I Don't Like Sand

[Zira]

Jan 15th

Zira didn’t care much for the comforts of the palace. She couldn’t complain about the abundance of food and water, but somehow it felt wrong for her to be there. Even in the palace garden, it felt much too crowded. Humans and their inventions took a while to get used to. They were strange. It annoyed her.

She needed some time away from all that. Since she had heard of an oasis that was comfortably occupied by the Blackbloods, she decided to make the short trek across the desert to go there. It sounded like the perfect place for some R&R. And besides, if her experience with watering holes was anything to go by, Zira might catch a few unlucky prey items while she was there.

When she arrived, it was early evening. The lioness kept hidden in the large leaves as she approached the sandy banks. She emerged almost silently. Her red eyes peered into the slightly rippling cyan surface. Shining silver shapes flashed in the shallows. Fish.

Zira gave a creaky purr as a smile curled up her face and she lifted a paw, claws outstretched and concentrated on aiming.

[Sarafina]

From the depths of the oasis' crowning jewel of sapphire water crept a shadow. With the water too crystalline to do anything but distort the lines of her form a bit through the ripples the lioness swimming beneath the surface had to act quickly to spring her trap. Stealthily creeping up close and personal with her prey was hardly an option. Instead Sarafina burst up into the shallows a yard away from Zira, splashing in a playful uproar at the occupied lioness.

"Oops!!" With a grin the girl of the cream fur tossed her head back to send a scattering of diamond droplets through the air, prancing about in a few back-and-forth hops lest Zira send an instinctive swipe at what could have well been perceived as an ambush. Silly though her action had been Sarafina had no intention of feeling her mate's paw upside her head for startling her out of her concentration.

[Scar]

Emerald green hues gleamed in the sunlight as white-tipped paws carried Scar towards the near crystaline clear waters of the Oasis. Scar had been meaning to pay a visit to the location for some time now; if only for the pleasure of relishing in his own company for a while.

Of course when he caught the scents of both Sarafina and Zira a small purr left the old lion. He would definitely enjoy spending some time alone with the two lionesses and picked up his pace, arriving at the Oasis just as Sarafina burst from the water, likely starling Zira. A grin crossed Scar's lips as he announced his presence with a low rowl-like noise before he settled down upon a sun-warmed rock.

"Oh now look Fina, you made Zira lose her lunch~" The old lion cooed as he stretched out, enjoying the warmth of the rock and the sun.

[Zira]

Zira’s eyes flashed open for a moment as the water exploded in front of her. Her first instinct was crocodiles, so she moved backwards, briefly standing on only two feet as her other front leg rose up to avoid snapping jaws. Living in the Outlands so long, she knew to always be alert by the crocodile-infested border river, and she was several feet away from the shore in mere moments.

Slightly frazzled tail tip suddenly lashed as her crimson eyes narrowed suddenly. That was certainly no croc! Zira made good on her namesake, if only for a few moments, sneering at the other lioness for her trouble. One chipped ear rotated as she caught sight of Scar from the corner of her vision. Her sneer morphed into more of a smirk, although it certainly was still malicious. The lopsided smile was turned in Sarafina’s direction.

“You,” Zira stated in a husky voice.

Then, Zira made her way back to the water’s edge, her front legs disturbing the bright surface. A paw was raised, as before, but when it swung down, it went low. Zira wasn’t aiming to swipe her mate at all, only to send a spattering of water in her direction.

[Sarafina]

A welcome change from he usual dour mood within the human palace were the teasing grins and smirks shot between the leonine trio. Sarafina had crouched with her belly hovering just above the water's disturbed surface as she watched Zira, tail lashing in anticipation of the lionesses' response. A grin was directed to the side as the pair's raven-maned male counterpart made himself known with little more than an acknowledging quip but the bulk of Sarafina's attention remained devoted to Zira.

"Me," A giggle accompanied with the slightest of wiggles, teal eyes narrowing about the corners with mirth. This was tailed by a squeal as Sarafina turned tail to flee, peals of laughter ringing as she bounded deeper into the water to escape Zira's spray. "Oh no!!"