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 Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:25 pm
 Kaihdin left the Pridelands long ago, and as she had no current source of recording the time or day, she had no clue how exactly long ago it had been since she had been part of a group. Since she had seen Tain, or Cam, or anyone else remotely interested in her well-being. Actually, Tain didn’t really care anymore. He had made that quite clear when he had fled her presence, leaving his family once again in favor of leaving her most of all.
Crushed from his rejection after they had confessed their equal ‘more-than-friends’ feelings for each other, the lioness left the pride lands abruptly and had been traveling ever since. She only stopped when she had to, for food or water, or even sleeping. But half the time she slept where she stopped and didn’t bother with finding a decent shelter. She was just that broken.
And, she supposed, in the back of her mind, Kaihdin knew that she shouldn’t take it so hard. She shouldn’t have such a strong reaction to this rejection. But at the same time, she wanted to feel that sadness and dwell in it for a while, because though she didn’t deserve it, it had been a long while since the lioness had actually had a moment to collect her thoughts and just weep.
Her eyes were welling up with suppressed emotion when she tripped over a tree root and took a tumble down a hill, surprising her and pulling out a yelp, and she slid down to the bottom to a rough stop.Raruo decided to change up his usual routine a bit today. He patrolled, sure, as he always did, and made sure to fulfill his other duties to the pride for the day. When he was certain he wouldn’t be missed, he decided to opt out of his usual grumpy prowling or isolated training and instead wandered out to the borders, an area he was all too familiar with, and then into the rogue lands for a bit of fresh air. Not that the air out here was any different, really, save that the scents weren’t so familiar. Maybe that was what he was needing.
Somehow, he didn’t think it that simple.
One ear bent back, an itch and a strange hum making him stop and scratch at it before continuing on, he yawned terrifically and looked around. Everything was peaceful and quiet. It made him sleepy, just being in the thick of it. And then something caught his eye. A pelt similar in color to his own, dark and purple, moving closer. For a moment he thought it was a member of the pride, back from some sort of trip, but he did not recognize her. Finding that a highly unlikely occurrence, he imagined this was a stranger coming toward the lands, and he instinctively stood a bit straighter, holding his ground.
And then he noticed how sad she seemed. Oh, and then she fell. Bounding over to her on impulse, he slid to a stop in front of her, bending his big head close and nudging her shoulder in an effort to make sure she was okay and help her up, if she was unharmed.
“Are you okay?”“Ow,” she groaned quietly, opening one closed eye to peek up in yet another surprise to see a handsome male leaning over her with a concerned eye. “Oh, yes, I’m sorry.” Kaihdin was a bit embarrassed to be caught in such a situation and in that position. He did not look familiar to her, but then again, they were in the roguelands, and there were tons of other lions out here.
The lioness took a breath and began to push herself up. She paused at a sitting position, testing her weight on the paw that had tripped up on the tree root on the hill above and behind her. Sitting was good enough for now, though, so she didn’t think too much of it.
“Thank you for coming over,” she told him with a grateful, half-hearted smile, though she knew her cheeks were a bit red. Thank goodness her fur was dark. “I’m Kaihdin.” Meeting someone new wasn’t a bad thing, but the distraction was only temporary. She soon remembered what she had been doing above the hill and the smile faded as her thoughts all rushed back to her at once.The older male backed up a bit, letting her stand, though he kept an eye on her. She looked a bit wobbly, and he didn’t want to let her fall again. Her embarrassment was lost on him for the moment. He often noticed these things right away, because he liked to pick on insecurities when he was bored, but because she was not one of the familiar faces from within the pride it didn’t register with him that he had any such right to do that. It wasn’t exactly that he didn’t want to be rude, but rather that he didn’t want to be rude until he knew her a bit better.
He had some moral standards, after all.
Letting her sit down as she needed to, he continued standing, as if guarding, tail twitching behind him. He nodded at her introduction, not one too accustomed to smiling when greeting others, then blinked.
