[PRIVATE] A Rogue's Light

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

Imani, though she heard his words, looked at the butterfly like she had never seen anything like it before. Its colors were beautiful. Orange and yellow, mixed with blue and green. Truly something that her eyes could watch for a lifetime if she had the chance to. "Torment" she replied. Before he could even laugh, her rear came up to the sky and she shuffled her paws before leaping forward and grasping it in her paws. Imani let out a shocked cry as she opened them back up to make sure the butterfly was okay and sure enough, it flew out of her paws, unharmed. The lioness sighed in relief, and it flew away.

"You know, my parents when I was a kid, showed me the way butterflies kiss you" she spoke, watching it go before looking back at her love. She got to her fours and walked over to him, getting her eye close to his cheek so that her eyelashes could be felt on his fur. She batted them lightly, but just enough so he could feel what she was doing and know that was the way her parents showed her. Drawing her head back, she looked up at him and smiled. "I thought it was cute".

-----

Kioja walked towards them all and stopped when she felt she was close enough to not be invading on their space, nor was she getting too uncomfortable. She was, after all, new and unknown to them so she figured it be best to keep her distance...for now. "Are you all Imani and Tanga's pride?" She asked. Like any hunter would, she was in a protective stance that was known to the others so that she wouldn't be messed with but at the same time, it was shown for protection and not offense. Her seafoam hues landed on a lioness who resembled the child-like Imani, who she was guessing was either her mother or sister with a male, and then off to the side like an outcast was another male.

Something about his eyes were interesting to her. Like they were presently there with them all, but his mind was travelling off in his fantasy world. Whatever that world was. When Kioja realized she was staring, however, she turned her head and looked around. Small pride, she thought. The lioness still waited for her answer.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga chuckled as Imani caught and released the butterfly, watching as it flew off. He loved this side of Imani, the one that would do almost anything playful on a whim, but also cared deeply about all the creatures she interacted with. That, playful, yet caring nature was one of the many things he loved about her...and was something he knew he'd cherish for the rest of his life.

The idea of asking Imani to become his mate once again reared itself, but before he could do anything, he was distracted as Imani talked about the way butterflies kissed, and provided an example, finding himself shivering fron the ticklish sensation of her eyelashes against his cheek. Tanga had absolutely no knowledge of what Imani was on about, knowing this was probably something only Imani's parents knew, or was simply a matter for lionesses over the males, but when she said it was cute, he just had to respond.

"Of course it's cute...especially since it's you showing it to me." He nuzzled her once more, and again, his urge to finally propose to her returned, this time near-uncontrollable. Still determined to get it right, though, Tanga fought the urge down. But he knew he had to talk to Auni or Ra, and he had to do it fast...his self-control was not going to hold out for much longer.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

Upon feeling his touch on her, Imani nuzzled back and started to purr. She was enjoying the company that Tanga had provided for her over the several months they spent together, and it was proving to be some of the happiest time she had. The two of them, Ra and her mate and Auni had all made a cozy little pack. And she never knew if Kioja could ever become part of the mix.

"What if Kioja and Auni became mates?" She randomly asked, looking up at him. "Then he wouldn't be so lonely!" She chirped, wagging her tail like a puppy would.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga's eyes widened at the mention of Kioja and Auni becoming mates...for the briefest of moments, he had feared the conversation would shift to their own relationship, and force him to propose to her earlier than intended. But he grinned as the image of Kioja and Auni together filled his mind. "Yeah...I know Auni's happy to be with us, but I've seen the way to looks at us...or at Ra and Mufalfa. He's not quite jealous, but he does wish he could have a mate, too, even if he doesn't say it."

He looked over at where Kioja was sitting near the others, his muzzle taking on a thoughtful look. "I can't imagine Kioja warming up to Auni right away...but maybe, just maybe they could work." He smiled back at Imani. "I honestly don't know, because you're the only relationship experience I have!" he added with a light-hearted tone.

Tanga urge to ask Imani for mateship was now constant, and he knew he must be starting to show signs he was fighting it back. All this talk about mates was causing Tanga to start to reconsider the idea of asking Ra or auni for advice, and he was now in two minds about the issue...should he just forget trying to get all the facts, and ask her now...or should he wait, and get the advice? Tanga knew he had to make his decision fast, or it would be made for him, but uncertainty and doubt were causing him to hesitate indefinitely.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

"But Auni's so sweet. No one can resist that face of his" she spoke, her body turned to Tanga but looking over at the new lioness and her old friend, Auni. He was like a brother to her, and she only wanted what was best for him. And even though he wasn't blood related, she still wanted her brother to have what he deserved. And that was eternal happiness and someone he could be with for the rest of his life.

Sure, Kioja was a little rough around the edges and she was cold and frank about things, but the best kinds of people deep down were like that at first. And who better to break her out of her shell than Auni?

Imani turned her gaze back to Tanga and softly smiled with a loving glint in her eyes, "just like I can't resist that face of yours" and she gave him one long lick on the cheek filled with a passionate and deep love for the male in front of her. She felt he was one of a kind for sure, and she was sure happy that she got him before anyone else did. More so, he chose her when he could have gotten any lioness he wanted. That's what Imani loved about love the most: even though there's more than a million for one to choose, you're the one they choose out of a million.

