Gunju
Arii



Gunju was lazing about, feeling sleepy and tired even though he hadn’t done much except for eating, sleeping in the sun and… well, Baridi. The leopardess was out hunting at the moment – hunting for him, mind you – and Gunju was delighted to have his plans go so perfectly for once. This experience had been the closest thing he’d had to settling down permanently and while he couldn’t deny feeling a little fidgety lately, his eyes already searching for the next horizon despite the rather pleasing deal that he had going.
He shifted on the tree before dropping to the ground effortlessly, proof that no injury was affecting any of his limbs like he’d told the green leopardess who was currently living with him.


Arii was the friendly type, quick to make friends and help anyone in need but she backed down, growling and barking when a green boulder fell from a tree right next to her. It took her a few moments to realize that the large shape was actually a leopard and one who didn’t seem to have even noticed her before she started backpedalling and making noise.
“I’m so sorry.” She apologized quickly to the feline, feeling more embarrassed than scared now. “I wasn’t expecting to see someone fall down right next to me.” She smiled apologetically which was usually enough to get her out of trouble on most situations.

Gunju raised one brow and then the other one when the smaller animal jumped away, making such a racket that it looked as if he was trying to kill her. He might try eventually but that was beside the point. The least she could do was to wait until he actually tried something before bursting his eardrums, jeeeeez.
“I wasn’t expecting something to turn around the trunk of the tree and almost jump in my way but you didn’t hear me complaining.” He returned in a rather snotty tone, waiting for the quick apology that usually followed this type of tone. If he could make the inferior creature grovel at his paws, he would.


Arii took one step back, noting with a healthy amount of unease that the leopard didn’t seem to either friendly or in a very good move. As a regular-sized leopard, the feline was intimidating enough even in a good mood so this was a rather tricky situation for a fragile wild dog like Arii. She wasn’t even sure she was fast enough to outrun the green cat if he tried to harm her.
“Sorry.” She repeated, unsure of what else she could do to appease the leopard. “I got really scared there for a moment.” What else could she do besides apologizing? “I’m Arii, by the way. Arii’Samra.”


She was nervous, he could tell. He’d be nervous too if a feline over twice his size was eyeing him in the menacing way that Gunju had practiced till exhaustion.
“Saying it again doesn’t mean I’ll accept it.” He said in a growly tone though he was secretly amused by this admittedly petty form of entertainment. He wanted to see the little canine squirm in his presence and at against a wild dog, the green leopard was confident that he could kill her easily if he wanted. With other felines, this sort of behaviour was a bluff as he was not particularly strong or fast for a leopard. Against the patched dog however, this was no bluff.


Arii wanted to back away but she was afraid that might further incite the angry-looking feline. Egery now and again she’d hear horrible stories about small creatures like herself getting mauled to death by large felines – usually lions – for no particular reason. She had a healthy respect for the growly, scratchy cats so even though Gunju’s words were annoying, she wasn’t about to lead the way to an open conflict.
“Well, you’re a lot bigger than me. Isn’t it natural that appearing out of nowhere would scare me?” her tone was polite and friendly but there was a hint of defiance to it.

Gunju’s eyes narrowed slowly as if he was mentally sizing her neck to see how well it would fit his mouth. He didn’t like that something so much weaker than himself had dared to talk back at him, especially considering he didn’t even take that kind of behavior from those who were stronger than the green leopard.
“You better watch that tongue before I take it out, little doggy.” This was not an empty threat. In his mind, Gunju was actually considering turning that sudden the casual threat into reality.


Arii decided that enough was enough. The risk of staying here was just too great and the young wild dog turned in a second and ran for her life. He might be stronger and maybe he was even faster but she was a good sprinter and her stamina was definitely better than his. For the longest time she didn’t even look back, afraid that she’d find the leopard on her hind legs.

Gunju almost made a move to stop her but he remembered Baridi would be arriving soon. Or, more truthfully, he was too slow to pick on the signs that she was about to bolt and failed to grab her. Belatedly, he realized that had actually been for the best as Baridi looked like the sort that might not approve of the killing of little doggies. Pff. He couldn’t find a reason why riding the world of one of its numerous canine could be considered a bad thing. They were nothing more than pests.
The green leopard stretched and leaned against the trunk of the tree as he waited to the leopardess.


Arii stopped running after a few moments, looking back and eyeing the green leopard in the distance with a frustrated expression. He looked so relaxed there that she felt like shouting some bad word at him but the wild dog wasn’t going to risk retribution if she could help it.
“Stupid cat.” She whispered under her breath, panting a little. She eyed the leopard for a few moments before finally accepting that he wasn’t going to chase her and continued one her way.



- Fin -