(This is an MSN log between Sabra Knight and myself.)
It hadn't been very long ago that he'd seen her and still, Fiore was peeping around the shrubbery to catch her. Hesitantly, he looked around the watering hole, his paws making prints in the soft muck as a morning sun illuminated his fur. Now, where was she? Or maybe she'd..... "Oh no." His ears flipped back as he sat back. It wasn't even a full moon cycle, but with a sudden realization he concluded that she was probably gone. "You set yourself up for this one, Gramps," He muttered irritably.
Licking the blood from her paws, Mihika discarded the poor hare that had jumped into her path this morning. "Thanks for the meal." She scattered some dirt over the carcass in an attempt at some respect for the prey before turning away again. "Same area, same ole same ole." Maybe she should have gotten moving on. But for some reason Mihika couldn't leave the place yet. That old timer, he really
pulled at her still.
With a sigh the leopardess began to jog towards where she knew a waterhole was. After all too much hare made one rather thirsty.
The disease tore at him today. Fiore's shoulders throbbed mercilessly as he rolled them, trying to ease the tension as he padded into the water. It was always easier in the water; it seemed like the weight of the world wasn't getting to you here.
Although he didn't go out very far, the older cat splashed around up to his under belly and even dipped down into the water. He broke the surface quickly. "C-c-cold!" Fiore shivered and hunkered down, determined to let it pass as cough after cough tore through his lungs. When he looked down, he was realized to see the water look the same.
Mihika's eyes widened in surprise as she heard a familiar voice up ahead. Was that...could it be really? Her tail curled in happy amusement as she emerged from several bushes to look down into the waterhole. "I think it's a bad day for swimmin' 'ere.At least for an ole timer like ya!" She giggled as she leapt down and into the water with a splash.
"Fi-fiore?" Mihika frowned in concern as she listened to the coughs coming from the lion. "Hey, are you...are you okay?" The leopard splashed through the water towards him and her tail brushed against him as she looked closely. "Is it a cold?" Please, please let it be a cold.
Fiore swallowed a mouthful of flem and nodded, holding back the last cough before it ripped out. His lungs burned from the effort, but at least it was over. "Fine, I'm fine." He smiled unconvincingly up at her.
He stepped to the side to make room for her, nodding. "Very. It's not so bad once you get used to it." Fiore was happy; not so much so that he would scream from the rooftops, but pleasantly pleased to see that she hadn't taken flight. His tail brushed up against hers. "I was really hoping you would be here today."
"Sure." Mihika shook her head and sighed. She knew better than to believe such obvious lies. But really...he was going to be okay, right? The leopard offered a small smile back at him.
"Oh really? I don't know. With this morning sun, I feel more like laying on the shoreline to soak in the warmth." She nudged him affectionately, "Looks like it might be a good idea for you too."
"Oh?" Mihika grinned as she tried to hide her obvious happiness at Fiore's statement. "I thought ya might have gotten tired of me by now. But I'm glad. I was hopin' to see ya again before..." She trailed off and looked to the side. They both knew that sometime in the near future she'd have to move again.
Fiore smiled sheepishly and nodded. "I probably should." Standing was harder than swimming, so after a moment of grunting he was shimming onto shore with his mane dragging him down.
Once he was secured in the sunlight, Fiore shook himself off with a satisfied sigh. "Tired of you? Highly unlikely, youngin'. Your enjoyable company." He sat down, licking his paw to smooth out his bangs with his tail curled up behind him. Her words reminded him of why he came, causing him to sigh and finish her statement. "Before you left? Yes, I'm aware and truthfully, I came to tell you that I'm leaving as well. If I don't return home soon I....might..."
Fiore felt the cough before he actually did it. He doubled over and heaved, taking deep breaths to calm himself. Time was running out. "...have the scouts chase me down. Don't want that, do I?"
With a happy grin, Mihika swam to shore after Fiore and after a few quick shakes of her fur sat down across from the lion. "Good." She grinned, "I had hoped so." Her tail flicked behind her scattering even more drops of water before she froze with a sigh.
That was right. She was leaving. "Oh?" Mihika's green eyes widened with concern as Fiore's coughs cut him off and already her mind finished the sentance. "No!" She dived towards him and shook her head to hide the threatening tears, "You can't! You can't die. That's not....it just...I don't...."
Then Fiore actually finished his sentance and the leopard scooted back again with a sheepish expression. "Oh. I get it, scouts. But what about your friend, Fiore?" She asked quietly. Already the leopard had convinced herself that the old friends just had to meet again! After all, Fiore had pushed himself so much to look for the other. It just wouldn't be right if the meeting never happened now.
Fiore's eyes widened and he looked up, bi-colored orbs teared up from the intensity of his hacking. It hadn't occured to him that it might come out that way, and he didn't have the heart to tell her she was right.
He smiled and shook his head thoughtfully. "It's alright, don't worry over it." The elder lion pondered the question, then vocalized the decision he'd already made, "It may take years to find him and my people need me. I want nothing more than to laugh with him again, but I've been gone for far too long. This...has to end."
Mihika leaned over and licked Fiore's cheek gently. "Alright. But I will worry no matter what." She nodded before looking away again, "I understand. But I'll tell ya what. Let me keep an eye out for this ole friend of yours. I'll find him and tell him that you're looking for him and send him your way."
She grinned, "I'll even escort him if I have ta." The leopardess pushed herself up and stared sadly down at Fiore, "You better get going then before the night comes. Demons come after the sun goes down in the rogue lands. Maybe...maybe I can walk with you a ways before we part?" Mihika sighed softly. It was the least that she could do for him after all.
Fiore smiled softly, settling in with his aching bones and back. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. You'll know him when you see him, he's terrible at blending in." He chuckled lightly, stretching, then standing up.
Even though he'd seen far worse than any Demon could do, he nodded his consent and waited for her to get up before setting out. "Of course."
He didn't like the thought of leaving her alone afterwards, but she had her own travels to attend to, and he couldn't baby her. Still, for now, he could give her this.
WC: 1271
