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Hravart mumbled to himself as he pushed his way through the savannah, regretting each moment he had volunteered himself to scout new talent. This was usually the task of the rangers, but he had been hoping to find someone that would be worthy to challenge him. The truth, unfortunately, had not lived up to his hopes. He had met a few worthy fighters but hardly anyone notable. In fact he was mere hours from deciding to turn around and go home, the trainers within the pride would simply have to try harder themselves. It was a shame, all the world and the best fighters he'd found had been small scared creatures and those unwilling to come with him.

Qahwa had learned at an early age to be alert when he was on his own. And he was almost always on his own, and had been for quite some time. Oh, he met people from time to time, and sometimes spent a few days in one place or another to prolong the time spent with specific people, but by and large Qahwa was alone. Thus, Qahwa was almost always on alert. It was just good policy for a leopard on his own in a world populated by lions and other unpleasant predators.

Being thus on his guard, it wasn't difficult for Qahwa to spot a lion with a coat the color of the setting sun as he made his way through the tall grasses. The ability to slink below the tops of the grass was one of the reasons Qahwa was glad he'd been born a leopard. One of the few reasons. He would have bet that no one ever considered attacking or chasing off that lion.

Himself, Qahwa planned to avoid the lion completely, though he was undecided as to whether that would be best accomplished by holding still or by circumventing him. As he pondered the matter, he opted to hold still.

Hravart had caught the scent on the breeze, holding a high rank within his pride had taught him to be on his guard. He paused, lifting his head, but found no detectable trace on the horizon. Curious, one that preferred stalking to the outright approach. He couldn't be sure where the scent was coming from, but he had a feeling that the originator was male and thus slightly more of a danger to him. If he had said that he wasn't a little worried and excited he would have been lying, those feelings always accompanied the unknown. It was refreshing in a way, but he didn't like it to go on for too long. "I know you're out there," he called quietly, resuming his sauntering pace, "I don't much care."

With that sort of reaction, Qahwa was very much tempted to leave it at that and simply go about his business. After all, if the lion didn't care, there was nothing for the leopard to worry about.

Except it had been a while since Qahwa had actually spoken to anyone, and although the fiery-coated lion gave the impression of being one more than capable of handling himself in a fight, if Qahwa didn't offer him a reason to fight, there was a good chance no confrontation would occur between them. Qahwa preferred to avoid confrontation whenever possible.

And it would be more polite to at least show himself. Since the lion knew he was there anyway, continuing to hide would undoubtedly be construed as rude and possibly even hostile. He sat up straight so that his head at least showed above the tall grass. He wasn't large enough in stature for the rest of him to be evident in this setting.

"Well, I know you're there, too," he replied. "And while I also don't particularly care, I am a little curious as to why you're there."

Hravart found himself laughing as the head popped up from the grasses. It wasn't that he found the male humorous, but rather the absurdity of the image itself. Within a few seconds he calmed himself down, holding a paw to his chest. "A little short there? No, forgive me, it's just been a while," he panted, steadying himself, "I haven't been the most social sort. I'm looking for fighters." It was a true enough answer, the leopard had only asked what, not what for.

"I'm not short where it matters. And it has not been a while for me," Qahwa retorted automatically.

Probably not the wisest thing to say, under the circumstances, but sometimes Qahwa's tongue got away from him. It was one of the disadvantages of being a splendidly clever leopard. At least, he thought himself pretty splendidly clever, and no one had really managed to prove him wrong.

"Ah, I'm sorry, too," Qahwa said with a sharp-toothed grin. "It was a reflexive response. You understand."

And the lion was looking for fighters. Interesting, and unusual. Qahwa could come up with several potential reasons, but none of them struck him as particularly likely. It was probably because he tried to avoid fights that he could see so little use for those who considered themselves fighters.

"I'm more of a lover than a fighter, I'm afraid, but I must now confess to further curiosity: What do you want the fighters for?"

"My homeland," he admitted, gaining a bit of respect for the creatures thorough investigations. He was no stranger to delicate situations then, that could be useful. Alas he wasn't a fighter, they needed intelligent ones as well as those that were merely strong. "We compete with each other, I need someone who is worthy to compete with me," he said proudly, realizing after a moment that it seemed to be a particularly arrogant statement. He hadn't considered it so before but maybe it was. Well, even if it was he was still strengthening the pride.

Well, that was arrogant, Qahwa couldn't help thinking. The irony of someone with his mindset having that particular thought completely escaped him, since Qahwa was only metacognitive in his bitter and depressive moods. He wasn't feeling bitter and depressive, and thus he was also not feeling particularly introspective.

"Is there a reason you compete with each other?" Qahwa asked.

He wondered how he could steer the conversation so that it would also reveal where the lion's homeland was, so that he could avoid ever going there. A place where people were in constant competition - for whatever reason - was a place Qahwa definitely wanted to avoid.

If it was a lack of resources, wouldn't it make more sense to send people out in searhch of more resources, rather than more people to compete for them? And who went looking for competitors anyway? That was one of the stupidest things Qahwa had ever heard.

"I can't think of a reason why not," Hravart said with a shrug, "It has always been and always will be. We compete so that the strongest lead. I am among the strongest." It seemed completely reasonable to him, but he supposed it wasn't that way everywhere. He had certainly met others that didn't believe in fighting under any circumstances, and he supposed that his ways might seem just as strange. "I want someone who can beat me, a young strong one to take over my place," he explained, "But I haven't found one yet."

"Ever consider elections?" he said under his breath.

