Leenah was over joyed. Finally she met a cheetah just like herself who was kind enough to share his home with her and Mirie. She knew Mirie wasn't particularly found of cheetahs or other felines, but she knew Dhavlen was different. He was kind to her and cruel cheetahs aren't kind. Once Mirie met him he would understand and be proud of her for finding someone so kind.
From a distance she could see Mirie lying in the grass under the shade of a tree. He looked relax. There was plenty of creatures to keep him company Leenah noticed. He grinned when he saw her. Carefully he stood up. He had to be gently on his front leg. It was still bruised from the fight he had been in.
"Big brother you won't believe my luck! I found sheltered place we can sleep for a while." Leenah said with excitement. Mirie could hardly understand what she was saying because of how quickly she spoke. "It's not too far. If you want I can probably carry you on my back."
Mirie's grin turned into a scowl. He hoped she wasn't serious, but knowing Leenah she was. "I can make it there on my own. I rather not have to ride on someone else. I never did that even when I was a pup." He might be hurt but he still had his dignity. "What does the place look like?"
"It's beautiful! There are rocks to lay down on and it's near a mountain and a lake. I already dug a den for us and Dhavlen." She explained. As she did so she passed around him. Secretly she hoped that he hadn't heard her say Dhavlen. She didn't want him to get upset at her.
Mirie kept an eye on her. He realized she was acting suspicious. Lee was the kindest feline he had ever met, however she was often dense and childish. "Dhav'len? Tell me he is your imaginary friend." He hoped that is what this Dhavlen was. If he was a real than he didn't want to meet him.
She felt insulted at first, but she reminded herself that she did have a couple imaginary friends, but she only saw them when she was lonely. With Mirie around she was hardly ever lonely. "Dhavlen is as real as you or me. He is really sweet to. He offered to share his rocks with us and he is very excited to meet you. Before I left he told me to hurry up and bring you to him."
"Lee we are not going to him than. We can not trust others so quickly. There are cruel animals out there and I don't want you to get hurt. Now why don't we look for another place to make the den." Mirie said. He started to limp away from the direction Dhavlen was in.
"Do you not trust me?"
The words stung like ice. He looked over his shoulder and saw Leenah looking at him with a hurt expression. How he hated himself at that moment. He turned around and looked at her. "Sisi, of course I trust you. I trust you more than I have ever trusted anyone. You have such a pure and innocent heart. It is other people I don't trust. There are people out there who will lie to your face and use you. This is why we need to stick together. We know we can trust each other. Now lets go."
"I trust Dhavlen. He is a good cheetah. If you trust me than please trust my judgement as well." Leenah said standing her ground. "I told him I would come back and I don't intend to lie to him."
"You really are too kind Lee." He walked back over to her. "Okay we will go see Dhavlen, but the moment I sense he is up to something we are going to leave and I don't want you to argue." She perked her ears up and grinned.
"Of course big brother! I promise!" She said. Her tail danced wildly. At last she got her way! "You will see Dhav'len is really nice. I bet you two will be good friends." She led him toward the Dhav'len, being careful not to go too fast. It was hard for her. She wanted to see Dhav'len again. He was her first cheetah friend and she wanted to make the most of it. There was something about him that made her like him.
As they walked the passed a group of gazelle. Mirie's stomach growled, telling Leenah that it was hungary."Just ignore that. We don't have time to go hunting." Mirie had been watching the sky. The sun was about to set. Lee could make it to the den in only moments, but with him trudging along it was taking a lot longer.
"Keep going. I will take one down and bring it will us. Perhaps Dhavlen is also hungary." Leenah said. She left Mirie to travel by himself while she stalked the gazelle.
The way she talked about Dhavlen, as if he was perfect, it annoyed him. He had to be up to something. There is no way anyone could be so kind and not have an alternative motive. Well except for Lee, but she was different. His stomach growled again. He was slightly glad that Lee went hunting, though he hated being left alone with an injured leg. In the end he knew if worse came to worse he could defend himself.
She was low to the ground, the grass hiding her perfectly. The gazelle had no idea that she was coming. She picked out her victim. A health adult. It would be harder to catch it, however there would be plenty of meat for the three of them. Mirie and Dhavlen would be so proud! Than she bolted toward it, putting all her energy into catching it. She sunk her heads into it. The other gazelles darted away. Her attack had knocked the poor creature out. She gave it a quick, painless death.
She dragged the gazelle back to Mirie. He was in the same place she had left him. On his face was that worried expression that he always had. She laughed at herself. It was odd to her that Mirie worried over every little thing. She knew once he met Dhavlen that his worries would go away, at least a few of them.
"This should fill up all three of us." She said cheerfully.
"As long as your new friend doesn't eat the whole thing." Mirie muttered. He walked next to her. He knew he was getting irritated. It was horrible to judge someone he never met, he knew, but he had also learned that it wasn't bright to trust just anyone.
"Here we are," Lee said. Mirie noticed the cheetah sitting on top of the rocks, arrogantly. He got his guard up. "Dhavlen this is Mirie."
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