Cain:
The sun high in the sky over the plains, Cain walked along the edge of his pride, his home, patrolling as he always did at this time of the day. Heavy and huge as she was, Tibby was taking a rest on his shoulders, careful not to cut into his thick shoulders. He didn't mind, not really. She was his dearest friend and her presence was always a comfort.
Not that he needed comforting right now, he was just bothered. His mother had been having fitful dreams of late, and as one of the pride's warriors it worried him. So many knew the healer was also a seer. If she was troubled, her eldest son was troubled, plain and simple.

He sighed as he patrolled, his senses keen on the world around him.

Shoshanna:
The mouse squeaked as her paw fell on it. She had been turning boulders over in hopes of a larger hare resting from the heat or something. But here she was looking at the mouse that showed nothing but terror. It squeaked louder as she lifted it up, looking at it with a sigh. "You know.. You would be more of a wasted death than a meaningful one. Youre lucky Im the type I am." She nodded and released the mouse. It scurried away and within seconds it was underground. Oh well.. So much for that option. She looked around and the sun almost was too bright. She squinted but sniffed a bit. She knew she was close to the border of a pride but thankfully so far they didnt seem like quite the angry type. For the past few days she had lived in peace.. At least as much as she could with her scavenging tecniques.

Cain:
The male saw a glimpse of black not far away and he went on the defensive. It wasn't until he got a whiff of her scent that he realized it was a female, a lioness. Cain tilted his head and walked near enough that she could see him.
"Good day." His greeting was a little curt, gruff, but he nodded politely to her, every muscle in his body tense. Tibby took the hint and took to the sky with a heavy of her body. Once she was off his back, he was ready for a fight, if one came.

Shoshanna:
The males body shown golden like the rays of the sun. That was her first thought when she lay eyes on him. He was handsome and had muscle in all the right places. However her mind was more on food than sex. As was normally the case. She pushed herself off her laying position. Once she was standing she saw the large bird fly from his back. She watched as it took to the sky and then her black eyes landed back on the male that was coming closer. "It would be better if I had more luck today I think." she smiled and bowed her head. She was alnost positive she hadnt landed in the prides lands. She wasnt sure she should be worried so her body was calm. "Whats your name stranger?"

Cain:
Cain's mouth twitched a bit in the attempt of a smile, but it didn't really stick enough to be called one. He didn't relax much, but a bit of the tension seemed to leave him. Just a bit.
"More luck, lady?" he asked, though his voice lacked all but a bare hint of curiosity. He was far more interested in who she was and what her business was here. Sure, he noticed she was a fetching female, though she looked a little tired, but he needed to keep his head about him. Even females could be dangerous to the pride.

"Cain, my name is Cain."

Shoshanna:
She nodded. "Well Cain. If you aren't here to eat me or beat me then I suppose we are in good company." she teased. Taking a deep breath she sighed. "As much as I like being called a lady.. The names Shoshanna. Sho for short if you prefer. But yeah..scavenging is my think and so far Ive found a twig and a mouse. Neither quite a buffet." She smiled and looked him over. She was more talkative than he was. That much she was sure. He also seemed to be a bit of a hard a**.. Even if he was rather polite.

Cain:
Cain frowned at her for a moment before shaking his head.
"I have no intention of hurting you unless you give me a reason, lady," he replied before she gave him her name. Oh, huh. Even her name was fairly pretty. He'd rather call her Shanna, but if she preferred Sho, then he would just call her by her full name.
"I'm sorry you haven't found much to eat. Can you not hunt on your own?"

Shoshanna:
She smiled. He seemed like the trustworthy sort. "I couldnt hurt a fly. Why.. I left that mouse alive. That should say something." she grinned again and a small laugh escaped her. Frankly she didnt care what she was called so long as it wasnt rude. She didnt do well with rude. She didnt have it in her to be so she didnt like it from anyone else. "Oh. Well. I can hunt. But I was kicked by a zebra the other day." She showed him her shoulder where a small wound was healing nicely. "Left me sore and hunting just isnt what it is when youre healthy."

