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Reply [IC] Ukungu Mfumaji Lands [IC]
[PRP] When the Mist Rolled Over the Waves... (Maji & Sikulu)

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Gene Wilder

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:23 am
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They had warned him, after all: the mists would take hold of his body and soul and never let go. This time, it was his own fault. He admitted that.

A few days ago, Sikulu had found comfort with a traveling band of leopards. In exchange for helping them hunt, they shared their kill and their extensive knowledge of the surrounding territories. When he asked them what lay beyond the hills to the south, they all went quiet. Finally, one of them, a copper-colored female, spoke up.
"That's where the ghosts live."

From that point on, Sikulu became... intrigued. The next morning, when he and the leopards parted ways, they gave him that final piece of advice. The mists do things to you, they said. Make you hallucinate. Pah! Sikulu had a sharp mind, washed clear by the seas and polished by the sand. Not to mention, he was royalty. Well, once-royalty. That part of him was still hazy. He set off in full stride towards these "ghost lands", welcoming any adventure.

For what it was worth, Sikulu probably would have made a great Mistwalker. His pelt was nearly perfect for these surroundings, not to mention the mist itself couldn't penetrate his coarse mane. Unfortunately, that was about all that made him a great Mistwalker.

Four days had passed, and in those four days, Sikulu had gone through his own personal hell. Trying to hunt in these mists was more or less impossible. Larger animals who had grown up in the mists sensed him quicker than he could. And he wasn't near (or even aware of) any of the rivers that fed into the valley, so water was scarce, as well. For four days, he survived on little more than a few rodents and a tiny bird's egg. On day four, Sikulu's mind had... started to go a bit south, as well. It was bad enough sleeping in a foreign territory, but the mists did little to still his slowly-growing fear. He'd swear he saw something slither through the night fog just beyond his reach. Whispers, too. There were quiet whispers in his ears, or maybe his mind. One of them. Both of them. Maybe neither. He felt hungry. So desperately hungry and dizzy.

Sluggishly, he pulled himself out of his fretful sleep, and began his early morning's pursuit for breakfast. Last night, he made the mistake of trying some of the local fungi and ended up writhing in agony for a few hours. For all he knew, it was still in his system, messing with his brain. He still had a brain, right? That hadn't rotted away like the rest of him? The mist felt unbearably thick as he breathed it in. Swallowing down a gallon of the air, he paused mid-step, feeling a wave of trembling come over him. That mushroom was having its last metaphorical laugh.


Thalion
SAVE HIM MAJI-KUN ;AA;
 
PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 7:12 pm
There had been times when wanderers had found their way into the snare of the protective veil of mists. They were a blessing to the pride, a gift from the goddess of mist herself to protect those within from those who would do them harm on the outside. The mists swirled and slipped through the trees, rocks, and the damp stones that guarded the waterfall valley. Sometimes the lions found their way out, other times the patrols spooked them in the direction of the borders to send them scurrying away, and other times those within the mists were brought in to become one of the mistwalkers.

Most of the natives were blessed with misty coats that allowed them to move through the swirling mists along the border without being seen. When the moonlight hit their eyes they would almost seem to blaze, giving them the appearance of specters. Haldir, the second in command, had trailed this particular outsider for much of his bumbling about. He watched, assessing his behavior and allowing the mists to drain his reserves. When it seemed the lion could take no more, Haldir had slipped into the heart of the pride where the mists cleared and the pride resided in peace.

Their arch magi, their highest wise-man, was called to see to the stranger. The lion seemed determined enough. Perhaps he wanted to become a part of the pride? Perhaps he came from a nearby settlement that was in danger, it was hard to say. He could have turned away...

Maji approached slowly, guided by a gruff nod of Haldir's head. He knew the land better than any others within the valley. Maji had grown up here. He knew the rocks under his paws and found his way without need for his sight or sense of smell. The dampness that built up along his mane and fur was as familar to him as an old friend.

He came within a few steps of the strange and held back, just close enough to project a shape through the mists but far enough for the mists to veil his features. The "phantom steps", they called it.

"Who are you, stranger? What brings you to this place?"

Gene Wilder
SENPAINOTICES! :shot:
 

Thalion

Conservative Seeker


Gene Wilder

PostPosted: Wed Dec 24, 2014 11:06 pm
What little sunlight managed to filter through the mist only made Maji's eyes all the more frightening. Sikulu managed to look up just in time to see the magi's form appear before him. By now, whatever chemicals were in his bloodstream were warping his senses. His legs were beginning to feel numb, so he was forced into an unnatural position of half-laying, half-standing.

