((Bomani profile will be done for next weekend))
Blood flows onto open paws, my dreams these days haunted by death and suffering. My dreams plagued and my heart hurt by the loss of the one I held dear, the one I loved of whom I couldn’t protect nor save when she needed it. I dread to sleep, I fear the dreams, the only escape is the day time. My body it trembles, shivers and I awaken panting for breath as sunlight shines through the jungle canopy, I curse the welcoming of a new day , but I am thankful to be rid of the dreams.

“I don’t blame you”
Says the soft female voice in my head says, the last words she whispered to me, but still yet I beg for forgiveness. This guilty heart is not easy to fix or to simply forget, a self inflicted curse that only I can truly destroy and yet I have no idea how to simply forgive myself and forget.
“I don’t deserve to be forgiven, not yet. Our work isn’t done here” I reply to myself as my eyes open and I gaze up at the tree canopy above, the sounds of birds in the branches and the bugs now drown out the voice of my old mate as a sigh leaves my mouth.

The lion rolled onto his stomach and got up very slowly, letting out a groan as he stretched out across the ground a moment before standing on all fours and shaking his head. As per normal he had randomly crashed out away from the pride, he had been doing so more and more lately. It felt better sometimes being on his own, he could think and he didn’t have to answer everyone’s concerned questions all the time.
Ever since the death of his mate after the failed attack on the Pride Lands a few months back many others asked how he was coping and offering him help, the thing was he didn’t want it or need it. At least that’s what he kept telling himself, he was in denial about needing the help.

His name was Bomani, a medicine feline of the Jungler pride, his old mate was called Mika, she simply started as his student, his protégé. Over time she became his lover. Many happy months passed by and they both worked to keep the Jungler pride happy and fighting fit, healed the wounded and treated the sick. The position as a medicine feline was filled with happiness and sorrow, dying is a natural part of life of which they all would reach someday. Not everyone can be saved no matter how much work you do to try and prolong it, in the pride they were both held in high regard.

The sight of badly war wounded felines did not bother them, they had pretty much seen it all and done what they could. All that would change, all it would take was to see his mate the way she was at the end to make him never be the same again, but he had a service to his pride non the less. He promised that once he managed to train up another protégé that would be it for him, he wanted to be leave but kept his wish to himself.

Padding through the jungle, dried leaves crunching under his heavy paws he made his way toward the sound of splashing water of one of the many waterfalls that filled the jungle. Standing at the edge he looked down at the clear, rippling water. For a moment he looked at his reflection, his face looked slightly more aged than he was, covered in the scars gained in the war. For many years most females didn’t look at him twice, Mika was different and saw past his scars to the lion he really was.
In the water he felt like someone was beside him. Maybe it was the lack of sleep, maybe it was just what he wanted to see when he saw the reflection of his mate sitting beside him beautiful as she was. His heart for a moment full of happiness and a slight smile on his face, turning around only to have it dashed when no one was there. Once more he crawled back into the darkness within himself and sighed, leaning down he lapped at the cold water to cure his dry throat.

“Guess it time to go to work” he said as he turned around and slowly padded back through the jungle in the direction of the main pridal camp.