Welcome to Gaia! ::

Nuru looked off into the distance in the safe haven of the cave he was currently hidden in. This storm was killer. The winds so strong that far off in the distance the trees were uprooted, some not all, and the thunder so loud it was deafening. He whimpered slightly at the thought of what could happen if he hadn’t of found his present dwelling. “Wow, it really is coming down.” He spoke aloud while sitting and observing the weather. Looking away from the storm she glanced around at the dark cave. “I hope it doesn’t last all night.” The cave appeared deep and he debated if were a good idea to venture deeper at the possibility of becoming lost. The thunder really was really hurting his ears and the storm covered all the pretty stars he so very much enjoyed.

It was awful. Kiros panted as he looked around frantically with water pelting his face and paws slicked with mud. He misjudged a step and fell on his left hip sharply. “Ah!” He whined in pain and struggled to get up from the fall. Limping he tried to find a dry yet safe area to take shelter for the passing storm. It seemed hopeless… until a flash of light showed the perfect place to hide out. “Thank the gods, a cave!” He hurried as quickly as he could with his limp, boy was his back leg killing him, to the entrance of his shelter for the night.

Nuru’Nox was just about to head further in when a groan and crashing sound startled him into whirling his skinny body around. It was a male that had stumbled and currently lay groaning on the cavern floor. “Oh dear,” He gasped frozen to the spot not knowing what to do first. He was a stranger after all… Nuru bit his lip with indecision. “Oooh, mama didn’t raise no fool but I guess it can’t be helped now.” The leopard looked pathetic. Really, it clearly had had a rough go of it out in the storm. “Hello? You okay?” He spoke softly as not to disturb the wet creature that had currently flopped ungracefully at the lip of the cave. Leopards could be nasty when provoked.

Panting softly Kiros threw himself down on the ground just as thunder boom across the plains, it would just be for a minutes to rest. He was ever-so-grateful to be some please warm with no rain. The sound of a low voice made him blink and hazily look around. He saw no one… maybe he was losing his mind. It was known to happen from the cold, wet, and hunger… those combinations could mess with anyone. Then a flash of light and suddenly he could make out a white spotted small feline that was standing in the shadows. “Y-” He cleared his croaky throat. “Yes, though running in the rain… not one of my best ideas.” He tried for a joke.

“Yes, I would imagine-” Nuru wandered closer still cautious yet a bit more relaxed when the other had first entered his territory. “-it wouldn’t be a good idea to wander around in these horrid elements.” It was hard to tell if the other was making a joke or if his brains were addled. “Are you alright? Do you need help moving away for the edge?” Shyness was replaced by a sense of obligation. “I am stronger than I appear in case you doubt it.” With a raised brow he waited for a response, it had happened before when a male scoffed down at him and doubted his strength because of not only his stature but his breed.

“I … could use the help,” Kiros paused to cough and shiver. “Thanks.” He winced as his throat hurt and boy some water right about now would suite him just fine. He kept his eye as the other approached with determination and strength. He felt his vision waver from the movement of his body. “Oh, stop the world I want to get off.” He mumbled as the other male picked him up and moved him closer into the cave were some heat surrounded the area. A soft huff broke the silence and Kiros learned later that it had been a laugh. “Not many would have done what you did, you know… they would have left me to die out in the wet cold.” His flat eyes peered into light blue ones. “I thank you for that bro.”

Bro? Nuru mentally wrinkled his nose at the word, but to each their own I guess. He thought with a shrug. “Like I said before no problem. Hopefully it won’t last that long.” He gestured to the entrance of the cave. “Until then we can do nothing but wait it out… I was going to wander further down to see if any… edible creatures were about. Do you have the energy to come with?” He looked doubtfully at the still panting and wet leopard. “Maybe find something that we can dry off with, preferably wood and leaves for a small fire.”

Kiros purred at the thought of getting warm and a fire sounded just what he needed. “I will come with.” He stifled a groan as he stood. No way was he going to appear any weaker than he already did to this male. “I’m Kiros by the way. Just thought I’d get it out there but not like it will matter seeing as once the storm stops we’d be heading separate ways.” He was babbling he knew, it was just… he hated awkward silences. It made him want to fill the silence.

Nuru was somewhat amused at the others, Kiros, attempt at conversation. “I see, my name is Nuru’Nox but you can call me Nuru if you want.” Silently agreeing about heading separate ways, it was nothing personal. Nuru preferred to travel alone and with his own kind. “Alright then, let’s head off this way and it appears we are in luck-” He pointed to some glow stones. “-the light will make it easier for us to see.” He slowed his pace so Kiros could keep up and he had a feeling if the other wasn’t in such a weakened state he would be running laps around Nuru.

He was lost in thought for a while and almost missed what they had spent an hour looking for, “Ah here we are!” His tone filled with delight at the prospect of becoming warm. “Let’s gather these and bring them back to where we had first settled.” An unhappy groan met his statement. “I know you are tired, but it will make things easier to leave and also to let us know when the storm is finished.”


Kiros had tried to hold in that unhappy whine but it slipped out anyways. All he wanted to do was sleep for a year... or possibly more. This walking around in the cave had not helped with his sore muscles either but he shouldered on happy that they had at least FOUND something that would provide the warmth he craved. “Right,” He mumbled sleepily and did what was asked. It was tricky gathering all those sticks and leaves seeing as they had no pouch or opposable thumbs.

It wasn’t long before the sight, sound, and smell of wood burning surrounded them. “Awwwh.” Nuru melted to the ground closest to the heat, but not too close that his fur would catch on fire. “Sleep.” The mono-toned word slipped out before he did just that. He blinked awake the next morning-er night, wow he must have been more tired than he thought, to see not only the fire had been put out but the cheetah had left as well. “Huh.” He looked around and shrugged while stretching. “Guess I could go for some more sleeping.” His eyes drooping before he could even finish and with that he was off into dream world once more.


END.