It was odd, Esu'me realized, that the very things that had once been against her had healed some of the wounds on her heart. Time and distance. Once upon a time, she hadn't had enough of the two, always striving to keep three steps ahead of Kenji. But now...now Esu'me had been running from him for so long, and so far, she no longer feared him finding her. And now that the cubs were grown and safe in their own prides, despite her original plans to keep them all together in one pride, she had no fear if he found her...she'd lived well. She stopped, a paw touching the necklace she wore.
Yes, she had no fear. No matter what, she and her cubs were together. And Kenji had no part in that bond. He was the one who sired them, but he would NEVER be their father. She then blinked. How odd...she hadn't remembered walking into such thick mists. Esu'me frowned, looking about. Perhaps it was best if she simply backtracked.
A rather large form approaching stopped her from doing so. The brown lioness' ears went back as she hunkered down, making herself as small and unthreatening looking as she could. She was NOT one for confrontation.
"Who are you?" Esu'me managed to keep her voice steady in an answer to the question.
"Esu'me Kibou, sir." The voice and form were definitely male. She noticed the shadow of ears perking up, and then form came closer, revealing a brown lion, a brow raised.
"Esu'me? Do you, perchance, know a pair of twin lionesses?" The lioness blinked, loosening up a bit.
"The only twins I know, sir, I have not seen in quite a few seasons. They were called Muscail and Codail." The lion smiled slightly.
"Then you are who I thought you were. Forgive me...I am Dagda. Codail's mate. You have stumbled upon where they live now." Esu'me frowned and wrinkled her nose.
"But how can that be? When I separated from them, they were far to the north and east of here, in a place called the Umande'mfuni. They seemed very content there." Dagda sighed and shook his head.
"Unrest struck the pride, and it split. Those who chose to return to something closer to the old ways of that pride came here. I met with Muscail and Codail again shortly after they arrived here. We are called the Mizuka'nyevu here." Esu'me nodded, surprised. She'd have thought her friends would stay there...it seemed to fit them perfectly. Then again...so did this place. The two of them were like the mist that swirled around she and Dagda. Mystical and pale...safe.
"It's still odd. Though I do think this is a good place for them, if these mists are any indication." She tilted her head, curious. "Were you part of the Umande'mfuni? Or...their old pride?" Dagda chuckled.
"Their old pride. I was a cub when disaster struck our old pride. Codail had been the one to watch over me usually." Esu'me couldn't help the flutter of her heart. She was a romantic at heart, really.
"And now, you've gone from the cubbish love one holds for a caretaker, to the deep love of mates. That's wonderful! It must have taken her a while though, ne? She seemed to still be rather saddened by the loss of her first mate, when I traveled with her."
"Ah, she was. But...she opened her heart once again." He closed his eyes, smile never leaving his muzzle. "She made me the happiest lion in the world when she agreed to be my mate." Esu'me nodded cheerfully.
"I bet! Codail is a wonderful lioness. Oh...you must tell me more!" She looked a bit sheepish. "I'm afraid I dare not step further in, since this is obviously a pride. And...I do not intend to stay. Muscail and Codail are my dear friends, but...I cannot stay someplace like this. It's too...mystical for me, in all truth." She sat, her expression that of a curious cub. Dagda nodded, understanding.
"That's fine. Though...perhaps I could bring them to you for a time? I am certain they would love to see you once more, even if the visit is only short." He sat as well. "Much has changed, since the three of you parted. Muscail reunited with her soulmate...Lifebonds, they call themselves. Tama is a good boy, if a bit dense at times. Muscail and Codail's cubs are grown now, and Muscail had another litter, this time with Tama. And two of Codail's cubs have cubs of their own. I hadn't seen the smile she wore the day the first of those litters was born in such a long time. I think...that was when her heart finally fully healed. Two of Codail's cubs did leave the pride, though. One to seek her father's pride, the other...simply to be him." Dagda frowned, hoping the boy was okay. All of Codail's cubs were like his own flesh and blood, and Lugh had been such a skittish cub.
"It is good the two of them found love. I...I was worried for them. They seemed so heartsick, the both of them. Even though they helped me, and gave me the safety I so needed back then, I worried for them." Esu'me sighed. "I do want to see them again, even if only briefly. And I would willingly wait right here, until they came." She did so miss her dear friends. And she wanted to tell them of her cubs, the ones she'd been carrying when she first met them, and then parted with them. Especially little Alais. Perhaps her time with the two had influenced the Sight Alais bore. Dagda smiled at Esu'me.
"I'll get the two of them, than. It's at a point in the day where they should both be free." He chuckled. "Codail is a Sheperd...she watches cubs as her contribution to the pride. I don't think there's a position that could suit her better." Esu'me nodded vigorously, giggling.
"Oh yes! She always seemed happiest when she was looking after her and Muscail's little ones. I'll see you when you return with them!" Dagda nodded and stood.
"I'll return shortly." He disappeared into the mists once more, becoming a shadow in the swirling fog before vanishing from sight completely. And Esu'me felt less lost than she had when she'd realized she'd gotten herself surrounded by mists.
She was where her friends were. That was enough, for the moment.
