Chapter 30: Start With Words

"Dayya!" Jayden called after her. Dark joined her side. "Oh no, what have I done? What do I do?"

"Go after her!" Dark said.

"Yes of course," Jayden said and sped off. But Dayya was fast. She was headed out in the field and was already almost out of sight. Jayden put on a burst of speed to try to catch up.

"Dayya!" she called, "Please wait!" but the lioness didn't stop. "Please, I need to talk to you, I'm sorry!" she sctreamed. Now they were headed toward a herd of grazing antelope. Jayden saw Vitani and the hunting team gathered near by, watching.

"Wait, Dayya!" Jayden screamed again, hoping to stop her before they ruined the hunt. Dayya kept going without looking back or at their mother. Jayden was completely out of breath and had to stop. Dayya kept on and the antelope scattered, letting out bleats of surprise. Vitani instantly rose in the grass, watched Dayya speed away, then turned to Jayden. Vitani was upon her in seconds.

"What on EARTH is going on here? What's with all the screaming and running?"

"Oh, it's Dayya…" Jayden panted, "I, well she saw… Oh Kings!" she said, feeling terrible emotionally and physically. She felt like she was going to throw up.

The other lionesses in the hunting team had arrived, and looked concerned. Or in Jika's case, annoyed.

"What. Happened." Vitani said in a dark voice that scared Jayden.

She sighed heavily and spilled everything, "Dayya saw me and Dark embracing each other… we've been… having a relationship. And she saw me and heard us talking, I didn't mean for her to hear that, I swear!"

Vitani looked at Jayden. "You've been seeing this lione behind your sister's back eventhough you know she's always been fond of him?"

"Yes, mother, but I've always liked him too—"

"How could you do that to your own sister?" Vitani hissed with narrowed eyes.

Jayden opened her mouth but had no reply. Vitani had no more to say either; she dashed off in the direction Dayya went.

"Oh man…" Jayden said lowering her head.

Zula stepped closer and touched her friend's front leg. "What exactly did she hear?"

Jayden's eyes darted to Ciara and the other waiting lionesses.

"Shall I go gather a search party for Dayya?" Ciara asked, "Maybe just Temepst and Tome?"

"Ah, yes, thank you." Jayden was relieved Ciara had enough tact to know the drama shouldn't be spread to everyone. She was glad just the family members would be the ones to know first. "I'm so sorry to interrupt your hunt."

"That's okay, we'll get right back to it." Ciara replied pleasantly.

"We better!" Jika grumbled. "I'm hungry."

Ciara, Jika and Toni headed back to Pride Rock at a quick trot.

"Ugh I'm so embarrassed. The whole pride will know soon…" Jayden then explained to Zula what Dayya had over heard.

"Oh Kings."

Jayden sighed. "I know… And then Dayya said I wasn't her sister. That's when she ran."

"Do you want me to help you look for her?"

"Yes please. I feel awful. The look on her face…"

"Come on, let's get going." Zula said and they raced off.

They spent the next couple hours looking for Dayya. At first they could follow her prints or scent but then it became hard. They eventually had to look without tracking and just call her name. Tempest met up with them at one point. Jayden wanted to ask her how much she had been told about the situation, but by the way her sister wouldn't make eye contact with her, she knew she already knew everything. Jayden felt ashamed all over again.

They didn't run into Vitani or Tome anywhere while searching. They decided to split up and move away from the Pridelands. Looking on her own made Jayden feel worse. What had she done? Of course the moment Jayden decided to make a happy decision for herself, it all blows up in her face like this. What would Dayya do if she was found? Would she attack Jayden like in that dream? No…but would she even talk to her? Jayden had no idea, she only knew it would be awkward. But she had to do this.

After being out of the Pridelands for a while, Jayden doubled back with frustration. She could be anywhere. What if she was gone for good? Really gone and not coming back? She would never forgive herself if that happened. As Jayden approached the border, she noticed Zula nearby. They joined up.

"Tempest went back. Neither of us had any luck." She said tiredly.

"Me either. Did you see my mom or dad?"

"I saw Tome. He hadn't seen any sign of Dayya. He said your mom was probably still tracking her."

"If anyone can find her my mom will."

"We've done what we can for now. Let's go back." Zula suggested.

"I should keep looking."

"You look exhausted. Why don't you come eat something then go back out? I bet the hunting team is back by now."

The brown lioness sighed. She felt like she was about to cry, but said, "Okay, but then I'm coming right back."

The two headed back to Pride Rock. As they neared it, they did notice lions gathered, eating. As they approached, many heads darted up to look at Jayden. The brown lioness almost stopped in her tracks.

They all know.

Jayden forced herself to keep walking, but she couldn't help but lower her head. She didn't make eye contact with anyone. Maybe if she lay low for a while, it would be less embarrassing. To Jayden's dismay, Dark ran up to her in front of everyone.

