Welcome to Gaia! ::

She hadn't been out her long, but already it felt as though it had been an eternity. She had decided to take some time in the rogue lands, to clear her head. The high altitude in the mountains was not agreeing with her as of late and as a result, she spent most of her time asleep in her den. It felt like such a waste, to spend so much time holed up in her den, rather than out and about within the pride. Perhaps this new change of scenery would help her to adjust once she returned home.

She really hoped it would.

Inhaling a deep breath, Kaimana allowed the nostalgia of her youth to return. She remembered her travels, the many friend she's met along the way. And even that one male she'd met ... she'd thought he was the one, but he'd simply taken off at the perfect opportunity. She knew it was meant to be, but she just couldn't help but think what if?

Kicking up some dust, she finally realized where her feet had taken her. She was back to the beginning of her new journey.

The Swamps.

The ash was still thick on the ground, and it sent a pang of sorrow through her heart. How she missed the swamps ... though they held a lot of water, it wasn't water she had feared. It was incredibly shallow and didn't hold much mystery ... unless you were afraid of ghosts. In which case, you were out of luck.

Sighing heavily, and trying to hold back her tears, Kaimana nestled herself on a particularly high mound of ash and tried to relax. Just being here, surrounded by her memories seemed to be helping her body to mend. Though her heart, was a different story.

Her relaxation method was going great! For all of about five minutes ... that's when the voice had broken through the fog and interrupted her little peace of heaven. At first she ignored it, thinking she might have mistook the wind for a voice ... it wasn't too uncommon especially not for her.

But then it spoke again, and had her full attention. Tilting her head, she pin pointed the voice to a pale lion at the foot of her nesting ground. She would entertain him for the moment, but only from a distance. She wasn't a fool, she knew the dangers of the rogue lands .... this male would have to prove himself if he intended for her to take any steps closer.

"Is it? I guess it does tend to make me sneeze ..." Hearing his light chuckle, made a small smile cross her face. Though perhaps she wasn't aware that she was in some way, the butt of the joke.

"Oh ... I know ... I was just reliving some old memories is all." Her small smile remained, though her eyes contained the sadness she wouldn't show on her lips. "I used to live here ... before all hell broke loose, that is."

Kaimana smiled gently at the rather curious male. He seemed just that, curious. Not a threat to her at all! Pulling herself slowly to her feet, she carefully climbed down from her ashy throne and dipped her head politely to the male she was now face to face with.

"Heh, your first guess was correct. Though I do consider my pride my family .. so I guess you're right on bother accounts!" She tried to keep her smile bright and inviting, but it seemed he was all too aware of the tragedies that had occurred here. "Oh dear, please don't apologize, everything happens for a reason. Even if that reason isn't immediately clear ..." Kaimana smiled, looking around the ashen area before turning to answer his final question.

"Indeed I have, or rather we have. My pride was blessed enough to be taken in by another pride. They cared for our wounded and fed out hungry. As a respect to them, we quickly made our leave so as not to disturb their festivities. Though we soon found a place quite close to them to start anew, and there we remain. Safe, sound, and happy." Kaimana's tail flicked in happiness as she ended her story on a happy note.

"Of course there were some of us who didn't make it to our new home. But those lions will never be forgotten, they remain with us in spirit." Kaimana stretched her front legs out in front of the male, before tilting her head at him curiously.

"You sure ask a lot of questions ... why is that?"

Kaimana sighed happily as Dragomir tried to cover his tracks. It was a weird feeling that she had, sort of a mix of relief and bashfulness. She lazily lifted a paw to her lips to stifle her small laughter, but she was confident he could still see the gleam in her eyes.

"Y'know, you're sort of adorable when you get caught off guard." The lioness nodded her head lightly, and flicked back her smaller hair tuft from her eyes. Yes, definitely adorable. "Worry not ...." Oh! Kaimana could have smacked herself on the forehead for all the stupid things she'd done. She hadn't even asked the poor guy his name! "Forgive me, I don't think I heard your name ... mine is Kaimana." Bending her legs lightly before her, she attempted a courtesy. She wasn't very good at it, but it was the action that counted! At least, she hoped it was.

"Anyway, worry not friend. I understand your plight quite well. I was merely pulling your leg!"

The grin on Kaimana's face was one of pure enjoyment, this lion, however goofy he may seem - was actually a very sweet thing. He seemed to genuinely care about her, right from the start. Even before he knew anything about her, he'd been worried for her health, and now that he knew her a little more, he was worried he would upset her. She'd said it once, and she was going to say it again! He was just too dang adorable! She had to catch the vibrations in her throat to prevent herself from showing off just how elated she actually was with the lovely gentleman.

"I wouldn't think you'd be capable of such a thing, no matter how hard you tried. In the small time i've known you, you seem very much like the type who would do anything to upset or harm another willingly." She nodded at him happily. "And I do so appreciate you attempt, you've brightened my day a considerable bit! Just look! I went from lying on a pile of ash, to talking to a very handsome and polite young lion. How much better could it get?"

She was growing antsy of sitting still, as she often did once she was on all fours for a short period of time. So she began to pace, not an awkward pace, just a slow steady pace in front of him.

"Dragomir you say? That's quite the royal sounding name you have there ... I like it!" As she paced, she inched slightly closer, allowing her tail to angle lightly across his face in just the right way. "And who's to say everything has to be planned anyway? I for one, like a little spontaneity in my day ... don't you?"

Kaimana could feel Dragonmir shiver under the touch of her tail and she couldn't but let out a small chuckle at his reaction. It was expected of course, most male's reacted strangely to the touch of a female. She didn't fully understand it, but then she wasn't a male .. so perhaps she never would. Either way, it mattered not at the moment. She had the attention of a striking young male and there was just no way she was going to let him slip out of her grasp. He was too sweet, adorable, and well she liked all of those traits. Quite hard to come by in the rogue lands to be truthful!

"Well, listen to you being all assertive, I like it!" She purred happily, before winking at him. "Tell you what, you lead the way and i'll follow you wherever you feel a better place to be is handsome!"