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 Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2006 10:46 pm
Mteuli lay out in the warm mid-afternoon sun by a large watering hole. Animals were milling around, eating the green grasses near by and taking cool dips and drinks from the water. Since he was laying there so lazyily none of the herivors seemed to desterbed, though they did cast him wary glances now and then. He had been traveling for a few days at a rather hard pace, for no reason at all, and it was nice to take a break. But he knew he'd heave to be going home soon. Ah...that was the trouble with having responsabilities!
"Mteuli!!"
Suddenly the herbivores spooked, though for the moment they were too frozen in shock at the sight of the lioness launching a pounce attack on one of her own.
Her voice had changed considerably since last they met, no longer riddled with insecurity and guilt or fear. She sounded... happy! Traveling in these lands had put her quite at ease, three weeks now, no attacks, no yelling, no angry males, no cruel encounters. She was truely feeling like herself again though Tai didn't note the difference.
Mteuli's head snapped up in slight surprise, blinking his emerald orbs. At first he had no idea who had called his name. But as he craned his neck around he caught sight of Tai. While still startled at how open she was, he couldn't help but smile. Well, this was sure an improvement from their last meeting. It seemed she was doing better.
He sat up into a sitting position, beaming at the female as she drew near, his ears pulling forward among his fluffy mane, "Why, Tai my dear! You appear well!" He sounded pleased to see her again.
"It's so good to see you again!" She immediately replied, grinning a great smile that made it clear she was scincere. She finally reached him, closing the distance and half launching herself at him, purring and draping a paw around him for a moment in greeting. She pulled back again seconds later, backing up to stand before him. She looked healthier, in a sense, though still rather thin. Hunting was still a difficult adjustment with such a brilliant pelt helping her stand out. "You look good too! How've you been? Have you been home since I saw you last? Oh, I'm sorry I left without saying goodbye, I just felt so guilty!" ;_;
Mteuli gave her a small nuzzle in his own return of the welcome, something he would do for any friend of his(not that he didn't enjoy it more with females). He was pleasently astonished. Wow! What a change of heart! It made him feel so good, seeing her so much happier like this. It had been painful to watch her struggle inwardly the last time they had met.
He answered when he had been released, still smiling silkily, "Ahh, I've been doing wonderfuly. And yes, I've been home a bit." He tilted his head a little, emerald eyes sparkling, "No...no, do not fret over it. No need to feel guilty. You were free to leave when you wished...you held no obligation to me." His words were smooth and comforting and if anyone had been listening they probably would have asumed Mteuli had known her for a long time by the way he spoke.
"Really? That's wonderful! I've been wondering and wondering how you were, you know you were the very first lion I'd run into since I left home? Isn't that strange? I mean, It felt like I was traveling for months before I ran into you! I didn't know what to think! But I met some others, and everyone's been so nice!" Hearttouched smile-- it was clear that his kindness, as well as the others, had a considerable impact on the way that Tai began to percieve the rest of the world. Thanks to those she'd met along the way her trust and faith had been restored again. "But listen to me, I'm rambling like a little cub! Is your family well?"
Finally! She calmed down just a little bit, though never loosing a single drop of the sunny warmth in her voice, responding vivaciously to the friendly tone that he used.
Mteuli felt...well...so impressed. It was like she was an entirely different person! And seeing her now he realized she was very warm hearted and sweet, not that he hadn't asumed so before. Beautiful on the outside and inside as well. He was ever so glad she was doing so much better. It was almost as if her broken state had never been.
"Well! I'm very glad you've been making friend's, my dear. It's the thrill of traveling, if I do say so myself." He replied brightly with a swish of his tail, "My family? Ah...yes, we're doing very well, thank you! Though I must say I believe my brother would prefer me back home." He chuckled a little at this. His light tone suggested he was very close to his brother and that, despite his comment, it wasn't really a problem of too much concern. A reoccuring thing really.
An amused little giggle bubbled up from the lioness throat as well as swimming in her icy blue eyes, tickled at the idea. His brother sounded like he might be the touchy type, which wasn't really funny, but was very humerous to picture at the same time. She felt a little guilty, but what was a little bit of guilty indulgence now and then right? Her tail lashed a bit behind her at a playful sway, batting at her own hind legs as the two conversed. Tai's ears sat perked upright and foward to take in what Mteuli had to say, and her posture, though she remained standing, was very relaxed, graceful even. The grazing animals gathered around had once again relaxed, going back to their drinking and eating while the two lions enjoyed their social time.
"Your brother sounds like he worries a lot... I hope it's not too forward for me to say so. I've always thought that was what brothers were for." She smiled again softly, finally looking ready to settle down, or not-- "Would you like to take a walk with me? You seem to know this area much better than I do..."
