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 Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 9:52 pm
Wandering around aimlessly, Mashuhuri had no idea what he was doing. He wanted to do something productive but he wasn't sure what to do. The leopard had eaten earlier so there was no point in hunting. He didn't just want to sleep... He came up to a small watering hole and lowered his muzzle into the water after looking around to make sure everything was safe. Mashuhuri didn't have any family but he knew, deep down inside, that he always wanted one. But ... there was always that little thing that stopped him.
Licking up the water, Mashuhuri lifted his head and wandered over to a nearby tree and collapses underneath the tree and into the shade. It felt so nice... not having any worries.
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:10 pm
"Okay... okay..." Mkia said slowly, putting one foot in front of the other as she went. "I can do this... I can do this..." Her voice wasn't trembling. That was an improvement, or so she was convinced. She needed to face her fears... she had promises to keep about that, and she wasn't about to back down.
Oh no. She wasn't afraud of anything, except this, and she was going to deal with it. She didn't need her life to be this kind of exciting. She just had to stare at her feet, put one in front of the other, and then remember how many steps away from her family she was. Then she would be alright. Maybe eventually she would be able to stop counting her steps...
...She didn't even notice when she was getting close to another leopard.
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:16 pm
Raising a brow, Mashuhuri heard another animal talking nearby but he didn't bother looking up to see what it was. He clearly had no concern for his safety since this area could be rather dangerous. The voice was getting closer and closer but Mashuhuri didn't even budge. He wanted to say something but felt too lazy to. What was she muttering to herself? He couldn't make out her words but he could tell she was talking to herself. How strange.
"Hello there?" Mashuhuri sat up on his hunches and looked at the juvenile leopard curiously. Another little one? He had just met one awhile back. There seemed to be many of the younger generations around here. It was strange. He had mixed emotions when he saw families and cubs.
He wondered what she was talking about and she seemed rather nervous. Mashuhuri hoped that he wouldn't startle her or anything. Though... he definitely had a soft spot for little ones.
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:37 pm
As soon as she heard another voice, Mkia's claws burried themselves in the ground to stop herself from leaping straight up into the air, and the above tree. She supposed that was an improvement as well... jumping into trees when she was on the verge of a complete mental breakdown was not nearly as uncommon as it sounded.
She looked up with a shakey smile, holding back tears as she spotted the other leopard, "H-H-Hello." She said, trying to steady her voice. I'm fine I'm fine I'm fine I'm fine. I'M FINE. It's just another leopard. Relax. She really wished she could believe her own brain. Really, it was better when she was around others. She just needed to get her frazzeled nerves under control.
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 10:47 pm
Mashuhuri looked at her curiously. What was she doing? "Uh... yea. Hello." He wasn't even sure what to say because she seemed incredibly skittish. He didn't know if he should comfort her or what to say or do anything. Mashuhuri was always used to meeting others that were confident and sure of themselves. And never had he met a little one that was like this.
"Are you... alright?" Mashuhuri stayed where he was underneath the tree. Approaching her probably would have made things worse. He wanted to say something... a little more comforting.
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:05 pm
"I'm... okay. I'm okay." Mkia said after a moment, "Sorry... just working on a little project. Don't worry, I'll be okay in a second... I just need to get my breath back." She smiled nervously, "Sorry... I'm not uh..."
She suddenly looked deeply embaressed, "I'm really, really sorry... I'm not usually like this, I'm just trying to um..." She tried to divert attention. This was a little bit more embaressing than she thought it would be... "I'm Mkia, what's your name?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:11 pm
The male looked at her skeptically waiting for her to faint at any moment. "Project? Care to share?" He watched her curiously. Wasn't she a tad young to be having 'projects' to take care of? He thought being a young one was even more carefree then being an adult. Then again, who was he to talk about childhoods. His was a tad sketchy. "Take it easy there. Don't want you hurting yourself." Mashuhuri was clearly amused now. This little girl seems interesting to talk to...
"It's a pleasure. I go by Mashuhuri. What are you doing wandering around here by yourself?" He was a firm believer of parents taking care and keeping a careful eye on their children, not letting them wander around especially around the plains. Too many hungry predators wandered around here.
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Posted: Mon Jun 02, 2008 11:26 pm
Mkia smiled, a little more comfortable now... not looking like she was about to have a fatal heart attack anyway, but still seeming embaressed, "I'm um... well, I'm trying to un-fear myself actually..." She said, before smiling back, "And don't worry! My parents are still close by, I'm just counting how many steps away from them I can get without getting... um... scared..."
Scared would be putting it mildly. As an autophobic leopatd... Mkia was dead-terrfied to be alone. Being this far away from another leopard scared her more than she believed... and really did make her feel like she was about to throw up and die. The throwing up from fear part had happened a lot when she was younger... but she was moving forward!
