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 Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 3:28 pm
Banjoko had been traveling alone for a long time; having Nurisha join him was an exciting thing that definitely brightened his every day. Journeying was a tiresome business when one was alone, and Nuri's presence alone helped take that edge away.
Now, every new day began with Banjoko eagerly looking forward to the next adventure. He was afraid of almost nothing anymore. Bigger, stronger, and better than ever, his confidence was high and he was nearly floating on cloud 9.
This evening, he had left Nuri to rest at the place they decided to stop for the night, while he went off to try his luck at hunting. Typically in prides, the females do the hunting - Banjo knew this. But they were not in the pride, and Banjo was older and the male, so he took this task upon himself. The pickings seemed slim in this area so far, but it was still fairly light out; he had a while to hunt before he would return to Nuri.
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 1:10 am
 ((Kamaria never found the mistweavers. She was attacked by a group of rogues in that general area before she made it to the pride. The rogues outnumbered her, were larger and attacked out of hunger, not spite.))
Releasing a deep sigh, the pale colored lioness, began to lick at her wounds carefully, wincing when the pain became too much. Her body would have blended with the pale colored sand beneath her if it was not for her dramatic markings that would stand out to someone not even paying great mind. She was a clear target to a hunter, but the lioness was too frail in this state to simply get up and leave. She had called this place her temporary home and she hoped that things might improve and she might finally find a place of her own.
Had Kamaria known of the great happiness and bliss that Banjoko possessed before their meeting, she might have tried to hide herself. Having been raised as such an optimistic, friendly lioness, she would feel greatly upset that her own pain might take down another. And especially a younger male with so many aspirations and dreams.
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2007 6:02 pm
When he first spotted the white lioness, he thought she was some sort of weaker preybeast that had been left behind by its herd. She did seemed injured. But then the winds shifted and he could clearly smell lion. Luckily for him, he didn't make the mistake of trying to hunt another lion - especially a hurt female. That would have really damaged his image.
"Hello?" he called, worried. If she needed help, he wanted to be the one to help her. "Are you alright?" he approached her slowly, not wanting to frighten her away but curious to see her close up.
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Posted: Sat Oct 27, 2007 11:00 am
Refraining from licking her wounds when she heard a voice, Kamaria lifted her head and looked to the distance. From where she was, she could see a small blue figure, but wasn't quite sure of what it was. "Hello..?" She responded, her voice weak and her eyes unclear of what called to her until he neared her.
A handsome young, blue male, decorated with impressive tiger markings approached and looked fairly concerned. Having already met with another lion, Kamaria had realised that her own worries and pain were not something she could willingly share with the others. She was simply hurt and would not say anything else.
"I-I'm fine.." She called out, hoping that her small lie would be enough to satisfy the male. "Just got a bit hurt is all. I'm healing nicely.." And to add more onto her growing story, the lioness lied again. Since she had reached the coast, her wounds had only stung and become irritated by the salt in the atmosphere and the sand below her. "I.. I appreciate your concern though.."
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Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:47 pm
Banjoko didn't believe her. "You don't look fine," he said, appraising her coolly with yellow eyes. He came closer to her and sat stubbornly down, as if to say he wasn't going to leave so easily. Now close enough to see her clearly, he could see the extent of her wounds. And he could see her striking white leopard-like pelt. She was very pretty, and injured...worth rescuing in Banjoko's eyes. One more damsel in distress, one more heroic tale to tell.
"No, indeed, you certainly don't look fine to me. So what happened to you?" If he did not seem sympathetic, it was only because he was trying out a new attitude - "too cool for school." Plus, it was kind of frustrating that she wasn't asking for his help; by telling him she was fine, that told Banjoko that she didn't need his help. And he wanted to be needed.
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Posted: Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:40 am
When Banjoko approached Kamaria further, her body became tense and she moved her head back as though to try and get as far away from him as possible. The lioness was nearly wincing in his presense, absolutely frightened that the much smaller blue and black striped male might attack her. She hadn't known the other lions and with no reason, other than hunger, they attacked. Banjoko clearly did not believe her, but he came to her slowly and spoke in what seemed like a gentle voice. Should she let her guard down briefly to trust him? Had that helped her at all in the past?
When Bajoko called her out, her ears flattened onto the top of her head and a pathetic whimper emitted from her throat. "..I suppose you are correct.." she whispered, still looking to him with fearful eyes. And looking over Banjoko it seemed as though there would still be nothing he could do to ease her wounds. They had already healed a good part of the way and though they appeared infected and would certainly scar, the female tried to cover them up with her paws and pose.
