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 Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 7:39 pm
 The lion licked his lips in anticipation as he stalked the juicy gazelle. It was alone--unwise on the prey's part, but it worked perfectly for Jaribu's plans. He crouched lower to the ground and put some more tension into his back legs, getting ready to spring with each passing second.
Not yet...
Wait for it, he told himself.
The gazelle had it's head up, sniffing the air and double-checking that there was no danger around. It's wide eyes were blank with empty thought except for the little habits it was doing at the moment.
Finally, it put its head back down to the ground to n** at the blades of grass growing there.
That was when he pounced.
The little gazelle had no idea he was coming, and that's just the way he liked it. Jaribu grinned with his prize and carried off to a shadier spot to munch on the remains. His stomach was growling incredibly loud, and finally he would be able to shut it up. It was a relief that the grumbles hadn't alerted his meal to his whereabouts.
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Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:46 am
Across the savannah the strangled cry of the dieing echoed in the otherwise silent afternoon causing Chai to shiver in its wake once the stillness had returned. At least the hunter had been merciful and death had come quickly to the poor unsuspecting beast. She had known struggles that had lasted for hours as the predator purposely toyed with his food, finding some twisted enjoyment in its suffering. The lioness certainly understood the circle of life, realized that the strong needed feed on the weak to help keep the balance but what baffled her was how others could enjoy tormenting that which sustained them.
The cream colored lioness made a point never to attempt to catch anything she couldn't kill quickly. As a result her gaunt frame was sustained mostly by meerkats, honey badgers and spring hares. Smaller prey that were easy enough to kill on her own. It was the only thing she carried guilt for. Pained to think of how her mother probably would have looked on at Asali'kama Chai in distress to see her this way, being the masterful huntress she was.
These wings will see you swiftly across the plains. With them you can overcome anything. She could still hear her mother's voice, warm against her ear. She'd make her proud, some day.
Completely oblivious to the fact that she had been following her nose to the fresh kill, Chai looked rather startled when she stumbled upon the unique looking lion settling with the gazelle he had snagged. Whoops! Powder blue eyes widened, trying to sheepishly back into the tall grass without his notice, wincing when her belly gave her away with its pleading call. How embarassing!
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Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:27 pm
The sudden smell of a new lioness along with her sudden appearance made Jaribu snap his head up rather suddenly to see her. The blood of his kill had invaded his senses; his guard had been completely and utterly down while he was about to start feeding. At first he was going to reprimand her (after all, an old, hungry lion needs no excuse to educate a youngin' like that), but the sheepish apologetic look on her face made him stop.
As did the hungry growl from her stomach.
That made him chuckle.
"Come here. I'll share with you." It was a good thing he was feeling generous. He lifted a paw and beckoned her forward, scooting the gazelle over so that there was an open, untouched half facing her way and she could meet him in the middle.
"I won't bite, promise."
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:27 am
Amost able to feel the tension of displeasure at being snuck up upon that built within the lion, Chai felt her ears sink, turning to simple white marks against her skull. She hadn't meant to surprise him!
Luckily her shamefully impolite belly seemed to have saved the day as the dark pelted one's expression softened and he soon offered to share the flesh of his kill. An un expected twist for certain, but the sheepish young female was reluctant to join him. Not so much out of fear or suspicion of this stranger--she was far too naive to assume he might have had ulterior motives--but rather for lack of her ability to swallow the abashed flush that dusted her features. Reluctant to leave her spot in the dry reeds which camouflaged her with utter perfection, she smiled ruefully. It was easy to imagine by observing Chai now, how her mother could be such a prized huntress. Satin voice fervently apologetic though laced with a hopeful sort of humor. I.. I'm really sorry. I didn't mean.. mean to disturb you. I guess my belly has gotten away from me...
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:40 am
Jaribu was not one to have ulterior motives to pretty much anything, as he had had enough of that kind of life with his old family. His old pride. That life and the time for that kind of life had passed on long ago, and he was quite happy about it.
He shook his head at the female and pushed the gazelle closer towards her, stretching out his front legs a bit. "Again, it's fine. I can easily understand how that could happen." Not a lie.
"So what's your name? Are you traveling somewhere?" Paused, for the moment, from his meal, the lion took the chance to begin cleaning a paw. There was a piece of fur stuck between his claws that was bugging him...
