It was hot today.
Kisun gave herself a brisk shake, as though she could shed the heat from her dark fur as easily as water. Water would be nice around now, even the grass stems she’d chewed had been rather dry. Must be all that sun. It was quite bright out here after all.
She kneaded the dirt with her dainty white paws, ears flicking around as she listened to her companion continue on the path her paws were leading her. Where Keena was going was just about as definite as where Kisun cared to go. Anywhere was fine, she loved wandering around the world like this. Having a lioness for company was just a bonus, when she felt like sticking around anyway.
Humming mildly, she stretched out flat on her belly in the dirt, small enough that the tall grass would shade her as she nibbled at a few leaves.
Keena padded easily across the rolling plain she’d found herself upon this morning. The sun was rising higher, and as the world around her grew warmer she began to look for the water she knew to be somewhere near. How she knew she couldn’t say. It was familiar, as though she’d been here before. But when she could not recall. Still, her golden eyes squinted against the bright sun, the lioness could just about make out a patch of shade on the horizon.
Trees. And where there are trees, in a place like this, then water must go with them. Pleased, if still a bit puzzled as to how she knew, the light coated lioness smile and pressed on in the same easy pace. She glanced around briefly, keeping half an eye on her little friend. But Kisun was a free spirit, and if she chose to vanish, well, then she’d come back when she chose.
Oh, gods, where was that water?
Black ears laid low in irritation and exhaustion, the sleek dark fur with it’s rosette spot pattern that was so very pretty seemed to absorb the heat and hold onto it, pressing it against her skin until she was fairly certain she might burst into flames or some such thing. Not that people tended to spontaneously combust on a regular basis. But she was starting to think an exception might be made for today…
Aiko paused, sniffing quietly. There was a scent here…a food scent. Just there…a hare perhaps? Her mouth started to water, producing a taste rather like mud. It was better than just dirt at least. And a meal would help. Soft tender flesh would help to soothe this burning in her throat.
Crouching, she slid forward in a silent stalk, alert and attentive as she approached her prey. She did not want to run, not in this heat. Not if she could help it.
Kisun chewed with a bit of bordom, finally tiring and spitting out the somewhat dry leaf. It was warm, and it wasn’t very moist either. Felt more like it was sucking the little bit of coolness from her mouth instead of adding to it. Huffing, she shook herself and rose to her feet. Where was Keena? She was moving shade…
…what was that?
Blue eyes widened at the shadow that seemed to move slowly towards her. What was that? Trouble, that’s what. And while a rousing game of tag was great fun, running in this heat was not on her to-do list. Still, getting eaten wasn’t either. Heaving a sigh at the exasperating world, she turned tail and ran back along the path she knew Keena had taken. Things that wanted to eat her didn’t usually want to eat Keena.
The shadow really was getting closer, it did seem to be trees. Water wasn’t far now, and a nice cool drink would be just right right now. Kisun, wherever she was, would probably enjoy playing a bit, splashing in the shallows or chasing butterflies or just relaxing in the cool shade. Surely her little friend hadn’t wandered far…
…well, here she was.
Keena blinked in surprise when the dark-furred hare came bolting into view, and instinctively the lioness froze, twisting slightly to let the small creature slip between her forepaws and hide against her body. Sometimes the people who wished to eat her little friend took a little bit of persuading…
Aiko hissed in frustration when the hare suddenly took off. Well, great, there went lunch. Maybe dinner too, considering how very few opportunities were around this empty place. She did not want to run. It was too hot to run. But she was too tired not to give chase.
Irritated at this turn of affairs, the black tail lashed once before she raced after the hare. She’d catch up, she was faster in short spurts at least and it wouldn’t take her too long. The only problem was the heat really…or…the heat and the lioness.
The cheetah skidded to a halt, kicking up a good bit of dust and sneezing briefly as a result. Ugh. Great.
“Excuse me,” she tried, “But…ah…I was…er…” Aiko trailed off, staring. The hare was here. Taking shelter. Under a lioness.
Well, that was certainly new.
Kisun slid between Keena’s legs with the efficiency of much experience. Once or twice she’d run under the lioness, only to have her persuer slam right into Keena before they could stop. Her personal favorite was that green cheetah, the both of them had gone ears over tails down the hill that time. Not that Kisun was glad Keena could have been hurt but…honestly. How could someone see that and not laugh?
