Moonlight danced on the surface of a pond, trees here and there framing it. Fireflies and dragonflies danced over the water, further illuminating everything. Carefully, Sayen stepped out into the midst of it, admiring it all. Behind her, up in a tree, slept Mkorogo, tired from their long travel westward. For now, though, the russet-brown leopardess enjoyed the peace of the scene before her.
It wouldn't be long before the tiger-striped lioness realized that she wasn't alone at the edge of the moonlit pond. Just off the other beach, hidden in the dappled shadows of the trees, stood a young male. Well-muscled for his age, though a bit smaller than would have been ideal.
He stood with his eyes closed, ears pinned back, and tail flicking low by his ankles. The sound of his own breathing soon dimmed into the night, overcome by the sounds of his surroundings. It was a technique impressed into his late clan. When one sense was taken away,a nother became stronger. When sight was lost, hearing grew...
Slowly, an ear rotated towards the pond.
Pausing to sniff some flowers, Sayen watched as a frog jumped away, plopping into the pond with a muted plunk. The leopardess smiled, stiffling a giggle at the sight. Continuing her walk, she slowly circled the pond, watching the light from the fireflies dance on the surface.
As the frog plunked into the water, the male turned sharply, his wild brown eyes flying open as his ears pinned back and teeth bared. "Who's there?!" He demanded, sharply.
Sayen froze, green eyes wide. Somebody else was there? She hadn't noticed them at all! Out of instinct, and from being taught so well by her parents, she sank down into the grasses, looking around. "J-just a little leopard, taking a peaceful walk!"
His posture relaxed, ears rolled forward, and maw slowly closed. "Oh...", He looked off to one side, then the other. She was alone... "I'm sorry if I intruded. I'll be on my way."
Peeking out of the grasses, Sayen spotted the other leopard. "Oh! You're a leopard!" She stood up, a smile spreading on her face. "I didn't think I'd see any out here! At least, not besides myself and Kory..." She motioned with her head to the tree, where she noticed a pair of gold eyes watching them, practically glowing in the moonlight. It was a bit creepy to look at, actually...
Another? Vahn bristled slightly. He'd not heard the other... which only meant he wasn't practicing hard enough. Had they been enemies...
He turned back to the female, shaking free his previous chain of thought. "Aren't we normally solitary creatures?" That's what he'd been told anyway. Outside of the Aba-Haraki, leopards were mainly solitary. Then again, what was and what's spoken were often two very different things.
Sayen shrugged, blinking a bit. "So I've been told... But then I go home and I look at the colony, and find so many leopards... I guess there's two kinds of leopards like that, huh?" She paused in her rambling, glancing again at the tree. The eyes had vanished, which meant Mkorogo had gone back to sleep. Returning her attention to the other, she smiled. "I'm Sayen!"
Another colony? Another clan of leopards? The male's brows tightened slightly. Then they weren't the only ones...
"Ah. This isn't their territory is it?"
Blinking, Sayen shook her head. "Oh, no, this isn't the Usafi lands! We're in the middle of the jungle, and we have to go to the source waters to cross the river to get ther, since it's inside the bend of the Congo River." Or that's what Nava said it was called by humans. "There's also temple ruins everywhere."
"Humans." He gave a short nod as his frown deepened, "I see. Out of curiosity, what's the name of your clan leader? And how far has the clan traveled?"
She thought a moment, eyes closing a moment. "Well... When I left... Fumananya was the last scion of her family, the previous dynasty within the colony... Unless Father returns... If I find Kamawi, too, he and I will be the leaders of the Usafi'tukufu."
Vahn sighed, whether it was in disapointment or relief was even his guess. On one hand, he wasn't in hostile territory. On the other- he was still on a cold trail.
"I see. Well thank you." He glanced back towards the trees. The other stranger hadn't yet shown himself. "My name is Vahn. I come from another clan...very far from here."
Noticing where he was looking, Sayen offered a smile. "Don't mind Mkorogo, he's just grumpy because I made him travel all day and wants to sleep." She motioned to the west, towards where the sun had gone some hours ago, and the mooon would eventually go in several hours. "The Usafi are that way. Which way is your former clan?"
His ears rolled back. Former clan.
"We... lived close to the sea of the gods. North of here. I doubt you've heard of it." He shrugged, "We've been traveling with a group of mercinaries for a time."
"Oh..." She looked down, ears folding back just a bit. They weren't anymore, it sounded like. "Well... Did you want to find an ew home...? The Usafi are always open to lost leopards..."
"I'm not lost." He snapped, perhaps a tad more harsh than he intended.
Clearing his throat, he composed himself. "Sorry... I'm traveling with someone."
Sitting back, Sayen frowned. "You could be spiritually lost, emotionally lost, navigationally lost... But if you say you're not..." She tilted her head, then looked around. Just who was he traveling with? "A sibbling? A friend? A relative of some sort?"
"I'm not lost." He repeated, this time with an undertone of a warning. I've been exiled... He answered, inwardly.
"A friend." He straightened up a bit, "A lioness."
A look of understanding dawned on Sayen's face. "Ah, I see..." She offered a smile. "Leopards and lions don't often travel together, and when they do..." She paused, letting out a little giggle. She clearly lacked her father's deep-running prejudice against other species.
His expression remained hardened, even as she giggled at her own implication. "We're just friends. Traveling companions."
"Whatever you..." A yawn caught up, interrupting her sentance. "Say.... Excuse me..." Shaking her head, she blinked a few times. "I'm sorry... I think it's past time for me to climb a tree and sleep..." It would explain her giggly mood and off-kilter attitude. Standing up, she bowed her head. "It was a pleasure, Vahn. I hope you and your.. Friend... Find somewhere nice, if you're looking. Me... I should go sleep..." She blinked again, before shuffling towards the tree Mkorogo occupied.
