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 Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 4:33 pm
The lioness, for once, was having a good day. So far, she hadn't crashed into anything, or fallen down. Heck, her hunt had been easy, and now, she was sitting contently next to a dead wildebeest, half-eaten, and she was more than half-full. Quite a good day for once!
Now, if only she could decide whether to eat a bit more, find someone to give this to, because small acts of kindness were always nice, or.. leave it to vultures. Vultures she felt no inclination in being nice to. So far, there was only one hopping around the ground nearby. One couldn't be a threat to her, despite those annoyingly strong pecks, but it was too much of a coward to try and make her leave. However, this one would lure more..
Okay, think fast, because here comes another one. "Stupid vultures. "
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:15 pm
Was that a fresh kill she smelled? Etana'Mayasa was hungry again, but still unwilling to tire herself by chasing down prey unless it was absolutely necessary.
The cheetah heard the telltale squawking of a vulture. This, added to the scent of blood now flooding her nose, was definitely a sign that there was food nearby. Proud though she was, Etana was not above savaging from time to time. A free lunch is a free lunch, after all, and the less she had to work, the better.
She picked up her speed a bit, traveling in the direction her nose took her. She certainly didn't want to be the last one to the party. Vulture were serious contenders against a small cheetah like herself; the may not bother with bigger cats like lions, but to those ugly birds, she was hardly a threat. Fueled by the thought of an easy meal going to waste on those scavengers, Eta got to the site quickly.
But the sight of a lioness sitting by the kill stopped her immediately. She had assumed the kill had been abandoned; apparently not. So that was why the vultures hadn't overtaken it already.
Cautiously, Etana looked at the lioness, wondering about her. "I'm very sorry," she began. "I did not know there was someone still here. I heard the vultures and...well, assumed..."
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:27 pm
By the time Etana got close, Avani was just about ready to up and leave it for the vultures; the two had become five, and there was a certain point a lone lioness really shouldn't pass. If there had been more lions around, she'd ignore them, they didn't like attacking, being lazy, and it was simply too risky. But now, when it was one lion, clearly done eating.. they could feel persuaded to chase her off with a few nasty pecks.
However, when she did see something arrive, she was slightly relieve. Avani hated leaving food for these nasty, stinky scavengers. Lazy buzzard, couldn't even catch their own food. Not to mention they were just rude, even now she could hear one of the five, who'd caught up a bit of language-- not a good bit-- and squawked an insult, before hopping aside in surprise as the cheetah arrived.
"oh! Its alright! " She smiled, sitting up and licking her chops lightly, still covered in the prey beast's blood. "I was hoping for someone to pop up-- " She said, shooting a glance to the buzzards, who seemed to notice that their task had just gotten harder. "I don't like leaving food to them. " She snorted, smiling at the cheetah.Cheetah were rather pretty, she'd always thought that. "Would you like the wildebeest? "
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 5:43 pm
Etana looked quizzically at the lioness, then to the wildebeest, then back at the lioness. She wasn't quite sure she had heard what she had, in fact, just heard. "You would just...give it to me?" she blurted out. "This thing that you caught and killed yourself, you spent your time and energy on. You would just hand it over to a stranger?"
This was bewildering....and yet, strangely promising. Perhaps this was just the kind of naive, goodhearted soul that she could use. Etana smiled her silky smile, turning on the charm. She needed to know more about this lioness first, of course. Maybe there was a good reason she didn't want the carcass.
An eager buzzard flapped its way near Etana's head. Turning towards the sound, Etana wasted no time in batting it back with a swipe of her paw. She may not be as robust in build as a lioness, but she still had teeth and claws. Paying the birds little mind except to keep them away, she continued, trying to understand the girl's reasonings.
"My dear, as thankful as I am for your generosity, I'm afraid I simply don't understand the cause of it. Is there something wrong with this animal that you give it up so freely? Perhaps it is sickly, or it has been out in the sun too long." Eta's maroon eyes watched the other's face for any change in expression. Free generosity was not something that Etana trusted; it could be a trick. "I of course understand that you would not like your hard work to fall to a scavenger. But I am little more than a scavanger myself at the moment. Why would you give this to me without asking anything in return?"
Her questions were partly out of curiosity and partly to see into the lioness's mind. If it was a giving and naive mind, then she would see if it could be put to use. Etana was not above accepting the kindness of strangers, but she had to be aware of all possibilities of danger first.
