[PRP] Fronds and Fishes (Maisha x Njalo)

[Neon Fly]

Well, okay. This day, like practically any other for Njalo, had started out the same as always. One distraction had lead to another and before long the blissfully clueless umzingeli was sauntering away from the territory marked by her homelands of Ithambo. Drifting through the perilous wilderness until something attracted and held fast her attention long enough to cause the bubbly lioness to investigate. Today, it was fish.

In the arid weather of the plains, under a shriveling sun a snaking river had begun to dry up, stranding several fish in a small pool of water. Disconnected from the rest of the waterway. Ever the bleeding heart Njalo'sasa had decided to help as best she knew how, which would certainly explain the peculiar scene some unfortunate soul was bound to stumble upon.

Sat at the edge of the evaporating water source, the bongo marked female held the long stem of a frond between her teeth. Using the flat, fan shape in an attempt to scoop up the flickering water dwellers and promptly move them to be reunited with their friends and family. Huffing exasperatedly, this was certainly harder than it had seemed in her head, especially with the fish scrambling every which way to avoid her make-shift scooper. C'moooon! Don't be difficult!
 

[Das Tor]

Maisha had fallen into the mistake of wandering towards lands that weren't exactly...lush. But he'd been curious. And that had led him to having to search for water in this arid plain. And now...he'd found it. But he'd also found what was one of THE oddest things he'd ever seen. Blinking, the leopon tilted his head to one side, raising a brow. Okay..."Uhm....what are you doing?" He hoped he didn't scare her.  

[Neon Fly]

An unfamiliar voice--the first Njalo had heard all day--startled the lioness into staring down into the shallows of the evaporating pond. She'd never heard a fish speak before, but then this was her first time ever associating with the scaled swimmers so she supposed anything was possible. Shaking her head to dislodge the surprise from her face and get a more secure hold on her make-shift net. Continuing with her rather futile attempts to play the happy heroine.

Hey! Which one of you said that? Huffing at them between clamped jaws Nja waved the wide leaf of the frond back and forth through the water. Failing to catch much of anything as the fish swam frantically from one side of the puddle to the other. I already told you! I'm trying to move you to the bigger water! ...but you're not helping!
 

[Das Tor]

Mai couldn't help but laugh. He didn't mean it in a MEAN way...but it was just too funny. Once he could get a hold of himself, he cleared his throat. "I'm sorry, miss...but it was me talking, not the fish." He smiled, amused. "I'm afraid they don't talk the way we do."  

[Neon Fly]

Well okay. Now that was unexpected! For all their scrambling about it didn't make much sense that they would be laughing, but maybe they thought she was playing a game of keep away with them? That certainly made sense! It would have explained why they were being so difficult about this, considering it had certainly seemed like an easy enough plan when she'd thought of it.

However, when the voice spoke up further, it was beginning to dawn on Njalo that she had some unexpected company. Turning sharply to glance behind herself with an expression that was all curiosity and no wariness. The long stem of her frond swished with the motion, damp leaf at the end bobbling and quite nearly slapping the innocent bystander in the face. Njalo wasn't smart enough to be cautious, not even when meeting strangers. That was a lesson that took several meetings to learn. Who is me?
 

[Das Tor]

Mai took a step back to avoid the swishing frond leaf, glad that someone was greeting him with curiosity instead of hostility. He didn't like causing fights. "Well...'me' is Maisha." He smiled brightly and bowed a bit, touching one paw to his chest. "I am but a wanderer seeking where I belong. And who might you be, miss?" She was a pretty lioness, there was no doubt about it. Whoever she was attached to was lucky. (After all, such a pretty girl HAD to be attached.)  

[Neon Fly]

Maisha? Repeating the name with a dumbfounded gaze the stranger that greeted the bubbly--though not all together brilliant--lioness was not an unpleasant one. Rather, in all that sandy orange fur and with such a pleasant tone this rogue was rather easy on the eyes. Not entirely understanding the purpose of his bow Njalo crouched with him and giggled, enjoying this strange game. Seeking where you belong...? Did it move? Sometimes that happens to Njalo!