It was difficult to hear this ghostly figure's demanding questions, though Sikulu was convinced now that this was merely a hallucination. Over the course of just a few minutes, his pupils had dilated to the size of dinner plates. He looked both terrified, and terrifying. It was like watching an animal die from some unknown genetic disease, or some disturbing parasite that had taken over its brain. Whatever type of mushroom that was, it must have been extremely uncommon to the Mistwalker lands. The Bahari lion had never been so helpless and frightened in his life, not since the tsunami.

His legs could take no more; Sikulu collapsed and lay there on his side like a dead fish. He could only stare up at the shrouded stranger with terrified eyes.
"P...please."


Thalion
KYAAA >U<
 
PostPosted: Sun Jan 04, 2015 1:40 am
There had only been one time that he had seen this condition in the past... back in the days when he was just growing into his mane there was an odd lion, a stranger who claimed to have old lineage back to the original mistweavers, who enjoyed eating the fungi that grew in the caves around the territory. He had never eaten enough to be rendered in such a state but his eyes had dilated and he had grown lazy and unmotivated. He often claimed he could see things...

Why a lion would do such a thing was beyond him. This fellow seemed to have indulged a little too much.

The lion frowned, not having fond memories of that particular individual or the group of lions who had chosen to make a hobby out of partaking of the fungi. It could be that this lion was a descendant... Half of him wanted to leave him to his poison. It would serve him right. The other half of him insisted that it would be simply uncivilized to leave the stranger to suffer.

"Haldir." The lion spoke into the mists.

Quietly as a shadow, another specter appeared through the mists. This one was taller with a harder pair of eyes. The second figure dipped down and between him and the first, they managed to get the male up to his feet and pin him between them and begin moving them into the mist-filled valley.

"What are you doing?" The second voice growled.

"I'll let the king scold me." The first sighed, more weary than the second. "He needs some cold water and an old herb mixture of mine."

"Idiots should not be welcomed into the lands...it spreads like a cancer."


Gene Wilder
 

Thalion

Conservative Seeker


Gene Wilder

PostPosted: Mon Jan 05, 2015 11:49 pm
Sikulu's eyes were glazed over now, but he could still feel the fear course through his limbs as these shadowy creatures seemed to materialize next to him. He let out a struggling growl as they came closer, but it was no use.

Not expecting the assistance, his neck lolled around like a ragdoll as he was lifted up to his feet. Unlike the smooth, assured strides of his saviors, the prince's paws more or less flopped around and stumbled. It was as if someone had tied stones around them. He couldn't even feel them at that point, so if he stepped on a thorn or accidentally trod on one of the others' feet, he wouldn't have known.

Their conversation barely registered to him. It sounded muffled, yet warm. He only picked up a few words, but Sikulu let a weak grin grace his face.
" 'M not idiot," he managed to mumble out, before dropping his head back down. His body was still trembling, but due to being sandwiched between the two males, it seemed more under control. The Bahari male tried to glance out of the corner of his eye to get a good look at them, but his eyeballs felt swollen, and doing so made him wince in pain.

As the trio entered the valley and into the heart of the pride, the ex-prince felt the eyes of its members upon him. He'd rather be caught dead than be seen in this state. But he was quite helpless, and could only duck his head down, ashamed to make eye contact with anyone.


Thalion
 
PostPosted: Wed Jan 07, 2015 10:14 pm
Maji wrinkled his nose at the comment.Both he and Haldir exchanged a glance but continued forward. Their conversation died away as both males, rather small in stature compared to most of the outside prides, concentrated their strength on escorting the downed stranger. The mists cleared as they pushed through the veil and entered into the actual pride's territory. A lush jungle surrounded by cliffs hissing with dozens of waterfalls- large and small -opened up to them. The lions picked their way along the cliff paths and eventually came to a large opening. It was far from the infirmiry and farther from the hall of the magi. It would do... both to see the lion to his paws and to keep him out of trouble.

"I'll need you to fetch my emergency satchel from my den." Maji grumbled, gently laying the stranger against the floor. The cool stone would be good for his head.

"...you keep an emergency satchel." Haldir raised a thin brow.

"You have standby watchers and I have an emergency satchel." He eyed the male. "Off you go.Please."

The grey lion's shoulders sagged as he let loose a sigh. "Very well, arch magi."

Maji waited in silence until Haldir's form faded from view. Groaning, he plopped his backside on the stone and shot a knowing glare down to the stranger on the floor. "...you had to eat the fungi didn't you?"

