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 Posted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:14 pm
A warm high lay over Zsaria as she traveled across the grasslands. She had separated from her raiding party for a small celebration of her own, and had wandered too far. Her cheer at their successes combined with the glow of the mint she had chewed made her oblivious to their absence now. It didn't matter truly, she had been separated before and she always managed to make her way home. It was nice to be reaving again, proud of something. Her father would have been appalled but then it wasn’t really any of his business anymore. Zsaria, a reaver praised by her warlord. It was warm. Mint always made her warm and sleepy. What was out here, she wondered, noticing for a moment the lack of her fellows, certainly nothing to steal. She didn’t feel like fighting any more today at any rate, her claws still hurt. In the fray she had managed to get one of them stepped on by a male that, if she were any judge, truly needed more exercise. It had been a stupid mistake but it didn’t seem impairing. No doubt the others would comment on it when she got back. If she got back, where was she? Too warm to be home.
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Posted: Fri Nov 26, 2010 10:02 am
Hadaya, his babies no longer babies and his den once again feeling a bit lonely, was out for a thoughtful walk. He was wondering what it would take to meet a lady that would stay with him. That wasn't part of a far away pride, or just someone he met, awkwardly 'introduced' himself to, and then parted ways with. He wasn't sure he was capable of it, and wondered if it was better to not meet girls at all.
But that wasn't what he wanted, was it?
He sighed and looked up from his thoughts to spot a lioness who seemed to be a bit... wobbly? Or just distracted? He didn't know, but his instincts kicked in and he had to go over to see if she was okay. If she wasn't, she could get hurt, and he didn't want to leave her to that. Though, of course, he had no idea she was capable of fending for herself without the help of a fail face like him.
"Are you okay, miss?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:28 pm
"Hrm?" Zsaria seemed to freeze in her steps as her ears flicked back and forth. Where had it come from? It took her a few moments to locate Hadaya but once he had her shoulders seemed to loosen. Manageable, if he were to start a fight. Probably not though, he had called her miss after all, so he certainly wasn't a viking. No he wouldn't make much of a viking at all. "I'm fantastic," she answered, a smile lighting across her scarred face, "I've got mint in my belly and a victory on my shoulders." This could be fun, if he would oblige her silliness. It wasn't every day she got to spent time with another without worrying how strong she appeared. He didn't seem the sort to care, refreshing. "Have you had a night like that?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:56 pm
"Uhm."
Hadaya had to think. Had he ever had mint? No. Did he know what it was? No. Did he know what it meant to have it? Not at all. So, he was definitely not familiar with the first part of that sentence, and clearly had never had a night like it. What about the second half?
He thought about it again. A victory? He wasn't much of a fighter. And when he was, he wasn't much of a winner. So. No.
"I might have," he said, blushing under his fur. "I'm glad you're okay though. So you're having a good evening? Not in any... uhm... trouble or anything?"
That was good, because he was not good at fighting or defending others or anything like that. Though he certainly tried.
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:02 pm
"No trouble," she echoed, trying to sit but instead falling over onto her side. She tried to get up briefly but seemed to think better of it, rolling onto her belly and looking up at him curiously. "There'll be a feast waiting when we return home," she said softly, her eyes a bit glossy as she surveyed him. Certainly more timid than the usual lot she spent time with, he hadn't mocked her once despite her obvious failings at present. "Do you know which way?" she asked hopefully, though it didn't seem to be seeking an answer. Which way was which? Which way did she even want to go. Maybe she'd just stay here for a while, he seemed nice enough company. "Mm, never mind which way," she added as an afterthought, offering an odd smile, "I like here. Zsaria, my name."
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:15 pm
Hadaya watched her, ears back, an awkward expression on his face. He was uncomfortable, but trying to be polite, watching her with the sense that she wasn't as okay as she said. Why would she be acting so weird if she were okay?
He was a bit naive.
"Which... way?" he asked, feeling like he probably should know the answer, but had missed half the question somehow. He instantly blamed himself, for not paying attention, for being slow or stupid, rather than thinking she simply hadn't asking him anything specific.
"Oh. Good. I like here too," he said, smiling softly, "my name is Hadaya."
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Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:37 pm
"Hadaya," she repeated, rolling the word over in her mouth, "That's a nice name, poetic but strong." Her mind was clearing up a bit as she focused in on the details, but her boy still seemed to be uncooperative. "Do you live here?" she asked curiously, managing to pull herself up to a half seated position. It was a nice area, not nearly as cold as her home, but lacking the views that came along with the cliffs. A soft place for a family perhaps, but no place for true warriors. Why was she thinking that? Strange. Maybe she should have waited longer before wandering after her mint. If he had been dangerous she could have put herself in a bad place, it was fortunate he seemed safe. Still, she couldn't let her guard down completely and she felt herself unconsciously flexing her claws against the soft dirt.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 9:56 pm
"Strong?" He puffed his chest up a bit, daring to smile. It was the first time anyone had ever called him that, he imagined. Or one of the very few times, maybe. Usually he was called the opposite, and mocked mercilessly about it.
