Amefungwa:
Amefungwa was sitting in her den, peering out across the flowery field in the heart of the pride, and grinning like she was the cat that ate the canary. Outside the sky was dark, and it was just pouring rain. Her ears twitched, and she sighed. The sound of so many drops hitting the leaves of the flowers filled the air with a steady hiss-like noise. But why was the red female grinning so madly at such terrible weather? Well because she'd been right! The previous night she'd woken to the sound of her muse-the crickets-chirping about something. The stars, it seemed, had told them it was going to storm. And they told her, and she'd told everyone. Well, one person. But that was something! And now it WAS raining! And she'd known it would, and now thanks to that she was dry and safe!
Shandor:
He hated the rain.
He loved the rain.
It weighed down his mane and ran like ice through his fur.
It cleansed him, washing away the dust from the beaten road.
It was cold.
It wasn't so bad.
The sea was roaring like an angry beast along the shoreline, crashing against the rocks and spraying up against the cliffs. The sky, dark and grim, had been relentless that shower. Sheet after sheet of rain pummeled the ground, whipping about in the ocean wind. Shandor trudged forward, his eyes narrowed against the pinpricks of the raindrops and hunched against the wind.
This way. The goddess said it was this way.
What if she was wrong?
Goddesses weren't wrong.
There was always a first time.
Amefungwa:
Oh hey! Somebody WAS out there! It looked like he hadn't gotten the message. or noticed that the skies were falling all around him int he form of chilly rain. "Heeey mister! Don't you notice it's raining? Or is that your muse maybe? If it is that's okay, don't mind me, but if it's not then you just look silly and you should get into someplace dry! My place is dry but it's my place and not that big but you could come visit until the rain stops! I knew it would rain so I'm dry but you're all wet...Didn't you hear my song? That's kinda dumb not to listen when someone's singing a warning you know!"
Shandor:
The male turned towards her, a dark set of eyes squinted through the sheets of rain towards the source of the voice. Well, he was here. The goddess hadn't lied. He'd told him so.
What was this nonsense now? Song? About the rain? He'd heard no such thing... did he? No, certainly not. No such thing.
"Perhaps you should sing louder." He called back, standing still in the rain. As comfortable as the offer was- they weren't certain that it was in their best interest. He didn't know this one.
"We can't hear your songs over the sky and sea."
Amefungwa:
She snorted at him. "Well I"m not singing NOW, am I? That was last night! You must either be deaf or sleep like a rock! Or...maybe you're new here? What's your name? Do you know your muse?" She was intrigued now. If he WAS a newcomer, then she was going to have a lot of questions for him. "And who's we? I only see you getting soaked to the bone. If you're new, and you get sick from being in that rain, and you get others here sick, no one's gonna like you you know! You really shouldn't be so stubborn, come on!" Never mind that she herself was showing off her stubborn - and socially ungraceful - side.
Shandor:
"We weren't here." He answered simply, tossing some of the damp mane from his eyes.
So many questions this one had... very friendly though. Perhaps too friendly. What if he was dangerous? Maybe he was... Not today, it was too wet to bother today.
Rather than shouting over the rain and the winds, the dark-eyed male trudged over, his paws leaving a trail of shallow, muddy pawprints. Stepping into the shelter of the cave, he lifted his head. Shaking off would be rude...but he was wet. It was her own fault for inviting him. Not now. Not rude.
"I am we. We are us."
Amefungwa:
She stepped to the side of the entrance to let him in. About time he got out of that rain. She felt a tiny bit of pride though. Apparently someone HAD missed her warning song, but she'd still gotten him in safely from the rain. "You are we? That doesn't make any sense. You and I are we, not you and...you!" She thought for a moment, then brightened. "Wait, you mean like you've got a friend riding in your mane or something? Ohhh I know what it is. You're from the rogue lands right?" She knew she didn't recognize him now. "That's okay. I hear lots of rogues have fleas! Once you get settled you should take some time and groom yourself. Maybe take some baths in the sea. I bet fleas don't like salt. Then you'll just be you, not we, again!" Her smile was a genuine one. Clearly she was just trying to help, not insult. Even if she did just say what came to mind.
Shandor:
This female was beyond words.
His nose wrinkled up at the implication that he, of all creatures, was ungroomed and flea-bitten. If he had one thing he could boast, it was his appearence. His coat, on a normal dry day, was as fine as pearls and as clean as the mountain springs. At least in his mind.
"You should learn to be less insulting to guests." He raised a brow. In another, deeper voice he added, "Indeed! What manners, insulting our appearence! How dare you. Very rude." His voice softened once more. "But thank you for the shelter. You may want to step back."
Amefungwa:
Insulting? Well, she certainly hadn't meant to do that! And as far as she was concerned, it was the intent that mattered. She didn't try to hurt his feelings, so it was probably okay. "Huh? Hey your voice changed!" She stepped closer rather than further, and peered at his lips. "Why'd you do that, huh? It was cool. Can you do it again? Huh? Oh, okay..." She backed off, curious, thinking maybe he was some sort of magical performer, perhaps...Or maybe a story teller! They changed their voices too! "Before we start, can you tell me your name? I'm Amefungwa. I'm part of the grasshoppers...how about you? I thought maybe rain...?"
Shandor:
He shook himself out as she put some distance between them, his mane spewing rainwater and mud in a series of wide arches until he had dried himself off decently enough. He would have to lick himself dry- and clean - but that would have to wait. It was rude to groom in front of someone else.
"We are Shandor...and we're full lion. No grasshoppers. What nonsense is this?"
Amefungwa:
Ame wrinkled her nose as a bit of water splashed onto her. "Shandor? Yup I definitely don't know you. I'm Amefingwa, like I said, and my MUSE is grasshoppers. You know, I'm part of their spirit? They talk to me and tell me where to go and what to do to be worthy of being one again?" She shook her head. No wonder this guy was so confused. He didn't even know his muse!
"You sit down and relax, and I'll tell you..."
