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Although he much preferred the view available from the higher branches of the mighty trees, Ostium could be found on the ground now and then. Particularly when he was thirsty. Though it rained daily, and the water collected in various plants, sometimes it simply wasn't enough and the leopard had to descend to earth in order to quench his thirst.

The brook he'd chosen was small but lively, burbling over rocks and branches as it traveled downhill. Nevertheless, the dark leopard kept a wary eye and ear out for any danger. He never felt completely safe on the ground, preferring the world of the tree limbs far, far above.

Most predators large enough to threaten him were far too heavy and not nearly agile enough to follow him upwards.

The dark leopard froze at the quietly spoken word. He'd thought himself to be alone...but it seemed he'd been mistaken. Red eyes narrowed as Ostium considered the situation. The voice had sounded as if its owner had sought what the leopard himself had - water. If the stranger was drinking, however, the brook's own movement covered up the sounds.

Not yet ready to go back to the trees, but paranoid enough to run for them, Ostium crept towards the area where he'd heard the voice. A cautious paw moved some of the grasses out of the way to reveal...

...a cheetah. Hmph. Well, a cheetah was little threat. They were built for speed and a leopard would still outmass the slenderer feline. Good.

The voice was half expected, but unwelcome. Then Ostium realized what the cheetah was saying. Dark eyebrows rose up high. What in the world did this stranger think he was?

Well, probably a female. That was the tone of voice that some used for seduction...right? The leopard couldn't be completely certain, but it seemed to fit.

Therefore, there should be a simple way to fix this.

Ostium took a few steps forward, clearing the grasses entirely so that the cheetah could see how mistaken he was about his spy. He couldn't seduce another male, after all.

This was not at all how Ostium had envisioned the encounter continuing. The fact that not only had the cheetah not given up, but was instead continuing to flirt with him...it was unbelievable! Except...he kind of had to. Because the cheetah was right here in front of him, still talking.

It was just his luck that he'd managed to stumble upon a total nutjob. Or headcase. Or whatever this...Sulie...was.

As far as the leopard was concerned, this was a dead end. He got the feeling, however, that even if words weren't beyond him, the idiot cheetah wouldn't listen.

So Ostium adopted a threatening pose, and growled at the other feline.

Well, he had to admit that, given what the cheetah had done already, he wasn't so surprised that Suli wasn't back off due to a growl. Annoying, but predictable. It was his words, however, that made Ostium's lip curl in a snarl and bare his fangs. A vow? As if he'd made some sort of bizarre choice?

Actually, if he could talk, the shadowy leopard would probably be too enraged at this moment to do so.

Then he wondered why he was letting this idiot get to him so badly. After all, they were total strangers and the odds of meeting the white cheetah again were fairly slim.

So Ostium stuck his nose in the air and began to stalk off, ignoring Sulie as best he could.