Stained Ambitions [Private: Nakisisa & Kina]

[Kina]

His sudden, rougher growling caused her to start. "... I'm awake ..." the lioness murmured, feeling his ever changing tones against her damp fur. Soft purring, cultivating foreign and unknown things inside her. Harsh growls, causing her to tense on his back. But the motions remained the same. He was now almost in a trot from what she could feel; leaves trailing across her pelt in a much faster pace. Suddenly, he paused.

Kina's eyes forced themselves open as his muzzle connected with hers - More than just their noses remaining in contact for that time. Her ears flattening against her head in flourishing embarrassment as he pulled away, heat flaring underneath her dark pelt. And when he did turn back to the hazy trail, at least to her, she felt a vague purr once again. Pleased? But the way it stuttered, he seemed equally startled. The dusky lioness' ears remained flattened against her head as he walked, trying to return to the conversation.

Her cubhood? "Err ... I wandered with my brother Ahi for a moon or so," the young lioness started out hesitantly, but the memories were enticing her consciousness further. Helping her stay more aware. "I do not recall my parents, but ... Ahi and I, we took care of each other. When we found an empty waterhole, it became our home ... We learned to fish and climb to live," Kina murmured, nostalgia starting to reach her now. She missed him. He was her brother, and his Circle had been incomplete. Or it still seemed so to her.

Sighing slightly, she continued. "... We'd been getting along nicely, until we were close to five moons old. Hyenas had found us vulnerable. A lioness arrived during their attack ... She tried to save us," Kina added quietly, voice momentarily trailing off. Half lost in thought. Glazing over Ahi's death, however. "... Kuukeni took me in. She is, in sense, my mother. I would say that she had been a wonderful one."

[Nakisisa]

Processing what Kina had said, Tamek knew he had a long road ahead of him. Apart from her brother, it sounded like she had had no other contact with males. Well, she's with me now, I hope I can change her Tamek thought to himself, stopping growling, and only purring, he tried to comfert the lioness on his back, using his tail to stroke her lower back and tail.

Well, tell me about your brother Kina, And about Kuukeni, was she a nice lioness? What happened to her? Tamek asked, knowing that if he kept Kina talking, she would live. Sniffing the air and ignoring the blood he could smell, there was the sweet sleep of water. Picking up his pace to a gentle canter, Tamek moved as fast as he dared towards the water

[Kina]

The dusky lioness felt his purr become louder, more assured. Her nicked ear twitched once as she listened to it, the steady and soft rumble gently massaging her underbelly. She shifted slightly, her first real movement since he'd set out, when his tail began trailing along her lower back and across hers. It lacked a tuft like a lion, but was equally soft. Comforting, perhaps. But her thoughts were half muddled. Why were these strange, fleeting feelings appearing? She'd never found a female's scent appealing before. Why a male's, then?

Kina turned her mind back to the conversation, though, trying to stay on track. "Ahi was ... very kind hearted. He did love to play when we were safe, but he was also very protective of me ... Kuukeni was a very pleasant lioness, really. Despite what had happened, she cared for me. For nearly eighteen moons, we were together. She taught me to hunt, to heal ... We wandered from place to place, yes. Others sometimes regarded us as a threat. Sometimes temporary allies, friends. But we always moved on. Eventually, a moon or so away from my second year, Kuukeni had an odd dream. It kept returning. There were always the same ones in it. She did not remember their names, but ... She was inclined to go after the dream. Every night, it had returned ... So after a few more days of preparing, and my coming-of-age hunt ... We parted ways, with the promise to meet again."

[Nakisisa]

Hmmmm Tamek thought, So we could see a new face around soon? Tamek mused to himself, knowing that everything would be vital, had he to defend himself, and Kina. Looking around, Tamek saw only jungle, and not a sight of the water he was smelling, however, there was another smell, a sweeter more familiar smell, yet he couldn't place his paw on it. Never mind he told himself.

Kina, Are you alright, is there anything you want to ask me? he said, frantically searching for water, Anything? he asked, getting ever more frantic. so much so he was resisting the urge to run, in case it hurt Kina

[Kina]

The dusky lioness aware now that the wounds had started to scab over across her entire body, as it was beginning to prick at her as her now drying pelt as the smaller motions she made tugged at them. No longer losing her life's blood on the dark tiger. His scent was beginning to linger through the smell of her blood, clinging to her with persistence. Her own scent almost completely masked by now, what with her blood and Tamek both. But when he spoke again, there was urgency in his voice.

