[PRP] Desert..ed? [Ali x Kiran]

[Ctrl F Greenie]

The same tug that had pulled him this way and that was pulling less and less. In his most recent visits with the lioness he would one day call his own he had become more grounded. The pride itself wasn't what he was ready to call home, no the crash of the waves in the Bahari shouted at him in memory to come back. No, the lioness he left behind was home, no matter how many lionesses he found comfort with. Yai would always have the green brutes heart.

Journeys were a funny thing though, his intention was pure, go home. Intentions didn't always have paws to comply, no, instead he found himself stuck in the desert. His eye was stinging like mad beneath the eye patch his daughter had manufactured and fastened so dotingly. The bottoms of his paws screamed for softer, more plush surfaces to walk upon and his throat was parched. "How does a lion survive out here?" Ali'dido wondered out loud. His voice was scratchy, making evident just how parched he had become. Still he trudged along with the determination of a starving creature to a meal.

What did he figure he would find here? Not what he had anticipated. Were those the scents of lions? The curiosity remained a thought as he grew very aware of how naked and out in the open he was. The packs on his back labelled him a merchant fortunately and most times he was left alone or bartered with, but this time he hadn't had any pre-trip planned. Was there a pride all the way out here? He dug through memory for previous visits, but couldn't find a single one - how strange.  

[Andranis]

The desert was a big place. It was also a hostile place, between the lack of water, the hot air, the scorching sands that, to the uninitiated, all looked the same, and in many cases still, the very lions who lived there. Kiran, of course, was not necessarily one of those lions, but he was still trained to fight as a precaution. They could never be too careful, after all.

While Aurinko was at the outpost out near the desert's edge, Kiran had gone with to make sure lions got medical attention when they needed it. As he walked across the sands, simply enjoying some time to himself, he spied a lion who most definitely needed it. White paws moved quickly as he headed toward the lion, ears forward and concern all over his face. "Hey, you shouldn't be out here with all that!"

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[Ctrl F Greenie]

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Were the sounds his many items made as he turned to better see the approaching individual. He had to blink his remaining eye twice at the lion before he truly registered that he had been spoken to. Ali found himself taking a step back from the lion cautiously, but did't dare run. Not after seeing this individual sprin familiarly across the sand that seemed to threaten to suck him in.

"All of what?" He peered at the lion curiously before realizing what he spoke. "All of this?" He raised a paw and made a gesture towards the packs he carried - one of which was likely to contain water, now that he thought of it. "What do you think I'd do with it? Leave it here with you?" He smirked slightly, but had all the appearances of someone who surely should listen to the lion trying to simply give him a helping paw.

"Actually, if you have all intentions of being friendly. I really could use a paw?" He queried. That same smile fading briefly. He began to remove this and that, a drum, some smaller sacks and eventually his larger baskets. Where they had been pressed to his body his fur was pointed in all directions. "I know I have some water here. Blast." He cursed himself quietly while he dug through belongings. Skulls, small pieces of workable leather, finished items, and even some small jewels. All simply tossed this way and that in favor of finding his water jug.

Andranis

 

[Andranis]

Kiran watched the strange lion, tilting his head as he sat down. "The desert's very unforgiving of those unprepared. You look like you're far more accustomed to grasslands than sand dunes." Inclining his head, he watched for a moment, before he asked, "What brings you all the way out here, anyway, stranger? Lots of dunes to get lost among here if you don't know the way."

It was easy, really, he'd found a lion or two who had, somehow unknowing or perhaps entirely knowing, tried to cross the desert on their way somewhere else and, heedless of the lands they were stepping into, perished. Of course, some of them had clearly been buried in the sand for so long, they probably predated the oldest living lion in the pride.

Rather alarmingly to his more modern upbringing, some of those lions, trying to get out of the desert from the way their long-preserved corpses were going, had perished at the paws of lions, likely former slaves that had tried to escape.

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[Ctrl F Greenie]

"You can say that again." Ali mumbled a response to the lion, but was clearly distracted by what he was going through. "Do you mind holding this?" He asked the lion as he pulled out a rather large leaf with some pigment still dripping from one end in a hue similar to blood. "I just don't want any debris to gather in the still damp pigment." He mused softly at the image scrawled in his mind that was likely destroyed due to being hastily packed away. He didn't put much more thought into the small act, nor did he stop to see if his pale company even heeded his request to hold the object.

