Chapter 16: Problem
Dark smiled at Jayden. "Yeah! I need all the help I can get."
The two of them strolled along, heading toward the tall rock on the side of Pride Rock. Jayden wasn't sure what had come over her. It felt like the words just blurted out of her mouth. 'Need some help looking out for a shooting star again tonight?' Ugh what was I thinking? Of course she wanted to spend time with Dark, but inside she knew she shouldn't. They were supposed to be just friends now, and spending time alone with him might (okay, WILL) stir old feelings in her.
Friends spend time together. Jayden tried to defend herself. Zula and I spend time together a lot. It's just being friendly, that's all. I can spend time with Dark and not fall back in love with him.
"Did you have a nice hunt?" Dark asked.
"Yeah. Ciara led us well. She said Kiara lets her lead often since she will one day be lead huntress when she and Kivu take the throne."
"I wonder when that's supposed to happen."
"I dunno. I get confused on the Pride Land's tradition about title changes. IT hasn't been exactly consistent over the years. It changes by death, or by battle, but then Simba gave Kiara the throne pretty early. And now Ciara and Kivu are preparing to take it when Kivu's parent's aren't that old. I suppose they don't have to pass the title if they don't want to yet."
"You analyze things a lot." Dark observed in an amused tone.
You have no idea… she thought.
Jayden and dark sat in the grassy area at Pride Rock's side. Crickets were chirping in the night. Jayden liked that sound. There was a gentle calming breeze that ruffled her fur a little. It pulled Dark's black mane. The two of them listened to the night sounds for a few minutes.
"This is why I come here. It's so peaceful." Dark murmured, settling into a comfortable position.
"You come here a lot?"
"Yeah. Almost every night."
Does he ever think about how we used to be? As cubs…so in love? I wish I could ask him. She almost laughed out loud because of the thought. Yeah right, like I'd ever do that. What would he say? What if he said he does think about it? Or maybe he has put those memories away, like I tried to.
"You look like you're thinking about something important." Dark prompted.
"Oh." she hadn't realized he had been studying her. "I was just remembering something." she thought fast, "Remember that day you saved Clous from that big rock that fell on his legs?" she turned to him, glad to have thought of a safe topic.
"Oh yeah, of course. It freaked me out."
"I'm sure it did. It must have been scary to see Clous disappear under that huge rock."
"Well yes, that too, but I meant I freaked myself out with my actions. When I moved that rock, I used some strength inside me that I didn't know I had." he explained. "I remember looking down at my arms and legs and seeing muscle there. And then I heard you say 'Wow'". He said with a small smile, and looked at her.
Jayden tried hard not to blush. She had forgotten about that part. That was the day she really began to like him. Seeing his strength, calmness and modesty while being praised had made her heart flutter that day. Then that same night was the first time they met under the stars secretly.
Maybe this wasn't a safe topic after all…Fortunately, Dark continued the conversation in a different direction.
"I learned at the Battle with the Black Pride where that strength came from." he lowered his head. "From my heritage…" Jayden's heart hurt for him. She couldn't imagine how he felt when he learned the Black Pride's male leader was his biological father.
"No Dark," she looked him in the eye. "You may have gotten genes from that lion, which gave you muscles, but you had the strength in your heart, too, that pushed you to help Clous. You only get that from you."
He hesitated, then smiled. "I suppose so, thanks."
"No problem. You should have known that." she said lightly.
"I think I dwell on that too much…The black lion. The things he did. They did." he got quiet.
"You shouldn't dwell on it." she said.
"I know. It's hard not to sometimes. Cuz then I think: would I have eneded up like them? If I had been raised there?"
"No." she replied instantly. "No way. You would have still been the kind and thoughtful lion you always have been."
"You think so?"
"I know it. It would have been a hard life, they would have tried to make you like them…but-"
"She saved me." Dark said.
"Yes, she did." There was a silence for a while.
"She was good too, you know. Your mother." Jayden said. "Not like him."
Dark smiled with sad eyes. "Thank you."
Jayden felt warm inside. There were a few nights, back when they were cubs, when she had to comfort him about his origins. She was glad the right words seemed to come to her when sensitive topics came up.
It's easy to talk to him.
"You were always good at making me feel better." Dark said in a lighter tone.
"I'm glad."
The conversation changed from there to lighter topics. They talked about their friends, Jayden asked if Malowa was still a "mamma's boy." To her delight, Dark nodded.
"It's sort of adorable." she commented. Dark just chuckled. "I was never that close to my mother." she said. They talked about that for a while. Vitani was a bit of a stern mother, and to Jayden it seemed like she favored her other daughters more than her.
"Why do you think that?" Dark asked. By this time, Jayden had settled into a laying position like Dark.
"I can just tell by her tone, and she praises them more."
"Are you sure you're not just imagining it?"
"I don't think I am. I try not to care, I don't want to seem selfish. I know she loves me and all, just like every mother loves their cubs. She raised me well, and I have a lot to thank her for."
