Room for One

[Daisy Duke]

Huge tan paws carried the large body of a tan puma across the hot rocks. The sturdy pads on the cat's feet made it almost immune to the heated sandstone that would have burned a weaker beast.
The female feline strolled casually across the desert floor, pricking her cupped ears towards the sound of the wind carrying a big gust of dusty sand high into the air before letting it settle again. She turned back towards the caves she was headed for.
That was where this majestic creature dwelled. The dark, shady sandstone caves were where she called home.
She lived her by herself and she had lived here by herself since she was very young. It was a good place to live, stray dogs and cats sometimes wandered out here when they were lost and they made easy meals. And when the dogs and cats were in low supply, there were always rabbits and birds around to keep her stomach full.
Once Starlight reached the shade of the caves, she jumped up onto a low overhang and flopped down on the curved rock ledge that she liked taking naps on. Her massive jaws stretched wide revealing her dazzling teeth. She laid on this ledge a lot when she was looking for prey. She could easily see a large expanse of the desert before here which made it easy to spot a movement that could mean another meal for her.

[Bunny of Randomness]

Sand. That's all there was for miles. Sand and more sand and rocks and sand and-wait, was that rocks? The large male puma shook his head. No, the sun must be getting to his head. How many days and nights had he traveled? Too many to count. He had traveled until his giant paws felt worn, and when he felt he could not go on, he found the strength somewhere. His forehead was on fire, where his black stripe seemed darker than ever before, as the sun and sweat caused his pelt to sick to him. He couldn't stop. No, stopping was dead, and so he traveled... How long would he keep it up how long? His muscles flowed beneath his coat. No food barely any water, and yet he still looked healthy. Yes, the rocks were closer. He cloud feel the delicious coolness of shade. Urging his flagging strength onward, the puma collapsed in the shade of the rocks. There were caves, but he would reach them after he rested. He refused to look over his shoulder at the dusty plain he had crossed. They said it was impossible, but he, Granite, had crossed the desert!

[Daisy Duke]

Starlight's golden eyes scanned the sandy terrain outside her cave. Nothing moved except for the wind blowing the sage bushes twigs around. She sighed, disappointed. She hadn't eaten in a day or two now and her stomach was demanding to be fed.
She growled to herself before laying her large head on her paws. Finally she saw some movement out in the sandy wasteland. It blended in with the desert rocks well though. Curious, she rose to her paws and gracefully lept off of her ledge and down to the ground before strolling casually out of the shade of the caves and into the burning sun once again.
Her eyes narrowed as she tried to make out the shape that lay on the ground in the shade of some rocks. It was quite large and probably wasn't a stray cat or rabbit. Maybe a dog? No. It was even to large to be a dog. Another puma perhaps? Surely not. She had been the only puma to live in this expanse of desert for as long as she could remember.
She took a couple steps forward, her tongue beginning to pant as the hot sun warmed her fur once again. She jumped onto a large boulder and sat down, waiting to see if the beast was at least alive before she decided what to do next.

[Bunny of Randomness]

Granite might have been exhausted, but his keen eyes worked just fine. The detected movement, and... panting. The puma braced himself, the thought of a fight making his blood rush through his veins, bringing his tired body new life, even as he knew the reek of sweat covered him. Leaping to his large paws, the tawny puma was ready to roar out a challenge to any who dared to attack him. The scavengers of the desert wouldn't get him this night either! But he froze when he saw the creature who confronted him. It was another puma, a female. His cold amber eyes blinked in surprise. He hadn't thought there would be another puma for miles. However, he did eye her warily. “Who are you? Where am I?” he asked, his voice sounding a bit rusty from disuse as well as lack of moisture. How long had it been since he had spoke with another creature? Too long.

[Daisy Duke]

Starlight gazed at the other puma, an amused smile sliding across her face as she watched him jump to his paws as if she was going to attack him. She could tell that he was obviously weak from traveling across the desert. She tilted her head at him with a curious look on her face.
"I am Starlight, and you my friend, just happen to be in my territory." She replied matter of factly.
Starlight began to groom herself, running her tongue along the rusffled tan fur on her shoulder. Her ears remained pointed towards him to catch the sound of his movement or voice but her posture remained calm and casual.
When she was finished smoothing out her coat, her golden eyes turned their attention back to him, as she waited for him to make the next move, seeing as he looked like he was ready to jump into battle despite the fact that he was clearly exhausted and by the sound of his voice hadn't had food or water for quite some time now.

