Okavango

[blaqknoise]

"Yes, guess we'd better make a move, I hope Sefu made it back ok and hasn't taken any detours, seems I owe him an apology for being too nosy, better get that over and done with as soon as possible, and then see if anything been happening while we've been 'missing'."

"I don't think it was nosy to ask where his scar came from. It's right there on his face for everyone to see, he should expect that some people would ask about it. If he chooses not to tell anyone how he got it, then that's his choice I guess."

Basilisk continued to walk, wondering what he could say to Karensha to break the silence. After a while he thought maybe it would be best to stay quiet in case she wanted to think to herself rather than talk.

Karensha then asked him something, breaking the silence. He was glad she did. He didn't like walking in silence.

"Basilisk.... would you have attacked Naheem if I hadn't of called your name, would you have waited like I asked?"

"If I felt that you were in trouble and needed the help, then yes I would have attacked him. If you looked like you were handling yourself just fine then no, I would have stayed back. I was almost ready to jump in while he was holding you under water near the end though. Why do you ask?"

[dakota]

Karensha paused for a moment taking in what he had said.

"I guess I just wanted/needed to know, that you know I can look after myself in most situations, even though I am female, and usually most males have a very low opinion of our 'skills'..... I am sort of different.. in a lot of ways actually.

Blowing the hair from her face and to the side, she bought her head up to meet his eyes.
" You need to know though ... I don't think like others do, I don't know when I'm being teased, things like that... I am thought of as strange."

Shrugging her shoulders slightly, karensha looked away
"Just thought you should know anyway."

[blaqknoise]

"You being female doesn't matter to me. I've seen your skills, and I know that you can handle yourself. It never hurts to have some help though. Better safe than sorry, plus it gets the job done quicker. I am willing to help you, and I want to help you, so no more of this "let me handle this on my own" stuff."

"You need to know though ... I don't think like others do, I don't know when I'm being teased, things like that... I am thought of as strange."

"You'll get used to my sense of humour after a while, but it's not like I'll make fun of you or anything."

After a small pause Basilisk spoke again,

"So is there anything else about you that you think I should know about, since we're on the topic?"

[dakota]

"You'll get used to my sense of humour after a while, but it's not like I'll make fun of you or anything."

"well, get used to some funny looks from me anytime, as I try and decipher whether its humour or not.. I'm sure I'll get there in time."

Karensha moved up closer to him so they were side by side, giving a quick glance at his wound, it seemed everything was holding up good, on they went.
"Its funny we haven't caught up to Sefu yet, hope he's ok.. or maybe he got tired of our company, brief though it was and has rushed ahead to stake out another resting place in the sun."

"So is there anything else about you that you think I should know about, since we're on the topic?"
Karensha chewed on her bottom lip again.. she wasn't trying to hide anything, but for now she didn't want to spill everything about herself, and besides she didn't know if things had fixed themselves until she was placed in some situations.
" well... how about if I come across anything, you'll be the first to know,but.. the only thing that really comes to mind is sometimes I go swimming at night, so if you hear me walking around , don't worry I'm not coming to pounce I'm just enjoying the one thing that kept me going, my guilty pleasure if you like."

[blaqknoise]

"Its funny we haven't caught up to Sefu yet, hope he's ok.. or maybe he got tired of our company, brief though it was and has rushed ahead to stake out another resting place in the sun."

"If he ran off that would be fine with me. Don't need him around stealing my food again anyway."

"well... how about if I come across anything, you'll be the first to know,but.. the only thing that really comes to mind is sometimes I go swimming at night, so if you hear me walking around , don't worry I'm not coming to pounce I'm just enjoying the one thing that kept me going, my guilty pleasure if you like."

"Well unless you were in the cave I would never know about it. I would hardly be able to hear you splashing around from there, so don't worry."

Basilisk looked up into the sky. There was a lot of blue, with few clouds, but farther away he could see some a storm coming.

"Looks like you might not get that swim tonight though. Those clouds will be over us by nightfall."

[dakota]

"If he ran off that would be fine with me. Don't need him around stealing my food again anyway."

Karensha looked puzzled and frowned at Basilisk.
" what ... when did he steal your food, the first I saw of him was when I was lying on that rock with the cub and he wandered into the waterhole where we all were, and food... I caught the meal last night, when you and that cheelion were playing hide and seek out amongst the bush."

Looking still around her keeping watch, the snow leopard gave a small yawn, she could see paw prints left in the dirt, going in the same direction they were headed, hopefully it was indeed Sefu.

