Word Count: 1032Safuraa was nervous. Asha was gone for a long while, almost spanning along three days. She said she would return quickly and gave him gentle assurances that she would return. She hid him between hills in the mouth of an abandoned badger hole.
Still, the world frightened the young cheetah, and his mate leaving him in such a place made his heart hurt and his head swim. The brightly colored cheetah gave a small whine, curling in onto himself. The night was nearing and he was freezing and he wanted Asha to return to him.
She was the hunter, however, and he was not. She was very skilled in working on her own and hardly ever needed his help. Normally she found him a particularly safe spot and told him to stay until he returned. Of course, he listened. She knew better than he did - she was older and wiser.
But that did not make him want to remain in a badger hole for days more. He was shivering - his body was skinny and the hole barely held out the heat. He closed his eyes and tried to hold back his shivering and clattering teeth.
Unfortunately, however, Safuraa was bright and easily spotted, and curious animals sometimes wandered by. He remained as still as possible when he heard footsteps, keeping his eyes closed.
"Are you alright?" a voice said, soft and sweet. Safuraa blinked his eyes open, startled at the sudden question. He tried to clear away the blur, but it took a few moments, and he could hear some murmuring.
Finally, however, his eyes cleared. He spotted the source of the voice - and of the murmuring. Before him stood two lions. They didn't appear to be related - mates? He shied back into his hole a little. "Faudi, I think he's hurt," the female's voice was clearly concerned.
He turned his gaze to the male - Faudi then. The lion was frowning, tasting the air as if he was trying to find if he hurt from the air alone. He wasn't hurt though, not really. He was just starving and cold. Faudi moved a bit closer to him, slowly as if not to startle him.
Truth is, opening his eyes and finding lions was very startling, especially if he did not know if they were friendly or not. The lion sat near him, not really blocking him, but peering down concerned. "Are you alright?" The question was repeated, this time by Faudi.
And Safuraa would answer this time. "I think so," he murmured, shy and still shivering. Faudi gave a small gentle smile. "You look very cold," Faudi mentioned. Nights were not a joke in this part of the world. It could go from blistering hot to literally freezing in just a few hours, and the earth was just starting to cool.
"Is there a reason you're here all alone?" Mati chimed in. The white cheetah looked up at her, contemplating the answer.
"I'm waiting for someone." It was the truth, however much he disliked it. He wished Asha would return.
Mati glanced over to Faudi, tilting her head just a little and settling on the other side of the Cheetah. "Would you mind if we kept you company then?" she asked softly. The cheetah gave a small, dubious look. He shivered again, however, and gave a nod in response instead.
"I don't mind," he murmured after a moment, and Mati settled next to him. Her fur radiated heat and the small white male could not help but to move a tad bit closer. Mati and Faudi were clearly comfortable with each other though, and moved closer.
They practically pushed the small cheetah between them, sharing body heat between the three of them. He continued to shiver for some time, though his body was warming. He was still hungry, but that could be fixed later. Right now, he was warm. Or getting there at least.
"Did your friend leave you here for a reason?" One of the lion's asked. He nodded in response, his jaw clattering now that he realized how cold he had been before.
"Sh-she's hunting r-ight now," he murmured, pressing closer to the Lion's side. He was warmest and had fluff surrounding his body. It was an ease to curl close to him. He breathed in a deep sigh and closed his eyes once again.
Faudi gave a small smile when the small cheetah's shaking seemed to stop. The poor creature was far too cold and he had felt like he was curling up next to a block of ice. It was a little disconcerting, and he glanced at Mati - she was clearly thinking the same as he was.
Mati cooed softly at the Cheetah, frowning at how cold he was. She made soothing noises at him as he closed his eyes. The two lions watched the cheetah for a while, waiting for him to fall asleep. Mati turned to Faudi, careful not to jostle the now-sleeping cheetah.
"Are we taking him with us?" she asked Faudi softly. The male tilted his head in consideration, looking down at the small, sleeping creature. He didn't know if they should - his friend might return soon to find the small cheetah gone and that would not do.
He shook his head after a moment. "We can at least wait for his friend to return, though. Keep him safe?" Well, Mati would keep him safe. Faudi would not, and could not fight, but he could keep the small one warm. Mati was much better at all the stuff despite her memory being somewhat faulty.
Mati nodded. "Yes, that would work. Hopefully his friend isn't gone for much longer, otherwise I may have to hunt for all three of us, and an I am but one..." Faudi gave a small chuckle, giving her an apologetic smile.
"I can try to catch a hare, but I'm not very quick. I've haven't done it before, though," he frowned. All would be well, though they both still hoped for the friend's speedy arrival.
Tonight, though, they would rest and watch over the waif of a cheetah and everything would look better in the morning light.
