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 Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 3:05 pm
The desert sand was warm under his paws. The air itself seemed to be lazily swimming about under the hot sun. It seemed odd to him, that there could be sand without water. No crashing tides ebbing and flowing on the shores, trying ever harder to reaching further onto the earth.
But the desert held little water, and what it did have it guarded jealously. The sea-calling in his veins wailed to be rid of this strange, dry place. But another part of him was whispering a threnody, growing louder and bolder the closer he and Ak-Kila became to their destination.
Kila's home.
'Labi knew that this would have to come. The day that he would most likely never see his mighty huntress of the sands again. He cursed and spat at his very nature, knowing that the waves that echoed in his soul would never let him remain here, even if Kila did feel what he felt.
Yes, his had finally discovered what that strange feeling was. It took the not so subtle words of his grandmother and a memory of his father telling him a story to figure it out.
He glanced over at the radiant lioness walking beside him.
Yes, he remembered the stories of true love.
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 3:37 pm
For the last couple days she knew what was going to happen. She did her best not to act any differently. Her home was the desert, her whole family lived there. And yet she couldn't help like the gods were trying to push her in a different direction. She glanced at Akin'Labi as she continued to walk. They had shared a great adventure together, an adventure she knew would have to end. She just wished it didn't have to end already. The closer they got to her home, the slower her steps became.
“My family is the most important thing to me.” She said quietly, but loud enough for Labi to hear. “I know you understand how important family is.”
She stepped in front of him and stopped. This was as far as they would go. The rest of the way she would go alone. It wasn't that far away. Akin'Labi wasn't meant to live in the desert, the way he spoke about the ocean made her sure of that. However everyone she had every cared about lived her and she couldn't leave them.
Gently, she rested her nose against Akin'Labi's. She closed her eyes, hopping she would remember this moment. In such a short time he had become one of her closest friends. He understood her much more then anyone else. Destiny was cruel to them, she knew that for sure. She found someone who she could spend her time with, yet they could never be together.
“You are also important to me. I want you to know that.” She pulled away from him and looked at him.
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 4:13 pm
He broke from his thoughts when he heard her whisper carry to him on the dry air. A cold pressure firmly placed itself into his chest. Family... yes, it was important to him. So much so that it nearly killed him when his father left. All of his family had left him. But he understood. They all had their own lives to live. To seek what song suck in their blood.But it did not hurt any less. He felt the fool for holding on to the glimmer of hope that she might journey with him.
After all, how could the ocean live with the desert?
"A-aye, I understand." He fought hard to keep his voice normal.
He stopped as she stepped in front of him, as if an invisible line were drawn between them. He took the moment to look, to REALLY look and pray that he would never forget her. To remember the lioness that he would have loved to call family.
The moment that she touched her noise to his, everything seemed to stop. The sea-song remained silent and his breath stilled.
And he tried so very hard not to cry. This would be the end. His best and closest friend was now leaving him too. It seemed this was to be his lot in this life. To discover and hold the most treasured of loves and then have to let them go.
It took him a moment or few to regain his voice, and even then it sounded thick to his ears.
"I will always remember you Ak-kila, Mighty Huntress of the Sands. I will hold you in my heart as the most dearest of friends."
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 4:33 pm
Her heart was practically screaming at her, telling her that she was making a mistake, as she turned away. “I hope that the gods will guide us back together someday.” She said as she started to walk. Each stepped felt like it weighed more then the previous one. Water started to swelling in her eyes, some escaped to slide down her cheek. This wasn't how she wanted them to depart. It felt so wrong. When they were traveling back home she thought so many times how this would happen. She thought it would be simple.
She wanted to turn around to see him again, but she forced herself to go forward, to keep going. When she thought about turning around, she would think of her mother, siblings and everyone she would be leaving behind. There were so many of them that she cared about.
The thing was that she knew that she would never be as happy with them. She would be content of course and maybe she would find someone that made her happy, but she felt like she would never care about someone as much as she cared for Akin'Labi.
She had to give up something, she couldn't have both Labi and her pride. Her head tilt to the ground. Sometimes life just wasn't fair, she thought as she continued heading to her pride, not letting herself look back at all.
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:12 pm
And she started walking away.
He tried so, so hard to remember that this was her choice. This was the agreement from the beginning. That he would show her some of the wonders of the world and then she would return home. That this is what she wanted. That this is what would make her happy.
That thought was the only thing making this bearable. If she was happy, then he could do this.
With great amount of effort, his body turned and took his first step away from Ak-kila.
She'll be happy, follow the sea-calling. She'll be happy, follow the sea-calling. She'll be happy, follow the sea-calling. She'll be happy, follow the sea-calling.
The mantra kept repeating in his head, beating like a drum. It was the fuel that was keeping his going. But even then his body was sluggish and resistant. Nor did it hold back the tears that finally defeated the dam.
