Okavango

[Lyonize]

On the outskirts of the Okavango delta, at the edge of a forest outlining the marshy area, the leaves rustled and moved about as a small cub limply stepped out of the foliage into the daylight. The light hurt his eyes so he shut them tightly and backed into the trees again. His stomach growled again like it had for the past few days. Bits of fur were missing from his coat and his frame was much smaller than it should be. The previous night he had almost frozen to death and tonight would probably be his last. It seemed that everything was against this little cub.

He turned away from the light toward a large tree trunk between some roots that were growing above the ground. As the cub sat there waiting for death to come, a small tear ran down his cheek. Was this what he was borne for? If so, life was cruel. Too cruel to comprehend.

The cub stayed there staring at the ground. His breathing was shallow and his heartbeat faint. This was the end. Terrible things had happen before his eyes followed by being on his own without the life giving milk he needed from his mother and the protective strength from his father. Days had passed of being chased by things that wanted to kill him and scorching heat that blinded his eyes. Tonight, was the last night he would have. Must such a cruel life end so cruelly?

[dakota]

Karensha lay hidden in the darkness of the forest, she had crawled under some large overhanging leaves, that were now draped in front of her like a curtain, hiding her to any prying eyes.
She needed to recoup her strength after travelling for so many days and nights, she was sure she wasn't being followed, but just in case ,this was the perfect hiding place.

Curling herself up into a comfortable ball, her face lay on top of her front paws, and her lilac fur tuft now draped down and over over face, and she let out a breath of air, almost a sigh, she had been on her own now for months, and was enjoying the peace and solitude.

Just as her body was finally allowing itself to relax, a small shuffling noise reached her ears, making them twitch and she stiffened in reply. Not moving in case she gave herself away, the snow leopard pursed her lips and blew gently moving fur away from her eyes, to give herself a better view. All she could see was something pale skinned almost white shuffling backwards towards the roots of a large tree, where the animal then sat down staring at the ground. Blinking a little, her gaze then returned looking it over slowly noticing its emaciated condition and it's small framed body just cried out dejection.

Not sure what to do, Karensha just lay there and watched what it was doing, her head tilting back and forth trying to make out the species. For a moment she thought it might have been a lion cub, but she hadn't ever been around small ones, and the way it looked she just wasn't quite sure without getting in closer.
For now she would just watch and observe, if it fell asleep she would try and crawl in closer for a better look, but there was just something about it that held her gaze.She knew if her father had of been here, he would have killed it and put it out of it's misery as quick as possible, but she wasn't under his orders any more, she could do as she pleased, and for her for now, it was watching over whatever it was curled up under the tree.

[Lyonize]

The little cub wondered what he should do. He wondered if he should do anything. At the moment, there was nothing he could do other than stay where he was and wait for death to come in whatever form it would. Weather it be starvation, cold or some animal that wanted to eat him did not matter. Either way, his situation was hopeless.

When all seemed calm, suddenly, the cub heard a noise. At first he thought it was the sound of his breathing but realized it had come from behind him. He quickly turned around. His eyes widened as he saw another pair of eyes through the leaves staring at him.

Terrified, the cub gasped and took a step back so he was against the trunk of the tree. Whatever was there probably did not have good intentions. He knew this from previous experiences. The cubs heart raced, his breathing became irregular and the fear filled him. The little cubs eyes were fixed on the eyes that were looking back at him.

[dakota]

Blast, what do I do now, it's staring at me looking all scared, I don't know what to do.

Karensha moved a little uncurling herself and stretching, and finally pushed her head past the green leaves until that was the only part of her showing to the small thing standing there, its body shaking away as though it was about to collapse.
Pausing for a moment, she returned its stare and licked her lips. If she moved forward would it run away screaming, alerting anyone else that she was there,or was it alone, should she take that chance or just stay where she was.

