Dysi understood what Parisette was trying to do. He did, but it was getting ridiculous. He heaved a sigh and set off to where the lioness was resting for the nights, without Sukanya at his side. He needed to set the lioness straight now, before she went too far and made Sukanya really uncomfortable. The leopardess was already uncomfortable, but Dysi didn’t want her to be scared off because of all this. He’d only just found her again, after all.
“Parisette?” He called out softly at the mouth of the den, waiting to hear a response. When he heard none, he raised his voice and called again. “Parisette?”
“Yes?” A voice behind him spoke, catching him by surprise. He spun, eyes wide, and was thankful to see the beaming face of the blue lioness.
“Oh! I thought you’d be inside,” he admitted, trying to cover his obvious fright. It didn’t work, clearly, because Parisette giggled.
“I figured that part, but what are you doing here, Dysi?” She asked, peering behind her, and then around the area. “Suki’s not with you?” She’d taken up Sukanya’s nickname quickly, even though only Dysi really called the dark leopardess that. Dysi didn’t mind too much, Parisette was harmless. A little meddling, but harmless.
“No, she’s still sleeping,” Dysi said, knowing Sukanya would be. It was morning, after all. The leopard hadn’t gotten out of her habit of sleeping during the day and moving around a night. It was a pretty ingrained habit, after all.
“Something happen last night?” Parisette perked up, grinning at him. Dysi wasn’t a prude, but her comment had him rolling his eyes. Her optimism was getting crazy now, Dysi thought, though it was with a little fondness. The blue lioness had been rather amusing throughout all this..
“No, she was up wandering and I was with my cubs, sleeping, as per usual,” Dysi explained patiently, hiding a grin at Parisette’s depressed expression. “Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” he continued, glancing down at his paws so he wouldn’t see her excited expression.
“Something about Suki? I’m all ears! Talk to me, Dysi,” she encouraged. Was he going to confess? Yes, he must be! After Sukanya and his date, it had been only a matter of time! Parisette was a love-MASTER! She giggled to herself, ohhh, she couldn’t wait to tell the pride…The usual excitable lioness had become more so in the heady-thrill of the roguelands and the joy of having something exciting to do! Matchmaking was an adrenalin rush, she’d discovered. Were they happy? Weren’t they? Would they fall in love? All those questions sent her heart racing as she tried to set people up, it was such a perfect job for her!
“Yes, well,” Dysi started, clearing his throat somewhat awkwardly. He hated to break it to this female, but he and Suki just didn’t feel comfortable pretending, even if it would make the female extremely happy. “Listen…I love Suki –“
Parisette squealed, but quickly tried to stifle it, her mouth pulled wide into a grin. “Sorry, please continue!” she said, hoping that he wasn’t just going to admit love and that would be it. What about the poetic waxing of his devotion and all of that? Where was that fun stuff? She waited, somewhat impatiently for him to continue.
Dysi winced at her squeal and shook his head, dispelling a slight ringing in his ears. “Like I was saying, I love Suki –“ Parisette bounced on her paws a little at the second declaration, but Dysi forged on, “-but I’m not in love with her.”
Parisette froze. “What?”
Dysi sighed, knowing he needed to explain. Why couldn’t she have just understood him, said it was fine and then he could be on his way? “Suki is my best friend, yes she’s an attractive female, yes she has an amazing personality.” He kept talking, pressing on despite Parisette’s baffled expression. “But she’s not the girl for me. I already gave my heart away once, and I’m not keen to do that again, ever. Sukanya deserves a male who can offer her the world and have her be the center of that world. That’s not me. Do you understand?”
Parisette’s eyes had gone slightly glossy and Dysi wondered in fear whether she would burst into tears, but she just smiled. “I understand completely! You’ve had your heart broken and you’re afraid it will happen again! You’re so brave to sacrifice your own potential happiness with Suki in order for her to find someone who won’t hurt her! You’re a true soul, Dysi.” She had been disappointed at first, but this was far more exciting. The handsome hero was giving the beautiful damsel up because she might not reach happiness with him, but there would surely be others waiting in the wings to scoop her up and carry her away to a happily ever after. How beautiful and sweet! Parisette blinked and stored the idea to memory, already casting it in her mind with other players of the pride.
Dysi was releaved. Sure, she had dramatized it and made it seem like he was secretly in love with Suki, but at least she was letting it go! That was good. It was over.
Parisette perked up suddenly, her eyes going from glossy to bright and cheerful quickly. “Now tell me, Dysi,” she encouraged him, leaning forward. He lent back, away from her, slightly worried about where this was going.
“What happened to that other girl? The one who broke your heart? Tell me everything!”
Dysi groaned. Great! She’d gone from a fixation of Sukanya and Dysi, to the unknown girl, Nyoka, and Dysi! He might have been prepared to pretend with Sukanya, but he was not prepared to talk about Nyoka. Not to a stranger. Not yet. Perhaps not ever.
“I lied!” He burst out suddenly, knowing Sukanya was going to hate him for this. She’d get over it, hopefully, but it would stop him from having to talk about Nyoka at least! “There is no other girl! It’s always been Suki!”
Parisette latched onto the story, ‘comforting’ him and encouraging him to talk it out. Dysi wanted to slap himself as soon as those words had come out, drawn once again into the story world that Parisette was trying to create.
Oh well.
At least he didn’t have to talk about Nyoka…
[Word Count: 1,066]
