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Tindika was true to his word, and whenever he could, he helped Jazi out. He found that staying near where ever she was led to the best results. A couple of weeks had passed, and he had fallen into a bit of a routine, which he absolutely adored, of being near her, helping her hunt and inviting her to play with him. His bruises from their last attempt at climbing trees, which he really needed to learn never worked out for him, were fading and no longer stung him to remind him to be less of a fail.
It was probably time for a new lesson.
He was flying to where he knew she would be waiting, a bunch of wild flowers in his jaw. He had seen them and their colors reminded him of her scarf, so he thought she might like them. He had been holding in a sneeze since picking them some time back. He landed now, though, as the sun was setting behind him, looking around for the goddess he had come to call his friend. Maybe more than that, if he were honest with himself, but he didn’t dare say anything at all about his growing feelings. That would just lead to disaster, he was certain of it.
He was very good at ruining good things.
It was probably time for a new lesson.
He was flying to where he knew she would be waiting, a bunch of wild flowers in his jaw. He had seen them and their colors reminded him of her scarf, so he thought she might like them. He had been holding in a sneeze since picking them some time back. He landed now, though, as the sun was setting behind him, looking around for the goddess he had come to call his friend. Maybe more than that, if he were honest with himself, but he didn’t dare say anything at all about his growing feelings. That would just lead to disaster, he was certain of it.
He was very good at ruining good things.
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Jazi had been surprised at how quickly she had fallen into the routine that she and Tindika had began. Of course, it had been a bit odd in the beginning, she wasn't at all used to having anyone but Tooki and Painti around all the time. But she liked Tindika, and she didn't mind his company at all, so the initial oddness quickly faded and she began to realize that the lion made her happy. Sometimes she wondered if this was how everyone with friends felt. If it was she couldn't understand why some lions were so grumpy. Every day with Tindika was like a new adventure, her clumsiness combined with his tendency to not be able to do things quite right turned even the smallest of tasks into a potential disaster. But surprisingly, she didn't mind so much, she was used to disasters. She caused accidents, and dealt with disasters all the time, it was something she had come to accept as inevitable a long time ago. Now with Tindika, there was more accidents, but at least she had someone to help her with them.
At that precise moment she was curled up on a warm flat rock, wings and tail wrapped around herself. There wasn't any disasters happening just yet so she had a bit of time to relax. Even as she was cat napping on the rock, she was wondering where Tindi had gone. He sometimes left for a little bit, but he always came back.
It was his scent that woke her up, her whiskers twitching as her head lifted. Sitting up she twisted on the rock looking for him. When she spotted the God her face lit up, a wide smile on her maw. “Tindika!” It was how she always greeted him, as if he had been gone days instead of a few hours. She couldn't help it, she still wasn't used to having a friend who continuously came back to spend time with her.
Standing up she hopped off the rock and the second after she did it she knew she should have known better. A paw tangled in her scarf and she tumbled to the ground rolling over once before she managed to pick herself up, shaking her paw free of the cloth. “I'm okay!”
At that precise moment she was curled up on a warm flat rock, wings and tail wrapped around herself. There wasn't any disasters happening just yet so she had a bit of time to relax. Even as she was cat napping on the rock, she was wondering where Tindi had gone. He sometimes left for a little bit, but he always came back.
It was his scent that woke her up, her whiskers twitching as her head lifted. Sitting up she twisted on the rock looking for him. When she spotted the God her face lit up, a wide smile on her maw. “Tindika!” It was how she always greeted him, as if he had been gone days instead of a few hours. She couldn't help it, she still wasn't used to having a friend who continuously came back to spend time with her.
Standing up she hopped off the rock and the second after she did it she knew she should have known better. A paw tangled in her scarf and she tumbled to the ground rolling over once before she managed to pick herself up, shaking her paw free of the cloth. “I'm okay!”
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“Oh no!” Tindika yelped, seeing her fall. It scattered all the flowers to the floor, at which he looked down to see them and yelped, “oh no!”
He was quick to laugh it off, though, bending to pick up the flowers one by one in his jaw again carefully, holding them delicately between his teeth. He then bounded over to her and use his nose to help her up, though at that point she had already gotten to her feet.
He should have done things the other way around.
“Are you okay?” he asked through his teeth and the flowers, “I got you these flowers. I think they match your scarf.” They didn’t, not exactly, but it was a nice enough thought that he hoped she didn’t mind. He saw them now and realized his mistake, but his fur hid his blush. Colors were hard to compare, when he just had his mind to do it.
And he still really needed to sneeze.
He put the flowers down at her paws, carefully, arranging them with his nose to make them look pretty. That was his last mistake. A leaf poked him in the nose and he sneezed, scattering the flowers again with the force of it. Letting out a sigh, he looked up at her, one of the flowers now resting on the top of his head, the bulb sitting on the high bridge of his nose and muzzle.