"Looks like you might not get that swim tonight though. Those clouds will be over us by nightfall."

karensha lifted and stretched her neck, her gaze following to where Basilisk's was staring up at the darkening clouds further on the horizon. A smile broke on her face as she laughed out loud.
" All the better then, it's amazing swimming while a storm surrounds you, you're most welcome to join me... if you're not afraid of a little bit of lightening overhead."

[blaqknoise]

"what ... when did he steal your food, the first I saw of him was when I was lying on that rock with the cub and he wandered into the waterhole where we all were, and food... I caught the meal last night, when you and that cheelion were playing hide and seek out amongst the bush."

"Well, when you yelled "tag" you scared off the heard. Sera managed to keep up with one of them and was chasing it towards me when Sefu jumped in and took it from her. As a result I had to come ask you if you were willing to share your left overs."

"All the better then, it's amazing swimming while a storm surrounds you, you're most welcome to join me... if you're not afraid of a little bit of lightening overhead."

"I might as well try, seeing as you think it's so great."

They were almost back at the group now, and Basilisk's leg seemed to be fine. He was still limping, but there was no more bleeding.

"I hope you choose to stick around instead of leaving." Basilisk said looking over at Karensha.

[epppe]

Sefu had been walking for a while, remembering how he ended up with the scar on his face. It was a memory he wouldn't mind forgetting but was always reminded when he saw his reflection. He almost forgot where he was going until he wasn't to far away from the group.

Things looked strange for him since the cub was by the cheelion, the lioness seemedto be scaed by something and the scarred cheetah seemed to be talking to a giant snake. Walking to the cheelion, Sefu looked over to where the cheetah and snake were at.

"What's with the giant snake?" Sefu said confused at the situation. "and I thought the cheetah was supposed to be watching the cub."

[dakota]

"Well, when you yelled "tag" you scared off the herd. Sera managed to keep up with one of them and was chasing it towards me when Sefu jumped in and took it from her. As a result I had to come ask you if you were willing to share your left overs.".

Karensha snorted at what he had said.
"You telling me that, that cheelion 'let' Sefu take her supposid kill, just like that... maybe her eyesights not as great as she thought it was.... and as for me scaring them all, I apologise, but you shouldn't hide in the bushes like that, just looked downright silly."

Looking ahead the snow leopard smiled, she could see the clump of telltale bushes and line of trees, welcoming them back to the sanctuary she had found, and the pawprints beneath hers now, had already gone before them, it seemed all three were nearly back safely.

Glancing at Basilisk, she watched as he limped, she wasn't sure if it was a bit more pronounced now, she could see the skin stretching and pulling a tad, the sooner she got him in some clean water to wash it all out and then into the shade the better.

"I hope you choose to stick around instead of leaving
Karensha again caught his gaze returning his look.
" I will only leave if I have to, to keep others safe... but for now hopefully I've ended everything."

[blaqknoise]

"You telling me that, that cheelion 'let' Sefu take her supposid kill, just like that... maybe her eyesights not as great as she thought it was.... and as for me scaring them all, I apologise, but you shouldn't hide in the bushes like that, just looked downright silly."

"She would have been focused on chasing it to me, not looking to see if it was going to be taken from her, which was why I was behind the bushes. Call it silly if you want, but it works, and that's what counts."

"I will only leave if I have to, to keep others safe... but for now hopefully I've ended everything."

"Well at least tell us before when you plan to leave. No sudden disappearances."

They were almost back now, and Basilisk could see the water through the bushes and trees. He could also see that the group was together and staring at something, but he couldn't tell what I was.

"I wonder what's got their attention." Basilisk asked to himself out loud.

[dakota]

Karensha had tuned out slightly thinking about Sefu and the supposid kill he had stolen off Basilisk and the cheelion, she wasn't sure if it was actually the case,it seemed strange to her.., when Basilisk spoke again.

"Well at least tell us before when you plan to leave. No sudden disappearances."

Raising her eyebrow a little at him, all she did was nod her head slightly ,nothing spoken couldn't be held against her she always found.
On they travelled, starting to push through the foliage,she was nearly back to where she had left Maji, smiling at the thought, she knew she would be glad to see him, actually it would be good to see the cheetah as well, karensha smiled at the thought.

"I wonder what's got their attention."
Standing there she looked in the direction Basilisk was staring....there they all were with different expressions on their faces staring at........
Pushing past Basilisk getting closer, her heart started to sink.
why... why her... Naheem wouldn't have bought her with him, they couldn't stand each other, how did she find this place...why.

Guilt written all over her face, she looked at Basilisk quickly and turned away moving towards where Sefu was standing facing Jabari and Sera.
Giving a small cough to get their attention, karensha did what she normally did when not wanting someone to see her face, she flicked her head letting the lilac fur tuft spread over parts of her face.

