FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

I moaned deeply in my sleep before I groggily opened my eyes. After blinking them about ten times, my eyes rolled up to the high ceiling of the cave, seeing the sunlight flowing through the several long cracks up there, the cracks showing that morning has come to the lands. When I rose my head off the ground, my jaws parted for a very loud yawn. After I was done with the yawn, I gazed around the huge, circular cave and saw that I was the only one in here. I slumped my chin and sighed deeply. Figured I'd be the last to get up.

And I know Dahlia's gonna be bringing that up once she sees me. Calling me lazy and stuff.

I growled to myself, showing my teeth. She'd better not.

As soon the anger went away in a flash, I got up on my fours, and gritted my teeth when the sharp pain in my shoulder greeted me. I moaned in pain, my muzzle hanging low and barely touching the floor. Awww...The pain's still around?

I raised my head and looked right at the pained shoulder. Augh...Why did that zebra have to go and do that to me? I just wanted to eat it! And since my mind had thought about eating, I actually heard the sound of my stomach growling in the air, having my eyes going wide. Ohhh...I'm hungry. I sighed. I probably won't hunt well if I cannot exactly run fast at prey.

I trailed my eyes to the exit far from where I'm at. Well...I guess I can bear the pain and try to hunt. My face formed a lot of determination. Yeah! I'm never weak! I know that for a fact! What am I thinking, thinking I can't hunt well in pain? I can probably run fast despite having a hurt shoulder! I better get out there and do what all lions do!

Then I had thoughts about dad. But if he sees me walking with a limp, he'll get worried and stop me. But I mentally swiped them away with a shake of my head. No way! I'll tell him I'll be fine and I'm gonna go! I'll show him that the future queen is not weak! I gave myself a proud nod. Right. Time to head outside.

I stretched along the ground, my hind end sticking high in the air. I moaned when the stretch was over then pushed myself to leave the cave, limping a bit in each step as I go. After several steps across the stone ground, I exited this circular place and continued on in the tunnel. When a couple minutes had passed, I saw the suns rays shining through the mouth of the tunnel and I limped through it. As bright sunshine hit me squarely in the eyes when I came outside I had to shut them since it blinded me for a moment.

I heard a voice with my eyes closed, "Good morning, Sayde." I opened them slowly, my pupils adjusting to the sunshine hitting me with each second, and I saw my mother, Nailah, sitting on her haunches a few feet away from the wall of rock with a greeting smile.

My muzzle gave her a smile in return, "Morning, mom."

She got up on all fours and casually strode to me, "I see you've woken late as usual."

I frowned at her when she stopped in front of me, "Well, yeah. What else is new?" Then mom brought her head more closer and rubbed her cheek against mine. My eyes showed surprise from this and I giggled at mom's gentleness, "What's this, mom? You haven't gave me a morning nuzzle since I was a cub."

Mother chuckled deeply and pulled her head away till it was in front of my eyes, "I know. And I should be giving you those nuzzles still. You're one of my cubs, and I love you dearly. And the reason why I gave you this nuzzle is because I just wanted to show you that I'm sorry."

I tilted my head, confusion on my face, "For what?"

"For what happened to you last night. Your father told me and everyone what happened this morning."

I felt some embarassment in my heart when she brought up that 'everyone' heard what happened to me. I know I didn't feel that when I admitted it to dad, and I probably wouldn't have felt it still if mom was standing out here with him last night. But now that everyone knows it...I feel embarassed. I closed my eyes, and a long sigh came out of me, "And let me guess, everyone laughed at me about it?" I opened them, "You know, since lionesses hardly get hurt by zebras and I basically got hurt by one. Yep. Flippin' funny."

Mom giggled as she shook her head, "Nobody was laughing, Sayde. A few of them had let out some 'uh huhs', that's basically about it. Don't think anyone would laugh about one of our own getting hurt in a hunt."

I shrugged, "Not unless you got hurt by a zebra."

She insisted, "But no one did."

I smirked a little, "Oh yeah? Dad appeared to think it was funny. He kinda smiled about it. Course he didn't laugh AT me." My smirk went away, "Do you really think nobody wouldn't laugh about me AFTER he was done talking to them?"

She shot up her head, "Sure!" I still didn't believe that, and mom just didn't see it. I bet after dad talked to everybody, some members of the pride shared a laugh about it. I even see them chuckling right now! Zebra...This is your fault!

I told her in total disbelief, "Well I think they have." Then I lowered my eyes in a bit of embarrassment, "And since everyone in the pride knows, now I just feel embarrassed." And this is your fault too, you damn zebra! Of all the lone hunts I did, you left me some embarrassment!

