The festival was almost over, and tonight might be his last chance to get Tsilihu to himself for a long while. He was ridiculously nervous, waiting at their agreed upon meeting place. His paws even felt damp! He flexed first one, then the other in the soft dirt at the edge of the gathering grounds, then returned to pacing. He was trying to settle himself into the role of good friend, casual and merry, but it was much harder tonight. The moon was rising, gleaming brightly, and casting alluring shadows everywhere. This was different than his other meetings with her, and he knew it. Could he hold it together enough not to scare her away? How did one manage that anyway? He paused in his pacing to stop and cough lightly, trying to make sure his voice wouldn't crack around a knot in his throat when she arrived, which would be any moment now.
*****
It's not that she forgot. No, that was an absolutely ridiculous idea. Tsilihu didn't forget. She just didn't realize she was much further than she thought it would be, that's all. So now she was jogging in the direction of the chosen meeting spot, though she refused to go all out and sprint. She didn't mean to keep her friend waiting, but there was really no rush. Speaking of friends, Lihu really liked Kaleth. She found herself strangely excited to spend this time with him today, and surprisingly sad that soon the tribes would split up and she wouldn't see him all that often.
"Ah! Sorry I'm if I kept you waiting!" She called once she caught sight of the green male, closing in the last few yards and bouncing to a stop in front of him. "I, uh, wandered a bit further than I thought I would." She explained, awkwardly, and to distract from her failure at timeliness, she added. "The weather is great today! Sky's clear, perfect for a full moon."
*****
Some of the nervousness melted away upon seeing her coming. Some dark corner of his mind had been afraid she wouldn't come, that he'd miss his last opportunity just to be with her and only her. He warmed at the sight of her, and stood up straighter. "I haven't been waiting long," he reassured her with a companionable grin. "You made it in plenty of time!" He glanced again up at the moon. "We don't even have to hurry."
To prove his point, he bumped his shoulder to hers gently, then turned and began meandering in the right direction. "Where did you wander to today?" he asked her with interest. As long as he kept things light, it was easy to keep his feelings in check and to himself. "Find anything exciting?"
*****
"Oh, good!" She said, relieved, and looked up at the sky. He did have a point, plenty of time. The moon was just a little more than a quarter of the way up, so they shouldn't even have to rush. The spot wasn't too far. Lihu laughed slightly as he bumped her shoulder, and briefly considered bumping him back and starting a war, but decided to just settle for answering his question.
"Oh, I was chasing a beetle." She paused. Chasing bugs was a slightly cubbish thing to do, at this point. "It was very colorful and cool looking. And then I took a quick nap." It really had been quite quick, but she still wasn't sleepy. "I haven't done much all day. Almost went swimming but decided against it. You?" Lihu didn't dislike swimming, sometimes it was nice. But it really was just sometimes, and even whenever she did get in the mood to get wet, it was fleeting. She was very much a cat.
*****
He raised a brow and cast her an amused look sideways. Chasing a bug was very much something she'd be likely to do, despite how silly it sounded. Was it any wonder he called her Tsili? But he loved that about her dearly. So many grew sober and serious the older they got, losing a lot of the spice and vigor and joy of life. Not Tsilihu. She retained that joyfulness, and spread it to those near her as well. His smile became fond, and he turned away, lest the moonlight catch more in his expression. He had to think about how to answer her, for the truth was far too telling, since he'd spent the day waiting for the sun to set and the moon to rise.
"Swimming could have been nice," he commented. "I spent some time the other day with my brother, though with everything that's going on with the festival, we still haven't had much time to just talk." He was curiuos what led one of his two siblings here to the very same place as he'd ended up. It had to be a strange tale, but it wasn't one that had been shared with him just yet. A welcome distraction loomed close jsut then, shadowy in the shelter beneath the trees. "Ah look, there's the hiding spot."
