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Zu had wandered most of his life alone after a tragic accident had claimed the lives of his sisters and mother. It did strange things to a lion, living without family, and though he'd steeled himself against the sadness that had threatened to claim him after the initial loss, sometimes he couldn't help but wonder if he'd ever find something, someone, someplace to call his own. It was a romantic thought, yes, but it was one that Zu entertained often. He had no place he called home, no family to return to, and so he'd turned rogue in the most literal way possibly - a vagrant, wandering here and there with no purpose other than one, and that was surviving.

Sometimes he thought about the little cub he'd played with once upon a time so long ago. It made him smile to remember her carefree ways and the fun that they'd had in that time. Life was different now. With adulthood came more dangers, more twists and turns. Zu craved normalcy but he had yet to find a place to call home.

Quietly he approached the beach near the small hidey-hole he'd lain claim to, intent on catching a meal before he set off once more. When he caught sight of the lioness, he couldn't believe his eyes. Was she a trick his mind was playing on him? Was she fabricated by his brain, and illusion to toy with his eyes? He stopped in his tracks, instantly taken back to the time when he'd felt so carefree and full of youth with a lioness named Nyota. He'd never forgotten her. Blinking rapidly as if that would help clear her vision, he shook his head when she remained there in his sights. Stunned, he paused, silenced despite the ache in his throat that encouraged him to call out.

Zu couldn't believe his eyes. For a long moment he merely stared at her, feet planted firmly in the sand. The salty sea breeze mussed his hair but he paid it no heed. He was too focused on the female in his view, the one he'd thought was gone forever. Those blue eyes had been a fixation for him as he'd grown into an adult. Though their first meeting was brief it had had such an impact on his life. It'd been the first time he'd met anyone who wanted nothing more than his friendship.

Hesitantly, almost as if he feared that she would shimmer away into dust if he moved too fast, he lifted a paw and took a step... then another... and another. Before he knew it he'd drawn closer to Nyota and though he hadn't said a word his eyes said everything his mouth couldn't.

When he spoke his voice was soft and almost hopeful. "Nyota?"

Zu frowned at her expression. What was wrong? What had he done? He couldn't think of anything. He'd always told her he'd find her again but childhood had swiftly morphed into an adulthood that hadn't been kind to the lion. He'd found a brother he hadn't known he had, he'd lost his mother and his sisters... life hadn't been kind to him but he'd done the best he could. Had it been good enough? Zu wasn't sure. Sometimes he didn't think it had been.

But now, seeing Nyota, all the pain he'd been through in his life seemed to melt away on the breeze, swept away on the loud waves that crashed near their feet.

"Nyota?" He asked again. Maybe he'd been mistaken. Maybe he had been confused, but Zu didn't think that was the case. He was certain that this was his Nyota. "Talk to me."

Zu frowned. He wasn't sure why she was acting so strange towards him, so hostile, even? Maybe he should've expected that, but no, stupidly he'd been hoping for a warm welcome. He'd been wandering for the past years without a place to call home or a lion to call friend. It had played with his mind, made him suspicious. Even finding out that he'd had a brother, well... that hadn't done much to make him feel better. He honestly had never expected to find her again. They'd only been cubs when they'd first met, young and hopeful, eager to experience life and all it had to offer.

Zu didn't want to experience life anymore. He was tired of being alone and without family, without friends. It ate at his heart and his soul and the way that Nyota just... stared at him, so unwelcoming... it made him want to dive into the ocean and swim and swim and allow himself to be swept away. He was tired of disappointments at every turn, tired of feeling so lost and hopeless.

"I don't want you to say anything, I guess." He watched her carefully. He wasn't expecting her to profess her undying love for him, but sadly he had been expecting excitement shining in her eyes. "H-how have you been?"

"The same," he whispered, culling the urge to walk over to her and draw her close so that he could lick the tear from her face. "My mother and sisters are gone. I found out more of my family. It turns out I have a brother that I never knew about. Our father is dead, too." He glanced away from her for a moment before turning back to seek out her gaze. He had so many questions, so many things that he wanted to find out about her... and most importantly, he wanted to approach her, feel her fur against his, brush his nose against her ear.

She brought back so many good memories, memories that he'd almost forgotten until now.

He only hoped he could fight the primal urges he had until she seemed more receptive. Right now she felt cold, so cold... Maybe she just needed space. "Tell me more of your life, Nyota. I want to know everything."

It appeared that Nyota's life hadn't been easy, either. His feet were moving, carrying him towards her -- of their own accord, he was powerless to stop the forward motion. When he was close to her, he haltingly leaned forward and gently nuzzled her jaw, licking away the tears that fell in small rivers down her cheeks. It hurt him physically to see her so sad, so upset... so broken? She was far from the carefree and fun cub he remembered. Then again, so was he. Life had a way of taking you places you didn't really want to go. Life had a way of making you feel things you didn't really want to feel.

"I'm sorry, Nyota. I'm... I'm just so sorry. You've always been on my mind. When things were rough, when I was alone and starving, I always thought of you. You were my saving grace when I was sure that I could just give up and let the Gods take me." He pulled back to peer into her eyes. His honesty was in his words and echoed in his eyes. "I found you, though. It's taken me a long time but... here I am. Accident or fate, I don't know which one brought me to you, Nyota. Forgive me." His voice broke. "I don't know what I'll do if you can't forgive me."