"I am ..." she returned softly, the young female slowly breathing in the scents around her once more. Trying to assess where they were, in some manner, without her sight. Exhaustion continued to pull at Kina, and although her eyes were closed, she refused to give in once more. Of him? "... Why are you helping me so?" Kina queried after a moment, the curiosity lingering to her voice even.

[Nakisisa]

"... Why are you helping me so?" The question caught Tamek by surprise, he knew he had reasons for saving Kina, and most of them were because of love. But he couldn't tell her that could he? No, that would turn her away forever, and he couldnt live with himself if he did that. No he had to think of an excuse.

Ermmm... Well... Kina, this might sound weird coming from, but... well... Tamek started, trying to decide upon what to say without giving away his uncertainty. I would hate to see a life wasted Tamek said, compassion lingering in his voice, hoping that Kina would buy the story for now.

[Kina]

The dusky lioness listened with interest as he began speaking, her ears perking forward. Also catching what she thought was the sound of running water when he paused, which was probably what he'd been searching for. He was, certainly, focused on something. And now that the scent of her blood was becoming numb to their noses, still noticeable but not so obvious, they were able to sift through a few other scents. Making a bit of silent progress in that. However, what he finished with did seem a bit odd paired with how he'd started. But, not outlandish. Kuukeni herself had had that mentality, and passed much of it on to her.

It was understandable. "It isn't odd at all ... In all honesty, the trait is admirable," Kina added after a moment, both hoping to soothe his uncertainty and still speaking the truth. They had to eat to survive, like any other. But to hunt in excess was hardly needed. Tamek began walking again after a moment, his ears having briefly twitched back to her. A small sigh escaped her muzzle after a moment, resisting the urge to yawn in tune with the steady exhaustion once more. Odd, how whenever they stopped speaking it seemed to return stronger.

[Nakisisa]

Tamek was amazed. he hadn't expected the lioness to say that to him, he was expecting her to laugh at him, like so many had before, but that was besides the point. Tamek was carrying a lioness on his back, who respected his decision, and had even said something nice about it. he carried on walking, knowing that the smell of water was getting ever stronger.

Hearing the faint sigh behind his turned ears he could sense that Kina was going to sleep. and even at such a short distance from water, that would be disastrous. Are you sure Kina? Most people Ive said that to turn and laugh at me... he said, trying to pick up an irregular walking rhythm to keep Kina awake, and to keep himself from crying.

[Kina]

The dusky lioness smiled slightly at his words, but it wasn't long before they reached what he'd apparently been looking for for some time. Hissing under her breath slightly as unyielding ground suddenly met her again, as Tamek slipped out from underneath her. But the scent of the water was pleasant, meaning it was clean. But the sounds were more calming than anything, now that the pain in her injuries had dulled to a half numb ache. She'd lost allot of blood - Perhaps nearly too much - but the sounds of the brook were succeeding in keeping her awake now. Turning her attention back to the conversation, though, she eventually responded to his words. "I am ... It is foolish to turn others away for petty reasons," Kina murmured, forcing her eyes open again.

Her pale gaze taking in the new scenery, wondering where the gray tiger had taken her. But despite her hazy, clouded vision, she could see that the moonlight was dancing off of the river. It was just as pale as her eyes, surprisingly. But the rest of the area was almost too dark for her to make out, making it clear that it was likely moonhigh.

[Nakisisa]

The smell was now driving him crazy, yet he couldn't place his paw on it, he knew that it was something familiar, and the voice in the back of his mind was screaming for him to get out of there, but he knew he could ignore it, for it had been wrong before, and he would hate to unnecessarily move Kina. She looked so pretty in the moonlight and then he realised what her name meant... Deep... he muttered to himself, fully understanding the lioness in front of him.

Pacing up and down, trying to find out what the smell was, he thought to himself. Deep, she is amazing, full of life and full of character, a depth of emotion like no other, a deep soul to love and a kind heart to find... brown against the deep dark night... if only... he stopped, looking at the lioness, walking over to her... and gently nudging her towards the water. Kina, Please drink... he said, walking into the water and laying down.