Shinsei was carrying Gatita like a cub as she rushed through the rain. Neither female enjoyed the rainstorm around them, nor the commotion of thunder as they moved, trying to evade the storm that swelled around, wind gusting as they moved. Shinsei cleared ground, moving deftly as she kept her speed as long as possible, eyes pelled for shelter. Gatita shook, half from the bouncy ride, half from the weather as they moved, scents blurring into one another. She growled as Shinsei jumped, beginning to climb rocks for a better vantage point, fur plastered down from rainwater, and the cheetah remained still a moment, surveying the ground area. She spied a space Gatita could burrow herself into and a den area nearby, and leapt from the pile, beginning to move. With her fur slicked, her muscles were visible, flexing and moving as she ran to the den, and huddled, lowering Gatita, and shaking. Gatita shook, anxiously, before shaking out her fur, making a displeased his at the weather. As far as Gatita was concerned, the weather could keep itself, and the female ratel nosed around, frowning before finding Shinsei, the cheetah laying down already, and Gatita huddled close for bodyheat. Shinsei allowed it, rising enough only to shake herself dry, earning a disgruntled look from Gatita before she lowered again, and the two huddled, watching the storm outside.
Lightning licked the air outside, electricity everywhere, and Shinsei frowned, huddling low. She hated the noise-- it hurt her ears-- and Gatita seemed similiarly minded, growling and huddling in closer.
"Nasty." The ratel broke the silence, scowling fiercely. "Nasty, and loud."
"Agreed." Shinsei wrinkled her nose. "Nasty, loud, and irritating. At least you can't see the lightening. That's the worst part."
Gatita raised her head, snorting.
"I can't agree with that. I could see once."
"Really?" Shinsei looked surprised. Gatita nodded.
"Yes. Long ago, before my first two litters, I could see. I miss the flowers." She frowned. "I miss the others, but they've all gone. Some of the others near my den would scream. But then, I was the dominant female." Gatita smirked softly, a fang popping out. "I was the fastest and smartest. Most ratels are bigger, you know? I'm small. Probnably because I was born colourless. But, I was dominant. A few others stopped trying. I was lucky to have kits." Her smirk faltered, and she frowned.
"My vision began going after my second litter was just barely adults. Good kids. Raki took up hunting for me. And his older sister, from my first litter, she helped me learn to burrow again. Weather seperated all of us. Chased us from our dens with flooding... Couldn't find my way home." Gatita looked down. Shinsei frowned, nosing her lightly.
"I'm sorry." She nosed her again. Gatita grumbled, shrugging.
"What about you, kid?"
Shinsei hesitated, blinking at Gatita before sighing.
"Left home as a teenager. Sister did too, I think. Most of us... Just... Kind of spread out. I don't know my father well. Mom just raised us and I haven't seen her since I left. Same for my siblings." She looked away, even if the ratel couldn't see. "I just... Began running, as often as possible. It's all I know, really. I'm not good with other people. They always seem to leave, go places... Just... Nobody seems to want me around."
"Mmm. Any reason why?"
"Dunno. They never say. I tried living with others. I got there by accident... I ended up drifting on a log and met a male... But he doesn't like me. Sere... He was always hard to please. I never seemed to do things right. I fought a lioness even, to help his cause.... It didn't mean a thing. He just.... Always seemed angry at me."
The cheetah seemed to curl a bit, and Gatita looked to her, pawing her slightly.
"Hey. Hey now. Are you sute?"
"Pretty sure." She shook her head. Gatita shrugged.
"Maybe he likes you, and can't say it."
Shinsei rolled her eyes.
"I doubt it... Sere's grumpy, disagreeable, stubborn, and crabby." She looked away. "It's better if I leave him alone."
"Whatever you say. I think he likes you. You obviously like him." She grinned. Shinsei stared.
"Maybe, but, why bother? He'll yell at me again."
"Well, did he know you left?"
"I left without telling him."
"Then of course he'll yell. He's probably scared, and worried, and huddling in a cave like we are trying to puzzle out why you left."
"I doubt it. I doubt her misses me. I doubt anyone misses me. I could disappear. Nobody would miss me."
"I'd miss you."
Shinsei blinked, smiling lightly at Gatita, but sighed a bit. Gatita pawed her again, earning a weak chuckle, even as thunder rolled outside, and Shinsei nuzzled the ratel a bit.
"I'm glad someone would. I'm just... Tired of being lonely. I want to belong somewhere."
"It's hard, but, you'll figure this out, kid." Gatita looked up. "You just need to give it time. Be paitent. It's all possible. Just don't give up."
"I'll try...."
"No, not try. Do. Or do not. There is no try."
Shinsei stared, Gatita smirking up at her before the female settled back down, rolling her eyes.
"If you think so."
"I know so. You need to be positive."
"It's just. Hard, you know?"
"Yeah, but buck up. It could always be worse."
Shinsei sighed, but make an acknowledging noise of affirment, before curling up tightly, sulking. It still hurt, though, and Gatita seemed to acknowledge it, pawing her lightly before pulling her muzzle to smile. Shinsei blinked, jerking her face back slightly, eying the ratel's grin. Gatita simply remained grinning smugly several moments, before her nose twitched and she wriggled out, sticking her nose outside. The rain was beginning to subside, and the ratel nodded approvingly, making a grunting noise. Shinsei blinked, following before sticking her own nose out, a raindrop landing on it, and she sneezed, before looking down.
"Rain's letting up a little."
"Yep. Still getting late." She turned, trundling back in, and Shinsei followed, laying down. Gatita stretched, yawning as she sniffed around, before snuggling into the female, laying down comfortably and closing her eyes. Shinsei yawned herself, settling and lowering her head to sleep herself, body falling into a smooth, steady rhythm as the two fell fast asleep.
-Fin-
