[B-PRP] Termite mounds and alabaster. (Kutu x Nala)

[[Eskimo]]

Sometimes he thought about them for long stretches of time, so long that he couldn't sleep. Other times it was more sporadic--a snippet of a thought during meals, before a duel, in the middle of a conversation. Then there were times when the thoughts became annoying like flies bouncing off his head, buzzing in his ears, stinging the corners of his eyes. It was during those times that he found his legs carrying him off no longer to think, but to see.

The Pridelands.

A dark maned lion stood silhouetted against a looming backdrop of termite mounds. He wasn't the handsomest male--there were tangles in his mane, dust in his coat, and the hair around his paws was worn. Next to him the neighboring Pridelands looked positively glowing. His lip curled just slightly. The split between the Outlands and the Pridelands happened long before he was born, and most of the time he felt like he couldn't care less. But that history was responsible for tragedies in his family. That history was responsible for hardships his father had to endure. And his siblings. And their father's mother, and so on and so on up the family tree. And it was that he couldn't forgive.

"It's not like you're a Shield, y'know," a raspy voice called from the sky. A black bird circled a few times before landing between the lion's shoulders.

"It's not like you're my friend, y'know," the male mimicked with fake enthusiasm.

"Damn!" his 'friend' cried, hopping to the ground. "Kutu is salty this morning."

"Your face is salty," the lion mumbled. His attentions were focused elsewhere. Something had moved far ahead.

"Nice comeback," the black bird said flatly.

"Buzz off, will you?" Kutu sneered. As his avian obliged, Kutu moved about some rocks to get a better angle on whatever--if anything--was in the distance. What the hell was he doing here, anyway? Was he looking for a fight? A war? Did he have a death wish? Boredom? He could say he was looking for would-be members to duel, but he'd be lying to himself. He stood stiff and flexed his claws, watching the distant savanna grasses and willing them to move again.  

[Pandorus Sphinx]

Just breathe.

You can do this.

Sweat ran down Nala's pale neck as she stopped for a moment, her lungs grasping for air silently before she huffed and puffed her way into circles, one paw dragging after another leading Nala to follow her own shadow. The lioness crossed herself a few more times before taking off into another sprint; narrowed eyes carried her across the golden lands as she ran, body low to the ground and ears pinned back. She was focused.

She could run like this forever.

Nala wasn't in a rush to get anywhere anytime soon, she had no destination to reach, she just wanted to run far away; quickly and alone. She used this time to think, this time to sit with her emotions and pick apart her inner thoughts. This solitude belonged to her.

As she continued her trek across the Pridelands she felt alive and free, all of days stress and worries seem to fade away, leaving her puzzled mind at ease, even if for a short while.

Slowly the golden lioness came to another swift stop, this time gasping for air loudly, winded, and completely spent. Her heart felt like it was going to burst, pop right out of her chest and shrivel into nothing right in front of her. She needed water. Nala's eyes closed for a moment as she panted deeply, slowly making her way to the nearest source of water.

s**t. She was so tired.

Nala's golden eyes, speckled with flakes of sunlight closed as she sighed in deeply before throwing her head back, glancing up at the evening sky. The overcast was keeping her cool at least, tiny favors sometimes helped the most.  

[[Eskimo]]

Whatever was moving in the grass hadn't moved again, or had changed directions when he wasn't looking. How frustrating. He wanted something to be there, but he didn't know what or why. His senses were usually right, yet he doubted himself. He needed to get closer--closer to the river, closer to the border that split the lands in two. Closer than he usually wandered....

Kutu's pads took him ever closer to the edge of the Pridelands. There was no thought to caution on his mind. He could see the lands were clear, which was one of the things that frustrated him most in that moment. Where the hell were all the glowy, happy lions?! He needed a wider point of view--an aerial view.

He pointed his head to the clouded sky to call on Nyota, only to find that he'd already gone. Damn bird could never make himself useful, always disappearing right when he was actually needed.