Sighing at all the possibilites, aware her peace and quiet was gone, she placed one paw in front of the other and pushed her white skinned body through the remaining foliage and stopped straight away and sat down on her rump, staring once more. Now that she was closer she could see it was indeed a lion cub, in fact a half dead looking one at that.
It has to be alone, no mother would let her cub starve... why me.. I don't know anything about cubs, I just wanted to be alone, that's all .

Moving forward even more Karensha stopped and lowered herself down to the ground, hoping it made herself look smaller to the cub, she was aware that most didn't come across felines that looked like herself every day, so she tried to look less intimidating.
now what...do I sit here and just stare at it hoping it might go away/.
After a few moments Karensha couldn't stand it any more.

" so... you going to stand there all day looking like a fraidy cat, or you want to tell me who you are and what happened?"

[Lyonize]

The cub watched as the figure began to move toward him. He turned away and clenched his muscles as tightly as he could and shut his eyes waiting for something to happen. The shuffling sound of the thing that was coming toward him stopped suddenly. The cub opened is eyes and looked to see what was happening. He thought she was gone but instead when he opened his eyes, he saw that the big thing had laid down. But what he noticed next was something he had never seen before. He noticed it had white fur with spots on it. A hint of curiosity crept in along with the fear that was still there.

Turning to one side, he began to walk around to get a better look at the things fur. He noticed also that it had a tuft of purple fur on its head and a purple pattern going down its arm. He then looked at himself and compared the spots that were on him with those that were on her. She was different from him but still somehow, she looked the same. He had already figured out she was female by her scent.

The cub was startled when she spoke to him. The last thing that talked to him was his mother. Everything else he had come across tried to hurt him.

" so... you going to stand there all day looking like a fraidy cat, or you want to tell me who you are and what happened?"

He thought about where he came from and looked back in the direction he had come from. Then he looked back at the big snow leopard and looked at her eyes.

[dakota]

Karensha's lilac eyes stared at the cub, her long lashes blinking rapidly, as she returned his stare, she was unsure what to do, it was like he couldn't or wouldn't speak to her.
Moving her glance away, she looked over his body, he was certainly skinny, she could see his ribs poking out of his little frame and there was just an air of fraility about him altogether.

"what am I going to do with you ? I don't know how to look after one so young, I've never been around your sort before"
With a sigh sliding past her lips the snow leopard unsheathed her claws and dug them into the dirt and pulled herself even closer to the cub and stopped leaving a gap between them.
Her nose wrinkled in distaste at the smell emanating from him, he even looked like he had scabs on him, she wasn't quite sure he was so filthy and tatty looking.
Bringing her eyes back to meet his, she gave a small smile.

"My name is Karenhsa... and yours is ?"

[Lyonize]

The snow leopard began examining the cub. He looked himself over trying to see what she might be looking at. His fur was dirty and had ruffled spots in various places with the occasional scratch here and there.

"what am I going to do with you ? I don't know how to look after one so young, I've never been around your sort before"

Her voice was not threatening. Instead it was calm.
The snow leopard unsheathed her claws which startled the cub and moved herself closer to him. He took one sudden step backwards. She was still closer than she was before. Only a couple steps away from him.
She smiled at him and spoke again.

"My name is Karenhsa... and yours is ?"

The cub was confused. Was she just toying with him before she killed him? Surely not. If she wanted to kill him, she probably would have done it by now. But he was still unsure. He looked over his shoulder to look at himself and then back at the snow leopard who called herself Karensha.
He didn't speak but looked at her with his sea blue, almost cyan colored eyes.

[dakota]

Still staring at the cub, she waited for a reply, so far he hadn't uttered a single word which seemed strange in itself, let alone why he was here without anyone guarding him,you just don't loose a cub, surely he wasn't an orphan.

"So, you not going to speak to me then, that's ok, but if you don't tell me anything, I'll just do what I need to do with you."

Karensha bought up a paw, she was going to touch him to see what he would do, but dropped it back to the soil thinking she might frighten him, last thing she needed was to go running around chasing a cub, she still wasn't sure if they were alone yet.
Giving another small smile, she rose to her paws, looking at him once more.

