[PRP] Stalking can lead to Misunderstanding(Nataraja/Zawadi)

[Sabra Knight]

It was another evening full of the loud bustle of life. Returning from yet another raid Nataraja shouldered his way through the crowd of felines with glittering trinkets which he had been awarded clinking rhythmically against his back. Oh, the girls would love these. It was rare when he had such a good load after all. Normally he would tend to present them with fruits and little trinkets at random, but rarely like this. He had already pawed his way through his earnings and only opted to keep the new jewel which hung from his ear. Unlike most in the pride, while he was a true pirate at heart, he didn’t hoard quite as much as the others and would easily trade off his goods. Especially for some really good fermented fruits.

Yet he paused. There were some really pretty pieces and he could think of how nicely they would match….should he? No, to give her something would be an obvious declaration. He couldn’t afford to fight yet, but rather had to bide his time. So no, that wouldn’t be a good idea. He just hoped she was doing better than the last time he had seen her. It was a shame to see such beauty tethered down and troubled. Nataraja sighed as he passed into the area where most of the females spent their time. He would make a quick stop here.

Though as it often tended to turned out – his quick stop lasted quite a bit longer than intended. Soon enough he would be sharing in the brew and surrounded by friends, females in particular.  

[Wylde Roses]

Zawadi'Nzuri was on a mission. The female cheetah was attempting to follow the male cheetah that she was infatuated with - er... that she admired. She had recently learned that his name was Nataraja, and had been privately thrilled that she had obtained that small piece of information.

Right now, she had caught sight of him and was watching him from a distance. He seemed to have a lot of trinkets with him; pretty things that were lovely to look at. A part of her hoped that maybe he would give her a gift... but another part worried about how something like that would ruin her not-so-careful plans.

Well, there was no sense in worrying about it, right?

And it wasn't like he would be pouring his affections out on anyone else - not when he loved her! She nodded to herself and continued creeping along, following him - wait, why was he detouring to... that was where many of the other females we-

...Oh.

Well, maybe he would just be there for a moment? Perhaps he needed to drop something off... Zawadi frowned to herself and found an out-of-the-way spot to wait for him, laying down and stretching out close to the ground. He would be moving on soon, right?

...Right?

With a low, dejected moan, Zawadi dropped her head onto her forelegs. This didn't look good at all.  

[Sabra Knight]

By the time he left the company the sky was darker and full of stars. The cheetah couldn't help, but to look up and admire the night sky. Everything was prettier when there was some fermented fruit involved. He chuckled low under his breath before swaying back straight on his paws. He hadn't meant to have much, but had just been overwhelmed by everyone like always. Normally Nataraja would have stayed longer for other such entertainment, but had remembered that female yet again and had held back. His heart just wasn't into it.

Stumbling again from the path the cheetah's gaze suddenly veered over and passed over something. What? The cheetah shook his head before being distracted again. "Natta!" The slender form of a lioness moved towards him, "You almost forgot this." Sashying her way towards him the female dropped off what was left from his gifts. "You said to keep that one away from the rest." She reminded him with a small laugh, "But I guess you nearly forgot?"

"Oh." Nataraja shook his head, "Thank you." He picked up what she had dropped and after being nudged playfully watched as she retreated back into the night.  

[Wylde Roses]

Zawadi had almost dozed off while waiting for him. She probably would have if her mind hadn't been tormented by the most desperate of worries. What was he doing in there? Well, she could guess, but she didn't quite want to believe it.

How could he want to spend time with other females? Especially when she was lonely, she was suffering, and she had been waiting for him the entire time! The fact that she had, in truth, been stalking him slipped her mind entirely, and the patch-marked female got to her paws and prepared to flee the area.

She was a fool for hoping. How could anyone in this pride be worth loving? Even someone as handsome and dashing and wonderful as her - no, not hers. Never hers, no matter how much she wanted him, no matter how much she deserved to have him.

Zawadi let out a sob, then another, and very quickly she was crying her heart out, having forgotten her original intention to run away from there.  

[Sabra Knight]

Nataraja swayed on his paws. Maybe he had participated a bit too much tonight. But that fermented fruit had been sooo good and being surrounded by encouraging friends...well how could he resist? The stress of everything lately - this was a good break. He normally always held back, but not tonight. It was okay though. He was still aware of everything. It was just more dreamlike. Actually he was expecting to pass out by now. Jeesh, talk about a headache in the morn'.

