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Her day had started early, reluctantly waking up from a good and very sweet dream, Mwali's golden eyes opening a little while before dawn. She knows today is her turn in rotation to hunt, she rather enjoys her hunting days and one of the best ways to see whats in the area is to go to the watering hole early so she can see what animals come to drink. Mwali slowly sat up part of the way stretching her athletic flame touched body and opened her jaws in a somewhat long yawn. She was thirsty and this time of the morning was when the water was at its coolest, Just the thought of it sounded good as her jaws closed with a soft pop of her teeth.
Mwali did enjoy the company of the other lionesses for the most part, however she liked to get a head start on her hunting days and it excited her to be in the lead on a hunt. She enjoyed the cunning and the sheer challenge that a hunt brings, the feeling of fulfillment when she and her pride-sisters bring in good prey for everyone. She enjoyed how her role in life was so important to others and because their needs drives her passion, she is rather good at hunting. Having a full belly was also another reason she enjoyed the hunt and she would need it too, some times hunting takes her miles from her home, even the watering hole was a decent stroll away. Perhaps she should start hunting for a male too.. Mwali has been having dreams lately that she had cubs of her own, the way their little eyes would light up at her hunting stories, the way their tiny little faces nuzzled into her stomach was something of a dream that she often didn't want to wake up from.

She arrived quietly and somewhat low in the grass, not far from the bank of the watering hole, her jaws open a moment or two to try and pick out scents but that also reminded her of how try her mouth was. The breeze was moving in a way where it wasn't Brunivald's scent coming to her, but it was hers slowly headed toward him instead. She had made it there right as the sun rose, so she used its first breaking light and where it warmly lit the grass to her fiery pelts advantage. She didn't see many animals of prey as of yet, but as she walked forward from the sun touched pale grass to the edge of the water, she paused. Something caught her attention, laying there just down the bank from her with his belly to the sky and his rich red mane splayed out around his thick shoulders was a male lion. It was Brunivald a guard and a handsome devil at that too. She has seen him coming and going, every day diligently keeping guard over the pride and thier lands, but right now he was so incredibly cute in contrast to his power, with his belly up and classically nappish looking. Her shadow castes long and dark in the brightening sunrise as she lowers her head and her orange-ish red chest down to lap at the cool water, right as the light touches it. As she does it sends fiery ripples out and away from her heated face, almost like the flames of her chin and her fire licked paws were spreading into the water, but she kept those gilded orbs on this relaxing lion. He seemed relaxed for now but you never know what a male will do and she really did not know this one very well.

She didn't seem terribly alarmed or edgey, just thirsty and observant. She didn't expect there to be anyone here this early so there is this shine of softened surprise and curiosity in her warm colored eyes. She had not had any cubs of her own yet, it was a goal of every lioness to bring new pride members into the fold and to further the bloodlines of the strong. She hadn't picked out a male yet but she often found herself distracted by the thoughts of one. Her scent traveled in the slow breeze to Brunivald, carrying the smells of the grasses and brush she had walked through, mixed with her own fiery and rather spicy natural scent.
Her ember tipped tail swayed back and fourth behind her form as she found herself pausing in her drinking a moment, she hoped this male was at least tolerant of her, or even better, friendly! Yeah! friendly would be nice! she thought to herself, always able to look of the brighter side of things and one who faithfully guards the rest of the pride is a male that has her respect.

Being spoken to and in such a pleasant way and in such a easy voice to hear made her ears perk forward. Her head and body lifted from the shimmering pool's surface as she raised to her flaming paws, her trimmed and athletic body framed in the burning colors of the African sunrise. She got a small but warm smile across her heated muzzle and she responded in a quiet but rather smooth tone, her voice was a softer one and at a medium pitch and her golden eyes stayed fixed on Brunivald much like his own fiery gaze stayed on her.
" Good morning Brunivald " she was fairly charismatic most of the time, but being acknowledged and spoken to by such a strong and broad chested lion still make her a little nervous but in a good way.

