Life was looking up a great deal for Eupe. Aang had started eating meat again, she had another adult to help her out, and Kisa was growing into a wonderful little one. And now...well, Eupe was indulging in some quiet alone time, dashing about like she had when she was a few seasons younger and still a cub to the Clan. Just her, the grass, and the wind at her side. It was a thrilling thing, freeing. And it allowed her to use muscles she didn't really keep in top shape anymore.
Oh, she was in hunting shape...but she wanted to be better than that. Especially for her family. Njalo and Kimbilio were big...but size did not protect against everything. She stopped a moment, catching her breath.
Bhaltair had actually wandered off on his own for a day or two - slowly getting to know the land better thanks to Tiifu. He still traveled more or less with the leopardess, but at times he got the urge to explore alone, and so he did. He followed hunches... obeyed the wind and the little niggling feelings in his head that told him he was getting closer and closer to his sister.
Looking up for a moment, he spotted the silhoutte of a female cheetah on the horizon and for a moment, his heart leapt, then froze. Could this be...?
Eupe shook herself after she'd caught her breath, topaz necklace clinking with the motion. Perhaps...that was enough for today. She could practice more tomorrow. She smiled brightly. It was nice to be able to think in such terms again, now that she wasn't so worried for her little family. A faint scent reached her and she blinked, looking about.
Company? The silhoutte of another cheetah caught her attention and she found herself making sure she didn't look like a complete child from her running. Some habits died hard...Eupe's sense of 'proper appearance' was one of them.
Bhaltair's eyes narrowed - noticing as she turned toward him. He still couldn't see her well and so was going slowly... not quite -creeping-, but not running to greet her either. He must be careful if it was his sister... who knew what she could have gotten into out here?
The pale cheetah rose a brow. Why was the other moving so slow. Sighing, she shook her head and trotted up to greet him. No sense in being rude. Especially since the other didn't seem to have malicious intent. She hoped. If he did...well, Eupe wasn't exactly helpless herself.
Bhaltair stiffened for a moment, but as the other came closer... he realized that he didn't recognizer her at all, and relaxed. Not his sister.... but perhaps she could help lead him to her. Nodding slightly, he waited for her to get a bit closer and then said quietly, "Greetings."
Eupe smiled and nodded back. "Salutations, sir." Once she was a couple feet away, she stopped and sat. "What brings you to this rather...abandoned piece of the savanna?" She'd come to like hearing the stories of others...it was interesting. Especially when she came across a cheetah not of her old clan.
Bhaltair smiled faintly - having gotten used to talking a bit more lately thanks to Tiifu. "A quest... of sorts," he replied with a little bob of his head. "And yourself?"
"Practice." A quest, hm? First time she'd heard of someone on a quest. "I'm not as fast as I once was...and now that I have the time, I thought I would try and regain my speed." Her curiosity poked at her brain, and she couldn't help but ask her next question. "What sort of quest are you on?"
Bhaltair smiled a bit enigmatically and shrugged, the look turning slightly toward a smirk. "To find something... what else?" he asked, tail-tip twitching. Then he relented and said, "Or rather, someone. My sister, actually."
Eupe held back from pouting at his initial answer, tail swishing about behind her a bit. But she perked when he relented. "Family, hm? What does she look like? Perhaps I've seen her?" It wasn't a HIGH possibility...but it never hurt to try. And she could always keep an eye out if she hadn't seen her.
"Ah ... she's dark colored like me... with a lighter belly. She doesn't really have any other markings, though..." he said, careful to keep his tone light, merely curious and not prying.
Eupe thought a moment. She had seen one cheetah that somewhat resembled the female he described...but she'd been too dark. And had several interesting markings. The pale cheetah shook her head. "I'm afraid I haven't. I'm sorry." A shame too...even though Eupe didn't want to stay within her clan's lands anymore...she did still love her family. Not being able to find them again...Eupe was certain she would be rather sad.
Bhaltair sighed softly but nodded. He hadn't really expected things to be that easy. "It's all right," he murmured. "I'll just have to keep searching." He had gotten his hoped up for a minute there, though. It only meant he'd have to work harder.
"I'm sure you'll run across someone who's seen her." Aang's tendancy to think the best had started affecting her...she felt he would find her sooner rather than later. But...she quickly squashed that down as wishful thinking. "Did you two get separated?"
Bhaltair hesitated a moment at that question - not sure how to put it. "In a way ... she ... ran away from our group a little while ago. I was asked to find her and ask why. No one knows why she left," he said finally. He put a bit of concern into his tone as well, certain that no one would help him if he revealed the true reason he was searching for her.
Eupe was quiet a moment. Perhaps...perhaps his sister was a little like her. Not truly suited for the ways of the place she grew up in. "When you do find her...I hope it is on good terms." Just as she hoped she would leave her family on good terms when she returned to say good bye. "And be aware that not everyone can live as they were brought up to."
Bhaltair winced inwardly at that, but he kept his outer expression calm, blank. "I hope so as well," he replied neutrally, managing to summon a faint smile for the benefit of looking as if he really did care.
Eupe nodded, not quite buying it. Fake smiles were something she was all too acquanited with, growing up a noble. But for the sake of not arguing, she smiled back. "Well...I must be off. My own family will be wondering where I am by now." She stood and made a slight bow. "I wish you good fortune."
Bhaltair nodded at that. "It was nice talking to you," he replied quickly - as if sensing she'd found something wrong. But knowing that, he was more eager to be gone as well. Best to get back to Tiifu anyway, before she started to wonder where he'd gone off to.
