The Forest Guide

[CrystallineWolf]

Zawadi processed her answer. I hope so? Why would she hope, instead of know? She was kind, and wise, and beautiful... sort of what Zawadi had always imagined her mother to be. The stranger even had the patience to let her cry. She saw the pain in the other's eyes, sort of like when her father had come home and told her that everything was alright, when they both knew it wasn't. The little hybrid wanted to say something, something that might cheer the stranger up, but they hardly knew each other, and she didn't even know her name.

Deciding to fix the problem, she let go of the other's paw, and looked up with grateful eyes."Thank you for caring so much... I'm Zawadi." Her tail curled about her paws as she sat with as much grace as she could muster... which ended with her back paw tripping, and the liger flipping onto her back. By the Great Kings, she thought to herself, Why am I so clumsy?

[Quail]

Siri gave a soft smile to the young cub when she released her paw and introduced herself. She was a sweet little thing. Maybe her cubs would end up being as sweet as little Zawadi. Siri would like that, she thought. "I'm Siri." she replied as the cub began to sit.

When she fell Siri gave out a small laugh, but not one of mocking. It was a sweet laugh, a motherly one. She brought her paw around the cub and lifted her back to her feet. "There you go." she said with a kind smile. She wondered how a little cub had come to be so alone, but she wasn't about to ask.

[CrystallineWolf]

"Thank you." Zawadi said with a sheepish expression. Siri's laugh was nice- and warm. She felt as if the other was simply laughing for enjoyment, instead of cruelty. Zawadi decided she liked Siri's laugh. And that she'd heard it's kind more often. Then, something popped into her head.

"Are you lost?" It seemed kind of strange, for a lioness to be wandering about in a forest full of cubs- at least that's what she thought it was. She hadn't met any other but Fox. So she had asked the best sensible question. Not all felines were explorers- and those who weren't could get lost. Her father had always had the notion of repaying kindness for kindness; and her was here chance to do it.

[Quail]

The lioness was happy to see that the cub seemed to be doing a little better. She wasn't crying anymore, and even seemed to smile a bit, which made Siri smile too. "You're welcome." she said with a nod.

At her next question, Siri thought for a moment. "I guess I am a little lost." she said. It wasn't as if she had a destination she was working, but it was true that she didn't know where she was. She wondered though, if maybe the cub had asked out of her own curiosity or if because she was lost too. "Are you lost?" she returned the question. Maybe if she was, they could find where they were going together. Or if she wasn't, Zawadi could lead Siri through the forest.

[CrystallineWolf]

"I'm not lost. I've been around a while." She was about to add that she could never get lost, because she was an explorer, but she decided to keep that between her mother and herself."I know where everything is along the edge of the forest." It wasn't hard to comb through those areas, especially with the sound of the waterfall to lead her back to base. Perhaps she could offer a meal or something.

But for now she kept quiet, looking up expectantly for a response. Her first conversation with an adult in a while, and Zawadi thought she was going along splendidly.

[Quail]

Siri smiled at the cub's answer. It was good to know that she wasn't lost. Or at least, she wasn't lost anymore. It did seem that she was orphaned though. The lioness didn't want to ask about that for fear of making the child cry again. So for now, she'd leave the subject to rest.

"That's very good." she said, impressed that the liger cub would know such a large space. She must have been here for weeks or maybe months to know the whole edge of a forest this large. It reminded her that she'd traveled quite a distance into the area, and she didn't quite know her way out. And so she asked, "Do you think you could show me the way to the other side?" she asked. She didn't want to go back the way she had come, but out, out would be good.

[CrystallineWolf]

"Thank you." Zawadi accepted the praise and relished it. She still couldn't get over how good it felt for someone to speak an accolade in her honor. "It took some time though. But I had the waterfall to lead me back."

When Siri popped the next question, the little explorer felt a might dissapointed, wanting the older lioness to stay longer. But as all adults do, she probably had something to attend to somewhere else than here. "Of course! She responded. It's. The least I can do..." To go to the other side would come back the way Zawadi had come from herself, which would lead across the river. "Would you like a drink on the way-" she paused, "and do you mind going through water?"

The little explorer briefly wondered how she was going to change Siri's uncertainess to an absolute, but quickly turned back to route planning, for the easiest was possible. Once they were on the move, then she could ponder on the matter.