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 Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:58 pm
Kibaraka had never been here before.
Ever.
It was all very unfamiliar... the grass was longer, the earth smoother, and far off into the distance lurched a gigantic rock, jutting out over a patch of green. So, this was it. This was the famous 'Pridelands' that he'd heard so much about. There was a certain sense of history here, and something in the air felt ancient, but Kibaraka could not place it. Perhaps it was because he'd heard so much about this place, where the mightiest of royals ruled strong, sporting that legendary golden fur.
But then again, that had nothing to do with him. He was searching for something much different, something much more exciting. With a calm sigh and a contented smile, he pictured it. The Warren. He'd heard about such a place on the Grapevine... it was a place that had been built for hares, by hares. A paradise of sorts. So he'd left his homeland for a while, and arrived here in search of something different.
"I should be close," he breathed, eyes glimmering with a glorious mixture of excitement and anticipation, "They said it was around the borders, right? I can't be too far off..."
He rose to his hind legs and sniffed, taking in the scents about him. Others were close. He couldn't be too far off.
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 11:15 pm
After a fright with a small group of servals, Kutulia had taken her father's advice more seriously. Despite the scare, however, the bold hare continued to explore the borders, curious about the other creatures that roamed the savannah. She had seen birds and snakes and conversed with klipspringers. Each new creature offered new knowledge that inspired Kutulia's antics. There was so much more beyond the pridelands.
As she carefully glanced over a large rock, she heard a voice approaching. Frightened, Kutulia ducked low and began to listen. Whomever was nearing seemed to be looking for something near the borders. By the quiet voice the hare guessed that this visitor was not one of the larger beasts. Her encounters had taught her much about distinguising different traits.
Still a bit nervous, Kutulia was reluctant to pull her head up so soon. She kept her long ears folded back to better hide and sniffed until she caught the scent of another hare. Curiousity overwhelmed her fear and the hare lifted herself up fully now and cleared her throat.
Movement quickly caught the corner of Kibaraka's trained eye. Instinct seized the young hare, and he, too, ducked down and pressed his chest flat against the earth, looking about warily. As he lifted his head, however, his initial shock turned to something of joy - there, merely a few metres away, stood a snow white hare staring back at him with curious pink eyes. Kibaraka looked upon her, mouth agape, but soon it had stretched into a large smile and his own little cotton-tail started to wiggle with excitement.
"Good afternoon, miss," he grinned cheerily from below, dipping his head respectfully, "I'm in need of some directions. Perhaps you might be able to help me?"
Kibaraka had visibly brightened. Not only had he stumbled across another hare, but he had come across a pretty young thing, too. He silently began to admire her, the way all foolish, frivolous young hares often do. Still, he retained his gentlemanly composure, and offered her a smile in return for information.
"I'm looking for a place called… what was it again? Ah, yes, the 'Warren'. That's it, that's the place. I'm looking for 'The Warren'."
Glad that she seemed to catch the strangers attention without frightening him, Kutulia took a few hops forward in order to bridge the gap between them. She remembered her first encounter with another hare and released a short breath. Biskiti had seemed to be so scared of her presence at first and while he warmed up quickly, she was glad to learn that not all hares were so nervous. It was difficult enough to have a mother that paniced each time she went out.
When he began to propose that she offer him directions, she puffed her chest proudly. She was, afterall, a member of the pridelands and she knew the area fairly well. She prepared, mentally, looking over all the dominant landscapes of their land. With a nod, she waited for the male to continue on with what he was searching for.
As Kibaraka finally announced that he was looking for the warren it took Kutulia a moment to register exactly what that was. She heard rumor from her father about a gathering of hares, but had yet to really meet any hares that occupied the territory. With a faint blush to her cheeks, Tuli offered the best response she could think of, "Well. I'm not quite sure I know exactly where it is, but I can perhaps point you in the right direction?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 5:01 am
"Well, you know, I think this ‘right direction’ of yours sounds much more promising than no direction at all! If you’d be so kind, missus, that would be fantastic! I’ve been wandering about this place for a while now, but my own sense of direction is… well… quite lousy,” he lowered his head and sniffed at himself, “Honestly, I don’t know how I actually managed to make it here. We’re near… what’s it called? That famous place… ah! The ‘Pridelands’, is that right? Yes, the Pridelands. There’s that jolly old big rock jutting out in the distance. We are near the Pridelands, right?”
