There was a light breeze that floated through the high grass. It brought with it scents of life and earth. Though, there was something else… Huritt extended his nostrils, then sneezed. A musty smell sank in the back of this throat. He hacked some mucus in an attempt rid himself of the taste. Whatever created such a foul smell was obviously dying or near death. What else could create something so pungent?
Huritt shook his head to clear it. The sun blazed in high noon and coated him in warmth. He loved the sun light. It rejuvenated him. His tail switched in agreement. Huritt wasn’t fond of cold weather, he much preferred summer time. It took a lot to get him hot enough to sweat, but too little make him shiver. A quick run always seemed to warm him. Of course, if there was a snow storm, he wouldn’t be able to run and keep warm. That was a scenario he never wanted to encounter. Lucky for Huritt, he’s never travelled close enough to winter terrain.
Huritt stumbled a bit as the foul smell grew stronger the closer he walked to a dilapidated tree. Normally, he’d completely avoid something that smelled of death, but he was just intrigued. Now, Huritt was invested in this adventure, though, a stinky one. He cautiously walked up to the tree. The smell was barely tolerable. Huritt tried to breathe through his mouth to keep from smelling it, but it wasn’t really working. In fact, it might have been worse because now he could fully taste it. Huritt pulled himself forward and around the tree. Whatever was generating the smell was on the other side, which, to his surprise, was lion. A black lion laid sprawled out in the little shade the dead tree could cast. Under neither him, a pool of liquid soaked the cracked ground. From the look of it, the pool of liquid was sweat. Huritt shivered. He dared to step closer. The black lion was still alive and breathing, rather heavily. ”Are you alright, my friend?” He suppressed a gag, ”You seem to be melting away.”
A lazy fly slowly drifted around Anga’s head. Its buzz droned on and pieced through Anga’s ear drum. All Anga wanted to do was sleep. The stupid fly wouldn’t let him. Its buzz kept bringing him out of a haze right before he went to drop off the edge. He was too exhausted to do anything about it. Of course, if there’s one fly, there’s more. Soon its family joined it and now there were at least four flies determined to annoy Anga. Whatever, hopefully they’ll go away soon.
Anga couldn’t take it. He left the safety of the lake in order to explore a bit. Sadly, he found himself in an almost desert like area with no shelter from the sun. His black pelt was baking him alive and there was nothing he could do about it. He searched for shade and found this crappy, dead tree to lie under. It was pathetic and barely covered a quarter of his body. Anga’s only hope was to stay perfectly still and wait for the sun to go down. In the mean time, his body sweat, a lot. It tried to cool him down, but wasn’t very successful. The pool of sweat around him was just hot and seemed to boil him. Even the parched dirt under him didn’t want it.
Anga barely heard another lion’s approach. The heat successfully sapped all his energy and concentration. ”Does it look like I’m ok?” His tail twitched in irritation, but that was all that could move. ”I’m freakin’ boiling alive and unless you’re willing to stand in the way of the sun, then go away.” The heat made Anga testy and he hated how weak he felt.
Huritt chuckled to himself. This black lion sure looked sad. He didn’t laugh at the sorry state, but even as exhausted as he looked, that lion still had a bite. A grin spread across Huritt’s face as he noticed a pack of flies dancing above his head. In better conditions, Huritt bet that this guy would be pretty fun. He wasn’t sure why, but he got this feeling they could have some good times.
Huritt nodded in agreement of Anga’s declaration that he needed to provide him some shade. He didn’t have any reason to leave, despite the smell. So, Huritt stepped a bit to the left in order to block the sun from the other lion’s face. He continued to grin, ”It looks like you could use some water. Plus, you smell awful.” Huritt snorted to drive home his point. ”Well, since I’m such a nice guy~ how about I take you to a stream not too far from here? You can get a drink and freshen up.” Yes, he definitely needed to freshen up. He could kill a warthog with that stink.
Anga was surprised the other lion complied and moved to give him some shade. Humm~ weird. Usually, his remarks had others running away from him. Anga grew suspicious. That spotted lion definitely had something planned. Why else offer help to a complete stranger? Yes, Anga will have to be on his toes.
At the mention of the stream, Anga’s eyes bolted open. A stream?! There was no such thing when he was wandering the area earlier, before he collapsed from the heat under the tree. Of course, he didn’t try very hard. As soon as the sun started to rise, his pelt began to drag him down. Well, Anga would wait for the sun to set—which wouldn’t be for hours—or he could trust this guy and follow him to the stream. That is, if there is one. Whatever. Anga had nothing to lose. Either way, he’ll die from heat shock sooner or later. ”Fine, but you better be tellin’ the truth cuz they’ll be hell to pay if you’re lying.” Anga slowly brought his weight into a sitting position. That’s when he noticed the other lion grinning, a very… familiar grin. Anga took time to officially look over the spotted lion. Not only did his grin seem familiar, but his markings reminded him of a stupid lion Anga ran into in the past. ”You look like somebody I know. You wouldn’t happen to know Grinsen?” Anga leaned forward and squinted at him.
Huritt head lifted in surprise. ”Of course, Grinsen is my father.” How interesting. How did this lion know about his father? Well, now Huritt could definitely not let this one get away. Huritt knew very little about his father. He’d have to probe him to find out more. Oh, yes. This will certainly be fun.
From somewhere within him, Anga found enough energy to jump up and dash away. No way was he going to deal with this one! His father successfully embarrassed Anga beyond belief. It will take years for Anga to live it down, that is, if he ever did. Just thinking about it had his blood boiling and this time, not from the heat. Speaking about heat, Anga couldn’t keep up his fast pace. He had to slow down.
Huritt skidded back in surprise as the black lion bolted up and dashed away at the mention of his father. Huritt barked a laugh and chased after him. It didn’t take him long to catch up with the slowing lion. ”You better slow down or else you’ll collapse.” Huritt’s grin exposed his teeth. ”I’ll tell you what, how about I take you over to the stream and you tell me about my father in exchange?”
Anga lowered his head in frustration. He hated this. All he wanted to do was take a nap in a nice, cool place. Now he wast stuck here with mini-Grin. Granted, he didn't have the exact same colored pelt, but it was close enough. Anga let out a sigh. He didn't have much of a choice. He'll have to suck it up and follow the guy. Whatever. He'll just get to stream, cool down, and then head back. End of story. Anga snapped his head up, "Fine, but that's it. Now get moving before I melt." Anga rolled his eyes as he watched the other's grin spread even wider. Just like his damn father.
Excellent! Huritt bounded over to the black lion and pointed him to the correct direction. Now to just get some information.
((word count: 1,40 cool )
