Kopa awoke sharply. The Royal Mlinzi’s brown, alert eyes shot open. He lay within an icy cave, chilled to the bone and yet surprisingly comfortable. The howling winds outside caught his attention, dampening any and all sounds from within the cave. As he arose to his paws, he felt a strong, chilling gush bellow from above. He looked up to see a small crack in the cave’s roof.
Stretching out from his sleepy stance, He felt a presence nearby, familiar and yet… Something was off. Focusing his eyes into the dimly lit shadows, he noticed a familiar, feline figure, softly laying not far from him. She was mumbling, slowly rolling around presumably in her sleep. As he cautiously approached, he was pretty sure he could make out his name.
Kopa strolled across the snow-coated, icy ground. Just as he did, the clouds dissipated, allowing the soft moonlight to pierce the cave, illuminating the Uasian Princess as she slept. Her creamy fur glistened in the moonlight, catching Kopa’s eye as she rolled over to face him.
“Erm… Karimu?” He lowered his head as she whispered, softly nudging against Karimu’s sleepy head. Upon making contact, the young lioness awoke, instantly jolting upwards as she felt her protector’s head rest against hers.
“Kopa!” She practically leapt to her paws, landing perfectly as she nervously stared into the royal Mlinzi’s concerned eyes. “Wha…What’s happening?” She shot her gaze around the cave before landing her unfocused hazel orbs upon Kopa’s. He moved his paw towards her, gently resting it upon hers.
“It’s ok…” Softly, calmly whispering, he moved his muzzle forward, leaving a short, loving lick across the lioness’ forehead. She stared up at his warm brown eyes, completely lost in the heartfelt fire that burned within them. She shuddered, the untamed fire within her own body raging on, as it had for years now. Kopa Sat down before her as she wiggled into a more comfortable position to lay. “It's just you were saying my name in your sleep.”
The lioness’ cheeks reddened, through Kopa couldn't necessarily tell through her luxurious creamy fur. Her eyes softly fell, trying to look away from the mighty Royal Mlinzi. For Kopa though, something else was off. As he sat there, his nose caught an unusual, choking stench, seemingly emanating from her body. The taste flung to his tongue, like a sweet field of flowers, a jungle even. He looked down at her, confused, even afraid.
“Erm…well…I…” Karimu stuttered, her eyes darting around the room, trying to think of some sort of logistical lie. Her body shuddered with a fiery burst as she felt his warm, ice melting breath softly touch her fur. She looked up at him. Her hazel eyes slightly watering as she stared up at his longing, loving brown ones. They sparkled with such affection, such heart. How could she resist them anymore?
“I…I have something to tell you… Kopa…” Her eyes rolled down to the ground, trying to escape the destination her heart had set. She felt the warmth from his breath escape her pace, leaving behind the chill as he inhaled sharply. The royal Mlinzi’s eyes stared down at hers, curiosity consuming them as she turned to face him once more.
She couldn’t hold back any longer. With the speed of a cheetah, she leapt up from her resting position, quickly resting her head into Kopa’s magnificent, darkened mane. He froze as he felt her head dive into the ball of fur around his neck and chest. “I love you!”
Kopa’s body remained frozen in place despite the explosive fire that imploded within him. He couldn’t believe it. To feel the lioness he had admired and loved for so long caressing him, inhaling deeply into his mane. He didn’t know what to think, just lost in this unshackling sensation of love.
“I’ve loved you for oh so long!” Karimu whimpered into Kopa’s ear, a small dribble of tears staining his mane as she held him close. Her heart pounded in her chest as she declared her feelings for him. “You’re the only male to show me any respect.” She brushed through his mane until her head poked out of his bushy dark brown fur, looking up into his sparkling brown eyes, she couldn’t help but shred a tiny tear.
Kopa’s entire body trembled. Was this really happening? He stared down into Karimu’s watering eyes. Filled with love, affection and yet.. something else. His entire body shuddered once more at the exact same time that Karimu’s’ seem to shudder too.
“I…Love you too…” Lowering his head, Kopa nuzzled up to the Usain princess. He felt her breathing intensify, shuddering at his heartfelt confession. As Karimu buried her muzzle in his mane once more, Kopa lowered his head softly licking her forehead, she giggled slightly at the affection, wiping her face upwards, breaking through his mane as she looked back up at him.
