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So now what?

Was he just supposed to sit around until a snake actually did bite him? Grumbling to himself, he knew he had to find something fun to do. But nothing was coming to him. That's when the scent caught him. It was sweet, almost too sweet, with a hint a spice blended nicely into the fragrance. The fur on the back of his neck stood on end as he looked this way and that.

He knew that smell, it was a female, and thankfully not a leopard. Goodness only knew what he'd do if he ran into a leopard while he was bored. His eyes rolled back in his head as if to answer that very question.

Taking one last long whiff of the scent, he turned his head in the direction he felt it was coming from. Then, as suddenly s the scent had appeared, so did she. She was a lovely little thing, nearly blending in with the white sands, she likely would have if it weren't for her dainty pink splatter stripes. He stood there a moment, gawking at her unsure of what to do with himself. Before finally deciding he should go over. Maybe he wasn't going to be so bored much longer?

It didn't take long for him to cross the short distance between them, but with the doldrums he'd been stuck in lately, it felt like an eternity! Every step felt like it took hours, but it was obvious he was over dramatizing the situation.

Upon reaching her, he quickly went to open his mouth in greeting but took note of her posture. Not one to be left out of a joke, he slunk himself to the ground and lay just as flat as she did upon the sand. The warm sensation really got his spirits up, but he was nervous to say anything. So instead he merely lay there, locked in a staring contest with her until he simply couldn't take it anymore.

"I see why you like it down here. The sands really warm on my belly!" He grinned a toothy grin and nearly sneezed as sand whirled in his nostrils.

Extremely."

Drakma smiled boldly watching the female as she clawed her fingers through the sand. He'd heard someone mention once, that in some far off land this was thought of as therapeutic. It hadn't really interested him at the time, but now he wondered whether it actually was.

His attention was focused on her nails, but the longer he gazed, the more bored he became.

"I'm Drakma, by the way. Sorry to intrude, I was just so bored. I thought you might enjoy the company. If my thoughts were wrong ... I can always leave you alone once again."

Hoping she wouldn't turn him away Drakma put on the most adorable pair of puppy dog eyes he could muster. Flitting his tail back and forth behind him.

What a relief.

He let out a sigh of relief, and covered it by pretending to sneeze. Which really wasn't the smartest idea. It stirred up the sand around them, and only caused him to go into a sneezing fit.

"The PLEASURES All-" A loud sneeze rocked the space between the two and Drakma looked more than a bit embarrassed. "Phew, pardon me. The pleasure is all mine Zawadi." He dipped his head in respect and continued to answer her comments happily.

"Ah then you're very much like me. I travel a lot so there isn't a ton of time for me to interact with others. I guess today is my lucky day, to run into such lovely company." He flashed Zawadi a toothy grin before continuing on. "I guess you could say i'm from around here. I have a friend who lives nearby, she's raising a litter of my cubs. So lately i've been sticking to this area. She brings them out to visit me every now and again, and I like to not miss such opportunities."

Drakma began to smile with pride as Zawadi became more interested in the loves of his life. His lovely and gorgeous cubs. "Oh yes, I have 5 of them, the most adorable little things you've ever seen. And they're growing up so quickly too." His dopey smile widened with each time he thought of his darlings.

"They're the sweetest little things. Each of them has their own distinct interests, and well i'm proud of them for that. Some of them want to follow in their Mom's footsteps, but the boys ... I think i've got a couple of lady killers on my paws." He laughed to himself as he remembered back to his boys talking about all the pretty ladies in their pride. A pride they would soon be leaving.

"Oh no, their Mother and I are not mates. But we are very, very good friends," Drakma nodded fervently as he tried to figure out how exactly to word his next comment. "Their Mother ... she bats for the same team as I do. Due to that, she would never be able to have cubs of her own, so I offered myself as a surrogate of sorts. It was probably one of the best decisions i've ever made." His dopey smile remained, but he sobered up enough to look Zawadi in the eyes.

"I know lots of ladies want a connection in order to have cubs, but i've met a few ladies who want nothing to do with their cubs Fathers. I'm sure the right Father for your future cubs will come along soon enough. And then, you'll be thankful he did."

Drakma's dopey grin only grew wider and wider with the cheetah's praise for his children.

"I really do, I only wish I were able to see them more often. My friend .. she brings them to visit me as often as possible, but sometimes its hard to get them all up and ready to go all by herself. She's recently taken on a mate, so its made things easier, but as with all cubs they are definitely a handful." Shaking his head in silent memories, he couldn't help but giggle. He knew she wouldn't understand the gesture, but all the same, it meant something to him.

"Her pride is very anti-male, so I can't exactly go to the borders and request to see them. So you can understand the troubles I go through sometimes. If they don't show up for a meeting, I worry for their health and safety. And if they do show up, I still check every last one for bumps and bruises. Their mom, she doesn't really like that I do that ... but I worry for them being so far from their Father." Nodding to himself he acknowledged Zawadi's response.

"I would have the utmost faith that you would raise them well. You seem like a fairly genuine cheetah, if you don't mind my comment. I'm sure you would be a fine single or mated parent."

As the conversation switched to his cubs once again, he began to choke up. He wasn't sure how much further into this conversation he could go without bawling his eyes out. The poor guy, while definitely a toughie, was very weak of heart when it came to his children.

"I'd love to tell you all about them, but how about that mean first?" Clearing his throat, Drakma stood to his feet, and pawed away at the dirt and sand caked ot his fur. He waited for his companion to stand before turning his back on her and beginning their walk.