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 Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 3:31 pm
Stepping out of the shade of the tree she'd been relaxing under, Chusi panted heavily. It was such a hot day! She could almost swear her fur had doubled itself in thickness. But one glance at the unrelenting sun above, and she quickly corrected herself. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky, nor a bird with the bravery to fly so close to the sun's rays. She needed to cool herself down somehow, but with the sun shifting with the time, her shady tree hideaway was quickly disappearing. Chusi frowned heavily as she watched the final shades of grey disappear from her shady tree. "So much for that....
She mumbled to the wind, as she glanced around desperately for another escape from the heat.
Her only possible retreat was a small oasis set out far to her left. It wasn't exactly her ideal first choice, but with a glance upwards once more she knew it was the best she was going to get. And with a shrug she gave into her own dislike and padded in it's direction.
----
Finally reaching the oasis, Chusi plopped down heavily at it's sandy banks. Contemplating whether a light dip was worth the risk. She wasn't a fan of water, no in the least. It was murky, dark, and creepy! Goodness only knew what was lurking just below the surface! A shiver ran down the female's spine as she thought of all the creepy things that she could imagine. But it was so HOT! Wetting her lips lightly, she bit down on her tongue, closed her eyes tight, and stuck her paw towards the water, fully attempting to will herself into dipping just a paw into it.
Surely she could do just that?
Wrong. Realizing her paw had unwillingly stopped just above the water's edge. Chusi chanced a peak, and noticed a small turtle just a few feet in front of her, it's head tilted to the side in confusion. "What are you looking at?" She sneered grumpily as she glared the turtle down. It's answer in turn, was simply more confusing looks.
Frustrated at her own cowardice, Chusi groaned in frustration and turned her back to the turtle. Her attempt at the 'cold shoulder' "Stupid turtle.... you could at least talk back to me."
Of course, the cold shoulder didn't really work, if you talked back to your intended target...
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 9:43 am
He pondered moving on, not bothering to involve himself in her situation. That would be easiest, but he'd done so several times now, and he was beginning to see an issue with handling things that way. The whole point to being out here was to find a female to bring back to the pride. How could he do this if he avoided contact with others entirely? With a soft sigh he shrugged his shoulders and moved forward into easy speaking distance.
"Am I interrupting?" His voice was quiet and deep, much deeper than would be expected for his age. His eyes went from her to the water, then to the turtle, then back to her, one brow arched in mild inquiry. Wordlessly, he suggested he'd interrupted her argument with either the water or the turtle, neither of which made any sense, of course. He continued to pad closer, probably nearer than rogues tended to. Personal space in his pride was significantly smaller than that of those without such protection. Perhaps he'd have stayed further away, had he not known she had no Pad or mate to claim her. Her scent had no hint of a male mixed with it, and to his mind this made her fair game.
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Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 2:57 pm
Luckily, Chusi had seen the younger male approach her, at the minute of course - but the point was she had seen him. For that she was grateful, but also slightly ungrateful. Grateful because he hadn't been able to startle her, and allow her to make a complete fool of herself. Ungrateful because, goodness only knew how long he'd been there, or exactly how many of her silly antics he had seen.
Chusi quickly straightened herself into a more respectable pose, and the male edged closer, and closer. She gulped a bit, never having been so close in vicinity to another. Though it wasn't exactly as uncomfortable as it was terrifying. The ideal of an unknown male so close, and all the possibilities that could result from it, were enough to make her heart race. Though he didn't seem a threat, the terrified kitten within her wouldn't allow her for any immediate comfort. Instead she merely held her more dignified pose, and held his gaze. A little frightened when he eyed her with odd suspicion, but still not at ease.
"N-no! Not interrupting a thing! I was just teaching Mr. Turtle over there a thing or two about manners."
Her words were mumbled, and after saying them, she quickly came to regret the decision. Stricken by the sudden sense of awkwardness she had placed in the conversation she quickly tried to change the subject. "I apologize if I interrupted your afternoon nap or something like that, I didn't think to check for others before I went about my business. I can be like that sometimes." She quickly blurted out the first thing she could think of, and dipped her head in respect.
