Chapter Text
Obasi's Pride Map
Chigaru's tree and the Shade Tree are ¾ mile apart.
1. Bye
The young lion cub sat back on his haunches in the tall, green grass of the Okavango Delta and observed the commotion going on around him. Today was a big day in the Ezolile Pride, of which his father was the king. Obasi was old enough to understand that being the son of the king made him a prince, but he was too young to care. The only thing he cared about was playing with the other cubs, especially Chigaru, who was his best friend in the whole world. The two boys got along great despite their age difference; they just connected better with each other than with any of the other cubs. Obasi also understood that today's fuss was about his best friend, but he couldn't fully grasp the importance of this ritual.
"Go give your friend a goodbye nuzzle." Queen Enzi licked her son affectionately and nosed him forward by his rump.
Chigaru stood in a place of honor between his father and King Kamili under the giant baobab they called the Shade Tree. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and sunlight flickered over the three lions. Obasi approached and lifted a paw to feel Chigaru's cheeks. They have become extra soft and cuddly recently because of his newly sprouting mane.
"Bye," Obasi whispered.
"Bye," Chigaru responded sadly.
In the Ezolile pride, males lived separately from the females and cubs, in different parts of the prideland territory. Now that Chigaru was an adolescent, he was considered old enough to live with the males. That was the way King Kamili ran their pride, and rules were rules. Obasi accepted it, but he couldn't foresee how much things would change for him.
Obasi didn't feel particularly close to any of the other cubs, all of whom had their own friend groups. Maybe it was his bossy personality and overly sensitive nature, or the fact that he was the son of the king, (likely a little of both), but he never felt fully accepted by his peers. They all still played with him, but it felt forced. Sometimes he heard the girls giggle and call him "O-bossy" behind his back. He missed the closeness he observed others sharing, that he used to share with Chigaru.
Chigaru and Obasi still saw each other at mealtimes and during special occasions, but they didn't have the opportunity to talk much, or much to talk about anymore. Mealtimes took place once every few days, and were usually frenzied events. What little socializing time there was, Chigaru spent it with his mother, whom he missed very much. The more the two boys grew, the more they grew apart, and the more time they spent apart, the more different their interests became, until they all but forgot their early childhood friendship.
2. Change is Good, but it's Not Easy
It was a rainy day at the Okavango Delta and the cubs huddled under their mothers to stay warm and dry. Bored and uncomfortable, Obasi squinted at the horizon, hoping for a break in the clouds. He stood upright when he spotted two lions in the distance.
"Who's that, Mama?" Obasi rubbed up against her shoulder.
Enzi stood as well and tilted her head. After a few moments she recognized her dear friend Tawi and her mate. One by one, the other lionesses and cubs stood and together they went to greet the approaching couple. Obasi didn't understand what was happening. Everyone was crowding around to get a better look, and suddenly Obasi gasped. Beneath the female toddled two tiny, speckled boys!
"Mama, twins!" he squealed.
The lionesses had to hold their curious cubs back to allow the proud, new mother space to get settled back with the pride. Obasi was hoping to have new playmates, and for a while, he did. Once the little boys were old enough, Obasi spent every playtime telling them silly stories that he made up, and practicing pouncing and wrestling with them. But as the twins grew, they bonded with each other to the exclusion of everyone else, and Obasi felt left out and lonely once again.
When Chigaru was nearing young adulthood, his father died. The pride came together under the Shade Tree to mourn. Obasi noticed that Chigaru's mother had many of the pride's lionesses supporting her, but no one was comforting Chigaru except his own mother and aunt. Led by the king, the pride's males approached Chigaru one by one and touched foreheads with him as a sign of grief and respect.
Even though Obasi wasn't officially "one of the males" yet, his mother encouraged him to join their activities during communal events, so that he could be prepared when it was time for him to go live with the males not too far in the future. He joined the end of the line, and instead of touching foreheads, he nuzzled his old friend when his turn came. They rubbed cheeks and Obasi lingered with his muzzle in Chigaru's short, flaxen mane. Childhood nostalgia overwhelmed Obasi when he sniffed the familiar scent of the cub he grew up with. He let out a low, rumbling sigh and wished they were still close friends, but those were the king's rules for the pride so that's how things were done.
3. Kinda Depressing
Seasons passed, and it was Obasi's turn to go live with the males. His mother had prepared him the best she could, but the adjustment was still difficult. He missed his mother terribly, and even the noise of the other cubs having fun around him. Being the youngest lion in this new group, Obasi found himself even more isolated than before.
At night, he would try to muffle the sound of his sad whimpering as he fell asleep by burying his face in his arms. He was determined not to let his father see him cry. That was a challenge, since they slept curled up together in the designated royal sleeping spot in an alcove of the Shade Tree. During the day, Obasi roamed alone and explored the areas of the prideland that he hadn't discovered yet.
On one of his hikes, he came across a young baobab tree at the far edge of the grassland. Chigaru lounged on one of the branches. It had been a long time since they were friends and Obasi felt awkward approaching him, but Chigaru was the only lion he knew here besides his father. He was also intrigued - he had never seen a grown lion in a tree before!
"Hello!" he called out.
"Hey there, little guy," Chigaru returned.
"Heyyy!" Obasi responded in an annoyed tone, bristling at the perceived insult. He tried to climb the tree to confront Chigaru, but he wasn't agile enough to hoist himself up to the lowest branch, which earned him a chuckle. He was at the age where he still carried some baby fat, but had not yet built up enough adult muscle for the challenge.
"Maybe you'll have more luck once you grow up a little." Chigaru flexed his whiskers and showed his teeth as he grinned, then rubbed his slender face all over the branch he was sitting on to mark it with his scent, hoping the young lion below him got the hint. Obasi huffed in his general direction and stalked away while his dignity was still mostly intact.
The next day Obasi returned to Chigaru's tree.
"Why don't you go play with the other cubs? I'm sure your father would make an exception for his prince," Chigaru asked as he gazed down at Obasi from his perch, and began to sharpen his claws on the branch in a bored manner. Obasi started to growl at the provocation - cub? He was old enough to live with the males - practically a man! But at least someone was talking to him so he tried to look past being called a cub - again.
"Pfft, I don't need an exception; I belong here. I LOVE it here," he clearly lied. "Besides, whom would I play with? Those weird twins who don't even realize anyone else exists? Or the girls who are probably relieved that their mothers don't make them include me in their games anymore?"
"Wow, kid, that's kinda depressing."
"Yeah, well. It's not like you have a vibrant social life yourself," Obasi deflected, thumping his tail.
"What do you mean? Me and my tree get along just fine." Chigaru yawned, jumped to a higher branch, and fell asleep in seconds.