" It seems all I am bringing here is unwelcome guests, I hope no one has been hurt by Kabechet... she has a mind of her own whether it be stubboness or sheer unwillingness to play by the rules."

[Genie]

Maji was starting to feel adrenoline fading from his body and he was feeling weak and shakey in the legs and he laid down. His heart was still beating away as he laid there next to others, they could deal with things.

[blaqknoise]

Karensha went quite for a moment, and looked at Basilisk. He could tell by the look on her face that whatever it was that had the others attention, Karensha knew who it was. She ran over and spoke to everyone.

"It seems all I am bringing here is unwelcome guests, I hope no one has been hurt by Kabechet... she has a mind of her own whether it be stubboness or sheer unwillingness to play by the rules."

Basilisk walked down after she finished talking, and saw that this Kabechet was a snake.

"Another friend of yours I assume?" Basilisk said.

[Kirsui]

"If you really need to find Karensha, she went that way, please don't let us keep you, if It's important to see her ."

The cobra lifted her head and stared at Jabari with an expression of fake surprise.
"Oh, but why go after her when sshe iss ssure to come here at ssome point? Bessidess..."
She paused as she turned to gaze somewhere behind the group.
"The sstone iss comfortable... And who iss thiss?"

"What's with the giant snake? And I thought the cheetah was supposed to be watching the cub."

The snake hissed a laugh at the new lion's words.
"Wass he now? If that indeed iss the casse he did a poor job."
She flicked her forked tongue in and out, then gave an open mawed grin right before two more felines arrived. She watched with the grin on her face as Karensha took in her presence with all that guilt on her face, and how the leopard tilted her head down so that her hair covered her expression.

" It seems all I am bringing here is unwelcome guests, I hope no one has been hurt by Kabechet... she has a mind of her own whether it be stubboness or sheer unwillingness to play by the rules."

"Sstubbornessss? Unwillingnessss?" the snake said with laughter.

"Another friend of yours I assume?"

Kabechet chuckled as she turned her gaze at Basilisk.
"Perhapss... Sshe and I sshare quite a bit of hisstory...
She turned back to Karensha.
"Quite a bit indeed... Karenssha! You wound me! A mind of my own I might have, but wass it not you who ran away in the firsst place?"
She flicked her forked tongue once more before she continued.
"What iss it that you plan to do with me, Karenssha? I hope it iss not ssomething ass... brutal ass what you sseem to have done with Naheem."

---

Sera gave Sefu a glare when he returned, but her glare soon turned into an expression of utter surprise when Karensha and Basilisk came back. Karensha knew the snake, apparently quite well too.

When the cobra spoke her last words, Sera finally managed to snap out of her surprised stance. She took a deep breath, and spoke out her thoughts, and quite loudly too.

"So you actually do know this snake! And who the heck is Naheem?!"

[dakota]

As Karensha stood there listening to everyone speak at once she felt her head start to pound. Moving forward she placed her self between the cobra and the others who were almost advancing on her.

"YES... I know who she is... well know and don't know really, she lived where I came from, she was with my father, you could say she was his...pet, for want of a better word. She came and went and pleased herself what she did, sometimes you saw her, sometimes you didn't."

Karensha's head turned and she focused on Kabechet, hoping her words might strike a chord.
" It also seemed that she disapeared when someone was being violated, someone could have used her help, but no.. that wasn't her style to help either."
Turning back to where the others were watching her still the snow leopard carried on.

"Naheem was someone from my past, who thought his so called powers of persuasion would convince me to go back to where I came from, but I didn't fancy his options, so all I can say is that he won't be bothering anyone from now on in."

Looking quickly at Sefu and then onto Basilisk, Karensha turned her neck so she could see the cobra.
"Yes Kabechet... I killed Naheem, no one else but me, and now he can't hurt anyone and cause misery, his life has ended and I'm sure there will be alot smiling and breathing better when he doesn't return home, do what you like with that information, but no one here will be associated with his death, except me.. I hope you understand that, and understand that well."
About to turn away, Karensha softened her tone.
" Oh.. and I'm not about to anything with you or to you Kabechet, you are free to come and go as you please...BUT... if anyone one of these six get hurt in anyway that can be linked to you, punishment will be swift..and you know what I'm talking about."

Flicking her head Karensha started to look around for the cub and saw him lying by Meri, curled up in a ball, slowly she walked past the others to where he lay. Dropping slowly down to the ground, using her paws she pulled him into her embrace and started licking the top of his head, while peeking thru her fringe at what the others would do.

