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 Posted: Fri Dec 18, 2009 11:34 am
 Maktaba was, as usual, wandering around. He knew this land was new, because he didn't recognize a single thing about it. That was always good, though a bit intimidating. It meant a brand new stack of work to be done. He had to get a feel for the land, find landmarks, learn what kind of prey beasts were common here, and who was at the top of the picking order. He had to see if there were prides around here, and if there were distinct cultural aspects to inquire after, and even take mental notes of what the sky looked like at night so he might navigate back here some other time.
Good thing he found all this as entertaining as a cub might find pouncing in their first hunt. Excited and eager, he looked around with his warm, intelligent green eyes, humming a song to himself.
He didn't know where this music in his head was coming from, but he couldn't help but like it. He had always had an affinity for music, from birds singing to the wandering, musically inclined creatures he met in his travels. He had always wished for some kind of talent in it, wanting to know more about its nature, but for now all he had was humming.
And sometimes he got a little carried away, his baritone carrying in the air as he padded along, eyes constantly moving, taking in everything and taking his time about it. He had no where to be, after all.
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Posted: Tue Dec 22, 2009 8:02 pm
The ground, warmed by the sun and softened with the grasses, was pleasant under her paws as she walked. She’d traveled over many many kinds of terrain, cold and stony, soft and shifting with sand, grass so tall she could lose even herself in it. So many wonderful places and things and people could be found in this great wide world she lived in. Even had the skies broken and cast a deluge to soak her light fur until she was chilled to the bone, it seemed unlikely that the lioness’ spirits would be dampened by it.
Weather did not make the world, though it might help to shape it. No, what made the world what it was…were all the very many different sorts that lived in it. Lived and laughed and loved and learned. There was so much to do and see, yes, but even more than that there were so many to meet and know, the tenuous links of friendship lingering even long after two parted ways. Just because they might never meet again did not mean that either would forget the other. And wasn’t that a wonderful thing?
Keena smiled to herself as she padded along a path unknown and unseen. She’d not come this way before, but that meant very little to her. The grass and trees and ground must stay where it was, but people moved. New dirt or old beneath her paws, the people who walked upon it with her could be anyone at all. True, she’d met a few prides that stayed in one place. Some were welcoming of strangers, while others were less so. But she bore them no ill will for chasing her out, those that had, for surely they were only worried about protecting their families and making sure their little ones would have enough food. How could anyone fault them for that, no matter how poorly their fear for family made them phrase their desires? No one, that was who.
But no one had chased her today, nor yesterday or the day before. It was growing perhaps a bit lonely, but that was silliness really. With the world as full as it was, it seemed a bit silly to feel alone just because she’d not spoken to anyone in a day or two. The wind was whispering through the grass and her fur, clouds were chasing across the sky, the sun shone warm upon her back. How could she feel lonely in the midst of all this life?
The lioness’ small smile turned to a soft laugh at the thought, even as her ears swiveled to catch another sound on the wind. Not a whisper or a sigh…a song perhaps? Intrigued, she paused to c**k her head, listening. Not singing, no, but a melody for certain. She’d nearly missed it, so faint and far did it sound. But she had caught it, a deep rich baritone humming along through the air. This way, it was over here.
Keena turned and, ears perked, walked carefully in the direction the other voice was coming from. It wasn’t all that long before she came within sight as well as hearing of the melody’s owner. A lion, all on his own as she was, or so he seemed. It didn’t look like he minded much though, just another traveler perhaps. Smiling, her golden eyes warm, she made her way towards him, trying to be noticeable so as not to give him a start.
“That’s a lovely melody,” she said when she was only a few lengths away, far enough to not encroach upon his space but close enough to be conversationally friendly, “My name is Keena,” she introduced herself, her head tipped slightly as she hoped for a response. If he wasn’t in the mood for talking, of course, she’d be happy to leave him alone or walk with him in companionable silence. She didn’t mind, it was nice to meet someone even if they didn’t feel like company at the moment.
