Jicho hadn't met any interesting lions in a while. Truth to tell, he was growing a little teeny bit bored with rogue encounters. Meeting new people (and irritating them, if he felt like) was entertaining, but he felt ... lonely. Maybe that wasn't the right word, but it was close enough. He wanted to meet someone who would stick around for a while. Impressing strangers with his wit and handsomeness was wonderfully fun, but he wanted someone to continue to be impressed by him!
Preferably a pretty lioness. Or leopardess, or lady-cheetah ... there were so many pretty ladies, really. It was a wonderful world. Now if only he could find one of those pretty ladies for himself. Pride lions tended to be awfully stingy with their womenfolk, and he hadn't met any pleasant rogues in a while. It was frustating! Still musing, the brightly colored lion didn't take much notice of his surroundings as he strolled along.
Kalyani wondered throught the grasses wondering if she would ever find her brother or perhaps someone whom had seem him. She refused to believe that he had died, that he had the plague in him, when she was taken from him and her father. She missed him dearly though she hardly remembered her. Her captor made sure to never speak of them, especially while she preened the young lioness to be the future queen of the pride she wished to rebuild.
Fortunately for Kalyani, the lioness died short after Yani became an adolescent and she no longer needed to worry about such things.
She was paying attention to her surrounding and stop rather surprised when she saw the bright lion before her. His pelt was amazing and worthy of a king and for a second while starring she wondered if maybe he was a prince.
What was that? As distracted as Jicho was, he couldn't help but spot that brilliant lioness. He looked up, momentarily startled. A lion as beautiful as him? She was so ... bright! And lovely! He didn't see beauties such as this every day, nor every week or every month! What luck!
Jicho cracked a smile that widened into a grin. He hoped she wasn't some flighty rogue that would run from him. He didn't like chasing after females to reassure them that he wasn't dangerous. It made it difficult to put on the charm.
"I've seen quite a few ladies in my time, but none as lovely as you!" The bright lion said, grinning at the stranger. She would have been lovely despite her colors, but that lovely green was the icing on the cake. Jicho was quite partial to his own looks, and naturally thought that greens and yellows were the most ravishing colors around. "You must be a vision, a mirage!" He bowed his head, like a commoner meeting a queen. Such a vision of loveliness surely deserved such respect!
Kalyani blinked for a moment a bit confused as the male seemed to be approaching her. She hadn't even realized that if she stood there staring she would of course be noticed.
Kalyani smiled at the male as he made his way toward her. When he spoke she knew her cheek were probably tinged an awkward pink, though it hardly matter. She was so bright it probably looked like just another part of her pelt.
"Thank you," she said softly bowing her head back to the male and feeling very much like the royalty she was. It seemed he had been right in her assumption that he was royalty as well or maybe nobility.
"I can assure you sir, that I am no mirage and very much alive and well before you." She smiled brightly feeling as though this encounter would be a very interesting one for her.
The female's courtly speech delighted Jicho. It had truly been a long while since he'd met someone so pleasant. Usually the people Jicho met were unpleasant, rude, sullen, or just downright nasty. That brought out his prankish side. But someone so refined and - more importantly - so lovely? Why, Jicho wouldn't dream of teasing her.
"I must be in great luck, then," Jicho replied, straightening up so that he could gaze into the female's lovely eyes. "My name is Jicho. Might I enquire as to yours? It must be something beautiful."
Kalyani continued to smile at the male, enjoying their very polite encounter. It was nice to find someone who wished her company. Yes, she was lovely, but she also drew much attention, most of it unwanted. She could only hunt at night and for the most part she needed to avoid most males.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Jicho. I am Princess Kalyani, but you need not use my title, my pride was wiped out by plague when I was very young. It is a habit for me to use to though."
Kalyani looked around wondered just exactly how she could have missed such a bright male in the territory she had spent several weeks in. "Are you from around here," she found herself asking. "I am certain that I have not seen you around here before."
Tempting the female might be, but Jicho had never harmed a female before and he wasn't about to start now. He had his pride, after all! It would wound his pride terribly to think that a female didn't want him. Any female that didn't find him charming wasn't worth having.
Jicho was sure that this female was worth having. She seemed almost awed by his handsomeness (or so he fancied). And a princess! Jicho had never ... interacted ... with a princess before. She might be a princess of no pride, but that was all right. It would still be an impressive feat ... if he could further charm her, that was. Looking properly respectful, Jicho bowed his head again to her before answering.
"Ah, I am but a wanderer, Princess." Would that impress her? "A knight errant, some have said," Jicho added, feeling somewhat inspired. "I know I haven't seen you before. I would certainly remember!" The bright lion studied her. "Are you alone? I don't mean to pry, but I should hope that a Princess like yourself would have a bodyguard." He asked in an innocent tone, hoping the Princess wouldn't take that as some kind of threat.
Jicho was very polite and it seemed as though he held her in high regard. He even bowed once more and Kalyani could literally feel her mind reel at her own thoughts.
It truly shocked her to hear the lion was, but a wanderer, not that it truly mattered, but he hardly seemed as much. She was going to voice her opinion when he spoke of being a knight errant and she giggled lightly. "You seem much to that of a knight. You certainly have the manners and regality of one, though your pelt is that of princeliness."
Kalyani realized at his questions that she had not been in the territory long and she may have simply missed Jicho until now, however unlikely that seemed.
