Ayomide was trotting along the edge of a quickly running stream, her bright fur shining in the late afternoon sun. She was looking around, her eyes eager to see what she was encountering in this new land. She had been finding, lately, she didn't wish to travel quite as much, though she still enjoyed it, and found reasons to stay in places for a little longer then normal. 
Oke was acting a bit strange that day. He'd left his home land and tribe to wander near the edge of the borders. Normaly he wouldn't have let such a trivial whim interfear with his duties but this time it was different.Last night he'd dreamt. It wasn't just any dream either. It didn't fade upon waking but stayed with him clear and vivid throughout the day.
In his dream he'd come, out here, to the edge of the prideland. There the wind had come to him bearing fire. It was... an odd dream to say the least.
But they often meant something and he was curious to find out what it was.
Ayomide sighed, quietly. She was sure she was thoroughly alone, for she'd seen no one in this area, beautiful though it was, and fertile too. She paused, then turned to the stream, and settled besides it for a moment, staring into it before taking a long drink of water. The water was good, refreshing, and once she had drunk her fill, she stood again, continuing besides it. Her reflection, with the light of the sun hitting her just so, took on some red and gold tones along with her normal oranges, for just a moment, then as the stream curved and her angle too, it went back to the normal.
She took a deep breath of the air, curious what scents she'd catch. The grass was rich, the soil fertile... It was a wonderful scent.
He approached a rock that jutted out of the otherwise flat landscape. Deja-vu... It looked just like the rock he'd seen in his dream. Perhaps it was a sign after all.
He took a moment to lower his head and thank the gods before straightening up and heading toward the rock. Whatever it was that they wanted him to see he would be there to see it. Even if he had to wait all day.
He just hoped his vision wasn't warning him of an oncoming bush fire...
From the top of the rock he could see for miles. There was the river that flowed into his prideland. He did his morning prayer next to it every day.
He looked beyond it and to his relief saw no flame, no smoke, no sign of fire at all. So... just what was he waiting to see?
Ayomide glanced up, and saw, above her, a circling hawk. She let out a loud, playful growl, and began to run, just for the joy of running. Not at her fastest, she wasn't looking to tire herself, just fast enough to feel the energy and adrenaline of a good run.
She ran for a few minutes, laughing aloud as she did, then slowed, to catch her breath a little, and look around again. Running was fun, but she would not deny that it left her little chance to see the scenery, blurring as it did. She let out a happy sigh. The only thing to make this day, so far, better, would be pleasant company. She thought on companions she'd met in the past, for a moment, and flashed a happy smile.
The wind picked up for a moment, blowing from the east and gently playing with Oke's whiskers.
"Cut it out," he laughed. "That tickles."
Still though. In his dream it was the wind which had brought the fire. Laughter silenced and a serious expression on his face he turned to look out toward the source of the river.
He didn't see her at first. She was far away and he was looking for something a little more obvious.
When he caught sight of her he did nearly mistake her for a flame, but quickly caught himself.
"An air nomad?" he frowned. "What on earth are they doing?"
'Mide decided to walk, for a bit, her long tail flickering as she moved. She had no idea, at the moment, she was in an area that was claimed tribal lands, or at least on the borderlands of such. She noticed a butterfly fluttering nearby her, and when it began to move in front of her, in the direction she was heading, she laughed again, and almost seemed to gambol after it, dancing along as she moved like a cub, almost.
She loved butterflies, and used to play chase with them as a cub. Well, to be honest, mostly 'used to.' She still did it, occasionally, when she thought no one was near, like now, and as it sped up, so did she, moving faster again, giggling softly. No one could see her, what did it matter?
After chasing it for several minutes, laughing and leaping, she soon was out of breath and flopped to ground, only to have the butterfly land on her nose. It was a comical sight, she was sure, so she was glad no one could see her, with the bright blue and green butterfly there.
The flame of a cheetah danced through the wind and for a moment he was again reminded of his dream. Either way it was a pretty site, that orange blur against the blue river and golden grasses. From where he sat he couldn't see any butterfly so the reason for this strange movement was lost on him.
Then, for no reason he could figure out the figure collapsed. His ears flicked forward and craned his neck trying to see what had happened. Had he fallen? Was he all right? Should Oke go check on him or run with all his might back to the tribe? He wasn't a healer... But if he didn't go find out what was wrong he might make a fool of himself.
He sighed and got down off the rock to go see. Now he just needed to remember the name of the bright orange air nomad... Odd that nothing was coming to mind.
Ayomide, completely unaware she had attracted the attention of another, let alone the worry, was giggling and wriggling her nose. The butterfly, in the meantime, had apparently found salts on her skin and was licking her and wandering around on the cheetah's face.
