Accidental Exploration

[A.lice]

I am ready for the road less traveled
Suiting up for my crowning battle
This test is my own cross to bare.

Alice sighed as the hotness of the day made her want to just simply lay down and sleep. Perhaps even got to the farthest limits and say to die. She had little idea of what she was expect to say that a day ago she had been in a tropical forest and playing with a tiger cub known as Lurch. Stopping for a moment, she narrowed her amber orbs and looked around the land. It was arid and hot. The sun was beating down on the dense, colorful pelt of a tiger female. A cub, actually. Alice felt like she was bathing in her own sweat and instantly felt even more hot. However, her determined self suddenly got back on all four pillars and continued searching for water. The water that seemed too distant to reach. She took a deep breath in and felt herself want to shrink. There wasn't even a faint smell of water in the air. Nothing, but sand and dirt and humid hair that seemed to make it next to impossible to breath.

" Hmm, I guess I should just roll over and die. Like a little puss." She mumbled to herself before walking on. The sand felt odd around her paws. It was something that she had never felt before and it was the reason she had begun to explore this vast land. It turned out that she had begun to hate sand, thought it felt unknown to her, it had trapped her in this land of it and now, she had no way out. Alice sighed deeply and found herself getting rather tired with the heat and the fact that she had been wondering days now. A smile came to her face at the fact that she no longer had a mother to deal with. That her father no longer seemed to be in her life. Alice was free from them and their pride though she still debated if that was a good, or bad thing. She wasn't sure yet, though so far she was enjoying herself a lot with her mother constantly worrying about her and checking were she was. [/center][/blockquote][/color][/size]

[Adonis]

Something was off today; he could feel it. The season was still spring, yet no clouds filled the sky. No rain poured from the heavens, and the sun's heat was almost unbearing. Unforgivable. The word seemed to be popping up even more these days, but the male just simply shook it away. He had no time for such words of misfortune when he had a growing 'pride' to take care of. Well, really, it only consisted of his brother and himself, but it was soon to grow, that much he knew.

Brown eyes gazed out at the savannah from his perch. Said perch was just the large rock in which he had claimed the land on. A sudden dry gust of wind caused his rounded ears to swivel and his mouth to open, breathing in the scents carried on the wind. Oh, now that was strange. Well, more like 'that is strange'--a stranger to be more exact. The King Cheetah let out a chirp, hoping that whoever the stranger was knew what the hell a 'chirp' meant. He couldn't roar like a lion, so you could say he was at a disadvantage at being loud. He could growl and yowl, but a roar was something that would never come from his throat.

Climbing off the rock, Adonis followed the scent. His long tail stayed low to the ground, though he stood at full height. The other being--a feline, he could tell--was a ways off, so he didn't have to hide himself just yet. A few moments passed of just walking, but that was getting him no where. Cheetahs were the fastest land animals out there! He shouldn't be confined to just walking, even if this heat would wear him out faster. He lunged forward, using the speed given to thunder out into the savannah, even if his paws weren't exactly giving out the 'thundering' sound. Within thirty seconds, he had already gone three times the distance walking had taken him. It was then he slowed his pace, not wanting to waste too much energy over running. It was then that the ground when from tall grasses to dirt and sand.

It was also then that he saw the stranger. Said stranger was only a cub! A tiger at that one. Now, what was she doing all the way out here? "Cub, are you lost?" He silently made his way over to the tiger cub, hoping she would at least stop her own steps.

ooc: Ending of post failed due to having to go to school~ Why is she in Fraternitas, anyway? ouo;;

[A.lice]

I am ready for the road less traveled
Suiting up for my crowning battle
This test is my own cross to bare.