A small, sheepish smile, once again not loosing any warmth, but looking a bit shyly embarassed.
Mteuli chuckled again, "I suppose that is what brothers are for. I don't worry enough so he seems to make up for it himself." He had no problem of her speaking about Mteule as such. He knew she had good intentions, so the words were not at all insulting. Besides, they held some truth to them in a way.
His maw smoothed into a soft, small smile for her at her question. Such a sweet heart! "It'd be a pleasure, my lady, though I don't claim that I'll be able to do a better job of navigating then you." Pleasure it would be indeed! He was already enjoying himself emensely.
A silently pleased expression served as the females response, giving way for the other to rise.
"It's really very different from what I'm used to, all of it. I was born somewhere near here but my father took us to the mountains. There's snow everywhere up there so it's a lot warmer here than I remember. It's kind of easy to get lost in the grasslands too, everything kind of looks the same. So I walked a full circle and ended up right back here where I started!" She explained, turning uknowingly in the direction of the jungle.
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Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2006 2:40 pm
Mteuli chuckled a little in agreement, "Yes, I suppose it can be confusing if you aren't used to it. It sounds like the landscape of your previous home was very beautiful. It has to be rather cold for snow, though. Quite the opposite of my home, so I do believe I'd fair rather poorly." He grinned at this. He'd stick out like a lady bug on a leaf too. His coat was far from being light in color.
"Any particular destination you have in mind, my dear?" He asked as he began to lope along beside her.
"Not really," She answered sheepishly, though she really didn't seem embarassed to admit it. She'd simply been looking for a familiar face, and Mteuli happened to be the first that she came by. Fortunate, really. "I've never been anyplace very hot before, this is already more heat than I'm used to. I'm sure I'd stand out in your home too, oh, but, you'd fit in better than you think! Most of the other lions back home were different colors, not a lof of them were left to hunt."
She kept pace alongside the tawny male, all the while her thoughts drifting back to the lands she'd grown up in with a fond smile. The landscape had been unparalleled in beauty, in her eyes, though the entire territory had an unfortunate cloud of depression looming over it, constantly.
"It was beautiful back home, especially at night when the moon was high and just after a windstorm or fresh snowfall. All over the place, the ground would just glow... it was like a paradise, everything was fresh and new..."
She sighed, coming out of her reverie.
"But you wouldn't have liked it there very much. Everyone was miserable and most of them were pushy or irritated all the time."
"Actually, you'd fit in rather well. You remind me of the whites of twinkling stars or perhaps the glow of the ivory moon upon the lake water," He murmured thoughtfully with a smooth smile. It was acutally rather surprising how varied coat colors could come in his pride...but then, they weren't choosey about members so that probably explained it.
The corner of his maw twitched downwards slightly at her comments of her homeland, "It sounds so beautiful...it is a shame no one was happy." He didn't question why they were unhappy or anything. If she wanted him to know she'd tell him.
Sadly, as much as it might have helped her to get that out in the open, Tai wasn't the type to like to drag others down, so a subject change was her solution instead.
"Wow..." She blushed, averting her eyes shyly for a moment. "That's a very kind thing for you to say, no one's ever complimented me like that before."
"Really?" Mteuli mused, looking pleasently surprised, "Well, that is a shame for someone so beautiful as you." Despite his words his voice still remained casual. This was how many of his conversations went with many people. He was just the smooth talking type who, when the time arose, liked to compliment others. It made him feel good somehow. It was just his way.
Well.... Tai didn't really have an answer for that one! Now she was certainly feeling humbled, and the blush was all but visible on her smiling maw. "You're too nice..."
"Am I?" Mteuli wondered allowed, finding the idea rather silly to be truthful. There wasn't enough niceness in the world, sadly. He rolled his shoulders in a shrug, rumbling in a smooth purr, "Perhaps I am...but that doesn't mean I'm not genuine about what I said." He smiled silkily, his tail swishing to the side.
Ak! Water suddenly blurred his vision as Tai splashed at him. Wow! She really was loosening up! He rose back on his haunches, lifting a dramtic paw to his chest, "Ahhh! I've been hit!" He flopped backwards into the grass, sending a couple of butterflies and a bird skattering from the nearby area. Who said Mteuli didn't get to have a little fun sometimes?
Tai felt a great bubbling laughter at that, trotting over to where her friend had fallen and circling around his head, gazing down cautiously, much like an inquisitive cub might.
"Have you been vanquished?"
Mteuli covered his eyes with a paw, making a overly-exagerated face of dismay, "Oh yes! How could I ever hope to have rivaled such a powerful foe? I am defeated!" He flailed slightly and then went limp in his attempt to play "dead".
