[FIN] Secrets and Keepers (Pingana & Zeme)

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ZEME

The hyena was relaxing near the water hole, watching some cubs and pups play in the beautiful weather. They were happy and carefree, and some were immune. After all, there was a litter of hyena pups. Not his, of course, Zeme had never felt comfortable with any of the females in the pride, and was too shy to just...sleep with any passing rogue.

Still, it made him happy to just sit and watch the children play. There was always hope.

It was how the Kitwana'antara lived.  

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It gradually occurred to Zeme that someone was watching him. The brown male looked up to see a black and white lion looking in his general direction. He recognized the lion in question as being a Scout, though Zeme couldn't recall his name.

Still perhaps a conversation would be a nice change of pace. He didn't often seek it out, but sometimes needed a change of pace. The hyena stood leisurely and paced around the water hole until he came next to the black and white lion, where he lay back down again.

"Good afternoon," Zeme offered once he was settled.  

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Hm, someone who was as reticent as he was. Zeme was unaccustomed to being in this kind of situation. Most of the time he wasn't the one to initiate a conversation, and even on those rare occassions that he did, the other person usually took the verbal ball and ran with it.

So to meet someone who seemed even less inclined than he to idle chatter was something of an accomplishment. Now he had a decision to make. Should he let the budding dialogue die as the lion seemed to wish? Or should he forge ahead? The brown hyena tended towards the former, being of a shy and quiet nature.

However, he did know what manners were, and it bothered him a bit that he couldn't for the life of him recall the black and white male's name. So maybe he'd push a little more. For propriety's sake.

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I can't remember your name," he admitted aloud. Zeme supposed, on reflection, that he could have just introduced himself and hoped that the other would follow suit. But they'd been in the same pride for gods only knew how long. Theoretically, they should know each other already.  

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Pingana. Of course, how could he have been so stupid? Oh well, at least the lion didn't seem to take any offense at the horribly awkward and blatant question. That was a huge relief.

The hyena sighed theatrically and gave his companion a crooked grin. "Maybe a little too forgettable! I still feel bad for not remembering in the first place."

He remembered a little more about the black and white male, now that he knew the other's name. A Scout, he thought, and definitely one of the rare immune lions. Thus a person of some importance when it came to those permitted to range outside the pride. Zeme was, of course, included in that number simply for his species...though he'd never taken advantage of it. He didn't seem to think that Pingana had either, which was more surprising.  

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"I guess so," the hyena admitted with another smile. He was, perhaps fortunately, not prone to the raucous bouts of laughter his species was known for. However at this moment he was slightly more inclined to one than he'd been in a long time. Not that the brown male gave into the urge of course. Most people seemed a bit put off by having someone laugh endlessly at them, and he didn't blame them in the least.

Curiosity satisfied, his gaze returned to the cubs and pups still playing at the water's edge.  

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Brown eyes flicked over towards Pingana as the hyena heard the sigh. But the lion seemed disinclined to continue the conversation and, having accomplished his solitary goal, Zeme was inclined to let it go.

After all, it was a beautiful day to simply lay in the sun and enjoy the antics of the kitlings.