This never happened to me before!

Mom said in a reassured tone, waved her forepaw a bit, "Oh don't feel that way. Getting hurt in a hunt by any animal is nothing to feel embarrassed about. Even getting hurt from a zebra is nothing to be embarrassed about." I rose my gaze as mom went on, sounding sure as she smiled, "And for the last time, nobody laughed at you for getting hurt by a zebra, especially after your father told everyone that. They wouldn't. I promise."

Don't count on it, mom. I replied, disbelief still a bit evident in my voice, "If you say so. And..." I took a deep breath and let it out, "...I'll stop feeling embarrassed about it. Besides. I'm probably not the only lion who got hurt by one anyways."

She giggled, "Alright. So, after your spar with that zebra, how did you sleep? Well?"

I answered with a tiny nod, smiling a bit, "I have, thanks for asking."

Mom eyed at my shoulder that isn't sore, "And how's the shoulder? Is it that one?"

"No." I shook my head and raised the other one a bit, feeling a tiny twitch of pain in it, "It's this one. And it still hurts." I whined, "I thought the pain would go away with a goodnights rest. Dad also thought that...Guess we were both wrong."

Mom giggled, "Well I didn't think the pain would go away yet in the morning." Ok, looks like not all of us thought wrong. She went on when she started to turn her body away from me, "And since I knew it wouldn't feel better, I actually dragged food from my morning hunt all the way back for you. I know you must be hungry."

I perked up my head, looking surprised, "You did?"

"Yeah. Why do you think I was sitting out here?" She grinned, "You think I was waiting out here to only give you a nuzzle and say sorry you were hurt? That wasn't the only reason. I waited out here in case someone tried taking it."

Then I was shaking my head, "Mom, you didn't have to do that. I can-"

With her back turned to me, she was looking over her shoulder when she interrupted, "Sayde, your shoulder's hurt. You probably wouldn't hunt well with that. You need some rest, and I'm bringing you food because you need that rest. No arguing." Her head shot towards a direction, "It's over there. Now come with me." She took a few steps away from me and I found myself following her, seeing there is no arguing with her. She did all the hard work, so I better not disappoint her.

I followed her to a small tree not so far from the wall of rock, where mom left the food under it. Mother stood close to the dead animal as she watched me limp toward it. After another a bit painful step, I sat on my butt in front of it and sighed, my stomach telling me to get on with it. I saw that she brought me an antelope, its throat ripped open as it was lying on its side. I thanked her, "Thanks for doing this."

Mother chuckled when she walked up to nuzzle my shoulder that wasn't hurt in gratitude, "Hey, nobody else was gonna to do this. I practically volunteered."

I rolled my eyes upward in irritancy, "Yeah, why would anyone else cub sit me? Anyone who did would just bitch about it."

Mom drew back her head and gave me a glare, "Sayde, don't get mad at our pride. They were just hungry. They weren't in the mood to do this right away."

I complained, "Right, but most of them have a problem with me. Why else would they not want to do this?"

Mom made a deep growl, "Maybe your attitude is the reason they have a problem with you." Her angered face melted away to show some concern, "And you always hunt alone because of it."

I dipped my head to let out a huff, "Mom, I can't hunt well with others. I tried that and it didn't work out. We've been through this before."

"I know that...Sayde, you know I never got hurt in one hunt in my life, and I think you know why as well. It's because I don't hunt alone. Imagine if things had been different if you hadn't hunted alone the other day." I slowly raised my head to gaze at her and a sigh left her muzzle, "Sayde, I am sorry that you got hurt, but I wish you gave hunting with the other lionesses another chance. Who knows what can happen to you one day when you are alone out there? It could be worse than your shoulder getting hurt."

I groaned, rolling my eyes at that, "Mother, don't act like dad. I'll be fine. I've been fine since my first lone hunt." Then I unsheathed a claw and poked it at her chest, "And yes, I know I got hurt but it won't happen again. Count on it. And nothing worse is gonna happen to me after that. Count on that too." Then I dropped my paw to the ground, drawing my eyes back on the dead animal, "Can we stop this now? I'm hungry and I wanna eat."

Mom stared at me for another second before nodding at me, "Alright fine. Besides, I'm hungry too and I've hold off eating for a bit to feed you." She turned her body a bit, ready to leave, "The antelope's all yours. I'm gonna leave you and hunt for my own food now. Just...Rest when you're done eating. Ok? I'll see you later." She trotted away, leaving me alone to eat. I let out one last drawn out sigh before my paws grabbed the antelope's hide and I started digging in it with my sharp teeth.

