Tastes that much sweeter [Kopa x Vitani]

[Vitani ♥]

Vitani had fallen asleep rather quickly that night, though not before noticing that Kopa had scooted closer to the female and provided warmth. Vitani had tensed up at the feel of his fur touching hers that she about to growl in warning for him to get his fuzzy rump away from her, and yet she didn't. She had actually liked the feel of his touch, and that scared her. She should not be feeling such things for Kopa, especially because of her mother. She had forbidden this sort of thing, and here it was happening per haps a different lion would have been more suitable, like Nuka or something, but she had chosen Kopa instead. Over the night, she had woken up, her violet colored optics glancing around at the darkness. She could still see Kopas form, for he was that close. He seemed to be sound asleep, his body sort of curled around her own, they fit together it seemed. Like a puzzle, her missing piece? Her eyes glided over his form, she knew she did not have a mane like his to keep him warm, and so she rested her head on his back, to help give him a little more heat. Releasing a breath she tucked her body closer to his involuntarily and closed her eyes.

When the sun started to peak above the horizon point, Vitani's eyes started to open slowly as if on cue. It only seemed like moments that she had fallen asleep. Her head was still resting on Kopa's back as it was before and she slowly lifted it with the rising sun. Part of her wanted to ignore it and just stay there with Kopa, but her other side was yelling at her to get a move on. Besides the faster they got to the forest, the less they had to worry about later on. She carefully crawled her way out of Kopa's embrace, feeling the already warming air. She knew this would be the best time for them to travel. Before the suns rays completely heated up the earth, when she got out of his nook she stood up, stretch out her longer limbs and concealing a yawn. She did not want to the wake the lion just yet. Her mind was already trying to plan out a route, and the fastest way to the forest.

She also had to find the right direction to travel, if she wasn't careful they could end up going in circles and miss the forest all together. The tawny lioness again moved her bangs from her view with her paw, and squinted her gaze out onto the vast lands. In the distance she could see the outline of the large trees of the forest, if they kept going straight they would run into it. If they kept up a brisk walk they could get there by mid day, enough time for them to hunt and find a place to camp for a day or so until they could make there way back. That was the tricky part carrying food back over the desert, though perhaps there was a quicker way there. Maybe one day she would go explore and look for alternate routes, who knows she may find a quicker and secret way there. The thought placed a small smile on her features and she turned back to Kopa, whom seemed asleep though she didn't know for sure. Still she trotted towards him, stopping as she reached his relaxed form. Usually at home her wake up call would be a bit more, well rough, but she wasn't at home.

So she lowered her head and butted his shoulder, "Hey, lets get a move on."

she said, loud enough for him to here, and to make sure he got up she lifted her front paws on his body and shook him gently a few times before she stepped down, watched him stir for a moment, and then walked towards the pond. Looking over her shoulder at the lion, "Make sure you get your fill on water, it makes the hunger pains less noticeable. If we move quickly we can reach the forest by mid day and get some hunting done, maybe I can even teach you fishing."[/color] she called, not many lions knew how to fish. Something else she picked up from coming to the forest pretty often, and by watching some of the other animals. Turning away she lowered her head to the water and drank, taking in large gulps to save time. Every second counted in a world like hers, and thats how she wanted the rest of the way to the forest to be.

When she was done she swiped her tongue along her lips to get the access water off and turned to stand at the edge of the grass. She stared in the direction of the forest, she had to keep her eyes trained on that spot, her tail curled at the thought of the cool and calm forests, only the call of birds to disturb the peace. When she heard paw steps behind her she started to walk out onto the desert, the ground had not yet heated up and she quickened her pace to a brisk trot. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/sub][/color]

[җ K.opa]

Kopa

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The night had come and gone rather quickly for the large male, with not a single interruption to his restful slumber. Being the scout of the Outsiders, one didn't often get much sleep, and when he did, it was always never enough. This night however was one of the rare ones in which he did manage some rest; without Zira or the others to disturb him or the fear of being caught by Pridelanders to hinder his mind, the brown maned male was allowed to peacefully remain in a dreamless slumber. The rising sun did little to stir him, nor did the careful movements of the lioness he had spent the night with as her warmth left him, being replaced by the warming air of the desert. However, he did give off a soft groan as his subconscious recognized the emptiness Vitani left behind. Had he been back in the Outlands, such a feeling won't be foreign - however, this was the first time he'd shared sleeping space with another lion in a long while. It was a good feeling, knowing someone else was there, and it was one he'd long been deprived of.