The male turned his gaze back to the horizon line and stopped at the river's edge. A rare breeze wafted over him and tousled his mane, and with it the scent of a lioness. Kutu bristled.  

[Pandorus Sphinx]

Oblivious wasn't the right word for it, but she was defiantly unaware of the dark lion that crept closer to her - the pale lioness was still spinning after her long run and her whole body felt a little foggy. In truth she could hardly think straight, the exhaustion was definitely getting the better of her. Nala stepped into the cool waters until she was chest deep with toes barley touching the ground beneath her, washing the day away from her pelt, her body relaxing in it's borderline weightlessness. This felt much better.

Nala sighed deeply again before she turned her head quickly, her eyes following her ears to a rustling lot of grass.

"Hello?" Her voice was still a bit raspy from her fatigued demeanor, but she was able to move her way back to the shore, where she crept out slowly. Water pour off of her pelt as she struggled to kick her legs dry, furrowing her brow as she glanced back over to where the sound came from.

"You going to come out? Or do I have to come in?" She was starting to feel a little bothered by the lack of response. Talking to herself like this felt foolish. The pale lioness shook her head from side to side before stepping forward, speaking in a calm tone one last time.

"This is my last warning." Nala meant it- she didn't like being spied on.  

[[Eskimo]]

Kutu had bristled for a reason. He knew full well the lionesses of the Pridelands were no joke. He didn't think they were any match for Outlander lionesses (although he may have been biased), and he liked to think he could easily win a one-on-one, but they definitely weren't to be taken lightly. He used the grasses to his advantage, hoping the direction of the wind and the camouflage were enough to disguise him, at least for a time. At least until he could see who he might be up against.

Without much warning, a lioness appeared and took to the water with a kind of exhausted desperation Kutu had never witnessed before. She bathed herself as though she were trying to wash something off--no, rid herself of something...something inside. Kutu's eyes narrowed. Did he see something he could...relate to? No, that was absurd. But the thought nagged him and he couldn't help but peer closer, grass rustling around him.

s**t, he inwardly cursed. He'd been discovered. But not entirely, by the sound of it. He nearly gave himself up completely, but he found himself stuck to the ground when he saw the lioness glide out of the river. Tiny trails of water flowed from her body, over her curves, the muscles in her shoulders. Droplets sprayed and dripped around her in a halo, reflecting the dimming sunlight, glittering, glittering--she was glittering.

The female's warning would've put Kutu on the defense ten minutes ago, but the edgy feeling had left him. The realization of its absence made him bitter. He stayed in place for some moments longer, if only to get a better listen of the female's voice. Strangely, the longer he listened, the more agitated he became. He gave a sharp sigh and finally revealed himself. He pushed through the grasses until they thinned into nothing, stopping at the edge of the river across from the lioness.

"No need to get fussy, princess," Kutu said casually, "I won't bite. You seem a little too tired to fight, anyway."  

[Pandorus Sphinx]

"Maybe so, but I could still take you." Her words came quickly and without hesitation, followed by a soft frown she wore naturally as she looked him over once and once again. He was dark with eyes that felt unnaturally green and sinister, held still by clouds of yellow sclera. Nala found herself tracing his features leisurely at first, her eyes scanning his figure as she studied him for a long moment. She couldn't be too careful after all, and in truth was a little curious, maybe he peaked her interest more than she would ever be willing to admit- maybe. His pelt was a familiar shade...

Something about him didn't belong - he wasn't a typical Prideland male, at least not to her naked eye. Her golden eyes finally shifted as she smirked under a faint laugh, her damp paws shifting beneath her weight.

"What a creep." Her words felt a little bitter as she spoke loud enough for him to hear from across the river. Perhaps she was teasing him just to rile him up? She hardly knew herself at this point.

"Do you always spy on local lionesses or is this your first time being a voyeur?" Nala wasn't inherently cruel by any means but she wasn't going to allow him get away with seeing her in such a vulnerable state. He had no idea what he walked in on, how private that moment might have been to the golden lioness. Maybe, just maybe she was punishing him a little bit.

