What was a lone Wild Dog to do in situations such as her own? Ikinya had been traveling to and fro for most of her life and now as an adult she was beginning to feel the pangs of longing for something she was missing. Having not seen her siblings since they were but pups, she missed them fiercely. She wondered if they were happy, if they were in packs, if they had families of their own. Where was she? She had no mate, no traveling companion, no pups, no pack, nothing. The thought made the patchy canine heave a sigh as she walked on.
It was pushing into the evening and the air was cooling. It was quite refreshing. Ikinya had a habit of switching out traveling during the days then having a stint of traveling at night. At present, her travel hours seemed to range from late morning to mid-evening. The dog had managed to catch a hare that morning, but her breakfast had worn off at least a few hours prior. Feeding herself wouldn't be a problem if she had stuck with her siblings, heck, even just one of them. Again she sighed, but this time a scent caught her attention. There was the scent of blood and death on the wind. It wasn't on a massive scale, like a massacre, more akin to a single kill. Maybe there would be something she could scavenge. A low rumble from her stomach cemented the decision in Ikinya's mind. She would follow the scent and hope that she could get a meal out of it.
The large male lion had eaten his fill and had settled himself down underneath a tree that stood near the remnants of his prey. The wildebeest was old, weak and was an easy catch. Saba'Minhaj set to grooming his dark fur to rid himself of any blood that might have gotten on him, all the while keeping an ear out and an eye open. This was no pride's lands so he didn't really worry about offending any 'rightful owners' but he did want to keep abreast of any scavengers that might come in looking for more than pieces of his kill.
After a while of traversing and following the winds, Ikinya found the source of the scent which had so been tantalizing her. A wildebeest, an obvious victim of some big predator. It's body cavity had been opened up. While the urge to just run up and filling her growling belly was strong, she was cautious. She was a capable female, but there was strength in numbers and she was but one. A scent lingered heavily in the area. Perhaps the hunter of the felled beast, a male lion from the smell of things. Was he still nearby? Was he aggressive? Had his hunger not be sated by the wildebeest? The splotchy Wild Dog drew closer to the carcass and peered around it. There was a large, dark figure lying beneath the tree that stood several yards away. "Hello there..." She greeted cautiously while maintaining her politeness. "My name is Ikinya. I hope I am not disturbing you..."
Saba had spotted the gray and white patched Wild Dog before she had even addressed him. His golden eyes focused on her, reading her body language, trying to get a vibe from her. He could tell by the way she eyed the carcass that she was hungry, but she was cautious and polite. When she spoke, the male pushed himself up onto his feet and slowly padded over, stopping a couple of feet back from his kill, facing the Wild Dog, Ikinya. "No," He stated simply, giving a bit of a stretch before seating himself. "You are not disturbing me. I have eaten until I was satisfied and now I'm digesting. To what do I owe this visit, Ikinya?" He paused to wait for her answer, but shook himself and continued. "Oh, my name is Saba'Minhaj, but you can call me Saba, if you wish. Most do."
Heavens! He was huge! She couldn't help but take a few tentative steps backwards as the lion rose and moved closer to what was left of his prey. Ikinya drew her ears back slightly before he seated himself. Well, at least he didn't seem intent on running her off or killing her at the moment. Maybe digestion was aiding his mellowness. "Saba," The Wild Dog said with a dip of a nod. "Um, if I may, I was wondering if I could have some of your wildebeest. I'm mighty hungry and I would ever so appreciate the kindness. I travel alone so I try to get what I can whenever I can manage it. So...could I, please?"
The rogue remained quiet for a short time, his expression remaining neutral. He simply looked at the wild dog for a minute before shifting his gaze to what was left of his dinner. Saba gave a thoughtful hum and flopped over onto his side, stretching out. "By all means, eat your fill. I'm done with it for the time being. There is no room left in me." He yawned, half-rolling onto his back. "So, you travel alone, do you? How long have you been at it?" Saba knew that there were many, many who traversed the lands alone for some reason or another. Everyone had a story, a reason for doing what they did. It could be something as big or important as love or family or war, or something small or simple as an inkling or an urge to see what they could see.
She remained fairly still as Saba studied her, drawing her ears back and glancing around a little as she shifted gently in the silence before his answer. Her jaw dropped at such an easy answer. Ikinya's tail wagged quickly behind her. "Oh, thank you, Saba. You're very kind." She moved to the hole in the cavity and set to filling her empty, complaining stomach. She had heard his questions and would have answered him promptly, but her needs had to be met first. He seemed a decent sort, so she was hoping that he wouldn't be offended by her quiet.
Saba remained sprawled out in the grass, eyes closed, listening to the gentle rustle of the leaves overhead. He didn't mind waiting for an answer to his questions. It seemed perfectly reasonable to him that she would want to feed herself before conversing with essentially a stranger. The male took a slow, deep breath. He enjoyed times such as these. A full belly, comfortable atmosphere, and a new acquaintance to get to know, even if it were for a short while. Saba knew full well how vast the world was. Even if he never met the hungry, solo Ikinya again, there would always be this evening to reminisce back on.
Ikinya's pace was slowing as she sated her hunger. After a while, she had satisfied her needs and moved to sit a little ways off from the large lion. She found his utterly relaxed, sprawled position a little funny. His full belly was in the air and moved steadily with his even, deep breaths. His eyes appeared to be closed too. Had he fallen asleep?
Her question was answered soon enough when Saba opened his eyes and looked over to the wild dog. "Feeling better now?" He rolled back over onto his side so that he could look at her fully.
