True Colors

The rains had finally began to stop, but scattered couds still covered the morning sky. Matkiau slid out of the pride cave after having been sitting quietly under the entrance arch. He hated the rain; it made the world look so gloomy and depressing, and he didn't need the weather to thrust any more of those feelings on him.
He padded along throughout the jungle terrain, dodging any wet or damp piece of foliage he came across. Finally,, after reaching the cliff-side, he leaped onto an inclined boulder and watched the clouds begin to drift further east away from his homeland. After some time he heard the snap of a twig and glanced over his shoulder to try and catch the culprit.
Zentina peered behind a bush and glanced up at her brother, ears drooping as she moved closer. "Sorry, Mat... I noticed you had left and I just-,"she took a breath and lowered her head, "I just didn't want to be alone."
He released a slight growl as he looked away from her and back to the sky. "What do you mean alone? You have dad." Zentina looked back up to him, her eyes beginning to fill with tears. "This is the day mom died...you know how dad gets...and I miss you sometimes, brother. Sometimes it feels like I never see you."
Matkiau looked back briefly to his sister and released a breath through his nose. He studied her a moment before giving her a nod. "Come here..."
Zentina gave him a gentle smile and lied down next to him, curling up against his warmth. After a pause, she looked up to her brother before placing her chin on his paw. "You shouldn't be afraid to show them, Mat."
Matkiau blinked, "Show what? What the hell are you talking about, Zen?"
"You're colors... I know you don't like to be mean. You just feel like you need to be... I don't like you to be unhappy; actually I can't remember when I last saw you laughing..."
Mat grew silent before he closed his eyes and lowered his head. I don't either...
"I can see them, though," she smiled, her breathing growing slow and gentle.
Mat opened his eyes slightly as he stared at the rock beneath them. "I can see your's too, Zen. They're beautiful...like a rainbow."

But I see your true colors shining through.
I see your true colors and that's why I love you.
So don't be afraid to let them show, your true colors.
True colors are beautiful, like a rainbow

--------------

I actually kind of enjoyed drawing the background, which is new. Although, I both like and don't like this...I mean I feel like there's something I didn't do or should have done different. Oh well.

Image + Chars © Me
True Colors © Cindi Lauper/Phil Collins