The lands that were not part of the Na'vi lands always did unnerve Koehro. Normally within his People's jungle, he could skillfully blend in despite his larger-than-average Na'vi size. Out here? He stood out like a sore thumb, towering over the grasses with his black pelt and its dark blue and purple stripes. It was silly to feel so high-strung, but this was one of the few times he could be truly nervous and wary.
'It is necessary.' He just had to keep reminding himself of that. Patient emerald eyes scanned the savannah. The huge jungle-like forest was at his back, and he was running his patrol—almost literally. His paws made a mellow, drumming beat as he loped along. The heat was starting to get to him, too. There was water nearby, but he wasn't going to stop until he was certain this immediate area was clear.
Hesper had just about enough of the wandering. Her body ached and was started to over-heat from the strong rays of the sun. The fleas were unbearable in the tall grasses and the damned locust! Always in her ears try to wiggle their way to her brain. Snarling with disgust at her current situation, the celestial pelted female quickly made her way towards the waters. She could calmly relax in those, rid herself of the fleas and uncomfortably hot body and maybe, just maybe, get something to eat. However, keeping it down would be another thing entirely.
Ever since she had exposed herself to the dreadful plant that horrible lion, Kojot, suggested, she has had it rough. Unable to keep most of what she ate down, tired all the time, sometimes she had fits of what she called 'the crazies'. If ever she found that disgusting fellow, she would have his head. For now though, she had to continue wandering; a cure had to be out there after all.
Stopping at the edge of the waters, the celestial beauty took a second to scan her surroundings. And it only took a few seconds for her eyes to catch the lion across the river. Maybe he would have some answers. Watching quietly, she decided to let him see her, maybe he would come over.
Lazy heat trails rolled across the grasslands. Koehro saw plenty of wildlife, but thankfully so far, nothing to be a threat to himself or the Na'vi Peo--but there was a lionness, right there. His lope slowed, and he stopped, pulling his haunches well underneath himself, his shoulders straight and his head looking dead-on at her. For a moment, her colouring made him take another look.
And then he realized that he'd never seen her before; she wasn't part of the Pride--and even if she had been, what was she doing out here? He felt a gathering growl in his chest, but didn't utter a sound. He wasn't a brute to anyone, let alone a female... Or even an adolescent Lion, at that, but he was pretty sure that this was a female--even judging by the scent, after he pulled in a long, deep breath with a gentle gust of wind.
Warily, he made his way forwards, but paused on the river's edge upon the side he was on and lifted his head a little higher--a silent acknowledgement.
Cyan colored eyes regarded this stranger as he cautiously approach silently, and continued to do so as he stood across the river. Was he really just going to stand in front of her without a word of acknowledgement? Knitting her brows at the though, Hesper decided she would bow her head to him, maybe that would get him talking?
Waiting for him to break the silence, further, Hesper finally gave in. Perhaps he was mute, or... just shy? No, that wouldn't be it. He just didn't want to speak first. Darned it all.
"The quite type are you?"
Two felt, black ears perked at the bowed head. Perhaps one of the last things he'd ever expected of someone within the rogue lands was a bit of respect such as she'd just given him. He was more used to driving rogues out and away from their lands, most of the times very physically. He didn't mind the silence, though, and kept onto his.
At least, until she spoke.
A bemused expression settled over his face. "I tend to be the quiet type, yes. You are simply passing through these lands, then?"
His voice was deep--perhaps pleasantly so, with a rough sort of rumble that belied his true nature. The question he asked was general and open, but made for good reason.
Hesper's eyes glittered with hidden thoughts and amusement at his expression. However she only allowed her emotions to be shown for a few seconds before completely composing herself. Looking down at the water, she mused on if she would wait to tell him the reason of her wandering, or just answer the question vaguely.
Unfortunately for her, her own stomach made up her mind. Make a twanging pain from hunger. Sighing she was no longer holding up any carefully pleasant facial expressions.
"I am travelling, yes. However I do have a purpose for it. You see, I am searching for something to help cure me. I had ate a herb that was supposed to help boost my energy and make me feel full for days. However..."
Stopping for a moment to shift her body into a seat position she continued. "...I can not eat or my body will purge itself of the subsistence I have received, at night when sleeping I will hallucinate and act completely against my own alignment. My body is slowly weakening, thus I am moving as quickly as possible. Do you know of or are you a healer?"
The flash of emotion - amusement, mostly, he thought - before it was tucked away was interesting and intriguing, and the big male found himself listening intently for the answer she was sure to give him. The sudden shift, once again, had his ears perking once more, the dark, heavy mantle of mane drifting to the side as he tilted his head. Her expression seemed to have rapidly declined.
Herbs. He knew of several that could help...at least, the stomach problems. He wasn't so sure about the hallucinations. It was quite possible that was a side-effect of not eating, but then again...
