Taonga - SkieBorne
Eisheth - Manda


Taonga, as per the usual, was hanging out in the local watering hole half submerged and lurking like a crocodile. He rather enjoyed the water and it always kept him cool during the heat of the tropical day. Yawning hugely, he eyed the skittish gazelle that drew near, gulped down some water then darted away with fearful looks cast his way. Some thought him crazy... he thought himself smart.

Somehow,Eisheth had made her way to some kind of huge jungle... the likes of which she'd never seen before. The cheetah's eyes were a bit wide, and her pawsteps soft on the leaves coating the ground. She hadn't had any helpful dreams in days now... and was wondering if perhaps she'd strayed from the path that she should be on. But there was nothing for it except to keep on going. And hope.

Scenting that watering hold up ahead, she turned her steps toward it, deciding to get a quick drink. Perhaps there might even be some other creatures about she could ask if they had any news.

The rustle of leaves as another creature approached drew his attention and he pulled back into the water such that only his eyes and nose were above water. Fancying himself like a crocodile, he idly blew bubbles and tossed his head, flaming red mane quite visible in the water. If only his mane were some other colour... Ah well. There was something more intriguing then attempting to change his fur colour approaching - or so he hoped.

Eisheth pushed through the last bit of screening vegetation, then stopped - blinking. There was something in the water. Almost nervous, she edged around the pool a little bit until she could see... oh. It was lion. But what in the world...?

"Ah... excuse me?" she called politely. If he didn't answer, she would just leave him alone.

He lifted his head above the surface, hind legs touching bottom to support the stretch, "Yes?" It was gruff, but not aggressive. Taonga was curious... what was this? It looked like a leopard... but much thinner... sleek. Definitely not a lion, that was for sure. Hrm. "What are you?" He drew nearer, the water sloshing off his back as he waded out of the shallows and shook himself semi-dry. "Want something?"

.... did it run like a gazelle....?

Eisheth smiled at that. Oh good... at least he seemed friendly enough! "My name is Eisheth," she replied, with a little almost-bow. "I am a cheetah... have you never seen one before?" Her brows went up curiously. That answered the question of whether he had seen her cousin neatly enough, she supposed....

"Hm. Nope. Never seen one o' you before." Brows drawn down in a curious look, he began to circle her as though trying to puzzle her out, "Eisheth? Guess you want my name then, huh? 's Taonga." He completed the circle as he finished speaking, shaking his head again to get rid of more water, "What're you after?"

Eisheth swiveled her head about to watch him - though she didn't move, letting him look her over. After all, it didn't harm her any, and he was only curious. "A pleasure to meet you, Taonga," she replied politely. "I have been traveling for some time now... I'm searching for my cousin, Elua. She's also a cheetah."

"Haven't seen her. Saw a gazelle though." He stepped closer, looming over her as he sniffed and reached out a paw to prod at Eisheth, hard enough to make her stumble a step. "You're small like th gazelle...." Taonga seemed to be considering something as he spoke, his tone rather reflective even if his thoughts seem rather single-tracked.

She was a bit startled at his poking, and did stumble a little - catching herself quickly. Maybe he just ... didn't know how strong he was. She had met others like that before. "I ... suppose I am..?" she agreed, a sort of questioning tone to her voice. Not so sure on the friendly assessment anymore...

"Mmm..." He prodded her again, harder this time as he rumbled something that eluded to a challenge, "Thirsty?" Taonga grinned then, a mischievous and perhaps even predatory expression as he idly dug razor sharp claws into the soft earth and stretched.

Eisheth blinked. Oh dear... "Ah... I was..." she replied, slowly taking a step backwards. There was no way she was going to win in a fight - he was so much larger than her. And it wasn't worth it, besides. This place was green and lush... she could find another place to drink.

"Ah." He seemed to draw a conclusion at that and casually swiped at her, "s'my watering hole." The rumble grew louder and Taonga's tail lashed from side to. "Haveta earn the right." The tensing of his hindlegs was the only indication of his attack as he sprang forward, intent on toying with this one.... would this spook it enough to send it running? He hoped so, he felt like a run.