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:07 pm
"Yes.. " She quirked a brow slightly. What was this cheetah getting at? She flicked an ear casually to the side, glancing at a vulture that had gotten a bit too comfortable and wandered close. It emmediately sunk back, not interested in getting beat back by a lion. She was a klutz, admittedly, but really, no one wanted to get slapped by a lioness.
However, now her gaze shifted to the cheetah once more. Now, Avani was a fairly testy person at first, and though she tried to make everyone happy, making her get skeptical wasn't all that hard; and while she was a bit gullible and slow, she wasn't entirely stupid, either. "I'm not poisoning you, if thats where you're getting at. " She snorted slightly, furrowing a brow. "I'm full, I'm just not the type to eat a whole wildebeest. They're bigger than I am. " She flicked her tail. True enough, they were larger than lions, how could she possibly eat the whole thing?
"You came over offering food, I thought you'd appreciate it. " She shrugged, she liked doing small nice things. "So do you want it or not? Because as soon as I leave, these vultures will be onto you in a flash. " The numbers had increased, and now there were eight, seeming like they could be inclined to chase a cheetah off, once there was no lion around.
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:19 pm
Etana nodded. She seemed legitimately generous; there was no longer any reason to refuse. Besides, the longer she waited, the more vultures showed up. She couldn't hold them off very long, especially not alone.
Etana, feeling like she had acted too suspicious at first, now went with a different tact. She didn't think the lioness was quite such a dolt anymore, but it still wouldn't hurt to be friendly just in case. "Forgive me, my friend, I have just rarely encountered such generosity that you would give to a stranger. In fact, let's not be strangers anymore. I accept your kind gesture wholeheartedly, believe me. My name is Etana'Mayasa, and it's very good to meet you."
This time, Etana didn't pause and feel the satisfaction she always gotten from saying her name. The up-and-down vowel sounds had always pleased her. But now, she wasted no time in tearing mouthfuls of food from the carcass, quickly but warily, keeping an eye out in case any vulture tries something.
When she had eaten all she believed she could stomach in the short window of time she had before the vultures outnumbered the two felines, Eta looked up at the other girl. She licked her lips clean before speaking. "What can I do to repay this kindness, friend?"
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:32 pm
Well, at least she seemed to realize that. It bothered Avani how little trust others seemed to have in each other; why couldn't everyone just be friends? Though, she wa snot one to speak much. She wasn't that trusting of everyone, really. She was easy to get suspicious, at least at first. But she forgave too easy, which was perhaps unwise.. She just couldn't help it.
"Its alright. " She shrugged, looking away as a vulture flapped noisly over her head, but didn't try anything funny and instead landed a nice distance away. Stupid buzzard. "My name is Avani. " She smiled slightly, and out of politeness, decided not to watch the other cat eat, and focused on glancing at any vulture that got close. They didn't know how dorky she was; might as well keep it that way.
she looked at Etana when she spoke again, and tilted her head. "Repay? Oh no! You don't have to, I'm fine. " she smiled slightly, at least this Etana person was seeming to get a bit nicer.
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:41 pm
Etana was slowly becoming frustrated. Normally she encountered others that would jump at the chance to get something out of her. Eta herself certainly wouldn't let that opportunity pass her by. But now she wasn't sure how to go about winning the lioness over. It seemed she just wanted to do her good deed and leave.
Etana didn't understand it. She was losing her sale, as it were. She didn't know what do or say to continue in their acquaintanceship. The cheetah continued, hoping that her words would sway Avani. If they didn't, well...she didn't know where else to go from here.
Etana gave Avani her friendliest smile, hoping she didn't seem desperate. "Please. I wouldn't feel right if I didn't do something for you in return. I'm a firm believer in karma, you know. I don't want to have to owe anyone anything. What's something you'd like? I can do it for you, or find it, or..or anything. Anything that you'd like, I can help. Really."
Oh boy. Etana almost winced at the desperate twinge in her voice. But it was true; she needed to do something to repay the lioness even if it meant nothing in the long run. She really didn't even care anymore about getting anything out of Amani...okay, maybe a little. But she was so difficult to work with. It really wasn't even worth it. Just repaying the lioness was becoming an important issue.
Her conscience - as twisted as it may sometimes be - needed her to return the favor. It was just her way.
