[SRP] The Flowers in Bloom (Mrembo x Usiku'Giza)

[Bittersweet Candies]

Life was fun. Life was exciting. Mrembo bounced as she walked, enjoying the warm sun on her fur. She had recently replaced the flowers on her leg with some fresh ones, the others having begun to wilt. They made her happy, just like life.

Everything was great. She hadn't gone hungry in a long time, and this area had plenty of places for her to rest safely and comfortably. She hadn't been wandering much since stumbling upon this place.

She took a content deep breath as she found a place to settle down for a while. She pawed gently at a small flower next to her, careful to not damage it. How beautiful it was.  

[Bittersweet Candies]

Usiku'Giza wasn't quite so positive. He had been traveling for a while, to the point where his paws were cracked and aching from constant use. He yawned, his legs becoming heavier with each step. He'd need to stop soon, perhaps try to hunt something down.

He stumbled upon a nice, quiet area with tall grass and blooming flowers. This was... new. It felt like he had been everywhere in these lands, but hadn't seen anywhere quite like this.

As he searched for somewhere to rest for a while, an unfamiliar scent reached his nostrils. It was sweet, warm, new. Certainly had to be someone. He sighed, following the scent as best as he could. He'd at least scope out who it was, make sure they weren't a danger to him while he tried to sleep.  

[Bittersweet Candies]

She heard the footsteps before she saw him. A cheetah, with fur that looked like the night sky. He was... beautiful. Aesthetically speaking, of course. She wouldn't know if he was truly beautiful unless she knew him personally. Beauty was more than just looks, of course. That was her philosophy. Unless you were a flower. Flowers had no toxic personalities to be wary of.

"Well, hello there, stranger!" Her voice rang out, both delicate and yet somehow loud. She had called out her greeting with plenty of distance between the two, just in case she needed to run. She was always ready to make new friends, but she wasn't stupid. There were bad beings all over the place.

 

[Bittersweet Candies]

Oh, good. He had been spotted. The voice immediately drew his attention to the pink leopard, who seemed to be harmless enough. He bowed his head and kept from making direct eye contact. He wasn't very good with meeting others yet, despite having come across many new beings lately.

"Ah, hello," he grumbled, loudly enough for her to be able to hear him. Perhaps she'd be disinterested and they could go on their separate ways. He doubted that, though. She seemed too bubbly just from the initial greeting. Bubbly ones never let him go without what the felt was a proper chat.

 

[Bittersweet Candies]

"My name is Mrembo, and yours?" He was right, she wasn't going to let him go that easily. Not when there was a potential for them to become friends! She took a few more steps towards him, not quite closing the gap but definitely not showing fear of him. If he was bad, wouldn't he have attacked her by now? He was a cheetah; that meant he was super fast. She had a weight advantage, though. Cheetahs were so skinny! She was... stockier. What she didn't have in speed, she made up for with strength.

He seemed a little shy, or maybe he just didn't want to talk to her at all. She noticed him avoiding her gaze. Perhaps this cheetah wasn't as beautiful as she initially thought.