Sept 1st 7:45 pm leaving Wasabi Bay - Semira Snyder and Ben Rothwell
After dinner, the duo of Semira and Ben left hand in hand, bidding Jonah and Jules adieu. They thanked them for their time and efforts in helping to find each other, also knowing the favour would have to be returned one day �but hopefully not that night.
Semira�s happiness radiated from her inner beast. It let out a low, comforting purr as they walked. The empty void that she had had before seemed somewhat filled. �So where do we go from here?� she asked, wondering if it was time to get back to reality� all this seemed too good to be true for her. It had to be a dream.
As Ben walked out with his new lioness he also felt that void in his life fade to be replaced by a new feeling that he longed for. As they walked down the street Ben let go of Semira�s hand only to wrap an arm around her in the attempt to close the space between them.
The lion brought her even closer in an embrace that put her head just under his chin replying "I'm not totally sure at this point. What you say we start getting to know one another. The best way to do that is to spend time with each other.�
�Well how about we take a walk? See where we end up,� She asked accepting his strong embrace. She pulled away leading him down the street, her arm linked with his. His company made her feel protected and safe in the warm September night. Her thoughts began to take her away slightly, making her wonder if it would be similar to when she was with her old pride. A pride based on trust, loyalty, and devotion.
He picked up the pace to keep up with her new speed, asking, �Why did you have to leave your old pride?�
The lioness looked down towards the ground, pulling herself away from him and shoving her hands into her pockets. �I didn�t leave them,� she whispered. �My whole pride was attacked one night by an army of hunters. Our pride was fairly small� Only about fifteen� So it was rather easy for a group of over one hundred to take us on when equipped properly. My rex was first to die, defending us while our Regina led us away. She was second� Eventually all that was left was me and two others, and we made it by the skin on our teeth.� She cleared her throat slightly. Her old pride was a soft subject for her, �We had found spots to hide through out our area. I was the only one that wasn�t found. I had listened for when the hunters had left, which didn�t take long. I found my whole pride, but not the way I wanted to.�
�The story makes me sound like a terrible person and everything. A lot don�t get why we did what we did� but there were too many. We couldn�t stop them all,� She looked up at the Ben, her eyes slightly teary, �I�m sorry River. I just get kinda sad when I talk about them. They were my family.�
Ben used his thumbs to clear the tears that had ran down Semira�s face and said "Before I became a shifter myself I devoted my life to stopping the unneeded hunting of wildlife, but now I have found something, or someone new that drives my passion." Now that Ben had her face held in both his hands he leaned in and kissed her on the forehead.
Semira�s eyes closed as Ben laid his lips on her head. She didn�t really know how to take his words, but still felt comfort in them. �What do you mean by that?� she asked never opening her eyes. She just stood letting his large, warm hands envelop her pink cheeks.
�You see as a shifter I have seen how unfair things can be for our kind and I intend to make things fair for us all. There also comes a time in a person�s life when they start to think about settling down and starting a family� or pride in our case." said Ben looking into her eyes.
Semira�s eyes had opened when he mentioned family, �Do you mean� ummm� what do you mean?� Her gaze held slight confusion along with surprise as she looked up at him. �What are you asking from me?�
�Well it is a little soon to define things but at this time I see no reason not to think that things are looking up." Ben responded as he held her not wanting to ever let go.
Semira nodded. Worry was still slightly in her head. The fact that Ben had just asked to start a pride with her was a surprise. She had expected to become part of the pride... not start one off from scratch. It would be a lot of work to start a pride. More lions would need to be found, as well as trying to find somewhere to house the pride� She questioned if she was good enough for the job� strong enough.
"You seem unsure of your self but no matter what happens I will be right here with you as I would like to have a pride to lead." Ben said as he started walking once again waiting to see if she caught on to what he had said.
It took the girl a moment to catch on, but once she did she quickly caught up, grabbing his arm as the kept walking, �You mean you�re a� But you don�t act like one. You�re�different than the ones in Africa. You seem more easy going and really listen to what people have to say instead of thinking you already know what�s best.�
"The person I am has a lot to do with the lion I am today. I feel that a true leader dose what is right for his pride and not what is right for him. I feel that you are right for this new pride." Ben said to Semira.
�Now is that because there aren�t many lions outside of Africa, or because you actually believe I could help you,� She gave the man beside her a grin. �I want the truth, River.� By this time they had walked a good few blocks, and were entering a small park. �Also, where are we going?�
"Because I see something in you that you may not even know is there, as far as to where we are going I was thinking we could sit at the park and talk more." said Ben pointing at a bench.
