IN PROGRESS.
Hope
Kaho had two kinds of intuition, the natural and the supernatural. But it didn't take a keen eye nor a seer's premonition to see Kalbali was in no mood for charity today, so he went hungry. Cheetahs are too moody to be leaders. No way was he the only one who thought so.
The others wouldn't have been able to offer their insights if he'd had the gall to say it out loud; they were scattered, tasked with learning the lay of the land so they could avoid patrols, guards, and just general territory disputes. Until then, Kaho hunkered down in their temporary refuge. This place was... standard, he'd call it. Grass in front of him, grass behind him, and a solitary tree at his side, its lush branches shielding him from the drizzle of rain.
The sky was starting to change hues, from blues and whites to oranges, pinks, and reds. Almost night.
Where is everyone?
Seaki
It had taken Chozi a little while to get Mpenzi to agree to stay with Celes today. She wanted to go too, and see her brother, but Chozi wasn't going in that direction today. He wandered out of the wetlands, and out into the plains.
He was searching for something - something unique. He wanted to craft something new and exciting; something that was eye catching. He would know it when he saw it.
The light rain didn't bother him. It rained often and it was always wet where he lived. It was actually a nice change over the heat of the sun blaring down on his fur. It was a nice day to relax, had he stayed home with his children. Perhaps he could be back by morning?
Hope
Kaho was sharing the sentiment from a different point of view and with less flexibility. "They better be back by morning," he groused. Of his many flaws, bellyaching was a thing he'd justly plead innocent to. Unless his belly was, literally, aching. All's fair in love and hunger.
He was just rising to all four paws -- a strenuous effort for this particular wild dog -- when Chozi became a speck in the distance. Kaho tried to assume the best, prepare for the worst.
Hopefully, this was a friendly vagabond and not a belligerent guard come to chase intruders off "his" land heading his way.
Seaki
It didn't hadn't taken as long as Chozi expected to begin nearing a large tree in - what used to be - the distance. Oh course, it wasn't a bad tree, one with lots of leaves and such. He shouldn't have been surprised to find another beneath it.
A dog no less! Chozi, despite all his years and wanderings, did not run into many dogs. There were just too many lion prides around and he tended to stick close to felines of the hybrid persuasion, and they were generally outcasted from most for their strange looks.
He was curious, drawing closer to the dog, who appeared to notice him as well - it wasn't as if he was hiding himself. "Hello!" He called, unsure if he should make his way closer. He didn't know if the other was friendly enough for that, or not, or if he appeared threatening.
It had happened before, despite all his lanky, fragile appearance.
Hope
Thank the Gods, first contact was peaceful. Kaho was no good at being suspicious. The burden of assaying a stranger's temperament was a heavy one to bear. Worse, he wouldn't have outrun anything with four working paws, one more than he had.
"Hey," he called back. Ever the opportunist, soon to follow, "Do you know where we are?"
Seaki
"Between prides at the moment," Chozi answered the dog, curious. He stepped a bit closer to the other, taking in his markings. They were interesting - like a mask and cloak and Chozi saw something there. "There's a pride just that way, pretty close. About half an hours walk from here," he noted his own, "And another just that way," he gestured in another direction, "But its a bit further."
Hope
Prides. Prides everywhere.
Kaho sighed what could have been dismissed as a heavy breath. He was flustered, but he looked more bewildered than anything. This friendly fellow was... something. A something he hadn't seen before -- long, lanky, but with a mane like a lion's. "Can I ask you something?" he wanted to know, trying to sound polite and maybe a touch subtle about it. Given his prying stare and that he hadn't asked permission for the less personal question that came before it, he likely didn't succeed in the latter.
Seaki
Chozi nodded. "Why do you ask?" he told the wild dog, actually stepping a little closer this time. He hoped that he wasn't staring too much, attempting to take in the details of the other's face markings. He blinked and glanced away, hoping he hadn't looked long enough to for it to become awkward.
He gave a small smile, hoping to diffuse the awkward, curious feeling in his gut. "Ask away, what's your question?"
