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 Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:33 pm
Off she went, trotting through the grass with her head tilted upwards, eyes scanning the grass. Now that she wasn't so weary, she was much more careful where she was going... No more crocodiles today, please.
Zikomo sat atop a large hill, overlooking the territory. He found himself waking earlier each morning so that he might catch the sun rising in the distance, brightening the sky and everything around it. As the glowing sphere made it's way higher, rays of light shined over everything in its path. It was a beautiful scene. Even more attractive to the male cheetah was the absolute silence and calmness. In a position that required constant attention, Zikomo enjoyed the brief moment beforehand in which he could be entirely at ease.
Shutting his eyes for a moment, the male adjusted his seated position and released a short yawn. During his sleep he found himself dreaming of the new cheetah, Sora she had said her name was. She was what Zikomo had always pictured females to be like: brave, independent and cool. In the Duma'Chama it seemed he only met females that broke this trend: gentle, nervous and uncertain.
Opening his eyes once again, the male chuckled to himself. As Independent as she was, she wasn't bound to stay long. It was foolish to waste thoughts on her. And no sooner had Zikomo thought this he noticed the auburn female sneaking towards the borders.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:40 pm
Sora was content to walk, her body now nurished and rested. She'd now be able to travel for quite a distance without stopping, and that's just what she planned to do. To where... she had no idea. Where WOULD she go next? It made her pause for a moment, thinking. She frowned, ears tilting back as she looked over the horizon. What was in the future for her?
She glanced back over her shoulder, to the dens she was walking from. These people had been good to her. And that other cheetah... He had mentioned that this was a santuary for their kind, right? But... no! She couldn't stay. She didn't belong here. This wasn't her family.
With new resolve she turned and started walking faster away, her tail swishing back and forth behind her as she went.
As Zikomo tried to shake away his thoughts, he noticed the female's pause. Was she contemplating staying? The male sat upright in his attempt to get a better look on what she was doing. He noticed her ears drop and quickly she returned her gaze forward and began running off. Her hesitation was enough inspiration for Zikomo to do something. He felt she at least deserved a farewell and well wishes after such a tramatic experience from the day before - or at least that was what the male was planning on saying once he caught up with her.
Jumping from the top of the hill, the male began after Sora. He was careful to make his presense known so that the female wouldn't become frightened. With his long strides it wasn't long before Zikomo ran along her side, speaking to her in heavy breaths, "Sora, wait."
Sora was feeling rather secure as she trotted through the grass. But she was fairly perceptive when she wasn't terribly weak, so she noticed the cheetah coming. She pondered running faster to try to outrun him, but she didn't want to waste any precious energy. So she slowed slightly, prepared to at least hear him out.
Not happily, at least. A soft scowl spread across her muzzle and she shot a sideways glare towards him. Her voice was a bit sharp, but not terribly aggressive.
"What do you want?"
Zikomo's speech left him for a moment as he heard the female question him boldly. He hadn't exactly expected any different, especially when he was interupting the stranger's quest to leave the Duma'Chama. She had not requested to learn much about the group or shown any real interest in staying. It was Zikomo's responsibility to greet newcomers and he had already completed his task. Before she could leave, however, he felt he should give it one more shot. It would be nice to have someone he was more familiar with. Sora seemed like the typical cheetah, everyone else seemed so foreign to him.
Straightening his stance and gathering his breath, the male's eyes left Sora's in his attempt to explain himself. "I understand your choice to leave, but I cannot allow you to do so without first offering my good wishes. It is a dangerous place out there and in your condition..." Zikomo finally looked back towards the female almost shyly. He was fumbling with the right words thinking of any way he might convince her to stay if only for a short period of time, "I saw your catch this morning and it wasn't much. There are much larger prey animals near the coalition. I would be glad to help you get something bigger to really fill you up. That way you won't worry about going hungry again for some time."
Zikomo didn't consider that he was potentially insulting the female's hunting skills. He simply spoke things as they were without any underlying meaning or intention.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:41 pm
Her eye twitched. Did he just insult her hunting skills? The female stopped walking and turned to face him, bright eyes narrowed.
"Are you saying that I can't survive on my own? I'm a fine hunter! I was just in a hurry to get out of here." She grumbled bitterly, her eyes flicking over him skeptically. "You think you could really have done better, in my situation? Hmph."
She turned away again, as if to walk away, but she just stood there. "...Look. It's nice of you and all... But this isn't my home, or my family. I don't belong here."
Zikomo stepped back as the female's eyes seemed to pierce through him in anger. With wide eyes the male waved a paw in front of his face defensively. "No, no. I didn't mean that. I simply thought that it wasn't enough to really fill you up. I imagine you'll be traveling for a long distance and while you're here you're welcome to everything we have." Glancing back and forth between the dens and Sora, the male added, "You might as well take advantage of the situation. You can leave whenever you'd like, but why now? Why not get your fill, sleep comfortably and then leave once you have healed from your long travels?"
Zikomo was silenced when Sora turned away and explained herself. He didn't expect the bold female to offer such sad insight. With a nod, the male was almost prepared to allow the conversation to end. He had come from an independent life and still at times felt like an outcast amongst the other cheetahs. He could relate and felt it wasn't right to push the offer.