"we need to get you clean, I don't think I can attempt to eat at all with that smell drifting from you. Come...there's a small pool back through here."

Watching him, Karensha wasn't sure if she should pick him up and carry him, or just nudge him in the direction she wanted to go.

[Lyonize]

Watching as the snow leopard watched him, the cub wondered what he should do next. Then she opened her mouth to talk to him again. 

 "So, you not going to speak to me then, that's ok, but if you don't tell me anything, I'll just do what I need to do with you."

What was that supposed to mean? He thought as she lifted her paw. His eyes widened and he gasped a little before she let her paw drop back to the ground. She  then stood up right in front of him which made the cub feel even smaller. 
The cub crouched down with his mouth agape and his eyes looking up at her. 

"we need to get you clean, I don't think I can attempt to eat at all with that smell drifting from you. Come...there's a small pool back through here." 

He looked down at his paws still in the crouched position. He was a little dirty. Or perhaps that was an understatement. The cub swallowed with his dry throat at the thought of water. He backed away from her slowly as he rose to his feet and walked around the snow leopard to the place she was motioning to. As he watched her, he wasn't looking in the direction he was going and tripped over a small rock. His little arms were weak so it took some effort to lift himself up. 

[dakota]

Karensha stood there watching the cub as he stumbled, a smile started to come to her lips but she clamped them shut stopping the action... it seemed... he was scared of her, going by the looks flitting across his face.

Not thinking what she was doing or if she was making him more scared, she leaned over and using her teeth picked him up by the scruff of his dirty neck, turned and marched back into the bushes from where she had laid till the cub stumbled upon her and towards where she knew a small watering hole was positioned.
Moving her head she looked down upon his head as he swayed to and fro, she thought she heard some little squeaks from him, but wasn't sure, if he wanted to speak to her he would in his own time hopefully. Maybe having a silent cub wasn't too bad a thing afterall.

Approaching the waterhole Karensha moved around further, she didn't want the dirt and germs from his body pollute the fresh drinking water. Using her head and shoulders she pushed at the plants and bushes, tucking the cub into her chest more so he wouldn't get hurt, till she found a safe shallow spot, where he could stand and wash.

[Lyonize]

Before the cub began to lift himself to his feet, he felt something on the back of his neck. He was lifted into the air by the scruff of his neck. He looked down to see two white paws on the ground which obviously belonged to Karensha. The cub didn't struggle much because he was being carried in the same comfortable manner that his mother would have carried him. He was still a little fretful as he made small, very hard to hear squeaks. The little cub was still a little afraid of her even though he knew where she was taking him.

When they went through the slightly denser foliage, Karensha brought him closer to her so as not to let him hit any branches. As soon as he touched the soft fur on her chest he caught a small, fleeting sense of comfort and safety. What small bit he was wriggling ceased all together.

Looking forward now, he saw that they were approaching a small pool of calm water.

[dakota]

The Cheetah lay sleeping pressed up against a flat rock, the shade of the forest was welcoming after roaming around ,out in the full days sun.
He was tired and needed to feel the coolness upon his face and body once more, too much sun and the scarring on his face would begin a dull ache that would travel into his head making him incompetant against any rival, and now once more he had found somewhere to his liking, a place that seemed deserted, a place he could be himself and maybe stay for a while.

His skin rippled along his length as an insect flew down and landed upon his torso, his tail flicked around as if trying to upend whatever was annoying his sleep. Slowly one eyelid lifted and a piercing blue eye looked around and then closed again, oblivious that his dreamtime was about to interupted.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Karensha reached the water which now covered her front paws and she gently placed the cub down and looked at him, her eyebrows raised questionably.

" You need to lie down and let the water rinse all that dirt off you, get you clean."

