[PRP] Haunted Date Night (Kione & Afya)

[MangoMeow]

Kione yawned as he slowed to a trot outside the main area of the pride. They'd dropped the cubs off with Nyarai (or rather, shoved them at her and ran before she could say anything otherwise) and were now making their way to... somewhere. He honestly didn't know where -- he left the planning aspects of their relationship to Afya. Largely because he doubted she'd appreciate him doing any of it.

He had a sinking feeling that she'd try to force him hunting though... that or reenact their hole escapades, he thought with a shudder, but who knows. Maybe she really was planning something romantic, or peaceful, or just... wasn't planning on torturing him somehow.

Either way, he was going along with it because it meant a: not having to watch their little gaggle of spastic kids, and b: getting to spend time with his mate without said cubs running underfoot. Even if it meant actually working, he would prefer it if it meant getting some quiet back in his life.

Turning to look over at the black female beside him, Kione muttered, "So... it's been a while since we've had some peace and quiet."

Krysin

 

[Krysin]

Afya did wonder at times if she perhaps jumped into having children a little too quickly. It wasn't as if she regretted having them, but she hadn't expected so... many. Raising such a brood was taxing even on her nearly endless reserves of energy. The cubs were at the age now where they could begin hunting, and though Afya did her best to guide and teach them at times she became overwhelmed. Every now and then she realized just how out of her element she was in being a mother. It was one of the few things she doubted she was any good at.

These 'date' nights were all the more valuable to her because of it. They gave her time to catch her breath, even if it meant sticking poor Nyarai with her cubs. The children were a handful for her, she couldn't imagine how much they likely terrorized her friend. Soon enough they would be living in their own dens, and the girls would eventually find husbands and marry into a different family. Kione and Afya just had to survive until then.

She led her ghostly pale mate away from the hustle and bustle of the heart of the pride. The lands were certainly more energetic with all the rogues the Onyeisi had allowed in. Afya would be a liar if she claimed that having so many from the outside around did not make her nervous. She had swallowed her fears, kept them hidden lest they infect more than just her own thoughts. Afya would never agree with the decision, but she could not fight it.

"Too long, though I dare a venture to say that we've never had much peace and quiet," Afya responded wryly. Night was only just beginning to settle over the lands, and she hoped that it would spare them any interruptions. [i}She needed this, though she would never say as much.

"The cubs are nearly grown and then we'll have too much peace and quiet. Maybe I can focus more on my duties, and maybe you will take on some actual duties." The teasing was to be expected. If she did not tease, then Kione would know that something was truly wrong.

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

The pale male slid his gaze over to his mate, observing her for a moment. They were mates, and regardless of how busy they were, he had of course noticed the slight unease in her disposition. That said, he hadn't brought it up, assuming that she wouldn't appreciate someone digging into her feelings like that. Besides, he could put two and two together. The rogues all showed up, and suddenly Afya was unsettled. Not to mention her avoidance of them.

He wasn't terribly interested in the newcomers, so he hadn't bothered seeking any of them out. Not that he would have anyway. Kione didn't really like people, and the idea of him throwing out an olive branch to entirely new ones was laughable. So he was fine with not interacting with them. Unfortunately for them both though, their cubs were certainly taking an interest, he thought with an inward grumble.

Afya's voice pulled him back out of his thoughts just in time for him to hear that last bit. He scowled back at her, ears pulled back, "What duties would I possibly take?" With a mate like her, he was starting to come to terms with the fact that he sort of, kind of... sucked at most of the "duties" that those in the pride had. Aside from cleaning their den. On that front, he reigned supreme.

His gaze flickered to the side of them for a moment as he caught the barest hint of something light on the corner of his vision, but, not seeing it, he turned back, assuming that it was nothing.

Krysin

 

[Krysin]

"Any," Afya answered flatly. Her humor at times could be considered deadpan. Most would attribute her teasing to ill-will, but while Afya was strong-willed and outspoken she was not necessarily cruel. She was poking fun at her mate, who for all intents and purposes couldn't keep up with Afya's level of motivation and determination. "Besides, when the cubs grow you won't be able to excuse yourself from activities because you're too busy 'watching' the kids." Afya was no social butterfly herself, but they were both starting to turn into hermits.

