Chapter 2: Is This What Love Feel's Like?

I scrambled to my paws and turned around to find out who the speaker of the voice is, I soon spotted the lion who had spoken and gasped. This lion, was pure black, save his mane which was gray, and gray star over his eye, and there was also his chest, muzzle and toes, which where a lighter shade of gray then his mane and star.

My heart was pounding so loud I was afraid her could hear it. Oh my goodness this lion is hot! I thought. No! You're a princess, he's an outsider. I reminded myself. The stranger smiled at me. "Are you okay?" he asked, he seemed genuinely concerned. I nodded, still dumb-founded. "I don't mean to pry, but why are you here, I saw you running and crying." He asked. "It was nothing, my brother... It was nothing." I decided I shouldn't tell him more then I need to until I knew who he was.

"It seems like something's really bothering you, but I won't press the matter." He said, resting his tail on my shoulder. I looked into his eyes and before I could think about what I was doing, I buried my muzzle into his fur and cried into his shoulder. "My brother betrayed me." I cried, very upset. "Hey, it's okay," he told me in a soothing tone. "You can tell me what you want to tell me, I'll listen." even though I just met him, I told him everything, where I'm from, who I am, and why I was so upset, and I felt better.

The mysterious lion wrapped his paw around my shoulders and I felt safe, secure. Is this what love feels like? I asked myself. "My name is Star, for obvious reasons." he said with a smile. I looked up at him, his partly grown mane whipping around in the wind that had picked up. I shivered from the cold and I looked slightly concerned. "Come on, there's a cave nearby, it'll get us out of the wind." he told me. I nodded and followed him to the cave he was talking about. Once we were inside he sat next to me and wrapped his paw around my shoulders again. "I'm Sasha." I said looking around the looming darkness of the cave. "I should be heading back home." I murmured. It might have just been the exhaustion getting to me, but I could have sworn his grip around my shoulders tightened.

"It's going to rain soon, hard. You can't leave until the rain dies down, our you could be swept away in a flood." He rushed out the words quickly. Mostly because I was tired, and partially because I didn't want to leave the presence of Star, I agreed to stay for the night.

As soon as I had agreed to stay, Star left the cave, saying he was going hunting, and I prayed to the Great Kings of the Past he was telling the truth. He was. He came back soon with some prey for the two of us. He laid down beside me and we ate together, telling each other stories about when we were younger. Soon I began to feel sleepy, my belly was full and there was rain, pouring outside, lulling me to sleep. I curled up to sleep, and before I slipped into a fitful sleep, I felt Star curl up around me, making me feel like nothing in the world could hurt me.

Star was already up by the time I was. "Morning sleepy." he chuckled. I smiled and yawned, stretching my legs. I knew I had to go home, but I didn't want to. "I guess I should head back." I sighed, looking out the entrance of the cave. "I'll escort you to the border." Star said quickly. "The water is still high, you'll need a guide to get you through them." he explained. I nodded happily at the thought of spending more time with Star.

After a quick breakfast, we headed out of the cave and started our way through Star's home. For the first time I got a good look at the place. It was barren in some patches, but lush and green in others. "Kinda odd isn't it?" Star chuckled, shaking me from my thoughts. "Maybe a little." I admitted. Star shrugged. "It's home." he sighed.

Soon the barren yet green land gave way to tall grass. "This is it," I sighed, then turned to him.

"Will I ever see you again?" I asked him pleadingly. He thought for a moment then nodded. "Meet me here every night." He said, his eyes asking for my approval. I gazed into his eyes and nodded. "Every night, I promise." I said. Star smiled and touched his nose to mine before turning and leaving. "I'll see you tomorrow night." he called over his shoulder.

All I could do was nod as I stood there, as happy as could be. That is, until I heard Nathan calling my name and running up behind me.