Hmm. Another day of sitting around the temple. Boring boring...this place had been fascinating at first, with its huge walls and strange carvings. Months of that had made it stale though. When would she be allowed outside again?
Things weren't all bad though. Despite her mom's attempts to get her in shape, she'd remained pudgy. That was mostly becaus she'd found one of the pride's stashes of food...Today she'd inched as near to the mouth of the temple as she could get away with and lay down to gnaw at a strip of meaty hide. No lessons today...even that'd be better than being bored though!
Sant'Iris had heard of the news, of the new pride member. He was excited to hear that she was from a different pride then from the rouge land. It mean that she might know his mother. Though he loved his pride, he always seem to be missing something inside and that was that he had never meet his mother. Maybe his mother could tell him why he hated the touch of sand whenhe live is a pride full of sand. He sigh, his shyfulness was his downfall to his plan. The new member had, had been ther for months and he hat yet to grow enough crouge to go and talk to her. He had hear pride talk about her and say she was pudgy, brown, and had a letter marking above her nose. He wonder if he would ever meet aher and ask the questions that was following through his head.
He walked on to the place his love the most, the ruins. It was the only place were he couldn't feel sand on his paws and he loved it. He walk on until he smell something good. He haden't ate all day and what this was smell delishious. He went smelling around until it grew closer and closer. He look up about 10 feet away from the soruce smell because it was over bearing his nose. He was surpise to see the girl that he was just thinking about eating. He lightly laugh, maybe this was why she was pudgy? He became shy as he laugh because he knew she would hear him and went to hide and a near by bush. He couldn't let her see him. He couldn't talk to lion and really not to her.
Hmm? She'd heard laughter...where from? She looked up from her snack (though half the strip still hung from her little mouth) to peek around...Movement! There in the bushes! "'Ey!" She called after a moment. Her mouth was still full, her words mumbled. "Why you hidin'?" She gulped and shifted to be laying on the rest of her snack. It was rude to chew and talk, but she wasn't about to share.
"Come on out! I don't bite you know...Why'd you hide?" She stretched lazily...mm, the sun sure was warm, it put her in a better mood. "You skipping lessons? I won't tell! Come on out!" She tried to coax him from his hiding spot.
Sant'Iris froze in fear as she yelled. Why oh why did he laugh. It wasn't that funny that she was eating and other lions called her pudgy. He was worried, what if she was mean and attack or what if she thought he was ceepering on her. He shook his head. He had to clam down. He lightly blew out some air. He watch her move over her food. She realy did like to eat, maybe the next time they meet he could bring her something and then he would be able to get a lot of information of her old pride and maybe just maybe ask her about mother.
Oh she was loud too. Iris gently cover his ears, because he couldn't stand to be so close to her voice. It was a sweet voice, but he was just not use to the volume. He looked over, she seem not to be moving to much and he was a bit smaller then him, well in size not weigth but that didn't matter. The pudginess seem to fit her. He sat there, there was no way he was coming out.
Hmm. He wasn't coming out, huh? Well! She'd just finish her snack and THEN see what he wanted. She got up off her food and gobbled it down quickly...there! Now she could get up and not worry about anyone taking it.
"Hey you." She nosed her way through the bushes. "I said--hey, why're you covering your ears? You playing hide and seek? I don't think that helps." She nudged him with a paw. He looked...almost scared! "What happen? You see a vulture or something?" She scanned the sky...nope. Weird guy..."Well whatever..."
Iris squeak. She wasn't really going to come over here was she? Oh yes, yes she was. He moved back with every paw of hers that touch the ground. "Hhhey stay back,I don't want any trouble" He said worried out of his mind. What was she up too? He was so confuse, why would she just come over her and finish up her snack so fast. "P-please don't nudge me. It's not nice." he said with a stern face.
He wasn't really good at acting tough, but he hope that it worked. She seem to bored and Iris knew he was helping, because he was pretty much the most boreding lion out there.
Itsaso snorted a little, surprised. The juve was obviously male but...so timid! That was unusual...At least in her mind. Shouldn't males me strong and bold and brave? But he was hiding...well he was kinda scrawny, and PINK. Not a very manly color. Ah well... "I was just checking to see that you were alright...Jeez, it's not like I bit you, relax!" She shoved some more plants down flat so she could sit comfortably. "Were you spying on me or something? Haha, and you said I was the rude one!"
