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 Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:21 pm
 Quiet was nice. It was something Kitandiko had only recently discovered, and was quickly growing to adore. It wasn't that she didn't love her family and the few friends she had collected, of course. But they could certainly get over bearing at times.
She liked having company, yet at the same time she felt she did well on her own. She got lonely, and needed friends, yet she was not the best at making them and found her thoughts more useful when kept to herself. She didn't have to explain what she meant to anyone, or try to justify how weird she felt. Unfortunately, she couldn't last on her own. She needed companionship more than anything else. It was a complicated lesson, and she was slow in learning where the balance was.
Sighing, she sat beneath a tree, trying to keep as far from the water's edge as she could, without getting herself lost. She wanted to climb the tree, but she had failed a couple of times and needed a few moments to recover her motivation and a bit of her pride. She did not like failing at things, and it would take her a while before she convinced herself there was no harm in trying again.
Beginning to feel the first pangs of loneliness, she sighed and looked back the way she had come. Something told her she didn't want to go back to her family just yet. She didn't know what she wanted to do. So she just sat.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 7:04 pm
Running along the beach with a large piece of wood in his mouth, the cub stumbled along awkwardly. Despite his sinking footsteps and constant re-picking up of the wood, he continued with enthusiasm. He was a chipper cub, always looking for excitement and attention. Though he seemed to already be an adrenaline junky, he also found himself fascinated by the simplest of things. Everything was amazing to Kobe!
The cub was halfway down the beach when he got the strange suspicion that someone else was watching him! Glancing back, the cub noticed a dark green cub sitting beneath a tree. He recognised her coloration from the litter of cubs that were all his age, but he had never met this one before. Setting down his piece of wood where he was, he padded back up the beach to say hi. With wide eyes and a grin, he shouted out, "Hi! I'm Kobe!"
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 10:49 pm
And noticed something, or rather someone, running down the beach. She frowned at how close he was to the water, not wanting a wave to come and swallow him whole but not about to go any closer to warn him of the danger he was in. No one around the pride seemed to share her aversion to water, which she guessed made sense. After all, they lived at the ocean. It was stupid to fear the thing you lived next to.
The cub seemed to notice her and she made no indication that she noticed beyond flicking her tail. She watched him approach, not saying hello to him. Waiting until he said hi, she nodded at him at last, blinking and trying to think what she should say. Her name would probably suffice.
"I'm Kitandiko," she said, "It's... uh... nice to meet you."
She offered a small smile, but it faded as she looked uncomfortably at the floor. She was suddenly reminded why she spent so much of her time alone. She was terrible with people. Her basic instincts were to mock and tease, and that was just not a good way to make friends. She swallowed, not making any comments, though she wanted to, on the stick thing he had been doing.
"What... uh... what's up?"
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 7:34 pm
Kobe listened carefully to the female's introduction and his grin widened. "Ah. It's nice to meet you. I think i've seen your siblings around the pride, but I haven't met any of them. I've heard nice things about your family though!" While it might have been a strange conversation starter, the cub was very dedicated to his pride and enjoyed meeting everyone that was a part of it. He adored his family and the rest of the pride were like extra family members.
When Kitandiko was slow to continue the conversation, Kobe took the opportunity to babble on. "I actually had a great idea and just had to try it out! Mom says that thinking up new games is a great way to learn. I could probably use your help too if you'd like to." As the spotted cub spoke, he padded back over towards his piece of wood and began to push it down the beach. He couldn't keep talking if his mouth was filled!
Kobe was a good distance down the beach before he stopped and took a good look at the ocean. The water was calm, but small waves still curled up and over one another. He nodded his approval and then looked back with a wild grin, "You see this piece of wood?" He asked, making a gesture towards the item he had been shoving down the coast. "When the big water comes really far up on the beach it takes things with it when it goes back. Usually the shells or leaves disappear once the big water takes it, but for some reason wood floats." He didn't quite finish his train of thought before he continued down the beach, tail waving in excitement.
