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 Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:32 am
Days had passed since Nyeusi had escaped from the terrible hyena that had taken to following him. After the whole ordeal with the lions and the water, Nyeusi was ready to kill the hyena himself. Thankfully after being threatened by the lions that guarded the waterhole protectively, the hyena had screamed off in a completely different direction from the one that Nye had taken.
Now here he was... lost again. The third time in as many days. This time he was near starving, achy, and utterly exhausted. His main goal for now was to find a suitable place for sleeping. After that, food and water, in that exact order. Nye would keep heading in the direction he was currently going. It would lead him away from the hyena and from the lions that had obviously monopolized the water source that Bekeli had tried to lead him to.
Gathering his straying thoughts together, Nyeusi returned his attention to the matter at hand. Shelter, food and water.
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:41 am
Elera was abroad, scounting beyond the actual borders of the pride's lands. Some days she skirted just inside them, some days she followed the border exactly so as to check the markers where Jozo had shown her were. But there were times when she'd take a string of days and roam much further from home. She always savored that word now when she thought it, a word she'd shunned for so long. Home.
She always left word when she left for more than a 24 hour period, though. The pride had enough things to worry about without fretting over a missing Scout as well. She had left the dens two days hence, and now was galloping across the land for no more reason than to feel the wind in her whiskers.
She had gotten into the habit of constantly scanning the horizon, though these days it wasn't so much for danger, though that was included. Piera was circling in the warm currents high above, but usually didn't warn her of a single stranger unless Elera was being completely oblivious. Elera glanced up to be sure her mother-bird was there, then lowered her gaze at just the right point to catch sight of a form in the distance. It was dark colored, standing out sharply from the yellows and browns and greens around them. Intrigued, she altered her course, trusting to Piera to follow as she loped to intersect the stranger's path.
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 10:53 am
Lack of food, water and sleep had made Nyeusi a bit more groggy than he would've liked, but such was the way of a lone leopard with no pride or pack to call his own. He didn't notice the stranger drawing closer until she was nigh upon him, and he paused in his steps -- even dared take a few steps back -- and forced a tired smile upon his features. He didn't have the strength in him to fight the leopardess who approached him with purpose in her steps, and so in Nye's mind the next best thing was appearing as submissive as possible. Surprisingly enough it wasn't hard to do -- she was a pretty little thing -- and he wouldn't mind a nice conversation with a pretty girl.
"Greetings," he said when she was close enough to hear. His voice was mellow but it was obvious that he was utterly exhausted, his body language docile and polite. "I mean no harm to you and yours."
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:09 am
Elera slowed to a walk as she came close enough to talk, hearing his greeting such as it was. She continued closer, eyeing him curiously. "I should think you wouldn't," she commented, "at least not in that state." He looked bedraggled and about to fall over. "Even if you meant harm, I doubt you could do any." Having grown used to helping others, she didn't even notice her lack of skepticism as she stepped up beside him and set her shoulder to his, giving him her solid form to lean against.
"I'd say you could do with a bit of rest and something in your stomach, am I right?" She cocked an eye at him in dry amusement and stepped forward, knowing a good resting spot nearby. "Come on, old man," she said conversationally, meaning not his age but his state, "let's get you safely settled, shall we? Just a little way, right over that rise and then round a rockpile," she continued conversationally, watching to make sure he didn't stumble too badly over the uneven ground.
Now, anyone who had met her previous to her entering her pride would not have recognized her in her current actions. She had only been there about a month or more, but the change was astonishing. Outwardly she looked the same, but her attitudes had swung dramatically. Strangers no longer first felt the sharp edge of her tongue, nor did friendly folk bear her caustic, sarcastic comments. This was one changed leopardess, no question. Amazing what a little disease can do.
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 11:26 am
Nyeusi gave a sheepish chuckle as he looked down at himself. Covered in dust from head to toe, he was, and he had little doubt that he looked as unkempt as he felt. He had to admit that he was shocked at her easy acceptance and willingness to help a fellow leopard that was obviously feeling bedraggled, but he took her support willingly. He would never cast away a pretty face.
