|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:43 am
 Rio sucked in a breath, nose peeking out over the surface of the water. She couldn’t believe. How could she have been so stupid, jumping in after the thief like that? She should have been paying attention. And now she was drowning, just like her mother had, as a consequence. Rio kicked up again, shouting out for help before sinking back down. She was just so tired. The leopardess couldn’t keep herself up for much longer. Her muscles her screaming with the exertion, and her lungs were demanding she take another breath.
Maybe she could just rest for a minute, hold her breath and let herself sink below. It would only be for second. She could gather her strength and maybe make for the banks. Everything would be alright. Rio’s soft red eyes began to slip closed, and she slipped underneath the surface. It felt nice to relax. Maybe a second longer wouldn’t hurt. The leopardess continued sinking further and further down, the water around her making her fur float and dance around her.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:44 am
 Tim’s head snapped towards the sound of what he swore was someone calling out for help. Closing his eyes, the lion concentrated on listening for it again. The only sound that came to his ears was the faintest noise of water being splashed around. Another lion might have brushed the sounds off as the wind, but Tim’s inner detective was calling for him to go investigate. He took off towards the direction he had heard the cry, paws moving swiftly over the savannah ground. The lion stopped at the top of a small hill and found himself looking down at a lake.
With a drowning leopard right in the middle of it.
Without a second thought, Tim dashed down the hill, leaping into the lake right as the leopard sank beneath the surface. Cursing, the lion kicked out harder, swimming faster. Taking a deep breath, Tim plunged down after the leopard, feeling around for the stranger. His teeth managed to grab her scruff. Tim hauled her back up, lifting her so that her head stayed up in the air. The lion swam her back to shore, teeth digging into her fur and drawing a small amount of blood.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:45 am
Rio coughed, distantly feeling the sensation of someone shaking her shoulder. She took a few deep breaths, thankful that she was finally able to breath air again instead of water. Her eyes cracked open, focusing on a red and black lion with striking blue eyes. She propped herself on her front feet, still panting. “Gracias,” Rio managed to get out, legs trembling slightly. This lion had just save her life. “You save me. I am very grateful. You have a name, yes?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:47 am
The lion sat back, breathing a sigh of relief. The leopard was alright, and talking as well. Tim knew firsthand how drowning could cause someone to lose their memory, ability to speak, and even the ability to move parts of their body. It looked like he had saved her just in time. “Red Robin, ma’am.” Tim answered. “Can I ask how you ended up in the middle of the lake if you can’t swim?” And in the middle of the night, too. What had she been thinking? Surely someone hadn’t forced her in there and fled?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:48 am
The dancer scoffed, moving up into a more comfortable sitting position. “None of this ma’am. Just Rio,” She corrected. How had she ended up in the lake? Rio shut her eyes, trying to think, but everything was a little fuzzy. She remembered chasing someone and jumping in after them. But why had she been chasing them? And who had it been? The information just wouldn’t come to her. All she wanted to do was go back to her tree and her dinner and her jewels….
The bag of jewelry. Someone had tried to steal it! And had gotten away too, it seemed. “I run after thief. He jump in river, I jump after him.” Rio explained. She still couldn’t remember who the thief had been. Had he ever given his name? What had he looked like again?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:49 am
Tim’s eyes opened a little bit wider. A thief? Of course he had just left this poor leopardess to drown. Criminals disgusted him. “What did the thief look like? Can you remember? Did he give you a name?” Tim asked. He knew that Rio probably just wanted to regain her breath, but if this had just happened, it was possible Tim could catch the culprit if he moved quickly. Not only could he bring the thief to justice, but he could also possibly return whatever it was that was stolen from this leopardess.
It was thrilling, in a way. It had been a while since Tim had gone after a real criminal. Not to say that there weren’t evil creatures running around all over the place, but it was much harder to gain intelligence when he was out on his own, completely separate from his pride. Tim hadn’t realized just how useful the pride had been before.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:52 am
Rio shook her head at all the questions. Was this lion planning on going after the thief? “No, no name.” She furrowed her brows, trying to remember what the thief looked like, but no image came to her mind. “He was brown, I think. Maybe bits of white. Natural-looking.” What species had he been? Lion? Leopard? Hyena? All she could remember was that he had been fast. “I don’t need the jewelry back. Is too much trouble.” Rio decided, shaking her head. The leopardess looked up at Red Robin, face serious. “But this thief, he leave me to die. If you catch him, you teach him lesson.” She growled, tail lashing out in anger behind her. “He go across lake, towards moon.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:53 am
Natural-looking? It wasn’t much to go on, but it was better than nothing. Plus he had the direction he was going in too. Tim could make it work. “Thank you. I’ll do whatever I can to catch him.” He promised, giving her a nod. “Find someplace safe to rest.” Tim turned and began wading into the river, fur getting soaked once more. He climbed out on the other side, taking a moment to shake the water out of his fur. It wouldn’t do to catch a chill while pursuing this thief. Tim gave Rio a brief nod as a goodbye before racing off in the direction the thief had gone. It felt good to be back at work again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:53 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