When I pulled some meat off it, I mulled over on what mom told me as it dangled from my teeth. Hunting with other members of the pride.

A growl filled with frustration muffled in my mouth. Give me a break! Doesn't she understand that I don't want to work with any of those bitches? Then I started smacking my jaws on the meat over and over again. I wish she would leave me alone about it! Actually I wish mom and dad would stop treating me like a cub!

When I swallowed it, I just stared at the antelope, blinking my eyes a couple times. Guess I sorta am at the moment because mom just brought this to me. Then I formed a narrow face. But I won't let her bring another carcass to me! I'm not gonna deal with this cub sitting crap. My eyes moved to my shoulder. Well when I'm done here, I guess I can rest some more for a bit. But no way I'm gonna rest all day long. I'm not a fat, lazy cub. Not like Kweli and Asha.

I giggled deeply to myself. Well I guess they aren't TOTALLY lazy, since they run and play most of the time. But, they do seem a bit fat to me. AND I'm sure after hearing from dad today, they'll probably try taking advantage of my pain. Those little schemers.

As my head slowly went down to the antelope again, I felt somebody tapping my back. My form twitched and I popped up my head, frowning curiously. What the? I arched my neck, and see a handsome black maned lion standing behind me with a toothy smirk.

"Hi, Sayde."

I beamed at him, "Oh! Aren!" Wow, he's here! And he's...Talking to me. I laughed as I stood and turned to face him, trying my hardest not to blush, "Didn't expect to see you behind me."

Aren chuckled, "Who else were you expecting?"

I playfully shot at him, "Nobody."

"Funny, cuz I had a feeling you'd say a rougue other than me."

"Whatever." I giggled when I moved up a bit and rubbed my face into his mane under his chin to give him a greeting nuzzle, "It's good to see you again. It's been days since you visited my pride."

Aren replied, "What, you been missing me?"

You can say that, handsome. I pulled away and stuttered a bit, "Uh, well...The whole pride wondered what happened to you. You visit us almost every day. I...We kinda wondered if you either left these lands or you died." Thank the queens above us he hasn't!

Aren spoke with shrugged shoulders, "Sorry about that. It's just I wanted to have some time to myself, and plus..." Then he showed off the side of his foreleg, having a few big scratch marks on it, "I got in a fight with another rogue wandering in your lands a couple days ago, and I wasn't in the mood to chat with anybody because of it."

I rolled my eyes, "Sheesh, you rogues. Why do you always just fight instead of chat?"

The lion narrowed his eyes, "Hey! It wasn't my fault! That asshole started it. I didn't know what his problem was. When I got near him, he snapped and started a fight with me." He softened his look, showing some smug, "Which I won by the way. Scared him off."

I giggled at that, "Bet that taught him not to fight with someone like you."

"Pretty sure it did." He shot his head to his right when he shared a thought, "To be honest, my only guess on what his problem was...He hadn't found any food for a while and got crazy with hunger. He did seem strange. It's no wonder I won the fight. He didn't have enough strength."

I shrugged my shoulders, not exactly caring about this rogue he's mentioning, "Who knows?"

Aren tilted his head and changed the subject, "So, are you the only one here? Looks like it."

I answered, "Yeah. Everyone else is off somewhere."

Aren looked past me to see the antelope, "I see you already had your kill today. Damn, did you drag this thing all the way here? Must have been a lot of work."

My smile went away as my eyes looked behind me. He doesn't know mom brought it here! He thinks I did it...And he looks impressed. Then I had an idea, making me bring back the smile. I suppose I can at least play along. When I looked back at him, I replied with a nod, lying, "Um yes. I have." I wiped my brow with a paw when he gazed at me, "Phew. Talk about a lot of work."

Aren said with a concerned brow raised, "You probably should have had me helping you out with that."

I smugly held up my head, "Please. I don't need a strong boy's help. Dragging heavy dead animals around is never a problem to me."

He giggled in amusement, "Okay, then. I'll have to admit, dragging this thing here from wherever you killed it really is impressive." Then he frowned in confusion, "Hang on a minute. If you killed it, why did you bring it all the way here? You could've just eaten it at where you got it."

My heart pumped in panic. Uh oh...Better come up with an excuse....Ah! Got one! I said, "Oh, I brought it back here to share with my lovely family. But since they weren't home yet, I was eating without them."

Aren replied shortly, seemingly believing me, "Fair enough." He chuckled, smiling, "Sorry. I should have known that."

