Noelani was a party girl, through and through.
She didn't really want to settle down, have babies and live happily ever after. That all seemed rather...boring to her. Who wanted to stay in one place, being just a mother, when there were so many new sights to see, people to meet? She had never really thought of wanting to be a mommy, and even when she was younger and all the other cubs were dreaming of princes and being a princess, she had just shrugged and continued to play. She didn't want a man to define who she was, she wanted to stand on her own two paws. Why take a mate, who would want to 'save' you all the time? She'd rather save herself.
However, there were times when the idea of having a home, someone who would actually miss her if she stayed away for days on end, was actually appealing. Those were the days when she would lie in her chosen den for that week – or however long she wanted to stay there...or however long the other cats let her stay, seeing as lions often chased her out after a while – and she would just...think. She'd imagine what her daughter might look like – she always wanted a daughter, she wasn't sure how well she would be able to connect with a son – and just dream away her day.
Those moods rarely lasted longer then twenty-four hours, and soon she was back up and moving, wanting to find someone to play with, someone to have fun and take her mind off how lonely she was. It was usually a boy cheetah, though leopards had been known to be appropriate if she was really pressed for entertainment. She wasn't really that against any one species, and cheetah superiority – while a nice passing thought- wasn't a big deal to her. Cheetah's were more attractive to her though. If she had planned to settle with a male sometime in the not-so-close future, she had always imagined him to be a cheetah.
They were all just blood and bones, after all. Their furs were different, their eyes saw different things, but in the end, weren't they all the same? They all had needs, had hearts. They all wanted to be wanted at some point or another. Noelani was good at making people feel wanted, and in doing so, she felt like she was needed too, like she had a purpose.
The day she met Dysi, she knew what she had to do.
Dysi had been wandering for a day or two, news of the 'happy couple' of the Kuroi'Nera had reached him in his den and forced him out. He didn't want to hear about them, and he really didn't want to know how happy they both were – without him.
He met Noelani when it was storming, and he was seeking shelter in her den. Her den was actually simply a low ditch beneath a bush, but it was alright at keeping the water from them.
“Howdy stranger,” she said, her voice low as he ducked in beside her. He didn't really seem that surprised to see her.
“Hello,” he returned, trying to force a smile that didn't quite make it.
Noelani thought of pulling out the ol' charm, and getting some 'fun' for the night, but there was a look on the leopard's eyes that dispelled that idea. He was lonely. Not for physical company, or even for love in general, he was just...lonely. As if someone had stolen his world from him and left him stranded without a friend.
She didn't know what that was like. To be honest, she had never had something that she cared so deeply for that she might miss it badly when it was gone. Dysi did. Nyoka. His mate. His world. She wasn't his anymore, and his world was gone. At least, he didn't know that for sure yet. But lately, she had been pulling away from him, hiding behind the facade – or so he thought – of being the unfeeling 'Boss Lady' to Nanashi's 'Boss'. But, seeing them, just peeks of them since Nyoka was rarely around anymore, it didn't seem so much like a game. It seemed...real.
They spoke for hours, it seemed, and even after all those hours, nothing important was ever said. They spoke of Dysi's family – well, no, Dysi gushed about his daughters and Noelani pretended to listen – traded stories of their travels, shared locations, and finally, grew closer to sleeping. It was harmless. It was...innocent and Noelani was smiling the whole time, as if trying to cox a similar one from the sombre leopard before her. She received none in return.
“Come closer,” Noelani said, her voice at normal volume and her smile only small. “It's cold and I could use the extra heat.” He obeyed, shifting until they were pressed side by side. He lowered his head, and she rested hers atop his.
Noelani knew how to make someone feel wanted, and Dysi just wanted to feel something. He wanted to feel warm, when the night was cold and chilled him to the core. The storm raged above them as they were tucked safely in their little temporary den, sharing innocent space while pretending the world was better than it was.
The next morning, when Noelani rose to greet the world – much brighter now the storm clouds had passed – Dysi was missing.
Well, no. Not missing. He was simply...gone.
She sighed, and stepped out from the bushes, stretched leisurely. She looked for him still, even though she knew he was long gone now. She felt sorry for the lonely leopard, because her company simply wasn't enough to fix him.
She'd known that though, she knew she wouldn't be enough, but she had wanted to try. Not only because he had been lonely, but because that sad, doe-eyed expression on his face was similar to hers on some days, when the empty world seemed daunting. He had his daughters though, she thought. At least he had that.
She shook her head, dispelling the melancholy thoughts. The day was bright. The sun was shinning. She was going to enjoy herself. She wasn't going to think of those sad pink eyes. Today was about living, having fun and enjoying herself. Not about regretting the past. She wasn't even going to wish the male had stayed, simply so she could learn his name.
Noelani was a party girl...but sometimes even she got lonely.
She tilted her head up towards the sky, her eyes slipping closed as she enjoyed the sun's raze on her face. It was a beautiful day, and lonely or not, she didn't want to waste her time feeling sad. There was more to life then company, or family. Life was about living, and living sad was simply a waste. An utter waste.
She forced a smile to her face and began to hum as she walked, her hips swaying side to side behind her. Her hum was not in unison with her rhythmic walk, but the intent was the same. Brighten up the world. When you were so blinded by the light, you simply couldn't see the bad.
(wc: 1,207)