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 1:17 am
Maktaba let out a surprised yelp when he heard a voice nearby. He looked around, not having heard or seen anyone. It wasn't the most flattering of noises, cutting his song short and on a sour note to boot. He cleared his throat, trying to compose himself, looking toward the lioness he finally saw standing not too far away.
He smiled.
"Hello, there," he said, trying not to look as embarrassed as he felt. He hadn't realized anyone was within earshot, but then again, he probably shouldn't be singing or humming while wandering through the rogue lands. Someone was bound to notice him being weird.
"My name is Maktaba. Do forgive the ah... musical first impression."
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 1:19 pm
Keena started slightly at the yelp, having not intended in the least to startle him she was unprepared for him to react as such, and it, in turn, startled her. He looked so awkward for a moment there, was he possibly embarrassed? Whatever for? Being surprised perhaps?
She took a half step towards him as he smiled and introduced himself. He definitely was friendly, after all, if he didn't want company he would have said so by now. And since he hadn't, perhaps they might travel together for a short while. It was always nice to meet a new friend, and she'd just been feeling a touch lonesome too... even if such a feeling really was just silliness.
"What's to forgive?" she asked, oblivious to the idea that he might have thought his little song was embarrassing. Or humming, since songs typically had words as far as she knew. Even if he'd been horrible and off-key she wouldn't have found it to be 'bad'. People seemed to sing when they were happy, and no matter what their music sounded like being happy could only be a good thing. Therefore, any sort of music was lovely in its own right.
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 4:51 pm
Maktaba blushed under his fur, glad for the brown that so effectively hid the heat her felt in his face and ears. He looked at her, clicking his tongue behind his teeth and shaking his head.
"Ah, I don't suppose I know, really. I was making all that noise and, ah, jumped. Anyway, it's nice to meet you, miss Keena."
He smiled and nodded his head politely. He didn't mind company. In fact, he liked it. He often learned from strangers. Interesting things, or things he had already known. It didn't matter, he loved hearing stories and keeping important information, stuff he might need some other time, in the back of his head.
A walking encyclopedia, of sorts.
Whenever he met someone knew, he instantly wondered what they might teach him, or what he might teach them.
"How are you this fine day, then? You seem to be in a good mood, if your cheerful introduction is any indication! I hope that's the case, anyway. I find others are much easier to speak with if they're in a good mood," he had a habit of babbling when he was nervous. Or when he was comfortable. Generally, he just babbled.
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Posted: Sat Dec 26, 2009 8:48 pm
Keena tilted her head slightly, mildly curious as he stammered to explain his apology. It seemed a silly thing to apologize for. Singing a song and being surprised when she came up out of nowhere. If anything, it was her fault for interrupting him...
"It's nice to meet you too," she responded, perhaps a bit amused by the 'miss Keena'. No one had called her 'miss' before, not that she could recall. It was sort of funny, in a flattering kind of way. But calling him 'mister Maktaba' felt silly to her. But she didn't want to call him just Maktaba, not if he would find it to be rude. She liked making people happy, she didn't want to insult him by mistake.
She laughed softly as he began to talk rather quickly about the day and her mood. Only moments ago she'd been trying to tell herself feeling lonesome was silly, now it seemed she'd found a friend who would definitely have a pleasant conversation with her.
"Oh yes, it's such a beautiful day," Keena replied brightly at a break in the babble, glad that he might think she would be easy talk to. She liked being easy to talk to, it was nice that someone could be comfortable around her. Gave her a little warm glowy feeling to think they might be happy she was there...
"Are you from around here?" she asked curiously after a few seconds. If he wanted to converse, or talk about himself as a few people she'd met did, then asking him a question was a good way to start! Or she thought it would be at least.
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Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 5:25 pm
Maktaba laughed contentedly when she placated him by responding to his babble. He was well aware of this flaw, his inability to keep words from spilling from his mouth, but he was glad she wasn't ruffled or put off by it.
