Still alone, she was still alone even after a few weeks of taking off from Maji Walezi. In her heart she knew that she would return but would her friends know that? Surely her Cancer believed in her. Surely he would wait for her and know that she would return to him one day as she as she got her head together. She could tell that day would be soon... but not yet. Right now she had to find a way to feed herself. While she was out she couldn't depend on eating the easy-to-get fish from Pisces, she had to hunt.

Like now...

A group of cave deer where gathered together in a clump, grazing the grass of Eridanus. Makyna was crouched down in the shelter of a bush, eyeing the small herd as she gauged which one she wanted to catch. There was one that caught her eye. A smaller one that looked a little sickly, that would be perfect for a lone lioness. After careful gauging of the distance she lashed her tail then coiled her muscles and sprang.

The deer had minimal time to react as they attempted to dash away. They all turned as a single unit and ran with the sickly one in back, fighting to keep up. Makyna easily began to close the distance and once she was close enough she sprang. The lioness landed on the deer's back and with her weight brought it down to the ground. The lesser gembound attempted to call for its herd but that call was quickly cut short as Makyna's jaws clamped down over its muzzle in the classic way for lions to kill their prey. Suffocation.

So she lay there, paws over the creature's neck as her mouth clamped over its airways while she waited for it to die. This prey would be more than enough for her but she would attempt to use all of it. The lioness hated to not use all of the prey she caught.

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words: 334
tagged: Quix
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

Ever since Quix had her coronation at Maji Walezi, she had been on the prowl for more adventures, fun experiences and a quest for expanding knowledge in a much more subtle way by picking up cues and signs along the way. She was extremely small and so snuck through the many stalagmite structures easily. Rugged rocks did not hinder her either. The lithe girl simply jumped over them with a hop and a skip, all the time with a wagging tail. The moss and lichen which draped over many plant life and rocks perked her curiosity but she didn’t stop to observe those. Bevy had sure taught her about plants and there were plenty of them back in Maji Walezi. If anything, Quix was subconsciously searching for something new and exciting to bring back home.

Just then, she heard the thundering of hooves. Pricking up her ears, the fennec fox turned to the source of the sound and was extremely dismayed to see a herd of deer larger than her coming her way. With a squeak and a shriek of terror, Quix dashed to the corner, jumped up and dived head-first into a bunch of bushes with a loud rustle. Soon, the herd went by her. The girl then pricked her head from within the leaes and looked around. Thankfully, all were gone. The scenery was back to a state of calm. With a sigh, she picked herself out of the bushes and licked herself over to remove stray bits. Then, she continued on her trail.

The girl attempted to observe the bacteria in the area, and so attempted to draw on her magic. The itty bitties appeared in her mind instantly – and she sensed bad bacteria drawing quick to her vicinity. Curiosity pricked the kit, and so she darted over like a streak of tan. “Makyna!” she exclaimed with delight and wagged her tail furiously as she saw the lioness digging into her meal. Ah, so it was her that sent the herd thundering over. Like a polite little fox, she gathered her paws and hopped onto Makyna’s back, then sat neatly on her with fluffy tail curling around her body. It’s simply lovely to see you today!” she yipped in delight and licked Makyna’s scruff in a friendly manner.

She could feel the deer's breath becoming slower. Her claws dug in as she pulled it to the ground. It wasn't over yet but as she lay there, doing what her instincts commanded of her she heard a new sound. A yipping bark that called her name. One ear tilted backwards to hear better, attention split. She knew that voice. It was Quix! That cute little fox she'd met before, the one who carried the distinct smell of Maji Walezi. Makyna hadn't mentioned it before but perhaps today would be the day.

The breathe of the deer finally stopped as Quix leaped onto her back. The lioness laughed as she was licked on the back of her neck, a half-throated rusty sound like a purr erupted from her throat. It was something like a mix between a growl and heavy breathing but it was her version of a purr, as close as a lion could come anyhow. The sound certainly conveyed happiness, either way. "It's lovely to see you too, little one!" She said cheerfully.

The lioness smiled as she looked down at her catch. "Say, would you like to share this with me? It's a lot of meat and I'm not a lot of lion, y'know." If the fox wanted to hop off for a snack she was more than welcome to, she was also more than welcome to keep riding on her back. Makyna certainly didn't mind being used as fairy.

The lioness meandered over to the belly of the beast and opened it, beginning to eat her meal and leave it open for Quix if she wanted any. The fox was tiny and she didn't know if she would be able to break through the tough skin of the deer. "Had any interesting adventures since we last met?" The lioness asked casually as she tucked into her meal.