"In that order," he said with a small, tired chuckle. "I've had neither in ... well, I can't remember the last time I've had a good sleep and a filling meal." That could all be blamed on the brainless hyena he'd had the misfortune of traveling with, but that wasn't a conversation he wanted to have with polite company. He wasn't certain of his ability to keep his language proper in front of a lady.
"Do you find yourself far from home?" The question was posed with curiosity though he never strayed from that polite tone. She was so helpful and so pretty, he didn't want to frighten her away by seeming nosy or brash.
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:03 pm
"A bit," she answered him succinctly, "but that is another story for another time. Right now, let's get you just... here," she said, maneuvering him into a thicket of brush with a sunny hole in it right up against the huge rockpile. She lowered her shoulder to encourage him to lay down, then glanced at the sun. Mid-afternoon, which gave her a good amount of time for hunting before night fell. "You stay here... my raven companion will watch over you," she told him sternly, her eyes itnent and expression commanding. She didn't feel like going to this effort only to come back and discover him gone.
In a moment she was gone, leaving him to bask in the sun while she roamed the surrounding land. It took several hours to track down, stalk, and kill a stumbling, half-grown wilderbeast. The thing was a bit scrawny and injured to boot, but was plenty large enough to feed the both of them. She dragged it into the sheltered nook as the last of the sun lit the rockface behind the hideaway. She was panting and tired herself now, and sprawled gratefully beside her kill. "Good morning," she said at last to the male, fighting off a sudden streak of sullen attitude that accompanied her tiredness. No use getting snappy with him for all her work when she had volunteered to do it in the first place, now was there?
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 12:21 pm
Nyeusi awoke feeling refreshed and starving. In all honesty it was his stomach that had urged him to consciousness, clawing cramps demanding that he fill his hollow stomach with something as soon as earthly possible. Sorely stumbling to his feet, Nye caught sight of his savior, the lovely leopardess that was now looking as tired as he had earlier in the day. Saliva filled his mouth when he caught sight of the wildebeest, and he had to restrain himself from attacking the beast's corpse where it laid.
"Good morning," he replied, offering her a small smile. "A successful hunt? I hope you did not wait for me before eating your fill," the thought that she had done so bothered him. He did not want to assume that she was going to give him first dibs on the meal. It wouldn't be polite for him to just dig in, either, and so he patiently waited for her response, a small smile toying with his lips.
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 1:35 pm
She waved a paw vaguely and impatiently. "Please, eat, I didn't bring it just for myself you know." A faint bit of her exasperation crept into her tone, causing her to wince. She didn't mean it like that, truly she didn't, but she was tired. Instead she chuffed to the nearly unseen raven. Piera swooped down and fussed over her in gentle tones, her words not easily audible to the leopard male.
Elera waited until she'd caught her breath and her temper cooled before moving to the carcass herself. She tore into its shoulder, feasting side by side with the male. She paused in her gulping down meat to slit open the belly. "Here, eat... this will give you strength quicker than just the muscle." She even took pains to crack open the chest so he might easily reach the nutrient rich organs within, though she herself crnched the ribs and sucked the marrow from them.
When she was sated, she leaned back, sprawled on one side, and watched him through lowered lashes. It wasn't meant to look sultry by any stretch of the imagination, but it helped to shield her thoughts. "If you are ready, I will tell you of my home," she offered. Night had fallen as they ate, and the stars now shone brightly above them.
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 1:42 pm
Nyeusi dipped his head in thanks after watching the female and her companion share a quick, quiet moment. He hadn't been put off by the females tone when she spoke at first, merely intrigued. The raven and the leopardess seemed very close, and for a moment Nye allowed himself a moment of jealousy over that closeness, that bond. He'd never had something like that for himself.
After eating in silence, Nye sprawled back comfortably, his belly fat and full from their feast. He burped softly, looking sheepishly in her direction as she leaned back as well. At her offer, he nodded, though he felt that introductions were in order. How they'd gotten this far along without exchanging names, Nyeusi wasn't sure.
