Chapter 62: Tiara and Fel
Tiara and Fel sat beside each other, their usual camaraderie replaced with an uncomfortable silence. Neither of them had fully come to terms with the revelation that they were family, and it was clear in the awkwardness that hung between them. The firelight flickered across their faces, casting shadows that danced like the unspoken thoughts between them.
Tiara, struggling to break the silence, finally spoke, though her voice wavered slightly as if uncertain of what to say.
**Tiara**: (hesitant) "I didn't know that... we could marry outside our kind. I mean, that creatures of different species could—"
She trailed off, her sentence unfinished, leaving the weight of her words lingering in the air. Her usual confidence had been replaced by confusion; the very idea of her family being tied to Fel's through marriage was something she had never even considered, and now it felt as if the ground beneath her had shifted in ways she couldn't yet comprehend.
Fel, still grappling with his own sense of disbelief, responded quietly, his usual sharpness dulled by the flood of new emotions.
**Fel**: (muted) "Yeah... I didn't know either. I guess... there's a lot I didn't know about my family."
He glanced at Tiara, but quickly looked away, unsure of how to continue the conversation. They had trained together, fought together, and even laughed together, but now this knowledge of their blood relation had created a distance between them, a chasm neither knew how to bridge.
Mufasa, who had been watching them closely from the other side of the fire, could sense the tension between the two. He had expected this; it wasn't easy to suddenly learn that your life was intertwined in ways you never imagined, especially when those connections were fraught with painful history. He leaned forward slightly, his golden eyes narrowing as he studied them both.
**Mufasa**: (calmly) "Is there something troubling you both? You seem... uneasy."
The question hung in the air, and for a moment, neither Tiara nor Fel knew how to respond. They exchanged a quick glance, both unsure of how to put their complicated emotions into words, and neither wanting to appear weak or confused in front of Mufasa.
Finally, Tiara sighed, running a hand through her mane, her fingers tangling in the white fur as she tried to gather her thoughts.
**Tiara**: (slowly) "It's just... a lot to take in. I mean, Fel and I—cousins? That's... hard to wrap my head around."
Fel nodded, though his gaze remained fixed on the flames.
**Fel**: "Yeah, I guess we both have some adjusting to do. This changes everything."
Mufasa, sensing their discomfort, gave a small, understanding nod. He knew that the road ahead would not be easy for them, but he also knew that they would grow stronger through this; family ties, no matter how unexpected, had a way of shaping the future in ways no one could predict.
**Mufasa**: "Take your time to process it. There's no rush; what matters is that you both find a way to understand the truth... and each other."
And with that, he stood and walked toward the edge of the cave, giving them the space they needed to continue their conversation, hoping that in time, they would come to see the bond they shared as a strength, rather than a burden.
Mufasa, standing at the edge of the cave, paused for a moment before turning back to them. His golden eyes glinted with a mixture of amusement and seriousness, sensing the awkward energy between Fel and Tiara.
**Mufasa**: (with a slight grin) "You know... in the world of beasts, it's not uncommon for cousins to marry. Blood ties don't always dictate love or destiny."
Fel and Tiara both snapped their heads toward Mufasa, eyes wide in surprise. Tiara's cheeks flushed under her white fur, and Fel's usual calm demeanor faltered as he awkwardly cleared his throat.
**Tiara**: (flustered) "Wait, what?!"
**Fel**: (equally flustered) "M-Marriage? Between cousins?"
Mufasa chuckled softly, clearly amused by their reactions.
**Mufasa**: (playfully) "Relax. I'm not suggesting anything—just saying that it's not unheard of among beasts. Sometimes bonds go deeper than bloodlines."
Fel and Tiara exchanged another awkward glance, neither of them knowing how to respond to that. The fire crackled in the silence, the air between them even more charged than before. Tiara finally crossed her arms, looking away as if trying to process everything.
**Tiara**: (muttering) "Well, that's... something to think about."
Fel just shifted uncomfortably, rubbing the back of his neck. The idea had never crossed his mind, and now, thanks to Mufasa's offhand comment, he was suddenly far more aware of Tiara's presence beside him.
**Fel**: (awkwardly) "Yeah, uh... sure. Good to know."
Mufasa gave one last chuckle before turning away again, clearly enjoying how easily he had flustered the two of them. He knew that their relationship would find its own path, whether that was through friendship, family, or something more. For now, though, he was content to let them work through it in their own time.
**Mufasa**: (teasingly) "Well, don't let it distract you from your training. We still have a lot of work to do."
And with that, he left them to sit in their growing awkwardness, the embers of the fire glowing softly as the night carried on.