The sun had tinted the mountain sky a soft pink while the clouds blazed with gold and orange. It was late in the evening and the pride had supped in small groups before dispersing so that relaxation could commence. The air was cool and yet without a biting chill and it smelled of summer -- sweet and flowery. A gentle breeze toyed with the branches of trees.
All was calm. Rather, all seemed to be calm.
Evading Tofauti after dinner had proven to be nearly impossible for Shujaa. She had wanted to seek out Kosoko -- he was hiding something from her and she was determined to find out exactly what it was. The lioness was certain it would not be easy. After all, Kosoko was not the laughing type by any means. Shujaa had to wonder if anything could make him smile, and she highly doubted that he'd ever willingly cracked a grin on purpose.
Snorting most indelicately, a very unladylike frown darkened her features. She could hardly expect Tofauti to understand how she felt. How did one forget all of their past? How did one function with no memories to call her own? She had told Tofauti she was not broken, but there were times that Shujaa felt as if she was. Broken and shattered into a million pieces with holes in her memory ten miles wide.
She hoped Kosoko would help her. She couldn't help but feel suspicious and she didn't even know why. If she knew Kosoko in the past, she did not remember him now.
Kosoko was resting by himself in a small clearing. Sprawled on his side, the big white lion made for an intimidating sight. Thick of muscle and lithe of form, it was obvious that he kept himself in the pinnacle of health. It was also obvious that he kept himself at somewhat of a distance from the rest of his pride and Shujaa could not help but feel curious about that aspect of him. Tofauti had done the same thing from what Zurvan had told her, and he'd also told her that Tofauti was extremely close to his mother. That news had been strange -- Tofauti acted like a big fluffy mama bird when he was around her, and while she enjoyed being treated with dignity, he could get a little overpowering at times.
Tamping down the random thoughts that flickered in her mind, Shujaa gave her attention back to the lion that rested a short distance from her. She cleared her throat, hoping to draw his attention to her.
Kosoko, as usual, did not relax with the other lions in his pride. He preferred to be alone more often than not. It gave him a chance to think about the visions that tormented him -- and lately his thoughts had been of the vision he'd had of Shujaa. It still troubled him despite the short snippets he'd detailed to Safura. The sight of the lifeless cubs littered about, the unmoving body of a grown male and a grown female ... he couldn't put the pieces together.
He couldn't figure it out.
At the sound of a very feminine throat-clearing, Kosoko lifted his head. He knew she'd seek him out, but he hadn't expected it to be so soon. A few days, maybe, not the very morning that he'd approached her in order to ask a few questions of his own.
"Shujaa."
"Kosoko." She drew closer. "Forgive me if I am interrupting you. I had a few questions of my own."
He fought the urge to sigh, instead gesturing with a dip of his head that she approach him.
Seating herself before him, she offered a slight smile before gnawing on her lip in silence for a long moment. She opened her mouth a few times and no words came out.
"Speak frankly, Shujaa." His eyes were bright, ears perked.
Shujaa cleared her throat once more before speaking.
"Tell me, Kosoko," she pleaded, visibly fighting tears, "tell me what you have seen of my history. Fill in the holes. I do not know how you know, I only know that you know." It sounded crazy, even to her own ears. It sounded crazy and terrible and she couldn't help it.
And he could not help her.
"I know nothing," he lied smoothly, shaking his head, "I know nothing and I cannot help you." No, he could not help her.
"Perhaps Safura can," he added, speaking of the lioness who meant so much to him. "She has visions -- a gifted female, sister to Tofauti. Safura may be able to help you." He shook his head and rose to his feet.
Shujaa broke into tears.
"What if I have done something terrible," she cried, tears streaking through the fur of her cheeks, "what if I have done something terrible?! I do not deserve to be in this peaceful place if that is the case. I do not deserve to know the love of Tofauti or the respect of my peers."
"If you have done something terrible," Kosoko said in his best comforting voice, "then it would have been for good reason. It would have been because it needed to be done, Shujaa. You are pure of heart -- if there is one thing that I can say with any certainty, it is that you are pure of heart. You deserve the respect of your peers and you deserve the love of Tofauti."
He wasn't completely sure what he was saying. He only wished that she would stop crying.
With a loud sniffle and a quick dab of her paws, Shujaa attempted to right the tear-stained ravages of her face. If Tofauti happened upon her, he would ask questions that she did not wish to answer. He would pressure her for answers that she could not give.
"I am sorry, Kosoko," she said mildly, looking more than slightly embarrassed. "I am sorry if I have caused you distress or discomfort. It was not my intention, I assure you, and I promise it shan't happen again." Clearing her throat, she rose to her feet and dipped her head in farewell.
"Enjoy the rest of your evening," she whispered before turning and making her way back to the den that she had been issued.
Kosoko slumped in defeat. He would have to talk to Safura about this. She was the only one that could help Shujaa.
WC: 1095