"Aha!" He finally blurted out at the discovery of his water sack. It had been rolled funny beneath some odd articles which he tossed aside in favor of a drink. After a deep drink he sighs and finally seems to hear the rest of the comments and questions. "Hm? Very true, my paws are used to a far more plush environment, but I'm far from unprepared so to speak." He laughed slightly, but appeared a touch nervous. "Though I suppose I should have thought further ahead about a second collection of water." The green lion gave a slight shrug and offered his small water source to the other. "Drink?" The single word was followed with a small chuckle as he considered the answer to a question he really never knew the answer too.

"The need to eat and drink drives us the way the need to travel drives me." He paused and thought on the answer. "Or something to that effect." Another shrug followed his answer before he settled his rump on the still to warm sand. He winced slightly, but gave no other evidence that he was uncomfortable. "You seem familiar with this area, or at least the sands themselves." He retorted as he finally made a more indepth once over. The lion he was greeted by was quite sizable, certainly would be a challenge for him to take down - had he been that type of lion - but he wasn't. He grew silent and contemplated the situation he had gotten himself into.

Andranis

 

[Andranis]

Kiran watched the other, somewhat amused. When the leaf was offered, he shifted so he could hold it and looked at it strangely. "What exactly is this...?" It looked like it had blood on it, which was alarming, but none of the smell of blood reached his nose, which was CONFUSING.

Before he could wonder more, the stranger found his water, and he listened respectfully, grinning when he was offered water. "Oh no, I'm quite alright, I'm native to this desert." Grinning, Kiran motioned with his head, "I know every dune, and if a dune shifts and changes, I can still find my way by the stars, the sun, and the moon. It's how we're raised in the Motoujamii, it's practically in our blood." He paused at that, then laughed, "Sand is in our blood!" Surely somebody would appreciate that joke somewhere in the pride.

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ROFL already at 450 words

 

[Ctrl F Greenie]

"Oh. To answer your question.." He smirked at the leaf. "It was something one of my cubs drew up for me. Quite impressive actually, if the ink dried well enough." He mumbled that last part to himself before taking another swig of water, which was evidently the last of his supply.

What he learned from the lion intrigued him. He made a mental note of the description provided for the desert-thriving lions. "So you wouldn't happen to know if there are any water sources nearby? Or perhaps you could turn me around?" He smiled slightly.

"Of course I wouldn't ask if I didn't have something to offer in return though."

The statement was punctuated with a gesture towards his objects. He had gained a vast number of things in his travels, some of which he was willing to part or barter with in the right circumstances. He wouldn't let a deed go unpaid if he could help it. It was moments like these that he was reminded of what a certain lioness took from him. And he let himself wonder briefly about where she might be before he returned his focus to the lion.

Andranis

 

[Andranis]

"Huh..." Kiran regarded the painting, then returned it. "Can't say I know much about painting, not my thing. Got a cousin who paints the walls with history, but other than that..." His own forte was medicine, healing, patching lions up.

Inclining his head, Kiran now grinned, "The nearest water in the desert is a much longer trick that way-" He indicated the direction with his head "- than you'd probably survive. The nearest water otherwise is OUTSIDE the desert." Rising, he turned and pointed in a seemingly random direction, "Just head straight that way, no turning. You'll hit the grasslands again and should find water soon after. It'll take a couple hours, but it's the most direct route." He paused. "The only payment I'd ask is that you not die in our desert, we may not find you for several generations."

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[Ctrl F Greenie]

"My, my.. now that would be a job in itself." For the first time during their conversation he held true surprise and sudden intense interest, but not enough to spend more time in the desert as unprepared as he was. "I'd love to see that one day.." He said as a partial request, testing the waters for what could be a unique opportunity. Ali was still interested in learning about prides around the world. Their customs and history were an important part of that.

"This way?" He followed the paw gestured towards somewhere random. "I'll have to take your word for it, I won't dare play with fire - so to speak." He mused softly at his own little joke as he considered the heat as a possible fire hazard - if only he knew.

"Thank you..-" He paused. "And you are?"

Ali's single golden eye widened slightly at the realization that he had yet again managed to forget a name. His mother would have scolded him time and time again. She would continuously have to remind him about his manners and what priority they should have over his curiosities. "My name is Ali'dido." He offered the lion.

Andranis

 

[Andranis]

One brow quirked up, "Maybe... We don't exactly have... Merchants..." It was a thought, though. Surely... Not a bad one? He'd have to bring it up to somebody on the council when he had the opportunity.

The white lion offered a smile to the green lion, "I am Kiran. And good luck reaching the border before you dehydrate." With that, he turned and headed back for the outpost. "Remember, straight line! No turning!"