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 Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:28 pm
She was restless, antsy. There were scars and scabs, littered all over her small frame, and she wanted to go. It was hard for her to stay in a pride where her only connection to the pride was her nephew. She did care for him, despite being the son of the brother that had shunned her and forced her away from home.
Today, though, today she would act on her restlessness, and wander again outside the pride's lands. The path was familiar, one she had taken often, especially when her friend Faudi wandered around this area for a time. Her destination was a fine place to find trinkets.
It didn't take her long to find the tree near the lake. She gave a deep breath, a smile finally on her maw. She would eventually wander further than here, or... or find a reason to stay in the pride she so desperately wanted to call home.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 1:54 pm
 The warmth of the bright sun high in the sky gave a comfort to the large male that roamed about, fresh "paint" along his muzzle in the form of two lines down his cheeks. It was a common occurance for Hiamovi to dress himself in some form of tribal marking or adornment whether it be the paints he could make from mud and seeds, or a forgotten feather and beads set in his mane. For now though his true markings would prove enough how close he was to the nature around himself, the way he padded along almost silently as pawpads brushed against grass and dirt.
Just like any other day, the large male could be heard humming what could only be described as an odd lullaby, though there seemed to be more to it than that. On this day though he seemed to be in search of something, his paws hurting from a long trek with very little time to rest. "Mmm..." Far off in the distance his gaze fell upon another lion...or what he figured to be a lion despite a different build than his own. Voice rich and deep he offers a smile, shouting over. "Greetings! Might a fellow lion rest his paws as well?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 2:55 pm
Chozi had sat under the shade of the tree, happily chilling in the sun. She was glad to be away from the murky water of the Koti. Of course, that's when she heard a voice calling towards her. "Oh, hello!," she said upon spotting the lion. "Come join me," she cheerfully beckoned him forward.
It had been a while since a lion had been in her company. Being from an all hybrid pride, she often didn't talk to lions at all, despite her mother being one. It would be a nice change, she thought - someone that traveled and saw the world. It could make for an interesting conversation. Her only other traveling companion was a small avian called Mellas, but she was getting ready to nest soon, so it wasn't the same.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 3:03 pm
Upon hearing the pleasant greeting Hia gives a greatful nod as he pads over. With a heavy sigh the large lion shifts to rest on his side, his paws caked with dirt the padding showing wear and tear from his long travels. "Thank you, young one. You are kind to allow me a place to rest. It is not often I come across a friendly face, more often it is lonely."
Rubbing his sore paws on soft grass, the native lion finally takes the time to actually look at his companion, thick maned head canting slightly. "Are you not a lion? I have seen many and I mean no insult, I am simply one to learn. I am Hiamovi...Hia for short."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 3:31 pm
"This place is open to anyone," she told the other happily. She waited untilt he male came closer to answer any other questions, however. She looked towards the glittering water for a moment. "Oh! I'm not a lion at all, though my mother was one," she looked back towards the earthen male.
"My father was a cheetah, though. My species is called a Cheeton, commonly," she gave a small laugh. It could be quite silly, but it was a lot easier to say that then Cheetah-Lion.
"I'm called Chozi," She told him. "It's nice to meet you, Hia."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 3:38 pm
"A Cheeton? I have heard that term but have never met one...until today." Smiling warmly to the other feline he sits up a bit, stretching his back then legs quite thankful for the rest. "That is very interesting, I do see some different traits. One thing evades my understanding, though. I...do not know how to ask this, it seems so offensive."
Shaking his big head a bit to fix his mane a bit, Hia looks at Chozi once more before taking in a deep breath and closing his eyes. A soft yet deep hum rumbles from the big lion's throat, a soothing melody that signals him going into his own train of thought.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 4:04 pm
"Oh, feel free to ask," Chozi urged. It took a lot to phase her lately, not with Tikoto helping her calm down and feel freer than she had ever felt before. "Though I can't promise to answer if it makes me feel uncomfortable," she gave a small laugh and sat back.
"There are quite a lot of Cheetons where I come from, and Leopons and even Leotahs," she told him. It was a very diverse pride, she thought. It was a very nice pride, she though.
"I don't recommend you go that way, though," she took a glance towards where the pride was.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 4:11 pm
As the humming stops golden eyes focus once more on the Cheeton, a nod given in reply to her response. "Rather than inquire into dealings that I have no buisness in, them being your personal information...What would your Mm..." Stopping to think carefully he nods again. "What gender pronoun would you prefer I use? I wish for you to feel comfortable around me and wish to respect your feelings."
