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 Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 9:50 pm
Jeraha looked up at the falls. They stood together at the base, the massive monument of nature’s glorious power displayed before them in all its wonder. The rocks up the falls on either side of the water’s downward current were smooth and almost shiny, years of being beating by the water filing them down and giving them an impressive shine. The waterfall stood tall, thick water cascading over the silken rocks with a swiftness that justified the roar it emitted. It was indeed very loud, but Jeraha felt the beauty of it all would make the noise tolerable. If Chikala was made uncomfortable, they could always leave.
With the sun still setting on the horizon, the entire fall was cast in a golden light, glowing elegantly as it flowed. The water was so clear it was able to catch the reflection beautifully and fully. A few trees from the forest loomed over the water at various spots, roots and branches sweeping into the river. But for the most part the area was open. Jeraha found it funny. The place seemed oddly lovelier to him. Was it because of his company?
“The water’s pretty warm,” he said lightly, “it’s…. nice, right? Do you like it?” he asked hopefully, looking down at her. “We can… go somewhere else.” Boy, he was desperate to please her.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:21 pm
"No, it's... more amazing than I could have imagined," Chikala replied softly with a short shake of her head. She turned her astonished gaze on her guide, a smile fixed on her mouth. Her eyes met his and held, almost as if she couldn't bring herself to look away.
"Thank you, Jeraha, for bringing me here," she said, wondering if she had spoken too softly, if her voice had been drowned out by the falls. What came next was completely accidental. Well, not really, as it required movement on her part, but she did it anyways, as if she couldn't quite control her movements. She took a step closer to him and gently rubbed the side of her head against his cheek. If she had been taller, it would have been her cheek against his, but she would take what she could get.
A small sigh breathed out of her as the petite lioness decided to stop second-guessing her actions. She didn't want to be anything than what she was or hold back doing what felt right. And right now, that light nuzzle felt more right than anything she could remember.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:34 pm
Jeraha felt the shiver run down his spine. It was new and strange to him, both horrible and completely amazing. For a moment, he was frozen. He didn’t know what to do with himself. Was she looking for him to return the favor? Or maybe that would be too forward. Ah, to hell with thinking. What good had it done him thus far?
More and more he was starting to see that this entire thing was not being run by his mind, but by something else entirely.
So he returned the favor, lowering his head next to hers gently and rubbing his cheek against hers. He didn’t know what he was doing, and not just with her. This was something he had never done before. Ever. In his entire life.
Showing affection.
After a long moment of rubbing against her, taking in her scent, he pulled his head back, looking down at her once more with wide, surprised eyes. “I… I’m sorry,” he muttered gruffly, looking away from her, “I’m not really sure what happened.” Then again, she had started it, right? So why was he sorry? Nerves.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:50 pm
Chikala's heart quickened and her breathing caught again when he bent and nuzzled her cheek, but only for a moment. Once it had passed, she let out another contented sigh and closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his cheek against hers, his fur against hers. Jeraha was her hero, the one who had returned. He had felt so much hurt in his life, she was glad to be the one to help him see that there was more to the world than pain and loss.
Her eyes were slow to open, but once they had they looked softly up into his, a hint of confusion in them. Had she done something wrong? Doubt swirled in her, but then her spoke, apologizing as if he had done something wrong. She blinked, more confusion passing over her features.
"Sorry? What's there to be sorry about?" she asked, tilting her head just a little bit to one side. She glanced down a bit, with only her eyes and a tiny dip of her head before continuing.
"I'm... not quite sure either. It just felt right. If either of us should apologize, it should be me," she added and returned her gaze upward, her lower lip held carefully between her teeth, a sign of uncertainty.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 10:59 pm
Jeraha cleared his throat. If he had been nearer the water, he probably would have bent down to get himself a drink, just to give himself some kind of occupation. He was messing everything up. “No… you’re right…” he replied awkwardly, “there’s nothing to be sorry about… I’m not –really- sorry…I just… I didn’t know…” he needed to shut up, the massive male staring down at his paws in defeat. It was better to not say anything for the moment.
When she mentioned she should be the one to apologize, he looked back up. “No!” he said quickly, “you don’t have to be sorry. I’m… glad, that you did that. I don’t think… I could have. I didn’t know… what you were thinking.” Here comes the awkward again. But this time he didn’t shut up, still looking into her eyes. Well.
Eye.
“This is all just weird for me. I guess I’m not dealing with it how a normal lion would, am I? I should have been the one to make the first move. But… I do… I mean… I like you. A lot. So how about neither of us apologize? Because, it seems to me anyway, that neither of us need to. You’re right. It did feel… right.” Oh fantastic, now he was repeating himself. Shaking his head, he offered a faint smile as he moved closer. “I think it’s best if I don’t talk for a while. Everything seems to be coming out in moron.” He nuzzled her again, this time with a bit more fondness driving it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:11 pm
The soft smile returned to Chikala's features and she lost the confusion in her as understanding came. He was just as unsure as she was, and worried that he would mess it up, something she worried over as well. And that made her feel better, that they were one the same page.