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Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 10:00 pm
"Yeah, there sure are enough of us to make that a very real possibility," she mumbled, more to herself than him and scoffing a bit. She had a hard time keeping track of all her siblings. Though, really, she couldn't say she tried very hard. What they did was up to them. She mostly kept to herself. She tilted her head. Nice things about her family? She hadn't even heard nice things about her family, and she lived in it. But, once again, she couldn't say she kept an ear out for it.
Blinking, she listened as he babbled on.
Then he was moving and she was following. Why was she following? She was confused, and needed to know what the heck he was doing, that was why. She nodded, assuring herself, and padded after him, doing her very best not to laugh at the stick. At least he was happy. That was kind of nice.
And didn't go too near the water. In fact, she stopped quite a distance away, already uncomfortable be cause she was in sand. And sand was notorious for being too close to water. Digging her paws into it, she watched him like she had hit a barrier, refusing to go further.
"That water is dangerous!" she called out, listening to his explanation about floating wood with only half a mind to it, "you shouldn't get too close! I'm not going in if you get washed out."
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:22 pm
Kobe didn't notice And had stopped until he finally paused again, at the very edge of the water. This time when he turned around, he frowned to see that his new friend shared a trait of his father. "My dad doesn't like water either. Mama told us a couple stories about how she introduced him to the waves slowly. I bet you could learn to like it too if you gave it a chance. It's a lot of fun." On that note, Kobe's grin reappeared. He didn't seem phased at all by the warning she had given him, having heard that already from his parents and siblings. Omoa was always careful to tell the cubs that they needed to be careful and have supervision.
Taking a few steps into the shallow water, the cub shivered. "The waters cold today!" While And was increasingly concerned about what the male was up to, Kobe seemed reassured to have someone near him. When And warned him that she wouldn't go in to get him, he laughed again. "I don't need you to get me out, I just need you to run for help in case anything happens." The cub spoke rather confidently as though he'd spent a good deal of time thinking about what he was about to do.
Further inching into the water, Kobe continued, "You see that tall palm tree a couple feet down the beach. The one that curves down like it's falling. That is pretty close to my den. If you run there and yell for my mom, she'll come get me. Her name is Kamaria." Now that he was up to his knees in the water, the cub pushed the piece of wood in front of him and climbed awkwardly on top of it. "This should be a BLAST!"
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:38 pm
"No, I've already met the water, thanks," she said with an adamant shake of her head, her green and black fur bristling, "I don't want to learn to like it. I've already learned to not like it. I don't think I want to try and let it convince me otherwise. In fact, I'm pretty sure the water is a liar. It just wants you to think it's fun and safe." She continued shaking her head, resolute.
She watched, pretending not to be interested or concerned, as the other cub moved into the water. Frowning, she looked around. No one was nearby, if he did get swallowed whole by a wave. But she had already warned him that she wasn't going to go in after him, and she was determined to stick to that pledge. No more heroism for the cub who only wanted to do good, but always had something go wrong. But then, that wouldn't be very good of her at all.
Frowning, conflicted, the irritated young lioness moved a few steps closer.
"What are you doing?" she asked, looking stunned. It was hard enough trying to keep from getting pulled into the deeper water when their paws were on the sand. Standing on a branch really, really seemed like a bad idea, "how is that a blast? I think you're mixing that word up with another one: horrifying."
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 12:52 pm
Kobe felt himself wobble as he floated a bit farther into the water. The piece of wood was large enough for his body to fit on it if he bunched himself tight into a ball. It was mostly flat and floated on the very top of the water like he hoped. As he adjusted himself, he felt the wood sink one way or the other. He had to be careful otherwise he'd end up falling off quick. By now, the cub was a few feet into the water, but where he had picked was still shallow. He'd been careful to make sure the waves were calm before heading out and so far everything was going according to plan.
As the pale colored cub prepared himself for what he was about to do next, he had remained silent. He wasn't being rude, but it was clear by the way he looked around and very carefully dipped his tail into the water that he was concentrating on something. Kobe was a whimsical cub with lots of ideas, but he wasn't foolish enough to disobey his parents orders without first thinking about it. He knew was he was doing...or so he thought.
