by Mike » September 25th, 2009, 2:36 am
After a full day's rest, Vitani was beginning to wake up. She slept restlessly, nearly conscious, but not quite opening her eyes. She didn't stir until finally her eyes cracked open to let in the first light since early that morning. Not three feet away, Kivuli was happily wrapped around Mila. They exchanged sweet nothings as she woke. Vitani rolled her eyes and pushed herself up on her good arm until she was in an easy half-sitting position.
"So it looks like Simba wasn't so opposed to your little affair." She grunted slightly absently, just for something to say while she got her bearings, and forestall any embarassing kerfuffle of attention that was liable to happen if Kiara or Nala were in the area. "He just wanted to keep an eye on you while it happened." Vitani looked around a little more and saw that they appeared to be the only lions in the den at the moment, which surprised her. It seemed odd that Simba would leave the main den wide open for Kivuli and Mila after such harsh condemnation of their association only a short time earlier. "So anybody going to tell me what I've missed today? or am I gonna have to go venture out instead. Where are the others?" Trying her best to back up her words, Vitani pushed herself into a full sitting position, feeling only a minor twinge from her paw. Rafiki's old tricks were working like a charm.
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"Now don't beat yourself up Kiara," Kovu said, propping himself up slightly to look his mate in the eye with a loving and reassuring voice. "You have a gift of your own. Vitani always said that you're the heart of this pride after what you did with me to reunite the prides. That's some major praise coming from my sister. She doesn't recognize my part in the business." he went on mock-sulkily "Not while I'm around anyway."
He let himself drift gently back against the ground and his beloved mate, returning her affectionate grooming and listening with a slightly self-satisfied grin to her praise. He responded to Kiara's tender kiss enthusiastically, and then gazing down at her when they finally broke apart. Her smooth fur seemed to melt and shift in the twinkling light of the stars like the surface of a river reflecting the gentle light of the moon.
"We're the best team there is Kiara." he murmured into her ear, tickling gently with his breath. "We are one. You and I can do anything we set our minds to. Even raise this little cub!"