She gave a little chuckle. "Oh, yes. Thank you. Now, your questions. I do travel on my own and I have been doing so since I was fairly young. It might be in my blood. I don't know. You see, my mother and father were big on travel and moved everywhere. After we were born, my siblings went off to packs while I sort of wandered around the rogue lands." She sighed and shifted herself to a sitting position. "I do miss them."
"We? How many siblings do you have?" Saba inquired. He had been born the only child to his mother and she hadn't had any others in the time he was there. He had playmates, others his own age, older and younger, but no siblings. The lion folded one paw over the other and rested his chin on them. "I could only imagine..."
"Hm? Oh, I have one brother and two sisters." She smiled and lowered herself down, her own pose similar to the large male's. "Damu is my brother, red and gold and white. He went to a pack, but I don't know where he could be now. My sister, Rhoswhen, was mostly white save for a few red marks on her. I have seen hide nor hair of her since I was little so I have no clue how she fairs. My sister, Twana," Ikinya paused and smiled. She had felt closest to her white and gold sister. "She was white and gold with two different colored eyes. I can't remember where she went." Saba's last statement caused her to blink and look to him, lifting her head from her paws. "You didn't have any siblings?"
Saba sat listening to Ikinya describe her siblings with a little smile settling on his features. The fondness for her siblings was clear on Ikinya's face, in spite of not having seen them for maybe years. He shook his head at her question. "No. I was my mother's first child and my pride usually had smaller litters, so I was her only cub, which wasn't unusual for first time mothers. I left home as an adolescent and my mother hadn't had any other cubs before I left. As such, I don't know if I have any siblings or half-siblings. Nor, do I know if she adopted any..." He trailed off, brows knitting together for a moment before returning to his relaxed expression. It was a rare occasion that he pondered back to the coast and the rather unconventional pride of his birth. Did he have some siblings living back there? He occasionally missed the feeling of having family near or at least familiar faces. Maybe he should look into finding a female...
"You were in a pride? What was it like? Have you ever thought about going back, even if it were to visit?" The idea of communal living had been growing ever more pleasing to the solitary Wild Dog. Hearing that he had willingly left a pack was somewhat mind boggling. "Why did you leave?" She paused her questioning to blink and clear her throat. "Um, that is, if I may inquire..."
"I don't mind answering the questions asked of me. Don't feel like you're treading on my toes. You're not. I was in a pride. It was a small pride on the coast. Their beliefs were not what most others have. They believed in monsters and demons in the depths of the sea. Very devout, very superstitious. One of the beliefs was that the mythical sea monsters could imbue their essence into the souls of unborn cubs, cubs deemed worthy to serve on the land on behalf of said monsters. I was one such cub. It was very fortuitous for my mother and my birth granted her greater status. I was thought to be a great leader, foretold by a seer within the pride long before I was even conceived. Attention was lavished upon me while I was growing up. Anything I wanted, I could have gotten it. It was all fine and dandy when I was young, but as a grew the constant attention and the duties that I was to be shackled with seemed unreasonable...That's why I left."
Ikinya stared at the male, expression fixed in a limbo between utter confusion, disbelief, and amusement. It was an interesting tale, if anything. "Wow..." She said after a long moment of quiet as she let everything sort of sink in. "So...They thought you were the child of a sea monster...and that you would become a great leader of the pride...What sort of duties did they expect of you? Granted, being considered spawn of a sea monster is quirky, being thought of a leader isn't a bad thing..."
Saba found himself appreciating the dog's candor. "Heh, well, to be frank...They were expecting me to raise the mythic, titanic sea monsters from the depths where they lived to the surface so that they meet the pride that so loved, honored, and adored them." He wrinkled his nose and angled his head down. "A bit much, don't you think?" He sniffed and shook himself. "Even being raised among the ranks, it seemed to be far-fetched. Mm. No one else seemed to think so. So, I thought the best thing to do for myself was to set out on my own...I said goodbye to my mother and left. I've been doing great on my own. I think it was the right thing to do. I haven't be disappointed yet. Life's been treating me pretty good thus far. Of course, going and staying solo isn't for everyone, is it?"
Ikinya nodded at his question. It seemed like something dreamed up by a crazed seer, maybe from some bizarre dream or even a nightmare. If it were something that was real, it seemed like a lot of expectation to put on the shoulders of a youngster. She offered a little smile. "That's good. It's treated me fairly..." The wild dog gave a soft laugh, bowing her head slightly. "No, it isn't for everyone, at least not forever...I wouldn't mind having something more constant in my life than the rising and setting of the sun and moon. For the time being, I'll be content with a full belly and good company."
"Well said, Ikinya. Well said, indeed." Saba said with a smile and a contented sigh. "If you'd like to rest here for the night, you are more than welcome to stay here with me. I don't mind. I was going to move on in the morning. What say you?"
A yawn escaped her before she managed to speak. "Mm. Thank you. If it wouldn't be too much trouble, I would like that. You're a good fellow, Saba." Another yawn escaped. "Good night and I shall see you in the morning." She laid her head down and closed her eyes, the day finally taking its toll on her now that her belly was full. She would sleep soundly that night.
"Good night, Ikinya, and sleep well." Saba stretched and rose after he watched the wild dog settle down into an easy sleep. He locked his teeth around the leg of the remnants of their dinner and dragged it away. He didn't want to have to deal with scavengers or other predators while he and his guest were trying to sleep off a big meal. Once he was sure that it was far enough away that they wouldn't be bothered, he returned to the tree and curled up near the snoozing Ikinya. Sleep came for him shortly there after.
