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She had taken a break from Malenga. She knew better than to go too far, or stay gone too long..He wasnt really a lion
to mess with. But growing up in his care, she almost had a sort of friendship feeling about him. She was loyal to him now, more than just being a capptive.
She had been enlisted in his mission, finding his true mate. However, she knew it was starting to wear on him.. Not being able to find her.
He seemed to really love her, though he talked ill of her since he couldnt find her.. Demi hadnt been able to understand why he searched for someone he loved,
and hated, all at the same time.

She yawned, her white paws touching the earth delicately. She was looking for the river, as her thirst had gotten to her lately. She was always thirsty, though
she supposed it had something to do with being a wanderer. She grinned when the scent touched her nose.

Gintare liked to be by water whenever she could manage it. It wasn't that she was one of those unusual lions who felt the urge to swim every day and let their fur get curled and odd. She just recognized water's power and had learned at an early age that having access to water was even more important than having someplace well-hidden and easily fortified to sleep, and more important than having easy access to a hunting ground. A lioness could live far longer without food or security than she could live without water, which was why Gintare tried to arrange to sleep near water whenever she could. A disadvantage to sleeping by water, unfortunately, was that water was necessary, and tended to attract everyone. Sometimes that was all right, but when the arrival of other folks woke her, Tare was generally less than pleased.

"Is there something I can help you with?" she asked acerbically, not sure who she was addressing, or where exactly they were, but aware that they were out there somewhere. She had a knack for noticing when people invaded her temporary territories.

When the other seemed to back off and allow her to drink, Demi lowered her head, lapping at the water wtih her pink tongue. She drank a good bit, before
raising her head and looking back at the dark female. She was pretty, with golden amber colored eyes.. She wondered if she traveled alone. If she did, Demi had
a bit of envy boil within her, as she had no idea what it was like to truly be free. But life was getting better, and Malenga was also growing used to her presence.
It was something that she thanked the heavens for. Life could be unbearable when he wasnt happy, and she seemed to be what made him smile lately. At least she had that
going for her.

"I dont really live anywhere. My companion and I.. we travel." She replied. Though she wondered why the lioness had been so rude initially if she had been interested in learning
of Demi herself. She blew it off though, and shrugged, lowering her maw once more, grabbing another drink, before pulling up, letting the water droplets fall from her chin.

"What of you? Do you live around here?" She asked. Her tone wasnt exactly that of a friend, more of someone a bit curious in her surroundings.

Tare nodded knowingly, her tail sweeping the ground as she acknowledged the black, white, and red lioness's words. She didn't fail to take in her mention of a companion, and surreptitiously sniffed the air to see if she could pick up a companion's scent. She hadn't specified whether or not the companion was male, and Tare wasn't going to gamble on that one, and so Tare knew it would behoove her to be wary.

Knowing that the other lioness and her mysterious companion were also travelers reassured Tare somewhat. Other travelers could be dangerous, and no small number of them were more than a little mad, but at the same time the amd ones did not travel in company. Besides, this was just another lioness, and although Tare was no larger than any other lioness, really, she was not afraid. She had been looking out for herself for a long time.

"I travel also. I do not plan to stay here for very long. It is a pleasant enough place, but I do not feel anything special about it, really. My name's Gintare, by the way."

Demi shook her head, though she wished that was why she traveled. She would love to know more about the world,
and have that be the only reason she traveled. However Malenga had made it impossible to -just- learn the world. She was more looking
for his mate. Who, she felt, was hiding from them, or possibly not even existant now. What if he had dreamed her? She knew he wasnt
dumb whatsoever, but sometimes dreams could be so vivid.

"We go wherever he says we go. .No particular direction, and no real idea behind it. He's looking for his long lost mate..
But we've been looking since I was rather young, and no sign of her yet. I hope we find her soon, I think its taking its toll on him,"
She responded, though she instantly wished she hadnt given that much away. She wasnt sure Mal would want others to know that he was upset
about not finding his mate.

"Tare." She repeated, placing it in her memory. She smiled, and nodded. She had it now, and she tended to remember like an elephant.
She never forgot.

"I suppose learning the world isnt the only reason to travel, but its a decent side effect. I dont mind learning of other places."
Though she knew how safe she was in Malenga's care. He wouldnt allow anything to happen to her..Or at least she liked to think that way
for her own peace of mind.

So neither of them traveled for edification, but both had asked if the other did. The thought brought a sharp-toothed grin to Tare's face. It wasn't irony, but there had to be some word to describe that particular situation. Maybe she should invent one. Which would do little good, since Tare did not associate with other lions often enough for any invented word of hers to ever come into common usage.

Her grin faded when she heard how Demi's direction was chosen. It would seem that the lioness allowed herself to be ruled by another. Her companion, who was also apparently male, but not her mate. An interesting dynamic there, and not one Tare had any wish to involve herself in. There was something entirely too complicated about a lioness traveling with a lion for most of her life while the lion looked for another lioness who was his long-lost mate. She wondered if Demi's male companion ever took comfort in his pretty young companion when he missed his mate. Males could be like that.

"Well, I wouldn't advise you to take the path under that mountain without availing yourself of a guide, if that's the direction he decides to go in," she said, nodding toward the mountain in question. She had just passed through it without a guide and it had been the most terrifying experience of her life to date, and she'd had a number of harrowing experiences.

"It's time for me to move on, I think. The sun's getting higher, and I'd like to put some distance between myself and this place before noon. Good luck in your travels, Demi."