“Oh, ah, I’m Raruo,” he said, a bit stiffly. He noticed how her own smile had faded, and he couldn’t help but be curious about her apparent sorrow. Would it be rude, since he had now stopped to consider such things, to ask why she was so sad? He shook his head, trying to broach the subject from a different angle, “what, ah, happened up there? You fell. It looked like you were distracted by thought.”The paw lasted under her weight when she pressed down on it, but it was still a bit tender so Kaihdin continued to sit. Her thoughts all tumbled into her mind, around and around. So much that she almost missed his question. She blinked, stared at him in a confused way for a moment, but then shook her head.
“Oh, nothing,” she brushed it off with an easy lie. “I was just thinking about silly things and not paying attention to where I was going. My paw got caught in a tree root and I took a little tumble.” Her lopsided smile was accompanied by a half-shrug. It seemed as if the more the traveled, the clumsier she became. This hadn’t been the first time she had tripped on something or fallen down. The long journey had given her quite the collection of cuts and bruises.
“Silly things that don’t need to be thought of anymore, really.” Why she was expanding on it, she had no idea. Perhaps it was because she had not had much contact with another creature in a long, long time, and all this pent up anger and frustration and pure emotion had to come out some way. And if her mind and mouth wanted it to come out to a complete stranger, then it was going to happen. “I’ve been thinking about it a lot since I left the Pridelands.”He eyed her efforts to put weight on her paw, noting that she didn’t seem to want to stand just yet. He frowned, wondering if she had hurt herself. Now he was questioning everything and feeling uncomfortable. Did he ask to take a look at it? If she said he could, what exactly would he look at? He lacked any real healer training. His forte was more toward the giving of injuries than the caring of them.
Raruo listened, his face impassive but strangely intent. He spoke a lot with his fiery eyes, which were more honest than most of the creatures he met. Not one to hide behind pretense, he was often blunt and clear cut about his opinions and his reactions. He probably got away with this sentimentality because he had convinced himself a long time ago to stop caring what other people thought about him, and just go with the flow.
Though, sometimes, he found situations where he was more inclined to care. These always just served to fluster him, because he stopped instantly knowing what to say and how to act, and that made him feel vulnerable.
“It doesn’t sound like anything silly, if you keep thinking about it. You’re a long way from the Pridelands, if my reckoning is correct, so for it to be in your mind from all the way over there, and still pressing enough to make you lose your feet, it might deserve more thought that you’re willing to give to it,” he blinked, tilting his head, “or maybe I’m just putting my big nose in where it doesn’t belong. In any case, did you hurt your paw?”She had never met such a silent lion before. He did not like to talk with his mouth; his eyes were captivating and spoke millions of words for her to only see if she looked. She did, and after she saw the first glimpse of the hundred of words that pierced her mind, Kaihdin avoided those eyes. They were different. Frightening, intense; something she hadn’t seen in a while.
His eyes reminded her of Roho’s. Her mother’s eyes had always been cold and calculating, judging how far and the task that would take her higher up and give Roho even more success and power. Kaihdin knew that look well. It had often been directed at her.
She blinked as well, in pleasant agreement with his comment. That was true. It was a very pressing topic, one well worth thinking over on her travels from the Pridelands to here. Or wherever she had hoped to head for. She hadn’t even known what direction she had set off in at first; her feet were leading her wherever they chose.
“No, that makes sense, actually,” she murmured. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to dredge up all this.” It wasn’t too hard to do, though. It was exactly what she had been thinking about all day, and to just forget that was impossible. “I think I might have twisted it, but it should be fine. Thank you, though.” He was blunt, short-spoken, but she thought he was rather genuine anyway.‘I don’t’ mind,” he said, without inflection and yet somehow not dampening how sincerely he meant it. He hadn’t had a real conversation with anyone in quite some time. At least not one that didn’t start or end badly, or get awkward. Though he rarely showed it and almost never put it into application, he was actually a good listener and had in him some manner of advice to offer, though it was often a bit lacking on the tact side. Most of the time, however, he just didn’t bother to talk to anyone enough to get them comfortable in spilling to him.
