Welcome to Gaia! ::

He was continuing his quest; a mission to find and collect the lady of his heart, and the soul he'd seen in his vision. The girl, though he didn't know what she looked like, was constantly on his mind. His head, always in the clouds, was often disconnected from his feet and Naeem, carelessly playful, was swiftly growing accustomed to getting lost.

His stomach growled audibly, reminding him that it was time for lunch, and the young lion was about to turn back and follow his steps home when the wind carried an interesting sound passed his ears. What was that?

Naeem had never heard singing before. It was new, and utterly strange to him. Curious, but with a half-sleepy expression on his face, the little lion forgot his hunger and started in the direction of the noise.

The young lion arrived just in time to see the little lady tumble of off the boulder and into the grass. He blinked, surprised that she'd stopped singing and seemed almost to shake himself out of a reverie, before taking a couple of inquisitive steps closer.

The birds that rocketed out of the trees overhead startled him, and his fur bristled. He glanced around, wary of danger. When nothing attacked, he turned his attention back to the ball of fluff cowering behind the rock. It was a couple of moments before he found the presence of mind to speak.

"Are you okay?" Naeem asked softly, and he stared, wondering what she would do next.

He hadn't noticed until she'd pointed it out, but it was rather hot out. Once she did, however, he felt it.

"It is rather warm out, isn't it?" Naeem smiled sweetly at her, "and I do not see any bruises. You look perfect to me."

It was true; meant innocently enough. Zana was rather pretty, he couldn't help but notice, and his heart gave a little flip.

"You're... song didn't bother me," Naeem shook his head as he tested out the new word. So, that was what she'd been doing. "I am Naeem. Zana, are you the lady of my heart?"

The young lion couldn't help himself. What if she was? He didn't want to risk the chance of losing her!

The Gods. That made him c**k an eyebrow. He'd have to remember to ask his mother about that later.

"I would like a friend," Naeem continued to smile, though it upset him a little that she didn't know whether or not she was the lady of his visions. This was a problem he hadn't foreseen. He'd always assumed that his lady would know him, but if she didn't, what could he do? He had no way of figuring out who she was!

When she asked him to go and rest in the shade, the young lion was temporarily distracted from his newfound predicament. It would be nice to get out of the sun for awhile, before he had to walk back home.

"Yes," he nodded, and turned towards the nearby trees, "and then maybe you can show me how you sing. I would like to learn."

When Zana led, he followed, quietly and with that silly, trademark half-sleepy smile on his fuzzy face. Naeem's energy was lively, but it was more like fluid than electricity. Everything he did had a gentle, rolling edge to it.

Until they reached the shade provided by Zana's little retreat, Naeem hadn't realized exactly how hot it was. He exhaled in delighted surprise at the mild change in temperature, and his mouth watered at the site of the pond.

"It is really nice under here," he ventured conversationally, eyes flickering to the vibrantly colored, though decidedly small, fish that called this place home. He spoke honestly. "I am hungry, but I have never caught a fish before. They look very slippery."

Naeem looked up, expression one of shocked outrage, "Your brother should not make fun of you like that! Your music is wonderful."

It didn't matter that his knowledge of the subject was limited to the sounds he'd heard her make earlier. They had sounded perfectly fine to him.

Naeem neither loved, nor hated the water. It was important when he was thirsty, but that was about all he knew. He watched, curiously, as Zana's paws all but disappeared beneath the glossy liquid surface.

Her attitude pleased him, and he smiled. There was something, however, that he didn't quite understand.

"If you don't mind his teasing, why did you hide from him here?"

The purple youth blinked in surprise when the little fish, wriggling and wet, flopped onto the ground at his feet. Its eyes flashed in the dark, and Naeem had the presence of mind to slap his own paw down on it, to keep it from escaping. His stomach rumbled.

"That makes sense," Naeem replied breezily, "I do a lot of walking during the day, so it is nice to go home and see my family. I do not pick on my sisters, though, when I see them."

Her delicately delivered order, which was more of a suggestion anyways, made him pause. She was right. He might as well eat. It would be a couple of hours before he'd make it home, anyways, and by then he might be too exhausted for supper.

"Aren't you hungry?" Naeem asked her softly, in between mouthfuls of fish.