About to say more to the cub, she stopped and raised her head and looked around sharply, for some reason her ears twitched, yet she couldnt see or hear anything, but her senses were on alert. Looking back at the cub, he still stood in the same position almost frozen in his stance. With a sigh Karensha used her paws to wash water over his malnourished body, amazed to see his fur colour lighten up twofold. Smiling at him she flicked water up over his face to see what he would do, or even speak to her now.

[Lyonize]

When Karensha had arrived at the shallow pool of water, she set the cub down. His paws were in the water about a quarter of the way up his legs. He didn't think to bathe himself and get all the dirt off him. Instead all he could think to do was drink the water. It had been so long since he found water. He stood there lapping up the water with his little pink tongue. The water felt like sand paper going down his throat at first because it had been so dry but the cooling sensation soon found its way traveling down and into his belly.
The cub was soon interrupted by Karensha speaking to him again.

" You need to lie down and let the water rinse all that dirt off you, get you clean."

He didn't comply immediately. The cub looked up at Karensha. She seemed to be looking around for something. Her ears twitched and her head swiveled around. He stayed still. His own ears twitched. Soon, the two of them ignored whatever it could have been.

Karensha began washing water over him with her paws. The water on his dirty fur felt good and refreshing. The coolness made up for days and days of the sun beating down on his back. Unexpectedly, Karensha splashed a bit of water on his head and face. Some got in his nose an with a squeaky sound, he sneezed and wrinkled his nose. He proceeded to shaking his head. He looked up at Karensha with a small smile that was barely visible. The first time he had smiled in a long time. Then the cub laid down in the water so it would be easier for Karensha to get him cleaned.

[dakota]

Jabari closed his eyes and drifted off, his tail giving a little flick moving some loose dirt lying on the ground, making some ants scuttle away before they lost their lives, life was indeed most comfortable for him, fresh meat whever he wanted, water to drink and bathe and most of all peace and quiet, solitude was indeed his friend.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Karensha watched as the cub lay in the water, after glancing up at her. Her eyes travelled around the area once more, she couldn't see anything, but something just wasn't right, female intuition perhaps she thought. Snapping out of it, her head tilted so her gaze was back on the cub.Looking puzzled she stared at him.
' What's he waiting for, am I meant to wash him'

Not knowing what else to do, karensha reached over, grabbed him by his neck again and placed him on her back, sitting him amongst her lilac fur, she may as well clean herself up at the same time.
"Hang on tight....we're going for a swim.. wrap your paws in my fur and don't let go, I don't want to have to go fishing for you."

Checking one more time that he had placed himself safely, she pushed off from the edge and started paddling in the cool water heading towards the other side of the waterhole. She forget that the cub was on her back and dived under the water, emerging quickly, water splashing all around and let out a loud laugh.. freedom was a wonderful thing. it was then she heard a cough from behind her.
'blast, I forgot about my passenger, poor thing, he's probably half drowned by now'.

Treading water, karensha looked back at how far she had come, and then towards her front again, realising she was closer to just keep paddling on. Smiling she moved until her paws touched solid ground, digging in her claws the snow leopard pulled her self up and out onto land again. Reaching behind her she pulled the cub off her back, wincing when she realised he had indeed wrapped his paws and half his limbs into her fur, but not being able to see she just pulled and put up with what was happening, until he was standing before her.

"Are you ok little one, I'm sorry I forgot you were there, I tend to enjoy my swims and not concentrate about what's happening around me."
Leaning down she started to lick at his fur that was standing up on his back, and then stopped, stepping back while a blush appeared on her cheeks.

[xxturaxx]

(OOC: Very late entrance lmaoo)

A young female padded around the outskirts with her best friend beside her. The two lions were a few months away from becoming adolescents and had dared themselves to journey on their own. "This place is so pretty." Tura exclaimed as she waltzed around Tiwaz. "Race you to the water!" She called. She glanced behind at Tiwaz who nodded happily and came closer to Tura.
"On your marks..." Tura began.
"Get set..." Tiwaz continued.
"GO!" The two lions called. Tura and Tiwaz bolted forward and swerved around the trees. Tura's tongue lolled out at the side and saliva flickered everywhere as she slowly raced ahead. Tura grinned to herself then when she was exactly at the waters edge skid to a halt. She glanced behind her at Tiwaz who was still running, before she could jump out of the way Tiwaz ran into her and the two cubs fell into the water. Tura's head broke the surface first and Tiwaz slowly followed. Their fur was plastered to their figures and they swam along beside each other giggling. Tura swam to dry land and sat on her haunches letting the sun dry her fur.

