Chizoba dug his paws into the earth, back popping as he arched and stretched it. In fact, everything popped. Despite the noise, it felt good, and gave a great, deep throated yawn. Not that he was tired--in fact, a part of him was rather sick of sleeping. He needed something more to do, but to complain of 'bordom' was silly. Certain that he would find something in need of doing, or at least something to entertain himself with, the male turned away from the spring he'd been napping at headed into the jungle. Perhaps Teja would need something.
Torn x Puppet (1:29:17 PM): She needed to catch her breath. Just for a little while, and Mundoo could handle the girl by himself for a little bit. Although, she really would hate to think about what would have happened if she'd decided to leave after all. He'd probably be reduced to a pile of moaning goo by now. That cub was a handful. Then again, she'd never really tried to raise one before now.

With a soft yawn, she reclined against a tree trunk, her eyes half shutting against the world as she felt the bark against her fur. It was nice to relax for once. In fact, the feeling of the bark, the sound of earth, all of it was beginning to somewhat cloud her perception - lull her into a peaceful rest. As such, she almost didn't notice the sound of the approacher through the trees. Almost.

"Who's there?" she called softly, deep red-orange eyes flashing open as she spoke.


Covenmice (1:36:34 PM): Chizoba stopped as soon as he heard the feminine voice. There was a long pause, and he reflected that it was a good thing he wasn't a guard or hunter for the pride--he'd have made a poor one indeed with how often he was surprised within the pride's own lands. Turning, he was once more surprised into wondering how he could have possibly missed this one--she glowed.

... but she was not of their pride. Where were all these strange females coming from? Perhaps there was a way he could ask Teja that would not come off as being rude or... demanding in some way. "Just a docile old man, nothing to fear Lass." He tipped his head to her.
Torn x Puppet (1:56:23 PM): "Oh," she said softly as her eyes finally settled upon him, though her immediate question was just how she had missed him. All those fire-marks on his coat seemed unlikely to be so easily missed.

"I don't suppose a docile old man is anything to fear, no," she offered with a smile, pulling herself up to a sitting position. "I guess I'm not really that close to my own pride lands anymore, so I should expect some strangers now and then."
Covenmice (2:02:15 PM): "Let me take a guess?" He asked, with the softest of chuckles. THe male sat down not too far away from her, rather inthralled with this one. After the last two examples, he'd begun to pity the gypsies a little--their drab existance seemed so... vulger, in a way. She made up for that, thought. "The gypsy pride--the storytellers?"


She laughed, voice full of mirth as she leaned slightly back into the tree. Oh, but it was surprise that he knew so much. She let her laughter die to giggles, nodding her head. "Yes, from the gypsy pride. Although, I've only settled down there recently."
Covenmice (2:34:34 PM): "We've had several visitors from their lands in the past few days," He explained without prompting, though the smile upon his face was genuine. For some reason he felt that his 'knowing' without seeming reason would be taken as an odity in and of itself. Of course, how could it not be? "yet it is always good to see more; especially such a beauty as yourself."
Torn x Puppet (2:40:16 PM): "Have you?" she asked with a quirk of her brow, turning to glance around her as if one of her pride members might come out of the jungle to surprise her. She shrugged, with a soft smile, and turned to look back at him with those red-orange gems. "I suppose we all like to wander sometimes, so that's not too much of a surprise. We go where we are called."

However, at his compliment, she glanced away, feeling the heat rise in her face. "I don't know about all that."
Covenmice (2:42:44 PM): He did not persue the 'embarassing' topic, no matter that it was true. Chizoba merely smiled and dipped his head. "Yes, several young ladies, not unlike yourself. Of course, your chosen people do have quite the reputations--in these lands at least--for their wandering paws. It would be as little surprise to us as it is you, if it had not been so long since we had heard from them. As it is, we are glad to hear from you again."
Torn x Puppet (2:44:46 PM): "Oh? Perhaps I know some of them. Although, I must admit that I lead a sheltered life even there." She glanced back up at him, glad that he had given her no other reason so shy away. She wasn't so used to compliments - especially from strangers. She couldn't have possibly known that she was simply attractive by his pride's strange standards. "As a relatively new member, I guess.. I don't know how long it's been since some of our people travelled this way. I just went with the whisper of the leaves, really." She shrugged, tail flopping.
Covenmice (2:48:26 PM): Used to such strange comments as that, at least from this people, Chizoba didn't even bat an eye at this. Though it hadn't occurred to him to think often or long about his run-in with Lefika, it now tugged at his mind that if she bore children from him they would be raised into this unusal thinking. Of course, the gypsies were nothing but kind--he only hoped his genes might help their pride's coats a little. Poor things.

