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 Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 7:08 pm
 The chill night air felt wonderful against her hot pelt. She'd been running for a long time. Still she wasn't where she was going. It would be too hot during the day to move like that. That meant her trip was likely to take a second day, well night, whatever. Meltem slowed to a walk and panted.
It was the right time of the season in the jungle for her to collect certain things that were otherwise hard to come by. While her pride had wanted the items, not any were willing to make the long exhausting trip with her. She sighed as she realized she'd have to carry it all back herself. Maybe she should look into getting a familiar who could help her carry things. Maned wolves were fairly large and sturdy. The lioness contemplated the options as she walked and caught her breath.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 7:12 pm
 Walking the tree road was a challenge, even for Ostium. To move from the branch of one tree to the branch of a separate tree wasn't easy, especially not when you were higher up than an elephant's back or a giraffe's head. To do so without indicating your presence to those on the ground? Nearly impossible. But he'd never get that good if he didn't practice. And speaking of practice, it seemed now was a good opportunity. There was a figure down below, a light-colored pelt easily obvious in the scanty moonlight that broke through the canopy. Intrigued, the leopard began to follow the individual from above.
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magnadearel rolled 2 6-sided dice:
6, 3
Total: 9 (2-12)
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 7:33 pm
Her breath slowly came back to her, and as it did, her head lifted higher and her steps became surer. It really was a pretty time to be here. Meltem hummed happily to herself. Delicate scents wafted in her direction and threaten to distract her from her purpose. Her path wavered each time a new scent caught her attention. No. I must get what I came for, for the pride. She shook her head and corrected her course.
One day, she promised herself, I will come down at this time just to explore! It would be delightful! All the wonderful things she could find and discover. Again she regretted that she had no one to share this with. Meltem settled down and began to work, hunting for specific plants that she used to the benefit of the pride. Maybe she should bring several whole samples to see if they would take in the soil of her home. Then she wouldn't have to go quite so far for them. Eagerly she began look around for a small plant that would be easy to dig up and carry.
(If the numbers match she notices him, if not she won't until he makes himself obvious. XD)
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 7:37 pm
Either he was doing better than he'd hoped at remaining concealed, or the figure - a lioness, he noticed - was just not very observant. Ostium hoped for the former but resigned himself to the latter. It was strange though, she kept looking around with a great deal of energy, but didn't seem to notice a thing.
The leopard descended to the lowest branches, still some distance above the ground. Unfortunately, he moved more quickly than he should have, allowing some leaves to shake and fall to the forest floor.
Curses.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 7:46 pm
She'd just found a suitably small plant that looked like it would survive her digging it up and carrying it home. Meltem had just set herself to digging when a rain of leaves practically fell on her head. The lioness backed up quickly, aware things could be dangerous here. She made a disgruntled noise when she saw not a huge constrictor above her but a dark leopard silhouetted by the moonlight.
"What? Hey! What are you doing up there?!" She took a closer look. Those branches were still quite high. "How did you get up there?" She asked sounding less annoyed and more mystified. The idea of her being up there fascinated her. If she got up there she could see so far! And reach all those pretty smelling flowers that so often eluded her. "Won't you please show me how?"
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 7:50 pm
Apparently she was a talker. It seemed it was his fate to always meet creatures who absolutely insisted on filling the silence with words. And, in far too many cases, his silence simply meant that they spoke even more. None of which made the leopard inclined to leave his perch.
Admittedly, he had to wonder what on earth the lioness was doing, digging up a plant. It was a plant. Not edible, at least, not by a lioness or leopard, and it didn't look special to him. It wasn't even particularly attractive.
Well, she could just be mad.
Ostium still wasn't going to go down there and subject himself to unnecessary amounts of speech, though he wasn't yet annoyed enough to leave based on that alone.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 7:58 pm
Meltem stared up at him for a long time before she realized that he wasn't going to respond. Well! She gave a soft huff to herself. That was rude, but this wasn't her home. Was she messing something up? If so, why didn't he say something? She looked around trying to see if there was anything usual about the area. It didn't look like a leopard was living here per se.
On second look she noticed the destruction of the vegetation where she'd been tramping and digging. Guiltily she glanced up again. "Sorry to mess everything up." Meltem scrapped some dirt back into the hole wistfully. She really wanted that plant. Now realized that she might be stealing it from someone else. It wasn't like he had markers around!
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 8:18 pm
Ah, the joys of assumptions. It was interesting, the leopard thought, how many thought him rude or arrogant when he failed to respond to their words. Not a one ever considered that there might be a larger reason behind his lack of reaction. Of coruse, Ostium was happy to act the part and refuse to deign to notice so many obnoxious individuals.
Why did she think he cared about the plant though? Still curious, the leopard settled down on his branch, lying down with his tail hanging off of the wood. He'd see what information - or enjoyment - the lioness would provide him with.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2016 8:29 pm
Once she'd fixed the spot she'd expected him to say something or satisfied he'd leave. No. Instead he laid down! Meltem felt her cheeks flush. What was his deal? Her tail twitched irritably now. She'd just wanted to gather some blasted plants! The lioness glanced at him out of the corner of her eyes. Hmmm. An idea occurred to her.
Moving slowly she started to drift away from him. She'd still gather what she wanted, except she wouldn't try to take any whole plants. With luck he'd stay put and leave her alone. He really wasn't doing anything to her though. Except watching. Why should that unsettle her so? Meltem mulled that over for a bit as she carefully plucked the leaves and flowers she needed. For a moment she even forgot he was there watching her.
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2016 3:29 pm
A faint smile touched Ostium's lips as the lioness began to move away from him. So, she was going to give up, eh? Simply because of his presence? The leopard hadn't intended to force her away, but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Really, it was quite amusing that she was allowing him to intimidate her. As a lioness, she was larger than he was, and if he descended to the floor, she could certainly put him in his place.
Yet his silent presence in the tree above her seemed to have sapped her courage.
People were so strange.
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Posted: Sun May 08, 2016 3:38 pm
Admitting defeat for now, the lioness gathered what she came for into her pouches. She had what she'd come to get, even if she hadn't spent as much time here as she thought she would. Next time! Meltem glanced at the leopard once more, if only felt right to say something in farewell. "Good bye. Maybe I'll see you next time." By now she didn't expect a reply. She slipped away into the undergrowth planning to find a spot to stop once the sun came up.
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