4. Kibeti
Obasi made a habit of visiting Chigaru at his tree. Even though the older boy still taunted him, it became mostly good-natured, and Obasi made an effort to take his teasing less personally. And although Chigaru's attention was reluctant, Obasi thrived in it.
Because he couldn't climb up, and Chigaru still refused to come down, Obasi would lounge and roll in the grass, his sprouting mane blending seamlessly with the color of the grass in this dry season. Obasi would chat about things that are on his mind. Chigaru would listen silently from his perch, sometimes making random remarks and sarcastic comments that would make the younger lion laugh. Obasi wasn't sure he could call it friendship, but moments like that were what kept him coming back.
"Why don't you want to come down and spend time with me?" Obasi asked directly one morning, head tilted upwards to look Chigaru in the eye.
"Because you're a kibeti," Chigaru teased sleepily.
Obasi lunged at the tree trunk with a roar and swatted at Chigaru's swinging tail. "I'm not a runt; YOU'RE a runt. I'll end up twice your size when I'm done growing, wait and see!"
The older boy looked on, amused, and swung his tail harder for Obasi to catch.
"Before you went to live with the males, you played with me, and then I actually was a kibeti," Obasi complained.
"I didn't have anyone else."
"And you still don't."
"And you still are," Chigaru pointed out.
"Huh?"
"A kibeti."
Obasi felt the rejection tighten his throat and he galloped away with his ears flattened before Chigaru could see how much it upset him. He didn't come back to the tree the next day, or the day after. The boys saw each other at mealtime, but as before, they didn't have an opportunity to socialize. They both valued the time they could spend with their mothers, happy to share some cuddles with them, and groom each other after long days apart.
5. Tell Me Something
On the third day, Chigaru began to feel a little guilty for the way he spoke to Obasi, and he even started to miss his little friend. It surprised him to realize that he actually thought of him as a friend. He wasn't even sure why he had behaved the way he did. Some thoughts about fear of vulnerability surfaced but Chigaru pushed them back down, and set off to find Obasi and make amends.
He spotted the younger lion in the distance, snoozing by an oxbow lake, one paw dipped in the water to cool off. Chigaru crept up and ran through the water, splashing the sleeping lion awake. Obasi sat right up, disoriented, confused even further when Chigaru headbutted him. So many questions were running through his mind but he was too sleepy to formulate any of them so he defaulted to twitching ears and confused grunting.
"Tell me something," Chigaru finally said.
"Huh...?" Obasi scratched behind his ear with his hind leg.
"Anything. Tell me one of your silly stories or wacky ideas or about some weird lizard you saw," he swung his paw back and forth.
"But... why?"
Chigaru made a non-committal sound.
"You were mean to me," Obasi pointed out.
Chigaru sighed. "I realized that, and now I regret it. But why did you want to be friends with someone who's mean?"
Obasi shrugged and fell silent.
The boys settled down to relax by the water, each lost in his own thoughts, alone but together. When the sun began to set and the huge curve of the orange moon first peeked over the horizon, Obasi gave Chigaru's mane a quick lick and took off running home to his father. Chigaru rolled over and called out, "See you tomorrow?" with a silly, toothy grin on his face.
"If you want!" Obasi yelled back over his shoulder without breaking stride.
6. Obasi & Chigaru
Chigaru did want. For the two friends, their time together became the highlight of their days. One would spot the other across the grassland and call his name, and the other would respond.
"Obasi!"
"Chigaru!"
"Obasi!"
"Chigaru!"
"Obasi!"
...and continue in this way until they would meet with a running crash, a tumble, and giggles. Their overly enthusiastic greetings ritual often ended with them licking their bumps and bruises. They would spend their days talking, grooming each other, splashing in ponds, racing, wrestling, and even napping in a cuddle pile like all the other lions in the pride did. In the evenings, the two would part with a headbutt and a, "Love ya!" as Obasi returned to the Shade Tree, and Chigaru climbed up his favorite baobab for the night. It felt good to fit in, even for Chigaru, who used to insist that he preferred solitude.
The boys' mothers noticed a positive change in their sons, and eagerly discussed how grateful and pleased they were to see them happy and thriving. Mealtimes went from bittersweet reunions, short reprieves for the boys from their daily lives, to happy and fun occasions where sometimes all four of them spent time together, almost as a family.
7. Grownup Matters
Obasi was enjoying Chigaru's company as they strolled together one cloudy afternoon, and began to wonder why it seemed like no one else did.
"There's no one my age," Chigaru explained. "The other males are from a different generation. They're mostly decent dudes, it's just... I don't know. Spending time with them is basically like being alone. You know how it is."
"Yeah," Obasi snorted. "But... how about the females? There are several who are your age."
"You know we can't just go there without a reason."
"Right, but lions who have mates can go back and forth any time they want."
After a minute of no response: "Why don't you have a mate yet?"
More silence.
"Is it because you were mean to the girls like you were to me?"
Chigaru burst out laughing, which surprised Obasi and made him feel warm inside.
When he recovered from his laughter, Chigaru said with a wink, "Being mean doesn't exactly work, does it?"
Obasi pounced on Chigaru for that, and pawed at him repeatedly while pulling his ear with his teeth. Chigaru shook his friend off and he landed on the ground in a cloud of dust.
"RUDE!" Obasi accused. They walked on.
"But wait," Obasi remembered, "you didn't answer my question."
"Because that's a grownup matter, and not for little boys."
"Oh, come on! Move on from that already. It's getting old."
Chigaru laughed and sprinted ahead.
"I am grown," Obasi growled as he caught up.
"Sure," Chigaru replied, ruffling Obasi's peak of a mane at the top of his head.
"Look, I almost caught up to you." Obasi puffed out his chest to show off how dense his mane was becoming. "So come on. JUST TELL ME!" he shouted, leaning against Chigaru with his full weight, knocking him off his path. Despite being smaller than Chigaru, Obasi was heavier and he loved to use it to his advantage.
Chigaru lunged towards Obasi with his claws unsheathed, and when the younger lion didn't dodge fast enough, he intentionally missed swiping him. "Bring it up again and I won't miss."
Obasi stopped walking and stared with wide eyes and slack jaw. "Alright, alright. I can't tell if you're kidding, but... okay, I'll drop it, wow." Then a minute later, "But I'm not a 'little boy,'" in a tone that mocked Chigaru's own.
Chigaru scrunched his nose and stuck his tongue out at Obasi. "Love ya, even if you are too hyper for your own damn good," Chigaru said and rubbed his pal on the shoulder.
The boys' friendship was secure enough by now that they just pressed up against each other like nothing happened, and walked on.
8. Looks Like the Winds are Changing
With the change of the seasons came time for the twins to join the males. As the pride gathered under the lush canopy of the Shade Tree, Obasi took some time to consider how he no longer felt envious of their closeness, because now he had something like it with Chigaru. All the resentment was gone, and instead he felt happy that Moshi and Pilipili would have a much easier transition than he did. He gave each of the young lions a welcoming hug.