His ears pricked up as a sound reached them. What was that? Someone sobbing? Nataraja frowned before turning back around. He had completely walked past the form before without even realizing it. But this time he was carefully - well as carefully as a swaying cheetah could- making his way towards the source of the sound.

"You?" He blinked and looked at the female as he approached her. Nataraja leaned in close and nuzzled Zawadi, "You shouldna be cryin'." He commented staying right next to her. Normally the cheetah would be holding back more and giving her respectful distance, but if this was a dream then why should he bother? Or was it a dream? Sheesh. His head was spinning, but on the outside he seemed alright save for a slight stumble to his walk. As it was he was worried. Had that lion done something to her?

"Are you alright?" Nataraja nudged her gently, "You're not hurtin' are ya? Did he-? Please dun cry, love. No wait-" He shook his head, "If you cry then ya shouldna cry alone." He sat down right next to her, "I'll keep watch. Get it out 'fore someone else sees. That would be bad no?"
 

[Wylde Roses]

Zawadi was too wrapped up in her crying to be too aware of anything else at the moment - it wasn't fair! It wasn't fair it wasn't fair it wasn't fair that she didn't get what and who she wanted! She was supposed to get everything and she had nothing. Nothing nothing nothing, not even her parents or her freedom.

"It's - it's noooooot faaaaair," she wailed, blubbering great fat tears, hardly aware that Nataraji was, in fact, right beside her again. "It's not fair and I'm not happy and it's not - it's not fair," Zawadi repeated, her tears finally trailing off as she registered Nataraja's presence.

Blinking, she tilted her head to look up at him. "Oh..... I... y-yes..." Was he really here? Surely not... and why was he talking funny?  

[Sabra Knight]

"What's not fair?" Nataraja sat down to look closely at the female. Suddenly he wasn't so much drunk as more convinced that this was a dream, a stupor from all the alcohol. "Is this place really that bad? I mean -" He trailed off and just shook his head. Of course it was! With that lion dragging her here like she was some piece of property. Oooh, how Nataraja hated that.

"Yer not happy?" His voice was soft, tender even. The cheetah boldly leaned closer and licked a stray tear from the other's cheek. It was a salty taste, like the ocean, but he swore he could taste the sorrow in it. The ocean held lots of woe, but at least there was more to it. Freedom and adventure. Beauty and more. He highly doubted that sorrow was all there was to this lass as well.

Oh how he wanted to discover more.

All of her passions. What she enjoyed and hated. Her habits. Her laugh, her smile, and her heart. The cheetah sighed. All of those things were out of his reach for now. But at best he tried to bring happiness her way in little pieces. Then again if this really was a dream...it wouldn't hurt to do all that he would want to do for her. "I'm sorry, love." He pulled back and frowned a moment, thoughtful. Oh! Reaching behind him the cheetah pulled out a simple necklace with wooden beads on it and a lone feather in the middle. "I've no idea who made it nor what it was used for, but I figured somethin' so pretty would match a lovely lass like you." He slipped it over her head and smiled, "There. Now if only we could get a smile and not tears from ya. Then no one could match."
 

[Wylde Roses]

Out of all the things Nataraja said, Zawadi really only heard one word of it. And that word caused her little heart to start fluttering like a butterfly's wings. Could it be true? Could he really - oh, this was wonderful! IT was exactly what she'd wanted, exactly what she knew she would get... exactly what she deserved. The female cheetah started to get her sobbing under control and wiped at her eyes with a paw, a shaky smile breaking out onto her face.

She had Seen this, hadn't she? In her days as a cub? A handsome male cheetah, gifting her a gift and calling her - calling her... "Love?" She whispered, hoping that he meant it as more than a throwaway word, a general term for females that she had heard some males using it for. But of course he meant it! He had to mean it, they were perfect together, and he finally saw it!

Tilting her head a little to try and see the necklace around her neck, Zawadi turned her gaze up to the green cheetah, and smiled softly. "It's... it's beautiful. Thank you." Not as beautiful as he was handsome, though... they were meant to be together, absolutely meant for each other!