Alice's eyes suddenly swept up to look at the at the much taller feline. She instantly felt trapped, like she had back at the pride. A snarl seeped from her maw as she took a dead stop and took yet another step back. So this was the smell she had smelled right before entering in the land. Of course, she hadn't known what it meant or really what it was, but now...It became a bit clear. This was his land, his pride and Alice had come upon it. Had she been older and taught better manners, she may have had more respect, but at the moment she was hostile and not in the least bit ready to bow down to anyone. Defensive. It was how she had always been and how she always could be in the years to come. She blinked her eyes a few times to try and get a better image of him, but it seemed the sun prevented her from anything but the blurry image she had of him at the moment. It was enough for her to know that he was a cheetah and male....An Adult male.

Alice refused to let herself be frightened or even the slightest bit afraid of him. So instead, she puffed her chest out and spoke. " No!" It was a yell though her voice was rough and husky from the lack of water and how hot it was. " I was exploring and it seems I can't find any water." She mumbled after, hoping that maybe he knew were some water was and could show her the way to were it was. However, Alice would never be one to ask for anything like that. She rarely ever asked for anything. She wanted her freedom and independence and that was all she wanted from anyone. After her mother had left her, Alice learned within a few days to care for herself. Of course, it had only been a few weeks ago and she was still learning, but quickly. A few things had come to her naturally while others were sorta of hard to learn, but slow and steady. Alice couldn't turn back now since she had no idea were her mother was or even the pride lands.[/blockquote][/center][/color][/size]

[Adonis]

A chuckle emitted from the male at the display before him. He had never met a tiger before, though he had heard that they had a bit more respect than that. But, she could be excused. Cubs who were not taught properly tended to be this way. He didn't even seem the least bit irritated by how he was spoken to. No, irritation toward a cub was not of his nature. The King Cheetah ceased his chuckling, slowly positioning himself to where the sun didn't blind the tiger.

"Calm, young one." His tail flicked back and forth as he gazed at the striped feline. "Exploration is good for cubs. It teaches them survival skills and dulls their energy. Though..." Adonis trailed off slightly, tilting his head to the side. He wasn't much of a talker, yet he had his moments. "... Normally a cub should stay with her mother until maturity. I am guessing yours has left you?" Turning his head to look behind him, rounded ears perking as a young gazelle stopped its merry frolicking to watch them. The stray animal blinked a few times before a call was heard, causing the gazelle to hurry back to its mother's side in the herd. He then allowed his attention to go back to the tiger cub.

"You said something about water, yes?" Taking a step back, the Cheetah turned to go back the way he came. He flicked his mostly black tail, signaling for her to follow. "There is a river up ahead. You may drink your fill there." Adonis then started towards the tall, green grass that made up the savannah. The feeling of grass under his paws were much more comforting than that of the dirt and sand. The King Cheetah turned his head back to see if the cub was going to follow.

[A.lice]

I am ready for the road less traveled
Suiting up for my crowning battle
This test is my own cross to bare

.

It was, perhaps, a good thing that the cheetah had been patient with her instead of snapping at her lack of manners. If he had snapped at her, Alice probably would've scream right back, getting herself punished for sure. She had never been one to take shit from anyone. Her temper was one of the things she could never contain around anyone and perhaps the reason her mother had left her. Alice had been causing a stir in the pride lands and the Alpha had been getting rather pissed about her attendance in everything. He had brought her mother aside after one meeting, maybe that was it. Alice rarely wondered about it anymore since she no longer really cared.

" I am calm." She mumbled softly before looking at the ground. Instantly feeling a bit guilty for that fact that she had been so mean to him. Alice had done nothing, but explore for the past weeks and it had made her very tired though she was learning so many new things. Now, she was seeing her first cheetah. Only some of the tigers spoke of other felines, though there was a strict rule of no breeding with outsiders, whatever breeding was.[/b]" Yes, she did leave me. About a month and a half ago, I believe."[/b] A shrug moved the muscles in her shoulder blades. She hadn't been really keeping track of her time gone, but it seemed that would be the right amount of days since she had left. Alice saw as the male's eyes wondered and she turned her own small, petite cranium to look the same way. A small smirk crossed her face as she saw the gazelle and assumed that they were probably food. Alice had had nothing, but small rats and rabbits for the past few days. The look of a much larger meal made her lick her lips before turning around and looking at him once more.