She seemed perfectly sympathetic to her new acquaintance, head tilting to one side with a softness that touched brilliant, sunshine colored eyes. Adding pluckily after the fact, waving her frond at him in greeting. Nja is Njalo'sasa!
 

[Das Tor]

Maisha chuckled, amused by this bright lioness. "No, no. It didn't move. It just...it's attached to someone I must find. And they aren't from where I was born. So...I have to look for them." A bright smile. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Njalo'sasa. Are you alone?" He hoped not. He knew there were creatures that would happily strike at a female on her own!  

[Neon Fly]

Attached to someone that he needed to find? That wasn't from the same place as him. So he needed to find them? Njalo'sasa turned her head nearly upside down in the similar fashion as an owl might with her confusion. It all sounded very complicated, too much so for him to be any help to him, but at least he seemed in good spirits. Njalo hopes you find it!

Reeling her head back right-side up her smile was perfectly oblivious of any danger, reluctantly dropping her frond so she could more easily converse with the strange, puffy-tailed lion. Njalo thinks it's nice to meet you too!

Her tone suddenly filling with wonderment. Njalo is by herself! How did you know?!
 

[Das Tor]

The leopon blinked at her odd head-motion, then resumed smiling. It was...adorable, in an odd sort of way. She seemed so bright and innocent, like a cub, rather than a full-grown adult. "Well...there's no one else in sight. Hopefully you've got someone in hearing distance." His ears went back a bit, worry crossing his face. "You seem so nice, and it wouldn't be nice at all if someone hurt you while you couldn't get help!" He didn't care if someone might take his words as him being a creepy stalker-attacker. He was genuinely worried, the fluffy derp!  

[Neon Fly]

In hearing distance? Truthfully, Njalo'sasa wouldn't have known for sure! Even though the Umzingeli had left the outskirts of her pride, she had no idea just how far she had wandered away to satisfy her curiosity. Despite the fact, she didn't seem terribly concerned about her location or the thought of being ambushed by another, less friendly predator than Maisha. Njalo's pride is over that way!

Pointing in the direction behind him with a light-hearted grin, blinking in a fluttering sort of way at the frown that befell the sandy male's muzzle. He was worried about her? Maisha is the nice one! Worrying about Njalo!

Surging forward for an enthusiastic and genuinely affectionate headbutt the lioness giggled with amusement. Though small and possessing prey-like coloration, Njalo had never before had a problem with aggression from unfriendly rogues. Her bubbly and overly affectionate personality tended to catch most off guard. A happy-go-lucky attitude that was unflappable further confused them. It was rare for the freckled female to meet adversity that lasted long in the face of her peculiar ways. Face nuzzling into the thickest part of Maisha's mane. Such a nice puff-tail lion! Nja is lucky to have met you!
 

[Das Tor]

Oh good! She wasn't in a lot of danger. That was a relief! He seemed to relax a bit, and chuckled. Oh! He had not been expecting the headbutt or nuzzle. He couldn't help his smile growing more. "Thank you! And I'm glad to have met you, Njalo." She was a very nice lioness. Hopefully her home treated her well. And she thought he was a lion! Well...he wasn't going to correct her. Juuuust in case her pride didn't like creatures like him. He knew they were out there...

Neon Fly

 

[Neon Fly]

Leaning against Maisha for a moment in blissful contentment, having completely forgotten the fish she'd previously been tormenting with her leafy frond, Njalo's stillness didn't last long. Suddenly bursting to life again as her jaw dropped open, allowing the stem of the plant to fall to the ground just as easily forgotten as anything else, Njalo pranced away with a merry gait, calling over her shoulder. Wait here! Nja has something for Maisha!

Without warning the female was quickly disappearing into the distance, making her way towards a gathering of perfectly inconspicuous shrubs to the west all the while pluckily humming a cheery song to herself, eyes bright as she disappeared into a thicket of rough, prickly branches with small, waxy looking leaves.

Das Tor

Not sure how or when you wanna end this. If you wanna end it here we could always say Njalo never came back. Got distracted by something and just forgot Maisha was waiting on her. Lol. Or we can keep going, totally your call!