Miles from the oceans of his clan, a lone white and black leopon stirred from his mid afternoon slumber. Yawning widely, the young male shook off the heat induced sleep and started to stand. He missed his ocean home; the breeze off the water always broke up even the hottest days. The grass crunched under his paws as he pushed them forward, claws out and butt in the air. Reversing the motion, he stretched his back out completely before sauntering forward as if holding a weight on his back. The heat didn’t get him, the lonely homesickness did.

Eyeing forward, there was a watering hole, unless his eyes were playing tricks on him, and a small cluster of trees. It looked promising enough so he deviated to the east towards the apparition in the distance. He had learned a lot, but had yet to have the chance to prove himself in a fight. There was no way he could go home until he did, no matter how desperately he wanted to keep walking towards where the sun came down to get back to his beloved family.

Tiifu wasn't sure how long she'd been sprawled out near the watering hole, absently staring at the water almost wistfully. She and Bhaltair had finally split up, and she was feeling a bit lonely without his company. With a small sigh, the leopardess got up and stretched absently, claws digging into the soil as she worked the tension out of her muscles. It would do no good to go and let her mood drop! She still had a lot of this area to explore, after all!

Closer to the watering hole, the scent of fresh water spoke of its authenticity. Along of that was the sweet scent that stopped him in his tracks. Watching the purple flower rise from the soil, he recognized it as a leopard, leopardess by the unmistakable scent that all females seemed to possess, alluring and comforting.

Moving closer on silent toes, his eagerness to jump into the water and play around was tempered by one of his mother’s many lessons. Stopping about eight feet away, he lowered his head a little with his ears up to look as friendly as he could. “The loveliest flowers bloom along the lakes.” Smiling widely, pearly predator teeth gleaming with no malicious intent, the young male was clumsily working on impressing the lady before him.

Tiifu was glad she heard the male approaching. The words that came out of the male's mouth made her cheeks flush slightly under her fur, and she turned to give Sewelo and big smile. "My, aren't you a poet," she said absently, her tail curling around her legs.

Moving a little closer, he was still careful to leave plenty of space. With a grin he playfully responded, “Not that I know..it” There was a thought that he would rhyme, it worked in his mind but he flubbed it in the delivery. To fix this mistake, there was another huge grin. Huge grins fix all problems.

Edging on, he decided to ask her name, they may be fleeting things, but he wanted to know hers. It didn’t matter that they may part in an hour and never see each other again. “What else can one call something that raises from the soil and blooms so beautify, flower? I am Sewelo, may I know your name?” Well, he could keep calling her flower, but that seemed rude, to give a nickname without even knowing her name itself.

"I am Tiifu'ini. A loyal heart, rather than a flower, Sir Sewelo," Tiifu said, her smile growing wider. She had to admit, the male before her was rather charming. She was fairly certain he was a leopon, but she couldn't be sure. She'd met so few leopon after all.

Even better then a lovely but fickle flower, she has such a noble name. With a small bow, meant in honest he remarked, “There are few things more lovely or noble then a loyal heart; you have such a lovely name, Lady Tiifu’ini.” His name meant exceptional thing, the humble leopon could hardly say that out loud.

Moving a little closer, having yet to see anything that seemed like she didn’t want him near, he asked, “May I join you at the watering hole? Where I come from there is water for as far as the eye can see, but always too salty to drink.” The ocean, nights without its gentle roar seemed so lonely and empty.

"You're welcome to join me. By any chance, do you live near the sea?" Tiifu said lightly, smiling and stepping to the side to make room for Sewelo near the watering hole.

Stepping forward, Sewelo moved swiftly to the spot next to Tiifu. Setting l down, he shifted a littled and leaned over to lap at the water for a few sweet sips. Hearing her question, he rose his head and smiled, thinking of his home. "Yes, I grew up in the Bahari'mtoto pride for a while, then my family left and founded the Simbafutaji. I have spent my whole life next to the ocean, to not hear its soft rolling roars and the stiff salt is raither bazaar." His voice was warm and his tone airy, something he couldn't help when thinging about the ocean he loved so much.

"I can only imagine. I've traveled my entire life, and to settle down for only a little while feel almost... Strange," Tiifu said softly, smiling almost absently before she recognized the name of the pride he's said. "I've actually been to the Simba'futaji before. I met a rather beautiful lioness who was expecting a litter of cubs."

Listening to the first part of what she said, his eyes lit up and he shifted around on his paws like an over eager cub with something very exciting to share. Settling, he tilted his head to the side, trying to figure out who she was talking about. “What did she look like?” There was no telling who she was until he knew what she looked like, it could have been anyone. Part of him wondered if it was his own mother, it was all too possible. After all, lions get pregnant when they are with the one they love and it is the right time, and that’s the only way it works.

