Hariti walked through the tree's to the watering hole she frequented. She had chosen this time to go drink because there was rarely anyone there so she could take a short swim to help cool off as well as get a short drink. The water was clear and cool it would help greatly in cooling the brightly colored leopordess down.
Leaning down to drink she let her ears flick to the sides letting them catch the sounds of any other that might be coming cloer to her. She was happy but catious at the moment unsure if anything that might be coming up behind her was hungry or not. Looking up as she heard a rustleing in the brush behind her she turned ready to see who exactlying it was .
Kipekee smelt a familiar scent in the air. She had just finished eating the scrapes left over from anothers meal. She never learned how to hunt well on her own so she would feed herself from someones leftovers.
She made her way towards the scent, walking towards the scent of water. Emerging from the bushes she saw a friendly face. "Hello, i thought it was you." She gave the all too familiar leopard a smile and made her way towards her.
It had only been a few days since there last run in and Kipekee had been trying to take her advice about not worrying so much but she had been trying with fail. The sunsets did bring a smile but it faded just as quickly as it came. She needed more help.
Hariti smiled at the young lioness, glad to see that she had a smile now rather than the frown that had been on her face when she had left after they had first met. "It's nice to see you again Kipekee. How have your last few day's been?"
She was hoping the lioness had taken her advice. The lioness seemed a bit happier than she had the last time but it seemed to be something that was only fleeting at the moment. Sitting on the dry land around the watering hole she smiled at her. The Green leopard gestured to the spot next to her. "Come sit you look like you need something."
Hariti had always cared for others but this lioness seemed to be drawing out the mothering instinct in her. Kipekee was a sweet girl who had obviously been more than a little hurt in her life to make her as skittish as she seemed. Looking curiously at the other she waited for her to respond to her.
Her smile faded a little when the leopard asked how she was, Kipekee didnt know how to say the advice wasnt working. "They have been okay, spent most of it trying to find leftovers." She was still hungry but the quick meal she had before there meeting made it so at least her stomach wasnt in knots.
Kipekee made her way over to the leopard and sat beside her. "Your advice hasn't really worked...I'm sorry." She felt so guilty she tried really hard but she couldnt get over the fact that there was always something... someone after her...
"I dont need anything though im just sorry your advice didnt work..." She plopped down laying her head on her paws in defeat. She didnt think anyone could help her, she was stuck to be sad forever...
Hariti looked at the girl leaning down next to her. "Kipekee, are you hungry still? If neede I could go catch something that could feed both of us? I was going to hunt after I was done here anyway's." The Lioness seemed to be thinner than she remembered as well now that she thought of it.
So the advice hadn't worked? Maybe what the Lioness needed was for someone to stay with her for a bit and show her how to be happy. She would have to bring this idea up to her later after she had gotten the two of them something nice to eat not just the leftovers of someone elses meal.
Looking over at her she smiled. "I really would be no problem for me to catch something for both of us." Hariti smiled at her softly. The other really did bring out the mothering side of her.
When Hariti said she would go hunt that gave Kipekee an idea, "Well...actually...could you teach me to hunt...."Kipekee was worried it might be too much trouble for the leopard, but she was the only one the lioness trust to teach her. Besides she was getting tired of leftovers.
"Maybe you can give me some pointers during the meal?" She was a bit hesitant to ask but it wouldnt hurt... well she hoped it wouldnt... Now Kipekee was regreting that she asked... "I'm...sorry... that was stupid to ask..." She said in a gloomy tone
Hariti smiled even wider at the other girl. "I have no problems with teaching you to hunt. I was actually going to ask if you wanted to stay with me for a few day or longer and I can help you some, I though that since neither of us really likes to be alone it would be nice to have a traveling companion for a while."
Waiting for her answer Hariti leaned down again and taking a small drink of water. "I would be able to teach you to hunt more efficently as well this way, as learning to hunt effectively would take more then one day. I would enjoy having your company for a few day's while I taught you."
Kipekee was so happy when her new friend said she would teach her. A slight smile appered on her face. She hadnt known what do do when someone said her she always just did what someone else asked. Even though the lioness had an expression of happiness there was still a bit of a stoic attitude.
"Stay? With you?" She thought about it she didnt really know what its like to not be alone. The leopardess was right she didnt like being alone, "That sounds great." All the lioness knew how to do was smile, she felt funny on the inside she didnt know how to express it though.
"That sounds really good." Kipekee smiled and felt her tail flick back and forth in an odd manner. How strange....
Hariti smiled happy the lioness would be staying with her. "Then we can go have your first hunting lesson okay?" She smiled deciding to start the other out on smaller game see exactly how bad she was at it. "There are some small prey you can start with around here so folow me okay?"
Leading the way to a small clearing outside of the watering hole she sat in the tall grasses waiting for the other girl to come up with her. "Look for a rabbit and catch and kill it. I will be watching you to see what I need to teach you."
Kipekee nodded she was ready for the lesson, she was tired of the leftovers. Kipekee followed the leopardess to the small clearing. "I've never really caught anything...But i guess i could try..."
Kipkee caught a scent of a small hare ouside of it burrow. She got low and began to get as close to the hare as possible. Once she saw the hare perk up its ears she knew it was time to act. She darted toward it. The hare of course darted for its home for safety. Kipekee reached for it catching it within her paw and biting and twisting its neck. She felt the body go limp, was that it?
She picked it up and went back to the leopardess. "Did i do it ok?" She was nervous for what the female would say.
Hariti watch as she did so there were several things she did wrong but they were easy fixes. The way she moved needed to be a bit quieter but she had managed to catch the first of her meal. Whispering softly she spoke. "You did good there are things I will fix but first watch me. see if you can find what you were doing wrong."
carefully stalking into the clearing she watched one of the rabbits peak back out glad that the rabbit was nice and large certainly big enough for a small meal. Stalking forward slightly then going still and quiet she waited for him to go all the way out of the burrow before she pouced catchign and killing him so swiftly the rabbit would never know what had happened.
Walking back with her kill she smiled looking at Kipekee. "You see what I did? How I snuck up and was still until I pounced?" Giving the rabbit to Kipekee she smiled. "Those two are yours. we will be getting me a large one in just a few moment's."
Kipekee knew she did it wrong but at least Hariti said they could be fixed easy. She tried really hard to do her best but it wasnt good enough. Kipekee watch the leopardess, she was so quite and skillfull. "You were fast and quite." She was in awe of her; she was so lucky that she was able to be taught by someone with such skill.
"Thank you, i will wait for you to catch your food." She would feel guilty eating with out her. She waited for the leopard to begin the hunt for her food, it was only respectful she waited after everything she was doing for her.
Hariti smiled softly catching two more rabbit's of her own. Walking back over to the other and nodding to her smiling at the other she nodded and set them down. "I can start actually teaching you later today as these will not last for very long."
Watching the other she smiled. "We can find a place that both of us can rest and I can give you a few pointers before your actual lesson." She stood waiting for the lioness to respond just waiting. The other had already agree'd to stay so there was not much else to do other than to find a place for them to stay while she was there.
Kipekee nodded, "Thank you, for everything." The lioness knew that here words were just words, she had no way of paying her back for all the kind things she did for her.
Looking at the leopardess she was happy she wasnt alone for the time being. "Let share this meal then we can find a place to rest." Kipekee smiled at Hariti, eager to began a new adventure.