She didn't mind, she quite liked butterflies. Unlike some other small animals she liked to play with, she never felt any guilt with butterflies, they weren't particularly nutritious, let alone even a biteful. She could enjoy playing with them, and never be concerned her playmate might later needs be her dinner.
Finally, apparently the butterfly had enough and fluttered off her face to a flower nearby. She layed back, smiling.
He hurried to the other's side, hoping he wouldn't find them in a state of pain... or worse, out cold or even dead.
When he reached where the other had collapsed he paused, looking through the tall grass, trying to get an idea of what was going on before he stepped out into the open.
Not being trained as either a scout or a hunter though he was quite inept at staying hidden.
Ayomide blinked a little, thinking she saw movement, and turned her head. Oh! Yes she did see movement. There was... oops. Another cheetah over there. Staring at her. Maybe he had seen all that. She suddenly felt a little awkward but... Oh boy.
Well no use ignoring it. Time do deal with it as it is "Ummm hello!" She called out, hoping that, by goodness, he wouldn't just start laughing at her. How utterly humiliating that would be! She had no idea, of course, he was trying stay hidden, and having grown up on the move, it was far too easy for her to have spotted him.
She looked him over, curiously. He was a dark colored fellow, with such bright blues to balance it!
For a moment he nearly looked ashamed that he'd, no, she'd spotted him so easily. But he straightened himself up, made sure he had on his calmest expression and stepped out into plain view.
"Excuse me, I shouldn't have been hovering like that. I was," spying, "meditating on that rocky outcropping behind me and I couldn't help but notice you'd collapsed." She seemed to be just fine, "Are you alright? I could go back for help if you needed it."
Something was starting to bother him. He couldn't remember her name. He didn't think he'd ever even seen her before. Was she really an air nomad?
She blinked at him, curiously, then sat up, smiling. "Oh no worries." If he was on the rocky outcropping when she collapsed, he'd have seen nothing in detail. A relief! "I am fine, but I appreciate the concern. I just flopped down as I'd been out of breath."
She paused, then laughed a little. "I had been running, that's all. But you are very kind to interupt your meditations to come check on a
stranger to these lands, sir." She tilted her head at him.
"I am Ayomide. I was following the stream as I wandered. It is a pleasure to meet you." She added, politely, smiling at him, and moving to sit more properly, her tail wrapping around her feet.
She'd said he was kind but he'd just lied, "Gods forgive me," he muttered under her breath.
His ears pearked up visibly when she mentioned that she was a stranger. Well. That explained a lot. It made him a bit nervous too. He'd never met an outsider before, not to mention one he'd dreampt about. What in the blessed river did the gods want him to do with her?
"Ah... I see. Please think nothing of it. Perhaps I should warn you... This river flows into the water tribe's territory. Following it much further will put you at their," our, "mercy."
Whatever the gods wanted he didn't see any point to letting her wander into potential danger unwarned.
She looked amused at his dismissing her gratitude, but then his warning had her ears go flat with concern and sudden nerves. "Ah? Oh dear, are they... unfriendly to wanderers? It is all I am... I mean no harm, I take nothing save water and a little food as I pass through, and I do not press myself unwanted on anyone..."
She really hoped she hadn't wandered into a bad situation. She'd heard, in the past, from others she'd met, of tribes who attack or assault any strangers in their land. She didn't know what a 'Water Tribe' was, but she didn't want to cause trouble. "If I am going to cause a problem by being here, please let me know!" She was almost begging in her worry.
"Also, if... if so, do you know of a route that does not involve acktracking past these lands? I prefer never having to backtrack if I can avoid it..."
He looked a little flustered and struggled to compose himself, "I'm afraid I know not what you would face travelling deeper into Arba'Sehemu lands. I am only a priest. I do not know what the warriors would or would not do with a tresspasser. Nor... unfortunatly, am I famliliar with the boarders.
"The Arba'Sehemu are split into four tribes," he explained, "and I'm afraid I do not often leave the land my tribe lives on, much less venture so far out as this."
He frowned, "You have my appologies..."
She flickered her ears, thinking quietly, concerned, then finally, looked back at him. "I appreciate your honesty... I must think on what to do. Thank you for your advice... Ah..." She pauses, unsure what to say, as he never gave her his name. "What might I call you?" She finally says, considerately.
"And perhaps I should find a place to stay the night... I usually like to spend a few days in a
new place but if it would be problematic, I suppose I can move on in the morning." She sighed and her shoulders drooped some, disappointed. It was lovely here, she had truly hoped to have a few nice days.
A fly landed on one of his ears and he flicked the ear to shoo it away without even thinking.
"I doubt you'll be bothered if you stay on the other side of the river," he said. "If you're there and they challenge you tell them you were hurt and that Okena'Nahuatl of the water tribe told you that you could stay a while. I admit... I'm not sure my name would hold any weight but it should at least give them pause."
