Misguided Youth (Private ABB and Saraiya)

[abalancedbreakfast]

He turned to nuzzle Kela. "Give me 'bout one mo' night. Think I gotta say goodbye to some of my friends 'ere. I been rollin' with these lions since I got outta' my dad's pride. Can't just leave 'em hangin', you know what I'm sayin'?"

[saraiya]

"I understand." Kela smiles and sits down tiredly. "Shame we didn't get to eat anything. Perhaps we should make it a celebration?"

[abalancedbreakfast]

"Yeah, we can do that. Ay, Ma?"

"What is it my boy?" she said, turning back around to him.

"You think we can have a fire 'ere tonight? Jus' to celebrate? Need some food, too."

Mlezi lit up with a smile. "Of course, my boy! I'll get ta' rogues on it. T'ey can't say no to me. Come on, you loafers! Stop braggin' about ya' kills and sta't scroungin' up some food and wood fo' a bonfire fo' Wapo and Kela's goin' away party! None of ya' are goin' ta get off wit' a free ride, now, ya' all got to contribute!"

As she walked away and started to rattle off all sorts of orders at the groaning, lazier rogues, Wapo sat down next to Kela. "Hey, Kela? Wha' was yo' plan befo' you ran into me gettin' hit by that gazelle a couple a' weeks ago? Where was you plannin' on goin'?"

[saraiya]

"I had actually just escaped my pride and was looking for somewhere to hide." Kela says, curling up to Wapo. "I'm glad I ran into you, though."

[abalancedbreakfast]

"I'm glad I ran into you, too, Kela" he said, running a paw through her fur. "You the best thing that eva' happened to me."

[saraiya]

"I could say the same." Kela smiles. "You're definitely a lot more than just a cave rat." She licks his cheek.

[abalancedbreakfast]

Wapo chose to wordlessly thank his new companion, nuzzling her and admiring the beautiful landscape around the area.

By the time sunset had come around, everything that was needed for the celebration was ready, and a good feast was ready to be enjoyed by everyone. Once the firepit was finished being set, Mlezi gathered all of the rogues around and started to speak.

"La'dies an' gentle'man, Ya' probably 'ave heard t'at Wapo is goin' away 'ere ta'day, chasin' tha' dream elsewhere."

With this, everyone drew a happy yet somewhat somber nod, knowing that one of their own would be leaving them.

"But, som' otha' good news, turns out ta' yo'ng lad decided ta' trick t'is poor, beautiful princess inta' goin' wit' him."

"That's news?" One of the lions piped up, causing a roar of laughter and all sorts of statements of how people could see the relationship coming a mile away.

[saraiya]

"At least your friends approve." Kela laughs along with the other lions. "I bet you're gonna miss this place."

[abalancedbreakfast]

"I am. But I'mm'a look forward to wherever we go so much more" he said, licking her cheek.

Mlezi decided to get right to the point with the rogues, knowing what would make them all happy. "Well, let's get ta' fire lit an' sta't eatin'"

With a cheer, the lions all started digging into their food as Mlezi used two rocks to ignite a spark in a nest of dead twigs, throwing this into the larger pile of branches to get a warm, comfortable bonfire going in the center of the festivities. Wapo pushed a gazelle haunch in front of Kela. "You first" he offered with a smile.

[saraiya]

Kela smiles gratefully and eats half of the haunch, before pushing it back over to Wapo. "Your turn." She says and licks his cheek.

She didn't expect the rogues' lair to feel so warm and festive on any occasion. The fact that Wapo has so many willing to do this for him makes her smile.

[abalancedbreakfast]

Wapo leaned down to eat his half of the meat in front of him, wrapping a forearm around Kela when he had finished, simply enjoying her presence before a sand-colored lioness walked up to them. "So, where are you two headed?" she asked.

"We goin' out west, to the beaches. Why you ask?"

"Just wanted to know" she said, smiling. "I have five siblings, they're scattered all over the place. One of them lives by the beaches, actually. If you run into him, you think you can pass along a message for me? He's got my fur color, blue eyes, and his mane is black. His name's Scipio."

"Sure, what you need?"

"Tell him that he is going to be an uncle soon" she said, beaming with happiness.

"Hey, congrats! Who's tha' dad, sis'?"

She pointed over to a male with dark brown fur and amber eyes, who was currently struggling at tearing some meat off of a gazelle, the bone constantly slipping his grasp and making him look like a goofball. As he struggled with the bone, she giggled, making him catch sight of her and roll his eyes, smiling.

