Quote:
It started with a game.
Jaden had always been a bit of a player. Looking back on his life, Jaden couldn’t remember ever being committed to one woman- even his own mother. He’d had ten mothers if he remembered correctly, and in the end, his original mother just assumed he’d gone missing and wandered off. Such was his legacy. He knew little to nothing about his father- only that, presumably, he’d been a leopard. And like many leopard fathers, he didn’t care much to check upon his offspring once he’d ensured his genetics had been passed on to the next generation. Jaden supposed the nearest he could get to a father, if one could count on such things, was Phib. A cranky, somewhat melodramatic old lion; if Jaden had learned anything from the brute, it was that he had the full capacity to be a perfectly respectable, and honorable, individual. Unfortunately, he wanted nothing of that. But the thought that he could, in fact, aspire to be a great old fellow- well, it was good knowing.
“Well well!” The red leopard purred. “I can’t say in all my travels, I’ve ever seen a dish like you~”
Ahead of him, the scruffy, somewhat wild eyed dog lifted her head. She then glanced to the left, and then to the right. Marzi wagged her tail, and shifted somewhat uncomfortably. “Um…are you speaking to me?”
“Of course I am! Who else would steal such words from my mouth!” The leopard preened. Marzi, a tad confused, squinted her eyes and edged a bit closer. As she did, Jaden bowed his head in an over dramatic show. “After all, I don’t see anyone else around.”
The wild dog laughed, and wagged her tail shyly. “Ehe… I just, um, didn’t expect-“
“Didn’t expect?” He gasped. “Surely such a fine jewel is admired all the time?”
It was more then enough to get her tail going. No one had ever approached her quite like that- and with a sway, she trotted over to the male. Red. She liked red. Color of blood… color of her friend and advocate, Atreyu. But before her mind could focus too much on the lion, she pushed it away. Not like he cared! He’d never said anything like this to her, anyways. And now that they were practically raising Markal, he hadn’t been much help either! So, she gave a little grin and sidled next to him.
What wasn’t worth a bit of fun, she thought?
“No, I can’t say she is.” The wild dog shyly admitted. “I’m barely just a kid-“
“Nonsense! I might not know you’re kind all that well, but surely you’re as grown up and fancy as the lot of them.” Jaden chided. “Why, did someone say otherwise?” If there was one thing Jaden hated, it was low self esteems. He despised people who valued beauty above everything- even if he was somewhat responsible for the problem to begin with. But there were far too many other things he loved about the female variant that kept him from being restricted only to beauty- or even his own species! Ladies were the most wonderful, and best kept secret of all the world. He pitied the fool who didn’t realize it.
And likewise- Marzi had never thought too much of herself. In her eyes, Gin was a very respectable looking wild dog. Full of vinegar, maybe, but still respectable just because. All Marzi was, was a scruffy, fluffy hided brown dog. Nothing all too special- but the idea that this strange leopard fancied her was enough to make her forget her own pressing issues. Markal, for one.
“Not…so much in words,” She admitted. “Actually, I have no right to be flirting. I’m in love.” She lamented, and sunk her head down.
“Love? Love’s not a terrible thing!” Jaden remarked. Love, also, was not a problem. He’d found more upset mates then singles he’d been able to work around.
“It is for me.” Marzi sighed. “I hate it. But…you’re very kind.”
“Well, I’m more then kind!” Jaden bluffed, sticking out his chest. It was enough to send the sugar-sweet dog into a light giggle, and once again, her bushy tail rocked back and forth.
“No no. It’s not that.” The dog lamented. “It’s…” He didn’t pay attention to her. There were moments- moments that were so close to being tangible, but never quite materialized. Moments in which she desperately wanted to tell him how she felt. But the obvious taboo of it all kept her quiet. What would happen if he knew? He’d think she was some kind of freak. Marzi had heard all sorts of stories about lions mating with leopards and cheetahs…but this was a far far different equation!
But Marzi was a stubborn dog, and she had learned to take what she could long ago. With a sniff, she shoved thoughts of her love out of her mind, and shot a look to Jaden, who was still hanging on her every word. Why this one, and not him? Marzi thought weakly. But, maybe if anything this just showed her that Atreyu had no intentions to work out what was between them.
With a smile, Marzi skimpered alongside the leopard. “Forget it. It’s not important. I hear leopard’s are fabulous climbers.”
“You would be correct, my dear.” Jaden touted.
“Show me, please.” Marzi half barked, and dashed into a bush.
