[PRP]Brothers in mischeif. {Tope and Ardhi]

[Split Personality]

Izzy Makani

((Otay! 4laugh ))

The mid-day sun beated down upon the land making even distance grass look like they were dancing. The wind was to the most quiet with only trace breezes coming and going like the rain. The land seemed quiet except for the random howl of a wild dog or the distinct laugh of a hyena in the distance.

However the land was not completely dead, in the grass a little black cub snuck through the brown blades on his belly. His sights were set on a big green bug sitting on a rock not far from him. Usually during this time the hottest of the day or so it seemed the cub was asleep with his family in a nice shaded spot but not today. The big green bug had caught his attention too much to sleep. He had to have this green bug.

Tope watched his brother intently. He perched himself up on a rock, though he did not blend in too well he sat perfectly still, his pink eyes watching. Waiting. Waiting for the moment his brother made that jump towards that idiot bug and then Tope would interupt... make his brother miss... yes... make his brother a failure. His tail twitched slowly behind him as he stared. To be the biggest... to be the best. That was the point in life right? He sniffed the air, a smile crawling across his face as he watched... and waited..
Hey, Ardhi... what'ya doin' chasing a bug that small?" Tope asked aloud, his butt wiggling smoothly. So much for ruining his brothers kill. He perked his bottom up and down a few times, stuck out his tongue and landed onto the ground.  

[Izzy Makani]

The moment Tope spoke the green bug leapt away and disappeared into the tall brown grass. Ardhi turned his gaze to Tope, spotting his dark brown brother as he jumped from the rock to the ground. With the bug goen Ardhi sat up and glanced around. He hadn't cared much about catching the bug it was the thrill of the chase and chasing something that could bounce along faster than he could run. It was fun. After all there were other bugs just like that one out there. He'd find another one.

Ardhi stood up and trotted over to Tope. Neither of them should have been away from mom and dad and he knew it. Reaching his brother he started nudging his shoulder trying to push him back in the direction the rest of the family were sleeping in.  

[Split Personality]

Tope shook his head quickly side to side, not wanting to leave. SO what if the others were sleeping. He stuck out his tongue at his brother, shoving him away from his famillies sleeping area and needless if Ardhi followed or not, for the moment he didn't look back, he began to walk farther away from the others. He turned to his brother after a good distance and looked at him awkwardly. Ardhi... we can go a bit out... just not alot... so if mom wakes up she can see us...Tope said exageratedly moving his lips as he spoke. He turned around and stomped his paws on the ground for a moments, looking sort of distressed.Come on... Ardhi I don't want ot have to go play all alone...He said, jutting out his jaw in a pouting manor.  

[Izzy Makani]

Ardhi gave Tope a skeptical look. He knew that with momma they were safe but away from momma... not so much. He had only wandered to try and catch the green bug but now that the bug was gone he was ready to return to momma and go back to sleep. However he didn't want to leave his brother out here by himself.

Ardhi glanced between the napping place of his family and Tope. His concience tore at him but finally he turned about and trotted after Tope. Though his brother thought himself the better of them he didn't care about anything but him and his brothers safety and in his eyes they were safer together. He couldn't let Tope be alone.  

[Split Personality]

It was true, Tope was a bit more conceited than his siblings. He was headstrong and jealous. Thats they way he would always be, always pouting if things didn't go his way. Always coniving. He smiled at his brother, bounding silently away from the brood. He wanted to explore without their mothers eyes watching every move. He wanted to be able to misbehave and not have to suffer and what better way to do that than to be away from the parents? He glanced over at his brother Ardhi with his pink eyes daring him to go back to mother and father. Tope was always a bit pushier.

Good, lets go quick... 'fore Mom and Dad wake up.Tope said, wisking his way down a small worn path, his tail held high as he went. An adventure. How fun would that be? He looked over his shoulder too his brother, blinking.Come on... lets go find something to do. He said, bounding away. Time to get into a bit of mischeif  

[Izzy Makani]

Ardhi had such a bad feeling about this but he went along anyway. Ardhi trotted after his brother watching him closely while trying to keep an eye out for danger. Should the need come they could hide but keeping Tope hidden and quiet would be the problem. Tope would more than likely want to jump out and meet whatever danger there was head on and he would be the one to stay hidden until the danger was gone and no possible harm could come to him.

