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 Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:09 am
Hera was no mere cub anymore. She was young, slender and very much an adolescent. She had a fine coat, a bushy tail and very clean fur, though it was looking a little wet from splashing across the stream that ran between wilderness and her little makeshift den.
She loved the jungle, it was whre she had been born and raised and where she had chosen to spend all her time. But it did have one downfall. It sure was lonely. Hera was slowly beginning to feel the pang of loneliness weigh down on her, like a great slab of stone. It was crushing her heart and soul, keeping her from finding smiles very easily.
So, for once, Hera had decided to take action. She was going out into the jungle to find someone like herself. A leopard!
She slipped up into a nearby tree with such grace it seemed as if she were part of the tree herself. Once there she shimmed along the branch, watching nervously as it creaked and bowed beneath her weight. "Careful now..." Speaking to herself helped somewhat.
She leapt then, soared through the air to land on a verge of grass which she slipped into, her bright red pelt flashing between the green strands. She gave strange rumbling calls as she went, a sort of greeting to those who might be nearby.
For once, she wasn't going to slip by unseen. She'd had enough of being alone.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:31 am
The snow white leopard was use to being on her own, she didn't really care much about whether or not there were other leopards about. She was use to it just being her and her daughter. She did have to wonder sometimes as to where her young daughter was but she was getting older and Alana had to allow her some freedom.
Today she had decided to lay on a low branch, her white tail hanging beneath her. She loved to stretch herself out. She loved the trees! She found they were the best place to watch her daughter when she was younger while allowing her to think she was on her own. Trees were also the perfect place to lounge about without having to worry about anything really.
It was while she was scanning the grass that she spotted the red leopardess, it was a bit strange really. She hadn't seen a red leopardess before, had she? She couldn't remember seeing one anyone.
"Hey!"
She called out, which was a bit strange for Alana but she was starting to feel a little bored and a conversation would be nice. It would help if Alana had some friends for moments like this but she had always been a shy thing and avoided others mostly.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 8:40 am
Hera froze, a single forepaw outstretched, her eyes wide. That voice? She turned her head very, very slowly, whiskers flinching as she scented the air. The other leopard wasn't hard to spot. She was so white against the greenery that Hera was surprised she hadn't spotted the other sooner. Then again, she wasn't that camoflagued and she managed to keep out of sight most of the time.
She relaxed, straightened and turned towards the other female, a strange but happy sound reverberating in her chest. "Hello?" She took a step forward, waved her tail once and then continued onwards, craning her head up as she came close.
"Boy am I glad to see you!" Hera exclaimed cheerfully. "I was almost beginning to think I was the only leopard left." She glanced around as if expecting more. "Are you all alone too?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:14 am
"Only one left? There are many leopards in the jungle, most just keep to themselves though." She had seen a few but of course she had kept to herself because she was too shy to talk to them. She always wanted to and why she had said hello to this female she didn't know, it was really unlike her!
"Alone? Not really, I have my daughter but she is off wandering. Joys of growing up I suppose. Other then her though I am I suppose..." She spoke softly again, her voice keeping quiet. She didn't like to talk loudly, it wasn't right. People shouldn't have to raise their voice.
"I am Alana by the way." May as well introduce herself.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:22 am
She smiled, happy if only to hear another's voice splitting the normal sound of screeching birds. She sat and raised her head till it was almost vertical to her shoulders. Her deep, kind eyes were filled with sparkling joy at having found someone else to speak with.
"It's such a shame! I don't think I should have been born a leopardess. Mother always told me that our kind preferred to walk alone, but...I don't. I need company." She swished her tail round to hug her paws. "Maybe there's something wrong with me!"
At the mention of a daughter, a happy prrrum started in her chest, more of a purr, but deep and rich. "A daughter? It must be wonderful to be a mother. You were lucky to find yourself a nice leopard. I haven't seen any cat for a long time, let alone a nice male." She giggled, almost with embarrassment.
"If you need company Alana, could we chat a while? I'm Hera, it's nice to meet you."
