A low rumble of thunder sounded in the distance and for a brief moment made Oboé's pounding steps become silent. Oboé's eyes were steady; focused on what was in front of her. Her prey. A gazelle leaped and leaped as fast as its thin legs would carry it, running from the chasing leopardess. The fire-like brightness of the hunt lit Oboé's eyes, making their gold color vibrant. The sun became hidden in the dark storm clouds, casting a menacing shadow over hunter and hunted.

Oboé's claws dug deep into the earth beneath her, springing her forward at an extreme pace. The gazelle was just in front of her, dust flying up around her. But Oboé continued after it, unblinking, despite the dirt that flew into her eyes. The gazelle bolted to the left. Oboé darted after it into a wooded area. It became even darker as the trees and vines blocked out what was left of the sunlight. She was so close.

Finally, Oboé threw herself forward. Reaching, her broad arms stretched out to grab her prey. Her claw were mere inches from its tender hide. Then, Oboé felt herself smack into something. The wind was knocked out of her.

Gasping for a breath that wouldn't come, Oboé tried to gain back her footing and continue to chase the gazelle. She didn't know that her struggle to reach it was causing her to become more entangled. Oboé had jumped straight into a wall of vines.

And she was stuck.

Hak'Zhakuu had grimaced at first, hearing the thunderous roll from above. Rain never hurt, but traveling in it could be a bother. And, rogue that he was, he didn't exactly have a shelter to retreat to. But no matter. He was not the only thing sent packing by the sky's rumblings. A nearby heard of gazelle lifted in flight from the noise (for he had not seen the leopard yet), scattering, sending stragglers in all directions. That at least was something he was glad of. He could catch a gazelle on his own, and it would be good to at least be full, if he must be wet later.

With a huff he was off, claws scarring the ground as he pulled himself across its surface, a teal and neon streak against the duller backdrop of dusty ground and grass. That one. He eyed the sprightly hoofed thing he'd picked. It was young, but had strayed too far in its excitement. Only one other raced with it now...and suddenly it broke off, tailed by a pink blur. Ah. Sho THAT was why they'd really taken to running. He'd have to thank whomever it was that had incited the riot later. After this.

As the other pair turned, skidding into a brushy area he lost track of them. His prey had taken to the open land, heading to rejoin the group. "Unfortunate thing, they're too far away..." He leapt, sleek muscles bunching, launching him to crash down on the poor thing's back. It broke under his weight, and a swift slash of claws to the side left it spilling itself onto the ground, squealing and shuddering. A fine kill.

He knelt to his hard won dinner, and nearly got a hoof in the face for it. One last lagging beast had just barely cleared him in a leap, and he watched it curiously. It seemed to have come from where he'd seen the pink feline heading before...but when he looked around she wasn't to be seen. "Strange that..." He stood, peering into the woody area. Had she given up?


Oboé felt a grin tug at her lips until it eventually stretched itself across her face. Her eyes twinkled with a strange amusement and she allowed her body to relax, vines swaying abruptly in motion. The vines became still and Oboé sighed. She stared down at the thick and thin green things that had tangled themselves around her.

When Oboé tried to move a limb free, the vines became tighter on that limb, as if loath to see her leave them. The grin vanished from Oboé's face and a frown replaced it, seeming to take pity on the vines for some reason. "You really must let me go," Oboé said quietly after a pause. "I'd rather be someplace else when it rains."

A cool drop of water fell from the sky and landed on one of Oboé's paws. Then another hit her ear, causing it to flick involuntarily. Oboé curled her lip in displeasure, then knitted her eyebrows up with a frown. It was a fine mess she'd gotten herself into...But then she smiled again. It was sort of funny. No, it wasn't funny...How was she supposed to get out? Perhaps if she chewed through the vines--no, she'd never...But then...

Oboé blinked at the vines slowly, as if seeing them for the first time. She really didn't know what to do.

It really wasn't his business, but somehow every time he bent to sup upon the felled gazelle he felt a twinge of...it wasn't concern, surely. Nor worry, or anything of the sort. Whatever it was, it bothered him, and made him look again to the forested area. Surely the feline had failed, but it was odd that she'd not come out from there yet. Though it might be simply that she'd thought it a good enough place to hole up from the weather.

