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 Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 8:12 am
Her name was Tabia. And she was a sleek, beautiful thing. Yes, her pelt bore no elaborate markings, there were no outrageous colours there to set off the gleam of her eyes. But, in her simplicity, she was indeed beautiful. Her peachy coat was sleek and well-groomed and the pale markings that encircled her tail and crossed down over her chin added a subtle femininity about her. She was not petite or even very delicate, but her features were defined and elegant, giving her a graceful, bouncy lope as she moved. Strong, long legs moved fluidly and a deep chest tapered to a narrow waist.
Soft lilac eyes set in that gentle, distinguished face, scanned ahead across the wind-swept terrain and for a moment the adult female came to a halt, relishing in the shelter the sparse trees brought to her.
It was clear – from her health – that she had not been a rogue all her life. In fact it seemed quite likely that she had only recently taken to wandering the lands. There was none of that nervousness about her. No ribs showing through fur. She seemed perfectly content and in great condition.
For a moment she shifted her weight from one paw to the other, settling her shoulder against the trunk of the nearest tree. Her nose worked busily as the wind swept up to greet her, taking in the scents of the land that awaited her. In truth, she did not know where she was going, but there was a plan. There was always a plan. She wanted to find a home somewhere. A place she could start a fresh life with new friends. New family. Oh and a nice mate wouldn’t go amiss.
But first things first, she needed to find a place to rest up before it got too late in the day. She wasn’t fussy about much, but she did like to have something sheltering her somewhat as she slept. It felt odd not having the comfort of some rocks or a den around her.
“Time doesn’t stand still, Tabs.” She spoke aloud. “Let’s get going.” And, pushing off from the tree, she bounded out across the open land, the long grass whipping at her sides. She hadn’t gotten far, however, before the air was filled with startled shrieks and, where there had been nothing but stillness, a great flock of birds rose from the grass with a thunder of clapping wings. She felt the brush of feathers against her face and shoulder and bounced backwards with surprise, watching them tear up towards the clouds. Had they thought she was hunting them? Did it look as if she had been hunting them?
“Silly creatures…” She murmured with a laugh, head still lifted to the sky.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:07 am
To kill some time and, perhaps, to work on his hunting (which he might not need permanently, now), he was out causing trouble for some birds. He had no idea there was a stranger around until he was standing in the midst of where the flock had been (looking rather pleased with himself) and noticed there was a pale, startled figure standing there. At first he was surprised but then he was rather pleased. Nobody else was around, a good sign for him, perhaps. Normally he would not have been social but he had the motivation now, so he called out.
"Quick, aren't they?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 9:14 am
She turned to spy him, a large rogue male who had seemingly appeared from nowhere. And, when he spoke, she realised that she could very well have just scared away his meal. Oh dear...
"They are indeed." She answered back. "Silly, really. If they'd sat there quietly I would have passed by without even noticing." She moved towards him fluidly, smiling. She appeared to be grateful for his sudden appearance. "I'm Tabia, the girl who seemingly just chased your food up into the sky. Apologies for that."
She paused and then continued. "But since we're here together, may I ask you a question?" She blinked, intending to ask him about any possible shelters around here that she could stay in for the night.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 12:53 pm
"Well, I played a part in their decision to fly away, I guess," he said with a shrug, offering what small smile he could manage (and honestly, too much of a smile probably looked weird on him anyway). Then he shook his head when she apologized for scaring away his dinner, "I wasn't really hunting, just causing trouble."
He took a seat, tiling his head curiously when she hesitated and asked a question. He'd never really interacted with any strangers outside of the first time met Ka, he didn't see a reason she couldn't ask a question.
"What?"
She was polite, cheerful enough seeming (so far no obvious indication of a temper), pretty.. she could be just what he was looking for. She was certainly quite the contrast to Ka.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:00 pm
She smiled a little wider at that. Causing trouble? There was something about the way he made it sound that drew her in. Harmless mischief had always been something she had relished in as a youth, and perhaps even now that she was fully grown. It certainly had lightened the day.
She bobbed her head a little. "I was just off to find myself a shelter for the night. I have to say that I'm rather new to this 'rogue' thing and the idea of sleeping out in the open doesn't sit well with me. I've been lucky enough up until now but...this place doesn't seem awfully promising. You don't happen to know the area at all, do you?" She indicated with a tilt of her nose. "I was about to head in the direction, but only on a whim."
She shrugged a little and, after a moment, seated herself too, coiling her tail up over her paws.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 1:25 pm
"Hm," he paused, but he didn't really have to think about that one. He took a look around and looked back to the lioness, considering how not to immediately scare her off .. but they were already aware of potential issues with what they were trying to do so he supposed that didn't really matter. But he could make it easier.
"There's really not much around here," he said honestly, he knew there wasn't, "A friend and I are sticking together, if you'd like to join us. It's certainly preferable to being alone out here." He shrugged.
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 5:55 am
There was much thought portrayed in that expression of his and she watched it with some curiosity. This fellow certainly didn't seem very 'chipper' but he seemed helpful and harmless enough.
"Join you?" She considered this for a moment, her snout wrinkling a little. Tabia hadn't ever considered that others might want her to tag along. Wasn't a rogue supposed to go it alone? Then again, why not team up with others? Hunting opportunities would increase as well as own personal safety. "Well, I'd be a fool to say no to that, wouldn't I? An offer such as that doesn't come around all too often and I promise, I won't be dead weight. I can hunt as good as the next lioness, that's for sure." She stood, shaking her head from side to side.
"But what about your friend? Do you think he'll mind?" Though honestly she wasn't too worried about this. What male in his right mind would not want to have a female around? Especially one such as herself, riiiight?
