[PRP] I lost my patient, again! (Eirinn x Ceto)

[Tanakako]

* She's an adult

Eirinn huffed in worried exasperation, yellow eyes squinting against the glare of the evening sun which was making her search increasingly difficult. Someone needed to tell her mother that sick lions didn’t simply up and wander off whenever the mood struck them. Certainly not someone as adept at hiding as Saoirse was. Fear flashed through her as the many possibly, or rather, likely scenarios of what could have happened to the elder lioness flicked through her thoughts like an unpleasant memory, the sense of déjà vu strong and distressing in itself.

“Damnit mother… “ Huffing, anger a thin disguise for her rapidly growing anxiety, she hopped down off the small hillock she had been using as a vantage point and set off again, following one of the guard’s patrol trails, hoping to spot her missing patient. Of course Eirinn had checked her mother’s preferred hiding spots first, Beo’s Bench, the hidden oasis right on the edge of the pride’s territory, and numerous other small out of the way places where Saoirse liked to go when she wasn’t in the healer dens. Not that Eirinn really blamed her mother, no one wanted to spend time in the healer dens, except the healers themselves, and even they would prefer it if they didn’t have to… as that would mean Eirinn and her fellow medics were no longer needed, no healer meant no disease, no dying lions…

Sighing softly she stopped once more, squinting into the low light, trying to work out if the shape she saw was a lion, a heard beast, or just her imagination.

“Come on mother… you are gonna give me a heart attack one day…”

R4gn0r0k IV

 

[Fairy Snails]

Ceto had been standing still, looking at his surroundings. He had found himself in an unfamiliar land, with no supplies and no place to rest. This wasn't an odd occurrence for Ceto. He had been chased off many times, he had a tendency to find someone else's den and rest up there while they were away. His whole adult life he had been a scavenger and a beggar.

And right now he wasn't sure what to do with himself.

He had imagined that he would have settled down by now and had a family. But he had never found a place that felt like home. He wondered if his siblings ever settled down or if they were still looking for a pride to call home.

It was during his pity party that he heard the voice of the lioness. He had listened to her words and knew they were not directed at him. But there was no one else around...

“I'm sorry.” He said quietly, but loud enough for her to hear him. “I think you might be mistaken.” He stepped toward her so he could clearly see her. Despite his recent lack of nutriments, he was still a very large lion, just on the thin side and built tall.

He gave her a thin, non threatening smile. “I'm just a lost lion.”

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

The voice was certainly not her mother, but as he stepped forward her concern switched targets. He was thin! Almost as thin as some of the pride members, and yet he was clearly not one of them... A rogue she guessed, and one who had fallen on hard times. Moving forwards she approched him with the easy confidence of one who had never needed to fear for her life. After all, what fool would harm a trained healer? Even the most violent of lions thought twice and her commanding attitude and clear ability usually kept any mutiny at bay. But on top of that she had been trained by the pride's longest serving Guard and could more than adequatly defend herself and her patients, even if it was form themselves.

So, she strode forwards, golden gaze flicking over his body as she arrived in front of him. "Greetings to the Kitwana'antiara." Her voice, now it was no longer raised and full of frustration, was musical with a soft lilt that still nevertheless held a confident tone. "Are you quite well? I am Eirinn, a healer here." The lioness was a slender, graceful creature, long of limb and slim without being either weak or fragile. Her star-dappled blue fur was glossy with health, which had he known about her pride, may have been a surprise, but she was not one of the sick, instead she was suspected as a carrier, though only time would tell. Her tail curled behind her as she waited for his answer, slim head tilted in question.

R4gn0r0k IV

 

[Fairy Snails]

Ceto bowed his head at the lioness. “Thank you for the greeting.” He had never heard of the pride Kitwana'antiara. 'Hopefully they are a generous pride,' he thought. By the way the lioness acted, he thought they would do him no harm. At this point he knew he should avoid any pride that seemed threatening. He couldn't defend himself, even if it was a matter or life and death. In a fight he knew he would just scurry away and hope he wasn't caught.

“I've seen better days, but it could be worse.” he said, answering her question. He hadn't injured himself too badly on the journey so far, just a couple scratches here and there. “It is nice to meet your Eirinn. My name is Ceto.” He gave her a half smile. His journey had made him tired. He knew it was his own fault for never learning how to hunt properly.