Koehro straightened. Let out a sigh.
"I have some knowledge of herbs, rogue, and know a few that may help with your troublesome stomach. I could aid you, should you wish." He offered, stopping there and refraining from saying more. She could technically pass for one of the People, and he could bring her along, but, a large part of him didn't want to reveal the lands, the secrets, or too much. Perhaps he was being overly suspicious, but something seemed a little off--though maybe it was just the fact she was a bit off from the herb she'd taken.
Watching her company and listening intently, she winced at his words. Rogue... Like she didn't belong and was but a bug in his eyes. Obviously he was from some sort of pride, they all seemed to be. The lions she had met recently anyhow. However... he had offered his help, and she was all too eager to be helped.
"I am Hesper, stranger. You don't have to call me rogue, it sounds... almost unsightly." Placing a paw in the water, she moved in around slowly, watching her fur move fluidly through the waters. Uninterested in the feeling that had washed over her, all she wanted to feel was relief. Taking a deep breathe inward, Hesper flicked her eyes back at the dark pelted lion.
"I would most certainly appreciate your help... But nothing comes for free I have noticed with this world. What... could I offer for your assistance?"
She still had to be cautious. Even if she seemed to have been letting her guard down considerably lately. Staying alive was a very real feeling of hers.
There was no malicious tone stressed upon the word, but a wary reluctance. Of course, he felt horrible to be so rude, especially with not introducing himself, first, but he was a bit of a different lion when out on the borderlands. He noted the wince, his ears drooping in response. He had good grace to feel ashamed, mostly because it was his fault, but habits out here died hard, and most of them were to keep himself from dying hard.
His head quirked briefly to the other side at the mention of payment.
He couldn't think of anything, for the moment. Which was probably a good thing, and he had an excuse lined up. Instead, he straightened once again.
"Any payment we agree on can be agreed upon after...Hesper." With a wince of his own, however, he back-pawed to apologize. "My apologies for not introducing myself, first, and for addressing you in such a way you found demeaning. My name is Koehro."
Dark emerald eyes took the swirling paw in, even as he prepared for departing, mentally.
"For now, it may be best for you to remain here, at the water's edge, while I collect some of the herbs I believe will help you. Is that suitable, in your eyes?"
With her paw still idly swirling in the water, Hesper watched the emotions on Koehro's face play out. A droop of the ear, a wince as he spoke her name... He was certainly strange, but it was probably just because of his upbringing. Not everyone was open when it came to matters in the rogue lands.
"It is certainly alright, Keohro. Not everyone is so open nor friendly in these lands. I just learned that being a bit friendly.... gets me further. And saying how I feel, makes it certain I won't be hurt. " Pausing she looked at the water for a second. "Most of the time anyway."
Moving her body towards the shallow part of the water, Hesper allowed herself to drop into the cool, nurturing liquid. A please expression following suit. "Ahh, much better."
"I think that sounds fair. I will wait here and await your return while pondering what I could help you with." Looking up at the sky she checked to make sure the weather would be fair to her. Clear skies, perfect.
"And it seems the weather is going to be kind to me as well. However, if something happens and I have to leave, where might I find you? A safe place, I don't need to know where you live. Just, somewhere. You never know when the rogue lands will offer only thorns."
"Certainly." He rumbled back, lifting his head out of habit to scan the area, once more. One of the last things he wished was to slack in his duties, and now that he was helping this female, he certainly couldn't allow anything to befall her, either. "Being friendly would help."
Done his survey and finding nothing currently out of the ordinary, he turned his head back after his ears swerved to catch the gentle slosh of water being disturbed.
He let her speak with uninterruptive patience, finally taking a step back after she was through.
"Yes, the weather should hold out. Recover and enjoy the water, I will be back as soon as I am able."
He paused a moment, two, to ensure if she said anything, he would hear it, before he turned to ghost off, surprisingly quiet despite his size, though his paws thrummed a steady beat as he made his way back to his pride's lands, eyes focused for a moment upon the welcoming forest, home, jungle, before picking up scouting once more.
Again with the strangely awkward comments. He... did say he was the quiet type. Perhaps this was why. Deciding it best not to comment, Hesper did as told and enjoyed the water.
However something felt off... A question unresolved. Eyes widening as she realized just what that was. A alternate meeting place!!! Standing up abruptly, the celestial pelted lioness let out a squeak of shock and looked for Koehro.
No where... He had already gone it when felt like seconds. Perhaps time really was starting to evade her.
"Shoot... This, is the worst possible wrap up ever. I am at the mercy of the rogue lands and a lion a barely know." Taking a couple more deep breathes to relax her mind and body. Hesper decided to stick it out, at least for as long as possible. She needed a cure after all.
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