[blaqknoise]

Basilisk listened to everyone talking, when Karensha suddenly spoke up.
She talked a bit about her history with the snake, and about her place in the pride. Something Karensha said after caught his attention.

"Yes Kabechet... I killed Naheem, no one else but me,"

This made Basilisk raise his eyebrow.

"do what you like with that information, but no one here will be associated with his death, except me.. I hope you understand that, and understand that well."

Basilisk rolled his eyes, but he didn't say anything. Karensha had already made it pretty obvious that she didn't kill him alone, so there was no need for him to speak up.
When Karensha made it over to the cub, Basilisk broke away from the group to get a drink.

[dakota]

Laying there she watched Sefu and Basilisk, neither of them spoke up about what had happened with Naheem, how she had been helped.
Letting some breath slide through her lips, she felt guilty about how she didn't acknowledge Basilisks part in his downfall, but for now she could protect him in case kabechet decided she didn't like what had happened to her father's sidekick, by taking all the kudos herself, she just hoped that male pride didn't undo all her words just now.

Blinking a little, she felt disapointed when the dred haired lion just turned away and went to the waterhole, but then turning she saw Sera standing there watching and waiting. Karensha turned away and looked over at the lioness who had been resting by maji, who by the looks seemed to be huddled and .... shaking.
"Meri.. it's me Karensha.. are you ok, have you been hurt in anyway by the cobra snake..did she do something while I was away ?".

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

Jabari stood in front of the cub and Meri, doing his best to protect them, his body only relaxing slightly when Sefu appeared, followed shortly after by Karensha and Basilisk.
' they're all back finally, but from the looks Basilisk with one wound, and the leopard a few scratches, seems like they came into contact with another afterall.'

Not moving or showing any greeting to the three, the cheetah listened carefully to all that was said, it appeared to him anyway, that the snow leopard still had demons chasing her and the snake being among them wasn't going to help remove them any time soon.

Waiting till Karensha moved away and went to the cub, he saw she was also now talking to the small lioness, Jabari made his move and walked around where the cobra was sun baking, and down to where Basilisk was lapping at the water.
"So would you care to fill me in on what happened out there and what you learnt about the snow leopard, I think it would be best if I knew what to expect from now on as well?"

[blaqknoise]

Basilisk took a few gulps of water and then sat down. He looked over at his wound and pushed it a few times, making sure it wasn't bleeding anymore. Once he felt that it checked out, he got up and walked into the water. He pulled out the ball of karenshas hair, and let the wound wash out a little. Not wanting to stay in too long, Basilisk got out and lay down in the shade.

"So would you care to fill me in on what happened out there and what you learnt about the snow leopard, I think it would be best if I knew what to expect from now on as well?"

Basilisk didn't answer quickly, he stayed quiet and thought about the question and the right way to answer it.

"I don't know how much I can share without Karensha getting sore at me, but I can tell you that someone who was looking for her is now dead, and there are probably others looking for her as well. Be cautious."

He took another glance over at Karensha, and then lay back down.

"It might be best just to ask her about it."

[Genie]

Maji moved as Karensha spoke to him, a feeling of security washed over him and he instantly moved into her, snuggling deeply into her fur as much as he could do. He was ok but he felt better now she was there with him, silent as he ever was.

[dakota]

Jabari heard Basilisk's words, it seemed the snow leopard had baggage following her around, well he presumed they all had something in their lives or else they wouldn't be arriving at this little oasis one by one, whatever happened there was enough of them to protect those smaller and weaker than themselves.

"It might be best just to ask her about it."

The cheetah looked back to where Karensha lay with the cub and Meri a little further away, a smile came to his face, pulling at the burned scars, stretching and distorting his face a little, normally he would bow his head or turn away, but for the first time, those around him didn't seem to care what he looked like.
Turning from the snow leopard his glance resting back on Basilisk.
"I shall ask her when the moment seems right, perhaps tomorrow when she is more relaxed."
About to move away his paws stilled,
"And you.. this wound you got, was it worthwhile in helping karensha ? ."


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

Karensha lay there still watching the two males talking, when she caught Basilisks glance in her direction.. it seemed that she was the topic of their conversation. If he wanted to tell Jabari all that had happened it was his right, she just hoped that they kept their voices down so kabechet couldn't hear, she didn't know what the snake wanted as yet, but if anything happened to those now around her, she felt she would be forced to move on and away from the stirrings of normality for the first time in her life.

Looking away and down at the cub, karensha gave another small smile as she watched him snuggle more contentedly into her, while she waited for Meri to acknowledge her.