"Well," he said thoughtfully. It wasn't a trick question. Was he from around here: yes or no. But with Maktaba things were never that easy. There were always things to be explained, or elaborated on.
"I travel all over the place, and I don't think I quite remember where that all started. I like to wander and learn about things. And places. And people."
He chuckled, tilting his head at her. "What about you? Are you from around here? Is there a pride nearby?" He looked around, like he would be able to see something clearly marking that there was a pride around them, or something.
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 10:57 am
Oh yes, that glowy feeling was definitely there when she made him laugh. For a moment, at first, she'd worried that she might upset him, but it seemed to her that he wasn't bothered by her at all. That was good, Keena loved to find some way to make someone happier. And if he was smiling and laughing it seemed like she'd not done anything wrong.
She listened with some interest as he explained. True she'd been expecting a 'yes' or a 'no', but what he had explained was a rather clever way to put it. Keena couldn't help but tip her head as he tilted his, she wasn't mocking him, it just happened that when he tilted his head she thought that might be more comfortable or something. Really...it just happened when she talked to people.
"No, I suppose I'm a bit like you. But I do it because I like meeting new people, though I suppose learning about things is fun too," she giggled, not that she was certain she could remember everything about everything that she'd ever seen or done. She was sure she'd forgotten some things, which was a bit sad really. But since she didn't remember them, then how could she know for sure if she'd forgotten? So why should she let it make her sad?
"I don't know if there's a pride nearby, I haven't seen anyone for a while now. Just you," Keena added brightly after a moment's thought, grinning.
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Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 7:37 pm
Maktaba noted the way she tilted her head as he tilted his. He straightened it up, but he wasn't offended. He just wanted to see if she would go the other way, too. He tilted it the other way, smiling vaguely, knowing he was being silly but not really minding. It was a social experiment of sorts, he told himself. Or it was just an excuse to see if he could make her laugh.
He nodded slowly, which was a bit odd at the angle he was now holding his head at. He grinned broadly, his fangs glinting but in an oddly non-threatening way. There wasn't much that could be called threatening about the lion, despite his size and build. He looked like any other hunting animal, sturdy and honed, but there was something oddly... squishy about his air. Friendly and warm.
"Just me, hmm?" he laughed, shaking his head so his big, graying mane puffed out a bit, "well, I suppose there is worse company. Better, sure, but it could be worse than me." He laughed at that. He knew he was a bit stuffy for most lions, but he seemed to be having an easier time of being casual with this lioness than with most of the other people he had met.
"Well, I find the unclaimed lands are just as interesting as any pride. It's a bit more difficult to keep track of, but that's half the fun of it, don't you think?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 9:07 pm
When Maktaba, or mister Maktaba, or however she ought to call him without offending him, straightened his head she was worried for a moment that she'd bothered him or insulted him or something. About to try and apologize, she felt the worry that she'd hurt his feelings vanish as he tipped his head the other way. The apology turned into a giggle as she imitated him again, deliberately this time, taking a playful extra second to try and line her ears up with his too.
She felt another giggle coming on as he nodded his head where it was, and she tried to swallow it as she suppressed the sudden urge to bob her head as well. It was like being a cub again, he'd got her feeling all playful. It was quite fun really, and she'd been feeling so lonely before too!
"Oh no, I'm quite glad I've met you," she beamed, finding him to be friendly and a little bit fun. "And I suppose so," Keena mused when he spoke of the unclaimed lands being interesting, "I sort of like them because everyone I get to meet is so very different."
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 9:59 am
Maktaba laughed when she followed with the joke and tilted her head to match his again. He shook his head, chuckling and looking very well pleased. He straightened it just to examine her, arching an eyebrow in thought. At least she was playful, even if it was in a silly way, like him. Sometimes when he did silly things he just annoyed others.
And yet he continued to try them in conversations, so he supposed there were some things that old lions just couldn't learn. Like how to break habits that didn't always work. But he liked it a lot when they did.