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Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2011 9:53 am
A smile tugged at one corner of his mouth at her amusing reply. The change in his stoic expression was minute, but there nonetheless. His ears relaxed slightly, his eyes softened, and his mouth wasn't such a hard line across his face. "So it is your business to lecture turtles?" he inquired mildly, seating himself with great dignity. "Do they tend to be good students of manners?" His voice was dry, though amusement began to twinkle in his eyes, if nowhere else. He wasn't meaning to make fun of her exactly. It was more accurate to say he was, for once, choosing to participate in the silliness of someone else.
Was she always this goofy, he wondered silently before speaking again in response to her apology. "No, I just arrived after you, I believe. I can wait if you wish to further instruct Mr. Turtle on the nuances of etiquette." Again, the tug on the corner of his mouth, a twitch of an almost-smile, a rarity for the serious-minded male. He had bypassed several other females already, but this one he found intriguing in a most pleasant way. He waited with interest to see what she might do next, waiting for introductions until he was certain she was done with the water creature.
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2011 6:55 pm
Perplexed as she was by the odd conversation she found herself in, she couldn't help but be mildly intrigued at the same time. It was an odd feeling, especially when she wasn't all that adept in socialization, but feeling the male had some interest in the story behind her interests some socialization couldn't hurt.
"Well...." The strange little lioness quickly pulled her eyes away from the lion, trying to hide the frantic expression of a completely blank mind from his attention. "I wouldn't really say its my business but I definitely think it was necessary... She paused for a slight moment listening as he continued to make small talk and cute little comments. Maybe being social wasn't all that bad afterall? "And I would highly advise against trying to teach one. They make horrible students! She smiled slightly and exaggerated a bout of exhaustion, "They're really slow learners, and when they don't like something you have to say they crawl into their shells and ignore you!'
On the inside the lioness was going insane with anxiety - was she talking too much? Too little? Not answering his questions correctly? - There really wasn't any right or wrong answer that she could find, but perhaps letting the male getting in a few more words wouldn't be such a bad idea. As he finished up his final statement, she was relieved that she hadn't bothered him, and couldn't help but let out a small laugh at his remark. She could tell with a small glance in his direction, that had also been if only slightly amused by his comment as well.
"No, I think i'm going to have to put my career as a turtle teacher on hold for a bit. As you can see, i'm not very good at it." Another slight laugh, as she held back the near uncontrollable urge to blurt out this first pun she could think of.
"Oh, i'm sorry I didn't introduce myself quite yet! I'm Chusi!" Her final words were a bit rushed, and possibly a little slurred but she hoped in her nervous panic that her manners managed to pull through.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:30 pm
It was very surprising to realize he found her highly interesting. She chattered on and was as imaginative as Monera, if in a different way. If he could just get her to agree, he would be quite content to have the two of them around all the time. Well, most of the time. He had a feeling their talking and scattered ways would wear on him at some point. Nothing lasted forever, after all.
For now, he bowed his head in a slow and measured bow. "A pleasure to meet you, Chusi. I am Ehsan." He padded nearer, plotting his approach to the subject he most wanted to broach. "I am on a quest," he announced in quiet mystery. He was willing to bet her erratic attention could easily be snared by this simple statement. If he could manage to make it sound appealing to her, perhaps, just perhaps, she would agree to go with him with the least amount of effort on his part.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 12:46 pm
Ehsan.
'Exotic.'
She thought to herself, trying to place where such an interesting name might hail from. But, she wasn't really the most weathered traveler, so she could spend as little or as much time as she liked trying to come up with an answer, but she'd never get it right. As she stood there watching the male introduce himself, she couldn't help but realize her legs were a bit shaky. Silently cursing to herself, the lioness curled her hind leg under her and sat, shaky but easily upon the ground. All the while her eyes remaining on Ehsan. He seemed interesting enough - but his next words just made him all the more exotic and interesting.
"A quest? Is it an important one? I've heard about other lions who have been on quests before. A-Are you a part of the Swampie pride? I hear they aren't allowed to go home unless they complete their quests."
By this time, the lioness was far gone in her ranting, all the while fussing at herself in her head to stop chattering. But her nerves were on end and there really was no stopping them now.
"I bet that's a sad life. To not be able to go home if you can't do what you're told..."