The female winked at her mate before turning back to the pair of lions. "Thanks. I haven't heard from him in six months, the birds who I usually ask to do this haven't migrated yet."

[saraiya]

"It's not a problem. We'd love to help out." Kela smiles at the lioness. "Will he be okay with us in his territory, though?"

[abalancedbreakfast]

"He should be. Just tell him you have a message from Malkia. Him and his lionesses should be just fine letting you in if you say that" she clarified.

[saraiya]

"Great. Then, perhaps he can tell us a good place where we can settle down?" Kela looks and Wapo with a smile.

[abalancedbreakfast]

"Of course he can! He knows every inch of that place, he'll show you around with no problem. I heard there's some beautiful caves with brilliant blue lights when the sun hits the water just right." She replied with a warm smile.

"Hey, thank you. We gon' get yo' message to 'im no problem, don' worry."

The lioness thanked the pair and left the two to their own devices. The rest of the night, constant celebrations rung out across the Savannah as lions came up to congratulate the couple, give them good wishes, and offer advice. But at last, the fire that kept the group warm had died down, and a good amount of sleep was long overdue. With that, Mlezi walked over to the two young ones with a somewhat somber smile on her face.

"So... I guess Mama ain't gonna get to see you two yo'ng lovebirds fo' a while now, right?" She said, a tear starting to come down from her eye.

"Yeah, ma. Just know that we'll both be thinkin' 'bout you, alright?" Wapo offered, drawing Mlezi in for a hug, which she gladly accepted, burying her head in his mane and letting out tears of both joy and longing sorrow for their departure. Wapo looked over to Kela with a smile on his face, and made a gesture to Mlezi as if asking to help him out in calming her down.

[saraiya]

Kela stands up and joins the hug. "He's right Ma. We'd never forget you, and we'll visit you as soon as we can. May even bring you up sometime's for a well deserved vacation. A cave full of rogues must get exhausting after a while." She giggles.

[abalancedbreakfast]

"Oh, it can be tirin', baby girl, but it give me joy." She said, embracing the two for another minute before reluctantly pulling away. Wapo turned toward Kela and nuzzled her happily as Mlezi dried her eyes.

"So... I guess ya' two be on ya' way..."

"Yeah... Never thought I'd get this far..." Wapo reflected.

"Ya sure ya' don't need not'in' from Mama before ya go?"

"Yeah, I'm sure, ma" he said. "You good too, Kela?"

[saraiya]

"I'm ready, Wapo." Kela smiles and licks his cheek. Then she turns towards Mlezi. "Thank you again. I owe you so much."

[abalancedbreakfast]

"I love ya both so much" Mlezi said, giving them one final nuzzle each. "You two go live a good life now... Togetha'"

"I plan to, Ma. Kela the best thing that ever happened to me. Ma... Thanks fo everything... I know I was difficult at times... But you my real motha'. Mo' of a mom than my real one. Thank you."

Silently, Wapo licked Kela's cheek and rested his head atop her's. "So... You ready to do this? If you got any second thoughts, I won't force you into anythang."

[saraiya]

"Of course I'm ready. I'm positive I want to stay by your side." Kela says, nuzzling him. "Should we leave now?"

[abalancedbreakfast]

"Yeah... Le's go about two miles an' get some rest" he answered, sticking close to the lioness's side. Offering one last hug to Mlezi, he turned west with Kela, and started walking down the bank of the river which lead to the coast. After about a mile of walking as close to Kela as he could, Wapo nuzzled her while walking.

"You know what, Kela? This the first time I can look forward to the future... An' i's all thanks to you."

He looked at her with a smile, a real, genuine smile, and licked her cheek, continuing to walk as he did so. "I love you, Kela."

[saraiya]

"I love you, too." Kela smiles at Wapo, then licks his cheek. "I feel like I finally have a place that I can call home, and that's by your side."

Kela looks forward again, the thought of what lies further down exciting her. "Wanna race?" She asks playfully.

[abalancedbreakfast]

Wapo smiled at the lioness, joy overtaking him for the first time in many years. "You know I'mm'a beat you. But alright!" He walked up close to Kela's side, and got himself set to race. "Three, two, one, go!"

And at that, the two raced off together, clawing desperately to gain speed, charging with true happiness towards the future that laid ahead of them.