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 Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 3:06 pm
With a rueful shake of her head, she turned back around and headed once again to that outcropping of rocks. Ghali hadn't told him that he couldn't come, she had just reminded him that this wasn't going to necessarily be fun. It would be pretty bad if he left her in the middle of searching for a den because he got bored. It would be worse than not coming with her to begin with. Not coming with her wouldn't have even been bad. But, if he showed the intention to, he better follow through with it or she'd think poorly of him. Ghali was still highly judgemental, even to someone that she was quickly considering to be her friend.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 3:31 pm
Riko had been rather amused by the little stalking game her had started with Ghali, especially when she didn't notice that he was tagging along right away. And even more amusing was the look he got when she did notice him, and it was then that he caught up with her for it certainly looked like she was stopping so he could do just that.
"If you're already setting low standards for the excitement in this, I don't have much to live up to, eh?" he commented brightly with a grin, "Besides, two sets of eyes are better than one. Maybe I'll prove I'm useful for something."
It didn't seem like taking jabs at himself might go over too badly, where he was still sure that she would if he were annoying enough. He'd already come off as a act-now, think-later type with his commentary about roguelands before. He had to have some kind of redeeming quality, and he had nothing better to do with his time anyway. Proving to Ghali that he wasn't so awful was the entire plan he'd made for his day.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 3:45 pm
She would allow him his little victory in being able to sneak up behind her, but she wasn't about to praise him for his stalking skills. In fact, she completely dismissed all conversation about him catching her by surprise. It wasn't something she terribly enjoyed, and what she didn't enjoy, she forgot about. It was how Ghali functioned, and Riko would have to get used to it if he wanted to prove to her that he wasn't as bad as he seemed to be when they first met. But, already his presence was lightening up her mood. She was happy to have someone to talk to, someone to keep her from becoming entirely bored with spending her day searching for a den. She was glad she hadn't dragged Shani along, because her sister would have likely gotten just as bored as she had about to be. Shani had better things to waste her time with, while apparently Ghali had nothing to do but waste her time den-searching.
"No," she agreed with a chuckle, "you don't have all that much to live up to. Conversing with me will immediately put you above my low standards for this trip." Yes, it was clear that she was glad for his company. How could she not be? Having him along was better than having no one around. "If you help me find a decent den, I'll admittedly be in your debt, unless you would like to consider you helping me find a den as a way to make up for how you treated me when we first met." She grinned at them, truly beginning to open up now that he had proved himself to be some sort of a friend.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 4:15 pm
Riko was not one to willing put himself just barely above incredibly low standards, but he would take what he could get in this situation. It was all he really had now to prove his point, and clearly that was how things would have to work with Ghali. She definitely wasn't making this easy for him, which was considerably more fun, he was finding. However, he was too dense to simply accept that they could simply bond and become friends. His mind couldn't focus on what he had, no.
He laughed at the idea of making up for his poor behavior in their first meeting in helping her find a den, and grinned.
"We'll just have to see what kind of den we find before knowing if it's worth anything," he said, and then leaped forward to get a move on with the little venture they were off on.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 4:35 pm
Ghali wasn't truthfully trying to make things difficult him, not now. In the beginning she had, but he had won over her trust, so she had stopped playing with him. Unbeknowest to her, though, the game was still on even as she walked with him through the Pridelands. He had her trust in him to keep, and a friendship to gain. He had ambitions for this meeting, while Ghali was really only looking for company. It was one of those few moments when she didn't have anything planned for the person she was with. It was irony at its finest. Hopefully Ghali would not see the irony, because if she did Riko would have a lot to speak for, and definitely some wounds to tend to. Ghali was a feisty young lioness, fiercely independent and fiercely defensive of her 'honor'. Riko would not walk away unharmed if she realized he was weaving a web around her (and unbeknowest to the both of them - her family as well).
"If we find anything. At this rate I'm beginning to doubt that there is anything remotely den-worthy out here." She arched an eyebrow when Riko suddenly leapt ahead and began to lead the way. He certainly set a faster pace, and instead of her usual behavior (by going whatever damned pace she wanted to go), she laughed and leaped after him to catch up. There was no way she was going to let him lead her about as if she was on a leash. Ghali was the leader, and never once had been considered a follower. So it was not easily she would let him lead her on. He'd have to earn it, by beating her by keeping ahead.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 4:44 pm
Only trying to get things moving again, he was happy to let Ghali take the lead again. Ultimately this was her den and the final decision would be up to her and not him. Besides, it was very clear from her behaviour that she was just as independent as he was and that was not something he was going to mess with in this instance.