I fondly smiled, "It's fine. And since I talked about sharing..." With a short swing of my head, it gestured to the dead antelope behind me, "Do you wanna eat with me? I don't think you ate anything yet, have you?"

"Actually no." Aren wrinkled his brow, "But I thought you were going to share it with your parents and sister. Shoud I not be eating it?"

I turned around on him, "Don't worry about my family. Maybe they already ate something. Besides, you're our friend and they'd want me to share it with you." I twisted my neck to look at him with a smile, my tail swinging at him, "Come on. I'll share."

Aren must have thought about for a minute since he only stared at me. Then he gave me an answer with a grin, "Eh, alright. I could use good food right now." He padded up to stand beside me, "Thanks, Sayde."

I nuzzled his shoulder with my cheek, "No problem." When I had my face away from him, we stared into each others eyes. My heart pounded hard in my chest, and I feel like I wanted to nuzzle him some more and not stop. He is...VERY handsome, and strong too.

But for now, since we were both hungry, we both shifted our gazes right on the food and went down on our stomachs, ready to eat the antelope. When my jaws grabbed ahold one of the antelope's hind legs, other than food I had a tiny thought about the handsome lion beside me. I'm actually alone with him. I hardly ever get to be alone with him.

With my mouth still clamped shut on the limb, my eyes rolled to the side, watching him digging his teeth into its side. My eyes were filling with want. Not the want of food, but the want I want of him.

Oh, Aren...You have no idea how much I want you.

*****

I rolled around in bed in the hotel room, laying on my side with my hand underneath the pillow. I think I can feel the sun hitting my face, making me wrinkle my face, but I didn't wake up. From having that long plane ride to this country, to having a bit of a ride getting to this hotel, I feel like I wanna sleep in this bed forever. The guy who drove the taxi was right. Sleeping in this place is comfortable. But the sun kept pestering me, so I opened my eyes halfway since the sunlight kinda blinded me. I rose my head off the pillow just to get out of range of it. I let out a huff as I stared at the window from where I am. Morning already? Came here fast it feels like.

I pushed myself off the mattress, only now sitting on it, and I turned my head to the other bed beside the one I'm on. My parents weren't on it. I gazed around the room, also at the door to the bathroom nearby and listened, and figured they weren't in the room with me. Guess they must have left while I was asleep. Where'd they go? My only guess is they were hungry and went to the restaurant this hotel has. I put a hand to my bare belly. Well I am kinda hungry, too.

I shifted towards the edge of my bed, and my feet went over it and planted at the ground. My eyes drew to my suitcase sticking up on the floor nearby. I better get dressed and find them there, and eat something there afterward. I got off the comfy mattress and strode to the luggage. Very soon, I got my fresh pair of clothes out of there and put them all on. After pulling down my t-shirt, I picked up my shoes and slipped my feet into them. I sighed when I made my way past my parent's bed and the bathroom to exit the room.

After coming out of my room, I was walking down the hall to the elevator not far from here since I was on the third floor of the hotel. I remembered where the restaurant was at when me and my family came to the hotel last night, it was downstairs near the hotel entrance. When I stopped in front of the elevator doors, I pressed the button near it and they opened up. My form went through them and I pushed the button to the first floor. I felt the elevator going down, then it jerked a few seconds later and the doors opened up again for me. Now on the first floor, I walked out of there and through the hall, past a couple people just standing around in it as they talked to each other.

I strode into the restaurant several moments later, several people had already shown up and sat in different spots of this place eating their breakfast. I caught sight of mom and dad a second after walking in there, sitting at a small square table with a plate of food for each of them, and they weren't sitting alone either. An American man only a bit older than dad sat across from them. I saw from a distance that he seemed to be wearing a beige colored uniform, the lower part of his face seemed a bit fuzzy from the ongoing growth of a beard, and had shaggy brown hair on his head.

That must be Gabe, the game warden. He showed up at the hotel.

I giggled in a tiny bit of amusement. I knew dad had called him while I was sleeping. Wonder when did he get here? Least I don't have to wait for god knows how long for that man to get here. My heart pounded in anticipation, the anticipation to go to the savannah. I'm pretty excited. It'll be better than being in a city. There's nothing special about Nairobi. It's OUTSIDE of Nairobi that is special.

Mom saw me and waved me over. I waved back and paced to where they were as Gabe and dad saw me also. When I stopped near the table, Gabe was smiling at me, "So, you must be their son."

I nodded, "Yep. Hi there."

Dad greeted me with a grin, "Morning, heavy sleeper."

I chuckled a bit and shot my gaze at my parents, "Heavy sleeper?"

