Maisha had spent the last few days away from Jamal. Most of it she had been hunting, or rather, walking blindly around the upper reaches of the pride’s territory under the pretence of hunting but really lost within her own thoughts. To the extent that she had twice walked into someone else’s hunt and once literally stumbled over a newborn calf, her instinct to kill triggered before she even knew what it was she was attacking. It hadn’t gone to waist though and had been a perfectly satisfactory meal.

Now she was slowly making her way back down towards the lower slopes, knowing that was where Jamal would be waiting for her. She felt bad for leaving him, which in itself had been part of her problem. But she hadn’t explained, and his reaction when she returned would impact the decision she had so very recently come to terms with. She liked the lion… in fact she more than liked him. Somehow his sweet charm and thoughtful manner had reached her in a way no other male had before, and she had needed the time to accept this revelation, and to accept that she actually wanted him to stick around… longer than it took to sire a litter of cubs anyway. She wanted, much to her own shock and mild horror, to have him at her side while the cubs grew up. To have a mate. A steady male who would share the responsibility of raising their litter and.. once the cubs had grown and left on their pilgrimage.. a male who would stay with her just because he wanted to.

Pausing on the path she rubbed a paw over her features in resignation. She was in love.

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A little further down the mountainside, Jamal lay in the same clearing he had occupied for the past few days. The same one where he had met the feisty green female called Renáta. That meeting had been both an eye-opener for him, and a reassurance. She had seemed to know Meisha fairly well, and hadn’t been too concerned over the potential age gap between him and the golden-eyed female that was quickly becoming so very important to him.

Sighing softly he rolled over onto his back, long, muscular body stretching out, showing his pale underbelly to the weak sun. He would miss the warmth of his beach-side homeland, but nothing could compare to the way Maisha made him feel…

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Gathering her thoughts, and her courage, she resumed her downward trek. She was eager to see him again, even though it had only been a few days since they last spoke. The speed with which her feelings for him had appeared still shocked her, and she inevitably worried over it. Was it normal? Was it healthy? What if it didn’t work out? She had no frame of reference for any of it. And only faint memories of her parent’s relationship.

Wait…

That was an idea! It was high time she went and visited them! And she could seek their advice on the matter of her heart at the same time. A faint feeling of shame filled her. She had no idea why she had waited to long to see them, but then, she had been caring for an unexpected litter of seven cubs, and then the disaster in the swamps had forced a pride-wide relocation, which had been no picnic. But now that everything seemed to have calmed down with her cubs returning as fully fledged adults, and the pride well established in its new home, maybe it was time to go back out and see her family. She had a good chance of tracking down her parents, though wasn’t so sure of finding any of her siblings. Undoubtedly like her they had scattered to start their own lives…

Fresh excitement filled her. Yes, as soon as she had found a more stable footing with Jamal, she would convince him to accompany her on her visit. She would want any potential mate to meet her mother and father anyway…

With a lighter heart and a good plan of action in mind, she strode onwards towards Jamal’s temporary den.

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He had been dozing in the filtered sunlight, warm enough in the sheltered glade he had found when the sudden poke of a cool nose against his belly made him startle, body contorting in the most undignified manner until he managed to twist away and onto his side. Blinking wide eyes he twisted his head round to glare up at the intruder, only to find Maisha gazing down at him with an amused grin.

Letting out a deep puff of breath he shook his head, gathering himself and dis-contorting in order to rise to his paws. “That was not nice.” He scolded playfully, attempting to regain some dignity and trying not to wonder how long she had been stood there, what with him all splayed out, family jewels all on display like some uncouth yearling.

Her silky laughter eased the last of his discomfort and he smiled back, the expression growing as she stepped forwards and boldly nuzzled up under his chin. Her newly familiar caress sending a little zing of pleasure all along his body.

Unable to help the rumbling purr that escaped he nuzzled her back, tucking his head down, bringing hr tighter against his chest briefly. “You are in a good mood.” He commented, tone amused.

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Perfectly happy to be pulled in close she leaned her full weight into the large male. He might be younger, but she had never felt so safe as when he was close to her. This new nearness was even nicer and she felt herself relaxing into him, letting his bulk support her own slender weight.

At least she leaned back, breaking his hold but only to look up at him, a grin curling her muzzle. “Why would I not be? I thought we could go exploring today. I have somewhere I wish to show you.”

With a plan of action in mind, and the assurance of advice when she visited her parents, Maisha felt lighter. And for the time being, she was happy to see where this potential relationship would lead. And even if it all fell through in the end, she could still fulfil her original desire. So that even if he didn’t end up staying with her, she would have a new litter of fluffballs to love.




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