She panted, the sun was sure making things warm today she thought with a flick of her ears as she scouted around for a speck of shade. She'd been told that the pride was possibly in this direction, but she felt as if she was running in circles. She scented the air, she could smell others..and water..Her pace quickened as she sought out the water, finding it she lapped at the cool liquid. There was little doubt in her mind now, that she had to find Hak, before it'd simply been a haunch, but now with her belly rounding she knew. She knew she had to find him.
Hak was not a hunter, or a scout. He was a warrior, trained to fight and kill for the pride. He knew plenty, more perhaps than anyone in the pride, about killing other lions, but it was no longer something he relished. He'd felt a sense of peace since joining the pride that he hadn't known since his simple, young, untainted days. He could truly forget anything outside this forest, this wonderful lush world. Or at least, until the things he'd left behind came to find him, nose-to-nose almost ,at the watering hole. He was startled to see the familiar female there. It had been weeks, months? He didn't know. She looked like she'd been eating well, but his first thought was to run. To keep himself isolated in this place. She'd always been kind to him though...and so he poked his head through the bushes, watching her silently.
She was to used to being a predator not to lift her head as her shackles rose slightly. She knew when she was being watched, maybe she'd gotten closer to the pride than she'd thought, she slowly backed away from the water, her eyes darted around her slowly trying to find the one watching her. She rolled her shoulders, forcing herself to relax and ease back her shackles, but the desire to live, and protect her unborn gems, was a feeling stronger than she'd ever felt before. She forced herself to sit, her tail flicking behind her as she took a deep breath, "Its not polite to stare." She said out loud in gentle tones.
Hak cleared his throat and stepped forward. It was polite, and even though he wasn't a guard, it was the pride's law to properly greet and handle newcomers. Which apparently Sev was. "And it is not a wise idea to trespass either, old friend." He teased, then smiled. "I did not anticipate seeing you here. Or again at all, to be frank." He looked in much better health than when she'd last seen him. Once more he was sleek and toned. Well fed, and more importantly, in a good state of mind. "Perhaps you did not smell our pride's territory markings, hmm?"
She did her best to sit still, her pudgy body quivered with excitement at the sight of him but she simply smiled and bowed her head in greeting. "I could smell others, but hadn't guessed I'd be so close." She relaxed truly once she found herself with him, she could only smile like a fool. He looked so much better, so much happier. Maybe she'd made a mistake..she flicked her ears back slightly at his words. "The gods seemed to have other plans." She said with a simple shrug. He had to know, it was only fair.
Something was plainly off with Sev. He could tell by her posture, and a barely restrained look in her face. But what, he wondered? Had she been planning to join, and now felt awkward? Well he would see to that. This place...it was a wonder he would share with the world if he could. Especially Sev. She had been his friend when he'd needed it, giving him just enough to go on and find his paradise. His ears perked forward at her words, and he stepped a bit closer. "Oh? The gods? They have been kind to me lately...Especially lately. Have they blessed you too in some way?" He chuckled. "Finding this place is a bit hard, but not something that would amount as a blessing usually, I would think..."
"This place has been hard to find, its unknown to most of the outer world it seems." She'd had traveled for..longer than she'd wanted to admit to. She looked around them now, it was so different here, so lush and beautiful she took a deep breath, seemed to untouched by the world, almost like a piece of the world lost in another time. "But I had to find you." She said as she rose to her paws now, she paced slightly before she took a deep breath, she wouldn't ruin this happiness for him. "Hak, we need to talk."
He sat back on his haunches and looked her over. "Had to find me? What's this about, Sev? Is something wrong?" He nosed her as she paced. "Sit, please...you look unwell. Tell me what's happened." There was worry in his eyes to be plain. He did not want to lose any more friends, for any reasons. As to just why she'd wanted to find him specifically he was also curious.
She sat, but was quickly on her paws again. She had to readjust before sitting down, she didn't want to squish anyone she thought with a faint smile. "Well, I wanted to make sure you were alright. You are my friend you know." She nudged his shoulder with her paw before she took a deep breath, where was she to start? She'd never had to do anything like this before, she shifted. A tired paw rested on her belly, "Well, something happened that last night we shared."
He smiled when she claimed him as a friend. He'd come to trust and value those once more, and though he had few, he found he treasured them. That she counted herself among their number made him very happy. And then he grew confused. Something had happened? What night? He glanced at her--well fed? No...rounded!--belly, and understanding surged over him like a rushing wave. He'd done it again. Panic gripped him for the merest of moments, before he remembered that this time, this time he could do something about it. He leaned into her, urging her back to her paws. "I see. Well then, you'd better come meet the pride. They'll be glad to have such kind new members...if you want to stay, that is. I...I'm sorry, Sev. If I'd known I would have stayed. But I'm here now, and I will do what I can to make things right for you."
She knew he was a quick fellow, but it clicked much faster than she'd thought as she laughed as she was nudged her paws. "Well, I always knew you were brighter than most." She said with a shake of her head before she smiled, she could see the emotions dance rapidly in his gaze before she nosed his shoulder. "I knew you would have, you've got an amazing heart Hak." She said softly, her tail gently swaying behind her. "I want to find you as soon as..I suspected..." She grinned at him, "But nooo you had to go find the hidden pride to join." She teased him. "I don't want to force them on you Hak, I simply wanted to tell you." She wouldn't ruin his happiness here.
He squared his body and looked the lioness straight in the eye. There was determination there, and fondness, and a certain desperation. "If you'll have me, I would be only happy to assist you with them. They are equal parts my blame as yours, and...And I will not go my life not knowing my children again. I want you to stay. Or at least stay near by. You do not have to be my mate, though if you would like it..." He trailed off, flushing a bit around the ears. "Stay. Let me be in their lives. In your life. Please, Sev."
She blinked, she'd never seen him like this before. She wasn't sure what to make of it, though somehow seeing him like this made her feel safe. But she couldn't make such a quick jump with this sort of thing, she had to think things through, she wouldn't end up broken hearted again. "Alright, I'll stay..and of course you can be in their lives." She shook her head, "I'd never keep you from them, or them from you. Im not like that..." She didnt understand lionesses like that, but she had no right to judge them. "Though Im not going to force you into take a mate because of this." She said with a nod of her head, she cared a great deal for Hak, but she'd never force matters of the heart.
Hak understood her plight. It was a serious thing to become someone's mate, and a requirement in the pride. Those who had cubs and were not mated were very strictly dealt with. Driven away, and their cubs taken from them...He frowned and shook his head. "It is not up to me. It is up to you. If you wish to join the pride, then I fear we must become mates. Those who have cubs outside of being mates are...unfavored. They are sent away, and the pride gives their cubs to another to raise." He dipped his head, a look of sadness and understanding marring his face. "But I will not force myself upon you. I can escort you to the border if you do not wish for that. I would offer to let you join, and leave in your stead, but I cannot." This pride needed him nearly as much as he needed it. He knew, or hoped, she would understand that. Whatever she chose he would accept.
"They'd what?!" A mothers fury already flashing hotly over her before she took a calming breath, she suddenly felt ill, the idea of something taking these cubs from her, it was to much. She sat down, and closed her eyes. She'd not let anything happen to them, never. "I'll stay." She said firmly, she could see that this place was important to him, and she'd not do anything to take that happiness away from him. "I'll..be your mate." She finally opted to, she took a deep breath. "I'll not make you unhappy Hak."