Chigaru looked on and smiled, impressed with how much Obasi changed and matured. He was a better person than Chigaru himself was at around that age; he winced, remembering how he treated young Obasi when all he was looking for was some kindness. Perhaps they've both grown, with each other's help. And Chigaru couldn't help but admire other ways Obasi has grown as well, how big and handsome he had become, how full and sleek his mane was, how—
Obasi turned and slow-blinked at Chigaru, interrupting his thoughts. He returned Chigaru's gentle smile with a sheepish one of his own, recalling how he angrily called the boys "weird twins" all that time ago. He was proud of himself with how far he'd come, and grateful to Chigaru for helping him get there. The two young men suddenly became very aware of just how much things have changed since the early days of their friendship.
At the end of the day, the pair separated for the night as they always did. Obasi had walked Chigaru back to his tree after the ceremony, which is where the older boy now lay in a cozy position, his chin resting on folded paws, watching his friend return home to his father. He was so drowsy that he barely registered the way Obasi paused, looked around, then rubbed his thick mane on a shrub at the edge of Chigaru's small portion of the territory. Even though Obasi wouldn't see it, Chigaru blinked slowly at him, and drifted off to sleep.
The following evening, Chigaru was once again watching Obasi walk home, and observed the same behavior. Rubbing up on vegetation was ordinary, but what piqued his curiosity was how he looked around first to see if anyone was watching. That made Chigaru wonder, and he resolved to confront Obasi about it if it happened again.
When they next parted for the night, Chigaru was ready. The moment he saw his friend look left and right, he called out, "Good night, Obasi! Pleasant dreams!"
Obasi jumped in shock and took off running. Chigaru descended from his tree and easily overtook him. He knocked Obasi to the ground with a playfully triumphant laugh and straddled him, placing both front paws on his chest to keep him down.
"What were you doing?"
Obasi's ears flattened. "Nothing!"
"Why did you run when you heard me?"
"Because you startled me, man! Let me up!" Obasi writhed.
"What were you doing?" Chigaru insisted again, his tail lashing.
"If you were spying on me then you must've seen! Rubbing against some plants is a crime now?"
Chigaru narrowed his eyes. "Why did you check to see if anyone was looking?"
"Didn't check well enough, obviously," Obasi deflected with a huff.
"I'm going to hold you down until you answer."
They both knew Obasi was strong enough to easily break away if he wanted to.
Obasi took a moment to consider his options. "I don't know... I just... I was picking up your scent from the bushes you marked."
"Ha! I thought so!" Chigaru pushed down, trying to make himself heavier. "Why?"
Obasi took in a shaky breath and squeezed his eyes shut. "You'll laugh at me. I... like having your smell on me when I fall asleep. Go ahead and call me odd or immature or offbeat like the cubs we grew up with always did behind my back. Maybe they were right."
Chigaru's grip loosened and Obasi dared take a peek at his reaction. He wasn't sure what to expect, but the soft, lopsided smile he saw wasn't it.
"I'd never say or think those things about you."
Obasi was now free to get up, but he did not. After a minute of neither lion making a move, Chigaru brought his face close to Obasi's, so close that the younger lion was sure his friend would feel the heat radiating from his rapidly flushing cheeks. Obasi held his breath as Chigaru burrowed his whisker pads into his mane, leaving his mark.
"There you go. Good night, buddy, for real this time!" And Chigaru ran off.
Obasi remained frozen, lying on his back, overwhelmed.
"Hurry home before your father sends a search party!" Chigaru called over his shoulder. "L-love ya!"
Later that night, Obasi opened his eyes. It was dark. His arm was around Chigaru, paw resting on his heart, claws entwined in the sleeping lion's mane. He pulled him closer and inhaled his scent... but, how? They slept in different places at night. Obasi opened his eyes. It was dark and he was sleeping beside his father, in the royal family alcove as usual. He sat up, panting and disoriented. In the distance he was just able to make out his best friend's silhouette in the gentle moonlight, sleeping on his usual branch in his usual tree.
Shaking the sleep from his head, Obasi decided to get some water. What was that dream all about? Completely mundane, yet at the same time, not. He relieved himself, took a long drink from the lagoon, and splashed his face to clear his thoughts. Back at his sleeping spot, Obasi curled up with his face buried in his arms, taking long, deep breaths, until he fell back to sleep. If he dreamed again, he didn't remember it.
9. A Really Cool Place
"Obasi."
He awoke to his father's voice and squinted against the sun filtering through the canopy of the Shade Tree. He had slept all through the morning and almost until midday.
"We need to talk tonight, son."
"What about?'
"Tonight. Meet me back home at sunset. What are your plans for today?"
"Oh," his eyes lit up, "I'm going to bring Chigaru to this really cool pl..."
The king pursed his lips and exhaled, and Obasi's voice trailed off. He didn't want to get his father in a bad mood so he fought the urge to ask more questions, and got ready for the day in silence.
"Chigaru!"
"Obasi!"
"Chigaru, come! I have a surprise for you!"
They raced along a river bank and down a path that wound between low, scraggly bushes, and led right up to a sycamore fig tree. Its wide trunk diverged right from the ground into two individual, sloping trunks.
"Watch," Obasi said enthusiastically. He backed up, and with a running leap, he scaled the more inclined trunk right up to the lowest branch, where he swayed for a moment before finding his balance.
"What do you think?" Obasi was breathless and his heart was hammering. "I know how much you like sitting in trees, and I can't climb them, but then I happened to come across this one that has a branch that's low enough for me, and sturdy enough for the both of us, so I practiced and practiced until I could do it in one leap, and now... now we can do your favorite activity together!" Obasi beamed. He realized he was rambling. Why was he rambling?
Chigaru stood at his full height and leaned his front paws against the branch. "I love this." He leapt up beside Obasi and rubbed noses with him. "What an idea, and what a find! Well done, little guy."
"I'm bigger than you if you haven't noticed," Obasi grunted and whipped Chigaru with his tail in mock indignation.
"I can't believe this still gets a rise out of you!" Chigaru crowed.
The sun began to sink in the sky and Obasi grew fidgety and anxious. He got up to leave and Chigaru placed his paw on Obasi's to stop him.
"Stay here with me until the stars come out."
Obasi nuzzled Chigaru's paw. "I need to be home early, after yesterday."
"Alright, just..." Chigaru leaned in close and brushed his whisker pads against the mane on Obasi's cheeks. "Now you can go."
Obasi scrunched his nose as he sniffed. He grinned and carefully made his way down from the tree. "I'll see you tomorrow, love you," he called up, and ran back home.
