Jua:
As the mid-day sun beat down on the desert, few animals moved. Not even the prey moved much, let alone the predators. The only things willing to move, it seemed, were the water and the occasional breeze. Stretched out by a pool of water, Jua did her best to, so to say, beat the heat.
Sinbad:
He padded his mane slowly. A blessing and a curse....beauty had a price. As did perfection he reasoned. Still... he was a firekin. The heat was nothing. Or so he told himself.
He walked slowly, eyes narrowed against the glare of the sun.
Jua:
The stream she was watching, not far from the desert-edge tree she was under, wasn't too deep. In fact, it would barely cover the paws... Of a cub. But it quenched everybody's thirst well enough, at least. And with the heat dragging on... She rose up, going over and lapping at the water.
Sinbad:
Sinbad turned on his course and licked at his dry maw. A gulp or two of water seemed like a fairly decent idea. At least something to treat his parched throat long enough to get him through a nap.
Mismatched eyes fell on the female as she dipped her head to drink. For a brief moment, he debated jumping himself into the pond- which would effectively drench the female. Potentially cause her to snort her drink rather than lap it.
...but that would ruin -his- drink.
Instead he simply chuckled, eyeing her from over the pond.
Jua:
Acting as though Sinbad weren't there, Jua continued gulping down water. After a few minutes, she stood, stretching out. It was only then that she eyed the male, giving him a bored look. Of course, it had nothing to do with him... She was actually bored. In the middle of the day, there was nothing to do.
Sinbad:
"I think you need to find a better way to spend your time." He dipped his head and took a few mouthfulls of water. Once he'd finished, Sinbad glanced back up. "Stalking me around the dunes must be exhausting."
Jua:
Giving him a half-hearted foul look, Jua snorted. "I don't stalk you, we just keep running into each other by pure chance alone." Tail flicking, she reached over and put her paw in the water. The mud felt odd at the bottom, the way it squished between her toes...
Sinbad:
"There's no such thing as chance. It's something that adults tell little cubbies to give them hope." He grinned a bit. "And... you're getting your paws dirty..."
Jua:
She shrugged impassively. "Maybe, maybe not... If it's not chance, then it's coincidence. It's not like I know everywhere you go." Oh how she wished she didn't, at least. After a moment, she lifted her paw out of the mud. The soggy earth dripped off, before it took a glorious flight in the air... Straight at Sinbad.
Sinbad:
Sin dipped himself, barely avoiding the mudball. "...idiot. My brother was all about the mudballs." He stood himself up and narrowed his eyes. "You really don't want to start something with me...'
Jua:
"And why not?" She gave him look, yawned, then dipped her paw in the water repeatedly. "I don't exactly see you doing much of anything at all these days." As she walked to the little stream that exited the pool, she contemplated the cooling effects. She sat down, then rolled in the water.
Sinbad:
His ears rolled back a bit. "What's there to do? My sisters seem preoccupied with something else. I've not seen hair or hide of them... Afzal's really the only one around. And you're just boring.
Jua:
Staring at him upside down, Jua frowned. Though, being upside down herself, she imagined it could be mistaken for a smile. "I'm boring? How? At least I talk to you, which doesn't sound like most of your brothers and sisters do."
Sinbad:
"Yeah...but we brawl." He smirked. "Why do you think I have these muscles?" He reached one of his front legs out and flexed his claws.
Jua:
Jua rolled her eyes. "And here I thought you got them just running after prey..." Rolling onto her stomach, she let out a maw-stretching yawn. "It sounds boring to me, anyway." Her tail flicked, sending droplets of water into the air. The ones that hit the ground evaporated quickly, while the others landed back in the water. Were they just drops in some great stream or river themselves?
Sinbad:
"Feh... since we were able to walk, our father trained us. He's still insisting that we keep sharp...old man's hardly able to take care of himself anymore though. It's a shame he didn't die in battle."
Jua:
The statement made her think of her mother. If she hadn't sent Azarax... Ripuka wouldn't be here now. Then again, if a lot of things hadn't happened... Others wouldn't have. "What, all work and no play?" She was one to talk about not playing.
Sinbad:
"Training's play enough." He shrugged. "I have fun with it... to hear an antelope cry out when I sink my clawsx into it, finding the best way to trip them up, best way to bite- and at what angle..." he chuckled a bit. "I sound so morbid."
Jua:
"You do, but I think that's the first thing about you I don't mind." Standing up, she shook off. Rolling in the water had the effect she wanted, cooling her off. Walking around Sinbad, she eyed him. "Everything else, so far... I mind." Using her weight and all her strength, she shoved him towards the water.
Sinbad:
He smirked and planted himself firmly on the ground. So a body check then? Jua would accomplish maybe an inch or two, but for the most part, Sin seemed to have seen it coming. "...you need to cool off." He reached over and gave -her- a good shove forward.
Jua:
Letting out a yowl, Jua landed in the water, sending it flying everywhere. Sitting up, she gasped and panted, eyes wide. The feathers attachec to her circlet hung limp, as did her fur. After a moment, she looked at him, as if expecting him to appologize or something.
Sinbad:
Sinbad watched quietly up until her eyes met him. At that moment the lion burst into a fit of brutish laughter. "Ooh man...oh...you look like a drowned rat! Ahahaha...Pppphhhffffftttt-" He waved a paw at the air. Classic.
Jua:
Letting out a huff, she got up and walked over. Pausing next to him, she looked at him, dripping, before shaking off. Water droplets and the odd bits of mud flew everywhere, many hitting the water, others the ground.
Sinbad:
"Haha... well you were the one that wanted to play." He stepped back and lifted his paw up to shield himself from the water. It didn't do much- but a few drops here and there didn't hurt.
Jua:
Jua could only snort at him. She'd never actually trained... What chance did she stand against him, anyway? With a flick of her tail, she aimed to smack him in the face with the sopping-wet tuft as she walked past. There were better things to do, anyway. "Whatever... I'm going back to my den... Much cooler there, anyway."
Sinbad:
"Feh... have fun." He rolled his shoulders and slowly wiped his face. How very mature.... "Might wanna give yourself a good grooming."
Jua:
She paused, looking at him. "You're in no better condition, you know. Do you even bother to comb through your mane?" She reached up, using her claws on a section. A couple small knots came out.
Sinbad:
"Feh." He reached out and shoved her away from him. "I got my sister's slave in my keep. He'll do it for me."
Jua:
"Whatever... He's not doing a good job of it, then." Turning, she started to walk away. After a moment, she frowned. "You know, the cave IS spacious and cool..." And empty, and lonely, and a bit isolated... "Besides... Talking to you is better than just sleeping."
Sinbad:
He lifted an eyebrow. "Still at it eh?" He tipped his head to one side. "...guess it can't hurt. It's kinda warm out."
Jua:
She nodded, then led the way. The cave was indeed dark, as well as a bit damp, but certainly cool. At least it wasn't freezing. Finding a good spot, Jua flopped down.
