Enamored and lost within a pool of emotions birthed from last night both lions lay side by side, one curling around the other like the sun cradling the moon. It was nearly light out yet they did not move or speak, they simply lay still, listening to the sound of one another breathing. How simple a sound that grew into something more complex the longer they listened, the echos ringing like a silent melody playing in the background some place far away. It was poetic almost the way they held one another, clinging to each other for dead life. As if in any moment one of them could vanish without a trace.
The fear was very real however, and with every second that past the other felt more inclined to cling onto whatever it was that had them so attached. Fantasy and reality felt convoluted as time ticked away, the sun moving to greet the sky slowly but surly as it did every morning before. How could life ever be the same? Perhaps it would never be. The thought alone sent chills down Akamu's spine. He had spent his whole life and existence without this feeling, how was that possible? How could anyone not live in this moment always? He felt his chest swell as Mako nuzzled into it, her frame leaning tightly against his own.
How could he leave her now? His eyes, much like he mind felt so heavy in this moment.
"I could die right here." He finally was able to speak, his words flowing from him like water into stream. His mind was still so cloudy and unsure. He never wanted this feeling to end. How could it ever end now?
"Mmm?..." Mako's golden eyes brushed open as he spoke softly, though she did not understand the meaning behind them at first.
"I never want this to end." He was finally able to add between his shallow breaths.
She could understand the feeling all too well. Mako had never been with another lion in this way, for her at least... he was her only one. She had never longed to be close to anyone else before. It was a moment she wanted to last forever. Laying here like this, in the place that they watched the stars dance across the sky together, though she knew full-well it was not the reality they lived in. The sun was high in noon and the day had started without them. Soon both Mako and Akamu had to face the day; soon they would have to face each others fears.
Mako was first to rise as she inched herself up to her paws, her neck cracking as she sorted out her aches. Sleeping on hard stone wasn't the most comfortable thing, lucky for her Akamu was plenty soft. She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye before speaking finally, slicing the silence right down the middle.
"Wouldn't that be wonderful." Her tone was lace with melancholy as they trailed off into nothing, silent and still she stood awaiting his reply.
He could tell she was feeling a bit of remorse this morning and wondered if he had done something to cause it. With a shaky tone he spoke up.
"Are we okay....?" What would be do if she told him he had done something wrong? How could this moment be anything other than wonderful? He felt his heart slip down into his stomach as he moved himself to stand, facing her.
"Of course. I'm sorry. It's not you." She searched for the words to help reassure him, she never wanted him to feel like he had harmed her in anyway. If anything... he had given the most intimate part of himself to her, it was something she would always cherish.
"I just, I am thinking about how you said you had to go back home soon." Her voice sounded as small as she felt in this moment. She... she didn't want him to leave. But how could she tell him this? Mako felt like she had no right to ask him to stay with her while his whole family lived in the Firekin lands. It was a hard topic to approach.
"And it sucks... thinking about it right now."
He wished he could sweep away her fears and mend all of her sorrows but in the moment Akamu felt a little helpless. What if he couldn't stay like he wanted to? He had every reason to throw caution to the wind and to run away with Mako right here and now, yet... apart of him knew he needed to go back home, he had his mothers to think about, a family he wanted to see again. He wanted to tell them about Mako, to introduce them to the female that had quickly stolen his heart.
But would it be that easy? Would they accept him and his feeling for this prideless lioness? She wasn't a strong fighter, nor was a born of Firekin blood. Where would she fit into his world? His brows furrowed as he frowned, looking away from her for a moment.
"We don't have to talk about it right now. Let's enjoy the day together, just you and me." He wanted to pretend his time wasn't running out and that at the end of the day the two new lovers would still be able to be together, strong, hand in hand. More than anything else he longed for this... but was it just a fantasy he was selling himself to stay closer to her for a while longer yet? He felt so disappointed in himself... he couldn't find the answer. He had no answer for her. He just knew he couldn't say goodbye.
"We could go hunt down something to eat, maybe go for another swim in the lake." He laughed, trying his best to mask his own fears. He couldn't let her go.
Mako's ears perked up as she searched for answers in his face before nodding slowly in reply. She would hold onto him for as long as she could, Mako refused to just let him go now. She would fight for him and this. She... she was falling in-love. for the first time in her adult life... she found love in the form of someone else.
"I'd love that." With that said she moved to stand beside him, nuzzling into him warmly one last time before she moved past him in light trot.
She couldn't lose him now. She would figure a way to keep him... no matter the cost.
~end with 1,099 words
