In Need of a ||HERO||

[Miki]

Chaz smiled happily, though her sides still quivered from her heavy breathing. She hadn't had to run that hard in a while. She looked at the other cubs, trying to figure out what to do. She sat down and licked her paw, then drew it over her face. She let out a growl of pleasure, and then looked at her two new friends. "I wouldn't mind a good long nap...but I'll do whatever." She shot an annoyed glance at Erik when he chuckled. But her features softened as she looked back at Benigo and Eraku. "Boy, Benigo. I wish I could climb like that!"

Erik tore his gaze away from the cubs to look at the two she-cats. "Well, I'm thinking the same as your son, Ahadi. Now what?" His stomach growled, hinting at his secret desire. He longed for a good meal, but he was a circus cat and he had no hunting skills. He hadn't eaten in days, his last meal being a small bird that Chaz had managed to catch. Maybe these wildcats could catch a meal.

[Bhu]

I watched the race with little interest, running not being one of my favorite sports. Tigers could get to high speeds on rare occasion, as a last resort, so I had never took interest in it. However, I had never taken interest in the strength that tigers always had, either, which was muscle beyond that of even a lion.

Even with that, I watched the going-ons with a focused gaze. For the few moments it took place, I forgot about Erik and Ahadi. My main attention was focused on my adopted son. His happiness was palatable, even from this distance. I had never seen such a smile on his face, nor has he ever been able to show off his climbing skills, since I didn't appreciate them. All those skills were to me, was a way for him to get himself killed.

As the race finished and Benigo climbed from his perch, jabbering excitedly to the cheetah cubs, my fond gaze traveled back to my companions. The fondness washed away, replaced once more by the anxiety of knowing I was so close to a male tiger. At his question and then stomach growl, it became obvious what he wished. My heart raced at the thought of a hungry adult male. I took another step back, though not as quickly as I had earlier. This male was proving himself kind, though I was not ready to trust yet.

"Uh, I can hunt you something, Erik..." I offered nervously. I sent a frantic look towards Benigo, knowing I'd take him with me. If this full grown male was hungry, no way would I leave my cub with him.

I beamed in Chaz's comment on my climbing skills, not used to having them be noticed. I would get scolded about them by my mother, but never complimented. At the question, however, my smile faded and I looked to the adults. Erik had just asked the same question, and my ma was not frantic, though I wasn't sure why. She offered to hunt and the realization hit me--ma was scared because Erik was hungry. I rolled my eyes but didn't protest. Instead, I turned to the cheetahs. "I think ma is going to go hunting, and she will want me to go with her because she is a nervous wreck when I am not within eyesight." with that said, I padded over to my mother and stood ready beside her, glancing at Erik to see if he would accept my mothers offer.

[02moonpelt02]

Eraku was smiling, his mouth slightly open and just showing his teeth, as he looked at Chaz and Benigo. He wished that they could stay friends forever, but knew that his mother would probably be so high-strung around all these cats that she would want to leave as soon as possible. He hated that these were the first cats he had ever met besides his mother and he already knew that he wouldn't get to stay with them. Then his sad thoughts were interupted as Benigo claimed that his mother was taking him on a hunting spree. Eraku glanced at Chaz, his smile replaced with a frown, before he leaped after Benigo as he reached the three adults. "Do you really have to go? I was thinking we could play another game together!" he pleaded, his voice almost a whine as he moved his gaze from the shorter cat to his large mother. He knew that his own mother, Ahadi, wouldn't appreciate him acting so child-like, but he didn't want Benigo to go, and that was that.

Ahadi flickered her dull yellow gaze to the two tigers beside her. She hadn't hunted that morning because she and Eraku had brought down a large female gazelle that would keep them full for two or three days. Her little cub was growing to be skilled just like his father, she had hardly had to do any work, really. Now, at the mention of the hungry tiger Erik, Ahadi felt the need to go get something for him. After all, if his Chaz was beoming friends with her Eraku, she would need to show the tiger that she appreciated the friendship the female cheetah cub offered her offspring. Before she could offer her assitance, the female tiger beat her to the punch, then Benigo came up with Eraku following quickly behind. With a sigh, the adult cheetah lay her paw on Eraku's head and ruffled the fur there. "I could get something for Erik, no problem. And probably a lot faster than you could, no offense. That way our cubs can still play together and you'll know that Benigo is safe," Ahadi reasoned, flicking her tail dismisively and shrugging. She had always been the easy-going type, just a little high-strung when it came to Eraku. But she felt she could trust Yogita, most likely because she was a fellow mother though Benigo was not her own and she was still very young. So she could be sure that the tigress would extend her protectiveness to her own son. At least she hoped.

[Miki]

Erik

A low growl rumbled again, and my stomach seemed to tremble with it. My ears burned, and I flattened them quickly in embarrassment. I was a horrible hunter - a liability to nature, Chaz always teased - and I didn't want the others to know.

"Uh, I can hunt you something, Erik..."

[/i] Yogita's voice was soft, and I detected nervousness. Her glances at Benigo hinted that she was worried about him.

