My latest update! YEAH! GO WILD! I'm recently on writers bock right now so the update MAY take long. But forget about that enjoy this magificent piece.

Fluttering Emotions

The day before the party had begun. The sunrise revealed significant beauty of the watering hole. The hippos were now busy than usual. They swept and dusted the watering hole, preparing the whole place for the party tomorrow. They were planning to decorate it today but the mist of laziness took over them.

The lioness finished hunting so they went back to their respective homes and prepared breakfast.

Mona and Florrie caught a tasty prey for breakfast. Mona served it on the table and the family got readied for breakfast. After Lars took the first bite, Mona and Florrie started mulching their meal.

"Florrie sugar, what are your plans this evening with Zuba?" asked Lars suspiciously.

"We're just going to the stream…" Florrie answered with her mouth full.

"Okay, just be home before dark," told Lars having doubts about the whole engagement. "And don't try anything funny."

At that statement, Mona slapped Lars's shoulder, "Lars! She's old enough to know that!" Mona smiled at her daughter who looked irritated, "Sorry sweetie you father is just too overprotective."

Florrie understood her father's care over her, she did not want to upset him, "Don't worry dad. We're just friends right now."

"You guys better hurry up. Your wedding is four days from today."

"I know, I know! But I don't want to rush things," she claimed, "You can't force love, mom."

Her mother understood that her daughter want to take her relationship with Zuba slowly but she needs to know that time will not stand still just for the sake of her.

Zolo was planning something big for his son. He had something he wants to give to Zuba before he gets married. The hard thing was how to give it to him. He wanted a big plot to make Zuba cry and be happy at the same time.

"Dad, aren't your going to finish your meat?" asked Zuba to his father who was busy staring at the skies with his thoughts above the clouds, leaving his meat to rot.

"Dad!" Zuba lassoed his dad to his attention.

"Oh, did you said something son?" asked Zolo.

"What are you daydreaming about?" Zuba answered Zolo's question with a question.

"Nothing!" he bluffed "Nothing important."

Zuba let his curiosity be at that. He didn't want to fill his head with more confusion. He continued taking his breakfast. His wondered to his dad every few minutes. Zolo wasn't just daydreaming, he is now talking to himself. What is he thinkin' about! Zuba's head yelled.

After 15 minutes of disturbed eating, Zuba finished his meal. He licked some bone as didn't want to waste scraps of meat. After licking the bones clean, he got up and made himself readied for his "date" with Florrie.

He gussied up his scruffy mane. Wanting it to be tidy but his mane was too unruly to even make it align right. He gave up grooming his mane and started cleaning his fur. Even though, he was doing it by himself, he could felt his mother's tongue grooming him. Memories started stirring up in his head.

He shook his head, avoiding the swarming thoughts. He didn't want to start grieving again. "I got it!" Zuba's shriek startled him. Zuba stared at his father who had a smile on his face. He raised a brow, puzzled at his father's actions.

"Oops, did I say that out loud," Zolo cupped his mouth with his paw, "Don't mind me. I was just… bye!" Zolo ran out of his home, leaving clouds of dust on the way.

"What is that old man up to?" Zuba glanced at his father's trail.

Splish! Splash! Glop! The river made a symphony of ripples as rushing water flow it's way to the watering hole. The fishes in the water swam freely and gracefully, following the twirling current of the water.

Splash! A fish jumped out of the water. Doing some summersault in the air, attempting to reach the heavens. Some more other fishes followed and created a full show. They summersault, spin, flip and twirl as they danced above the torrent, following the beat of the ripples.

Zuba was amazed at the sight. "Those fishes got moves," he thought. He was marvelously entertained by the aquatic performances. It was a good way to past the time while waiting for the ever so late Florrie to arrive.

Corin was galloping with her newfound friend, Shazu who is also her date tomorrow. They were racing together, feeding the air with their speed. Passing other zebras and gazelles in the process.

Shazu was fast for full-fledged zebra. He was a muzzle ahead of Corin. Corin didn't like that. She was the fastest gazelle in her herd and second next to Ariana in her circle of friends. She hastened her gallops to keep up with Shazu.