“Hullo,” she announced cheerfully, seeing the cheetah skidding to a halt. “My name’s Kisun. This is my friend Keena.” And that should be that now. Few people were willing to eat an acquaintance, fewer still an acquaintance with a large friend. And while Keena might not quite make average for a lion, she was still a great deal larger than Kisun!
Keena braced herself when she saw the cheetah streaking towards her. She’d been run into and bowled over on numerous occasions, and she was starting to get…resilient. Or something. Better able to keep her balance, if not avoid the bruises. But bruises healed, and they didn’t hurt much after impact. Her ears laid back in anxious anticipation before the black feline ground to a halt.
”Sorry, she’s with me,” Keena apologized meekly. She didn’t mean to come between someone hungry and their meal, but Kisun was special. Besides, a hare was a bit small to be a filling meal. There seemed to be little balance when considering whether or not the life was worth the bite of food. It wasn’t fair really…
Aiko panted slightly, not much caring now whether or not she looked her best. This was the best she cared to muster right now, tired, hot, and dusty. She’d look better when she darn well felt better.
”Oh…I guess…that’s understandable…” she relented glumly. ”I’m Aiko,” the cheetah sighed, might as well get the introductions done with now that the hare, the hare, had started them. ”And I’m still hungry…” Aiko pouted pointedly. Now she was even more tired and thirsty than before. This was so unfair…
”Well, then it’s nice to meet you Aiko!” Kisun chirruped, still eagerly making friends. Friends didn’t eat friends. At least normal, sane members of society didn’t. She’d never met anyone who would eat a friend, though she supposed technically there might be someone. She had no desire to meet them though, none at all.
Frankly, she was rather glad the cheetah was still hungry. It meant Kisun wasn’t in her belly, and that suited Kisun quite well. Her black ears drooped down her back as she lifted her head to look expectantly at Keena. A bit naieve she could be, but her lioness friend usually had some manner of diplomatic solution, even if she was just being sincere and helpful…
Keena just sighed, glancing longingly towards the shade that promised to be trees and water. She felt bad about Aiko, really she did. But she’d have felt worse about Kisun being hurt or worse. So it was probably just as well, she supposed. Reluctantly.
”Perhaps…perhaps we might catch fish instead?” the lioness offered tentatively. At the very least they’d be able to have a drink and rest in the shade until the sun stopped being far too bright and hot. The poor cheetah must be sweltering in that lovely black coat of hers…Keena was frequently grateful for her plain pale fur. Especially in heat like this.
Aiko just cast the hare a sulky look through slitted violet eyes. She could afford to be cheerful, all she had to do was chew some plants and she’d be just fine. But some people had to work for a meal. And it was so hot to be working so hard! So annoying!
”Fish?” she repeated, surprised. ”You know where to find water?” That was worth losing the hare! Well worth it. A nice cool drink, possibly dipping her paws in to cool the hot pads… oh, that would be so nice right now! ”How? Or, more importantly, where?” She was hot and tired and thirsty. Forget fishing, she was going to take a nap. Underwater. No, she’d drown. But it would feel nice for a while at least.
Kisun’s ears stopped being droopy long enough to twitch with surprise. Water? All along Keena had had water? No, that wasn’t fair. If the lioness had been getting a drink, she would have shared. To do otherwise would simply never have occurred to her, not Keena. She was too kind. Maybe for her own good, but still. It was nice sometimes. Most times.
”Water?” she queried, grinning as the cheetah, Aiko, did the same, ”Yes please, I’m so thirsty!”
Heck, Keena would carry her if she asked. But that was just taking advantage. She was already enjoying the shade her friend provided, and the safety. No need to push this uncharacteristically good streak of luck she’d had with her. Besides, it wasn’t fair.
”I can see trees on the horizon, just there,” Keena explained, nodding towards the line of dark shapes. ”Where they’re trees, there’s water. Otherwise they couldn’t grow like that out here.”
Turning, the lioness started to lead the way, still moving at her relaxed and easy pace. No rush. Thirsty as she was, running and racing about in this heat would only make her feel worse. She kept glancing over her shoulder, making sure Aiko was following without trouble. Kisun she didn’t need to look for, she kept nearly tripping over her small friend as the hare zipped back and forth under her paws.
Water.
The lioness knew where to find water.