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 10:39 am
"Sure," he confirmed when she repeated his offer and paused to consider it. She didn't seem like she was outright attempting to formulate a polite way to say no, that was a good sign. And he couldn't help but grin when she agreed- even if it might be a bit suspicious, but how suspicious could be it be without context and without knowing how he was? Maybe this was just how he smiled.
"Sounds fair," he said when she explained how helpful she'd be, "Can't say I'm a great hunter but I'm not a bad guard." It had been his profession for a long, long time, after all. He chuckled when she asked about his friend, shaking his head.
"I'm traveling with another lioness right now, she won't mind," he said, "She was wanting company, I can't imagine two companions would be worse than one."
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 10:55 am
She purred a little, glancing at him through half-lidded eyes. A thoughtful smile curved the corners of her mouth and, as she listened, her tail swayed slowly from one side to the other. "A guard and a huntress. What a team we would make!" She lowered an ear, however, at his next statement. Another female? Well...that was a shame. Travelling with a male or two would be a lot easier, would it not? Another female might not like her around, especially if she was this one's mate.
However, he hadn't said mate, had he? No. He'd definitely said friend. Well, that was all right then. She didn't want to end up as the third wheel or anything like that. Besides, this one was handsome and him being with another female would just be a bore!!
"Then I shall accept your kind offer." She replied warmly. "It is very nice of you to invite me along. I can only hope that I can repay you back for this kindness someday..." A pause. "Sorry, I don't think I caught your name before?" She hoped he hadn't given it and she had forgotten. What a terrible way to start a friendship!"
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 7:45 pm
Ahnik got back to his feet when she officially accepted his invitation, really smiling now. So far so good! The rest might be tricky but this was half the battle. And agreeable was good. Maybe he wouldn't have to be entirely forceful in the end, he had some time. Especially since this was, what, only a couple days in? Heh.
"Oh, right," he muttered, shaking his head when reminded of introductions, "Sorry, my name is Ahnik."
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 1:45 pm
"Ahnik. A good name." And she smiled across at him, a little purr at her throat. "And you really do look very handsome when you smile like that."
She drew close now, positive that he meant her no harm and knowing that she'd have to trust him completely now or else the team work just wouldn't work!
"What a lucky thing to end the day on. And here I was thinking that I'd spend my time out here in rogue lands all alone. What a delightful turn of events!" She turned her ears towards him. "Have you been a rogue very long, Ahnik?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:39 pm
Tabia's compliment drew another grin from him. He clearly ought to smile more often- and it certainly seemed to help in gaining her trust. Which would, no doubt, be more useful than anything. If he did decide she was right to take (and so far, so good).. that would help. Though it could make the end result more dramatic and upsetting, but if that happened he would deal with it then.
"And what's your name?" he asked, stepping closer now that they'd decided to join him and Ka, "I haven't been a rogue very long, I was in a pride but I left when I felt it was holding me back. What about yourself?" It didn't sound like she'd been a rogue long, particularly when she said she thought she'd be out in the rogue lands all by herself.
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:45 pm
If Tabia did have any flaws, it was indeed that she was a little too trusting. Or maybe that she trusted herself too much to be able to get out of any situation no matter how difficult. Either way any doubt she had had about following him was now long gone and forgotten.
He did, after all, have a very charming smile.
"Tabia, my dear. It is Tabia." She smiled across at him. "It is nice to meet another like myself out here. I have to admit I felt quite lost when I first started wandering. But you're right, I haven't been out in rogue lands for very long. I was pride-born, like yourself, I assume? But...well, it seems that the pride I had been born into was not the pride I was meant to stay in. I decided to leave shortly after reaching adulthood. I think it would have been folly indeed to have left sooner than that, especially for a female."
She moved slowly so that talking was easier, her ears turned constantly towards him so that she might hear him even if she was looking ahead of them.
"Sounds to me like you have ambition, Ahnik. A fine quality in a male if I do say so myself. It must have been a hard step to take? Leaving your pride to seek some greater calling? Or...perhaps it wasn't? I would not know myself."
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:02 pm
"Tabia," he repeated, liking the sound of that. It was a nice name. And he nodded along as she speculated and asked about his past, getting most of it perfectly accurate. Right down to his ambition.
"I have always been ambitious, my family founded the pride I was from and I was always envious of those who would serve a purpose greater than just guarding the lands," he explained, nearly completely honest, "But politics are, ah, complicated. I was best off leaving."
He respected the pride and his sister, to some extent. He left on his own because he didn't want to become the problem he could easily foresee himself becoming.
"Any particular reason your pride didn't suit you?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 3:11 pm
"Truly?" She blinked, feeling suddenly as if she were in the presence of someone truly accomplished, or someone who would be in the future. He had leader's blood in his veins! That had to count for something, right? She couldn't help herself. Her interest peaked and she shifted her eyes to look at him again.
"Politics..." She rolled her eyes. "More trouble than its worth, sometimes. But I think you did the right thing. You have ambition and you wish to prove yourself. I think I would feel the same in your position. Wanting to make my mark on the world, to do something others will remember me for."
She sighed a little when he asked the same of her and shook her head very softly. "It's...complicated as all things political are." Lilac eyes lifted to look across at him. "I no longer saw eye to eye with some of those in authority, so...I left. It probably broke my poor Mother's heart but, I could not - in good conscience - stay and watch others leading their lives in such a disagreeable fashion."
There was a long pause and then she turned back to look ahead. "Perhaps I am a coward for doing so, but even I who am good with words, seemed to have no affect at all on them."
She smiled across at him. "Life is complicated, isn't it?"
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