|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 8:53 pm
Vodnitvar grumbled to himself as he quietly paced along the inner workings of the pride's territory, this weather was definitely his worst enemy - at least in terms of discomfort. He knew from a large bit of experience that underestimating those you were closest to was never an option, and the pride was NO exception. Being new to such an unfamiliar area, he honestly couldn't say if there were any worse enemies lurking in the shadows. His thoughts on the mere idea were so simple a cub could understand them. Better safe than sorry.
It wasn't for quite a ways into his daily routine that he picked up on the tension in the area, and began scanning around for the cause. He had a good 'eye' for these sort of things, he assumed you could say, and it took him little to no time at all to set his gaze on the pair in the distance. His memory immediately recognized Esmek of course - she'd been part of the group of travelers he'd accompanied to the pride. But the other, was by all means not recognizable. Of course his first impression was to shrug off the incident and leave the two be; but his attention to detail won over his first impression. Esmek's stance seemed uncomfortable, and the tension he sensed simply HAD to have something to do with that....
With little to no further thought - the male changed his stance, fluffed out his mane, and changed his expression to something far more intimidating. If Esmek was in any way as uncomfortable as he sensed; he would gladly fix the situation.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2011 7:33 pm
Emesk's teeth ground against each other as she fought back the urge to snap violently at the cheetah that was tormenting her. Well, he might not think of it as a torment by the may he was acting, but she certainly thought so.
Obviously he didn't know her very well.
Why was he bothering her anyway? She had a hunt she wanted to finish and a quiet walk to enjoy, and his chattering was ruining everything. Oh right. She had dropped her last kill off with him...apparently he took it as a friendly gesture.
Dropping her head, Emesk decided not to encourage him with a response and continue her walk...maybe he'd take the hint. One could hope.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 21, 2011 12:04 pm
Indeed, one could hope, but it would be in vain. Waka wasn't known for catching hints. Even ones that were seemingly blatant and rude. In his book, anyone who gave a hungry person food was a being he wanted to be around. It helped that she was lovely.
He'd set out this morning hoping to find her and to cheer her up as much as she had the night before by helping him feed his roaring stomach. His chatter was likely annoying, but it was also full of compliments and observations about the movements of herds. When she tried to walk away from him he trotted along side her with a jaunty step. "I'll help you hunt today if you like, I'm feeling fabulous thanks to you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jul 22, 2011 4:55 pm
"Then perhaps it's best if you take your new found good health and use it to pester someone more open to your advances."
Vodnitvar, stepped roughly between the two and attempted to block the cheetah's view of the lioness. If there was one thing he knew about his days of traveling with her, it was that she wasn't the most social creature one would ever meet.
Changing his stance to have a more threatening view of the other male, he spoke up once more. "I don't know why you're throwing yourself at her like this, but it's safe to say she isn't interested. Just take it elsewhere before things get complicated."
With nothing left to say to the male, Vodnitvar changed stances one final time, to leave nothing but his rump visible to the cheetah; giving Esmek a questioning gaze as he did so.
He knew she wasn't the social butterfly he recognized other lionesses to be. But he assumed that by having spent the time he did with her, she might be more comfortable telling him what was going on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 9:41 pm
She had been about ready to turn and verbally abuse the poor cheetah, but Vodnitvar suddenly came out of nowhere and saved her the trouble. She had mixed feelings about the intervention, border lining irritation and gratitude, but mostly the latter. Unlike the energetic smaller feline, -name- was someone she knew-maybe even trusted. At least he understood that she disliked too much interaction.
With the male now making it certain the cheetah would leave, Emesk allowed herself to relax slightly. She looked away and mouthed a small, "Thank you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 10:01 am
Waka could only stare at the big male. Well. That was terribly disapointing, and annoying. Just who did this big lug think he was? So much for returning the favor of a pretty lioness. Sheesh, lions could be so tetchy.
He pouted. "Well I guess you wouldn't want my help now that Mr. Bulky and Nosy's here. Ah well. Thanks again, my lady for helping me yesterday, if you ever find yourself in a jam and there's not a handy..." he trailed off. Sure he was angry but he'd already insulted Vodnitvar once and he was a big lion that could probably hurt him severely with very little effort. He cleared his throat and started again, "...a handy friend I'd be willing to help you out."
With that he turned his back on them and jogged off. He could tell he wasn't wanted. Which was a bit ridiculous, what was with people rejecting his friendliness? He'd just have to find someone who did appreciate him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2011 7:03 pm
Vodnitvar paid little to no attention the cheetah as he jogged away. In fact so little attention was paid to him, that his nasty little comment hadn't even managed to break through the male's tough exterior. He was none the wiser to Waka's comments, and in truth perhaps that was for the best.
But knowing that Waka was out of sight was what the male had been waiting for, and with a slight welcoming nod, Vodnitvar smiled at the lovely lioness before him. Being the born leader that he was, he felt the need to know what exactly was going on here. But he also knew better than to meddle in affairs not meant for his two cents. But it was probably too late for that... he had just jumped into a spat between the two, and not a single bit of the situation had involved him.
It was going to be a tough choice, and the lioness would probably give him a good ego bruising for it but he felt it was best that he know the situation.
"So, what exactly did I just interrupt? As much as i'd love to say, I hope I didn't overstep my boundaries - I feel inclined to tell you that I wouldn't be sorry for it."
The statement was harsh, but true. He'd never cared whether he'd overstepped a boundary before and to be honest had no idea why he'd even considered not doing so in this case. But this wasn't the time to worry about that, he'd contemplate it later in silence, when he needed something to take his mind off the bitter cold.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 2:52 am
Emesk shifted uncomfortably, kneading her paws into the snow. Oh how good that felt. But what was with everyone trying to socialize with her today? Couldn't he have just taken her thanks as enough?