Gene Wilder
 

Thalion

Conservative Seeker


Gene Wilder

PostPosted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 11:57 pm
That sweet, sweet embrace of cold. Sikulu rolled his head on its side so he could try to soothe the swelling of his eyeballs. He had tasted the mist from the waterfalls on the way here, and felt his throat suddenly ache with thirst. He felt too wobbly and clouded to form a sentence and ask for water, so this was the next best comfort he could enjoy.

That... what was his name, Haldi? Aldir? Whatever. That guy gave him a bad feeling, and if Sikulu was feeling more articulate, he'd mention something about the sentinel's "friendliness" towards outsiders. Instead, he simply lay on the ground, looking up at Maji. Arch magi? So he was the highest of some sort of special mystical group? The male felt a little honored, if not stunned. He'd only ever met one other royal creature, but she was a bit... well, anyway.

"Never seen it... 'm from B'ha-" Sikulu suddenly stopped himself. He may have been drifting in and out of focus, but he was still in control enough to not let any sort of personal details like that slip out. "B... b'hind mountain."


Thalion
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 16, 2015 9:01 pm
"Generally speaking, it's a bad idea for any lion from anywhere to eat something that's growing from the earth without knowing a thing or two about it first." Maji pointed out. His voice, a stark contrast to Haldir's, was firm but strangely gentle. Where Haldir had an icy bite to his tone and an unyielding wall, Maji's was strangely warm. His reprimand was more like that of a father than of a stranger.

He watched the ailing lion for a moment. At least he was breathing still- and he seemed to have enough strength to converse.

Flicking his tail, the lion looked back out through the mouth of the cave. " You should be more careful. We aren't the only things that stalk through the mists... we're the more harmless of the two. You could have been snatched up by the iron-claws beyond the veil."

Gene Wilder
 

Thalion

Conservative Seeker


Gene Wilder

PostPosted: Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:26 am
Sikulu sat upright for a brief moment. His eyes nearly bugged out.
"I-iron jaws?!" he exclaimed, his voice bouncing off the cave walls. You mean there were MORE dangerous things out there? If one little mushroom could render him this helpless, Sikulu was terrified to think of what an "iron jaw" could do.
"Wha-" he began, but was overcome by a sudden coughing fit. His throat was like a dry riverbed, and that outburst left him parched. Each cough felt like a knife in his neck, resulting in the male wincing each time he did so. He finally gave in and lay back down, groaning softly. What he wouldn't give to dunk his head in that cool water right now...


Thalion
WOO late response!
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 12:29 pm
Maji reached over and with a firm but gentle paw, he guided the other male back to the cool stone of the cave. "Don't. Your head is likely swirling. You'll only make it worse by moving about like that. Just wait for Haldir to return. Until then, just try to stay awake. You've likely ingested enough toxins that your body will try to reject them soon. It's bad enough that we'll have to clean that up. Don't make it worse by passing out in a pile of it."

He snorted and flicked his tail. "Iron-claws. Beyond the veil they say there lives lions with iron in their veins. We can hear them sparring sometimes- the more bold ones test the veil as a rite of passage I suppose."

He straightened up as the grey shadow of Haldir returned to the mouth of the cave. The male tossed a small satchel down to rest at Maji's paws.

"Pray he's not a threat, Magi." The scout grumbled.

"You're free to stand watch just in case he is."

Gene Wilder
 

Thalion

Conservative Seeker


Gene Wilder

PostPosted: Sun May 03, 2015 5:52 pm

"... need water or 'm gon' dry up," Sikulu rasped after a long stretch of silence. He had faintly felt the spray of water on their way to the cliffs. At the moment, he'd rather die drowning than from lack of treatment. But maybe that came with growing up by the ocean.

With a pleading look, he had somehow managed to convince the two to help him to the closest freshwater pool. It lay at the bottom of the path they had taken, and each passing moment felt like an eternity to a lion dying of thirst. The closer they got, though, the louder the roar of the waterfalls became. To Sikulu, it was music.

In fact, the second the pool came into sight, he managed to wriggle out from between the two males, and staggered towards it as fast as he could. He collapsed on the final step, immediately dunking his head into the water.

Water! He could have wept. To him, it was the sweetest, crispest drink he'd ever had. Mouthful after mouthful, the lion drank his fill, until he felt almost drunk. With a final gulp, he finally raised his head above the water, and let out a loud sigh of contentment.

The journey back to the cave was wet, to say the least.


Thalion
AND THE WINNER FOR LATEST RP REPLY IS... /shot

Hope you don't mind if I sorta made them escort him. xD;
 
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[IC] Ukungu Mfumaji Lands [IC]

 
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