"Perhaps. A rather stoic, though sweet, lioness by the name of Lefika.. rather likes flowers, i might add... and a..." He nearly faltered here, "charming young lass whose name I don't believe I caught. Very dark pelted, though, and seeminlyg enamoured with the ocean."
Torn x Puppet (3:00:48 PM): She listened carefully, nodding. "Well, I can't say that the first one I know by name but.. I think perhaps I've seen her around." At the second, a grin spread across her maw, and she let out a slow and soft laugh. "I believe that second young lady would have to be Kapuki. She's from the neighboring sea pride, though I do believe she is... planning to join us quite soon." She smirked, shaking her head at the thought. She always saw the girl with the young princes - she was almost positive over her joining.
Covenmice (3:02:29 PM): "There are two?" Well that explained something the child had said, at least. He nodded slowly. "She.. reminds me very much, in thought, of yours. I had assumed she was, so you are likly correct." As if he would have done anything but agree. "And what of you, Lady, if I may be so bold as to ask? You are quite far from the sea."
Torn x Puppet (3:06:38 PM): "Yes. One that is a little more of your average sort, and then the one to which I belong. The gypsies." She nodded as she spoke, relaxing into a laying position once more, turning her eyes up to look at him. "She was born elsewhere, but of the same thought as my pride. It is no surprise that she wants to join us."

"Well," she said, glancing behind her, "I have just come out here for some much needed rest. I've been helping.. a friend raise his cub." She quite noticeably paused, but there was no pain in her words, just a sort of mild confusion over what to call him.
Covenmice (3:09:32 PM): Chizoba merely blinked at her. Females were involved in the raising of children, of course (as they fed them when they were young) but... Well, that was right about where the similarities ended. That a male should need a female to help him with a cub was bad enough, but to call a male a friend? Odd. Even his closest relationships with the females of his pride could hardly be called friendship, and he had known them since they were born, for the most part. "I could see why rest may be needed. Raising a cub is difficult work."
Torn x Puppet (3:39:23 PM): [wtffff, why wont this blink D:]
Covenmice (3:39:47 PM): [cuz aim is stupid
Torn x Puppet (3:42:57 PM): If Aviva had known that his pride was so different as far as relationships and cub-raising went, perhaps then she would have elaborated. As it was, she was somewhat surprised he did not remark upon the fact that she was helping a male raise his own cub, or the fact that she had called him friend when he was obviously something more. She would not question what wasn't, however, and she was content with not having to delve too far into it. "Oh, it is indeed! Have you ever raised any of your own?" She tilted her head, wondering.
Covenmice (3:47:27 PM): "Nae, I've never had any children," He shook his head with a chuckle. "Not of my own, at least. Though one might say that I have raised many children, for the males and their cubs are my charges within our pride." He was proud of this, of course--how could he not be? As far as he was concerned (or knew) the Parastar were a fine group of young men, fit to be proud of governing over. Certainly, to his knowledge, none had acted out of their place.
Torn x Puppet (3:57:58 PM): "Oh, really? That sounds very important," she shifted, turning to look at him better. She wasn't truly in charge of anything except the little cub, and she knew what joy she had over simply caring for her. To be in charge of all males and their cubs within a pride seemed to be a very important job indeed. "I think that may, perhaps, be a little harder than raising one little cub."
Covenmice (3:59:36 PM): "mmm perhaps. but i would never presume to downplay such a position," Chizoba replied agreeably. He gave a soft chuckle, "Each cub brings their own problems, I believe, as much as they also bring a great many unique joys. Each experience may be an entirely different one."
Torn x Puppet (4:05:41 PM): She nodded softly, staring down at her own paws. She knew what this cub had meant to her, meant to Mundoo, and she knew all the things that had led to her. He hoped she was unique, that the circumstances that led to her birth never happened again. She didn't think they would. "That is so very, very true," she said softly, pulling her eyes back up from her own paws and to him instead.
Covenmice (4:09:42 PM): There was something sad there.. but Chizoba honestly could not tell what. It pained him to see it--if only because he preferred that those around him were as happy and comfortable as possible. Yet it did not, could not, occur to him that her saddness would be over the male. Perhaps there was something wrong with the child? It happened, occassionally, after all. "Would there by anything I might do for you, miss?"
Torn x Puppet (4:20:35 PM): She shook her head with a slightly reserved smile, pushing herself up onto her feet. With a small stretch, she turned to look the way she had come, staring for a long moment. "No, I was just reminded of a time when I didn't belong anywhere." She shrugged, her smile slowly growing warmer, then dipped her head to him. "It was nice to meet you - perhaps we'll have the pleasure of coming across one another again. After all, us gypsies like to wander."
Covenmice (4:25:36 PM): "They certainly do," He chuckled heartily and rose to his feet. "Good day to you miss.." After that, he turned to continue on his way. That one, at least, was certainly far easier to speak with than that 'kapuki.' Still, an extended conversation with a female was a strange thing, to him, and uncomfortable after a time--especially when they weren't of his pride. It was good to be on his way to speak with the Queen. He wondered ifshe knew about the strangers.
Torn x Puppet (4:26:25 PM): She watched him go for a moment, then turned around to begin walking her own way. As it were, she didn't really see anything wrong with him, but then again, she was from a pride where nothing was really ever out of the question.