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 Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:05 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:14 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:19 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:28 am
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Whuffling in surprise at hearing what he'd thought to be a butterfly speak with such a bored, but impudent tone, Kere had to laugh at himself. Creatures out to do harm didn't talk like that, he thought. So this stranger was safe enough to approach openly.
"No, you can continue resting," he called back in a friendly voice. "And if you don't mind, I'll rest with you. Haven't gotten to get any new gossip in a while."
There, he thought. That was harmless enough. Moving closer, he saw that his "little butterfly" was actually a young lioness with the most astonishing patterns upon her. Indeed, the brilliant blues that adorned her back took his breath away when he realized that, against all reason, nature had granted her butterfly wing markings.
His mind charmed, he finally got to where he could sit near her and smiled.
"Welcome, miss. Have you travelled far?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:34 am
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Reassured by the friendly smile and kind words,, Mrengo relaxed visibly. Turning a bit so she could better face the strange male, she smiled in turn and tilted her head as she studied him. Older, but with lovely, kind pink eyes. She admired the odd shell and flower arrangement tied around his neck and gave an approving nod.
"Hello to you too, kind sir," she quipped with an impudent wrinkle of her nose. "I'm afraid I haven't got any gossip for you. I never stopped long enough to gather it for myself, y'see. Unless you want to hear about the perils of trying to help raise seven wild dog puppies, I haven't got a thing of interest to tell."
Mentally chiding herself for such rude words, Mrengoducked her head and lowered her ears slightly.
"I'm sorry, being by myself for so long has warped me. Forgive my rudeness, sir."
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:40 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:47 am
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Nodding, Mrengo found herself warming to this odd lion. Especially when he confided that he had a wild dog friend of his own. So he wouldn't make fun of her for Auntie and the pups.
"Very well, sir Kere," she began. "My name in Mrengo'angaa. Auntie has a fondness for long names, I think. But I prefer being called Mrengo or 'Ren. My parents left me with AUntie when I was very young and she raised me. To tell you truthfully, I sort of pity the pups when they misbehave, since Auntie's favorite discipline is to n** one's nose," she laughed sheepishly and rubbed her paw against her own faintly scarred nose.
She continued to tell him about her cubhood, gratified to have such an attentive audience. As she neared the end of her narrative, she saw how the sun had changed position in the sky.
"Well, Once I started getting older, Auntie and I both thought that it would be best for me to leave since the puppies were always so hungry and well, they were an awful pawful to manage, you see. So I picked a direction and began to walk. And while it is nice here, it just isn't as nice as the savanah in my eyes."
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 5:56 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:03 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:08 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:15 am
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:21 am
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Mouth opening and closing like a landed fish, Kere couldn't help but stare at the strange, lovely lioness sitting across from him. This... THIS was why some hidden inner voice hadn't allowed him to go with Biz and Nafasi. Silently, he thanked the Rains, from whom the message must have been sent.
Knowing that Mrengo was earnest in her speech, Kere thought quickly, but hard. There were other hunters here, so the pride would not be harmed if he left. He had no mate, no children here who would be hurt. There was nothing tying him here except, perhaps for the Rain. And it rained on the savanah. Not as frequently, perhaps, but it did rain out there.
He wouldn't be alone either. Not if Mrengo was with him. Opening his eyes, he allowed a slow, grateful smile to spread across his face.
"I would go and be honored by your company, Mrengo."
Now he sprang to his feet and gave voice to a joyful roaring laugh.
"I'll go! Let's go now, 'Ren," he said in a coaxing voice. "Let's not wait a moment."
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Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2009 6:27 am
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Laughing at his performance, Mrengo nodded and got to her feet. She had her breath back, her body had cooled and it was close to dusk. They would race side by side under the moonlight.
Her breath caught in her throat at that mental image as she shivered in happy anticipation. Something at the back of her mind whispered that this was right. That it was what she'd been born for.
For the first time since leaving her adopted family, Mrengo was genuinely, unashamedly happy.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" she cried, tail lashing playfully. "Let's run!"
And, to her immense satisfaction, when she took the first steps, he was besdie her, matching her pace for pace as they left the lands of the Kizingo'zaa.
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