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words: 311
tagged: Quix
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

Quix was delighted by Makyna’s fur but more so by the wonderful greeting the older gembound gave her. She looked over at Makyna’s prey with curiosity. It was smaller than Makyna, but so much bigger than her. The girl let out a wide yawn, miniature jaws parting to reveal tiny teeth that gleamed fiercely like a predator’s. Her little face scrunched up and her eyes fell into two happy curved lines while she yawned, and when she was done, Quix closed her muzzle, shook her furry ears and licked her muzzle. The scent of meat wafted to her nostrils and she definitely wanted a teensy morsel! Bugs were tasty but meat was akin to the occasional sweet delicacy to her when she managed to nab one, and certainly none as large as this. “Thank you,” she replied Makyna brightly, her tail furiously wagging in delight. When Makyna tore open the belly, Quix gently launched herself off Makyna and back onto the ground. Scuffling close to the prey, tail wagging, the girl reached her little paws into the depths of the belly and gripped onto a shred of meat. She then retrieved her now bloody features and snacked and munched upon her meal with contentment. Every bite and crunch made it seem like she was winking. When she was done with the first morsel, the little fennec replied Makyna.

“Yes Makyna! Cancer daddy wanted to chew my ears off but I brought more friends to Maji Walezi! Oh oh and I help coordinate too!” She giggled and gazed upward at Makyna, her little feet tucked in politely and neatly. Just that one scrap of lion had satisfied the small eater. “How about you Makyna?” she asked the lioness with large, wistful baby blue eyes.

The little fox wasted no time in going straight to the prey. The little one probably didn't get meals like this often. It was refreshing to see that she was so enthusiastic about it. Makyna tucked in herself as she waited for a reply to her question. Her larger mouth was able to snatch up far more food than the little fox and she managed to swallow down a large mouthful. However, she nearly choked upon the meat when Quix spoke about "Cancer daddy" and Maji Walezi. True, she could tell by the smell but it was another thing to hear it out in the open.

For a moment the lioness was lost in the meal or seemingly so as she attempted to figure out what she wanted to say. "Well.." Her own blue eyes turned to the little fox as she stared down at her. A multitude of emotions coursed through her but the most prominent one was a strange mixture of guilt and joy. Guilt at leaving Cancer all alone but joy that he'd found someone to keep him company, this cute gal right here. "I haven't really had any new adventures but.." Well, here she went.

"Would you believe it if I told you that we're part of the same group? I'm also a coordinator of Maji Walezi... I'm also Cancer's girlfriend." As far as she knew she still was. Cancer could certainly revoke both of those privileges.

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words: 249
tagged: Quix
ooc: ---
muse: 5/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

[/quote]

"Oh, really?” Quix yelped in surprise, rounded blue eyes honing onto Makyna’s face as she revealed herself to be part of Maji Walezi. Makyna then spoke about being Cancer’s girlfriend. The girl twitched her large ears and tilted her head, still gazing at the lioness. "What’s a girl-friend?” she asked innocently in awed, hushed tones. It seemed important! "Makyna, will I get to be coordinator and girlfriend too?” Her query was a very eager one. She wanted to be big and strong like this lioness! Everything seemed right. She had almost the same coloured pelt! Just maybe, she could be like Makyna! "I wanna be just like you. Big and strong. Then we can help Maji Walezi even more!” she grinned at the older girl, a mix of adoration and girl-crush bubbling up within her. Then, as though to emulate the lioness, she trotted back to the carcass and attacked it with renewed vigour and tried to chew off more than she could. Unfortunately, she latched onto some sinew that refused to budge beneath her tiny jaws and the girl felt herself tumbling backwards into Makyna’s legs. "Oops,” she laughed and looked up at the lioness.

The innocence in the fox was cute. Makyna hadn't even thought that the little one wouldn't know what a girlfriend was. She remembered being that young, not knowing as much about the world. Everything had been simpler then, not so upsetting and filled with the perils of life. The lioness shook her head at the fox's question, a small chuckle bubbling from her throat. "No, my dear," Then she paused, looked thoughtful for a moment and continued, "Or rather, not Cancer's girlfriend since I imagine he's like your father. You see, a girlfriend and for that matter a boyfriend too is someone that is like a special friend. They're someone that you love very dearly and that you get... uh..." How did she put this lightly? The fox was still young and she didn't want to ruin anything for the little one. "'Special feelings' for. Not quite like love but something similar. You'll understand more when you get older." She added the last sentence hastily, hoping it would curb anymore curious questions about girlfriends and boyfriends.