"Did you find her? Are you alright? Kudzu was sent out to try to find her too, I don't think he's found anything yet. I thought you'd have better luck by scenting her?" he asked loudly with huge concerned eyes.

Jayden used a quiet tone, "No, we didn't see a sign of her yet." All her Pridemates were staring at her and Dark. Some were trading whispers. Dark followed her gaze, then said,

"Don't worry about them." The black lions led Jayden away so they could talk privately. Zula went to get a bite to eat. As they were walking away, Jayden heard Mebala ask Zula, "Is it true? Dark and Jayden?"

Zula only replied, "Mind your own business for once!"

Jayden felt so relieved to have a friend like Zula. The news was out, but at least not everyone wanted to stir the drama. When they were far enough away, Dark stopped and looked at the brown lioness.

"Are you okay? You look… I don't know, really sick."

Jayden sighed, "I hate so much that Dayya overheard what I said, I didn't really mean.,.." the tears started falling. "I didn't mean that, she means so much to me, but the way she looked at me and what she said…" Jayden pushed her head into Dark's chest. His mane brushed away her tears. He put a paw around her back. "Oh Dark, I just don't know if I'm doing the right thing. It hurt her so much seeing us together and will hurt her more when she comes back. I mean if she comes back. Why would she? Her own twin betrayed her!"

"Jayden…"

"What have I done?" She sobbed more. "And the way they all looked at me."

"Hey… look at me." Dark said quietly.

She sniffled, then looked up into his eyes.

"You do so much for everyone else. And you care too much about what others think of you. You're trying to live your life how you think others expect you to. Why don't you live how you want? I know you want us to be together, I can tell. So you should take this one thing you want because it makes you happy. Your happiness should be your number one priority. Family is important but you are more important. You only have one life; you can't half-live it."

The brown lioness was speechless for a moment and digested Dark's words. They did make sense. Didn't she deserve to be happy? She wanted to be so bad, and the best way to do that would be to be with Dark and not care what anyone else thought.

"You're right." She said, then gave him a small smile. Dark grinned back, and brusheda tear off her cheek with his paw.

"So…we're doing this?" he asked.

Jayden straightened. "Yes." She said with a determined tone. "Let's go eat."

The couple re-joined the pride and had their share of the meal. Some of the Pridelanders were staring at them, but fortunately, no one said anything to them. When Jayden was finished, she and Dark set out to search for Dayya some more. No one had seen Vitani come back at all yet. She knew her mother would have to get used to the idea of she and Dark being a couple, but seeing those narrowed violet eyes judging or hating her, or whatever it is Vitani felt for Jayden, would be one of the hardest things Jayden'd have to face.

Dark and Jayden split up to search for Dayya. They started just outside the Pridelands since everywhere inside the border had been checked. Jayden went farther out into the fields than she had before, desperate for some sign or scent from her sister. After about an hour of searching, she saw her dad nearby, walking with his head down, headed toward the Pridelands. She approached him nervously. Was he angry like Vitani?

"Any sign of her?" Jayden asked carefully.

"None." The large yellow lion sighed. Jayden quickly searched his eyes and expression. He didn't seem angry, only worried and tired.

"Head home and get something to ear before it's all gone." Jayden said with a small smile. She was so relieved he didn't seem to blame her for what happened.

"I will. Will you be out here for a while?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Be careful, and come back before nightfall, alright?"

"Yes, Dad." Jayden wanted to roll her eyes, but didn't.

Tome trotted off. Jayden almost called him back to ask about Vitani. Was she still looking? Was she furious? But she decided against it. She probably didn't want to know.

She went in the direction Tome hadn't come from, hoping to go somewhere no one had searched yet. She picked up scents from random animals, and once: Vitani's scent. She made sure to go in a completely different direction than that scent. She picked up nothing from Dayya. Jayden was feeling worse. How far had she run?

"Oh, Dayya…" Jayden whispered to herself. "I'm so sorry."

Jayden wandered around until it was beginning to get dark. She had gone so far, it would take nearly an hour to get home unless she ran. Her paws were so sore. She trotted toward home, feeling defeated. When she finally got there, it was considerably darker. She was hungry again, but there was no food. She passed by the underside of Pride Rock and saw Temepst with Torrent, and Tome and Koru. Temepst called her over to them.

"I'm guessing you didn't catch a sign of her?" The cream-gray lioness asked.

"Nothing. Is um… mom still out there? She hasn't been back yet?"

"No. You know mother, she's very determined. I wouldn't be surprised if she stayed out all night." Tempest said and brushed a paw over Torrent's back. He was sound asleep in her paws.