Cain:
Cain's ears flicked back as his frown deepened. He moved close and inspected the wound. He was not the healer his mother was, not at all, but at least he could tell that it would be find without anything needing to be done with it.
"I can imagine. I've seen worse wounds," he replied with a small nod. Brown eyes cast up into the sky and he somehow managed a shrill whistle. Tibby came swooping back down to land with a small thud on his back. The lion let out a small oof in reaction and he growled back at his totem.
"Couldn't swoop slower, huh?" he asked, looking back at the hooded parrot with narrowed eyes. She just chuckled in response, ruffled her feathers, and watched the female with a much more open curiosity.

"Tibby, do a scout-about, let me know if there's any real food around," he more or less ordered, but the affection in his tone softened the command. She nipped at his ear, never enough to really hurt, and launched herself back into the air.

Shoshanna:
She watched the bird swoop once the whistle came to her ears. She smiled and watched the ease that the bird landed. It was hooded in a pelt much like the one the male wore around his shoulders. "Thats your friend? She seems sweet." she replied and watched as the bird took to the air once more. Her belly rumbled lightly and she chuckled. "My momma had a maned wolf. From what I can remember."

Cain:
"She is... my totem. A symbol of my understand of peace and an aid in my work in the pride," Cain replied, looking a little... uncomfortable. It was difficult to explain, the relationship he had with Tibby. He cared for her like a sister, or even a second mother. She "took care" of him, as she would say and she was a kindred spirit, even if she was annoying more often than not. At least she was useful.
"Maned wolf? In my pride those are a representation of wisdom."

Shoshanna:
"Momma was wise." she said with a smile and nod. She remembered bits and pieces of momma. How proud and strong she was. But she had been killed. Not by predator or disease. Childbirth had killed her and it had killed the litter she had died for. Shoshanna remembered her in the best of times. She loved her and her memory of her. "That is neat. What is it like? Your pride?" she asked. She didnt know that shed ever join a pride but sometimes she found herself wondering what they were like.

Cain:
"We're based on the concept of living in and keeping peace. It's... all I've even known, so I can't say much about it. I have my mother and brothers and sister and Tibua," he paused there, nodding at the sky where the bird had gone, indicating that was what Shanna could call her. Cain tended to call her Tibby, but that was something between friend and family, not an acquaintance. "So I'm content."
Was he really, though? His life did feel like it was missing a little something, but ah, he was happy enough to not complain.

"It makes life easier, that's for certain."

Shoshanna:
She nodded. His pride sounded great. She wished she had family. Even father stuck around long as he could. Old age had claimed him though. She supposed it was because momma had been mated to a fellow that had many more seasons on him than herself. "Sounds like a mighty fine pride. I hope to be as content sometime. Never lived in a pride myself.. When momma and dad died I couldnt stomach the idea of living with others who could die."she paused and then shook her head. "Sorry. That sounded kinda morbid, huh..."

Cain:
Cain frown at how... sad that seemed. He was no stranger to the harder aspects of life, though he lived it vicariously. His "older brother" was often open to attack and his mother had been... Well, he and his brother and sister were evidence of an evil creature doing whatever he could to try and get his older brother's location out of his mother.
He did worry of those he cared about dying. Which was why he worked so hard to keep them all safe.

"Not morbid... Just guarded," he replied with a small nod and looked up as he heard the sound of beating wings. Tibby swooped down and whispered in his ear. He looked thoughtful for a moment before he nodded.
"There's a herd of gazelle nearby. Do you want me to try and get one for you?"

Shoshanna:
He was quiet for a moment and when he spoke she nodded. "Thanks. Makes a girl like me relax a little." She might have said more but the bird flew back and she watched as her wings moved. She really was a very pretty bird. She landed and leaned in close to whisper to the male. He mentioned the gazelle and her belly rumbled. Shed almost forgotten her hunger. Though her belly rumbling brought it back. "Oh you dont have to do that. I..i might be able to scavenge a bit more. Though the next mouse I catch I dont think will be as lucky. Twig either." she grinned.

Cain:
He nodded once before shaking his head and smiling just a bit.
"I'm here, now. I don't like standing idle when I can do something to help someone else," he replied and bucked Tibby off his back. She hopped off and away a few paces. Normally she was very talkative... He'd probably have an earful on the way home.
"Come on, I'd rather not drag it all the way back here... and leave someone to gossip too much."