Semira nodded, quickly taking a seat at the closest bench, �So tell me, why did you leave your pride? Where was your pride?� Her questions may or may not have been simple, depending on his story, but since he now knew about her previous pride, she thought she could know about his.
"Well as far as why I left my former pride I was asked to leave when I started to come into my own as a rex so I came home from Africa to teach others what I learned about shifters." Ben said as he sat there with his fist tight.
Semira had seen the man tense up, and grabbed for his hand, trying to wiggle her fingers in between the tight fist. The last thing she wanted is an angry rex on her hands. She knew what strength that was contained within. �But now you�re doing something good. You�re teaching others about us. And just think, you can have your very own pride, the way you want.� She gave him a weak smile.
Ben slowly loosened his fist letting there fingers lace together and reached with the other hand running his finger through the hair of the young lion sitting with him. The look of anger on his face slowly faded to one of caring and relief. "It has been so long since I have been able to make contact with another with out the fear of hurting them." said Ben
She nodded in agreement, �I know. Many ask questions that I would rather not answer too.� Both of her hands had help onto the one hand which had previously threatened pulverisation. Her eyes watched as their hands didn�t let go. She seemed quite interested in the gold band on his thumb, twisting it around with her fingers.
Ben looked down when he noticed what Semira was doing "I got that from a medicine man the night I was attacked. I found later on the medicine man was also a member of the near by pride that I was watching." said Ben as he smiled at this new found pride member.
�It�s beautiful! It must mean a lot to you,� She stopped twisting the piece of gold around his finger and looked up at him. She gave him a warm smile. He seemed to calm down some, and in turn she relaxed a little more. She brought her legs up onto the bench, crossing them under her, and brought their betwixt fingers to rest in her lap.
Ben turned to Semira looked in her eyes and said "I don't want you to be scared every time I get upset about my past. I know you are just trying to get to know me. I understand." He looked at their intertwined hands, �I have been meaning to ask, where are you staying?"
�That�ll tone down as I get to know you more,� Her hazel eyes looked up at him as she spoke. �I�m just staying in a hotel not too far away actually.� She turned and pointed down a path, �Its just that way.�
"Well I have a place near here as well with a few spare rooms you are welcome to stay with me in a spare room until we know each other better." Offered Ben as he pointed the way to his place.
�That would be sweet of you, but I don�t want to put you out,� Semira glanced back at the man. �You�ve already done enough for me tonight in meeting me.�
"Not to worry you would not be putting me out I miss have someone around, it would be nice to have someone to talk to when i can't sleep." said Ben.
�Alright, well lets try it out for tonight, and see how things go from there, ok?� Semira asked. She still wasn�t too sure about everything. It all still seemed too good to be true, and everything was falling into place really quickly.
The two had sat in silence, just enjoying each others company under the pearl moon. The wind slightly blew rustling leaves out of the trees.
"Do you need to pick up anything from your place to get you through the night." asked Ben, hoping she might just grab everything and stay with him even if she was to stay in her own room.
�Yeah, I guess I should grab some stuff,� Semira replied. She turned to Ben, �You ready to go then?� Her smile was reflected under the moonlight as she held out her hand to him.
Ben stood and took her hand, "Ok, lets head over there. Maybe we can make it for last call at a near by bar before heading to my place."
�So tell me more about your job. Does it cause you to travel a lot?� the lioness asked. �How often do you work?� His job did interest her. She wondered if it was like the meeting she had gone to when she had come into town.
"At one point my job had me traveling a great deal now I try to keep it to a minimum, as I understand what I am and what I was. So now if I show up some where to speak and there is a shifter mishap it would look bad for all shifters. So I try to stay near my home near a full moon I�m also looking into picking up some land out of state for hunting
reasons."
�That sounds like a good idea. Somewhere safe for the newer ones to learn and the older ones to feel more free. You�ve really thought this out, haven�t you? What�s held you back from doing it?�
�I have done a great deal of research as to the best way to set things up for us and others like us. The only thing slowing me down is the fact that you are the only other lion I have found.� said Ben.
Semira nodded in agreement., �Yes�with these things it appears that location means a lot. I too have been trying to find my kind outside of Africa for some time.�
�Well I have been trying to find other lions since the day I returned home. But the little traveling I do now I hope to find more to join us.�
"Hopefully more will make their way over. Until then, I guess its just us"
This has been a purrrrty co-post by thatredhead and Villiam