She looked him over for a monment-clearly not going away-and then smiled a bit. "I'm Itsaso. I don't recognize you, though I don't know too many people here yet...What's YOUR name, huh?"
Poor Sant' Iris didn't know what to do in this siatiton. He was face to face to her and if she moved any closer she would be right on top of him. She was a bit forward and he wasn't use to that. It was very scary for him and he was sure what to do. All he knew that he had to move backwards to get away from her and that's what he did. Her voice was so loud and push, all he could do was manage a whimper. How was he ever going to ask her questions now. He was so firgthen that he was surpise he didn't pee himself. As she mention the shyping his facer started to glow red. Oh he had been find out and he was so embrasses. He try to high his face but it was no use he was glowing red and even someone 10 feet away could see that.
He looked away trying to hide his shame as she keep talking. She was good at that. It was a surpise to him. Most lions would just walk away fro someone who didn't speak back. He just really didnt like to speak and when he did it was shyly and not prideful. He noded at the name. It was very pretty and he enjoyed it greatly. He look wealky away and shy answered her questions, "It's Sant'Iris..." he said
"Ah! So you DO talk!" Itsaso tried to get him to look at her. Was he really that shy? Or was it that she was really that scary? Hmm, maybe she had bad breath? That wasn't good... "Sant'Iris...that's a funny name. Doesn't sound like any I've heard from around here before. Not that I'd know...Hey, c'mon." She urged him, "It's okay to look at me you know...I'm not gonna bite you or yell or anything..."
When he kept being shy she finally got up, as if to leave him be. A moment later though she was back, a bit more food hanging from her teeth. This could take a while, she didn't want to get hungry! The thought that offering to share might encourage him never crossed her mind, and if it had, well, she wasn't about to just share with some boy she didn't know! Maybe if they'd been friends...
He giggled. She was very funny. It away, not like away that she tried but just funny to him. He frowned. He liked his name a lot. His father gave it too him and he never thought it was funny. Maybe a bit girly but never funny. He stare at her with big indigo eyes, wondering why his name was so funny. "Why is my name funny?" he ask innocnetly. He was a bit confused, he didn't think her name was funny. Maybe there was something wrong with it.
He blinked when she left and blink when she came back in. He looked at her and saw some food running down from her mouth and laugh. He could really see why she was pudgy. He gently smiled and wipe it off of her and wiped it off his paw. He liked to be clean and wanted her to be also. He smiled wonderfing if she ever tried bananas. She must have, on account of the way she ate. "Have you tried bananas yet? I love them. They taste very good. If not I can show you and we can eat together." he said with a soft smile. He was finally opening up to her.
Oh, great! He was finally being a bit more social! Maybe she'd just surprised him, or he'd felt bad being caught watching her. She tensed a bit when he reached up to wipe the food from her mouth...that was actually pretty nice of him! "Hmm? Oh, well, it's not funny exactly. Just different. Mine is too, you know?" She shruged. "I'm not from here...you too?" She assumed he'd come from outside the pride too.
"Bananas? What's that?" Okay, now he really had her attention. Her eyes got wide and she inched closer, ever eager to try some new tasty food. "Is it good? Is it like fish? I like fish. Oh and antelope!" She licked her lips and smiled, wigling eagerly. "I haven't had that in a looong time though! They don't seem to like the desert..."
He watched as she tensed up and frown. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to do that. They weren't friends so touching each other wasn't a good idea. That be the last time he'll do that until she was ok with it. He blink, and smiled. He was happy that she didn't find it funny. He had to admit it was different and nodded his head. "Yeah...It's a bit different but I like it. I also like yours a lot too" he said with a small smile. It was werid, he kind of made him open up happily instead of shyly and akwardly doing it.
He smiled and laugh. Her instrested of all food made him laugh. It was cute though. He could never seen her getting hungy or when she was odd enough for cubs, her cubs too. It was so funny how her whole face change when he just mention the word.
"Well it's yellow and sweet. Nothing like you tried before. It creamy and soft and so good. It doesn't have blood in it so it's not a meat. Wanna try it? I can climb a tree for you and we can eat them together" he said in a friendly tone. He just loved talking about them as he did enjoy eating them.
