(Pretty formating later)
Emil had been sleeping quite peacefully next to Tanwyn, perfectly content for the moment. And then he caught a scent that was...unfamiliar, but reminded him a little of Tanny. Quite likely one of her multitude of siblings.
"Tanwy-oh! Hello." The crimson female that stood in front of their sleeping area definitely bore some resemblence to Tanwyn in the swirling markings. "You're the boy everyone's been seeing her with. A pleasure to meet you." Emil eyed her warily, then nudged the female at his side.
"Tanwyn. Your sister." WHICH sister it was, he didn't know. Only that she was older than Tanny.
Tanwyn had been enjoying Emil's proximity and closeness, and being waken made the sleepy lioness yawn wide, fangs baring a bit before she opened her eyes, stretching, and nodded at her sister.
"Hullo."
Taswira smiled slightly. "You've been avoiding everyone, Tanny. Mother was worried, so I told her I'd try and check on you." Emil frowned and snorted.
"Well, now you see she's fine. She's with me." The lioness sighed.
"Yes, I know. I thought I might get a chance to talk with you two, as well."
"Well, I've been with Millie. I'm OK." She nuzzled the male affectionate. "He protects me."
Talk? Evade! EVADE!
Emil returned the affectionate gesture, giving Tas a rather annoyed look. He noticed the older female wince a bit, but she shook it off.
"Tanny...really. You can't avoid us forever. And I know very well what it's like to be young and in love..." She trailed off at that. HER young love had been put on trial, essentially, when she'd gotten pregnant. "Tanny...do you want to stay in the pride?"
THAT surprised Emil. He blinked, raising a brow. He'd expected the 'talk' the lioness wanted to have to be a one-sided lecture. Not a question like that.
Tanny pinned her ears back, disliking the tone this was taking.
"Why do you ask that?" She huddled into Emil, getting nervous. She didn't like this talk. At all.
Emil licked the top of Tanwyn's head, trying to be comforting. Taswira took a deep breath.
"I ask...because I know not everyone born into the pride will want to stay. Will want to fight as the pride was founded to do. And...Tanwyn. If...if you and you mate end up with cubs before you're an adult, I don't want you to go through what I went through. That would break my heart." Emil frowned, curious. What had Tanwyn's sister gone through?
Tanwyn huddled into Emil more closely, frowning. She never knew a life away from the pride, and the discussion made her more tense. Her ears remained pinned back.
"I love Emil. I don't care what the others think of us." Tanwyn shivered, huddling into her mate.
Tas smiled sadly. "I know. I can tell. Set and I were the same way." She sat, then laid down. "Tanny, I just...I want you to think very hard about things. And if you want to leave, I don't think it would break Mother's heart. As long as you're happy and safe."
Emil was very confused now. Tanny was obviously nervous and scared, and her sister was...very sad. Sad. That seemed to be a recurring theme among the Mwako, no matter how a member tried to hide it.
Tanwyn squared her shoulders, looking to her sister.
"I know, and I appreciate it... But I don't want others to tell me when I can and can't love or be with someone. It's not their right. It's wrong. I don't know anything but home, and I refuse to let my pride try to control me just because I happen to love someone. I'll fight everyone if I have to. He's worth it. Love's worth it, Tas."
Emil nuzzled Tanny, frowning. "You needn't fight everyone for me. If need be...you can come home with me. Our prides are allied, so...it wouldn't really be leaving..."
Tas sighed, though she was glad her sister's mate was willing to step up. "Tanny, I know love is worth it. Set's still with me, after all. And...if the verdict had been unfavorable for us, we would have left together, likely to join our brother in the Matembezi. As it is, I'll be taking Kipofu there soon."
Tanwyn cuddled into Emil, sighing.
"I don't want to run away. What makes them better than demons telling us our choices for us?" She buried her face into Emil. "It's not right."
Emil nodded. "She's right. It isn't right." Love was love, and it wasn't something to control. Taswira sat up, shaking her head.
"I'm not saying it's right, but I understand where they are coming from. It's dangerous for the pride to bring cubs into the world as adults. They simply worry about what sort of problems may arise when a mother who hasn't reached adulthood has cubs." Emil snorted.
"Obviously you're doing fine." Taswira nodded.
"I am, yes. But my mother has encountered females who didn't do so well, becoming a mother so young." She sighed again, and looked to her little sister. "I just want happiness for you, Tanny. It's something that seems to elude our family often."
"I know." Tanwyn put her paw on Emil's.
"That's why I want to be with Emil. He makes me happy. And I know some aren't ready, but I want this. I'll have Emil. I can do this, and so could any adolescent. It's facts. Everyone knows the risks. But this is something my heart is telling me is right. And anyone who would take a cub from us..." She flexed her claws. "I'll kill them."
Taswira nodded and stood. "If that is your choice, it is one I will defend, no matter the consequences." She smiled slightly. "And I am sure Set will stand beside me in doing so. Our older brother Hekima too. He was there for me and Set as well."
Emil rest his head on to top of Tanny's. "Thank you." At least some of Tanwyn's family seemed sane, and willing to see her for who she was. The female nodded.
"I ought to be going. To rescue the Mlisha from Sungura and Kipofu. If the two of you ever need someone to talk to, my ears and my den are open."
"Thank you, Tas. Tell Mom I'm OK, just.. With my mate? Please?" Tanwyn smiled, pressing into Emil.
Tas nodded. "I'll do that. But don't avoid us all so much, okay? At least talk with Mother some? She needs us all right now."
Emil purred at his mate, smiling a bit. They'd have peace again soon. He preferred when it was just he and Tanwyn.
"We'll see." Tanwyn gave a half smile, and purred to Emil, leaning for warmth. Hers.. Her love!
