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Yenplu's feet were tired, she'd been walking for days and still she had no clear goal in mind. She just knew she needed to walk, not run, not skip, walk. By no means was it the most fun she'd ever had, but it wasn't like she had anything else to do ... Right?

Well that wasn't true, she had to get started on her new life. Now that she was out on her own, she had to settle down. The idea of settling down in one place for only a short amount of time did not settle well with her. She was scared, truth be told. To be so far from home, where she could sleep under the protection of the Umboli. But here ... she was completely vulnerable to the elements. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, though she tried to contain it.

Looking around her, she seemed to find herself in a jungle of sorts. A very strong sweet scent wafting through the branches. The scent wafted through her nostrils and seemed to tug her towards its origins, to which she happily complied. Unsure of exactly where she was going, she only hoped the scent wasn't a deception.

The closer she seemed to get to the scent, the more floral and colorful her path became. The gorgeous arrays of flowers brought a smile to her face, it was unlike anything she'd ever seen before! For the most part, she was used to nothing but barren land. But being here was bringing out a very hidden love and appreciation for the forests. Not only did they smell wonderful, but they looked wonderful .... And they ... sang wonderfully?

Tilting her head to the side, she quickened her pace, she was smart enough to know that the trees weren't singing to her. Though that knowledge only proved to strengthen her curiosity for the real singer.

Pushing aside a cropping of bushes, she peered around. The humming was crystal clear now, and she knew she was right on top of the source. Slowly she glanced from side to side, taking in the entire area as best she could. That's when she saw him, a gorgeous green lion, with some very lovely brown spots.

It was as though her eyes were glued to him as she stared at him in fascination. Again, she'd never seen anything like him, and she was simply in love with the look of him.

Yenplu's eyes nearly rolled back in her head, his voice was as melodic as his humming! She could see his charming smile, and offered a dopey one back. Shyly waving a paw in his direction, she tried to get her feet to move.

She'd heard stories of a flower, that lured flies in with its sweet scents and then ate them. It was creepy for sure, but that wasn't why her Mother had told it to her. It was to warn her that males outside of their pride were not to be tampered with. They were just like that plant ... pretty but dangerous. This male didn't seem that way ....

Finally her legs began to move, though they were quite wobbly.

"Ummm hi!"

Were the only words she could manage at first, focusing the rest of her attention on her wobbly feet.

"Well I was following a rather sweet scent ... but then I saw these flowers ... and then I heard a voice."

Yenplu was sure her blush was showing by now as she tried to contain her embarrassment.

"I don't mean to intrude, I was merely curious of where all of these things could be coming from."

Yenplu nodded happily in response to his words, but was careful to keep a close eye on the male. He seemed harmless enough, but she still couldn't get the plant's tale out of her head. Rogue males meant danger, he was rogue. Therefore, he was danger?

Yenplu physically shook her head to try and chase away those thoughts. She was almost positive that those words were false, implanted into the minds of the young to prevent them from wandering. Just like she had. Stepping closer she could more easily see his markings and they nearly took her breath away. The colors alone were enough to make her blush, but the patterns? She was definitely not in the Bonelands anymore!

Snapping back to attention, she tried her best to stay on track with the male's words.

"The aroma alone is quite enticing ... though their color is really a sight to see isn't it?" Reaching over to her left, she inhaled the scent of a low lying flower.

"Oh? My name is Yenplu, it is my pleasure to meet you Kahawia Sir." Dipping her head as low as she could, the female held her courtesy as long as she could. Refusing to lift her head until he had acknowledged her respect.

"Yes ... the jungle ... truth be told, this is all new to me. I've never actually been to the jungle before." Closing her eyes to inhale the scent, Yenplu smiled gently. All the sounds and smells around her were so wonderful, and yet so foreign. It pained her to know she'd missed out on something so beautiful for so much of her life. "I'm saddened to think I have missed out on so much beauty ... it makes me wonder what else I haven't seen before." For a bit, she seemed lost in thought, wondering what other beautiful things she's been deprived of.

It wasn't until Kahawia spoke again, that she snapped out of it.

"Staying? Hmmm I wouldn't know ... I only just got here."

Shrugging her shoulders, she imagined herself staying here in this wonderful place.

"There are so many places I haven't seen ... so many things left undone! Could I really settle down with such unresolved feelings?"

Yenplu's ears twitched at the words he spoke, and before she knew it she was prancing on her paws happily. "Mountains? We're close to mountains?" Her voice was so excitable she could have easily been mistaken for a cub. "I-I've never actually seen those either..." Getting a hold of herself, she calmed her prancing and looked at Kahawia meekly. She knew she wasn't supposed to act this way in front of males ... but she couldn't help herself.

"I think I know what you mean ... when I was in my old home ... I just knew I didn't belong. I guess your experience was quite similar, except in the opposite opinion." Now tired of the space between them, Yenplu quickly closed it and dipped her head at him once more.

"Forgive me for ym outbursts ... i'm just overwhelmed with all of the new things i'm experiencing. I don't mean to be a pest at all!"

Yenplu tried to stifle a giggle as she listened to Kahawia's story. It wasn't so much that his story was funny, but that it was adorable! She imagined the young cub Kahawia lost and alone on a mountain, and just wanted to hug and squeeze him to pieces. "Oh ... but are you sure it isn't too much trouble? I feel as though i'm intruding on you ... I can't tell you how grateful I am that you are such a nice lion." Again, she dipped her head at the male, this time offering him a shy smile and a bashful expression.

"I would love it if you could take me to the mountains! Maybe once i've seen them, we could come back here! I am enjoying the sweet scents and bright colors of the jungle."

For the first time, in a long time Yenplu felt a blush growing over her face and she tried to hide it by burying her face inside Kahawia'a paw. Though that didn't do much good, instead she settled on her trademarked sheepish smile.

"Then i'm even more excited to see them than I was before!" She mused happily, allowing a small purr to roll up her throat.

"The feeling is mutual Kahawai."

She returned his gentle nuzzle, through quite awkwardly. Being in such close contact with a male was something she was most definitely unfamiliar with. It was almost alien to her. Though despite that strange feeling, it was making way for something much more welcome. A feeling of warmth and happiness.

Perhaps her trip to the jungle hadn't been such a bad idea after all.