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 Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 10:41 am
She was still nervous and twitchy but not so much that she couldn't go out by herself. It was a new and good change, for until recently she'd stuck close to the jackal's side as if he were capable of protecting her from the most savage of lions.
However, now, she was creeping soft-pawed across the sand, keeping low and trying to remain out of sight for as long as it took. She was out for one reason and one reason alone. To get to the oasis, take a drink, and n** back before anyone could spot her.
Thus, she slowed a little as she noticed that there were a few lions there at the oasis and hovered nervously, unsure whether to risk it and go for a drink or wait until some of them had departed...
A tricky thing indeed...
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 12:24 pm
Runako was outside lounging in the sunlight. Another morning of patrolling had passed and the lion was enjoying his time of rest. Though instead of laying about in his den or in the lush gardens just outside of the temple, he had went to the oasis.
Yawning he stretched and slowly stood up. After lapping up some water to quench his thirst, Runako turned away from the others and was ready to head back to the temple. That was until he noticed something creeping along the sand. Finding it a curious way for someone to approach the oasis, he walked out of the way until he was circling back around.
Back around so he could approach the lioness quietly. But even as he got closer to her, Runako didn't utter a sound - he just watched with faint interest. Why did she seem so nervous?
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 2:24 pm
She hadn't noticed him. Not yet, anyway. Her eyes were so transfixed on the busy oasis that she really hadn't thought to look around her. She was a petite female, pretty, too, if one could overlook the three nasty looking scars that marred her once pristine face. These scars were a nasty reminder of her foolishness, though she didn't often look into the water as she drank.
Slowly she decided to wait a while. Perhaps some would go and leave a nice gap for her to go down there undisturbed. That would be better. Safer. Less...difficult. She hated the fact that she couldn't talk...and yet...talking wouldn't help. She didn't want to talk. She didn't want people to know how stupid and foolish she was...
She sighed, lowering her head and turned, spotting the male only then. Her heart gave a pained jolt, leaping into her throat and she stumbled back away from him, falling over her own paws so that she fell to the sand.
Her sides heaved with each panicked breath, her rolling eyes wild with fear.
Where was Yuma?
Where was he?!
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Posted: Wed Jul 28, 2010 3:02 pm
While her gaze was transfixed on the oasis, Runako's gaze was transfixed on her. Not seeing her face, he didn't see the scars and so the lion was confused about why such a pretty lioness was hesitant about approaching the oasis. Especially if she was a pride member as he thought. No one should be uncomfortable in their own pride, right?
His ears flicked forward as he shook himself from his silent musings about her. He should just try asking her. Maybe he could help after all. Runa was about to take another step forward when she noticed him. Her reaction made the lion stumble back in surprise as well. What was it? His gaze quickly swept around - vultures? No. There wasn't anyone else here besides the female and...
Just him.
Eyes wide with confusion, Runako took a cautious step forward. Why was she so panicked to see him? Normally it was him who backed away from the females. The lion lowered his head trying to look as peaceful as possible as he took more steps towards her. "Are you okay, miss?" His lilac gaze looked extremely apologetic as he slowly tried to get close enough to help her up, "I'm really sorry. I didn't mean to startle you like that."
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Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 11:16 am
His soft voice did calm her a little, but she stayed pressed to the floor, silent, eyes lifted up to stare at him, almost afraid that if she blinked he'd be attacking her. She opened her mouth but no sound came and it frustrated her somehow, not to be able to speak.
Shuddering, she finally pulled herself to her paws, backing up a few paces clumsily in the sand. Then she crouched, ears laid flat, muzzle lowered so that she peered up at him through her eyelashes. The scars on her face had been healing well, but they would always be there. Always visible for everyone to see that she had suffered some hardship.
But she blamed herself for that hardship. It was nothing but her foolishness.
She shook her head and remained quite still, afraid to bolt in case it provoked something.
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Posted: Sun Aug 01, 2010 12:18 pm
His head tilted to the side in curiosity as he watched her open her mouth. Was she mute? Just the thought was a blow to the lion - Mute, just like his brother. Watching her back up, Runako finally got a good look at her face and at the scars. Wincing he imagined what type of attack could leave such marks across the lioness's face.
Ah.
His gaze softened as he looked at her. It was obvious that she was really tense almost like she was preparing to bolt from him and the thought made Runako take another step back to give her more space. After an awkward moment of silence the lilac lion slowly motioned towards the oasis, "Were you going to go down there for a drink?" His gaze went to Anya, "I could escort you? It's pretty hot today and I need a drink as well."
As an after thought Runako gave a warm smile to the lioness, "I promise it'll be fine, no harm done."
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:31 pm
She blinked, surprised at his behaviour. He wasn't mean. He wasn't attacking. He was talking softly. Calmly. And with far more patience than Yuma - her jackal friend - ever had.
She felt tears welling in her eyes. Tears born from sheer relief that she wasn't going to be attacked and that she didn't need to speak for him to understand what she had wanted. Water. Yes. She wanted a drink.