*****
She smiled, albeit a bit more sheepishly, back at him. The smile faded slightly once he turned his head away, confused. Like it or not, Kaleth might have let more out with the simple gesture of a smile than he'd bargained for. Something was just... different, maybe. And in the back of her mind, a tiny little idea popped up, and grew quickly before she managed to swat it down to a manageable size. Lihu wasn't entirely sure what her brain was trying to tell her, but something was most certainly up. And she'd figure it out soon enough.
"Yeah, it is pretty hot." She agreed nonchalantly, because maybe Kaleth liked swimming more than she did. "Well, soon you guys will have plenty of time!" She said happily, referring to the clans separating, and then quickly the happiness was gone because that just reminded her he was leaving. Lihu really wasn't looking forward to that. She frowned slightly at the floor, and was relieved when he pointed out the hiding spot.
"Well there we go!" She grinned, scurrying over to the spot, happy for the distraction. "Looks like we're a little early for moon-high." She glanced up at the sky. Not too early, it would be at it's top place soon. So she flopped down contently on the floor. "Best spot is mine, I called it."
*****
Oh how hard it was to NOT do what he wanted. How he longed to tease her by insisting she share it with him, then push and shove like cubs for the supposed best spot. What held him back was being afraid of what such a tussle would turn into, how the close contact could communicate so very much to her. He swallowed hard, glad for the darkness, and once again tried to make light of it. "But you always get the best spot! When's it my turn?" Unbidden, his wistfulness crept into that last question, double meaning hanging thick in the air. Berating himself silently, he could have facepawed at his slip. Too much sentiment, and she just might withdraw from him entirely! Bad enough that they'd be seperated by space and clans, but to have her not even want to see him anymore? He couldn't bear it.
Not knowing what else to do, he threw himself down nearby... near enough to be very companionable, but not touching at all either. It was such a difficult and precarious path to follow, keeping her as a close friend like this. His heart ached to tell her how he felt, but he knew instinctively that the time was not right. Surely, though, the time would come. He hoped and prayed it would be sooner than later, but he'd endure a long stint of waiting if he had to. She was so worth it, and these feelings were not going away.
*****
"Well," She sighed, as if trying to settle a matter with a young cub. "I suppose you can have some of the best spot." So she scooted slightly, even though he had already found a place to lay down. From where they were laying the could just see the flower through the thorn bushes that encircled it, and moonlight was only just beginning to hit some of the petals. A little late, her mind registered the tone in his voice, but like his conspicuous smile moments ago, she forced herself to ignore it for the time being.
"Hey, do you miss your old home?" She wondered aloud, to pass the time while they waited.
*****
The fact that she'd made room that invited him closer made his heart race, but he remained where he'd flopped gracelessly. It was safer that way. Instead, he focused on her question. It wasn't something he'd thought about recently, which was very telling, actually. He blinked in surprise and answered honestly.
"No, actually, I don't." He shook his head, black mane a moving shadow among the shadows. "You'd think I would, having grown up there, and with my mother and brother still back there." Well, he assumed his other sibling had remained. There was no telling now that he knew two of them hadn't stayed. He felt a slight twinge of guilt for possibly leaving their mother entirely alone. "But what I told you when we met is still true, and you were right." He smiled at her then, expression highlighted by a stray beam of moonlight. "The Ela have indeed given me what I've been looking for. Everything I need or want... is right here." His voice grew gentler and softer towards the end, filled with emotion he simply could not hide. Oh, where was his self-control? His heart fluttered painfully in his chest as he gazed at her for several moments, then turned to the flower to see it resting in full, clear moonlight. "Oh, look!" Rising, he again held back the thorns for her, glancing back towards her expectantly.
*****
Lihu briefly wondered why he stayed put, and considered the possibility that maybe, somehow, she smelled bad. Which was a little silly, but she still gave the air a discreet sniff to check. She didn't think she smelled bad. Something was so weird, here. But once again, she pushed the thought away, including the irrational worry that maybe Kaleth just didn't like her anymore.