Jaden had always been a bit of a player. Looking back on his life, Jaden couldn’t remember ever being committed to one woman- even his own mother. He’d had ten mothers if he remembered correctly, and in the end, his original mother just assumed he’d gone missing and wandered off. Such was his legacy. He knew little to nothing about his father- only that, presumably, he’d been a leopard. And like many leopard fathers, he didn’t care much to check upon his offspring once he’d ensured his genetics had been passed on to the next generation. Jaden supposed the nearest he could get to a father, if one could count on such things, was Phib. A cranky, somewhat melodramatic old lion; if Jaden had learned anything from the brute, it was that he had the full capacity to be a perfectly respectable, and honorable, individual. Unfortunately, he wanted nothing of that. But the thought that he could, in fact, aspire to be a great old fellow- well, it was good knowing.
“Well well!” The red leopard purred. “I can’t say in all my travels, I’ve ever seen a dish like you~”
Ahead of him, the scruffy, somewhat wild eyed dog lifted her head. She then glanced to the left, and then to the right. Marzi wagged her tail, and shifted somewhat uncomfortably. “Um…are you speaking to me?”
“Of course I am! Who else would steal such words from my mouth!” The leopard preened. Marzi, a tad confused, squinted her eyes and edged a bit closer. As she did, Jaden bowed his head in an over dramatic show. “After all, I don’t see anyone else around.”
The wild dog laughed, and wagged her tail shyly. “Ehe… I just, um, didn’t expect-“
“Didn’t expect?” He gasped. “Surely such a fine jewel is admired all the time?”
It was more then enough to get her tail going. No one had ever approached her quite like that- and with a sway, she trotted over to the male. Red. She liked red. Color of blood… color of her friend and advocate, Atreyu. But before her mind could focus too much on the lion, she pushed it away. Not like he cared! He’d never said anything like this to her, anyways. And now that they were practically raising Markal, he hadn’t been much help either! So, she gave a little grin and sidled next to him.
What wasn’t worth a bit of fun, she thought?
“No, I can’t say she is.” The wild dog shyly admitted. “I’m barely just a kid-“
“Nonsense! I might not know you’re kind all that well, but surely you’re as grown up and fancy as the lot of them.” Jaden chided. “Why, did someone say otherwise?” If there was one thing Jaden hated, it was low self esteems. He despised people who valued beauty above everything- even if he was somewhat responsible for the problem to begin with. But there were far too many other things he loved about the female variant that kept him from being restricted only to beauty- or even his own species! Ladies were the most wonderful, and best kept secret of all the world. He pitied the fool who didn’t realize it.
And likewise- Marzi had never thought too much of herself. In her eyes, Gin was a very respectable looking wild dog. Full of vinegar, maybe, but still respectable just because. All Marzi was, was a scruffy, fluffy hided brown dog. Nothing all too special- but the idea that this strange leopard fancied her was enough to make her forget her own pressing issues. Markal, for one.
“Not…so much in words,” She admitted. “Actually, I have no right to be flirting. I’m in love.” She lamented, and sunk her head down.
“Love? Love’s not a terrible thing!” Jaden remarked. Love, also, was not a problem. He’d found more upset mates then singles he’d been able to work around.
“It is for me.” Marzi sighed. “I hate it. But…you’re very kind.”
“Well, I’m more then kind!” Jaden bluffed, sticking out his chest. It was enough to send the sugar-sweet dog into a light giggle, and once again, her bushy tail rocked back and forth.
“No no. It’s not that.” The dog lamented. “It’s…” He didn’t pay attention to her. There were moments- moments that were so close to being tangible, but never quite materialized. Moments in which she desperately wanted to tell him how she felt. But the obvious taboo of it all kept her quiet. What would happen if he knew? He’d think she was some kind of freak. Marzi had heard all sorts of stories about lions mating with leopards and cheetahs…but this was a far far different equation!
But Marzi was a stubborn dog, and she had learned to take what she could long ago. With a sniff, she shoved thoughts of her love out of her mind, and shot a look to Jaden, who was still hanging on her every word. Why this one, and not him? Marzi thought weakly. But, maybe if anything this just showed her that Atreyu had no intentions to work out what was between them.
With a smile, Marzi skimpered alongside the leopard. “Forget it. It’s not important. I hear leopard’s are fabulous climbers.”
“You would be correct, my dear.” Jaden touted.
“Show me, please.” Marzi half barked, and dashed into a bush.