“As long as you’re not hurt, that’s good. But I think I’ll hang around, just in case. These lands aren’t unsafe, per se, but I’ll probably start feeling guilty about halfway back to my pride if I left you now. Besides, I can’t help but wonder what it is you’re dredging up. I know, that’s prying, but it would make this conversation easier if I knew what we were talking about.”
So much for trying to be subtle about it. He canted his head the other way now, his graying mane actually behaving today and not billowing in his face or making his ear itch. Always the one ear, too. It was annoying at best.
“You’re near the Mizimu’Tungika lands, in case you were worried,” he added as an afterthought, “or wondering.”She laughed. Kaihdin hadn’t made that sound in the longest time; it sounded almost foreign to her. She used to laugh so easily; her brother would make her giggle at the silliest things. Even before they had run away from their mother. His little whispered jokes would keep her smiling for the whole day.
“Alright, you win. You insistent lion,” she joked and shook her head. “When I was little, my mother ruled a small family pride with an iron paw and the belief that females should rule. I was her heir, and I did her bidding no matter what. As a cub, it was hard to not want to impress her, so I was very gullible and did what she asked even if I didn’t believe in it. One of the tasks I was assigned was to cub nap a friend I had made. His name was Tain, and he was the son of one of my mother’s enemies. Apparently, this enemy had scarred her and had defeated her in such a way that she wanted this revenge on him. Anyway, the deed was done, and he screamed at me in such a hateful way when Tain figured it was I. That I had been the one to manipulate him like that.” Her small grin faded now to an apologetic half-smile.
“His words haunted me, and every day, the guilt and horrible feelings would grow deeper and deeper in me. I talked with my brother Cam, who agreed with me that our mother was wrong. We decided to run away. When we became adolescents, Cam and I (along with another brother) broke Tain out of his prison and we ran. Tain was adverse to the whole thing and stayed far away from me as we traveled to the Pridelands, where he had been born.
“Once we reached the lands, our feelings came out. It turned out that I had begun to like him more than just a friend, if he would allow me to do so. And he felt the same. But his feelings of hatred from before, knowing that I had taken his childhood away from him, stepped in the way. He rejected me.” Her smile was completely gone now and the frown on her face was one of intense hurt. “He said he never wanted to see me again. So he ran away, and left me there. I knew that his family didn’t want anything to do with me, and my brothers had already started other lives. I had no other choice but to leave. So I started walking, and now here I am. At the Mizimu’Tungika lands.” She hadn’t known she had traveled so far.
She gave a shrug and glanced up at him. “So now you know. I’m sorry that I had to share all that, but you did ask for it.”
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:35 pm
 Raruo grinned and nodded. Insistent wasn’t the worst thing he had ever been called. He liked the sound of her laugh, though he didn’t notice she was as unfamiliar to it now as he was, and he was only hearing it for the first time. He flicked his tail and made it look like he was getting comfortable, readying himself for her story. His goofy attitude was quick to face, however, as he listened. At first it seemed innocuous enough, about her pride and being the heir, and wanting to impress her mother. He wasn’t unfamiliar with the desire to be great in the eyes of others, having grown up with such intentions through his life in the pride. Of course, he was too old for that now, as far as he was concerned: he didn’t have to prove himself to anyone, save his superiors and himself. And not in the ‘look how cool I am’ kind of way, either. Just honor, and right, and the ability to hold the position he had earned himself.
His ears perked forward as she looked at him with that sad, half smile. He didn’t know why she was bothering to include him at all: he was an ardent listener. She didn’t have to apologize to her audience for her story, or anything else. He was invested now, after all, and more than willing to keep on listening.