Anya nodded fiercely at that, casting her eyes meaningfully back to the oasis as if to reiterate her response to him. The first nod was followed by a smaller, more hesitant one, and, oddly, she found the tiniest of smiles lighting her maw. She gathered her strength - legs still trembling - and rose into a slightly less submissive posture, though her ears still lay flat to her head.
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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:16 pm
Great! He was relieved to see her agreement. A laugh threatened to escape him as he watched her nod. Looks like she was definitely up for a drink. And now she was rising back on her paws. Though it still hurt him to see how nervous she still was.
Was he really that scary to her?
Runako shook his head before smiling warmly at the lioness. If he wasn't mistaken it looked like she had faintly smiled for a second there. "Alright then. I'll lead the way." He took a couple of steps forward before pausing and looking back at her encouragingly. "I know this nice shaded spot by the water. It's especially cooler there." He commented lightly before starting towards the oasis, only stopping every once and then to make sure that his new acquaintance was still with him.
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Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2010 1:46 pm
Encouraged by his calm, kindly temperament, she moved after him, pausing as he looked back at her. She blinked, uncertain for a moment, and then the smile returned.
Shade would be good.
And with that she moved a little closer to him, following all the while, though she always kept a little distance between them just in case he had a change of heart and decided she wasn't worth the time to him.
Her eyes flickered from him to the landscape and then back to him again, wondering whether he had lived here long. Whether he had family here. She felt saddened that she couldn't and hoped, one day, she'd be able to again. Somehow...
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 6:06 am
Runako's steps slowed as they approached the water. Each time the lion always took a second to admire the sparkling waters and the lush oasis that surrounded it. Though this time his pause had a different reason to it. Runako was looking for the best way to approach the shade without having to pass through the groups of lions.
Hmm. Maybe if they kept to the left?
Nodding to himself the lion looked back at the female encouragingly before setting off around several lions to approach a place hidden in shade. Stepping into the shade Runako was instantly cooled and he let out a sigh of relief. He never realized how hot it really was until he came here.
Blinking he realized something else - this spot was pretty narrow. Sheepishly Runako looked back to his companion, "I'll... I'll move over out of your way." He moved to the side where there was less shade so she could enjoy the shade as well.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 10:51 am
Growing a little more confident by the moment, she followed him, seeming to read his thoughts as he considered the lions ahead of them and feeling a flutter of delight as he led her in a wide arc around them. And then the shade was upon her, and she released a soft breathing sound.
Perfect!
She startled as he spoke but shook her head firmly from side to side. Clearly she didn't want him to have to move out of the way and into the sun again. No...she figured he would be okay. Besides, if he was going to attack her, he would have done it out of sight of other lions, right? Not here?
With a small smile she moved over to the water and began to drink thirstly, then, after a long moment, she moved back a few steps and reclined onto the cooler sand. Anya, blinking slowly, turned back to look at him. He certainly had an interesting pelt - of a colour she had never seen before! Did that mean he was an outsider who had joined the pride, just like she was?
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:19 pm
Blinking the lion looked at her. So it was okay for him to stay here even though they would be close? "Alright." He replied softly with a smile of relief. So maybe she wasn't so afraid of him after all. Carefully moving around her the lion went to take a drink of water.
Mmm.
Though it was obvious that Runako enjoyed the cool waters, it was also obvious that he wasn't too thirsty as the lion slowly lapped the water. Ears flicking in interest he turned to look at the female and caught her watching him. With a small smile the male tilted his head curiously at her. What was she thinking about?
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 12:30 pm
Anya dropped her gaze immediately, feeling stupid and useless. He probably thought she was a complete idiot, being so afraid of him when he had done nothing wrong. Maybe even hurt his feelings. After all, how would she feel if someone acted all panicked and afraid around her when she had done nothing but walk by?
She brushed a paw across the sand, leaving small grooves where her claws caught it.
That gave her an idea.
Perhaps she could..could explain to him why she was the way she was? Maybe? Well, it might be worth a try. So, she did her best to draw a picture of herself, a stick figure lioness. Beside that she drew another stick figure, with a larger circle around his head for a mane. A male.
She looked up at Runako and padded a paw against the sand to get his attention and show what she had drawn.
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 2:52 pm
His grin at catching her looking at him faded as she lowered her gaze. Hmm. Runako stretched out in the shaded sand next to her with a thoughtful expression. Looking across the waters, he missed her drawing and was confused when he heard the faint sound of her hitting the sand behind him.
"Yes?" He asked blinking up at her. Then his gaze went down to the ground and the lion grew silent. Signs in the sand. Was she trying to tell him something? Looking over the picture he nodded. She had to be. "Two lions..." He murmured softly to himself before looking up at her, "Is one of them you? And then...some male?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 11:39 am
She nodded enthusiastically, smiling a little when it was clear that he understood what she had drawn - albeit badly - on the sand. She made brief eye contact with him and then moved a paw back to the drawing.
She tapped a paw against the male lion she had drawn and then, with a claw, made a small groove across the lioness' face, signifying the scars on her own face.
Her eyes grew sad, wondering how she could have been so stupid to have trusted him so easily...and he'dnot only taken away her beauty, he'd taken the lives of her unborn cubs, too, though she could not bring herself to draw that upon the sand.
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