Dysi stared out at the pride, a dull pain echoing in his chest. There was something...wrong. He could feel it. He hadn't seen Nyoka in a lot time. He could already feel her pulling away from him, hiding more and more behind the mask that was Nanashi. He was not her true mate, Dysi knew. He was just a mask that she hid behind so that the rest of the pride would not see her love for him, for Dysi. But recently...it had begun to seem less and less like an act. The thought made his chest ache and he lowered his head, a low whine working out of his throat almost without his permission. He couldn't believe this, not even his own thoughts would convince him otherwise.

Nanashi, who had been within the den with Nyoka not moments earlier, was somehow not surprised to see the leopard lurking nearby. He knew of Dysi's fascination towards his mate, and knew vaguely of her own affection for the light skinned male. Nanashi paused outside of the den, watching Dysi with a dark look in his eyes. The warning was clear. Be Gone. Now.


Dysi stared at the male. He wished he could hate him. The male who shared his mate's den, who loved her in plain sight of everyone, when he was left with only scraps of affection when no one was around to see. The male who had taken her from him, and seemed to be stealing her away. Dysi wanted to see Nyoka again, storm into that den, proclaim his love for her and sweep her away, out from Nanashi's grasp, but he couldn't, because that would ruin everything. So instead, he stared silently at the male, and his own warning clear. No. He wouldn't leave. No. He wouldn't give her up.

Nanashi bit back a snarl. That foolish male! That selfish, greedy leopard. He should leave, be gone and no longer cause the female Nanashi adored – and admittedly, the female that the leopard also adored – any more stress. Nyoka had confessed that she had used him, that she had not loved him from the start and Nanashi had accepted that. He loved her. He would always love her, and he could forgive her manipulations. But he would not forgive Dysi for trying to steal her away. He knew what the male wanted, and it was not for Nanashi and Nyoka to live happily ever after and for them to be happy. Dysi wanted Nyoka, and thought that the only way Nyoka would be happy...was with him. Nanashi knew better.

“You should leave,” Nanashi spoke, his voice quiet but it carried across to the leopard's ears.


Dysi wondered if he meant, go back to his den, or leave the pride. “No.” Simple.

Nanashi knew he could have yowled, snarled and gotten the male to leave, but he didn't need that. Dysi would not risk the pride for his selfish desires, no matter how greatly he wanted Nyoka. Nanashi had an advantage on Dysi. Nyoka was able to be seen with him, and felt no need to hide from him. “Suit yourself,” Nanashi said calmly, as if it didn't bother him. And it didn't. Because he turned tail, ignored Dysi completely, and walked back into the den he shared with the Boss Lady. She would welcome him and Dysi would be left out in the cold, again. Nanashi had won, even if Dysi did not realise it yet. It was over.


Dysi stared at the den in disgust. He should storm in. Demand that Nyoka tell Nanashi that he was merely a pawn, but the rukus would bring too much interest from the pride. Their head of the pride, a pawn? It would be a dangerous thing for the pride to know, and Dysi wasn't even sure if it was real anymore.

He missed Nyoka. He missed being with her, and not having to think about the other male's influence on her, or if she loved him as much as he loved her. He missed things being simple.

He shook his head, heaving a sigh. He turned his back on the den, moving away at a slow, laborious pace. He felt tired, though he had slept well the previous night. He would stop by the den, talk to the elder daughters and ask them to keep an eye on the youngers. He needed to walk, feeling stifled by the pride. They would understand. They always understood. He was lucky he had them, no matter the guilt which gnawed at his gut when he was away. He adored being a father, but he wasn't sure if he was doing it right. He wanted to protect his daughters, love and adore them, shelter them from the hardships of the world. He was doing that through the pride, and yet, he couldn't even stand to stay a month within the pride's walls. Was this how they should be raised? He knew the pride would raise them well, they would be safe and well taken care of, all their needs met, but he was rarely home now days. Days when he was missing, nights when he didn't return. Was he being a good father?

He sighed again, pausing. No, he wouldn't leave today. As much as he longed to feel his heart throb in a rhythm with his feet, he couldn't. He didn't want to leave his daughters yet again without a father, not when his place in the pride itself felt so shaky. He wouldn't alienate himself from his daughters as well.

Dysi firmed his shoulders, and moved back towards his den, the morning lights breeching the sky. Soon the pride would wake and come to life, and Dysi would play the role of a father – a role he had always enjoyed – but the lingering doubts would stay, just as those light eyes would watch his every move.

Was it worth it, he wondered, this pridal life?

Yes.

For Nyoka, it was. It always was.

Nanashi watched Dysi go, his light coloured eyes tracing his form as he made sure the male returned to his own den. He would allow nothing to hurt Nyoka, not even the male who claimed to care for her. Nyoka, thick skinned and beautiful, smart and every other adjective that described perfection, was vulnerable around that male. And Nanashi would not allow her to be hurt because of a leopard.

It was the one thing the two males had so strongly in common. Their loyalty to the Boss Lady – and their faith in her love.


((WC: 1105words))