"Not meat? Hmm." Well she really did like meat, but he was still talking about food, and it SOUNDED good. "Creamy like milk? But not meat...a plant? That's kinda weird. Yeah I'd really like to try one!" She stood up and looked around. "What kind of tree is it from?"
Her mother was always berating her for eating too much, and she told her new friend it was so. If there was some secret, tasty food that grew on trees...well she was still small enough to climb trees, but her mother was too big! She could just hide up there and eat and eat! But maybe she wouldn't like them, she'd just have to find out! She looked expectantly at Iris. Now that he wasn't cowering, he actually was pretty nice! And...maybe a little cute. Though she wasn't going to tell him that!
"Yeah, but it's still good. I think I may like it over meat." he said. Now do get him wrong he loved the taste of fresh meat. It made him drool just thinking about it but the taste of a fresh banana just made him drool even more. He nodded and sway his tail. "Yes! just like it but better! Yes a plant! A friut to be correct!" he said with a gaint smile on his face. "Over here! I have to take you to it" he said. Iris geab he paw and headed off. He had all but forgotten about the rule he made, he just wanted his friend to taste some bananas!
He frown. Well that wasn't good. If she like to eat then she should be able to. If she was his daughter then she could get as fat as she want as long as she was happy. His fahter never said anything about him always eating banana, so he guess it was different. He smiled. He really enjoy her and he was glad to making a friend too.
Itsa was so excited about trying the new food, she didn't mind when his paw touched hers. Anyone who could be this excited over food was obviously going to be a great friend to her regardless of other qualities. But Iris seemed nice on top of loving food, so that was even better. He was shy, but maybe just because she'd scared him...now he seemed very friendly!"
She trotted along besides the boy, surprisingly light on her paws despite being pudgy. Though normally she would complain about having to move and be active, this time there was food at the end of the road! She'd swim seas, climb mountains, do anything it took to get tasty food! "I can't wait! Thanks for showing me this...what did you call it? A banana? That's a funny name too. Did they have those where yo ucame from before this? Where DID you come from? I'm from another place by the sea...It's far..." She got a little sad thinking of her lost family so far away.
Giggling in excitement, Iris was having the time of his life. This was so much fun. It was not often that he got to show off his favotire treat to some. Plus that someone was in love with food. It was great! He didn't even care that he was touching her because he was aving so much fun. She was so much fun. He had never meet someone as fun as her.
Trotting along he smiled and look at her. It was the first time were he fully looked at her. She was very pretty, but there was no way he was going to say that to her face. He grin, " You're welcome! Were not too far away! Can you climb trees?" He said. He blink and she talk somemore. "Nope, I was born here. Well I think. My father said I was but I never saw my mother and I know she lives in another pide." he said. It just hit him. She was from another pride! Maybe she knew his mother. He wasn't going to ask now because she was upset thinking about her home. He frown looking at her. He hated to see lions upset and gave her a soft loving lick to the face, like his father would when he was ok. "It will be ok Itsa" he said gently nuzzle her maw.
"I can climb trees, yeah." She was a little distracted thinking of home but she'd still heard his question. "I used to at home...there were lots more trees there, but I can probably go up these too. Oh!" She gave a little squeak when he licked her. It startled her, but it did make her feel better.
"My adoptive mother here is nice to me, so I'm not too sad. I don't remember home too well...Here's nice too though. There's so much to learn, I don't have time to think about it much. I wonder if they're still looking for me..." She shook off her worries and looked up at one of the trees. "Is this it? Is it up there?" She was eager to try the legendary banana!
"Really? That's great! Then we can both eat them up there." he said with a bright smile. She looked so distracted. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to ask her about his mother and the pride. He just wanted to know, oh so bad. He jumped back a little as she squeak and blush. He looked away and said, "I'm sorry. I thought it might make you feel better"
He look away feeling a bit selfish. All he was thinking about is learning about his mother when it was Itsa would was hurting. He gently gave her a hug, "You also hvae mean and my bananas! So you won't have to miss out too much" He didn't care anymore. He was more worried about Itsa then his mother. At lest Itsa was here with him. He blink when she talk again and smiled. "YES! It is!" he said already climbing up the tree. "Come on!"
