It was the tail end of the harmony celebration, some days since the speech that had opened it and the new year. Eloran thought back on that day. It had been difficult to watch Madakata struggling through it alone. He had stayed as much out of her sight as he could as she spoke, not wanting to distract her from her self-appointed task. It was astonishing how close he had grown to the brown lioness since he had met her on that freezing, breezy night. For proprieties sake he had taken a den a good distance from hers, though he was a familiar sight to those who lived between them. He made the journey often, padding along at a sedate pace to and from visiting with her. Who knew what those neighbors thought of his courting the queen. None had spoken against him, so he had to assume they either approved or were ambivalent about it.
In his heart he knew he was well smitten. There was no small amount of fear in this realization, however, as the last lioness he had loved had left him, proving herself faithless and unloving. It had been a devestating blow to his stability, wounding him deep in his soul. Despite these very justified fears, though, he also had to acknowledge to himself that these qualities and actions were not at all those that could be ascribed to Madakata. He could not, would not, leet his past taint what he was developing here and now with this lovely, warm heart of a lioness. Thus far their relationship had remained one of friendly support, lacking any sort of romance or intimacy. Because of this, he wasn't entirely certain if she felt anything more for him than just friendship. It was entirely possible that she didn't, but then again, she was still sunk in her grief for her lost mate and those of her pride who had suffered the same fate. Her resignation as queen would give her the time and space to grieve for all the lost lives, the lost future, and it was his hope that this would eventually reveal to him if she cared for him as he did for her.
These were the thoughts that Eloran was caught up in as he wandered among the sparse crafter stalls. His eyes almost blindly slid across baubles, carvings, toys, and bits of cloth. Unseeing, he had stopped beside a spot layered with masks and hair ornaments, his mind on Madakata. An unexpected and very loud yowl snapped him out of his reverie and set the fur along his spine on end. His eyes met wide eyes set behind two halfs ove a hyena skull, peering out of gaping, shattered eyesockets. "YOU!" Her voice was a very loud whisper, but it was the near accusation in it that made the large male blink. "Uh.. yes?" he answered her uncertainly, his trepidation clear.
Kekkel leaned forward, scattering her wares unheedingly, her eyes focused wholly upon Eloran. "Yes, you!" A huge grin broke out on her muzzle, visible between the split hyena jaws. "Know I did that find you I would!" Eloran blinked slowly, trying to untangle the leopardess' odd way of speaking. He soon realized what she'd said, and began to swiftly formulate the words necessary to extricate himself from what was without a doubt one of the oddest and most awkward situations he'd been in. He took a step backward and opened hism outh to deny whatever connection she appeared to think they had. She cut him off with an exuberant bounce and a happy purr. "Yes, have just the thing for you, I do!" She suddenly stopped stock still and gave him an intent look. "What job have you?"
Eloran was so startled by her erratic behavior that he answered her immediately. "A bouncer," he replied, watching her in complete mystification. Her bounce returned instantly upon hearing this. "Perfect that is!" She bounded away, beckoning him to follow, carelessly leaving her wards behind unattended. Bemused, he reluctantly trailed her, wondering what he had gotten into this time. Before long she led him into a cluttered den. He looked around himself in amazement. Skulls, bones, feathers, beads, and other sorts of miscellany were heaped and scattered hither and yon. He stepped carefully, as his paws were much larger than hers. Despite his initial care, it turned out to not quite be enough.
His passing spun an upended skull that had berry beads inside, sending the skull spinning and the beads rattling before rolling randomly out the eye sockets. Eloran shuddered his hide uneasily and sidestepped, tripping over a pile of wizened old apples. One of these went thudding and skipping across the floor to collide with a precariously stacked pile of what appeared to be scraps of metal. This, of course, promptly fell over with a deafening crash and clatter. Eloran hopped on two paws in alarm, gingerly trying to avoid any further accidents. A nervous look after his hostess showed not even an ear flick for the racket. He knew she wasn't deaf, so he had to assume she didn't mind the mess. Still feeling rather guilty for it, he minced after her, keeping his tail tucked in close to his hind legs and only stepping where the floor was clear.
The leopardess stopped with a sudden, gleeful cackle. "Here it is!" she cried triumphantly, stepping aside to reveal a large, fierce looking primate skull. The bone was clean and dry, but stained an odd ochre color. Large fanges gleamed sharp and shiny, protruding viciously from the skeletal grin. Eloran stared at it, not understanding until she announced her intentions grandly. "Meant for you this was! Waiting for you long years now!" Beaming happily, she waited for his reaction. The silence stretched before he finally spoke. "Thank you... I think? What is it for?"
His silence hadn't seemed to dim her enthusiasm. "Kekkel mask-maker is! Waited for the right lion, this one did. Now you are here, Kekkel make a fine mask for you will!" He stared in surprise first at her, then at the skull. He tried to imagine it, decorated somehow and perched upon his own head. Well, it would be intimidating, no question. Likely to terrify cubs, but if it was a late night celebration, it might be appropriate. It might help him assert authority over guests as well. He gave her a hesitant half-smile. "Alright Kekkel. I put myself ijn your capable paws." This clearly was exactly what she was expecting him to say, for she gave a great whoop of excitement and immediately began digging around in other piles of junk. "You go, enjoy feast," she told him distractedly. "Later will give mask to you. You will see. Kekkel best mask-maker is!" With a wry smile, Eloran thanked the strange leopardess and padded out of the den, managing only one pile to tumble into further chaos this time. What a mask this was likely to be, he reflected. Only time would tell what the odd crafter would present him with!