"It's very nice to meet you... It's fun to see other leopards around." Which was true... it didn't need to be her family she was around, as long as it was someone.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:30 pm
"Un-fear?" This little leopard was using strange dialect. "That's a little strange but I guess it makes sense. You seem... a little nervous. But yes, good thing your parents are nearby. It's dangerous out here." How weird... She seemed genuinely scared of everything. "Well..." He paused and glanced at her, "Is it working?" Mashuhuri chuckled playfully as he teased her a bit. Maybe... he shouldn't do that. The poor thing looked like she could die at any moment.
He nodded in agreement. "Yes, it's always nice to see other leopards around." When he thought about it, Mashuhuri had met very few leopards... mostly lions and the random other animal.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 5:40 pm
"Yes, un-fear... I don't know what else to call it." Mkia said with a helpless shrug, before she smiled, a little more relaxed now, "I haven't run into anything too dangerous around here yet though... I mean, besides the obvious... But my family isn't too far away." She smiled when he asked if it was working or not, "Better than you'd think..."
"I've actually met a few leopards around here." Mkia admitted, thinking to the various ones she had run into. Mostly males... when she thought about it, the only other females she had seen were her sister and her mother, "Everyone has been really great so far. You know... about me jumping out of my skin when I get too far away from home..."
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:23 pm
Mashuhuri chuckled slightly at her response. She was a cute little one. He nodded softly. "That's good though." He grinned playfully as she answered his question, "Well, that's definitely a good thing right?" Usually, animals has reasons for being so frightened but she was just a little one.... he didn't want to ask her anything like that though because she was so little...
"Yea, I've met a few leopards too just not as many as the lions I've managed to get acquainted with." The leopard smiled softly, she seemed alright now. "That's good. I'm glad others aren't giving you a hard time. I definitely wouldn't give you a hard time. I hope you can get over your fears soon." He nodded sincerely at Mkia.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 6:44 pm
"I'm glad it seems to be working." Mkia agreed with a large smile, "But it's not more than one fear... it's uh... just one." She admitted sheepishly, blushing a little despite her fur, "I'm just... it's so silly... I'm scared of being alone." She admitted... but every time she admitted it, it tended to get better, and that made her happier. Now if only she could just tell her family... but really, if she could get over it, who had to know?
"I like the other leopards." Mkia agreed happily, "I'm not silly enough to think they're all friendly... but they've all been great to me. I'd like to meet other types of animals too... I've heard about lions and cheetahs and things like that too..."
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 8:38 pm
Raising his brow once more, Mashuhuri questioned her, "Well, that's good." He grinned slightly as she blushed. "You're... never alone. There are always animals and other things around, just depends where you look." He smiled at her hoping that he was helping even if it was just a little bit. Though, it was hard for him to understand her because he really didn't have many fears. He was afraid of failure but that just... happened.
He nodded in agreement with her. "Yea, it's always important to be cautious but only to a certain extent. Don't worry, there are a lot of other animals out there. You'll meet quite a few as you wander around more." He definitely knew that because he wandered around constantly. Mashuhuri didn't stay in one place for long and he liked it that way. He got to see different places and new people. That made life very interesting for him.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:04 pm
Mkia smiled, "Thanks... I've tried that one... anything bug-sized or hidden doesn't really help me a whole lot though. I usually have to be near someone or talking to them... or I get really scared." She looked up again and grinned even wider, "Thanks for trying to help me though! It's always nice to meet people who won't make fun of me." She honestly wasn't actually afraid of anything else. She tended to be the bold and fearless kind.
"I know that... I'm not really afraid of anyone." Mkia admitted sheepishly, "I mean, I'm careful, but I honestly believe that everyone is good deep down, right?" She said, clearly believing every word she spoke. Though, honestly, she had never met anyone mean before.
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Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2008 9:17 pm
"Sometimes... I find it helpful to just stop. Sit down. Close my eyes and listen to the things around me. You should try it. You'll be able to hear the trees and wind talk to you." Mashuhuri wasn't exactly super spiritual but he did enjoy spending time alone and appreciated nature a lot. "But yea, I think I understand what you mean though." The leopard smiled happily. He has been all smiles and happiness since he met this little leopard.
Young leopards... Mashuhuri's thoughts returned to what he was thinking before he met Mkia. A family... What a thought! He could never settle down but... Mkia really was adorable. He could feel that paternal tug on his heart.
"That's an interesting belief. I hope you figure out if that's true when you grow up." He didn't want to put her down but he didn't feel so optimistic about every animal. She had a lot to learn...
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