Shaking his head, he remembered what he wanted to share, “You don’t have to settle down forever in the Simbafutaji, the pride is very open. You can come and rest there for a week, a year or as long as you want while being free to go off and explore with a home always waiting for you.” Animatedly, he grinned warmly brimming with excitement as he told about the home near and dear to his heart.
"She was very fair... White with large gray spots," Tiifu said lightly. She wished she'd gotten the lioness's name. That would have made things so much easier. "I might choose to settle down in the pride one day. It would be nice, knowing that no matter how much I wander I always have a place to call home."

Grinning, he knew exactly who she was talking about, “That is my Aunt Kamaria, she is one of the pride’s three rulers. The pride values knowledge and learning, she oversees the information that comes into the pride. Her mate, my uncle Jethro is the one in charge of the fighters and defense. I am out here to learning about fighting and proving myself so I can defend the pride, what I learn goes to him.” He didn’t mention his mother and her position because it was almost like bragging, not because he didn’t love her and wasn’t proud of her.

Looking at the water, he looked back to Tiifu, he gave a little smile and put his paw forward, “You’ll love it, the pride is very friendly, accepts everyone and is a safe haven. Plus, there is lots of rolling water to play with.” With a cupped paw, he flicked a little bit of water at Tiffu to demonstrate his point, the soft laughter was just sound effect, really.

"I actually visited the ocean recently. I was showing a cheetah to the sea for the first time. We spent the entire day playing in the water," Tiifu said, laughing softly and absently shifting to flick water back at Sewelo.

Sewelo laughed when he was splashed back, deciding it would be better to take care of that thirst before he went back to playing. Lowering his head he drank deeply of the sweet waters, feeling much better now that he had. In his time, he had seen leopards and lions, but had yet to see a cheetah, in his mind he tried to picture one and drew a pretty blank. “Sounds like a lot of fun, that’s what I did my whole life, well we were forbidden until we were juveniles, The Ocean gives, but She also takes away, if you can’t swim, Her embrace can be tragic.” From what he picked up from his mother, he spoke of the ocean as a real, feeling entity.

“Is the cheetah still with you?” Looking around, he was curious about what a cheetah looked like.

"I'm afraid we parted ways the other day. He has someone he's looking for, and I've already done all I could for him. He was very kind," Tiifu said lightly, smiling and glancing at Sewelo wih a small smile.

A lady was quite capable of taking care of herself, such as his mother. However, there was a chance to have come company for a little while. Oh so smoothly, the unpracticed male asked, “Would you like another traveling partner? I still have to prove myself before going home, might be pretty dangerous, but I will be coming close to home if you’d like an escort back to see the pride again. There is no telling how big it has become so far.” It would very nice to have someone near again, and he was very confident he could keep her safe. It was selfish too, she could have her own places she wanted to go, but he had to ask.

"That would be nice. I'm loath to admit it, but I've been missing Bhaltair's company," Tiifu said absently, smiling and shifting to absently nudge Sewelo. It woul be nice, traveling with someone else again.

A nudge needed to be answered by something, it was mandatory. An affectionate leopon, used to seeing his mother affectionate with his father and loving gestures everywhere, he thought nothing of nuzzling her shoulder. Smiling warmly, he told her, “I very glad, growing up with five siblings, being without company is almost unbearable.” He was very happy to have her with him, but he was careful not to ham it up either. Eventually they would part and that shouldn’t be a guilt experience for his new companion.

"I can only imagine how strange it must feel, suddenly being out on your own," Tiifu said absently, smiling and absently nuzzling Sewelo back. It was nice, being affectionate like this with someone else. What she'd had with Bhaltair had been nice, but having this kind of simple affectionate interaction with someone else was just as nice.

Nodding, he replied, “It is a tradition of the pride, all adolescents, when they are ready, leaves to gather knowledge and learn how to do what they want to do for the pride. Once they can, we return as adults in the pride’s eyes. I could go home if I really wanted to, but I want to prove myself even more.” Almost, with someone else he was more willing to stay outside his pridelands. Roaming wasn’t in him; he wanted too much to be around those he loved and to protect them.


Standing, he glanced around, no sign of trouble, but as of yet he had not been able to find any even when he was looking. Where was an evil rock or something when you need one? “Shall we go, Lady Tiifu, I learned a great hunting technique from another leopard, finding dinner should be a cinch."

"Let's. We can hunt together," Tiifu said happily, grinning and getting to her feet. She felt absolutely famished, like she hadn't eaten in days. Which was ridiculous. She'd had a great meal the other day...