Rap gave Hakan a shove and glanced over his shoulder to make sure they were alone. He didn't doubt that Kina would soon be back to join them and before she did, he wanted to have a quick chat with his teacher/friend/father before time ran out.
And time was running out.
"You know we ought to be making tracks by now, don't you Hakan?" He met the other's blue-eyed gaze and didn't look away. "Don't you?" He couldn't help a niggle of guilt from worming its way into his heart as he said it.
It shouldn't be Hakan walking at his side at all. It should be the rest of his family...
"Don't look at me like that, Rap." Hakan growled, curling a lip and giving the other a rough shove back. "I haven't forgotten. I made a promise to you and I'll see it through."
He sat and glanced over his shoulder, too, almost longingly. He didn't know why, but he felt suddenly uncomfortable and awkward. He would have done anything for an interruption right now.
"What's on your mind, Rap?" He asked finally, glancing sideways as the orange lion took a seat next to him. He realised, suddenly, how much time had passed since they had first met. He a lonely, helpless rogue and Rap a ragged, roguish juvenile who needed direction.
"If you changed your mind I wouldn't blame you." Rap replied, looking out across the horizon in the direction of the Motoujamii. "What we're going to do...it's dangerous. Real dangerous, Hakan."
He turned and glanced back at the dark-pelted lion and there were tears in his eyes. Not unusual, really, because Rap had always been the emotional sort.
Even still, it was not a welcome thing.
"We might not make it out."
"You think I don't know that? Rap, listen to me. I am a warrior. I always have been. Listen to me now, if you listen to nothing else that I say."
He stood, the sun outlining his profile with a fiery orange. "I have been on the edge of death since the moment I took this path. I do not welcome it, but neither do I fear it. And, if I had a choice, I would choose the death of a warrior. If I die fighting beside you, Rap, it will be a good death and I will be glad of it."
"Don't say that!" Rap interrupted, wheeling on the dark lion almost as if he were about to knock him to the ground. "Don't say it, Hakan. We both know that isn't true! You don't want to die. Hell, Hakan, I don't want to die!! And you have something to live for now, do you hear me?"
He snarled and this time he did knock into Hakan, sending him sliding back, grafting grooves into the ground beneath his claws.
"Do you hear me?"
Hakan startled and snarled back, determined not to let this younger lion get the better of him. He raised a paw and lashed out at the air in front of him. "What do you think? That because I want a good death means I'm going to roll over and wait for it? No, Rap. I do not want to die and neither am I following you in order to find it."
He shook his head. "I've always had something to live for. That has never changed. I've strived to make myself stronger for the very reason that I want to live."
And, pointedly, he sat. "Rap. I follow you because I want to. Because I promised to see this through with you. I do not and will not ever regret that."
Rap sat, sighing, rubbing at his face with a paw to rid his eyes of tears. He'd always let his emotions get the better of him... a flaw and a blessing.
"But...what about her?"
He was silent a moment, wondering whether he should play dumb and pretend that he didn't understand what Rap was talking about.
But he did and it was pointless to pretend otherwise.
Automatically he cast a glance over his shoulder to look for her, but she was not there. He was somewhat glad of it, seeing as the state that Rap was in and...the current topic they were about to breach.
"Kinagiri." He replied after a moment. "She will be here waiting for us like we agreed."
"And." Rap started up again. "What if we don't make it back, Hakan? Listen...I know what you're going to say. But I don't want to hear it. I've stood back and watched you two making lovey-dovey eyes at one another when you think the other isn't watching."
He growled.
"You have to tell her. You have to tell her before we go, Hakan. Just in case."
"What?" And for the first time since their conversation had begun, Hakan flustered. "I can't do that, Rap. I barely know her and she barely knows me." He looked away. "I mean...I like her a lot. I really do. But love takes time."
"Yes. Time that we don't have. Hakan, now it's your turn to listen to me. If you're coming with me then you have to tell her. Please. I'm begging you. Don't walk away from her without telling her how you feel."
And he really was pleading.
"None of us know when our time is going to be up. One moment we're alight, flaming as bright as the sun, and in the next we've been snuffed out of all resistance. Life is fragile. Believe me when I say I know."
He stood again and paced. "Even if you tell her that you'd like to see about pursuing something when you get back, that'd be enough."
"Okay. Okay, Rap. I'll tell her, okay. You're right. You're right. I'll tell her today. As soon as she gets back."
He felt suddenly nervous, which was stupid considering all that he had faced in his life.
But...love was different. It was...complicated and dangerous and wonderful all at the same time.
"I'll tell her."
But what he'd tell her, exactly, he wasn't quite sure of yet."
"Thank you." Rap sighed, pausing to glance at him. "Thank you." And with that, he turned and loped off, intending to make himself scarce until the morning came and brought with it the beginning of their journey out towards his homeland.
He cast one glance back at the lone figure of Hakan and, with a faint smile, continued on his way.
"It's about time he found some happiness." He whispered to himself as he faded into the coming setting of the sun.
/fin.