I hardly knew how to respond. I was grateful that someone would hunt for me, but I felt guilty for making her do so. My ears strained to hear what Benigo was saying to Chaz and Eraku. "...she will want me to go with her because she is a nervous wreck..."[/i]

Guilt stabbed at me again as Benigo padded over to stand by Yogita. My mouth opened, words were about to come out. You don't need to hunt for me, Yogita... Thanks anyway. "You don't-"

"Do you really have to go? I was thinking we could play another game together!"[/i] I wanted to drop to the ground and hide my face, I was feeling that low. Now Eraku was being affected by this, and Chaz was padding over too. Her expression was neutral, but I was pretty sure she would feel disappointed at losing playmates.

"I could get something for Erik, no problem. And probably a lot faster than you could, no offense. That way our cubs can still play together and you'll know that Benigo is safe."[/i]

I really felt like I needed a kick in the gut. Or a lash of a whip. Some form of punishment that the humans used to give me. I felt that horrible. But I glanced hopefully at Yogita, if she was scared of harm coming to Benigo...

An idea crossed my mind, brightening me up considerably, though no one probably noticed my internal turmoil. "I can watch the cubs with you, Yogita. Trust me, if anyone comes along I'll drive 'em off. I'm sure you're probably feeling crowded enough as it is."[/color]

Chaz

I grinned back at Benigo, glad to have complimented him. I truly meant it, I had no climbing abilities. And I loved complimenting others. That mostly came from living with Erik. He was so accustomed to being a show cat, that any praise would put him in a good mood. And seeing others happy made me happy.

"I think ma is going to go hunting, and she will want me to go with her because she is a nervous wreck when I am not within eyesight."[/i] Benigo's voice broke me away from my thoughts and I watched as he padded over to the young tigress. Again I wondered how it had become that he had been adopted by such a young she-cat, especially of another species. But I didn't think deeper on it, glancing at Erik. He too, had adopted me.

I looked over at Eraku and met his eyes. A frown was curved on his maw, and he quickly bounded over to the adults. He was pleading, and guessing the reason for whining, I hardly paid attention. I went over to Erik, since the trend of going to guardians had been set.

He glanced at me shortly, but then looked back towards the adults. All I knew was that it seemed like our short play date was breaking up.[/size][/blockquote]

[Bhu]

Aggitation pricked my pelt as I sensed the embarresment and guilt wafting from the male tiger. My panic had hurt his feelings, in a way. I wanted to kick myself, but I couldn't truley bring myself to regret my words. I was an overprotective and I had grown accostomed to insulting others with my lack of trust. Rather insult then wind up with Benigo dead.

That guilt the male was feeling soon claimed my own heart. Benigo's new friends were now here, one whining for him to stay. But I couldn't leave Benigo here. I trusted Ahadi would be more then willing to watch and protect Benigo, but I'd feel awful if she and her son got killed because she had needed to be slow so Benigo could keep up. No, I couldn't do that.

"I could get something for Erik, no problem. And probably a lot faster than you could, no offense. That way our cubs can still play together and you'll know that Benigo is safe,"

Relief washed over me and I wasn't the least bit insulted by her stating she could get something quicker. She was a cheetah, built for speed. I was a tiger, built for fighting. Her size would make her catch smaller then what I could catch, though the kill would be much quicker, but I was sure Erik didn't need something real big. Just a quick snack to take the edge off his hunger would surfice.

"I can watch the cubs with you, Yogita. Trust me, if anyone comes along I'll drive 'em off. I'm sure you're probably feeling crowded enough as it is."

I dug for the anxiety I had been feeling a moment before, begging it to return at the mention of being alone (except the cubs) with the male, but I couldn't get it back. I didn't want to trust. Trusting would lead to Benigo's demise, which would lead to my own. Trust, get away from me! But it stayed clung to my pelt. I wouldn't trust him alone with my 'son', but I trusted him to defend me and the cubs. Wonderful. I was dooming Benigo and myself.

"That sounds like a fine plan." I managed to speak, shocked at how content my tone was. Great, not only was I trusting, but these cats would think me a emotionally challenged feline. Paniced and absolute contentness is seconds. Real wonderful.

Hiding my inner thoughts, I smiled down at Benigo who so obediently sat by my side, awaiting the final decision. "Go on and play, Benny. But please be careful. Don't think I didn't see that move you pulled in the trees! I've told you a thousand times to quit it!" Even as I tried to conjure up anger, it only came out an amused giggle. I was letting myself open up. Doom.


A smile didn't form, though my lips threatened a twitch, as Eraku wailed for me to stay. I felt important, sort of, but I also felt bad. If ma wasn't such a panicor, I wouldn't be putting my friend through such negative emotions. A small twinge of anger lurked into my heart towards my mother, but it quickly slid away as Eraku's mother spoke.

Instantly I zoned in on my mother, not even looking at Erik when his words rang into my ears. Would she accept? That would mean she would be responsible for my own and Eraku's protection, and not to mention her own, but I was sure she didn't think about that. Ma had never been one to care whether she survived, as long as I was happy.

I nearly yelped in surprise when my mother accepted and told me to go and play. Of course she scolded about my climbing moves, but in a light humored way. I couldn't care even if she had been fuming, she was trusting these cats. She was trusting the cheetah mother to return. She was trusting the cubs to not harm me. And the biggest surprise of all, she was trusting Erik not to snap and kill us all once the cheetah mother was gone. Thank you, Dio!