Welcome to Gaia! ::

Baridi paused by a small stream for a quick drink. The air today wasn't too hot or humid, and she figured she'd take advantage of the break in the horrible weather to roam around. She wasn't used to being alone for so long and honestly, it was starting to wig her out a bit. Back when she was a cub, she had been surrounded by family and, as she had grown, she was always with a friend or two. But now she was alone, and had been for some time.

Lifting her head, she licked her lips before setting off to the east, keeping the slowly rising sun in front of her. It was only a few hours until the sun would be at it's highest point, and then she would rest. There was a good chunk of rougelands she could put between her and this stream, though, and she was determined to do so.

Baridi had only been walking for a half hour or so before she noticed a dark spot in the distance. Perhaps it was a rock? Or some kind of large bird? As she got closer, though, she realized it was a lion. Her ears pricked up in relief and her tail bobbed back and forth as she approached the male. She had no idea who he was or where he was going, but it was someone to talk to and that alone was good enough for her.

"Hello!" she called out as she got a bit closer, not wanting to startle him. "Lovely day, isn't it?

Baridi tilted her head as she approached the lion, who was still moving as she slowed. He began to bop around in the area, though, rather than walking as he had been before. What was he doing...dancing? A little smile crossed her face as she sat down to watch.

"Do I have any fly moves?" she repeated, a little laugh in her voice. "No, I can't say that I do. I'm afraid I don't have very good rhythm. You seem to not have that problem, though." She couldn't fault him for being himself if that's what he wanted to do. She had certainly seen better dancers, but she had rarely seen any as enthusiastic as this particular male.

"Are you from one of the dancing prides?" she asked after a moment, curious to know more about the male. "I've heard stories about them. They seem lovely."

Baridi continued to smile as the dark lion danced around her. He was pretty entertaining! She turned her head to watch as he paused behind her and laughed as he rolled out. Oh, he was pretty good. She tilted her head just a bit as he spoke of his pride and shook her head in return.

"I'm not from a pride," she said simply as she pawed at the dirt. "I've been wandering the rouge lands for a while now. What pride are you from? The chillest pride around, apparently," she said with a little laugh.

This was nice, she decided as she shifted to lay down as well. The past few males she had come across had been rather gruff and mean. This one didn't seem mean at all! In fact, he had a very sweet, if silly, demeanor around him.

"I'm Baridi, by the way," she added, mentally scolding herself for forgetting her manners. "And you are?"

Baridi wrinkled her nose a bit as the lion said a bunch of letters and sounds. She wasn't too sure what he had said, but she supposed it wasn't terribly important. Maybe the pride was just so cool they didn't have a set name. Huh...

"I've come quiet a ways, yes," she said with a little nod. "Met some other leopards and lions along the way...although none have been quite as friendly or cool as you," she added with a light laugh. "I've been walking for...well. I'd rather not think about how long. Not too sure what I'm looking for, either. A home, maybe. I kind of enjoy making friends and roaming, though."

Baridi smiled again as the lion gave his name. "Anga. That's a lovely name. I'm headed...that way." She nodded in the direction she had been headed previously. "Until I find something that makes me want to stop." Like this interesting fellow, for instance. Or water, or something to eat. Or, perhaps, a pride...that would be lovely. It wasn't really on her list of things she wanted, though. Eventually she might need one if she became a mother, but that wasn't a worry right now.

Baridi laughed quietly and swatted her paw lightly in the air at Anga. "Oh please. You're too kind," she said, averting her eyes just a bit. Aw, he was a little sweetheart on top of being a...'great' dancer. So cute.

"So if you're from a pride, why are you out here?" she asked, looking around the rather barren land. "Unless this is where the pride is...in that case, how do you survive?" It was quite desolate the more she looked at it. No water, no food, not even a tree. Just some shrubs here and there.

Baridi looked back at Anga, a concerned look on his face. He didn't look hungry or thirsty...maybe just a bit further down there was tropical paradise. She had seen stranger things in her travels, certainly.

A new pride, then. That sounded exciting! The few she had come across were well-established and had been around for much longer than anyone could remember. And it sounded like a tropical oasis, which itself was very impressive to find here in Africa. Very rarely were there such places. Perhaps they were close to the ocean! That would be something to see, for sure.

The offer and Anga's enthusiasm made Baridi nod and laugh in reply. "Sure! It sounds like a great place. It certainly won't hurt to take a look around." And who knew? Maybe she'd like it enough to stay. She had the same mindset as Anga, though. Who knew what else was out there in the rouge lands? Perhaps if there was nothing more out there she could return and join this tropical pride.

"Oh, it's been ages since I've had fish," she said with a little sigh of nostalgia. "That would be most gentlemanly of you for you to catch some for me. I would be most honored to accompany you back to see this fantastic pride you're so proud of."

Baridi laughed as she stood up and let Anga bounce around. "Sure, I'm ready to go," she said, flicking her fluffy tail in excitement. "You seem eager to show me your home, and I'm eager to see it. Especially if there's fish involved."

She trotted after Anga as they headed to his pride, more than ready for a meal and some conversation with a new friend.

FIN