Ardhi rushed forward to walk next to Tope instead of behind him. Here was a good chance to play with his brother he just needed to keep watch while staying relaxed and enjoying the play at the same time.  

[Split Personality]

Tope padded along, his pink tongue lolling as his similar pink eyes looked about happily. He turned too his brother, his happiness to be away from the family apparent. He padded up a small hill, standing valiantly at the top for a moment, looking back to where they were supposed to be. He laughed and then proceeded to run down the hill, his tail flailing. Come on Ardhi. Lets run. I haven't run in soooo long. I just-just-just wannna run! He said, letting his legs swim across the ground. He bounced and frolicked, looking to his brother with the largest adoration his little heart could muster. His love for his brother was unconditional.

Ardhi, we should go play in the mud... don't you miss mud? I do... lets go to the water hole and play. He said, bounding towards some odd direction, intent on finding mud.  

[Izzy Makani]

Ardhi dashed after Tope his mouth open and his tough lolling out of his mouth with happiness in his eyes. It was when he let go of his worry on safety and just enjoyed playing with his brother that he trully had fun. Tope always knew what to do to bring down Ardhi's defenses so he could really play like a cub. Ardhi could never deny his brother. It was a weakness and a gift.

Ardhi's eyes lit up at the mention of mud. Oh mud was so much fun! He could never resist the temptation to roll in the mud. He loved it! Even if he got scolded by mother for it!  

[Split Personality]

Tope slowed down, panting. He bent his head too the ground, as if his nose could pick up the scent of mud. His nose was still too young to register. So, he simply popped his head up, looking too his brother. He pounced over his brothers back, not quite making it and flipped over him; face first. He skidded across the grass, his bottom in the air. Ooof. He murmered, lifting his head up off the ground momentarily before his eyes popped open and he threw himself too his feet. He pointed in the direction he had fallen in, totally not the direction towards water, and shouted with glee.
That way. Its that way Ardhi. I can-smell it- I can.He exclaimed, looking over his shoulder too his brother with a gleeful smile. He chuckled aloud, his tail swishing. He licked his lips, spun in a circle and then proceeded to prance. lets go Ardhi. We can trek as far as the eye can see... just like dad did when he was little  

[Syrius Lionwing]

Kikawaida awoke with a little start, her heart hammered in her chest but she rose calmly, her soft pink gaze watching over her famiy. Umo her big hairy mate, her cubs, all fou...wait, she was missing a couple. Her ears flickered fowards and she clambered slowly over her mate. they wouldn't be far, they knew not to go far,s he had told them a thousand times it was dangerous out here. Licking her lips she found their scent easily enough and padded off after them, glancing back to where her mate and daughters lay snoozing. She truely didn't know if she should be angry or simply frightened for her awol cubs, if they wern't within her sight who knew what trouble they could be getting up to.

Biting her bottom lip she padded up over the crest of the hill and glanced around spotting her two juvenile boys. She remembered fondly when kinamasi had gotten to that age, she was adventorous, playful, she had wanted so desperately to see the world. For a moment she thought of their eldest daughter, where in the world she could possibly be was beyond kikawaidas imagination.

Allowing her mind to come back to the now she padded off after her bopys, staying at a distance so they could 'think' they were alone on their adventure, she would watch from a safe distance, just incase. She knew, like their oldest sister, they would want to see the world, but until they were old enough, she could watch them and keep them safe to the best of her abilities.  

[Split Personality]

Tope, being that he was so excited at the thought of seeing mud again, that he began to run. Oooh, the thought of being back at home, with the mud he could barely remember. He wanted to feel the muck on his paws so badly, that he did not notice the small crack in the earth not too far ahead. You see, the waters from the recent rain had washed a crack into the ground, making a sharp drop and a bottom of sticky mud and debri. Tope, being that he had not noticed it either, ran straight over the edge in his giddiness, he managed to spin quickly, catching the ledge of the small ravine with a claw before sliding down the incline.

