Private: Upon New Horizons [Closed to Zoketi and Baya]

[Baya]

Baya snorted. "I don't joke. You know that." Baya murmured back as he placed his head over hers. He didn't know how to act or what to say, so he figured he should let things flow. He'd felt affectionate for her for quite some time, but there was never the opportunity for them to get this close without looking weak or vulnerable.

"If you come along, you know I'm not going to let you leave my sight right? Lots of dangers out in the desert. You can be taking a drink for one second, and the next be dead in the watering hole." he muttered quietly. His eyes narrowed slightly at the thought of another rogue killing someone he cared for so deeply. His mother was victim to such circumstances, and if Vitani went out the same way - No. He wouldn't let it happen. He'd keep her safe, regardless of her protest. Until they cross the desert to a new home he would protect her.

[Zoketi]

Vitani lowered her muzzle. "I guess I've never really thought about it before." She murmured. Was she really...pretty? She couldn't help but glance back at her sides. Shaking her head, she turned back to Baya. Why did it matter what she thought about her appearance? If Baya thought she was beautiful, then that was all the words she needed. Vitani purred softly.

She glanced sharply at Baya. "You're very insistent, did you know that? She murmured, a teasing light in her eyes. "I'll be careful. Of course she would. She would be perfectly able to hear or scent danger. She wasn't some newborn cub. Vitani's tail flicked lightly.

"Do we leave soon?" She asked, feeling a twinge of worry. Maybe she wasn't scared of the actual traveling, but leaving her friends and family would be hard.

[Baya]

Baya let out a bit of a sigh as he looked down to her tuft of a hairdo. He pawed at its' tip playfully, as if he were a cub. Although he was an fully grown male, he gave into some cub like tendencies; obviously because he didn't have a regular cubhood. A purr rumbled in his throat as they moved their heads along each other. "When do we leave? Like I said, a few days. I don't want to leave right away. Wouldn't be fair to you..." He murmured giving her cheek a gentle nudge with his nose.

Soon his affectionate gestures stopped, but his head remained near hers. He felt comfort over wealming him as his eyes began to droop. He figured one more gesture was in order, for his life long friend. "Good night." Baya murmured giving her cheek a short lick. With that, he was out.

[Zoketi]

Vitani nodded slowly. She gave him a playful nudge, but already her limbs felt tired. At his lick, she purred softly, glancing back at him. Seeing he had already fallen asleep, she yawned. Her own exhaustion was kicking in, and she felt quite content and ready for sleep. With a last loving look at Baya, she lowered her head and shut her eyes.

[Baya]

When dawn broke, Baya's ear was being tugged by something. His eyes opened slowly, and noticed that it was none other then Kovu tugging at his ear. He lifted his head off Vitani slowly, and gave him a cold leer. "What do you want, little Kovu?" Baya asked with a frown. He was never on good terms with the pampered cub, but put up with him for both Zira's and Vitani's sake. He kind of seemed arrogant, even though Baya could drop him any day of the week without much trouble.

"Well, I noticed you and Vitani were getting friendly last night...we could hear your purring from in the den." Kovu jibed. Baya had no expression for it, but a smirk spread on his lips shortly after.

"You are all hearing things. All this pride lander life is making you all too happy, and you like to ignore your own purring. Get real. Me and Vitani are warriors, not cubs." Baya snorted. It wasn't that he was ashamed of Vitani, but if he even showed a tad bit of weakness to anyone they would only try to make use of that vulnerability.

[Zoketi]

Vitani's ears flicked. faint voices whispered over her head, and she felt a sudden coldness as something moved away from her back. Her dream melted away, leaving her to a dark emptiness. Half-awake, she shifted and lifted her head. Her blue eyes blinked and focused on the shape of Baya, and another lion. After a moment of rapid blinking, she recognized her brother Kovu. The two males seemed to be annoyed with each other. Well, they were males.

Vitani moved her legs from under herself, feeling a bit stiff. She heard Kovu snort and then turn away, heading farther down the ledge back towards the cave. From what Vitani could see, the lionesses were organizing a hunt of some sort. Having no inclination to join them, Vitani turned back to Baya. "Good morning." She purred softly. Though some of the night's magic was gone, she still felt content beside her friend.

[Baya]

"Morning." Baya said with a bold gaze towards her. The feelings were definitely still there, but he was less open to show the same affection from before. Why was he so hesitant around others to show his care for her? Was he actually ashamed? He liked to tell himself he wasn't, but what was actually going on? Was he actually shy? Baya sighed and gave her a slight nudge with his nose, figuring she deserved at least something in front of others. His heart was with her, but his mind was protesting it. He sort of figured he'd receive jibes like that Kovu was giving him just moments prior.

"We can tell them our plans later." Baya whispered into her ear giving her a playful tug on her ear. He smirked his familiar smirk, and stretched. "If you are in the mood for a fight..." Baya began.

[Zoketi]

Vitani noticed the slight hesitation in Baya's gaze. It vanished after a moment though, was gone so quickly she was unsure whether it had been there at all. At his slight nudge, she grinned and her eyes sparkled. Her thoughts about her friend rose up, dancing through her mind. Now that she was less tired, she felt slightly embarrassed that Kovu had caught her out with him. Shrugging it away, she kept her expression happy.

She flicked an ear at Baya's comment, imagining again what the reactions of the Pride would be when they told them their plans. At his tug and smirk, she sat up. "Always." She smirked back, arching her back and yawning.

[Baya]

Baya liked to be secluded with Vitani when they fought, only because he didn't like the stares he got. Fighting was something Baya felt was a common ground between them, and it had a sense of intimacy for the both of them. Of course, they'd never try to draw blood or hurt one another seriously, but it had happened before. Baya would never mind it, because Vitani would stay by him until she was sure he was ok. Once out of the range of many of the pride landers, Baya stretched in the tall grass.

"Ready?" Baya growled, the smirk having not faded as he turned to face Vitani.

[Zoketi]

"Definitely." She responded, her tail swishing. Her eyes narrowed in play, and they constantly darted around Baya's larger shape. Vitani always looked forward to their little battles, it gave her somewhat of an excuse to be with Baya, and of course she enjoyed the feel of landing a blow--of course not very hard--on a target. She waggled her haunches slightly, grinning widely and her blue eyes gleaming.