Avana couldn't deny that she was getting older. Maybe this whole rogue life thing was at the right time in her life. It forced her to learn how to do things on her own. Even if her family was still around, they weren't as close as they had been when they all actually lived in a pride. Wandering around by herself at night no longer frightened the girl as the Hodari made her way across the plains. There was something comforting about nightfall. Her unusual pink coat didn't stand out that much under the cover of darkness. She felt as if she could navigate the lands unimpeded. And even better, for this particular night, the sky was as clear as could be. A million stars littered the blanket of blue and black above her. Her mother rarely talked about the stars much, seeming to not be fond of it for some reason, but Avana was simply dazzled by the sight.

The night air was cool and pleasant as the socked girl climbed her way up on a gentle hillside. Body plopped to the ground before rolling onto her back, creamy belly exposed to the starlight above. She had every intention to gaze up for as long as she wished, watch the stars, study their patterns. Over time, Avana had come to realize how certain clustered seemed to be always present every night, just shifting slightly with each pass of the sun. Intriguing, to say the least. She wondered what else there might be to learn about the stars above.

@Jericho

Table by Amanda | Rose from unsplash

Over the last few weeks he had gotten to know himself and this land a lot better. The big gatherings that he had been apart of both excited and terrified him. Mostly, it made him realize just how lonely he was by himself but also how much he could grow by being with himself. If anything were true now it was that he knew more about himself than he had ever with his clan.

So in the off chance that he stumbled across someone else he felt both the drive to run far away but also to run full-on towards them. Luckily for Jericho, he chose somewhere in between and casually strolled forward. Their very light but vibrant coat quite the contrast despite being surrounded by flowers and the greenest of grass. It was easy to see her with the stars and the moon so bright out thanks to such a clear sky. The starry boy kept his distance in case she lashed out - cause he couldn't be sure in this new land anymore - and opened his mouth to give a subtle cough of presence. Hello, came his deepening voice as he regarded her and watched her as carefully as possible for signs of aggression.

Avana laid contentedly atop the plush grass, mismatched eyes trained to the sky. She was trying to find the clusters of stars that she was growing more familiar with the more she watched the night sky. In aspects, this whole no home thing could actually be considered a gift for the otherwise sheltered girl. The pixie never watched the stars like this in the old lands simply for the reason that she didn't leave home often, and it was hard to see the sky through the canopy of the trees above her. The quiet bliss of the night made the Hodari wonder why more lions did not simply live out here in the tranquil plains. Certainly, though, when the sun arose once more, she'd be reminded how exposed one was out here, how hot it could get by midday without any cover, and then she would once again yearn for the jungle her family once called home. For tonight, though, those thoughts were far away, replaced by the intrigue the strawberry girl found in watching the stars twinkle above her.

A noise came from nearby, prompting the yearling to turn her head from the painted ceiling above her. A near equally dappled figure stood in the darkness, though his pale undercarriage aided in distinguishing his form from the night sky itself as he stood while Avana remained laying on the grassy floor. "Hello," the pixie returned in a friendly tone as she rolled from her back to lay on her side. Better to see the stranger this way as a gentle smile pulled at her lips. The Hodari allowed a moment to pass in order to gauge the man slightly. Large, but young. Lovely colors that nearly blended him into the sky itself. He seemed cautious, but Avana was certain he'd find no reason to be such around her. If he was cautious of her, then the child of strawberry hues didn't need to be cautious of him. "Have you come to watch the night sky, too?" the yearling queried with brightness in her eyes. There came an idle flick of her head, made more out of habit than anything else, that aimed to rid her mismatched gaze of wayward strands of red in order to better see the boy cloaked in darkness.

@Jericho

Table by Amanda | Rose from unsplash

Being out amongst the Fields was a treat in and of itself, though he couldn't help but feel the deep longing to be traveling alongside his family tonight. The stars happened to be the one thing that they partook in almost every single night together before they all began their slumber. So to not be with someone night after night felt oddly unsatisfying when he thought he'd love the prospect of being all alone. With some luck the woman that was laid out before him welcomed him with a sweet mimic back at him. The friendly tone and the smile with which she gave him was a good indication that his presence was not unwelcome. I had, he answered with a quick clench of his jaws, then I saw you over here looking to do the same and thought it'd be more enjoyable if we looked at them.. together? Was that too formal? Too childish? Too needy? Jericho couldn't tell what @Avana was thinking but based on the presence that he received, he didn't think he'd be turned away but assuming so would've been detrimental if he'd been wrong.

It would appear that great minds think alike. For a split second, when Jericho confirmed his intentions to watch the night sky as well, Avana feared that maybe she was in the way of his intentions. Maybe he didn't want to stargaze with anyone else around. Luckily, though, that apprehension was quickly doused as the stranger suggested it might be more enjoyable to watch the stars together. "Definitely!" the Hodari found herself agreeing with the thought quicker than intended, prompting the maned girl to sport a sheepish grin in the process. "I mean, yeah. That would be cool." Avana did her best to try and not sound super excited to have company. Aside from her family, which was already pretty sparse these days, the rose-gold yearling didn't really have any friends to hang out with. Any company was welcomed, but especially someone who shared an interest.

Leaning back, the Hodari returned to laying on her back again, creamy belly exposed to the moonlight once more. A socked paw moved to paw the grassy area next to her. "Come lay down, this is a perfect spot for stargazing," the maned girl sought to lightly instruct the stranger before, again, catching herself. "If you want to... of course," her words slipping once more into a gentler tone. Having spent her whole life as a sheltered princess didn't exactly aid the girl knowing how to smoothly navigate interacting with strangers.

