[PRIVATE] A Rogue's Light

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

As the lioness layed on her back with her tummy facing the sky, for all the stars to see, she breathed in deeply and listened to what was happening around her. Tanga and Auni were talking, and she soon heard the conversation fade and she opened her left eye to see Auni was falling asleep. Her violet eye jumped over to Tanga, seeing him stay awake even though he looked pretty tired. Or was that worry on his face?

Her disguise was up when she rolled over onto her tummy once more and perked her head over to the awake male in front of her. "Aren't you going to sleep?" She questioned him.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga looked over at Imani, managing a weak smile at her despite his worry for her. "Maybe," he answered distantly, "but I doubt it."

Tanga looked up at those three stars that were now so important to him. As his thoughts ran all over the place, he found himself chuckling slightly. "It's amazing to think that just two days ago I was alone, with no purpose, having no idea that I had an unborn sister...and blaming myself for my parents' murder."

He paused after that sentence, hoping Imani might catch the hint that he had shouldered a heavy mental burden in the past...and that it had nearly destroyed him. All could do was lay back, and pray Imani relieved her burden faster than he had, before she did something stupid that would leave Tanga feeling too guilty to face another lion ever again.

"I'd never had any friends, no family for over a year, and no pride would accept me." He gave Imani a significant, caring look through the darkness before continuing. "And now, I've been through two of the most eventful days in my life. I've met my parent's killers once more, seen one of them repent for what they did...met Ra and Auni...and fallen for you." He gave her a sheepish smile, hoping he was not being too forward with that last sentence.

"You changed my life...not just you, Imani, but your sister and Auni...and even Mufalfa, too. And you have all changed it for the better." He stopped as he realised he was beginning to ramble once more, his thoughts running away from him as he stared at the lioness he loved. "Sorry...I guess it's just been a really strange couple of days for me."

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

The lioness smiled and looked up at Tanga while she layed down. Taking her eyes away from him, the smile still present, she closed them and took in a breath. "Glad to help" she replied. Maybe she could finally get off the subject of him asking her what was wrong if she just focused on acting like she was sleepy and not all together in her mind right now. "I can't speak for the others but, I know I am happy to have met you, Tanga. I love you".

The creamy lioness put her head down on her paws and breathed in while she waited for him to say something. Also, preparing herself to walk away from it if need be.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga smiled at Imani, deciding that it was too soon for her to talk about her troubles just yet. Knowing she would most likely grow more distant if he kept pressing the matter, he decided to leave the touchy subject alone...for today, at the very least. He would give her the time she seemed to need, but if weeks passed and she kept hiding her feelings from them, he knew he would be forced to bring it up again...for her sake, more than anyone else's.

When Imani spoke of how she was happy to have met him, Tanga's heart soared. Getting to his feet, he came up to Imani's side, giving her a brief nuzzle across the cheek. "I love you, too, Imani," he said happily, before settling down next to her, giving her a couple of inches room as he settled his own head on his paws.

He looked up at the stars of his family once more, before heaving a contented sigh and closing his eyes, knowing that there was absolutely no place he would rather be right now than here, by the side of the lioness he loved...and who loved him in return.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

"Hmm" she let escape her throat.

To get the male's attention, Imani she let out a small bellow in her throat and crept over to him, putting her head on his own paws in a playful, cubbish manner so he would know she was only joking around with him when she was being so invasive of his space. But she enjoyed the feeling of his soft toes against her chin so she kept her head there and started to drift off.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga was a little startled when Imani put her chin against his paws, pulling his own head back and staring at her. But his look of surprise was happy...he had intended on resting right beside her, but his sense of politeness kept him from closing those few inches between them...until now.

Since Imani seemed to have no qualms about personal space between them, Tanga shuffled sideways, until their sides were touching, the contact causing a satisfied purr to escape from Tanga's throat as he laid his head back down next to Imani's, a smile splitting his muzzle as he shut his eyes once more.

"Sleep well, Imani," he whispered as he slowly began to drift off himself, extremely content with how his life was at that present moment.

[Nakisisa]

(( Hope you dont mind if i call this the last post before the jump ))

"getting back up for one final time that day, Ra noticed Imani and Tanga. "Oi" she growled playfully, "I work my ass off all day long, and this is how i get repayed?! Well, now it's your turn to look after me!" She laughed as she fell onto the floor, laughing at what she had said, and at the expressions of all the lions and lionesses faces. "Good night, my pride" she moaned, falling into a deep, happy sleep

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

~*2 Months Later*~

Imani rose up from the ground and let her hind legs stretch out. She was the first to waken from the group and she dared not to disturb the pregnant one of the pride. Her eyes wandered over to Ra, seeing her belly was just about ready to burst at any moment making her giggle a little. She stepped over all the bodies crowded around each other, not noticing her tail lightly touching Tanga's shoulder as he slept in peace. When she was far enough away from the others, she sped up and came to the water hole, getting her morning drink.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga was roused by Imani's tail...not that it bothered him in the slightest. He did not move, however, merely opened his eyes, listening as Imani made her away from the others.

As he lay still, he thought over the last two months, which were the best of his life by a very long margin. He had friends in Auni, Ra and, to a slightly lesser extent, Mufalfa...and the love of his life in Imani. He stole a glance over at Ra, smiling at the sight of her swollen belly. He remembered the cubs from the pride he had briefly been a part of two to three months ago, and got the feeling that he would be perfectly happy helping Ra and Mufalfa watch over the little ones as the grew up.

Eventually Tanga's rested body cried out for movement, and he stretched and slowly sat up, making sure he did not disturb anyone else. He looked over the where Imani had headed off for a drink, before bowing his head slightly, nervousness taking over.

Two months...for two months he had been with her, shared her company, and given her all the love he could. He was extremely happy with the way things had turned out, but his nervousness was derived from one thing he had not yet discussed with her...the possibility of the taking the next, final step in their relationship.

For a few days now, Tanga had been very seriously considering the thought of asking Imani officially to become his mate. But his shyness and nervousness, while diminished from the months spent in the company of the group, had not disappeared entirely, and this subject still brought that side of him up in full force.

What made it harder was that he had no idea how to go about such a proposal. He had lost his parents too soon, and had not learned of how such things worked. In the midst of this thoughts, and his worries, he realised that, given how much Imani meant to him, he was going to ask her...and soon, but not until he knew the facts. And to do that, he was going to have to breach the subject with someone else.

He had considered asking both Auni and Ra about it, but could not decide. Knowing he wanted to propose to Imani, and soon, he decided that he would have to do it today...and with whoever he could talk with first.

But since everyone was still asleep, and Tanga was also feeling thirsty, he slowly rose to his feet, dragging his still-drowsy to the waterhole. "Morning," he said softly to Imani, giving her a quick nuzzle, before getting his own drink.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

Imani turned her head when she saw the bright yellow being that was Tanga come to her and giving her a touch that made her entire body heat up, her heart speed up, and her ears fall back with a smile on her face. "Sleep well?"