[Bunny of Randomness]

Granite groaned inwardly. Out of all of the places he could have landed, he came to another puma's territory. “I am Granite,” he said, aware that even if he voice wasn't a bit rusty, his accent was different and perhaps a bit heavy compared to Starlight's. He dipped his head apologetically. “I didn't know that there were other so far across the desert. I didn't mean to impose upon your territory. After only seeing the scum of the desert, it's nice to see another puma. If this really is your territory, I should leave. I'm sorry if I have disturbed you.” Granite attempted to walk past the female puma, but after one step, his body refused to move. His paws felt like lead weights. In his stubbornness, he attempted to make them obey, but almost fell to the ground. His breathing was fast and shallow. If he didn't at least get water soon, he might die before leaving Starlight's territory.

[Daisy Duke]

Starlight rolled her eyes as she listened to the new male speak. A smile played across her mouth as she continued to gaze at him. She couldn't help but chuckle as he attempted to walk away from her and almost fell to the ground.
She knew that it was cruel to make fun of him and find amusement in the fact that he was so weak and possibly going to die. But all of the males she had known were cocky and stupid and always full of themselves. It was actually very entertaining and refreshing to think that she could so easily kill this male without even batting an eye.
She rose to her large paws, glancing over her shoulder at the sun that was slowly making it ways down towards the horizon. Starlight then turned back to face Granite, a sly grin still on her face.
"You may stay for the night and to get some water and get your strength back." She said simply before leaping off of her boulder, flying over his head and landing gracefully on the desert ground in front of him. She glanced over her shoulder at him before strolling back towards her cave.

[Bunny of Randomness]

Granite wanted to refuse. It was humiliating to accept something like this, at least it was to his bruised pride. However, he knew that he had to get water soon. But at the thought of water, his paws were able to move quickly. Feeling a bit defeated, he followed after Starlight silently, his thoughts swirling in his head. “Do you live here alone then?” he asked, wondering if she had a mate who would object, or perhaps a cub. No, if she had a cub she wouldn't have invited him to her cave. Although pumas generally lived quite solitary lives, Granite had been part of a large group. That was why he had been so eager to leave home. His instincts told him it was too much of a crowd, yet now he found he missed his home a little, with the green hardy forest in the mountains...No! He said he would never go back, never crawl back, and he wouldn't! His life there was over and his new life was just beginning.

[Daisy Duke]

Starlight continued to pad slowly towards her cave, the entrance was just ahead. Her cupped ears pointed backwards so that she could hear what he was saying as he followed behind her.
"Yes, I find life much easier and more enjoyable living on my own. That way I only have to worrying about myself." She replied, tilting her head a little so that when she spoke he could hear her as he plodded along behind her.
She could sense the embarressment and humiliation coming off of him in waves as he followed her back to her home. Males and their egos. Males always had a hard time taking help from anyone or admitting defeat, that she knew first hand. But she couldn't help but enjoy the fact that if this male wanted to survive then he would have to take help from her whether he liked it or not.
She smiled to herself before strolling out of the blazing sun and into the entrance and shade of her large cave. Once she was inside, she lept gracefully up onto her ledge once again and sat down.
"There is a stream not to far down that way. You can get a drink there." She stated, nodding her head further down the path that led through the cave. A soft trickling sound of running water could be heard from not far off.

[Bunny of Randomness]

Granite could hear the trickle of water, and his pace quickened. Reaching the precious liquid, he bent down and began to lap it up slowly. Too much water at once would make him sick. Perhaps it wasn't as cold as the crisp water of the mountains, but it was better than nothing.No! You do NOT miss it back there! Lifting his head for a moment, he looked over his shoulder at Starlight. “Thank you. For the water. I left my own home to find a new place where I could live without being bothered by others. They said I would never survive a trip across the desert, but here I am. What is beyond your territory, more desert? How big is your territory anyway? Are there any other pumas living near your territory?” As the large puma shifty his paws, his lean tough muscles shifted under his thick tawny fur, which was quickly drying in the shade. Although he hated to admit it, this female was quite attractive and pleasing to the eye, unlike many others he had met. He wasn't sure why this thought came to mind, and he shook it off, focusing on his dreams of his own territory and solitary life.

