Forbidden Love
"I knew I would find you here," Zarda stated as he walked over to embrace his mother.
He noticed her red, teary eyes and damp cheeks. Holding her tightly in his arms, Saharrah listened to his steady heartbeat and deep breaths. The aroma emanating from him was a delightful combination of fresh, sweet fragrances crafted by Omma, the talented lioness of the pride known for her skill in creating oils and natural remedies from herbs. Zarda had been gifted a vial by Omma, meant to be used in his bath to improve the health and luster of his mane. The fragrance was a harmonious mix of sweet flowers and luxurious wood notes.
"Tell me, what's been preoccupying your thoughts? What brought you here to seek me out?" she inquired.
Zarda moved back to get a better look at his mother's expression.
"The main focus of the meeting was the pale humans, with reports suggesting they were getting closer. The African wild dog pack had also been taken by the humans before the gathering. There was also talk of King Mosiya working on weapon plans and seeking skilled blacksmiths from each tribe to assist in their construction for defense against the pale faces. That was the gist of the update" he stated.
Zarda then lightened the mood by asking," So, how was your day?" in an attempt to add some humor to the conversation.
The elderly queen's eyes grew wide with shock as she heard the news. The tragic report of the wild dogs' pups being taken deeply affected her. Standing beside her, Meeku shared his worries as well.
His mother asked, "Well, that's a mouthful is it not, which member of our pride will you be choosing to represent you?"
He shook his head and walked away, facing away from them. He responded, "of course, I do have some ideas, but I'm feeling hesitant."
She was unsettled by his unsure decisiveness. "Don't hesitate! When you do, that's when mistakes happen." replied the elderly queen.
Meeku was also disappointed by his interrupted decision. "Brother, what about me? Or maybe even slash. He's skilled in that type of work as well," Meeku expressed.
Zarda was well aware of this fact, but he was hesitant to dispatch his top talent during such uncertain times. Nonetheless, he bravely turned back to address them once more.
"Trust me, you are my top choices, but if the pale people show up here and I'm missing my top two warriors, then what?" He inquired.
"Do you doubt your own strength? And what about your other warriors - Razor, Mazunga, Matiti, and now Wazingu. Are they not capable of protecting the pride?" inquired Saharrah.
Zarda rolled his eyes and replied, "You're always right. If I never give them the chance to prove themselves, they'll never meet my expectations."
Zarda, looked over at his brother. "I am entrusting you. Please go and share the news with Warrior Slash, and then pack your belongings well. The two of you will leave this hour for the Mawombie parade. King Mosiya will be awaiting your arrival." Directed by Zarda.
The elderly queen embraced Meeku tightly before he departed for base camp. She smiled at her son Zarda, thinking he had made a wise decision. As Zarda walked away from his family, he approached his father's grave, reminiscing about the stories Jarvius had shared and all the memories he had of his father. Tear drops streamed down his cheeks as he remembered wrestling with his father's mane and resting on his enormous paws. Despite the sadness, he was grateful for the happy times they shared. Saharrah, having said goodbye to Meeku, approached Zarda and affectionately nuzzled his arm after she had spent her last hours prior crying over Ezekiel's burial. Continuing forward, she realized her hunger and desired to eat rather than gaze sadly at her King's grave.
"I'm absolutely starving, let's grab a bite to eat. we can have Natia, cook." She said, laughing joyfully
Zarda visibly recoiled at the mention of Natia's name, unable to conceal his revulsion. His mother noticed his despondent expression out of the corner of her eye as they departed.
Saharrah exclaimed, "Stop pretending to be disgusted. We all know about you two and the visit after the meeting. It's long overdue!"
Zarda quickly intervened. "We didn't do anything, just a kiss, then she left. We're not together. We haven't even spoken since then, except for a brief moment just before I found you," he explained.
Saharrah's eyebrows lifted with a subtle smile on her lips as she listened. "This will give you the opportunity to do just that. She is so lovely and kind-hearted, unlike her wicked mother," she remarked.
Zarda had a strong difference of opinion. He couldn't help but notice that she appeared to have inherited her mother's cunning and malevolent nature, but with an added touch of beauty, he mused. They returned to camp and were soon standing outside her circular tent.
