The sun was just past the pinacle of its daily march, but still able to punctuate the drought-like conditions going on recently. It had been a very dry rainy season - Just enough had fallen to make the grasses grow and bloom, with some trees even blooming, but the river had not swollen as it had in previous years. Njozi sat staring at it, long tail twitching. She remembered it being much larger as a cub... But then, the whole world was larger when one was a cub. She tilted her head, unable to keep a smile back. One of her litter sisters had wanted to check out the river just after a particularly bad storm... A crocodile had taken her. Njozi then became the fastest in the litter. She shifted, then rose to all four paws, stretching out with a yawn.
Another day with no clouds... Turuhani looked up, violet eyes narrow as his tail curled under him. The copper-colored cheetah gave a snort, before looking around. His eyes soon fell on Njozi and he went trotting over, ears flicking as he shook his head to get the flies to buzz off. Because it was winter, it wasn't nearly as hot, despite the lack of consistent rain. With what rain HAD fallen... Well, the mud track was essentially crumbling dirt for the moment. Whenever a mud race was held, the leopards and hybrids were bringing water up from the river. The male cheetah soon reached the female and poked her in the rump. "Oy, Njozi. I'm bored." With amusement, he watched her jump at the sudden prod.
The female whirled around, glaring at the male as a low growl rose. "Don't sneak up on me like that!" She swatted at his paw, then started walking back toward the tracks. "What are you wanting ME to do about your boredom?" She soon reached the stone track, flopping down on the side so her paws dangled down over the ledge. The full length of it was mostly staight, with some deviances as it turned in a few places. The track had, long ago, been a river branch, but then the river had moved further up the line and time had filled in the old bed with dirt. What was left was a canyon-like ravine, now worn down to the bed rock by thousands of cheetah paws running its length.
Turu shrugged. "I dunno, how about a race?" He walked after her, then hopped down into the ravine. "You know, along the stone track here." He looked up, then smiled, a glint in his violet eyes. "Just you and me, a friendly little race..." The male pranced a bit in place, tail uncurling so it was out in a more rudder-like position. "You up for it, or are you feeling too LAZY?" The mischief was evident in the grin that took over his face, sun glinting off the white markings amid his copper body.
An eyebrow went up, before Njozi slid down into the ravine with Turu. "Okay, a race..." She turned, walking up to the usual starting point. "First one to reach the other end is the winner. Prize is..." She had to think about that one for a moment. There was not food or water rationing on the cheetahs unless they were getting too fat. Pregnant females didn't count for that one. Finally, she grinned. "If I win, you stop hitting on me." She was getting tired of him doing that. Ever since they were juveniles, he'd been trying to nab her as a permanent mate. Now they were in their prime, both champions of races, and he'd still not relented on his crush.
A grin lit up the male's face as he followed Njozi to the starting line. "Oh, prizes, eh...?" He listened to the condition that'd be set if she won. Then he nudged her with an elbow. "And if I win..." He leaned in close, ears pricked forward. "You're my mate." He couldn't help, as he shifted into position to start racing, laughing at her shocked expression. But it soon became determination as Njozi settled beside him. "Remember, first one across wins!" He wiggled a bit, anticipating the go. This was a glorious moment, when he could have Njozi eat his dust. He also knew she could still pass him. After all, females were much lighter than males, thus could propel themselves faster. "3... 2.... 1..."
"GO!" With a surge, Njozi shot forward, paws flying. With every stride, her body contorted, first elongating and then folding. She knew this track well, often practicing on it. It was one of her favorites, the one she hoped to win on come spring when the Grand Race was held. She could hear, over the thunder of her own heart in her ears, the sound of Turu beside her, his own body stretching and contracting as they ran down the track, twisting around the bends the ancient river had taken. As they made the last turn, she could feel her stamina starting to flag and put forth a last surge of energy, determined to finish first.
He could hear his own heart hammering in his ears as he took off like a shot, eyes not even on Njozi. Like the female, Turu looked forward to the spring race when he'd prove his prowess at racing. Besides the thrum of his heartbeat, Turu could dimly hear the rythmic thud of both his paws and Njozi's next to him. And then her paw-beats began to fade as they came into the last turn and the finish came into view. Like Njozi, Turu put forth a surge of speed, but unlike Njozi he began to pull away. So focused on the finish, he didn't notice as he crossed the invisible line where the river bed once again rose up to meet the rest of the land around it, once again a mostly flat and even plain. Only once he was clear did he slow down from a run to a trot, massive barrel-chest heaving. He looked around, then behind him to see a disgruntled Njozi. "I won!" His grin was wide, if only because of his victory in such a small friendly match.
Njozi glowered at Turu as she walked, also panting heavily. Though she looked unhappy, she was quietly and internally rather happy. After all, by the terms of their bet... He'd just ensured he was a worthy sire of fast cubs, of winners. She then bumped her shoulder to his. "Yeah, yeah... I get it, you won..." Then she teasingly trailed her tail under his nose. "Now come catch your prize!" Despite how tired they both were from the run, she took off in a slow run, heading back for where the cheetahs usually gathered.
Still grinning like a fool, Turu went trotting after Njozi, before breaking into a light run. His muscles protested, but he knew it'd be well worth it when he caught up to this female that was now, finally, his.