Aiko squinted at the dark smudge on the horizon, those were trees? How could Keena tell? They were…so far away. This was going to be a long walk, wasn’t it. The cheetah sighed, watching as the lioness, with that tasty little hare skipping about underpaw, started off. A long walk. She was tired and hot and thirsty still. But complaining would only make her mouth drier.
”Good eyes,” she mumbled, padding after with her entire body drooping with exhaustion. She was far too tired to care right now, that run had really sapped the last of her ‘my life is not in danger’ energy. It was too hot was all.
Just because Aiko didn’t seem likely to eat her didn’t mean Kisun cared to take her chances right now. A zippy escape might be easy, and sometimes even fun, but right now? Right now she so did not feel like it. Too hot. Too tired. Too thirsty. It was way too much effort.
Instead, she played drowsily at staying right underneath Keena. It was shady there. And no hungry cheetah could be tempted into taking just one bite. No, it was much better to stay right here. Yup.
Plus it was kind of fun too.
Kisun was going to make her trip. She was going to stumble over the bouncy little hare and go sprawling. And then, splat, no more Kisun. Keena slowed a bit further, watching every step as they moved closer and closer to the trees. She could see them now, lush and green just a bit further on.
”Almost there,” she called cheerfully, striving to keep her pace steady lest she tread on Kisun in her growing excitement. She could almost taste the water, nice and cool, and the foolish desire to run for it was difficult to ignore. But she didn’t want to step on her small friend. Besides, Aiko had looked bushed. There was no rush, the water probably wasn’t going to go anywhere.
Aiko was so tired. It was so hot. She was so tired. And thirsty. So thirsty.
For a second she was tempted to steal that little furball out from under the lioness’ paws just for a single bite, just to change the dried out dust flavor on her tongue. But it wasn’t worth it. Not to mention, it kind of felt wrong now. But still, the idea was there.
She didn’t say anything when Keena announced they were almost there. Why waste the breath? Not to mention, it felt rather foolish to say anything that might sound like a dried-out squawk. A tired nod would suffice. No talking required.
Almost there. Almost there. Kisun kept repeating it in her head, her spirits very much cheered as the ground beneath her paws slowly started to feel less dried out. She could smell the green now, or so it seemed, and without warning she shot out from under Keena’s paws, streaking towards the gleam she could see just there.
With a gleeful giggle, the hare leaped right into the water with a splash. It was a fairly small pool, not much fishing to be had there, but still. Water! Nice and cool and so yummy…
”Come and swim!” she laughed, her blue eyes bright with excitement, her exhaustion forgotten for the moment. She knew Keena would know what to do! And nothing beat cool water on a hot day. Especially with a friend. Or maybe too. Aiko might be in a better mood when she wasn’t so hot and bothered…maybe she could be a friend too.
Keena very nearly did trip and fall when her friend gave a cry of delight and shot out from under her paws. She stumbled slightly to one side, shifting her weight so if she did fall it wouldn’t be on the hare. Before she could even think to warn her friend to be careful Kisun had leapt into the pool with a splash and was, quite obviously, enjoying herself.
”This feels nice…” Keena sighed, sprawling on her belly beside the pool once she’d slaked her thirst, letting her paws dip into the water. Kisun was satisfied, the little hare didn’t need much to be happy and Keena so loved seeing her friend happy. Perhaps Aiko would be soothed as well, she’d hate to feel she’d horribly disappointed the cheetah. But then, Keena tended to feel terrible if she disappointed anyone at all.
But it was so nice here, cool in the shade and plenty of water… how could anyone be disappointed?
Aiko rolled her eyes at the way the rabbit, or hare, whatever, squealed like a child and took off running to just…throw herself into the water. Not that she could say she’d entirely disagreed with the idea. Maybe the running part.
She trailed after Keena, licking her lips with a tongue that felt mostly like sandpaper as she crouched down by the pool. A few mouthfuls later, she somehow found herself standing in the water while the hare splashed happily about. Ah well. It might be strange to be talking to her instead of eating her, but she could make an exception. Besides, the water felt so good… if she’d eaten the hare she’d still be hot and thirsty and totally lost.
Yawning, Aiko wandered out of the pool a few moments later, not caring that she was a bit wet. Lounging in the shade, she watched the odd pair with sleepy violet eyes. Being friends with food. It was strange. But not so bad after all.
FIN