She had never really done something like this before.... That thing with Spectre so long ago had been a one-off, and she had gone into that knowing that they would likely never see each other again. But this...?
This was different. Not only because she couldn’t just be with anyone now (and to be frank, she was happy about that. Raising a family by herself had been trying), but also because this was someone she actually was... well... she was interested in. Qi was kind, and gentle, and handsome, and she could see herself falling for him - but she had no idea if he felt the same, so she held herself back from asking outright.
Of course, she was quick to jump at the chance to go out with him. Not “go out” like date, but... “go out” like.... as friends? She thought? At least, he never gave any indication that this was anything more.
So why was she so nervous? Why did this feel like something different?
Xing wasn’t sure what to think, and it was clear in how frazzled she was as she walked beside him. The yellow lioness cast a few glances over at the black male, before looking away shyly, and then back again. He had asked her to come hunting with him, just her and not Yu, and without really thinking, she had accepted. Yu, of course, had been suspicious when she’d said she wanted to go out today without him, but the little bird had agreed. He was probably lounging about right now, she thought wryly.
She took a deep breath as they crested over a hill, the sight of many antelope in front of them. Right... hunting. She needed to focus on hunting. That was the reason they were here, after all.
But she couldn’t help the little peeks back at him, curious to see what he would do first.
Beside her, Qi was practically giddy. She needn’t have worried over what this was, because he knew exactly why he’d asked her to come out with him. Of course, he probably should have said that it was a date in the first place. Aw, well, she would hopefully figure it out by the end of it.
Tail flicking excitedly behind him, the lion turned to look at the beautiful lioness with a grin, “Looks like we found the herd.” Green eyes scanned the terrain in front of them quickly before he nodded, “I think we can separate that older one from the rest if we each go from opposite ends.” He gestured with a paw as he said that.
Smiling wider at the nod he got in return, Qi crouched down and began stalking towards them, making sure to keep an eye and ear out for Xing on the other side of the grass. Honestly, he wasn’t too worried about actually catching something.
No... he had another idea in mind. One that would hopefully show his feelings outright.
The two felines edged slowly around their target until, with a small nod between each other, they both charged. The antelope almost seemed to freeze in place, before bolting any which way they could. The elderly one, though, scrambled in place before, at the last moment, leaping out of the way.
Which opened the space between them, and caused the two lions to collide with each other.
Xing yelped as tumbled to the ground, landing in a heap with Qi on top of her. She lay there, winded, for a moment and then gave her head a shake. She would have scrambled out from under him, but the lion was.... laughing?
A quick look up showed playful eyes staring back at her, and it took her a moment to realize that he from where he’d been, he could have easily dodged out of the way, which meant....
Oh.
Xing let out a shaky laugh, “What are you, a cub?”
He grinned cheekily at that, “You just seemed so stiff. I figured you needed some loosening up.” And okay, he also just wanted to play with her. And the feel of her fur... it was so nice and soft. She was like a ray of sunshine, and he just wanted to melt into it.
Without thinking, he nuzzled the side of her neck, and then stiffened as he realized that that was maybe a little too personal. Was he moving too fast? They’d known each other for a little while now, and it had been his intention to get closer to her, but he didn’t want to scare her off either.
Xing’s eyes widened in surprise at the action, and she would later swear that time had froze. Neither lion wanted to move... but then, tentatively, Xing raised her head up to nuzzle him back beneath his chin. Bashful eyes stared back at him as he looked at her, before he seemed to melt gleefully.
This hadn’t been what she’d been expecting... but it was what she had been hoping for.
The two lay there, happily nuzzling, before the playful glint seemed to appear in Qi’s eye again, and with a small n** at her ear, he jumped off. Trotting a few paces to the side of her, he gestured after the herd again.
“We had best not lose them.” Though it was clear in his gaze that he really just wanted to be with her.
Xing smiled, this time softly, and got up after him. She couldn’t help the slightly nervous shake of her paws, but the butterfly feeling in her stomach seemed all the more prominent now. She wondered - was this what it was like to fall in love? It was a feeling she had brushed off for the past few months, but now. now she wondered. Would Yu know? Maybe she would ask him later.
For now though, she just wanted to bask in Qi’s affections. The two twined tails as they walked, and perhaps it was just her imagination, but the day seemed just a bit brighter.