The dirty, smelly, lanky cheetah was currently walking back and forth over the edge of a cliff, frowning. His days had grown more and more anxious lately... He had to do something. He was tired of mooping around and brooding all day! Depression... sucked! And he needed to go back to being his old self... Mean, perverted, and lovin' life. Alone. He just needed to accept it.
He was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice the rocks crumble underneath him. He didn't know he was falling until... well, he was soaring through the air, riding a large hunk of stone like some primitive surfboard down the mountain side.
"HEEEEEEYAH!" This was what he needed! A rush, a kick to the head to get his life MOVING again!
He had had his head down, poking it into a hole when he first heard the muffled sound of rock beginning to crumble, and as it was an unfamiliar sound, it took a while for it to register in Tu'de's mind what exactly it was making this strange sound. It was distracting, whatever it was, annoying even, as it was causing dirt and bits from the ceiling of the hole to fall into his hair and ears as it grew louder, closer and then there was a voice, someone yelling, maybe, above the sound. The lanky leopard backed his ears, what an awful voice, he though as he pulled his head from the hole and turned his dark eyes blinking as they adjusted again to the daylight.
"Oohhh~" He moaned, his voice high and colored with a tone of impending doom. A cheetah riding a wave of stone was heading in his direction, down the cliff face, he would turn to run, but he had never been highly skilled on his feet, and he stumbled more often than not, even on flat land, when running scared.
He saw the flash of blue too late to really lounge out of the way. Nor did he really want too... the idea of bombarding into someone and hurting them made him feel so much better! So he only yelled louder towards the end, his mismatched eyes wide up until the end.
Then...
BAM! He collided with the thin leopard with a loud crack, the avalanche of rock hitting the ground hard. Luckily only the edge of the bolder hit Tu'de, so it wasn't anything life threatening. Murdoc was only buried by a small layer of dust and rocks, which he shook off easily enough when he stood.
"Woo!" He hooted, shaking himself again. "What a rush!" He looked down to a patch of fur and batted at it. "Hey buddy? Hey? You alright? Come on, suck it up man, get up!"
De had rolled a few times after the boulder hit him and so he lay belly to the sun with the stones scattered all around his form. He didnt exactly hurt, but he moaned anyway, it should hurt, right? "Ooooh~ I am up aren't I, yea?" He shifted slow and blinked his dark eyes, moved each of his limbs in turn, they all still worked as far as he could tell and shifted to stand, dirt and stones falling from his pale fur, and he shook his head a few times to clear it, though that never really helped. "Er, yea, 'm awright, I think, you?" His tone was concerned at the end and as he shifted around on his feet, shaking his head a little still to clear the bits from his hair, he somehow really did wonder at the state of the other, physical and mental.
Murdoc simply waved a paw and flopped down onto the rock, smirking. "There ya go. A fall never hurt no one... And yeah, I'm fine, stop fretting like a p***y." He didn't bother shaking the dust from him, since his fur was already mostly coated with mud and... who knew what else anyway.
He perched onto the rock as if it were a prize, or some throne even. A smirk was plastered on his face as he looked over the leopard. It was nice to be like this again, confident and loving life, even though it was mostly an act... Still, it was his, and she couldn't take that away from him.
"What's your name? Wha, man, your eyes are weird, some here." He gestured for him to come closer with his paw, head tilted.
When summoned Tu'de moved, some part of him just listened when others told him to do things, this wasnt always for the good of his own sake, but he hadn't really ever felt the need nor want to question it, he didnt think about anything that hard. "'m not frettin, it wos just a question...." His statement trailed off at the end, like he wasnt sure what he was defending, as he drew up real close to the cheetah.
"Is, Tumo, er... Tumo'dem-" He screwed his face up, trying to remember and that's when his right paw gave out, and the leopard slid, thunking his chin into the cheetah's throne and bit his tongue, he whined, just a little and got to his feet again, his face inches from the others, "Tu'de." He mumbled from his sore mouth.
Doc blinked down at him as he stepped closer and so clumsily hurt himself. He couldn't help but bark out a laugh, his voice echoing through the rocks around them.
"Man... you're a clutz, boy. I thought leopards were suppose to be swift on their feet, eh? Or are you not a real leopard? Eh?" He tilted his head at him, then snorted in his face and shoved at him. His paw pressed against the other, pushing him back. "Gimme some space, geez... Not that close!"
