[PRP] Outside the bounds (Toba and Piatsu)

[Meepfur]

Toba-likiza disliked being out and about during the day, in part for the practical reason that it was hotter, especially with her dark pelt, but mostly because something about the daylight made her feel...somehow exposed. Her hunts the last few nights had failed, though, and she was getting more than a little hungry. She decided to check the river first, maybe lie in wait for something small to come by for a drink, but as it happened, someone else was already there.

Hmph. Her ears tipped back in faint annoyance. No prey animal was going to approach the river with a lion hanging around so openly.

"Are you trying to become croc food?" she drawled, coming up from behind.  

[Meepfur]

"I think I'll stay back here, thanks." Toba sat back on her haunches to watch, though, eyeing the fish he threw onto the shore. She had never been one to fish, as it simply seemed too risky a venture. The fish might not fight back, but some of the other things in the river...

"I nearly got grabbed there just a few days ago," she said, putting a slight shudder in her voice.  

[Meepfur]

"You're welcome. Wouldn't want to see anyone turn into lizard food, after all. I doubt it's pretty." She was hungry, and it was incredibly tempting to take those fish and run off with them, but it would be foolish to make an enemy unnecessarily. If she could get him to share by continuing to be 'nice' to him, it would be a meal with a minimal amount of work or risk.

"Maru," the lioness answered, borrowing her mother's name. No one got to know her name. No one got to know her.  

[Meepfur]

"Oh, really? You don't mind sharing? I don't need a lot, I wouldn't want you to stay in there too long, but..." Her voice dripped with gratitude and concern she didn't truly feel, but hey, anything for a free meal!

That expression was sort of, dare she think it...cute, in a clueless male sort of way. At least if she had to hang around someone long enough to get their food, it was someone dorky and harmless.  

[Meepfur]

"Thank you," she said, though she hated the words and didn't mean them. They were such weak words, such meaningless sentiment, and those kinds of things didn't get anyone anywhere good.

"You still live with your family?" Toba didn't really care, but making conversation was part of this annoying charade of being friendly. She started to eat delicately, though she would much rather have scarfed it down. Manners. Ugh.  

[Meepfur]

That seemed a bit of a...strange family arrangement. Maybe his parents hated each other's guts, or something? No, even that didn't make much sense. Why would they let the other have anything to do with the kids, then? Uck, she wasn't even going to think about it. Family crap didn't make sense even when it was 'normal.'

"I don't have one," she replied shortly, busying herself with her meal. It was a half-truth - her mother was alive, but Toba had nothing to do with the pathetic lioness, aside from borrowing her name sometimes.  

[Meepfur]

"Don't be." Toba paused then, deciding how she wanted to answer his question. If she milked this, there could be a possibility of more free meals...but at the cost of having to put up with this overly-sentimental lion. Hmm. Alright, but just for a little while. "...It's not your fault."

She sniffed and looked away for a moment. "Sometimes."