Kosuke felt ready, ready to face off against the old lion again. This time he wouldn't lose, he could feel it! When he found Bodaway, though, the old lion looked like he was in no mood to fight. Nor did he look like he'd ever want to again. He looked... Well, his age. Like he'd seen kings rise and fall in the pride. Which, technically, he had. As the young male approached, he watched the mighty old lion rise.
He'd been expecting this moment for a long time. While his age was catching up on him, Bodaway still found the strength to push on, to rise above what others might think of him, believe of him. When Kosuke approached, he prepared not for a battle of physical strength, but mental. "So, you've come to me again... I've been watching you, Kosuke, even as my body has begun to fail me. You've done well, raising so many cubs to adulthood."
Kosuke bowed his head, ears to the sides. "Thank you. They have done me good, too, tempering the fire in me to a controlled level. I was a rash youth before, when I last challenged you, and now I come to you with an earned wisdom about controlling myself as one would control a young cub." He lifted his head, showing his pride, in being Firekin and in his lineage. "I come, as I'm sure you know, to ask your permission to be with Shula. Till death do us part..."
He regarded the other for a bit, before walking over to him, sizing him up. After a few minutes, Bodaway's eyelids dropped just a bit, as he regarded the younger lion. "You ask for permission to be with one daughter... Yet you didn't ask about another of my daughters. What have you to say about that, boy?" It was a bit of a paradox to Bodaway, that Kosuke would ask about one but not another. Why would he do that?
"I was foolish and young. And Jyotika wasn't exactly opposed to it..." Granted, he figured he payed for this with 5 Huria cubs... "Shula is.. Very special to me. Ever since I was small, and didn't even know her... I wanted to be with her..." He'd paid for that, too, as one of the old scars left by his mother twinged. He hadn't even MET Shula at that point... Only had visions of her.
"I see..." Limping, the old Firekin circled the young, considering and weighing everything. "So, tell me, what do YOU see different between Jyotika and Shula? Besides who wanted what..." Granted, he'd gotten some adorable grandcubs out of it, and he adored them all, but now he had to question the motives. How much had Kosuke grown as a lion, as well?
He closed his eyes, letting his mind drift to the two lionesses. "Shula is... Like a dancing flame.. Too much, and it could go out... Not enough, and it still goes out... Jyotika is like... A roaring flame. Others are needed to keep it going, to keep it strong. Almost like a natural pull for others, where as others might avoid Shula. Jyotika doesn't NEED to be nurtured and directed, she's a force unto herself that others might need. Shula is more in need of protecting, of nurturing and directing... She needs others around her, to help her thrive..." He smiled. "And she's thrived, with cubs around her..."
He nodded, listening to the younger lion's words. "I see, I see..." Standing before Kosuke, Bodaway squared his shoulders. "So tell me one last thing, Kosuke... Knowing that Shula's mother came into the pride from outside, what would you do if any of your cubs were Huria? I've seen how you acted with your other cubs, how well you treated them despite their differences... How will you treat THESE cubs?"
Kosuke's ears folded back, as he gave the older male a sour look. "You imply that I'd be a bad father to them. I would care for them and teach them like all the other cubs, even if all but one cub is Huria, and then I would turn them out into the world to spread the word of the pride." He raised an eyebrow, sour look passing. "Or would you prefer that I beat them, curse them, and treat them like slaves, as was done in the past?"
The old lion cuffed the younger. "Don't be a stupid idiot! Of course I don't want you to do that!" He recomposed himself, clearing his throat. "You've answered well, Kosuke... But I'm not done asking you questions. What would you do, if the pride split again, and Shula took another stance than you? Or, what would you do if another male wanted her, and tried to take her from you?" He circled again. "There's no gurantee that you'll be the ONLY male who wants her..."
One eye twitched as Kosuke thought of the very IDEA some other male would go after Shula. "I'd go after him and kick his tail out of the desert, you don't take somebody else's mate!" Shula hadn't ever looked at another male, partly because no other male had attempted to more or less understand her, to dance with her. "And if kicking his butt doesn't work... Then I'll challenge him to dance. If he can't keep up, he's NOT worthy of Shula!"
Bodaway chuckled, tail flicking. "You've answered right, and answered well..." He gave a bow of his head. "Where your physical prowess has failed to impress me, or even defeat me... Your words speak far louder. I give you both my blessing." As he walked towards his den, he smiled at Kosuke. "Make sure Shula comes to see me, I'm not sure she'll QUITE believe you, not at first... And..." He smiled. "Good luck."
Kosuke nodded, a smile spreading on his face. As he watched the old lion return to his den, the younger male turned and practically pranced off. Well, prance wasn't so much the word... He danced away, quite literally. He was so joyous, he didn't care WHO saw him! He HAD to tell Shula! When he reached open ground, beyond the dens, he took off at a run, practically skipping.
