Okavango

[Lyonize]

Maji listened as Karensha spoke to the cheetah and apologized for attacking him.
Then he was once again taken off Karenshas shoulders and placed next to her. Her calming voice reached his hears. He looked up at her letting her know he was listening.

"Maji, I have to try and find something for you to eat, there's no way I can find any milk for you,and I don't know where your real mother is, so....we will have to try different things and lets hope I don't make you ill.

The little cub was definitely ready to try anything as long as it meant nourishment. Karenshas eyes broke contact with his. Maji followed her gaze as saw that it met the cheetah. The cheetah laid there not really doing anything.

" I know this is going to look silly, but I want you to stay here and please..this time don't run away, I'm getting some food."

Maji watched as Karensha rose to her paws and walked to the edge of the water. He brought his paws in closer to himself and curled his tail around next to him. Karensha turned around and smiled at him before stepping into the shallow parts of the water. Maji smiled back. When Karensha had stayed still for a while just looking at the water, he wondered what she was doing. Then he remembered the cheetah and quickly swiveled his head around to see him. He was still just lying there doing nothing.

Only a couple seconds later, he heard the water splashing again. Maji turned his head back to see Karensha completely soaked coming out of the water. Something shiny and silvery that Karensha was holding in her mouth caught his eye. Majis ears rose and twitched with curiosity.

Karensha came closer and laid down in front of Maji. She spat out what Maji now recognized as a fish. As it flopped around, Majis first instinct was to pounce. His little muscles tensed as he lowered his head and then sprung forward as he tackled the shiny fish. His paws landed on it as he tried to get a hold of it. The fish slipped out from between his paws and he tried again, this time using his little claws. Once he had gotten the fish pinned, he began watching as its tail flapped back and forth. Majis head darted this way and that, watching the fish tail wiggle.

[blaqknoise]

"I've been travelling here and there since I left home. I don't generally get to stay at one location for long before someone takes offence on my.. presence and chases me off."

Basilisk's attention was taken by Karensha splashing around in the water.

"What on earth is she doing...?"

"I was wondering the same thing" Basilisk replied.

He realized what she has been doing when she came out of the water with a fish in her mouth. The fish may be enough for the cub, but what was she going to eat?

"So... You have found a nice area to stay in for yourself... Do you mind if I stick around here for a while, or should I move on toanother area right away?"

"Oh yes, of course. Stay as long as you want. It'll be nice having someone new around."

[dakota]

Karensha watched Maji play with the fish while she shook excess water from her body. Bringing up a paw she placed it on the side of the fish and started scraping her claws up and down, watching as the scales flew in all directions, not bothering with the fact they were also clinging to her lilac tuft and down the front of her chest.
At last she felt she had prepared the fish enough and lay down beside the cub. Lowering her mouth, her lips pulled back, she sank her teeth into the skin ripping it away from the pink/white flesh underneath, spitting some of it on the ground in the same action. Taking a small breath Ayesha pulled some of the flesh away from the back bone and started chewing it over and over again, making she she didn't swallow any.. it was all needed for Maji.

Feeling the fish at last in her mouth turn to mush, she bought her head down and let it dribble onto one of her front paws and turned to find the cub watching.
"what you need to do now Maji is to lick it up and swallow.. You'll get used to the taste and it will stop your tummy hurting... I can't go out hunting for meat until it's dark, I....just can't be seen thats all."

[Kirsui]

"Oh yes, of course. Stay as long as you want. It'll be nice having someone new around."

What ever it had been that Sera had been expecting the lion to answer, it certainly wasn't this. She stared at the dark furred lion for quite some time with a blank face, not knowing what to say and whether or not he was serious. But after a moment of silence she finally smiled faintly, though her smile faded off quite quickly.

"Thank you", she said. Though she wasn't smiling anymore, her voice still reflected gratitude.
"Since I'll be staying s bit longer around here, I might as well tell who I am."
She paused, trying her best to ignore the white leopard who was trying to get the small cub to eat. It looked so disgusting...
"I'm Sera", she introduced herself to the male lion.

[dakota]

Jabari sat there not moving nor speaking, he was content for now to just watch and listen as so far it seemed that snow leopard and the cub didn't mind what he looked like or him being in their vicinity.

From the corner of his eye he could see the lion standing along side something else, but he wasn't quite sure what, but knew they would eventually move in closer and then he could survey the newest one to interupt his seclusion in this little spot of paradise.

Turning his head slightly and also moving his body a fraction, he could see how the snow leopard was trying to feed the cub.
' hmm I guess it could work, but why isn't she using fresh meat, it would be so much better for the little one.'

