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 Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:16 am
 The land looked vaguely familiar, though not so much that Niyati could recall where she was. This was not an unusual state for Niyati, who tended to go where she pleased with little forethought. As long as she ended up some place interesting then she was content. The trip to this area had been long, and she was even considering doubling back. The terrain was changing from the rigid mountain grounds to sand, and where there was sand, there usually was a lack of water. It'd probably be stupid to continue to venture forwards, but there was this nagging feeling in the back of her head that told her to press onwards.
Oh yes, this place was definitely familiar. It was rare for her to venture through the same land multiple times, but not impossible. Daylight was just breaking, and she vaguely recalled feeling a little exhausted by traveling through the night. Still, there was no other life for herself that she would choose. This one life was... perfect, wandering where she pleased, meeting a few interesting individuals here and there, and on even rarer occassions run into her family.
The pink lioness paused, glancing around to try and get a bearing over her new surroundings. Ah, it still wasn't coming to her. She must not have stayed long in these lands. With a frustrated sigh, she sat down, picking sand and grit out from between her toes with her teeth. They'd get dirty again soon, but she liked the momentary clean feeling it gave her.
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:17 am
 Chandran was, for once, grateful of his snowy white pelt that neither his siblings or his parents possessed. It meant he had a little relief from the sometimes overbearing sun. And he was larger now! Older, more confident and allotted more freedom in the pride lands! The only thing he found frustrating was his mane, maybe. Not fully grown in it sometimes bothered him, especially because it was itchy. Not all of the time, but frequently enough that already he wanted another growth spurt.
His mismatched eyes scanned the areas he liked well enough around the lands, though he was sad not to spy any of his friends. He'd been quite grateful for their presence in his growth, and for helping him have a better opinion of himself. He was even liking the attention he was getting from the girls in his pride! He'd finally realized that all of the features that made him stand out, all of the things he felt awkward about... those were the things that seemed to attract others' eyes, and delight them! His tail flicked and he chuckled to himself, shaking his head in slight disbelief.
He nodded his head to a guard as he passed, able to distinguish now when he was nearing the borders. He stated that he was off to try his paws at hunting again, and that he had free time. It wasn't a problem, though Chan didn't really think he'd actually hunt. His destiny was to follow in his father's paw prints, which meant he'd be looking after cubs. For his newly adolescent mind the prospect wasn't very thrilling.
He walked for a while before he spied something unnaturally pride in the distance, which caused him to squint his mismatched eyes and move lower to the ground. Pink! His heart skipped a beat, though it took him a moment to realize why he was suddenly nervous and anticipating the mystery ahead. He was reminded of that night long ago... it was one that he was reminded of most nights. As he got closer the anticipation only grew, and several scenarios went through his mind.
When he realized he'd yet to be noticed though he picked his favorite out, sneaking and sneaking! A slow grin tugged one side of his mouth, lazy and charming. He crept as close as he dared to the lone female and leaned close. "My, my. Back already to eat me up?" He purred out, full of confidence that only seemed adorable when worn by an adolescent.
He was impossible not to notice. While she was tired, she was not unaware of her surroundings so much as to not notice the approach of a young lion. She turned her head in his direction, eyeing the white pelt from tail to nose. From his point of view, it probably looked like she was evaluating him. On what, though, was not exactly certain. Delving into her thoughts, Niyati was definitely thinking that the young male was striking. His mane hadn't fully grown in yet, but that certainly did not mark him as unnattractive. He was definitely the type of lion she'd entertain herself with, and she likely had fully intention of trying until he got close enough for her to recognize him.
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:22 am
Well, well. Someone had certainly grown up. She didn't think it had been so long since she had last seen the cubling - well, adult now. But, Niyati could easily lose track of time when traveling on her own. It almost felt like time had been fastforwarded to now, and she definitely appreciated it. Instead of continuing to openly eye him, she cocked her head, greeting him with a coy smile as he got close enough for them to speak. "I see that you haven't lost your youth," she commented with an arch of her brow.
