One Plus One Equals Two (Sahara)

[Shadowcat]

Despite the fact that he was beginning to get annoyed with Ecena's odd way of running, Keiran was happy that, for once, he wasn't alone. His pleasure soon faded, however, as he saw the florida panther speed forward for a moment before falling back. His mood suddenly turned sour, although he didn't have much reason for being angry over a such a small thing. He shook his head slightly and let out a quiet snort of annoyance though he made certain it was loud enough for her to hear. The bobcat liked to be top dog, or, in this case, top cat, and didn't like anyone denying his authority.

"First rule of the wild," he said, his tone making it clear he didn't approve, "never waste your energy." Although he wasn't so much concerned with Ecena herself as he was with having a strong, well trained pride, he did at least want to help her learn advanced survival and fighting techniques. If she allowed him, perhaps later he would share some of his knowledge and train her up a bit.

Right now she acts like a confused cub, he remarked to himself. Determined to change that later, he put the thought aside for now and focused on the journey.

The small tom lead the two cats silently for a while, debating on whether they should stop for water and to rest yet or not. They had traveled for a while, but stopping would only slow down the trip, and Keiran didn't want to leave his land empty for long, least some other cat would try and claim it. No, he wouldn't stop unless he was near his limit.

When his throat was dry and his legs beginning to get stiff, he decided they would have to make a stop sooner or later. Stopping sooner might mean they wouldn't have to rest as long and would reach Claws Cave faster. Ecena likely had a bit more stamina than Keiran, being quite a bit larger, but he knew she would be getting tired soon as well, if she wasn't already.

The black male slowed his run into a trot as he could smell fresh water up ahead. A small stream came into view in only seconds. Starting to pant to cool down, he turned his head to the queen and told her "we're stopping for water and for a short rest." He then slowed to a walk and then stopped at the water's edge.

Keiran squatted down on his short legs until his face was just above the water. He let his tongue fall out and began lapping the cool liquid up, his ears twitching to listen to their surroundings, should anything be coming.

After he had drank his fill, he walked over to a small, grassy area a few feet from the stream and lied down. Glancing up at the sky with his yellow-green eyes, he noticed it was around early evening. Hmmmm... We made pretty good time, he thought, satisfied.

[Sahara]

After a while Ecena slowed to about the pace that Keiran was going at, she had realised that getting to his land would take a while now, and though she was still energetic she didn't want to collapse at some point. Her folded ears picked up the sound of a snort but she couldn't tell what feeling it was expressing, the sound of their paws on the ground was too loud. Her lovely golden brown pelt hid her well in hot landscapes where everything was golden, but she knew that if her energy started to run out, then Keiran would probably stop in a place where stuff was green, and that made her feel terribly exposed. She raised her eyebrows at his statement, that wasn't the first law of the wild and he knew it. It may be one of the laws but it wasn't the first one.

When they had been traveling for a bit longer Ecena felt her legs begin to ache, the pace that Keiran was going at was hard for her to keep, moving faster would conserve more of her energy, but Keiran didn't know that. She tried to swallow her discomfort and continue but she dearly hoped that her new leader would either speed up soon or stop to rest. She watched Keiran carefully, looking for any signs of weakness that would mean that it was time to rest, she reckoned she saw a slight stiffness and sure enough, it wasn't long before he said they were stopping.

Instead of slowing down she sped up and raced into the water with a big splash, the dust that had been gathering on her fur gone in an instant. She didn't laugh though, her legs still felt sore enough to stop her doing that, but she felt happier than she had when they were moving. Seeing as the water was up to about her chin anyway she just lowered her head very slightly to drink, her tongue bringing a steady flow of the refreshing water into her maw. After a little bit she walked out of the water and lay down to dry off. This was a nice place to be.