"If there is anything, we'll find it," he said confidently, naturally. He rarely doubted the things he could accomplish, and so far befriending Ghali was only helping to prove his point on that so he was willing to take a leap of faith that if something could be found, it would be found by them.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:03 pm
"I sure hope so," she replied, because if they didn't find anything she would be sorely disappointed. Ghali had spent days looking for a good den, and this was one of the last good areas that she could scan through before having to settle for a more inadequate den. She would perhaps even be cruished if she could not find a suitable den, so that was why she appreciated Riko coming along with her. Two eyes were better than one, and what she didn't see, surely Riko could manage to pick up on and tell her. She was beginning to fully appreciate the other lion's presence, and his apology. Sure, she had openly not trusted him before, but he was beginning to prove himself to her. By coming along with her, he had earned himself some brownie points. Ghali was truly beginning to like him (especially because he wasn't contesting her leadership).
She led the way to the outcropping of rocks, enjoying idle conversation with Riko. She was sadly more interested in finding a den then she was with talking to him, so her responses were somewhat vague and distracted. It was only when they reached a possible den site that she spoke up with her usual confidence and surety. "How about you check this one out, and I'll check that one over there." With a tilt of her head she gestured to another cave-like entrance, and before really waiting for his response, she headed over to the other possible home opportunity to check it out for herself.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:15 pm
Riko would have corrected her lack of confidence in the idea that they would find one, but figured she was entitled to some doubt and it would save him if they really didn't find anything. Truthfully, though, he'd been out near here before. Though he'd never explicitly looked for a den, it seemed like a very likely place to find one even when you weren't looking. With just that little extra effort, why, it shouldn't take them any time at all. When Ghali started giving orders about where to look, he mostly ignored her being bossy and instead did what she said immediately- though she wouldn't have noticed being ignored for he seemed to turn to where she directed just as she turned to where she was going.
Heading for where she'd pointed, he soon realized what she'd pointed out was no good- but right beside it looked like something worthwhile. And so he disappeared to investigate the potential-den.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:28 pm
She had disappeared into the possible den that she had chosen to search out, but already she was faced with difficulty. The entrance had been a tight squeeze, and considering that she was growing still... it would not be comfortable to every day squeeze in and out of her home. The cave was also dark, facing away from the sun for almost all of the day. She could barely see where she walked, even if there was light outside. In all honesty, the possible den was a complete dud. The ceiling was too low, the ground covered with an uncomfortable moss that squished and squeezed between her toes. She shuddered at the thought of sleeping in it all night long. It would be too much for her, and so manuevering around the cramped cave, she squeezed her way out of it, thankful for fresh air and daylight. Well, that cave certainly did not work out the way she had hoped it would. It hadn't looked promising to begin with, but Ghali figured that she may as well give every cave she saw a fair shot. It would be stupid to dismiss a possible home because of its outward appearance.
But now, looking around, Riko was no where to be seen. The young blue lioness blinked before padding over to the series of caves that she had left Riko out. Surely he hadn't gotten himself lost in one of them. It didn't take that long for a cave to be inspected and either chosen or dismissed as a good den site. So, with a frown she peered into the first cave, seeing no sign of the other lion (and that the cave would not make a good den), she pulled back. "Riko? Where are you?" Her tone was almost innocently curious, and a lot prettier than it usually was. Ghali usually spoke in a strict tone, with her vowels clipped almost fiercely. But, this voice was nice, quite nice in comparison.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:42 pm
It did take Riko a bit longer than it took Ghali to inspect her potential den, but that was because he was having a harder time finding things that were wrong with it. It wasn't too damp or dark, but then it wasn't too big either. It wasn't awfully long, anyway- big enough certainly for Ghali, maybe even a small family but someone like Habu and his family wouldn't be too comfortable once the eight hooligans started getting bigger. He was just inspecting for other potential inhabitant, mainly insects that wouldn't be too welcoming, when he heard Ghali call out to him using a more familiar name and in a much kinder (and prettier) tone than normal. Smiling, he called back.
"I'm in here," he called, his voice echoing slightly from the nearby entrance of the second cave that he had looked into. Turning around, he stepped back towards the outside to inform her of his find.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 5:55 pm
She heard Riko respond to her call, but that did not mean that she could pinpoint exactly where he was. There was more than one cave that she hadn't looked in for Riko, and she wasn't just about to poke her head into every cave to search him out. So, impatiently she sat down, waiting for Riko to show up and explain to her his find. Hopefully he was having better luck than she did, but Ghali just seemed to attract every possible non-acceptable den site. It was why her search for one was so extensive and had stretched over a few days. If she wanted to live in Pride Rock, she would already have a new home. But, that wasn't what she wanted. She wanted to live out here where there was peace and quiet, where no one would bother her for the slightest of thing. She loved her family, but some times they truly got on her nerve. She needed her solitude in order to retain her sanity and her (usually) good nature.
