They'd been travelling together for a week now, and each day that went by was one more day that Nye had to put up with Vena. She wasn't outright in her means of annoying him, but she was persistent. He doubted the lioness even did it on purpose. She loved hearing stories about the things that Nye and Aya had done together, and while Ayana seemed to love Vena, Nye certainly did not. He pined for the day that the lioness would take her leave, and he anguished when each day passed that she did not leave. He even found himself hunting for the trio since the lioness seemed utterly and completely inept at that one task in particular.
There was one thing that Nyeusi was thankful for. The lioness could not hunt but she had a way of making Ayana laugh until Nye thought she would burst. He wasn't even sure what they spoke of since he oftentimes trailed behind the two females, but each time that Aya's bright laughter rang out, Nye found himself smiling softly, most of the time without even realizing that he was smiling.
Ayana found herself utterly captivated by the lioness. She was simple, really, and that's what Ayana found completely charming about Vena. She loved regaling Vena with various stories of her past, about the pride she left behind, about her amazing and utterly doting father Dysi, and about the mother that she could barely remember. It was easy to talk freely to Vena, and though she knew that Nyeusi was not as thrilled by the lionesses company, she also knew that he tolerated it just because he cared about her. Aya had started to cherish the love that Nye seemed to hold for her, and did not hold him at bay as she used to. It had been fear that had kept her from allowing her to sleep close to her at night, and thanks to Vena she'd taken a moment to really look at Nye, to really look at him and realize how lucky she was to have him.
Vena loved Ayana. The leopardess was amazing, funny, and it was so special to be able to have a friend that she could talk freely with. Vena anticipated the way Aya's mismatched eyes would scrunch up at the corners when she laughed at one of Vena's silly jokes, which came often.
Now, Vena wasn't so sure about Nyeusi. He was kind of stand-offish, but that was to be expected. Ayana had told her in soft whispers that he was jealous of the attention that Aya was giving Vena, and Vena always laughed at that silliness. Jealous of a lone lioness? Vena couldn't understand that, but she wasn't going to question it. She merely waved off the observation with a broad paw before glancing over her shoulder at the male, meeting his pink gaze and offering him a smile. He rarely smiled back.
A week together had brought Vena and Aya close, and at the same time it brought Aya and Nye closer as well. A week of Nyeusi forever wondering if Vena would leave, a week of Aya laughing at Vena's silly jokes, and a week of Vena being the happiest she had ever been in her whole life.
This morning in particular, Vena rose with the morning sun. A fair distance away, mainly so Nye and Aya could have some privacy, slept Vena's leopard companions. Nye snored loudly as he often did while Aya's muzzle was upturned in a perpetual grin. Even while she slept she exuded beauty and laughter, and even while Nyeusi slept he did so with a fierce possessiveness that brought a strange smile to Vena's muzzle. It was obvious that he would give his life for his fair maiden, and as usual Vena was captivated by the allure of romance and love and forever-after. She would have to hold out hope that she would have that someday. Aya had promised her that she would, but Vena wasn't so sure. She did not know if that sort of thing would ever come true for her, but still she held out hope.
The sun rose higher and Nyeusi was the next to rise. He kept still for a long, long time, noticing that Vena was staring off into the distance. Ayana had his captive attention, though, and his gaze returned to his beloved female. She captivated him even in sleep, so beautiful he could hardly stand it. He was excited for the moment she would slowly open her eyes, one crystal clear and pink, the other just as clear but as blue as the savannah sky.
Almost as if hearing his thoughts, Ayana's eyes opened blearily. It took her a few moments to rouse, and when she did she offered a bashful smile in Nyeusi's direction. It was still a little unnerving to wake up to his watchful gaze but she was slowly coming to enjoy it. "Good morning," she said softly, eyelids fluttering as her mouth opened in a great yawn.
"Good morning," he replied, turning to glance in Vena's direction. The lioness must have heard Aya's voice, because she'd turned to face the pair, beaming in their direction.
"Good morning," she called out heartily, rising to her feet and padding towards them. "How did you sleep?"
Aya answered for the both of them while Nyeusi rose to his feet and stretched the knots out from his muscles. "We slept well," she said softly, tilting her head to the side before asking, "And yourself, Vena?"
"Well enough," the lioness said softly. "I've been doing some thinking."
"Oh?" asked Aya. A small frown was on her features. She hoped the lioness wasn't leaving, not yet.
"Yes. I think I will make my way to the Shrine pride. The... Ulili'Mlindaji. Have you heard of it?"
Nyeusi raised an eyebrow. This was getting rather bizarre. Before he'd even met Ayana he'd been in search of the Ulili'Mlindaji. He remembered the hyena that he'd run into, Bekeli. That had turned out to be one fantastic disaster, one better off forgotten.
"I have heard of it," Nyeusi said hesitantly. "I was searching for it long ago, but it eluded me. Instead I found myself face to face with a hyena that thought he knew the way there but instead led us into an angry bunch of lions." Nye frowned. "Do you know where it is located, Vena?"
The lioness nodded her head excitedly. Oh, that would be wonderful if they could all live together in the pride. It would be really and truly wonderful, and Vena brightened at the prospect. "I happened upon it once not so long ago. It was a quiet and peaceful place, a place where everyone smiled and there was no fighting. It is a sacred place, and I am sure we will all find duties there ... I mean, if we decide to continue travelling together." She amended her words quickly. After all, she did not want to make it sound as if she were expecting them to continue traveling together.
Ayana was quiet for a long moment. She had not been completely fond of the last pride she had lived in -- in fact, the only thing that made it remotely tolerable was her beloved papa, Dysi. But perhaps with Nyeusi and Vena by her side, it would not be such a terrible place. It would not be a place filled with mysteries and missions, entertaining and geishas. It would be a sacred place, a place that she could build a family in. She shot a hesitant gaze at Nyeusi. Would he be interested in such a place? Would he be interested in starting a family with her? She could only hope so.
"It sounds wonderful," she said softly, nodding at Vena with a small smile on her muzzle. Vena instantly brightened, spun in a quick circle and gave a little hop of joy before letting out a loud laugh. "So you will come, Aya? You and Nyeusi will come with me to the Ulili'Mlindaji?" At Ayana's node, Vena grinned happily and gave a roar of excitement.
Nyeusi and Ayana couldn't help but laugh. While Ayana fell back into an uneasy silence as her thoughts of family consumed her, Nyeusi was trapped with the same thoughts. He thought of Elera and the things he had done for her, he thought of the children he would never see. He thought he'd come to terms with that, but it was apparent now that he hadn't. He could never -- would never -- tell Ayana of the cubs he would never meet. Perhaps she would want to start a real family with him -- a forever family. He could only hope, couldn't he? He could only hope that she would once she saw the pride and once she fell in love with him.
"Let's go," Vena said happily, trotting away from Ayana and Nyeusi with a bounce in her step. "We should be there soon if we keep up a steady pace!" The leopards followed her, each lost in their own individual thoughts of the future, and yet each of them thinking about the same things. Only time would tell how they would end up.
(WC: 1,545 in MSword)
