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 Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:05 pm
Tangir returned, having caught a gazelle twin, and injured another. He'd eaten the first, tracked down the second and killed it too. This second he'd brought back as a thank you for the kindly lioness. He was rather surprised at the scene that he discovered when he returned. There she was, all curled around the genet like a mother with a cub. He stopped to stare in awe, gazelle dangling from his mouth as he stared. Eventually he dropped the meal and padded over to them. He nosed her paw hesitantly, trying and yet not trying to wake her. She did not stir at all, but remained asleep with her body wrapped protectively around the smaller feline.
Well, dinner would have to wait, it seemed. He diligently dug a shallow dip in the ground and tossed the dead gazelle in. He did a decent job covering it up with a light layer of dirt, muting its scent of blood and death, for a time anyway. Newly killed, it could keep overnight without attracting too much attention. Once done, he paused uncertainly. What to do now? He needed sleep as well, but his sensibility was currently warring with his wishes as to how exactly to get that sleep. The moon was high when he finally decided and settled down.
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:17 pm
She dreamt of her son, of him waving his tail in farewell, but of no sadness in her heart, which frightened her. What kind of mother was she, to not be sad to leave him behind? She fought with a shadowy image of herself, which hurled accusations at her while she tried to defend herself, both physically and emotionally. She awoke with a start and a gasp, her head coming up off her paws with a jerk.
She was completely disoriented, surrounded by unfamiliar smells, textures, and sights. Two bodies touched hers, colors swam in her sleep-muddled eyes, and the scent of hyenas, lion, genet, and blood all mixed in her nose. She shuddered her hide once and nearly surged to her paws in a panic, blood still pumping wildly from her dream.
However, the smaller body gave a little sigh and shifted a little, making her defocused eyes dart downwards. Grey, black, and white fur that looked as if it was her own met her eyes, and her mind reeled with confusion. This little body was hers? Was it one of her cubs? But how? She blinked frantically and leaned to gently nose the furry body. No, it didn't smell lionish at all.... in fact, it had the scent of hyenas on it. Memory began to trickle in. Hyenas and blood on a small body... an unconcious genet. Yes, that what it was. But then what was...? She turned and clamped down on a gasp. A huge brown lion was curled around her as she was curled around the genet.
He was sound asleep, his mouth gaping open and his tongue lolling out. It gave him a very non-ferocious look, and a corner of her mouth quirked even as her memory woke more and reminded her of who he was, though she noted the distinct lack of a name to go with the face. All the pieces finally fell back into place, and her heart slowed its mad pumping. All was well, though a bit strange. She lowered her head back to her paws and lay quietly, listening to the different patterns of breathing. She closed her eyes and found herself very comfortable, cradled between the large male and the small genet. Did she dare relax and enjoy it? It had been long since even Helaku had agreed to cuddle with her, longer since she'd last done so with her mate. Even as she debated, though, her body slowly eased of her tension, leaving her more able to accept the situation as it was.
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:55 pm
He awoke slowly and comfortably, with her scent in his nostrils. He laid still, savoring it. It wasn't as if he'd never encountered females before. He liked them well enough, but none well enough to linger with. His family tended to be that way... rangers of the lands. But his emotional reactions to this lioness... they warned him that something was different here. After all, had he not finally concluded to sleep curled around her?
Eventually he became aware that her rate of breathing indicated she was at least somewhat awake, and had been before he'd awakened. He opened his eyes, somehow not fearing her reaction to him being so close. Still, he had to admit it was n awkward note to start on when he didn't even know her name yet. He debated what to say first, and finally settled on the most obvious. "How is Raska?" he rumbled softly.
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:27 pm
She willingly accepted his choice to address the more important issue first. She raised her head and nuzzled the warm grey body gently, assessing her. "She's doing better, I think," she replied softly, as if they might wake the unconcious genet. "I got her to drink last night, at least a little." She raised her eyes and turned towards him, a little startled to see his handsome face so close. How odd it was to feel an odd flutter in her chest. Surely not. She cleared her throat and tried to reorient on the topic of the genet.
