"Will this be the day you speak to me?"
The words washed over Harith. He opened his mouth to say something, but found, like all the other times, nothing came out. He hated it. Not only was he never going to finish his quest, but this lioness had helped him so far without asking anything in return. Had hunted his meals for him while he failed to catch so much as a mouse. At least that was what she kept telling him. He couldn't even catch a mouse. In his defense, those mice were tricky. Fast. Every time he tried to clap his paws around one, it would bite him until he opened them. Or it would hide so far close to the ground it felt like it wasn't there at all. Then he would open his paws just a tad to take a peak and it would scuttle out and down a hole. At which point the lioness, who had given her name as Elikapeka, would laugh at him.
She smiled now, kindly, but still with an amusing twinkle to her eye. "No matter. You will one day. It is obvious you aren't used to females. One of many brothers, I presume?" When a failed answer came, Harith merely nodded. He felt a disgrace to his family. Regardless that his father had admitted to not being much of a flirt in his youth, either. Still, he had a personal desire to behave like a Pad should. And this was his last chance.
Eli nodded back, her always knowing smile on her face. Feeling it pointless to keep trying to talk to him, she turned on her heel intending only to go far enough she wouldn't disturb him. His mind, however, seemed to have something else on mind. Seeing her moving away, Harith began to panic, thinking he had crossed the line with his silence. For who wanted the company of a mute lion? Clearly not this lioness, who asked many questions and came off to him like she wanted someone to talk to.
So it was, for the first time in their week's acquaintance, the adolescent finally spoke.
"Wait!" he yelled after her. His voice cracked a bit, both from his rabid growth from cub to adult, from lack of use, and from nervousness. The lioness turned her head, the twinkle back in her eyes as she smiled.
"You have something to say after all?"
Swallowing his nerves, Harith got up and walked a few steps towards her, keeping his blue eyes locked on her green. "Yes." Being this close to her, again, with her stopped in interest at what he wanted to say made him clam up, again. In a desperate attempt to keep his dignity, Harith bent his head at her, keeping it bent while his growing mane fell down over his eyes. "You have my thanks for helping me. I am not from a pride where lions are used to killing anything but intruders. And I have not practiced as I should have before coming out here." Then his nerves got the better of him and he kept quiet, waiting to see what she would do. What she would say.
Eli stood still a moment, surprised at how little it took to make the silent lion finally speak. His shyness amused her. Clearly he was from a litter of all boys. There was little interaction with females here, aside maybe his mother. If he had one. This mention of a pride also interested her. Before reaching her own, Eli had traveled around and felt she knew a few of the prides out there. This area was a little new to her. "And what pride would that be?"
"The Ukuucha'Wafalme," came the response. Feeling pride for his home give him courage, Harith raised his head to look at her once more. "I am out on my rite of passage. I am not allowed to return empty handed." Here his nerves overcame his courage, again while Eli mused a moment on the name. It was not familiar to her. She urged him to tell her about it.
He swallowed, again, before continuing.
"It's a pride run by males. However I was taught to respect both sexes. Our bloodlines are thin, too mingled together. These rites of passage were created to help with that. So I was wondering..."
He paused slightly. Ever so slightly. But it was enough to let Eli override him.
"No." Just a simple no. Then, "I am loyal to my own pride. And besides, a fine lion like you should think about this decision carefully, if you intend on spending a long time with your 'catch.' As you seem the type to. Find a pretty lioness and court her, first. You hear?"
Harith nodded his head vigorously, feeling extremely embarrassed by his shot in the dark. He knew she was right. He was just being impatient to get back home. Even in good company as he was, he hated the roguelands. Too much danger. Too much competition. Too much....Wet. He missed the dens back home. The warmth of a family to snuggle up to. It was almost enough to make a lion emotional. That was out of the question, however! He would not let these lands get the better of him! He wouldn't make a fool of himself in front of anyone else. Eli was different. He wasn't sure why, but he felt very comfortable with her. She was brash and bossy, yes. Beside that she was helpful. He owed so much to her he felt he would never be able to repay. How could he? He was a U'W. Once he returned he would only be allowed a small vacation to the roguelands once a year. Hardly enough time to repay the debt.
Perhaps, each time he visited, he could seek her out and offer her some help? Little by little he would repay her. And he'd be able to see her, again. See how she was doing. Tell him about his life. If she would like that. He couldn't resist it. He asked. He was not in the least surprised to see her laugh.
"I find myself fond of you. I don't want this to be our last meet. Now, as it is getting dark, we should find somewhere cozy to bunker down, yes?"
Wordcount 1063
