o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o
It was a particularly beauuuuuuuuutiful day. Kamau was feeling fit and fine, a male in the prime of his youth. Just recently his mane had grown out, and he'd taken to attempting to catch glimpses of himself in still water, just to see how wondrous he looked. Now, he knew that it was prideful, but still...he couldn't wait to show Kya, how she'd be impressed. Now he could ask to become her knight good and proper, being a handsome, grown-up leopon. It was in one of those pools of water, that he looked a bit too closely, and finding the bank a mite more slippery than he'd originally thought, he ended up sliding off the side and right into the water with a most undignified yelp, making a most stupendous sort of splashing noise, leaving the leopon flailing about, that mane now in his eyes, impeding his vision. Well blast.
Manda
As it so happened, Kya was wandering about near that same area... and heard the yelp and splash - head coming up in a startled sort of fashion. What in the world..? Padding slowly closer, she peered around a smallish sort of tree... and blinked. "Kamau? Is that -you-?" Unable to help herself, the young cheetah burst into giggles at the way he'd managed to get himself totally soaked. "If you were trying to get my attention... you've definitely done that," she teased, grinning.
o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o
Oh, well wasn't that just peachy timing. Grinning wryly at her, shaking damp locks of hair from his eyes, he laughed softly. "Sorry, I didn't know you were around, actually...I'd been meaning to come see you. This wasn't exactly the entrance I had in mind though." Pulling himself from the water, he then shook vigorously, spraying droplets in every direction. "Mmm, there, much better...." Still quite damp, he came padding over to her, "So how have you been, Kya? You're looking rather lovely today." It seemed a better way to start the conversation than to laud his personal idiocy.
Manda
Kya squeaked at that, ducking behind the tree so she didn't get sprayed with -too- much water. She didn't mind getting wet, and even went swimming from time to time, but if she wasn't planning on getting wet, well. That was different. The cheetah did smile at the other when he came over, though - and flushed faintly at the compliment. "I've been learning a lot lately... you uhm... you look nice too, even if you are wet."
o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o
"Oh good! And thank you." Leaning closer, he whispered confidentially, "I'll assure you, my mane looks much better when it isn't damp and clinging to me." He seemed quite proud of himself on that score, actually. "What sort of things have you been learning, Kya?" That seemed a decent way to start the conversation, and with a winning smile, he slowly sat down, tail curling about him, the tip of it still dripping now and again.
Manda
"Oh, mostly new ways to beat on things... and different rhythms and things like that." Smiling a little shyly, she tugged the drum down that she wore about her neck now. "Would you like to hear something I learned a couple of days ago..?"
o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o
Kamau knew very little of such things, save the bits that Kya had told him of. They fascinated him, but he was not particularly versed in them. With that, he nodded, "I'd love to...please...show me..." Ears flicking to attention, he devoted his full concentration towards her. Not that that was a hard feat for him, considering just how sweet on her he'd become.
Manda
Kya nodded and then let her eyes kind of half lid and sat back on hind paws - leaning against that tree a bit. Then she started to beat on the drum with her front paws, very so often adding a shake of her tail or one or more paws with other small bracelets of clackers on them. All together, it made what sounded like quite a complex beat.
o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o
That fascinated him beyond words. He'd never really seen anyone do such a thing before, at least not with anything near that amount of proficiency, and in silence, he watched, waiting until she was done, bobbing his head in time to the rhythm, watching her, crimson eyes intense. That was a talent, and he was entranced by it...the fact that it was Kya...well it made it that much better. A shame he had no such method by which to woo her.
Manda
Kya eventually wound down and stopped, panting slightly - as all of that was -work-, really. Looking up, she offered a bit of a shy smile. "I'm not really that good yet... but... I was practicing that earlier."
o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o
Rising again, he came nose to nose with her, smiling broadly. "It was quite lovely...I'm enchanted..." There, it was now, now was a good time, ask her ask her! He mentally willed himself, feeling his breath catch in his throat before it could escape, and swallowing hard, he began, fumbling at first, but pressing on. "I...wanted to ask, I mean, would it be all right, do you think...if I was to be your knight?" It was quiet, sincere, and he was so glad that his voice didn't tremble.
Manda
Pink eyes widened almost comically at that, and she swallowed - mouth suddenly dry. "B-be ... my knight..?" she stammered, blinking rapidly at the male. Was he asking... what she -thought- that he was?
o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o
Nervous, he nodded, waiting breathlessly for her answer. If she would just say yes, then...oh my, but he might just be the happiest feline in existence. To have such a fair maiden, he would also be the proudest knight, able to defend her and also, to be her guide within the darkness that blinded her. "I want to stay by your side, and protect you...and everything that comes with that, if you'll have me."
Manda
Kya stared for just a moment or two more, and then purred quite happily - moving to press her nose up against his fur. "I ... would love for you to be my knight, Kamau..." Truly, she'd liked him from that first time they had met. But hadn't really known what those feelings -meant- until later. Then... the cheetah had been a bit too shy to say anything. But this... this was wonderful.
o0 Sephiros Immortal 0o
He turned bright red beneath his fur, before he was purring also, rumbling as he nuzzled her. "Then I will be..." Kamau wouldn't even mind joining her pride, learning how to beat out the rhythms, if it meant being with her. Grinning like a fool, he licked her muzzle in a sweet, feline kiss. "And I'll be the best knight that ever there was." It was his vow to her, and he would keep it...life or death.
