He had been wandering for a while, his soft pink mane had grown in wonderfully and if he did say so himself, he was a handsome beast of a lion. Hopping gracefully over tussocks of tufted grass the young mint green male lifted his gaze to the sky his dark nose band absorbing the suns rays and warming his face.
It wasn't that long after midday when he caught the scent of lions, lots of lions, that meant there was either a group or a pride near by, which ever it was the young male wasn't about to deviate his course and besides, maybe they would be friendly and he could spend a few days in a group, enjoying the ladies and ultimately letting them enjoy him too.
Grinning broadly he hop skipped onwards his pale mane dancing over his eyes and his cheeks, what ever the day brought for the young male it was ahead of him with this pride, certainly not behind him.
Daeze shook her head disappointedly, she had just been out hunting, and she had failed... again! She hated when she had to return to her pride empty-handed. To her, it was a great shame, even though her pridemates made excuses for her as to why it wasn't her fault. 'You're still learning, dear. I saw that gazelle, it was pretty rowdy. You are still barely an adult, Daeze, don't be so hard on yourself!' As the voices of her friends and family filled her ears, she looked down in shame and pinned her ears. She was tired of the excuses! She failed, and that was her problem, she just didn't want it to happen again. Furiously, she swatted the nearest rock and continued on her way back to the Mteolands.
Why did it seem that others pitied her? She was just as strong as the other Msaka! Was it because she had been blessed with the beautiful mask of her grandmother, and so they forgot that she had also recieved the strength of her father? She wasn't one to be trifled with, but it seemed that at first sight, others thought she was a damsel in distress, and they should polish their armor and rescue her. Perhaps it was even her name, meaning 'Flower Princess'. It wasn't really a name that would strike fear into anyone's heart. Moodily with her head hung low, she continued on her way.
Lifting his nose to the air the fresh scent of a female came to him and with a smile, as broad as the day is long, he turned on his heels, the two feathers that adorned his back paws waving like tiny wings as he made a bee line for the dusty pink shape on his horizon.
"Hellooooooo lady." He whistled, a long wolf whistle of a call, padding straight up to the masked female padding around her and looking her up and down unashamedly. "Now where ever have you been? I'v been all alone out here with no one to admire me and then you pop up little flower of beauty."
He licks his lips and sits before her puffing out his chest and giving a roguish wink "You wanna tell me what this pride ahead is hmm? I assume you're heading there so you can show me in hmm?" He grins toothily his soft blue eyes sparkling playfully.
Going along, as she was, she knew these lands like the back of her paw, she usually had no need to look up. Or at least until now. She heard an obnoxious noise that she was all to familiar with. A wolf whistle. Ugh. Probably just another pridemember trying to take a shot at her. Why wouldn't they just leave her alone? She was having a terrible enough day as it was. Not changing her course, she was hoping that if she did not go to meet him, he would take that as a warning. She didn't want to talk to him. But sure enough, along came that pale green lion, with his bubblegum pink mane bouncing merrily as he trotted over to her. He seemed friendly enough, at least she wouldn't have to worry about an ambush. And besides, she was within calling distance of her pride. As much as she disliked the 'delicate flower' treatment, many of the lions, along with her friends would rush to her at any sound of distress. She tried to avoid making eye contact with this unknown member, but he promptly began circling her, not seeming to care that she was still walking. In fact, it seemed as if he enjoyed watching her move as his eyes were tracing her body. Stopping finally, only because he sat in front of her, she remained standing, a look of deep irritation replacing her sad look. Ugh. She knew the type; players. They would hit on anything that moved, with their crude comments and shameless flattery. She was hardly listening to his attempts to woo her. What was the point? She was too upset for this today, and she was busy comforting herself in her head. Until she heard him ask what pride this was, that is. That meant... if he had to ask, he must not be in the pride! With a snort of disgust, she thought to herself, "Great. Now a rogue is hitting on me. Just tell him what he wants to know and leave." Her entire body tensed when she realized that he was indeed a rogue. With pride members at least, she knew she could trust them. "This is the Mteo'nyungu Pride, rogue!" she spat, "Now go away.", she finished dismissively, as she began to walk around him.