[Lyonize]

The cub was interrupted from his play when Karensha took the fish and began taking the scales and skin off. She took a bite out of it and after chewing for some time, she spit it out on her paws. Maji was a little confused until Karensha explained.

"what you need to do now Maji is to lick it up and swallow.. You'll get used to the taste and it will stop your tummy hurting... I can't go out hunting for meat until it's dark, I....just can't be seen thats all."

Maji looked at the mush on Karenshas paws thinking This is for me? Maji was unsure. He looked past Karenshas paws and her chest at her belly. He thought about his mother and how he got sufficient nourishment from her. Then he looked at the chewed fish. Maybe it would be sufficient to nourish him too.

Maji leant his head down and smelled the white stuff. It smelled a little weird. But maji was willing to try anything. The cub licked a little bit up. At first it tasted bad but when he had thought about the taste a little, he decided it was ok and continued eating it. The feel of something in his stomach felt good. It had been so long since he had something to give him energy.

[dakota]

Karensha urged the cub to try what was sitting on her paw, it wasn't that bad once you got used to the flavour. When she had been in hiding and couldn't kill for fresh meat, it hadn't taken her long to feed upon fish for nourishment, she wasn't sure what she would do if he refused.
Sensing his gaze upon her the snow leopard looked down as well, realising what he was looking for and felt herself blush and her skin turn hot.
"I'm sorry Maji I cannot give you milk like your mother has done....I've not borne a cub recently....well not ever actually and doubt I will do so, so your best chance of not starving is to, well...eat that."

Watching as the cub finally stopped sniffing her paw and she breathed a silent thankyou as his little pink tongue came out flicking and licking the raw fish up and into his mouth. Again she repeated the chewing of fish, and letting the paste fall onto her paw for the cub, smiling a little to herself, glad her would not starve this day.

Raising her head she looked over to where the lion with the matted mane and the female still stood,it seemed they were getting better acquainted.
' maybe he's found someone more agreeable, they'll both go on their merry way, and leave me alone '

[dakota]

Posting for Blaqknoise ~

After moving his gaze once more away from what the snow leopard and cub were doing he turned to face the female at his side listening to her words.

"Thank you, Since I'll be staying a bit longer around here, I might as well tell who I am...I'm Sera"

Basilisk stared at her a moment longer than he should have.
' hmm so she's staying too, this should get interesting' , and then turning away he glanced over his shoulder giving the lion lying there a cursory look,his eyes lingering on the ugly scarred face.

Not bothering to watch the other two, he swung his gaze back to the cheelion
"So.. how come you landed in this part of the world ?"

[Kirsui]

"So.. how come you landed in this part of the world ?"

Sera shrugged slightly.
"Got chased away. The lions claimed I was taking down too much of their prey."
She snorted.
"Oddly enough they stand the lone cheetahs there."

Her gaze travelled back to the snow leopard and the lion cub. The lion Sera was speaking with hadn't told his name, but that wasn't anything unusual really. Strangers were strangers, after all...

It was then when her eyes landed upon another creature present. The cheelion blinked, and wondered how she had managed to miss the cheetah there. Had the leopard been annoying her so much that she had stopped paying attention to what was going on around her? Either way, the dark furred feline wasn't sure if the cheetah had seen her yet. More so she wasn't sure what his reaction to her mixed blood would be.

Sera pushed the thought aside. It didn't matter all that much really.
"A strange group you've gotten around your area."
She remarked this to the lion she had been speaking with, but her light purple eyes were locked on the cheetah. Perhaps it was curiosity, but she wanted to see his reaction even though she told herself it didn't matter.

[Lyonize]

Maji ate until finally his belly was full. The feel of being satisfied was something he had not felt in a long time. The fish didn't taste that bad but he still preferred his mothers milk. It was only natural for him to need it. But for now, the fish would do. Maji was soon very tired and didn't even notice the lion and the other one who were talking some distance away.

Maji stood up and walked slowly over next to Karensha, dragging his paws and with heavy eyes. Curling up, he pressed himself up next to Karensha, he closed his eyes and purred as he fell asleep.

[blaqknoise]

"Got chased away. The lions claimed I was taking down too much of their prey."

"Well, sounds more like a compliment if you ask me"

Basilisk bent his head down again to get a drink of water. He wondered if all these newcomers were going to stay long, and if there were going to be any more. He didn't mind new people, but he didn't want there to be a large group of people.

"A strange group you've gotten around your area."

