Falas found herself sitting down in front of a nice large tree, taking shelter under the branches from the heat all around. Nothing like a bit of shade to make the hot day seem more... tolerable. maybe she could even find some comfort and have herself a nap.
For the moment, however, she just felt too hot. Maybe because she didn't like being so far away from the coast. It wasn't every day she ventured into the main land so far. Had she known it would be so disgustingly hot this day, she would have thought of some other activity to keep up her time rather than travel.
Oh well, at least the tree was nice.
It had been a few days since Wamba could last remember having a decent rest. The compulsion to keep moving was overwhelming, leaving her blindly stumbling forwards in her world of nothingness. Sometimes she wondered just how she'd survived this long without her eyes to guide her - perhaps she had some merciful God's blessing... Or a vengeful one's curse. She wasn't really sure how to tell the difference.
The only thing she was aware of right now was the need to rest her aching paws. Her ears twitched forward and she scented the air nearby, only to start when she realized she'd somehow stumbled in the vicinity of someone else. How hadn't she noticed that?
"Hello?"
"Huh? Hello?" Falas replied, seemingly to the wind. Who had she heard just now, was it some kind of ghost or something more than that? Whatever it had been, it brought her to her feet, the female looking around with a baffled look to her face. Something... something was going on, wasn't it?
Oh, no, it was just a visitor.
Spotting the other animal, now unsure how she could have possibly missed the other, she grinned. "Oh! Hello! Sorry about that- I didn't see you there at first! I thought for a moment that I was going crazy. Is there something I can do for you?" She asked brightly.
At the very least, Wamba managed to keep from jumping or wincing or anything at the other's voice. Her head swiveled fairly quickly, her gaze finding a spot just above the other's shoulder. Ears twitched forward attentively, and her tail tip twitched ever-so-slightly.
"It's alright. I didn't notice you hear either," Wamba said softly, her head canting to the side ever so slightly. "I was just looking for a nice place to rest. I've been traveling for quite some time and my paws are a little sore."
"Oh, well, I think you've found a very good spot," the female replied with a nod of her head, motioning for the leopard to join her in the shade, "it's nice and cool under this large tree here! Why don't you come and sit down for a little while, if you want to. I promise I don't bite." She sat herself down again, tail wrapping around her legs as she watched the bright animal in front of her.
So many colors! It was almost enough to make her head spin. Almost.
"Oh, how rude of me- my name is Falas, by the way. I'm just passing through this area. What's your name?" Maybe she was a visitor too.
Wamba didn't dare move until she was certain her company wouldn't be minded; she wasn't able to see the motion the other made. As soon as the verbal invitation was made, she carefully stepped forward, testing the ground in front of her with her paws. It was a few moments before she found a nice shady spot near the lioness and sat down. Once again, her head canted in the general direction of the other, ears attentively perched forward.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Falas. I'm Wambamche. I'm just passing through as well."
"Wambamche?" She couldn't help but giggle at the name, though she kept it to herself for the most part, turning her head away and smiling to herself. Wham, bam, thank you ma'am! Looking back at the leopard, she offered a warm grin, happy for the company. Better than spending the time alone!
Always a firm believer of that.
"May I call you Wam? I always did like nicknames. But if you'd rather I didn't, I completely understand! I know it's not everyone's drink of water. I'm glad I'm not stepping into your territory or anything- that would have been very rude of me."
"I don't mind at all! Almost everyone calls me Wamba, so this might be a refreshing change!" Wamba said, smiling in the general direction of the lioness. She had to admit, it was... Refreshing to have company for a change. She was so used to traveling on her own, with only her paws to guide her. "Well, let's both hope we aren't stepping into someone else's territory! Imagine how embarrassing that would be!"
"Oh! Well, I can call you Wamba, if you want, but I just like the ring of Wam more. Maybe I'm weirder than everyone else you know," she chuckled lightly, though really didn't take much concern with it. Just a name, after all.
"Embarrassing, for sure! And not to mention potentially dangerous if it were someone who didn't like company. Still, I think we're alright. I didn't hear anything when I came into this area and I don't smell any other animals in the area. Well, aside from you, I mean. I don't think anyone has marked this place yet."
She might keep it for herself, though.
"No, it's fine. You can call me whatever you want," Wamba reassured, laughing softly and and offering the lioness a quick smile. It wasn't like she was particularly used to being called anything. No one ever seemed to stay in her company very long.
"Well it's a good thing you checked out the area! I didn't even think to do that, not that I'd be able to do it too well. I don't even know what kind of markings to search for!"
"Really? I guess I don't really know, either," replied the female thoughtfully, looking up for a moment as she tried to remember how, exactly, she knew when a male was in the area. Maybe it was just something lions always knew. She could tell other lions scents easily enough. It was the non-lion animals that were harder to distinguish.
"I guess it comes naturally," she said at length, "I don't know. I would teach you if I could tell you! Oh well. I guess we'll just have to hope my nose is good enough to keep us safe for a little while, huh?"
"I guess we will. I know I'm certainly helpless unless I can smell or hear something, so I hope you don't mind if I rely on you for a bit," Wamba teased lightly, kneading the ground with her paws. The idea of relying on anyone was something she'd never considered, but there was some truth to her words. She was completely helpless if the threat was something she couldn't smell or hear or feel.
The female smiled, settling down against the ground again. It seemed like a good time for a nap. With the two of them there, she doubted anything was going to come along messing with them. If they did- they would certainly be in for it!
She wasn't really interested in playing nice should someone wake her up from a nap.
"I hope you don't mind if I have a little sleep here," she said after a moment ,already settled on the ground, "nothing like a nice nap when the weather is just cool enough, you know? You're welcome to join me."
"I think I might have to take you up on that offer. I can't even remember the last time I was able to sleep for more than a few moments!" Wamba said, eagerly settling down onto the ground. It was a few seconds before she found a nice comfortable spot near the lioness, but once she had it only took her seconds to fall into a nice, dreamless sleep. It really had been a long time since she'd slept. After all, it was dangerous for a blind leopardess like herself to sleep without anyone to keep an eye on her...
