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Not many went so high up.

That was what originally drew Haraka'majani to the high ridges. He'd not gone as high as he possibly could in the past, but he had been up a ways, and it was the quietness he sought, before he had to get back to work. The way down was far, to the point that he avoided peering over the edge in the event that in doing so, he lost his cool. He was a cheetah that liked to keep all four feet on the ground and was that so surprising? The thought of plummeting to his death, like a bird that had lost the ability to fly, set him on edge. A grisly thought came to him, of his darkly furred body leaving nothing more than a stain on the jagged rocks below, and a slight shudder ran through him, though he pressed on out of curiosity and pride.

The midday sun was high and hot and many of the pride's members would be resting at this time of day, waiting for cooler temperatures before doing more strenuous work, such as hunts or missions. He was fine with that. What with practice, earlier, he was tired as it was. He'd worry about work as soon as others would do the same and he could definitely use a brief respite, even if it was just that. Brief. What he hadn't expected was to find another being way out here.

She was young, though not by too terribly much. Her pelt was pale, almost directly contrasting his own. At this altitude, it was almost as though a cloud had become a cheetah or vice versa, save for the swirling patterns across her face and back. He'd seen her before, though he couldn't quite recall her name, only the nickname he had heard floating around, "Peacemaker." He wasn't sure if she had heard him coming, but he had heard what hard words had escaped her lips and, out of fear of startling her, cleared his throat to announce his presence. Just in case.

"And just who is it you seek way out here?"

"Just curious, is certainly no business of mine... Unless we aren't allowed to wander this high, then it'd be both our businesses, I'd suppose." He wasn't too concerned and simply rolled his slim shoulders in a slight shrug. She was a pretty young thing, not one he'd recognize as a fighter if he hadn't seen her training in the past. Maybe he ought to take the time to make himself more acquainted with other member sof the coalition? It was a sensible notion, though he hadn't quite followed it as of late and tended to associate with those he needed to know, rather than those he didn't.

"I've seen you, plain as the day is bright." He stretched his limbs, still a bit sore from the climb and his recent training, leisurely. Though his appearance, dark and somewhat domineering, was threatening, his mannerisms and tone were not and, instead, he sounded more like a cheetah simply looking for a chat. Of course, his whole reason for the ascent in the first place was for some privacy, so this entire meeting threw a wrench in his plans.

"Hark, that's what you can call me. Haraka'majani. Greatest lower grunt you've ever seen." His voice dripped with playful sarcasm as he introduced himself.

"If you're using this spot, don't let me chase you from it."

"I was being sarcastic." The male rolled his eyes as she approached. Maybe he should have been worried for his life. He did call her names, after all, though he meant no ill will towards her. He didn't quite care to spend his break bickering, but he'd defend himself if need be. Instead, he sat stone still, tail neatly folded about his haunches as he sought what he would do and say next. He did not challenge her, but he did not back down, either. He obviously did not want to tumble backwards, into the chasm, though. He did have some sense towards self preservation, after all... But seeing how such a simple name could provoke her so furiously made him want to press her further. He had to force his maw shut to keep from saying something that might cause him to meet his end prematurely.

"I have no pride in my rank... But I will work my way up. I am no run of the mill cheetah, my dear, even if it is not commonly known around these parts." He flicked an ear, showing his mild annoyance, yet his facial expressions seemed not to betray this. A bit of an ego? Perhaps. He was still not quite used to working paw in paw with a coalition.

"And I apologize, I did not know the name was such a bane to you. It is nice to know your true name, Rada."

His ears flattened, but he did not back away or stand down. He only relaxed when she seemed to calm down a bit and he listened attentively. She was a fierce thing and why anyone would give her such a disarming nickname was beyond him. It was this, the conflict between her name and her behavior, that had him wanting to know more about her. Call him curious. He was well aware of the old "curiosity kills the cat" adage, but that didn't change a thing.

"I did not, to tell you the truth. I've heard others use it in the ring, but the more I speak with you, the more it does not seem to fit you at all. May I inquire why someone would call you that? To mock you? You seem like a fighter in spirit."

And then she was offering him advice... He'd not been in the coalition long, but what she said made sense and he had noticed it to some degree. It was who you know, not what you did, and his earlier thought on socializing was an accurate one.

His eyes, the colours of flame, looked towards her curiously as he mimicked her movements and leaned his head in closer to her. "I do know that, Rada... What sort of payment do you expect?"

"A shame," an ear flicked as she spoke of the mocking that trailed her, "but you certainly have the willpower to do such a thing, that is obvious." She was strong and fierce, just as she said. He had no doubts that she would take the rank she sought. She had the drive, the need to do so, whereas he was merely drifting, finding his footing in a world that was vastly different than his life in solitude. It was different, but not completely terrible. It merely took adjusting to.

"I will keep that in mind and pay accordingly." But what would she want of him? The unknowing bothered him to some degree, yet he would not dwell too hard on it. He lived day by day, as though it would be his last, as it very well might. In his line of work, coming out unscathed in the end was never a guarantee.

"Yes, I was dragged here." He was silent a moment, the cockiness of his attitude had faded earlier and his lips were pursed as he soaked in her words, her question. "I am as loyal to this pride as I can be. I have no life to return to on the outside. I was a drifter, a rogue assassin for hire to whoever would pay the most. Life here is not so different, save I have higher ups to answer to and comrades to work with. It is different, I will admit... But I know I can thrive here, when I grow accustom to living amongst others. There may be things that I do not agree with, here, but I have always adapted to my surroundings and always will."