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 Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:13 pm
Versailles chuckled, low and throaty. "Well, haven't you just figured me out?" It didn't seem to be so much sarcasm as amusement. "I can't say I believe in omens myself, but I know what people say of me. And, it seems they are right, for the most part. But am I the way I am because of my ominous signs? Or am I who I am because others see the signs? Or, is it just a coincidence? It is a curiosity."
"But, you're right. Most stories are half lies or all lies. But the good ones have some truth, and I never make attempts to be bad at something. It really doesn't matter how I came here- by seeing me, you know the gist. Everything else is extra. Not important but, maybe amusing." He thrummed.
An shifted, trying to make sense of that. If even Fia agreed...well, then it had to be right. But she couldn't help but think it seemed a bit wrong. After all, didn't one lie make an entire story seem untrue- even if some of it was? "I... I think I'd like the truth much better."
"The truth is, unfortunately, rarely as resolved and even less interesting." The black cheetah said. "But, I will say this: if only I had lied about those apes. But my mind is not that clever or cruel to come up with such a thing." His paws crossed. "But, you need not worry... they are feeble things, and the desert is their most powerful enemy. They have conquered nearly all territories, except in places like these. Maybe that is why their slave-beast chose this direction to flee? It is as good a reason as any."
Versailles smiled. "From here... I expect you shall, eventually, lose sight of me and not see me again. Its my way. Here one minute, gone the next. This leg will slow me, but I have no interest in dying. Too many things to do, and I can't say I care to stay too long with people who have such unpleasant blackmail on me."
The young cub seemed to sigh. This was a strange adventure if there ever was one! And she had a feeling it was soon to be at an end. She couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed in the strange cheetah leaving. She had a feeling there was much more to the story- and even more to the strange fellow! "Well... one day I'm going adventuring for good! I'll see you again."
Versailles opened a single red eye. "I should hope not."
"Yeah, well." She scoffed. "Firekin do what they please."
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:22 am
"Don't bother me with such questions. Only you know the answer to that." Her ears flattened and a lip curled up in distaste. She wanted to go now. She didn't like this cheetah and she didn't like the fact that they'd been away so long. Surely they were late? And if they were late than that meant she was in trouble! Aunt Kaanga would not be best pleased!!
"Then we will probably never see them, and that is probably for the best. I'm not sure why, but the thought of them makes me wary for all the skills they seem to have. We have evolved to live here. It seems they have evolved to live almost anywhere, to do so much. A dangerous species indeed."
She stood and took a few paces back, her eyes falling to An. Why was it that when An spoke of adventuring and meeting him again that she felt a pang of great sadness? She couldn't actually like the little nuisance, could she? No. Cubs were a pain! And yet...
No, don't think about that.
"Whether you do or not. I hope your remember the kindness shown towards you this day, cheetah. Even if An does see you again, I know I shan't. Head west from here and you'll find a little water. After that you'll have to take your chances. I have not ventured further than that."
She turned to leave, gesturing to An with a small flick of her muzzle. "Come, little An, we'd best get you back before your mother starts worrying."
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 8:53 am
The cheetah shut his eyes and let a low purr echo in his narrow ribs. "I cannot promise such a thing, but I thank you for your information and aid. Should we meet again, I might even feel unfortunate for having to trick you." Another low chuckle.
An twitched her ears, peering at the cheetah in a kind of intense way. As though she was quietly remembering the face. "That's alright." She grinned. "'Cause, then I won't have to feel bad about smacking you. I expect to be remembered!" She gleamed, shooting a toothy and mischievous grin. She liked the idea. Of being able to continue this adventure someday. She had a feeling she was still missing pieces to the real story.
But, truthfully, this was all strange- and after a few near scares, running after the wild bird, and rolling down sand dunes, An was getting quite tired! She yawned and looked over to her cousin, smiling eagerly. "Yeah, I guess that's true. My eyes are getting all tired."
"So long lions," Versailles thrummed.
An chased after Fia, leaning against the older lioness's side. Once they were out of earshot of the mysterious black cheetah, An took a moment to reflect on the adventure they'd had. "You know, this was sort of a strange adventure."
She skipped a few times. "We uh...better keep it from mom. I don't even know how I'd explain it to her anyways!"
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:09 am
Fia glanced down at her little, sandy-coloured cousing and smiled in agreement. "Much stranger than I could have ever imagined! If I'm going to be honest with you, little An, I was expecting to come down here and find nothing at all. Just sand and more sand. To think we'd actually found anything at all was strange enough."
She lowered her head to nudge her muzzle gently against the other. "I think, if by chance you ever do see him again when you're all grown up, it'd be a good idea to give him a good smack, too. Would serve him right."
She smiled, purring, finding herself feeling exhausted, too. The ups and downs of this little adventure had been unexpected and fear was not something that Fia had ever really felt before. That moment in those shadows, listening to that noise... yes, certainly scary!
Watching An skip, she was glad it hadn't seemed to have affected her that badly. In fact she seemed rather happy. She supposed taking care of other people's kids for a short while wasn't as bad as she had first imagined - though the responsibility of it still was terrifying!
"Keep it a secret?" She echoed thoughtfully. "Uh, yeah, I think you're right about that, An. No point in worrying her when everything turned out alright. Besides, she might get angry at me and your mum is real scary when she's angry!"
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:18 am
An gleamed, and looked over Fia. "Turn out to be nothing? Now that would be silly. I woulda kept looking until I found something!" She might have lived in half fantasy, but there was a very real backbone to An's strange nature. This might not have been the epic adventure she had been hoping for, but she had enjoyed it just the same.
She grinned, rubbing her tiny head up against Fia's as she leaned down. "That's what I think. No one gets the better of me, so he'd be very sorry if he tried! But, yeah. Mom is really scary. Hopefully she won't figure it out, 'cause she's really really tricky."
But, then again, she supposed Fia was well aware of it!
As they walked off together, back towards the pride, she hummed softly to herself. "You were pretty much the best sidekick ever though. Next time I see a monster, I'll let you know about it!"
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Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 9:27 am
"We'll just have to be really, really tricky, too, then, so that she definately doesn't find out. If she asks, we didn't find any monsters and it was all rather boring."
She smiled and flicked her ears back and forth, picking up the sounds of An's humming. And then...she was speaking again? Righting her ears, Fia found herself rolling her eyes. The best sidekick, ever? Was that the best thing to be? Did that mean she was going to be dragged out on another one of these escapades?
Fia was going to have to learn how to say no!
"And, if I'm not about, there's always Ea!" She grinned to herself, flicked her tail and moved to keep in step with her little cousin.
Had she enjoyed this little adventure?
Yeah...maybe just a little bit.
/fin.
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