Her smirk faded as she settled her gaze back to his lean figure, his mane was matted and fur covered in a fine layer of dirt and dust. Where had he come from exactly...?  

[[Eskimo]]

The quick threat didn't catch Kutu off guard. He'd been expecting a reaction like that, and it was clear that he'd been right about what Pridelanders were like--maybe too right. His eyes wandered briefly back to her light colored coat, her pale eyes. Even as the sun faded and the shade enveloped her, she was still glowing.

As Kutu observed her, he noticed that she was observing him. Sizing him up for a fight? Kutu found himself bristling again. Usually upon meeting a Pridelander, they'd reem him out and try and send him off with their words before ultimatley attacking. Admittedly he'd never gotten to that point, even if he was prepared to. This lioness, however, seemed like she couldn't care less. Or that she couldn't decide what to do. Did she not think she could take him...? Maybe she realized she was too exhausted after all? Smart of her. His mind flashed to her relish in the water and he narrowed his eyes, trying to rid himself of the memory.

'Creep.' Did she really just call him a creep? He bristled harder, but then suddenly his hair fell flat again. Oh. She thought she was being funny. What a catch she was for some poor sucker in her perfect, precious pride. Kutu set his mouth in a thin line. He pretended he hadn't heard that first comment. Her question, however, was a different story.

"Oh, yeah, spying on bathing lionesses is one of my favorite pastimes," the male deadpanned. "I'm still waiting for one to show up."  

[Pandorus Sphinx]

His retaliation came quick, Nala wasn't surprised at all. He didn't seem like the type to just sit back and take lip, this intrigued her even further. When her first snarky comment was ignored she gave him a little grin under a soft chuckle, it had gotten under his skin enough for him to pretend it was never said, Nala was winning whatever little game the two had just started. Her pale eyes shifted from his figure and settled on his face as she watched his expressions change as quickly as they appeared, it was kind of adorable how easily she could read him, how easily offended he seemed to get.

With his last comment though... he struck a nerve; he had the gull to imply she wasn't pretty enough to spy on? The idea made her red in the face, hot with boiling temper. The lioness flung her tail from side to side as she called out in his direction, practically screaming at him from across the river.

"So, have you always been an a*****e too?" Her ears pinned back as a frown soured her expression, golden eyes never leaving his own.

All that separated her from him was a little bit of water, if she wanted to she could swim over to his side and give him a swift kick in the balls.

But... She would keep her distance for now. Maybe he would get tired of pestering her and leave on his own. Nala wasn't sure she wanted that either though, this little argument was at last entertaining enough to continue, even if she was dealing with a red pelted jackass who basically called her ugly.  

[[Eskimo]]

The way the lioness continued to size Kutu up was giving his instincts a run for their money. He couldn't figure out if she wanted to fight, or if she was trying to place him somewhere. Did she recognize him...? Or maybe it was that she didn't recognize him? It suddenly occurred to him that it was possible the female had no idea he was an Outlander. That would've been ridiculous. She seemed too smart for that possibility. Then the only other explanation was that she was...somehow...examining his appearance for...other reasons...? No, that was even more impossible. Him? Really? What a joke....

When the lioness thrashed her tail and snarled at him, something in Kutu's eyes lit up. So she had this type of temper? In Kutu's mind, Pridelanders were a lot like zebras. This lioness, however, was a little more Outlander-ish than he'd like to admit. The thought was somehow...exciting--no...comforting? Disgusting. Confusing....

"Yeah, I've always been an a*****e too," Kutu smirked. "So how long have you been one, then? Since birth, I'm guessing." He paced alongside the river a bit, watching her reactions. Was this a type of duel? "Always nice to find myself in the company of other assholes, especially ones who still have so much energy after--..." he trailed, suddenly losing the smirk.

In truth, Kutu didn't know what the female had been doing to reach that level of exhaustion--not that the lioness could have any sure idea what he had or hadn't seen. But he found himself aggravated again. The thought had morphed into that and had come out accidentally. He didn't want to be thinking of her in the water anymore, drinking it in, drowning herself with reckless abandon, reminding him of his late-night turmoils, clawing and gnawing at his mind, clutching at his mane, curling into a ball, silent screaming, busting empty termite mounds into dust until he couldn't breathe.

