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 Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 12:25 pm
In her travels across the roguelands and near the borders of various pridelands, Kai hadn't seen a prettier grass plain than the one she'd just discovered. The golden field seemed to go on for forever, with only a deadfall skeleton of a tree and small copses of still living ones to mark any change in the landscape. In the distance she could see mountains, but other than that, the sky and grass seemed to go on forever ahead of her. It simultaneously filled her with hope and sadness. The black shadow of a lioness hadn't seen anyone or anything besides small prey animals in at least a week. And while this wasn't unusual, for some reason it saddened her. She'd found enough to eat, but just barely. And in this landscape, forget finding a den. She prefered one to sleeping in the open, and didn't like to climb onto deadfalls to sleep during the day or night just because leopards favored them. And while she had nothing against other types of felines, she didn't want to risk angering a leopard, because while smaller, they were often stronger than the average sized lioness. So in the grass it was that she'd been forced to sleep most often. What bothered her the most was the lack of visibility... she couldn't see easily more than a few feet ahead of her. It made it annoying to hunt - she'd mostly been able to snagged hares and the occasional snake. But what was more annoying was that she was limited to her sense of smell - which was about average - where the grasslands were tall. And they were tall in most places...
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Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:37 am
 Kana also had found the dry lands somewhat troubling but he’d had far better luck than the lioness at sustaining himself. Just the day before he’d killed an injured gazelle, gorged himself and left the remains for the scavengers even before the vultures had given away his position. There were some definite advantages to these tall grassy areas, he thought to himself.
Now, with a young warthog hanging from his mouth, the green-eyed cheetah broke into a run and headed towards a small stream he’d found before. His ears swiveled in every direction in search for any potential dangers but it was hard to see anything in those conditions and the rustling grasses weren’t helping his hearing either. As the scent of lion grew heavier, Kana became increasingly wary of his surroundings until he stopped with loud rasping sounds as his paws suddenly broke the movement. He could see a shadow ahead!
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2012 5:29 pm
Kai's head jerked up the moment she heard motion in the grasses - something running towards her! It had been so long since she'd seen or heard anything that was so loud, she hoped - and worried at the same time - that it was a big cat like her.
She moved aside since it sounded like whatever it was, was headed towards her, and she didn't want to be barrelled into. Additionally, on the off chance that she was being stalked as prey by something larger, moving out of the way would let her know if it was really after her, though that was unlikely. What in its right mind went after a lion after all? Except maybe another lion... It wasn't that far-fetched, really.
She supressed a shudder at that thought. Don't think on it... she told herself. Just prepare...
When the other came into view, however, it wasn't what she was epecting, honestly. Though she wasn't sure, immediately after seeing him, what she had been expecting. The cheetah was lovely to her eyes, a burst of the color in the dry landscape. More interesting though - at least to her stomach - was the recent kill in his mouth. However she backed off and sat, making it clear she wasn't going to attack. More than for food, she was starved for company.
"It's welcome to see another after so long in this endless grass. I won't try to steal your boar, you don't have to worry. My name is Kailayna." she hoped he wouldn't turn tail and run...
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:26 pm
Kana wasn’t stupid or reckless so the sight of a full grown lioness didn’t exactly put him at ease. His experience dictated that the larger felines, lone males especially, were prone to thieving and few shied away when cheetahs gave them brave displays of aggression. So he was visibly relieved when the lioness sat down and introduced herself. It could be a trick, of course but Kana was also glad for the company so he dropped the heavy prey slowly to the ground.
“Boar? More like a large piglet.” Now that his mouth was free he gave the lioness an easy grin as he eyed his catch. A young juvenile, he assumed. His tone was playful and he, too leaned back to sit. “It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Kana.” He rarely used his full name during introductions. Honestly, sometimes he wondered what his parents had been thinking when they’d named him.
“This area is pretty deserted. I don’t think I’ve seen another cat for days.” He looked happy and relaxed even if he was still ready to bolt should the lioness ‘ intentions suddenly change. “Do you live here? Or are you just passing through?”
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:48 am
"Well, it's an impressively large piglet, compared to the game I've seen out here so far... " her stomach growled with hunger, betraying her. The black lioness cringed with embaressment, her ears flattening breifly against her head.
"I've been existing mostly on rabbits and snakes and things... this seems like a good place to live, at least if you're a prey animal... I'm not so sure us big cats can have alot of luck though..." She hoped he didn't think she wanted to steal his food, considering the betrayal of her growling stomach. Kai was not the type to steal or even fight, unless provoked.
"It's nice to meet you Kana. It's nice to meet someone trusting... It seems like the lions I meet are.... hit and miss. The few other big cats I've met though, seem nice. You seem nice" she added with a smile.
"Oh, no, I don't live here. I don't think I could survive if I tried to live in a sea of grass like this..." she let out a light laugh, sounding like she was making fun of herself. "I'm only passing through, I guess I'm headed towards the mountains... more or less. Do you live here Kana?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:08 pm
The cheetah’s ears shot forward when he heard the growl and he almost took a step back before he’d realized its source. Instinctively, his green eyes dropped to look down at his prize and then back up at the lioness. So much for a little bit of warthog for dinner… he knew he’d never be able to walk past a hungry lady without feeling compelled to help her in any way he could.
“It’s not an easy terrain.” Kana admitted, trying to pretend he hadn’t heard the growling stomach. “But I can’t exactly complain.”