" As pretty as the sunrise is, today is my turn in the hunting rotation. I like to get a glimpse of what comes to drink in the area. Seems I found something impressive to look at. " She flirts lightly with him. Her eyes moving along his form and back to his smouldering coal adorned face. She sits neatly now, her colors dancing through the water at her feet as it falls still. She is curious to see how he responds, she can be bold and she knows that typically doesn't fly with males. Again here she is, distracted from the reason she is here and not taking note of anything else that may walk up to the water to drink.

Mwali watched Brunivald has he seemed amused or maybe slightly stifled, her gaze keeping to him as he played it off well and stretched. He possessed such astonishing power, his claws were sharp and pleasant to hear as they raked over the stone he was laying on a moment ago. To have such power and still conduct himself with an easy attitude was something she enjoyed. A male who is all full of himself and flaunts his power constantly would be rather off-putting to her.
She liked how light-hearted he seemed to be as he spoke and dismounted the risen stones, to spite his size he moved without much effort, even though his muscled healthy frame was heavy he moved with a kind of lightness. Perfect for working guard duty. She gained a playful expression to her warm face as he walked to her and to the waters lightly moving edge. Inwardly she appreciated his form and his ability to move so easily, she adored the markings over him, like the whispering coals from a fire.

Paying the compliment to the "sunrise" with his folded flirt made Mwali get a somewhat wry smile and yet a very faint blush. She may have started this but it isn't without the weight of it's effect on the girl. Her tone a little more cunning and playful but richer than before as she responded " Mmmm oh yes, that sunrise was lovely now wasn't it?" Her gold eyes close and open again with a fun glimmer in them, her tail sliding across the ground behind her slowly. "I think today is going to be hotter than yesterday, plus it has had a warmer start." she stated with a flirty but playful squint, as their eyes locked she became a little nervous but her bold nature still held, not noticing the buffalo that came to drink across the way, or at least it seemed she didn't at first. Her ear tiled toward the drinking buffalo and her eyes seemed to refocus, her gaze soon followed. The big buffalo and a warthog has come to drink across the water from them, when did the warthog get there?
She thought but immediately her mind drifted elsewhere, like a leaf caught up in the heat of a fire. I have the attention of a handsome and strong, pleasant lion! Oh I hope I don't blow this. He seems smart and so at ease with himself. He already works so hard to protect others.. To protect me. Could he really be what I have been looking for? Her mind toiled with the wants of her heart.

She spoke quietly to him again, she wondered what it was like to be a guard so she decided to ask him, her tone quizzical and smooth. She was genuinely interested in his life and his experiences. " The life of a guard, I always wondered what it was like. I couldn't imagine my life without the thrill of the hunt. Does it get boring?" Her gilded eyes reconnected with his fire ringed gaze again, her expression was still a little playful but she has this certain gleam of curiosity to her too, she never hid her emotions, she was bad at it anyway and as a lioness she stayed very genuine and true to herself. " Do you have to fight often?" She kept her body still, though the animals tolerate lions and one another for the sake of life bringing water, she still didn't want to spook them.

Mwali watched his restlessness and thought it do be a really cute trait, her observance was keen like a hunter should be and not much gets past her. Body language, smell all of it was part of the moment. She didn't often talk about herself, even with the other lionesses, instead she let her actions speak for her passion and allow her to shine in what she does.
Her smile widened more as her wryness was replaced by interest and respect once he began to answer her questions. She enjoyed how excited he got about the topic and she found herself amazed that he trains daily, honing his skill much like she does when she isn't hunting. Creeping along behind other lionesses, behind bugs, and seeing just how close she can get before they notice her.
They both have a passion to them about their place in the pride and she related to him, how it gives him pride and purpose to battle and protect. A melodic small laugh came from her that had a feeling of excitement and amazement as he described it, being able to picture it in her mind "Wow! That really sounds cool and very challenging! " her voice unintentionally was laced with a faint purr like murring, she loved hearing about his experience and respected just how hard he works to maintain it too. Her shimmering eyes stay fixed on him now as she stood to her paws, him taking a few more steps closer and the rumble in his chest brought her own nervousness to a stand still. He seemed to enjoy talking about this and Hopefully to me she thought to herself. " You train every day? I do too! " her pitch becoming warm with enjoyment of their conversation " I hunt twice a week so in the off time I am always annoying the other hunters by stalking them. Seeing just how long I can keep my stealth up! You are passionate about the fray the way I am with the hunt."