"Well, I wouldn't really know how a 'normal lion' would deal with it. I only know how I would deal with it, and I hardly think I'm normal," she said cheerily, though her voice was still as soft as it could be and still be heard over the falls. When he nuzzled her again, her eyes closed with another sigh and and leaned into it happily.
"I don't think anything you say makes you sound like a moron. Not to me, anyways," she added in his ear, her smile reflected in her voice. She wasn't quite sure how she had managed to end up in such a perfect situation, but there she was, beside one of nature's wonders, with a lion she had come to care for very much and whom apparently liked her "a lot". She must have done something that fate liked. A LOT.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:21 pm
Jeraha was happy.
Hand to God, he was happy. He wasn’t sure how he had suddenly gotten over all the bad karma in his life to be able to share such a lovely moment with someone who meant a lot to him, but he wasn’t about to trade it for the world. The large creature wasn’t going to argue the matter. Even if he felt he had done a lot of crap in his life and didn’t really deserve to be feeling so nice, he was too selfish to make it stop.
It was just too great.
He sighed softly, pulling back again to look down at her. Enough nuzzling. He didn’t want to wear out the great sensation by doing it too much. Hopefully there would be other opportunities to cuddle. “You know, I wasn’t kidding back when I told you that you’ve changed me. I really think you have. And I’m grateful too.” He chuckled faintly, looking back over at the water. Strange how what he had brought her to see was suddenly completely unimportant.
Well now he was awkward again. He wasn’t sure what they were supposed to do now. He had an idea, but moving too fast would certainly not be a good idea. “Maybe we should find some place to sleep for the night,” he said after a thoughtful pause, “it’s going to be dark soon…”
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:33 pm
Chikala watched Jeraha carefully as he spoke, considering carefully how she would respond. It was true that she liked the change in him, but there were things about him she had enjoyed from the beginning. His sharp tongue, for one thing. And his stubbornness. Normal creatures might find those to be unwelcome traits, but she found them endearing in their own special way. They presented a challenge for her mind, and that was a dance she enjoyed. So she had to make sure that e understood her feelings on the matter.
"I'm... glad you like the change. And I'm happy to have done good things for you. But... I hope that you don't change too much. I... kinda liked your teasing, as long as it didn't go too far," she explained, her smile turning a little cheeky. Her head tilted up to look at the sky and she nodded slowly. There was a few streaks of sunlight left in the sky, but the world was quickly darkening.
"I think you're right. The trip here was kinda long, too. Sleep sounds like a pleasant idea."
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 11:44 pm
Jeraha chuckled. "Trust me," he said, "it'll take more than the eyes of a pretty female to change me completely. I just mean I don't usually hang around others so long. Nor have I ever... cuddled someone." He watched her, smiling. It was amusing to him that she was actually worried that he might change too much. No, he would probably always piss other animals off and say the odd rude thing to her; that was just how he was. Actually, he was glad to hear that she didn’t want him to change too much. It meant he wouldn’t have to hide who he really was to her or anything like that, which he had instantly started to worry about.
Though he didn’t think he could be completely normal either. There were some parts of his personality he just wasn’t proud of.
“Alright, I’ll find us some place to rest. Try not to miss me too much while I’m gone.” Hey, there was something new to tease her about- their relationship. Or was it too soon? He didn’t care. Poking fun at things was still the only way he was really able to keep himself from being embarrassed or too awkward.
He moved off to find them their sleeping place, discovering a den not too far away. It hadn’t exactly been empty, but by the time he called Chikala over the inhabitants had… decided… to find somewhere else to sleep.
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Posted: Fri Aug 01, 2008 12:02 am
Her laughter at his teasing followed Jeraha as he went off to look for somewhere for them to sleep for the night and she sat, watching the waterfall until he returned. It really was a beautiful sight, even in the darkening world around her. She thought back to her life recently, how much things had changed. She wasn't afraid anymore, at least she didn't think so. She honestly didn't think she could be afraid of anything with Jeraha near, except maybe afraid for him. She pushed that thought from her mind and tried to focus on other things as her eyes began to droop a bit.
He liked her. He called her pretty. She managed to make him laugh and smile, things she had figured, in the more logical part of her mind, were very difficult to achieve with his personality when she first met him. She could very well lose herself to this strong, rough, and yet kind, male, and what's more was she didn't really mind. Not at all.
She smiled at that perplexing thought and turned that smile on him when he returned. She followed him once again, this time in silence to the den he had found. She gave him a look that was one part amusement and one part chiding over the fresh scent within the den, but she only shook her head and laughed a little bit behind closed lips and curled up beside him to sleep.
She fell asleep to the distant sound of water, just below the breathing of the lion whom she was growing to care for more and more with each passing day.
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