But, when he did not immediately appear from out of one of the caves, Ghali became impatient enough to seek him out. It was only her good fortune that she found him in the first cave that she looked into (though at the time she really did not consider it good fortune). The blue lioness walked to the nearest cave, and expecting the opening briefly she effortlessly passed into the cave. But, something (or rather someone) was blocking her way. It was unfortunate that she didn't immediately see him, because when she walked in, she walked right into him. But, it wasn't an ungraceful flop. It was, in fact, a soft touch, of her lips to his lips, her nose to his nose.
Her eyes widened, and she stumbled back, squeaking out a fast apology. Ghali had been... quite caught off guard.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:07 pm
Riko was not intentionally going slow, in fact just before Ghali had to get up to look for him herself he stubbed his toe on a rock he hadn't quite been aware enough to see- but before he could say or do anything about it, Ghali had appeared and run smack into his face- with her own. He was as surprised as she was when she stumbled back and squeaked an apology, but he could only grin at her. Accidental or not, you had to admit it was rather amusing. And, of course, a step in the right direction in his opinion. As of that moment, where she did not look disgusted, he could have declared victory and been done with it.
"My, my," he laughed, "What was that?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:17 pm
"Oh, shut up!" But, surprisingly, the words did not sound angry at all. In fact, they sounded more defensive than anything, as if she was trying to hide something (but what? even she did not know). An embarrased flush scored her cheeks, and though she could not see him clearly, she knew that he was still there. Most likely he was smiling, though he should be considering himself lucky that she had not tried to claw his face off. The young blue lioness pressed her back against the cold rock wall, unintentionally blocking the way out of the cave, determined not to have another little incident like that one. Oh, it really was embarrassing! Her cheeks were radiating off embarrassed heat, and she could not stand to look in his general direction. Ghali had no idea what he would make of that, though she had the suspicion that he enjoyed it. (An egotistical part of herself asked 'Well, why wouldn't he like it?'). That little voice in the back of her head, though, was quickly shooed away.
"I tripped," she offered as a lame excuse, still refusing to meet his gaze. Oh, it was painfully clear she was more embarrassed than angry. That was a good point for Riko, because that may mean that she just might have enjoyed the touch of their lips a little more than she was letting on. But, it was her ladylike dignity that she had to preserve, so naturally she denied that she had done anything intentionally and enjoyed it. Of course, it hadn't been intentional, but there was nothing stopping Riko from firmly believing that it had been.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:34 pm
Riko's laugh quieted, but he was very much still smiling at her though he wasn't sure she could see it. He could see that she was moved back now, but she was not getting too upset about it- no, she was explaining herself in a voice that more suggested it was an excuse than a true defense. He made a mock disappointed sigh, and nodded back to the little den he was standing in.
"Oh, well," he said, as if accepting her excuse, though something in his voice said he hadn't quite dropped the subject, "Come and take a look in here, I think we've found you a den."
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 6:43 pm
She heard that disappointed sigh, and narrowing her eyes at him she tried to determine the meaning of it. Unable to come up with one, though, she shook her head and dismissed the sigh from her mind. Really, he wasn't all that bad, and she could only expect him to react in such a way after the kiss. He was a young male, and she did trust him enough for her to not suspect that he would make anything out of their contact. So, she got over her little fright from kissing him, and padded into the center of the den. Her blue eyes critically observed it, and immediately she found herself in love with it. It was the perfect size, not too large, and not too small. She did not even hit her head on the ceiling! The ground was covered in rock instead of moss, and from this angle light pooled in perfectly to the center of the den. It was perfect, and no one else seemed to inhabit it. The den was ready and waiting for her to move in... and she was giddy with excitement, and for a few moments she lost herself to her happiness, forgetting her lady-like manners and disposition.
"Riko! It's perfect!" Impulsively, she padded to his side, nuzzling her cheek into his neck and then against his own cheek. She took a few steps ahead of him, eyes wide and still inspecting the den. But when she turned around to look back at him, it seemed as if she had already made up her mind. "I think my search is over, Riko. Thank you." It was clear that she did not exactly remember her nuzzling him. Or, if Riko wanted to take it that way... she did, and she simply accepted the contact. That would likely be a big bonus for Riko, if that was the case.
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