As she did, the burning sensation deep down intensified. High above the nuzzling couple, the thick layers of ice started to drip onto the snow below. She had never felt anything like this before. Staring into Kopa’s eyes, she could just feel her heart flutter. He was just so perfect, strong et caring, loving even. He was nothing like the others.
Kopa stared back into Karimu’s eyes. The Royal Mlinzi couldn’t quite comprehend how he felt. He had loved her for so long stood by her side most of his life. And yet… did he deserve her? He thought of the pride, their burning hatred of him. Would they really accept him as her lover? A Pridelander, becoming the mate of the future Uasian queen. The elders would never allow such a thing.
A fearsome frown shot across his muzzle as he thought of this, tears slowly streaming his cheeks as he looked down at the snow-coated ground. “But… We can’t… do this Karimu…” Karimu clutched onto his mane, her breath intensifying as her heartbeat intensified.
“Why?” The young lioness exhaled. A small droplet of tears rolled down her face as Kopa tuned away, turning his back on the fidgeting lioness.
“The Pride hates me…” Kopa whimpered, remaining to look at his paws beneath him. “They’d never accept me as your mate.” He inhaled sharply, trying his best to hold back the flood of tears forming in his eyes. “And your father…”
“Forget my father!” Karimu growled, near pouncing on the sombre Royal Mlinzi before her. “Forget the Pride, the elders.. everything!” standing face to face with him, she rested her forehead on his. The shallow moonlight gleamed through their nestled heads, projecting a small heart onto the shallowing snow pile beside them. She stared him in the eye, slightly shuddering in anticipation as she rested her paw on his. “I love you… I need you in my life.”
Kopa stood quiet for a moment, closing his eyes as he felt Karimu softly whimper as her head fell into his mane. He caught it, holding her in his paw. Her weight was too much though, causing him to fall forward, onto the warm lioness before him. Their muzzles pressed together as they stared at each other, both mumbling nervous, embarrassed as they felt their bodies caress one another, softly laying against each other in a furry pile. Karimu shuddered under Kopa, only able to stare up into his warm, equally surprised, even nervous eyes. His mane consumed her chest, giving her a drowning stench of his mature, masculine scent. The very presence of which sent her body into a euphoric overload. She barely didn’t even notice his tail softly rest against her groin.
But then, Kopa raised his tail, the tip swaying off to the side before landing back on the floor. As she saw it sway at the side of him, she looked back up at the Mlinzi’s face. His eyes widened, body stiffened, as if scared. The fire within raged on, consuming the blood in her veins and arteries as her breathing intensified.  
Kopa felt it too. Feeling the burning presence of Karimu’s body close to his, he tried to wiggle away. He flicked his groin backwards, away from the princess’ as his cheeks reddened, igniting with incomprehensible guiltiness. He lowered his eyes, sulking away from the lioness beneath him as he tried to mumble, trying to apologise.
But Karimu had other ideas. She looked up at her protector, her Royal Mlinzi. The sensation of his body pressed against hers etched into her mind, reliving and rewinding it again and again. Her body trembled as she looked up at the trembling, nervous lion before her. She felt it too. These feelings were forbidden. She couldn’t love him, let alone choose him. The rest of the pride would never accept this. But when had she ever listened to them? She lowered her head slightly as she smirked, a boiling aura of seduction spreading across her muzzle as she looked up at Kopa.
Kopa glanced down, his eyes focussing sharply as he watched the Uasian princess wiggle on the snowy ground before him. The seductive stare booming from her heated hazel eyes enticed his vision, locking him in place as he watched her arise to her paws. Once Karimu had arisen, Kopa nuzzled into her fur, brushing his mane into it. His nose sunk into her skin, taking in the sweet, fiery scent within. The pair danced in the pale moonlight, sniffing and licking each other’s bodies, becoming lost in their heart-pounding, passionate embrace.
Karimu felt Kopa’s body once more, brushing herself against its scarred, wounded surface. How many scars did he possess? How many times had he risked his life to save her, to save the entire pride? And for what? Nothing? She stared into his eyes, her own watering slightly. He deserved so much more. He deserved a chance and she would be more than honoured to give it to him. Nobody else had to know, just them two. Her body trembled with that thought once more.