Satisfied that his inquisition was not insulting, he shifts a bit to pick away a briar that had nestled itself between the padding of his front left paw. "I tend to steer clear of Prides. Not because I see anything wrong, but simply because I have yet to find one I'd belong with. What is your pride like, Chozi?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 6:05 pm
The cheeton, however, beamed brightly at the lion. "Oh, gosh, you're the first to ask, really," She rocked on her paws a bit. She frowned a bit though. The last time she revealed her gender she was attacked. It made her nervous revealing it any more.
"Um, female pronouns are preferred... please," she smiled up at the other. It made her heart flutter happily in her chest. "Thank you, it means a lot to me," She looked up at the lion. "May I ask yours, then?" She asked, shyly, not wanting to intrude.
She nodded at him. "That seems to be wise. My pride is that way - all hybrids, except slaves. The youth's rite of passage is to capture a non-hybrid slave, and if I'm not mistaken there have been a few young that are ready to take that step," she told him.
"Though, there are a few prides that allow mingling with travelers."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 6:16 pm
Head canting slightly the large lion dips his head to sniff slightly, smiling warmly at her. "I do not judge. As I see it, all are free to be who they truly are. I am male, though I admit to being interested in all genders." Catching an itch on his chin with a paw Hia grunts for a moment then relaxes again, his whole demeanor one of a certain wisdom and warmth a kind heart.
"You are you, and that is all that matters. I had a thought that it may have been that way, but I did not wish to assume and offend you." The smile fades as he hears about slavery for non hybrids, tail thudding the earth softly as golden hues glance nervously around them. "Oh, I would not survive as a slave. I am one who uses nature to heal others with salves...not one to be shackled."
Looking back at her he smiles softly, hope in his eyes. "You would not enslave me, right? I do not believe you would...but I am understandably nervous now."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:34 pm
"Oh, no, I have no use for a slave. I'm just a dancer," she laughed lightly. Not only that, but she wasn't a very good master. She wouldn't be able to punish anyone even if they did something terrible.
"Not many are suited for it," she agreed easily. "It's why I warned you that you were near rather than trying to capture you." She had actually never captured a slave. It wasn't in her nature, really. Maybe the opposite way around it would make sense, though...
"A healer, then! A noble pursuit," she grinned. "I don't have the mind for a healer, it seems so hard and baffling. I'd rather stick to dancing, singing, and crafting."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 7:43 pm
Hiamovi relaxes quickly upon hearing the response, the warm smile returning. "I am happy to hear that. So, you are a dancer? I am certain you are skilled..." Glancing toward her feet for a moment he chuckles softly. "I am far too heavy to dance. Is it fun for you?"
Offering a nod of agreement the large lion tugs a pouch from his hip with his fangs, pawing the top open to reveal herbs within. "This produces aloe, great for a fever or burns. It is very soothing...Some herbs actually make food taste better, but I know very little of that. I have things to soothe pain, some to stop a wound from getting infected...There is even a remedy I know that eases the pain of birthing for a lioness."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:19 pm
"It is! It makes me feel alive," she answered with a smile. She leaned forward to look at the herb pouch. She was curious in what it contained. Herbs, of course, it was.
She knew the smells of probably some of them. It was faint, but salves were something she used pretty often, especially after some of her more recent encounters.
The mention of birthing, however, hit her the hardest. She sucked in a breath, and touching what she had to acknowledge as the worse part of her anatomy. No cubs would ever be bore from her body and she found that absolutely devastating. She gave him a smile, however weak it was. "I'm glad there is a remedy that exists that would help those who can bare children," she acknowledged, trying to keep her bitterness over her body out of her voice.
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:36 pm
About to respond to the talk of dancing he instead moves the pouch to give her better access in examining its contents. "There is rosemary in there as well, a nice minty scent to cover some of the less pleasant ones."
The moment he notes the lessening of her smile he realizes his mistake in examples, fuzzy ears pinned to his thick mane. Stumbling for a moment the large male tries to save what he'd said, anything to redeem himself to his new friend. Voice soft he whispers to her. "I am...very sorry. I should be more careful of what I say. I meant nothing by it...For what it is worth, you are you regardless of how you are built. You are a female and...that is how I see you."
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Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 10:14 pm
Chozi gave Hia a small smile. "It's okay, really. It's sweet, really, that you forgot," it was in a way. "All my life, since I was little I was yelled at for saying I am female." She shifted away for a second, stretching her body up a little to show a bare patch upon her belly - ironically where her womb would have been had she been born with the correct parts.
"My brother actually attacked me when I told him, just here," she gestured to the scarring. "So, thank you. Really," she sighed. Even though he hadn't realized what he was saying. "I am just... I'm just a little bitter. It's alright."
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