“Well, I guess that explains the falling down,” he said at length, clearing his throat, “I wouldn’t be looking out for trees if I were thinking about lost love, either. You keep apologizing, but I’m not going to. I’m not sorry I asked you, and I’m glad you shared. I would say I was sorry for your suffering, but I can’t do anything to change it now. Time is a jerk like that. But it constantly moves, and sorrows pass. New opportunities, knew things to love and hate and suffer under, will come your way. I’m not saying it’s all something to look forward to, but I find it better than dwelling on the past.”
He grinned at her, feeling like he needed to lighten the air a bit. Unfortunately, he was bad at jokes and couldn’t think of any thing else to comment on but how pretty she was. It was juvenile, but there it was. Also, he probably didn’t have any right to tease her lost love, but it was also the only other thing in his head in that moment. Whoops.
“Plus, if a lion could willing let you get away from him he probably wasn’t smart enough for you anyway.”After a time when she had finished her story, he had started to speak. And from that moment, her respect for Raruo increased to a phenomenal level. Kaihdin liked his attitude about life, about the troubles she had experienced. He made sense. He was blunt. He wasn’t afraid of saying what he thought or felt, and that was what she needed. She didn’t need to beat around the bush about something, especially about something as serious as this. Unknown to her, and probably to him as well, his words were slowly helping her heal.
“I look forward to being able to watch where I’m going and not trip over trees any more,” she chuckled. “I am actually happy that I did trip over that root, however, so I could meet you. Thank you.” For his kind words (although they were really rather blunt). For cheering her up a little bit. For managing to distract her even though she had been talking about her troubles to him. That was a difficult task to accomplish.
She did laugh again at his joking. “Well thank you,” she repeated. She didn’t agree, but she didn’t disagree with his statement, either. Tain hadn’t been stupid. He had had his reasons, and Kaihdin understood them, no matter how much they had hurt her in the end.Raruo nodded, smiling softly. He didn’t know why, really, but he was happy, and he liked the way she seemed to respond to his words. Generally it was a hit or miss chance, when he risked talking with someone, and more often than not his words instilled in them aversion to his character. Since she wasn’t mad at him, he considered her sensible. It meant she understood what he meant, more than just dwelled on how he said it.
“No need to thank me,” he said, his smile broadening into another grin, “for any of it. You know, it’s been a while since I’ve… had fun, talking with anyone. I mean, I get along with people well enough, but I guess it’s just… nice to meet a stranger, I guess. Particularly because you strike me as smart,” not in the business of paying direct compliments, he was literally just stating the things he had just been thinking about.
Looking down at her paw, he decided to investigate a bit closer, just to be sure it wasn’t swollen. He lowered his head, examining the injured spot and carefully extending his paw to poke at it with his toe, claws still withdrawn. He tilted his head, thinking it looked pretty good. That was… almost disappointing, in one way.
“So, when you’re recovered from that tree attack, where do you think your wandering will take you? Are you… heading anywhere in specific?” He asked carefully.“Yeah, well. Still. Thank you. I haven’t talked to anyone in a while as well. I guess it was a good thing I tripped.” Even if her paw was sore. Speaking of her paw, when he poked at it gently she couldn’t help but lift it a little to help his inspection better. It felt a good bit better, when she moved it that way. Kaihdin could feel the tenderness going away.
“You have the magic touch. My paw feels better.”
She thought about his question, though. “I don’t know. I didn’t really have a plan when I started walking. I was just going where my feet took me. I didn’t feel like thinking about anything else but my problems.” They consumed her. “I had hoped that I would come to a place that was right for me. Or meet someone that could show me, or truly help me in some way. Though you’ve certainly done a good job so far.” Again, which she was thankful for.“Oh yeah? Well, that’s news to me. I wish I had known I had healing paws before establishing myself as a fighter, though. Really would have saved a lot of time, pain and effort, I think, on the career path.”
He grinned, shaking his big head, his gray streaked mane flopping around.