Competition to determine leadership wasn't uncommon, Qahwa had to admit, but that still didn't seem to be the way of the lion's pride. If it was just about leadership, why would they go looking for people to challenge their authority? That seemed to go against everything Qahwa knew about leaders.

It wasn't until he explained that he was seeking a successor that things began to make sense to Qahwa. It was really too bad, the leopard reflected, that there wasn't anyone good enough in the lion's own pride to take on the mantle of leadership when the lion was ready to step down. At least for a pride that picked its leaders based on fighting ability, rather than actually leadership qualities.

"Sounds like a challenge," Qahwa observed, looking the lion over. He was very obviously a fighter, and not someone Qahwa would like to face in a confrontation. Oh, the leopard had no doubt he could talk circles around him, but a single swipe from one of those massive paws would do for him. "I wish you luck with it."

Hravart nodded his head, "Thank you, my champion will surely be pleased if I find who I seek." He hoped. He wasn't entirely sure to be honest. Challenges were usually held within the pride at certain times of year, but he had felt a need lately. He wasn't sure when but he felt his fall coming soon, and he didn't feel it would come from within. He was more than happy to hold his post for a few more years, he enjoyed it after all, but he wanted to ensure that when the time came a worthy challenger existed. "And you? Surely you must have some reason for being out here?"

His...champion. Qahwa had no idea what that meant, and he was certain that asking would only invite a convoluted explanation which would make even less sense to him. He was willing to dismiss the lion as simply being one crazy out of many.

"Oh, my reasons aren't as interesting as yours. I'm just working on getting from one place to another. I don't even have a specific destination in mind."

Mostly when Qahwa was thinking about specific places on his route, it was because he was thinking that he'd want to avoid them. There were only a very few places he went on purpose.

"Ah, a wanderer then," He said with a hint of sadness, he had never known that life but he had met several while looking, "You must have a lot of stories then, following whatever it is you follow." He wasn't sure how to make conversation on something he had never tried, but he enjoyed the challenge. True it was a challenge of a different sort but he had been low on mental tests and it seemed to be helping his spirits.

Some few," Qahwa admitted nonchalantly.

He could be quite the storyteller when it suited him. He could also be quite the liar at need, too. The difference between telling tales and telling tall tales was negligible, and sometimes the line blurred.

"Mostly, though, I meet with friendly folk like yourself, going about their own business. It is pleasant enough to talk to them, but we don't have lasting impacts on each other's lives."

Qahwa would be surprised if he had a lasting impact on this lion's life, though he might've had a lasting impact on the lives of a few lucious females. He did have a knack for winning women over.

"True enough," he agreed, offering a gestured paw at the horizon, "We meet, we part, we find others. It's the reason I stay with my pride, to have a home to come back to. I have no mate, no family, but its my home all the same." Though admittedly he would like all of those things that he did not yet have, he still considered himself happy. Just happy with things yet to do. Perhaps he'd find a female on his journeys, or perhaps there was one waiting for him back home. He didn't really know, he'd never really looked. "Do you ever plan to stay in one place?"

"True enough," he agreed, offering a gestured paw at the horizon, "We meet, we part, we find others. It's the reason I stay with my pride, to have a home to come back to. I have no mate, no family, but its my home all the same." Though admittedly he would like all of those things that he did not yet have, he still considered himself happy. Just happy with things yet to do. Perhaps he'd find a female on his journeys, or perhaps there was one waiting for him back home. He didn't really know, he'd never really looked. "Do you ever plan to stay in one place?"

Hravart laughed, his bright blue eyes standing in stark contrast to the rest of him as he sought a response. It was a true enough statement, and the leopard had a point. It must be nice to have the freedom to roam wherever one wanted. He didn't know, he had been born and raised in the pride. "I wish you the best with that then, and I hope one day you find your place," he said earnestly, stretching his legs, "Or places, as the case may be."

"Thank you," Qahwa said, recognizing that the lion was wishing him well, even if it did sound a little condescending.

Was that how he sounded when he wished him luck in his search? He'd have to work on that. Oh, the chances were slim enough that the lion had even noticed, and Qahwa had meant it earnestly, but it would not do to come across as condescending when speaking to someone intelligent enough to actually take offense and violent enough to do something about it.

"In the meantime, I'm quite enjoying myself. Everywhere new things to see and new people to meet." And by people he meant lovely ladies. That was the most enjoyable sort of encounter to have.

"I don't doubt you'll find someone who meets your needs. Like I said, lots of people out there. I think there's several other prides which value fighting ability very highly. You might see if any of their malcontents want to take you on."

"Malcontents," he laughed, "I will, though I'd hope not to bring trouble back with me." They had had enough of it in the past, but there might be potential in looking. There was no harm, as long as he didn't mention where he was coming from. That was a bit of information best saved for afterward. He got to his feet and glanced back, ensuring to himself that no one had been watching them. While he might have been friendly he wasn't keen on opening himself up to any funny business. "Fare well," he called as he started to walk away, feeling comfortable enough to turn his back on the leopard.

"Well, they needn't be malcontents for your pride," Qahwa pointed out. "They'd probably be model citizens for you, since you're not their original pride."

He had no way of knowing that, but it made sense to him. But there wasn't much else to be said. It had clearly come to that time where the encounter was coming to a close. The lion confirmed this when he bid Qahwa farewell and turned his back to him. For a moment Qahwa debated calling after him, but decided in the end that would sound stupid, and so he simply continued in the direction he'd been going before the encounter.

It could have gone worse.