Author's Note: I need some reviews on this pronto! Hehe.

~Natty.

Of Bite Marks & Birthmarks.

~M~

Alex breathed in a breath of fresh air, satisfied as he reached the top of the African hill. "Isn't this great? The grass beneath our feet, wind in our faces, and not a crazy old woman in sight. Yup this is a perfect day! Don't you think so Marty?"

"Huh?" Marty looked up from behind the lion, trudging on behind him and very less enthusiastic. "Oh yeah. The best!" He said sarcastically. "Ain't no day like today!"

The lion took no recollection of the sarcasm, his smile as wide as ever. "I know right! Hey this looks like a perfect spot for us!" He pulled out a picnic blanket and laid it out on the grass.

"We're in Africa Alex AND we're animals." The zebra pointed out.

"Yeah so?" Alex shrugged as he sat down on the fabric.

"So where the heck you get a picnic blanket out here in the wild?"

"Oh the penguins raided the human safari camp. Something about nucular resources or something."

"Nuclear?" Marty exclaimed, feeling like he should be concerned about penguins having anything to do with things that are nuclear.

"Nucular." Alex corrected. "And I asked them to pick me up a few things while they were there."

"Such as..?" The zebra pressed.

"Not much." The lion said. "A few ten bottles of hair conditioner, a blow-dryer, a nail file for my claws, toothpicks for my teeth, a blanket for when it gets cold and then Skipper gave me something a little extra."

"What'd he give ya?"

"A middle flipper." Alex sighed gravely.

"Well that's Skipper for ya!" Marty smirked.

"Tell me about it." The lion rolled his eyes and looked down to the blanket. He patted the spot next to him for his friend to join him. He gave a toothy hopeful smile that he knew the monochromatic steed couldn't say no to.

Marty rolled his eyes plopped himself down next to the lion. A moment's silence passed and he shrugged. "Now what are we doing?" He looked to see the cat was in a meditating position with his eyes closed and two golden fingers touching on either paw. "Okay now what are YOU doing?"

"Meditating." Alex answered simply without opening his eyes.

"This is what you dragged me all the way out the pride lands for?"

"Yup."

Marty stared at the cat, shaking his head. "You know you're proving that leader bird right don't you?"

Alex opened one eye to look at his friend. "What do you mean?"

"You a big old, prancy house kitty hippie."

"Am not." The lion scoffed, both eyes opening in an eye roll.

"Yeah you are. You're a big pretty hello kitty."

"I'm not Hello Kitty."

"You as delicate as one to tell you the truth." Marty told him. "I mean look at you! You got that perfect flowing hair and them eyes that just twinkle. And you got that mark."

"Mark? What mark?" Alex asked with a frown.

The zebra grabbed the lion's paw and turned it upwards, exposing the birthmark there. "This little beauty mark you got here."

"What about it? My dad's got one just like it."

"Nah but yours is different."

"No it's not. Marty, they're exactly the same." Alex shook his head objecting.

"Nope." The zebra traced the birthmark with the tip of his hoof.

Alex felt a warm shiver run through him. He never noticed it but that spot was a bit tender to the touch. It relaxed him noticeably and made him feel calm. He didn't even feel the need to meditate anymore if his friend kept up with the massaging there. "H-How's it different from his?"

"You're Alex aren't you?"

"Yeah?"

"So that's it." Marty poked at the delicate birthmark. "Your dad is a fighting machine and you, you a dancing karaoke."

"So I'm weak is that it?"

"Everybody has their points, Al. Yours is yours and there isn't nobody like you. I'm glad about that."

"Why?" Alex asked curiously.

"Because," The zebra nudged the cat in the shoulder. "You a pain in the butt as it is! What am I gonna do with two of ya? Probably go crazy trying to keep up!"

Alex smirked. "Oh yeah? Why don't you try to keep up to this? TAG YOU'RE IT!" He pushed the monochromatic animal down and started running down the hill.

"Hey!" Marty exclaimed and got up, starting the backwards chase of prey to predator. He was the predator in their odd relationship. One day he'd catch Alex but until then he'd keep hunting down that love. For now all he had to do was catch up. So he laughed, hurrying to catch up to the lion ahead.

Alex chuckled, casting a glance behind him as he ran. This was much better than what he had planned for the day. I mean who needed meditation when you had Marty?