Amefungwa had briefly departed from her pride's lands in order to clear her head. Her cubs, joys that they were, were growing fast, and now had left the den and begun getting into all sorts of trouble. Half of them seemed to have been touched by Insanity before her departure, but the others seemed sane...she loved them all but felt that was a blessing. In this new pride, no one would look down on the ones without muses, or beg them to tell how they'd kept their muses. She feared for those who did speak to the spirits, but had to accept it. Just one of a thousand things weighing her down at the moment, it seemed. She came to an open field of tall grass, and without a thought, tore across it, reveling simply in the exertion. When last had she taken time to bound and leap about? She used to be so care-free...
Mjyd was bored. She'd been roaming for a time alone, and met no one of interest. That was, until she'd found an old rambling male who went on about a pride of mystery, of dancers and tricksters, who once spoke for the spirits, but now plied their tricks to make a profit, and keep the unworthy at bay. That had piqued her interest certainly. She, as far as she knew, was a terribly good actor, and had more grace and beauty than any dancer. But perhaps she could steal a trick or two from these strange "Kizingo'zaa." It'd taken some time, but she thought she had finally found the right area the pride lived in. Just as she passed through a line of brush, something hit her full on, knocking the wind and her thoughts out of her with a WOMPH.
Amefungwa cried out as her reckless dash sent her colliding with another lion. She quickly and carefully picked herself up, stepping off of and away from the poor female. "Ugh. Sorry. Are you alright?" She kept her distance. Foolish! Couldn't rogues be dangerous? And here she was, the queen of the gypsies, exposed and alone with one of them? What joy that had began to come back to life inside her with her run was withering away under the weight of responsibility once more. "Forgive me. I wasn't looking where I was going. Uhm. Can I help you up?"
Mjyd growled and huffed, and rolled to glare at the blindingly red female. "Yes you can help me up! You knocked me over, didn't you?" Her tone was acid, and she got up slowly, fully expecting a push from the stranger's shoulder to aid in her ascent. When it didn't come, she spared the stranger another glare. "I guess I'll have to forgive you, won't I? But next time you should watch where you're going! I'm out here on an important mission, and you're running about like an idiot! What if I'd been hurt! Then I never would have found the pride of fortune tellers and dancers!" She sniffed, and lashed her tail. She'd done her best to sound important, banking that the pride's mystery would have the locals in thrall, and make her story sound more important. She had no idea that it was a pride member she was talking to already, and worse, one with the power to grant or deny her access.
Well, that was gratitude for you. Amefungwa did her best to remain cheerful, and even smiled (though plainly fakely) at Mjyd's scathing comments. that she'd been trying to find, of all prides, the Kizingo, genuinely surprised her. Her first thought was the terrifying one that word of the pride had spread, but then she relaxed. Hadn't they wanted to spread the rumors of their being what they pretended to be? Apparently they had. Shandor would be glad to hear that. But if it attracted the likes of this female...well, that was no good. It was clear to her that this female was nothing but trouble, and probably best not to ever find the pride. For some reason she felt the secrets of the pride would be anything but safe with her. "That pride?" She asked, gathering her wits. She'd have to redirect the rogue. "I've heard of it. But it's not in this area...Don't know who told you it was."
She sniffed again. What, did the red lioness think she was a fool? She knew (or thought, at least) the pride was very nearby now. Surely she wasn't wrong. Was she? Her tail flicked irritably, and she raised a brow. "Oh? Is that so? And what would you know about it, hmm?" She'd decided to be angry with this female, and was fully engrossed in pouting with her. Of course, that served only to make the impression she was making a worse and worse one.
Oh, oh certainly not. There was no way that Ame would ever let this female into their pride. Her attitude was terrible, and in this mood she had no space to allow that. Her ears pinned back, and she growled low in her throat before stopping herself. "Yes I know, you silly thing. I live here, don't I? I know what's near and what's not." She took a breath to calm herself. She had to make Mjyd leave, not lure her into a fight. "That pride is near, but not that near. We avoid it, because they're strange creatures. Tricksters and wily things. You were right coming this way," And she had to play this part carefully, "You don't want to go to them. Stay south from here and you'll be fine and away from them." She prayed, silently.
Aha! She'd tricked the information right out of the red female! Mjyd's confidence was so great it didn't even occur to her that she might be getting false information. "Stay south you say? Well then, that might be fine for you cowards, but I have no fear. I'm a tricky one too, and they'll accept me. Why, I'd say they might even learn from me!" She chuckled, quite full of herself, and rose to her feet. "Thank you for your...help. I'll excuse your running into me now, little coward. Run along back home and hide in your den, and pray I don't bring the Kizingo'Zaa to steal your cubs in the night!" She cackled again and loped off, north, and away from the very pride she sought.
Amefungwa let out a sigh of relief when the terrible female finally up and left. And to the north. Thank goodness. With a last glance to be sure she'd really bought it, Ame quickly turned and darted back towards the pride. Hopefully they'd seen the last of her.
Hours later Mjyd let out a roar of frustration. She'd gone the right way, hadn't she?! And for her trouble all she'd gotten only tired legs and an empty belly. Damn that lioness! Her and the Kizingo! With another snarl of rage she turned to the west. The gypsies could rot for all she cared!