Whispering again, she said one more thing, "..I just don't know what to do.."
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:14 am
She certainly wasn't giving him any material to work with. Hmph, Banjoko thought, this one is going to be a little more difficult to help. He wanted her to just come out with it, already. Otherwise, how could he do anything to make her feel better?
"What happened to you?" Banjoko asked gently. "You can trust me. Perhaps I could help somehow?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 12:10 pm
When Banjoko asked again, Kamaria looked away. Her gaze could never reach the lands in which she was wounded, but she still followed the patch in which she had travelled to the wrong place. Releasing a short sigh, the lioness looked back to Banjoko and seemed prepared to speak. He would be the first one she explained things to and this frightened her. What would he think of her situation?
"Well.. my mother was from the mistweaver pride and she raised me with all the knowledge of her old people that she could remember. When she passed away.. I slowly began to feel.. distant.." Kamaria's voice almost broke and she took in another breath. Why was she sharing this with a complete stranger? Was she so desperate for attention? "She left me with directions and so, after many years of contemplation, I followed. I found nothing of the mistweavers. Only hungry rogues..." She paused again, but was hoping that Banjoko could piece together the rest by her appearance and reluctance to meet new lions.
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 11:25 am
Banjoko nodded slowly, trying to imagine what that would feel like. He had left his home on purpose, but knew that he was sure to be welcomed back should he return. "I can't imagine what you're feeling," he said, voicing his mental dialogue. "How difficult that must be, to not be able to find your home."
Being a bit distracted by the similarities between them - neither being able to find what they were searching for - it did not sink that she had been attacked by these rogues she mentioned. He only thought that she was distraught, as he would have been, at being disappointed by not finding her homeland.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:11 pm
Kamaria was not sure just what it was about the younger male that allowed her to open up, but she smiled faintly when he responded. He did not understand and yet, having him nearby and being able to express how frustrated she was, was uplifting. Had he left, as she originally intended, the female may not have spoken of her awful encounter with anyone.
Glancing back, for only a moment, towards where she came from, Kamaria released a sigh. It was difficult to admit, but the mistweavers were not her home. She had never seen the lands, let alone, spoken with those who inhabited them. She could not decide whether or not her pain would be greater if the land she could no longer find was once her home. Or was the pain great enough, simply being without a home at all?
Once she had gone over her thoughts, the lioness lifted her incredibly stiff form and spoke quietly. "I appreciate your company.. but I should probably find shelter for the night.. Can't remain in the same place for too many days.." It was clear by how she spoke, that Kamaria simply wished to be left alone.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2007 8:38 pm
This lioness's plight did seem sad. But Banjoko wasn't getting the right vibe from her. Like..she didn't want to be helped, or...that her problems were bigger than Banjoko could fix. He sensed her discomfort, that perhaps she wanted to be alone. He could understand that, and she was a grown lioness who could probably take care of herself, but still...
Banjoko had too much goodness in him to leave without at least trying to say something that would help. "I, uh, know that it must be hard not to find what you were looking for. I was born into a pride, but my sister and I both left - that place just didn't feel like my home. I've traveled my whole life, so...it's like the entire world is my home. Maybe when I'm older, I'll find a place that really feels like home...and that's where I can stay. Maybe you can do that too, you know? Find your own place in the world."
It all sounded kind of cliche, but there was real feeling behind the words. "I hope you find a place like that where you can feel welcome," he offered. "I'm sorry your journey has caused you pain. My own journey has been difficult at times as well. But it's all worth it in the end, you know? Life is a journey in itself."
Ah, Banjoko needed to stop before he spoke every feel-good cliche in the book. Bowing out, the blue lion decided to give Kamaria her space. "Good luck, Miss. I'll leave you be."
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2008 10:57 am
When Banjoko spoke of finding a place, the lioness face looked towards him with a glimmer of hope. She knew that the cub meant what he said by his tone and his words inspired her greater than any other advice he could have offered. Her pride was not her home. She would not be able to find it again and even if she could, she knew now that the connection between her mother and her was not tied by the bond with the pride.
And in Kamaria's smile, Banjoko could be confirmed that he had helped someone. The lioness would not accept help, but even in her attempts to rid herself of the striped male, he had achieved his goal. He saved a part of her in their conversation and reminded her that she could make her life somewhere else.
When Banjoko left, Kamaria's smile faded, but she would forever remember the young male that approached her in her weakest state in order to help. He had certainly left an impression.
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