Once he was a foot or so away he eyed him again, lip curled down. "You don't remember your name? Tch. Fine. I'll just call you idiot then."
"Ain't it cheetahs. That're swift and all?" Tu'de was mumbling again, but he backed down, crouching at the others feet and blinking up at him, hadnt he wanted him closer? Something about his eyes? The leopard shook his head, "No, I didn't forget it again, just, it's hard to say the whole thing, Dembe is the other part. But. I like it shortened anyway..." he trailed off again, unsure. "Erm, what's yours, name, that is? Or should I just call you cheetah?" His tone was a poor attempt at being snarky, he knew it failed right after he said it, but trying to cover would only make it worse really.
The cheetah rose a brow at him, looking more amused than insulted. "Shortened, eh? And what would that be, hmm?" He stretched a little, claws raking against the rock he was sun bathing on. His tail twitched and his eyes fell half lidded, now looking half interested and lazy.
"Eeeh... I guess cheetahs are suppose to be more swift. But leopards... arent you suppose to be balanced and graceful or somethin'? Ah well, doesn't matter. Tch, my name is Murdoc, but you can call me whatever, I don't care."
"Erm, just, Tu'de, Whatever?" He was about to follow it up with a polite 'nice to meet you' or something, but he cringed a little at the sound of the nails on the stone and was silent for too long to not be weird, if he said it now. He sat quiet for a moment just thinking. "Erm, I guess so, but I've never been real graceful, I fall outta trees..." Tu'de grinned then, laughing at himself like, "So what about you then? You fall from up there, or was that like, planned?" He raised his head to the cliff top and then blinked at the cheetah, a bit awed if the latter was true.
"Tu'de?" He blinked at him, an eyebrow raised. "That's a pretty stupid name, if you don't mind me saying." He shook his head and stretched again, rolling onto his side lazily. "Ah well. Most names are stupid..." His eyes squinted at him, tail twitching against the rock.
"Hmm... I have an idea for something fun. Wanna hear it?"
Nodding in agreement of both or maybe it was just easier to agree than to argue, the leopard liked his name, even if it was hard to fully remember sometimes... Still nodding Tu'de shifted, stood and stretched his limbs slowly, he was paying attention, but it probably might not seem it, he was the easily distractable sort.
He smirked wider, inching towards him and speaking lowly, as if it were some great secret. "I think... that it would be great fun if..." He then drew back, grinning, once again laying on his side.
"You went and caught us some lunch. I think that would be great indeed... Well? Go on, get too it boy!" He waved a paw at him, apparently dismissing him.
Tu'de twitched when the cheetah drew up close to him, he'd turned to watch him when his voice had dropped low and then he gaped and studdered for a moment, "G-great, me!? Catch us something, huh, you don't-" But he stopped short, surely if he tried to really argue he'd lose and he didn't want this guy to get angry with him, and hey, maybe he'd get lucky and actually catch something worth sharing... even though, that was a rare and lucky day in an of itself, sharing was another matter...
Without another word of protest Tu'de turned and began to gimp down off the rocky cliff-side, he had been searching the various holes and burrows previous but he knew those prey werent really enough to fill someone up and the cheetah didn't seem the type to be sated on something so small.
"Hurry up about it too! I don't like waiting." He grumbled, eyeing him as he scampered off. He was honestly surprised that it had worked... Maybe the guy really was just that dense. It seemed so anyway. He could get used to this... Maybe he should keep the poor chap around.
Now he just had to wait, and see if he came through. He could very well just run off as well... But for some reason Murdoc doubted that.
With that final shout, Tu'de set off at a quick lope, he turned to look back the the cheetah and wondered for a moment how long he would wait, or if he was, maybe, actually sending him off so that he could hunt in the burrows himself without interruption... Tu'de frowned, no someone wouldnt really do that, he shouldnt think poorly of someone he just met, right?
An hour passes and, by chance, luck, or the good graces of the gods, Tu'de returns dragging a very small tommy carcass, he'd just managed to catch it and had only been kicked a few times while downing the newborn. He was still a little ways off at this point from where he had left Murdoc and he sat down on his haunches to rest a bit, raising his gaze to the stony area, his vision wasnt the best at distances, so it was hard to tell if he was still waiting or not. "I hope he is, yea." He murmured, and stood.