“Then perhaps the spirits led you here,” he said. He wasn’t the most spiritual of pride members, in practice anyway, but was bound to the tenants of his home and followed them with all the duty he applied to his own training and position. In truth, he had an affinity for the Heart side of his home, the spirits and their messages, but no natural proclivity for reading or even noticing the signs of the will of the spirits. It was something he would one day better himself in, and was striving for that end. Now that he was all but retired, he added a bit ruefully to his thoughts.
“These lands are rife with spirits, and their will often influences our being, from guiding our paws to the color of our pelts. It’s a bit dense, for outsiders, I think, but there’s a natural order and power to this place that I can’t describe in any other way, so they, those who found this place, must have known what they were doing. Ah, I don’t know if I can offer any true help, but I… uh.” He got awkward suddenly, not a feeling he was accustomed to, and he had no idea how to deal with it. So he ignored it and barreled on, “I’d like to try.”“A fighter?” Kaihdin repeated, now curious. After all, she had been the one talking most of the time about all of her past and feelings. Now it was his turn. “Are you a member of the Mizumi’Tungika, then?” She hadn’t really heard of that pride before. It was definitely new to her. But perhaps if he could explain a bit, then maybe that’s what she was looking for now. Where the “spirits” had led her.
She listened as he explained more about the spirits. It was an intriguing thought; she hadn’t come to that conclusion before. So..did the spirits have anything to do with the color of their pelts? Perhaps since she was mostly black (and purple, she noticed, much like him), they would be in the same ranking or something. She kind of wanted to learn more.
Kaihdin smiled at him. Really, behind his gruff exterior, she could tell that he was truly sincere. She liked that. “I would appreciate your help, of course, Raruo. Anything at all that you would offer to me would be the best thing.”“I am. A Veteran of the Claw. It means, essentially, that I’m all muscle and no subtlety,” he laughed, shaking his head. That wasn’t entirely true. He knew fighters who were more brain than brawn, and those who knew how to balance the two. And he wasn’t giving himself as much credit as he deserved.
“The pride is divided into different sections. Head. Heart, Claw, Backbone. Blood. The Head are our leaders, the highest ranking of the pride. The Heart serve them closely, and hear and heed the spirits for the pride. The Claw are the muscle, protectors and hunters. The Backbone support the pride, like those who care for cubs. New members, ranked Followers, are the backbone as well. And then the Blood are sacrifices, honored creatures who will guide us through their joining with the spirits. Oh. Did I mention lions are sacrificed here? Some people don’t like that news. To us, however, it is an honor.”
He cleared his throat, not the best at being informative. He didn’t know if he was trying to sell the pride, or just trying to convince her to hang around a bit longer. He wouldn’t mind hanging out with her some more, but if she went on her way he might not see her again, “we have many complicated beliefs and practices, but these lands are loved and the pride is peaceful and prosperous. It’s a nice place.”He was right. It was news to her that his pride sacrificed lions. She hadn’t met anyone who did that, let alone think it was an honor to be killed for the pride. Kaihdin couldn’t help the look that crossed her face. “And, do new members sometimes become sacrifices? What makes them be one?”
Because if she wanted to spend more time with him (and she was quickly realizing that she did), the lioness might have to prepare herself for the possibility of joining his pride. And if that happened, she needed to know anything and everything possible.
“You’re a veteran of the claw? Meaning that you don’t really do much anymore?” That was when she recognized the grey strands in his mane for what they really were: gray hairs. It wasn’t a unique pelt, it was because he was older than she had first believed him to be. The realization didn’t turn her off from him, oh no. He was much more mature and knowledgeable than the males her age. It was appealing. His conversation was a great, intelligent one.Raruo shook his head.
“I think the word Sacrifice invokes negative feelings, since the word is so often used in darker contexts. But the most revered members of the pride are sacrifices, honored just short of the Head. New members can become sacrifices, depending on their pelt colors, though I believe most move into ranks in the Heart, Claw and Backbone after being Followers. Ah, bright colored pelts are often prime for the title, as well as hybrids. When I get too old to do my duties, I hope to seek the honor of being sacrificed for my pride.”