He was quick to laugh it off, though, bending to pick up the flowers one by one in his jaw again carefully, holding them delicately between his teeth. He then bounded over to her and use his nose to help her up, though at that point she had already gotten to her feet.
He should have done things the other way around.
“Are you okay?” he asked through his teeth and the flowers, “I got you these flowers. I think they match your scarf.” They didn’t, not exactly, but it was a nice enough thought that he hoped she didn’t mind. He saw them now and realized his mistake, but his fur hid his blush. Colors were hard to compare, when he just had his mind to do it.
And he still really needed to sneeze.
He put the flowers down at her paws, carefully, arranging them with his nose to make them look pretty. That was his last mistake. A leaf poked him in the nose and he sneezed, scattering the flowers again with the force of it. Letting out a sigh, he looked up at her, one of the flowers now resting on the top of his head, the bulb sitting on the high bridge of his nose and muzzle.
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As she fell she could hear Tindika yelping which worried her, the first she had a feeling was about her, but she didn't know what the second was about. In her haste to get up she nearly tripped again, but she managed to catch herself first.
When he approached her she finally saw the flowers and she smiled widely. “Are those for me?” Her question was asked in the same moment he asked if she was okay, the words running over each other. She was about to tell him she was fine when he confirmed that the flowers really were for her. The Goddess was so excited she bounced on her paws for a second two before settling again. She had learned from experienced not to get too overexcited about anything, that was generally when she managed to hurt herself.
She didn't even notice that the flowers didn't really match her scarf, and instead of commenting on it she grinned at him. “I love them! They're really very pretty.” She watched him set down the flowers, her insides feeling all funny again. That seemed to be happening more often around Tindika, but she wasn't really sure what it meant.
She was distracted from the butterflies in her stomach by his sneeze and the explosion of flowers. For a moment she didn't react, but it wasn't more than a second before the lioness dissolved into giggles at the look on his face and the flower he wore on his face. “Oh, Tindi.” She was still giggling as she carefully took the flower off his head with her maw and set it on the ground next to her. “Thank you,” Leaning down she nuzzled his mane with her head, she really did love the flowers, even if they were scattered all around them now.
When he approached her she finally saw the flowers and she smiled widely. “Are those for me?” Her question was asked in the same moment he asked if she was okay, the words running over each other. She was about to tell him she was fine when he confirmed that the flowers really were for her. The Goddess was so excited she bounced on her paws for a second two before settling again. She had learned from experienced not to get too overexcited about anything, that was generally when she managed to hurt herself.
She didn't even notice that the flowers didn't really match her scarf, and instead of commenting on it she grinned at him. “I love them! They're really very pretty.” She watched him set down the flowers, her insides feeling all funny again. That seemed to be happening more often around Tindika, but she wasn't really sure what it meant.
She was distracted from the butterflies in her stomach by his sneeze and the explosion of flowers. For a moment she didn't react, but it wasn't more than a second before the lioness dissolved into giggles at the look on his face and the flower he wore on his face. “Oh, Tindi.” She was still giggling as she carefully took the flower off his head with her maw and set it on the ground next to her. “Thank you,” Leaning down she nuzzled his mane with her head, she really did love the flowers, even if they were scattered all around them now.
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Tindika looked at her bashfully, nodding his head. He wished he hadn’t sneezed and ruined the flowers, after his adventures getting them, but he was also glad that she liked them. Her laughing and smiling made his stomach do interesting flips. His expression softened as he watched her, and he nuzzled her in return when he felt her head against him, the fluff of his thick mane cushioning the touch but it was still enough to make his skin feel like it was burning.
In a good way.
He felt strange, and he swallowed hard, keeping himself very still lest he ruin something else. Like the moment. He liked it, and wanted the closeness to continue. He found he couldn’t help himself, brushing his cheek to hers as he pulled back to look at her again.
“Jazi…” he said slowly, trying to find the absolutely right words, but of course his concept of their language suddenly died and he forgot how to speak for a moment far longer than he would have liked. He stared at her, her name hanging in the air uselessly until he shook his head and tried again. “I’m happy when you’re happy.” He finally managed to say, feeling dumb.
In a good way.
He felt strange, and he swallowed hard, keeping himself very still lest he ruin something else. Like the moment. He liked it, and wanted the closeness to continue. He found he couldn’t help himself, brushing his cheek to hers as he pulled back to look at her again.
“Jazi…” he said slowly, trying to find the absolutely right words, but of course his concept of their language suddenly died and he forgot how to speak for a moment far longer than he would have liked. He stared at her, her name hanging in the air uselessly until he shook his head and tried again. “I’m happy when you’re happy.” He finally managed to say, feeling dumb.
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When their cheeks brushed Jazi felt hers warm under even the brief touch, and she looked away a bit embarrassed. She wasn't good at figuring out her feelings, and definitely not on acting on them. She usually just did whatever came to mind first, which didn't usually work out too well. But, her actions towards Tindika seemed to be the exception which she was happy about.