"I am alone and I do not have a bodyguard. Which is something that I regret fore I lack protect, but also relish in fore I have much freedom. Having been snatched away as a cub, now that my captor has passed I am unsure about another."
Jicho knew that she was probably flattering him (being a shameless flatterer himself, he was more than familiar with it!). Nevertheless, it warmed his heart to hear that she thought his coloring was princely. It was so rare that lions appreciated his extreme handsomeness! Ordinary lions, particularly brown lions, seemed to scoff at his eyeblinding beauty. This female was a gem among females, clearly, for her similar gorgeousness as well as her mind!
Jicho felt like falling at her feet to worship her, but she would probably take that amiss. She was very well-mannered, it wouldn't do to act overly foolish in front of her. At least not until he knew her better. If Jicho had his way, he would know her very well indeed.
These thoughts ran like lightning through Jicho's head. He bowed to the Princess once more to give himself a second to formulate a response. "If you need protection, lovely one, I would be more than happy to accompany you. I fear that my talents lie more in my mind than my claws, but I should do my best to protect you," He said, modestly. "I'm horrified to hear of a Princess having a 'captor', my lady! I assure you, I would not try to limit your freedom if you needed my services as a guard!" He was horrified at that last statement, truly, honestly horrified. Jicho would never have dreamed of keeping a female against her will. He was somewhat disgusted by lions that did so.
Kalyani smiled as Jicho seemed to ramble on about how he could protect her. It was extremely endearing and she had to admit that should might seriously consider his offer. At first, she thought him a prince, maybe her prince charming, but now it seemed obvious what he really was.
A knight. He could protect her and keep her company and maybe even help her find her brother. It truly seemed like a dream come true for her and she was sorely tempted to whack herself with her tail to make sure she was awake.
"It sound like quite an intriguing idea to have you Jicho as my bodyguard. A knight of sorts. Do you think that you would be able to help me in my journey to find my lost sibling, Prince Rajanya."
A lost sibling? Hmm. Jicho couldn't say he was thrilled about the idea of some random male showing up, but if it would endear him to the Princess, he would try and help her. She was certainly the prettiest lioness he had seen in quite a while. Maybe the prettiest lioness he had EVER seen, come to that. And she was polite and nice and seemed to like him, which was definitely a bonus. Most of the lionesses he met in the roguelands were either terrified of strange males or grouchy.
"I shall certainly help you find your brother, if you wish," Jicho said, smiling at the Princess. He'd never been on a real quest before. It might be interesting. Not as interesting as this green beauty, but ... fun. Maybe. "I would love to enjoy your company for a little while longer."
Kalyani smiled as brightly as she ever had and felt as though she would simply burst with joy. Jicho would be her knight and he would help her find her brother.
She jumped up brushing against him, soft fur mingling with his as her cheek made contact first with his shoulder and traveled back breifly before she broke contact.
"Thank you so much," she said sitting before Jicho. She really hoped that they could be friends as well. It would be awkward if he simply followed her around all the time.
She also found herself secretly wishing at she did not find her prince anytime soon, though she also wondered if Jicho, could be her prince and she his princess. Kalyani knew also only time would tell.
"Were you headed in any particular direction," she asked softly.
Jicho positively beamed as the lioness brushed against him. She seemed innocent, really ... but that move was rather flirtatious, wasn't it? Yes, he thought it was. She was a Princess, so obviously she would take some wooing, but Jicho definitely thought there were possibilities.
"No thanks necessary," Jicho said, smiling. It seemed rude to remain standing while she was sitting, so he moved a bit closer to her and sat as well. Jicho pondered her question for a moment before replying. He usually wasn't headed anywhere in particular. He'd heard of a pride that sounded somewhat interesting, and had been heading to check it out, but the possibility of actually joining a pride was vague in his mind.
Of course, if he had a lioness to take care of, he'd have to join some kind of pride. Hmmm.
"To tell the truth, Princess, I'd heard of a pride that sounded interesting. Very ... family oriented. I was heading over in their direction." He smiled dazzlingly. "I don't mind taking a detour, though, in aid of such a lovely lady."
Kalyani watched as Jicho sat before her and she could not help but to laugh at his comment.
"You are too kind Jicho, but everyone deserves fair thanks for good deeds. I am very happy to give the thank, fore you do me a great honor."
Kalyani listened as he spoke of a pride and nodded, though she was slightly confused. She was quite certain most prides were family oriented, but she figured it must be truly special for that fact to stand out most. When he spoke of a detour she shook her head.
"No detouring will be necessary. I am not headed in any one particular direction for I am not entirely sure where my brother can be. We can continue to head your way and I hope that we will find him."
Jicho didn't have his heart totally set on joining the pride, but what he'd heard sounded interesting. Lots of adoring ladies, all for him? He would be tied down, but he was starting to think he wouldn't mind that. After all, he had just committed himself to guarding Kalyani for a while, and the prospect didn't alarm him at all. The green lioness was delightful!
Too bad she was set on finding her brother ... oh, well. Maybe she'd change her mind and decide to stay with him, for a while at least. In the meantime, he would enjoy her company!
"That would be fine, Princess Kalyani," Jicho said cheerfully. "I'll be glad to have a friend along!" And they would be friends, Jicho was certain of that.