The two were quiet for a moment until Jayden felt brave, "Look, I hope you're not mad at me about this whole thing. I never wanted to hurt Dayya ever. It just sort of happened with me and Dark. I couldn't change how I felt about him if I tried. And I did try."

"'Love has no rules.'" Tempest smiled, quoting their mother from a long time ago. "I'm not mad at you. I'm on neither side, because you're both my sisters, and I love you both and want you both to be happy. It is really unfortunate for Dayya that this happened, but I have a feeling everything will be just fine once things calm down."

"I just feel terrible and really want to talk to her."

"I know. You'll get to. You should get some rest, you look really tired."

"I will. Thanks." Jayden said, then headed up the stone steps. Kovu and Kiara were standing at themouth of the cave talking with one another. She heard them say "Kudzu fcouldn't find her either," as she walked by. As she entered the cave, she nearly walked into Drayden who was on his way out.

"Oh!" Jayden's eyes got huge. She hadn't thought of Drayden all day. He now knew the real reason why she'd turned him down. "I uh.. sorry. I must have been half asleep on my paws." She stammered, laughing nervously.

"That's okay." He said without emotion. "Can I talk to you for just a minute? I promise it won't be long, I know you're tired."

"Of course." She said, her heart racing. She followed him back down the steps and slightly to the side of Pride Rock.

Crickets were chirping. Jayden listened to them for a few moments when Drayden didn't speak right away. It was beginning to feel awkward until he finally said, "So… you and Dark?"

"Um…" Jayden muttered, then looked into his light blue eyes. "Yes."

"I see. I kinda thought there was something like that going on."

"I'm really sorry Drayden. I just… I mean, me and him have history. We were in love when we were younger, back when I used to live here. I couldn't let him go even after all this time. I really tried to." She felt bad for him saying all this, but she made sure to maintain eye contact with him to show she meant it. "Even if he and I weren't together now, it wouldn't have been fair to see you… you deserve to have a lioness's whole heart, not half of it."

Drayden looked at his paws.

"You really are a great guy, honestly." She went on. "You'll find someone better than me to be with."

"There is no one better than you, Jayden." He said, looking back at her. "But… thank you for saying that and for your honestly. You're a good friend."

The lioness sighed and smiled. "You're a good friend too."

"That Dark guy better always take care of you and always make you happy." He said with a stern look.

She giggled. "Don't worry."

"Alright, you go ahead and get some rest." Drayden said, raising his paw to touch her arm lightly. She smiled again, and nodded. She was so relieved the way they were ending things on a good note.

Drayden said he was going to the waterhole for a drink and wandered off. Jayden intended on going in the cave to sleep beside Zula as always, but then she changed her mind. She wouldn't have to sneak out and in anymore at night. Now that the secret was out, she and Dark could be together whenever they liked. She trotted farter to the side of Pride Rock to find him.

"You're back!" he said once he saw her.

She nuzzled him as a greeting, "I didn't have any luck finding Dayya, but I will go out again first thing tomorrow morning."

"I'll go with you." He replied.

"Okay. I'm gonna love spending time with you during the day." She grinned widely.

Dark chucked. "You're so cute. I'll enjoy it very much too."

"You're the cute one. And now I get to stay out here with you at night too!"

"You don't care what the others might think of you?" Dark tested.

"I'm… beginning to care a little less." Jayden laughed. "I just love you and know I want us to be together. I'll do anything to keep it this way."

He purred and nuzzled her lovingly.

Jayden tossed and turned in the night. Suddenly she woke up. She stood and looked out over the lands. It was nearing dawn. She could tell by the way the night wasn't perfectly black.

"Dark." She whispered. He lay beside her, sleeping deeply. "Dark." She said again, prodding his shoulder.

"Wuh?" he grunted.

"I know where Dayya is." Jayden said.

"Wuh?" he repeated, not opening his eyes.

"I'm going to go talk to her."

"How do you know?" he muttered sleepily, his eyes still closed.

"I don't know. I just…feel it." She looked out over the horizon. "I just know where to go."

"Mmkay be careful." Dark said, then rolled over to his other side. Jayden took a moment to take in his adorableness, then set off. It was true that she had no idea how she knew where her sister was. She hasn't had a dream or vision. It was like she woke up and knew. She didn't try to focus on how this was possible. She shut the logical part of her brain off, and just focused on travelling. It would be a far trip.

She travelled outside the Pridelands for several miles farther than she had the day before. It took almost two hours to get where she felt Dayya was, until the strange sense ceased. It was still early morning, the sun was rising. She began to doubt herself.

Maybe I was just sleepy and I had a strange dream that I don't remember? This seems crazy that I came all this way. I don't feel anything now.

She sat to rest a moment. She tossed her head, looking around. There were plenty of trees, but none low or large enough to conceal Dayya. She tried scenting for her, but got nothing. Why did her strange feeling lead her here?