“I've never heard of your pride before. What is it like?” And more importantly were they they type to give out handouts, he thought. He stepped closer to Eirinn, wanting to make sure she could hear his soft voice.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

She smiled at him, taking note of his nervousness and slightly bewildered expression. Maybe he had come across some of the more violent lions out there in the rogue lands, or perhaps had the misfortune to meet the Nergui? Bt if so he was lucky to have escaped with his life, judging for the tails she had heard about the war-loving tribe. Or he could have crossed paths with the Firekin, for though they had proved an agreeable bunch, their size, colours and fighting prowess was enough to make even the boldest Kitwana member take pause.

Shaking her thoughts away for the time being, as they would do neither her nor her guest any good, she flashed him a second, welcoming smile. "Well, you are here now. I can not take you into the pride, for we are quarantined, but there is a place close by where I often spend time, it is safe and sheltered. You look like you could do both a rest and a meal." Tipping her head in a clear question she turned and stepped out, waiting for him to move and follow her before she set off.

"Has your journey here been long?" She asked, more to distract him from whatever seemed to be weighing on his mind than any nosiness on her part. She would shelter and feed him, see if he needed any other aid and then go find her missing patient. But for right now, he had her complete and total attention.

R4gn0r0k IV

 

[Fairy Snails]

Quarantined? Questions about the pride raised through his head. What happened to her pride to make it quarantined? Was he in any sort of danger? For a split second he thought about getting the hell out of there, leaving without a proper farewell, but there was food at stake. He could use a good meal and a lovely lioness to nurse him back to health.

“I would appreciate a meal. Thank you for your hospitality. It's not often I run into someone so willing to help me.” It made him hopefully for the rest of his journey. Maybe the adventure was not going to be as terrible as he thought it would be.

He nodded his head. It had felt like ages since he left his mother to start his journey. “There has been little food on my travel. I feel like I've set out during a dry season.” He said. Most of his meals had been scraggly little critters. Nothing compared to the prey his mother use to catch for him.

“If you don't mind me asking, why is your pride quarantined?” It was something he knew would trouble him during his stay. It couldn't be too bad right? Eirinn looked perfectly fine to him. If it was horrible, he wouldn't be welcomed to be this close to the pride, he thought.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

His expression of concern made her smile in a reassuring way. “Don’t worry, you are safe. It is not transmitted easily. I would have to maul you, or otherwise get my blood on you.” She knew it sounded startling, but he was quite safe. She would never put an innocent at risk, it was simply not in her nature. And as a healer, she knew as much as anyone could about their affliction. “We have many visitors like you, none have come to harm from simply socialising. We keep the centre of the pride secret simply as a precaution.” She paused and suddenly grinned, the light in her eyes warm, expression cheeky. She did so love to tease strangers. “We have regular litters whose fathers are rogues. It helps keep the pride healthy.” Or as healthy as its disease would let it be. But sickness and inbreeding were two entirely different problems.

Giving him a cheeky grin she stepped to the side and motioned with her tail to a small corpse of trees a short distance away. “Come on, there is a lovely spring, with shade and a sandy hollow. Its a great place to bathe. And while you rest I’ll go fetch a meal.” Now hunting could have been slightly dodgy as she was a carrier, but she had long since perfected a technique that her brother had developed, a way to hunt prey safely for strangers. No teeth required.

R4gn0r0k IV

 

[Fairy Snails]

Ceto let out a relieved sigh. At least he was safe, he thought. He couldn't imagine his life as a sickly lion. The thought alone would normally scare him away from such a pride. But Eirinn's words were reassuring. If she said he was safe, he would trust her. He would just have to be careful.

As she talked in a teasing manner, he could feel himself get embarrassed. He gave her a sheepish grin. “Really now?” His own mother had a fling with a passing rogue. He never knew his father and it never bothered him. However, he couldn't imagine that being common place in a pride. “Guess it makes sense. I imagine it would be hard to recruit new members into your pride. Romancing at the border would be the next best thing.”

He turned his gaze to the trees. The place was so different then the area he grew up at. “Thank you.” He said, bowing his head. “I really do not deserve this kindness,” but I will accept it, he thought, as he walked beside her.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

She nodded thoughtfully. "We do have some new members, but yes... For the health of the pride we try to bring in new blood as much as possible." And of course with a death rate as high as theirs, cubs were not only a gift but a necessity to the simple survival of the Kitwana.

Glancing back at her companion she idly noticed that he was actually quite a striking male under the dust and lack of care. His coat was a mix of rich blue that reminded her of her own family members, a majority of them being a combination of black, blue and white. Her Grandpa's colouring was strong in the bloodline. The talk of cubs pushed her thoughts to wonder what his cubs would look like.

