"So that's that, then." She snapped, shoving him hard in the chest with a paw. As she had gained strength, she had gained attitude and as time passed she seemed to get more and more pushy. Her fear of him had dissipated to be replaced by something rather...obnoxious. Who did she think she was, ordering him around as if she were a queen and he were her humble servant.

"Well I know what I'm doing," he replied, "I'm leaving."

Despite his stony manner, he was growing to enjoy her company. Growing to aadmire the strength of her personality and her stubbornness - though the latter trait was likely the very reason she had ended up so close to death. Sure, she was hardly out of the woods yet. If she didn't eat again soon her body would slip back into that close-to-death state and that would be that. She was still thin - far too thin - but there was a spark in her eye now. That spark would get her far.

"Back home?" she asked.

"Yes."

He heard her huff and the angry thud of her paws as she drew up behind him. Then, once more, an angry paw struck him - this time across his rump. He shoved back a desire to swing round and roar at her and simply carried on, taking delight in her angry noises as she charged up alongside him.

"Don't ignore me!"

"Why?"

"Because I want to know where you're going."

"No place you'd want to go."

She narrowed her eyes at him, "why?"

"Because where I'm from, hot-blooded males would fight for mating rights and claim you as their own. Then, you'd spend your days mothering cubs, moving from place to place, and generally doing as you're told."

"What did you say this place was called again?"

He fell back into silence and moved on, growing agitated now, at the sound of her paws as she refused to give in.

"You don't sound as if you like your home very much."

"I do." he replied, "it has it's faults but it has a higher purpose. Gives my life meaning. I do good work because of them." All lies...crumbling between his claws...but what else could he do? He couldn't very well go and tell the Visionaries that they had it all wrong. He'd be killed or worse. No. Better to pretend the incidents at the Bahari had never happened at all. Forget and move on with his life.

"If you say so..."

"We must part ways here, Kveres."

"My name is Yoninah," she replied haughtily, shoving into his side with her shoulder. Finally, he drew to a halt and turned to look at her. A cold wind cut across the open plain and he shuddered under its touch as their eyes met. Her eyes were hungry and back-lit and he felt his heart quicken. "You still have not told me yours..." she trailed and though her voice sounded suddenly hesitant, her eyes were set firmly on his.

"Baatar," he replied. It had been the section of his name handed down to him by his father, Ganbaatar. A half-truth, then. Better than the lie he had told his friend, Solomon, but a mistake all the same. He regretted his reply the moment it left his lips.

"Let me travel with you a little longer," she breathed.

"No."

"You are cruel."

He nodded in agreement.

"You make me feel and then you would leave me alone."

He stared at her, not understanding. "I will not take you back to my homeland, no matter how much you beg. There are other prides. Other places more suited."

"Fine," she snapped and he closed his eyes as her paw came at him again, striking him across the snout. His anger rose but he pushed it down. Instead, he turned his back on her and left.

-----

It was five days later when his sleep was disturbed and he looked out across the sun-drenched savannah to where she stood - staring across at him with an expression that told him this was no accident. She had the smell of a fresh kill about her, blood and flesh, and it drew him onto his paws as she made her approach.

"Kveres..." he warned, angry now. She had obviously tracked him again and if she could do that, then she was going to be harder to shake than he had first thought. Why did she have to make this more difficult?

"Yoninah," she corrected sharply, leveling her gaze at him. Then, in a moment of madness, she stepped forward and pressed her muzzle to his.

He jerked back from her, growling, and this time his aggression was not falsified. "I will not tell you again. I cannot have you follow me."

"Then," she replied, sounding sultry, "I shall just have to have you follow me." The lioness moved in to nuzzle him again, the brush of her whiskers sending his mind into overdrive. For a moment he leaned into her advances and then he remembered himself and took another step away, growling. Conflicted. Torn. What did he matter if he allowed himself to enjoy her? They were far away from the Nergui and after today he'd make sure to cover his tracks. Why deny himself?

One look at her face and he knew why. She had a face you could fall for and such a thing would be a terrible weakness to be exploited.

She stepped towards him again.

"No," he kept his voice firm, "I have a mate."

"Far away. What does it matter? She'll never find out."

"You deserve more than this."

"I deserve nothing," she spat, "my past is not as fair as my face. Do not judge me by looks alone. I have blood on my claws, just as my ancestors do. Perhaps we deserve each other, hm? For a short while, at least. I could be dead in a few days, give me this, at least."

He felt like he was being used. Manipulated. Females were known for that. His mother had been a manipulator like no other - according to his father, at least, and he'd always learnt to be wary of them. To keep them at a distance. But this time, when the pale female moved towards him, he did not step away.

He fell.

/fin