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 Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:13 pm
Strange times, the young male thought to himself, strange times were upon him and he didn't know what to do. So many new meetings! Had he known that life out on his own would be so hectic, he would have taken more time to prepare himself. Above all else the male hated to be unprepared.
Why was life so hard?
Sighing, he moved slowly over the dirt, paws kicking up dust as he sauntered his ways towards a small watering hole circled by a handful of dying tress. It was just enough water to avoid too much interest, small and without much else to offer other than a drink to passing animal. Passing animals just like him. Coming to a stop, he dipped his head, lapping at the liquid.
It seemed today, this male would certainly meet another new person.
The sounds of lapping water had caught the female’s attention the most. It wasn’t unusual for her to hear such noise, but after the random encounters with a medi-lion in training, a sickly lion cub whom refused any kind of help, alongside a strange wild dog male who had helped her get a meal, Aine was up for meeting some other creatures, regardless of the species.
She trotted leisurely towards the waterhole nearby, spotting the source of the sound maker. To her surprise, another wild dog was there. That was two in a few moons; a new record since she had left her parents den so long ago.
”Hi there!” Her tail wagged.
The boy had been startled just enough to make him jump, front paws slipping on the mud in result. "Whoa!" he yelped, which was really all he had been able to get out in terms of greeting before his face hit the water. Sitting up quickly, he snorted, a nose full of water anything but fun.
It BURNED.
Shaking his head furiously, forgetting the girl was close and thus getting her wet while he dried, he opened his eyes again, blinking against the stinging water dripping into them from his eyebrows. Looking at the girl, he quickly frowned. "Oh! I'm so sorry!" he yelped, "I didn't mean to get you wet! Are you alright?"
Her tail had immediately tucked at the reaction she had received from the male. The crimson female’s eyes widened. He…wasn’t suppose to be spooked by her! She sniffed the air, lowering her body to the ground in almost a submissive form. “I’m so sorry!” she said loudly over his help.
She didn’t mind getting wet from the driblets of water. After all, it was probably her fault for being so close to the edge of the water hole where the male could actually get her with a splash.
”Oh no no, please don’t be sorry!” She gonked. “It was my fault. I didn’t mean to spook or startle you! Yo—er…I mean you just excited me. I haven’t seen many others of our species for a while and well, it seems I hit the jackpot of them in this area. Two within two moons.” A new personal record since she has been on her own.
”But I am fine. Are you alright?” She would’ve stepped into the water right away if he was injured. But for now, she stood by the sidelands.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:24 pm
"That's okay!" he said quickly, as desperate to seek forgiveness as she seemed to be, "I just... was thinking... so I wasn't paying attention to what was going on around me, that's all. I think it was completely my fault that I freaked! You didn't do anything wrong, so don't be sorry, okay?" He smiled weakly, still a little worked up from it all, his heart racing.
He chuckled at her next comment, nodding along. "Oh really? Well... that's cool. I've only met one other wild dog as of late, but I've met a lion along with her. That's pretty interesting. Oh! I guess I've met two wild dogs now, huh? Since... I'm talking to you." That little point he hadn't taken into consideration into well into his speech.
"I'm alright," he assured her, "just soggy. But I guess you are too, so we're on even paws again, you know? So... what's your name?"
”Then how about we both we sorry for nothing and then they are both nulled out?” She wouldn’t take a no for an answer either.
The female stood back on her feet, shaking herself of any water or mud that happened to be placed on her fur from the male. She was already a little muddy from other encounters, what would a little more do? Dull her already brown tinged coat? She’d live.
Her eyes gazed towards the sun. It was certain shining bright today. “You’ll be dry in no time.” She knew the feeling of ‘sogginess’ all too well. It was even worse when she was covered in gooky mud, which dried and hardened on her skin- one of the strangest and grosses feelings out there.
”My name is Aine.” There was no meaning to the name that she knew of. “Just plain old Aine.” This dog probably had a cooler name then hers. “And yours oh soggy one?” She grinned jokingly.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:34 pm
"Done," he laughed, "consider the matter null and void." This was a nice experience. Better than meeting the lion. At least she was of his species and didn't look large enough to swallow him whole.
