Zerase:8:45 pm
Stars littered the endless void of the night sky and spotted the surface of the bodies of water along the savanah. She had a favorite spot atop a hill that over-looked the grasslands, two watering holes, and a few patches of water that gathered in the ditches and grooves of the earth during the raining season. This time of the year, this time of the night, this break in the weather- it was harmony. There was no boundary between the earth and the sky. Black earth lit by the moon's face in her mirrors spotted over the earth stretched seamlessly into the blackness of the sky.
Nights like this- she might have been dancing among the heavens. The lioness laid in the deep grass of the hill, made plush by the moisture in the air. Her eyes searched the night sky, recognizing patterns in the heavens. Sometimes she imagined what they might be if she connected the dots. Here- a proud lion leaping over an elephant. As much sense as that didn't make- it was constant. Over there, a snake eating its own tail, over there- a large fish.
Chander: 8:48 pm
He had been humming to himself, having been feeling the loneliness with each sound of the crickets chirp. He had to keep himself busy, he didn't want to think about how he had pretty much alienated himself. He was going to work to make sure the pride knew he was indeed loyal. He had to. He felt like he had deserted them, thinking he had known best. What had that got him? Nothing but a litter that he would never get to meet. That filled his gut with a bitter feeling.
She was lucky he didn't step on her, as he had spotted her just in time. He had been going to step again, and he was sure he could have..maybe..stepped on her.
"Careful dear." He said, a bit absently.
Zerase:8:52 pm
The lioness turned her head, seemingly unsurprised by the lion's appearance. By the near contact. By his absent tone and the blank, almost sad look on his face. Knowing eyes narrowed and a smile touched her maw as a dark tail flicked out of the grass like a viper ready to strike.
"Careful yourself, I'm not the one walking about with my eyes closed." She pointed out. "Strange for a moon-child to have his eyes in the clouds. And to nearly step on a lady!" She put a paw to her breast. "How rude."
Chander: 8:55 pm
He felt rather mortified that he had scared her. What a great way to get off on the right paw.. His eyes widened and he shook his head.
"
No-no. I'm sorry. I had only closed them for a minute. I must have lost myself in thought. Please forgive me miss.." He trailed off, bowing his head a bit as if asking for her name. He still had manners, regardless of his departure he had never lost his family's teachings.
Zerase:8:59 pm
"A minute's a long time to be unaware." She pointed out with a smile. Rising up out of the grass, she raised her chin and offered a smile down the ridge of her nose. "Zerase. Daughter of Baba'Nyota. And you..." She poked the male in the chest. "Chander. Your family is known well to the pride."
Glancing shortly back behind him, then up to the male's face she raised a brow. "So...why the wandering mind?"
Chander: 9:02 pm
He was surprised that she had known who he was. He had forgotten how well known his family was. He smiled back, his face softening and his soot colored eyes carrying a sparkle.
"The pleasure is mine Zerase." He looked her over for a moment, and had to will himself to look away. He didn't want to be caught staring too long. She was beautiful, and she had a voice that was almost musical.
"I was just thinking. Probably a very dangerous task indeed." He chuckled.
Zerase:9:08 pm
Catching his wandering eye, she reached out and nudged his chin back upwards so he was forced to regard her eyes. She didn't seem offended or even flattered, perhaps a touch amused if anything. "Well first of all, you should think before you act and as you act- not after the fact. In that case it's a little late, wouldn't you say?"
She withdrew her paw back into the black earth under her and tipped her head curiously. "Deep thoughts put veils over eyes. Is something the matter?" Perhaps there was- hsi family was alive with new life now. Nearly every member had a litter to their name. It was unknown to her that he had a litter out there somewhere and Koray was far too...dainty to attract any females thus far. They found his picky tenancies and compulsive attitude damn near intolerable.
Chander: 9:11 pm
He smiled and nodded. "Yes I suppose it is just a touch too late." She spoke the truth. He needed to pay more attention, he really hadn't been concerned with his surroundings.
"It's really no matter. I was just a touch out of mind I guess. Though as this proves, I'd say it does put a veil over the eyes."
He smiled, winking at her. He really felt like he had lost all his mojo. He had once been confident, now he was more aware. It was a touch nice not to regard the female before him as someone he might be able to be entertained by.
Zerase:9:14 pm
"That was terribly weak." She said playfully- but a little sharply. "I would have gone with 'I can't see past you' or something of that fashion if I were on the other side of this conversation. But I'm flattered that you tried."
She got up to her paws and took a long, deep breath, her eyes roaming skyward. "There's a reason our kind finds peace among the night sky you know. In the moon and his daughters all dancing around him. As black of a void as it is up there- there's always a little light for us to follow." She glanced down. "The same can go for any dark place- including the one between your ears."
Chander: 9:19 pm
He felt his heart warm at her words. She was rather smart, and he couldn't help but be attracted to it. He sighed, and nodded.
"You are right. How grateful I am to have run into you. If I had you around all the time, I think I'd be pretty okay." He said, and his voice was warm, friendly.
Zerase:9:33 pm
"Well...", She stepped a little closer to him and bumped his shoulder with hers. "You'll have to keep your eyes open then, won't you?"
Smirking, she flicked her tail and began down the hill, her dark form practically bleeding into the seamless void of stars and black. Poor boy... he'd be fun to play with.
