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 Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 7:46 pm
The pair had made 'camp,' setting up near enough to a small watering hole, and far enough that they were sure they wouldn't be in any pride's territory. Anju was off on a hunting expedition, she preferred to hunt alone because she enjoyed the challenge.
Kiki sat thinking about life she was in an odd mood, they'd just left their homeland for the second time in their lives at Anju's pressing -her feet were itching to get on thier. Her father had found a new mate and even had cubs, she had new nieces and nephews from Manny and Enzi (who she'd come to consider a brother of sorts). She'd wanted to stay, a deep part of her had wanted to spend endless amounts of time getting to know them all.
The bright lioness looked up at the dusk and sighed, it would be another night where Anju would come home late with dinner--not that Kikimu felt there was anything wrong with that, but her odd mood made everything feel foreboding and gloomy.
"Oh, Anju," She mumbled softly and another long sigh escaped her.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 7:55 pm
Tabia was in position and Ahnik was ready for action. They were about to ruin any shot they had at keeping Ka around but they were getting anxious to make their way to their home. This was going to be interesting, and he could treat it as a sort of test of Tabia's loyalty. It seemed a one in a million shot he'd found one willing lioness, it wouldn't happen again. They were already prepared for the situation and when they'd spotted Kiki, they split up so he could investigate. A lone lioness was an easy target, he was confident of that.
"Hello there!" he called out, approaching the tired, almost sad looking lioness, and putting on his most friendly and concerned face, "Are you alright?"
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:03 pm
She'd been lost in her own little world of self pity and had not noticed the pink and red lion approach, as he spoke her muscles tensed and stood, looking towards him anxiously.
"Hello!" She called back apprehensively, who was this lion? Why did he care, "I- I'm fine, just tired, settling in for the night, my mate will be back any moment now." She wasn't sure that Anju would even be back before dawn, but she wasn't about to tell a strange male that.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:07 pm
Hm. She had a mate, that made things a little more complicated-- and he almost glanced out to where Tabia was hidden but he restrained himself.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to alarm you," he said, noting her reaction and wondering if she really did have a mate who would return soon when he thought about how it could have been a defense.. but then, there was another scent here.
"You just looked troubled," he commented, then offered a smile, "My name is Ahnik."
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:12 pm
"Nothing wrong here," Kikimu responded, but her response sounded force, "I'm Kikimu..." she let her guard down a little at how friendly he was sounding, "Thanks for your concern, but nothing's the matter." She looked around her inhaling trying to scent him, she couldn't get anything off of him, then again you can't really tell if someone's a psychopath by the way they smell.
"Can..can I help you with anything?" She wasn't exactly expecting him to run off the moment he knew she was fine, but it was weird approaching a lone female at night for no reason.
Anju'd know what to do.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:20 pm
She didn't smile but she was acting friendly enough. She was nervous, that was obvious-- and all things considered, she really should have been but she wasn't supposed to know she had anything to worry about just yet. He needed more information, so far it didn't seem like it would be that difficult but a mate nearby could cause some trouble.. but he had Tabia on his side, he would not be outnumbered by a pair.
"You sure?" he asked, tilting his head, well aware that she was trying to get some sense of who he was from his scent, "You really do seem anxious, I'm not trying to hurt you. Why would your mate leave you if you're so scared?"
Observation, outright lie and potentially helpful question.. and in the back of his mind he continued to work through how this might play out. She was a little jumpy but she seemed perfectly good. And she was attractive. That helped.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:26 pm
His words made her want to lash out but she held back her anger, who was some stranger to judge her and her mate's relationship? besides she was only scared because a strange male had approached her and they were in a private setting.
Trying to avoid pronouns, it probably wouldn't do her any good to say that another female was on her way..and not many considered them actual mates anyway. The brightly colored lioness answered, "Anju will be back soon, my mate rarely if ever leaves me alone. Anju went to get dinner, probably taking a bit of time, the hunting isn't very good in this area."