Mom grinned as she replied with her hand motioned to me, "Yeah. We woke up before you did, and you didn't hear us while we were moving around and talking in our room. So that makes you a heavy sleeper."

I said in amusement, "Hey, a plane ride and a ride in a taxi after that can make a person real tired."

"You probably should have slept during one of those rides."

"Probably. But you know how I am when I'm riding something." I shrugged, "Other than that, the bed I laid on felt nice."

Mom shook her head, still grinning, "Can't argue with that. Ours was too."

Dad nodded in agreement, "Yep..." He then smirked and wrapped an arm around mom, "PRETTY comfy." Mom giggled in a cute way and they shared a kiss, having me roll my eyes. Oh geez, guys.

Gabe's eyes moved to them, smirking as he muttered a bit, "Guess I'll have to get a bed like that."

Dad, as he and mother were just gazing at each other, looked at him, "You should. Trust me."

Gabe giggled loudly at that and then he gazed at me, playfully commenting, "Huh, I remember meeting you when you were little. You've practically grown."

I giggled at him, scratching the side of my head, "Well, I kinda don't remember meeting you back then, honestly." I waved the hand off my head towards my parents, "Apparently they do."

Gabe nodded a tiny bit, "Yes...You were very little when we met. Maybe you were...Uh-"

Dad helped out, "Three."

Gabe said with a deep giggle, "Yep, that's right." Then he held out a hand, "And since we haven't seen each other for years, I think we'll have ourselves a formal introduction. Name's Gabriel Dotson. Or Gabe if you want."

"I'll just prefer to call you Gabe, thanks." I firmly grabbed his hand, shook it and formerly introduced myself, "Ryan." I let go of it and asked, "So when did you get here? I hope I hadn't kept you waiting."

Gabe laid the hand he held out on the table and replied with a shake of his head, "Nah, no you didn't. I only got here not too long ago. And I wouldn't have minded waiting for my friend's only child to wake up from his long nap from a long trip."

I nodded from his assurance, "Thanks." I felt my stomach rumbling in hunger and I placed a hand over it, "Say, before we leave for your lovely house in the middle of the beautiful savannah, can I eat something? I'm hungry."

Mom laughed a bit and then gestured to a seat beside Gabe, "Take a seat, Ryan. Gabe won't mind waiting for us." Her hand picked up a fork and it pointed down at her plate, "Besides, me and your dad are still eating anyways." I nodded and walked around Gabe to my seat as she jabbed it into one part of her food rose it off the plate and then ate it.

When I was pulling out the chair, Gabe chuckled as he gazed at my parents, "And besides that, the three of us still have things to catch up on."

"Right." Dad rose a finger while he pushed back his chair and got off it, "But better hold off on that a bit, Gabe. I need to find that waitress and have her get a menu for Ryan." He paced from his seat and when he stopped beside me, he said to me, "Be right back with her." I nodded and then he went off to find that person.

After he'd came back with the waitress, I ordered my food and several minutes later it came to the table. For a long time, I was mostly silent, eating while my parents and Gabe were chatting with each other still. When me and my parents were done eating, and after me and everyone left the restaurant and stood in the hotel lobby, dad told Gabe to wait for us at his car while me and my family went upstairs to get our suitcases, and then Gabe left us. After I headed back to the hotel room with my parents, we grabbed our suitcases and dragged them out of there. Not long, we made it back downstairs and then the three of us went to the parking lot outside Serena Hotels, where Gabe is standing near his four door jeep with his arms crossed.

He was gazing out at the street when he heard and turned to us. He beamed, "Ah, there you are." He beckoned us with his hand as he backed himself up to the back of the car, "Let me give you guys a hand with them."

Dad said as we dragged out luggage across the concrete, "Thanks." When we went to where Gabe was, he already swung open the back door of the jeep and helped get our heavy luggage in there.

After Gabe helped mom lift hers in there last, he closed the back door and clapped his hands and held them together, "Alrighty then. Let's head to my home." After mom and dad left us to get in the car, he glanced at me with a grin and gave my shoulder a pat, "Bet you're already tired of staying in the hotel, eh, Ryan?"

I let out a long exasperated sigh, "Oh gosh I am. I wanna get out of here!"

Gabe laughed and then walked off, "Then get in the car." I giggled myself and did as he told, walking up and opening up the back passenger side door, sitting behind dad and mom sitting beside me. After Gabe slammed the driver's side door, he inserted the key in the ignition and started his vehicle. Shifting in gear, he drove forward and a moment later we were out on the street. On our way out to the savannah.

I leaned back in the seat and let out a whoosh of air. About time we're out of there.