Once again, Karimu brushed up against Kopa’s side, passing the royal Mlinzi gently as she caressed his chin with her tail tip. She looked back at him, smirking seductively as she ascended the snow-coated overhang nearby. Kopa smiled at the sight. His brain, locked on the lioness, seemed to recognise the surroundings around him. It reminded him of a cave that he and Karimu had fallen into as cubs. This revelation only forced his heart to beat faster. This was the cave where they became friends.
This would now become the cave where they became lovers…
Kopa ascended the overhang, letting the sweet, blooming scent gently guide him to Karimu. She flopped down before him, just at the edge. The moonlight gleaming down on her creamy fur in a beam, as if the heavens were beckoning him towards her. She looked up at him, desire burning in her eyes as she analysed his strong, virile form approach softly. Both were hooked by the scene. The stars themselves aligned above them. This was destined, they were destined to be together.
Kopa slowly approached Karimu, watching as she slowly spread her rear legs, presenting herself to him. The Royal Mlinzi kept his head lowered, following the blooming sweet scent that had consumed his mind. His eyes locked on a slightly darker patch of fur just slightly above her tail which lay across the snowy ground before him.  He smirked slightly but could not tell why. Whatever this scent was he couldn’t get enough of it. He felt his body tingle, shuddering warmly as he approached Karimu’s spread, pelvis. He glanced up at her, watching as she wiggled around slightly, scenting the snowy ground beneath her as she hummed softly, her sweet hazel eyes blushing down at the Royal Mlinzi who stood between her legs. His warm, stuttering breath sent bolts of pleasure up her body as she smirked down at him. She could sense his desire, slowly burning through his heart and soul, through his fur and into the air around him.
Kopa lowered his head to her groin, his breath intensifying as his muzzle approached, only heightening the pleasurable rumbling through her body as she laid back, completely succumb to the passionate, body trembling sensation that swept through her body, like fiery, pleasant waves sweeping through a nice, relaxing lake.
A bubbling mixture of pleasure, heartfelt affection and unbridled desire boiled through Kopa’s fur. It was such a  strange feeling, the burning feeling in his chest, in his heart. He felt so alive. For the first time in months, he finally had someone to love, someone to call his pride.
The heat of the moment consumed his mind, let alone the heat seeping from Karimu’s body. It lathered his throat, enticing him forward. His mind burned with strange, uncontrollable thoughts, many of them he couldn’t tell if they were right or wrong. He stared down at the creamy furred body beneath him, slightly trembling at the touch of his breath. He had an idea. Noticing the lioness’ intensified breathing at his breath, he lowered his head even lower, letting his tongue slowly slip out of his muzzle, mere inches from Karimu’s body.
Karimu looked down at her protector, her mouth slightly agape as she felt the rough, wet sensation of his tongue softly lapping at her body. The euphoric spasms reverberating through her body intensified as Kopa continued to lather her, wetting her fur as he slowly moved upwards, across her pelvis. She kicked her legs to the side sporadically, completely consumed in the intimate moment.
Kopa continued to lick at Karimu’s body, moving up the soft, untouched lips beneath her tail to her pelvis. As he did, he felt the small, black lumps that nestled there, twitching her body slightly as his tongue swept past them. Her eyes widened, the feeling of immense pleasure rushing through her body had started to drive her crazy. She needed him, this handsome, strong, loving lion who lapped at her torso. The intense burning within her body had peaked, burning away any sense nervousness from the lioness’ mind. This was Kopa, the lion who had risked his life more times for her than she could count. The feelings he was giving her were only heightening her love for him. He was so good, so perfect. This was heavenly.
And they hadn’t even truly started yet…
Kopa slowly, sensually worked his way up her body until he was licking her chest. His strong, virile body resting above Karimu’s. Their noses softy rested against each other; eyes locked in a seductive trance. Both were completely lost in each other’s presence, the fires in their bodies and hearts burning brighter than ever before Nothing else mattered right now.
Moving his muzzle to Karimu’s cheek, licking the side of her face as he rested above her. Their eyes met once more, silently both pleading for each other. No words needed to be spoken. They both needed this, needed each other. With one last longing glance, Karimu smiled up at Kopa, giving him the final permission needed.
Kopa smiled back, lowering his body onto Karimu’s. He moved his hips back as he did so before slowly and gently inching forward, into the young lioness. She shuddered at the sensation of his body caressing hers, letting off a heartfelt, longing sigh, encapsulated in a series of grunts. She looked him in the eyes once more, letting his forehead rest against hers. The shallow moonlight shone upon the, casting a love heart shadow onto the quickly melting snow beside them.   
