He was still wandering.
He had to admit, he’d quite enjoyed that night with that strange lionness. The flirting and the fun they’d had in the den…it had been nice. He felt guilty now, though. Guilty that he’d done that to Kari. He loved her, he really did. But he was just so…so frustrated. It was taking so long, and he wanted her to join him so bad. She’d already met Amanzi, and they got on well. They’d admitted their feelings, so why couldn’t they just leave together? He knew he was being selfish – to ask a lion to leave the pride they’d grown up in was hard. He himself had left the Pridelands, but that had been following his mother. That had been different. Kari was following him, which meant it was his responsibility to keep her safe.
But then again, considering he’d not been totally ripped to shreds in a fight with a Firekin boded well. But he was still unsure. Could he protect her enough? Was his love enough to keep her safe?
Takuma sighed, falling into the shade under a tree as a respite from the harsh midday sun. He guessed only time would tell.
Kutakia was in a tree, sleeping through the hot midday sun so he could start travelling again once dawn fell. He’d heard from a passing jackal that there was a watering hole not far off, with a small oasis surrounding it, and it sounded like a nice place to rest for a few days. Catch a few hares, fill himself up again before he resumed his wandering. He didn’t like staying in any one place for more than a few days – it got boring, got old, and he wanted to move on. There were so many beautiful places to visit in the world. Why would anyone ever consider just staying in one place?
Blinking, Kuta glanced down as a lion suddenly came and sat under the tree he was in, flopping onto the ground to rest. He couldn’t blame him – the midday sun was burning fiercely today, and temperatures were soaring. Not wanting to be impolite, he called down with a gentle call, “Hello there!”
Takuma enjoyed his rest, eyelids fluttering shut as a paw came up to scratch his ear, relieving him of an itch. But suddenly a voice came and interrupted his thoughts, Taku blinking in surprise. He hadn’t seen anyone around as he was walking, and surely no one could sneak up on him that fast? He glanced around, finding no-one, and frowned. Then it struck him and he looked up, finding the leopard sitting on a thick branch of the tree, his tail hanging down. What a good idea – Taku found himself suddenly wishing he could climb trees.
“Hello,” he replied, a little wary. After all, the leopard had an excellent vantage point from which to attack him, “…Who’re you?”
Kuta chuckled – it amused him, how one’s first thought was never to look up. The lion looked around, surveying the whole savannah before pausing in confusion. And only then did he look up, Kuta’s golden eyes shining with amusement as he looked back down. Lounging on his tree branch quite merrily, endlessly comfortable, he watched the lion, head resting on his paws. “I’m Kutakia – though most call me Kuta.”
He paused, before speaking again, smiling softly, “And you are?”
”Takuma,” he replied, shuffling around a little uncomfortably on the ground, before finally standing so he didn’t have to crane his neck. “You can call me Taku, I s’pose.”
He didn’t mean to come across as cold as he did, he was just wary. He blinked, crystal blue eyes watching the leopard who he now knew as Kutakia – no, Kuta – finally relenting to speaking again in hopes of not prolonging such an awkward silence. “So, Kuta. Where’re you from? Have you travelled far?”
Takuma? He’d heard that name before, but he couldn’t remember where. Shaking it off, he watched as the lion stood, suddenly aware that his position in the tree might be making Taku uncomfortable. He instantly stood, leaping down from the tree with surprising grace, smiling as he landed again on the floor, as if offering an apology. He sat once he’d landed, expecting Takuma to do so also, a thoughtful expression crossing his face at the lion’s question.
Where had he come from? “I can…honestly say I’m not sure, Taku,” he replied, pausing before continuing again, “I’ve been travelling all my life, wandering from place to place. But I can’t remember where my mother brought me up originally. How about yourself, have you travelled far?”
Taku relaxed a little – logic told him that if this leopard was going to attack him, he would have done it already by now. There was the chance he was being lulled into a false sense of security, but honestly…Takuma didn’t think the leopard was that smart. Heck, not many were. So he allowed himself to sit, his smile to widen a little, his tail to curl around his rump as he watched Taku, looking genuinely interested now.
Couldn’t remember? He couldn’t imagine what it must be like, to not remember his mother, or his family. It’d be completely horrible. “I’ve come from a pride – Pridelands?” he offered, not sure whether the leopard would know of it, “My mother’s in the sea pride, though. But I…don’t like water, so I’m travelling the rogue lands now.”
Pridelands? Kuta frowned a little, shaking his head, repeating the gesture at the mention of a sea pride. He wasn’t one for wandering too close to large groups of lions, incase they were hostile. He didn’t fancy getting attacked, especially not in an unfair, outnumbered fight. Plus, although he could limb trees, he wasn’t exactly the bulkiest, best fighter.
“I’m afraid I don’t recognize either of those names,” he sighed, though offered a small smile afterwards, “Have you any family, Taku?”
Ah, no. Takuma wasn’t sure whether other feline species were familiar with lion customs such as prides, and even so he doubted they’d know the specific names. But he thought he’d offer anyway, so as not to look a complete fool if it had turned out the Leopard did have any idea what he was talking about. The question about his family caused the lion to grow a little suspicious again, narrowing his eyes briefly before shrugging, deciding to be purposefully vague rather than disrupt what had so far been a nice conversation.
“I’ve six siblings – one a twin to me. Mother’s in the sea pride, Father’s back home…quite a large extended family. Yourself?” he responded, suddenly realizing after he’d said it that Kuta had already said he didn’t remember his family.
Kuta smiled, not pressing the lion to reveal anymore – it seemed he still wasn’t trusted. He couldn’t blame the blue-eyed feline. He himself had met several creatures who he certainly wouldn’t have wanted to divulge such information to, and who he didn’t particularly fancy seeing again. The question was asked about his family, and Kuta turned his gaze to the stars, staring up into the night that had caught up with the pair so quickly.
“I remember a mother, and a brother. But nothing of their whereabouts or their names.” He spoke, pausing for quite a long while to simply gaze at the stars. They were so pretty. He finally turned back to Takuma, with a warm smile, “I should be going. If I don’t reclaim my den for the night, I fear it will be taken by someone else.”
Kuta seemed quite reminiscent – Taku followed the leopard’s gaze when he looked to the stars, also gazing up at the bright orbs of light. He wondered what they were, sometimes. His mother had told stories of them being lost souls, unable to find their way to heaven so they simply remained in the sky, guiding the living. Whether that was true or not, Taku didn’t know.
Kuta spoke again, and Taku had to agree – it was getting late, and he should be off to find his sister again. He smiled, nodding in agreement. “It was nice talking to you, Kuta. I hope to meet you again.” He offered, a small inclination of his head given as a farewell before the lion turned, heading back into the vegetation, a small smile on his face as he left. What a nice leopard.