"Yes, seems that I've become quite the tourist attraction." Basilisk replied sarcastically with a slight smirk.

The cheelion then noticed the cheetah that lay on the ground. It seemed she was curious of what he cheetah might think about her mix.

"Call for me if you need anything," Basilisk told her, looking back at the cheetah, and then back at her, "Just yell 'Basilisk' and I'll be sure to make my way over."

He then walked over to a large rock, and leaned against it in a shade covered spot.

[dakota]

Jabari didn't move, but made sure the 'good' side of his face was turned in the direction of where the cub lay with Karensha, so far he hadn't been looked upon with disgust, but he wasn't taking any chances, he had been alone for so long, it was good to be around others especially one so young.

Feeling eyes on him, the cheetah raised his head and looked back once more to where the lion Basilisk had been standing with the other feline , but had now moved and was laying in the shade of a large rock, leaving the other one in full sight.
Gasping a little, he realised that before him was a cheelion and he wasn't really quite sure what to do. It seemed she was the closest thing to himself that he had seen in a long time. Pulling his attention away he looked back to the snow leopard and lion cub and then back to her his eyes settled once more.
' What's happening here, a couple of days ago I was alone, now there's this assortment of different cats surrounding me... are we meant to stay here together, travel somewhere or what'

[Kirsui]

"Call for me if you need anything. Just yell 'Basilisk' and I'll be sure to make my way over."

"Thank you", Sera said with a faint smile. She didn't remember the last time someone had been this nice to her. It didn't mean she would be ready to completely trust this lion yet, but she would maybe give him a chance.

The cheelion turned her attention back at the cheetah. It seemed he had finally noticed her, if she could judge anything from the slight gasp. She watched as the cheetah turned to look at the rude snow leopard and the lion cub, and then turned his eyes back at her.

Sera remained still, and only the slight flick of her tail hinted that she was uncertain of what to do. She hadn't been in contact with another cheetah since... Well, she didn't even remember when. She blinked her eyes slowly. If she could see anything, she was just as uncertain of what to do as the cheetah was.

Realizing that the cheetah wouldn't perhaps do anything, the cheelion bravely began to walk closer, trying to appear as unthreatening as possible. She didn't want to scare the cheetah off. When she was close enough she stopped, and stood silent for a moment.

"Er.. Hi."
Sera flattened her ears momentarily, and blinked her eyes again a few times. She thought she sounded very stupid just greeting the cheetah, but she wasn't sure what else to say either.

[blaqknoise]

Basilisk watched the cheelion nervously walk over to the cheetah. She approached him, and faintly said hello to him.

"That's pathetic" he said laughing to himself.

Basilisk soon grew bored of watching the cheelion try to start a conversation with the cheetah and turned his attention to the leopard and the cub. He threw a small rock towards them just for the heck of it. The rock landed and rolled right up to her paws.

"Not a bad throw" he said to himself.

[dakota]

Jabari's eyes grew rounder the closer the cheelion moved towards him, his heart started beating faster. Goodness was he actually having a panic attack, what would she do once she saw what he actually looked like. Jumping to his paws he moved back slightly, his glance going to the snow leopard and then back to the Cheelion, then he stopped dead in his tracks, she had spoken to him.
"Er.. Hi."

Looking quickly over his shoulder, he realised that there was no one else there, it must be him she was talking too, she wasn't looking at karensha and the cub, it was him..
Making a snap decision he turned slightly, the bad side of his face on full view to her and the others ,Jabari stood there waiting, holding her gaze, standing proud holding his head high.

"If you're talking to me... the name's Jabari".

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

Karensha lay there feeling quite pleased with herself that she had managed to get Maji to eat the fish. Casting her eyes over him she saw that his tummy had stopped with the spasm's which had been causing his body to shake and now he was curling up pressing himself into her, his little body nourished and now sleeping. Bringing a paw out she gently pulled him in closer tucking him in against her chest.

Hearing steps upon the ground move towards her, she slowly unsheathed her claws and then glanced that way. It was the cheelion moving towards the cheetah at a slow pace, the look upon her face wasn't one of hostility but curiosity it seemed.
" hmm..looks like she wants to get to know one of her own kind, well half her kind....not that I can talk, I'm sure she got a good reception wherever she has been, us unusual ones seem to stand out for some reason.".

