Safimoto:Safimoto had never been away from her father or the troupe, not for this long of a time or this length of a distance. But this trip had been important to her, and one she had to make on her own. She had told her father where she was going and he knew why, but no one else. She had kindly asked him to tell anyone that really wanted to know that she had gone to see someone and would return as soon as she could. She knew which direction to go, had heard it from a traveling leopard she had run into when she was hunting. He had been a nice sort and talked very fondly of his son, a renowned seer.
Her paws left sand for sparse and then full grass as the trees thickened around her, jaws full of a large hare she had caught as a gift for the seer that should live there. It was a small oasis, but lush and shaded regardless, with places to hide if one really wanted to. Safi stopped when a pool of clear water came into view, uncertain if she should continue on or if it would be rude.
Blaise:"Come at last, gypsy girl? Come closer or I cannot tell you what you've come all this way to find out," a smooth voice called out from the lake and a nearly all white leopard strolled into sight. He was walking in the water, his eyes closed as he swished about. He looked contemplative, as if he was considering something before he dipped his head to take a drink of the cool water, silently scaring the fish within away. It didn't matter, the girl had brought him something to eat, he would fish later if he had to.
Blaise was a strange leopard. He rarely climbed, often fished, never ate reptiles. He was a loner with very little interest in other beasts, even females. Most wanted something from him, if it was his Sight or his seed, he was only willing to part with one of the two. And he had no intention of spawning little bastards to roam the savanna.
Safimoto:
Safi flinched a bit at the sound of the voice, chagrinned as she was, but she obediently stepped forward. She walked to the edge of the waterline, a gentle slope into the water rather than a sharp dip. It was beautiful.
She set the food down and bowed her head.
"Your father told me about you, Master Blaise. I came-"
Blaise:
"I know that my father told you about me. He has something of a habit of doing that, though I'm sure parents are apt at things like that. Sit down, now," Blaise interrupted, his eyes finally opening to show a color few saw in the eyes of other beasts. They were nearly the color of the sky at the deepest part of sunset, just before it grew black, but they were faded, as if he was blind. He wasn't, but he often didn't correct those when they assumed. If they wanted to give him a disability, let them be proven wrong and look the fool.
He moved from the water slowly, padding to her and ignoring the food for the moment. She had brought her gift, he accepted it.
He sat near her and studied her.
"I often focus my thoughts on my father, to see his well-being. I just happened to see you with him, though I do not know what you want to know," he continued, giving her an almost tired look.
Safimoto:
Safi blinked when she was interrupted, but did as she was told. She sat down and her ears flicked back slightly. This was a strange male, this Blaise. Could he really tell her what she so desperately needed to know?
"I wish to know... That is to say... I have heard cubs from mixed parents such as myself, with a lion father and a cheetah mother, when grown some cannot have cubs of their own. I must know if that is true for me. I don't care who my mate is or if I even have cubs in the future, I just wish to know if I can," she replied, her head bowing as she shivered slightly under his strange gaze.
Blaise:
The female was looking down, so she couldn't see the way his gaze softened. Blaise had sometimes been called cold, heartless, even cruel at times for he was nothing if not honest. But he wasn't any of those things, not if he could help it. He had been asked many things to try and See, but most had been self-serving. The location of an enemy, how one might die, will they rise to power in their pride, would they gain the affection of one they had eyes for? But this. This was so simple and touching.
"Close your eyes, gypsy girl, and I will try to See the answer you seek," he said, watching as her eyes closed in his hazy vision.
Safimoto:
Safi did as she was bid, her eyes closing as her head remained bowed. She felt a paw on her shoulder, at the crook where it met her neck. It was huge, could tear into her if he wanted to, but it was a gentle touch, gentler than she had expected. She focused her mind on her hope, please let him say she isn't barren, please let her be able to have a family, please, please.
Blaise:
Blaise touched her and cleared his mind. Images began to flash through his mind, but they were irrelevant. He needed an answer to her question. He finally came to something that could shed light on her question.
"I see you lying in a den, fat with cubs. There is a male beside you, but I cannot see that far to say who he is. I see cubs suckling at your side. I do not think, gypsy girl, that you are barren," he replied softly, opening his eyes to see the look on her face, even though his vision was barely strong enough to do so in this light.
Safimoto:
Safi shook when he spoke, her heart quivering. When he answered her question, the tears fell from her eyes. Thank the gods, thank the gods so much.
Blaise:
Blaise smiled sadly and moved his paw to her cheek, touching the tears there.
"Come now, gypsy girl, don't cry. This is happy news," he murmured to her, rubbing his paw against her cheek. She seemed so young to him, though he couldn't tell who was the elder between them. He felt so old some days after all and he saw her as youthful, happy, and full of life.
Would that he could have that in his own life.
Safimoto:
Safi continued to cry as her eyes flickered open and a smile spread on her face. She couldn't help herself, she nuzzled the paw affectionately.
"I am more happy than I ever thought I could be. I wish I could repay you more than this meager gift," she whimpered, half-laughing at herself. She wanted to run home right now and throw herself at... Oh gods, she wanted to throw herself at Gremio and to cry on him and laugh with him and be completely irrational. When had she fallen so hard?
Blaise:
Blaise smiled again and shook his head, letting his paw fall.
"You have given me much, gypsy girl, your gift is more than enough payment for a simple peek into what could be. But remember, it may not come to pass, you may not find a mate or, gods forbid, your cubs might die in the birthing. But your ability will not change," he replied, nodding his head once and then picking up the hare's carcass. He didn't say another word, just stood and walked off into the trees.
Safimoto:
Safi watched him through tear-filled eyes, watched the lone seer take his offering and walk away into the bushes.
"Gods thank you, Master Blaise," she whispered, stood, and ran in the direction of home.
Blaise:
Blaise watched her from within a large bush, watched until his hazy sight could no longer see her form.
"Gods be with you, sweet Safimoto. I hope you have your family soon," he whispered, smiling as he dipped his head to his meal, wondering if he too might have a family someday.
His visions never did show his own future.