"That's true! Present company included. This whole meeting has been rather pleasant, hasn't it? I'm certainly enjoying it. So thank you for that, at least." He smiled, wondering vaguely if he was keeping her from anything. His stomach grumbled loudly, and he looked down on instinct. "Oh dear, how rude. Forgive me," he said, looking honestly embarrassed.
His stomach always knew how to ruin a pleasant moment.
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Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 12:32 pm
Keena was finding this lion anything but 'stuffy'. He was playful, he was polite, and he was very much a pleasure to have made the acquaintance of. She was far from easily annoyed by, well, anything at all really. And if someone Maktaba had managed to upset her he would find himself very easily forgiven.
She ducked her head coyly when he said she was included in the interesting people to meet, one paw scuffing the ground as she giggled quietly to herself. She liked to think she might be fun or interesting or at least pleasant to be around. It was a good feeling to think someone might be enjoying her company.
Her ears swivled at the sound of his stomach grumbling, and she felt the urge to giggle again. She was being very giggly today it seemed, usually she wasn't quite like this. But it was kind of nice, and he didn't seem to mind...
"Of course, silly," she responded when he asked her forgiveness, then grimaced slightly. What if he didn't like to be called silly? She was feeling so very silly herself right now, it just sort of slipped out... "We can go have a look for a means to stop that if you'd like?" she offered, hoping that he wasn't upset by her calling him 'silly', flexing her claws into the dirt to emphasize that by 'a means to stop that' she meant a little hunting. It was always more fun, and productive, to hunt with a partner after all. And then they wouldn't need to end their little conversation to go their separate ways for a while at least...
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 11:23 am
He smiled broadly as she moved to scuff her paw at the ground, keeping himself from echoing the action. He didn't want to tease her, and he thought it was endearing. So he just nodded and chuckled.
His ears perked forward when she called him silly. It wasn't the worst thing he had ever been called, that was for sure. She could call him whatever she wanted, really, and he wouldn't get mad at her now. They hadn't known each other long, but he imagined they were friends.
And friends had nicknames, right? He wasn't very good with the rules on that.
"I'd much appreciate it if we did," he laughed, shaking his head. "I think my stomach is trying to eat itself at this point, and anything to prevent that happening would be brilliant."
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:25 am
Oh good, he didn't seem to have been offended by her slip of the tongue. Though he was such fun, and he was making her feel so silly... she couldn't help but call him such! Keena was very glad he wasn't upset though, she would have felt quite terrible for doing something like that. She had only been playing a little, since he seemed like so much fun. It was odd, he acted, at first, like he he thought he would bore her, but...really... he was quite far from it!
"Well, that would be a terrible thing," she giggled when he mentioned his stomach trying to eat itself. It probably wasn't a laughing matter but...but he was making her feel all giggly and silly. It was such a funny sort of feeling, but still quite nice. Sort of... fluffy? Kind of?
"I suppose we'll need to be quieter..." Keena murmered, lifting her head to see if she might catch a whiff of something. She'd not passed any preybeasts on her way here, but there were surely some around somewhere...
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Posted: Wed Jan 27, 2010 9:56 am
Maktaba laughed when she said they would have to be quieter. He nodded, too, knowing she was right. He padded around her, nudging her as he went, though it was actually on accident. He sniffed at the air diligently until he found a small group of zebra not too far from them. Not close, but not a trek, either.
Crouching down, he watched the meals on hooves, flicking his tail behind him.
He charged after a kill in due time, able to bring it down because it was smaller than the others, and he targeted its legs. After killing it he dragged it back to Keena, looking proud of himself as he dropped it.
Panting, he shook his head and then nudged it toward her with his nose. Which got it bloody. Rubbing his face with his paw, mostly just smearing the blood into his fur, he looked at her and offered her a goofy smile.
"I thought we could share. I caught you some food, in any case, if you'd like."
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