Vena really hadn't been expecting to stumble on the duo of leopards she was currently watching, that was for certain. The days were long, stretched even longer by the loneliness that was forever resting on her mind like a heavy weight. Sometimes she was so lonely that she wanted to flop down in the sun and allow the earth to claim her once more, but she never did. No, she never gave up on life no matter how much she wanted to, how hard it was to not ease her weary bones on the dusty savannah. She sometimes thought about what would happen to her body should she give up on her life and those thoughts frightened her. She did not want to be torn to bits by hyena beasts!
As it was, the leopard pair -- one male, one female -- was a sight for sore eyes. They seemed to be quite the pair, obviously friends that could perhaps turn into something more. The way the male stared at the female, the way she was giggling. Vena almost felt bad that she was watching them, and she felt even worse that she was fully intending on making her presence painfully known.
Nyeusi was oftentimes the most oblivious leopard that one could meet. Not only was he obliviously in love with the captivating Ayana that he'd been traveling with, he was also oblivious to the fact that he'd left behind cubs when he'd last met another rather bewitching leopardess. He was also painfully oblivious to the lioness that peered with great interest towards Ayana and himself. Nye was far too busy flirting his a** off with Ayana, something that she seemed to appreciate (and reciprocate) she Nye didn't feel too terrible about that. Aya had a way of making him feel as if he didn't have to worry about anything else ever again, and despite the fact that they'd only been traveling together for a week or so, he felt like he had known her forever and that was sometimes a very awesome revelation.
Awesome, and frightening. He'd always been a wanderer. It wasn't until meeting Ayana that he'd felt like he could really settle down and, hell, even start a family.
Ayana had allowed herself to be seduced. She'd been in control the entire time she'd met Nyeusi, and she'd known it. He hadn't, but that was fine. She was well-schooled in the art of allowing males to think that they had control of situations that she was involved in. It came from living in a pride with her father that often taught young females how to be alluring and entertaining. Her papa had never forced her to take part in these activities, but she had watched silently and learned very well by doing so.
"Oh, Nyeusi," she giggled, thwapping him with her tail. He was a funny male, one that she enjoyed immensely. She realized that he probably had stronger feelings for her than she did him but such was the way of life. She would never throw it in his face. If need be, Ayana would depart from his side as he was fast asleep, but he'd been so caring and generous with her that she didn't see a need for that quite yet. No, she was rather charmed by the leopard (by both his looks and his gentlemanly manners) and so she'd stuck with him for the past seven days or so.
Vena continued peering around the rock, catching a gently giggled, "Oh, Nyeusi." -- the flowery words made Vena smile softly. She'd never felt so taken away by another, never felt so enamoured that she used that teasingly flirtacious voice. Vena was so enraptured by watching the pair that she didn't notice the small bug climbing across her cheek, a bug that was perilously moving closer to her nostril. So besotted by the leopard pair, Vena didn't realize that the bug had slowly crept up her nose.
And then she sneezed. It was not a quiet sneeze, one that could be delicately hidden behind a paw or muffled by her shoulder. No, this sneeze happened so swiftly that it was upon her before she'd been able to even make a tiny attempt to stop it.
The instant that the noise rang out from behind the rock that Vena was spying from, Nyeusi shot to his feet. He had to protect Ayana! His hackles rose and fangs were bared as he stood on full alert, watching for anyone and anything that dared approach them. "Who's there? Come out from your hiding spot, fiend!" Fiend? Really? He probably could have picked a more impressive word to use than fiend, but what was said was said and he didn't want to falter in front of his lady love.
Ayana hid the snort that threatened to burst forth when she heard Nye use the word 'fiend' -- it was obvious that they were in little trouble, and Ayana seemed to know exactly where the sound had come from. It wasn't like they were in danger; if they were, it was likely that they'd have been attacked already. Rising to her feet regally, Ayana slowly padded towards the rock where the sound had originated from. Peering around the rock she caught sight of a brown lioness who was doing her best impersonation of blending in -- and failing miserably at it.
Ayana reached forward and nudged the lioness with a toe. The lioness was hunched over, face buried in her paws, and did not budge. Ayana chuckled, nudging the lioness again before saying in a soft voice, "You aren't doing very well at spying, lioness."
With a defeated sigh, Vena peered up at the green leopardess. "I'm sorry," she whispered softly. "I didn't want to interrupt you two. You both seemed very ... " she waved a paw, mouth puckering up before she continued, "intent on one another." Great, did that sound too stalker-ish? Probably, but Vena was beyond that now. Besides, they seemed very nice and it was amazing to have someone to talk to, even if the dark male did not seem too happy to see her.
No, Nyeusi was not pleased.
He'd been in the midst of wooing Ayana, and this lioness had come and mucked it all up. He'd been THIS CLOSE to luring Ayana into his little web. She'd have been putty in his very capable paws. It was all ruined by a stupid lioness and her stupid sneezing and her stupid spying. Hovering over Ayana, Nyeusi scowled at the lioness, who visibly cringed at the sight of him. That made him feel a little better. Not much, but a little. He puffed out his chest a little. "Why were you spying on us," he asked in the most scathingly rage-voice that he could muster. The lioness cringed back, and that made him feel better. Well, until Ayana thwapped him with a paw, hard.
"Be nice," she hissed at him under her breath. In all honesty, Ayana found the lioness to be quite entertaining and almost endearing, to a certain extent. It was obvious that Vena wasn’t menacing. She was just a wacky, kind, gentle and utterly lonely lioness who had found watching a pair of leopards to make the loneliness a little more bearable.
“Now, dear, tell us your name,” Ayana cajoled softly, “I am Ayana. Aya. This is Nyeusi. Nye. And your name is?”
Vena beamed softly at the lioness, ears perked and straight. “I am Vena,” she replied quietly, eyes shooting between the two leopards. The female – Aya, she corrected herself – was far more easygoing than the male. He sat at a distance behind the green leopardess, scowling at Vena.
Yes, Nye was scowling heartily. With his luck Ayana would encourage the lioness to join their happy little duo and he’d be stuck with a lioness blocking each and every one of his attempts of wooing Ayana. It was frustrating, annoying, irritating… and it made him fall in love with Ayana a little more. She was just so friendly and charming, welcoming to those who might be less fortunate than herself… and that was a huge part of her appeal, to Nyeusi, at least.
“And what were you doing behind this rock,” he sulked, directing his words at the lioness who slunk back slightly upon his verbal assault.
Ayana sighed heavily. Leave it to the males and their heavy-pawed ways of handling delicate situations. “Please excuse him,” she murmured to Vena. “He’s harmless, I swear.”
Vena narrowed her eyes at the male before turning her attention back to Aya. “I-I shouldn’t have been watching you. It’s just… I have never had a male look upon me like this male watches you. It is so tender and soft… I wanted that memory so that on a dreary day I could look back and remember that look, even if I have never had it directed at me.”
Nye snorted heavily and turned back towards their camp. He knew where this was going. Ayana would invite the female to tag along with them. Fine. Whatever. “I’m going hunting,” he called over his back, skulking away in irritation.
Ayana chuckled gently as she turned her attention back to Vena. “He will bring food back. Now,” she said, bumping her shoulder against Vena as she directed the lioness towards their camp, “walk with me and tell me more about yourself, and more about this look that Nyeusi has been giving me. You are more than welcome to stay with us until the time to part ways is at paw.”
Vena nodded, smiling brightly. Suddenly things didn’t seem so sad and lonesome. Suddenly things were looking up, and Vena could only wonder how long this would last.
(wc: 1629 using MSword)