"I am eager to hear of your home. Please, call me Nyeusi, or Nye if it is easier on your tongue. I am also requesting that you inform me of any way that I might repay you for all of your gentle kindnesses this day."
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 2:37 pm
She bobbed her head in response to his introduction. "I am Elera, of the Kitwana'antara," she replied, though her gaze was thoughtful at his pleading of a means to repay her. Had she not prepared herself for such an occasion, and did this not possibly suit her needs? Even so, she put off thoughts of that, settling more comfortably. "It is my pride that you were making your slow way towards," she began, sidestepping his request for now. "Perhaps it would have taken you a day or two to reach the borders in the slow manner you were proceeding," she commented with a faint smirk, "but reach it you would have nonetheless, had you continued on your course."
She paused to extend her claws and carefully clean each one, then the fur each was sheathed into. "The pride is made of special folk, whom I admire greatly," she admitted, much to her own surprise. Not that she was surprised to realize how much she looked up to her fellow members, but to share such a detail with a stranger was a good less guarded than she normally was, even these days. She gave him a sharper look, almost as if she suspected he was working some unnamable magic on her. After a moment's inspection, she returned to her description. "The pride bears the weight of a curse, a disease that kills those of lion blood, whether swift and kindly, or slow and agonizingly."
She paused a moment in reverence for those who passed, even while she had been a member. Far too many it was, for so small a pride. Yes, this was the right thing to do, she resolved silently. Her time had come to aid the pride in this new and uncertain way. Her heart thudded in her chest, but she was no coward, to flinch from such duty or honor, hard though it may be. "All non-lions are warned off, and any who enter the pride's territory must there remain for all their days, unless they prove to be immune."
She stopped them, and studdied the pads of one paw intently, choosing her words carefully. "Because of how many die there, children are seen as a blessing and a boon from the gods," she spoke carefully, slowly raising her gaze to him. "Some of us, even some with mates, leave the pride's lands and bring back young, both of our own or rescued." She swallowed hard around a tightness in her throat. "Perhaps you can return my kindness by helping the pride... through me." Oh, this was hard! So hard! Still, she hoped it came across as much less uncouth as she'd feared. She held herself still as a stone, her eyes on his, without further words to explain what she meant, hoping against hope that he would understand so that she need not explain, even if he chose not to take up her offer. Much huung in this moment of stillness!
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Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:08 pm
Nyeusi listened to her words, enjoying everything about her. The way she spoke, the way she moved. He was enthralled by her. Spending time with her after the week he'd seen made him feel as if he'd been blessed by the Gods for once in his life. Even in the short time they'd spent together he felt that her companionship had been the best he'd ever come across. When she mentioned her pride he was taken aback. She lived amongst lions? Freely and without force? That seemed an odd idea to Nye. He couldn't imagine wanting to live amongst dying lions and their sickly offspring. She was made of far greater stuff than he was, and it was just one more thing that he found to appreciate about her.
She did seem to speak of them fondly, and that struck a chord in Nye's heart. Elera seemed to do every task at hand with a dedication and diligence that Nyeusi hadn't seen before. He enjoyed that about her, and despite her sad words he couldn't help but see the strength in her. She was a strong leopardess. He'd never met one like her.
After making her request of them, silence stretched between them. His eyes never left hers, his expression soft and thoughtful. He wasn't disgusted by the thought of providing her with what she needed. No, he was honored by it. Nye had met the leopardess that he would compare all others to during his future travels, one that had such strength and compassion the like he'd never seen before. He couldn't help but admire her for what she was.
Finally, he smiled. It was a soft smile as he did not want anything about his smile to make her feel uncomfortable. He could already tell this request had been difficult for her. No, this wouldn't be about seeking his own pleasure. This would be about helping a leopardess that sought to help the pride she cared so deeply for. She had saved his life, and he would return the favor by providing life to her pride in this strange way.
"I would be honored, Elera, to assist you," he said softly, dipping his head. "After all, I owe you my life."
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