Ah, that was it. He was curious. Inquisitive. That was much better than being worried. But his gazelle would surely be snatched up if he left it...Well he'd take it along then to see. Wit ha grunt he bit into the thing's neck, and with an odd shuffling gait he was off, hauling the carcass along under him. It'd taste half of dirt, but that was better than it tasting of nothing at all after being stolen.

He dropped it just inside the grove in mild surprise. Well. That wasn't something he saw every day. What looked to be a leopard...a female one at that, was caught a good foot or so in the air, wrapped in thick vines. So that was what had happened.

"Are you quite alright, madame?"


A short cry of shock left Oboé's mouth, but was quickly silenced. Oboé turned her head as much as she could without choking herself with vines to get a good look at who was addressing her. The motion resembled a child straining its head to see its mother.

"Good eve...day!" Oboé said, genuinely confused as to what time of day it was. Her eyes drifted from the lion and fell upon the ground below her as she pondered the time of day. She decided it wasn't important and stared back at the lion. But then she realized something. He was a lion. Oboé loved lions ever since she met one and his image never left her thoughts.

A smile lit her eyes and she flashed a grin. "Yes, I'm alright!" Oboé said, thoroughly examining him from head to paw. "I am stuck." she said softly, blinking. Then her lips parted and she glanced at the sky. "Oh..." She continued to stare, a rain drop landing on her arm. Then she began to laugh. She laughed for quite some time before quieting down and saying, "I'M not STUCK," she said, laughing still. "I'm Oboé." She tried to nod her head in greeting, but the vines stopped her short. "I am Oboé, and I'm stuck."


Hak'Zhakuu took a closer look when the leopard twisted about to see him. He noted how the vines tightened, and where they gripped her hardest in that slight movemtn. She really was well and truly stuck it seemed. At her first words he knew he would enjoy the encounter. For all his regal air he did have a fondness for the eccentric, the benignly ludicrous.

"I should think it is still day, though with the sky gone so dull it could well be eve by now." He chortled. "And so, Good day-eve it is." He responded to her positive smile with a little grin of his own. Her laughter only partially concerned him. He was a rather quick sort, and even as the worlds left her mouth he knew what she had assumed he would think. Silly thing she was.

"Well, Oboé who is stuck, I am Hak'Zhakuu." He lifted one paw to his chest and folded at the other fore-knee to dip in an unusual bow. "May I ask how you became so entangled? I had not thought gazelle so wily as to trap a hunter so." A glimmer in his eye said plainly he was joking, but it was all in good fun. She seemed the sort to appreciate such questions.


Oboé's eyes narrowed strangely in a smile as she looked upon the lion, listening to his words. "I like your humor." she stated smoothly, in a tone that, for an instant, sounded very calculated and unlike her usual voice. "Well, Hak'Zhakuu," Oboé began in a sigh, as if beginning some sad story. "I...had not thought a gazelle to be smart at all, either." A short, bubbling laugh erupted from her throat, but she choked it back. "They are odd, stupid creatures," she said. "but just this once, whether it was on purpose or not, I've been had."

Oboé glanced side-ways at him, tired of turning her head and feeling the painful grip of the vines on her neck. His pelt was a strange color, but somehow enticing to the eyes. His patterns almost glowed. He was quite an intriguing character, Oboé decided, though something in her mind told her she only enjoyed looking at him because he reminded her of someone she knew and admired. She shrugged off that feeling.

"Have you ever wondered what a vine tastes like?" Oboé asked after a gap of silence.


Hak settled back on his haunches, ready to be regaled with Oboé's tale. His tail twitched to wrap around and settle, tuft draping over his feet. He chuckled along with the leopardess and nodded. "Perhaps it was merely lucky then. I suppose even inferior creatures like them have to have some good days."

She was looking him over, he noted, and his tail twitched a bit. He did not try to puff up or appear more impressive. He didn't need to. And it gave him time to better inspect her. Or rather what of her he could see through the tangled vegitation. He eyed those thick stalks too, hmming after her question. "I have not, but then, I am a notoriously picky eater. Though I could make an exception, should they be very tasty vines. How are those, by the way?"


Yet another frown crossed Oboé's face and she raised an eyebrow. It was unfortunate that he'd never tasted a vine before. Oboé sunk her teeth into a vine that hung by her face only to find that it wasn't attached to any part of her body. She remained completely still, vine leaking bitter, disgusting juices into her mouth. Oboé blinked a few times but remained still. Then, she spit out the vine. It lolled away from her and swayed a bit before gravity held it in its place.

