It had been a few weeks since Camael had left the safety of the pride to find out what lay Beyond. What lay outside for him. He...had no real interest in what he'd been raised with, beyond the skills in fighting he'd been taught. He'd hit adolescence...and left. After saying goodbye to his family, of course. The male snorted and lay on a particularly soft patch of grass, watching the other stalks wave in the slight breezes, the air carrying the scent of soil and flowers. He hadn't found anything that interested him out in the Beyond either. It ticked him off and made him antsy. Why had he left if there was nothing out here for him?! He could have been bored and surrounded by family, at the very least, if he'd stayed in the pride! He made a noise of frustration and rolled onto his back. And found himself looking into the green eyes of a leopard with fur of varying browns, the other feline curious and tilting his head to one side.
“Now what has you so worked up?” The leopard smiled slightly, still curious and a little worried. Worried for what? Him? Why would a dhaifu be worried about him? Camael snorted and quickly rolled to get to his feet and keep his belly unexposed to this new creature.
“That is none of your business, dhaifu.” The leopard just chuckled, apparently amused by his behavior.
“I see. Well...I hope whatever it is, you are not so worked up as to mind company. I've not seen a lion with as much fur as you before!” The lion blinked...then frowned. What a strange, strange dhaifu.
“You want to stick around...because of my fur? You realize I could rip you to shreds, yes?”
“Oh certainly! But if you wanted to do so, you already would have, yes?” The leopard just continued smiling, and poor Camael was just confused. He...was right. Camael didn't particularly see a need to attack the dhaifu. Not yet. “I'm Anael, by the way. Tender of plants I come across in need of help. I've been following the movements of a few herds, too. Maximize the prey I have access to. So, what is your name?” Camael answered reflexively.
“Camael. My name is Camael. I'm simply a warrior.” Anael looked thoughtful a moment, as if realizing there was something the fluffy lion wasn't sharing. But then he nodded, and moved on from the thoughts.
“Camael...that's a good name. Sounds strong, so it's definitely good for a warrior.” The lion found himself puffing up a bit. His name was indeed a good, strong one!
“My mother and father chose good names for my siblings and I.” His mother...he would miss her, but...he couldn't stay in the Aali. He didn't feel right there. At all. Hadn't since he was small. “Anael...sounds like a good name, as well.” The leopard grinned and gave a slight bow.
“Thank you! My father chose it for me, when I was born. So...what brings such a fluffy lion down this way? You look suited for colder weather than what is down here.” Camael gave Anael a calculating look, trying to determine if it was okay to tell the other. Perhaps...it was. Anael seemed genuine. He didn't seem at all like a dhaifu that would rebel given the chance.
“I did not fit in with my pride. So I left. I seek a new place to live.” Anael tilted his head...then smiled again. His expression seemed to say 'so that's what he was hiding'.
“I see. Well...I do hope you find it! If you're not used to the rogue lands yet, you are welcome to travel with me. I do not mind company in the least, and you look like you could use a friend.” The former Aali-lion was rather stunned. This dhaifu...was offering him friendship. Why? Why offer a creature of another species friendship?
“Why are you making such an offer?” Anael chuckled, taking Camael's surprise in stride.
“Because you obviously need a friend. I don't see a reason not to offer my paw out in friendship.” Camael looked to the ground a moment. A friend. A dhaifu as a friend? He...supposed that was okay. He wasn't in the Aali'makabila anymore. He was...he was free to make his own choices. To decide who and what he befriended or associated with.
“I...supposed a friend would be nice. I've none, since I left.” The leopard jumped down from the tree he was in, smile still on his muzzle. But there was a sheepish quality to it now.
“That's good. I've a confession to make...I'm rather in need of a friend, too. I haven't had steady companionship for a few seasons now.” Camael blinked...then chuckled and reached a paw over, to place it on one of Anael's.
“It seems fated we met, than.” Anael nodded, the sheepishness fading from his smile.
“Yes. Fated.” Two different felines, both with the same need. How could it be anything other than fate? “Well...let's go find ourselves somewhere to settle for the night, shall we?” Anael was cheerful again, perked right back up and ready to get moving. Camael nodded.
“Yes. Let us find a place to settle for the night. And while we look...perhaps you might tell me more about yourself?” If he was going to have a friend, he wanted to know about his new friend! Anael bumped his shoulder as he began to move.
“Of course. But only if you do the same as well! Like...like how big a family you had. Or what you like to do!” Camael smirked. Well...at least his new friend was smart enough to ask about him as well. He had a feeling they would get along well. Very well.
“I'll tell you quite a bit. There's a few things I can't tell you, but everything else...I look forward to sharing stories about our lives.”