"Really?" She was surprised he didn't miss his home, actually. She was very glad he was happy here, but since she was born "home", she'd never had to imagine leaving anything but someplace she loved. If Lihu left, she was sure she'd find another place she liked but she'd still miss her birthland. So it seemed Kaleth really was pretty disconnected from where he was born. She listened to him, and again heard something that threw her. His voice was just...
A distraction arose in the form of movement, and she snapped her attention to the flower in the moonlight. "Wow, it looks wonderful!" She gaped slightly, observing the flower. It really looked very nice... Yet her eyes drifted towards Kaleth, for some reason.
Lihu was a smart girl, and she could only remain oblivious for so long. Still, once realization hit her, she was surprised. The way he was acting... She shook her head, and turned her attention back to the flower. "...Huh." Lihu grew still, but hopefully managed to play it off as she was just so interested in the flower.
"Beautiful."
*****
He waited until she'd turned back to the flower before agreeing with her. "Very beautiful," he said soft and low, though his eyes were on her rather than the blossom. He thanked the stars he could not see him in that moment, or the game would have been up. All the love and affection he had for her shone in his eyes just then, as she gazed down upon the flower, the picture of beauty and perfection to the love-struck lion. Oh yes, she was waiting a lifetime for.
He composed himself as best he could before speaking again. "Its beauty is so different at night beneath the moon. It isn't the same as during the day, is it?" Though his voice was a little husky, he managed to keep it light and happy. It wasn't so very hard, for he himself was happy in this moment of perfection. There was no sorrow in masking his feelings, for he felt certain, deep in his heart, that she would be his someday. He only had to be patient and love her, and it would all fall into place in due time.
*****
She continued to look at the flower, managing to feign complete and devoted attention when really, her eyes had glazed over. "Yes, it is quite different." Lihu remarked dreamily. Very different. It seemed things had suddenly just changed for her, if Kaleth thought what she thought he did. And it was ever so strange. How should she react to this supposed discovery? Should she address it? Should she just remain silent, and let it die away with time, maybe? But the biggest question floating through her head was, did she feel the same way?
She ever so slightly tilted her head, then righted it, so as t not give away she was thinking about anything out of the ordinary. She thought about Kaleth, and she thougt about how she felt about him. But ultimately, she just came to the conclusion that she needed more time to think about this alone.
"Which way do you like it best?" She asked, finally. "I like it both ways. In the day it's fun and colorful. And at night it's..." She paused. Couldn't quite think of a word, and shrugged. "I dunno, I like it."
*****
He nodded calm agreement, having mastered himself fully by now. "Yes, each has its appeal, even though it's the same lovely flower. One beauty is vibrant, the other is ethereal, and yet both are the same fragile petals and stem." Suddenly one of the thorns slipped between his pads and sank deep into the softer skin between. He gave a yowl at the unexpected pain and let the bramble go, yanking his injured paw to himself sharply. "And a dangerous beauty at that!" he growled, teeth gritted and eyes smarting. It wasn't that he'd never been pricked before, but getting it in such a tender place hurt doubly so. Throat still trembling with the growl, he gingerly began to lick the 'wound'. "If we plant more for next year, these thornbushes have GOT to go!" he declared, casting Tsilihu a sheepish look. He knew he was acting like a big baby about it, but it really hurt!
*****
"Couldn't have put it better myself, Kal!" She grinned, then almost jumped out of her skin at the sudden yowl. "Woah!" She made the noise reflexively, sitting up with a bolt, until relaxing a bit once she realized what had just happened. "Ouch! You okay?" She tilted her head and scooted closer, conflicting thoughts from earlier briefly forgotten. She peered curiously at his paw, almost as if to check how severely maimed it had been, even though the injury was truly harmless.
"Agreed. Though, how we'll get rid of them is another story." She definitely wasn't about to pull those out herself.