OOof He said, hitting the bottom and sending mud scattering. He blinked his pink eyes in amazment. I guess he did smell mud, there certainly was enough in this pit. He looked up at the top of a crack, looking down at the mud that covered him and a smile crossed his face. He had found mud. Regardless if he was stuck down there, not knowing his mother was near by, if she had not been... he'd have been stuck. And if Ardhi followed... Tope looked up, standing and feeling the mud squish. Ardhi... I found it. I knew I could smell it.I found it  

[Izzy Makani]

Ardhi was caught off guard as Tope tried to pounce over his back and flipped causing him to roll in the grass along with his brother. Unlike his brother Ardhi wasn't back up and raring to go as quickly as he was. The hit his brother had blown to him had knocked the wind out of him so when Tope looked back to him and smiled he just returned the smile and watched him bound off. He could always catch up once he had his breath back after all and watching Tope run around was always so much fun. Tope just bounded with energy while he prefered to sit back and watch him bound around.

With a couple of deep breaths Ardhi was able to sit up. He made to dust himself off and get the grass that was stuck to him. He looked up just in time to see Tope disappear over the edge of the ravine. His eyes widened in alarm and he raced full speed to where he'd seen Tope disappear. The ravine came up on him quickly and he had to skid to a stop to keep from joining Tope in the ravine. He approached the edge at a much slower pace once he had stopped and he peered over the side. The sight at the bottom of the ravine made him smile and his eyes widened.  

[Syrius Lionwing]

Kikawaida was of course not very far behind them and when she heard Topes yell she was upon the pair of them very quickly. She looked to Ardhi first, her youngest son dark and handsome with his fathers eyes. She paused for a moment to lick the top of his head and look him over. She hated to see her babies hurt and this little adventure they were having was certainly no exception to the rule. Smiling she turned to Tope. "You really must be more careful Tope." She whispers leaning down to rescue the VERY muddy brown cub from the mud hole. She placed him beside his brother and gave a gentle smile and a nod of approval.

Once she had assertainled that Tope was also okay, no broken bones just a few bruises and aching mucles to come no doubt she decided it was time for reprimand. "You mustn't run off alone, it is not safe out here for cubs." A worried look crossed her maw as she groomed topes cheeks softly. "What would I do if I lost you hmm?" Smiling softly the khaki lioness looked at them both saddly, she could smell the mud and it reminded her of home, her home back in the swamps, the place they could never return to for fear of persecution. "You must stay clsoe to your father and I until we reach the pridelands, I don't want you getting eaten or cubnapped or one of a thousand things that could happen out here okay?" She looked between her two sons fishing for a simple nod or a voice of aggreement. She was to say the least an over protective mother.  

[Split Personality]

Tope laughed at himself, lifting a paw to look at the gook that clung to it. What fun. He looked up at his brother and let a singular laugh ((Ha)). He waggled his toes at his brother. He was tempted to shout for his brother to join him when Arhdi's face was absent from the top of the ravine so quickly, tope was worried. He sat up and balked for a moment. What just ate his brother? He brought in a shuttering breath,

Then a face that he recognized popped over the rim and he let out a squeal. It was mom. Gah. He did all he could to prevent being pulled up but-he soon landed on the dry ground softly. He puffed out his cheeks, looking up at her as she began to clean him. Awww Mom... but look. I found Mud.. just like you and dad used to play in all the time He said, looking to Ardhi, nodding his head furiously-as if to ask his brother for agreement. He looked up at her and shook his head. Psssh. Mom We are big boys... we would never get eatten or kidnapped or nothing... we can take care of eachother  

[Izzy Makani]

His mothers appearance next to him caught little Ardhi off guard and he jumped in suprise. His eyes were wide for a moment but then he relaxed and his ears fell to lay flat against his head in shame. He knew him and his brother were in trouble now and they were gonna get it big time. He allowed her to look him over easily and even lifted his legs and tail to let her get a good look so she could see he was unhurt. Once she turned to lift Tope from his ears rose again and he lightly sniffed Tope once he was firmly on the ground next to him.

Now came the reprimand and Ardhi's ears fell once again. He hated getting in trouble just about as much as he hated being alone. He didn't like upsetting his mother or father so when Tope tried to get him to agree with him he only glanced at Tope and dropped his gaze to the ground. He liked the mud but it wasn't enough to overshadowed upsetting his mother.