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:00 pm
He watched her sit, noticing her trembling. It stirred an odd note of concern and... protectiveness? The only individual he'd ever cared to protect was his mother. This was a very strange inclination, and one he turned about in his mind, examining it. Meanwhile, he moved a little closer yet, since she'd sat down, before letting his own haunches touch the ground. He was within touching distance of her now, but acted nonchalant to the fact. He was not a threatening lion, and not one prone to using might to accomplish what he desired unless no other option existed. Prey did not walk up and ask to be eaten, after all, so violence was necessary there. But catching a banu was not something he cared to exert physical prowess over.
"No, I am not from the Swampie pride," he answered, wondering idly to himself why in the world any self-respecting lion would want to live in a drippingly wet place such as a swamp. "But my quest is very like that, yes." He let his shoulders sag a little, and bowed his head sadly. "I cannot go home until my quest is accomplished, it is true. And thus far, my search has been in vain." He let a soft sigh escape, while still internally puzzling over the surge of protectiveness he felt towards her. She seemed highly vulnerable, especially in this solitary setting. He might actually be doing her a favor if he took her back under his protection.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:13 pm
As the male set down so closely to her, the fear she felt was still there. She'd been taught from an early age the story of 'Stanger danger' and though he didn't look as they he could harm her in the least. She still couldn't help but be completely settled. Surely there had to be bad lions out there, otherwise why would stranger danger even exist?
Chusi tilted her head slightly in further interest as he explained that the Swamps were not his home. "Oh, well i'm sorry to hear that." She said softly, her tone lowering as she noticed his pitiful stance. "Do you think you'll ever be successful?" Losing a track of herself, she perked her body to attention and spoke up again. "What is the quest you have to complete Ehsan? Surely it can't be impossible." Her interest had been peaked quite a bit, and had purely lost her sense of fear. At least for the moment, her usual dull, numbing sense of fear had subsided. Leaving her with a tingling sensation in her mouth. She had many questions, but knew that what she didn't know about the male, might be better left a mystery. Instead she sat silently, her body continuously shaking and trembling without her even realizing.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:32 pm
He nodded his head slowly. "It is possible, but, you see," he raised his eyes to look entreatingly into her own, "I have to find someone who will help me. I can't do this on my own." He was unaware of exactly how manipulative he could be in his attempts to avoid fuss and yet still get what he wanted. It easily could have been said his methods of capturing this female were equally brutal in their own passive way as those who clomped a female over the head and dragged them back home again. To his mind, though, he was taking a logical risk in presenting whole truth in a somewhat feigned way in order to achieve the result he desired.
"I need someone willing," he continued, "who is good hearted and able to help me out in this difficult time." He swallowed hard, dropping his eyes again. "But noone has been kind enough to do so." He supposed that was true enough, though he hadn't really asked anyone to come back with him yet. If he played things right, his first attempt would be his last. And strangely enough, he was realizing that he really did want her to come back with him. He felt like she needed him, much as he used to think his mother needed him and his brother to protect her. It had been a childish perspective, but this time, he thought it was different. Her shivering body beside him still was invoking those feelings of sympathy. He knew if he did manage to convince her to be his mate, she would never need fear again, or be alone again. He would never hurt her, and would do his best to not give her reason to be sad. If only he could just get her to agree!
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 1:46 pm
What? Why would his pride send him on a quest he couldn't complete on his own? Was his pride really so silly as to have so much faith in other's humanity? She wasn't the brightest crayon in the box but even Chusi knew there weren't many a lion who would put others before their self. Of course, there were exceptions..... She herself quite enjoyed giving others the shoulder they needed, or even a helping hand. But, she also wasn't silly either, she couldn't really agree with something before she knew what that something was... Could she? Was this lion really such a danger to her? But, he looked so innocent and adorable, and pathetic. Though, that wasn't saying much, she was as pathetic as they came.
"M..Maybe I could help you? Is it a difficult task? I'm not really all that good with physical stuff. But I could help with other things! Like talking - i'm really good at that. Sometimes i'm so good, I can't stop myself!" She giggled innocently, noting the distraught expression on Ehsan's face. She wished she knew what to do to cheer him up. "Just don't go asking me to teach a turtle again - I learned that lesson." She snorted her response, embarrassed as she tried to contain herself. "I'd love to help you Ehsan, but what exactly is it I am helping you with? If it's a secret, you can tell me. I'll keep it a secret from eeeeveryone else!"