Others were going to notice soon that their little family kept their distance from most of the pride, especially those with rogue blood. Afya had raised her cubs to be wary of their new family, though now that they were adolescents it was frustratingly difficult to keep control of them. She supposed they were past the age where they could be controlled.

"...Are you even listening to me?" Afya sighed and her tail flicked with agitation. She had caught Kione looking away from her, distracted from their conversation which she had deemed important. What was the point of dragging him out here if he wasn't even going to listen to her?

"I swear, you're just one giant cub yourself. In one ear and out the other. If you didn't pick up after yourself I would say that you are one," she growled, pacing ahead of him. Whatever he had seen, Afya had been too engrossed in her own world to notice it. If she paid attention, she would catch the flickering of light by the tip of her tail.

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

He threw a glance to the side, deciding to neither deny or confirm his child-watching excuses. Technically, he wasn't lying. Their cubs really did need to be looked after... and really, watched like hawks, the heathens. Honestly, how did they end up with such oddball cubs?

But ugh, he had a feeling that Afya really would start dragging him out to do things. He could see her going as far as physically pulling him everywhere. Maybe he'd find himself a hobby to tide her over... something easy that he could do at home. Maybe she would accept that?

Kione snapped back to their conversation at the 'giant cub' comment, and let out an offended noise, "I am not! I just could have sworn...." He trailed off as another flicker of light went into the corner of his vision, but again, there was nothing. Scowling, the lion shook his head and rushed to catch up to her. Alright, maybe he was going crazy. Could it have been from staying indoors all the time?

... Nah.

Grunting he narrowed his eyes at her before leaning forward to n** at the back of her ear in retaliation for the comment, before speeding off in a trot, head held high.

Krysin

 

[Krysin]

Excuses, Kione was always full of them. She wondered that if he put as much energy into making excuses as he would if he just did what Afya wanted him to do. It was something she'd have to investigate, because perhaps that would motivate him. The cubs were getting too old now for Kione to be watching them all day. They would need and want their independence, and smothering them she felt would be a mistake. Afya already struggled with a few of their more rambunctious children. Someone like Femi was so similar to her but frustratingly different at the same time.

Afya grumbled deep in her throat as Kione nipped at her ear, and made sure to pin them flat to the back of her head to keep them from being so tempting. "Well, aren't you energetic," she teased and rolled her eyes in such a way that made it seem like she didn't hate it. Her pale counterpart always managed to find a way past her defenses, it was why he got away with as much as he did with a lioness who gave away nothing.

She picked up her pace to follow after Kione, deciding against passing him. After all, she was interested in seeing just exactly where he planned on going.

Something flashed to her right, stopping the dark lioness in her tracks. Kione had seemed distracted by something earlier, and for a moment she got a good look at what it was. "Kione," she called out to her mate, the tone of her voice sharp. In the trees overhead, caught in the tendrils of branches and leaves a small wisp of light illuminated the dark.

It was gone nearly as quickly as she had called out to Kione. "...What was that." She swallowed down her anxiety, refusing to show her mate that for even a second she was unsettled. Afya was better than that.

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

He gave a grunt in response, tempted to point out that hey, he wasn't always lazy, when she suddenly stopped. This time though, he was the one who missed whatever she had seen, and his initial reaction was to huff and snark back a disgruntled, "What?" at her sharp tone, at first thinking that she was getting mad at him for something.

But then he noticed her staring at something. What, he wasn't sure, but having caught a glimpse of something mysterious just a moment ago too, the lion pinned his ears against his head and glanced around them warily. Whatever was happening, at least he wasn't the only one experiencing it.

"I'm not sure...." And really, he'd yet to actually get a good look at whatever it was. How would he know? If they weren't distracted with their babysitter, he would have thought that it was one of their cubs trying to get a rise out of them... He made a mental note to never mention this to them. At least a couple of them would take advantage of the situation to do so.

Into his thoughts as he was, he didn't notice the multiple little glows flickering over his back and attaching themselves to the fur on his spine.

