((Should be 1,392 words.))
Jawara had been quiet as he followed the black coated female. Picking their way through the tall grasses, he found himself being led to slightly hillier terrain and the grasses grew shorter and more sparse. This allowed him to see his new acquaintance fully, and appreciate her natural beauty. She was lithe and petite, kind of small for a female but then again, he was huge for a male! Still, her coat wasn't just a solid shadow grey, but her mane and tail tufts were a darker black, as were the tips of her paws. Overall, she was lovely . . . lucky him to have found such good company!
But she was quiet. . . He had hoped that perhaps she might relax and ease up around him. He made sure to keep a polite distance from her, even as he loped after her. But she still remained tense, and her orange eyes flicked back to him now and again, her brows knit with concern. He wondered about her history, about her life, what stories she could tell, what memories she might share. . . .but he realized that she wouldn't give that information up quickly or easily.
The silence wore on with each and every step.
It wasn't that Yejide was callous or cruel, she just wasn't used to idle chit-chat. Even with her sister, when they had been together travelling the rogue lands, they had learned only one way of life. To keep each other alive meant they had to be alert. They had learned to live on their own from very young ages . . . they were all each other had. Still, even though they had been quiet and reserved, they had been very close. They knew each other without needing to speak, they were aware of each others hearts.
Yejide missed her now . . . but that was neither here nor there. Life with her sister was over, she was alone now. And that was just as well.
"So . . " The black lioness paused to look behind her as Jawara's voice rang out, expressionless as she stared at the male. She wondered what it was he had to say, and waited.
The cream and brown lion hesitated, coming to a sudden stop. His voice had broke the silence between them, and it seemed to crumble like a wall. His ears instinctively flattened and he offered her a lopsided and gentle smile. "I was just curious to know if you lived in these parts, or if you too were only a visitor?" The lion almost felt foolish for conversing but he was desperate to break the awkward tension between them. He was an easy going sort but he truly did wish for the other to relax.
That was it . . .? An idle question? The quiet female narrowed her eyes a moment before heaving a sigh and turning to continue their trail. She didn't think anyone truly cared about her history so his question surprised her. Given, she also understood that he was just speaking out of habit . . . it was something to do, so she needn't read too much in to it.
But how much was she supposed to tell him? Certainly not her life story. Still, it was best to respond than to be silent. Picking up her pace, the female considered his words for a moment before finally speaking up. "I've roamed all of my life. But I'm familiar enough with these lands to get around without worry. What of you?" She was almost surprised to have asked, but a small part of her had to admit she was curious about this stranger, Jawara. He was huge and she was impressed by his size . . . but surely he too had a story.
Perhaps he'd be more willing to share it than she was with her own.
Jawara himself was pleased to note that the female hadn't completely spurned his question. Trotting after her, he gave a shrug. "Well, I suppose you could say I've roamed the majority of my life as well. I used to live in a pride, but politics tore it apart, quite literally, and I left shortly after its collapse. I'm a lover, not a fighter, as the saying goes. . . I've been on my own ever since." His tone was confident and self-assured. He truly had no qualms with his life, even if he sometimes silently mourned the loss of his family. He hadn't entirely fit in due to his size and his peaceful nature, but family was family. . . .
Sometimes he wondered if life wouldn't have been different had he convinced his siblings to leave with him. If they hadn't waited out the war, if they hadn't become political. . . . Perhaps that's why Jawara avoided prides. He feared the instability that came with poor leadership and strange ideals.
"A pride, huh . . . " Yejide considered his words carefully, curious about the sort of politics that could have destroyed an entire pride. It must have been either a small pride, or one with a lot of instability. She had heard of her fair share and some prides thrived under the most unusual views. "Perhaps it's best you left. The rogue life seems to suit you."
The golden coated male canted his head before he grinned. "And what makes you think that?" He encouraged her to continue speaking, pleased that she seemed to be opening up. Even a little bit.
Yejide herself gave another shrug and a snap of her tail. "You have no scars or battle wounds to speak of. Either others leave you alone, or you manage to avoid those seeking trouble out in the rogue lands." Considering his huge girth, she had to assume he was left alone. He was very big . . . even on her most aggressive of days she wouldn't want to cross him in a fight.
Jawara gave a small nod and another grin. "Most leave me alone, I will admit. Size does have its advantage, mind. But I'm peaceful even around the most hostile and aggressive. I've seen what war can do, and it's never solved a damn thing. It's just as good to come to peaceful dialect as it is to raise tooth and claw." And that was the truth.
The black lioness said nothing as she listened to the male. What more was there to say? She was surprised by his conviction against violence, but she herself often avoided arguments when she could. She'd defend her own, and she and her sister had often met foes in battle, but she was no warrior. She could commend a life of peace, but did wonder . . . while a life in the rogue lands was often quiet and lonesome, a pride seemed much more accepting of such a way of life.
Oh well. He had his reasons, and good ones, for keeping on his paws. Apparently the pridal life just wasn't for him. Thankfully, Yejide needn't consider his situation too much. She heard the sounds of water, and of laughter and conversation. Sure enough, heading up a small hill she guided the male to what was the local watering hole. It was large, considering the time of year, and inviting. Various other beasts lined the edges and none were terribly concerned by the presence of the pair. It was too hot to hunt, and the lions were obviously doing all they could to be seen.
Glancing back at her companion, the black lioness gave a shrug. "Well, there you are."
A shame they had made it so soon. Jawara had just managed to elicit conversation from the lovely lady, and already she was going to leave him. "Please, might you stay and have a drink? I'd . . . It's been awhile since I've had such lovely company, I'd truly enjoy it if you might stay."
Yejide herself hesitated, her eyes narrowing again as confusion struck. Did she stay or did she go? What was his angle? And why was it that she was flattered by his desire to linger? " . . . a drink then." She didn't wait to see if he'd follow, and once more, led the way down to the waters edge.