She'll be happy, follow the sea-calling. She'll be happy, follow the sea-calling. She'll be happy, follow the sea-calling. She'll be happy, follow the sea-calling...
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 5:57 pm
Landmarks began sprouting up. In her mind, she replayed the memories of when she was younger. Everything here had some sort of importance to her. She had told Akin'Labi about some of her stories, as many as she could remember. Just walking next to them made her remember more and she realized that she hadn't told Akin'Labi all her stories. She wondered how many stories that she had missed him telling her.
In her head, she could imagine her, sitting down with her cubs and having them hear stories about the adventurous lion that she had met, someone who was clever and interesting. Someone who could retell stories that would cause others to listen with awe. She stopped. She didn't want anyone to tell her cubs stories except for Akin'Labi. He was her story teller, he was the one who could tell a story that made you feel like you were part of it.
She turned around, just to see if he was there. It wasn't a surprise to her that she couldn't see him. He knew she wasn't going to go back to him. There was no reason for him to stay around anymore. She stared for what felt like hours, her legs shaking the whole time. Then she ran. She ran in his direction.
It didn't matter if they weren't meant to be together. She had more stories to share and wanted to hear more about him. They needed to make their own stories together and how would they ever do that being so far apart. She moved as fast as her paws would let her go as she raced I his direction.
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:37 pm
After walking for what felt like so very long, Akin'Labi sat down. He did not... really know where he was going. With Ak-kila his wandering had purpose. Without her, he was back to being essentially lost. Traveling and seeing the world felt empty without someone to share it with.
He... He never told her. He never told her!
'Labi suddenly leaped to his feet at the realization. What was he doing?! He had encountered the most wonderful, amazing and kindhearted creature he has ever had the honor of knowing. By the gods he loved her! The heroes in the stories would move heaven and earth for the ones they loved! Why should he do any less!
He quickly turned around and headed back the way he came moving as fast as he could.
I have to tell her at least! If she still decides to stay, then let it be! But he could not keep this secret! Love was never something to be caged!
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 10:13 pm
It had been so long since she had ran this fast, since she had something worth running toward. She could see in the distance her goal, Akin'Labi and he was running toward her. Her eyes swelled with tears of happiness. She had almost made such a huge mistake, but now everything seemed to be fitting together.
She didn't slow her pace until she approached him. When she came to a stop, she started panting. “I'm sorry. There is so many more stories that I want to share with you, that I want you to share with me.” She blurted out, trying to catch her breath.
Her eyes looked at his, just looking at him with relief and joy. “I thought you would be even farther away, but you came back.” She went closer to him, just being near him she could feel the warmth coming back to her. This felt so right. This was how it was supposed to be.
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:10 pm
In all of his travels and the wonders he has behold, there has never been a more awe inspiring sight as Kila appearing in the distance. Words fled him to describe the feeling growing in heart. In his days this would most likely be his most treasured memory.
They both barely managed to stop quick enough to avoid colliding. At first he panted wordlessly, just appreciating being in her presence again. But at her sudden, beautiful, beautiful words he gave a breathless laugh. "Dearest Kila, I will share all the tales, legends and myths I know and when those are done being told, we will just have to go create more until we have as many fables as there are stars in the sky!"
Joy and love flowed freely through him, an swift current he saw no need to fight. As she drew closer, he leaned his head on her's. "It was the most horrid decision I have made in my whole life, leaving you like that. Kila..." He back away enough to see her face. "Kila, forgive me. Forgive me for not telling you sooner. I hadn't figured it out yet, not until we met my Grandmother, but after that it just clicked." He took a breath. He imagined standing in front of the deepest part of the ocean. It's still surface radiating fear and uncertainly, but hidden beneath the surface has something worth the risk.
He took the plunge.
"Ak-kila, I love you."
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Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 11:44 pm
She wanted to be by his side for all time, hearing the stories he had and creating stories with him. There were so many feelings overflowing within her.
When he said those word, the world felt like it had slowed down. All she wanted to do was tell him she felt the exact same way. Her body reacted before she could say anything though. She leaned toward him and gave him a kiss. Words could not express how she felt, only way she could show how she felt was with actions.
She then stepped back so she could gaze at him. He was her other half, the piece missing her whole life. “This is the right choice, I know it is. I want to travel with you for as long as I can and help you create story after story for future generations to hear.”
Her head tilted toward her pride. “I still need to tell my family, that I won't be coming home after all... They will understand. I won't be the first to leave home and not the last either. And maybe I can show you around a bit more and introduce you to my family. I am sure they would love to meet you.”
She couldn't help but giggle to herself. Years she spent dreaming of true love, but all it took was to run into a wanderer. Her family would be happy for her, they knew how lonely she had been before her adventure.
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