Velveteen Angel
Viper was exploring the rogue lands once again, her trinkets and necklaces adorning her neck glistening in the sun. She loved being a merchant, because it meant she only had the most gorgeous of items. She hummed to herself, her tail flickering behind her as she walked. The leather pouch which hung around her back hindquarters was filled to the brim with other trinkets and adornments that she wasn't wearing herself. She was looking to trade with someone. Anyone. She was curious to see what people would offer her in return for her beautiful objects.

Also, it was nice having people fawn over her objects, she thought with a giggle to herself.

Seaki
Chozi found himself in the roguelands, as per usual when he wasn't sick. Today was a better day, though, and he found himself craving the exploration of the roguelands. Being a Dancer in Koti, Chozi often made his own costumes. He did not trust the Artisans, for the most part, to make his things, so he made them himself. It wasn't his trade, by any means, but he needed more raw material, and he came up short in the pride.

So to the roguelands, of course. He managed to sneak past the guards witht he help of his loving son Saren, who loved to cause the guards mischief.

Velveteen Angel
Viper didn't feel like hunting, but she certainly felt like eating. She found herself becoming quite lazy these days. If she could trade for food, she was highly unlikely to hunt for herself. It was far easier to just...trade for things. She just needed someone to trade with now.

Her eyes scanned the landscape, trying to spy someone who she could trade with.

Seaki
Chozi had gotten quite far with nothing he could really use. His favorite material was by far, feathers. He had found a few nice ones he collected into a small pouch and moved along. He could always barter with a bird for feathers, but birds were quite grouchy when they were beginning to molt.

It wasn't much later when he heard something unique, a sound he heard sometimes in the pride, and ones he had made himself occasionally. The sound of trinkets clinging against one another.

He flicked his ear towards the sound before looking for the source of it.

Velveteen Angel
Viper spotted him in the distance, noticing his smaller stature and his mane. She knew he couldn't be full blooded lion, but that didn't phase her. What was interesting was his body shape. He looked like a dancer. He wasn't muscle-y enough to be a fighter. That was perfect. She grinned as she changed her path to walk towards him. She hated getting into battles, but she protected herself from being robbed all the time. When you live with gypsies, sometimes you have to fight.

"Hello there!" She called out to him. "Sorry to be rude, but are you a dancer? Your physique is beautiful. I have some lovely trinkets that would suit you!" She motioned to the gemstones hanging around her neck, attached by ribbons and chains.

Seaki
Chozi flushed a bit, surprised. He was a dancer, and despite losing some weight from his illness, he was glad to see he still looked like one in the eyes of the others.

"I am a dancer," he confirmed to the lioness.

"What can you show me?" He thought he would at least give it a shot. The necklace the lioness wore was very beautiful, he could admit.

Velveteen Angel
Viper beamed. She liked complimenting people. She moved closer to him, her tail swaying playfully behind her. She pulled at the pouch on her hind quarters, dropping it between the two of them. It opened, feathers and gemstones spilling out on the grass before them. She collected anything beautiful, and that resulted in her having a lot of things. She had an entire den full of them back at the pride, but she only carried her best objects with her.

"I have plenty, as you can see!" She beamed. "I am a collector of all things beautiful. Especially my gemstones," she said, motioning to the shiny rocks that were hidden amongst the trinkets.

Seaki
Chozi didn’t expect so many trinkets to spill out of the bag, if he was honest with himself. He hummed, pleased with the variety. His eyes were drawn to the feathers first. Feathers were his thing, after all! But since this trip was special, he figured he should give something else attention.

“They’re all amazing,” Chozi told the merchant with honesty. He wanted one, but which? He didn’t have a lot on him to trade, after all. “What do you think would look best?” He asked.

Velveteen Angel
Viper smiled, and glanced through her trinkets, trying to spot something that would suit the dancer. Her eyes were drawn to a long teal feather that she had traded with an avian to get. It was still in tact and she had kept it clean, so it's colour was still quite strong. She hummed, nudging it out of the pile, before she spotted the gemstone which rested underneath the feather. She had traded with a monkey for them to attach them all with ribbons - a small collection of pale crystals that she had dug herself. It would fit around his neck, she mused. He was petite enough.

She picked up the necklace and without asking permission, draped it over his neck, before plucking up the teal feather and attaching it to his mane. "There! Perfect!" She said cheerfully

Seaki
Chozi looked down at the necklace, puffing out his chest to see it better. He would have to find some still water to see his reflection more easily. He felt...

Well, beautiful. It was a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time, and he gave a soft gasp at the feeling. "I don't know what to give you in return," he murmured regretfully after a moment. His findings were paltry compared to this.

There must be something though…

Velveteen Angel
Viper smiled, taking in the beautiful sight before her. The necklace suited him so perfectly, and she was pleased that she had managed to find the perfect item for him. "The sight before me is payment enough!" She assured him. Sometimes she enjoyed giving away the trinkets for free. Sometimes the trinkets just screamed that someone was perfect for them, and who was she to argue with them?

"Though if you wanted to join me for dinner, I would much appreciate the company," she said, tentatively with a smile.

Seaki
Chozi cheered up immediately. "Company and dinner I can provide," He said almost too eagerly. Chozi in the last months had become almost an expert in hunting - even larger things.

"I don't think it will be enough, because it truly is beautiful," he murmured. "But if you will take it as payment, then I will do my best to satisfy you."