((Ghasia was given permission to be in the Achana lands (as well as to come visit again in the future), so this is an authorized visit. smile ))
The sun was high in the sky as Ghasia padded along the grass lands, an amused expression on her face as she took in the new sights. She'd never been out this far before, but it was quite a beautiful place, she decided. If only she had found it when she was alone, and not with her family – who she had left behind that morning so as she could walk and enjoy the beautiful sunshiney day. She had been walking for hours, which was why she was far, far away from home. She should be turning back, she knew, eventually since she would never make home before nightfall now, but she could walk through the night if she needed to. She'd told her brother she'd only be away for a day. He'd probably worry if she didn't return promptly.
She heaved a sigh, and turned her gaze skyward as a small flock of birds drifted across her. It was so pretty out here, she mused, with a light laugh. She'd have to come back some day, when she could truly enjoy it.
It wasn't just for the sake of running this time, Sauda had gone to the borders following Msinji on his patrol through the trees, her on the ground. The two had talked about all sorts of things, though mostly she had talked and he'd listened. By the time they reached the edge of the territory he had already scented the other cheetah's approach on the wind. Sauda went ahead while Msinji stayed in the trees, not only to be able to surprise them if they turned out to be a threat, but to avoid scaring them off if they weren't. Sauda was usually better at dealing with the smaller species than he was.
So, the brown spotted female bounded out past the jungle trees, looking for the newest visitor. They saw an awful lot of traffic considering their numbers weren't that big.
Ghasia glanced up as a flash of something caught her eye, up ahead near the jungle of trees that were lurking just out of her way. She thought about going in there, but she was horrible at directions in forests and often found herself lost amongst the trees. However, she spotted a feline moving towards her, though she didn't appear to have seen her yet.
Company! Ghasia was a fan of anything that was social, since she was rather a social feline, even if she had never grown up around that many people - nor experienced that many things as a youth. "Hello!" She called out, hoping to capture the felines attention. She hoped the feline was friendly, she thought, pausing with a worried look on her face. She didn't run into too many unfriendly creatures, but sometimes they were and that was a terrifying a thought.
It was all Sauda needed to find her direction towards the other female. Smiling and relaxing she greeted her with equally cheerful good will.
"Hi! You're not from around here, are you?" She began tentatively, wanting to try to make sure that the other wasn't maybe someone returning to what used to be claimed territory-- who knew if it had been marked before the Achana made it home? Sauda tilted her head curiously, never losing the friendly look in her eyes. From his perch Msinji could make everything out clearly, looking over as he was joined by Kyo. The orange cat had a usual look of bored annoyance, almost a glare, as he took in the scene with red eyes silently.
Ghasia was not aware of being watched by anyone other then the feline who was quite obviously standing before her. Ghasia was pleased when she seemed just as happy and welcoming as Ghasia was. "No, I'm not," she admitted. "I'm just out for a walk and somehow stumbled out this way!" She laughed, before peering at the place behind the other feline. "Am I intruding on claimed territory?" She asked, realising that might be why the female had asked.
Ghasia wasn't one for prides, or colonies, or any regulating places, though she was getting used to being more stationary due to her reunitement with her brother. She still wasn't keen on prides though, and she wouldn't want one mad at her for wandering into their claimed land.
Sauda's tail swayed, not near a wag like a canine, but still content. Straightening her head she gave a nod and a glance over her shoulder.
"Not intruding, but this IS where our group makes home, back there in the jungle. We like visitors though, as long as they're not starting trouble! There are a lot of hybrids here, so I guess visitors would have to like hybrids, really. I'm Sauda, by the way. I'm one of the nannies. Did you travel far to stumble here?" She giggled a bit.
Kyo rolled his eyes, moving to straighten up a bit into a more comfortable position. "So why are you spying on her?"
"I'm not spying. Sauda's just too friendly for her own good sometimes. We just like to make sure that others don't take advantage of that."
"Oh, so there is a group near here? It must be a lovely place, hidden in the forest!" She giggled. "Safe too, though I fear I'd loose myself in the jungle if I tried to call the place 'home'!" She was curious though and glanced over Sauda's shoulder at the forest, before back at her. "A pleasure to meet you, Sauda!" She announced brightly. "I am Ghasia." She shook her head, before pausing, "Well, I suppose I have walked far. I've been walking all day, but it's not too far for me. I'm a bit of a wanderer," she explained, smiling.
She glanced back at the jungle and then at Sauda. "If I promise I'm harmless, could I take a peek inside?" She said, a jokingly wide-eyed look placed on her face to make her look more 'innocent' despite the fact she was quite harmless anyway.
"Exactly, exactly!" Sauda laughed, nodding. "I used to get lost easily in forests and jungles too. They look out for me here in this one." She nodded again for emphasis, turning back the way she had come from, but not before she circled Ghasia. "Of course! Everyone should see it at least once!"
Since they had had passing visitors before in the past.
"I'm glad you have people looking out for you now, then!" Ghasia said, with a small laugh, before her eyes practically lit up. "That would be wonderful. Thank you Sauda!" She bounced a little, where she stood, eager and curious to see the jungle laid out before them. She would never take a pride that did not allow hybrids anyway, and she was pleased that there were still places that did. Her brother's mate was not of their species, and they had many a hybrid cub between them. She would never turn her back on her brother, nor her nieces or nephews. They were simply too precious to her.
"I won't be making trouble, will I, if I wander through?" She asked, just to make sure. She'd hate to have a pride angry at her if she wandered through without permission from someone.
Well, now Kyou understood why Msinji had stayed out of sight, sneaky little...
