A pink hyena bounced across the savanna on her tip-toes. Aerona was, quite clearly, having a wonderful day. She hopped over a decent sized boulder, something that wouldn't possibly be attempted in a melancholy state. The sky was a vibrant blue, and very few clouds lingered above. The sun was just gentle enough to tame those chilly breezes. To her, it was a perfect day. And a perfect day deserved a stroll by the watering hole.
Linje was resting in his tree, contemplating the days past and the days to come. It seemed to him that he spent more time without than with his mate. And what was worse was... he felt like he had no power to make her stay. But that would soon change, Linje would need to take charge. That was something he was fairly good at, but Nyoka was... difficult... in several ways. The leopard let his tail dangle, taking no notice the the canine-like pink critter trotting happily beneath his tree.Aerona closed her eyes, humming a sweet tune as she skipped, almost floating across the ground. She approached a tree, unaware of the tail dangling directly in her path. She opened her eyes when it swept across her face, and gazed at it as if in a trance. It was white, the purest white she'd ever seen, tipped off in blueish green. But where was the source? She looked up, ah there it is! “Hello there!” She said, directing her bark at the leopard. “Hello, hello, hello!”
Ugh, whatever that is, it couldn't be more annoying. Linje blatantly ignored the hyena, resting his head on his paws. He wasn't in the mood to be disturbed, especially by the owner of that annoying voice. Linje impatiently waited for the creature to go away, scraping a claw against the tree and watching the bark crumble down.
Aerona frowned, but she wouldn't let this stuck-up leopard ruin her day. “Hey! Hey! I was talking to you, mister grumpy!” She huffed when her efforts seemed to be no use at all. Then the tail caught her attention again as it flicked. “Hmph, I'll make you pay attention to me.” She muttered to herself with a blithe grin as her maw wrapped firmly around the tip of the feline's tail. “YOINK!” She shouted, yanking the tail in a downwards motion. Hah, that oughta teach that no good leopard a thing or two about ignoring me.
Mister grumpy? Well, that's one I've never heard before. Linje rolled his eyes, prematurely growing tired Aerona's antics. She'll be gone before she's missed. He continued carving the bark, distracting himself from the hyena until... “ACK!” The leopard was stripped right off the branch, smashing into the hard earth with a thud. Several leaves fluttered down in his wake, and Linje struggled to get to his paws.
“Hah, now you have no choice but to say hi to me!” Aerona giggled, carefully sweeping dirt from the leopard's fur. “Sorry about that, but I just couldn't have you spoil my wonderful day!” A squeal or two interrupted her words, as if the laughter just wouldn't stop. “So, anyways.. my name is Aerona! What's your name? I dare you to ask me why I'm so happy! Go on! Ask me!”
Linje swatted the hyena's paw away. “Do NOT touch my fur... and first of all... Aerona... what the hell are you?” Whatever this big-eared creature was, Linje has never encountered one so close. He avoided giving out his name, as usual. The peasant wasn't worth the exchange after all. The leopard regained his regal posture. “And for the record, if you pull me out of a tree again, I'll slit your throat.” It was a bluff, but who could ever turn a blind eye to a threat like that?
“I'm a hyena, DUH! Silly leopard.” Aerona only laughed at the threat, it was almost like it was the only reaction she had in her. “You still haven't asked why I'm so happy!” The pink critter bounced around the fallen leopard, humming a sweet tune and shutting her eyes. It wasn't long before she lost track of where she was going and slammed directly into the tree. “Well, ouch!” She said, rubbing her nose as tears came to her eyes. But, they weren't tears of sadness. In this mood, that was impossible.
Linje rolled his eyes. “Fine. Why... I'm going to regret asking it but... why are you so happy?” He hardly cared, tending to his fresh bruises as the noisy monster yapped and giggled. He scaled the tree again, taking his original position in the branches... but making sure his tail was out of Aerona's reach this time. It was a good thing this creature didn't have the ability to climb trees. Linje laughed at the thought, returning the carving in the bark he was making earlier.
Aerona giggled, letting out a gasp as Linje finally asked the question. “I'll tell ya why, mister lonely kitty.” She clenched her eyes shut, letting her head fall back as she swooned over her thoughts. “I'm in love!” She fell backwards, deeply sighing. “Have you ever felt this way? It's simply glorious.” Her giggles have seemingly subsided, and her voice seemed distant... as if she was daydreaming.
Linje felt a stab to his chest as Aerona expressed her feelings. In love... ? Yes, the leopard was also in love.. but he had a fear that she didn't love him back. He gazed sadly at the carving of a heart beneath his paw. “Yes, Aerona.” He replied with a sullen tone. “I have. And it is.. but... are you positive he loves you the same way? He feels the way you do now?” A gentle sigh escaped his lips, he scraped his claw across the carving... it was cracking down the middle, and he couldn't stop it.
“Well that's a silly question!” The hyena's giggles had returned. “Of course I know he loves me back! He tells me so all the time! Isn't that what “in love” is all about, anyways?” Aerona's huge grin vanished as she gazed up at the leopard and noticed his sullen mood. “Oooh...” She cooed, “You … must be …. sad.” She hated to assume, and that was all she could gather from his behavior. “So you have felt love before? And she... doesn't love you back, or something?” Aerona questioned him curiously, tilting her head and letting her pink mane sway to the side.
The sting just got stronger as the hyena described exactly what was going on. He shut his eyes, resting his chin on the branch as he sighed. “Something like that. But don't worry about it, it's none of your business. You are dismissed.” He waved a paw sadly, but he almost wished the pink creature wouldn't leave. Almost. Maybe it would be nice to have someone to spill out all your emotions to, for a change. But it was too late, he'd already commanded her away.... so inevitably, she was already gone.
The pink hyena rolled her shoulders lazily. “You're right, it is none of my business. Well, I guess if you want me to leave, I'll go! Have a good day mister leopard! Mister grumpy leopard! Mister lonely grumpy leopard!” She hummed the words as she trotted away, her tail swaying in the breeze. “Mister lonely grumpy heartbroken leopard!” The words would have stung if it weren't for the musical tune Aerona put to them. After all, nothing would spoil her perfect day.