Prepared now, the cub responded, though not able to move enough to turn around. "I'm floating!" He said, his tone was filled with excitement, though he kept himself from laughing for fear of falling off his piece of wood. "This is crazy! I wasn't totally sure the wood would keep me floating since I'm heavier than it." Once Kobe finished speaking, he slowly lifted his form and felt the wood shift about beneath him. He tried to catch his balance quickly, but it seemed his raft was quickly sliding out from beneath him.
With wide eyes, the cub yelled and went under.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:04 pm
And moved down the beach as he drifted further out, stopping just short of where the sand turned darker. She looked down at it, knowing the water could reach her now. Swallowing hard, nervous but not wanting to show it too much, she looked back out over the water. He was drifting pretty far now, and it didn't look like it was very fun at all.
She knew it wouldn't be. She told him so. It wasn't her fault he didn't listen! No one ever listened to her, though she felt she knew what was good and bad. Bad always seemed to win out, and she was beginning to really detest it. Of course, now was not the best time to be thinking about how bitter she was at life's sense of irony.
Still, he seemed in control. He looked like he was enjoying it, though she couldn't fathom how. She watched him with rapt attention, pacing a bit and even stepping into the darker sand. She heard him call to her and nodded, though he couldn't see her. He was floating. Good observation.
And then he wasn't floating any more.
"Kobe!!" She yelped, leaping forward on impulse as if to plow through the water and drag him out. But he had said to run from the den! She looked down the beach. It was so far away! What if he couldn't swim very well? She didn't know him! What if he drowned before she got back? Then his mom would blame her for not saving him! She cursed to herself, glad her mom couldn't hear her, and dove for the water, paddling as best she could to where she had seen him last.
"Kobe?!"
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 1:37 pm
Kobe's form sank in the water as he struggled to fight his way back to the top. He'd been in the water before, but never far enough where he could be fully submerged. Kobe still couldn't quite judge depths as well as his parents and when he'd swam before he'd always had them point out where was too far. The cub paddled as best he could, feeling the underwater currents tug at him as though to bring him deeper. He faught hard to keep from yelling, knowing well enough that could be his end.
Even beneath the waves he heard And's scream. He urged his body to go towards her sound, but the water kept it muffled so that it seemed too far away. When And finally crashed into the water, Kobe caught site of her pale green paws treading nervously. What was she doing there? Kobe had told her to find his mother in case something happened! Filled with fear now for the life of his friend, Kobe pushed harder through the waves. He didn't want her there, but she gave him direction and he swam towards her, body almost out of breath.
Nearing her, the cub managed to rise slowly and finally break through to the surface. He gasped for air and looked frantically for the frightened green female. He wanted to tell And he was alright, but the words couldn't quite escape him. Where was she? Was she alright? Kobe looked around for the green cub that had tried to rescue him and lowered his ears fearfully.
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 2:01 pm
Panic was gripping her as she looked around for her new friend. Was he even a friend? She barely knew him and here she was, in the water, fighting off terror and paddling uselessly. What if she couldn't find him? She would never be able to live with herself if something happened to him. He was such a nice boy, she could see that, and it would be too much to bear if his death fell on her shoulders. So she continued to swim, looking around, even diving under the water to try and see him through the foam.
She saw him! He had broken the surface at almost the same time as her, and her ears picked up on the sound of his panting for air. She turned and swam toward him, struggling. The last time she had been swimming was another panic induced situation, but it hadn't lasted this long. She felt her muscles tightening in protest and she had to push herself hard to keep from sinking.
"Kobe!!!" She called, a bit frantic, splashing more than swimming now. Her butt was sinking! Why was it sinking?! She kicked her legs as hard as she could, but she couldn't get her back end any higher. It was pulling her down and she was really beginning to hyperventilate. Splashing, losing her ability to stay above the surface, she yelped for him, "help!!!"
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 2:29 pm
It was And's frantic splashing as she began to sink that finally caught Kobe's attention. "A-And!" He finally managed to call out. While still frightened, the cub had caught his breath and began to swim more effectively. As he watched the ocean slowly claim the female, the tables appeared to have turned! Swimming as quickly as he could to her side, Kobe managed to bite onto her scruff and head towards the shore. It was lucky for the pair that they were so light in the water, otherwise And's form would have quickly brought Kobe along with it. As light as they were, however, And's splashing caused the male cub to sink under a couple times in his effort to help her. It was only And's scruff that kept his mouth from being filled with water.