His name was at the tip of her tongue, but she couldn't fully recall it. She hadn't thought to keep it in her mind before, since he had only been a brief stop. Niyati had entertained herself by teasing some poor juvenile. Perhaps she had been a little mean back then, but she couldn't help it. Besides, it got a now older adolescent to approach her. That was always beneficial. She wondered how critical her sister would be of her thinking about cradle robbing some silly white lion. Actually, no, Makri probably wouldn't care.
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:25 am
She was still as breath-taking as he remembered... well not quite as he remembered, because when he'd been that young he didn't understand or appreciate a lioness' beauty. Now however, it was a different story. Perhaps it was because there weren't many oddly colored lions in his pride, or perhaps it was because her fur seemed to glitter in the sun... hell, it might have just been because the female oozed confidence. He was sure that she knew she was stunning, and he was also sure that he would have to be careful. It wasn't like flirting with girls his age, not anything near like that.
Wait, what had she said? He had too lost his youth! Maybe not in the way she was referring... the have grin turned into a full smile as he shifted around her, brushing her just the slightest bit. "Hmm, well I certainly haven't turned into some old and retched decaying bag of bones." His head tilted a little as he tried not to stare too obviously at her. She'd actually remembered him! How many nights had he gone through where she came to him in his dreams and always, always turned into the horrible and terrifying youth snatcher! It hadn't been until he'd just seen her that he came to know the truth. She couldn't possibly be the youth snatcher! Mostly because he didn't believe in that sort of thing anymore.
Oh... but hadn't she promised.. "Well, it seems I'm to have your name." It wasn't quite a demand, but he wasn't asking either. She had said she would tell him if they ever met again, and there they were! "Or am I to call you Snatcher?" He raised his brows twice in a playful, almost teasing manner. This was... certainly a lucky day! He could not wait to tell his friends about it, about this lioness! This sparkling gem.
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:30 am
Niyati was content to remain sitting, seeming to make no effort to move towards him. But, that was part of the game. It was far better, in her opinion, to have him be the one to make the first step. In a way she was manipulating him into it by refusing to give him a natural opening. Niyati couldn't help but smile coyly as he brushed just barely against, making it almost seem like an accident. But, Niyati knew better. She was far more experienced with flirting than he. She liked to think that he was lucky she was being so considering.
"No, you haven't," she replied in an appraising tone of voice. It was humorous to think of how such a silly little cub could have grown up into an attractive young lion. In fact, it was almost difficult for Niyati to connect the old Chandran to the new one. The two images represented two vastly different ideas for her. "Ah, did I say I would give it to you?" she answered, surprised that he would have remembered something like that. She certainly did not remember such a promise. She remembered teasing some juvenile with a beetle he had been chasing. But, it would not surprise her for her to have withheld her name from him.
"I rather like that name. Snatcher. You may call me that!" Her paw reached out, playfully tapping his chest as if to ward him away. The gesture likely meant the exact opposite. She was withholding her name for now, making it as a sort of incentive for the young lion. What he had to do to earn it was for her to know, and for him to find out. "The Snatcher. It sounds like a title."
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:33 am
Ah, so he shouldn't have suggested it! As her paw tapped against his chest he felt his heart give a great thud of uncomfortable protest... or was it excitement? It was a new feeling, and a kind of feeling he appreciated. It'd been so long since anything new had happened... well, maybe that was not entirely true. Two of his sisters had gone missing just before he last growth spurt, and it had broken his mother's heart. His father had decided that some traveling had been just the thing they'd needed, but the implications were clear. They were moving on. He was left in the lands with a few of his siblings, but it felt lonely often enough. And the droughts... the droughts had everyone worried.
But that all seemed like a distant, foggy memory while he basked in her almost unearthy-glow. She wasn't really glowing... but she could! It seemed as though she could! He did not want to tear his mismatched gaze from her for a moment, less she disappear on him. "Snatcher, hmm?" Both brows quirked up and he snorted to show how much he appreciated that. Which was little. "Well, I suppose there is nothing to do but address you as such than." So was it tittles that this mysterious lioness searched for? He wondered if she remembered his name... it was clear she remembered him... but he'd been even younger during their last meeting... and what would be so special about that? It had probably been a pain on her end, but Chan had a tendency to recall the memory often, perhaps because it had been the strangest thing that had happened in his short life... which said something of a lion.