[Daisy Duke]

A slow but amused smile slid across her feline mouth as she listening to him rattle off a bunch of questions, not giving her any time at all to answer them until he had said them all. She gazed over at him, her paws crossed in front of her and her head tilted slightly to the side.
"Cities. That is what lies beyond my territory. My territory is as big as I want it to be because I am the only puma that lives in these deserts." She replied before narrowing her eyes slightly as she watched him carefully. A smile still present on her face.
"Any other questions?" She asked with an amused purr in her voice.
While she waited for him to respond, she turned her head and began to clean her already shining tan coat. She hated the feel of dust finding it's way through her fur and onto her skin. Her tongue rasped over her smooth coat until there was no debri or dust on it at all. When she was finished she turned back to gaze at him, her golden and green eyes sparkling.

[Bunny of Randomness]

Finished with the water, Granite began to wash his tawny fur. Although he didn't mind dirt, the drying sweat made him feel uncomfortable. In between strokes, the male puma spoke. “No. That was what I needed to know. I've traveled far enough. With this much room, there's plenty of space for me to start my own territory. Perhaps you don't have the heights that I'm used to out here, but it will do.” The sky was beginning to darken out side, and Granite was glad he had decided to rest here. It was better to rest here and gather his strength, rather than fend off those coyotes that had attempted to prey on him when they thought he was weak. The large puma stiffened as his tongue lapped over a small wound he had received when he had been clawed by a coyote. That coyote hadn't survived the battle to boast about it, and neither had the one who had distracted Granite. If those cowards had fought him one on one, he would have made it without a scratch. The wound was almost from his front leg to his back leg, but he had received worse and survived with a little rest.

[Daisy Duke]

Starlight narrowed her eyes at him, her smile slowly disappearing as she listened to him speak more and more. She hadn't minded his presence at first but now he was seeming to be more of a pest than she had originally thought he would be when she had found him out in the desert, dehydrated.
A soft growl began to rise in her throat and she rose to her paws, her long black tipped tail flicking back and forth with irritation.
"Well I am glad that MY territory will do for you." She snapped, her lips drawing back to reveal her long white dagger like fangs.
Who did he think he was? That he could just come strolling through her territory, take advantage of her hospitality, and then say something like that!? She didn't mention him ever being allowed to stay here.
Her large tawny paws began to knead the hard sandstone rock at her paws as she glared down at him with her piercing gold and green eyes.
"I think that you have overstepped your boundaries, cat." She growled, her muscles contracting and relaxing in agitation.
"But the last time I checked, this desert was MY territory and no one can just waltz up and decide to claim some of MY territory for themself. Especially you." She growled, fighting to keep her anger in check.
She would rather not start a fight but she definitely wasn't afraid to. Though he was a male and a little bit bigger than her, he was still weak from the journey and he didn't know the terrain. She would be able to win if a fight did turn out to be the outcome.

[Bunny of Randomness]

Granite narrowed his eyes. This territory was the best territory he had seen, and if there really were cities, then he would either need to stay here or turn back. Even if he wanted to, turning back was not an option. He had left, and that door was closed, from both sides.“You have more than enough territory. I should know since I was the one who had to walk all the way though it!” the male puma growled, “You can spare a little of it! There so much territory in fact that if I find a place far enough away, which I hope I do, we won't even see each other!” The puma's eyes hardened when he saw Starlight's stance. “I may be a bit weak from my journey, but I DON'T think you want to fight me, Starlight,“ he growled warningly, “I would rather not fight with you over territory I may or may not decide to move into, but I can't go forward into the human cities and I most certainly cannot got back the way I came! If it's a choice between death and fighting you, then I'd rather fight!”

[Daisy Duke]

Starlight growled even louder, crouching down a little, her muscles tensing as if she was getting ready to spring.
"Well in case you haven't noticed, there isn't much prey in this god forsaken land which means I need all the territory I can get! And if you wanted some then you should have thought to ask instead of just assuming I would give you some!" She snapped in reply.
Males were so annoying some times! Here he was, half dehydrated still and probably hadn't eaten anything in days and yet he had the nerve to come onto HER territory and threaten her! Who did he think he was?!
She rolled her gold and green eyes before glaring back at him. Inside her cave was definitely not the best spot for a fight anyways seeing as it was already dim and the ceiling wasn't that high either.
She could still beat him though. She knew these caves and she knew the tiny crevices she could hide in and he would never be able to find her no matter how hard he tried. A sly grin slid across her face at her newly reminded knowledge and she knew he was all talk.