Alice nodded her head. " Water sounds very...good right now." Her small circled orbs watched as he took a step away and then spoke once more. Did she follow inside his possible trap? Being so young and weak, she was powerless to fight him off. However, the tempting of water sounded too good and so she unseated herself from the ground and took a single stride. It took her a moment to find the right footing in the sand, but once she did a smile reached her face and she continued after him. " Thank you." She whispered before finding herself on much more familiar ground. Grass. It brushed the underside of her stomach and all around her legs. " By the way, I'm Alice." Along with remembering the feeling of grass, she had remembered that she didn't know his name and he didn't know her own til now.[/blockquote][/center][/color][/size]

[Adonis]

The striped-and-spotted male let out a soft sigh at her words. Mothers leaving their cubs all alone... It was a horrible thing to do. As lord of this land, he really should be chasing the cub out. However, he did have a heart, unlike some rulers. Cubs were something he just couldn't be negative toward, unless, of course, he were correcting foul behavior. Shaking his head, he muttered a soft 'mothers these days...'

Ah, right water. A small smile curled the corners of his lips upward, and he continued on, pushing through the tall grass with ease. He rather liked this place. It was perfect for his kind, even if grass knots got in the way at times. They still had quite a distance before they reached the river, though the land was slowly becoming greener and more filled with life. The most life was centered around the river, and that was where all the prey would be. Maybe he should catch something while the cub drank. Yeah, he would probably do that.

His ears flicked at the sound of her name. Alice? How lovely. As he walked, the Cheetah turned his head to gaze at the cub once more. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Alice. I am Adonis, and might I be the first to welcome you to Fraternitas." He dipped his head slightly before focusing back on the path ahead. The river was now coming into view, along with a few herds of gazelle and wildebeast. "Watch your paws, Alice. The river flooded a few days ago, so the ground will be a bit muddy still."

[A.lice]

I am ready for the road less traveled
Suiting up for my crowning battle
This test is my own cross to bare.

Alice had felt betrayed the first day after her mother had left her, but in a way it had its advantages. No longer were there male tigers to tease and hurt her as they did. It was the reason she had such a temper and was so hostile around males. But then her mother had left her....To die? This sudden thought made Alice's mind start to churn. It was rather possible that it was her mother's plan. In fact, the more she thought about it the more it seemed to be a most honest opinion she had denied herself. Alice shook her mind and decided that this was probably why she didn't like females much, either. Of course, her mother hadn't been the top tigeress in the pride. Another female had and Alice found herself looking up to her at times though she did get scowl at her often enough. There was actually a time when Alice had pushed her far enough that the Queen wanted her out right then and there. She was furious because Alice had proved her wrong and then shoved it right back in her face. Now that she thought back on it, it probably hadn't been the smartest thing to do.

" Ah, so I am right. You were, in fact, the King of the land." Alice hadn't meant this in a way to brag, but rather that she hadn't been so stupid to completely miss the signs. " Its a pleasure to meet you, Adonis and to be on this..." Her voice trailed as she looked around her. " awfully dreadful land. Though I'll assume that it fits your breed rather well." Alice, clearly, hadn't meant it to offend him. She was simply making it clear that this was not a land for a tiger to be on. Her breed clearly wasn't made for this though she was determined to survive while she was here. Just like she had been so damn determined to climb those trees... She snapped back into reality as she thought about the day before. " I'm not afraid of mud! In fact, I think mud sounds rather...cooling." Her voice grew with excitement as she looked before her and saw the beautiful river of water. Her mouth could have dropped open had it not been so damn hot. Smiling, she suddenly took off and raced toward the river. The water, so tempting. Instead of stopping at the over run bank, she jumped straight into the mud. A sucking sound was heard as she landed awkwardly and then smirked up at Adonis. With that, she began drinking the water around her, feeling her belly expand as Alice drank and drank. The mud around her cooling and drying to her fur, at least the upper layers were.[/center][/blockquote][/color][/size]