Oboé spit out a mouthful of vine juice and couldn't help but contort her face to show how vile she thought it was. But her face pacified in expression and she smiled at the lion. "Vines taste...delicious." She then shifted her attention back to the vines. No matter which way she strained or which vine she went after, the result was the same; the vines held her tight no matter which direction she went. She'd never be able to free herself from the tangles.

Oboé leaned her head around and stared at the lion, a charming grin inching its way onto her face. She swayed her tail, the only free appendage on her body, and hoped he'd get the message.

There was no way she could get out on her own.


Hak'zhakuu couldn't help but laugh. He'd seen very well just how badly the vines tasted, but a drip of water on his nose reminded him that there were more pressing things at hand...paw. He watched the vine sway in time with her seemingly-happy tail. Ah. He knew what she wanted alright.

With a grunt he rose and stepped gingerly past other clusters of vines to get at the encased leopard. He didn't plan on being trapped himself, but he couldn't leave her there, oh no. "Really now? Well I may have to try one then. I would be a cad though, to eat them off of you directly so..." He reared back, planting one paw on Oboé's side. He wobbled when she swung a bit, but the vines were pulling in opposite ways enough that she was relatively still. With the other paw he began to claw at some of the more painful looking plants, freeing first one limb, then the next.

"I do hope you'll pardon my rudeness, using you like a prop this way, but should you be angry with me I will submit to any punishment you see fit once you are free." Of course she'd not mind, but he couldn't help but feel rude just leaning on her. Ah well. She'd understand.


Oboé swayed her tail happily when he came to help her, almost canine-like.

"Oh, not at all." Oboé said lightly at his apology, trying to wave her paw in emphasis, but it was in vain since her paw wouldn't budge. "I thank you, sir!" she said kindly, not able to hide her excitement at the thought of being free to move again.

She glanced up at the lion as he leaned against her, clawing and tearing at the vines. With each one that was broken, it made an odd squelching noise that sounded, if one listened close enough, like a frustrated cry.

Oboé felt right arm drop, free of vines, and sway back and forth beside her. She laughed excitedly, and then felt her other arm fall free. The vines on her neck snapped and slid away, caressing her skin tightly like the hands of a close friend who was sad to part from her.

"Thank you, Hak!" Oboé exclaimed happily. She waited patiently to be completely released.


Such a curious female, this Oboé was. Hak continued his work on the vines, stepping back off of her when the vines began to loosen. He couldn't get at them with his claws that way, but no matter. There was one main one left, he thought and, careful not to n** any skin, he bit it through with a clench of teeth. That should do it. Even if she was not entirely free, the vines should be loose enough to wriggle out of. And good thing too, as at that moment several more raindrops hit him, making his ears lay back. A glance up through a hole in the canopy showed a slate-gray sky. It was due to pour any time now.

"These trees would give some shelter from the rain, but a cave would be better. If you happen to know of any, and be willing to share, I would be happy to split my gazelle with you. It isn't the one that trapped you, alas, but it is still good meat."


As the lion stepped back and bit the last vine, Oboé knew that she was almost free. Golden eyes glowing with realization, Oboé stretched her limbs and turned over in one swift motion, landing on her feet. The last vine slithered off of her body and went stiff in one spot, as though it had died.

Oboé bent down in a stretch, cracking many of her joints. She rolled her shoulders and shook her body around. She tested her paws against the ground and dug her claws into the soft dirt. Cool rain drops began to fall on her coat steadily. It was raining.

Oboé put the memory of being trapped in vines completely behind her and smiled at the lion. She bent down into an elegant bow and held the bow for a moment to show her deep gratitude. Standing once more, she stood directly in front of him and pondered his question.

"I'm afraid I don't know of any caves." Oboé said. "Well, I do know of caves, but none that are...around..." she said, her voice trailing off. She paused and stared up at the sky, blinking rain drops out of her eyes. A rumble of thunder sounded and it was quite close. "Where am I?" she asked herself suddenly, whipping her head to stare at him. Then she laughed, shaking her head as if scolding herself for asking such an unimportant question. She was where she was, of course. That was all that mattered to Oboé.

"I thank you for your offer," she said, nodding in acknowledgment, the warm spark of a smile lighting her eyes. "but I'm not at all hungry." With that, Oboé bowed once more, stood, turned to the right and disappeared into the trees.