The sound of her name had her lifting her head, a curious expression on her face. “Yes?” Her head tilted slightly to the side as she waited for his words, purple eyes not looking away from his own. After a moment of silence she began to think he wasn't going to say anything after all, but then he finally spoke. While the fact that he liked that she was happy was good, and made her even more happy she couldn't help but feel like there was something unsaid hanging between them. She couldn't put her paw on how she knew, or even what she thought it may be, it was just a feeling she had.
“Me too, I mean, I'm happy when you're happy, not when I'm happy- well, wait, I am happy when I'm happy, but....” She sighed she just couldn't articulate her words at all.
The sound of her name had her lifting her head, a curious expression on her face. “Yes?” Her head tilted slightly to the side as she waited for his words, purple eyes not looking away from his own. After a moment of silence she began to think he wasn't going to say anything after all, but then he finally spoke. While the fact that he liked that she was happy was good, and made her even more happy she couldn't help but feel like there was something unsaid hanging between them. She couldn't put her paw on how she knew, or even what she thought it may be, it was just a feeling she had.
“Me too, I mean, I'm happy when you're happy, not when I'm happy- well, wait, I am happy when I'm happy, but....” She sighed she just couldn't articulate her words at all.
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Tindika smiled at her, nodding his head, thinking he understood her. But maybe not. It was hard to figure out amid all the happy’s but he felt like she was telling him that she was feeling the same way he was. Maybe. Maybe? He hoped so, at the very least. Taking a deep breath, he plunged on, saying.
“I think… I would be happy if we stayed together… a lot more.”
He shifted on his large paws awkwardly and blinked at her, mastering himself enough to add a bit more, though his voice trembled feebly.
“I mean, if you wanted to keep me in your company a bit more… or maybe… all the time. I mean, not all the time, obviously, but I think… I mean. I like being your friend but I… I have these feelings and I wanted to… well, no, I mean, I’m obviously going to be your friend either way but. I mean. If you wanted… I… uhm.” He stared at her again, blinking.
It was really hard to have a conversation when he had no idea how he was going to say what he really wanted to say.
“I think… I would be happy if we stayed together… a lot more.”
He shifted on his large paws awkwardly and blinked at her, mastering himself enough to add a bit more, though his voice trembled feebly.
“I mean, if you wanted to keep me in your company a bit more… or maybe… all the time. I mean, not all the time, obviously, but I think… I mean. I like being your friend but I… I have these feelings and I wanted to… well, no, I mean, I’m obviously going to be your friend either way but. I mean. If you wanted… I… uhm.” He stared at her again, blinking.
It was really hard to have a conversation when he had no idea how he was going to say what he really wanted to say.
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The words spilling out of the God's mouth made Jazi's eyes widen, but then a smile began to grow on her maw as she slowly deciphered what he was saying. Stepping forwards she pressed against him, rubbing her neck and head against his mane.
She didn't have the words to say what she wanted either, so instead she just used one word. “Yes.” She still wasn't completely sure what Tindika was saying, but what she did understand was that he wanted to spend more time together and that he had feelings. She had feelings too. She wasn't sure what being more than friends entailed, but she was sure they could figure it out together.
She didn't have the words to say what she wanted either, so instead she just used one word. “Yes.” She still wasn't completely sure what Tindika was saying, but what she did understand was that he wanted to spend more time together and that he had feelings. She had feelings too. She wasn't sure what being more than friends entailed, but she was sure they could figure it out together.
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Tindika felt a flood of warmth and he smiled at her brightly.
“O-Oh good, I mean. Good! Great!” He laughed and nuzzled her, brushing his head to hers and enjoying the feel of her fur against his. He closed his eyes and found himself feeling very very happy, whatever it was they had just agreed to. He was sure it meant something very important. And she was in it with him, and wanted to be. That was more than important, in fact. That was what he wanted his life to be. With her.
He understood that then.
“I think I fell in love with you,” he said to her bashfully, and he nuzzled her again, ready to take on whatever the world had to throw at them, quite suddenly, with confidence and a grace unbefitting the title of Failure. But he was sure that would work itself out, too.
“O-Oh good, I mean. Good! Great!” He laughed and nuzzled her, brushing his head to hers and enjoying the feel of her fur against his. He closed his eyes and found himself feeling very very happy, whatever it was they had just agreed to. He was sure it meant something very important. And she was in it with him, and wanted to be. That was more than important, in fact. That was what he wanted his life to be. With her.
He understood that then.
“I think I fell in love with you,” he said to her bashfully, and he nuzzled her again, ready to take on whatever the world had to throw at them, quite suddenly, with confidence and a grace unbefitting the title of Failure. But he was sure that would work itself out, too.
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Jazi's smile turned into a grin. “Me too, I mean-” She stopped herself before she even started stumbling over her words. “I love you too,” And really that was all that mattered.