Uh oh, it looked like her sad face had made Iris worry. She smiled reassuringly at him and nodded. "Yeah, I'm not sad being here. It's an adventure! Lots of people in my pride would leave and go on adventures. Lots come back, but some didn't. I'll just be like one of those."
She started to pull herself up the tree after the other lion. It was a little harder than she remembered, but she hadn't climbed since she was smaller..."And it's okay. It did make me feel better." She hurried to catch up to him, then leaned over while still climbing, and licked his nose back. She chuckled at her boldness and climbed higher without saying anything. Bananas, bananas...she couldn't wait to try them!
Sant'Iris smiled. He was gald that she wasn't sad here. It was a good thing to hear. He nodded, "I've never been on adventure maybe we can go sometime?" he said with ahopeful smile.
Seeing that she was having some truoble he helpfully handed her a paw. Seeing that she was getting better he put it away. He smiled, "Well I'm glad that it made you feel better" He blink and blush as she lick his nose. Her wet tounge felt good on his hot nose. "Hehehe! I think were here!" he said grabbing a few. Handing her one he show her the right way to peel and gently took a bite.
"Adventures are great!" sHe looked like she'd be up for that sometime. Of course no adventure would compare to being washed out to sea...but that was good! She sure didn't want to go through that again.
"Oooh, is that it?" It sure looked strange, all yellow and weird shaped. Kinda like a rib bone! It didn't smell like a bone though, and she managed to half-squish hers trying to peel it. Still there was enough left to eat some, and she took a huge bite. It was STRANGE! It was sweet, but so different! At first she thought maybe she didn't like it...but another bite changed her mind. It really WAS good. "Wow!"
"I would think so. They sound pretty fun" He said with a soft smile. He wonder how her adventure was on how she got here. Did she walk here. That would be awfully hard to do. It was hot and sunny and being so yound it would be hard to get food. He ponders some thought and ask his question, "How did you get here?" he said with a cirous tone.
"Yes! Don't they look awesome and yummy" he said happily. Oh he was so excited for her to try them. They were so very good and he wanted everyone to try them. he watch he eat it wondering if she like it. Blinking waiting for something her hear a wow and giggled. "Soo! How you like it. Do you love it? Aren't they good?" he said.
For a moment or two Itsaso was too involved in the strange new taste that was the banana to realize she'd been asked a question. She gulped down the bit she was eating and looked thoughtful. "Well, like here, my pride was on the sea-side. Mother always told us not to go in the water, that we were too little, that it could steal us...but it was so pretty, and I wanted to know what it was! So...I went down to see it one day." She sighed and munched the bana for a while longer, thinking in silence.
"It did steal me. The water came up too fast, and I wasn't a strong swimmer. Mother heard me yelling, and jumped in after me, but the sea wouldn't let me go...I got very cold, and very tired. I fell asleep...and then I woke up here, on the beach. The vultures were pecking at me, they hurt and woke me up. Mom found me here and chased the birds away..." It had been scary at the time, but it wasn't bad looking back. She'd lived through it after all. "I've been here ever since! But this banana...it's abou the best thing I've tasted so far!"
Sant' Iris blink. That sound so scary. The swimming and almost dying and just everything just sounded so scary. She was so brave. He wish he could be as brave as her. She was his hero now. No one could as brave to float across the ocean, now that was just scary. Listen about her mother brought back his ideas of asking her the he blush and look away. it was so selfish of him but he had to know and weakly he ask, "Um Itsa you would have happen to meet a lioness that kinda looked like me while you were at your pride?" he pause and the begin to speak again, "I mean I never meant her so I wouldn't know but I ould think she looks something like me. I just wanted to know if you saw her. If not that's find. She might not be in your old pride anyways." he said looking off again blushing even brighter.
He smiled. "I'm so glad that you like them! The are like my favorite! They are so yummy. How sbout we make this our hiding spot and we can come and chare bananas all the time." he said smiling. Looking at her he saw that she had a bit of some on her lips and gentyl licked it off. He blink and blush. Oh he should have done that. But he kind of like it. Was that a kiss? He blush just thinking about and hop onto another limb to grab some more.
