The paws that carried her ached from the walk. She had been walking forever it seemed, and she still had no idea where she had come from, or where she was going.
Not that she could remember much. Her mind was a mess of thoughts that tried to piece together who it was she had been..Who she was. All she remembered was the male
had smacked her across the face and since then.. She had no idea what her name was anymore, and so she had taken to calling herself something. She couldnt be nameless
after all..And she hoped eventually that feeling of remembering would return to her. Bahari pawed at the dirt, looking at her feet as she continued on her way. She hadnt
realized how thick the fog and mist had been getting, and when she looked up her eyes widened. She was literally stuck in a wall of fog that circled her as if it was a cage
enclosing her. She whined, and whipped her head around a few directions before sitting and sighing. She seemed to recall someone saying if youre lost, just dont move. Hopefully
this fog would ease up, or else she would be screwed.
"Great." She said, looking down at her blue paws and wishing that things had been going better fo rher. She was so tired, and thirsty. Hunger drew at her belly but she had been
on a constant mission to find somewhere she could call home. Somewhere that would make a bit of her not even care to remember who she had been. A future was what she needed,
if she had a future who cared about the past.
The mist soaked him and he welcomed it. It was homes call, his homes defense, his life now. He had no mate. She had wandered out of his life just like she wandered into it. He ached and mourned her loss like the loss of his life. Chache was his life. She ahd been his everything. And she'd taken his heart with her on her journey. Caideiseach still had his cubs. They were adults now, and he could be a grandpa soon.. But the thought depressed him. The male moved silently throught he fog and the mist until a single sound caught his attention and his head turned that way
He paused then headed the direction the voice had come from. It wasn't her. Not his Chache. She couldn't talk softly, as much as she tried. A flood of memories ran through his head. He met his mate through this fog, led her to his home and gave her everything. She was a spoiled girl, Chache was. Tangerine eyes looked out through the fog and spotted a figure, blue in color, up a head. She looked too thin. She looked tired and ready to rest. But she didn't look like a threat.
Still, it was in his job to watch her until he could prove she was no threat. So, that's what he did. Hidden by fog and mist, he would watch her a little longer.
She felt the feeling of someone there.. She could see nothing, except light grey shadows that were made lighter by the fog. They seemed to play with her head and dance around
as if trying to confuse her. She growled, her eyes looking cautious. Best to let someone know you were there rather than have them walk right on top of you later. She didnt growl
to be mean, merely to help herself feel safer. Maybe if it was a dangerous other, it would continue on its journey and leave her to herself.. Or maybe it would be a good other, that
would help her navigate out of the fog that had light violet eyes confused and a bit bleak.
"Whose there??" She called, looking around her, trying to make herself sound bigger than she really was. She was a smaller female, and she was also thin right now. She could have been
mistaken for an adolescent by someone who didnt look close enough. But her features werent as childlike as an adolescent, but rather the pretty features of a young female. She had gone
through a few seasons.. She had calculated that she had been alive about three years or so. She wasnt old, but she was no cub.
Her tail slunk around her legs, as if it could wrap itself around her to keep her safe. She was usually alot more secure with herself.. But this fog had completely disoriented her.
He saw how nervous she was getting, saw how thin and tiny she was. His instinct just kicked in and he wanted to take care of her. But he couldn't break watch. He would watch her, every movement she made, every noise that came from her, he would hear. Things about being a Ghost was it honed your senses better than anything else could.
It was a while before he came from the mists in front of her, calm, but a little suspicious. Always be cautious.
"Can I help you?" His voice was deep and curious. "You seem to be lost."
He came to her, almost like he belonged to a dream and she had dozed off without knowing. First the mists parted for him, though he looked like a moving
shadow and it made her uneasy. Though as he stepped from the mist, his white pelt and tangerine eyes finally giving themselves away. She relaxed if only slightly.
