Mkhai was frustrated to say the least. The girl had always been more trouble than her brothers, and this idea she’d gotten, absurd. He shook his head, looking down at her from his perch on a rock a few feet up. “Not a chance,” he barked, scowling at the thought that she had even asked him. Since he’d come to the pride he had made sure not to glorify the rogue lands. It wasn’t a life he wanted for his daughter. The boys sure, they didn’t have much of a choice, and they could protect themselves. But Samia, she’d always had her head in the clouds.
Samia sneered, arguing, “I didn’t have to ask your permission, I did it to be nice.” He never thought of her as an adult, always projecting his fears of his past onto her instead of just admitting that he was too fat and old to handle the world on his own. He needed this place, she didn’t. She was destined for so much more. With her mind made up she began to turn, but a paw on her back stopped her.
“You listen up,” he told her, pressing down to keep her still. She may be grown but she was still his little cub, always so dainty and hard headed, “There’s nothing good out there for you, only trouble. You’d best stay here with your mother and be happy that you’ve already got a good life.” His eyes were dilated, his mouth dry. This was serious, Tulia would never forgive him if something happened to the girl and he needed her happy. At least he did if he ever wanted to truly have a chance. He wasn’t happy with the status quo, true, but leaving would solve nothing. Samia’s home was here, it was the only one she’d ever had and it was the only one she needed. If only she thought so.
“What life?” she sighed, pressing a paw to her face, “Stay here, get fat, pop out babies for the rest of my life?” It wasn’t what she wanted, she deserved so much more. Things were different out there, she knew. She had heard stories. She could become famous, find grand adventures and then maybe when she was ready she could find her own mate. Not one she’d have to share. It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy the female attention the pride offered, she did, but she thought of them as sisters. And the males were not her type. They were so, passive.
He shook his head. She didn’t understand the world, not at all if that’s all she thought of their home. “You’re making the wrong decision here, things aren’t like that. You’re safe and warm here, nothing’s hunting you.” He stepped down from the rock to circle her, “What do you think is going to happen out there? You’re small, weak, you’ve never been in a fight in your life, and everything’s been handed to you.”
“That’s not true,” she shouted, trying to escape his circling, “I’m smart, and I’m strong, and I’m beautiful, everyone says so.” He didn’t know what he was talking about. What did fighting have to do with anything? So he was bigger, that didn’t mean that he was better than her. There were plenty of ways she could make a life for herself without having to be a brute. That was just the crude way, the way he had done things. She wasn’t like him and she wasn’t like her mother. She was her own identity, totally different from them or her brothers.
“Pretty won’t keep your belly full,” he chided, settling down on his haunches in front of her, “Not if it’s a life of independence you’re looking for. You’ll only get so far with that before you’ll need something substantial, something real and what then?” He only wanted the best for her, truly. But she didn’t seem to be able to see that. Maybe he’d have to get Tulia involved after all, he had hoped to shield her from this but it didn’t seem like he would be able to. She’d certainly notice if the girl suddenly turned up missing, and then she’d never forgive him.
“I am substantial,” she spit back, though she admitted to herself she didn’t fully understand what it meant. All the stories she had heard about the world outside the pride told her that there were always ways to survive. There were great prides out there, so much larger than her own with all sorts of amazing customs. She wanted to see it all. Still, she’d miss her mother, and maybe she’d even visit if he would stop berating her so much. He was driving her away, couldn’t he see that? All his complaints, stupid as they were, were just challenges. And she would rise to them, that much she was sure of.
“You think so?” he asked, getting up as he began to move away from her. She was beyond reaching at this point, he decided, he’d have to call in someone else. She didn’t respect him, he already knew that, but he had hoped she’d at least have some sense in the matter. It wasn’t likely, and from the sound of it she had already made up her mind, he’d have to get a step ahead of her to head her off. “Whatever,” he sighed, “You’re right, you don’t need my permission to ruin your life, you’re an adult. His tail twitched as he began to walk away, “At least tell you mother good bye.”
She blushed, did he really think she was that callous? It quickly became anger and she began to formulate a plan. She’d say goodbye alright, when she was a good ways off already. He wasn’t going to trap her here, that much was for sure. By the time he woke up the next morning she’d be gone, and there was no way he’d ever find her unless she wanted him to. It was that simple. She was in control of her life now, no one else.