He wondered what to say next, how his actions should be. She was no adolescent female in his pride, after all. "So what brings the ever lovely Snatched back this way?" His voice held a bit of a tease, something that implied she'd come this way to see him again. He may have been naive about many things in life, but he wasn't foolish. He knew there must have been some reason, and he knew it was not himself. Or maybe she was just wandering.
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:57 am
It probably would have been better on her end for her to give him her name, but she liked feeling aloof and almost disconnected from the young male. The mystery of her name would give him something to work towards. His interest would be kept, and even if she left and made another pass through the lands a few weeks from now, he was sure he would remember her. There was a part of her that was tempted to do just that, actually. She could turn herself into a rare treat that Chandran would never know when he'd get to see her again. That long process would be... tiring, and while Niyati liked to play games, she liked achieving end results quickly.
"I just don't think I should give you my name when I don't intend to stay for very long..." she replied in a whimsical tone of voice. Niyati was curious to see how the young lion would react to the threat of her leaving soon. She expected that he would offer her a place to stay - something she would inevitably reject. Niyati was a wanderer at heart, and never remained in any place for too long. She had no desire to stay in these water-starved lands. Chandran was the only thing of interest in this territory, and even then he was not enough to keep her around. Niyati simply was not a lioness who could be kept, and she wasn't even inclined to give the impression that she could be in hopes of obtaining a little fun.
"I was just passing through again. There are greener pastures in the lands I passed through before." That was the truth, but the way she said it made it seem as if she was obscuring the fact that she had come back to see him. Truthfully, she had completely forgotten about Chandran until she came across him again. Even then, the only reason her memory was triggered was because he was handsome, and she could connect him back to the adorable juvenile she had encountered before.
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:08 pm
His ears perked forward at her admitting the fact that she wasn't planning to stay a long time, like the last time he'd seen her. A true rogue, it seemed. Chandran was much too comfortable for his pride life to even begin understanding the life of a rogue. Wasn't it lonely? "Ah, so the snatcher has shown her pretty face again but still does not intend to stay a while and snatch my youth away?" He wiggled his eyebrows, his use of the word youth implying something much different than his age. He didn't think it would be too forward, she was a lioness grown after all! And not a shy one, at that.
He wondered what he could say to just get her to stay for a little while, to let him know her a little longer... but maybe that would take away the mystery and excitement from her? He didn't care, she couldn't leave so soon! "Greener pastures, but I'm sure no gold." He wasn't sure at all, he'd never been in the rogue lands before. "Of course, I could see why such a stunning lioness wouldn't bother with trinkets like gold and silver to adorn her fur... they would pale in comparison." His grin was slightly sly, and very much pleased with himself. He thought he was doing very well.
"Still, I think it'd be wiser to tell me your true name so I may whisper it on the wind and perhaps one day it will seek you on your travels, then you will know I am thinking of you." He did not realize that throwing himself at a lioness, however naively, might not be considered that attractive. Still, why play hard to get when he was so enamored?
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:19 pm
Niyati managed to maintain a straight expression throughout Chandran's almost awkward verbal advances. She couldn't exactly blame him for being so enamored by her - she knew she was attractive, and she knew how to put on a fair bit of charm when the situation required it. However, his attempts at flattery were... lacking in skill and flair. He probably thought he was doing pretty well, but Niyati was becoming less impressed by his endeavor to charm her. Chandran had been better off with keeping his pretty lips closed tightly.
What he needed was experience, an opportunity to learn. If he was trying to charm her now, doubtlessly he'd become quite the suave young lion in a year or so. He would not learn a thing from her giving in, and she didn't feel particularly inclined to do so. He was pretty, but his compliments fell flat. So, she gave in the urge, and laughed softly not out of embarrassment, but rather a little mockingly. "Chandran," she purred. "You were doing far better when your mouth was shut. You'll never impress a young lioness like that - let alone me." Her tone rose with haughtiness. She knew she was a catch, and probably the best one he'd have a chance at in a while.
"I'd rather go now than listen to your clumsy attempts at wooing me. You don't have to be so elaborate or... well, cheesey. Small compliments go a long way, without becoming overpowering. If you come on that strongly, a young lioness is going to think that you're only after her to procreate." She had avoided telling him her name again. She figured he had not earned it yet. He'd probably use her name in a cheesey pick-up line, and then Niyati really would have to move on.
