She took a deep breath, it was time to have this talk with her father. She was an adult now, and she wanted to go out and see the world like he had, yes she was so happy her father had found love with Juno, who she liked a great deal and she would return, but she needed to spread out her wings so to speak, and see the world.
"Daddy?" Zarimunia called out.
"Hmm?" Xanthus had be laying out in the sun, basking in the warmth of the morning rays though as the day grew on, he'd stick to the shade of the shadows. His dark coat was not welcome when it came to the hotter months, something he thought as he looked to his daughter as she came into view, he had passed onto her.
"Daddy Im leaving." She said with a smile, hoping that he wouldnt over-react to badly, but she knew that he was protective of her but still she needed to be on her own. "I'll be back though, I promise." She said as she smiled once more.
"No." His tone didnt leave any room for buts, he shook his head. "No Zari, you cannot go." He wasnt sure if he could bare to lose her, it was bad enough her other sister had departed in the night, he wasnt sure his heart could take losing her too.
"Well I am Daddy, but I will be back." She padded closer to him, and nuzzled him lovingly. "Plus you have Juno now, and I know she loves you, and you love her. You guys need some time without me hanging around." She licked his cheek. "It'll be okay."
He sighed, she had a way of getting to him like her sisters hadn't been able to, maybe it was because he could see himself in her green eyes, the only thing of her mother that remained. "You come back, you hear me?" He said in a gruff tone, he wasnt happy about this, but he'd rather have her come back, then slink off in the night and not return.
"Of course! As soon as you and Juno give me some siblings to spoil!" She teased as she nuzzled into her giant of a father, the world had raised him and it reflected in his peaceful nature, but she knew that only lured others into a false belief that he was weak.
He pulled her close, and nuzzled her cheeks, though tears found themselves in his golden orbs, he was losing his baby, but at the thought of cubs with Juno, brought a grin to his face, yes he would have cubs with his mate, his heart. He nodded, "I will dispatch a bird to find you when that happens." He said with a chuckle.
"Thanks Dad, and I will be back to visit...not going to be like you." She teased as she now danced around him, she was going to go out and see the world, learn about prides and meet others! She simply could not wait, but with a look at her sorrow stricken father she knew she'd have to reign in her excitement just a notch.
He sat back, and really looked at his grown daughter, she had a good head on her shoulder and even though she was a passionate lioness, she knew how to temper in the situation around her. He was proud of what he saw, as a single father he had tried and hoped, “We’ll miss you..” He said with a nod, maybe Juno would use this to help talk him into joining the pride with her.
“I’ll miss you both so much..” She said with a soft smile, her and her sister had played match maker with her father and Juno, both girls had loved her almost instantly and had been so happy when it had panned out to be true, she grinned now at the memory of it.
With a lift of his massive paw, he ruffled her tuff of mane and shook his head, “Simply take care of yourself, and if your ever in any trouble, I will be there. Juno and I will be there, always.” He said firmly. He was a very protective male, he simply couldn’t help it, it was in his blood, his family came from pride lands, and generally that was enough said.
“I want to go to Pridelands.” she said in a soft tone, wondering how her father would take that. “I want to find grandmother.” She said with a nod of her head, she would do it anyways but if he was okay with it, she could come back and tell him about it, but that all depended on if she could even find her.
“You should.” He said with a nod of his head, “It would be good for you to meet the rest of your family, to see the land of our blood.” He didn’t worry about her being taken in by a pride, she was to carefree and wild to be caged by a pride, but he had thought the same until he met Juno, and now he pondered joining to be with her even more.
“Thank you for understanding Daddy.” She embraced him in a hug, well a lion-style hug she took in his scent to remember him by, and held tightly. Her father was getting up there in years, but she knew he’d be around forever, and no one would change her mind from that. No one. “I love you.” She whispered.
“Of course I do..even though I don’t want you to go.” He said with a shake of his head, he held tightly to her, and sighed as he didn’t want to let go, and watch her leave him, that would be to cruel, “I love you too Zari. Be safe my daughter..” He said gently as he pushed her away from him.
“I’ll be back!” she promised as she turned, and started to pad away from him, away from the home she’d grown up in, from all that she knew but she knew deep down there was still so much to learn still, and her father and Juno would always be there when she returned.
