Welcome to Gaia! ::

His breathing soft and rythmic, eyes closed heavily, the young lion slept peacefully with his family, one paw wrapped around a sleeping cub, his head resting against his mate.

Subconsciously he was aware of the movement at his side, the warmth that had shifted, his ear flicking at Mosi's touch, a faint purr and a small smile on his maw in response, perhaps a sign that she had shifted his dream.

The tug on his ear roused him from his slumber. His dream broken, his head shifted groggily, pale eyes barely opened to see the dark form hovering over him.

Eyelids fell heavy, and thinking that it must have all been a dream, the lion's head flopped back onto his paws, shifting slightly to make himself more comfortable before falling back asleep. But something broke into his mind telling him it hadn't been a dream, perhaps it was the tufted tail that tickled his soft fur; and finally his eyes opened to see the dark lioness slip from the entrance. What it her that had woken him?

He yawned, scratching behind his ear with one large forepaw as if to bat the sleep away. Taking a moment, he looked over his sleeping children, a soft smile on his maw before standing and carefully prying himself free of them so as not to wake them, pausing to cover them with a few leaves of the bedding to keep them warm.

Freed of the sleeping cubs, he yawned once more, stretching lightly before following his mate through the entrance and into the night air.

"Mosi?"

Still held by the last grips of sleep, the lion's forelegs extended in a stretch, his hind legs following, finishing with a curl of his tail. Jaws parted by a broad yawn, he followed after his mate wondering why she had woken him and led him from the den in the middle of the night.

When she finally stopped, he settled back on his haunches with another yawn, one paw raised to sleepily scratch behind his ear.

"What's up?"

As if he could ever be angry at her, sound asleep though he may have been. And it was true, it had been some time since it was just the two of them. He could not have asked for a happier life or a deeper love. He had found what he had been so missing, the other part of himself, and together had created a family, two children of their own. But like his mate, there were times when he longed for the times they spent alone.

A soft smile on his maw, Juhudi nuzzled against the dark lioness, a gentle purr in his throat as her fur brushed against his. It was a beautiful night, the stars shining down brightly even through the moonlight.

"You know I could never be upset with you, and it is a beautiful night to share."

Dark ears flicked, his tail curling around his mate, brushing against her own tufted tail. He knew she was teasing and he didn't mind it, perhaps even enjoyed it. His own smirk tugged on his maw, after all he could tease too.

"Oh really, then I'll just have to keep my eye on you won't I."

Without the warning of even a mischievous look, though certainly he must have thought it, the lion's tongue flicked from his mouth, playfully licking her nose.

For a moment the lion fell still, pale eyes blinking, his breath caught in his throat. He felt his heart skip a beat as his eyes fell on the form before him, tracing the lines under her dark fur before settling on those bright orange eyes, and he couldn't help but fall in love with her all over again.

Unconsciously he held his breath, silently awaiting her answer. But wait, it had been a trick? Why that sneaky--really he should have seen that coming. He knew that look all too well, knew his mate's mischievous, but she knew exactly how to get him, and he had fallen for it as always.

"Hey! That's not fair!"

And he was on his paws, springing after her, wind streaming through his mane with his momentum. He was larger, perhaps slower, but his strides were long, and he was determined to catch her.

"I am so gonna get you!"

But his tone was teasing, playful, followed by a bright laugher than fell from his jaws and echoed in his wake.

"Oh yeah? We'll see about that!"

Just running straight after her wasn't going to get him any closer, not when she was so much lighter than him. So it was his turn to be sneaky, after all it was only fair.

With a broad jump, he turned, turning sharply to the side, circling in an attempt to cut her off. There was a spring in his step as he chased after her, tail streaming behind him, paws reaching, rustling the grass with each stride. What a beautiful night it was to be alive, and an even better night for some harmless play.