With a look over his shoulder, the lyrical leopard made sure his companion was still fast asleep as he walked through the moonlight night. The fact that he wasn't sleepy yet was the only reason he dared travel so far at night and even though songs bubbled in his chest, a rhythm in his legs, he stayed passive for her sake.
She was adorable, he had to admit. Right away she'd let her ideas and stipulations be known, all of which he readily excepted. She'd even complimented his singing. Slowly, he ambled around a bush and started uphill.
Mingmei snuggled into the hollow between his shoulder blades like a gray ball of fluff. She yawned and pulled her ear down over her shoulder like a blanket. Slowly, she opened one eye and looked out, expecting to see some trees or even a bush. When the earth was still moving around her she raised up. "Whats going on...?" The petite hare trailed off, breaking into another yawn.
She hadn't expected to fall asleep. One minute she was up and bouncing around with her new companion, and then this. When had it happened?
Mchezaji looked over his shoulder, but since she was so far up on his body, he wasn't able to see her, so he just kept walking. "Like I said earlier, I'm bored. So, I just started walking." He quipped cheerfully. She couldn't possibly fault him on that, could she?
After nimbly avoiding a chasm, he began the descend down it's side into the little valley below. He couldn't see how big it was this time of night, but he assumed he could jump it, t'were it not for Mingmei. "I'm sorry if I woke you."
"No, no, you shouldn't have let me sleep." Mingmei stretched her paws over her head with a mighty yawn. Her large back feet hung down his sides, tapping up against the spots like a cowboy. She licked her paws and started washing off her face.
Peeking out around her digits, Mingmei paused, fear building up in her chest. "Mchezaji...where are we going? Your not lost, are you? This really doesn't look too safe..."
"How can I be lost if we never had a destination to begin with?" He laughed. Honestly, what a thought! If anything, he was sure of his footing and calmly descended the cliff face. When he stepped on a pebble, he didn't cry out in pain or surprise; he merely just kept on walking like always.
"Go back to sleep. We can't stop anytime soon and I don't want to tire you out."
Against her will, Mingmei yawned again and mentally berated herself for it. She put her paws on the back of his head and leaned forward to get a better look. Instantly she regretted it. Even in the darkness, the narrowness of their path and the depth of the chasm was clearly visible.
She gulped and sat back, her entire body shaking with fear. Was it really worth it? Leaving her safe home to go on an adventure with a suicidal idiot?
"Hush now baby don't you cry
Rest your wings, my butterfly
Peace will come to you in time
And I will sing this lullaby~"
Mchezaji's smooth voice echoed over the stone in the chasm. He rocked in rhythm to the tune, doing his best to dance and balance at the same time. It broke his heart to have her so fearful of his decision, and with his song, he hoped she would calm.
"Now though I must leave, my child
But I would stay here by your side
And if you wake before I'm gone
Remember this sweet lullaby"
Slowly the hare laid her head down on the back of the leopard's and gingerly closed her eyes. His song made her heart slow it's frantic pace, and though she wasn't ready for sleep, she was ready to hear it out.
Since the first time she'd met him, Mingmei had imagined Mchezaji to be some kind of God and if he were a lion, she would have harrassed him for it. The God of Song, in leopard form, singing his midnight lullaby.
"And all love through darkness
Don't you ever stop believing
With love forlorn
With love you'll find your way
My love."
Singing the same song his mother sang to him all those years ago brought the leopard to a calmer place. It made him feel whole, giving new meaning to his quest. Out there, underneath that bright golden moon was a female who was staring at the same moon, pining for him.
Do or die, he was going to find her.
"This world has turned the day to dark
I leave this night with heavy heart
When I return to dry your eyes
I will send this lullaby
Yes I will send this lullaby
Oooooohhhhhh"
Mingmei tried her best to hide her yawn in the folds of fur behind his neck, but failed miserably. She snuggled into the warm fur that vibrated with every note he sang.
"Yes I...will send..." She yawned, stretching one leg out behind her as she got into a more comfortable position. "this lullaby..." The tiny hare listened to her companion for what seemed like hours as he twisted and winded through the vast stones. Even as she started to slip into sleep, she knew what he was singing of, and who it was directed to. To her, it was the sweetest act anyone had ever thought to do for her and that was what helped her to go sleep.
Mchezaji continued to sing long into the night. Not only did it help clear his mind, but he knew that once he stopped, his little companion would wake up and he just couldn’t have that. She was much too precious to lose sleep over something as silly as fear. No, as long as he could, he would sing this sweet lullaby, right up to mornings light if it came down to it.
(Word count: 1,001)
(Song is 'lullaby' by Josh Groban)