She was being very nice and Kana’s cautious side couldn’t help but tell him she might only be doing it because of the food but it made little difference to the cheetah. His decision was made the minute he’d realized she was hungry and it wouldn’t have made any difference if she had been downright rude and obnoxious.
“Yes, it’s hard to know who to trust. I’ve met my share of grumpy leopards and cheetahs, too. But it’s usually the lions that give me more trouble. I’ve been travelling alone for a while so I’ve seen many strange lands and met the oddest characters.” He smiled, just to show he meant no offense to the lioness in particular and then casually rolled the young warthog towards Kailayna.
“Would you like to eat? I already ate so I was just saving it for later. It definitely beats lizards.” He chuckled, silently considering his options. He’d have to hunt before the day was over unless he felt like having a growling stomach of his own that night. Looking at the dark lioness, he realized he didn’t really mind it.
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Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2012 12:31 pm
Kai smiled bashfully when the cheetah glanced at her stomach, her ears flipping backwards breifly. Great... it seemed he'd noticed the embaressing noise... oh well, there was really nothing that could be done for it... at least he didn't say anything though.
"I usually run into the most trouble from rogue lions as well... the males of my kind aren't exactly nice, most of the time. It's unfortunate, but just the way it is, I suppose. And each cat has their own character, so I've noticed general things about cheetahs and leopards, but honestly haven't me too many.. so it's nice to see another big cat at all in these grassy lands." She stood in surprise when the cheetah rolled the carcass towards her. The black lioness hadn't been expecting that!
"I.... Are you sure it's alright? I'm not ill, I can hunt... I don't want to take your food if you need to save it for later... I know how difficult it can be to hunt here..." It defintely would beat a dinner of lizards which barely cut off the pangs of her hunger for only a short time, but Kai wasn't one to ask for help easily. If the cheetah hadn't offered, she never would have asked. And as it was, she wasn't sure she should accept.
It wasn't that she wasn't hungry, because she certainly was, but it was just that she felt bad, she didn't want to be someone that needed pity, or assistance. However she did accept and understand kindness, she just hated that feeling of being weak and needing help. Though sometimes maybe it was okay... and it would be rude to refuse kindness...
"If you're sure it's alright... I do appreciate it..." The shadowy lioness moved forward to accept the kind offering after taking a few moments to think on it, but while she did eat, she didn't finish off the carcass. That would be very rude, considering there was enough to fill her belly and there be some left over.
When she was done eating she nudged the boar back towards the cheetah. "I can't take all your food from you. But thank you for the meal. Where were you headed? I can carry it for you there if you like... since I'm a bit larger and probably stronger than you." She smiled. "Consider it a thank you for the meal?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:56 am
“Well, not all the males of my kind – or leopards, I suppose – can be trusted either.” Kana considered aloud, thinking back at all his previous experiences. “I’m afraid I’ve met my share of nasty characters though no more than the friendly ones, thankfully.”
His eyes eyed the lioness, silently comparing the dark girl to some of the larger felines he’d met in his travels.
“But they’re usually too small to be a threat to you, I suppose. Well most of them, at least…” Some male leopards were nearly as big as full grown lioness and their quick reflexes made them formidable opponents – not that Kana was stupid enough to actually fight one. “And yes, yes! Please do.”
He watched her eat with predictably mixed feelings and was a little relieved when she stopped eating before there was none left.
“Oh no no!” he shook his head vigorously when she offered to carry it for him. “I would never let a lady carry something for me.” He chuckled, wondering if she’d consider that kind of chivalry as old-fashioned. “Besides, you have already helped lower the weight so it won’t that hard to carry it now. But I could accompany me to a little stream I found nearby. We can have a drink before we go our separate ways.” Grabbing his evening meal, the cheetah walked past the dark lioness and looked back as if he was waiting for her to follow him.
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2012 1:18 pm
"I'd like to think there are more kind people in the world than there are evil ones...." Kai pondered aloud as well. "I've met my share of both though."
"I wouldn't mind carrying it...." the lioness tilted her head a little at the abrupt refusal. "It's no trouble..." but apparently the cheetah would hear none of it, so she didn't bother to protest further. He was a kind soul, it seemed... giving her a meal and then not even wanting to let her carrying the remainder for him. It was nice to meet such kind creatures.
Kai considered the cheetah as he began to walk away, just looking at him for a moment before turning to follow. "That would be nice. It's always good to know where a source of water is."
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2012 5:50 am
“I’m sure there are. I just think the kind folks tend to be less… noticeable.” Kana chuckled, his voice slightly muffled now that he was dragging the remains of the carcass. He paid no mind to her brief insistence, determined to carry it all the way to the stream but it was harder to talk now so there were long pauses between the cheetah’s words.
“It’s… good. Clean. Not muddy at all.” He replied to her comment regarding the water source, silently agreeing with her. One could go a few days without eating a good meal but water was even more essential to one’s survival. He grinned and nodded ahead when the water came into view at the dark lioness but the friendly gesture seemed somewhat strange when he still had his mouth full. “See...?”
“I think I’ll go that way after I rest for a bit.” He said after dropping the carcass, eyeing the cloudless sky above a small set of hills in the distance. Kana stepped closer to the edge of the water. “The weather looks good there.”
Looking over his shoulder, he smiled at her.
"Goodbye. I hope to see you again." - FIN -
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