‘Oh- no embarrassingly I've just gotten lost up here exploring. That's it.’ The leopardess leapt onto a small boulder, one that allowed her the advantage to mitigate the height between them, and she leveraged a look of both surprise and interest at her companion’s revelation. Her head tilted; cherubic countenance illuminated with unabashed curiosity as her tail twitched behind her. You were exploring in the middle of the night? I did not know you folk to be nocturnal. Faceted eyes would attempt to search the others gaze, ears perched forward in emphasis of her interest, before she would turn away and back to their travels, light steps leading them ever closer to the trail she knew would not be far away.

It is miraculous, how something can be destroyed, and then simply— She swished her forepaw in a circular motion as she spoke. —grow back. There was an air of contemplation in her tone, she neither invited response nor discouraged it; her thoughts were elsewhere, on miracles and science and possibility. Had she been a bit more socially oriented, she may have expressed her pleasure that her earthen companion was able to keep her home, however changed it may be, but although that sentiment existed in her heart, she did not say it aloud.

Instead her eyes drifted back to the other as they yawned, and while she noted the pricks of teeth that protruded from their lips, she did not feel any flare of alarm. Nazonal was proving an interesting companion, sating an overdue need for socializing in the leopardess that she had not realized existed. Thus, her caution was tempered. Oh, no, I only wanted a good seat to watch the sun rise. Generally, I prefer trees branches over mountain cliffs, although I haven’t yet found the forest here. She explained, her compact form weaving around another stone before she chirruped with excitement and pointed ahead. The path, its up there. Can you see it? She turned her face to the larger feline, eyes bright with her success.

@Nazonal

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Exploring in the middle of the night? Ehhh... Naz looked away with some embarrassing flush coming over their cheeks. Well- I kinda started in the evening I guess technically. It had been a lot of getting lost and turned around even once Naz hit a point where they considered getting some sleep. Naz's gaze swept back to @Sparrow and their shoulders shrugged nonchalant 'what can you do'? Sort of way. Incredibly dismissive of the extent to which they'd truly gotten lost.

Naz picked up the pace a little bit, feeling sun and morning beginning to break through and give some life to their step. Tiredness gave way to a second wind as their body wanted to get home sooner rather than later. Her vision followed around with Sparrow's paw as it danced in a circular motion through the crisp mountain air. It's given the younger trees and plants a chance, they're getting more sun. It was not just the old trees and green coming back, but the ushering in of a new wave.

Ahead the path began to look more familiar, the air was thicker and every indication of moving down was given. Nazonal was speeding up again, this time aiming to walk past Sparrow and down to the trail head of the last stretch that would take her home. They leaned their nose to the dirt and sniffed at the thin dirt, loose gravel shifted by their touch. This is it exactly! Oh thank you! Naz excitedly lifted their head up, turned back to Sparrow with the biggest most honest grin one could imagine. I can show you where the Jungle is, if that kind of forest would interest you.

❞

The leopardess digests the earthen cat’s dismissive confession and while this explanation only serves to inspire more interest, she instead takes her cues from her companion and curbs the curiosity that tempted her tongue to deeper interrogation. Sounds like it was a long night. Her voice warm and sympathetic despite the betraying glance of lingering curiosity she surreptitiously casts the larger feline. If only the moon would have cooperated, you may have had an easier time of it. The shadowcat continues; but now the world was colored in the soft blue light of morning, and the path was ahead.

The shift in circumstance seems to invigorate the earthen feline, and Sparrow watches with some surprise as Nazonal overtakes her on the trail and pushes ahead. The leopardess lifts into a trot to keep up, her thick tail curling upward with shared enthusiasm as her gaze sweeps from the lioness to the mountain trail. A grin is reciprocated in response to the gratitude, although her pleasure in having helped the other is two-fold; the witch was certain, now more than ever they were intended to meet on this night of new beginnings. And when she speaks of the jungle… Would you? Please, I would be so grateful. Fresh starts and new beginnings indeed.

@Nazonal

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Nazonal's response is a tired laugh of pure, unadulterated agreement. It had been a long night. A bit cold, windy, confusing, and above all other things long. I don't mind it. Means I met you right? Naz says with a sincere warmth, that tired grin turning into a much more genuine and confident one. They don't regret getting lost tonight, they might not have anyways (getting bothered by that just wasn't Naz's style) but without having gotten lost would she have met Sparrow? Doubtful. They'd lived over a year in the jungle and never gotten to know any of the leopards there. No, they're certain just as Sparrow is that there is meaning here and both were leaving better off.

Come on, I'll show you around the Jungle a bit. Places to get water, landmarks, where I live... They're rambling a bit as they continue to walk, happily increasing pace with excitement. Plans forming, racing through their mind, none of which were amounting to catching up on the night of lost sleep mind you. And then they paused abruptly, ears perking up and body jerking to a stop. They turned and looked over to @Sparrow. ... if you want to hang out more or something that is.

❞

Cherubic expression was illuminated in her delight at the earthen feline’s words, and her chin tilted in confirmation. Our meeting was fated; I know this in my bones. She emphasized in a keen and light voice, the tips of ivory fangs appearing in the smile she continued for her newest friend. Already, on her first morning on this continent, a friend had been made – and a lion at that! Her thick tail snaked and waved above her, a conduit for the happy energy that permeated her soul and fed buoyancy into her trot – allowing the compact cat to keep up with the larger feline with ease.

Rounded ears rotate and swivel with the plans that Nazonal lays out for them, her minds eye forming pictures of this growing jungle and all the places that might be in store for them. Her silence was that of rapt attention as she envisions the future, and so she was startled when the earthen cat pulls up in a halt. Sparrow slides to a stop as well and turns inquisitive eyes to her friend as they double-checked her accepted participation. Yes, of course, She stresses brightly, but then would tilt her head and faceted eyes would survey the larger feline with a thoughtful consideration. But maybe the landmarks and water holes can wait until after we’ve had a nap… She suggested, a note of humor entwined in her words. After all, it had been a long night.

@Nazonal

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Fated. Nazonal felt drawn into the word itself, the way it echoed in their head and danced around. It left them with the feeling like there were old memories to recall, but there weren't any. But still came that nostalgia, that meaningfulness, that one might get with an old friend like that.

They nodded, smiling all the while and just grateful that she was going to have some company for the day even if a nap was coming first. You're smart. Somewhere inside the parts of Nazonal's brain that were tired sand @Sparrow praise while in chorus with their body that was also just begging for sleep. They reached over and aimed to brush their forehead on Sparrow's temple with a trill of a purr humming within Naz's dark chest. Time to go do the short tour to the perfect sleep spot.

/exit

❞

There was truly no better compliment the earthen feline could have given her than to flatter her intelligence. Sparrow was many things now and wished to be many things in the future; a scientist, an alchemist, the founder of immortal life… and much of that centered on her wit. To hear herself praised so, from the lips of a lion no less, sent a burst of warmth and pride through her veins. An easy purr resonated in her throat as the larger feline bumped their forehead against her temple, and when they took off back down the mountain, Sparrow was fast on their heels. Exit.

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