He nodded, this topic having already been well thought out by the Veteran. He winced at her next question.
“Well, I wouldn’t put it like thatbut… it’s different in peace. In war a warrior, obviously, has more to do. We keep the pride safe, Veteran and Warriors, and I help the Hunters out sometimes. We train younger members of the Claw, as well. Or, perhaps not younger, but lower ranked.”
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 9:38 pm
Kaihdin listened closely again. This was an interesting concept. “What about your family? Your mate? Does she (or he) feel the same way? I mean, your hopes of being sacrificed when you become too old to do your duties, as you put it.” A sacrifice, she knew now, was an honor. But it was still a death. If she was a mate in this pride, she wouldn’t be so keen to allow her love to be killed for the pride. But that was just her. Perhaps since she didn’t grow up in this different environment, it seemed so foreign to her.
She giggled. “I’m sorry, I meant to just be teasing. I know the Claw sounds like one of the most important parts. For if the Head and Heart were not protected, anyone could come in and take over.” Simplistic terms, sure.
So, she thought. If she were to join, she would be a Follower. Not a bad place to start. “What can you get after you join? Could you bring yourself up from a Follower?”
The older lion looked a bit uncomfortable, shaking his head and clearing his throat.
“I don’t have any family and, as much as I appreciate the open mindedness of your implication, no mate either. I might think differently if I had someone to care for, sure, but as it stands my life is my pride’s, and to honor everyone, and myself, would be a good final achievement for me, I think. A fitting passing,” he nodded, as if reaffirming this to himself as well as to her.
Raruo looked thoughtful. Was he getting his information right? It had been so long since he had to worry about ranks, he was unsure of the process these days. He shrugged his muscular shoulders.
“There’s upward mobility within the pride, certainly, based on skill and drive. Pelt color dictates some ranks, as does birth and species, but for darker lions, such as us, and those without, say, any trace of green in their fur, the Claw, Heart and Backbone are open. The highest ranks in the Claw are earned through battle. Lower ranks within my field are scout, hunter, and warrior. There are Huntleaders, and, of course, the very awesome Veterans.”
He grinned.
Kaihdin bowed her head in an apology for her assumption. Though she did hide a small smile at his lack of comfort, she didn’t push the topic. “I see.” She did try. The lioness tried to think of the pride from a true member’s perspective. Since they believed in the spirits, a sacrifice such as the one he was talking about would be an honor. His spirit would help to lead his pride to a better future. Yes, his body would be missed, but those that could apparently communicate with the spirits would still keep in contact.
She wondered if the spirits chose when to talk or if someone could simply talk to a spirit for the sake of talking. Or listening.
“The Claw, Heart, and Backbone,” she repeated, squinting her eyes in thought. Then she smiled again at him. “Of course, how could we forget those Veterans? Although I am surprised there’s more than one. I was convinced you were the only one because you seem to be so in control and knowledgeable.”
He laughed.
“There’s one other,” he shrugged. Shifting his position, he looked up at the sky. How long had they been talking? It didn’t feel like long enough, but he couldn’t tell now. If it had already been too long, he wondered if he should head back to the pride. Or… he could just stay there, and enjoy her company further. Watching her for a moment, noting that her fur was very similar to his own in coloration, he imagined he, at least, could easily get used to seeing her as a member of the pride.
He cleared his throat, then realized she couldn’t hear his thoughts, and he had just told her, essentially, that they were wandering. Without the vocalization, he would not have been in any kind of trouble. Frowning a bit, he pretended none of that had happened.
“Well, ah, all this talk about the pride reminds me that I should… probably be returning to it soon,” he didn’t sound at all eager to do that, though.