The two bobbled in and out of the water for a good couple feet, until they slowly neared the shore. The natural currents from the ocean seemed to ease them forward, as though apologising for the mishap. With one last wave, the ocean finally pushed them out and onto the sand. Kobe released the female's neck and coughed. He spat out water and shook his fur. Looking down towards her form, he hoped that she was alright. He remembered when his mother had brought his cousin out of the water. He had hoped he could replicate her actions, but it was a lot harder than he thought! "A-And? And?" he asked, pushing lightly on her shoulder to make sure she was alright, "Are you okay?"
Kobe would wait for only a moment in the chance that she was actually hurt. He knew it wasn't good to drink the ocean water and wasn't sure if she had! He glanced worriedly between the female and his den, unsure as to when he should leave. She had to be alright, right? He didn't mean for her to ever go in after him!
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 2:41 pm
And struggled to help him as they swam but, really, she was too gripped by terror to be anything but a hindrance. She splashed wildly, uncoordinated, and did nothing to really propel them toward shore or keep them from sinking. She did not notice the water working in their favor, too mad at it to admit that it was in any way a benevolent entity. She stopped splashing when she was the shore, letting herself be dragged out of the water and onto the clinging sand.
For a moment she didn't know what to do. Breathe? That would be good. She was afraid she would somehow inhale more water, and for a long while just held her breath. Her lungs were screaming at her and she finally gasped, which caused her to sputter and cough, spitting water and gurgling. She couldn't catch a breath for a scary moment, but finally her burning lungs filled and she was able to pant desperately in an effort to calm herself down.
Pushing herself up, she looked at Kobe in surprise. He had saved her! She had been trying to help him, but it hadn't quite worked out that way. She felt a wave lap at her feet and she leapt almost a foot into the air, stumbling and scrambling for higher ground. Shaking herself off, hating the feeling of water in her fur, she looked back at the male cub, still in shock.
"We're alive!" She managed to say, her voice sounding a bit odd. She squinted at him then, chewing her bottom lip, "that was NOT fun."
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 2:51 pm
And's gasp for air caused the male's ears to perk and he felt a weight suddenly lifted from his shoulders. The two of them would be fine! When the water crept up and touched her paws, he couldn't help but smile as she scrambled up the shore. Kobe held no resentment to the ocean and knew that he wouldn't have fallen in had he kept his balance. Once And had reached higher ground, she seemed to be in a lighter mood. Kobe followed her and couldn't hold back his laugh this time as she explained to him, once again, how the ocean was not fun.
Instead of sitting beside her, Kobe passed her by when something caught his eye. Farther up the shore was the flat piece of wood he had tried to use to float on top of. "Ha ha! I thought I had lost it!" The cub's tail began to wave about behind him and he grabbed ahold of it once again, dragging it over to where And sat. Setting it down, he looked out towards the ocean and beamed, "I was SO close! I'll have to be more careful next time!"
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 3:06 pm
And shook her head in astonishment. There was no way he was happy to see that log. That meant he would probably try it again some time. Back in the water. Floating on that piece of wood. A bad idea that had already gone wrong once. No. That made no sense. Why would he risk it? She did not understand this cub and her open mouthed expression of wonder and confusion reflected that.
"Next time?" she echoed, ruffling her fur and standing up, sand clinging to her, "next time you're on your own! I don't want to see you fall in again. I almost had a heart attack. Oh, and the drowning issue was a bit pressing. Nope. It was nice meeting you, but if you're going to pretend to be a fish again, I'm going to pretend to be a tree. Up here, away from the shore."
She nodded, then sighed. At least he had fun, if this all was what he considered it. It was more than she could claim.
"Well, anyway. It was nice meeting you... mostly... and thank you for not letting me drown... I... maybe I'll see you around some time?" Terrible with goodbyes, she nodded and skittered away, back toward her own den. Hopefully she would see him again. On drier land.
End!
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