"Maybe withholding praise is her way of motivating you." Dark suggested.
"Probably."
"Well, you grew up to be just fine, great even."
"Aw thanks, I try." she laughed.
The two talked comfortably for a while longer. Sometimes they took on silence just to watch the stars.
This is just like when we were cubs. She thought. I love this. Just friends, but still close. Close friends. Yeah I can deal with that! I can just do it this way until it's time to go home. When Tempest's cub is old enough.
Soon, Jayden was feeling tired and wanted to head to bed. The two said good night and went their separate ways. Jayden felt good about herself and her easy conversation with Dark.
The next day was rather boring. Some heavy clouds had rolled in, making the air humid and making it darker outside. While strolling near Pride Rock, Jayden ran into Clous and walked with him for a while.
"Tempest seems to be doing better." he said.
"Yeah, she's great. She's still not 100%, but Mairu and Tali have been taking great care of her. I hear they have to change her leaf bandages less often since the infection has gone down."
"That's good. Did I hear correctly that you named her cub?"
"Yep."
"Cool! I didn't know you were a good namer."
"Well it was my first time coming up with a name for someone's cub. Hm!" she giggled. "Are you trying to ask me to name your future cub?" she teased the orange lion.
"Uh… heh heh." he stammered, looking embarrassed.
"You have thought about cubs before, haven't you?" she asked her cousin.
"No. Kind of. Not really. Yes… well I just don't know if Zuna wants them. With me I mean. Or at all. We've been dating for a while, but not like as long as Mani and Tempest or Ciara and Kivu."
"I see. So you might wait a while?"
"Y-yeah, probably."
"Aw, Clous, you're blushing!"
"I am not!"
"Whatever you say, macho man."
As they walked, something caught her eye on their right. Under a tree lay Dark, Malowa, and Ahila. Jayden watched as Dayya joined them, going over to Dark and talking to him animatedly and happily. He nodded and smiled at her. She nuzzled him. Jayden heard her squeal from where they walked. Jayden had an odd feeling in her chest.
"Do you still…" Clous said, noticing where her eyes were trained. She whipped her head around to face Clous, and tried to calm her heart, remembering what he knew about her feelings toward Dark when she was a cub.
"Oh, um… Well we're just friends now." she replied vaguely.
He seemed to understand, and nodded.
I still care about him, but I'm forcing myself to only think of him as a friend. It's working fine so far. she thought.
Is it? her very inner voice asked. She had no reply.
Later in the day, Jayden joined Dayya and Malowa who had stayed by the tree Jayden and spotted them by earlier. Dark and Ahila were no where to be seen. Jayden wondered again what was up with those two. They didn't really seem to be a couple, but they spent time together alone sometimes. She couldn't figure them out.
Dayya was excited and talked a lot about Dark to Jayden. "Dark is the cutest." she said. "He's the most handsome lion in the Pride. Sorry Malowa." she turned to him.
The dark cream lion shrugged. "I don't care." he said.
"Oh good." she went on. "Hey, you remember when we were cubs and Dark was practically a baby, and we would play games with him like tag?" she asked Jay den. She giggled. "And he couldn't run very well yet, so he'd fall a lot."
Jayden nodded.
"She embarrassed Dark by bringing this up earlier." Malowa reported.
Jayden smirked. "Oh no."
"He was not embarrassed! Well maybe. I just thought it was cute since he's such a big lion now. There's no sign of that little guy who could barely walk or talk!"
"Gag me!" Malowa said, pretending to clog his ears with his paws.
"Why are you here if you aren't enjoying the conversation?" Dayya turned on Malowa.
"Good point. See ya." The dark cream lion stood, and left.
"Good." Dayya said after he was gone. "Sometimes he can be a chatterbox, you know?"
Him? Jayden thought, but didn't say.
"Anyway, how have you been? You doing okay with dealing?"
"Dealing? With what?" Jayden was confused.
"Sarafina's death? In the cave? Remember what I told you about not hiding your feelings?"
"Oh yes, of course. I'm dealing fine. You helped me a lot." Jayden played along.
She did actually.
The sisters talked about Tempest after that. How the cub was due soon, maybe 2 weeks or more from now. Both were excited to become aunts.
Nightfall came and Jayden started to think about Dark. Her heart involuntarily began to beat faster. She tried to calm it. She decided to only briefly visit Dark at his usual spot before she headed to bed.
When every lion was getting settled for the evening, Jayden set her paws toward the side of Pride Rock. As she expected, Dark was there. She quickly approached him.
"Have a good evening!" she said. "It's a nice one out tonight."
"Sure is." he agreed. "Good night."
Jayden smiled and was about to walk away, but Dark said suddenly, "Oh, I thought I saw a shooting star a while ago."
"What? You did?"
"Well it wasn't one. It was something black flying in the sky." he laughed.
