x Go On x

... His turquoise -now filled with tears- eyes looked at the two white cubs, Dume and Afunyeupe, then he moved around Nyesha... to lay beside her, between the Queen and the cave's wall. There, the barbary began to whisper ever so quietly, his voice barely audible and somewhat shaky. "Nyesha, it is fine if you need to leave, my love..." To him it was a lie, a blunt lie. How could he go on without her..? They were a team. They had been ever since the day they had met and became best friends. "There's no need for you to stay like this, suffering without a reason..." And for those who hadn't seen it before thet time... Xian found himself crying, letting tears trickle down his cheeks, leaving darker gold trails behind upon his cheeks. "You've suffered enough, dear... we're all going to miss you..." A creamy-hued paw was placed upon the lioness's motionless one. "...but you don't have to stay for us. I love you, with all my heart and soul... and you know this is only a stage, I'll see you again sometime..." He bites his trembling lower lip, nuzzling against the lioness while trying not to break into sobs. "...someday..." The large barbary quietly cleans his tears against her fur, still warm, still so soft.

"I love you, Nyesha. Always have and always will." Xian buried his head into the unconscious lioness' fur gently. "All of us love you. You were the best Queen I could've ever asked for, a loving mother and a wonderful mate... and I couldn't be anymore luckier." His free paw is used to rub the tears off his eyes quickly. "I'm going to miss you terribly..." He looks down to his two white cubs, Afunyeupe and Dume... then to Kulula, Ramses, Uzuri; the kids they had together. "...but they need me here, and if anything... I'll go on... for them." Turquoise eyes flicker to watch her belly... almost as if expecting her to stop breathing anytime soon. And when her last breath was released, the King leaned over to give her one last short kiss, squeezing his eyes shut to allow more tears to run down freely. "I...love you..." The barbary lion whispered quietly, blurry vision only managing to catch the sight of the now still form of his beloved Queen. It was over. It... was... over. And the lion... couldn't do anything... but stare.

---o---

Extract from a RPG session, the death of Nyesha; Xian's first and true love. I was reading through the log and I could barely keep myself from crying.. it was such a powerful scene. So, this is not only the scene after this one, but also in memory of those who have passed on, those we always hold tight against our hearts. My beloved dogs, Raisa and Samantha, my Grandmother, etc.