Speaking of boyfriends and girlfriends, if Cancer had adopted this one as his daughter... did that make Quix her daughter too? The thought of having a cub, one that looked a lot like her and Cancer barring the species difference was one that made her smile with happiness. The lioness had never thought about having cubs of her own but the thought was one that filled her with joy. "Well, perhaps one day you shall be as big and strong as me!" She smiled as the little fox tried to eat more meat from the carcass but failed, rolling back into her paws.

Makyna smiled and rasped her tongue over the fox's head, already thinking of her as a little daughter. "Just remember, little one, strength is not always measured in size but also in the strength of one's heart and mind as well. Sometimes that's what matters more." Brain triumped over brawn all the time and with Quix's size she was certain that the fox needed to hear that. "As a coordinator, it is important to remember that." With a smile and a laugh she ruffled the little cub's fur with her nose. It was nice to have something of a family again.

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words: 380
tagged: Quix
ooc: ---
muse: 8/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

The girl allowed herself to fall into Makyna’s embrace as she licked her. It made her feel all fuzzy and warm inside and she loved it. Thinking back that was how she had introduced herself, as being called Quix and liking hugs. Perhaps Cancer daddy should make that her job! It seemed to cheer on most gembounds considerably except for a few grumpy ones who, for some reason, did not have the energy to keep up with her. Quix looked at Makyna now, thinking about girlfriends and boyfriends. She frowned at Makyna as she tried to think hard about her own boyfriend. Boys were just other gembounds to her. Different, but … she hadn’t really come across ones that gave her special feelings. "I don’t have a boyfriend. All boys the same.” Yeah, who needed to think about that when she could zip around caves and have tons of fun! She then promptly forgot about the topic that was hard for her to grasp, even though Makyna had given her a better idea!

As the older lady filled her in on the details of what a coordinator was, Quix listened extra solemnly, then giggled. "Thank you Makyna,” she replied and licked her on the cheek. "Now I know Maji Walezi needs me!” It had been an insecurity of the girl’s that one day, this beautiful situation around her would be torn down and she’d be kicked out just because she couldn’t swim like Eeya, nor heal as well as Bevy, or even be as strong and tough as Cancer. But she loved her family and felt their love so strongly that all her thoughts were constantly combated by the support she got from the tribe.

Now, the fennec settled into a more pensive mood. "Say Makyna, why haven’t I seen you in Maji Walezi?” Now that she thought of it, how come she only met Makyna far away from pisces and not anywhere near it?

The lioness nodded her head with a small smile. Well, the little fox wouldn't have any special feelings for males yet now would she? Perhaps one day but not now. "Well, that is perfectly fine." The lioness gave a small chuckle and a wink as she continued with, "Perhaps one day you'll think differently." She patted the top of Quix's head gently with a paw.

The lioness rumbled a, "You're welcome." When the fox pup thanked her. "Maji Walezi is like a family and family will always need and be there for each other. Even if they might be far apart sometimes..." That last bit was spoken moreso to herself than the one near her. It hurt to be away from her family but it was probably for the best now. She was no use to anyone if she couldn't get her head straight.

Then the million dollar question came. Why was she so far away from home? The lioness' head turned away as she tried to hide a look of guilt. "That is a long story, little one..." She said quietly. Her tail flicked as she risked another glance to the pup. She didn't dare disclose it all but perhaps the fox needed some sort of truthful explanaition. "Some stuff happened... You remember the Truth or Dare game? Cancer upset my dear friend Leon... Leon, you see, is very special to me and without him I couldn't stay at Maji. I'm away searching for him." And also for myself... But that opened a whole new can of worms that she wasn't even certain the pup would understand. No, she'd just disclose the simple version.

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words: 275
tagged: Quix
ooc: ---
muse: 6/10

"Talking looks like this!"
Thinking looks like this...

The fennec let out a little yawn and nuzzled into Makyna’s fur as the lioness mentioned that it was a long story. She looked at the older girl in anticipation, large fluffy ears titlting forward in eagerness what she’d say. As the story was recounted, Quix nodded along. She remembered that game! It had been fun with Bevy and Dark birbs before she promptly fell asleep in Cancer's pouch. Makyna continued on, and when she spoke of how Cancer had upset her special friend, the little fennec yipped, ”Special friend like special feelings?” Then, her thoughts turned to Cancer. Fat leopard! How dare he upset Makyna. ”Fat leopard does things without thinking,” she muttered and wrinkled her nose as she thought of her daddy. He was so lovely but Quix could be so disapproving of his antics sometimes! It was almost a love-hate father-daughter relationship.

The young girl had yet to hear of leon though. ”Who is Leon?” she asked Makyna as she snuggled deeper and settled herself in for the elaboration of the lioness’ bedtime story.