King Kamili sat by the Shade Tree, waiting for his son, his thick mane looking even more regal when backlit by the golden glow of the setting sun. The other males, who usually spent time around the giant baobab's perimeter, were nowhere to be seen. Obasi hesitantly approached his father, feeling a little intimidated by his authoritative stance, unsure why he was summoned for an official talk. He knew he wasn't the most respectful child to his father, and they got into arguments at times, but he didn't recall doing anything particularly troublesome recently.
"Sit. So tell me... what do you and that boy get up to all day?"
"What? Chigaru and I just spend time together. We play."
"'Play.' At your age you spend the day playing games instead of planning for your future? Unless you use that word to mean something different," he looked at Obasi pointedly.
"Father, what does that even mean?"
"Where did you sneak off to in the middle of the night? Why do you keep coming home with his scent on your mane like that?" Kamili scowled.
Obasi's mind raced, trying to make sense of his father's words. He felt his face heat up. It hadn't even occurred to him that his father would notice, he... there was no reasonable way to justify his behavior, not even to himself.
"I must've brushed up on some vegetation in his part of the territory when I was getting a drink, that's all," he said, working to keep his tone calm and indifferent. That was close enough to the truth anyway. "What are you implying?"
"You are a grown man now, and it's time you start planning for your future and the future of this pride. Our legacy. Our bloodline. And that involves a female."
Obasi sat in silence, trying to decipher what it was his father wanted from him.
"Heirs!" The king nearly shouted when his son didn't seem to be picking up on his meaning. Then, more quietly, "My son, you need to spend less time with that gay boy and focus on what's important: selecting a mate worthy of this pride's future. Oh, it's my fault for allowing this in the first place, and for letting it go on for so long. I didn't think it was a big deal at the time, and now that you're grown... I should NOT have been this relaxed about it."
He roared in frustration and continued, "Not everything that is acceptable for pride members is acceptable for the son of a king, do you understand what I'm telling you?" Kamili looked at his son to see if he was following. "The royal family lives under different rules," he stomped at the ground with one front paw to emphasize those words. "Oh, good thing my father isn't alive to see this happen... again," the king mumbled under his breath.
Obasi sat back on his haunches, processing his father's monologue. His rapid breathing turned into panting. "First of all," he whined quietly. "FIRST OF ALL," he tried again, tail thudding loudly against the ground, "I don't know what you just called my friend, but Chigaru is the best damn lion in this whole pride, with the exception of Mother, and you know that. Full offense intended!"
Kamili's eyes darkened. His ears flattened and his nostrils flared. He loved his son but recognized that the boy had anger and impulse control issues that could rival his own. They were more alike than he wished to admit.
"What's wrong with having a friend? If you didn't want me to have friends, you should have given me a brother," Obasi continued bitterly, knowing he was about to say something he would regret, but not caring in the moment, "Oh, but you and Mother couldn't even tolerate each other long enough to MAKE ONE!"
The king's vision went red and he rose up to full height with a deep growl.
But Obasi wasn't finished yet. "If your relationship with Mother is any indication of what my future will be like, why would I ever want a mate?"
King Kamili let out a guttural roar and brought his paw down on his son, claws extended. He caught him on his haunch, and the force sent Obasi tumbling. Obasi scrambled back upright and father and son faced each other eye to eye, growling, teeth bared, feeling each other's hot breath.
"You are," the king spit, "INCREDIBLY disrespectful. Arrogant! Immature!"
"I KNOW. So what makes you think I'm ready to start a family?"
Obasi continued to glare, but his father's look softened. What was he doing? This was his son! Kamili saw beyond his rage, beyond his son's rage. He saw himself as a young adult, sitting in Obasi's place.
"Do you love him?"
"Of course I do! Of course."
Of course he did. How could they be such close friends for as long as they have been if they didn't love each other? Where did that question even come from?
"Son, I want you to be happy. That is my purpose in life, along with the safety and success of this pride. Do what you feel is right for you. Chigaru is a fine young man; don't get me wrong. I respect him, as I do every member of the pride. He wouldn't be here if I didn't, so you can settle down with your defense campaign. But promise me that you will give our family and our pride an heir in the future, and secure the continuation of our bloodline. Swear it."
Obasi was baffled and relieved. He promised his father whatever he wanted to hear. This was a problem for older, more mature Obasi to deal with. As long as it didn't change anything in the present, he didn't have to think about it. Obasi's father laid a paw on his shoulder, and after a few long moments, pulled him into a tight hug.
"I love you, son, you know that, right?"
"I love you too, Dad."
Father and son fell asleep in a pile, something they haven't done in a long time.
11. Anything You'd Ask
"Obasi!"
"Obasi!" Chigaru called the next morning, and for the first time, Obasi didn't answer. He was still dazed from last night's events when Chigaru trotted up and rubbed up on him. They strolled for a bit until Chigaru broke the silence. "I heard shouting last night. Is everything okay, my guy?"
Obasi felt his cheeks get warm. "What did you hear?" he asked calmly while panicking internally.
"Honestly, nothing. That's why I'm asking," Chigaru grinned his toothy grin, and Obasi noticed for the first time how endearing it was.
"It was just me and my dad getting on each other's nerves, you know how it goes."
They bumped heads and continued walking. Chigaru waited for more, his ears upright and facing the action. When Obasi didn't continue, Chigaru flopped down right in his path to get his attention, causing Obasi to stumble and fall right on top of him.
"Oof!" Chigaru groaned. "This was a bad idea. When did you stop being a kibet—?"
Obasi playfully put both paws over his friend's mouth until he was clawing at them and gasping for breath.
"Okay, I deserved that."
Obasi cackled, and the two lions shared a moment.
"Obasi..."
"Hmm?"
"I love you, dude, but you gotta get off because my bones are about to snap."
Obasi rolled off, still laughing. "So this is what it takes for you to finally admit I'm not a 'little guy' anymore. Justice at last! Fight the power!" he teased.
Chigaru rose up on one elbow and raised his eyebrows at his friend lying next to him. "So the future king is going to revolt against power."
Obasi sighed, "Would you join me if I did?"
"I would join you for anything you'd ask of me. But what do you mean?"
"Can we overthrow my father?"
"I'm ready to listen if you're ready to talk."
Obasi took a deep breath. "He started talking about the future and how he wants me to choose a mate," he waved his paw dismissively.
Chigaru waited for Obasi to continue and then said, "I'm glad he's letting you choose instead of picking someone himself. So why the fighting?"
There were longstanding rumors circulating throughout the pride that King Kamili and Queen Enzi had been betrothed by their own parents as cubs, and their relationship suffered as a result. Only the older generation knew for sure if that was true.
"He said that's what I should be doing instead of spending time with you. Stupid, right?" Obasi's tail whipped back and forth wildly.
Chigaru felt lightheaded. "Why instead?"