Krysin

 

[Krysin]

Afya did not like new things, more importantly she did not like new things that she did not understand. Her eyes had only managed to focus on the wisp for a few seconds before it dispersed with the wind. She felt it, tousling her hair and causing a chill to run up her spine. The dark lioness would blame it on the cold if Kione caught on to her discomfort. "If you would have listened to me you would have spotted it," she grumbled loudly her displeasure. One would assume that they were having marital issues, but that was the farthest from the case. Afya was just very open with her feelings, and surprisingly expressive about them. Kione always seemed to do a fair job at not letting her get to him.

They worked, but they also certainly had an interesting home life.

Her gaze fixed on her mate, using the little banter as an excuse to focus on something other than the weird wisps. Unfortunately, a cluster of them seemed to have taken residence upon her mate's back. Afya did something that would surely be remembered for seasons to come. She screamed, high-pitched and entirely feminine for a lioness such as herself.

"GET IT OFF OF YOU!" she demanded, as if Kione had any control of the situation at all. She had never seen such a thing before, and yet they seemed to gravitate towards her mate. Likely, they were attracted by his more calm demeanor.

Afya, meanwhile, was having a bit of a panic attack. She was heavily considering leaving her mate for dead. One of them had to raise their children into adulthood, and while Kione was probably more equipped for the task, he also had those things on him. Of course, Afya had no idea that the wisps seemed to almost curiously draw themselves out behind her.

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

Of all the things he'd been expecting, Afya suddenly screaming beside him hadn't been on that list. He stumbled backwards, cringing at the ringing in his ears, before the sounds around him rushed back and he was able to understand what his mate was now yelling. Get it... off?

Kione first glanced down, then to his sides, and finally his eyes were drawn to the lights on his back.

On.

His.

BACK.

If the lights had been attracted by his calm demeanor, they were in for a shock now. The lion let out a shout and whipped himself around to try and swat them away, to no avail as they seemed to cling to his fur. It took a lot for him to decide to throw caution to the wind and get his pelt dirty -- but this was one such occasion that he allowed it. Throwing himself backwards, he tried to crush the lights under his weight.

It was at that point that more shimmers of light caught his attention. Kione looked horrified as he rolled himself back onto his stomach, inching backwards away from Afya.

"You- behind you!"

Krysin

 

[Krysin]

Whatever the lights were, they were at the very least intangible. No matter how much Kione rolled around on the ground to try and squish the wisps, they simply reappeared close by him. She watched in abject horror as the wisps circled her mate, though she knew not what drew them to Kione. Afya had half a mind to abandon her mate - one of them had to survive to raise the children. Never mind the fact that they were almost old enough to take care of themselves, but Afya needed a good reason to consider leaving her mate behind to the mercy of the strange lights.

Her ears flicked back, a whisper tickling the hairs along the nape of her neck. The words were intangible, especially when her mate's shouting drowned out any other noise in the area. However, she could tell enough that the voice was soft, and that the words it spoke were words even if she could not understand them.

Afya gulped down the lump in her throat, her body stiffening like a board when Kione yelled at her to look behind her. She didn't want to look, because she knew what was back there. That was it, Afya was making the executive decision to cancel date night. She'd rather spend it curled up in her den being harassed by their many children. She'd suffer that rather than look behind her, but look behind her she did. The scream died in her throat. Air exhaled from her mouth but no sound followed.

Her body did not want to move, but she told it to run. She rushed to her mate, and unceremoniously grabbed him by the ear to try and tug him up onto his feet. Afya had never been a gentle lioness, but fear certainly propelled her into taking more rash actions. "Run!" she ordered Kione, because she wasn't going to wait for him much longer.

MangoMeow

 

[MangoMeow]

He'd started to resort to biting at the lights when he felt Afya getting up close to him, and the next thing he knew, his ear was practically getting torn off his head. "Ow- OW, AFYA, I'M GOING."

Really, he didn't need to be told twice. This "date" was already a disaster, and hey, they could always kick their kids out and have an in-den date, right? It was a better alternative to this, anyway.

He scrambled to find his footing and then sprinted beside her. He had no idea if they were being followed, and it didn't care to check. As long as they got away from here.

Krysin

Fin~ <3