*****
"We'll figure something out," he assured her. "I refuse to look after this flower with them sticking around." Resisting wincing again at his stinging paw, he waggled his brows at her comically at his witty wording. "For now, I think maybe we ought to get back. It's late, and there is more celebrating to do tomorrow!" He rose, setting sore paw to ground without a thought so that he could lean forward and rub his cheek against hers, as one friend to another, chuffing affectionately. "At least it wasn't your paw that got it," he commented as he turned back towards the gathering of the clans. "I dunno if I could carry you back!" He took just enough time to cast her an impish, teasing grin before bolting away before she could swat him for his impudence.
*****
At first Lihu didn't quite get the implications of his not being able to carry her back, perhaps because she was too busy being amused at his previous statements to really register the "insult" thrown her way. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!" She shouted at her fleeing friend, and immediately gave chase.
"You get back here! I'm not just gonna let you get away with that!" Lihu growled playfully, speeding up. Kaleth was not getting away with his fur unruffled! And there was no way he'd outrun her! ...Hopefully. She prepared herself for an expertly executed (but harmless!) huntress pounce, if she could juuust catch up.
*****
He glanced back, eyes widening as he realized she had given chase. Oh, he'd expected her to run after him, but not with the intention of pouncing him! He could see it in her eyes as she shot towards him. He gave a gulp and faced forward again, darting suddenly to his left and ducking low, trying to avoid whatever was coming. Even as he kept running, though, an idea dawned. With a flash of a look backwards to see where she was, he forced a limp for four running steps, staggering as if his pricked paw hurt him, and then he went down in a tumble, directly in front of her.
Whether she was sailing in the air in a pounce or merely running, he reached up as she went over him and grabbed her from the air with his strong forelegs, pulling her to him in a strong embrace, shielding her from crashing into the ground by taking the impact on his own body. Teeth bared, breathing hard, he growled deep and playful into her ear, "Who's got who now?"
*****
To caught up in the chase to even notice he was limping, Lihu was completely caught by surprise with his sneaky plan. she yelped and flailed out with her paws instinctively, though somehow managed to not actually scratch anything. "Yeouch!" She squeaked, suddenly finding she was being squeezed against the male, rather than performing an impressive pounce. Woopsie.
"Hey, no fair!" She huffed playfully, squirming in his grasp. "Let go of me, you lug!" The smaller female kept her squirming, much too stubbornto admit defeat.
*****
He was so tempted to continue playing cubbily and sink his teeth into her ruff, mimicking a crushing throat grab, but having her this close was already pushing it. Such further rough play would likely not remain merely rough play. So he did the gentlemanly thing and let her go, opening his paws wide and gurgling as if she'd landed a fatal blow. "Augh!" He spasmed once and then let his entire body go limp, right up to letting his tongue loll out. He fought not to laugh or open his eyes, though he couldn't keep his tail from flipping in silent laughter.
*****
Lihu was quick to scurry away once freed, lest he should change his mind. But since he was still on the floor, she turned and prepared to pounce, unfazed by his dead-play. The pounce, however, was horribly harmless, and she more ended up flopped, and sprawled over her friend. "See. I win now." She purred victoriously, before going quiet as she remembered her earlier thoughts.
And then sat up awkwardly as she remembered who she was on top of in unison with the earlier thoughts. Awkward. Still, she managed to laugh. They really had a good time together... "This was fun, Kal!" She smiled. "We need to get together again before the festival ends." She remarked casually.
*****
There was an odd twist in his chest at her words, completely seperate from the fuzzy joy of her returned contact with him. Granted, that contact had whooshed the breath out of him, but he hadn't minded. But her words... ah yes, that was a completely different feeling. There was something there, he was sure of it. Something... different. Something put a fire in his heart and made his pulse race. He swallowed hard and sat up to smile gently at her. "Yes, we do," he answered simply. Anything more seemed unnecessary. He rose to his paws, feigned a bite at her shoulder and dodged to lick the top of her head instead in brotherly affection. Safe enough, surely! "Good night, Lihu." With a last look over his shoulder at her, still with that soft smile on his face, he padded off into the night.
