Min Ziaria was currently lying flat to the ground, her lovely fur slightly muddied along her belly from crawling in that position for a while. Not a tremendous while...but long enough for a dip in cleaner waters to be necessary later. Whuffling softly, the lioness tentatively raised her head, amber eyes scanning the area for signs of danger, anything that might be remotely harmful would send her flat against the ground once more. There had been rumor that something large and perilous had been spotted hereabouts, and all she really wanted to do was to pass through this area and head home. She'd initially been out to get something small...like a rabbit...for herself and Bangili, but...fear had overcome her, as it usually did, and her leg throbbed despite the absence of wound, as though something had already clamped its jaws upon her. Ah well...it certainly seemed safe enough, scenting the wind just once more, she rose up on all fours, though her head remained ducked, as she attempted to blend in amongst the reeds and grasses. If she could just find someone...anyone else...she'd feel better.
A moment later, a pheasant-like bird rushed from the bushes, disturbed by the passing of another nearby predator. Mysmyr, for his part, simply snorted at the flighty bird, annoyed at how easily such a thing might give away his position. "Stupid bird..." He rumbled, also ducked down as Ziaria was but unlike she, he was on the hunt. A meal, something to busy himself with perhaps... anything, really.
Down wind from the lioness, he blinked and stood, breaking cover to peer in her direction. At her posture, he frowned slightly, "Are you hunting as well, friend? You ought to be more careful... you flushed fowl from the bushes. It might have been my meal." Arching his brow, he wore and expression that danced between smirk and genuine smile.
At the sudden flight of the preybird, followed closely by the other's voice, Min Ziaria tensed, crouching low to the ground again with a soft sound of fear... But that lasted but a moment, as she identified both sounds, and peeping her head out o'er the grasses, she then smiled shakily, trying to calm her swiftly-beating heart. It was another lion...it was all right... "I was hunting, at least...but I'm afraid I let a case of nerves overcome me..." She replied, shaking her head at her own silliness, "I do apologize...I'm so terribly sorry for losing you your prey!" Distress bled into her amber gaze as she spoke, hoping the lion would not take exception at her mistake.
He laughed, though his gaze held a slight edge to it, "That was not my prey, truth be told, but rather a hoofed creature which I'm has fled just as quickly by now." Shrugging, he let the ire slide and looked her over as he approached. Mysmyr found he did not recognize the lioness and tilted his head in greeting, "I am Mysmyr, a recent Provisionary. Who might you be?"
"Min Ziaria...Huntress for the pride. Though I fear I'm not providing a very good representation just now." Again a mental smacking of herself for her error. Damn, but she wished that she could shake the fear...that insistent niggling in the back of her head that told her that she was going to die...that death was lurking, coming for her. But she believed it, somehow, it was just a small mercy that it had not happened yet.
He laughed, arching brow once more, "I would say well met, Min Ziaria, save for the fact but you seem rather edgy. Do you fear being stalked? I thought you were the hunter here." The amusement in his voice was hard to miss as he came alongside her, "What are you hunting?"
"Ah well..." She swallowed a bit, "Let's just say...I'm perhaps a bit paranoid." That was the best way to put it. Most thought she was silly or daft for her fear...for fearing it so very intensely. "And I have a youngling at home that I'm a mite worried over as well...I fret so easily these days, the cares of a mother I suppose." Laughing softly as though to brighten the mood, she canted head to one side, "I was after something small, mayhap a rabbit, but luck has not been with me today."
Mysmyr simply nodded as he circled her once and then stopped to listen. When she was finished he chuckled, "It seems I've a knack for speaking to mothers. There's nothing to fear here, I'm certain, beyond the snakes and crocodiles - but those are easy to avoid if you keep watch. Moreso if you're not alone."
The lion glanced around thoughtfully, "I find the rabbits are difficult to corner before they slip into roots or other small spaces. Turtles though... turtles are slow on the ground and only moderately swift in the water. Have you tried for those? They are plentiful here."
"Ah, truly?" She smiled serenely then, some of the worry gone from her expression as he didn't seem to be angry, though her amber eyes followed him, never-leaving. "Ah yes...I...avoid them. Give them quite a wide berth..." Just bringing them up sent a ripple of fear down her spine and caused limbs to ache.
