Mihika turned over with a sigh. It seemed like this was going to be another restless night - not like using a lumpy rock for a pillow helped her any. The leopardess groaned as she stretched out her sore body. It seemed like days had passed by while she wandered and in truth she should be far from this spot. But really Mihika had finally realized something - for the past week she'd been going in a circle. It was really frustrating and that just added onto the reasons why she couldn't sleep.
"Maybe a drink of water will help." Stretching once more Mihika leaped from the small area of rocks and headed straight for where she knew taht a water hole was for certain.
The twilight hours did nothing to soothe the ache in his soul. When Fiore turned his gaze to the sky, he saw the same loneliness that had plagued him for so long. Solace only came with the sun and when it fell, so did he.
With a prolonged sigh, the lion pushed one paw infront of the other down a long stretch of worn ground to a watering hole. His bi-colored eyes faded into darkness, the only key features visible being his white bits. Where had it all gone wrong? Was his search in vain? Had this trip been a waste? He was lost, without a way to find home and thats how he found the watering hole.
Without looking up, he dipped his maw down for a drink.
Mihika was glad it was a warm night. With ease the leopard dipped a paw into the calm surface of water and slowly slipped in. With a rush the water soaked into her fur, her skin and cooled any lingering heat. She let out a sigh of pleasure. "Ah." Spotting no one around the young leopard kicked off into the deeper parts of the pool with a purr.
After a while of splashing she grew quiet. Eyes closed as she laid back and floated towards the other side of the watering hole, where a lion had just approached.
Fiore lifted his head to breath and spotted a familiar sight in the waters. He watched her swim with a cool deadness that allowed him to go undetected for the longest stretch of time before he flopped down. Lethargically, Fiore cupped his head in his paws and watched. She looked so happy, so blissful that he found it amazing. How could anyone feel that way with so much tragedy? With so much death?
"Oh!" Mihika felt earth beneath her body as she crashed to shore. But something else registered in her mind as she looked to the side. Right next to her own head was a set of bi-colored eyes. Before she freaked out though something registered in her mind. "Gramps?" Mihika couldn't believe it. Was this the same lion and the same waterhole? A smile broke through the expression of surprise, "Hey there!" Rememebering what she had just been doing the young leopard flushed in embarressment. That was no way for a tough rogue like her to act. Especially in front of a stranger, a lion no less!
Fiore smiled slightly and nodded. "It's me. Although, I'm not sure I like the nickname." He stretched out his forelegs with a aching pop! and snuggled back up. The ailments of the old were terrible. The aging lion watched her with a sense of loss. Had he ever smiled like that? "I never thought I would run into you again, young lady. What brings you here?"
"Sorry." Mihika grinned sheepishly as she pulled the rest of her body from the water. Her gaze looked back to him with faint worry at the sound of the pop before she quickly shook an army of water droplets from her fur. "My paws." Mihika finally answered with a shrug. "I just felt the need to come around again, I guess." She peeked over at him sheepishly, she wasn't going to admit to running around in circles. "It's not like I have any where to be really. What about you?" She asked softly as she stretched out next to him.
Fiore chuckled breathlessly, shifting around on ground. His tail snaked up for a flick before lying useless on the ground. "Same as you, I suppose," He said mournfully, rolling his eyes to the stars above. "I left my pride to look for a friend, but it seems that he's disappeared. Or at the very least doesn't want to be found."
"You left your pride?" Mihika frowned before looking closer at Fiore. All this time she and she hadn't even wondered if he was from a pride. Huh. "Or maybe your friend is looking for you too. It could be that the two of ya are just rotating around each other." She nodded, "I mean why would someone avoid you?" Her green eyes studied him, "To leave a pride to look for a friend, you two must've been really close."
Honestly, he hadn't thought of it that way before. He blinked and felt a little spark of hope in his chest. Could it be so? "I can only pray that it is so." He tilted his head back down to look at her. What a bright, caring young lady she was. "We're very close. Thick as theives, you could say. I would trust him with my life, and have, on occassion."
"Well I hope so too." Mihika smiled, "If I had a friend like you, I'd definitely try to find you too no matter what." She nodded before blinking with awe. "Wow. He must definitely be out there somehwere for you two to be so close!" She couldn't even think of anyone that she would trust with her life. Or even of a true friend for that matter. The thought made Mihika frowned. Surely there was someone out there for her too.
Fiore smiled for real now. Affectionately, he reached out to give her a light noogie with a laugh. "If it means anything, I would do the same for you. And thanks to you, I think I'll look a little longer before returning. He's bound to be out there somewhere, right?" Someday very soon he would pass because of the disease his pride shared, but before then, he hoped to find that friend. Now he had the strength to do it.
"Aww, thanks." Mihika purred as she snuggled against the lion. "Ya know, I would too." She sighed softly, "I never had a dad, but if I could chose I'd hope he was you, Fiore." She smiled sheepishly before looking away, "Ya know. Hearing about you and your friend inspires me to find someone I used ta know. He's probably all grown up now too of course and doesn't remember me...but maybe he will."
She shrugged before yawning, "If not...that's okay." Another yawn escaped her before she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Somewhere inside his heart, he wept. If he and his mate had been blessed with a child of their own, he would have hoped she would be just like this girl here. He snuggled her closed to him, making a protective shield for the younger against all the dangers she faced.
"I'm sure he will, child. I'm sure he will." The lion stayed like that, alternately watching the stars and his soul daughter until he drifted off.
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