The lover boy II

In a forest.

"You can't keep following me, you know."

Tahni stopped at once under a tree, gawping at the indifferent Miargos. They had been walking since forever and that was their second day in the wild. Twas a wonder that the cave in which they had passed the night didn't toss misery at them. At least, that was a pretty sense to it.

"What choice do I have, Tahni. I have lost everything I had back in that village. I do not have a choice. If I should die seeking for my love, I shall. Plus, you sure need help in this wild. Even though you pretend not to."

She leaned on the bark of the tree and pursed her lips. She shook her head in annoyance and shot,

"This is madness, Miargos."

Miargos moved closer to her. But he stopped few steps away. He was sure not to walk into her. Only if he wanted to press himself on her.

"If finding and fighting for who I love is madness, then I do not want to be sane."

Tahni scoffed, keeping the feigned smile in that side of her lips for a while longer. Then she replied,

"Then I guess you'll remain mad forever."

She dropped the sac of clothes in her hand,

"You know what is funny? She doesn't even like you, let alone love you. Let's assume that you love her and she loves you, then she was taken away. It makes sense to fight for her. To win her heart back. Because she would want you. A part of her already craves for you. But she doesn't even think of you. She can't see you, man. Don't be hypnotized. You really need to wake up from the dreams. It's something that can't be. But you keep lying to yourself."

She paused. But he didn't seem moved by what she had said. He maintained his stance,

"What you are not seeing is that, Prium already is aware of my love for her. Even though she despises me greatly. But it's not for no reason. She despises me because of what my father had done. All she needs is a reason to love me. If she can find one, she would be mine eventually. I will not give up on her. I will not give up on my quest. No matter the number of times she rejects me, I'll keep standing tall."

Tahni sighed in frustration as soon as he finished talking. She didn't know what to tell him anymore. She slid her back down the bark of the tree till she sat at the base. She said,

"Do you have water there? Mine would be finished soon."

He didn't hesitate. Wouldn't you do all in your care to please your in-law? He handed over his waterskin to her and watched her slurp.

He turned his back slightly and looked at the stretch of wild life canvassed by the fluttering leaves and calling birds. There was a unique life to that part of the forest. It seemed as though they had walked farther than they thought.

All he knew at the moment was that he was following Tahni. It didn't matter where she was taking him to. He just wanted to prove himself as different from his father. Even if no one would see it, he wanted her to see it.

He got distracted by a swift movement up ahead of him. He looked keenly and closely. He saw two lovesick rabbits, trading their love coins. He wished he was them. He wished he had won Prium. But he knew he would. He kept assuring and reassuring himself.

"Here."

She handed over the waterskin to him and he tucked it under his robe. She stared at him for long, certain that he could see her do that. She knew he was going to speak eventually. She wasn't disappointed.

"Tracing the foolishness on my face?"

He asked her. She chuckled instead and looked away from him, then back at him. His beards were neat and his face if washed, would be charming enough to woo an Impala or elk over.

"Not really foolishness. It's just a wonder that several men, I mean mean, not boys like you who are in the shadows of men. Those men are in be village fighting for the right course, to liberate the village from the tyrannic grasps of the chiefs. But you are here, lovesick, making rhymes and comparisons of your love for a person you don't know whether or not you would see again."

He smiled. The smile wasn't feigned, neither was it genuine. You could tell that twas that kinda smile birthed by deep thinking. Such smile you nurse when you're trying to lay your thoughts on the right idea.

"The land is torn beyond merit, Tahni. If you speak of me in such detest, why didn't you stay there too? Why come here?"

She scoffed and shot back,

"I had to look for my father. I love him so much and wouldn't want any other harm to come to him. Though I'm sure that my sister's love for father is stronger than mine. And most time, I'm scared of her intentions. I must get to them quickly."

She paused and sighed then continued immediately,

"At least my intentions are genuine and reasonable. What are yours? Please don't say, love. I'm tired of that word."

He sighed. He was weary. She could tell. If she was the one, she would had left the place at once. She was beginning to admire his persistence and how coolheaded he was. But one couldn't be too sure. He might be feigning.

"I'm more concerned about you. Of course I love Prium and want us to be together. But also, I should be concerned about my in-law. I see that you're vulnerable and could hurt yourself in this wild. There are several wild cats here that wouldn't take your beauty into note and devour you at sight. So, you're one of the reasons I'm here. But of course, you're free to say, it's irrelevant."

She felt smothered by the thought of he being concerned for her but she didn't approve of his stance.

"I don't remember when I told you that I needed your help. Plus the last time I came here, I was fine all by myself, I wasn't killed."

She argued, rolling her eyes. But since he didn't respond, she added,

"Where do we rest today? The cave is very much far from here. Let's see how far you go in taking care of your you-wish in-law."

He smiled then shook his head. He turned and looked around quickly whether or not he would find a thing,

"There must be something somewhere near here. Probably another cave or abandoned hut, or a --"

He stopped talking at once. There was a strong rumbling and thick wave of winds patrolling the spot they were. Tahni struggled quickly to stand up as the winds sought to throw her off her feet.

"Mairgos?"

He came to her aid, and swoop her into his chest, holding her tightly. Her handful titties buried in his chest.

Then suddenly, there began to hear a great quaking from the tree under which Tahni had sat. They both looked.

The tree shook so heavily that it felt like twould be uprooted at once.

"What's happening?"

She asked holding dearly and tightly unto him.

Suddenly there opened a door in the tree and out of came three figures - a man and two women.

"Father."

Tahni screamed, fighting herself off the grip of Mairgos who wasn't willing to let go her. At least not yet.