"Hey, let's get a move on."

[/i]

Vitani's voice broke through his subconscious, and her gentle nudge to his shoulder and rougher pushes on his side worked in rousing him from sleep. Deep chocolate browns reopened to the awakening world as the male lion began to push himself up to his paws, giving his mane a shake as he stood to full height. Muscles tensed and expanded as he stretched out his legs, extending his large claws in reflex. The sudden temperature change of the desert was enough to put slight cramps in his legs, but they quickly faded as he stretched each one out. Once he could feel his muscles again, the golden male turned his attention to his tawny companion, who now stood in front of the waterhole of the oasis. For a moment, he wondered how much longer she'd been awake than he had been, but let the thought slide away with the same ease that it had come with. That wasn't a very important thing right now.

"Make sure you get your fill on water, it makes the hunger pains less noticeable. If we move quickly we can reach the forest by mid day and get some hunting done, maybe I can even teach you fishing."

As she spoke over her shoulder, Kopa let a smile cross his maw once again, nodding in acknowledgement to the Outsider Princess before making his own approach to the watering hole. Hunger pains were nothing new to Kopa - being the scout, he got the scraps of the scraps of meat the Outsiders often feasted on, only managing to sedate his hunger when he was staying in the Pridelands for a few days. That wasn't to say that Zira let him starve; oh no, she made sure he ate, but exactly what he ate she didn't care. She needed her scout fed to survive, but that didn't mean she had to feed him well. Taking his mind off of anything having to do with hunger, the young male turned his attention to the other thing Vitani had mentioned, a much more funner sounding activity. Fishing sounds fun! It'll be a better way to hunt in the Pridelands than killing the gazelle too. I think someone may start getting wise to my presence if they keep finding the bones everywhere. again, he made light of a situation that was in no way to be taken as such. Kopa tried not to think about such things as getting caught or being punished for such. It wasn't a good way to live each day.

Leaning down to the water hole, Kopa drank in large gulps of the cool liquid, reveling in the feeling of it sliding down his itchy and parched throat. He made sure to get as much as he could with each swallow; the forest was still a ways away, and he wasn't going to let this last opportunity to get refreshed pass him by until they reached it. Once he had his fill, he shook the excess water that had dripped onto his mane off and turned in the direction that Vitani was walking in. Brown hues swirled in uncertainty as he gazed out into the open desert, his gaze then taking a quick glance down at his paw, which was still wrapped in the makeshift cast from yesterday. Gotta watch where I step this time; I don't want to get a sore paw again. he thought to himself before he took off after Vitani, setting his pace to a brisk trot to match her pace. The ground was starting to warm up with the rising sun, but so far hadn't gotten to the point of being painful - a fact Kopa was thankful for.

As the two companions kept pace over the cracked soil, Kopa spared a glance to Vitani, hoping to keep it discreet from her sharp gaze. He could already feel his heart starting to pound hard in his chest at the memory of sleeping next to the beautiful lioness last night; it was a guilty pleasure he would keep locked in his memories for as long as he possibility could. Vitani was the Princess of the Outlands, Zira's daughter, and had Zira not sent him to protect her on this journey, he would have no way of getting this close to her without some form of harsh retribution from the Queen. Once they returned to the Outlands, that would be the case yet again. Still, he figured he could enjoy his time with his first crush right now, learn from her all she had to teach him and keep these days within memory to relive again in his dreams. At least until this crush fades... for some reason, that thought brought sadness to his heart...

Pushing away the unwanted feelings, the lion turned his attention back to his front, deciding to think about other things for a change... like what Kovu and Nuka, Vitani's siblings, were like. He had asked himself this question yesterday: were her brothers as kind as she was? Now was as good a time as any to ask her, he figured. Can I ask you something? Your brothers... what are they like? Are they like you?[/color] he asked, turning his gaze towards her as he spoke. You've been so helpful to me... I... haven't been treated the way you've treated me. With fairness and kindness... are your brothers the same way to others like you are?[/color] he explained, glancing down at the earth as he mentioned the way the other lionesses of the Pride treated him. There was one other though, an elder lioness he'd heard others call Alita - now and then she would give him water or discreetly offer him some of her shares, but never in the presence of others; he didn't blame her, to do such would end with her gaining the same treatment as he was given. Still, this moment was starting to feel a bit awkward now that he'd asked the question.

