AIM log between Painted Moose and me.
It was another early morning and the leopard found himself walking around the edges of the lands where his family called home. Lately it had become a habit for him to take morning walks while he was here and to also take his time actually approaching his family once he had come back home from wandering the rogue lands. But this time he was just enjoying the silence. It was so busy with his family always about that Kamau just felt the need to stretch his legs every now and then.
So once again with the sun the leopard rose.
Spotting his normal tree the male turned and started to walk leisurely towards it. He was still rather sleepy and it was early enough that surely no one else would be about to catch him…so perhaps a nap was in order. Kamau smiled at the thought. Now that sounded like a plan.
In the early morning light Cari bounced through the silence with an elated smile and a song in her heart. It wasn’t unusual for her to be up this early in the day, but she usually stuck around her father until he woke up. Or bugged her grandmother. This morning, however, she struck out on her own to see the wide, wide world.
That was until her violet eyes caught sight of a particularly spotted pelt. She stopped, four paws spread to the wind before she took off after him. “Uncle Kamau! Uncle Uncle Uncle UNCLE!” She shrieked. If one thing could be said for the young cub, she had a set of lungs on her.
Climbing up into the tree was easy. Or so it should have been , but Kamau found himself startled by that. Only one thing could hit notes so high and say his name at the same time. Slipping the leopard fell back down the last few feet and stared at the little bundle of hyper fur. Cari.
How in the world the cub had found him or why she was even awake this early baffled the male. “Cari?” Kamau had to suppress his groan. Why him? Out of all the family members to fall victim…err be found, why him? “What are you doing out here so early?” Usually the cub was glued to Safi until he was up and about.
In less than two seconds Cari was on her Uncle’s heels. As far as she was concerned, the fact that he was talking to her meant that he was just as super excited to see her as she was to see him. The mostly white pelted cub bounced around her spotted Uncle, playfully swiping at his tail. “Pwayin’ wif you, siwwy.” She giggled and rolled onto her back, wrapping her forelegs around his tail.
She snuggled into his warm fur with a contented giggle. He smelled so good! Just like Uncle Izin and Uncle Tenny.
"Oh really?" Kamau shook his head with a small smile, "Did you ask uncle Kamau if you could play with him though?" The leopard made a 'tsk' sound with his tongue, "Cari should know that she needs to ask before playing." Though admittedly it was true that her grandmother, his own 'dearest' mother, always broke that rule.
As she wrapped around his tail the leopard sighed. Really? Since when did he agree to cubsit today? Still he couldn't help but to smile a bit. Cari really could be cute sometime. "Okay now. I don't know if I like you using my tail as a pillow." With that he tried to reach around for her so that he could pull her into his paws and off of his tail.
Didn’t have to.” She chimed giddily. “He’s right hewre! So dat means da’ he’s pa’y’in”. Silly Uncle! Didn’t he know that already? Just as Cari was ready to bite down on Kamau’s tail, he felt his paws on her, and with a little squeal, she snatched at his tail to dive underneath him. “Can’t get me, can’t get me!” Cari stuck her tongue out at his greedy paws. Take that!
And still, she had her indigo paws wrapped firmly around his tail with a look of smug superiority on her face that would have put her grandfather to shame.
Oh jeesh. So just by existing in her line of sight he was a volunteer to her crazy antics. Sighing Kamau just shook his head with faint amusement. Had he been this bad as a cub himself? He really hoped not. No wonder his family was so crazy.
Grinning at her escape the leopard growled, “Oh really? I can’t can I?” Twisting the male leopard rolled over on his back and grabbed for the little bundle of fur, “I see you!” Playfully snapping at air the leopard acted like a monster locked in on its prey.
"No!" Cari squeeled and pushed against him, dodging his snapping maw with all of her power. Where a more sane cub may have backed down, the young leotah took a swipe at her Uncle's nose. "Tha's cheating, Kamau! Cheating cheating cheetur cheater cheating!" She stuck out her tongue and blew him a raspberry.
Kamau laughed. "Oooh is it? I dont' think so." Grinning like a maniac the leopard reached out for her, only pausing in surprise as she actually took a swipe at his nose. Well! What a little fighter this one was. He was actually kinda proud of that. Grabbing the cub the leopard flipped her and standing over her pushed his nose into her stomach, "My turn." He started to tickle her playfully there.
Show her for blowing him a raspberry!
Cari let out a peel of laughter. She wriggled on the ground like a fuzzy white worm having a seizure. Her skinny legs flailed in the air, trying in vain to stop her Uncle from his dastudly deed. Cari was laughing so hard that she was having trouble breathing. "S-s-stop! Stop, Kamau! You - haha! - cheetah cheater!"
"Muwhahaha." Kamau laughed before finally pulling back. "I'll give you mercy, Cari." He poked her stomach one more time before flopping back to the ground. "Whew. Uncle Kamau is tired. If you want you can join him for a nap, cause he wants to sleep now."
Cari flopped back onto his stomach, her legs sprawled out in the air. "Cari likes that. Cari's tired too, Uncle Kamau." Not for nap, oh no, she'd be up within moments, but if she could just rest her eyes for a little bit...
Kamau smiled sleepily. "Mmm'hmm. Nap it is." Watching her eyes close the leopard smiled. She was kinda cute when she was knocked out and not bouncing around like a hyped up ball of fuzz. No telling how long she would sleep, but Kamau was going to enjoy the quiet as long as he could.
Yawning the leopard closed his eyes.
It was indeed nap time.
(fin)
(WC: 1151)
