He looked around his new surroundings. The spot that Nyxa and Vulcan had picked was perfect for a hideout, away from the rest of civilization. He could only hope that those men that were after the two of them would not figure out their whereabouts any time soon. But if they did... he was willing to defend his new home and friends with his life. For now though, he was content. He glanced over at Luci, raising an eyelid fractionally. His heart told him that he loved her, but the cautious side of him told himself to be sure first. He was waging an inner war with himself, and unless he ended it soon, it might consume him.
He cuddled up to the cub he was carrying, and it nuzzled him contentedly back. Atienza, or so Luci had named her. She was sunshine on a dark and dreary day. They were their cubs, as soon as they were adults, to raise. He was looking forward to it. He licked the cub and pulled her closer, feeling the warmth radiate off of her. He smiled at Luci who was doing the same. She would make such a good parent. She had so many endearing qualities.
One day, I'll make you proud of me, he thought fiercely, looking at her with such love in his eyes, that if you had been watching him, you would have instantly realized that he was lovestruck, and that it wasn't a phase at all. Lucina looked back at him and smiled softly, and he thought that he could detect a certain longing in her eyes, but he didn't know what to do about it. He was still so confused himself.
Smiling down at the now squirming cub in his arms, he let her wiggle free. She joined her brother Miasmic, and the two of them bounded away to chase bugs, or some such activity. Then they were alone.
Timidly, he stared at the ground unless she asked him questions. Then he fixated her with a gaze so full of turmoil that he made her wonder what would surface within those depths. He answered her questions as vaguely as possible, trying in vain to avoid any topic that touched on his emotions, so as not to lead her into believing or thinking something false.
She was hurting. He could tell just by looking into the depths of her strong, and powerfully intense eyes. He watched as her resolve wavered, and sorrow was reflected in them. He was cutting her up. He had to stop.
"I promise you," he said, "that when we're adults, I'll have a lot to say to you." It was the least he could do for her. He saw a little bit of her earlier happiness brighten her eyes a bit, and then she sank down to the ground with an audible sigh.
When we're adults, he thought. Will I even know what I want when I'm an adult? He sure hoped so, for he didn't want to make her wait any longer.
He was a bit surprised when the flash of light came. It was so similar to the flash that he had experienced during his transformation from cub to teen that he instantly dismissed it as something else. Surely he couldn't be turning into an adult! That was too coincidental. But then there was that blasted tingling...
When the light enveloped him, he knew himself to be wrong. He was overjoyed. At last, he was becomming an adult, and his mind would be made up, for his and Luci's sake! When the light faded, he glanced down at himself. He could see the muscles rippling beneath his bronzed fur, and the light playing off of his gold tipped paws. He looked at Luci. She was a sight to behold. Her dark ebony coat shining dimly, and the light seemingly making the rainbow pattern on her muzzle shift and dance. She was an adult as well! He knew now that he loved her, and always would, and felt more the fool for doubting himself all this time. He knew what he must do.
Leaping up to her, he shared with her the words that she had been waiting to hear all this time.
"Lucina-will you be my mate?"
He was shocked when she plowed into him, covering him with kisses. He had no problems returning some affection of his own however! He was more happy than he'd ever been in his life, and he knew that if his father and mother were still alive, they would be proud of him, and would have gladly embraced Lucina as a daughter.
"Let's go tell Nyxa and Vulcan the good news," he said, nuzzling her neck and licking her nose. The two of them rounded up the curious cubs they were supposed to be babysitting, and headed back towards the main camp. Their journey was only beginning.
Lucina
*page one (cocoon)*
*page two (cub)*
*page three (teen)*
*page four (adult)*
Tyri-Anu
*page one (cub and cocoon)*
*page two (teen)*
Lucina and Tyri's stories intertwine, so to get the full story, I've provided all the page links for both of them. Their legacy will continue on in their children.
