Manda
The next morning, Ele woke early and got up, stretching a bit as he tipped his ears toward Pich. By the sound of her breathing, the leopard could tell that she was still asleep. Nosing at her ear a bit, he murmured that he was going down to the stream and waited until she made a kind of agreeing noise before setting off. That way she wouldn't worry when she woke up later if he was still gone. He didn't know if Ebere would be awake yet, but ... there was something interesting about the lioness, and Ele was hoping to talk with her again today. So he headed off down toward where they had met the day before - going carefully even though he knew this area fairly well by now.


Keantha
Ebere sighed softly as she watched the sun rise. Many things weighed on the young lioness's mind. Her fears for Hippy, if she would finally have a safe home at the end of the journey, life in general really. Hearing the sound of steps, she turned her head and smiled " Good morning Ele!"


Manda
Since she'd been sitting still until then, the sudden voice startled Ele just slightly and he jumped before he could help it - head turning toward the lioness. He tried to cover up that little slip by smiling quickly. "Good morning, Ebere... Sorry, I was ... thinking about something." He wasn't about to outright -lie- to her, but it wasn't exaaaaactly the truth either.


Keantha
Ebere shook her head amused, did he really think that he was fooling her? "It must have been something very important."


Manda
Well, crap. Erm... "Uh ... well, I was thinking about how much I was looking forward to talking with you some more today," the young leopard attempted, trying to perhaps... distract her if nothing else.


Keantha
She laughed shaking her head, " Smooth, very smooth." Wrinkling her nose, Ebe yawned lazily, " It is very early. What woke you up so early?"


Manda
Ele winced... then just... decided it was probably best to let it go. He kind of forced a little laugh and shook his head. "Guess I can't fool you ... I really just wasn't paying attention." That was closer to the truth, at least? A little? "Nothing really..." he replied to the question, then. "I wasn't sure if you'd be awake yet, actually."


Keantha
"I have always been an early riser. My father use to call me his little bird because I was always up with the sun."


Manda
Ele smiled at that, and nodded. "That's really nice... I'm usually not up this early but sometimes..." he shrugged. And decided to take another try at his somewhat clumsy flirting. "Maybe I was just looking forward to spending more time with you."


Keantha
Ebere blinked that then blushed faintly chuckling, " Well I am glad to see you again too. I was hoping to see you before we left the area."


Manda
The young leopard's smile widened at that. "Me too ... " he murmured softly. That time it worked, he could tell by her tone. "Would you like to walk a little, while we talk?" he asked then, trying for a gentlemanly manner.


Keantha
"I would like that very much Ele." She smiled at him as she got to her feet. "Have you had breakfast?"


Manda
"Not yet..." he replied, shaking his head slightly. After all, it was a little harder to hunt alone when he... couldn't see. Usually he tended to wait around until Pich woke up and then they would hunt together.


Keantha
Ebere smiled at him, " I would be happy to bring you breakfast. After all a friends should spoil friends."


Manda
Ele smiled at that, though he felt a little odd having someone beside Pich hunt for him. "Well, if you really want to, I won't stop you," he replied - trying for a light tone.


Keantha
She laughed softly as she got to her feet, " I am use to hunting for my friend Hippy. She is not well right now so it is not a big strech for me to hunt for you too Ele."


Manda
"All right then," the leopard replied, plopping down on his haunches. "Shall I just wait here then? Or...?" He tilted head and tried to aim sightless eyes in her direction.


Keantha
She shook her head gently as she watched him act, but she was too kind of a person to call him on it. " You can follow me if you like or you can wait here."


Manda
"Hm... well, I might spoil your concentration if I follow, so maybe I'll just wait~" he suggested. "Unless -you- want me to come along?" This last was accompanied by a little wiggle of his brows.


Keantha
Ebere laughed as she shook her head " Of course I would like you to join me Ele!" He was a rather handsome male for all his disability. " After all I -did- come to spend time with you."


Manda
Grinning at that, the young leopard bounced to his feet. "Well, then ... shall we?" he asked, attempting to be gallant. But it was a bit spoiled by his obvious excitement at going along with her. "Lead the way, my lady."


Keantha
"Oh I'm -your- lady now is it?" she teased as she padded past, brushing the tufted tip of her tail against his side, not so much to flirt, but so she could lead him without being obvious.


Manda
Ele started to stutter something at that, but then swallowed the words back. Maybe she -liked- being called that, after all! "Yup~" he replied instead, smiling as he got up to pad after her.


Keantha
"Well then!" Amusement colored her voice as she headed down the trail, sniffing the air as she paced ahead, careful not to move so far away that he couldn't feel her.


Manda
Ele followed after the lioness, grinning... well, rather like a fool. He was paying so much attention to Ebere that he didn't exactly notice when the feel of the ground under their paws changed slightly. But he -did- notice when it suddenly began to shiver a bit. "Ebere..." he started to say - when the ground beneath them simply -crumbled-. And Ele let out a noise not until a screech as the two of them tumbled down into a large crack that had suddenly opened up.