"Our head guard is close by, he's the one that noticed you coming our way. If he hasn't said something by now then it's fine!" Sauda reassured, happily. She didn't usually get to give tours, so two in the span of a week was pretty good!
She moved to lead the way then, tail ticking with pent up energy as she accompanied the younger cheetah.
"The leaders are Toh Ni and Huang, the queen and king. She's a leopard and cheetah hybrid and the king is a lion, and most of the guards are leopards or lions to! So we're very well protected, it makes the ideal place for resting travelers or people looking for a fresh start. My own youngest girls are half lion. I first heard about this place when I realized I was pregnant, but it's been home ever since."
She did talk a lot, in fact, but she meant well. It wasn't long at all before they broke the treeline, and a lush, humid, canopy covered world opened up before them. Dappled spots of sunlight broke through the trees overhead, the path ways were spacious considering there were trees, but also not very friendly for their kind of running. Sauda peeked at Ghasia to see how she reacted.
Ghasia glanced around, trying to spot the head guard but she could find no one other then Sauda in sight, so she refocused her attention on the other female. She smiled and nodded. "That all sounds fascinating!" She mused, pleased to hear that they were so welcoming of other species. "My brother's mate is a lion," she said, with a warm smile. "Oh, you're a mother? How wonderful!" She cooed. "How old are they now? This would be a wonderful place for cubs. So many places to play." Ghasia was quite able to keep up with the talkative female, pleased to have someone so nice to chat with as well.
As they walked through the treeline, the sight which laid before her was...beautiful. She beamed. "Wow!" She gasped at Sauda. "This is amazing." Her eyes flickered around, trying to take in all of the sights, loving how the light filtered through the trees. "You are lucky to have found such a beautiful home, Sauda," she told the other feline.
The two males overhead parted ways then, with Msinji continuing on his patrol while Kyo followed the girls overhead, curious, he couldn't help it. Sauda had scented him, meanwhile, and made a note to introduce him to Ghasia, though Kyo wasn't known to be the most social cat in the colony.
"They've all grown now. My oldest has already had a litter himself, in fact--" Sauda grinned, casting a look over to Ghasia. "--Toh Ni is one of my grandcubs, making their children my great grandcubs. I'm always surprised at how much time flies. They're already old enough to make me a great, great grandmother!" She laughed, clearly not minding. "They love it here, though the youngest has always had health problems... she couldn't play as easily as her sisters, but I think that she's happy here all the same. Her older brother was always looking out for her." Sauda spoke of her son, Roho-- formerly named Zuko --fondly, then shifted gears. "She must be wonderful. I'm sure your brother is very lucky. So... no cubs of your own yet, Ghasia?" Sauda inquired curiously, once again looking to make sure she didn't trip on any roots or plants.
Ghasia was surprised, as she never would have picked the female as old enough to have such old children, or that she might be a great grandmother even! "So your queen is also one of your grandcubs?" She mused, looking rather impressed, and giving a soft laugh. "Well, you certainly look good for your age," she announced honestly, with a warm smile. She was happy to hear of the female talk of her family, delighted at the stories she was told. It sounded rather beautiful, and like a wonderful experience.
She nodded at teh comment of her brother and her brother's mate, before shaking her head. "No cubs," Ghasia said wiht a small smile. "No mate!" She giggled. She was a little innocent in thinking that one must have a mate, to have cubs.
"You're right, I am very lucky. This is the longest time I've had a home for. I wandered constantly when I was younger, and until I had my last litter. I liked seeing new places every day, but now I like being able to see friends and family all the time. Last time I tried to settle down it didn't work very well." Sauda reasoned as she answered the last comment Ghasia had made of her home, but then moved into the next topic with her with a soft laugh and playful strut for a few steps. "Why thank you! And when you do eventually, promise to come see us? To visit me? I would love to meet them, I'm sure they'll be precious and sweet just like their mother." She purred, bringing them through to one of the group's favorite socializing spots. The scents of lions, cheetahs, leopards, and hybrids was heavy here. There were some soft beds of moss and some moss coated stones, the sun streamed almost uninterrupted through a hole in the canopy, berries were budding on a busy to one side with a small waterfall cascading into a pool blocked on all but one side by rocks, forming a perfect spot for drinking.
"This is one of the places we like to sit and talk, tell stories, and let the kids play." Sauda explained.
Ghasia was fascinated by the stories that Sauda was telling her, a warm expression on her face, nodding as the female spoke. "I was a wanderer too," she explained, "but now I rather like having a family around all the time. It's noisy, and messy and crowded at times, but it still...really nice to have someone who cares about you nearby at all times." She nodded and grinned at the female's suggestion. "I will! I Think the cubs would love to play in the trees. Perhaps you will have some more great-grand children for them to play with?" She teased.
She glanced up pleased at the sight and the smells. It smelt like home, almost, with all of the mixed scents so similiar to her brother's den, due to the sheer mass of cubs he had raised there. Hybrids, cheetahs, partial lions, parial leopards, partial everything. "You are a very social pride then," she remarked, smiling.
"Maybe!" Sauda laughed. "And maybe one day you all will make your own place, like my family did." Sauda mused with a smile. "It would be nice if you all ever did decide to settle, if it was nearby, but you're still young, I doubt if you're ready to even think about stopping yet." She chuckled, remembering her own wander lust, unintentional though it may have been back then. "Well... That said, let's keep the tour moving! I haven't shown you the lake yet! It's HUGE, like it just goes on forever! You have to see it for yourself!"
Sauda grinned again, picking up her stride once more. Kyo watched from overhead but stopped where he sat, simply looking on as the two started out of sight.
Weird place he'd found to call home, but maybe worth protecting after all.