Backing down further, the male showed that he'd be leaving. "I can understand. I also have no family here. I haven't been here long, but the coalition has offered so much to me. They welcome me as a brother, a son and a friend. They find ways to help me feel like I belong."
The female was silent for a moment, frowning deeply, thought she made sure to hold her face away from him out of sight. She stood there and listened, ears twitching anxiously. When he finished and turned to leave she glanced over her shoulder at him, ears drooping a little.
"You mean... you weren't born here?" She looked almost confused, the skin between her eyes wrinkling with concentration. "Then why do you live here? No one gives a s**t about anyone unless they're blood relatives and obligated to do so..."
Zikomo didn't expect Sora to even respond to his long, drawn out speech. He was turning his head in preparation to return to his high hill when he heard her voice, curiously asking about what he had said. Glad to have perked her interest, the cheetah shook his head and answered, "No. I was born in the roguelands to a typical cheetah family. My sisters left to be alone and my brothers each found mates. It wasn't anything special really and I never planned to find a group to become a part of. I just stumbled across these lands and found that I was welcome."
When Sora added the last part, Zikomo's ears dropped. Something must have happened to the female in order to give her such a pained outlook on life. Zikomo understood not feeling a part of the family, but why wouldn't others care? It was strange to see such a tight knit group of cheetahs, but why? Wouldn't it make sense to encourage and support others of your own kind?
Quietly, Zikomo tried to explain, "Blood is little to nothing in the Duma'Chama. We value families, but what is considered a family is simply a group of cheetahs who share their hunts, their home and their attention. Many new cheetahs are taken in by existing families and treated like blood."
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 2:50 pm
Sora frowned deeper, looking more confused and disturbed. Could it possibly be real? She didn't see how it could be possible. All of her life she had grown up alone, and no one had ever cared about her. Not when she was a child and really needed it.
"I don't understand. What is the catch? What do you do to earn such a right? Is there a... fee, to live here? Surely it is not that easy." She sat then, apparently not running off right that instant. She still didn't seem stable though, she could run off... whenever she felt like it!
But for now, she was watching him skeptically.
Zikomo followed Sora's behavior and also took a seat. He listened carefully to everything she said and thought hard on what there was to say in response. Had there ever been a fee? What was it that Aailyah expected from him in return for living on her territory?
"There isn't anything really. I mean, you're expected to hunt for your family and many of us take on a particular symbol to represent the family that we're a part of. These symbols are painted on by the coalition leader, Aailyah and can be washed off if desired. They allow us to leave the coalition, but carry on its mark. It is also an instant recognition if you spot a cheetah in the roguelands wearing one. It's a bond, a connection." Zikomo made a gesture towards his own form and the lack of a symbol, "I have yet to take on a symbol for myself and I haven't joined any existing families. I am a part of the coalition, but I am still learning to find my place."
Sora blinked, head tilting to the side slightly as she looked over him, searching for a symbol... Until he mentioned that he didn't have one yet. "Hmm." She took that in and thought for a few moments, head still tilted.
"So... you will be adopted by a family? What if you wanted to start one of your own? Is that not allowed?" Her tone wasn't suggestive by any means, merely curious. She sat still now, other than her long tail that twitched occasionally. The female seemed to be slipping into a slightly better mood. Still cautious, but more curious and open now.
Zikomo was glad to notice the change of moods and smiled warmly to show that he also enjoyed their conversation. As he spoke, he glanced over Sora curiously. Despite the size of her meal, she did look a bit healthier than the previous day. Perhaps the good sleep and security helped. "I can be adopted into a family as well as start my own if i'd like. The coalition is a large family and while we have guidelines we hope the members will follow, there are no strict rules." The question regarding starting a family of his own had the male turning a pale shade of pink. His brothers had found mates so easily, why hadn't he found the opportunity for himself? Zikomo made a gesture back towards the coalition lands as though to change the subject, "Aailyah is the most gentle cheetah I have met. She rules simply to be of assistance, not to order us around." With a charming smile, Zikomo added, "I would be glad to introduce you if you think you might like to stick around for a bit."
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2008 3:18 pm
"Oh... I don't know..." She frowned and glanced away, back to the horizon. The thought of staying made her feel a bit sick to her stomach. But why? Was she afraid? She frowned deeper and slumped a little. Sora prided herself at being brave and strong, and she did not like feeling so meak and unsure... It was digusting and shameful. Still... could she really go through this again?
She sighed finally and looked back to him, her nose wrinkling. "I'll meet her, I guess. Can't hurt to stay another night, I guess..." She stood, stretching a bit before she started to trot back towards the dens.
"I ain't staying any longer though!" She barked back to him.
Zikomo let out a light laugh and then grinned, glad to see Sora have a change in heart and decide to stay. Making a gesture with his head, he began to lead the way back towards the dens. "Just this way. Aailyah will be glad to have company, especially with someone new." As the male padded forward, he glanced back every once in awhile to make sure Sora was following. He hoped that perhaps she might like what she saw and decide to stay even longer.
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