"Good question. As if I can't do both!"
"So are you gonna do both?" Chigaru reached a paw out.
Obasi took it. "No. I'm not going to do what he asked."
They lay there silently for a long time, on their backs, manes and paws intertwined, watching the clouds sail by. Thinking their own thoughts.
"So you'd join me for anything I'd ask of you, huh?" Obasi shifted closer to Chigaru.
"Of course."
"Really?"
"Why not? I'm not busy today," Chigaru smiled widely.
Obasi rolled his eyes and knocked his knee into his friend's, and Chigaru returned the gesture.
"So, what actually started the fight?" Chigaru finally asked.
"The fight started because I told him," Obasi began, but interrupted himself with suppressed laughter. "Oh my Constellations, I can't believe myself. It all feels so different in the daylight. I told him that he and my mother couldn't stand each other long enough to make a second child and he smacked me on my behind."
Chigaru's mouth fell open and Obasi broke down laughing.
"You are absolutely wild, Obasi! What?" Chigaru's voice went up in pitch as he emphasized the word wild. "You SAID that? To the KING? Tell me you're lying."
"I know, I don't know what was going through my head."
"And he slapped you? Let me see."
Obasi nodded towards his rump at the faint scratch marks.
"You know you totally deserved that, right? I would've done the same."
Obasi shoved Chigaru, but said, "Fair."
12. Something's Wrong
Later that day the group of males was heading to mealtime. Chigaru convinced Obasi to apologize to his father for what he had said. He was worried it would reflect badly on his own status in the kingdom, because the fight involved him in some way he couldn't completely understand, but he also truly felt it was the right thing to do. He loved Obasi but that boy could really get creative with his insults when stressed out.
Chigaru hung back and watched father and son interact. The king nodded and put a paw on his son's head. Then, surprisingly, he headed towards Chigaru and did the same thing.
"Thank you," Kamili said simply to the young lion, and walked on.
Chigaru took a moment to compose himself and jogged over to Obasi.
"What did you say to him? Did you tell him it was my idea?"
"No way! I wanted all the credit," Obasi winked, "but it looks like my father knows me better than I thought."
Chigaru, Obasi, and the twins all ran ahead as soon as they spotted their mothers. They gathered around the meal and Obasi looked at all the members of his pride. There were the girls he grew up with. They acted nice enough from what he remembered, except when Halisi and Nuru laughed at him behind his back. Nia had been the only genuinely nice girl, though Obasi always felt like it was out of pity. Eshe didn't try to pretend to like him which Obasi actually kind of respected. They were all polite to him because they had to be. So much time had passed, though. How did his father expect him to know them if he was being kept isolated from them?
He glanced at his father sitting all the way on the far side, while the other males sat with their mates. How did all of them choose each other? How did some of the relationships end up better than others? Random chance? His head was spinning. He would be forced to go through this some time in the future like he promised.
Did his father choose his own mate because he knew she would be a great mother? She was, and for that Obasi was eternally grateful, but he wanted more than that for himself. He wasn't ready. Would he ever be ready?
He continued observing all the lions around the circle as he chewed, until his eyes locked with Chigaru's. They both grinned widely and made playful faces at each other. If only Chigaru was a female, I wouldn't be having this dilemma, Obasi thought and immediately gasped at his own audacity. He felt his face get so hot that he was sure everyone could see him blush through his fur. It was so inappropriate but he couldn't stop his mind from racing.
The entirety of this hypothetical future played out in his mind against his will. Royal Umshado ceremony uniting them in marriage (stop, that's nonsense). Giving his father the heir he was so insistent upon (if only!). Creating that heir (no no no, why? please. just. stop!). He shook his head wildly to disrupt his thoughts.
But if Chigaru was a female, they'd lose all their shared history, and Obasi refused to give it up for anything. Trade his past for his future? Which would he choose? Why did he have to choose? What was he even thinking; he didn't, he couldn't, there were no options. None of his thoughts were real.
Obasi tried to stop his mind. He took deep breaths and closed his eyes, but threw them back open immediately because that only helped his wild thoughts flourish. So he ran. Everyone turned to look. His mother got up to follow but Chigaru caught her eye and gestured. She nodded, and Chigaru took off instead.
He caught up to Obasi to find him clawing at the grass, shoulders heaving. He called his name softly so as not to startle him, and approached. "What's wrong, my friend?"
"Nothing. Everything. I don't know." Chigaru was the only person in the world he could talk to about anything, but he definitely couldn't talk to him about this.
"Is this about your conversation with your father last night?"
"No. Maybe."
Chigaru laid a paw on Obasi's back and asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"
Obasi stayed silent so Chigaru just patted his back.
"What's wrong with me?" Obasi sniffled.
Chigaru leaned over and whispered in his ear, "Absolutely nothing. I think you're perfect."
13. The Way Home
The sun had set a while ago. The boys' mothers came by to check on them and bring them some leftover bones, since the meal was over and they had not eaten their fill. The next successful big kill would likely not be for another several days. They nuzzled their sons, and Queen Enzi laid her chin on Chigaru's head as a way of thanking him. Since the boys have become close, he was the only one who could calm her son when he got this upset.
"The males have already returned home," Chigaru's mother said, rubbing her cheek against each boy's head in turn, "and you should not wait long to follow. Get back safely."
Chigaru and Obasi finished gnawing on their bones and started towards home, shoulder to shoulder. After a while, Chigaru hesitantly asked, "Why... why don't you want a mate?"
"Why don't YOU want a mate?" Obasi countered before the last word was even out of Chigaru's mouth.
"Hey now, didn't I warn you what would happen if you asked me again?" Chigaru said jokingly, hoping to lighten the mood. He reared up in a playful pounce.
Obasi reacted immediately. He reared up taller than Chigaru, wrestled him to the ground, and pinned him down with one paw on his chest. The other paw was on the ground, supporting his weight to keep it off Chigaru. He didn't want to hurt him again, like earlier that day. "And didn't I warn you that I'd end up twice your size?" Obasi said with a hint of a smile.
They were breathing more heavily and their heart rate was surprisingly faster than warranted by this level of exertion. Time slowed down for Chigaru. His mind processed the paw holding him down, the strands of mane tickling his whiskers, the straining muscle of Obasi's arm to his left, directly in his line of sight, his own paw resting on it outside of his conscious decision, the breath mingling with his, the way—
Lightning bloomed across the sky and the trance broke. Chigaru blinked and chuffed. "Are you feeling any better, buddy?" he asked Obasi.
"I think so."
The young men scurried upright and shook themselves off.
"So what were you about to do before the storm interrupted?" Chigaru winked. "Beat me up?"
Obasi's expression went from flustered to amused. He opened his mouth to say something but before he could, thunder cracked. The sky unleashed a downpour, and they raced towards home.