She laughed again as well. “What, are you bored of me already?” she teased, but shook her head. “I understand. You have your duties as Veteran, so I’ll let you get back to them.” Her smile was a soft one, but a bit sad as well at seeing him go. They were having such a good conversation, too. Kaihdin wondered if she would see him again, possibly. Maybe he would offer to meet her somewhere? Or should she? The lioness had no idea how to go about this, and even if he wanted to see her again. From the tone of his voice, it sounded like he didn’t want to go. Maybe that was just wishful thinking, though.
“I should probably get going, too. I think I’ll try and find a good shelter for tonight. Sleeping under the stars is fun, but it’s been a while since I had a roof over my head.” She beamed over at him and stood up, slowly putting weight and pressure on her paw. It held up. “Thank you for talking with me. It was a pleasure to meet you.”
“No, not bored of you at all,” he laughed, cocking his head to the side and arching an eyebrow, “hell, I’d rather stay out here with you than go back there, any day, but I feel pressed by my largely self imposed duties to return. But… I really would like to talk to you again? I know you’re wandering, though, and wouldn’t want to ask you to stop from whatever it is you’re letting yourself be led to.”
Unless that thing is here, the pride or maybe even me, Raruo thought to himself. He remembered this time that his thoughts were safe in his head.
He stood, moving closer on instinct, just in case she needed some support for her paw. He hadn’t thought that moving closer would thus put him closer to her, though he was certainly aware of that when he was standing right next to her. Blinking, he kept his attention on her paw, nodding a bit theatrically when she successfully put weight on it.
“Ah, good. That’s good. It’s, uh, probably not twisted. And yeah, no problem. Thanks for letting me talk at you, and not getting irritated by what I had to say. If you are around, uh, tomorrow. Or… some time, if you know when you might be back? Maybe we could talk again…” Where had this insecure little boy come from, and where had Raruo the Veteran gone?
Her smile was shy at first, but then it widened with pure pleasure. “I would like that,” she replied to his desire to talk to her again. “I would like that very much. And if it won’t be too much trouble, then, I can find somewhere to stay near this area? Just so you won’t have to wander too far away.” Kaihdin gave a shrug. “I’ve only been wandering for so long because I haven’t had a reason to stop. If this means staying a few days or so, then it’s worth it.” Or maybe for a while longer, and though she could think of it gladly, she didn’t want to think too far in the future.
“No, it doesn’t hurt at all,” she replied, looking down at her paw as well and holding it up to twist it for inspection. Kaihdin smiled at him again when he moved closer. A small breeze shifted the wind so that Raruo’s scent flew into her nose. She liked it.
“If you promise to come back tomorrow, some time, I’ll promise to be here.”
Raruo smiled. It was a new smile for him. Or maybe an old one he just hadn’t had cause to use in a while. Whatever it was, he felt it made him look strange, and he softened it a bit so he wasn’t, as he perceived himself, creepy excited at the prospect of seeing her again. He nodded, shifting on his paws. Did he move away from her now? He didn’t want to, but why was he standing so close when she had proven she had walk? That wasn’t so much chivalrous as creepy.
He cleared his throat again, which was now beginning to hurt for all the times he had needlessly cleared it, and took a step to the side, turning to look at her. Still pretty close, but at least not standing on top of her.
“Okay, that’s a da-“ he diverted his word at the last second, “deal. Around the same time, I’ll come and find you. I’m a worthy tracker, so you don’t have to hang around and wait for me. I. Uh. That wasn’t supposed to sound as stalker-ish as it came out. Anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He stood for a moment, then actually acted on his words, moving to head back to his pride.
Kaihdin laughed and shook her head. Maybe the sun was getting to him or something, he was acting silly. Cute, but silly. “I will see you tomorrow.” And once he began to move away, so did she, but she went the opposite direction. She went slowly on her paw, just in case it was a bit more tender than she had thought. It held, though, and soon she was walking away in her regular pace.
She resisted the urge to turn around and see him one last time before they met again, curious to see if he was watching her leave or not. But she pushed it back and told herself to be patient.
Well, since she was going to expect company tomorrow, the lioness headed to the nearest water hole she could smell. Might as well clean up a bit before then.
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