*****

Our muzzles were stained with blood as me and Aren strolled alongside each other through the savannah. My eyes saw a flock of birds flying in the sky towards my left, and when I looked to the right, I see about three elephants heading off in one direction. After we ate the antelope together, Aren and I were heading to the watering hole to clean the blood off our mouths. As I walked with him, pain still in my shoulder, I tried not showing him any limps since I was keeping myself straight with each step. Didn't want to give him any idea that I was lying to him earlier. He was impressed by my supposed kill and great strength of dragging it back home I intended on keeping him impressed.

And if we come across anybody from the pride, I hope not one member mentions anything about my run in with the zebra. If one, even big sister does, then Aren will catch on. I don't want anything ruined! I'm doing great with him so far. We chatted a bit while we were eating together and ever since we both left the huge rock wall of my home behind we were both quiet.

I turned my head to the black maned lion and only just stared at him. He hadn't noticed me looking at him, only focusing on ahead. My fondness for him was showing in my eyes, and the want I feel for him was pumping away in my heart. Kings above...He really is a good looking lion. I can't think of another lion that looks good as him. And I'm alone with him! This doesn't happen to me a lot! Every time he visited my pride, Dahlia always talks to him or he always goes off to find her.

And since I'm alone with him, and have our stomachs full, I SERIOUSLY want to tell him something.

That I really...'Liked' him.

I looked down. But...I was nervous. I never tried this before. Come to think of it, I never tried this on any lion before. I wonder if mother at my age was nervous around dad back then before they'd gotten together. I wish I'd asked mom for advice about this, or maybe even asked dad or Makena. Too bad I didn't.

I don't want my alone time with him right now be wasted! I need to tell him that I like him...Before someone else, like Dahlia, does that first. This could be my chance. But I wanted to find the right moment too, don't want to rush it.

And trying to do so while hiding my pain and my limping is NOT the right fucking moment!

Aren's voice broke through my mulled thoughts, "Sayde." I rose my head and gazed right back at his eyes, smiling at me, "I want to say thanks again for sharing the antelope. I appreciate it."

I smiled when I gazed upward and hummed, "You know, Aren..." I playfully bumped my body against him, "I don't know whether you were eager to visit the pride and you forgot to hunt and feed yourself. Or you were just showing up at my home hoping that my pride had brought some food back home and you steal it from us."

Aren giggled, "It's the eager part. I'd never steal from your pride."

"Not unless you were crazy like that rogue you'd dealt with."

"Tch, please. Just because I'm a rogue doesn't mean I'm gonna go crazy." Then he frowned to himself, "Well, I remember starving so much one time...I guess...I was about to-" I cut him off with snickers and he gave me a glare, "Shut up."

I shot back in a playful tone, "Think you need to eat those words. You're a rogue and you almost went nuts with hunger. Heh, since you were hungry earlier, maybe that's why you haven't thought that I would bring that antelope back to home and share it with my family."

Then he smirked, "Probably. And I think my stomach has room for those words other than antelope. Least they'll both get rid of the hunger for most of the day."

I nodded, "Right. And my father, who is the king, will not kick you out of his lands for not being crazy."

"True to that."

I only gazed at him for a moment, still smiling, before I said in a fond tone, "But I think you wouldn't hurt any of us, even if you were going a bit crazy. We know you well enough that you wouldn't. After all you're the pride's pride friend, pride friend."

Aren nodded to that statement as he placed another step to the ground, "Yeah. And since I keep hanging and eating with your pride, I guess I'm more of a member of the pride than a rogue."

As I tried hiding the pain again when my paw made another step, I motioned my head towards him, "You kinda are. But you don't live with us like you're a member of the pride."

He tossed me a playful frown, "So? Old Makena doesn't either."

I giggled, "Good example. He's a member of the pride and he doesn't live with us."

"So instead of calling me 'pride friend' should you just call me 'member of the pride'?"

I showed him my teeth when I smiled wide, "I'll call you that when you live with me and everybody." Then my eyes held pity, "After all...You haven't lived with any pride since you ran off from yours. I mean honestly, don't you think you should just live with us instead of living out on your own?"

Aren took in a deep breath, "...I guess." He gave me a small smile, "I had considered it at times. I like you all. Better than the pride I came from."

I grinned, "Well I think you should live with us. You're not a bad lion. Me and the pride wouldn't mind letting you stay with us." I glanced away, "And another thing who knows, maybe father will choose you as future king of the pride. He wouldn't exactly want the future king to die while living alone."

His eyes went wide, then he chuckled after a moment passed, "King? I don't know about that."

