To most, hares were tricky little things. Quick, alert, and agile. To Maluuni however...they were easy. Growing up in the forest, she was an agile, patient lioness when it came to hunting. And quiet. There was less to worry about stepping on in the savanna...but Maluuni still treated it like the forest. And that was how she snuck up on the rabbits until it was too late. Like she'd done now. She winced at the death scream of the rabbit...but quickly shook it off. She had lunch. She was happy. And she could eat in relative peace, since was small enough to lay in the savanna grass and not be seen.
He knew which direction he was heading, but that didn't make the journey any easier. Having been 'let go' by his mate, the only female he had ever loved, the deep green cheetah had decided to return to the jungle, his home. The journey was far more difficult heading in the direction he was now, his fore paws, dcrepit, crippled from years of living amongst the trees in the jungle made him far from agile on the ground. he half danced, half limpped accross the flat lands, his claws adapted to make him a whiz in the trees, but on the ground, just a cripple.
His belly growled angrily at him as he caught the scent of a kill. he hadn't eaten for a few days, unable t find a decent copse from which to dive upon his kills, as had always been his way. Lashing his tail he took another step forwards. he would be home, safe int he jungle soon. He hoped.
Maluuni's ears caught a sound and she immediately went stiff, head turning to face the sound. Just in time to see the rather green cheetah. She made a strange, almost squeaky sound and dropped the rabbit she'd been munching on, backing away. And then she realized he WASN'T bigger than her. And he'd been walking strangely. She blinked. And he had no mane. What sort of male lion had no mane? Well...except a cub...but he was too big to be a cub.
"A-are you alright?" She could only manage to get that out, and barely avoided stuttering the entire time.
The large green cheetah raised his head, his ice green eyes falling on the lioness. he sighed, in times of old he would have run for the nearest tree to get out of the way, but now, he just didn't see the point. Heart break just didn't suit him. He nodded his slender skull, his tail lashing behind him "As well as I could be." He stated in a rather drole manner.
"Do you know if I'm going the right way for the jungle?" he licked his lips, the scent of blood flashed at his nose, he realised just how hungry he was, but he was no scavanger, he would get himself a meal eventually. A best when he found a tree at worst when he got back to the jungle. he could survive that long.
The red and brown lioness let herself relax a bit. "I'm...not sure, actually." She looked a bit sheepish. "What's a jungle?" She'd only been in the forests of her birth pride, and the savanna. Though she did hope she could help the strange maneless lion. He looked so thin and hurting. Maluuni was a 'scaredy cat', but she wasn't heartless. "And...y-you look really hungry..." She would ask about his mane later...for all she knew, it was a touchy subject. And she didn't feel like another few scars.
Jani'esquillo looked at the tan and red female. He was far from the social type really, but she too seemed a little lost. "It's a place of endless green." he smiled, his pale, cold eyes looking distant for a moment. he sometimes pondered why he had ever left then with an ache of his heart he knew why.
"I'm fine. I'll find something to eat if I find some trees." he moved his fore paws then, leaning on his left paw instead of his rigt, clearly his paws were hurting but fidgeting provided momntary releif for eitehr one or the other foot.
"Ah...I...kinda know how that is." She stood, proving that she was rather small for a lion that could have lived on the savanna. "I'm more used to trees surrounding me." The description of the jungle sounded nice...very nice. "A jungle...isn't a forest, right? But...does it have lots of trees?" While she talked, her ears were alert, listening for many things. "If you'd like...you can have my rabbit. I already had one before it." The day before, but she wouldn't say that.
The big green cheetah shook his head "No, I'm fine, please, don't let me disturb your meal." he whispered, his voice gruff, though kindly almost. he had never met anyone whom just wanted to offer him food, he didn't even know who this female was.
"The jungle has thousands of trees, trees that reach in to the stars and fight the moon. Trees and green and waterfalls so high you can't see the top for it fesides int he clouds." He sighed heavily shaking his head of the almost romantic notions. "I miss it. I miss it very much."
