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Post by ruukah on Jun 28, 2007 23:31:05 GMT -5
Faraji's mouth tightened. "So, leopard, you care enough about the boy to give advice but not enough to defend him when his life is being threatened right in front of you? Sounds mighty questionable to me, even if I do agree with your advice." His eyes narrowed. "What's your angle?"
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Post by Jess on Jun 29, 2007 14:18:13 GMT -5
"I was just weking up when I heard all the noiss below me. I deed not fully undastand what was happening until I heard you speak." came the reply. "I would haf defended heem if I had known what was going on. I am sorry to angah you, my friend. I think I will just be quiet now." The leaves rustled a little as Chimelu adjusted himself on the branch, then he was silent.
Kijana was still curious about Chimelu though, so after a brief moment of silence, he said, "If we promise not to hurt you, will you come down here with us?" ... No response ... "Please?"
"Mebbeh. But you must promise." Chimelu finally said.
"I promise..." Kijana said, then looked back at Faraji. "Guys?"
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Post by ruukah on Jul 8, 2007 21:10:39 GMT -5
Faraji's muscles tightened. He glanced at Eiros, who shrugged, and Braden, who appeared thoroughly annoyed but said nothing. He turned his attention to Kijana and then to the tree. "We promise as long as your claws are sheathed and your mouth is used for speaking only."
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Post by Jess on Jul 16, 2007 13:38:39 GMT -5
There was a slight rustling of the leaves, then silence as before. Kijana turned his body away from the tree facing Faraji. He opened his mouth to say something, but then a dark cat landed in thier midst. Kijana gave a little yelp of surprise. Chimelu was crouched low to the ground with his eyes tightly shut. When he realized no one was attacking him, he slowly opened one eye, then the other. Still sitting low, he gave a nervous chuckle then said, "My Motheh alwehs tolt me I was too daring."
Kijana stared at Chimelu. Even in this light, or rather, lack of, he could see the leopard very well. He was the blackest of black with piercing, icy-blue eyes. "No wonder I couldn't see him in the tree." Kijana thought. All memory of the other leopard was momentarily forgotten, and Kijana stared in awe at the beautiful black cat sitting before him.
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Post by ruukah on Jul 16, 2007 16:01:50 GMT -5
Faraji wasn't impressed. "Your mother may have been right," he said with an amused half-grin. "Lion and leopard are enemies in these parts. What makes you so friendly?"
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Post by Jess on Jul 16, 2007 19:49:42 GMT -5
Chimelu shifted uneasily. "Eet's how I whas raised." he said.
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Post by ruukah on Jul 16, 2007 22:31:24 GMT -5
He relaxed a bit. "That's good to hear." He glanced to the sky, reading the position of the stars. Then he turned to Kijana. "It's important that we continue moving. You should come with us, but we won't force you. The choice is yours."
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Post by Jess on Jul 17, 2007 12:37:17 GMT -5
"Well, I suppose I could join you. Which direction are you headed again? I don't want to be any closer to my old home than I have to be."
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Post by ruukah on Jul 17, 2007 13:17:48 GMT -5
"East, for now. We'll turn north at the river and continue until we reach Sera Imara." He paused for a moment, thinking. "There are lions there who can help you get established on your own land, if that's something you'd like to pursue."
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Post by Jess on Jul 18, 2007 9:02:49 GMT -5
Kijana looked at the sky. It would be day soon. He sighed and looked back at the three older lions. "I guess I'll just play it by ear." he said. Chimelu decided he should get going on his way, so he turned and started walking away without a word of goodbye.
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Post by ruukah on Jul 18, 2007 22:56:39 GMT -5
Faraji turned to see the leopard leave. He almost called out to him, but bit back the words. Instead he directed his gaze to the heavens once more. Then he began to walk, with Eiros and Braden close behind, keeping an eye out for strangers.
Braden was the youngest of Faraji's group, only a little older than Kijana. He drifted slowly closer to him as they walked, glancing occasionally in his direction. Finally he spoke. "So, you're kind of a runaway I gather? Didn't have an official Sendoff?"
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Post by Jess on Jul 20, 2007 12:10:17 GMT -5
"Yeah. Sort-of." he said quietly. "They don't need me and I kinda got the impression that they weren't gonna do a send-off for me so I just left." He walked on in silence for the next few minutes, then stopped, looking at Braden. "How 'bout you? What's your story?"
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Post by ruukah on Jul 20, 2007 20:24:01 GMT -5
"I'm a runaway," Braden replied with a half smile. "Before that I was a...an orphan." He hated that word...thought it made him sound weak. "Well that's the condensed version."
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Post by Jess on Jul 22, 2007 16:01:09 GMT -5
"Sometimes I wish I was." he half mumbled. "I was never really close to my parents. But my brother, Mkubwa, I can't live without him...that is, I couldn't until he became king. I was real close to him. He's the only one who knew I was leaving before I did. But when he became king, it was like I didn't exist anymore to my parents. I was in their way." He stopped talking, thinking that maybe being so open with Braden was perhaps babyish. Kijana looked around at his surroundings. Of course, nothing was familiar. "How well do you know this place, Braden?...." Kijana's stomach growled. "....and uh, would you know how much longer it will be before we can eat?"
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Post by ruukah on Jul 26, 2007 17:35:46 GMT -5
Braden looked down at Kijana. He wondered how anyone could possibly wish he was an orphan.. But he shook the thought from his head, reminding himself that he'd never walked in the younger one's pawprints. "I don't know this place very well at all," he admitted, "but Faraji and Eiros do. As for food, we'll probably hunt again closer to sunrise."
Faraji's ears swiveled back. "With any luck we'll eat sooner than that," he said. "There's water nearby. Let's walk softly." He slowed his pace, Braden and Eiros along with him, and they continued for a long distance. The scent of the stream became heavier. It was a small water source, but the only one for miles. And they were in luck. Something was taking a drink...something that smelled like dinner.
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