Then a breeze blew through the area. It was strong enough to make her squint her eyes so debris wouldn't get in. She turned her head in the direction the breeze blew. Suddenly her feeling came back, and she set off in that direction. She could feel Dayya nearby. Jayden travelled only a few more minutes, then she saw her. Dayya was lying beside a large prickly looking bush. She had her head on her paws, but her eyes were open, looking straight ahead.

Jayden almost raced upon the scene but froze. What do I say? How do I say I'm sorry for something like this? Where do I even start?

She paused a moment, but then her inner voice spoke.

Start with words.

It struck her how simple that was. She nodded to herself, then trod forward. She tried to make her pawsteps noisy so Dayya wouldn't feel like she was being snuck up on.

As expected, the red lioness heard her sister's approach, and looked up at her. Jayden stopped in her tracks, still a ways away, but within hearing distance.

"Hey." Jayden said in a normal tone with half a smile.

"Hi." Dayya didn't move, and her expression didn't change.

At least she didn't run from me… or at me. Jayden thought. She took this as a good sign and came closer. Dayya looked away and didn't meet her sister's gaze.

"So, um." She started lamely. "I'm so glad I found you. Everyone's been worried."

Dayya didn't say anything, and just looked away.

"I think mother's been out all night. Somehow a strange feeling led me here to you. It pulled me. I can't explain how…"

The red lioness still didn't respond.

Enough babble.

Jayden sighed, "Dayya, I can't begin to express how sorry I am about everything that happened. What I said, what I did. I never ever meant to hurt you." She stepped closer. "You're my sister, I love you… I knew my relationship with Dark would hurt you, so that's why I kept it a secret from you and everyone else. I know that was deceptive, and maybe now I see that it was a bit dumb to do that. Secrets and lies only hurt others more. I just didn't want to hurt you, but I eneded up hurting you anyway. Kings, maybe even more than if I had just told you from the beginning."

Jayden sighed heavily. Dayya still hadn't looked at her, but she could tell her sister was listening by the one ear she had turned toward her voice. So she went on. "If I could go back and change that, I would of course. I would never said that awful thing either. I honestly didn't mean that. I was excited and bullheaded, but still that's no excuse, it was stupid of me to say. I am very sorry for that. I'm sorry for hurting you. But I'm not sorry for loving Dark."

She finally turned and looked at her. Her eyes were narrowed because of that last statement.

"Sorry to say it so bluntly, but if there's one thing I've learned recently, it's I deserve to be happy too. I love Dark and want to be with him, and he wants to be with me. We actually were in love when we were cubs too."

Dayya looked away again.

"I thought I should come out and say that too…" Jayden said with sorrow. "I just really hope you can forgive me. If not now, then someday. Hiding this thing was stupid and rude and wrong."

Dayya still didn't say anything. Jayden was running out of things to say. She felt hot tears stinging her eyes, threatening to come out. There was silence for a few moments, until Dayya said in a voice thick with sorrow,

"You have everything. It's not fair."

Jayden nearly laughed. "What?"

The red lioness turned sharply to her sister. "Is that funny to you?" she spat. "You have everything!"

"What are you talking about? I may have Dark now, but that's it."

"Not just him. You're a good huntress."

"I only just got better, you've been an amazing huntress since you started."

"Drayden's in love wit you."

Jayden flinched. "You know about that?"

"I could tell he liked you! When he first joined our pride I thought maybe I'd try to be friends with him, maybe get close. But he liked you right away. Because you're pretty and smart too. And you're mom and dad's favorite."

Jayden did laugh this time. It was so sudden it came out almost like a bark.

"No freaking way." Jayden said. "I'm mother's least favorite. She yells at me all the time and scowls at me constantly. You saw how she called me lazy and made me hunt everyday! And now she hates me for hurting you."

"At least she pays attention to you!" Dayya said.

"She wanted me to improve because I sucked so bad." Jayden said with a joking tone. Dayya only stared at her.

"I don't really prefer mother's company most of the time anyway. I don't think she and I really see eye-to-eye. Your relationship with her is much better, honest. You can have her."

Dayya sighed. "But not Dark?" she asked quietly.

Jayden whispered, "No."

Dayya stood slowly, and faced Jayden. "There's no way I'm going to be able to get used to this… seeing you two… as a couple. But I know I'm just going to have to get over it."

"Of course it will, I understand. So… do you forgive me? I really am sorry with every fiber of my being."

Dayya sighed again, "Yes I forgive you, I think."

Jayden smiled. "I'll take that. So are we sisters again?"

Dayya giggled quietly, "Yes. Sorry I said that."

"I deserved it." Jayden said, then hugged her sister. Her twin hugged back. After a moment, they pulled apart.

"Let's head home. Everyone will be glad to see you."