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Reluctant as she was to leave Pas on his own, she was beginning to trust that he would stay in the same place she left him. If he began to wander off on his own, he would simply never find his way back to her, and Susi'mimiteh would end up spending days just trying to find him again. Her tracking skills were not excellent, so she didn't particularly want to rely on them. It was better if Pas just stayed right where she left him. Unforeseen circumstances could cause the lion to leave the area, but Teh had to believe that something insane like that wouldn't happen.

She'd find him right where she left him, Teh was sure of that.

Of course, she shouldn't have left him alone to begin with. Susi'mimiteh knew better than that, but his constant companionship was beginning to take an effect on her. The young lioness simply needed some time to sort her thoughts out for herself. Yet, every time she tried to tackle her feelings over being with Pas, her mind flustered and she got lost her own thoughts. It had been quite a while since she had parted herself from Pas' side, and she hadn't accomplished a single thing she had set out to do.

She was supposed to bring him back something, too! A surprise, but the lioness had no idea what to get him, and nothing stood out to her. Defeated and ashamed that she had left Pas on his own for now what seemed to be no reason, Teh turned around and headed back to the area she had left him in. "Pas?" her voice rang out as her eyes scanned the area for the familiar shape of her traveling companion.

Relief was clear on her face when Pas stood up and answered her call. For a moment, with him sleeping, she had been unable to see him and her mind had instantly went to the possibility of him being gone. Teh had no idea why she was so concerned over losing track of him, but the idea of not having Pas by her side was greatly upsetting. She was beginning to realize why she was so attached to the lion who had become her traveling companion, but she was a little embarrassed to admit it. Besides, what if he didn't feel the same? It would make the rest of their trip a little unbearable for both of them. Teh didn't think he'd tell her to scram, but it would still be uncomfortable if he didn't have the same feelings she had for him.

"Oh, uh," the lioness floundered for a moment, and shyly looked away from Pas even as she walked up to him. She had absolutely nothing to show for her disappearance. Teh had tried to find something nice for her friend, but the land had proven barren to her, as if it kept on directing her to reflect on her feelings instead of trying to cover it up by busying herself with a different task. "Things didn't quite go as I planned, actually. Sorry for leaving you alone for so long." Was that really it? Was she really just going to tell him that what she had been doing didn't work out.

It seemed like another lame escape from her own thoughts, and Teh was ashamed of herself for being so evasive with Pas.

Teh was genuinely surprised that Pas had managed to run into his own sibling, and for some reason Pas was still here despite that. Surely it had to have been tempting to Pas, to be able to follow his brother. Why would he choose to stay put and wait for her instead of going off with his brother? Instantly she felt bad that she had even left at all. If she had been with Pas, they could have just gone with his brother together, and Pas would not be missing out on some time with a brother he probably hadn't seen since before his pilgrimage.

"If you want, we can try and find his cave," the lioness offered, thinking that it was the best plan. Perhaps it would relieve some of the guilt she was feeling over ditching Pas for a few hours at all. "I'm sure you want to spend more time with him, after all." Teh explained with a kind smile. Still, it was hard to shake that overwhelming feeling of guilt, like she had just ruined a good opportunity for Pas. Clearly, she was unable to help him find his name, perhaps Kahah would have been better aid for the young lion.

Again, Pas seemed to genuinely surprise the young lioness. Teh started at him with wide eyes, not quite believing that he was going to turn down more time with his brother to stay out here with her. She couldn't even promise him a cave! She had just ditched him and came back with nothing to show for it, even after promising that she would. His loyalty to her was quite touching, and Teh had no idea how to respond to it. Instead, the only thing she seemed to be capable of was getting flustered over the realization that he actually wanted to stay with her.

"You're great," Teh spoke in a soft, almost wistful voice. Of course, when she realized how lovey dovey that sounded, she quickly changed course. Clearing her throat, she flashed him an embarrassed, toothy smile. "Oh, I think we'll make it back to the mountain before your brother. If I've found my name, then we're certain to find your's soon as well. We'll be there to greet your brother when he comes back from his own pilgrimage, okay?"

"I haven't been around anyone else but you lately, how could I get you confused with someone else?" Teh answered with a soft laugh. Pas had a way of cheering her up, even unintentionally. It drew her out of her own thoughts and kept her from getting lost in them. If Pas wasn't around, thinking to herself was all the lioness would do during her travels. She didn't have anyone else to talk to besides him, and she was usually a more introverted personality. If Pas truly hadn't ended up traveling with her... things would have been incredibly boring.

"Don't worry, Pas. You'll find it." Teh seemed to sense that the lion still had his doubts. She would just have to have hope enough for the both of them instead. The pale lioness stepped up to Pas and fondly bumped his chin with the top of her head. For the most part, she kept to herself, but when he seemed to be down, she always felt the need to touch him, to reassure him that everything was going to be just fine. "You have me helping you - your name won't elude us forever."

The sadness in Pas voice was disheartening to hear, but Teh understood it. She had been going through similar feelings before discovering her own name, and surely Pas was experiencing them more intensely now that she did have her name. He could have easily felt like he was holding her back, or that because she found her name that he should have his by now as well. Teh wasn't sure that things were that simple, and stumbling upon one's name had to be a different process for each individual. She couldn't tell Pas to think really hard on it, she couldn't tell him to draw a name out of thin air. It was a waiting game, and one Teh was willing to participate in if it gave Pas the opportunity to find his name.

"You get lost, but that doesn't mean you are lost." She wasn't even sure if Pas could understand what she was trying to get across to him. Just because he was terrible with directions did not mean that he did not know himself, or that his name would not find him.

Impulsively she pressed her nose to his', dark pink eyes staring into Pas' light blue ones. It was very forward, but right now Teh thought it was what he needed, and it was what she wanted to do. "You'll find it. We'll make sure you can go back home, Pas. I won't rest until you have your name."

His confession, for some reason, was the least surprising thing she had heard all day. But, somehow it still made her heart flutter, and she felt like she could do absolutely nothing now and be perfectly happy, just staying here in this spot with him. Teh smiled, and lowered her head to nuzzle underneath his chin, and then his cheek. This was the first time she had felt so strongly for another lion, and she couldn't find a way to properly express herself. Saying 'I love you' was one thing, but she wanted him to know that she loved.

"Good," the lioness answered softly, "because I do too. I love you." She was so relieved that he felt the same way, that he liked her just as much as she liked him. Maybe he understood now why she was so unwilling to part from his side. Teh wouldn't leave him because she loved him, and that was that.