@Jericho

Table by Amanda | Rose from unsplash

Sad to say that most days he just didn't know where he belonged. The family he had grown up with was nice but Jericho had always moved to his own beat. Never quite blending in with the rest of them. They wanted routine and monotony, but he wanted excitement and change. The ability to socialize with "outsiders" for longer than a day in order for an exchange of needs to be met.

So as @Avana promptly delighted in the idea of sharing the sky together, he gave a confident and surprised smile. Not expecting such an exuberant reply and certainly not put off by it in the slightest. She was nice and that was what he so desperately needed. So as she returned to laying on her back (and him being a little dumbfounded at how vulnerable it made her to a stranger), he took a breath and settled to lay down on his stomach. Taking a look at her briefly before he, too, rolled over onto his back to gaze up at the sky. Ah'm Jericho, by the way. Because to share such an intimate distance with someone - especially of the opposing gender - it was only fair that he introduce himself.

Despite having such a large family of her own, with so many family members still missing, and no place to call home, Avana practically yearned for some companionship of her own. Her siblings were scattered, her mother was busy, and her father was still healing. The rose-gold pixie spent an exorbitant amount of time on her own. Perhaps it was why she so readily accepted the company of a stranger to share the night sky with. Even just for something as simple as conversation, the Hodari was more than willing to indulge.

Much to her own pleasure, Jericho was not put off by her own excitement at having a friend for the night. She'd watch with quiet delight as the speckled lad followed her instructions and grew more comfortable on the grassy hill. Now that they were both settled, they could turn their attentions towards the sky, though not before the male decided introductions were necessary. Yeah, that was probably a good idea. "My name's Avana," the maned girl offered sweetly in return. "Nice to meet you." The strawberry lass sported a quick grin in @Jericho's direction before returning her mismatched gaze to the stars. "So, Jericho. Do you know much about the stars?" Knowing that the heavens above were quite a mystery to earth-bound beings, Avana was interested to hear the male's interpretation of the celestial beings, curious if it was anything different than what she had heard so far.

Table by Amanda | Rose from unsplash

The more days that passed that he was on, the more he began to realize just how necessary being around others was. At least he was at an age where he knew how to be by himself. Jericho knew how to hunt, find shelter, minimal usage of plants in order to cure cuts and wounds as well as how to find his way back home. Wherever that home may be. It was more or less the desire for structure in his day that he missed the most.

So as he grew more and more comfortable laying besides this @Avana as she now called herself, he was beginning to feel a little less lonely. Moment by moment, second by second, he could feel his ease sink into his body because they were in his element. Bright purple eyes flowing across the night sky as if reading it like a book he had read a thousand times and yet, there was always something new. I know a lot, actually. One of the only things my family believes in without doubt. They didn't much like prides nor the traditions that came with them but they had always relied on the stars and told stories every night. Each generation that was raised becoming brought up on them.

My family has told stories about the stars for generations. I'm told that my name, he paused if only for the notion that he technically had two names but had adapted one over the years over the other, it means of the moon. If that didn't show how serious his family and ancestors were of the stars and sky above, then he had been living a lie his whole life.

While staring up at the sky, Avana tried to find the cluster that she was growing more familiar with with each passing night she spent staring at the stars. In truth, she hadn't expected the stranger to know much about the celestial beings, but @Jericho was a surprising figure when he answered her question. Brows rose beneath the maned girl's bangs at this sudden realization that her companion held a wealth of knowledge about the sky above. Not only did the male know about the stars, but he went on to mention that it was something his family believed in. Avana found herself wondering what he meant by this, assuming it to mean something along the lines of how some lions believed in the afterlife and spirits. Of course, the Hodari didn't have to wonder about the spirits, having met many a reincarnated figure, but that was not the topic of the day.

For generations? The words made the pixie's mismatched gaze go wide as she spared a look back at Jericho. Here she was feeling adept at following along with where the stars shifted to each night, but this guy next to her had years of stories about the stars passed down among his family. Even his very name was lunar-linked. "Hm, Jericho means of the moon? That's lovely." Who was she to question the meaning of a name? Avana didn't know every language out there to know that the speckled lion did not mean his more commonly used moniker. "My name just means beautiful flower." the cherub almost sighed, for despite being named a flower, she was no more skilled with herbs than a common novice.

Table by Amanda | Rose from unsplash

In the most simple way, Jericho wanted to be everything he could be. To provide good conversation for the rosy woman beside him so that he might entice her to stay for as long as possible. If he were a boring sort then she would promptly leave likely under the guise of having something else to do. The merle boy wanted, more than anything, to share in this moment with someone and she was a good candidate. Though secretly he wanted more than just a living, breathing individual.

Mm, yes. He laughed, accepting her compliment and finding that it soothed his need for validation. @Avana was surely a nice soul who meant the compliment without an underlying intention, though he had a hard time truly putting it to himself. Not after being alone for some time and being without his family and even then he had a hard time accepting that he might be better than just Jericho. At least yours is a perfect description than mine. How can I be of the moon when I am a lion and the moon so far? He leaned his head to the right so as to look across at her, the charm clear but honest through his eyes, while you might not be a flower by means of your anatomy, your coloration and eyes tell a different story. Alright so he was no Casanova and could surely work on his phrasing, he knew what he wanted to say but not exactly how to convey it without it sounding a little broken.