((AIM RP Between Zuraya (Satsurashi) and Dysini'mbus (Velveteen Angel) ))
Zuraya had been doing the only thing she could do since she’d gotten her new den set up; lounging around. For now she was fed and there was water nearby, so a lot of her time that was previously spent looking for the next place to rest was now utterly wasted by catnapping. Zuraya didn’t mind; a little peace after extreme stress was so very nice.
There was just one problem; boredom. An active girl needed so much more than the same view every day to keep her occupied, and so she sent much of her time atop the rock pile that her den rested upon scanning the horizon, looking for new or interesting things.
Dysi was getting used to leaving the pride, he'd been doing it more often than not recently. Walking was in his blood, he had to keep moving or else he felt claustrophobic and the pride was not exactly the most open place in the savannah. He sighed to himself as he walked. He did regret leaving his family behind him so often, but they understood, even though his cubs were still young and obviously needed him to support them still, the nanny's in the pride were useful on days he just needed to get away.
He did miss company though. He was a social creature, so when he spotted a figure sitting upon some rocks, he visible perked up. “Hello!” he called out, rather hoping the creature was friendly.
Zuraya saw the white-furred leopard coming not long before he saw her. He did rather stand out, but then, so did she, with her brightly patterned fur. Although he wasn’t a lion, she didn’t dismiss him immediately. Her last encounters with leopards had gone very well… especially the one involving the male. Zuraya grinned privately at the memory of it.
“Hello back!” She called to him, and in a gesture of goodwill so he wouldn’t have to climb that shifty pile of stones to come talk to her, she hopped down to the savannah floor to greet him. He was handsome, she first noticed, though she’d had her fill of romance recently. “Where are you from?” She asked, forward but polite, sniffing the wind to see if it told her anything about it. It didn’t, though. She wasn’t well-traveled enough to tell one smell apart from the next anyway.
Dysi smiled, stopping not far from her pile of stones, pleased when she moved down to talk to him. He wasn't the most amazing climber when it came to rocks and he would hate to make a fool of himself by tripping on his face. This was a safer option, he thought, still smiling.
“I am from the Kuroi'nera,” he explained, though most didn't know of the pride since he was fairly well hidden. “Do you live here?” He paused, “oh, and my name is Dysini'mbus, but please, call me Dysi.” He peered at her. “Might I ask your name?”
“Never heard of it, sorry,” Zuraya replied, shrugging her shoulders, I’m surprised every day to hear about neighboring prides I’ve never even caught wind of. And yes, I live here now, though I haven’t’ for long. I just staked my claim on this lovely den-” she glanced up the pile of stones to the shelter concealed upon it. It was small, with hardly enough room to turn around in, and got a bit moist when it rained, but apparently just having a den at all was worth bragging about to Zuraya.
“Dysi,” she repeated, trying the name out and not even attempting the long version of it, “I’m Zuraya. Surprised I hadn’t met you before if you live nearby.”
Dysi nodded. “Well there are an amazing number of prides around. It's strange to think of how many creatures are in each of them too, very odd.” He smiled at her den, nodding and wondering how comfortable it could be, it looked a bit small. He had a large den at the pride, mostly because he was well kept by the Boss Lady. Well, it was worth it, he supposed.
“A pleasure to meet you, Zuraya. My pride isn't extremely close here, more a few hours walk the way I came, so it's not very surprising. My pride is fairly secretive,” he said, saying it like it was a joke, but it wasn't really. The Kuroi prided itself on secrecy, and Dysi was one of the few that actually knew where the entrance was.
“Hmph, I guess I should join a pride one of these days,” Zuraya sighed, sounding anything but convinced about it, “I suppose it’d have it’s benefits. Why do you stay with yours?” Zuraya had never had a pride, nor the desire to join one, so she was genuinely curious about it.
As she was speaking, a rock shifted on the crumbling pile behind Zuraya, causing her to startle and look back. “Oh, junk,” she hissed under her breath as she saw it was nothing. “It’s bad enough the den’s so small, but any day it could come down on my head. Really, it’s ridiculous.” She gave a long-suffering sigh, the kind she reversed when she was speaking to someone and wanted them to feel bad for her. This didn’t always have the desired effect, but Zuraya liked attention.
Dysi shook his head. “A pride isn't always important, but the security is sometimes nice. I was a rogue for years before I even thought of considering a pride.” He paused, to think but he knew the answer straight away, though he was reluctant to respond, but finding no other answer, he responded simply. “Because I am in love with the owner.” He gave a strange half smile, “and my daughters and I can use the added security.”
He looked worried at the sight of the falling rock. “That is not a particularly safe shelter,” he told her, as if she didn't already know. He frowned. “Do you want me to try to find you another shelter? I know how dens are important, especially out here, but one that is so unstable can almost be worse than none at all.”
Zuraya nodded, listening to the leopard’s words, but it wasn’t until he mentioned that he was in love with the owner that her face lit up and she gasped delightedly.
“Oooh, how romantic!” She breathed, grinning girlishly, “How did you meet? Was she always the leader or did that happen after you two met? And daughters! How lovely!” For a lioness that didn’t have a lot to entertain her these days, this was juicy. But also, she seemed nonchalant about her choice of dens. Shrugging and giving it a rueful glance, she replied, “Oh, don’t bother. It’s… sort of temporary. I’ve been invited into a pride already actually, I just haven’t made u my mind about it yet. I suppose if my home collapses on me, that’ll be a strong sign though.