Murdoc was still waiting, yes. But impatiently. He was passing back and forth on his throne, grumbling under his breath. What was the hold up? Surely he wasn't THAT much of an idiot? Or maybe he really had run off... The smell of blood made his head perk up, and he glanced sideways towards the direction Tu'de was in. Smirking, he trotted off towards him, licking his chops as he went.
"Yo!" He called out, moving up to meet him. He eyed the meat hungrily, grinning. "Not bad, not bad at all..."
Dropping the meat and grinning widely, De had taken a bit of it before and so would let Doc have at while he spoke, "You shoulda seen me catch it, yea, I fink that this might of been the quickest I ever caught anything." Even though he wasnt much of a compliment, he sat and let it soak in, it wasnt such a bad deal, hunting for someone besides youself, he though, and then he bent his head down to share in the meal.
He was quick to tear a bit of the best meat off for himself, stepping back to gnaw at it ravinishly. He was silent for a bit, occasionally looking up at him between bites. When the meat was gone her scooted closer to take another strip, then back up again.
"So... Tu'de. What do you do, when you're not bumblin' around like an idiot?"
"Huh?" He blinked, bits of stringy meat hanging from his maw and he rolled his dark eyes skyward, with a thoughtful expression, he was like that for an extended moment, chewing slowly, the meal all but forgotten and then he swallowed and regarded Murdoc with a serious expression. "Nuthing really I guess, I move around a lot though, others run me outta they're area when I say too long, but I don't really -do- anything, all that much really." He noticed the carcass again and dug into it further, then popped his head back up and grinned, "What about you, yea?"
He shrugged, chewing for a bit before replying. "Oooh... eh." He thought as well then, finishing that bit of meat. Then he smirked and raised his head with a prideful grin, chest puffing out slightly.
"I enjoy music. It's all great, a good beat and all... And women. Courting beautiful women. Ah... you'd be surprised how often I have to beat them off of me... Babes can't get enough of me. Kinda annoying, at times." That was a liiiiie.
"Really?" Tu'de tilted his head to one side, forgetting the meat again to think that one over, "You wouldn't think so, by lookin' at you, I mean, you don't look very musical at all." Though if you asked him what 'musical' looked like, he'd probably fail to answer you. Tu'de nodded, then frowned, "Why'd you beat em off though, if you like em so much, I mean, I don't really like kits all that much, but women are... nice." He smiled then, like he knew what it was like to share company with the fairer sex.
He shrugs, eyeing him. "Well, a guy can't be handing out lovins ALL the time... Gotta have time to rest and stuff, you know." Murdoc stared at him bitterly for a few moments, almost jealous. He seemed to know what he was talking... well, lying about. This dimwit had felt a female's warmth? But not him? Tch.... The world really was cruel, at times...
"So, you got a girl?"
"Oh yea, yea." Tu'de nodded agreeing, though he was at a loss as to what he was agreeing with, he had more confusing conversations this way. Dipping his head distractedly back to what was left of the tommy carcass, the leo shook his head denying it, and after swallowing, "I mean, I know girls yea? They just don't stick around very long..."
Murdoc raised a brow, his ears perking a little. "Don't stick around, eh? What kind of looser are ya? I mean..." He paused then, glancing over him. Then shrugged. "Never mind, I can tell why by the look of ya." He barked out a laugh at his own joke, then raised a paw to slap down onto the shoulder of the leopard. "Ain't that a hoot? Ah... Anyway... Hmm, I think we should meet here again sometime."
"What kind...?" Tu'de trailed off, if Murdoc could tell, maybe he'd share, but probably not. De was jolted by the slap and stumbled a little, then righted himself, bringing a paw to his head, rubbing at it in a distracted manner. Then, he raised his face to Doc again, "Oh, really? I mean, yea, that's not a bad idea, if'n you wanna see me another time, I mean..." He nodded to finish and swallowed thickly.
"Ya, sure, why not." He stretched lowly, opening his mouth into a long yawn. "We'll meet back here some other day then, you can catch me lunch again. Sounds fun, ya?" He chuckled and stood strait again, smirking widely. "I better be off for now though, lots of women to see and meet.... and... well." He laughed, acting up even though he knew he probably wouldn't find a female that wanted him like that... but oh well. He wasn't going to let De know that. "See ya." With that he turned and trotted off down the stones, humming a tune as he went.
De nodded again, or still, bobbing his head happily as the cheetah wandered off, "Sucha nice fellow, yea?" he asked himself and then bent to finish off what was left of the meal, his ears backed and listening to the tune drift on in the breeze.
