain friends.
Unless.. It upset him. And he took off from the pride because of her foolish question? No that just wouldn't do at all. She couldn't ask if it would risk him leaving again...
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 3:49 pm
"Sorry, Makhi. I didn't mean to startle you." Now he seemed rather embarrassed. Great, what a way to start! He hadn't realised how lost in her own thoughts she had been...but... never mind, it couldn't be helped now. What was done was done.
"No troubles." He replied. "It was a good day. It feels very rewarding; to work for the safety of others, to protect those in the pride as one would protect a family. It is a good feeling." He blinked and cast his green-eyed gaze across at her. "And you? Tiring?"
He drew in a shaky breath, wondering how on earth he was going to breech the subject he had in mind. How did one exactly start conversations such as this? He had no idea! He figured the perfect time would make itself known sooner or later.
If only he realised what was going on in Makhi's mind!
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 3:59 pm
" It's alright, it's not your fault Altair.. I was just.. thinking on something my brother had pointed out to me this morning.. " She chuckled out, shaking her head a bit as she moved to shift up, padding over so she could settle herself down against his side now that the sun was almost completely gone and it was getting cool out.
" I'm happy you've had a good day, mine was as well. A bit tiring I suppose, but just as worth while as every other. Still, my mind's been a bit preoccupied. Like I said, Ilori pointed a few things out to me this morning, when I paid him a visit. I feel foolish not realizing them myself. " She sighed, shaking her head.
... Oh.. Dear.. Ilori would blab it out to Altair the second he saw the male. This was.. getting worse.. What should she do? It really would be less damaging for him to hear it from her than her brother...
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 4:05 pm
He nodded. "I can understand that. I've...had some things on my mind, too, actually." He paused, drawing in a deep breath so that he might conjure some strength in order to tell her. To ask her.
"Makhi..."
He paused and turned so he was facing her, feeling a bit shaky and weird now that it was coming to it. No. He could do this. Wait...maybe he shouldn't....perhaps he shouldn't be so hasty. Maybe he should ask her what she had meant first. What had her brother spoken to her about? Maybe he wanted more cubs? Would she...?
No. He growled silently at himself and tried to gather his thoughts. "It's...well..I've been thinking about us. How I feel...feel about us and...the way we are." Ughhh, just spit it out already.
"I guess, what I'm trying to say is that...I'd like...I'd like to ask for your permission...no, what I mean is...may I...may I court you?" He groaned inwardly at his bumbling attempt and wished, suddenly, that the ground would open up and swallow him.
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 4:27 pm
Her ears perked to attention curiously when he spoke out her name, lifting her head to peer up to the male once more, listening to what he had to say... And, it would seem they'd had quite similar things on their minds today...
She listened in surprised silenced as he stumbled over his words, tensing before shifting to press her face into his warm side, eyes shut tightly, a smile on her lips. " I.. " Her voice was muffled against him, and she took a calm breath, letting the male's scent relax her a moment before she finally pulled back enough to face him shyly.
" Altair I... It has been on my mind as well.. My feelings.. about you.. us... I was very confused about them, until my talk with Ilori... And I- He.. Well.. No, never mind.. It doesn't matter right now.. "
Another breath as she nearly trailed off, rambling, quickly pulling herself back together as she looked down to her paws a moment. Slowly she forced her mercury eyes back up to his green ones. " I would be honored.. and overjoyed... if you would court me... There's nothing I would like more... "
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 4:38 pm
He blinked, surprised at her sudden show of affection. Stupid, really, since they had always been like this, even during their first meeting when he had woken to find her curled around him, protecting. He closed his eyes, sighing very gently.
Ilori had spoken to her about it? He had known? It was odd for Altair to think that someone else had noticed before they had even come to realise it themselves. Should they not know their hearts better than any other?
Or...maybe not.
Matters of the heart were complicated matters, after all.
And then came her response and he felt a sense of overwhelming joy fill his heart and warm him with such intensity that it were as if the sun had driven back up to its midday height.
He nuzzled her, purring loudly, but still...the action was slightly shy. After all, it was done with greater emotion than it had before.
"I'm so glad..." He replied, and that was all he could say. The moment had choked him and words were suddenly difficult. An unusual thing for a usually well-spoken lion such as himself.
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 4:48 pm
She peered up to him a moment, before shutting her eyes as she shyly brought her own head up, purring as well. Gently, she rubbed and nuzzled her cheek against his own, a soft smile on her lips, before ducking back down to hide her face in his think mane.
" Me as well... I never... Imagined something like this could happen.. " She said softly, peeking up at him. " I hardly dared to hope I'd even see you again before that day... Let alone you.. You'd ask to.. court me.. "
Pulling up every bit of courage she had in her, she leaned up quickly to lick his cheek before hiding her face away in embarrassment and falling silent once more, at a loss for words after that action. But she was indescribably happy that her feelings were returned...
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 4:58 pm
He nodded, purring louder now. "I could never have imagined that my life would have taken such a turn. I expected to spend my life alone...wandering always. No family. No friends. Just me and the endless land beneath my paws." He curled his tail around hers and smiled warmly.
"I promise, Makhi, that I shall be here always. Always. I shall bring you gifts. I shall prove my love to you from this day forwards. And, one day, when the time is right, I will come and ask for your paw in marriage..."
He trailed. He knew he was getting ahead of himself, but he couldn't help it. He knew he wanted to be with her. Nothing was going to change that. He loved everything about her. Everything! To think of life without her was unbearable.
"But until that day comes, I will earn your heart. I will try and become worthy of your love."
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 5:10 pm
" What makes you think you aren't worthy already..? What makes you think you don't already own it? " She asked softly against him, giving his neck a nuzzle before lifting her head again slowly to peer up into his eyes. Slowly she let a smile spread over her lips. " ... You walked away with my heart the first day we met.. You're always trying to push yourself too hard, Altair... "
She chuckled out a bit as she finally relaxed, growing more comfortable in their new situation. Nothing had changed... At least.. Not really.. It was more like they were just.. Taking a few steps forward. " It's a good thing you have me around to set you right, hmm? "
Giving a nuzzle to his chin, she moved to stand, taking a glance up to the dark sky. It would be getting cold quickly now that the sun had fully set. Definitely time for them to head back in. " Come.. Lets go home. It's far too late to be out laying in the sand. "
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Posted: Sat Jun 05, 2010 5:15 pm
He smiled softly. And he had thought he was good at words? She spoke them smoothly and sweetly as if she had spent weeks rehearsing! He had always had her heart? Always had it but never known! He felt ashamed of that fact, but was glad of it, too.
"Without you I'd still be alone and miserable out there some place." He replied softly. "I owe you so much, Madhu-Makhi."
He nodded then, standing to move off at the same time as her, reaching out to nuzzle against the side of her face, purring deeply. "Home sounds good." And it truly did! Home! What a wonderful word. And finally he had a home. A proper home where he felt useful and safe and loved. It was the most wonderful feeling in the world.
/fin.
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