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2009 9:01 am
Chai hesitated a moment longer, the idea of picking at his meal like some sort of scavenger didn't sit well with her. She had been instilled with better manners than to impose herself on another's dinner, but her rumbling belly wouldn't allow her to pass up the free meal. Creeping forward from the grass to approach the end of the gazelle that was offered to her with a grateful look to the lion whose coat possessed markings like dancing swirls of brush fire against a smokey sky. Thank you.
Delicately licking at the moist flesh the young lioness was dainty in numerous ways it appeared, from the very look of her down to how she ate. Careful not to soil her rich fur or dishonor the gazelles sacrifice by spilling a drop. Jaws tugging at deliciously firm flesh as it wasn't until she'd begun that she realized how famished she was. Licking her maw after a moment to lift inquisitive blue eyes to the older male with a friendly smile. My mother named me Asali'kama Chai. It's a bit of a mouthful though, don't you think? So everyone just calls me Chai.. or Asali.. or-- well.. they call me whatever they want usually. She tittered quietly before continuing. I would be glad for you to do the same.
Pausing a moment to consider his next question, Chai shook her head after a silent moment. No where in particular, why? How about you? You look like the sort who has an interesting background... what do they call you?
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Posted: Wed Sep 02, 2009 3:23 pm
He nodded at her thanks and smiled again. Really, it wasn't a problem. Jaribu enjoyed being chivalrous occasionally. And look, she really was hungry. He could tell at the way she tore into the meat (though with manners, of course, befitting a proper lady) with such eagerness.
"Though a mouthful, it is a lovely name. A pleasure to meet you, Chai."
He chuckled at her compliment. Manners and wit, now that was a thing you didn't see often. "I'm Jaribu. Mine is a much shorter name than yours I'm afraid," he bowed his head down low, "and my background might be considered interesting if for the fact of my family's pride, but it is a gruesome tale I won't horrify you with right now." His chuckle weakened and his smile twitched for just a moment. His past. How glad he had been to finally escape them, and now it didn't hurt so much to think about it.
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Posted: Fri Sep 04, 2009 4:28 pm
The scent of still warm flesh was heavenly and the taste of gazelle so mouth-wateringly divine. It had been far too long since she'd had a proper meal of the sort of prey her kind were accustomed to. It almost made Chai lament that she was so reluctant to kill the nimble and powerful herbivores that grazed far and wide across the savannah, but she couldn't. Remembering her first and last attempt caused her to shudder unconsciously. Needless to say it had been a painfully traumatizing experience for the young lioness.
Realizing that her attention had drifted, gaze having fallen to stare down at her pale toes, flushed expression quickly snapped back towards the lion before her. Embarrassed at the thought of being caught not paying attention, she didn't want him to think that she wasn't delighted by his company. Jaribu! His name fell from her maw with delight. Glad to have a name to now go along with the stranger's dark face. It's short, but memorable. I like it! I would think my name would be too long for most to remember, I probably become "that long-named lioness" afterwards.
She tittered quietly at the thought, it was probably true, though she would have liked to believe and did hope that her acquaintance was easier to remember then all that. At least for some. Listening to his reluctance to tell his tail her head quirked gently, saddened by the the falter in his rather charming smile. She would have liked to have heard his story, but wouldn't press a sensitive issue. Despite that the cream colored lioness wasn't sure what had transpired she knew that sometimes fresh wounds needed time to weep before they could be better inspected. Perhaps Jaribu's were still too new for him to feel comfortable speaking of.
Either way, she felt guilty for touching the subject and causing the glimpse of whatever emotion it was that had broken his smile, reaching up with one small paw to rest atop his nose playfully. I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to touch a sore spot. I will hold you to your word though. I'd like to hear about it some day.
OOC: Sorry for the sudden color change. got home to my pc and apparently her colors are different on this compy. lol. So I'm trying to adjust colors accordingly so they're easier to read. ^^;
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Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:09 pm
He chuckled again. "I'm sure, though I'm pretty good about remember names with faces. I don't think I'll forget 'Chai' any time soon." Besides, she was a pretty lioness. And males always remembered pretty lionesses, even if they didn't remember their names.
That just made Jaribu a lot better than the other males. Heh.
He blinked and went cross-eyed at the sudden paw on his nose, but grinned and sneaked his tongue out to lick at the soft pads on the bottom of her paw. "Nah, it's fine. It happened such a long time ago that it's not too bothersome now. If you're really interested in learning, I'll tell you." But perhaps one day, if they met again, that would be a better time to share stories.