14. Real
The next few days were mercifully mundane. Nobody mentioned what had happened, least of all the boys. On the way to the next meal, Chigaru caught Obasi looking anxious so he whispered, "It's okay, man, no one remembers. They all have their own lives to worry about. You're good. Good?" Obasi swallowed and nodded, and things remained routine, at least superficially.
In his mind, though, Obasi had been analyzing every detail that happened, starting with that talk with his father. His father's every word, his own every thought, Chigaru's every action, repeating in his mind, outside of his control. There was one thing he didn't understand.
Obasi stirred awake at the earliest sign of predawn and his brain resumed obsessing over the conversation with his father. He needed to talk to someone about it. It was very early but he knew he wouldn't be going back to sleep so he sprinted to Chigaru's tree. His friend was asleep, as expected, so Obasi just paced. Then he lied in the grass, gazing up at Chigaru. Then he hopped from paw to paw, willing him to wake up.
When Chigaru finally did awaken, he stretched across the branch to his full length and began grooming himself. Mid-lick, he glanced downward and yelped. He instantly leapt up to a higher branch and took a more careful look from the safer spot. "Obasi, WHAT are you doing?" he hissed.
The younger lion was on his back on the ground right under Chigaru, paws bent at the wrist over his chest, staring absently past the tree, past his friend, past the sky, eyes unfocused. "Waiting for you to wake up."
"Why? And why didn't you say anything when I did?!"
"I didn't want to scare you," still with the faraway stare.
"That's incredibly thoughtful," Chigaru commented sarcastically as he made his way down, fur still bristled. The friends settled down side by side and Chigaru resumed his morning bath. Obasi helped him with the hard-to-reach parts of his mane.
"Chigaru..." Obasi couldn't wait any longer to discuss what he came to discuss.
"Obasi," he answered in their usual way.
"What's 'gay'?"
Chigaru's head popped up so fast from cleaning his toes that it knocked right into Obasi's jaw. They both roared.
"You don't know?" Chigaru asked, clutching at the bump on his head.
"No. That's why I'm asking," Obasi replied, gently feeling his sore chin.
"Where did you hear it?"
"Uh," Obasi hesitated, "I overheard someone say it."
"So why didn't you ask them?"
"I can't ask if I overheard it, can I?"
"In what context?"
"Why don't you just tell me!?"
Chigaru sighed. "It's when two males or two females love each other as mates."
Obasi forgot to breathe. He flopped onto the grass and let out a laugh of relief. This wasn't something that his weird mind invented? Was he tormenting himself for nothing? "That's real?"
"Of course it is, silly. I'm surprised you didn't know. You, of all people..." Chigaru trailed off and looked away pointedly.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"N-never mind. How sheltered are you?"
"Pretty sheltered; have you met my father? 'I'm Obasi, son of Kamili, heir to the Ezolile blah blah of the Inkosigodi who-even-cares,'" Obasi recited sarcastically. "If it doesn't directly relate to ruling a kingdom, there's no reason for me to know it, or do it, or learn about it."
"Now you know."
"Now I know."
Obasi's emotional turmoil and poor sleep caught up to him and he dozed off right there by the tree while contemplating Chigaru's revelation.
15. Everyone Knows
Obasi awoke from a dream, a memory of his father scolding him, "My son ... spend less time with that gay boy ... select a mate ... our pride's future." He groaned loudly. The sun had moved from the horizon to directly overhead, and he was parched. Chigaru wasn't around so he went off to find him, and some water.
"Chigaru!" He spotted him across the floodplain, resting near the oxbow lake.
"Obasi!"
"Chigaru."
"Obasi!"
"Chigaru." Obasi felt too subdued for their usual enthusiastic crash greeting.
"Hello, sleepyhead."
They headbutted and rubbed muzzles. Obasi bent down to drink and Chigaru joined him. Obasi drank his fill and stood up, grunting and shuddering at the satisfaction. He watched his reflection waver in the ripples caused by Chigaru.
"Look," Obasi said. "There's us."
Chigaru put his head on Obasi's shoulder. They stayed that way for a bit, taking turns tapping the water and watching themselves swirl in the lake by which their friendship first formed when Chigaru splashed him awake so long ago. After a while, they headed to their special tree, the sycamore fig which they could both climb.
"You alright?" Chigaru asked, laying a paw on Obasi's cheek, concerned at how mellow his normally spirited friend was acting. Obasi nodded.
"How did... I mean," Obasi took a deep breath and restarted, "how does someone know they are gay? Is it something lions know from birth?"
"Hm, I think most figure it out when they get to the age when their mane starts filling out. A lion might feel an attraction towards males, or females, or sometimes both."
"Wow, both?" Obasi got very quiet for a while. "What about... neither? Can that happen?"
"Maybe? I think so. I never thought about it, but I don't see why not. Everyone is different," Chigaru said with the lighthearted tone of someone never needing to face a kingly responsibility to do something against his nature. He paused to let Obasi take all that in and continued, "And if there's someone they love, and that lion or lioness feels the same way, then they become mates."
"So that could explain why a lion might remain without a mate five or six seasons after his mane fills out, even though there are surely many lionesses in the pride very interested in him because he is so handsome? Because he can't love them back in that way?" Obasi asked with an innocent smile.
"Five or six? How old do you think I am?" Chigaru raised a paw to his chest and gasped, pretending to be offended. "Oops, so much for plausible deniability," he smirked and shouldered Obasi gently so as not to knock him off the branch.
Obasi wasn't in the mood. His entire perception of reality, his life, his history, and possibly his future was affected by what he learned today. "Why would you want to deny something so beautiful?" he whispered.
"What beautiful thing am I denying?" Chigaru asked doubtfully.
"Yourself." Obasi looked down at the branch they were sitting on to avoid looking at Chigaru.
"What's up with you today, buddy?" Chigaru gave Obasi a gentle shake. "You're being too serious. And you just complimented my looks twice in a row. Are you flirting with me?" He laughed loudly to mask the awkwardness he felt.
"No!" Obasi shouted, almost angrily, swishing his tail. "But I have eyes, okay? I stated an objective fact."
Chigaru looked at his friend skeptically. "It was a joke, Obasi. A joke to lighten the mood." He tried to lift Obasi's chin so they could look at each other but Obasi resisted. "I honestly thought you already knew about... me. It's not a secret. Everyone knows."
Obasi shook his head sadly. "I'm going to take a walk." And when he saw Chigaru start to get up, he put out a paw and added, "I need to be alone with my thoughts right now."
"No, please. I'm sorry if I was acting too frivolous; please stay. I didn't mean—"
"It's not that. Well, it's not only that. I'll find you when I'm ready." Obasi licked Chigaru's face and made his way down as Chigaru reached out to try to grasp at him. When Obasi was halfway across the floodplain, he turned back and yelled, "I love you!"