She didnt get the killer vibe from this guy, and so she could breath a little easier. She cocked her head, looking at him and then down at herself. She supposed that she did look rather homely.. Being on the run and not remembering what it was you were running from took a huge toll on the female. She was tired of running, and
obviously her body was showing it pretty clearly.
"Im not lost." She said, voice proud, though slowly the pride ebbed away and she was left looking distraught and she sighed. There was no real reason to lie to him.. He already knew the truth after all!
She sighed again, and shook her head. She hated being honest sometimes. Sometimes it was just not what she wanted. But she shrugged and let her purple eyes meet his own.
"Okay.. So I am.. Dont laugh at me." She said, a small pout forming on her maw.
He did not laugh. He didn't even try too. It was natural to get lost in the mists that lay 'cross this land. Slowly, Caide started to circkle, but not in a threatening way. Just looking her over. "If you're looking for food, I can point you the way. If you need some place to rest, I know a spot." He was just being helpful. His tail flicked and then he stopped circling her, sitting down instead on a big rock he knew to be there.
"My pride has an area. Away from the pride, where we bring meats sometimes, for... those who get lost." More like, he did. Ever since Chache, he'd kept up with the guests.
He offered alot of helpful advice and and couldnt help but wonder why he was being so kind to her. He didnt know her from Adam, and so she just went with it. It was nice to feel like someone cared about her well being. She'd gone so long without talking to anyone.
Many seasons had gone with her never uttering a word to another. It had worn on the poor girls mind, and she felt completely alone all the time. She smiled, cocking her head to watch him circle her. She wasnt fearful, like some would be with another circling them.. He wasnt in the stance that said she should beware him.
"I do look pretty rough, dont I.." She sighed, her tail flicking back and forth, leaving little trails in the thick fog. Though the trails didnt last long, and were soon thick once more around her body. He blended in to the mists so well that she couldnt help but have to stare at him to not lose him w hen he moved.
"Im starving, and Im tired. Im alone and not doing so well." She admitted. She hated herself for admitting it, but she hoped that maybe he COULD help her like he had offered.
He offered alot of helpful advice and and couldnt help but wonder why he was being so kind to her. He didnt know her from Adam, and
so she just went with it. It was nice to feel like someone cared about her well being. She'd gone so long without talking to anyone.
Many seasons had gone with her never uttering a word to another. It had worn on the poor girls mind, and she felt completely alone all
the time. She smiled, cocking her head to watch him circle her. She wasnt fearful, like some would be with another circling them.. He
wasnt in the stance that said she should beware him.
"I do look pretty rough, dont I.." She sighed, her tail flicking back and forth, leaving little trails in the thick fog. Though the trails
didnt last long, and were soon thick once more around her body. He blended in to the mists so well that she couldnt help but have to stare
at him to not lose him w hen he moved.
"Im starving, and Im tired. Im alone and not doing so well." She admitted. She hated herself for admitting it, but she hoped that maybe he COULD help her like he had offered.
He nodded as she spoke, motioning her to follow him. The place he tended to wasn't too far from here, so it took him no time to bring her to it. Flicking his tail, he noticed that the hares he caught were still there as well as the huge leaf full of water. "This.... is the place I was telling you about. And I see you are not doing well. Where are you headed, I know the prides around here." It was true. He sat down on his haunches and then cracked a smile. Honestly, Caide hated being serious. But his job called for it, as well as being a father. Sure, they were grown, but he still had Wyconda at home.
"I can't escort you, I'm afraid, but I can point you the way. Are you looking for the beach pride?" If so, she was a long, long ways from it. She looked like water; he couldn't help but let his eyes glide down her markings, noticing that she probably hadn't had a litter of cubs in her life. She didn't look like Chache had. Though she'd lost the weight, one could look and see she had a litter.
She took in what he said, though she was realizing that his words almost sounded like he was talking in another language. She looked confused, but shook her head.