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:28 am
Alana listened to her and shook her head, "No I don't like being on my own either, I am lucky to have my daughter." She then let out a soft laugh as the red leopardess continued.
"Lucky? Afraid you are wrong there. My daughters father is a lion. I didn't realise it was possible to carry a lions cub but it is. Her father moved on not long after I fell pregnant with her. A nice leopard would be nice though..." She chuckled a little, "I am getting too old for that though, especially if there are young pretty girls like you about." She smiled and jumped down from the tree towards the female.
"Some company would be nice. It is lovely to meet you Hera, do you have any family?" Alana was curious, after all she had met some leopards in the area.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:36 am
Confusion, sadness, joy and curiosity crossed Hera's face, intriguing her enough to give her confidence. She pulled herself up the neighbouring tree and after a moment settled herself across a branch, glad to be off the ground. She felt far safer up here, out of the way of anything that might scuttle past.
Scratching her head idly against a protruding stick, the red leopardess spoke again. "A lion? I met a lion once. They're awfully scary Alana." She shuddered at the thought of the black male, his huge, powerful body shadowing her tiny juvenile form. Her claws dug instinctively into the bark and she shook her head.
"And you daughter? Does she...does she look like a lion?" Suddenly she realised what she had said and flushed with embarrasment, glad that her fur hid her emotion. "I'm sorry, that was terribly rude of me." Little did she know that Mezi, the purple male she had met as a cub had been a hybrid too, obviously they didn't look too much different.
"You're never too old Alana, besides, boys probably like a more experienced lady. If I find a male, I'll send him your way." She giggled and curled her tail around the branch to steady her.
"I do have family, but they're long gone now. My mother...she's a nomadic sort and I suppose my siblings followed in her footsteps. I guess I was the oddball...even my father was a traveller...or I assume he was cos he never stayed around."
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:47 am
Alana listened and tilted her head somewhat as she did so.
"No she looks just as much like a leopard as I do, there are a few differences though, she doesn't find climbing tree's as easy as I did at her age but she can get up if she wants to. She looks like me mostly, she has my spots and everything! She is just beautiful..." Alana smiled proudly, she did have the most gorgeous daughter, she was so proud.
"Hehe! Keep the guys, I am sure you would like one wouldn't you?" She couldn't help but laugh. How could the girl not want a guy? She was very pretty after all, Alana was sure it wouldn't take too long before she was able to find a mate.
"I met a bit of a strange leopardess once. She was mostly black if I remember rightly. She didn't like me very much, apparently being white meant I was cursed." She giggled a little remembering the strange meeting. "I was about your age I think... when I met her. Maybe I was a bit older... hmm" Was her memory already going? Maybe she was getting old.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 9:56 am
"She sounds so beautiful. I've always adored leopard spots, though I never got any of my own. I took after my mother that way. She didn't have any spots either. In fact she really was rather plain looking, though I think that was beautiful in its own way."
She flushed again and wriggled, her claws flexing on the bark and sending chips scattering to the ground below. "Oh, no no, I don't think I could keep anyone for long enough to call them a mate." Though deep down it was exactly what Hera wanted. "They're there one moment then gone the next!" She only had one example to go by, but she certainly hadn't seen Mezi for a long, long time.
Her ears perked up at the description the other leopard gave and a smile brightened her face. "That sounds just like my mother. My mother was all black except for a small white patch on her chest, tail and toes." She giggled at the mention of curses. "Yep, that sounds like my mother alright. She certainly did have some odd beliefs in the colour area. Her name was Nuhusi."
Then she added, "but don't worry, I don't really put any faith in such things. All superstitious nonsense. Besides, I've been alone far too long to be picky about someone due to their pelt colour." She purred. "So long as you won't bite me, I'll like you."
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 12:53 pm
"Yes, it is your mother. She was the last creature I would have expected to have children, no offence or anything. Just the way she spoke I guess. I suppose everyone is full of surprises!" She chuckled a little and looked at Hera, straight at her.
