Chapter 4

Silence, for only a few moments, was soon replaced by a chuckle of a masculine vocal palette. This Zebenjo character seemed very amused with Sarabi and her attitude towards him as no more than a common lion. Perhaps in Zebenjo's head he was more than common, but to Sarabi he was just a lion who didn't know how to tell the time.

"And I am sorry about that, princess, but princely matters call for princely appearances. You understand, don't you?" The prince questioned her. Sarabi simply looked at him with an unchanged expression and no movement of any sort. All that wavered in her body was a flick of her ear at the finish of his sentence.

"I do," she replied, "but when I have a time to be somewhere, I do it". Sarabi obviously wasn't pleased with this male so far. The plans that her parents had for her and this prince were not working out in her favor, as did nothing else it seemed. Zebenjo almost seemed like a metaphor for her everlasting failures all adding up.

It was quite clear that Zebenjo was dry from her attitude sucking up any kind of life in this conversation that he was trying to keep, but it was also very clear that Sarabi didn't care.

The lioness looked from him to the lionesses, who still looked around, probably looking for any kind of encroaching lions who wanted to get a piece of their potential king. At least that's what Sarabi could judge from their stances of uneasy crouching and split-second head swings from side to side. It made Sarabi wonder what was so special about this lion, and why her parents offered their eldest daughter as sacrifice to this prince.

"Your parents were right," he started to smile, "you are a fireball. Beautiful, but testy". Zebenjo gave the princess the once over, Sarabi not once moving from his line of vision, but staring him down. "You would make a great queen for the Outlanders, indeed". At the mention of what seemed like a whole different race of lions, Sarabi perked her ears and focused on him.

Zebenjo, though he wasn't the scariest looking fellow, maintained a sleek and slim appearance aided from the lack of food and water, a sharp black nose, dark circled eyes, and sharp claws for each paw. Though, his colors were odd for an Outlander; he had light brown fur with a lighter brown underbelly, a black tail tuft, and a dark blonde mane that covered his chest, belly, and the left side of his face.

If they weren't such disgusting, hateful creatures maybe I'd consider one of them being even a friend on my own without my mother and father forcing it down my throat, thought Sarabi.

"How about this, my fiery princess," her ears perked, "if I can promise you that I will be on time for the rest of our meetings, can you promise to whipe my slate clean and give me another shot at being the man of your dreams?"

Sarabi furrowed her brows in slight astonishment that he would use such a term for himself to become to her. She never could picture herself with someone such as him, but she was held by a birthright and a promise from her parents to his that she would be his betrothed. Their intentions, she had no idea, but she wasn't quite sure she wanted to know anyways.

Still, she had never heard something like that before. He seemed sincere; his eyes were true. Now that she looked, she saw they were grey. Silver, with little pigments of yellow and white.

iIf I can look at him like I am now and see something I didn't even take the time to notice before,/i Sarabi thought, maybe I should take the time to look at the things that aren't so easy to see on the outside as well.

For the first time of their entire meeting, Sarabi started to smile vaguely. He obviously noticed, as his ears perked and brows rose, taking two hopeful steps forward. "Deal" replied the princess.

Zebenjo's smile turned his entire face into a joyful sight. He looked upon this lioness and his eyes twinkled with happiness. "Thank you, princess. You won't regret it, I swear".

"I believe you" replied the lioness, smiling back at him.

"So," he shrugged down at the ground before looking back up into her ruby hues, "would you be alright to see me tomorrow at early sunset?" She liked how he was being so specific with directions after their little agreement. With a smile and a gentle scoff, Sarabi nodded her head to his request, tilting his smile even more upwards as she watched his entire body seem to drift into a sense of floating on a cloud. "Great. So... I'll see you then".

Once more, she nodded before he started to turn around, but remained vigilant to keep his gaze on her even as he strayed. "I'll see you then, princess".

"See you then, prince" she replied.