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 Posted: Fri Aug 20, 2010 5:56 pm
It hadn't been too long ago that Gaelia had joined the pride with Juu. Really, it wasn't all that bad. It certainly could have been worse. She hadn't met many other members save for that first day, when she was quickly humbled by the leader Juu had introduced her to. And from then on, she had been trying harder to fit in more, to trust and to let down her guard.
But it had taken years to build her walls up. They weren't coming down in a matter of days, that was for sure.
While she hadn't found a specific 'job' for her to do within the pride, Gaelia had spent some of her time exploring, or at least the time she was allowed. Usually Juu went with her, as a guide. Now she was waiting for him to join her, so he could show her around some more. She had her own den, but hadn't seen his. And...other places, of course.
Juu was excited...though he was being good and not letting it show too much. He was home, and considered an adult now! And...he had Gaelia with him! To know she was with him in his home, with his family...it made him happy. She was, quite possibly, his closest friend. And...well, his feelings for her ran a little deeper. But he wasn't going to push things with her. It just wasn't right. With a smile on his muzzle, he headed towards his meeting with her.
Gaelia needed shown around, and since he'd brought her into the pride...who better to do it? When he saw her brown and cream coat, his smile grew and little and he sped up until he was next to her. "Good day, Gaelia!"
The lioness turned her head at the greeting and instantly grinned. "Hello, Juu!" she returned happily. Little did he know that the feelings of friendship she had for him were pretty much the same: pleasant on the surface, but they were beginning to run far deeper. In fact, the more she spent time with him, the deeper they grew.
"Where are we going today?" she asked, excited. She felt like a newborn cub being shown the world. So much to see and so little time!
"Around the south-western part of the pride!" He thought she might like it, bordering the lake and all. It tended to be greener, and the lake itself was beautiful. "The lake is that way, if you like water." He did. Swimming in the lake after a long day was a good way to relax.
She giggled, nudging him with her shoulder. "Who doesn't like water?" Gaelia enjoyed swimming as much as the next lion, but drinking it was her favorite part. Nothing quenched her thirst or made her feel so clean as downing a good gulp of water.
"Lead on!"
He chuckled. "So long as you can keep up~!" He started out at a normal trot...but after a bit, he sped up, turning it into a bit of a race to the water's edge. They could start there, and work their way back in.
Oh, what a challenge. Gaelia raced after him, catching up to him after they stopped at the water's edge. "You had a head start," she panted lightly, as in way to excuse her obvious second-place. As he had planned, the water looked beautiful. The vegetation was so much greener than in other places because of the close proximity of the water, and it just looked so...healthy. If she could, she'd love to den here, closer to everything that looked so alive. She'd ask later if she could.
Juu grinned. "Perhaps~" He nudged her shoulder. "Or maybe I'm just more used to the land." It was true...he'd explored every dip, nook, and cranny he could as a cub. After all, how could he probably protect it if he didn't know it like the back of his paw. "So...this is the lakeside. It's one of my favorite places to go through on patrol. Especially when it's flowering season!"
She stuck her tongue out at him at his unfair advantage. But when he mentioned the lake again, Gaelia looked out on the water once more, with a calm smile. "It's beautiful. Are lions allowed to den closer to the lake? I love the idea of waking up to such a green scene."
Juu thought a moment, then shook his head. "I...don't think so." He sighed. "It would be nice, though. But since we're like a giant family, we all den in the one area." It would be nice though...to wake up to so much green, now and again. It was a beautiful color in nature, even if it didn't belong on a lion.
Gaelia nodded. Figured. She liked her den where it was, anyway. Being so close to everyone else wasn't necessarily a bad thing, but that just meant she'd probably end up spending a lot of her time here where it was so wonderful and green.
"Alright. Where to next, wise leader?"
He looked about for a moment, before heading in a direction. "This way! There's a group of rabbit holes y'might wanna know about." He wasn't any good at catching the rabbits that came out of it though...He was a warrior, not a hunter! He failed at hunting, as he'd proved to Gaelia a couple of times.
Nodding, she followed him with a pleasant gait. With rabbits, hunting them was tricky, but she'd soon manage to snare at least one of the creatures. And yes, Juu had been a terrible hunter while they had been traveling together. She'd had to get all of their food. Not that she had minded too much, since she had to hunt for herself anyway. She was just charged with catching a bigger beast than usual. It was worth it, to spend the time with him.
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 5:22 pm
Juu knew the way rather well, since he'd tried a few times to hunt the quick little buggers growing up. Never with much success. Once they were there, just outside the scenting range of the first hole, he held a paw out to indicate them. "Plenty of holes, and the rabbits I saw last time were nice and fat! Faring as well as the pride."
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 6:08 pm
She followed, and once there, Gaelia could see for herself the multiple dens in the ground that the fat rabbits called home. She nodded. "That's good at least," she murmured. "Thriving rabbits are good for a thriving pride."
Although she felt bad for eating family members of rabbits, it was either them or her. Someone was going to live and the other was going to help that happen.
"Anywhere else I should know about? Although this is nice, I wouldn't want to hog the whole place of rabbits to myself."
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 6:28 pm
"Well...there's where the herds tend to show up. I know where it is, but I don't really pass by there except on duty at the borders. Don't wanna scare away the zengeas prey on accident." Or interrupt them. Or something equally stupid. Juu knew better. He stretched. "That's probably an area one of the older zengea should show you."
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 6:31 pm
If Juu didn't want to hunt near that place, then she definitely wanted to do the same thing. "Well, until I see that spot then, I'll follow you around for hunting. I promise to try and not scare off all the prey though," she winked. "I'd like you to have food too."
Gaelia sighed and flopped down to sit on the ground for a moment, stretching out. "Well, thanks," she added. "I'm glad I got to explore the area a bit more now."
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 6:43 pm
Juu sat next to Gaelia, smile on his muzzle. "Yeah. And we can explore more tomorrow." He calm now. He rather felt life was complete for him now. Gaelia was here with him, he was considered an adult of the pride, and the pride he loved was thriving. Yup, life was very, very good.
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