...where was a stampede or rogue lion when you needed them?[/justify][/blockquote][/size][/blockquote][/color]

[Vitani ♥]

+Vitani+

The tawny lioness had kept her stride quick an even, if she moved to slow they would risk the unmerciful heat among other things. If they moved to quickly they could easily tired, and that would leave her worse off than just staying in the middle like she was. Like she had previously noticed Kopa was in fact following her, as the sound of his larger paw steps pounded against the crackling earth became louder and louder as he caught up to her. In moments he fell in even step with her, and she glanced up at him to nod an official greeting to her traveling companion. Her head slowly refocused on the path before her, she could not sway from their path or it may result in missing their destination. Her ears also flicked forward, rounded ears alert for anything and everything. Her muscles tightened instinctively allowing her body to handle anything unexpected. A slightly more serious look on her face as she started to take on the roll of leader. She didn't mean to be "superior" to him, it's just she didn't want them lost. Even though the thought of spending more time with Kopa was inviting, and she really wanted to. She knew it was against everything her mother ever told her, still was Vitani really a female to follow the rules? Not likely, but she did her best to follow the advice and warnings of Zira, and yet Zira barely cared about her in the first place. Did she really want her approval that much? She sighed she knew she wanted to be treated like Kovu as someone important, and though she was considered a princess she did get the same rights.

Her paws pounded softly against the cracked earth as the tawny female was lost in her thoughts. She barely snapped out of her thoughts to notice Kopa still a her side. Though she wouldn't admit it, she kind of like him there. Just like last night when she was curled up against him, suddenly a little flash of heat rose to her cheeks and she turned her violet eyes away from the lion again. Trying to focus her attention on the path ahead, she prayed he didn't notice her staring at him. Fishing sounds fun! It'll be a better way to hunt in the Pridelands than killing the gazelle too. I think someone may start getting wise to my presence if they keep finding the bones everywhere. Vitani chuckled at his enthusiasm, he always seemed relatively upbeat despite his living conditions and the journey he was making with her. She turned her violet colored eyes onto him, "It really is a useful trick." she commented her voice calm and yet her eyes narrowed in amusement before she let her face fall back into her normal stone like stare. Her violet hues drifted up to the skies for a brief second, following the trail of clouds that drifted over the desert and toward the sun. The clouds would serve as her guide incase she were to sway from her course, though it was highly unlikely. She never let anything distract her before, and Kopa would be no different. Vitani squinted her eyes and could just make out the faint lining of the forest, her heart actually longed for the comfort of the tree's, the sounds of the birds, and the many beauties it held within.

She had always wondered why they never settled into the forest themselves, though with Zira's hatred for anything good, she actually wasn't surprised. Still the forest sure beat that damp and dark mountain anyway. Even the daughter of the outsider leader wanted the freedom the forest could give her, and sometimes it took a lot of effort to head back. Can I ask you something? Your brothers... what are they like? Are they like you? Vitani was shocked by the words that escaped the lions mouth and she turned her hard stare onto his own. Her narrowed eyes gave a look that asked "what do you mean LIKE me?". She couldn't tell if it was an insult to have them compared to her or a compliment, either way she wanted an explanation for such a personal question. You've been so helpful to me... I... haven't been treated the way you've treated me. With fairness and kindness... are your brothers the same way to others like you are? her eye brows lifted in surprise, so it was a compliment? She wasn't used to those, still she softened her gaze a bit, and a more thoughtful expression appearedo n her features. "Nuka is just like Zira in many ways, he wants so desperately to gain her love and will do anything to obtain it. Kovu as a cub proved to have a light in him, until Zira brain washed him to do her bidding. Still Kovu is not as harsh as some of the others, so in some ways they are just like me...." she trailed off lowering her head.

"And like me have a darkness that threatens to take hold each and every day we live. How we have kept our humanity is beyond me usually I am not like this. I am not nice, and constantly have to have my wits about me, and keep those more soft hearted in line. she continued allowing her voice to darken before allowing her violet eyes to stare up into his own beautiful orbs. "But with you its different, It is your light that awakens what light I have in myself, and for that I suppose I should thank you." she stopped her face softened ever so slightly as she allowed her gaze to run over his face. In moments she turned away ears perking up to the sound of a bird. The forest was standing before them and Vitani turned and bounded for it, not caring to reserve her energy. When her paws touched the soft grass she slowed down allowing Kopa to catch up. "Keep close, the forest can be pretty complex." she called back to him, allowing her slender form to move through the undergrowth. Her paws felt great against the damp forest floor as she jumped over a log and then out into an opening. There before them stood the mighty waterfall in all its splendor.