The young lioness sat on her boulder and gazed into the horizon where that cute leopard had disappeared. She had come here days later to daydream... And relive the experience of their meeting. Every time she thought of the moment he called her cute... She would burst into giggles. She was so consumed with the thoughts that she didn't even realize her tail had fallen into the cold water beside her. Nothing could dampen her spirits.

Hoco was concerned for the young female. It didn't seem as if she ate much, and she was always wandering away from her family to be alone. Hoco hoped nothing was wrong, but if there was, he was determined to fix it. The little ratel waddled his way over to Pikushi's resting place. "Hello my dearest sunshine." He said with a grin as he pressed his face lovingly to the cubs'.

"Hey Grandpa." Pikushi responded, and still twinkling reminiscence remained in her eyes. She returned the nuzzle and flopped onto her back with a dreamy sigh. The tail splashed from the oasis and flung water onto the dry sand. "Whatcha doooin, Grandpa?" Piku giggled again, hardly listening to anything he was about to say, because she was still swimming in thoughts of that dreamy leopard.

"I was just checking on you, darling." The ratel responded as he began grooming the young lion's fur. "You seem rather distant lately and I was worried, that's all." Hoco licked at the glistening pinkish fur delicately, awaiting an answer. After a long pause and another dreamy sigh, Hoco was yet to receive it. With a frown he gazed at the young lion's face.. and saw a twinkling in her eyes that he couldn't mistake. Was his granddaughter... In love? But with who? He hadn't seen any males around lately... Regardless, a smile spread across the little ratel's face... Mostly thankful she wasn't depressed. "Oh my oh my... I know that look."

Pikushi lazily let an arm fall around the ratel to bring him into a tight hug. "Do you... Do you think he's thinking about me right now?" The thought of the possibility sent Piku into a fit of giggles. What if he was? What if he was thinking the same thing as her right now! Oh my gosh! "I think we were meant for each other, I'm sure of it! Grandpa, oh, how I wish you met him... Then you would know what I was talking about..."

"My little Pikushi met a boy?" Hoco chuckled and nosed at his granddaughter's precious face. "Oh just wait until your mother hears about this... She would be less than pleased. You're way too young to be in love, Piku!"

Pikushi was hardly listening. Everything that reached her ears was lost and drowned in the thoughts of the male. "I have to see him again, Grandpa." She leaped to her paws and wiggled at the ratel in excitement. "I have to! I don't know where he is... Or where he went. But I just have to see him again! I know I do."

A concerned frown creased the honey badger's face. The juvenile was too young to leave off on a dangerous quest such as that. Even just imagining her growing up was painful to the poor badger. "I understand, Piku, but listen to me." He said, making sure she got the young lioness's full attention before he continued. "You have to wait until you're old enough. You can't go off on your own, you're too young. Do you understand, Princess Piku?"

The glaze over Piku's eyes was shattered with the honey badger's words. "What?" She asked, devastated that he would even suggest that she could never see him again. "What? But grandpa..."

"I'm sorry, darling... But it's just too dangerous out there." Pikushi's gaping frown really stung the poor old badger. He just hated to see her upset like this. "You understand, don't you?"

Pikushi's eyes welled with tears as her jaw shut to form an angry snarl. "No!" With her very first expression of rebellion, the young lioness flung herself away from her grand father. Her pristine pinkish hair rushed past her ears as her speed picked up. She was headed for Kori. She knew her mother must have a different opinion. She had been in love once... Right?

Kori'ashi's attention was snagged by the sound of sprinting paws. She turned, and let her fiery eyes settle on her miserable wailing daughter. Kori's chest swelled with maternal sadness as the young lioness tackled her and sobbed in her comforting arms. "Oh my goodness, deary." Kori said, licking her forehead and trying not to fall into tears of her own.. She couldn't, she didn't even know what was wrong yet! "What has you down, sweet heart? Is Neguko picking on you again?"

The young lioness sobbed relentlessly as she clung to her mother. "I met this boy mom..." She could hardly speak through all of the blubbering. "He's wonderful! I wish you could have met him.." She sniffed, trying to quell her sobs, but it was futile. "I want to see him again, but... Grandpa says I can't go out there all by myself! I want to see him again, mom... I really do..." Pikushi gazed up at Kori with her big eyes twinkling with moisture.

Kori'ashi bit her lip, reluctant to give the girl the answer she wasn't looking for. This was something she's never encountered before. Young love. Of course, she couldn't tell that to Piku... None of her children could ever know how she came to be. "Honey... It's dangerous out there, and-"

Pikushi pushed away from her mother, tears suddenly turning angry. "You're JUST like him!" She screamed, her claws piercing the soil. "You just want me to stay here forever and be miserable, don't you!?" Tears spouted from her eyes as she began to sprint away from her mother... Not truly meaning the words she was spewing. "I HATE you! Both of you!"

Hoco sighed as he wobbled along towards the stunned Kori'ashi. "She doesn't mean it, dear." He said, placing a thick paw on his daughter's white toes. "Welcome to the dreaded juvenile years..."

WC: 1030