She almost squealed with delight, oh but it had been so long since she got to play with another! Her pink-padded paws found his chest as she "pinned" his "dead" body to the ground and spoke in a dramatic and triumphant tone, a mock deep and valiant voice.
"Ha ha ha! Fear me, I am Tai the conquerer!"
"The world trembles in your wake, my lady!" Mteuli crooned under his paws as he lay there, hiding a smile as well. If Mteule had seen him now...well, he probably wouldn't aprove. He would probably comment on there being something more useful for his time or something but...Mteuli didn't care. x3 He was having a good old time.
What a concept, ha! Tai, a conquerer of anything but her own problems, not likely. And hearing such a title as "my lady", it just seemed so chivalrous and old fashioned! It was really quite charming, and in it's own right, flattering, however playful it may be.
She stepped back afterwards, an amused smile always in place.
"I don't know about that, but anyone that dare enter my domain! .... Uh..." And at that point Tai bounded forward, splashing into the waters and turning to face him again with a "regal" lift of her chin "--this river! Shall fear my wrath!"
That was a little playful to be intimidating. biggrin
Mteuli rolled over onto his belly, peeking at her from under his messy strands of mane. "What happens, ruler of rivers, if I jump over thy domain instead?" He teased, his tail swishing out behind him. He might be able to make the leap if he tired. But he was far more interested in the form of her response.
OwO;; ... She hadn't thought of that.
".... Hmm..."
Tai mulled over this new possibility before deciding on a reply with a grin.
"You'd still have to face my wrath, because you'd still be within the airspace of my domain!"
"Oh my! Looks like I shall have to try and face this wrath in order to return home!" Mteuli moaned dramatically as she slunk onto all fours. He flexed his muscles and shoulders a little, reading to jump forward in a great leap. He sprang forward, ran a few steps and then launced into the air over the river.
He landed lightly on the other bank, uprooting some small blades of grass and scattering some dust. He turned to look at her, wondering what his "punishment" would be.
Mmmm, interesting indeed. Tai turned, looking to the other side.
"Ohhh you're in trouble now, mister!"
Mteuli grinned, tilting his head to one side slightly, "Ohhhh....I suppose I must be punished then, mustn't I?" Tease, he was such a tease when he wanted to be. x3 Ahh, he hadn't been able to have fun like this for a while now.
In answer all Tai did was draw back her paw again with a playfully threatening grin. And then-- SPLASH!!
Mteuli shook his head, shaking water from his thick mane. It didn't get rid of most of it, but hey, it was better then nothing. "Ohh~I have been wounded! But I shall fight back~" He moved forward smoothly and scooped his paw into the water, aiming his splash in her direction.
"Nonono!!" She squeaked, unable to hide the mirth from her voice even as she tried desperately to backtrack and escape his throwing range.
Mteuli took his opertunity to jump backwards and start bounding away, "Ah, escape!" He loped out of range of the water and then turned to peer back over his shoulder with a smooth, minute grin.
"Hey!!" She shouted indignantly! D: Her prey was getting away!! Well we won't have none of that!! >(
Tai smirked and turned again, leaping from the river and onto the opposite bank with liquid grace. She fell right into an easy lope, slowly adding speed until she knew she could catch up. The wind whipped at her fur, pulling away droplettes of water as the two streaked across the savannah. Were they heading in the direction of the jungle then? Who knew? Who cared? They were having too much fun!
"You can't, get away!"
Mteuli turned from where he had been observing, racing back through the sea of green-gold. "I beg to differ, my dear!" He called back elegently as he ran, his long legs carrying him swiftly in the direction of home. Yes, he knew they were heading towards the jungle. But while within a game, did it matter? Of course not!
It wasn't too long before the purpose of this running was lost to her. When was the last time she'd run just for the thrill of it? This wasn't the same as hunting, there was no burden of responsibility.
"I'll get you, Mteuli!"
She didn't quite gain fully, yet. Now that they were moving into a full run moving up to his side, muscles coiling and releasing smoothly to pull and propel her forward. She was running too fast to try talking anymore, but sent a smile his way for a moment.
Flecks of dark green and the shadowy shapes of hills appeared slowly in the distance. It wasn't quite near enough to get to just yet, but having it visable was something. He hadn't realized they were so close.
He laughed a little, but couldn't manage a reply with the air rushing in his ears and through his fur. Adrenalin pulsed through his warm blood, giving extra life to every spring he made. He pushed off the ground harder and more frequently as she gained on him, picking up the pace as well. If they were going to run like this, he was going to give it his all!
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