The male leopard was used to walking, having done it most days for the last year at very least, but the day's sun was beating heavily on his back and he found himself slowing. His paws hit the ground with solid thuds, louder than usual thanks to his exhaustion and he glanced across the landscape. He wasn't in the desert, but a grassy area that stretched far before him, but he knew wouldn't last. There were trees nearby, so he changed his course, moving towards them quickly in hopes of retreating into the shade. The male knew he couldn't wander far, he had people he needed to return to that night, but wandering was in his blood, so he was eager to do it anway. Approaching the shade, he flopped down gracefully by the base of the nearest tree, panting slightly as he peered out into the landscape again.
Elua liked trees. Well...she liked everything, but trees were something wonderful indeed! The air was cleaner around them, they provided such wonderful shade when it was sooooo hot out, and they were lovely perching spots! Yes, perching spots. Elua had managed (with some help from Sairin earlier), to get herself into a tree. And was currenly flopped in the crook where several branches originated from, so she wouldn't fall. A new scent drifted up and woke her from her lovely nap. "Hmmm?" The earthy cheetah tilted her head...then smiled, wide awake. Someone new! She looked down and spotted the leopard. Ooooh~ He was a VERY pretty one! "Well, good day! I should have known I'd have unfamiliar company sooner rather than later~"
Dysi had been expecting, if he were going to find company, to see someone out across the landscape before him. He hadn't expected someone to be in the trees! He started slightly at the unfamiliar voice, glancing up to try and spot the source. Peering at the cheetah in the tree, he allowed the surprised expression to cross his face. He hadn't seen a cheetah in a tree before, ususally that was reserved for leopards.
“Greetings!” He called back, amused. “Enjoying the tree?” He chuckled lightly, turning slightly so he could see her easier without craining his neck up at such a harsh angle.
Elua giggled. "Oh I'm enjoying it quite a bit! Nice and shady, air isn't dusty...it's a very nice place!" She took a deep breath. "Sad I need help to get up here though. I understand why you leopards like the trees so much! No better a place for a mid-day nap." She nodded, laughter in her voice. She was obviously a very happy cheetah. "I suspect shade is what brought you this way, handsome?"
Dysi felt a type of lightness he hadn't felt in a while, her good mood was kind of infectious. It was a nice change from being responsible and held down. “Ah,” he mused, “I was wondering how you got up there! I hadn't seen a cheetah up a tree before, usually that's reserved for leopards.” He tilted his head, enjoying her hapiness. He gave a sort of smile at her words. “That it would be, beautiful,” he replied, voice smooth. “I was travelling and couldn't resist the sight of the trees, and I'm glad I did now, having seen you.”
The cheetah nodded. "One of my family helped me up! Sairin's a nice guy. And MUUUCH bigger than me. He's the biggest lion I've ever met!" She grinned. "Traveling someplace in particular? Or just following the wind? That's what my family and I do...go where our paws take us, see all we can see...There's much beauty in the world."
Dysi was midly surprised. A lion, family with a cheetah? Well, he supposed he should judge, he did have a lion daughter. “Really? Must have been easy for him to get you into the tree then.” He shook his head in response to her question. “I was also just, following the wind,” he explained. “Is your family a large one?” He asked, sounding curious. Families were something that always intrigued the male leopard, no matter what form they came in.
Elua thought a moment. "Hmm...I suppose it is a bit large." She smiled wistfully. "There's myself and Leru...my cousin Eisheth...both her litters of little ones, and there's Leru's kits. There's my son, and Sairin, and Cassiel." Yes...it was a large family. "It's a good family. And it is a happy one." The adults all did their best to make sure the cubs were happy. And the adults themselves were often happy as well!
Dysi tilted his head, content to listen to her speak about her family. “That sounds like a wonderful environment,” he mused. A large family was always the better way of growing up, he knew, having grown up in a large family of his own, though he had lost track of them long ago. “The young cubs must be very lucky.”
Elua would have blushed, if her fur had been lighter. "I...suppose they are..." She chuckled. "We love them all very much. And we raise them to love in return. Love as thou wilt...that's what we raise them to. Because there's far too little love in the world, but there is SOOOO much to love in it!"
“What a lovely place to grow up,” he said, with a low laugh, pleased to hear that such a caring family still existed. He wondered if they were all the same species but didn't think so, what with her having a lion as a family member. He chuckled a little at her attitude, it was so bright and bubbly, a lovely thing to see. “You have a son?” He asked, sounding curious.
