It had been a disappointing voyage. Gennadios had set out the day before in hopes of finding a pretty female who had managed to get the better of himself and his hyena friend, Vakasa. He had wanted to find her and get some kind of confirmation that, yes, she had managed to play two players without much effort. Some how, it drove him crazy that she had managed to get away from them without any kind of payment, even if he wasn't really the type to get so bent out of shape for the most part. He was an easy-going leopard, and he never sought to intentionally harm others, even females. He only took from them what he felt they would be willing to give, never pushing them into anything that might seriously upset them. That was why he couldn't consider himself a con artist like his hyena friend- he didn't have the heart to be ruthless. To take without giving. That was the whole reason he had to make sure to help someone before looking for any kind of reward. The fact that someone else had used him, who tried to be at least somewhat kind when working his games, really irritated him. Maybe that was what really had him up in arms about the whole mess. In any case, he hadn't managed to catch up with the female, and he and his friend ultimately decided to head back home.
Vakasa and Gennadios were on their way home when they noticed a female wild dog not too far from them. She was sitting at the edge of the watering hole, looking into the small pond with such an intense stare that it was probably very easy to sneak up and attack her if desired. Of course, neither the hyena nor the leopard were particularly violent animals, they just knew a good opportunity when they saw one. More the hyena than the leopard, this time around. Gennadios didn't have much need for wild dogs, even female ones, though he imagined she might be able to catch them something to eat with jsut a little bit of effort. Wild dogs weren't as strong or big as any of the cats, so they couldn't catch the same kind of food. They also weren't really good in the den, so to speak, so Gennadios wasn't sure they had a whole lot to offer him. Still, this one was pretty, at least, with a coat that reminded him of the sea.
"This one's all yours, buddy," he said to Vakasa, sitting back so he didn't get too much in the way of the whole thing. If he was a nicer leopard, he might have felt a little bit guilty letting his friend, someone he knew to be a con man, take advantage of the female. but it wasn't like he was any better- he was someone who enjoyed helping only when it meant some kind of profit.
She didn't look like she needed help, though, so he wasn't sure he needed to lift a paw in her direction.
Vakasa moved forward, leaving his friend to watch as he brought himself up beside the wild dog female. "Well hello there," he said lightly, "I don't think the wild dog in the water is going to talk back to you- that's just your reflection." He had thought the wild dog would leap out of her skin at the sound of the voice. She had been so lost in her own little world that it didn't look like any other kind of outcome would even be possible. He was proven wrong, however, when the female only managed to heave a sigh, looking from the water to the surprised hyena, as though she had been aware of his presence the entire time.
"I wish I could be that wild dog in the water," she moaned softly, "have you ever dreamed about being something else? Living another life? Sometimes I think I should have been born a fish, not a wild dog."
"Woah, I hadn't been expected that," laughed the Hyena, "but not that you mentioned, I did want to have a different life. I happen to have been born a wild dog like you, you know." The female looked at him, ears sticking straight up in the air in surprise and disbelief. He smiled. "That's right! I gained the power to change my form- I could teach you how to do it, too, if you'd like."
"R-really?! But... but I thought that kind of thing was impossible! How? How can you make it so I can turn into a sea creature?!" She was such a fool- normally he had to work a little bit harder to convince others of his little ploys. It was almost no fun having someone in front of him who was so easily convinced.
"It's a spell. I can tell you how to do it... but I am tired and hungry from a long trip across the rogue lands. I do not think I have the strength to remember the way to make the spell..." He flopped against the ground for effect, sighing heavily and kicking up a small cloud of dust in front of his nostrils. The wild dog frowned, quickly moving into the water.
"Hang on! I'll catch you lots of fish! This pond has lots of life in it, so you just take it easy and I'll make sure you get your strength up!" She then went about hunting fish, something Vakasa had not seen before. He arched an eyebrow, tilting his head slightly to one side as he continued to lie there and watch her. No point going against her wishes, right? It was amazing, watching her fish. Like watching a cat like Gennadios doing it. He hadn't thought dogs even knew how to fish. Surely she did love the water- she even got her food from there. Maybe she would have made a good shark in another life time. Too bad he really had no powers to help her and he was pulling her tail for a free meal She eventually managed to pull up several fish, and Vakasa knew both he had his friend would be able to eat well. The leopard was just going to have to wait a little bit longer while he got rid of the little wild dog with a heart of gold.
He didn't care about hurting others- it was important not to get emotionally invested while trying to pull a con. If he let thoughts and feelings get in the way, he probably wouldn't have been able to do anything effectively. No, it was much better to make sure his heart stayed out of the picture. Any good con animal knew that much, didn't they?
When she presented a fish in front of him, he ate it happily, feeling no guilt that Gen could only watch and wait for his opportunity to come over. It was all part of the ploy- he would understand.
"I caught you a lot more fish, too," the wild dog told him lightly, sitting herself down near the other, "so if one isn't enough, there's plenty more where that came from! I want you feeling stronger, even if you can't remember how to help me." She smiled warmly, and Vakasa nodded. She was indeed a sweet little thing. It was no wonder that she had been so deep in thought- it didn't seem like it would take a whole lot to make her very contemplative.
She seemed to have a very simple mind.
"It's alright," he told her lightly, sitting himself up with some feigned effort, "your fish helped me- I do think I remember how to cast the spell." He smiled at her, watching her face lit up. Oh, if he had a heart it would likely have been feeling very guilty at that moment. How silly!
"Really?! That's wonderful!"
"Yes," replied the hyena, "I remember there was a forest about an hour east of here- in the middle of which is a small pond much like this one. If you go to that pond and make a wish when the sun is right in the middle of the sky, then your wish will come true and you can be turned into whatever animal you wish. But you must be careful- if you just wish to be a fish, you will turn into one right there and be trapped forever. I suggest asking to be turned into a sea creature after a certain amount of time has passed, giving you room to find a large body of water to head out into."
"oh, thank you! I will! Thank you!" With that, she sprang off, and Vakasa watched her go. He smiled to himself, before looking over his shoulder and motioning for Gennadios to join him. The leopard came from the bushes, shaking his head.
"You are a terrible hyena," he commented, "but that was pretty cool." He was happy for a meal, too. anything to take the taste of defeat away from him.
wc: 1,517
