Welcome to Gaia! ::

Fireheart found herself on the edge of her pride's lands once again. Her most recent run-in with a rouge lion had proved odd, since she had never known a fully grown male to act like a child, but she felt a bit wiser because of it. It just went to show that you couldn't judge people by their age. The rouge had called her various insulting names - brat, squirt - because of her age, but she had acted far more mature and responsible than he. Well...in her eyes, at least.

She lifted her head and scanned the horizon from her place by a small pool, the same area Anga had been in when she had come across him. This seemed like a good place to keep an eye out for any rouges traveling in the land. Although Anga hadn't presented a physical threat, she knew that the chance was out there for someone to come along that wished their peaceful pride harm. Or, alternately, there could be rouges looking for a place to live.

Fireheart's ears swiveled to the left as a faint snarl echoed through the trees. Her head followed and she got to her feet, alert and aware of her surroundings. Someone was coming her way. Slowly, from the lack of pounding feet, but they were headed in this direction nonetheless. A male, from the deep tone of the snarl.

She crouched low to the ground and slunk forward, moving around the pond and into the cover of some trees. She waited until the lion came into view before assessing the situation further. He didn't look to be a physical threat...he wasn't presenting the signs of someone searching for anything in particular. After a few moments she decided to call out.

"State your name and your business here," she said in a firm voice. She remained hidden for the time being, not wanting her younger age to influence the authoritative tone in her voice.

Fireheart kept her head low as the lion glanced around. She wondered how he hid from potential threats with such a blue coat like that, before realizing she wasn't exactly cameo material herself. She narrowed her eyes and pressed herself a bit closer to the ground, cursing her chosen hiding place. There were browner patches of grass around, but of course she didn't look at where she was going to put herself...she still had a lot to learn if she wanted to rise in the ranks of the warriors.

Ah, he didn't seem terribly threatening. As he spun in a slow circle, her eyes widened in surprise. Previously hidden, a mass of scars and painful-looking marks covered Vodnitvar's hip and leg that made her stomach twist. A few moments later and she decided he was safe - she could certainly outrun him if it came to that.

Fireheart stood, emerging from her hiding place, keeping a suspicious look on her face. It would be best to keep her guard up to let the male know she wasn't letting him off the hook so easily.

"If no harm is meant, then you should know you are dangerously close to my pride's borders. We are peaceful and any threat is not tolerated. However, if you are seeking to join a pride, I can take you to the appropriate lions that can assist you."

The suspicious look on Fireheart's face turned to a scowl for just a few moments at the look of surprise on Vodnitvar's. Another rouge that wouldn't take her seriously because of her age, it seemed. Wonderful. At least this one wasn't rolling around in a field of flowers and pretending to be some sort of kung fu master.

She kept her distance, not moving from her patch of grass as the lion continued to speak. Not interested in a pride? It wasn't unheard of, but what kind of rouge would want to be alone with an injury like that? Surely having a pride to help bring in food would be a relief. "Our pride is not one that requires all the members to hunt. Most come here from the rouge lands to find respite from things such as injuries or past prides." If he didn't wish to join, though, she wasn't going to push.

The question that followed ruffled her feathers a bit again and caused her to lift her head higher, trying to look bigger than she was. She was on the larger size for a female her age, but next to the lion she was still quite small. "Our lines of defense are not considered terribly important here," she said evenly. "I'm one of the few that consider border patrol to be something we should have as a staple. Danger is out there, it's just a matter of when it will come."

Fireheart remained where she was for a few moments longer before taking a few hesitant steps forward. She doubted the lion would be able to rise quickly, so a swift escape could be made if needed. He seemed the type not to lie, though, and for some reason she found herself trusting him far faster than she should. She pulled up with just a few yards between them, allowing herself to get a better look. He was certainly battle-worn, and that made her grow a bit excited. If Vodnitvar did join the pride, then perhaps she'd have someone to show her the ins and outs of battle. Hunting and fighting were two completely different things, after all.

The returned sentiment regarding danger made her ears p***k up in excitement, but after the quick break in her mask she quickly schooled her expression back to a neutral one. "Not all the members are injured or refugees, but we are quite welcoming of them." She decided not to mention the insanity that once - in her opinion - plagued her pride. If he truly did wish to join, he'd learn in time. Now the majority of them were voices free, and they were mostly in good health.

"You make it sound as though I'm still a cub," Fireheart muttered, lowering her head and her ears in disapproval. "I'm nearly fully grown!" She had to stop herself from stamping in the ground like a child and winced at her own immaturity. "I mean...thank you." It had been a compliment, hadn't it? "Most of the pride members my age are more interested in watching the sun move across the sky and wait for night to have fun. So yes, I suppose it's a bit of a wonder that they trust me as much as they do."

Lifting her head again, she met Vodnitvar's green eyes with her own sea foam ones, holding his gaze evenly. "Fireheart," she said, giving her Gypsy name as was custom.

Fireheart gave a little snort as Vodnitvar backpedaled a bit. She nodded at his explanation, though, not wanting to appear rude to the older lion. In reality she really wasn't used to the praise he was giving her and, although it was flattering, she wasn't quite sure what to do in return. The pride never really praised their warriors unless they did something of value, like taking down a wild rouge or protecting them from a threat. Simply guarding the border wasn't something to sing songs about.

"We are called the Kizingo'Zaa, and it's a very relaxed pride, as I have mentioned," Fireheart said, deciding that she could risk sitting with the male for a while. She lowered her haunches and sat down, facing the male still. She was curious to know about his scars, but where they had just met, she figured it could be a story for another time. "Most of the pride focus on their crafts, be it song and dance, fortune telling, crafting out of wood or stone, alchemists...very little focus is placed on expanding borders and such. We live in a very secure area and not many know of us or our existence here. We would like to keep it that way," she added, giving him a look that clearly said 'if you tell anyone, you're in trouble'. He hadn't agreed to stay yet, after all.

"If you do join you'll be required to select a gypsy name for yourself that others will call you by, save for those closest to you. That is really the only requirement here other than selecting a profession."

"Our main home is deep in the jungle which is beyond these mountains," Fireheart explained, nodding behind her where steep cliffs shot up out of the ground. "It's not easy to get to if you're not looking for it. And those who do find us generally want to stay when they see what it's like." It was a very nice place to live, full of food and water, with the sandy beach just a few minutes walk from the shade of the jungle and protection all around in the form of the mountains and the ocean.

Her ears twitched a bit at Vodnitvar's question and it took considerable self restraint not to snap at him. Her name wasn't...frilly or silly or whatever he had said! She had picked it out herself, so obviously she felt very strongly about it. "There are those with...slightly silly names, but it's up to your digression what you call yourself. Usually it has something to do with your trade, but that's not always the case."

She stood and tilted her head just a bit, surveying the older lion. "So, to answer your question, no. It doesn't have to be silly if you don't wish it to be."

Fireheart eyed the male warily for a few minutes. He had given no reason for her to be suspicious, but it was in her nature to be cautious around new lions. Vodnitvar had been very respectful, though, and it was honestly a breath of fresh air. She finally nodded and motioned for him to follow her.

"Slow is fine. We have a bit of a climb so let me know if you need a rest." She enjoyed the view from the mountains anyway, so pausing from time to time wouldn't be a problem for her. With a flick of her tail she was off, padding back in the direction she had come from.

FIN