I looked back at him, "Well why not? You look to be the type."

Aren sheepishly shook his head, "But I never thought of being king before. I don't know if I could do it."

"Well...When dad gives you royal lessons, maybe you'll probably feel more confident toward the idea."

Aren's eyes wandered up like he thought of it for a moment, "Mmmm…." Then peered down to me, "I guess...But I still don't know, though." He giggled, "Geez, if he is considering picking me as king, then it'll be either you or Dahlia that will stand as queen beside me."

I imagined what he said, me, as queen, standing on all fours beside Aren as king and I nuzzled against him as his mate. I wouldn't mind it. After I giggled deep, I added a question, "There a problem with that?"

He laughed a little, "Oh there's no problem, Sayde." His eyes casted downward now, "Honestly, when I'm thinking about it...I hope he picks your sister to be queen."

I almost froze in my tracks when frowning upon hearing that and anger boiled up inside me, "Whyyy?"

Aren shot up his gaze, shaking his head, "I don't know. I just think she'd be a good queen." As my eyes were giving him daggers, he showed me his toothy grin when he apologized, "No offense. That's just my opinion."

"Hmph." I sharply held up my head, shut my eyes and flicked my tufted tail, "Whatever." I opened them up and continued, "We'll just see who my father chooses."

Aren nodded in agreement and sighed, "Right. We shall see."

I hope he picks me! Dahlia cannot be queen! Then I had thoughts on Aren. Is he really thinking about my sister while we hung out, ate and talked?! No! I need to change that. I saw the watering hole at a distance, and no animal near it. I've been waiting for the right moment to tell him how I feel, well the watering hole will be the perfect place to have that moment. After we clean the blood off our muzzles, I'll ask him if we can just sit around, stare at the water, and then I'll tell him.

Hope flushed away the anger in my heart. Yeah! That's it! I breathed in through my nose, trying not to feel nervous again. Just be calm, Sayde.

Me and Aren, while I still kept a straight posture of my strides despite a pained shoulder, finally got ourselves close to the watering hole, and in a matter of seconds started cleaning the dry blood off our muzzles. Afterward, we both lapped at the water since we both needed to quench our thirsts. When we did, Aren was thinking about heading back to the wall of rock, but I stopped him with a paw, telling him that I wanted to sit here with him for a while, which he agreed.

Now I was sitting with Aren close to his right and close to the water, watching the sun shining off its surface. I sucked in some air and let it out quietly, feeling relieved that he didn't argue and wanted to leave right away and actually said yes. As several minutes went by, as I was trying to build the guts to do what I planned, my eyes moved from right to left, making sure there aren't any bystanders nearby. There wasn't. We were still alone. My mind started nagging me now. Go on! Tell him! This is your chance!

I slowly turned my head towards him, finally having the guts now. I'm gonna do it now.

I finally broke this silence, trying not to stutter as my heart pounded away in my chest, "Aren?"

He looked at me, quizzically.

"We, uh...We've known each other...For a long while now, right? And you do...Like me, right?"

Aren smiled, "Sure. I like everybody in the pride. What kind of a question is that?"

I ignored his question and asked him another one, "You trust me, don't you?"

He formed a curious frown, "Sayde, what's going on? You're acting strange now."

Tell him! I started with a bit of hesitation, "...Alright...Aren...I-"

"Aren!"

My form twitched from somebody's shout, and I knew who it belonged to. Oh no...

Dahlia!

Aren turned his head sharply to the left and I looked past his form, watching Dahlia and three other lionesses, pretty sure those are her friends, coming towards us with crimson on their muzzles. Aren beamed when he got to his feet, backed up from the edge of the water a bit, and turned his whole body to them, "Hey, girls. Hey, Dahlia."

As the three lionesses stood behind together from left to right, Dahlia walked up and nuzzled him, purring into his mane, "Gosh...You haven't came to see the pride for a long time. Where have you been?" I growled deeply, getting up on my feet and feeling angry that my sister's rubbing on him. No!

He's my man, you bitch!

One lioness at the far left hollered when she shot up her head, "Yeah, where have you been? All of us thought you died."

The second lioness in the middle gave her a glare, "No I didn't. I thought he'd up and left the lands."

Then the third one on the far right had rolled her eyes, "I didn't think so, either."

Dahlia pulled herself away and pressed Aren with a tiny worried look in her eyes, "So what happened to you, Aren? Lately I was thinking of heading to your cave and find you!"

The handsome lion smugly giggled and shook his head, swinging his tail behind him, "Nothing much happened to me really. Just keeping to myself, fought off a crazy rogue the other day, that kind of stuff."

