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In the few weeks since he and Ubora had joined the Tuait'tekem Apiyo had settled into the daily routines. Guard duty, lessons, hunting, social activities with various pride members and most importantly spending time with Ubora. It was hard at times, as their schedules differed due to her extra training amongst the priests and priestesses but they made it work. The nights were almost always theirs to spend alone together, talking under the stars, sharing more about each other. In that time they had both learned a great deal about each others lives beyond the basics they had shared prior to and the day of joining.

There was one thing that he had determined after some time, Ubora was the lioness he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. She completed him as much as he completed her. Of course he wanted to make this something special, to show her just how much she meant to him. So over the last few days, at the sacrifice of giving up some of their time together, Apiyo starting preparing for what he hoped would be the day that would make it all official. It had been hard to sneak away and not be able to tell her where he had been or what he had been doing, and he felt bad when he did lie to her saying that he had picked up an extra patrol but Apiyo didn't want the surprise ruined.

He had scoured the area around the temple and a great deal of the prides territory to find as many flowers as possible. Flowers were not only rare in the desert but extremely difficult to pluck from their thorny home on cactus'. Needless to say he had been cut several times trying to retrieve them but it was well worth it. With the help of a fellow guard, on the day he had planned, they set up the flowers in a circle near one of the oasis'. It was a beautiful setting for what he hoped would be a beautiful moment.

Now he just needed to track down Ubora and pray that she wasn't busy. This had been planned out to happen around sunset, her favorite time of the day and the flowers would start to wilt if it didn't happen soon. Padding to the den they shared Apiyo wondered if she was back from her lessons yet. Oh gods please be here he thought, for he may miss the sunset and ruin everything if they had to delay by long. "Ubora." He called out as he reached the den.

Apiyo's eyes lit up upon seeing that Ubora was here and he stepped forward giving her a friendly nuzzle and then chuckled. "No, not tonight, one of the other guards is doing so." Not a completely lie but also not entirely truthful either, but he had to maintain his previous lies until his plan had been fully seen out. "And what of your training are you done for the day?" He hoped that she would or else everything would fall apart so quickly and he would need to spend several more days regathering all those flowers. "I was hoping we could go for a walk if you aren't busy."

His smile grew when she said her work for the day was done. Thank the gods, he didn't think he could wait any longer to do this. And so he turned and led the way out of the den. "Oh I may have some place in mind to go." He idly said as they traveled the length of the temple, before stepping out into the open desert. He would need to hurry just a bit in order to get there at the perfect moment but he didn't want to look like he was rushing either. So he did the playful thing and bounded forward for a while, keeping secret of where they were going whenever she asked.

When they got close enough that he could see the oasis in the distance he brought his paws to a stop. "Now I need you to close your eyes." He told her and then added. "Don't worry I'll guide you." Apiyo waited until she did what was asked and then walked with her at his side, his shoulder touching against hers so that she would feel comfortable walking without seeing. The oasis was one of extra special places on it's own but tonight it would be even more special. He led her down to the spot he had chosen about a week ago. It was near the edge of a small pond, with lush plants growing up from the moisture filled sand.

Once he guided her into the center of the circle of flowers he had set up he brought his paws to a stop. He glanced off into the distance for a moment and was satisfied to see their timing had been good, the sky was beginning to turn a variety of colors with the setting sun. "Now, open your eyes." He told her and waited to see her reaction.

Her reaction was pretty much exactly what he was hoping it would be. Nodding his head Apiyo smiled broadly. "Yes, I did it for you. All those nights of extra patrol, well some of them weren't filled with work." He stepped forward to stand in front of her and then sat down, he would have liked to remain standing but he was afraid his nerves would make him pace. "I wanted to do something special for you Ubora, something to show you how special you are to me. And I know how much you love the sunsets and..." He took a deep breath, preparing himself for what he would say next and locked his green eyes with her dark brown ones.

"Ubora, I think you are the most special lioness I have ever met. Our time together had been filled with so many great moments and now we have a pride to call home, a place where we both fit in so well. But I want more, so much more. I want to spend my life with you." He paused and bend his head down to pick up a flower, and while holding it in his teeth he said. "Ubora, will you marry me?" Marriage was a big deal in this pride and he wanted to that for him and Ubora.

She said yes! Apiyo let out a loud rumble as she pushed herself into him, and then before it became completely crushed her set the flower behind her ear. He found himself at a lose for words, he had known she would say yes but now that she had he didn't know what to say. So he rubbed his head along the top of hers and just savored the moment. All of his hard work had paid off. "You have made me the happiest lion in the pride." He finally said after a long time, and it was true.

"We get to start a new life, truly together now." He wanted to let out a loud roar to let the entire pride know, yet he held it back and decided they could spread the news later when they returned to the temple, or likely tomorrow as many of the pride members would be asleep by the time they got home.

Apiyo chuckled, of course she would be darn happy as well, so he said. "We're both the happiest lions right now." And that happiness would continue for as long as Ubora was at his side, which would be the rest of his life. New pride, new life, new opportunities. "It shall be more than wonderful Ubora, I will make certain of that." Whatever she desired he would work to obtain, Ubora would never go without, nor would their family should they have one some day, she would also never need to worry about being hurt for he would protect her from everything.

Reaching out with his front paws Apiyo wrapped them around Ubora and pulled her down to lay with him, running his tongue along the length of her muzzle. "Gods willing we will have a family some day, and this is the perfect place to raise them." He certainly looked forward to the day when little cub paws would run about their den. Their cubs, if they did have any, would be beautiful, as he and Ubora's pelts complimented each others nicely. "I hope you like big families, for I will need to have more cubs than Adongo so I can brag about it to him." He teased, honestly he didn't care if their family turned out big or small, all that mattered was that he was with a female he loved more than anything and that they were happy.

Her warmth and softness against his side made the perfect moment even more so. Apiyo let out a content sigh as he looked upon the star filled sky, something that was a rare thing to see in his old pride. Funny how there were things in life such as this that one could go their entire life without seeing or appreciating. The night sky, his new mate at his side, the comfort and safety of the pride, all things he had never had before and now they were here together during a single moment.

"Not so much a part of being twins but more of brotherly competition. We were always trying to be better than the other growing up." He chuckled, remembering some of the crazy things they had done to prove who was the better of the two. "If our future cubs are anything like him and I, we're in for a handful."

Apiyo nodded in agreement. "Yes, we will be up for the challenge whenever it happens." He didn't want to rush into a family, there was still so much more to learn and do within the pride. But should the Gods wish to grant them a family sooner rather than later he would fulfill the role of father to the best of his ability.

"Let's spend the night here, it is the perfect night to spend out here." Unlike during the day it became cool at night, but here within the oasis, curled up together they would be plenty warm. Besides he was enjoying this moment far too much to end it now. They would just need to rise a bit early so that they were not late for their lessons and duties come morning. Pulling Ubora nice and close Apiyo rested his chin on top of her head. Their first night as an official couple was spent under the stars.