Trees again...Oh how she wanted to see great, majestic trees again. "Maybe that's where I'll go...Once I've run a little more." She wanted to be sure Mwenye would not haunt her. She thought for a moment. "I shall help you find some trees then!" The trees of the savanna were sad things...but they were trees nonetheless. "But...maybe you might tell me...why you don't have a mane?" She certainly wouldn't expect the answer to come, but she only knew of lions, gods, and wild dogs. "And more about the jungle?"
Jani chuckled. his eyes smiled, for the first time in a long while. "I'm not a lion, is the simple answer." he flickered his long tail showing the tip was rounded with no urry tip. "I'm a cheetah, though I was raised by a leopard and I lived in the jungle my whole life climbing trees. I'm a rather unusual cheetah." He cocked his head a little and smiled.
"I'll gladly tell you more of the jungle." he cleared his throat, his ears twitching, his icey green gaze peering at her. "I can help you find the way, if you like. i'm going there any way and..and I could use the help." he held up one of his fore paws then, unlike a normal cheetahs feet whos paws resembled trackshoes to allow them to reach that impossible sprinting speed, jani's feet were curved, bent like the tree branches he used to leap through, his claws were clearluy visable had always been used as climbing boots. "I find it hard to hunt out here.."
A cheetah? Maluuni hadn't heard of one before...but she didn't mind. If they were felines the same general size as her, she was happy! And she didn't seem to have anything to fear from this one..."So...climbing trees is strange for cheetahs...and not for the creatures called leopards?" She was certain she sounded like a child...but she truly was curious.
When he held up a paw, she understood just why he was having problems. "Oh...I wouldn't mind the help then, especially if I can return it." Though her voice was still rather meek, she had lost the stutter, and seemed to be growing more confident as the conversation went on. "And I would love to be surrounded by green again...The savanna is beautiful, but it starts to look the same day after day."
Jani gave a slow nod. "yes, leopards are more like yourself in stature, theya lso lack manes, we cheetahs are built for speed, usually land runners, I was raised by a jungle leopard and had to learn to live int he trees, hence why my feet look the way they do." he smiled weakly. in the trees he was swift as any cheetah ont he land, int he tress he was a green blur. Down here ont he savannah, he was simply a cripple.
"I think we are about two days walk away fromt he jungle. I'll gladdly show you the way in exchange for your help in hunting." he bowed his head gently "Jani'esquillo, at your service, most just call me jani though and you are free to do so if you wish."
Maluuni nodded, taking in the information. She rather liked the idea of these other creatures. Felines who lived in the trees and felines who relied on their speed rather than power. "Since you've adapted to the trees...you must be swift up there, instead of down here!" She liked this cheetah. He didn't speak harshly or look down on her, far as she could tell...He even bore with questions she was certain others would have looked at her as stupid for. She would help him with what she could.
"I shall follow then, and make sure we're both fed." The lioness bowed her own head. "I am Maluuni'jambo...though Maluuni is just fine. It's good to meet you, Jani." Things seemed to be turning around. And Maluuni would hold onto that for what it was worth.
The large green cheetah smiled and rolled his shoulders. "You should eat your meal. i could do with a little rest." he stated slowly lowering himsedelf in to the grass 2And yes, in hthe trees, i am in my element. Down here I am nothing but a cripple. Thats the problem." he sighed, he had problems still but at least his journey would be easier now. This young lioness just wanted answers. he could give them where he could and he could lead her to the jungle. Back home to the place of pure green.
He sighed softly, he missed it so much. Yawning his crossed his paws over one another, the bliss of them finally being off the ground filling him with glee. His paws were sore and bloodies from walking on the ground. Only a few days though, a few days and he would be home in his trees once again.
Maluuni lay back down, in front of her rabbit, glad she had company that was closer to her size and missed being surrounded by green, just as she did. As Jani fell into sleep, she finished her rabbit, glad to finally have something to do with her freedom other than eat and sleep and travel. Now...she had someone she could help, and someplace she could go. Freedom tasted better and better.
