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 Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:15 pm
Like... her?
The cheetah was confused for a moment, wondering how anyone could think she had a beautiful soul after she had just confessed her darkest, most terrible secret. But once she thought about it for a moment, it brought her an intense feeling of comfort, and so her body went limp and she closed her eyes, still pressed against the lion.
"How is it that I'm lucky enough to have found someone like you?" she whispered gently. "I don't deserve it. But I hope you're right. Maybe.. maybe someday... I'll find them again. I only hope they've had good lives."
What if she did find them? She wouldn't blame them in the least for hating her, but could she take that hurt after going through so much already? She sighed again, her thin body shaking as she exhaled.
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:22 pm
Shaha's chuckle was deep and soft as it rumbled out of his chest.
"Luck. I suppose that could be it, but I tend to be in the right place at the right time," he said and allowed a slow sigh as he gently rested his chin on the top of her head.
"Don't say you don't deserve comfort. If you felt no pain from what you had done, then you would be cold and I wouldn't be here," he said softly, but there was a force behind his words. He was much stronger than he appeared, in mind and body.
"But you felt remorse. You felt the regret. And for that, you do deserve what little comfort I can offer," he finished, smiling softly down at her.
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:30 pm
Kiji hesitated for a moment before tilting her head back, removing it from under his chin, to look up at him. Her light brown eyes were filled with gratitude and they glittered with unspilled tears. "You're too kind," she said with her first faint smile. "Thank you... thank you."
She rested her cheek against his shoulder, physically weary from pouring out all her emotions.
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:37 pm
Shaha smiled back at her when she gifted him with a small. Faint as it was, it was still a smile and he took that to heart.
"There's no need to thank me, Kiji. I was glad to be here for you," he replied, his tone hushed.
He'd never felt this type of reaction before. Normally, when he helped another cope with something as difficult as her problem, he felt happy for them and that they had gotten through whatever had been hurting them. But with her, he felt much happier, glad she had stopped crying. He never could stand a female's tears, but hers seem to hurt him more than usual. Maybe it was the state she was in. Yes, that was it.
He closed his eyes and sighed again, resting his head on hers once more.
"How long have you been like this, Kiji? Gods... You're so thin, I'm afraid you might snap..." he whispered, not opening his eyes.
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:22 pm
Her eyes remained closed as she murmured, "Months. I've barely left my den since they were born, and they're almost adults now, I'd think. Eating wasn't really one of my priorities. I haven't cared much about anything."
Kiji opened her eyes, looking up at him with a slight sparkle in her eyes. "But then again," she said slowly. "I'm a cheetah. I'm built for speed, not like you... you bulky lions."
Humour! She blinked in surprise at herself. There was some sort of calming aura about him and she felt totally relaxed in his presence.
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Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 6:26 pm
At first Shaha was saddened by her answer. But when she made the comment about his build, the laughter rumbled out of his chest, his eyes closed with his mirth.
"I guess I am rather big, aren't I? Sometimes I wish I could run like you cheetahs. But, alas, I guess the gods planned for me to be a big, old, lazy ball of fluff, huh?" he asked, breaking off with a chuckle. He was glad she was loosening up. It was good for her to express more emotions.
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:14 pm
Kiji smiled slightly at him, flicking an ear to the side. "Running," she said softly. "Yes, it's great. Still, lions have the advantage of power on their side. Cheetahs are meant to run... we're not really built for battle."
At his lazy fluff comment, she chuckled as well. "But there's nothing better than stretching out in the sun, sleeping the day away..."
She grinned at the memory. Oh, how many times she had done that! Suddenly she realized that she was still pressed against the lion and so she pulled away, still lying close to him. She blushed under her fur, suddenly embarassed about breaking down to a stranger, even though he had already reassured her.
"So," she said, rolling onto her side. "You travel, Shaha?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:25 pm
Shaha nodded at all of her comments, his head bobbing up and down until his mane fell boyishly in his eyes. He glared at the orange fluff and flicked it back with a wave of his head.
"I do travel, quite a lot, in fact," he said noting how she had pulled away. He didn't know why, but he smiled a little at that, as if it were a private joke.
I've always been a wanderer, just as my parents were before me. We went everywhere when I was little and I guess I just keep up with tradition," he explained, his eyes sparkling with laughter at some of the memories tucked away in his mind.
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:42 pm
Kiji smiled at him. "Mm, that's nice," she said, flicking her tail. "I do, too. I started when I was a juvenile. A lion cub stumbled into my clan territory and I took him home. I never really stopped wandering... I haven't stayed in one place for very long."
She rolled onto her back, stretching her legs. "I'm glad I met you out here."
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:46 pm
Shaha nodded and watched her as she stretched. He smiled and nodded in the fading light.
"I'm glad I met you, too. And I'm glad I could help you," he replied, wondering what she was going to do now that she was better. Of course, she'd probably go find something to eat, but after that...
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:10 pm
Kiji hesitated, wondering what was going to happen next. She felt so calm and at ease around him, the thought of parting ways was almost too much to bear. So, she said suddenly, "Would you mind if I traveled with you for a while?"
She blinked, smiling uneasily. "I mean, it'd be nice to have some company... if that's okay with you."
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:18 pm
Shaha sat up as the silence grew around them and looked to her when she spoke.
"Ah, it's fine with me, as long as you don't mind my other friend. Matawi's a leopardess that's been traveling with me for a little bit. We're to meet back up two days from now," he explained and hoped she didn't take his relationship with Matawi in the wrong sense. They were traveling friends.
Now where did that worry come from? he wondered and quickly shook his head.
"I hope you won't reconsider. I'd be happy if you'd join m-us," he quickly caught himself and chuckled over his stumbling words.
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:21 pm
Kiji's eyes genuinely brightened and another smile tugged at her lips. "Really?" she asked, sounding almost cublike. "I don't mind at all. Thanks, Shaha," she purred, leaning over to lick his cheek... in a friendly way, of course, she thought quickly.
"Although at some point, I'm going to try and find my cubs." Her tone was resolute for the first time and her expression confident. "I can't live like this anymore, not knowing what happened. I need to have closure... whether it be good or bad." The last few words were shaky, but she still seemed firm in her decision.
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:29 pm
Shaha nodded and matched her smile. He was glad she was coming with him and felt his spirits rise very high when she licked his cheek. His earlier, lonely thoughts no longer troubled him and he felt much better for some reason.
"I'm glad," he managed to say and looked to the horizon where the sun was quickly vanishing.
"I'll help you find your cubs, I promise. But," he said and smiled cheekily at her. "I'm thinking that it'll be getting dark soon and if they look anything like you, we won't be able to see them if we do find them," he chuckled. He wasn't sure if she was tired, as she'd probably been sleeping a lot of late, but he'd been walking almost all day and it was starting to catch up with him. A large yawn was evidence to that fact.
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:37 pm
She tilted her head, smiling lightly at him. "Thanks," she said, "but finding them is something I have to do on my own. I won't go too far, though. I'm not sure I want to be alone out there." She trembled slightly at the thought, but stopped quickly.
"You're right," she said with a chuckle. "The girl is gray and the boy is a dusty brown..." Kiji had blocked out most memories about the night she gave birth to and then abandoned them, but the mental image of the two little cubs was still vivid in her mind. "There's no point trying tonight."
She scooted closer to him, curling up as she pressed her side against his. He was right in his private thoughts - she wasn't particularly tired - but she was happy to lie here with her new friend. Her body shook as she exhaled deeply, a sigh of contentment.
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