Camouflage was a little nervous, going to a new place she had never been to, and not hiding or just watching from the borders or some unseen place. She was being taken there by Bati, and she trusted him enough not to be leading her into something overwhelming. Would they drop down in the middle of a big group of lions or something? Would everyone want her to talk at once? Or would they be all alone?
Which was more uncomfortable?
She wasn’t quite sure, but she found she was willing to take the risk either way, whatever that risk was. Her fur felt hot and heavy, and she knew she was more embarrassed than she had ever been before. It was so new, having other creatures talking to her, and wanting to. She worried, though, that when the sun rose and he got a good look at her he wouldn’t want to see her any more.
That was usually her biggest concern. That she wasn’t supposed to be seen, that she was just supposed to blend in. That was what the night was best at, and since they had met at night she wondered if that was the time they were supposed to be together. Then she wondered why she was thinking about it so damn much.
He paused from time to time, glancing over his shoulder at the lioness that was following along behind him, at least partially to make sure that she hadn't gone and disappeared. He couldn't help but smile each time he saw her there, fluffy tail swishing back and forth up until the moment that they paused before one of the various cave openings. He had never actually lead anyone along with him before; shown the ways to any lion that wasn't a member of the pride he had come to live amongst. They were a good group and had reassured him many times that any and all were welcome... But somehow this felt... Different.
"You aren't afraid of the dark, right, considering you were out flying in it... What are your thoughts on cool, dark caverns and close quarters?" The last was said with a light eyebrow waggle and he found himself wondering just how stupid he looked.
Mask looked up when he spoke, feeling that familiar flush that had happened before, and each time she dared to lift her eyes up and look at him. She watched him for a long moment without saying anything, getting lost in her thoughts, noticing how fluffy his fur was and wondering if it was soft. Hers, she felt, was coarse and short. She had seen lions with beautiful manes, but had never felt envious save in that fleeting moment.
If he looked at her, and saw her in the light, he might wish she had nicer fur…
She did not know that at the moment, she was suffering a similar lack of emotional control as school girls do with their first crushes.
“I don’t mind caverns and caves,” she said very softly, bouncing to keep up with him and walk just slightly behind him, at his side. She was looking at her feet again as she spoke, “though I like it when its warm better, I think. And I like being near others. Maybe… not with them, all the time, but I like to see them. Sometimes I can watch from caves.” That sounded creepy to her ears, which drooped against her head at the thought.
"I think you'll fit right in here, then." He nodded, gesturing lightly for the lioness to enter in ahead of him, trying to remember exactly which of the entrances they were currently heading into... And whether or not there was anything he should be warning about (when the most intelligent thing to do would have been to nudge the notion of 'ladies first' aside in favor of guiding her instead).
"The caves have been a bit cooler lately; likely because of the season, but whatever warmth they lack on their own can be made up for by a bit of fluff... And curling up with others, which can be nice sometimes." Save when it came to Uziwa, who was way too boney. Sisters. Or sisterly types, at least.
"There are lots of shadows to hide in down here, lots of shadows to play in... And many many places to see from without quite being seen."
She swallowed hard and moved toward the entrance of the cave. She padded in at his order, blinking and looking around. She wasn’t sure where she was going, but caverns had a way of being one way. Or so she thought. She had no idea they could be used as long tunnels and roadways, or anything complicated. But she had spent most of her time hiding on the surface, or in smaller caves.
So she had no experience to draw from.
“Curling up with others?” She asked, looking at him. “Do you do that? I don’t think I’ve ever slept next to someone… maybe when I was a cub, and my family stayed together.” She tried to think, but couldn’t remember what it felt like. She slept near others, sometimes, but not close enough to feel their warmth. She did smile, softly, though, when he said there were lots of shadows to hide in. She liked that idea, nodding her head.
"This pride is very... Close to one another." To put things lightly. "Friendly, like a great big family. Huddling together seems to be one of the best ways to stay warm when it is cold, especially for the lions who haven't been blessed with the amount of fluff that I have."
He stepped just a bit closer to her when the tunnel widened enough for the two of them to walk shoulder to shoulder, letting his eyes adjust to the darkness. "About... Twenty or so more paces ahead there's a large cavern and a few more paths that break off. Are you tired?"
“Close…” Mask liked the sound of it, though it made her nervous. Close was not something she was used to, either, and she was beginning to see that there were many things she was not used to. That needed to change, and maybe this pride, this God, were good places to start to change all that. Her friend, Failure, had told her as much, about changing herself and not letting her domain force her to be lonely, but now she was finally seeing what he had meant.
She smiled at Bati as he walked beside her, though she shuddered and shrank down a bit. Still, she let her shoulder brush his, glancing at him furtively every few steps.
“I’m a little tired…” she admitted, though she shook her head. “But we don’t have to stop if you don’t want to. I…” she looked at the cavern as it opened up, surprised. “All this fits underground?” She marveled.
"Underground, within the mountains themselves. A great and many wonders can be found in the lands of this pride." He grinned, gently brushing his shoulder against hers in a friendly manner before taking the lead, hopping down off of the small ledge before turning to wait for the Goddess to join him.
"Sleep sounds wonderful, to tell you the honest truth... If we rest now you and I will have enough energy to make a grand adventure of things tomorrow, perhaps? I bet a lady like you would be absolutely amazing at the hide and find game the cubs like to play in the safe tunnels..." He seemed to let his thoughts drift to that for a moment, a wide grin curving his lips from one corner of his muzzle to the other. "It would searve the little runts right to be beaten at their own game..." He had mostly been too clumsy as a child, wings and awkward paws and all, to be much too good at the game... Until he'd learned to use his wings to flutter himself just a bit higher.
Mask watched him jump down and followed him, using her wings on instinct, as she liked to float more than she did jump. She glided the short distance, landing lightly near him. She was very good at being quiet, after all, and it seemed gliding and keeping her paws light all came along with how often she hid herself away from others.
“Hide and find?” She would probably be very good at hiding, and she had good eyes for detail. That was a part of camouflage, of course, and it was rare that she was fooled by another creature’s attempt at it. Rare, but not impossible. She might have been a goddess, but her eyes were not part of her powers: she just paid attention.
She smiled because he was.
“I think I would like to play that,” she said, nodding her head. “Where should I go to sleep?” He had said they needed their energy, after all.
"Mm, yes. Hide and find." He nodded lightly as he tilted his head into the air for a moment, sniffing once to see if anyone else was around before plopping himself rather unceremoniously down on the floor. "This should work for now, as far as sleeping goes. You won't find a more comfortable patch of rock than lying next to me..." The soft sound of teasing was in his voice, one golden eye peering at the lioness through the darkness, the other closed for the moment.
She blushed at his offer, then nodded her head. She padded closer to him and settled herself slowly beside him, feeling warm already. Was that him, or her? Or was he making her be so silly and fluttery and warm? She wasn’t sure, exactly, but she liked it. She was sitting next to him at first, but he had said he liked sleeping close to the others and she wanted to share in that. She scooted closer, resting against his fur and putting her head down on one of his paws delicately.
If he wanted her to move it, she would, but she was taking the risks now. Might as well go all out.
“Thank you for showing me this place,” she said, suddenly sleepy. She yawned and closed her eyes, nuzzling against him. She drifted off to sleep shortly after, much easier than she ever had on her own before.
If he was surprised by the placement of her head on his paw he didn't let it show in anything other than slight confusion as to where he should place his own head, as that was where it usually rested. He got over that quickly enough, though, shifting ever so slightly to rest his head against her shoulder. This... Was nice. Very nice.