He didn't follow her gaze to the sun, finding it too bright to like to even look just under. Plus, for some reason, he always seemed to sneeze when he looked up that way. Maybe he was allergic to the sun? Was that something that could actually happen, or just nonsense his mind was making up to torment him?
"Aine?" he repeated, "that's pretty cool. I don't think I've heard a name quite like that before. My name is Ekevu," he added with a smile, the soggy one comment making his chortle, "which I find a lot better than 'soggy one', oddly enough. It's nice to meet you."
It’s so plain though! She didn’t say this out loud to the male though. “Ekevu.” She repeated, letting the name roll off her tongue and past her pointed canines. She liked it. At least it had a ring to it anyways. “I like your name.” It must be the more than one syllable thing.
”Really? I thought Soggy One was such a fitting titled. You’d be well known here that’s for sure. I definitely know I haven’t met anyone with a name like that!” When he chortled, she knew he was going along with her little joke as well.
”Tell me, Mr. Ekevu,” Aine always put formalities on names, regardless of their age. She was brought up in life to respect those around here, and strangers to her were no exceptions in her book. “Are you from around here?” She already met Kale who said he knew the roguelands like the back of his paw. Aine, who had lived in the roguelands, barely knew if she had traveled to this waterhole before.
It’s uncanny how one’s ability to remember stuff is so different from another’s.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 6:50 pm
He was glad his name was acceptable, not wanting to have the kind of name that others didn't like to have to say. A silly thing to worry about, sure, but with the little excitement in his life it was the most important thing on his mind. Or one of the most important things, anyway. Just above his next meal and just under thoughts of getting his new pack together some day in the distant future.
"I'm not sure being known for that is really something I would like," he mused with a smile, "I would rather like something like... oh... I don't know... "Amazing Hunter One or Totally Awesome Guy One. Something like that. No one has those kind of names either, right?"
"Yes, my home isn't too far from here, actually. Are you from nearby too?" It seemed weird for a far roamer to be in such a secluded area, so he assumed that she wasn't from too far away. Maybe they actually lived close and just hadn't seen each other before. "Oh! And you don't have to call me Mr. Ekevu, please! You make me sound much older. Ekevu would be just fine." He smiled faintly.
"I hope I didn't interrupt you from anything. You know, from before I fell in the water."
Aine seemed to be lost in thought as Ekevu mentioned some names he’d rather be known as. She shook her head, giving him a frown. “Sorry…” She stated. “I do believe those names are already taken. Perhaps something else?” She was in a joking manner today for some odd reason.
”Not necessarily nearby.” Her tone shifted. “My family den, where my siblings and parents are, is a good week travel from here. But I left them a while ago.” Her crimson eyes turned towards the pinkish male. “When you have as many siblings as I do, you have no individualism ranking in your family. We are one, a whole.
”I didn’t like being a group. It’s not me.”
”Ekevu it is then.” She smiled, it widening more at his next statement. “And if you don’t remember, I was the one who came up to you. It should be me interrupting you if you were doing anything.” Drinking water though didn’t seem to much for her.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:05 pm
He frowned as well, not at all serious about the pout.
"Oh... well... that's a shame. Perhaps I'll just have to settle for Soggy One, then, but don't spread it around too much, alright?" He asked with a grin and a wink. This joking thing was pretty much the best thing he had ever done. Sure he had played around with his siblings, but not like this. With them there always seemed to be a certain intent to hurt one another and win.
This wasn't a contest, just a happy game.
"I understand that completely!" said the young adult, "my family wasn't exactly small either. I just left them last week myself. My den might not be one set in stone- I'm still looking for that perfect place to live, you know? It's nice to know I'm not the only one trying to get used to being out here..." it really was.
At her next comment, he nodded. "Huh... that's true. But the only thing I was doing before you came over was drinking."
”You’re secret is safe with me S.O.” There, she wouldn’t say Soggy One anymore, but rather the initials of it.
”Ah then you’re a newbie at this roughing it thing then.” She smirked. “I haven’t found a den I like yet, but there some adequate shelter just beyond the horizon. It’s small though. Consider it like…a bachelor’s cave if you would.” She sniggered. “But seriously, if you are looking for a place to stay, I’d check that way first. It never hurts to look.” The canine nodded matter-of-factly.