"What about you? What are you doing out here on your own? Where's your 'home' ?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2009 4:02 pm
Well.. I'll hold you too that and you had best bet that I'll seek you out in a few months time to see if you really can remember it! Chai teased playfully, giggling as his tongue, wet and coarse, tickled at her paw pads. Dropping it back to the ground as her smile brightened with relief, glad to see that that any harm she had caused by the subject was minimal at best. I would like to know, eventually. When you think its appropriate..
Me? Pausing for a moment the question caused the softly colored lioness to ponder the reason why she was in the position she was. Asali's unimposing gaze eventually returned to him from where it had drifted across the savannah as if in search of something. Not much to tell, really. I'm an only cub, I don't know my father but my mom is the leader of a small rogue band, she's a skilled huntress. I don't think the others would be able to survive without her. We've always been close... I guess that happens when you're an only child. And I set out on my own... just to see what's out there, I suppose.
Gazing at him her smile was warm, yet there seemed to be something missing from the story, some detail that sh had left out that caused her eyes to waver with uncertainty and conflicted emotion. See... nothing exciting about me, I'm afraid.
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Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2009 2:01 pm
"Challenge accepted!" He grinned back at her. "We'll see what happens when (if) you find me in a few months from now." Jaribu nodded, though, his smile easing into one of understanding. The curious were always destined to remain so, and sooner or later, it might be best to get some of his past demons off his chest anyway.
"When we meet again in a few months so that you can throw your name-test on me, I'll tell you."
It wasn't a promise. But if she remembered, he would acknowledge that.
He listened, and raised an eyebrow when he heard that she had left her mother and their group of rogues, to 'see what's out there.' If they were so close, why would she suddenly do such a thing? The lack of detail in her smile did not go unnoticed by him. But like she wasn't pushing him, neither would he push her.
"Well, when you do figure out something exciting about yourself, I'll be sure to ask again when we see each other next. We'll have a story exchange, a little catch-up time."
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2009 11:33 am
I will. I look forward to it. Chai admitted with a small smile and something like wistfulness in her voice as she fell silent. Her gaze had drifted towards her paws and for a long moment she let the quiet linger between them with only the gentle breeze caressing her ears. She knew she had taken too much of his time and that she needed to be on her way, but Jaribu was the first that she'd met since the beginning of her journey and she wondered how long it would be until the next encounter.
She wasn't ready to leave him just yet, basking in the comfort of his company which seemed coming to an all too abrupt close. Chai's smile was gentle touched at the corners with an inexplicable sadness when at last she lifted her gaze to meet the vibrant firelight that danced in the older lion's eyes. Gathering herself elegantly as she came to stand upon all four paws. I.. should be getting on my way. Lots to see still and I shouldn't eat up any more of your time or your meal.
Asali giggled softly at the coy joke in an attempt to remain light spirited.
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:35 pm
He liked this one. It took him a little to warm up to her, and it certainly took Chai a good bit more to warm up to him, but she was a nice lioness. Jaribu honestly wouldn't mind meeting her again, if the fates allowed it.
He smiled at her easily when her gaze met his. Yes, he would happily see her again.
"Anytime," he added gracefully. "I'm not one to keep a pretty lioness from starving; I would hope you thought me better than that. But if you must go, then you must go. Good luck on your travels. I hope we meet again someday." He bowed his head in a kind farewell to her. His day hadn't been so bad before she stumbled upon him, but since she had, it had certainly brightened up.
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:26 am
Amused by the idea of starving pretty lionesses several teasing comments came to mind about starving ugly ones, but instead she smiled simply. No need to bust his chops. Especially since Chai was convinced he would have fed any half starved and pathetic looking female just as he had her, no matter what they looked like.
Careful steps bringing the lioness to close the distance between them as she affectionately nuzzled her face into his dark mane without hesitation. The gesture meant with friendly intentions of farewell. She had greatly enjoyed Jaribu's company and he had been nothing but hospitable. Whether the lion realized it or not, he would be greatly missed, but Chai tried to console herself with silent promises that their paths would cross again in time. And when that time came she would have many stories to tell him about her adventures on her own and he could tell her all about his family.
Happily breathing in his scent, tea colored female purred quietly and recoiled to gaze up at him, giving his muzzle a gentle lick. Thank you again, my mother would be grateful to know you've taken such good care of me in her absence. Until we meet again Jaribu, take care of yourself!
Picking up a brisk jog the young rogue set off again in search of mysteries untold and new friends along the way. Maybe she would even stumble across a pride she, her mother and the small band of strays could call home.
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