[Shadowcat]

Keiran pulled his large ears back slightly in disgust as the young cat, Ecena, charged right into the cool water of the stream. He was annoyed for two reasons. One, because she seemed to again be acting like a kit, and second, because she still had so much energy while he was pretty worn out. He calmed, however, when he noticed she was not playing, but apparently allowing the water to relax her after the journey. That's not a half-bad idea.... the bobcat thought. He considered joining her, but he didn't really feel like getting his fur wet right now.

Once she was back on dry ground, Keiran looked back toward her and spoke. "We are not far now." After another glance at the sky, he added, "we're about two thirds or more of the way there."

Tonight, I will not sleep all alone, and tomorrow, I will not prowl my territory alone, he thought, as he watched a squirrel scamper and jump in the tree tops. This thought now meant more to him than his earlier thoughts on the subject, as Keiran was in a better mood. He always seemed to be happier, or at least, more pleasant, in the evenings and at night. Why that was, he wasn't sure, but he always felt more alive at nights.

With his mood lightening, the tom felt like speaking a bit more. He rarely held long conversations, as he didn't say much and didn't much like to listen to others talk, but he did wish for a small conversation at times like now.

"You will like my land," he said, his voice much friendlier now. "It's not the best looking, but it is full of prey and well protected from attacks."

[Sahara]

Ecena flicked her tail lazily as Keiran spoke, her muscles relaxing after their long period of work. "I'm glad we're nearly there, my legs sort of ache." She mumbled quietly at his first statement. She thought about the Bobcat that had claimed the land she was going to live in and tried to guess his mood, she didn't think he would be very happy. A dark colored tongue slipped out of the edge of her mouth and curled around a bit of grass, she gripped it and drew it back into her maw. She chewed the grass thoughtfully until it became nothing but a bit of green mush, at that point she swallowed it. She could not help but feel slightly dreamy and when Keiran spoke next she was almost asleep, with a bit of difficulty she stopped herself exclaiming in surprise, it seemed Keiran was in a good mood after all.

"Attacks?" The panther said lifting her head from where it had lay on her paws, "What sort of danger?" She was curious, which dangers did it protect against, it certainly couldn't stop stuff like earthquakes, so what? Predators? And if so, how? She wasn't usually so curious but this was something she was interested in, her new home. It was important that she knew a bit about it. Unconsciously she moved one of her paws on top of the other and looked expectantly at Keiran. At that moment she looked like she was who she should be. a regal, beautiful queen. She did not know this, but for some reason she didn't feel like moving around anymore.

[Shadowcat]

"Well, if all goes as should be, there should never be an attack, but, if on a rare occasion another pride or band of rogues were to attack, it would be quite safe. We would easily have an advantage, permitted the pride of Claws Cave would know the land well enough," Keiran replied, his eyes on the squirrel again. He sounded relaxed, casual, almost, now.

Turning his bright eyes, which contrasted greatly with his dark fur, back to Ecena, he a brief, twisted smile as mental images of his home came back to him. "I could explain on how exactly it is protected, but, it would be better for you to see for yourself." Indeed, to explain the layout of the trees and the small clearing in the center would be a bit complicated. Instead, he would give Ecena a tour.

Noticing the way that the young queen had her paws crossed and how her being was held, Keiran was stunned for a brief moment. His eyes betrayed little of his thoughts, which were along the lines of could this really be the same puma I have traveled with? She looked much older, wiser, now. She didn't look like the hyper, playful kit, as she had before. Keiran had little to think on the matter of her beauty, however, for she was not another bobcat and he didn't much believe in cross-breeding. Her beauty, coming from a more friend-like perspective, was certainly there, and again, he wondered if perhaps Ecena had run off while he wasn't looking an another cat had taken her place.

Realizing he had been staring just a tiny bit too long, he quickly looked down and lifted a paw, licking it a few times before washing his face with it. He only took as long as necessary to make it look like a casual movement before sitting his paw back on the earth. "We had best head out again. It would be nice to reach my homeland before late," he said, standing up again. This time, he waited briefly for the cougar, though he still took off at a run before she had much time to even stand up.