[AustralianChaos]

Tanga found his heart melting as Imani talked. When she licked him across the cheek, he felt her love and passion in it, and suddenly he knew. Advice or no advice, this was the moment to ask her...and he was not going to miss it.

"Imani," he said, his voice soft and loving, but at the same time holding a serious edge that he hoped Imani would recognise and understand. "Remember what I said earlier, about having something troubling me for the past days?" He hesitated, then moved on, stepping slowly away from her as he looked up to the sky. "I...I think it's time I told you what it was."

As he looked up, he knew he had no chance of seeing the stars of his parents in the morning sun, but he knew that they were still up there, and he silently pleaded with them for help and guidance. The past two months had lead up to this moment, and now that he was about to propose to Imani, his nervousness was showing. He could actually feel himself shaking and sweating, his cheeks heating up as a nervous, apprehensive blush formed.

"Just..." Tanga paused, hearing his voice shaking as much as his body. "Just promise me that, once I start, you'll let me finish before saying anything, okay?" He turned back to face her, his eyes pleading with the love of his life to give him that promise. It was taking every scrap of courage he held to take the plunge now...and he knew his courage would break if he was interrupted during his lead-up.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

She studied his form. She knew him too well and Tanga was only getting like this when he was about to attempt to get her to talk about her brother. Imani's face went from loving to the raised eyebrow and stern face. Even though she didn't want to hear anything of it, she sighed out and decided to let her love speak.

"Go for it," she rose her other eyebrow, "darling". Her last words were stiff, letting him know that if he was going to talk about something she didn't want to hear, she would turn around and not listen to him.

[AustralianChaos]

Imani's stiff response only heightened Tanga's nervousness, and nearly caused him to crack...but he forced himself to remain strong...she obviously thought he was trying to get her to open up about her own troubles...one's Tanga had given up on getting out of her some weeks back. And since that was not what he wanted to say, he let her stiff nature slide.

"Imani...these past two months with you have been the best of my life." He started. "I've seen Mufalfa repent for his old ways, and become a completely different lion, one that I can get along with, despite what he did. I've watched your sister as the cubs grow inside her...and I can't wait to see her children come into the world. I've experienced Auni become one of the best friends I could possibly ask for, and now just maybe...he'll have his chance at love."

"But the real reason these two months have been so special is you. You've always been there, helping me through my troubles, and teaching me to become more open and carefree with my life. You have accepted me for who I am, not who you want me to be...and even loved me for it. And I have loved you back with all my heart. You mean everything to me, Imani, and every day I could not ask for anything more than seeing you happy and smiling all the time."

And now Tanga's nervousness reached fever-pitch, as he began to reach the critical moment, much like he had two months ago when he first revealed his love for Imani to her. "But over the last few days, I've felt like something is missing. It did not take me long to figure it out...but I was not sure how to bring it up with you. As it stands, I can't hold myself back any longer, and if I don't come out and say it, I'm going to explode. So forgive me if I do this wrong."

He walked up to Imani, wrapping his head over her shoulder in a warm embrace as he whispered into her ear. "I love you with all my heart, Imani...and I know now that I could not bear to live without you."

Unable to hold himself back any longer, Tanga backed away from Imani, before placing one forepaw far forward, and lowering his head in an unmistakable bow. "Imani, I now ask you...with every bit of love I possess...will you be my mate?"

[Skittakallista]

A rustle from the area where their water hole was broke Auni from his trance. At first he expected them and was glad, for he wished to talk to someone. Not for any paricular reason, he just liked company. But instead of their familiar forms, another, unfamiliar form, a lioness, walked out of the shrubbery.

He was about to leap up in defense when they caught eye contact, making him stop. She was quite... Undescribable. In a way that took Auni's breath away. She was dark brown and larger than a normal lioness. She was nearly as big as him! She was quite muscular too. Her face held a hesitant, confused expression, as though she had been expecting more. Well we are a small pride. He reasoned with himself. Most lions would expect more.

It was only when she asked wether this was the whole pride (her voice! Smooth and calm...) that he realised he had drifted off into his mind, again. Her eyes... He snapped out of it and cleared his throat. "Yes, this is our pride. It's not much but it's very pleasant... No! Don't wake her!" He said hastily. She had made as if to go near Ra. "She really doesn't like being woken up before she's ready..."

He shook his head again. Her eyes were distracting his thought process. "Who might you be? Where are your pride?"

[VitanisMate]

Mufalfa awoke from his slumber by all of this noise going on around him. "Uh...can you keep it down a little!" Soon he awoke his eyes only to see a new lioness in the vicinity. "You! What are you doing here?"

He growled and said to the new lioness, "I gave you the food I promised. I promised that in exchange for the killing of a certain pair of fools. You got what you want now go!" He obviously either confused about who Kioja was or knew exactly who it was. Only time would tell. He looked at the spy, no Auni, and said to him, "I would get away from her for she is extremely dangerous."

In the meantme he looked back at her and asked, "Do you know who I am?"