They rushed through the plains of grass. Grasses everywhere were flown away by their airstreams. From their point of view, the only image that they can see was the old Acacia tree 10 yards from them. It was their finishing point.

"I'm not gonna lose to you that easily!" Corin cried in confidence. She picked up her speed and galloped pass Shazu.

"Oh no you don't!" Shazu gained up beside her. Determine that he would win. As they were 3 meters away from the tree, each narrowed their eyes, anxious to see who the winner was.

Swoosh! They ran passed the tree, dragging some flying grass on the way. It was a photo finish. Too bad that they didn't have a camera or even a witness to see who won.

Florrie braked behind Zuba as she was running very fast just now. Exhausted from the run, her mouth drew out her tag, "Sorry for being late… again."

Zuba turned around, surprised to see his beloved fiancée was in a tired state. "Do you always have a habit of being late?" he asked sarcastically.

Florrie huffed in shame, "Not all the time!" Her head was facing away from Zuba.

"Right…" he didn't buy it. Nevertheless, it was good to see her arrive tha not coming at all. "So care to tell your plans for today?"

Florrie turned to face him. She too didn't know what should they do today. The plan she said yesterday was mostly a quick, non well-thought out suggestion. She did a quick brainstorm, hoping that some miracle would pop out.

Zuba was aware to the silence-ness between them. He looked at Florrie's face. Her head "I'm thinking so don't disturb me" face. His patients drained slowly as the time went by.

Stillness embraced the area. Zuba was waiting for Florrie to give an answer while Florrie was digging for one. They could the wind whispers and the leaves crackled.

"Ehem!" Zuba cleared his throat as his patients had already gone to it's minimum. "Any time soon."

Florrie was stumped. It's time to come clean after seeing Zuba with a frown on his face. As she opened her mouth to expel the truth, along came a bright orange and yellow butterfly fluttering above her. She then knew what to say, "Ooh, catch that butterfly!"

"What!" Zuba raised a brow with a big question mark o his face.

"I said: Catch that butterfly!" Florrie jumped off the ground in attempt to claw the fluttering creature.

"Are you serious?!" Zuba jumped away as Florrie landed from the air. "You don't expect me to get involved I this childish act?"

"Fine. I'll just chase it myself then!" Florrie playfully dance with the butterfly. Trying to catch it every couple of seconds. She was trying so hard to convince Zuba, she convince herself that the butterfly was in need of catching.

Zuba watched her humorously leaped from one place to another, desperately attempting to knock the insect off the air. It was amusing to see that act on an adult lioness. What caught his eyes in humor was fact that Florrie fell on her last attempt. Face front on the ground to be exact.

The he-lion laughed his guts out seeing the pretty sight. "Hey, that's not funny!" Florrie defended he pride, "It's not like you ca do it any better."

Zuba took that as a challenge. He never turned down a challenge before in his life. He has this cocky determination that would always drives him to be victorious.

Zuba jumped as high as he could. His feet left the ground. He swung his paw to the butterfly. Unfortunately, it dodged him swiftly and continued fluttering. "Grr… That thing better know who is he messin' with." He growled.

Zuba jumped numerous times. Determined that he'll claw the bug. But all of his attempts went to failure. Florrie in the other hand was entertained to see her fiancée putting much effort just to catch the hovering insect and envy his strength. He could jump twice the height that she could. She immediately joined him to prove that she could do better.

The lions soar in the air, each swung their paw here ad there to grab the butterfly. Every time they jumped higher the butterfly would soar even higher than them as if it was teasing them wordlessly.

Zuba would jump slightly higher than Florrie and Florrie would get in the way as he reached his paw to grab the butterfly.

Soon, they were performing a ballet around the butterfly with Zuba performing his own version of a ballet. They twirled, they leaped, and they swung their arms, putting much effort in having that floating creature in their clutches.

As the metaphoric music around them began to fade away, the two fiancées took one last chance on capturing the butterfly. They gather their all strength in their hind legs. Focusing their target on the butterfly. Their eyes followed the butterfly's movement, locking its position on the insect.

With one intake of breath, they leaped as high as they could, astonishing the heavens. Head to head they were, their target was just 5 inches away from them. However, the butterfly got away before they even get the chance to move their arms. Instead, they heads collided with each other. The tremendous impact sent them falling back to the ground.

