New Start, New Heart (Private for TheWhistlerify)

[LeopardessGracie]

Gracie listened to Mheetu, it sounded like he just wanted to know about the past. She didn't know how he'd react if she explained. Gracie didn't feel pressurized to tell him, it's just all this emotion inside her was welling up. She looked at Mheetu, looked him straight in the eye, her own eyes were getting watery.

She hadn't told a soul about the abuse her and her cubs had suffered, and now she had found someone who'd listen. Unable to control her emotions, she began to cry. It was a loud cry, and it wasn't a quiet cry. It was just tears, she could feel them dripping down her muzzle and onto the ground. They were hot, for it was rather cold outside at night.

[TheWhistlerify]

Mheetu silently waited for Gracie to start talking. If she'd suddenly say that she didn't want to talk about it he'd understand, but he just couldn't help himself from asking. He waited a few more moments, only to regret even asking in the first place when Gracie suddenly began to cry. He hated seeing anyone cry. Hesitating, he reached over with his paw to her muzzle and lifted her gaze from the ground so that he could look at her, "If you don't want to tell me, it's fine." he said, feeling horrible for pushing the subject, "I shouldn't have pushed you for answers again."

[LeopardessGracie]

[OOC: I hope the word 'rape' is allowed here =/]

If Roark had lifted her muzzle, Gracie would of struggled, but there was something different about Mheetu, he was gentle. Once establishing he meant no harm, she began to talk, finding it difficult to find the right words.

"T-T-There was this lion...R-Roark", she began, "About a year ago, we s-started a relationship. I thought he was n-nice. I-I-I didn't expect him to...to...". Gracie paused and took a deep breath, "He r-r-raped....me". Tears still falling, she continued,

"He b-b-beat me, and called me s-stuff....and then I had the cubs", she felt her throat become dry with the pain of talking about it. "He hurt the cubs aswell...they have b-been damaged...on the outside....and on the inside....l-l-like me".

"I-I could of done better couldn't I? I-It's my fault the cubs got hurt...I-I-I should of protected them...I tried", she whispered. Blaming herself for all that had happened.

[TheWhistlerify]

[You can say 'take advantage' instead next time]

Mheetu listened closely, becoming more and more horrified as Gracie carried on. It simply explained everything; the bruises on the bodies of both her and her cubs, the cubs' lack of "knowledge" when it came to playing, their hesitation to go on and eat earlier that evening and the way Gracie and her cubs were so intimidated by him when he first met them. In fact it also made him furious. No lioness or cubs should be treated like that, in fact that was one thing he thought that all creatures had in common. "It's not your fault..." he said softly, after taking in all that he had just heard. "You can't blame yourself for this..." how could she? It was probably terrifying to even be around this male.

[LeopardessGracie]

[OOC: Yeah, thanks lol. Couldn't find the words, pretty difficult to write a post explaining the subject]

"I was a love-struck lioness, young and fresh from a pride, I should of seen it coming...", she replied quietly and flatly. She knew Roark would of returned by now, and would of found members for his pride. He was a very convincing and persistent lion after all. She wondered if he'd just forget about her and move on to another lioness, as much as she hated the fact he would probably do this to another, she wished it to be true.

On the other hand, he could be overwhelmingly angry, and explained to his pride and turned them against her too. For he had the ability to brainwash beings, like he did to Gracie, making her think how he ran her was the way lions and lionesses lived. All these thoughts rushed around in her head, they made her feel sick and tired. The presence of Mheetu was strangely comforting, but then again it wasn't. Everything was so new to her.

[TheWhistlerify]

Mheetu forced a smile, even though there was pretty much nothing to smile at. "That's not true." he said softly, looking into her eyes again. "It could have happened to anybody. My mother always told me that love is blind." how could Sarafina not tell him that when he asked her how come she and Scar ever got together. Of course that she told him something like that rather than letting him know that Scar had actually forced that pregnancy upon her. "And beside, it's all behind you now... He's not here anymore, you're safe here." he hoped he was sounding as comforting as he was trying to.

[LeopardessGracie]

[OOC: Be back soon. Dinner]

[TheWhistlerify]

[ Okay ]

[LeopardessGracie]

"Well, I guess your mother is right. But its about making love see again I suppose", Gracie replied with a weak smile to the comment 'love is blind'. She sighed when he said that its all behind her, of course, her scars would heal. But other scars can't heal.

"I hope your right Mheetu. Knowing Roark, he is capable of anything when he wants it...", she added when he had finished talking. She reluctantly leant forward and gave the lion a small nuzzle, she felt like she wanted to and she couldn't stop herself, "Thanks...you've made me feel a bit better".

[TheWhistlerify]

[OOC: Did you know that 'Love is blind' is a quote from Shakespeare? It's from 'The Merchant of Venice' =)]

Mheetu was about to protest to what Gracie said about Roark being capable of anything he wanted to because the odds of him finding her now were very low, but he was cut off when Gracie suddenly leaned forward and nuzzled him, leaving him motionless. That nuzzle sent a strange surge of emotions through the lion's body, almost to the point where he felt like returning it, but he held back from doing so. The small and short nuzzle was probably just a sign of gratitude. "You're welcome." he said, rubbing the back of his head with a paw. "It's getting even colder, we should head back inside."