The elderly queen opened the flaps to discover that Natia was already cooking. The aroma wafted out, tickling Zarda's nostrils, causing his stomach to growl in anticipation of a comforting meal.
"Looks like you read our minds. Zarda and I were just discussing you cooking dinner and then you two having a quiet chat together later alone," Saharrah said.
Zarda was stunned by her words. He frowned at his mother, shaking his head in disagreement. He did not consent to that.
"I didn't say that. Mother, don't lie to her," replied Zarda.
Natia smiled warmly at Saharrah but gave Zarda a stern glare. She observed that he chose not to speak to her, keeping his words to a minimum. Feeling rejected once again; the feelings were too heavy on her.
She quickly inquired, "Do you think you are too good to talk to me now? Or do you see me as some diseased creature in your eyes?"
She soon realized she had wished she had never let those words escape her mouth. It was too late; she had set herself up for a snarky response. Zarda laughed at her remark, he responded with a simple "Yes. Yes, I do in fact. You disgust me."
Natia felt worthless and embarrassed as his response. Her mouth flew open in shock upon hearing his quick comeback. Looking on at her dismay with pleasure, he quickly retorted before she could speak.
"Watch out, a fly might just zoom into that wide-open gap of yours," Zarda joked.
He was in a rhythm, finding pleasure in tossing out effortless jabs. Her troubled expression only added to his enthusiasm. They both enjoyed provoking each other, but neither could handle it when the tables were turned.
"You're such a jerk, Zarda. Alright, we'll see about that." She chuckled in response, stirring the vegetable beef stew with extra enthusiasm.
While her mind concocted a devious plan or brilliant follow-up, dinner was prepared and ready to be served hot. The aroma was wonderfully intoxicating. Zarda's stomach rumbled with hunger once again. He settled into the chair at the table next to his mother, watching Natia intently as he squinted at her back side. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see and feel his ominous gaze. Memories of a better day flooded her mind; she was reminded of his gentle kiss, and strong embrace. The thoughts caused her to flush. Zarda observed a subtle crimson tint spreading across her normally deep brown cheeks, and he couldn't help but smile with delight. Saharrah noticed the awkwardness of the situation, feeling like a third wheel between the two of them. She began brainstorming excuses to gracefully exit and leave them alone.
Saharrah said, " Please excuse me, I need to use the lavatory tent for a moment," with no intention of actually going.
She exited the room to give them space for more meaningful conversations. Before she rushed off, she planted a kiss on Zarda's forehead. The room fell into an uneasy silence. They stayed quiet for a few moments until Natia finally chose to speak up. She inquired about the meeting, trying to initiate some small talk. Zarda gave her a strange glance. He had no intention of responding or pretending everything was fine between them. He was ready to be rude, eat his food quickly, and return to his hut. He took a spoonful of the delicious stew in his mouth. The creamy juice and tender meat were satisfying to his hunger. As he swallowed his food, he glanced over at Natia, who was standing with her bowl in hand.
Zarda inquired, "What is this?"
Natia, looking confused, 'did he not know' she thought. She quickly replied, "What is what, my stew?"
Zarda quipped sarcastically, "Oh no, not that! I meant this ridiculous conversation you're trying to have. Are you really cooking me dinner and asking about my day like some anxious bride or something?"
Natia had just finished her soup and returned to the stove, hovering over the stew pot. Though the meal was already done, she had paused her stirring. Nervously, she feigned busyness, but his remark sparked a wave of anger within her. It ignited a fire inside, prompting her to pivot sharply and glare down at him.
"Are you kidding me? I hope you're not serious right now. First of all, I asked out of my own curiosity. There are a lot of rumors circulating, so I just wanted to know the truth. Secondly, trust me, you would only dream in your wildest dreams that I would be your bride. And finally, just so you know, I wasn't cooking dinner for you, or ever!" She retorted.
Zarda's laughter grew louder than before. "No need to worry. I wouldn't waste my time dreaming about someone as boring and dull as you," he said before being interrupted.
Natia, in a fit of anger, stomped over to the counter where she had a bowl of flour. It was the same flour she had used for thickening earlier. Without hesitation, she scooped up a handful and hurled it at his face. He coughed as the flour hit him, quickly wiping his eyes to try and see again.