"I love you, too!" Chigaru called back, and his voice caught. The emotions of the past several days overtook him and he was surprised to feel his eyes well up and his throat tighten. This was exactly the sort of thing he was afraid of back when Obasi first tried to initiate a friendship, yet he allowed himself to become vulnerable. He lied down on the branch and cried softly, wondering what he could've said or done differently, regretting using humor to deflect from uncomfortable conversation, wishing things could go back to the way they were.
16. (Almost) Everyone Knows
Obasi never wanted things to go back to the way they were. He never wanted to feel like his feelings were wrong when they weren't. He wanted all that recent tension he felt between himself and Chigaru to finally end. He needed to work things out without a misguided inner voice shrieking at him to STOP, STOP, STOP!
He ran and ran without direction, past the dead tree in the gulch, and over hills. He leapt off the ridge, felt the wind through his mane, and let his mind wander freely. When he finally stopped to rest, he found himself not far from the females' part of the territory. There was someone he could talk to other than Chigaru after all. What did the rules he grew up with matter now, anyway? What else was a lie? He went to look for his mother for comfort and advice.
When Enzi first saw her son looking as rattled as he did, she thought something terrible had happened and Obasi was here to deliver the news. She chuffed and grunted with relief when he assured her that everyone was okay, and mother and son settled down in a snuggle. Obasi purred loudly as his mother began to groom him just like when he was a cub. She waited for him to open up about the reason he disregarded his father's own law to come to her, and soon enough, he was ready.
Obasi told his mother everything and let her console him. She listened and didn't interrupt.
"And then I told him I needed time to figure stuff out and here I am." Obasi turned to look up at his mother who had been running her claws through the mane at the back of his neck. His eyes were red. Her expression was unreadable. "What?" he asked.
"My love... I honestly thought you two were already a couple. I was waiting for you to be ready to tell me."
"You did?"
"Everyone did. Your father. Chigaru's mother. It's obvious to everyone that you two are in love."
"It's true," interjected a passing lioness, and her companion nodded.
"We're friends," Obasi corrected, looking around wildly, bewildered at being the center of attention.
Enzi gave her son a doubtful look. "Would you be here right now if that was the case?"
Obasi replayed the conversation with his father through the new perspective of "everyone thought you were a couple, including your father." He covered his face with his arms and groaned. Why was he the last one to see what was so obvious to everyone else? "So what should I do?"
"Find that boy and put him at ease. He's probably feeling very anxious right now. Tell him how you feel. You'll both feel better."
Obasi ran the back of his paw over his eyes and squeezed his mother in a big hug. "But what about the promise I made to Father?"
Enzi sighed, "The continuation of the bloodline is an important duty for every king, but that's still a long way away. It doesn't have to be your daily reality, Obasi. You can make this work if you want to."
Obasi whimpered and nodded.
"I know, darling, I know. I can speak with the lionesses. There are some very fine young women who would be happy to join the royal lineage and bear a son for the king without having to commit to a lifetime of being a queen and the restrictions and responsibilities that come along with the position."
"You think so?" A sparkle of hope returned to Obasi's sad eyes.
"I'm your mother. I'll do everything in my power for you," she squeezed Obasi's cheeks and he chuffed happily.
"But I'll still have to..." he trailed off.
"Yes, you'll still have to. But that's far off in the future, and now you've got a mate to return to so don't let your mind lose the plot. Go, my darling."
His mate. Obasi felt delightfully lightheaded at the thought. He rubbed up against his mother, and ran home with the rising stars.
17. If You Want
King Kamili was standing on lookout for his son who normally returned not long after sunset. Obasi spotted him as he ran.
"I'm okay, Dad!" He called out. "Sorry I'm late... I'll be even more late but don't worry about me," Obasi panted as he approached. He took a small detour to give his father a quick nuzzle. "Thank you, Dad."
In response to his father's confused look, Obasi added, "For caring, even if you don't understand." Kamili would never share with his son how much he actually understood.
Obasi couldn't spot the shape of Chigaru in his tree on the far edge of the plain so he headed to their sycamore fig tree, roaring gently all the way. No Chigaru. He ran through gullies and over knolls, calling softly and deeply. Obasi tried to pick up a scent, but Chigaru hadn't marked his path.
Running out of energy and options, Obasi decided to check Chigaru's tree once more. When he approached, he finally saw the lion he loved lying on his back in the tall grass, looking up at the stars, his slim form illuminated silver by the moonlight. Obasi nearly cried from relief. He ran with renewed strength. Chigaru turned his head toward the sound and rose up on his elbow.
Obasi stood right over Chigaru and they urgently rubbed foreheads, noses, cheeks. "You've been crying," Obasi observed.
"No," Chigaru lied. He wrapped his arms around Obasi's neck and pulled him down. The two lions settled side by side, eye to eye, limbs tangled.
"Obasi, listen," Chigaru began, "everything that happened today... we can pretend it didn't. I don't want it to change our relationship in any—"
"But I do," Obasi interjected fiercely. "I love you, Chigaru. You know that because I say it every day. But I didn't know until today that it was okay to feel love for you as a mate. And I do. I have for some time now." Obasi trembled lightly. "And if you feel the same, maybe we can... be mates... like you said. If you want." His voice got quieter and quieter with every word.
Chigaru did want. He let out a long, low rumble that turned into a breathy laugh, "That's a relief."
They pulled each other closer.
"Imagine how awkward it would be if the only two gay lions in the pride loved each other, but not like that," Chigaru added.
Obasi gave him a gentle slap on the rump for turning everything into a joke again, but he understood it was Chigaru's way of dealing with emotional situations. "I don't think I'm gay, though," Obasi corrected. "I thought about it a lot and... I'm not attracted to males. Or to females. Only to you," he tapped Chigaru on the nose.
Chigaru considered that for a minute and nodded. Then he rolled over onto his other side, pressed his back against Obasi's soft belly, and pulled the bigger lion's arm around himself in a hug. The two boys closed their eyes.
"Can you stay with me tonight, Obasi?" Chigaru asked, and felt Obasi nod into his shoulder.
18. Let's Do This
Obasi opened his eyes. It was dark. His arm was around Chigaru, paw resting on his heart, claws entwined in the sleeping lion's mane. He pulled him closer and inhaled his scent.
He lay awake, feeling his mate's heartbeat. His mate. His mate. There's no way he could go back to sleep and risk this having been another dream. Obasi found it amusing - they often napped in a cuddle. It was the lion way. But now it seemed extraordinary. Just like in his dream. It felt different, and not just because it was night.
Chigaru stirred. He turned his head to look at Obasi and they both melted a little.
"Chigaru."
"Obasi."
"Chigaru."
"Obasi."
