Flight [open]

[Deleted]

After we both shook off, I looked back and saw the tree that I'd spotted before. "The perfect place to dry off," I said aloud. I glanced at Winks and then trotted off to the tree, which wasn't very far off. I lept into the lower branches and stretched out so that I was resting on two. My tail hung loosely. I closed my eyes and felt the sun warm my face. Coming out of the water had hilled me a bit. The sun's warmth felt nice as I basked in it, water dripping off below. "So, do you live near here?" I asked the male cheetah, opening my eyes to look at him again.

[EmilyColeman]

"Yes. Not that far" I nodded

[Deleted]

Winks told me it wasn't far. "Oh...' I nodded. "Cool." Awkward silence. I stared out from the tree branches and admired the lands, glancing occasionally at Winks. Now that we were out of the water and not goofing around anymore, I felt my walls going back up. I didn't know this male. I was foolish to put myself in such a dangerous position before, swimming around with him as if we were childhood friends. I would have to be more careful. He seemed nice enough, but what did I really know about him? "Do any others live with you?" I asked, curiously. I wondered if he had a coalition or if he was a lone male. Did he have a family? Cubs? Who was Winks? Or rather, who was he saying he was?

[EmilyColeman]

"Yes actually. I have a pregnant female at my cave, Korra" I explained then asked about her.

[Deleted]

He had a pregnant female with him? I assumed she was probably the equivalent to his queen, but I could be wrong. This Korra was lucky, though. She would have cubs! My own, probably doomed, dream. "Cubs, huh?" I nodded, quietly. "Congratulations." He asked about me. "No, um...I guess you could say I'm more of a loner." I shrugged and straightened up into a sitting position in the tree and looked at Winks. I wouldn't tell him that I was afraid of trusting others, that my own father had broken my ability to, or that my only dream in life was to have cubs of my own. That I was envious of him and this Korra. No, those were things I kept to myself.

[EmilyColeman]

"Thank you" I nodded.
"I ... I have a problem with trusting others, Asali" I admitted, looking down.

[Deleted]

He nodded and I nodded back. I looked back out at the scenery around us and swished my tail thoughtfully. Winks spoke up so I looked back at him. He didn't trust others? "Oh...I guess we have more in common than I thought..." I jumped down from the tree and sat in front of Winks. I didn't feel so bad about revealing that part of me; he felt the same way, right? Unless...was he just saying that to get me to admit it? I dismissed the thought to the back of my mind. "What about Korra?" I asked. Surely he trusted the mother of his unborn cubs? If he didn't, he wouldn't put her in a position where she'd be responsible for taking care of them.

[EmilyColeman]

"Well, I've known Korra for most of my life, so yes, I trust her" I said, nodding slowly.
"What about you? Ever had a mate?"

[Deleted]

I nodded. I guess knowing someone that long would help you trust them. I understood that. He asked if I'd ever had a mate. "No...um..." I felt uncomfortable. I was only two and a half, so it wasn't like I'd let life pass me by just yet, but Winks had to have caught on that it was probably my fault I was alone. "I haven't really known anyone long enough...and I guess I just don't really let them get to know me..." I looked away. I didn't like where this conversation was going. I hadn't ever talked about this stuff with anyone, and I didn't even really know this guy. Why was I still talking? Just walk away, Asali. Just run.

[EmilyColeman]

I nodded, understanding.
"I hope your not uncomfortable" I said.

[Deleted]

I didn't know what to say, so I simply smiled. The truth was, I was uncomfortable. But Winks didn't need to know that. I didn't want to lie either, so a smile was just a comforting way of not answering. I cleared my throat and looked at Winks. "Let's talk about something else." I looked at the creek and then back at Winks. "Aside from swimming, what do you like to do for fun?" I smiled, encouragingly. I didn't want to think about my past or lack of a love life anymore. Hobbies were a much more, light hearted and fun topic.

[EmilyColeman]

"Hunting, running, sleeping ..." I laughed then asked Asali the same question.

[Deleted]

Hunting, running and sleeping. Well, I could definitely relate to one of those. "Running...I love it. There nothing like flying across a valley or field, faster than everything else. That's why I love being a cheetah. We're faster than all those tigers and lions and leopards, and everyone else. I love speed." I didn't there was anything else, besides cubs, that I loved more than running. "I like climbing too," I added. Maybe there was a connection between my love of running, and the fact that I never stopped running from everyone else, but I didn't care. All I cared about was the adrenaline rush from flying across the ground.

[EmilyColeman]

I nodded, listening as she talked.
"Are you hungry?" I asked kindly.

[Deleted]

Winks listened patiently as I raved about my love of running. After I finished he asked if I was hungry. I nodded, suddenly realizing how empty my stomach felt. As if on cue, it growled loud enough for both of us to hear. I grinned, embarassed, and cleared my throat. "Yes, I'm pretty hungry." I looked around, wondering what kind of meal we could have. As one cheetah, I could catch a baby zebra, an impala or a gazelle. That would be enough for the both of us, easily. If we both hunted, we could catch something bigger and stash it in the tree for dinner. But I was already worn out from running earlier. I wouldn't be able to help much. "I kind of used up all my energy for running, but I might be able to scare something your way," I told him.