Dysi shifted a little, amused at her obvious delight in his loving of the pride owner. It was the first time that he'd actually gotten to speak about Nyoka before. Usually, he was out flirting with other girls. Well, he wouldn't tell this female that. “She was always the leader, but I met her when the pride hadn't really gotten off it's feet. We just...met each other one day and kept coming back to each other, despite we both wandered a lot.” He smiled, remembering his Nyoka of those days. This Nyoka was different, the one who ruled the pride. “And yes, I have several daughters who live with me. They're with a nanny at the moment.”
“Oh?” He sounded intrigued. “Which pride?” He was curious. He knew of a few of the prides, but not in great detail. He was always sinterested to learn more.
Zuraya listened avidly to Dysi speak of his family and meeting his mate (or so Zuraya assumed), and at the end of it she sighed and told him, “I hope I end up like that one day. With someone I really care about.” What she didn’t mention was that up until now, she hadn’t bothered to look for someone like that at all, so it was possible she’d rejected perfect mates in the past without ever thinking about it. Idly, she also wondered how she and Kiros would have done as a couple? But she banished the idea, preferring to live in the present and not the past.
“The Ukuucha'Wafalme,” Zuraya told Dysi, waiting to hear his reaction. Hers had been initially based on rumor, so maybe his would be too?
Dysi smiled, just a tiny half smile. “I'm sure you will, you are far too pretty to end up alone,” he told her quite honestly. And she was nice, which was always good. She wouldn't be alone forever he knew. She just wasn't that type of lioness.
Dysi winced. “I swear that pride is haunting me,” he grumbled, but waved a paw. “I know of it.” He didn't sound pleased with his knowledge of the pride, and then paused, “nothing bad against the pride of course! It's just...my eldest daughter left to go there, and I miss her,” he told Zuraya, with a sheepish look. “I may be holding a grudge against the pride, though I'm told it's a nice place. My Star has been fairly happy there, as far as I know.”
“Why, thank you!” Zuraya enjoyed the compliment, as she always did. If there was one thing this lioness loved, it was being appreciated. How she’d missed hearing things like thing, living all alone out here! “You’re very handsome yourself. Your mate is a lucky girl.”
Concerned at Dysi‘s next words, Zuraya nodded and listened. “I hear good things about it,” She agreed, though admittedly she’d been told almost everything legitimate about it from someone who wanted to join it, “can’t you visit your daughter there? Or is that not allowed?”
Dysi chuckled, bowing a little to her jokingly. “Thank you very much, I'm glad you think so.” He winked at her, not serious about flirting, just having some fun. He did love to surround himself with female company, far more enjoyable than male company. Though...some males were alright.
“Oh no, I'm allowed, apparently,” he said, still looking rather sheepish. “It has simply only been a week, no more than that, since she left and I would hate to seem clingy. Her...mate, assures me that he will bring her to visit my family and I every once in a while, once they are settled. She is just my first to leave home, so I'm a little clingy.” He chuckled to himself. “Are you seriously considering the pride, or is it just a passing thought?”
“I’m surprised you let her go then. Haven’t you heard the rumors about the males of the pride being cruel to the females?” At least, that’s what Zuraya had initially heard, before she’d spoken with Fraust. Now she wasn’t sure of the truth, but figured that Dysi might have a decent idea of it. “Still, that’s very fair of you. My father was more militaristic than that, which is why he and I parted company.”
His next question she had to think about for a moment. It’d been a while since the offer, and for all she knew Fraust had found a different female to take back with him and forgotten all about her. But she had to admit, she’d been tempted. And so, after giving it a moment’s consideration, she answered truthfully. “Yes, I think so. I’ve been on my own for a very long time… The security of a pride might be a nice change. It’s never good to get so stuck in your ways that you pass up new experiences, I think.”
Dysi's claws dug into the ground a little at that comment. “I had heard, vaguely, but I know the male who took my daughter will treat her well, or else he will have to answer to me,” he said, with a forced smile. “The male saved my daughter from being attacked by a rogue lion and we – her mothers and I- realised it wasn't safe for her, because she was so innocent, so we did not protest when she decided she would like to join the pride with him.”
He gave a small smile. “Well, if you do join, perhaps you would seek out my daughter? She is very sweet, and I'm sure you would be friends. Her name is Star, or rather, that is what she answers to.” He nodded. “I do hope you will be happy, no matter what you do.”
“It’s good that Star found a good male for herself,” Zuraya agreed, and seemed at ease, “I suppose there can be bad ones in any pride as well as good.” Glancing up at her den again, she seemed almost rueful that she’d have to go back to it at some point. Having company was so nice!
“I certainly will. It’d be nice to find some female friends there, anyway.” Zuraya agreed, grinning, “I wouldn’t worry, she sounds like she has a good protector. And thank you, I’d say the same for you, but I can tell you’re already happy!” Smiling, Zuraya turned and began to scale the rocks towards her den. “I suppose I shouldn’t keep you much longer. You have a family to get back to!” Zuraya sounded almost sad, like she wished the same. “Good luck!”
Dysi glanced back the way he came, knowing he should return to his babies. The cubs would be growing bored with staying with the nanny, and his two elder ones would be growing annoyed with the youngest. He smiled at the female. “Thank you,” he told her. “For the pleasure of your company. I wish you all the best.” He bowed to her again, reluctant to leave her.
But perhaps he would meet her again, he thought, turning away from her. If he visited Star, he might see her again if she so chose to join that pride. It perked him up a bit, the possibility and he glanced back, “Goodbye!” he called back to her, smiling warmly before turning to make his way home.