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 3:05 pm
He smiled at her response, partly from triumph and partly from amusement. She was a funny girl to talk to, and someone making him smile repeatedly was a rare thing indeed. it made him all the more determined to convince her to come with him. "No, it isn't a secret," he replied slowly, as if reluctant to reveal what it was. "I think you could help... I'd really like it if you did." He reached a paw to touch hers gently, altering his expression to become earnest. "You are easy to talk to, Chusi, you are right. That's one of the reasons I think you really might be able to help." He took a long slow breath.
"You see, I can't go back alone. That's the hard part. I have come out here and find...," he paused again, ducking his head as if embarrassed, "well, find a lioness that will come back home with me." Now, he very easily could have left it at that, and let her innocent mind make suppositions about merely accompanying him to the pride and that was that. But he was coming to be fond of this quirky female, and didn't wish to mislead her or trick her into the agreement. Thus he kept on, casting his eyes downward.
"They send all of us boys out to find a mate, you see." His voice was a whisper, soft and restrained. "Some of the boys go find girls and force them to come home with them. I don't think that's nice at all, and I refuse to do it like that." He sank his teeth into his lower lip, clearly bothered by the idea of hurting a female to make her his mate. "We can't go home until we have found a mate, either." He lifted his eyes to hers at last. Softly, he added with a great deal of soulfulness, "I miss home."
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 4:57 pm
Chusi's ear perked to attention as Ehsan began to explain his quest in detail. The wait was agonizing! He'd had her attention from the very beginning and it seemed like he was taking forever for him to get to the point. Maybe he was holding out so much because it was a big surprise? No, she highly doubted that. Why would a complete stranger approach her with a big surprise? She was all alone in the world, so it wasn't as if anyone was trying to surprise her through him. But she shrugged it off, her excitement getting the better of her and causing her trembling legs to shake with joy rather than fear.
As he finished up, the young lioness was left nearly speechless. That definitely hadn't been what she expected, but then she really didn't have any expectations going in, just wild and crazy fantasies. "Oh, I see..." She mumbled trying to process the situation in her head. He'd said he liked talking to her, and he seemed like a sweet guy. But was it really right to follow him back knowing him for so short a time?
Obviously she wasn't the type to think a situation out ahead of time, but this one seemed different, almost destined to be somehow. But she really couldn't place why. Then there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind, but she couldn't figure out what it meant. "I - Is your home safe? You say there are males who would use force against a female, I wouldn't be in danger would I?" An shudder of fear ran down her spine as she imagined a burly male swatting his paw at her menacingly. But she quickly shook away the feeling.
"I think you're a nice guy Ehsan!" She smiled, feeling a bit of warmth and relaxation from his paw on hers. "I think, I would be happy to follow you home and become your mate." A while blush spread across the innocent female's face, causing her to giggle slightly and shudder with a mix of fear and excitement.
A-As long as no one is going to harm me there." She smiled again, excited over her decision. She'd done spontaneous things in the past, but nothing as random as this.
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Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2012 6:51 pm
He drew himself up to his full height, standing tall beside her. There was a fierce light in his eyes as he gazed down at her, almost possessive. A soft rumble vibrated his chest, a low, low growl that grew in volume slightly. "Any male who dared even raise his voice to you would have to answer to me." His voice was soft, but menacing. It probably helped that he turned to gaze about challengingly, as if daring any male to approach them. He looked down at her again, his features softening to a more gentle expression.
"If you come with me, be one of my mates, I promise you, you shall never have to fear anyone ever again. I will protect you, always." He chuffed lightly and leaned to rub cheek on cheek with her softly. "Now come. Let's start the journey for home, and I shall tell you of our ways of life." He nudged her gently with his head, urging her to her paws. It would be a long journey, and he had many things to tell her, possibly things difficult for her to understand or accept. One thing at a time, though. At least she had agreed to come with him. It was a good beginning to the rest of his life.
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