It was night time a dangerous time for the little cheetah juvi. She was practally blind at night as she walked around slowly moving her paw around a little before taking a step.
Kijeshi, more at home in the jungle at night than at most other times of the day, his dark pelt blending in with the shadows, making him a virtual walking shadow. The soft sound of water rippled against his sensitive ears, as did the even softer sound of pawsteps near by. He frowned a bit. Not many walked about his territory, even less often during the night, so he automatically assumed it was an accidental breach. But what worried him in the farthest corner of his mind (Though the expanse of his mind wasn't as far as he would readily admit), was that this creature was heading towards a body of water he stayed away from.
For one huge, scaley, ravenous reason.
Inuru heared the large montours sounds of the river but didn't seem to scared. "Over the water remember over the water." She kept telling her self as she tried not to think about the sounds. "Have to get over to get home." She contenued.
Kije slunk carefully through the brush, his fire-colored eyes watching for the maker of the sound, stopping when he finally caught a glimpse of the creature. It was a young cheetah female, smallish and scared looking in his eyes. She looked a bit lost and was muttering to herself. For the moment he was content to keep an eye on her, until he felt any need to interfere. No sign of his neighbor, but there was no reason to let his guard down.
Then her little paw meet the water edge as she took a deep breath. "You can do this inuru." She said as she began to squint a litle trying to see. "Ahh there the rock." she said though sadly it wasn't a rock she had seen it was just a water ilussion the rappets where making. She took a few strides beack before atempting to jump onto the nonexsisting rock.
The older leopard watched as she hit the water's edge and then took a few steps back. He wasn't as fast as her breed, but adrenalin was on his side as he surged at her, catching her scruff before her paws could leave the ground. Water was flicked into his eyes and he jumped back as the water churned and his angry neighbor snapped at him, iron jaws snapping shut with a frightening crack.
"Sooner or later, we'll meet in the water, Tree Shadow! And nothing escapes me in the water," a deep voice called in the darkness as the crocodile slipped back into the black depths. Kije dropped the young cheetah and huffed a bit, wiping the water from him face.
Inuru feel to the ground wih a small thud before looking around. "He...hello?" She said softly rather confused and dazzeded.
Kije growled and shuddered and shook his head.
"What in the world did you think you were doing? What kind of.... Did you even consider..." he left off with another growl, rubbing the back of his paw against his forehead. He was doing his best to dissipate the adrenalin that was now fueling his temper, but was having a tough time of it. How stupid!
She blinked a little before she started sniffling. "Not my fault not my fault!!!" She yelled out in a panic as she laid on the ground putting her paw over her face as she sobbed. "Not my fault..." She muttered out softer now.
Kije sighed softly and shook his head, his anger melting away. He wasn't going to be soft, but he couldn't leave her there. Not with ol' Iron Jaws lurking in the dark. He carefully took her scruff in his jaws again and carried her away from the riverside. She was a little big for that style of carrying, but he felt now was not the time to try and convince her to follow him away from the dangerous waters.
After a little ways away, he set her down and huffed.
"Now, what exactly are you doing in this area, especially on your own?"
"I got lost..." She replied softly blinking her eyes trying to get them to focus on the dark mass before her. "I went out today and my vision became very bad....I got lost and I just found the scent for the way to get home." She replied before taking a deep breath trrying to push back the tears. "I was about to cross and then I heared loud noises and teeth snapping and someone saved me...it was you right?" She asked softly sniffling.
"Yes. The croc and I have a general agreement. He doesn't chase me on land and I don't give him a chance to get at me by using his water. I try his patience by warning other cats about him, but he usually forgets after a while," Kije replied and moved into a patch of moonlight, the milky light dappling his coat through the leaves. He frowned a bit and tilted his head.
"You live on the other side of the river?" He was certain he kept a close enough eye on the territories around his, and the occupants. He didn't know many cheetahs.
She nodded a little as she squinted a little only able to see brown. "My family has lived in the jungle a long time." She said softly as she moved her paws to rest on the ground before placing her head on them. "I...I ususally don't get this lost. Our family has a curse if you would call it that....but alot of us are blind or can't see to well." She said taking a deep breath. "I usually to only see a few colors but lately all I can see is blurrs."
Kije frowned. It sounded like the little thing was going blind herself. He sighed and flicked his ears back a bit before walking over and looking down at her.
"Why don't I take you back to my den and then we'll get you home when it's light out again, hmm?" he asked softly.
She nodded a little standing up. "Oh...okay." She sniggled before looking to him. She tried to follow after him but her feet tripped over every root and rock that was in her way or not. She also ran into a few trees not realising it till she was pulling her face away with a grunt.
Kije sighed again and picked her up, again. It didn't take long for them to get to the tree he usually called home. There was a little dip between two of the above-ground roots and dropped her in the dip.
"Now, close your eyes and go to sleep," he ordered shortly and climbed up into the tree. He wouldn't sleep much, he knew that, but at least he should pretend.
She nodded a little taking a deep shaking breath before curling up into a tight little ball as she began to drift off into a light sleep.
