Aureo cracked open the fruit and started drinking its juices. Ha! Who needed meat when you have delicious fruit like this! It was about mid day and he was having a blast. He had spent most of the day meeting the locals and than he took a swim in the lake. While he was swimming he found a tree that had some strange fruit he had never seen before. He decided, while he was there, he would try some. After checking with the locals that it wasn’t poisonous, he ate it. He loved the taste of it and had to grab a couple more.
He hadn’t decided weather or not he would be staying there for the night. It would most likely depend on the locals. He wouldn’t want to intrude on their daily lives. Plus he was itching to continue his journey.
Kyros was slowly down. He had been traveling for the last three days with little rest. There was a chance that those cheetahs were still after him and he rather not have a fight with them. He noticed a lion sitting by the water eating fruit. ‘What an odd lion.’ Kyros went over to get a sip of water. He would rest up for a little bit and continue. He didn’t have time to stay.
Aureo looked at the cheetah and smiled. Another traveler perhaps? “The fruit isn’t half bad. You should try some.” He pushed one of his fruits over to him. “Are you from around here?”
Kyros finished sipping his drink “I am just traveling threw actually. Though I wouldn’t mind staying here for a few nights. It seems rather peaceful here. I’m sure that my presence would change that.” He laughed as he sat down. He decided to try the fruit. Carefully he put three little holes in it and sipped the juices out.
“I’m a traveler as well. My name is Aureo.” he said. “If you don’t mind me asking why are you traveling?”
Kyros laughed. It wasn’t too often he felt comfortable around stranger, but Aureo seemed like a good guy. “Well right now I think I’m being chased by some cheetahs. Hopefully by now they stopped chasing me. I’m Kyros by the way.”
“Kyros, good name. Those cheetahs that are chasing you, are they admirers or something?”
“Oh no, I wish. I can deal with admirers easily. These guys though are different. A few days ago I told them off because they were messing with a girl who didn’t want their company. I ended up fighting them. The two cheetahs ran off to tell their boss on me. I rather not get in a fight where the odds against me are that high.” Kyros explained. “I’m sure though that they’ll stop following. I’m not worth their time.”
“Why don’t we travel together for a little while? I might be able to help you deal with your followers.” Aureo suggested. The cheetah was alright and he wouldn’t mind giving him a hand. “I could always use the company.”
“Thank you for the offer but to be honest I’m trying to run away from them. I think you would only slow me down.” He looked up at the clouds. “That and I am also searching for a cheetah myself. I need to find him and get my revenge.”
“Revenge. That’s something I avoid. It can really eat away at your soul.” Aureo joined Kyros at looking up at the clouds. “If you want to travel alone I won’t argue, but perhaps, you could forgive the one you want to get revenge on. I know it isn’t my place but I can tell you’re a good guy and you don’t need to go down that path.”
“I know I don’t have to, but it is something I feel I need to do. Since I was little I’ve been training and I believe that it might be my destiny to fight him.” It felt good to finally talk to someone about it. Kyros normally kept himself around strangers but Aureo and him had some sort of connection.
“I started training when I was a cub. My parents wanted me to become a royal guard. They would tell how proud they would be if I could do that for them. I never told them I had no intention of doing this and that all I really wanted was to go out and have a adventure.” Aureo said as recalled his younger days. “I decided one day to fake my death and run away. I guess I regret telling my parents the truth.”
“I’m guessing you’re pretty strong than.”
Aureo laughed to himself. He thought something like this would happen. What else would happen if two felines who love to fight start to talk? “I would say I’m pretty tough. What about you?”
Kyros stood up and stretched. He hadn’t had a nice fight for a while. He had started to get an itch to start one. “I can handle myself. Why don’t we see who is stronger?”
Aureo stood up now. About time a challenger appeared. He was thinking he might get out of shape without anyone to fight him “It shouldn’t be much of a contest. I’ve been lying all morning fatting myself on fruit. You should be able to beat me to a pulp by the time a lift up my paw to strike you.”
“Oh no Aureo. You are the one who is going to win. I’ve been running all morning. I will be slower than a three legged turtle.”
“I guess we will have to see who is more tired.” Aureo jumped at Kyros, but he just dodged. They took swipes at each other, occasionally hitting the other. At one point Aureo had tackled Kyros to the ground and they rolled down into the water. The locals had come down to watch the fight. They were unsure what was going on.
Finally after much blood was shed they laid down next to each other, panting heavily. Kyros was the first to speak. “I think that you hit me a few times before I beat you to a pulp."
“I want to watch the three legged turtle you were comparing to yourself.” Aureo replied. “I say we call it a draw until next time we meet.”
“Sounds good to me. Now I should be off. I think I caused this land enough trouble already.” Kyros said as he stood up. “I would like it if we met up again. Perhaps I we can meet up here in thirty moons. That is if I can remember how to get here.”
Aureo laughed. “Sounds good my brother. Perhaps by than you will lose your idea of revenge. It would be nice to have a traveling partner.”
“I will try my brother.” Kyros said. “If two or three cheetahs come looking for me tell them I will be waiting for them in the west.” He started to walk away without saying anymore.
“But Kyros you’re heading East, toward the direction you came from.” Aureo pointed out. Kyros turned himself around. “Good bye brother.”
“Until we meet again.” Kyros started to run west, away from his new friend. He hoped that they would see each other in a months time.
WC: 1,248
