(AIM Log between Fiction and Myself.)
Finally.
Zephyr joined the Pride by the Ocean's edge to watch the young and newly joined move back into it's cool embrace. It had been a good while since rites of any kind had been performed, and even though some still feared the water's wrath, she was ready to move forward.
When the large lioness had been a mere adolescent she had ventured out with her sisters and brother, splashing in with all of her might. It was something she had waited for her entire life, and now that she was in the cheering section she realized just how special the whole occasion was. Zephyr rubbed the bracelet around her wrist; a momento to not only remember the occasion, but something her mother had crafted to match the patch over her eye.
The water wasn't at it's most peaceful, but for the occasion it seemed fitting. After all, wasn't this about becoming an adult? If so, Adulthood was surely not without its pitfalls.
"Be careful, alright? Do go too far, or I won't be able to get to you if something goes wrong." She turned to Kou, looking at the dark lion with love in her eyes. He truly was something to marvel, this rogue.
Kou watched as the waves crashed on shore. Neither calm nor terribly violent but seemingly restless. Soon he will be walking into the foam and beyond to prove that he was a true adult of the Bahari. His mind drifted to the steps he can finally take once the ceremony was complete. First he would have to talk to Zephyr's parents and then complete her gift, he knew what he wanted it to look like if only he had the skills to make it himself, and then the perfect time to ask. After spending so long in the Bahari, helping the pride heal from the tsunami, walking with Zephyr, talking with Zephyr, laughing with Zephyr..... He mentally shook himself. He needed to focus, nothing would happen unless he got through this.
He glanced over at the one lioness who had invaded his mind so completely that just the thought of spending time with her made him happy. "I won't. I wouldn't want you to get wet." He smiled and thought of the times the walked along the beach splashing each other. The waves beat against the sand, a pattern that seemed to call out 'Sooooooon. Sooooooon. Sooooooon.' Kou silently agreed, Yes soon everything will be in order and I can only hope she will say yes.
Zephyr stepped closer to Kou so that she could give him a little swat on his shoulder. "You dolt!" She laughed. "I'd rather be soaked to the bone than lose you." As soon as she said it, she realized her mistake and after showing a panicked looked, she tried to back track her words. "You know...I mean, you don't want to become a fish, right?" Lame! Lame! Lame! How was she ever going to get his attention now? It was no secret that Zephyr cared deeply for the darker lion, and that they spent a good chunk of the day together, but...what if he didn't feel the same? What if he just wanted a buddy to sun bathe with?
"You really should get out there, though, before the crowd becomes restless." Granted, those who were there chatted softly between themselves, totally at ease, but Zephyr didn't want to be blamed for causing a riot should he hesitate.
Kou smiled at Zephyr, he completely glossed over her true reaction but it did give him a spark of hope that she would answer yes when the time came. "I personally think I would make a hansom fish. A right hansom lion fish if I do say so myself." Making jokes was not his strong suit. Kou was much more of the strong and silent type or at least he was before he met Zephyr. Now he has noticed that he tried to make more jokes, think of more stories, and play more games just so he could see the lioness standing next to him smile or if he was lucky, laugh.
Kou nodded, she had a point, he couldn't put it off any longer even if it was just to spend more time talking to her. "Into the briny deep," he said as he took the first steps into the tumbling surf. It was cold! Kou gritted his teeth and just jumped in over the larger and larger waves crashing onto the shore. Soon his paws were on the bottom but his head was even with the water. As the tide came in each wave lifted him off his paws and tried to carry him to land. He growled silently, I will not fail at this. Soon he realized that if he ducked his head under the waves they would not be able to pick him up as easily. This stage was almost done and the next would then have a chance to begin.
Zephyr just rolled her eyes. "Ya, ya, I get it. You would make all the lady fish fish swoon with your flawless pick up lines." She teased. It wasn't like he already had her heart with them, after all. They gave her a softer quality that she wasn't used to, and allowed her to relax in the company of another instead of taking off for some stunt or another.
And now she had to wait. Patience wasn't a virtue that Zephyr possessed, and seeing him being tossed about like the sea sent shivers down her nerves. Would he make it out on his own? Should she help him? What if something went wrong? She bit her lower lip. Oh Kou.
Kou was so focused in finishing this challenge that it took a particularly harsh wave before he realized that he was no longer touching the bottom. With a deep breath he dived beneath the final wave and turned back to the beach. He could see the pride gathered welcoming the others back to dry land. He was the only one left, granted he was also larger then the youngsters so it would take longer before his paws left the sandy bottom. With a feeling of accomplishment glowing within him Kou began the swim back.
He was just about out of the water, a smile on his face as he searched the gathered crowed for the one lion who mattered, when the water decided to take a bit of wind out of the dark lions sails. A particularly large wave rolled into the beach and Kou's back sending the normally well balance lion face first into the sand. Shaking sand from his mane Kou looked up at the crowed and finally spotted Zephyr. It wasn't the best impression that he wanted to make but wet, cold, and covered with sand Kou couldn't help but feel that now was the time. He climbed to his paws and stopped in front of the lioness. "Please say yes."
Zephyr could have choked on her own heart, if given the time! She side stepped parents, siblings, friends; all to wait for one lone lion to find his way home. She hadn't been this nervous since the ocean had gotten mad at the pride!
When he reached shore, she had planned to run up and meet him. What happened had her busting out in laughter so hard she cried. "Watch your step, you dolt!" Shaking her head, Zephyr pawed her way to meet him. It was his words that cause her a true pause. "Say yes...to what, exactly?"
Was he...? No, surely he wasn't...? GREATGODSANDSPIRITSABOVE,WAS HE ASKING HER TO BE HIS MATE?