Eisheth yelped at that and indeed - took off running. She was a cheetah... it was more or less what she was built for. And she'd had lots of practice at running away from things bigger and stronger than her - so she was fast. "It's ok, you can keep it!" she called back over her shoulder. Just ... don't ... eat me or anything.

With a triumphant roar he took off after her, surprisingly quick for a lion. And unlike cheetahs, his endurance was much greater. Speed veruses stamina. Mane whipping around as he ran, Taonga laughed and rumbled as he tore chunks from the ground and settled into a loping run. "I'm going to catch you!" He had every intention of doing just that too.

Eisheth spared a moment to glance back, eyes widening. Oh no... she might be faster for the moment but with him running like -that-, he would eventually catch her. With another quick yelp, she tried changing directions randomly, attempting to lose him while she -was- still faster.

He followed, sometimes stumbling when she turned quickly, and managed to keep the distance between them fairly stable... enough, at least to keep her in sight, which was all he wanted really. It wasn't long before they broke out of the jungle and into the savannah proper, to which Taonga gave a roar of delight. No more jungle! "You're not getting away!" He laughed, amused by this grande entertainment.

Oooh, she'd gone the wrong way! She hadn't been paying attention and now there really was no way to shake him off. So she skidded to a stop - whirling about as she did so. And waited for him, paws spread wide and the fur along her neck standing up. If he really wanted a fight, she would give him one... though she didn't at all like it.

He saw the dust fly up as she spun to face him and grinned, charging through the grass to face her even though he was breathing heavily, "Give up... so soon...?" Noting her stance and the fluffed up ridge of fur, he laughed, "You won't win. " Closing the distance, he swatted at her though his claws were not extended. She was a plaything, something to learn about through physical interaction.

Eisheth growled and slapped back at him - and her claws -were- out. She didn't care if he thought this was some kind of game... at the moment, she just wanted to be left alone. "It doesn't matter," she replied at that - panting a bit herself. She wouldn't give up and roll over for him.

He hissed as her claws sliced across his limb and threw his weight forward as he tried to catch the back of her neck with his teeth. Make her submit... that's what he wanted, she needed to earn the right to sip from his pond after all. He'd had the fight off the other predators that visited it, though there had not been any crocodiles thankfully. Growling, he pushed forward, stepping on a dry branch as he and Eisheth struggled, the snap echoing loudly in the air.

She yelped at that and ducked - getting under him to come up on one side. And then she backed away, swiping out with claws again. Eisheth knew very well that she didn't want to get in close ... he was bigger and if he got hold of her, his greater weight would be his best advantage.


Letting her gain some space, he started to circle, prowling and sizing her up as he prepared to clash again. He just needed to pin her down... to catch her close and keep her close. Rumbling as he swaggered, the lion tossed his head and bared his large canines, obviously amused.

Eisheth crouched down at that - waiting for him to move again ... not willing to get in any closer than she had to. She knew that she couldn't run, and a part of her knew that if she just let him 'catch' her, that ... might be all there was to this. But she was stubborn, too.

In a sudden burst of movement, he lunged for her, a paw lashing out to hook her leg and make her stumble as he spun with that paw to throw his shoulder against her. Hopefully it would catch her and bear her to the ground.

There was a half-panicked yelp at that... as it -worked-, Eisheth twisting around a bit as she started falling, hoping to maybe catch his face with claws or something and get him to back off again. But even as she moved, she knew that -this- time, she was likely to be too slow.

He pulled his face away as he went down on top of her, pinning the cheetah with greater weight. With a snort he grinned and peered at her, "You lose." Indeed, had he wished, he could have bitten out her throat. However, as this was simply a game to him, Taonga remained where he was a for a moment gloating and making it painfully clear who was in control.

Eisheth grunted and lay still underneath him, half-glaring for a moment. Then she actually smiled and shook her head. "All right... I lose. You win." And she raised her brows at him as if to ask 'now what?' - all anger gone.

He watched her a moment before pushing away and turning as if to leave. "That's right, I win." Flashing a grin, the blue lion wandered off with a haughty step and that, as they say, was that.