"You will stick with a guy one day. You can surprise yourself someday!" She smiled and stretched a little.
"Well as I am not planning on biting you any time soon, want to go wandering? I feel a little restless, never know might find my daughter while we are out and about. Won't get hopes up though, she is a sneaky thing." She smiled lowering herself to the ground and stretching a little more. She needed to get those legs moving and though she would rather travel in the tree's it was easier to stretch legs on the ground then on a branch.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 1:52 pm
"Sure! Wandering sounds like fun to me." She stood and eased herself slowly from the branch, dropping lightly to the ground. Hera thought herself lucky in that sense. Of all the big cats she had been blessed with the ability to climb, the ability to get a grand view of everything around her. It certainly was useful in keeping cool and keeping safe.
"My mother is an odd one, but I love her all the same. I'll meet her again someday I'm sure, if she happens back across these parts."
Then as she turned towards a direction that continued leading away from her little home she continued. "So, Alana, what do you look for in a male, hmm?" There was a cheeky twinkle in her eye. "You have to tell me in case the perfect match happens along!" She pondered, observing her pale-furred friend. "Someone strong but shy, hmm? Hmm?" She urged, laughing good-naturedly. Oh match-making was going to be sooo much fun!
"How about it? I find you a nice boy and you find me one."
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:05 pm
Alana nodded at her new friend as she spoke about her mother and then laughed as she continued.
"Oh Hera you have a deal!" She chuckled as she walked in the random direction that the red leopardess had picked. Right then two can play at this game, just wait!
"What do I want hmmmm someone strong yes but not shy! They can't be like me, it would make things terribly boring!" She giggled and thought some more. "I wouldnt want anyone who was well hyper I guess because that would be too much but someone strong and clever and caring obviously! They would have to like kids as well, because of my daughter." She thought a little more. Yes she wanted someone who would love her.
"What about you? What do you want? Hmmm? Come on tell me!"
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:13 am
"Okay then!" She giggled with glee and as she listend to Alana's description, tried to imagine a strong, clever, caring and fatherly leopard. It wasn't as hard as she might have thought. And soon she had his little image in her mind's eye. Yes, she would find him if it was the last thing she did.
"Got it. I'll be sure to keep my eye out and snag him if I find him." She swished her tail happily, purring contentedly.
"What about me?" She faltered slightly as she tried to think. She wasn't truly experienced enough to know what type was hers only ever meeting one male before, however she thought she had some idea. "I'd like a male who's more of a challenge, someone whose heart I have to earn. He'd have to be mysterious but kind and want to stay by my side forever, so he'd have to be good with commitment." She laughed. "Which could be a problem for one of those pesky males."
She sighed. "I just want someone to walk by my side, it wouldn't matter if we argued or fell out so long as we made up and stayed friends through thick and thin."
She gave an embarrased little squeak. "And cubs wouldn't go amiss." Oh to think, a little cub or two of her own!
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 4:48 am
"You would want to work for his affection? I would love for them to work for mine!" She giggled somewhat, amused at the idea that a male would have to work for her affections. In fact she rather liked the idea that she would have to be fought for.
"I shall be watching out for someone then! I hope I can find someone, I'm not too good at judging others though. I am sure I will find some way of finding the right guy though!" She giggled a little and looked up at the sky not that she could see much of it through the canopy of leaves. She was starting to feel a little excited about the possibility of a nice male friend.
"Cubs are lovely! I wouldn't mind some more children, I love my daughter so much..."
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2008 8:15 am
"Uh huh. I guess I just want to see if I could wriggle my way into someone's heart." She trotted happily, waving her tail high. "Then we can search together, sort of like a quest! This is going to be so much fun!" She'd wanted to play matchmaker for so long and now she had a partner in crime.
"Will your daughter be able to find you again? I hope she doesn't get lost!" She peeked around the trees as if she expected the little cub to come bounding towards them. "What's your daughter's name, Alana? Do you think I'll get to meet her?"
She purred happily. "Is it hard? Motherhood I mean. You must get so worried about her now that she's growing up."
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