Surak didn't know how he felt about Nirmala.
She had come into his life like any other animal to The Tree of Life: seeking for help and healing from the ruler of the Night Pride, in this case, his own mother, Janna. Surak had noticed how beautiful she was, and, as the flirt he was —not like his brother, Sãhasí—, he had tried to approach the new face in the lands.
He noticed, though, that she was uncomfortable with his advances, so he pulled off inmediately. That didn't stop his curiosity about Nirmala. Surak had overheard the lioness' talks with his mother, about the lands she has visited in her previous nomadic pride. The young lion, who had never left his home, was excited about the stories.
Little by little he got closer to the stranger. Nirmala wasn't sure about him at first but Surak was charming and didn't seem to be malicious, he was childish even.
They became best friends.
And when Nirmala, comfortable of having someone who wouldn't purse a relationship with her, finally confided the trauma she had lived on before coming to The Tree, Surak bow himself to protect her and never leave her unless she told him so. She laughed, telling him that once he found a mate, he would leave.
The day came when a new lioness came and accepted Surak's charms. The male was giddly and told Nirmala everything about this new female. His friend only laughed at him, saying she was happy for him.
Which is why he got surprised when, after he spent all the night talking with his best friend, his "mate" told him that he needed to choose between her and Nirmala and leave the Tree.
Surak was offended. How dare her? Nirmala was a must! He wouldn't leave her, and he wouldn't change his mind. Not even after the lioness slapped him and called him a nasty lion. Not even after Nirmala begged him to fix his relationship with the lioness, Surak stayed as long as Nirmala wanted him by her side.
And the seasons passed. And other females came. But since non accepted that Surak had Nirmala as his priority, nothing changed.
Surak didn't know how he felt about Nirmala. He knew it wasn't love. At least, not the one he has seen his brother had with his wife. Nor his mother with his father.
Surak didn't know how he felt about Nirmala. It's wasn't love. It was different.
And he was happy with that.
Happy Aromantic Awareness week! I have been wanting to explain how Nirmala and Surak work in my canon, since I personally don't see them as a couple so here is my explanation: Surak is heterosexual aromantic! Nirmala is straight but has chosen the cellibate life. They are each other's most importan lions in their lives and wouldn't change it for anything in the world.