But to be fair, he was a little bit of a push over and a pansy.
But now that she said strong, he was going to try and live up to that.
"I do live around here. Over by the water, on the coast. It's cool and quiet, and a nice place to think and lounge, if you like those things," he smiled, loving his home in the Simbafutaji. He had grown up there from a young lion, taken in by a nice family after they had found him running away from some big bad lion he had met in the rogue lands.
He watched her claws dumbly, but wasn't too worried. He offered her a smile.
"I can show you around a little, if you want?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:06 pm
"Water," Zsaria repeated, offering him a dazed smile, "I live by the water too, but it's much colder there." She nodded, accepting his offer as she stepped toward him. Her steps were a little more solid now, thinking about moving was helping to sober her up. It had been a long time since she had just walked with someone else, with her kind everything always became a challenge. It was nice, in a way, even if it left her feeling a bit vulnerable. "I'd like to see the temperate coast," she added, "My father told me about it once but I've never been." She wasn't sure why but it seemed like something he would understand. A sense of family had been important to her youth and her home was a large part of that, it was rare now to find another that felt the same.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:12 pm
Hadaya nodded, smiling as she moved to walk beside him. He watched her as they walked, listening to her speak about her father. He had never known his own, but he was sure he had spoken to his cubs, and tried to teach them things, before he had left. Before they both had left.
He didn't want to think about that, so much, guiding her instead toward the coast. The beach was made of soft sand, the water clear and blue, beautiful under the sky.
He loved the scent, and how quiet the rolling waves made everything seem.
"I guess if you live some place that fights," from what he gathered, she was from a pride much more intense than the peaceful Simbafutaji, "this must seem a bit boring, huh?" He made to sit down, his shoulder brushing against hers as he leaned in her direction, to indicate he wanted her to sit down with him.
He liked having company, he hadn't had any in a while.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:18 pm
It was hard to restrain a childish laugh as the smell of the breeze washed over her. There was a hint of warmth beneath it, not so much the temperature but something decidedly inviting. She sat beside him, staring out over the waves in silence for a few moments. Her mind wandered and she felt herself leaning against him as she daydreamed, taking in the peace around her. "You know," she said finally, "It's not boring, it's perfect. Even when my pride is celebrating its always so competitive." She laughed, "We even greet each other by invoking death. Sometimes it's nice to just get away and listen to nothing."
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:24 pm
Hadaya smiled, letting her lean against him as he leaned toward her as well, enjoying the moment. He nodded slowly, thinking it made sense. He wasn't sure he could deal with a place like that, always competing. Probably because he would always be losing, and at the bottom of the ranks.
But he was used to that, and no one made him compete here. He was welcomed and he had friends, which was the most important thing to him.
Besides family.
"Well, you can always come here whenever you feel like you need a break. I wouldn't mind keeping you compan... oh... you said listen to nothing. R-right." He closed his mouth, not wanting to mess that up by babbling too much.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:31 pm
She laughed softly as he stumbled, rocking back a bit to tease him, "I don't mind the conversation, so long as it stays away from blood and scars and pillage." Her expression faded a bit as she remembered what she must look like to an outsider, her face a mess of different aged scarring. She shook it off after a moment, forcing a bit of a smile, "I'd love to come back, but I'm only allowed outside the fortress during raids." Her eyes seemed to dance across the horizon, taking in the different colors that weren't present on the coast at home. There were more shells than rocks, and everything seemed so soft.
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:42 pm
Hadaya tilted his head toward her, wondering why she looked so sad. He moved to put his chin on her head, trying to comfort her, whatever she was thinking about. He didn't know, but he imagined a good cuddle helped most people.
He was a big softie, most of the time.
"Well, then you can come whenever you're... doing raids. If you want," he didn't know what that meant, but as long as no one was raiding his home, he was okay with the concept, "Or not. Or we can just... sit here and enjoy the sea right now, until you have to go?"
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Posted: Wed Dec 08, 2010 10:49 pm
"I'd like that," she agreed, closing her eyes. The mint should have been clearing out of her mind now but she still felt fuzzy. It was nice in a way, she was comfortable here. Secretly she hoped she would be able to come back to this spot, but it didn't seem likely. Raids were usually spaced out so that areas would have time to recover. If they did come back this way it might not be for months, even years. Still, there was no sense it not enjoying the time she did have, no one would be looking for her for some time still. They would all be celebrating until at least the next morning. "Thank you."
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