Elua nodded. "I do!" She stood and hopped down, to join the leopard on the ground. "He's a sweetheart. Very bright and intelligent, like his father!" She was VERY proud of Niju. "He was the only cub in my first litter, and I love him so. I kind of hope I can give him little siblings one day." She loved cubs. They made everything so much brighter and wonderful.
Dysi got to his feet respectfully when she jumped to the ground, making sure she had landed properly before sitting down, not returning to his lazily sprawled laying position. He smiled lightly. “Ah, I can see your son is very lucky to have such a caring mother.” He was slightly disappointed that she mentioned a father, not sure if the make was still in the picture. “I'm sure you will be gifted with cubs again, a kind woman such as you should be surrounded by cubs,” he said with a kind laugh.
She chuckled. "Ah...but it's so hard to find a good father. I was lucky when I found Niju's father. Sairin is a good father. But..." She sighed. "I...want other friends to have a chance. Others to know the love and joy Sairin and I felt." Perhaps it was odd of her to speak in such a way...but it was Elua. She was all sorts of odd. Good, but odd.
Dysi blinked, surprised at her words. What a strange thing to say! “Is he not your mate?” he asked, curious now. To say that someone else deserved a chance the love and joy that they had felt, when they had produced a child together, it was very strange. Then again, he knew some people had cubs with people who were not mated, he had seen that many times and he himself had flinged, though no cubs had come from it. Still, such a loving female he thought would be eager to settle down with a family and a male.
She shook her head. "Nope. I do love him but..." She didn't look sad at all. "I can't help but love everyone I come across, in some way. Be it as a friend, or a cub, or a lover. Sometimes I only see them once...but they remain in my heart forever." Even those who did not like her, she loved.
Dysi smiled at her, amazed at how caring she was. He had never met anyone like her, and doubted he would again. What a strange creature she was. “You are a very sweet soul,” he told her, before pausing. “Say, what is your name?” he asked, realising he had not given nor asked her name. “I am Dysini'mbus, but I'm more commonly referred to as Dysi.” He tilted his head, smiling warmly at her. It would be nice to have a name to match to the beautiful face before him.
Elua smiled. "Thank you...My name's Elua!" Named for a long ago son of mortal and divine blood who wandered as she did, loving all yet finding home nowhere...until he found Terre D'Ange. One day, she would find her Terre D'ange. Until then...she had much more love to give. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Dysi!"
“The pleasure is all mine, Elua,” Dysi said, giving her a low bow with a smile. He didn't know the orgin of her name, nor what she was seeking, but he pleased to meet her none the less. She had certainly brightened up his day. “I hope your family conitinues to grow and stay safe,” he added, a type of blessing a friend had once taught him. He vaguely remembered various ones she had taught him, but this one suited Elua better then the others.
"I wish the same of yours, when you have one." And she was certain one day this beautiful leopard would have one. He was sweet and kind, wonderful to talk to, and very handsome. She'd never seen coloring and markings like his in tandem! "Do you have a mate?" She was curious. He seemed the sort to invest his love wisely.
He thought, briefly, of his rather peculiar family. He didn't have a mate, per say. “No,” he said, with a laugh. “I have yet to find a female to catch my attention for long, despite my love of cubs. Though,” he trailed off, thinking fondly of his little girl, “I have a daughter, and her mother who helps me raise her.” He grinned, thinking of the lioness who was helping him take care of the young juvenile lioness that was his 'daughter'.
"A daughter?" She grinned. "So what of you does she have? Your eyes? Your markings~?" She was CURIOUS! "No matter what, she must be a beautiful little girl." Hmmmm....that got her thinking~
Dysi shifted, pleased with her compliment, but had to correct her. “She's not mine by blood, but she is pale, like me. Her mother is not hers by blood either, but is a close friend of mine who adopted her. We found her walking around on her own,” he shook his head, remembering finding her. A look of pride and fondness shone in his eyes as he admitted, “yes, but she is a beautiful little girl.” His affection for the lioness he called his daughter was obvious.
Oooooooh~ Elua smiled. "Not all family ties are by blood." She nodded. "Leru is my mother, the one who raised me...but she is not blood related to me." She stretched. "I was wondering...if you would object to a tryst, while we're waiting for the day to cool down." An odd jump in subject perhaps...but she wasn't going to beat around the bush. It wouldn't be fair to the poor bush.
Dysi smiled at her words about family, pleased that someone else understood his own mentalities about blood family. He didn't have to be related to his little girl to love her as his own.
Blinking in surprise at her last sentance, he was amazed at her bluntness, but was not offended. Rather, he found himself amused. Moving towards her, he rubbed his cheek against hers, a low purr in his throat.
“What a lovely way of spending the afternoon,” he mused. “I wouldn't object at all.”