"Ouch! My head!" Zuba moaned in pain. "You're such a klutz!"

"Well, I'm not the one who had a big head!" offended Florrie hit him back, rubbing her temple.

"Look! It's getting away!" she noticed the butterfly was already fluttering near the stream. It seems like it's going to go across it.

"I got it!" Zuba ran towards the butterfly and jumped up with all his might. In slow motion, he caught the butterfly in his paws. Gripping it gently so that it won't squish. Just when Zuba drew a smile on his face because of his achievement he fell into the river! Splash!

"Arghh!" Zuba gasped as his head emerged from the water. Some ripples got to Florrie, damping part of her fur. Zuba kicked his feet rapidly, trying to stay afloat. He then finally made it to land; dry land. Florrie helped him up and laid him on the ground.

"Zuba are you okay?" Florrie was both concerned and humoured. Holding her giggles, she pumped the male lion's stomach. Some water came gushing out of his mouth.

"Augh! I hate water!" Zuba came to consciousness, coughing out more water. He then tenderly loosen his gripping paws. Out came the butterfly and flew onto Florrie's head. It made a beautiful headpiece for her. "Here, I hope this worth all the trouble," Zuba murmured.

Florrie was relieved that Zuba was safe and impressed that he was still holding that butterfly. "Zuba, I d-don't know what to say… Thank you."

Zuba who was all cold and wet, walked to a warm, sunny spot and licked himself dry. Florrie sat next to him watching the male lion dried himself. She giggled as accident just now played over and over in her head. The butterfly was still on her head.

"Admit it…" Zuba muttered. "You were stallin' the whole time."

Florrie was surprised that he noticed, "How did you know?"

"It was really obvious…" Zuba stopped licking his fur and lied down on the ground, soaking the sunlight in. "Ummm… Florrie…"

"Yeah?"

"Why is a female like you haven't had a mate yet?" Zuba asked straight-forwardly. "I mean you're… uhh… attractive enough be with someone?"

Florrie felt embarrassed to answer the question but he is her fiancée, sooner or later they'll share more secrets. "Oh, I ummm…"

"Maybe I just haven't found the right guy yet," she answered calmly. "I have this stupid fantasy about the perfect guy. But I found out that fantasies are just fantasies…"

"I'm sorry," Zuba apologize for asking that question.

"No, it's okay," Florrie looked at Zuba. "I'm really glad I met you…" she gave Zuba a little nuzzle.

Zuba's face was blushing as Florrie nuzzled him. His heart pounds his chest hard enough to be heard. He wanted to nuzzle her back but was too nervous to even nudge his head. "Umm… Uhh… Do you want to go to the party tomorrow with me?" Zuba asked shyly. The question was spinning around his mind this whole time. His heart beats grew faster as he waited for the pending answer.

Florrie didn't expect for Zuba to ask her to the party. In fact, she didn't even thought about going with Zuba to the party ever since she was introduced to him. She knew what to answer but took this opportunity to play with him.

"Are you asking me out, Zuba?" she asked playfully.

"Uhh.. Yeah," Zuba felt dumbfound to her actions.

"After he attacked me the other day…" she continued, tilting her head a little, looking devious with her eyes peeking through the butterfly's wings.

Zuba's hope began to sink. He remembered the day he and Florrie fought. The scar on her face was still there, slowly fading in snail pace.

Florrie paced around her fiancée, swishing her tail under his chin mischievously. "Wow! Zuba asked me out what ever shall I do!?" she fakely pondered. "I shouldn't go with a bad lion like you."

"You might hurt me again," she smirked at the twitching Zuba.

After seeing Zuba's face as pale as a ghost, she decided to drop the act. "Okay! But you have to pick me up tomorrow night." Florrie nuzzled Zuba teasingly.

The now relieved Zuba smiled to hear the answer he was expecting. He nodded in agreement. At that moment the bright orange butterfly on Florrie's head flew off. Florrie and Zuba watched the butterfly as it flutters away to the heavens.

Here's the basic thing. I write the, you read the fic and after that review it. We do that routine for several days and then I update. Ok! Now press that button and start reviewin! (No evil laughs right now)