"Chigaru, what do..." Obasi suddenly felt shy, "Never mind."
"No, say it," Chigaru encouraged.
"What do lions... do? When they're a couple, I mean. What will we do when we wake up in the morning? And when we go to sleep tomorrow night? And... forever?" he managed to ask between fluttering breaths.
"I don't even know," Chigaru chuckled.
"But you're the one who's gay!" Obasi nearly shouted.
Chigaru tried to reach backwards to cover Obasi's mouth, "You'll wake everyone!" he whispered giddily. Then, "It's new to me too, you know? I suppose we just follow our feelings. And trust them this time." He elbowed Obasi to emphasize his point.
"Oh. I guess that makes sense. But, Chigaru, you surely thought about it more than I did."
"Does that mean you thought about it?" Chigaru turned his head abruptly to look Obasi in the eye.
"Kinda," Obasi smiled hesitantly.
"So what did we do in your thoughts?" Chigaru put a paw on Obasi's cheek to feel it get warm.
"Um. Actually, exactly this."
"Then let's do this and see where it takes us."
They snuggled back into each other under the sparse canopy of the young baobab and closed their eyes. Their breathing got more even and deep. They were almost asleep again when Obasi said, "If this was all a dream, I'm going to find you the moment I wake up and do it all again."
"You'd better."
19. Hi
King Kamili awakened with the sun as usual to find that his son had not returned overnight. Obasi had mentioned that he would be late but his absence had the king worried. He had a suspicion about where to check first.
"Good morning, children," King Kamili's voice boomed as he approached.
Chigaru rolled over frantically and hopped upright. "Good morning, Your Majesty!" he called out in a raspy voice, blinking against the sun after having spent hours with his face deep in Obasi's mane, not even aware it was already daylight.
"Good morning, Father," Obasi gasped, struggling to get up, then deciding against it. His vision was unfocused and his whiskers twitched. "Uh, I, uh, did say I'll be late..." he smiled sheepishly as his father passed between him and Chigaru. Kamili didn't even pause; he walked ahead so the boys wouldn't see him roll his eyes, or the amused smirk on his face.
When the king was a good distance away, the boys broke out of their frozen stances, made eye contact, and dissolved into quiet laughter. Obasi reached out to Chigaru and when he got close enough, grabbed him and pulled him back down until their noses touched.
"Hi," Obasi whispered.
"Hi," Chigaru responded giddily.
"I guess that answers what we will do when we first wake up as a couple," Chigaru said, grinning.
Obasi's eyes got big at the memory of himself saying that, and he smiled widely.
"So, is your dad... cool? With, you know, us?"
Obasi's fur tingled at the way Chigaru said, "us."
"In his own way, I really think he is."
They stayed that way calmly for some time, breathing in unison, one's belly expanding while the other contracted, perfectly matched. Chigaru looked around the grassland, and when King Kamili was completely out of sight, he turned to Obasi with a sparkle in his eyes, "Want to have some fun?"
"Sure!" Obasi rolled over, dumping Chigaru unceremoniously onto the lush grass, and hoisted himself upright, "Let's go!"
Chigaru grabbed for him and just barely missed. Obasi took off running, looking back over his shoulder at Chigaru, who was shaking his head exasperatedly while still smiling lovingly at his mate.
After checking up on his son, Kamili walked with purpose towards the females' portion of the territory, something he had very rarely done outside of mealtimes and scheduled events. On the outskirts, he caught the attention of the first female he saw and gestured. She ran off to fetch the queen.
"What's the occasion?" Enzi asked when she approached, though she understood it certainly had something to do with their son approaching her out of turn just the day before.
"Let's walk," Kamili suggested and they turned towards an isolated stretch of floodplain where they could talk in private.
"Our son," Kamili began.
"WHAT did you say to him?" Enzi interrupted.
"Between the time he clearly returned from your territory late enough to have me start considering forming a search party, and now? I said 'good morning.'"
"How is he doing?" Enzi's voice sounded concerned.
"Ask his... boyfriend at the next meal; he surely knows better than I. Did you know Obasi thinks we hate each other's guts, by the way?"
"What do you expect him to think if you don't talk to him?" Enzi knocked her shoulder into Kamili's gently.
"Why don't you talk to him, Enzi? You're his mother, you're better at this whole..." he shook his paw dismissively.
"Because your story isn't mine to tell."
Kamili got very quiet. "I thought the best course of action was to raise him without such ideas. If he doesn't think there's another option, he'd be happier with his intended path."
Enzi snorted out a poorly-suppressed laugh.
"What? I'd do anything to protect our son and ensure his happiness," Kamili said defensively.
"He sure seemed happy when he was sobbing into my fur last night," Enzi snapped back.
They both took a moment to calm themselves. Enzi continued more gently, "He sees other couples and compares us to them. In his mind, we hate each other, and because you refuse to talk to him about it, he'll continue to believe that. Now that you know about him, maybe it's time he knew about you?"
"If I start that conversation, he will ask questions. He will want to know about my past. I am NOT reliving that—" his voice broke, "that trauma."
Enzi stopped walking and Kamili followed suit. They sat down side by side and Enzi whimpered in sympathy. She patted Kamili's paw. "The important thing is that you broke the cycle. I'm really proud of you for that. And if you ever need to talk, you know that I'm here for you."
Kamili couldn't trust himself to speak so he nodded. Some time later, king and queen wordlessly and respectfully touched foreheads and returned to their respective homes.
Later, at nap time, the two young men were settling down to rest by cleaning each other's manes simultaneously in a very unsynchronized manner, missing almost every lick. Obasi sighed and dropped into the grass. Chigaru followed and flipped over Obasi, landing on his other side.
Obasi opened and closed his mouth a few times, and then, "I understood what you meant this morning, you know... about fun?"
Chigaru took a moment to remember, and then simply said, "Okay," giving Obasi space to say more if he wanted to.
"I'm not stupid."
"Obasi!" Chigaru admonished, knocking their heads together, "Of course you're not!"
"Yeah, but sometimes I don't understand things the same way everyone else does, and there's a lot I don't know."
"You were raised differently. And I always help you out if you need me to, you know that," Chigaru said, squeezing Obasi. Obasi squeezed back and nodded.
"It's just that sometimes changes make me anxious - even good change," he hastily added. "It's not that I don't—"
"Hey... hey. Iketle mosimane.” Chigaru soothed with a toothy grin that made Obasi feel all squiggly inside. He yawned widely and shifted so he could use Obasi's pudgy belly as a pillow. "We'll work it out... buddy." Chigaru winked.
"We are such good buddies, aren't we?" Obasi chuckled, relieved at the light-hearted distraction.
"Just two exemplary buddies." Chigaru stretched one arm up to Obasi's cheek and closed his eyes with the sleepiest, most content smile on his face.