Tiwaz followed Tura out of the water without complaint and smiled widely at her. She looked so pretty yet she couldn't tell her how she felt. He watched her and thought for a few moments. He was too nervous to tell her straight on but yet if he didn't tell her her heart could be stolen by another male. The white lion trotted over to Tura and lay down resting his head on her back. "You know I was wandering along and saw the most beautiful yet I'm afraid I couldn't tell her, what do you think I should do Tura?" He asked, twisting his head so he could see her.

"You know I was wandering along and saw the most beautiful yet I'm afraid I couldn't tell her, what do you think I should do Tura?" Tiwaz asked her.
"Well Ti, I think you should try and show her how much you care. That's all I can really say." She murmured feeling rather helpless and also very jealous, She loved Tiwaz. She wanted to be his. No matter what... She thought. I will be. She thought determindly.

(OOC: Never thought about this until I became close with Ross lmao I owe him for getting my Roleplay spirit back =) )

[Lyonize]

The cub stumbled around a bit after being pried from Karenshas back. He was soaked from head to tail so he began to dry himself by shaking one wet leg after another. Then the cub felt the roughness of Karenshas tongue licking the water off his back. 
Before he was completely dry, Karensha stopped. The cub looked up to see Karensha had pulled away and was blushing. He blushed too. He slowly walked over to her and licked some of the water off Karenshas paw.

Looking back up, the cub smiled at Karensha and then muzzled her arm as he wrapped one paw around it. He had come to trust her. The first time in so long that he had come to trust anyone.

But then, he turned his head as his ears heard something. The cubs ears twitches as he tried to figure out what it was out there. Feeling a little scared, he circled around to hide behind Karenshas paw. 

[dakota]

Jabari had just drifted off when the noise of splashing water from everywhere woke him with a start, his paw came up so fast he accidentially poked himself in the eye, making it water and trying to see out of one eye only, very hard.

One minute there was peace and quiet, the next he was being bombarded with 'others'. Creeping forward slightly, the Cheetah peered out from behind some plants, his eyes widening when he saw not that far away from him standing there was a snow leopard with all things, purple fur tuft that was stuck to her head, the sight made him grin, wondering if she realised how silly she looked. Seeing something move down at her paws, Jabari peered closer.. of all things she had a skinny lion cub that was tucked there.
More importantly, she didn't know that he was even there,as her gaze was focused over to her right where leaning forward a bit more, he could see what she was staring at.

Jabari watched as the two adolescent lions played in the water and then emerged onto the bank to lay there and talk. He pulled his glance away and his eyes rested on the two, that were only a few metres away from him.He wasn't sure what to do, he didn't want to approach them, as he was sure once they saw what he looked like would take off, and there was a cub to consider.... no, the best thing was to just stay where he was and maybe they would all go away.
Backing back carefully, the cheetah was trying to move back beside the rock where he ventured from without being seen, when his back paw lost its grip and slid out sideways, making him fall down flat on his stomach letting out a gasp.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Karensha was still gazing down at the cub, watching a smile appear back on his small face, when at the same time she saw his ears twitch, as well as she heard the sound of water splashing from across the water hole. Dropping to her tummy, she automatically pulled the cub in close to her, tucking him between her front paws up against her chest, and then bought her head down lower, so that some of her purple fur covered him from anyone's prying eyes.
Holding her body still, she whispered to the cub not to move and be quiet, she needed to see who they were,and if she recognised them at all.