"She has cracked ribs, a broken tail, and a lump on the head," she managed, swallowing and turning back to their charge. Though how she was now 'theirs', she couldn't have said. "She really shouldn't travel any more, especially not swinging from your mouth." She kept her eyes on the sleeping creature in excuse for not having to look up at him again.
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:36 pm
"Sounds like she'll need someone to look after her who knows enough about healing to help her," he said softly, leaning close to look at the genet around her head. He could feel her holding her breath, though she didn't look at him again. Everything teetered on claw's tip, so easily nudged this way or that by the slightest detail. For a moment he delayed the action that would tip the scales for or against keeping her with him. Did he really want this?
Here he was, caught up in a conflict that was not his, while his family was somewhere back behind him, alive or dead. He was charged with caring for this small life, though he didn't know how to amidst the craziness of whatever had caused the battle. As if that wasn't complex enough, here he was, a beautiful lady in his arms, demure and confident all at once, kindly caring for his charge when she had no bond to do so. Did he really want to take this up, right here and now? Would it mean he left his old life behind? Did it mean he'd continue with her at his side? Would they be partners or would they fight? How could he make up his mind like this, here and now, in this splinter of time?
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:48 pm
He was so close he was nearly whispering in her ear. It sent shivers down her spine to realize that he felt attracted to her as she did to him. How long had it been since she'd lost her mate? Heavens knew no male had looked twice at her since, though she hadn't been bothered by it. But now... now her only child was on his own, living his own life, and she was free to do the same. She hadn't known yet what she wanted, and even now with this broad-chested male leaning so protectively near her, she wasn't sure if this was what she wanted.
How did one decide? How had she come to be with her previous mate? The memory of him no longer ached like it used to, and she recalled sunny days filled with laughter and love. Was this so different? Oh yes, this was different. Very different, but also alike in an odd, ineffable way. Could one individual click so deeply with another when they'd only just met? It was an unanswerable question just now. The solution was too far away, separated from her by seconds, or minutes, or perhaps hours. She held her breath, wondering if she dared. The choice lay before her now... stay and find out, now or later, if this could ever work. Or she could get up and leave now, giving him instructions on how to care for Raska. Could she do that? Leave them here and now, in a time of need? There was no question she could be of assistance to the genet.
It was at this point that she finally turned and looked into his eyes, her own wide and candid.
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:07 pm
He drew breath and opened his mouth just as she turned. Their eyes met, locked, and it was as if they both knew, and knew that each other knew. Wordless and inexplicable communication flowed between them, made of feelings, nuances of movement, facial expression that spoke volumes without saying a word.
He realized after sitting there like that for a long while that he'd left his mouth open the whole time. With a gulp he closed it and gave her another of his sheepish grins. The smile she returned him was glorious, and warmed him straight through like a beam of sunshine on a wintery day. He ran his tongue around his mouth to try and stop it being so dry. "You... will stay, then?" he asked, startled to hear his voice break mid-sentence. He cleared his throat and add quickly, "With us, I mean?"
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Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:05 pm
Yes, she decided. It was possible to connect like this with someone she barely knew. When he finally spoke, she gave a great sigh, as one coming out of a daydream. She smiled at him for being... well, being who he was. "Yes," she answered softly. "I will stay. On one condition." She hated to see the fleeting look of worry cross his face, but how her heart jumped as it passed and he gazed down at her with hope and joy. He knew, just as she did. This was meant to be.
"Name it," said he.
"Tell me your name," she requested with another smile. "For all this, I still don't know your name." He surprised her with a deep and resounding laugh, which vibrated against her and echoed around the waterhole, startling some birds from a nearby perch. How she loved that laugh already! "I am Delphia," she offered with a chuckle of her own. "What is the name of the big lion with the big heart?" She tipped her head inquiringly to hear the name of the lion she'd be spending her life with.
"I am Tangir," she heard him say in a quiet rumble still full of laughter, though his following nuzzle nearly drove his name from her mind. Tangir. Yes, it was a good name. But any further affection was forestalled by a completely different happy event... of sorts. The form within their circle of new love stirred, and a weak, faint voice spoke audibly, though what it said nearly broke Delphia's heart.
"Father?"
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