by TheWhistlerify » August 11th, 2014, 2:26 am
Marini found it rather impossible not to chuckle at how enthusiastic both Siri and Akina were in explaining their game to her. Their innocent youth was absolutely adorable, and it reminded her of a happier period in her life. "Really?" she asked with a smile, deciding she might as well add on to their already evident pride in their game of tag. "How clever." Laini meanwhile was listening with obvious interest. It was very rare to see Marini talk to anybody but Mjuvi like that, not to mention that she's never willingly engaged anybody but him in conversation before. "What other games do you play?" continued the adolescent lioness in question.
~ ~ ~
While the thought that Nura was quite young in order to already be a mother had crossed Dakari's mind once when they'd first met, it hasn't been of much interest to him since. True, he was curious about the lioness's past, but whether she should or should not have a cub at her age was of little to no interest to him. After all, he'd gotten to know a kind and caring individual during the past week. What did her being a mother have to do with it? If anything, the fact that she did have Akina and was doing such a good job taking care of her was to be held in her favor.
Despite being very intrigued as to why Nura had had Akina to begin with, he has obviously never considered asking her for answers or trying to indirectly bring up such a personal subject. So, he was rather surprised to hear her approach the matter herself. They haven't known each other for very long but, when he thought about it, was there anybody else the lioness could talk to about something like this? He felt as if he should have been a little flattered by this, but that was the last thing on his mind at the moment.
The lion would have gladly kept his curiosity unsatisfied for much longer if not forever because he truly did believe that Nura's privacy was more important. However there Akina's mother was, revealing so much personal and obviously painful information with just a few words. She'd obviously belonged to a very traditional family and / or pride. "Nura?" he asked quietly, not sure of what to say or do as he noticed just how emotional this so-far one sided conversation was making her.
Did her parents send her away? Or did they treat her so badly because of her pregnancy that she decided to leave? He didn't know which option was worse, really. Tradition or not, what he was hearing made him quite angry to say the least. Whether Akina's grandparents were pleased with Nura or not, she was still their daughter. It's not like pushing her away the way they had would have possibly changed anything. The male wanted to say something reassuring or supportive, but he couldn't think of anything.
Dakari hated seeing her so upset. It made him distressed as well, even if not nearly as much. He so badly wanted to comfort her, but how was he going to do it? It's not like he could get her parents to change their ways and life style (although, if he ever got the opportunity to, he'd most likely not be very polite in giving them a piece of his mind). "Nura, I..." Saying that he didn't know what to say would most likely be a waste of breath. He wanted to calm her down, to just hold onto her until she relaxed, but he didn't know how she'd react if he did.
In a way, he felt as if he should at least try. He realized that he was holding back in fear that he might push her away from him, because of his growing feelings, but... But if it might make the young mother feel better, even by a little, then it was well worth the risk in his opinion. Pushing his own reservations aside and taking in a deep breath, he closed the distance between them by sitting down closer to the lioness before placing a foreleg around her shoulders, gently holding her close. "I'm sorry..." He and his siblings had lost their parents because the two had died, but Nura... Dakari had his siblings. She has most likely never felt lonelier in her entire life. "B-but you and your daughter are not alone anymore..."