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Despite the less than optimal meeting, and all the stalking, the pouncing, the hassling, the TALKING, for goodness' sake, Elpis was finding that she was becoming more and more friendly with the red lioness. She was a fortune teller, and high spirited, lively, open, friendly. Everything Elpis herself was not. Even now while her white paws were dangling off the rock she perched on into the gently waving sea, Amefungwa was romping across the beach kicking up spray and making a general fool of herself. They were so different! So how did they get along? When Elpis thought about it she assumed that it was just the red lioness' stubbornness that had won her over. You could only say no so many times after all.
Amfungwa, meanwhile, was having a blast! She knew, probably, on some level that her new friend wasn't as easy to please as herself. She thought that probably was because said new friend never tried anything! Do you want to go running? No, I'm tired. Well do you want to go look at the flowers? No, no, I just want to sit? Do you want to play in the water with me? No, I think I'll watch. If she'd just get up off her butt and do something then maybe she'd enjoy it! As she galloped through the surf an idea came to her. Yes, yes, THAT would make her play for sure!
Despite having the night off before, Elpis was still starting to doze in this heat. Her eyes had become half lidded, and her idle pawing at the cool waves had died to the occasional twitch. Life...was so good. Her head tilted back, eyes shutting tight against the bright sun. So warm. So nice. She could still hear Ame splashing around. "Ame. I think I'm going to take a nap. Is that okay wi-!"
Her words were cut off by a wave of water slapping her across the face. She spluttered and looked around for what had caused it. Was the tide coming in? She saw nothing, buACK! Another splash hit her over the flank, and she wheeled in time to see Ame duck out of sight, a grin the size of an elephant on her face. She'd been SPLASHING Elpis!
"Hey you! Get back here!" With a chuckle the white lioness slipped off the rock and into the ankle-deep water. She looked around. Where had that trickster gone? Aha! She felt a third splash wash over her rump, and she wheeled, swiping at the water to make it splash back at her attacker! "Got you!" She laughed, face bright with an intense expression. So Ame wanted to play? Fine. They would play. She would show the younger lion who was the better splasher!
Aha! At last Elpis was getting into it! Ame sprang back and forth over the shore, slapping at water to make it fly and trying to dodge splashed from her 'attacker'. Her grin had grown huge, and she let out a few whooping laughs. This was FUN! Surely Elpis would see that, and lighten up. She seemed to be enjoying playing at least. That was good, a start. She squawked when a wave washed over her, and fell flat on her face. Soaked, she stood, and growled playfully. Now that she was all wet she didn't have to avoid the splashes! She put her head down, and with a cub-like snarl, started to charge at her friend.
Ha HA! Take that! And that! Elpis was splashing with abandon, really getting into it and just enjoying herself. When was the last time she'd played? With anyone? When was the last time she'd had a friend to play with? It seemed like ages. This was nice though. Maybe she'd have to give in and play with Ame more often. She was just starting to ponder if maybe she could likewise get Ame to settle down and relax with her when something hit her, broadside.
With an oof she topped over, flailing and kicking as she hit the water. Some got in her nose, and her eyes, and she reared back up, sneezing and shaking her head. She was soaked! "Hey! No fair! Ha ha...I didn't expect that at all!" She pawed at her friend's face, and then grinned, shoving her back into the water. "Two can play at that! Raah!" She pounced the red lioness, playfully biting and nipping at her ears.
Below, Ame was squirming and bursting with laughter. "St-stop it! That that that tickles! Ahh!" She squealed and twisted free, lifted herself up on her hind legs and tried to shove Elpis back down. "No tickling!" She giggled. "Unless it's ME tickling YOU!"
"Hey that's not fair!" Elpis tugged her ear again in defiance, making the other whine and shake free. The two continued to play, tugging and fighting and wrestling and splashing and pouncing for some time longer. They fed off each other's energy, tumbling and romping and generally having a great time. Elpis hadn't felt this alive in a long time. Sh felt young again! She was young, mind, but she had felt so old for so long...now she felt almost like a cub, tussling with her siblings!
Their romping was cut short as a great crack of thunder split the sky. The pair froze, peering up at the grayed sky. Clouds had rolled in from over the water without them even noticing. A blinding white ribbon lanced through the sky, and with it came the thunder again, and then the rain. The pair's ears lay back, and they looked at each other. Looked like the fun was done for now. It'd be a bad idea to be playing around in the sea when a storm was here. The waves would get rough and worse. Side by side they darted back up the shore to dry ground. Neither bothered to shake out their sodden fur; the downpour was intensifying, and they would only stay wet. With a last grin at each other they parted ways, each heading to their own high and dry den to wait out the storm. Then maybe they'd play again.
"Thanks Ame...I needed that!" Elpis tried to call back over the storm, but he thunder ate up her words.