He hesitated, suddenly conscious of his flapping tongue. It had been a long while since Kibaraka had stumbled across another soul, and it had been even longer since he’d spoken with another hare.
Another hare...
He cracked himself a smile, beaming proudly – seeing one hare, after all, meant that there was a high possibility of seeing more. Hares, hares, hares. The young man's cotton-tail wiggled again.
“How exciting!” he whispered to himself, grinning madly to himself and turning back to the beauty before him, “So, Miss, I take it you’re… not a member of the Warren yourself? You mentioned you don’t know the precise location. Are you from around here, Madam? Or are you a fellow traveller?” he caught his breath, and at once shot Kutulia an apologetic glance, “Oh, I’m sorry. It’s been so long since I’ve had a good chat, all this talk of mine has been bottled up inside of me and it’s only just bursting out. I’m normally not so chittery-chattery… oh, I’m doing it again!”
He chuckled lightly before he raised a paw over his lips to silence his mouth. At once, the excited young male retained his composure, standing calm and tall before the young lady. He was cheery, yes, but he didn't want to come across as rowdy or ill-mannered.
“I’m Kibaraka, by the way,” his eyes twinkled, and he dipped his head respectfully, extending a friendly forepaw to shake,“ Well, you’re in no way obliged to give me your name. Still, I’d like to know the title of the missus that… well, pointed me in the ‘right direction’, so to speak.”
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Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 5:33 pm
Kutulia was so amused by the manner in which the hare spoke that she giggled lightly before answering. "Yes, we are pretty close to the pridelands! I live there with my family and our friends." So proud of the lions that kept them company, Kutulia did not hesitate to mention the group that she resided with.
Having just traveled from the pridelands in order to explore the roguelands and bordering territories, Kutulia would know her way back perfectly. Thinking about the distance and accounting for any errors she might make, the hare smiled and then spoke again, "It shouldn't take long to get back there and while i've never been to the warren myself, I am sure I can ask my father and he'd know."
While Kibaraka was so apologetic about how much he spoke, Kutulia was very glad for it. She had not met many of her own kind and hoped that she might find some friendship in him. The conversation only allowed the two to better get to know one another. When he introduced himself, Tuli smiled warmly and took a polite bow. "It is so wonderful to meet you, Kibaraka. I'm Kutulia."
And watching the extended paw, Kutulia watched it curiously. So far the lions she had met had not shown such a greeting to one another. Shyly, the female extended her own paw and waited for something to happen. Unsure of herself, she spoke with embarassment in her voice, "Should we head off then?"
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Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 10:43 pm
((Kieko on coalition mule))
Kibaraka's smile lengthened as the young maiden gently placed her paw against his. It seemed as though she was not as familiar with the gesture… which was, well, slightly odd, really. He thought that all hares knew when to shake. Still, he clasped her paw between his and, with a good natured chuckle, shook it vigorously.
"Wonderful! If you could ask your father, it would really make things easier for me. I've come quite a long way searching for the Warren. I mean, surely, if news of such a paradise was to reach me all those miles away by simple word of mouth, it must be worth checking out."
Filled with a surge of enthusiasm, he straightened and stood upon his hind legs.
"Should we be off? Well, of course we should be, Kutulia! Beautiful name, by the way, 'Kutulia'. Does it have a meaning?"
When Kibaraka shook her paw, the hare's body shook in response. Cocking a large ear, the female's cheeks brightened and she let out a light, shy laugh. This was certainly something she wasn't expecting! Perhaps it was more common amongst the hares. Afterall, Kutulia grew up within the pridelands and was much more familiar with the mannerisms and rituals of the lions.
As the male prepared to leave, the female nodded and began towards the direction from which she came. Like she said, the journey would not be long and soon she could ask her father for additional information regarding the warren. It would be nice to learn more about the group herself. While it would be difficult to branch away from home, it was something that appeared many times in the back of the young hare's mind. She couldn't imagine the disappointment in her father's tone if she ever announced leaving.
Kutulia, unused to compliments, found her cheeks turning a bit pinker when Kibaraka announced that her name was beautiful. Keeping her gaze forward, the hare let out a light laugh again, "I've been told that it means quiet and relaxed."
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