Shinsei shook herself, the soaking wet cheetah fluffing out a bit and blinking before looking back towards L2, frowning slightly. Sere'd gotten angry at her-- again. Why did he always come down so hard on her for the simplest of errors
Oh.
Right.
He didn't seem to like her. Shinsei sighed, huffing. She'd fought really hard to help him, and the ungrateful male didn't even seem to acknowledge it. What a jerk. Shinsei stretched, frowning before looking out towards the roguelands, just outside the borders, tempting her. It was night, and her dark green blended her in well, making hiding simple and pleasant, and she'd left after Sere slept, took a late ride mist of the way out on a log, and swam the rest. Now, now freedom was close. Breifly, she looked back, and frowned. She wanted Sere to like her, but it seemed impossible and unlikely. He was aways so mad at her these days. The female sighed, looking down, before forward, shaking her head. She wanted him to like her... But was that even possible? The cheetah frowned, looking at her paws and forelegs. Scars reminded her of how far she'd pressed to try helping him, and it reminded her maybe he wouldn't miss her at all. Maybe running would be more of a boon. Maybe it would make him happier..... Having one less problem. One less headache. She took a step towards the border, eyes remaining low. Everyone she seemed close to, disappeared. Her sister, her family... Now this.....
Shinsei choked back sobs as she stepped forward, then once more, moving slowly. She was in pain-- deep, emotional pain she didn't dare vocalize. Was she not good enough? Pretty enough? Smart enough? Why did everyone leave or ignore her?
She shuddered, hiccoughing slightly. She didn't want to be alone. She hated it. It didn't feel right, and the female moved for the roguelands painfully. Maybe she belonged out there, alone in the head and sun, running. Always running.
Why did she run? Once, for fun... Then for training, to be the fastest.... But now.... Would it make her happy to indulge in a simple activity? It had before. Shinsei frowned, closing her eyes and flexed her tiny claws, listening to the wind in her ears, smelling the air. She may be happy if she ran, and the female took position, bracing to run with a wild grin and a smile. Yes. She could run, far and fast and strong. Running would ease her mind and put things right again, and as if eager, she pawed the ground a bit, before thundering off, paws hitting the ground roughly, pounding and thundering, small as cheetahs were. She was fast, a sight to behold as she charged the roguelands. She... felt release as she moved, grinning and bounding contentedly.
She crossed ground like it was nothing, feeling air and space under her paws, enjoying the start of touching ground fleetingly, and ran for what felt like hours before laying down, panting, but smiling. She needed this. She needed the run, and she curled up by water, drinking avidly. When she took in her fille, she blinked as a small white body pushed her aside, freezing seeing a ratel stoop, drinking. For a moment, Shinsei was afraid to breath before the female stopped, huffing.
"Oh, calm down, I'm not going to tear your face off." The ratel looked over her shoulder, but not at her, and Shinsei realized the female was blind-- and pale as anything, even paler than Rhine's daughter Lorelei. Shinsei cocked her head and a tired, low growl erupted nearby.
"Albinism, greenie." The previously unseen dark lion shifted, getting up and walked over.
"She's been here since I got here. Tough broard, not one to screw with. Hey, Gatita, any leftovers?"
"Nope. Now shut up, Algol, or I'll tear your face off."
Shinsei blinked.
"I'm.. Uhm.. Shinsei."
"Whatever." Algol snorted, and sat, watching the water. The night was ending, and Shinsei knew she should've been asleep even leaving home, but curiousity now was keeping her up, and she watched the dark male swipe at the water, a fish flying ashore towards the ratel. The ratel sniffed, before biting it's head, eating that first calmly. Algol swiped another fish ashjore, which hit Shinsei in the face, and the cheetah, killed it quickly. One more, and Algoil settled to snack, finally, before Gatita spoke up.
"So. Shinsei. What arte you running from?"
Shinsei blinked, looking to the ratel.
"Running from?"
"Dust in the air, laboured breathing-- you ran here. From what?" The ratelk took another bite of her big fish, chewing expectantly. Shinsei sighed.
"I enjoy running."
"That's not pleasure running." Gatita growled, frowning coarsely. Algol chuckled darkly himself, grinning fiercely.
"She's right. I won't pry." Algol rose, sneering. "But Gatita might." The demon male's eyes flashed. "But I've seen you near that pride, one of those priests, right?" He licked his maw.
"Tired of running around a kitten?"
Shinsei pinned her ears back. Oh, one of the mercenaries. Lovely.
"What? No." She hissed. "He doesn't like me and I'm tired of being singled out." Shinsei sniffed irritably, looking away. Algol gave another dark laugh.
"Oh, I see, I see." He smirked, getting up. "Well, I'm going somewhere to collect what is mine. If you insist on travelling, don't stay with me. I have no use for cheetahs. Or cowards." Andf the male turned, walking to his original perch and lay down to sleep for the day. Shinsei huffed, Gatita shrugging.
"He's right. Running won't fix your problems. But it helps soften them a while." The albino ratel got up, waddling over and flopping on hjer legs after sniffing for them. Shinsei blinked, laying down, and Gatita moved to lay on them properly.
"Tell you what, I'll keep you company a while. I need a set of eyes to watch out for something and you clearly need common sense hammered into your skull."
Shinsei pouted, the blind ratel smirking as she circled, getting comfortable on the cheetah's forelegs.
"Hey..."
"Is for those hooved foodthings. Stop protesting. It won't hurt to grow up some, kid. Now, sleep, we have a big day in the morning, and you need your sleep."
Shinsei frowned, however, the ball of sleeping ratel bode ill if she argued, and Shinsei huffed, laying down and closing her eyes. Fine. Sleep now.... Hopefully, waking would bring a better day.
-Fin-