Hermes wasn't about to be dismissed so easily, he stood up and bounded around her once again pressing his body under her chin "Hey you have something on your chest." He chuckles and leans his nose down to her ear "me" he smiles a roguish twinkle in those pale eyes "And the name is Hermes, I'v never answered to rogue in my life and you my pretty lady besides a beautiful flower? Do you possess a name or are you simply a rose?"
Wriggling his eyebrows he curls his tail over her back. "Mteo'nyungu, sounds interesting, you wanna take me in pretty lady? I'll come ...partially..quietly." He purrs gently in to her ear, she was clearly playing hard to get "no need to give me the hard shoulder sweetheart, I'm only here to make your life more joyful." the left part of his mouth turned in a lop sided grin as he held the dusty pink femme almost as a captive with his longer body, preventing her from going forwards.
Gasping in surprise at the rogues sudden change in action, he suddenly was all over her, tail draped gently over her back, and him beneath her chin. She then came to a horrible realization. She was so close to the Mteo'nyungu lands, that any moment, a patrol, or even some of the other Msaka might come her way. She blushed deeply at the thought of being found by someone, being cuddled by a rogue. It didn't matter that she wasn't cuddling back, from the eyes of someone who didn't know the situation, one would guess that she was snuggling up to him, especially because, in her shock, she didn't immediately struggle to get away. So many would talk, asking her what had happened, and then not believing her anyways. Getting together with a rogue was considered shirking her duties. That was the last thing she wanted. Her jaw clamped shut in frustration and her entire body tensed. Through her clenched teeth, she said in a low voice. "Stop. Touching. Me.", in her voice, one could clearly hear her growl of anger. Trying to get away, she quickly deduced that there was no way to go forward, so she instinctively backed up, struggling to get free. Who did this guy think he was? She was a Msaka of the Mteo'nyungu Pride! And here he was, holding her, as if he knew her, like she was his... no, she didn't even want to think that far, now she just wanted to break free of his hold. As she wriggled, she stated plainly, though her frustration in her voice was obvious, "Rogues are not welcome in our pride.", which was mostly true, they were not welcome as rogues, but they were willing to join. But she wasn't going to tell him that.
Hermes chuckles and wriggles his brows at the dusty pink female, his tail flickering back and forwards, a grin on his maw. Stepping forwards as she flew backwards he walked around to her back and sat for a moment at her rear to make her halt. "I'm sure I'd be welcome sweet heart, someone like me, I'm welcome any where." he grins and stands again "So why not lead the way hmm? I'm sure a delicate flower such as yourself could use an escort hmm?"
"Who knows maybe I'll like your pride enough to join hmm? I'm looking for a place to call home and if you live there well.." he looks her up and down unashamedly " well I'd stay just for that view." he chuckles determined to follow her in to ehr pride now, after all,s he was clearly just playing hard to get, and by the sound of it, she liked it rough, just his kinda girl.
Sitting down finally with a look of seething frustration, Daeze began to realize that shaking this... creep wouldn't be that easy. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, my pride has had some pretty bad experiences with rogues before." She wasn't sure what to do, everywhere she went, he seemed to be a couple steps ahead of her! What to do, what to do. Surely enough, she was within calling distance of her pride, but she didn't like the idea of giving them the satisfaction of saying that she needed their help.
Whipping her head around, she hissed, “Do NOT call me 'Delicate Flower'! I am Abeba'Adaeze, Msaka of the Mteo'nyungu Pride! And I can take care of myself thank you!” How could this guy get on her nerves so easily? She was normally so calm and collected, even when the other pride members were checking her out, she seemed to always have a response on the tip of her tongue.
Her eyes widened suddenly when he said that he might join the Pride. She cursed under her breath. He already has decided he might want to join? How could she get out of this? Maybe she just had to stop hesitating. With a sudden stroke of realization, she remembered that he was now sitting behind her. This was the real test of her speed; Could she get up to speed fast enough to bolt to the pride? Her haunches tensed and instantly, she began running as fast as she could, not looking back, just focusing on her destination.