"I'm not scared, a bit jumpy, but the oncoming darkness sometimes does that, doesn't it?"
"Do you have a mate? Is she around?"
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:37 pm
He had to fight back a grin at the reaction he drew from her, she was showing she could be a bit feisty. That was more interesting, maybe a bit more challenging but also more fun. He noticed the lack of pronouns but he was interested that her mate had a name, it seemed more genuine almost immediately.
"I meant no offense," he said, offering an apologetic smile, "I do have a mate, Tabia. She's a much better hunter than I am, she's off looking for our dinner but you're right, there's not much around here. I'll be glad when we get home." He shook his head.
Maybe talking about himself and Tabia would make her a little easier. They could be a genuine, wholesome and friendly couple, sure.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:50 pm
His mate had a name, which made him more believable in her book. She wasn't about to ask him to wait for her mate along with her, but she wasn't going to shoo him away either.
"None taken," she flashed a small smile.
"Home? Where are you from? We're from the Pridelands, it's a bit far from here, we've got such a large family," it was more of a white lie, Kikimu didn't feel the Pridelands was quite home..but it was the closest thing the pair had to a home base.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 8:58 pm
Ah! A smile, that was very encouraging. Then he was genuinely startled when she mentioned the Pridelands. He knew well the connection between his home pride and the Pridelands, his mother had been the daughter of a prince. What he wasn't entirely sure about was how the Pridelands felt about the Outlands because the Outlands didn't generally care much for them but.. to Ahnik, this little bit of information sealed the deal. He wanted to bring her back with him, he only hoped that Tabia had heard they might be expecting another lion and was on the look out. It would be up to her to prevent a disaster.
"The Pridelands?" he repeated, deciding to take a chance on how big the pride was, "That's where we're from! Well, where I'm from- Tabia doesn't like to talk about her old pride, and it's not where we're going now. We're looking for a new home. It was a bit crowded for me in the Pridelands, you could say."
He smiled. Then he glanced out to where Tabia was, but looked back to Kiki quickly.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 9:05 pm
"What a coincidence!" Kiki exclaimed, it wasn't all together uncommon to meet someone from the pride, it was a very, very large pride and it was quite easy to join and fit in. The thought that he could be lying entered her mind and soon left, what did he really have to gain from lying.
"There are quite a few pride landers, that's for sure. Good luck finding a new home."
"Are you looking for someone?" She noticed his little glance, she hadn't heard anything from that direction, perhaps his hearing was better than hers.
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Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 9:13 pm
"That is quite the coincidence," he agreed, smiling-- a bit more genuinely now that he was actually rather excited. This was going to get very interesting very quickly because, unless Anju was around, they were about to make their move.
"I'm sorry," he said, offering another apologetic smile, "I thought I saw Tabia, she should be back by now. Maybe I better go see if that was her." He could get Tabia, do a quick check for anybody who might intervene and circle back around to get Kikimu. The nearer it got, the more real it became, the more excited he was.
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Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 3:31 pm
"Oh, alright," she was letting her guard down now, it seemed that he genuinely was happy to hear they were from the same place, and he really seemed to be interested in finding his mate - who officially existed in Kikimu's mind.
"Better to go look, maybe she's having trouble bringing back her kill?" Kiki offered. She looked around hoping that Anju would get back soon, not that she was still scared, she wasn't nervous - he seemed nice and real, and there was no hint of malicious intent. But, she wanted Anju to meet the nice lion from where they came.
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Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 8:17 pm
"Maybe," he agreed, glancing out to the distance and then looking back to Kikimu with a smile, "I'm sorry I startled you, it was a pleasure meeting you, Kikimu."
He didn't stop smiling as he headed out past Kiki and off to where he knew Tabia was lurking. He was in a good mood now, things were working out marvelously. There was no sign of anybody else and after a few quick words with Tabia, well, they would have another lioness.
Fin.
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