Now in her mind there was no buffalo, no warthog, just the two of them sharing their passion. She takes the last few steps toward Brunivald finish closing the gap as he surprised her with his generous invitation. He seemed to want her to join him, want her to observe and she was thrilled with the idea as a whole! Really? I can come watch?!? her golden eyes lit with sheer excitement and genuine intrigue as she responded, the front of her body doing this light bounce as she almost hopped with her front paws. Just the idea of it! How much she could learn and how it could help her in taking down large game "Yes! I would love to! My hunting party doesn't leave for a few more hours and I would really enjoy watching you spar! It must be exhilarating to grapple an opponent your size. How many fights would you say you've been in?"
Her interest doing nothing but build the longer she talks to him, it's somewhat adorable just how much she can get into a topic like this and she found herself really enjoying his company, and the way he tilted his head at her too. Her expression was brimming with absolute interest and real intrigue toward this fine lion that has invited her to see the world a moment from his point of view, her ears perked forward and her fiery tail fluff getting poofier with excitement.

Mwali smiles a bright smile up at him, his compliment of her skill as a sneaky hunter gave her a feeling of accomplishment. To be recognized for something she works so hard for by a big battle worthy male in the pride who's rank was so hard was fulfilling. When he leans his broad head down and boops her nose with his, it makes her blush a richer red than her coat and it lets her know where they stand, that his interests not only in their jobs but in one another align. She breaths in his robust scent again, hers is spicey and his is quite soothing. Mwali felt so safe being near him, security in his presence and her emotions has begun to make her stomach fill with butterflies. A softened expression came over her face as she heard his words and she purred softly in her sleek chest, her hear too was a thrum with a long lasting draw to him. "I agree, it would have been a terrible shame." She wants to know him, know more of who he is, and perhaps, if things stay their course, to discover one another through the wonders of Upendi. Something all but completely unknown to her.

Her Gilded orbs where softer now, with a haze almost like having a slightly dreamy look to them as he spoke to her again, Her muzzle braking into a wider and excited smile. She can't wait to see this! Males always have the advantage of size and strength on their side and she knew this was going to be really fun to watch. "I can't wait to see you in action! I might pick up a trick or two for downing large prey. Plus the idea of watching you spar sounds like fun for several reason." She makes a playful comment, her voice is steadily mixed with a soft purr. Mwali turns and follows along side Brunivald but a bit farther back than dead even, his sheer size making her look even sleeker next to his brawn. When he looks back at her, he is met with those golden eyes and a fang graced smile as she follows, not wanting to stray very far from him.

She listens to his answer to her last question, it was a fairly serious answer but that only added to it's importance. He was very right, that the stakes are much higher when it comes to a real fight. " I can understand that completely. Stalking pride members is very different than when taking that leap onto prey, even zebras and their kick can render a full grown lion with broken bones." Mwali watched Brunivald shake off the seriousness and look back at her with that lighter expression, which also in turn made her smirk back as she walked, here and there her shoulder ever so lightly touching his hip as the moved.
The sound of zebras coming to drink started fading as they left the watering hole behind. She got a sweeter smile on her flame touched face after he said he would protect her from anyone who even looked at her wrong. She gave a small chuckle and simply responded with "Good!"
She will cherish their meeting, it will be a fond memory for her, how by sheer chance and the will of the Great Kings of the past that they stumbled upon one another and during a perfect time. The mornings will always remind her of him now and just how cute he looked all belly up as they made their way back to pride rock together.

(and thats a wrap)