Kutu glowered through his bangs.  

[Pandorus Sphinx]

As if calling her an a*****e would do anything to upset her, it only made her laugh harder, this time as loudly as she could so that he couldn't mistake it for anything other than a joke. Her eyes narrowed still before she moved her front paws into the river, allowing the water to engulfed them completely before she stopped, speaking out to her red pelted rival.

"After what? What do you even think you saw?" She felt a little shudder roll down her spine as she moved herself a little deeper into the river, her upper legs now totally submerged in the milky waters.

"I didn't ask you to creep on me, you know? I didn't ask you to see me.... like that." She felt a frown crawl across her maw as Nala's ears flattened against her head. The golden lioness had never looked so pathetic, in truth she felt a little naked right now, her layers unraveling right in front of him.

This idiot. He was making her so upset.

"You should come over here." Nala spoke with a soft nod, as if trying to coax him to her with as sweet voice, her siren song. An invitation was given, would he accept?  

[[Eskimo]]

The eruption of laughter was unexpected, and Kutu couldn't force his smirk back with any level of success. There was something contagious about laughter, however genuine or fake.

Upon her first set of questions, Kutu merely shrugged. Being enigmatic wasn't difficult for him, at least in the attempt. He watched the lioness enter the water once again, his brows furrowing, maw twisting slightly. Every time he wanted to stop thinking about it, something happened to remind him, and here she was literally wading into the river again, dammit. But he quickly forgot the irritation once her demeanor changed.

"I didn't...mean to creep, actually," Kutu mumbled, his expression harder than his voice. He couldn't help it. She looked...weak. But not in a repulsive way. Those who overdid it were annoying and pathetic. But those who were strong...to show one's heart on one's face took a lot of courage and strength for some. Still, he didn't understand why she was showing him of all lions. He didn't want her to open up--to try and relate to him.

He didn't want to relate to her.

Kutu watched the lioness move through the water, ripples gathering around her shoulder blades, droplets falling off her chin. The darker the evening grew, the brighter she became. He let his eyes drink in the sight for a moment. He touched the water with a paw, as if toying with the idea she'd presented.

"And what's so bad about this side of the river?" he asked lowly, catching her eyes.  

[Pandorus Sphinx]

Nala's eyes stayed steady on the darker male's figure, tracing him as he moved to test the waters ,with a single paw. He looked like he could use a bath, if she was being perfectly honest with herself, so what was the harm in him joining her? Perhaps he was defective? She raised a brow at him, her body floating in place.

She ignored his last question.

"Come on. It won't bite you." She didn't want to sound impatient... but if she was going to teach him a lesson she needed him to get in the damn water with her. Yes, maybe she had a little secret motive behind her change in character, sometimes seeing something and feeling something weren't easy to explain. Somethings are better off shown. Nala felt like this was a perfect time to show him just how embarrassed he made her feel.

"I won't bite you." Those words were true, she had no intention of harming him, just a little dunk in the water- nothing too harsh. Her pale eyes turned as she glanced down at her own reflection, speaking again, only this time softer.

"What, do you really think I'm that ugly?" What was this? Was she totally unable to get him to come to her? Maybe he did think she was repulsive. For a moment she forgot all about her vendetta and sadness crossed her puzzled face. What if she was so disgusting to him every word he spoke was from a place of true dislike? She felt her eyes watering at the thought. <********.  

[[Eskimo]]

Kutu watched the lioness float towards him, her sunken body like a moving reflection of the moon on the water.

Glowing, glowing...

A crease formed above the male's nose. However tempting it was to give in to the lilting invitations, he knew what that river was. That river was a border--a barrier. He knew what it represented, what it divided, what was on the other side. To cross even halfway through that river was like stepping into the Pridelands themselves. It made him feel ill. But this lioness didn't seem to understand that. She didn't seem to see the line like he did. She didn't even see him. She didn't know, did she? No, he could see that she didn't.... What would she do if she knew? Recoil? Shun him? Attack him? The idea of it...the farce...he allowed himself to imagine it--pretending to be a Pridelander to get close to her.