Kopa hummed, closing his eyes softly as he held his position. Karimu followed suit, tightly shutting her eyes as a fiery pleasure rushed through her body. She felt Kopa inside of her. His love beating at the same pace as her heart. They were one, even if they still couldn’t quite believe it, lost in their little world of pleasure and lust.
Karimu moved her paw to Kopa’s shoulder. She felt the deep, canyon-like scars etched into his fur and skin, feeling the mumming, trembling power buried within. Just at this moment, Kopa continued, softly rolling his pelvis forward then back. He continued at this pace, letting off small, incomprehensible hums of pure pleasure, harmonising with the Uasian Princess beneath him.
Karimu panted at the sweet sensation rushing through her body.  The feeling of Kopa’s love was like nothing she had ever experienced. She had seen some of the other pride members mate, watch as the males pounded the lionesses. She had heard from her friends just how painful mating was, and yet, right here, she learned the truth. Kopa was so gentle, so loving, so caring. He was perfect, his love was perfect. It only made her love him even more. She was so lucky to have him, just as much as he was to have her.
Succumbing to the lustful sensations boiling within, Karimu rested her head beside Kopa’s.  She wrapped her paws around his body, forcing him deeper into her. The royal Mlinzi’s body trembled, releasing a reverberating series of grunts and hums as he quickened his pace. Both lions panted heavily, losing themselves in their loving embrace. Karimu felt her cheeks redden as she stared up to the quickly melting ceiling, droplets of melted snow falling upon the mating couple, evaporating into shallow steam as it hit their furs.
The pair continued like this for some time, softly, passionately making love as the ice around them started to melt. Time seemed to melt with the ice around them as the loving, passionate couple continued their steamy, sensual moment. Kopa sped up slightly, growing more and more desperate, pure, unbridled instinct driving his actions. Karimu didn’t mind, she held him tight, consumed by the same, boiling desire that he was.
The wave-like vibrations within Karimu’s body intensified, nearly washing through every cell in her body as she grasped onto Kopa’s back. She had never felt this level of pure, perfect pleasure and ecstatic, energised, excitement before. Gritting her teeth, she tried to hold it back, digging her claws softly into Kopa’s soaked, fiery fur.
“K…Kopa!” Her voice tightened. Within milliseconds, her entire body tightened, quivering within as she growled out the immense, spasming sensations rushing through every muscle in her body. To her surprise Kopa was growling too, shuddering at the same pace as he held her tight, holding her as close as he could. She felt him, felt his love pour deep into her. The warmth, the boiling magma like substance softly, slowly ebbing deeper into her body as the handsome, heavily panting male stood above her, barely standing as he seemed to come down from his own euphoric high.
The pair stayed connected for a moment, panting wildly, softly nudging and cuddling each other as they tried to regain control of their bodies. Regaining his breath, Kopa pulled back, moving from Karimu’s knackered, soaked boy before flopping to the damp floor beside her. The once icy, snow-filled cave now laid dormant, rocky and yet moisturised, dampened by the once-frozen water that coated the cave. The two lions lay in their melted cave of love, unaware of the immense heat they had created. Karimu’s body still shuddered with the strange pressure, squeezing her insides as she felt the remains of Kopa’s love slither further into her, like a river of magma, ready to be forged into a pure, emotionally charged crystal. Her eyes glimmered with this feeling as she looked over at Kopa, who had continued to pant softly beside her. His brown, loving eyes locking on hers smiling softly.
“Thank you…” She gently moved her muzzle to his, nudging his head upwards as she snuggled up to his mane. She rolled her body over, curling it into her belly as he raised his paw over her, cuddling her body as they both started to drift off into sleep. “For everything…”
She once again found herself lost in his darkened, majestic mane. Her mind was still lost in the euphoria she had just experienced, the pure, unrivalled love that even now was burning away all sense of fear and uncertainty. She snuggled up to Kopa’s body, resting her head in his mane as the both dozed off, lying in the dampened confines of the cave. The moon glimmered upon them as they slept. But nothing could match the feeling within.
The rules had been broken for the first time in centuries. But this change had forged hope. a gleaming beacon that would shine for many more years to come, as solid as a crystal, forged out of just enough heat and pressure. They would gleam forever.
And gleam brightly they would…