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Stirring from his slumber, the large white male lifted his head with a start. It was pounding, and he could hear the blood rushing through his veins. "Ugh." He groaned loudly, quickly lowering his head to lie down in the dirt once more. From his new position on the ground, he could detect a familiar scent, Mezlijin was somewhere nearby. Though not in the immediate vicinity. Clutching his front paws over his head, Mlnzi tried to decipher exactly what had caused his huge migraine, but he couldn't remember. Not a thing, it was like he'd been conked on the head or something. But, he knew this wasn't the case, if it was Mezlijin wouldn't be near.

Frowning his face in consternation and pain, the lion could tell it was nearly noon. Although he couldn't see a thing, the light still shone brightly on his eyes causing a burning sensation that quickly spread into his head. "Dammit all. What's going on with me today?" He whined, lowering one of his paws, to cover his sensitive eyes from further damage.

He'd heard his visitor far before he'd opened his mouth. But being a gentle sould, he saw no harm in allowing the creature to find him. Rather than the other way around. He'd always been the way, able to see no wrong in anyone, even the darkest of souls. Because he just knew that they hadn't always been that way. Obviously some lions were always that way, but his way of thinking helped to give others a brighter outlook so why not let him think that way?

He could tell as the creature drew nearer that he was a cat, though being from a mostly male pride he had no real clue what others smelled like, much less how to tell them apart! The crunching of the grass got nearer, and then came the voice. Egads it was loud, and he quickly cringed at the voice. Not particularly to be rude, so much as to show his pain. Ha! It was just as he'd suspected! A leopard, well that was sort of what Mezlijin was ... perhaps that's why now that he thought of it - the scents seemed faintly alike.

Closing his blind eyes tightly, the male lifted his head so that his voice would carry better and spoke up. "I-I'm here, i'm not hurt though. Well I am - but not in a way you can help with!" He shouted back at the voice, fussing at himself for answer in such an odd way. "I am friendly as well - a lion. I don't believe I need help. But you are welcome to come closer if you so desire. I won't be of any danger, I assure you.

The male leopard's voice became louder as he drew nearer and it took everything the male had to be respectful and not recoil at his words. After all it wasn't as though he were intentionally trying to agitate his migraine. Sighing heavily, and nibbling on his bottom lip he pulled his paws from atop his head and stared in the voice's direction.

"Yes, it's an internal injury." Another sigh wrecked his body as he waited for the male to say more, but he never did. In an attempt to break the deafening silence, he once again spoke up. "It was quite commendable of you to come out here, seeking to help another. I thank you for that. I"m only sorry I wasn't what you were expecting!" He let out a small laugh, letting on to the fact that he had been joking. "I'm Pumbaa'Mlinzi my friend, and if there is anything -" He paused, cringing in pain for a moment - "Anything I can do for you. My ears are open."

"That's - a very noble stand. You sound a lot like myself." Mlinzi's fading smile returned brighter than it had been before. "I have heard it's rare to find such caring souls in this world..." It was true, Mezlijin had warned him of those who would do him harm, and those who would do for themselves above others.

"Well, it is a pleasure to meet you Ra-ku-ree. And no worries, you aren't too loud. It's just this headache, it seems to be amplifying all the sounds around me! I'm sure you are nowhere near as loud as you sound!" He laughed, "But if you are - toning it down might help just a tad bit." To further prove his point he rose a paw to the air and placed two claws together. "As to what happened - i'm not so sure I can answer that. I woke up this way." Mlinzi shrugged it off matter of factly and moved on

"No need to worry over me, i'll be fine. It's nothing that can really be cured. I would know that is my job. Even the most complex herbs at my disposal would only dull the pain. But I thank you for your sentiment." Forcing himself to his feet, Mlinzi groaned as his bones creaked a bit. Nothing out of the ordinary just stiff due to his lack of movement. "What brings you out here Rakuree? Surely it isn't the wonderful scenery? And I don't believe either of the prides located here, welcome leopards.."

"It's a sad thing isn't it?

That isn't to say there aren't nice people out there - you'll likely run into a ton of those. But to find someone, who will go out of their way, and possibly place themselves in danger, all for the sake of another? That is rare. Mlinzi nodded again, thinking back to the many stories Mezlijin had told him of the outside world. Most of his stories involved kind lions, but none that would have the heart to rescue him if he were in any real danger.

All these questions were piling in on Mlinzi's closed brain, and it began to throb dully. So naturally he did the only thing he could do. He laughed - his motto was that laughter was the best medicine so perhaps it would do it's magic in this case. As he laughed, he held no bearing on whether it would bother or unnerve his new friend. He was just laughing.

At the mention of herbalism, he calmed his laughter, to a dull roar and commented through smaller giggles. "Well, I am an herbalist, but I am also an alchemist. I enjoy what I do, but it is a tough job." Mlinzi paused for a moment, thinking over where he had last found the medicinal herb Rakuree so anxiously wanted to find for him. From the feel of the ground, and the scent in the air, he was nowhere near them. "I'm positive. Besides if my other senses are correct - we're not anywhere near their habitat and I wouldn't dare force you to do my bidding. Besides, it is slowly subsiding. Another short pause.

"Perhaps just your company is enough to put the pain at bay." Mlinzi smiled an very awkward smile, he didn't want to chase this poor guy away by thinking he was weird, but he was rather enjoying the company. He'd become so used to Mezlijin being by his side that the idea of being alone was not a welcome one.

"I thought as much. You should be perfectly safe traveling between these two lands. While neither accept leopards into their ranks - neither are very violent either. So long as your intent to travel is as pure as it seems you are welcome to roam here.

"Oh-ho no, I know a thing or two about burdening others. It's just not in my nature to lean on others. I'm sort of a stubborn lion when it comes to that. But your thoughts are so kind, it will bring you good karma someday!" Nodding again matter of factly, Pumbaa took the opportunity to stretch his legs. His throat letting loose a slight growl as he did so.

"You know, I think you may be right - about the sleep-headache. I mean I can't remember much but perhaps I had a rough sleep." Mlinzi paused to think it over, but all her came back with was a blank yet again. What had gone on the night before that he couldn't remember? Well hopefully Mezlijin knew.. he'd have to ask him when he returned home.

"I'm absolutely positive Rakuree. But if you would be so kind - it might be nice to have some company on my way back to my pride's borders. Would a certain leopard be interested by chance?"