"Did you see that? That was sick!"
Sets of Hawaiian roller coasters churned atop the big blue and crashed onto the shoreline. Foamy fingers clawed up the sand before they tirelessly retreated back into to sea. The stout male sat with his rump upon the sand enamored. There was something about the surf that intrigued him- something seemed to spark a connection, a deep love, for the powerful entity whose very thunderous roar seemed to send his very heart a-flutter. Luminous, green orbs only continued to gawk gleefully.
Beside him, his other half pursed her lips. "It was okay but it could have been better. A lot better."
"Better?" A deep laughter thrummed from Henalu's chest. "C'mon, Muli. This is only the beginning of soon-to-be-awesome! Y'gotta give some love to the swells or else y'can't build 'em up to get bigger, 'cha?"
For as long as he could remember, the ocean had not only been a part of his life but the unbridled tempest had also helped define who he was. While many seemed to have their heads stuck in the clouds, Heenalu Muku had his stuck in the sand; a true beach bum through and through.
As a fresh set of waves arched upward from out the waters and rolled forward, Heenalu inhaled a lungful of the salty air and breathed deeply as it filtered through his nostrils and gently exhaled from out of his maw.
The flawless clarity of the waves only caused a grin to stretch across his maw. His eyes narrowed, following the wave as it crested and toppled over with an explosion of whitewash and foam. Although Heenalu was watching from the sidelines, he felt as if a swell within his own body began to churn excitedly. His paws kneaded into the sand anxiously, wishing to feel the rush of adrenaline plague his veins. Had his heart not been contained within the cavity of his chest then surely by now it would have escaped to be recklessly tossed about the waves.
"It's so awesome..." Heenalu awed with a whisper.
‘Awesome’ was quite an understatement and Muli knew that.
Like Heenalu, she too had an affinity for the surf although something, someone rather, seemed to usurp the surf. Though there were ups and downs and moments or rough patches, both Kimuli and Muku never seemed to recede from what feelings were shared one for another. Already the burly, black male had made it clear as to how he felt for her and yet Kimulimuli had all but played games; dangling her feelings in front of him and playfully taunting him. Mischief and mayhem- that was often what occurred between the two.
A wreath of mist emitted from out of Heenalu’s maw as he chuckled. “But maybe not as awesome as what’s right beside me.” Undoubtedly it was corny but a mild laugh escaped from out of the lioness’s maw. Nalu’s massive form leaned against that of his mates’.
“You’re a bit rusty when it comes to originality,” Kimuli noted. She leaned against him and pressed her cheek against Mukus’.
“Rusty? Pffft, I got some mad moves.”
“Oh, you do?” Kimuli questioned.
“They will blow your mind,” Heenalu winked.
"So let's see these mad skills,” Muli demanded.
Heenalu swallowed. His paws kneaded the sands underfoot hesitantly. He blinked. What had he gotten himself into? The cogs within his head turned and stalled- finding itself in a stalemate. How was he going to do this? A sudden idea rang through his head and blurted from out of his maw.
“Get ready, because here comes the smolder: wicked dance moves."
Kimuli’s eyes widened, somewhat in disbelief and curiosity. “Riiiight.”
“No, it's true. They will blow your mind."
“....“
Heenalu quickly rose his paw and waved it back and forth. “EVERYONE can dance but these moves are classified.” Grinning, the lion took a step forward and gave his mate a light shove and a nudge of encouragement. “But there's a secret to make any dancer super gnarly,” Nalu laughed. “You just have to sing like no one’s listening and dance as if no one’s watching.”
Dancing, really? Muli was more than intrigued; she was anxious to see this extravaganza, and potential disaster, unfold. “What are you waiting for, Muku? Stop telling and start showing!”
“Alright then,” Nalu exhaled. He drew in a deep breath and began to tap his front, right paw on the sand. His hind quarters swayed, tail flicking to and fro with the motion, while his head bobbed with the pulsating beat. Heenalu’s whiskers lifted as a grin broadened across his maw. Words, lyrics, began to flood through his conscious thought as a song was beginning to be brought to life. The beat was alive and Heenalu could feel it taking wing.
"You would not believe your eyes
If ten million fireflies
Lit up the world as I fell asleep.
'Cause they'd fill the open air
and leave teardrops everywhere.
You'd think me rude
but I would just stand and stare.
I'd like to make myself believe
that planet Earth turns slowly.
It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
when I fall asleep."
Kimulimuli watched, somewhat mystified and at a loss for words. Her mate, Heenalu was- well, peculiar, to say the least. Albeit, bit dense, somewhat of a doofus, but full of surprises. A paw prodded at her side. She wasn't allowed to stand on the sidelines any longer.
Heenalu nudged her. "C'mon, love!"
"I-I-I really can't..."
"Just sway your hips, move your paws- you know? Rip, roll, and punch it!" Muku bumbled up closer toward the lioness, his head canted slightly while a smirk stretched along his maw. His body movement were loose, fluid, and wild with absolutely no regrets. Heenalu swiveled his paws into the sand and circled around her occasionally bumping into her before his maw gently gripped onto her ear and gave a small tug.
"Dance with me?"
The lioness gave in. Her movement at first were disheveled, uncertain, and apprehensive but it seemed that a rhythm was taking root. Kimuli mirrored him, her body undulating with a gentle flow from side to side. Was this dancing? It seemed strange although the more she let herself become carried away in the moment Kimuli wanted to simply let loose and rock out. Her hip playfully bumped into her mates side, catching his attention for a moment which caused her to display a cheeky grin.
Meanwhile, Heenalu continued to sing.
"'Cause I'd get a thousand hugs
from ten thousand lightning bugs
as they tried to teach me how to dance
A foxtrot above my head,
a sock hop beneath my bed,
disco ball just hanging by a thread."
The distance between the two began to close as both lion and lioness seemed to find themselves nearly nose to nose. The pairs pace slowed while a wreath of mist exhaled from out of their maws and faded into the atmosphere. Heenalu leaned in, pressing his maw closer toward Kimuli's lips before a paw suddenly pressed into his face. He was thwarted.
For now, at least.
Muli smirked with a soft laugh. "Try harder."
As the paw withdrew from over his lips, Muku rolled his eyes and wrinkled his muzzle. She could be such a punk sometimes, he thought. He watched as Kimuli seemed to saunter to the side the burly, black male crept up beside her and suddenly flung his paws around her.
"MUKU!"
Kimulimuli found herself pulled onto the ground against her will, taken hostage by that oh-so-sly feline. She struggled at first, batting her paws against Heenalu's face while back paws kicked up a spray of sand. A low growl thrummed from out of the back of her throat and yet the only reaction that stirred was a rumbling laugh.
"Whaaaaaat?" Nalu said. "I don't think believe I was done with my serenade." Pressing his muzzle close to his mates ear, Heenalu Muku whispered softly.
"It's hard to say that I'd rather stay
awake when I'm asleep
'Cause everything is never as it seems
when I fall asleep."
Kimuli sighed. She shook her head side to side and slapped her paws to squish Muku's cheeks. "You're weird," she commented, eying him with up most speculation. "VERY weird, but I love you."
The burly, black lion grinned from ear to ear. "love you too, dudette."
Untangling themselves from one another, Heenalu and Kimuli stumbled up to their paws and walked alongside the shoreline. The evening had barely begun and yet there was still mischief and mayhem to be had.