Karensha was watching Jabari's face, seemed he was a bit shocked that the cheelion was moving towards him, when something hit her paw. Bringing her head down fast,she saw a rock had rolled to a stop against her.
"What?"
Her eyes moved from the rock following the direction it had come from, only to land on the untidy looking lion, lying in the shade with a smirk on his muzzle. Karensha looked back at the rock and then back at him, just staring, keeping her face void of any emotion, hoping the grin she was thinking about wasn't showing.
Her first instinct was to jump to her paws and make sure the rock returned to it's place but with a bit more power behind it, hoping it hit it's mark, but for now seeing Maji was finally resting, she made no move, choosing instead to give him a scathing look and mutter.
" You'll wait."

[Kirsui]

Sera's confidence faltered slightly when she realized the cheetah was actually trying to move away from her. She thought that perhaps he didn't want to have anything to do with a half-breed such as her... He was glancing around, possibly looking for a way to escape from her.

But then he suddenly seemed to change his mind, and turned to face her completely. Sera blinked, but her expression remained unchanged. The cheetah's face was badly damaged, and yet he still stood tall and faced her with pride. Remarkable... Sera didn't think she could do the same.

"If you're talking to me... the name's Jabari".

The cheelion blinked again.
"Jabari..."
She repeated his name quietly and nodded a faint greeting without braking the eye contact.
"Your name suits you... I'm Sera."

[blaqknoise]

The leopard looked up away from the cub and towards Basilisk. She gave him a long stare and nothing else, but she looked like she wanted to throw the rock back.

He couldn't hear her, but he read her lips.

"You'll wait."

Basilisk smiled, and looked up into the sky. There wasn't much to see up there, just a cloudless sky and a bright sun. Basilisk looked back at the cheelion and noticed that the cheetah and stood up and was looking around like he wasn't sure she was talking to him. His face looked pretty damaged, and Basilisk wondered what happened to him. he decided he would ask the cheetah later when the cheelion was done talking to him.

He saw a bunch of small bunch of rocks next to him, no bigger than gravel. He looked back at the leopard and got an idea. He wanted to see how far he could push her, just for fun. There was nothing better for him to do anyway.

"Lets see if I can hit the top of your head this time." Basilisk said to himself.

He knew the rock wouldn't hurt her at all since it was so small, so he picked one up and threw it high into the air. He lost sight of the rock as it went into the sun, and wondered if he had hit his mark.

[dakota]

The Cheetah stood there waiting, his heart pounding in his chest, he felt sure everyone could hear it, it sounded so loud to himself.
'should I just count to five before the look of distaste passes over her face'
All the cheelion did was return his stare, making him even more nervous, and as he watched, her mouth opened slightly.
' ok..here it comes'

"Jabari..."
Blinking rapidly he watched as she repeated his name quietly and then nodded a faint greeting without breaking their eye contact.
"Your name suits you... I'm Sera." .

Puzzled now, Jabari's head tilted to one side, wondering if he imagined that there was nothing derogatory she had said to him..why was she still there.
Moving forward he came to stand in front of the cub asleep, protected in front of the snow leopard. She also gave him a brief look and then it seemed she was staring past him frowning at something else.
Bringing his head back up, he had found his paws had moved a few more paces, that bought him even closer to Sera, not knowing what else to do he just stood there staring at her light purple eyes.

[Lyonize]

Maji was fast asleep so he wasn't aware of what was going on untill he was suddenly hit on the head. He awoke just in time to see a pebble roll away. It wouldn't have hurt Karensha but it certainly hurt Maji. He drew his head back as he made an audible gasp. The cub put one paw on his head where the pebble hit him. His ears were flat against his head. Maji looked at the pebble and then something cought his eye. It was the lion. 

Maji drew back into Karenshas chest some more as his eyes darted back and forth between the small rock and Basilisk. He wondered if he had thrown the pebble and if so, why.  

[Kirsui]

Sera examined Jabari's reaction calmly. The cheetah seemed puzzled, and she got a feeling that perhaps what she had said wasn't what the cheetah had been expecting.

She watched how Jabari momentarily turned his attention to the leopard and the cub, and how he unconsciously seemed to take a few steps closer to her while watching the leopard. The cheelion simply stared back at him when his attention returned to her.

She chuckled mentally.
'Perhaps neither of us was expecting these reactions from the other...' she thought in slight amusement.

It brought her another problem though. She had no idea what she could do now. Jabari stood there, staring, and she felt that she would need to change something in their communication, or they would just keep staring at each other all day.

And so, it was Sera who broke the eye contact, lowering her head slightly so that her bangs covered her eyes from Jabari's sight.
"I'm surprised", she said quietly, "that you haven't yet said any snappy comment about my... 'abnormality'."