"Mmm...I had not thought of trying for the turtles...are they not terribly hard to get out of their shells?" She, after all, had not been raised here, but had come to the pride some time ago with her mate. Turtles would be easier to catch...that much was clear. "How do they taste?"
"That's a wise decision." He shook his head slightly. Such a fearful thing, this one.
"The soft shell ones are not... if you find them, that is. That, and dropping them on rocks and things breaks their shells." He shrugged slightly, "Dinner and a game. Lesson, perhaps, for a cub."
Not that she had a particular reason to fear, it simply happened. It bothered her too...and she oft wished for a life devoid of fear...a life she could live without the knowledge that she would die soon.
Listening intently to the lion's words, she then bobbed her head, ""Oh! I see how that might be!" She brightened slightly at mention of a game. How she'd love to bring a smile to Bangli's face. It wasn't as though the girl smiled very often these days, having been reluctant about her new home, she most assuredly hadn't settled completely. "Where are the best places to look for them? Close to water?"
"Indeed. Among the roots and along the bottoms of the pools with the green plants that cover them. Or in the sunny patches along the edges." He nodded, starting towards the pools he'd gone hunting with Adhabu at. "I know a good place to start, they're not far from here."
Oh!" Really it was wonderfully fortunate that she'd met such a nice lion...if he'd been less kindly, he might have attacked her for causing him to lose his prey. That was a dreadful prospect indeed, and shoving that silly fear from her mind, she simply beamed up at him, "Thank you so much..." And she trailed behind him, keeping gaze alert for anything and everything.
"You're welcome." He replied as he tested the water of the first pond, unafraid to get wet. No crocodiles, no snakes... and no turtles either, sadly. Shaking the foliage from his mane, he sighed, "Nothing here. That's how you look for them, feel the bottom and sides... "
"Ah! So they'd be like wiggling rocks then." She actually grinned a bit at that, paying keen attention. She could do this...it was easy, easier perhaps than hunting rabbits or pheasant...definitely the latter. "It is indeed a genius idea..." Padding on further down, she leaned close to the water, gingerly sticking a paw in to feel about for turtles.
"More or less." He agreed, nodding. Watching her attempt, he surged forward as she disturbed a turtle and sent it racing, "You have to be quick though!" Pouncing in the water, he'd trapped the turtle against a wall of roots, chin lifted high so he could breath.
"Get it?" He mumbled, hoping she'd fish it out before it wiggled away from him.
Quickly, she forced herself to act first and then think later, and she dove down to snatch the turtle, clamping it in her jaws as she raised her soggy head up with a growl of triumph. "Have it..." She muttered out around the wiggling creature's shell. Well, the one turtle would be enough for Bangli, at least. "Sankyuu..." Another mutter...it really was hard to speak this way, but she hoped he understood the gratitude.
Backing off, he sauntered onto dry land once more and shook himself, "You look ridiculous." He eyed her, chuckling, "Kill it already or it will try to get away..." Ducking his head, he brushed the greenery from his fur and mane but it didn't get rid of all of the bits, and green dotted the pink of his mane here and there.
Heading back onto firm ground, she spit it out and clawed at it, killing the creature quickly so that it would cease to wiggle. Little creature looked rather pathetic, actually...but at least it was the turtle, and not her that was deceased now. "Ah, sorry...but...we caught it!" She chuckled softly. "Now...I think I shall get this to my daughter. Thank you so very much, sir~" Her reply was quite polite, and she ducked her head in a sort of informal bow.
He blinked. Well, that was a short encounter. Nodding slowly, he smiled wanly, "You're welcome. I hope your daughter enjoys it. I think I'll catch myself a meal as well."
Turning, he moved to leave - never one to really linger at the end of a conversation, "Farewell until we meet again, Kiaria."
Min Ziaria nodded again, pawing the turtle closer and into a better position for picking up with her strong jaws. "I wish you much luck, And again...I really do regret scaring away your prey." A note of guilt touched her...and she would have helped, if she did not have Bangli to return to. "Indeed, until we meet again, Mysmyr." And then she too turned, to go her seperate way.
