It was raining again. Mai reveled in it, standing out in the rain once more with a content expression on his face. Even with his fur plastered to him and his soaked mane trying to drag his head down, he felt an odd sense of peace and release. It was magnified by the fact the Longest Night had passed them, and power had shifted in the Mwako. His Grandmother had real smiles on her face again, and the rank of Jua suited his Mother perfectly. But there was also something troubling him.
He was grown now. An Asikari in full. And he still hadn’t found someone he could give his heart to in the pride. The little Seer he’d talked with last time it had rained...her words still haunted him a bit. And then there was the fact his Uncle Set and Aunt Taswira seemed to be...nervous. It made him wonder, made him worry. Set was always a little on edge, it was simply who he was. But this was more than his usual paranoia.
Maisha’s blue eyes opened as he caught another scent mixed in with the rain, one he knew well. “Hi, Uncle Set.” He turned his head to see the dark-maned male step up beside him and sit. “What brings you out here?” Set looked to him with deep blue eyes...then ahead.
“Thinking. And I want to talk to you.” Mai blinked, then nodded.
“Okay. What did you want to talk about?” Set was quiet for a few moments, making Maisha wonder if he’d forgotten what he wanted to talk about. It...wouldn’t really surprise him, honestly. Mai looked ahead again, and closed his eyes.
“The future.” Maisha startled and looked to Set again. The lion had a very serious look on his face. “You’ve been growing restless, unsure of things. Why are you still here?” Mai was speechless for a moment, before his ears drooped and his eyes went to the ground.
“Because my family is here. Because creatures who need me are here.” Set snorted.
“And yet you’re unhappy. You may still smile and laugh and be charming as always, but I can see past that. I did train you, after all.” Maisha chuckled half-heartedly and nodded.
“Yeah. I just...I see everyone here as family, Set. Not someone I can love for the rest of my life. And I want that. I want something like what you and Aunt Tas have. Something strong and lasting.” Set was actually caught off guard by that...then chuckled.
“Ah...so what got you thinking this way? With as dense as you can be, it had to have been something important.” Would wonders never cease? Mai hadn’t heard his uncle talk so much since early in his training!
“I...met a Seer. A visitor from the Matembezi’wasakaji. Uncle, she was strong enough that she was getting the future mixed up with the present. And...she told me I didn’t belong here. That I had somewhere else I needed to be. Somewhere with someone I was meant to be with.” Set listened carefully...then bapped his nephew upside the head.
The leopon yelped and gave his uncle an indignant look. “What was that for?!”
“For being an idiot. I know you aren’t much in the smarts department, neither am I, but you’re being foolish. If you feel like you don’t belong, go find where you do. If you can’t find it...come home.” He shrugged, and Mai blinked.
“Can...can I do that?” Set chuckled and smirked.
“Why don’t you ask Kaimel and your Mother. I’m sure they’ll have an answer for you.” Maisha thought for a moment...then grinned and nodded.
“Yeah! If...if they do let me, I’ll make sure to say goodbye to everyone first. In case I do find this place I’m supposed to belong.” A place by a body of water so vast one couldn’t walk around it...
Set nodded. “You’d best. I don’t think Tas would forgive you if you didn’t say goodbye to her. Your siblings too.” Mai chuckled sheepishly.
“Yeah...I think they’d hunt me down and pester me on why I didn’t say good bye. Mama Luta and Daddy too.” Everyone...He really would miss everyone. They were all his family, his kin. Somehow, some way. “Would you miss me, Uncle Set?” The large lion nodded his head.
“I would. You’re my favorite nephew, after all. Your light will be missed.” Mai smiled at Set sadly, then stood.
“Well...I guess I should go find Mother and Mwezi Kaimel. I’ll...talk to you later.” Set nodded and watched his nephew trot off.
Maisha was a good boy. He just...didn’t belong among the demon hunters. He never really had, despite his want to protect and bring light into their lives. “At least one of our family won’t be scarred by the coming storm.” Set was not looking forward to when the time came for the plan Tas and Moto had come up with. So many would be hurt by it...Tas especially. But it needed to be done. It had to be.
The chocolate colored lion look up to the gray sky, closing his eyes against the rain. “Karma...I will accept the responsibilities for the actions I take. I pray only that the actions taken by myself, Taswira, and Moto’nyota do not scar too many, and might be understood someday in the future.” The lion continued to sit there, letting the rain wash over until a warmth settled beside him. He looked to it, opening his eyes to meet orange-amber and green eyes. Taswira smiled slightly at him.
“Come on...let’s go. Sungura will worry too much if we stay out too long. He’ll have enough to worry about soon enough.” Set sighed and nodded, standing to follow his mate to their den. He would miss his skittish son a great deal. But what had to be done, had to be done.
At least one of them would finally get to live in peace. And she deserved it most out of all of them.