Amused at herself she turned her attention back to the hear and now. Pushing through the plight undergrowth she led him into the little oasis. "Here we go. I'll go fetch something to eat if you are hungry?" Giving him a warm smile she moved to step back out, pausing for his answer.

R4gn0r0k IV

 

[Fairy Snails]

Ceto walked closely to her as they walked the rest of the way to the spring. He set himself down and dipped his head down so he could get a drink. The water was so cool and relaxing. He pulled his head back up when she asked her question.

“I would love a meal.” He answered with a grin. Just the thought of food made his stomach grumble. Since he left his mother, he had felt the pain of an empty stomach. Something he hadn't experience before leaving his mother.

It gave him a warm feeling having someone who could help him again. Kindness was scarce in the rogue lands and usually he would have to steal or beg to get a decent bite to eat.  

[Tanakako]

She grinned as he settled down and quickly slacked his thirst. The sudden loud growl of his stomach pulled a warm laugh from her, amusement lighting her eyes.

"I think that is my cue." Tossing him a warm, playful smile she slipped out of the hidden oasis and was soon gone, not even her paw steps audible.

the sun hadn't traveled far across the sky when she returned, the whisper-like sound of her paw steps his only warning before she emerged from the undergrowth, a young springbok draped over her back. After placing it on the ground in front of him she grinned. "Here you go." She had been careful in her kill, slitting its throat with her claws so she didn't contaminate it, and even carrying it across her back. There was no damage to the carcas aside from the one killing wound.

"If you are still hungry after, I can find something else." Warthog was an option, they didn't run like the springbok did. She wouldn't be seeing another of those for a few days.

R4gn0r0k IV

 

[Fairy Snails]

Ceto watched her leave. He dipped his head back toward the water. 'Where am I going to go from here,' he thought. He wouldn't be able to stay in this area for too long. Even if the disease that plagued her pride was hard to catch, he did not want to risk the chance of catching it. He wasn't a very strong lion to begin with. Adding an illness to that would make it that more difficult for him.

No he would have to move on. He could probably stay a couple days, but he would have to leave sooner then later. It was a pity too, he thought as he saw Eirinn return with a catch. He was enjoying his time with the stunning lioness.

His mouth watered when she place it in front of him. “Thank you so much. This is more then I could have asked for.” He said before taking a bite. As much as he wanted to just wolf down the buck, he took his time with each bite to savor the taste. There was no telling when he would be eating again. “You should eat some too, after all you were the one that caught it.”

The last thing he wanted to do was appear rude. Plus she had already offered to catch another one if he was still hungry. So there was no harm in sharing.

Tanakako

<3 <3 <3 Thank you for the gram!

 

[Tanakako]

Éirinn grinned as he dug into his meal. Moving to the water she sat down opposite the carcass, but gave a lazy shake of her head at his offer. “I already ate earlier. I caught that for you.” Pleased with herself, for her ‘patient’ certainly seemed more than happy with her efforts, she flopped gracefully down onto the sandy shore of the little spring. Content to watch while he sated his hunger.

“So… Ceto. Where do you come from?” She asked, curiosity evident in her tone though it was polite still. As a carrier of her pride’s sickness she wasn’t allowed beyond the boarder, at least not without special permission, so she had never seen the many wonders her grandpa often spoke of.

R4gn0r0k IV

Totally a pleasure!

 

[Fairy Snails]

Ceto nodded and continued to eat. When she asked the question, he paused and thought about it. “I'm from the rogue lands, born and raised. I lived near a watering hole and there were a small group of us there. Lots of travelers stopped by, so there was always someone new to talk to.” He explained, after he finished eating.

He had stayed there with his mother. The rest of the siblings went off and joined his father. “My mom thought that I ought to spread my wings.” He said with a sigh. “It's been pretty tough without her. I'm a terrible hunter, so I've been living off the scraps of others.”

His mother had offered him time and time again to help him learn how to hunt. He just always shrugged her off. It was a skill he didn't really think he needed. He now greatly regretted not taking her up on her offer. “My home wasn't anything special though. It was only fun when someone new showed up.”

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

She listened with interest. She could not imagine a life where strangers passed by every day. How fun that must have been! She herself had never left the boarder of her home. But she was an excellent hunter, thanks to her brother who was one of the pride’s best providers and in line for Master Hunter.

“I can show you if you like.” She offered with a tilt of her head. “Though you look like you need to sleep first.” He was still scrawny and thin looking, but at least the meal had taken the glaze of hunger form his eyes. “I’ll stay near by while you sleep… So no one will disturb you.” She added, looking expectant.

R4gn0r0k IV