Ragazzo swallowed the lump forming in his throat and shifted a little on his paws. He had waited for hours now for Arista to come home from Sam's cave. But now she was actually coming Ragazzo didn't want to do what he'd been waiting for. He closed his eyes and grimaced as he stepped forward. He opened his eyes. There she was, wading through the long grass, the moonlight dancing in her eyes. She was so beautiful, it made his heart ache.
'Oh! Azzo! I didn't see you lurking there!' she beamed, sitting down.
He smiled wanly. 'Heya Sister Rista.' he grinned. It was there nicknames for each otehr when they were cubs, and they had stuck.
'Did you wanna tell me something?' she asked casually, washing her paw daintily.
Ragazzo panicked. He thought about chickneing out, like he'd always done. Then images of Sam and Arista and three cubs flashed through his head... No. He had to tell her. Tonight. He nodded.
'Okay...this is gonna be a major shock...'
'What, you fancy the pants off me?' Arista joked, chuckling.
Ragazzo just blinked and her smile faded.
'oh Great Mohatu. You do, don't you? Oh for flip's sake!'
'Arista...'
'NO! How long have you felt this? You're pathetic! We were just friends! Oh, you disgust me! I'm with Sam!'
'yes but...'
'What? You were hoping I would run off with you?'
'Well...maybe but I-'
'If you were half the lion SAM was!'
Ragazzo snapped. No. Don't say he'd convinced Arista, his cub hood friend?
'Sam's bullied me! Don't ignore it!'
'LIAR!'
'Arista...'
'IF YOU WERE HALF THE LION SAM WAS!' She screamed again and stormed off.
Ragazzo blinked, still absorbing what had just happened in less than a minute. He was crushed. Tears spilled from his eyes and he winced, replaying all the words in her his head again.
If you were half the lion Sam was...
If you were half the lion Sam was...
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Base (c) Killer Bee