Still, she felt inclined to give him an anser, just because he was less annoying than the other male. I mean, at least he was blunt and to the point--none of that odd dancing around and compliment showering.
"He was...thanking me for a kill I dropped off the...other day..?" she ended the statement with a questioning tone as the words felt awkward leaving her mouth. She didn't know quite how to describe the previous..."thanking"...it was but it wasn't at the same time? What does one call that?
She pressed her paws deeper into the snow, "If you can call it thanking."
There. Okay, this wasn't so bad, the lioness thought.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 3:45 pm
Vodnitvar did his best attempt at looking as though he didn't care. Sure it was probably very unsuccessful, but he just wasn't in the mood to give a damn. He was more in a nosy rosy mood. "If he was just here to thank you, then why do you look so stressed?"
He merely ignored her second comment, not really able to connect it to anything that would make much sense. "I'm not trying to badger you Esmek, i'm just here to have your back." He paused a moment, before figuring he didn't give much of a damn about his next statement. "And don't give me the I don't need protection speech. I don't buy it for a second."
Vodnitvar looked down, and noticed the indents that the lioness' paws had begun making in the snow. She didn't seem all the comfortable that much was for sure, but he wasn't here for her comfort; only to ensure her safety. Just like he would do for any of his former travelers, he saw it as his duty to make sure they all adjusted well to this new place. Regardless of how much they welcomed his interaction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:04 pm
"I don't know! It was just weird! He was perky and happy and pressing me to help hunt but I really don't need the help and he kept giving me this look and calling me 'lady' and I'm sure he was just being polite but if he knew me at all he'd know better than to do anything except thank me then be on his way, so the whole ordeal was rather irritating! Moreso because I don't understand why he was even acting like that to being with!" the lioness said all very quickly, her feelings pouring out without thinking about it. She bit her tongue, lest she say anything else. Goodness, she had said too much already! What was into her lately?
Emesk's short panicked feelings quickly dissolved into a muted mixed emotion, which might have caused her next statement to come off a little more blunt than neseccary. Might have. She wasn't really paying attention to the sharpness of her tongue;
"Did that about sum it up?" she huffed, staring at the male.
A pause; a light snow tickled her nose, and she opened her mouth....then closed it.
After thinking for a moment, she added softly, "I-I'm sorry. I've just been pressured lately. I'm getting to an age and father...well...he's been sneaking in comments about me settling down and I don't know what to think of it. Hunting is kind of a time for me to get away from that...so having a perky cheetah following me wasn't helping, you know?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 6:23 pm
The quicker the female talked, the more likely it was the Vodnitvar would lose track of everything she was trying to explain. Luckily though, he was well trained in taking long notes for battle and just in general he did have a somewhat sharp memory. He was also well versed in picking up on small clues, which seemed to be something Esmek was unaware she was putting out there.
She seemed tense, and a little protective of herself perhaps even a little for the cheetah - but he couldn't be sure, it was just a hunch. Something else he would have to stash away for later, but it definitely wasn't on the top of his to do list. He had much bigger things to think about, MUCH bigger. Or at least, in his mind he did.
As the lioness finished up her final snappy remark, Vodnitvar perked his ears a bit and nodded in approval. He enjoyed it when others showed a little fight, it was more entertaining for him to spend his time interacting with those who didn't back down at the very sight of him.
"Meh." The lion mumbled as he muddled over everything in his mind. There was a lot there, but nothing that he thought Esmek would appreciate hearing about. She seemed far too stressed with the situation already.
Oh well.
"Seems to me like you've got an admirer Esmek...
How...
Cute?"
His tone was a bit mocking, but also a bit disgusted. He could honestly say, that may have been the first time that that word had ever escaped his lips. He could only hope it would be the last.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 7:02 pm
Emesk felt as disgusted by the comment as his tone implied. She pulled a face ad immediately regretted disclosing her personal thoughts. She had learned this lesson before, but she didn't know why she had thought any different of this situation.
Now she not only felt a fool, but looked like one in front of someone who actually mildly respected her usual boundaries. Fool me once, fool me twice. There would not be a third time, she swore to herself.
"I wouldn't call it...that," she said awkwardly, making a face, "Forget anything I said. Thanks for your previous help, and now I have a hunt to continue. Assuming you don't want to assist me further, anything else you need?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jul 28, 2011 8:12 pm
For having such a knack for picking up on clues, the obvious just slipped right over Vodnitvar's head. So much in fact that he paid little to no attention to Esmek's facial expressions, and just went about listening to her rebuttal.
It wasn't until she finished that he picked up on her tone. It wasn't necessarily something he was hurt by, it just seemed to strike a chord. "Look, i'm not here to badger you Esmek, it's like I said before i'm just here to watch your back.
Look out for yourself around here, I just don't feel comfortable here. It's like... something is off here, but I can't put my paw on it...."
Vodnitvar paused for a moment trying to figure out exactly how to phrase his next bit of advice. But he couldn't word it any way that it wouldn't sound awkward.
"I'll leave you to your hunt. Just keep in mind that if things ever get to rough, come find me. I'll do what I can for you -
Or any of the others. But that's my point. My point is - watch your back."
The older male, was turning to leave when one last thought crossed his mind. It was going to be harsh, and he was well aware of that. He just hoped Esmek wouldn't see it as another blow, and more for the advice it was meant to be.
"Oh, and Esmek.
When worst comes to worst, don't listen to your ego. Asking for help won't lessen your status in anyone's eyes but your own.
Just.. keep that in mind."
With those final words of wisdom, the male finally turned his back to the lioness and continued his short walk as intended.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
