Kishaufu was having one of the longest days of her life. Traveling alone was never really safe even on the better days, but it seemed like everything about today was going wrong in the worst possible way. She had started the day off by getting lost, then being unable to find a watering hole when she needed it, and now she had just been run off of what she had hoped to have as a meal by some angry, greedy lions. It was a rough day to be a hyena, particularly one who… didn’t really like the idea of fighting for any reason.
The teal and black hyena sighed, stretching out an aching back limb to try and work out some of the soreness from where she had landed against a rock earlier. She could already feel the bruise forming, and it was taking a lot of effort not to limp on the afflicted leg. ”Ow, ow, ow,” she murmured, ears laying back as she frowned. ”Why did they have to do that? It wasn’t even their kill, and I didn’t mean any harm to them…” She sat down and sighed, only to tense up and flinch as she clearly heard approaching pawsteps. Was it one of those lions, back to finish the job? She certainly hoped not, since she wouldn’t be able to really get away this time, if so. ”Hello? Hello, who’s there?” Kishaufu called out, trying not to sound as frightened as she felt.
Anatumaini was not expecting to hear a voice calling out to her as she walked through the brush. In fact, she had thought that she was being rather stealthy, but apparently not. Curious now, because the speaker sounded honestly terrified and some part of her wanted to know why, she padded forwards in the direction of the voice, pausing only a moment when she caught the scent of hyena, mingled with older traces of lion. Once she caught a glimpse of the speaker, the leopardess understood (more or less) what must have happened. ”Hello,” she called softly to the hyena. ”Don’t worry, I have no intention of harming you.”
She knew very well that such a reassurance was limited in its effectiveness, but she felt that she had to say the words all the same. She truly did mean no harm to the other creature, and as she stepped forward into plain view she could see the teal and black hyena cringe away from her, shaking slightly even in a sitting position. Was that from exhaustion, or merely from fear? Anatumaini wasn’t sure, but in the end it didn’t really matter anyway. ”Please, try not to be afraid. I will not hurt you, and stressing yourself will only make any injuries you have received worse.”
Kishaufu wasn’t sure what to make of the leopardess that had just come out of nowhere. She was a little fightened despite the other female’s reassurances, but not overly so. Mostly she was just curious as to why a feline would bother speaking with her in the first place. Weren’t they all pretty elitist and stuck on themselves? That was what her mother had always taught her, anyway… and surely her mother hadn’t been wrong? Maybe this one was just a little unusual compared to the others of her kind. It was possible for an oddity to spring up, after all. And maybe if she was really lonely… well, that might explain it, too.
”I’m not afraid,” she said quietly, managing to get to her paws again with a shaking effort. ”Did you want something? I’m afraid I don’t really have anything to offer, if so – not even directions!” Which was true enough, really, as Kishaufu still… really didn’t know where she was. Oh the life of being a rogue. How was someone ever supposed to know where they were going?
The leopardess shook her head gently and blinked at the hyena, tilting her head a little. ”I have need of nothing; I was merely curious about the voice I heard calling out – which I am assuming was you. And… perhaps a short time in conversation, if just to break up the endless quiet of a life of travelling.” Which was honest enough, she had to admit, even though what she really wanted was distraction from the thoughts that plagued her in the midst of the quiet.
”Your injuries don’t seem too severe, and there is a watering hole north of here should you need something to drink,” she added, somehow sensing that this was to be a short encounter. Would that she could have something more lasting, but… no, her chance at any kind of a longterm companion was gone, gone with him. Which was… just as well, really, as she wouldn’t want to drag him with her down the path she was beginning to think that she was walking down. ”I hope that this information, at least, will be of some help to you…”
The hyena tilted her head a little and nodded, dropping her head to smile softly. “Thank you, then. I did need to know where a watering hole was, and… what might your name be, before I leave?” There. That should be polite enough, right? She had given her valuable information, if it was true – the least Kishaufu could do was find out who she was so that she wouldn’t forget the favor! ”Oh, my name is Kishaufu, and I really do appreciate your help.” Absently, she tested her weight on her sore leg, and decided that it would carry her to that water hole without too much difficulty.
Anatumaini nodded, listening with half an ear to what the hyena had to say. ”My name is Anatumaini, and I’m glad to have been of some assistance,” she said, blue eyes glancing around thoughtfully. ”It was a pleasure meeting you, Kishaufu,” the leopardess added after a moment, feeling that something more needed to be said in order to complete this all-too-short conversation.
She didn’t really get the chance to add anything more, however, as the obviously thirsty hyena appeared desperate to get to water, and Anatumaini had no intention of keeping her from it. So instead, she walked off in another direction, intent on, perhaps, finding another form of comfort to break up the monotony of her bleak life. It was quite clear that scattered, minutes-long conversations with random strangers simply weren’t going to cut through the loneliness of her life.
Word count: 1078