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 6:59 pm
"I have everything I need-- " She blinked, leaning backwards slightlty. Why did Etana insist on repaying her? Couldn't she tell Avani had all she wanted? Okay.. not everything, but there was nothing she needed from the cheetah. And yet, the way the cheetah seemed to put it, she'd also feel pretty bad on disappointing her.
"Uh, lets get away from the vultures. " She said, as they had slowly but surely managed to reach about twenty, making Avani rather edgy on still being around the carcass-- they were getting so close. Standing on all fours, she gave a small dash, scaring up any vultures in her way untill she was far enough so that they wouldn't care about her anymore.
"Hurry before they decide to eat you too! " After all, Etana was still just a bit too close to the dead beast.
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:06 pm
Etana almost bubbled over in laughter. In her frantic need to get the lioness talking, she had become blind to the ever-gathering hoard of vultures behind her. How had she not noticed the loud caws, the flapping of feathers, and the brushing past of wings, talons and beaks?
Amused at her oversight, but not really worried about some silly birds - she could outrun them if she needed to - she did as Avani suggested and scuttled herself further away from the dead body. "I don't know where my head was," she said, laughing at herself. "Thanks for bringing me back to my senses."
But the lioness still hadn't given her something to do. Unsure of what she could do if Avani gave her no tasks, Eta watched her warily and waited.
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:22 pm
As soon as Etana move away, the vultures happily swarmed to the kill, if the cheetah hadn't moved when she did, they'd probably gladly have ran over her. She sneered slightly at the scene. Savage, ugly birds, then turned to look at the cheetah again. Oh, was she still waiting for some sort of payment?
"Well.. Um... Do you know any watering hole around here? I'm kind of thirsty after hunting. " Okay, so she wasn't all that thirsty, but Etana seemed keen on repaying her, and might as well give the cheetah something simple. Not that she didn't know where there was water, but Etana didn't really need to know that, now did she? Besides, she doubted the cheetah cared.
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 7:56 pm
Etana sighed. It wasn't much, but it was something. At the least it was an opportunity to continue the conversation, to learn more about her benefactor.
"Sure...sure. I think I passed one on my way here. It's this way." She spoke hesitantly as she got up and walked towards the water; this was unusual territory for her. It was so much easier when someone had something clear they wanted from you. Etana could provide, or at least give assistance in providing, pretty much anything someone could ask for. But this was so...it was almost like Avani didn't -want- anything. The cheetah had certainly never heard of that happening.
Etana wasn't sure what to make of this lioness. She wasn't exactly a dummy, the cheetah could already tell. But what kind of intelligent girl would give something rightfully hers away for nothing? It certainly was a mystery. Etana didn't know if she was hiding something, or had a scheme going, or what. She certainly didn't sense ambition in the sandy lioness. But the cheetah simply couldn't accept the fact that the girl would give away a meal just from the good of her heart.
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:05 pm
"Okay, thanks. " She smiled, seeming relieved that the cheetah took that as enough. She didn't like it when someone 'owed' her anything, and was pretty glad she wasn't getting much out of this, after all, Etana was right. Avani didn't want anything, or anything this cheetah could offer her.
Well, uh.. now what? Might as well offer some small talk. "So you're a traveller? "
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Posted: Tue Dec 18, 2007 8:14 pm
Oh boy. Awkward small talk. Something Etana certainly disliked. It was boring, for one, and useless as well. She was beginning to lose hope that Avani held any kind of interesting information or potential in that head of hers. Still...the girl had been nice to her. Showing her to a water hole that the lioness probably would have found by herself didn't feel like enough. And she likely wasn't going to go after any further offers Eta may make. The least she could do was speak to the girl for a little while, as much as she may dislike the insipid conversation.
"Why, yes...I travel. Cheetahs aren't exactly known for forming large groups, you know. Not like lions." Ah, this was almost painful. Etana searched her mind for something else to speak to her about. "What about you? Are you in a...what do you lions call them...a pride?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 8:29 am
"Oh, I see. " She said, looking distractedly ahead. As soon as she saw water, she'd scurry off and leave this cheetah alone. "Yes, its pride.. I don't have one, I'm a traveler myself! " She gave a small nervous laugh, glancing ahead and hoping, just hoping she would see the water soon. Oh yes, that'd help her a lot.
Finally, she saw a small flash; sun on water! "Hey, I think I can find my way now. " She said, not betraying a bit of relief in her voice. "I'll go-- um. Thanks! " She said, and without waiting for a response, began to trot off, ears back and head low; maybe Etana would just let it go at that. "Bye! "
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