Saiorse lifted her face to the sunshine. Worry creased her delicate features even as she tended the kill. The zebra had been a hard thing to bring down on her own, but it was worth it. It would be her wedding present to her new mate and that fact made her heart swell with pride. Since she had been a cub, she had been raised and groomed to be a wife, his wife. Now, the day was nearing, and just the thought made her heart race. She was delighted. Her day was coming, it was so close.
The lioness lashed out, claws sweeping just short of a jackal’s hide when it dared just a tad too close to her kill. His kill. She would hunt for him from now on, and lead the family that would soon follow. There would be other wives of course. That much would be expected, and she would need the help, but she would be the first wife. She would be the one to hold all family ties, and keep rule in the family. All of the children would be hers, regardless of who birthed them, and the home would prosper under her watchful eye. Maybe he would even let her help in the choosing of the next wife.
But now.. He had known she was hunting today. She had asked him to meet her here, beneath the spider’s tree. It had been at least two hours she had been waiting.. Her heart began to race, not with the delight of her soon to be mate, but with worry. Could something have happened? He would be angry if she left his kill to the jackals. He was a beautiful lion. With a hide gold enough to shame the sunlight and bright eyes so green snakes were hypnotized with ease, he was a marvel. A wonder of the savanna. He was as beautiful as he was strong, and as kind as he was beautiful--but husbands held heavy blows when they were angered. She knew that as well as her mother, and her mother’s mother had. It was the way of their home--to keep the power over the household in exchange for the unending love and submission to their husband.
But now… Now Saiorse had to make a choice, and risk the blows that would come. The lioness gave in to her worry, and trotted off across the grasses.
Her nose kept high, seeking out the whispers of the wind, praying that she would get some clue, some faint scent on the wind. Eventually, she moved to check his favorite haunts, and trace though what steps he might have taken. The two of them had grown up together, betrothed even before their birth. She was the first born of her family, he the first born of his. They would join two powerful families, and if things went to plan, her own first son would be the next pride leader in time. She would be the mother of great things, and he the father, whether he knew it or not. After all, husbands were not to be concerned with his wife’s plans. That was one request of the males that the lioness’s were happy to follow.
A smile ever slightly touched her lips as she neared the final check on her route. This was to be the place of their wedding, hardly two days from now. The waterfall, the river.. The scene was something out of a bed time story. It was all just so--Now wait a minute. Who the hell was she? A slight tilt of the head coupled with narrowed eyes as she watched the strange female. This was their territory. She had no business being here. A soft growl formed in Saiorse’s throat as her body turned lithe and predatory. Other wives would be tolerated, surely--but not strange females. Not ones who lounged on her prized home. Besides, she wouldn’t hardly mind once she and her mate were properly married. Then her place would be assured, right beside the man she had never intended to fall so hard for.
…The next moment, her heart stopped. There he was, in all of his handsome beauty. He was perfect, in every imaginable way. Lithe muscles. A beautiful, lean build, and you never could forget those stunning green eyes. His smile was so captivating--gentle, and alluring--that it took Saiorse a long moment to shake off the dazzle enough to actually realize that it was not directed at her. Instead, his emerald eyes, and his bewitching smile fell upon her. That trespassing hussy wasn’t only encroaching on the territory that her family had claimed for generations, she was meeting with a male that was all but married. His beautiful golden head caressed the female’s cheek. Her hips swayed as she circled him. Saiorse’s heart stopped.
How could he? Saiorse felt the heavy weight on her chest as she watched. How could he do this to her? In two days, two days they would be married, and here he was.. Since childhood, it had been just them. They had played, learned and grown together. When no one else was there for her, he was. When no one else was there for him, she was. So many sorrows and so many pains, and they had forged through them all together. How could he? Saiorse stood slowly. He might as well have torn out her heart. Her eyes watched the scene before her in disbelief, just a moment before a fire sparked.
In her pride, she had been taught how to react. Males ruled absolutely over the females. The females ruled everything else. The mothers and sisters of the pride were expected to take every one of their husband’s transgressions with grace. They were expected to expect their husbands to do exactly, and only, as they pleased, and to accept that fact. Perhaps she should simply expose her presence, give her betrothed a cold stare, and walk away. Perhaps she should simply slip away, and act as if it never happened. Yes. Logically that was the best choice. No plans would be ruined, and their wedding would go as planned. That was the logical answer, but logic was far from her mind. In the midst of heartbreak, anger rose. Her disbelieving face turned and twisted, something nightmarish in her snarl. A growl shook her chest, bubbling up and out of her throat to seethe between gritted teeth. Something had broken, and Oh.. Things would break..
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