Beach pride? Absolutely not. She wasnt looking for a pride, or at least.. she didnt think she was. Though if she found one then she would gladly thrive. However, what pride would want someone who couldnt even remember what her name was? She had had to give herself another name.. She has called herself Bahari, but she knew it wasnt the name she had been born with. Somehow.. She looked up but offered him a smile as she looked around herself. Rabbit corpses and a leaf full of water sat there inviting her over. She gulped, feeling her throat dry and her tummy grumble just from the thought of possible having some of that to herself. Licking her lips she looked back at Caide.
"No, No im not looking for a pride, and.. I cant honestly tell you where Im from or where I was heading. I.. I dont remember who I am." She admitted.
Seeing how very hungry she looked, Caide motioned her to it. "Eat, drink. It's a safe haven outside of the pride, but close enough so the guards and ghosts will know to protect you if something goes wrong." At least, he would. It was in his job to protect the pride.
He frowned a little at her next words and then nodded. "I've heard of a few cases like that. It's always sad to hear, but this is what I say. You can do anything. It's not a curse to not remember who you are. This is your second chance at life. Even if you've done nothing bad, the Gods wanted something different for you. Maybe you'll find what you're looking for around here, maybe not. I hope you find a place you just feel at home."
She listened to his words, and supposed it was right. Perhaps her previous life hadnt been one that was pleasing to the Gods. Maybe the whole thing was a gift.
Sucky gift though, with the empty feeling she had in her heart and mind. But she worried more about the empty place in her stomach right now. Lowering herself to the earth, she scooted over to the food on her belly, before pulling a rabbit between her paws like a dog would with a bone. She began pulling at the meat, eating greedily.
She supposed she looked incredibly unladylike, but she didnt care. She was hungry, and this food was so delicious she couldnt help it.
She eased her eating, flicked her ears back and looked sheepish, a blush tinging the blue cheeks. She looked down at the demolished rabbit and chuckled. It looked as if she had taken to rolling in it after desecrating it and she blushed again.
"Oy.. I guess its obvious I havent eaten much. Im sorry, I made a bit of a mess. Its hard to hunt when you dont remember how." She said, chuckling nervously.. Oh how she felt like a cub.
He didn't watch as she ate, that would be rude. Instead, Caide got up and looked around, making sure the other Ghosts knew he was here. He made gentle noises that they used to communicate and then grinned when they replied. "The others say you're more than welcome to sleep here. I will have to check on you in the morning, miss. My shift is nearly over and I have to inform my replacement about you, least you get scared again.
"As for the mess? It's more than fine. I'll clean up and bring you breakfast.You'll be fine by yourself?" If not, she didn't have much choice in the matter. He had to go. "My son, Wyconda, fully grown, needs me. The whole pride is learning to communicate with him and his siblings. A few of them are deaf."
She sighed. Great she was being left alone again. She hated the idea of being alone again in a strange place. But if he was being so nice, surely he wasnt tricking her into a false sort of confidence. She gulped, but nodded, and resumed tearing into her meal. She lapped the water from the leaf greedily, and once she was done she began grooming her paws and face of any sort of remnants. Looking with purple eyes back to Caide, she nodded. She supposed she had no choice so why make him feel guilty about leaving?
When he spoke of his children, she frowned. That was awful..That, and she had no idea how to react around cubs, so she hoped that there werent many here right now. She was not looking forward to conversing with other cubs. She'd get over it when she had to, but she prayed that was not right now. "Thanks for being so kind.." She said.
"It is my pleasure, miss." He nodded her head, and started walking away slowly. He would disappear into the mists, not to be seen by her, or anyone but Ghosts who knew how to look for him. Maybe she blew into his life for a reason. Maybe.... she would be like Chache, join the pride and find her niche in life here.
He won't talk to her about it, though. That would mean that he was interested in her. But if he just offered her to join, it wouldn't mean he was interested, would it? He could just watch out for her then.
"Gyaaa..." he whispered, shaking his head and finally got to the pride.