”See then, something was just bound to happen. I was lying over there,” she pointed at large boulder stuck halfway in the ground, “and poof, there you are. It’s like magic!
…Or just mere coincidence.” That sounded a little better.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:16 pm
Laughing, Ekevu nodded. So it was settled. He now had a nick name that this female would call him. Assuming they ever met up again. The place seemed both small and large at the same time. Same in that not much happened, but large in that so many animals came and went without ever being seen again. He wondered if it would be the same with her. One encounter.
He liked her- and he needed some friends.
"I am," he admitted without shame, "really? Well I look over that way then. Who knows? It's probably a lot nicer than the hovel that I've stumbled across. Thank you, that's very helpful. Is there anything I can do to return the favor?"
"I guess so! Maybe we were fated to meet," he chuckled, "though I suppose we'll have to part ways again soon. I have to go hunting and I'm curious to see if I'll stumble across this little wild dog pup I met the other day. She was just roaming on her own."
”It’s no problem. I am always willing to help another.” Which was true.
She shook her head, but instantly stopped. “Yes, actually there is!” Her tail began to wag. “Promise me we’ll meet again.” She knew though if he said it, they were just words. Words held really no meaning behind them unless the underlying message from them actually came true.
Plus it shouldn’t be /that/ to meet up. Then again, if Ekevu was as much as a wanderer as Aine was, those chances were unlikely.
She nodded, understanding. “A pup on her own?” She frowned. “Next time you see her, I’d keep her with you.” She had acquired a bit of motherly instincts from her own mother from the time of her being with her family, and just hearing a young one was on her own just made her shiver.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:26 pm
"Okay!" he replied eagerly, tail flailing for the first time. Normally he wasn't one to show excessive emotion, but this wasa special occasion and he felt it was alright. "That's easy enough to do! I promise we'll meet again! And it won't be after years and years, either."
He believed in the power of promises. If it was strong enough a desire and strong enough a bond, maybe it was destined to come true at some point. And if that kind of thing really wasn't real, well, it was nice to hold onto all the same.
Hope was nice in any situation.
"Well, I think she has a family," Ekevu explained, "but she seems to like to wander away from them. I just... want to make sure she doesn't get into any trouble, you know? If I can keep an eye on her while her parents aren't around, I'm sure it would be the best thing for her. I don't know... maybe I'm thinking too much into it... you think? Maybe I should just forget about her and worry about myself." He wouldn't, but maybe he ought to.
”If she has a family around, that’s good then. She just has a sense of adventure it sounds like,” much like Aine had when she was younger. Now that she was older, and actually experiencing adventures every day, she wanted to go back to the good old cub life.
”You’re just worried about her is all.” It was a natural instinct for one to feel an almost over protectiveness when it came to young children. “It’s like when I met this lion cub. Bitter as could be, but yet he was rather sickly. I wanted to help him so badly—He just didn’t want it.” She sighed. Why couldn’t some just take the help as it came?
Had they really been talking long? Already it seemed the day was gone as the sun began to slowly lower into the ground. “My, where has the day gone?” She said out loud.
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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 7:32 pm
Quiet, Ekevu listened, feeling a little silly for having been so upset in the first place. She was right, of course. It did seem like a very adventurous pup. He needed to keep himself from jumping to bad conclusions so easily.
"Yeah... it must suck when you want to help someone and they won't have it," he replied, feeling for Aine, "I'm sorry about that. I hope the cub turned out okay in the long run. And I'm sure this pup will be alright, too. I guess I do just worry too much about silly little things. I've just never met a puppy before so I really didn't know what to think." He was glad to talk to her. She seemed to know a lot more about being on her own than he did.
So he could take mental notes.
Looking at the sun finally, he hummed. "Wow, it has gotten late. I suppose I should let you go on your way! I'm still going to see if I can check on the little girl... just to make sure. It was very nice meeting you!"
”Likewise Ekevu! Farewell, and don’t forget that promise!” She grinned, beginning to walk away from the male canine…a new friend.
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