Then she actually caught the scratch marks on his leg with her eyes, having them widen up, "Ohhh...They look bad."

Aren rolled up his eyes, "Pfft. Not THAT bad. Besides, I'm fine. The other guy wasn't very tough."

Dahlia smiled at him along with her friends, "I knew that. Nobody's stronger than you are." Then finally her eyes moved away from him and saw me, frowning in wonder, "And what's she doing here?"

I rolled my eyes in irritancy, "Bout time somebody else noticed me."

As Aren turned himself a bit and looked at me also, Dahlia took offense to that, "I was greeting the pride friend here, Sayde."

"I know that. It's just I'm not invisible, you know."

"Why should I talk to you when you act this way?"

The lioness on the far right joined in with a proud shout, "Yeah, why should she when you act this way?"

Aren tried to ease this tension by holding out a forepaw in front of him, "Hey ladies, chill."

But I ignored him when I angrily said, "You know what, you always ignore me while you're hanging out with your bitches over there, anyway."

The three lionesses all yelled in offense, "Hey!"

Dahlia bared her teeth in anger, "Well I'm not now. Now what're you doing here?"

One of Dahlia's friends scrunched up her face in annoyance, "Yeah seriously, what is that bitch doing here?"

Dahlia told me like she was our mother, "You were supposed to rest. You're not in good condition to leave home right now." I quivered from that. Damn it, Dahlia!

Aren formed a look of curiosity when he heard that, "Rest for what? What's going on with you?"

I slowly made an embarrassed toothy smile, "Uhhhh-"

One lioness on the far left spoke up gleefully, "She's dying!"

I shot that lioness a glare, "No I'm not!"

The lionesses near that one let out a huff, "Well, the pride would probably be better off without her if she died."

I spat this out, unsheathing my claws and digging them in the ground, "Fuck you."

Dahlia finally answered to Aren when he looked back at her, "No Aren, she's not dying. She got hurt by a zebra last night and has a limp."

Aren perked up his head in surprise, "A zebra hurt her and gave her a limp?" He looked to me, "Huh...She walked fine to me."

I admitted as I moved my shoulder around a bit, "To be honest, Aren...I actually FAKED that I was walking fine."

Dahlia pressed me, "And why were you doing that?"

I narrowed my eyes towards my sister, "None of your business."

But Dahlia went on, "Actually, why the heck were you wondering away from home? You're supposed to be resting! And also did mom get you some food, did you eat it?"

Aren asked out loud, surprise in his tone, "Wait, what? Sayde, you didn't bring that antelope back to your home?"

I didn't reply to him when Dahlia said, "Sounds like mother did. Now what's going on here?"

I spat it out, "Are you my mother? Did you bring the fucking antelope home?"

She shook her head, "No. But I am your big sister."

"Then stop worrying about me. I'm doin' fine."

Aren interrupted us, waving his paw down a few times, "Hold on, hold on, hold on...Sayde, did you REALLY get hurt by a zebra? A lion-"

My groan cut him off while I felt embarrassment, "A lioness hardly ever gets hurt by a zebra, yes, I fuckin' know."

"Yeah!" The lioness in the middle of the trio giggled at me, "Heheh, she got hurt by a zebra!" Then all three of them giggled together.

I growled, "Keep giggling while you can, bitches."

Dahlia formed a glare, "Don't call them bitches, Sayde."

"Well they are." Then I sharply turned my back on everyone, "And since the whole thing's ruined, I'm gonna go wander off now. Have fun laughing at me while I'm gone."

Aren tilted his head, "Thing? What thing?"

With a swing of my tail, I started limping away from the group, "Forget it. Bye."

Dahlia moved herself a bit past Aren and demanded, "Sayde, get back here now! I'm walking you back home!"

I was a bit further away from them when I snarled over my shoulder, "How about go steal Aren since you always do!"

Aren's face went wide at that while my sister argued, "Sayde, don't wander off! If you run into danger, you probably won't fight well or run fast from it!"

"And I told you I'm doing fine! NOW LEAVE ME ALONE!" Then I ran off, not looking back at everyone I left behind, fighting off waves of pain that keep going about in my shoulder. After dashing for a long time, I slowed myself down and stopped where I'm at finally, breathing in and out repeatedly. I peered behind me, seeing I'm far away from the watering hole. Then I started to show humiliation on my face since I was feeling it in my chest.

Damn it...My chance with Aren is ruined.

I dipped my head and sighed. No use in going back now. Just keep walking. With that thought, I pushed myself onward slowly in limps.