Ghasia had left her brother's home earlier that morning, content to just walk a little. It was wonderful to be with him so often now, and she enjoyed spending time figuring out her new family, but the urge to wander still struck her randomly and quite often. Growing up as a rogue meant the female was rather partial to keeping moving, and being a 'home aunt' was...odd. Very odd.
So every once in a while, she struck out on her own to stretch her legs and get her heart racing again, if only to enjoy life for a while, and then return to being part of a family – which she loved, she just missed her old life some time. The cheetah moved quickly across the landscape, her tail flicking behind her as she raced, head low and heart thudding away. She had to slow soon, and changed her course towards a rather insignificant watering hole, but at least it would quench her thirst.
There were days that Anahofia felt as if she were glued to the ground. She much preferred the cool silence of the night hours. The high sun made her feel so listless and groggy. It truly was miserable. She thanked her lucky stars that her pelt was so light. That was something to be thankful for. Right now she felt grumpy and groggy, like she tended to be during the daylight hours.
Dragging herself to her feet, Ana made her way to the small watering hole she was camped near. She was supposed to be out hunting for her pride, but that could be done during the nighttime. Ana didn't understand how anyone could be active during the muggy daytime hours. Reaching the edge of the pool of stale water, Anahofia dropped her head and began to drink. It was so hard to be alert but she did her best. It was no wonder she didn't catch scent of the stranger that swiftly approached.
Moving closer to the watering hole, Ghasia spotted an odd sight for the savannah. A pink shape. She squinted at the shape as she came closer, pleased to find that it was another female! Ghasia was a social creature, and although shy as a cub, she had always been thrilled to have people around her. Her walk turned slightly more bouncy as she approached the watering hole.
"Hello!" She called out to the shape, hoping she wouldn't startle the creature. She just wanted a quick drink, some friendly company and perhaps a story or two shared between newly made friends. It was the typical want for her, and she was pleased to have found something which might satisfy that want.
Ana's tongue stuck out of her mouth as she froze mid-lap, those vivid purple eyes shooting up to meet the voice that called out to her. Had it been a lion, there would have been no issue. The stranger that approached her, however, was no lion. This stranger was a cheetah, and a rather pretty one at that. It was a shame, really, that one so inferior to a lion (let alone a lion of the Mnyama'nafsi) had such a delicately pretty form.
The cheetah female was also lucky that Anahofia was not spirit-bound to a cheetah. Anahofia was spirit-bound to a magnificent owl -- she had yet to claim a pelt of her own, but that would come in time.
"You must wander far from home, stranger," Ana growled, in no mood for chipper company, "You would be wise to leave me be."
Ghasia blinked at the rather unfriendly greeting that she got from the pretty lioness. How could someone so pretty growl so meanly? She wondered to herself, tilting her head to the side and inching closer to the water. Perhaps she was just grumpy, Ghasia thought to herself and seemed content to be believe that. "I have wandered far from home!" Ghasia admitted brightly. "But I don't mind. I enjoy the walk."
She glanced at the female. "And why would I leave? Did I disturb something important? I just wanted some water and you are not taking up the whole watering hole, so might I just take a drink?" She asked, already moving towards the water, sure that the female would say yes. The female didn't own the watering hole, so she couldn't really tell her off and make her leave.
Anahofia wasn't sure if the cheetah female was stupid or haughty. Maybe she was even a mixture of both. Rising to her feet, Ana skirted the edge of the miniscule watering hole. Ana wasn't a large lion by any means - as a cub she'd often been the brunt of jokes due to her size. She did have a mean temper, though, and once riled, there would be hell to pay.
Already cranky, it was as though Ana was sitting on a mountain of dynamite. All she'd needed was a spark, one that the pretty cheetah had provided. The countdown had begun, and if the cheetah wasn't careful... well...
KABOOM.
"You disturbed ME, fool." Ana hissed with scathing fury.
Ghasia stumbled back as the female seemed to hiss, her body tight with fury. Though she was not a huge, intimidating figure, Ghasia had never been exposed to many cruel creatures, as most she met were quite...sweet, and well tempered, like she herself was. Her ears fell flat on her head, but she refused to give up. The female was just grumpy, that was all.
"Well, I'm very sorry!" Ghasia announced, trying to keep her voice bright and her posture friendly, despite her fear of the female before her. "I didn't mean to! Is there anything I can do to make it up to you?" She asked. Perhaps she could hunt for the female, and repay her in food.
Ears pinned back, Anahofia's mouth opened in a snarl. Teeth were bared, eyes narrowed... she was a ticking time bomb. "You should take warning when it is offered, cheetah," she snarled, referring to the first words that Ana had spoken to the stranger. "This is MY water and I will not allow it to be tained by your lips!" Ana was incensed that the cheetah actually thought to repay her!
Tick tock. Tick tock.
Claws unsheathed, a roar threatened at the back of Ana's throat.
Originally, Ghasia was sure the female didn't intend harm, but stumbling back a further few steps, her eyes wide and her body now showing a terrified stance, Ghasia had no doubt that this female might do her serious harm, should she stay and push her luck. But she was thirsty, and she had been walking for most of the day! "You don't own the watering hole!" She pointed out, not angrily, but in a sort of grumpy manner. "You can't stop me from drinking from it. It's not yours."
Well, the lioness surely could stop her from drinking from it,a ctualyl, as the female was quite obviously bigger then Ghasia, and knew how to fight. But Ghasia was thirsty. She paused, having realised something the female said. "And I wouldn't taint it!" She huffed. "I'm not dirty, or infected with anything."
Anahofia pushed forward, growing more and more irate that the cheetah was still here, still talking and still demanding that she wanted some of the water that Ana had lain claim to. The roar that had been tenuously clinging to the back of Ana's throat began to rumble forth, rippling past her lips with frightening force.
Kaboom.
"MINE," she shrieked, eyes wild and spittle flying from her mouth. This was HER water and she would NOT share it with some jabbering cheetah that spoke as if SHE owned the place. Anahofia couldn't be blamed, really. She couldn't. The sun just made her a little cranky, that's all.
Ghasia's eyes went wide, ears pressed down as hard as they could onto her skull. Her tail had dropped low, tucked down to the ground. The roar that the female let out was terrifying and sent her scuttling further back along the ground. She thought of staying to push her luck, but the idea of getting beaten up was not one she thought appealing. She had never meant anyone as mean as the pretty feline before her, and her eyes nearly welled in tears, though she forced them back.
"Fine!" She yelled back at the feline. "Have you stupid watering hole!" She bolted, using her extra speed to hopefully get away from the furious lioness. Ghasia barely resisted the urge to yell "Stupid!" at the female, but she had a feeling the lion would not appreciate such a name calling. Ghasia couldn't believe there could be such mean people out there! How cruel they were, without any reason!
Breathing hard, Ana watched the cheetah female dart away. She would take a long moment to cool her temper before she went back to drinking the tepid water. Honestly! She had warned the idiot not to fool with her when they'd first met. The cheetah had had it coming, and Anahofia would not feel bad about scaring the pretty thing away. If they'd met, say, under a full moon, Anahofia would've been much more cordial, assuredly. Too bad the cheetah had had the misfortune of meeting a night owl during the light of day.
- f i n -