Hermes moved slightly to her side as she spoke "Abeba'Adaeze, double A my lady?" He chuckles quietly bowing a deep, chivalrous bow. "My apologies lady, but at least now I have your name so I can come with you, after all should anyone stop me I'll just tell them I'm a friend of yours and you asked me to come and join your fabulous pride." He chuckles as she pounds off slowly getting to his paws and following after her.
Picking up speed he races after her not really catching up to her but catching up enough to tug the fur on the tip of her tail, holding it between his teeth as an elephant calf holds his mothers tail. Unable to speak now he lets a little chuckle roll out through the side of his mouth. He could tell she was irritated, but he simply felt she was playing hard to get, after all, what lady could resist him? After all he was charming and gorgeous and playful, he was the perfect male. At least in his own eyes.
Keeping up with her wolf lope with her tail tuft between his teeth he gave a few little tugs just to let her know he was still there, he wasn't letting go until she gave up and gave in to him, he could be ever so persistent.
Muscles pumping as fast as they could, she figured there was no way that he was able to keep up. Or at least until she felt a small tug on her tail. Risking a quick glance behind her, he saw only his colors pale pink and green. So he had caught up to her after all. In frustration, between pants, she shouted, “Let... GO!”, as she thrashed her tail wildly.
There was not much point now, they were now in the Mteo territory, and there was nothing she could do about Hermes following her. If he kept holding onto her tail, she would have to endure the mockery of her friends, and since he was in her company, most would probably neglect to ask who he was, most likely assuming he is a friend, or more.
Sitting down and panting, she growled in response to the earlier statement, “If you say that you are my friend, and I want you to join, I can just as easily tell them the truth!” She shot him a deadly glare.
As she pulled to a stand still the pink maned male released her tail and sat down beside her, leaning his shoulder against hers, a cheeky grin on his maw. "There's no need to be mad, I just want to spend some time with you pretty lady." he looks down at her with a broad roguish smile on his maw, he leans down and licks the top of her head. "You know you've enjoyed yourself." He winks jovially and stands up. "So, you live around here hmm? I think, yeah, I think I'll stay for a while."
Taking a few steps away from her he pads towards the heavy scent of lions in the distance. "For you my masked lady I will settle my paws and find a place in your heart." A broad grin stretches his maw, he was excited to see her reaction to his words, she as turning out to be very easy to wind up. but at the same time, she was intriguing, he wanted her to like him, wanted her to argue with and flirt with and clearly the best way to do that was to become one with her pride. It couldn't be too hard after all, could it? Na, no one would refuse him, he could do anything.
Still catching her breath, she saw what he was doing, leaning in against her. He had a certain comfortable warmth to him, but nonetheless, she scooted away from him. He then proceeded to lick her atop the head. This instantly got a reaction from her; she blushed deeply out of embarrassment and physical reaction to being licked. His lick had a certain softness to the touch, sending tingles up her spine. Her entire body tensed once again, and she muttered, “Stop. Touching. Me.”, as she raised her paw, claws extended, with a clear snarl, turning her simple statement into a threat.
She looked up at him, shooting him daggers when he said that he planned to stay. “No, no you won't! You are going back to... wherever you came from! I do not want you here, can't you see that?” She listened to him continuing to talk, saying that he would win her over. Now calming down, she went back to her brisk, sassy self, “Then I have only one thing to say to you. Good Luck.”
Hermes looked back at the golden marked female, he could tell she had fels something form his attentions, she almost seemed pleased, he felt, that he was planning on staying. Now all he had to do was find out how. With a grin on his maw the pale green lion started to lope away following the more pungent scent of a large group of lions.
"Luck my love? Who needs luck when you're me!" He barks a laugh and speeds up, his soft pink tufted tail in the air. He considered this a challenge and he wasn't one to give up on a test.
