[PRIVATE] Taming the Lioness's Heart

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

@VitanisMate: Lesedi watched him run off and let out a heavy sigh. I can't be mad at him, she thought as she dried herself off and walked back up to the den. The heart wants what the heart wants.

Adeola took notice of the sadder looking lioness, and she got to her feet to greet Lesedi. "Lesedi? Are you okay? Where's Ekwu?" Lesedi looked up and gave a light smile.

"Yeah, I'm fine" she replied, walking past to see her childhood friends. The two looked like they were going through their issues together about their love for one another. She couldn't help but feel a little angry towards Ekwu still, but she was also feeling angry towards Marjani. But it was just a crush, she knew it too well. She would get over it and move on. Though she actually liked him a lot, she would be happy at his happiness and try her best to keep herself together no matter what.

[VitanisMate]

Ekwu looked at her confused. "Huh? I mean what makes you think I went with her because she was better than you?" He looked confused not understanding. He sighed not knowing what to say.

===

Marjani refused to speak and just thought, Don't you know anything you dork! She looked away not feeling she could trust anyone anymore or at least any crushes.

Ekwu returned to Adeola later that night and told her, "I screwed up. I am an idiot. Whatever I have done has gotten both Marjani and Lesedi mad at me. I mean what am I to do now Grandma? Adeola you know a lot more than me. I am lost at what to do." He cursed saying, "Why do they even like me? Can't they see I am ugly and stupid anyway!" He looked away wondering how he was going to fix the ramifications of this. "I am ugly and they like me?!" He looked toward Adeola hoping she could say something that could help.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

@VitanisMate: "If you don't stop putting yourself down, young man, I will slap you" she threatened, getting his attention. Once it was quieter, she cleared her throat, "now. You made a mistake like the best of us do. The difference between the others and you is you're going to have to choose whether you're going to do something about it or if you're going to let it eat away at you and make you feel bad for the rest of your life".

Adeola shook her ears, and then looked back at him. "Lesedi, she doesn't hate you and something tells me you like her too. Marjani, she doesn't hate you either and I know you like her. So you've got two lioness who like you, and you're calling yourself ugly? I happen to know my grandson has very good looks and a very good personality. So stop being so hard on yourself-- makes me age more" she joked at the last part, but the other parts were true.

[VitanisMate]

He looked up at Adeola. "But does that mean I will have to choose between them to see who I want to spend the rest of my life with?" He looked away not knowing if he could do that. He sighed and looked at Adeola. "Sometimes I just wish adulthood was as easy as cubhood." He laughed at Adeola and her comment at putting himself down. "You forgot stupid." He looked ready for any advice she would give him. He hoped it was good advice.

===

Marjani felt lost. She felt bad at making Ekwu leave but she knew she could not speak to him right now after the incident. She sighed even more and looked into the pool at her reflection again. It is days like this that I see my real ugliness. She looked up at the moon seeing the wonder before her. She felt that same wonder around Ekwu but would never tell him that now. She looked back at her reflection and tried to think good of it but failed.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

@VitanisMate: "Are you looking for me to hit you?" She rose her paw up to show him she would strike him if he did it one more time. She let her paw drop and shook her neck, "which one makes you feel better when you're around them? They don't have to do or say anything, but just sitting beside them soothes you".

[VitanisMate]

He pondered Adeola's question and was not real sure. Marjani made him feel amazing while Lesedi made him feel care-free. He did not know which feeling made him feel better. Both feelings felt great. He looked at Adeola and told her the truth. "They both make me feel good. I cannot pick."

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

@VitanisMate: "Then you have a decision to make, my boy" she told him. Her lips pursed a little and got up to her paws, about to walk away before she told him, "whatever that decision is, don't make it for the sake of making it". With that, she left and walked over to where she saw Lesedi.

[VitanisMate]

Ekwu kept pondering which one but could not go anywhere. If he chose one then he had longed for the other one. He looked down and wondered if he should talk to both of them. He wondered what the question should be. He waited until Adeola was finished and decided to ask Lesedi first.

[oXButterflyKissesXo]

@VitanisMate: Adeola looked at Lesedi, who was looking out at Pride Rock and turned her head to see her mentor who was coming up beside her. "Hey" she greeted with her usual happy care-free blue eyes. Adeola took a seat and looked at her.

"You feeling okay?" Lesedi looked from her to the sky and sighed out with a smile.

"I am trying to forget about it. He obviously wants Marjani, so I'll just step aside and let them be happy together" Lesedi told her mother-figure, trying not to show that she was party lying. She didn't want to have Marjani with Ekwu, but she wanted him to be happy so she didn't say anything to subject herself to questioning.

"I wouldn't be so sure. You make him feel 'care-free'". Lesedi looked at her with a smile going across her face.

"He said that?"

"Straight from the lion's mouth" Adeola replied giving a small smile back to her. "Lesedi, things are going to work out for the best. And when one door closes, another one opens". The light lioness looked away from Adeola and thought about her words.

"And everything happens for a reason, I know". Adeola nodded and gave the girl a quick nuzzle before she left the younger lioness to think about it.

[VitanisMate]

Ekwu saw Adeola leave and went up to Lesedi nervously. He was always nervous around the lionesses. "Uh, I just want to ask you a question." He looked away pondering it and wondering if it was good.

He looked at her and felt amazing with her eyes laying directly on him. He wished this moment could last.

He went ahead and cleared his throat. "Um I was just curious if you love me enough to want to spend the rest of your life with me?" He backed away obviously nervous by the question and looked back at her trying to get a good read of her facial response but he could not.

He wondered how long it would take Lesedi to answer the awkward question.

===

Marjani still looked forward.

She suddenly felt a surge of confidence. I should show Ekwu how much I love him. I will fight Lesedi over Ekwu if need be. Maybe that will show him how much he means to me. She looked ahead pondering.

She decided to do just that and came toward the den of Adeola and Ekwu and the den also of Lesedi ready to say how much he meant to her.