"Damn it! Natia, I can't see anything now! This is infuriating, "he said with frustration.
As she erupted into hysterical laughter, she was abruptly silenced when she was overtaken by a mouthful of flour. Zarda had swiftly stood up and grabbed a handful of flour from the bowl nearby, tossing it into her mouth and cutting off her laughter. They were both covered in white flour and looked a mess. His eyes shone with excitement at the thought of play time. It brought back memories of his childhood. Only he wasn't a cub anymore and neither was Natia. Feeling playful herself she wiped her mouth and then rubbed the wet flour onto Zarda's chest.
"Hmm, That's much better." She remarked
He glanced at his previously spotless shirt, now covered in damp flour. Fuming and planning revenge, Zarda grasped the entire bowl with his large hands and advanced towards her. Natia retreated, throwing her hands up in protest.
"No, no, don't you do it, don't you dare. Zarda, I swear to the heavens." She pleaded.
"What's that little dream wife? You swear to Elohim to become my dedicated slave for eternity? To take care of the cooking and cleaning?" he said sarcastically.
He threw a few sprinkles of flour at her face; sprinkling more here and there as he spoke.
"You'll swear to care for me and serve me always as a goo slave should," he said, his eyes filling with growing lust.
"I am not and will never be your bride or slave," she answered.
Thinking of a harsh response back, Zarda said, "You wish you were, but you're not a good enough lioness to fill either of those roles."
He inched his way closer, emptying the whole entire bowl of flower onto her head, before settling back down, feeling accomplished in his acts. Attempting to conceal her true emotions, Zarda had deeply wounded Natia with his last words and prank. Inwardly, she wondered why she was deemed unworthy. She was a princess, all her life she had been worthy of something or someone. Putting on her best poker face, to mask her pain, she was caught off guard from his hysterics.
He chuckled as she stood there, frozen in a cloud of white flour. Her eyes, mouth, and nose were completely covered, and even her hair was dusted down to her shoulders. A whirlwind of emotions churned inside her; Natia was torn between wanting to cry and wanting to scream. Cautiously, she wiped some flour from her eyes and suddenly felt a rush of arousal fueled by her anger. A playful spark ignited within her, reminiscent of a moment shared in his room. She brushed off the remaining flour, then confidently approached Zarda, straddling his lap. With a mischievous flick, she tossed the excess flour from her shoulders right into his face, making him squirm to avoid getting it in his eyes. Seizing his face with determination, Natia kissed him, their tongues soon entwining in an intimate dance. He raised his right hand, gently placing it on the back of her head, and kissed her more passionately than he had ever before. They were breathless and gasping for air, but they didn't break the embrace. His left hand caressed her body as she ran her fingers through his soft, long, white hair. Suddenly, Queen Saharrah entered the room. They quickly stopped, turning to face her, still entwined in each other's arms.
The elderly queen placed both of her hands on her hips and shook her head in disbelief. Saharrah felt deceived by her son's previous claims on his relationship.
She boldly declared, "You claimed you're not talking, not interested, not an item. Liar, liar, pants on fire. Leave my hut and go to yours. I'll clean up and eat alone." With that, she threw them both out.
Saharrah was bursting with excitement for the two of them. A wide smile spread across her face as she watched them sprinting out hand in hand. They hastened their steps, racing back to Zarda's hut with a cloud of flour swirling behind them. They exploded into his hut, not stopping to close the door, kissing and pawing at each other. He wanted her more than he ever wanted anyone. He knew she was his for the next hour or so. Zarda pulled off his shirt, to reveal his toned stomach, while she untied his pants. His groin throbbed; it was growing hot again. The magic returned the heat between them reignited, as he threw her onto the bed and kissed her cheek gently. His tongue trailed down her neck, escalating their kisses with each passing moment. Natia's body quivered beneath him as he straddled her, deftly helping her undress. Slowly removing her top, he tenderly caressed her chest, his mouth teasing her hardened nipples. Their bodies entwined for the first time, they spent the entire day, night, and following morning making love, only taking short breaks in between. Reluctant to part, the next day brought new responsibilities as they realized they were both famished. Reluctantly getting dressed, they set out on a hunt together in the jungle.