~-Moonlight Destiny - Artemis' Pride-~

[frayedflower]

((Insert minor timeskip here~~ Whoosh!

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Now for RP, which shall be responded to when Hana is coherant again. A-booosh~~!))

Quote:

Her pinkish orange flakes danced in the breeze as she laid in the tall, soft grass. Her ribs slowly rose and fell with each breath she took, her dark rosy hue gaze was locked on the sky, it was a moonless sky. Odd she thought as she looked at the blinking stars, beckoning her locked away memories to rise to the present once again.

She sighed and flicked her tail feathers, the once passionate and aluring lioness felt, empty and alone in a world filled the brim with life. A silvery tear slipped down her cheek, she quickly lifted an ebony paw and wiped away with a soft growl. Her world had been yanked out from under her paws, life had shunned her it seemed.

Sleep had long since claimed his family... but no matter how he might have tried, exhausted though he was, the moon king simply couldn't surcumb to it. His mind was too full of thoughts, raging fierce as any storm. Rest hadn't come easy to Artemis as of late. As of late, he'd begun slipping away, hoping to clear his head through a late night stroll.

It always did more harm than good. The night sky only bought memories of what had been. What could have been. Gone, just like the moon above.

He loved his mate, dearly and deeply. He loved his children, and couldn't have been more proud of either of them. But he still couldn't help...

The movement of another caught her attention instantly, her frame lifted into a sitting position as she silent dark form turned her gaze upon the white male. Ears flickered back for a moment, her eyes roamed over him before her head turned away and looked to the sky.

She'd disappeared without word, but she had no choice. And while she'd been away, betrayal snaked itself around those she cared for. With a flick of her tail she took a deep breath. After all, he was only a lion.

Artemis froze mid-step when he realized he'd happened upon Luna. His ears were back, half-expecting some choice harsh words to fall. Another torrent of anger and emotion like when she'd first returned. But none ever came.

It would be easy enough to turn around. Head back to his loving family, sound asleep in their den. But what good would it do? The sleepless nights would keep right on coming, and it wasn't as though he could side-step the issue for the rest of his life.

He had to find a way to resolve this... or at least find some level of peace with her. The moon king took a tentative step towards her, opening his mouth to say something... but what? How? One had to tread lightly around shards of broken hearts. One wrong step could make for a truly bloody mess.

"Yes?" Her voice chimed out, her ears flicked back towards him. She couldnt look at him, not again. She was ashamed of her behavior before, but the pain she felt, it seemed bring justice to it. Luna closed her eyes, memories she wished would fade away strived on her pain within her beating heart.

Keeping herself together, and posed. She glanced back over at him now, she'd gone numb and felt nothing now. Her heart ached, but she truely didnt feel it any longer. Emotions gone void, she turned her gaze back to the sky and longed to return home. She wished to leave the pride, to get away from the reminds of her loss, but she knew she couldnt do it. So she stayed.

Artemis drew a sharp breath at the sound of her voice, shrinking back. He looked to her for a moment before his gaze fell to the ground beneath his paws. "I... , " he began, voice every bit as awkward and halting as he felt at that moment. "I... wanted to say... I mean... for... "

The moon king took a deep breath, trying his hardest to gather his wits and words about him. Not to bungle this up again and make the whole thing worse. Not easy to a lion who had so much trouble putting his more tender emotions into words. "I'm sorry. I mean, for getting so snappy and all that with you before. I didn't know why you'd left, and... " He sighed. "And I'm sorry that I hurt you. When you left... I thought you'd moved on. I thought that's what you wanted, so I..."

Artemis closed his eyes, head lowered. He was exhausted. Physically and emotionally. "I know you probably hate me, and I probably deserve it. I know this doesn't do a whole lot of good, but... I am sorry, Luna. You're one of the last lions I ever wanted to hurt, and I blew it."

"Ah yes. My fancy could be so easily placed upon another eh? Hmm." Her vocals werent cold, nor icy more of the flowing sedctive and aluring tones that she'd always carried.

"Did you think I left because I had a choice?" Her tones softened slightly, whispering into the nights air. She loved him, and didnt know if she could stop. But she didnt really have any choice now did she? He'd moved on... Her head lowered, it looked as if she gazed upon her paws.

But she didnt look at anything, her eyes closed as she just listened to the breeze, and to his heartbeat. She could hear it within his chest, she wondered if she'd always be able to hear it.

To hear her voice the way he'd so fondly remembered it bought a wave of relief to the moon king. He opened his eyes again, resolute as he shook his head. "That's not it. Kagami never took your place. The feelings I have for her are their own." She was his oldest and dearest friend... at least in this lifetime. He respected her and Luna too much to pull a stunt like that.

"When you left... when I thought you didn't want anything more to do with me... I decided to move on. But I never stopped... I mean... I always..." Another sigh, another awkward moment of scrouging the words he'd need. If he could find them at all.

Whether it was a lucky thing or not, Luna's words drove him from his train of thought. He frowned, taking another hesistant step towards the lioness. "I don't know. I don't know anything. All I do know is you were here and gone again in the blink of an eye."

"Are you going to tell me, that you love me still?" She spun around now, her eyes alive with passion, and a hint a fury. "Are you my King? Because if you are, please...hold your tongue." her tail swayed out behind her now, he loved her still, did he really think her the fool.

Ah yes, she'd creep around in the dark to be with him, while he tramped around with his mate and their children during the day. She'd be the tramp in that picture. Never able to bare the children she now, didnt long for. Or did she.

Artemis didn't need to. Everything from his posture down to the very look in his vibrant blue eyes spoke for themselves. Said the one thing everyone already knew. He'd come to treasure it when Luna'd gone, accepting and embracing it knowing full well it would never come to be. So long as Luna was happy in her new life... if she could move on, then he would too. But he wouldn't pretend he didn't love her, wouldn't pretend to forget.

Kagami had taken him on as a mate and king regardless, and he loved her without question. But now, with Luna here... more than ever, it felt as though his heart was being ripped in two. A pair of rabid hyenas couldn't have done a nastier job of it.

He averted his gaze, but this time, couldn't quite bring himself to turn away. "What happened, Luna? Please. What drove you from the pride so suddenly?"

" The memories..." She closed her eyes now, sitting back down. " I just, the flash backs to a life before.." She took a deep breath. "They hurt, so bad. I just, I couldnt take it." She looked up to him, tears forming within her eyes. " I walked until I couldnt take another step, collapsing against the earth I screamed to the moon, cursing it..then making up to it. Praying, and worshiping it, and a life I seemed to have before.." She shook her head gazing upon her paws.

"Then, I came back here. It didnt hurt anymore...I left the moon, to come back here to be with you...to further my life here." She looked up now, she seemed so broken. "But, I should have told you. But, I didnt want to scare you in thinking I was ill or something worse. It was wrong for me, to think you'd wait..unknowingly. But it was wrong of you to believe i'd leave you without saying goodbye and not returning.."