Linje squinted at that pale greenish figure in the distance. It was a feline, there was no doubt about that. The leopard was on guard while his daughter was at rest, standing alert and ready for a scuffle if it came right down to it. Though, he couldn't help but let his mind wander... The scent and the sight was so familiar... And not in a bad way. It was a comforting sense of recognition. Linje couldn't put a paw on who it was, but it certainly reminded him of his mother. The gentle, kind image of his mother... Always smiling, always praising... How he longed to have her back. Then the next set of memories came sweeping in. That lion that ripped his family apart. That wretched, disgusting lion... Taking his 'loot' and leaving the rest to die. Linje hated lions.Celile watched her shadow fade against the swaying grass as
she let her teal-stained paws carry her across the savannah. A smile and a pleasant hum was constantly decorating her gentle face. She never usually had much interest in her surroundings, but the wildlife was particularly striking today. The skies were blue.... Weren't they always blue, though? The grass was a twist of greens and yellows... The dirt... Surprisingly brown. Oh yes, nature always had its way of fascinating the dainty leopardess. She threw up in a laughter that could almost be mistaken for a happy hyena. But it was suddenly cut short as she finally spotted the male in the distance … A brownish leopard? Oh no, he's just incredibly dirty. Celile thought he might fancy a lesson or two on how to bathe. So she began her jolly trot in his direction.The male's keen ears twitched as the female barked out a familiar laugh. Now he was starting to become anxious. What if it was his mother? He wasn't presentable! What would she think of his hybrid daughter? He began to fidgit, yet reluctant to take his eyes off the stranger until he was certain she wasn't a threat. The bury silhouette became clearer, and larger as she approached. Without hesitation, Linje let out a loud warning snarl. “Stop, stranger! Come no closer, I'm warning you!” Linje hoped the burst of sound didn't wake his daughter, and he glanced back to take a peek. Realizing he let down his guard, he snapped back towards the female, baring blood-stained fangs.
The pleasant hum instantly vanished. Celile found her self not even twenty paw-steps away from the male when he snapped at her! Clearly, this was a territorial one. Lovely~ Just lovely. But wait, what was that? Celile's curiosity engulfed her fear for her safety as he noticed the male take a glance over his shoulder. He's protecting something... Obviously. The smile returned to face as she crept closer. “I mean no harm, fella.” She let her words slush together, a sign of how content she was just to invade his territory despite the threats.
“Mom?” That unmistakable voice had confirmed his suspicions. Linje let his lips drop to conceal his fangs as his eyes widened in disbelief. “Mother, is that really you?” Linje burst into a run towards the only female that ever seemed to truly love him. “I can't believe this! I … I thought you were dead!” Those green eyes – those absolutely divine green eyes... swelled his thoughts with tear-jerking memories. Linje let his dingy white fur merge with her teal as he embraced her in a warm nuzzle. “I missed you so much...”
Celile paused and cringed as the dirty male engulfed her in an unconsented embrace. “Linje? What has time done to ya, darlin'?” She pushed away from the male, gazing over him with a mild look of disgust. “When was the last time yeh bathed? Yeh smell like a hyena's rear end.” She grinned wildly at her own humor, taking no notice to her son's look of distraught. “Dead? Why would yeh think sucha thing?” The teal leopardess slid her way past the male, displaying a wry grin as she focused on that gem Linje was so keen on keeping hidden.
She was sure acting differently from the Celile the young male remembered in his cubhood... Despite the fact, Linje darted in front of her, unwilling to reveal his daughter until some answers were set straight... “Mother, I have other priorities now. I don't care about my coat anymore.” He brushed the topic aside, locking in a determined stare with his mom. “I thought that lion killed you. The one that took you away from dad... from me.” Linje's moist purple eyes twinkled in the sunlight, an air of sadness dampening the mood of this touching reunion.
“Which lion are you referring to, dear? Oh, that one. Mmm, he wouldn't kill me. Not even if I asked him to. The pathetic oaf!” Celile scoffed, rolling her eyes as she took a step backwards from the forceful Linje. "Are... Are yeh crying? Oh, I beg yeh. Don't do tha'. It'll stain yeh fur." She hesitated, but eventually gave in to give her son the maternally instinctual urge to lick his face. Her gentle pink tongue swiped some of the dirt away, revealing the glimmering pure white coat underneath. "There... just like theh gods designed yeh to look... Perfect." She smiled.