What a joke....

I won't bite you, she said. Kutu let himself sink into the words for a moment, gaining something from watching her face, though he didn't know what.

"But I might bite you," Kutu said, never taking his eyes off of her. He was mesmerized--he could admit it to himself now. He lowered his body at the water's edge, reclining before it, front paws dipping into its surface while he remained on dry land. Just to be closer--just a little closer. He needed to see more, needed to understand more. Something in those raw eyes, something in that moonlit coat, something...he had glimpsed it before and even now didn't want to acknowledge it, but he had seen something he'd understood. He'd felt something.

"If you're ugly," the lion began quietly, "then I must look like a mutated termite."  

[Pandorus Sphinx]

What was once born out of her need for vengeance had turned into an odd sympathy she was sharing with the rusty male, even though she knew very little about him, even though she hadn't asked for his name, something very weird was happening here. It felt like two lost souls connecting over an unspoken fear they both seemed to share. It was sublime, it was raw. It felt like daggers cutting into her chest as she moved a little closer to him. Her eyes settled at his paws as she frowned for a long moment, speaking with a voice that was much smaller than before.

"I don't really think you are a creep." Nala would forgive him, knowing that he most likely stumbled up her by mistake. She would like to believe this was the case at least.

"And I do not think you are ugly. Certainly not mutated..." Her words trailed off until they were nothing more than a whisper left dancing across her mouth. He was dirty, but he wasn't unattractive. He was sort of handsome now that she could see him better. He had a mysterious quality about him that made her want to get even closer, though she couldn't explain it even if she tried.

So slowly she crept closer, stopping only when she was a few feet away.

"Maybe I wouldn't mind if you bite..." Well, that was bold. She felt her face flush and beat with excitement, yet she did not remove her gaze from his. She would stand still, seeing him for the first time clearly, with eyes unclouded by anger.  

[[Eskimo]]

Not a creep? That was a first. Kutu narrowed his eyes as he listened, intent on hearing her words, processing them, understanding her...understanding this. Ask anyone in the Outlands, and they'd tell you Kutu wasn't the easiest to get along with. He didn't even get along with his own damn bird. He didn't have friends. He knew a lot of people, sure. But he wasn't popular like his dad who was great with his family, great with other Outlanders, great with his gorgeous lady...Kutu was just the smaller, dusty, less-handsome, less-friendly, and all around less-desirable version. And he knew it, too. But this lioness...

...Didn't think he was ugly...?

He wanted to scoff and call her a liar. He wanted to curse at her, laugh at her, ridicule her for being a flighty, thick-headed Pridelander. But he knew she wasn't that. He could see her eyes too clearly now. Her eyes were close--she was close. He felt his breathing steady, somehow more relaxed than he had been, but more on edge than ever. Her whispers sent a pleasant crawl across his skin and he leaned closer to her, closing even more of the gap that she herself had chosen to close. It wasn't enough, though. More, a bit more...closer, to see more, understand more...and then it happened.

He could see it. In that unfiltered gaze, he could see it plainly and he knew. It was like instinct--knowing when to take off after prey, when to strike an opponent, when to back down from an argument. Right now, he knew:

She was just like him.

There was some sort of pain inside Kutu's chest, and it crossed to his face for a moment. There was some relief that had come with the realization, but he was confused, resentful, angry, and many more emotions on top of that--emotions he wasn't used to feeling. She was a new discovery. His discovery. He wanted her. He couldn't erase what he knew now. She was his missing piece. He needed her.

Kutu reached an arm out and placed a slow paw behind the lioness's head, pulling her even closer, closing the gap even more. He searched her eyes, lowering his own walls, letting her see.

"Then I just might," he replied. "It wouldn't be the first time...an Outlander bit a Pridelander."