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 Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:38 pm
The past few days had been incredibly warm. Well, warm was a bit of an understatement. It was Africa, and it was hot. Baridi had been walking for days and, after a few less than savory encounters, she was beginning to wonder if staying in the rouge lands was the best idea. A pride would be a nice refuge from the harshness of the rouge lands, as well as the tougher animals that roamed the plains. As she walked, she came across a little water hole. She drank her fill and, after making sure there were no predators in the water, decided it would be a nice place for a swim. She walked in up to her chest and drank a bit more before enjoying the cooling sensation as the water penetrated her fur. Ah...this was relief. She closed her eyes and sighed in relief, a small smile crossing her features. Yes, the past few days had been stressful, but there was always a silver lining to every cloud. The days would get better. This was making up for the past week or so.
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:22 pm
...that was an understatement.
The partially exhausted leopard roved closer to the lure of water. He could scent it over the aroma of the herbs he delicately clutched in his mouth. Clean...to an extent. But it was the cooler scent that drew him inexorably closer to his destination. The promise of cool water to slake his thirst, some to carefully mush the herbs into a poultice of sorts that could be reactivated with the precious water he was en route to see.
Ködćoro paused, scenting the air. There was something else on it--the scent of a wet feline. He wasn't afraid of meeting anyone new, exactly, but he was a little cautious all the same. But he couldn't try to find somewhere else. It was hot enough that he would likely collapse from heat exhaustion...and then he'd be in a fine mess.
So he journeyed on, stopping and sitting near the edge to observe the green female before him. A lopsided smile twitched his lips as he set the herbs down and laid his paw protectively over them.
"Greetings." He dipped his head in a respectful nod. "Do you mind sharing this lovely pond at all..?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:00 pm
Baridi dunked her head under the water after a few minutes of soaking and shook herself once she re-emerged. Ah...that was great. She probably looked rather foolish now with her fur sticking up all over the place, but she felt incredibly cool for the first time in a while. At night and while hunting she appreciated her darker, natural coat. It really helped her blend in with her surroundings and kept her warm. But during the hot days like this, it attracted the sun and kept her overly warm. She normally kept to the shade, but after days of not even a tree...well. A voice made her gasp quietly and lower herself a bit more into the water, just her nose and the top of her head visible as she looked around. She spotted a white leopard on the shore and her ears flattened against her head in embarrassment. Oh dear...what a time to be caught. She lifted her head from the water again and moved to a slightly shallower area, keeping a watchful eye on the male. Most of the other felines she had met out here hadn't been of the friendliest nature, but that didn't mean she had to be cold to this one. "Oh no, please. There's more than enough water." It was an incredibly hot day, it was no wonder there was other life around. She moved up out of the water and kept a safe distance as she shook herself free of extra water, making sure not to spray the newcomer. "Help yourself."
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:10 pm
Both ears perked as he noticed her duck low in the water, and he couldn't help but chuckle quietly. It seemed quite clear he had embarrassed her, when he felt there was certainly nothing to be embarrassed about! He gave a catty, friendly grin and slipped towards the water's edge.
"My thanks to you, and sorry for startling you, a bit."
He dropped in a crouch, easy and loose, and drank a little with a relieved sigh.
It may not have been cold, but the water was definitely cooler than he was!
He dipped a paw in, scooping at the water with an expression that was a mix of amusement and relief before looking up at the leopardess.
"My name is Ködćoro. Is there anything I can help you with?"
It was, after all, a rather hot day.
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Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2012 9:47 pm
Baridi lifted a paw to smooth her fur down, not wanting it to stick out at all odd angles after she had given herself such a violent shake. The dampness of her fur picked up the light breeze that was blowing over the ground and it made her even that much cooler. Ah...well worth the slight embarrassment. "Oh no, it's all right. I shouldn't have let my guard down so much," she said with a little laugh. Really, it could have been someone not quite as friendly as this leopard. Then she would have been in trouble. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Ködćoro," she said with a little dip of her head. "I'm Baridi. And if you have any tips on how to keep cool on a day like today, I'd be most grateful for you to share them with me." She laid down in the shade as she spoke, crossing her paws in front of her. They matched the amused and attentive look on her face. She always enjoyed meeting new characters out here in the plains. It was part of the reason she was still a rouge, really. "That pale colored coat must help quite a bit," the green leopardess observed, nodding to his mainly white coat. "I'm not sure you can teach me how to turn a lighter color though," she said with an airy chuckle.
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Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:04 pm
"Well," The white leopard chuffed softly in laughter, his eyes dancing and reflecting off the water, and the water reflected off of them, causing him to lazily close his eyes with a pleasant expression on his face. "It's a good thing it was just me, then."
He unintentionally echoed her unspoken thoughts on the matter, and happily splooshed and splashed about in the water. He used his tail something like a rudder, enjoying the soft little currents he created as they swished through his fur while he contemplated any tips.
Well! He could certainly think just as well below the water as above, and he - quite literally - dunked himself, paddling below the surface of the water and enjoying the reprieve from the sun. He surfaced and blew a hard breath out from his nose to expel the water. He turned and twisted, swimming close to the edge that Baridi was laying near.
"Hnn, well. You may be able to find certain plant matter you could use to almost dye your coat a lighter colour, perhaps. I'm not certain on how well that would work."
The leopard grinned good-naturedly, opting for a couple more 'laps' in the pool, enjoying himself and apparently not the least bit concerned if he was thought childish by the way he slurped at the water and sent it flickering in all directions by shaking his muzzle against the surface.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2012 10:34 am
Baridi settled down on the bank of the pond as Ködćoro took her place in swimming around. She smiled as she watched him, glad that he wasn't some sort of stuffy, stuck up male that would make fun of her for acting like a cub. Honestly, would they rather sit out in the hot sun and get exhausted or take a nice, refreshing dip? "Oh, that would be interesting if it could do that," she said with a wistful sigh. "I wouldn't want to look funny, though. Imagine if it made my fur fall out!" she added with a laugh. Oh dear...no, she'd rather deal with her darker complexion and just find a few ponds to swim in. "Doesn't it feel lovely?" she asked as Ködćoro began splashing around. She laid down and rested her head on her still damp paws, letting out a happy sigh. It was so nice to have company! She was used to being alone out here in the rouge lands, save the occasional leopard or lion. "I can't wait for the rainy season...the dry season is always so horrible to live through."
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