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:30 pm
As her little laugh slipped into the silence that had settled after his little speech his eyebrows drew down just slightly, in a confused manner. What was funny about what he'd said? But as she spoke his eyes widened and his eyebrows climbed back up his face, he felt shocked. He... she... what? His mouth was slightly parted as he tried to think what to even say to that... because it was ridiculous! The girls in his pride liked to hear these sorts of things... they'd always giggle and respond back... and oh gods above had they been mocking him all of this time and he hadn't realized it? No. No, that couldn't be right... it wasn't mean laughter, it had always seemed pleased and...
And just like that she had him feeling exactly like a little juvenile again, shy and unsure of himself. He didn't like it one bit, it was unnerving. He let his mouth close slowly and his expression became mostly neutral, he couldn't hide the slight hurt that was there, before he cleared his throat a little. What made it worse was the lecture that came along with her announcement that he'd do better not speaking at all... it didn't seem very fair.
"W-well." He said weakly, unable to find words to respond. After a moment he forced himself to give an awkward little forced chuckle, raising a paw to rub the back of his neck. "I see." But he didn't, not really. He really didn't want to think that all off those girls were equally put off by his words, or thought that he just wanted to plant his seed in them and be done. He forced a smile onto his maw, tight lipped as it was. "If you feel that way, then fine." What else could he do but agree with her? He felt completely foolish, but apologizing would only serve to make him look all the more foolish, wouldn't it?
It was a pity Chandran did not yet know the dangers of a stunningly beautiful female.
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:39 pm
Niyati wondered if she had perhaps been a little too mean. Instead of rising to the challenge, Chandran backed down, and for a second sounded like the cub she had first met. It was underwhelming and unimpressive. If he wasn't so pretty, and so fun to tease, Niyati could have easily lost interest. However, she had convinced herself that she'd be doing the world a favor by showing this young lion the ropes. He could easily sweep a few females off of their paws with the right instruction. He at least seemed eager to flirt and be close to a lioness.
Then again, it could just be her who he was interested in. That was an almost depressing thought, because Niyati's interest in lions rarely ran so deep as to include love and partnership. Her and the rest of her siblings were known for generously spreading around their genes. Niyati was falling behind, but that was only because the idea of cubs was... bothersome. They would get in the way, and Niyati was young enough that she didn't want to be forced to settle down anywhere just so she could raise a brood of offspring.
Raising her front paw, she unsheathed a single claw and poked him lightly in the nose. "If you have need for proper instruction, come find me. I do not think I can be bothered to go out of my way to find you again when I have so much traveling to do." Niyati, of course, wouldn't wander too far away from the lands for a day or so. If he took too long, she would be gone. However, following her did mean leaving the boundaries of his home land. Niyati was pressing his limits, seeing how far he would go for her. She thought it'd be cute if he did rise to her bait.
"I'll see you later, Chan," she purred, and began a slow, purposeful walk away from the male.
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Posted: Wed Feb 29, 2012 12:46 pm
As her claw poked into his nose his face scrunched and he lurched back slightly, a sneeze threatening but not coming. ...Proper instruction? He might have blushed if it were possible. Who needed proper instruction? He did fine with the females! Well. The ones who were his age, who were equally as clueless. Still, she was hurting his pride more than just a little. He would just have to gain his confidence back and prove to her... prove to her what, exactly?
Wait, had she just said his name? A smile bloomed on his features, despite just getting chewed and spit out by the female. She remembered after all, had she? It made him all but puff out his chest a little, thoughts of failure slipping quickly away. Ah, but wait! Where was she going?!
Right... right... he would go find her. It took some restraint on his part though not to up and go after her right then and there. His tail flicked as he watched her leave, eyes still slightly wide. Well. Well. This certainly was an interesting day... but he needed to figure some things out, didn't he? Maybe one of his friends would be more helpful... but he doubted it. He swallowed, a goofy smile still on his maw as he finally clambered to his paws and turned away, slipping back toward the lands he grew up in. He hadn't yet realized that if he wanted to find her again he'd have to move past his pride boundaries, into the rogue lands. It probably wouldn't matter too much to him, as long as he was successful. end
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