Concentrating on the two lions, when a sound reached her she swung around, grabbing the cub immediately she threw him behind her. She didn't have time to do it gently or to reassure him, all she wanted was for him to be out of harms way, whatever it was had to get through her first.

With her paws unsheathed, slowly she moved one paw at a time while her body was slouched down ready for attack.
'it seems whatever was watching us, is hiding behind the rock, I think I'll just strike first and ask questions later'

Lifting her slim body from the ground, Karensha launched herself forward and up onto the rock and then dropped down with a growl and snarl, ready for attack.

[Lyonize]

One moment, the cub was listening and watching for whatever was out there making that noise. The next moment, he was between Karenshas paws and up against her chest with her head down so her purple tuft was covering his view. Something bad must be out there but the cub couldn't see what it was. Still, somehow, he felt safe here tucked between Karenshas strong arms. The cub pressed himself up to her and buried his face in her soft fur. He could feel and hear her elevated heartbeat.

He had thought that he would never come to trust anyone ever again but he was wrong. Somehow, he knew Karensha was going to keep him safe and so he trusted her with his life. Because at the moment, his life was in her paws.

Suddenly, he heard something coming from another direction. He knew Karensha heard it to because he was thrown around behind her and she had gotten up into a fighting stance. She told him to stay there and be quiet. The cub hurried behind a small rock that was just barely big enough to conceal him behind Karensha . The seconds seemed to go by like minutes as he waited for something to happen.  

[dakota]

Karensha didn't wait, her paws left the rock and landed heavily on something soft, shaggy and very warm. She felt her claws make contact with the animal, but instead of digging them in and starting a fight, she just sat there astride of it while her head turned and she stared down at ..of all things.. a male Cheetah.

What she found puzzling, was that he wasn't moving and kept his face turned away from her, but his breathing was loud enough to know he wasn't dead or badly injured, why he wasn't struggling with her, she couldn't make out.
Sheathing her claws the snow leopard removed herself off his back, as comfortable as she did find it, and moved around so she was standing in front of him.
Using one paw, she bought it forward and tapped him on the nose waiting for a response, and then gave him the once over.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jabari lay there partially winded, he knew it was the snow leopard that was atop of him, he just hoped she would give up and walk away, if she was going to cut him to pieces she would have done it by now. Still not moving he felt her slowly slide off him and he quickly turned his face away so if she looked she would see the good side, and he wasn't sure where the cub was as well.

He was so tempted to jump to his feet and growl at her sharply for interferring with his solitude, but before he could even try, he felt her paw tapping him sharply on the nose.

"Whoever you are just go away and leave me alone, I was quite happy here by myself before you and that miserable looking cub came charging in destroying my peace and quiet, and if those two other love struck fools are with you, take them as well."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Karensha snorted with impatience at his rudeness, even though she thought it strange that he didn't want to look at her at all, and that he kept his face turned to the ground.
Stepping back away from him, she saw the other two were still where her and the cub had only been minutes before, this little oasis was getting busier by the minute. Her paws moved slowly back to where she had left the cub, her heart beating faster when she saw he wasn't where she could see him.

"Cub...Cub.. where are you, come here."

[Lyonize]

The little cub waited quietly behind the rock anticipating Karensha coming back. When he finally heard her calling for him, he walked out from behind the rock. Whatever was over there behind all the foliage must not have been too important because it didn't take Karensha too long to come back. 
The cub strode over to her quickly and nuzzled her arm and then looked up at her as if saying 'Here I am!'. 

The cub was soon interrupted by a rumbling in his tummy and he stepped back to rub his empty belly. He was clean and he now had someone to take care of him but he was still hungry. Moreover, he was still too young to eat meat. But who could feed him? Was this snow leopard fit to feed him or would they need to find a lioness for him? 

Once again, the cubs tummy growled as he heard more splashing noises in the distance. He suddenly had a bit of hope rise up in him. Maybe the splashing was coming from a lioness who could feed him. If not, the question still remained. Could Karensha feed him?