"Something black? A crow?" she was intrigued.
"No, it didn't have feathers."
"Oh, a bat then." she said, sitting in front of him.
"A bat? What is that?"
Jayden stared. "You've never seen a bat?"
"No."
"Come on! They're little rats with wings."
"You're making that up." Dark said.
"No I'm not!" Jayden laughed. "They have furry little bodies with soft looking wings. They eat bugs and fruit."
"You must have bats in the… Vitani lands, wherever you come from." Dark joked.
She swatted his shoulder playfully. "They're here too, obviously!"
He chuckled while she smiled. Suddenly she halted her smile. That's the first time we've touched in two years… well besides when he tripped me during the race.
She wasn't sure why that bit of information came to mind, but she quickly tossed it aside.
"How do you know so much, Jayden?" he asked.
"Oh, I dunno, I just thought I knew as much as everyone else. Or less."
"No way, you're full of information. And even as a cub you were observant."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, of course."
Jayden felt warm in her chest. Be careful… her inner voice said. Oh be quiet. she told herself. Just let me be happy for a moment.
The brown lioness stayed out with Dark for a while after that. She hadn't meant to, but the two got to talking about other things. Jayden happily forgot the time, and talked or listened until she got tired.
The next night, without thinking Jayden went to Dark's usual spot again. He was always there at night. Jayden told herself she was just visiting him as a friend, or she used one excuse or another. But her heart was beating fast that night, and a blush came to her face more than once when he would smile or laugh. She was grateful it was dark out so he wouldn't see it.
The next night, Jayden let herself go even more. It was very late this particular night. Jayden was happy and in a playful mood while in the usual spot with Dark. They had been laying in the grass when Jayden swatted Dark's tail.
"Hey!" he said.
Jayden giggled and swatted it again.
"Jayden would you check if Afia is here, I feel her playing with my tail. Certainly only a cub could be that childish."
"Hey! I'm older than you, remember." she retorted.
"Not by much."
"Yes, by much."
"A month at most."
"No!" she stood up, glaring at him. "It's five months, thank you."
"That's not right."
"Yes it is!" she insisted.
He stuck his tongue out at her, and she roughly pushed him in the shoulder with both her front paws, smiling.
"You starting something?" he rose to his paws.
"Maybe I am." She waved her tail in the air. He growled lightly at her and she giggled. She felt so carefree and playful. Without thinking about it she launched herself at him. She tackled him with a hard force, and he stumbled a few steps. He was pretty bulky but she had managed to move him.
"Now you've done it!" he returned fire and grabbed Jayden around the neck and shoulder with both arms and flung her to the ground. She landed with a thud and a laugh, but she recovered quickly. She jumped up and roughly tousled the mane on the top of Dark's head. She immediately bolted away and he chased her.
"Why, you!"
Dark caught up to Jayden and pounced on her, tackling her to the ground. Jayden fell with a thump again, and tried to turn around to face Dark to bat at him with her paws. She hit his shoulder and mane. He held her shoulders down to get her to stop.
"I got you now!" he said triumphantly, his grey-blue eyes shining. Both lions were breathing hard. Jayden tried to struggle stubbornly, but he held her tight.
"You're not going anywhere." he said, almost gently, and Jayden stopped. That's when it suddenly stopped being a game. She felt herself blush when the attraction she'd felt for Dark come at her full force. He was so handsome and had a cute smile, she couldn't resist noticing. His mane hung close to her face. He smelled good. It felt like her heart was about to break out of her chest. She panicked.
"Oh, ow," she cried. "My paw." she broke eye contact with him and pulled her paw away from the ground, toward her face. He loosened up his grip. "I think I might have re-injured it." she lied.
Dark let her out of the pin at these words. "Are you okay?"
She stood, but didn't put weight on the paw. "Yeah, it just hurts a little. Not anything like before, when I first hurt it. Well it's not like it hurt that much to begin with, heh. I think I was just too rough when I swatted you, I'm sorry." she rambled.
"No, don't be sorry. I forgot your paw got hurt a couple days ago. I'm the one that's sorry." he said.
She "tested" the paw on the ground. "No, it's okay, really." she pretended to pull it back in paid, and hissed.
"It seems bad…" Dark looked worried.
"It's gonna be okay. I'll get some rest tonight, and see Mairu in the morning." she smiled at him.
"Okay, that sounds like a good idea." Dark said. Jayden stood, making sure not to put weight on the paw that felt just fine.
"Well, goodnight." she said.
"Sleep well." he said, giving her a very warm smile. She couldn't help but smile back, and then headed toward the front of Pride Rock, making sure to limp a little. When she was out of Dark's sight, her pace quickened, and her limp disappeared. She hurried inside the den where Zula, Mebala and Taeliss were sleeping, and quickly plopped herself down in her nest of soft grasses. She put her head down and put both paws over her eyes.
Her inner voice spoke up again. We have a problem.