Her paws dug into the unclaimed dirt, sending a wave of freedom through her body. There were still things left untouched to be played around with in the lands behind her, the Mizimu'Tungika, but she was seeking liberating adventure and fun in the rogue lands once more. After all, it was where she had met that god who had caused such intriguing events to occur in the Mizimu'Tungika, all because of her!
A light gray form wandered through the lands, black and dull eyes searching the plains. He yawned boredly; it had been a few uneventful moons, perhaps even more so than he imagined. But that was what life threw at him, and that was how he would take it.Tail swayed peacefully, body swaying along to the breeze of the wind. Ahh, life alone was content. Nothing could change that - not even a few hardheaded lions, some overconfident or zealous leopards, or even another... female. He was fine living alone, and that was that.
The dark lioness's head flinched; what was that? She sensed something. Something pulled her to the right, and it was a form moving about in the grasses. It was a light gray leopard. Ahh, he was much smaller than her, that poor, innocent, thing. The lack of markings! The lightness! Indeed her pride would dictate that he had a soul, and a new one at that. But he was definitely older than her, she could tell, as she still had many years ahead of her to fulfill her plans and trickery.
She ran closer, orange eyes intent on their... prey. They were excited. She could see there was something about this leopard that would create an amusing situation.
And then she had it.
The leopard male stopped when the lioness got very close to him. He didn't take it as a threat or even danger, despite the lioness seemed strong and could probably down him with a few quick strikes. He was definitely not scared or intimidated. He was just him, and he was on his way alone.
"Oh hello," he said when she approached, flicking his head away for a mere second before turning it back onto his path.
When he realized she was not going to go away, as she had begun following him, he looked back at her for more than a few brief seconds...
"Hmmmm?" he mumbled out in a long, calm breath.
She saw it all: this leopard's life, or at least... very brief glimpses of specific parts of his history, and some moments of his future... She could tell, it was all very clear to her. A smirk came up, amused by all the prospects.
She saw it. A little boy... It was a freak... A hybrid. Black eyes just like the leopard she had inadvertently begun to follow without saying anything, white on top, the gray... The gray all over the body. And there was what appeared to be water for his underside. Definitely his - a past flame? It could be. The little hybrid cub... it had a mother, and she looked... Ahh, her look made a chortle come out - how atrocious!
And another flash. So many leopards. Those beasts. And they were all white, gray, and black. Surely the beast did not procreate with himself. And yet, they were following him... dooming him to a future he did not warrant. The faces were grim, but hers was not. It was all exciting, really.
Those grays of splotches, those black spots everywhere, and that white to balance it all. Obviously this leopard had gotten around, and obviously he was disinterested in being a father. What fun this could be.
She sidled up alongside the leopard, now that he was staring back at her. Those visions did take quite a while sometimes, but he didn't care that much, apparently.
"Hello, Suka at your service, my darling," she provoked.
Ahh, so this lion was coming onto him. That was unusual, except not really. He didn't know how he felt about lions, lionesses, and those types of felines. He hadn't much interaction and hadn't felt any particular affinity for them. They haven't been warm to him, but what could he tell?
The ones he met were rather pompous and thought they knew everything, in fact. Perhaps they did. It was no matter to him.
"Suka?" he asked again, finding the name strange, "This is Goshi."
He kept his pace up, unfazed by the sudden warming up of the girl. She seemed like she wanted something, to be friendly at such an early stage of their meeting. She had that smile on her face, too.
"Something Suka wants, then?" he asked, boredly looking at her, "There is nothing I can give, really."
"Oh ho ho!" she laughed and jested at his response.
But she needn't go too far - otherwise she would ruin her position. She had to be on top of everyone all the time!
"There are many things you, Goshi, can give! And a leopard! A newborn spirit leopard! You have given many, you have given these lands. There is nothing I want - far from it. I don't want to be a part of any of that, and I believe I have seen that I wasn't, in fact. I've checked. I know a few things... I know a few things about you, Goshi, and you didn't even have to give me your name."
She enjoyed taunting him, really. Even though it didn't get a rise out of him, it was nice to have a feeling of having more power than the other.
"Making love to the scenes you've visited, Goshi? Don't you know what that entails? You've left your little souvenir back there, though..." she hinted ever so subtly.
Right. What was Suka getting at? It didn't make sense to Goshi, not that he tried to comprehend it. It all just seemed like a bunch of ramble.
Her last words, however, were a little more cryptic than usual. Was Suka one of those called a seer? Did she really see some things of him that happened or will happen?
"Hmph..."
Goshi pondered.
"A souvenir?"
"Of course, my dear leopard boy. A souvenir... Do not tell me you have not had a rendezvous with another species with water at her legs. That is what I see on the son. Brilliant, your trek has brought you far away, however. Very far away. I hope that's where you were going."
Suka laughed a very loud, chilling laugh. It was nice to fool a young and stupid soul once in a while.
"Poor leopard, don't know of the saddled future you'll have... With that thing here, I know why you escaped that life. Run while you can or else you'll be chained, not free to float through like you are doing."
She gave one final burst of laugh, prancing off and away now like the crazy little daughter of the mischief goddess she was.
Like her laugh, her words chilled Goshi. And yet, he did not know what it all meant.
"I have a... son?" he said, watching the figure of Suka run away - did he care..?
Did he care about her sudden departure, the questions, the answers, or the son..? It wasn't all so clear.
Perhaps the future would yield answers.
