As Zara began her way back to her pride, and her beloved she spotted what looked to be a familiar face. Still in the rogue lands, she was sure that her Meme would be happy to have her return and hoped the lioness hadnt maimed anyone while she was out, she giggled at the thought of her worried mate snapping at someone else, oh the soothing she would have to do upon her return, and she missed those little fur balls!
Shu'halo paused as he saw Zara near, he could remember that patched cub poking her head in and around the small den his mother had kept him and his brothers in, they werent supposed to be as socialized with the pride as his sisters but Zara had always found a way to sneak away from the nannies and the watchful eyes of her mothers and play with them, a grin tugged on his somber features. "Hey ZZ!" He called out with a laugh.
"I thought that was you Shu!" She replied as the distance closed between them, "What are you doing out here?" She asked with a tilt of her head, she knew that hed been sent out of the pride for sometime now, but could find catches of his scent now and again. "A visit with your mother?" She asked with a soft smile, she knew how hard it had been to see the boys go, but still she would do the same with her own sons.
He nodded his head, "Yes, you know me well." He chuckled and sat down, with a huff as he rolled his shoulders. "I try and see her often enough, she seems so happy here." He always tried to talk his mother into leaving the pride and coming with him, but he understood better now as an adult how happy she was. "What are YOU doing out here?" He glanced around, he didnt see her usual shadow, an elite guard named Umeme.
"Im happy shes so happy in our pride, your mother is a wonderful gem." Zara nodded her head, she liked the older lioness well enough, she seemed to have a way with cubs and was a good huntress as well. And she had taken to their pride lifestyle as if it had always been her home. "Oh me?" Well um.." Her dark cheeks flushed slightly. "I was out trying to find a worthy male." She admitted with a sheepish giggle.
"Oh ZZ, now your going to have a family too?" He grinned at her, "Im very happy to hear this, how is life treating you?" He didnt know that she was now the new queen of the pride, he had left before those changes had been made. "So, did you find a worthy male?" He asked with a tilt of his head, he eyed her closely now to see if he could see any changes within her.
"Im hoping so! I want to return home, but will not until my belly is full." She nodded her head, she had spent several days with the young male and felt that the deed had taken well enough for her to return to her home now. "I did indeed, a sweet young fellow looking for his lost love, its such a sweet story." She sighed with a soft smile, she hoped he and she would find one another soon, and she had liked him well enough.
"ZZ, you mated with a lion who was in love with someone else and was out finding her?!" Shu'halo was slightly appalled by this tidbit of news. "What if she founds out what he did and no longer wishes to be with him?! Was that ever a thought to you!" He shook his head, disappointment clear on his features.
Her ears flicked back, and she felt as if he'd just smacked her. "Shu I'd never..." Her words fell away silently.
"But you did! You let your own selfish needs come before that of anothers." He snapped at her, rising to his paws he glared at her. "Whore." He spat at her, as he watched her shrink back, eyes shining bright with tears now. He growled at her, he should throttle her and take away any chance of those cubs ever baring life. Honestly he wasnt angry with her, but with himself, he had given a lioness a similar gift but his heart was tied no where else.
"Shu..." She whispered softly, fat tears falling against the tops of her paws as she shivered. "It wasnt like that, Id never risk anothers chance at love..You know me." She reached out to touch his paw with her own, they had been such good friends as cubs, she had never treated him any different like others did.
His paw jerked away from her touch as he snorted. "I thought I knew you ZZ but, apparently I dont." He jerked himself completely away from her, and felt a pang in his heart. Maybe he had hoped she would have asked him to bestow such a gift, but something about all of this left a sour, bitter taste in his life, he could never see Zara again. Never.
Her tail curled tightly around her as her ears flattened against her skull, she shivered and wished all her might that Umeme was with her, to shake this feeling away. "Go away Shu'halo...and never return to my lands." She said with a sniffle. " I never want to see you again." She whispered, she couldnt stop the tears that were falling now.
"Good, you wont." He growled, fangs bared. "I dont want to be friends with a homewrecking whore." He lifted a massive paw and swung, sending her backwards as he passed through. "You can tell my mother why I'll never be back to see her. As its your fault." He growled inches away from her face as she curled up tightly.
The force of his paw had sent her backwards, she hit the ground with a solid thud and even though he had struck her, she couldnt find it in herself to attack him in return, she simply saw to much hurt in his eyes. She closed her eyes as he grew closer to her face, if he touched her again she wouldnt be able to let it go, she would be forced to strike back. "Leave now." She hissed at him.
"Gladly." He stepped over her body and headed deeper into the rogue lands, his heart heavy and his face twisted into a scowl, what had he just done? He couldnt think about it now, or hed turn around and beg for her forgiveness but what did it really matter? He was just a male she had played with as a cub, not even worthy enough to stay, or to help her family grow. Damn her, damn that pride!
Zara waited until she could no longer hear the sounds of his steps before she rose to her paws, she lifted her chin. She was not a whore, she had done nothing wrong, she and a new friend had helped one another. But she didnt need to justify her actions to him, to anyone, as long as he and she were alright with what had passed between them, then damn those who looked down at her. But right now, all she wanted was the safe comfort of her beloved Meme...it was time for Zara to return to her throne, return to her home and her family.
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