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 Posted: Sat Nov 06, 2010 10:52 pm
Kanyaratna was wet, tired, disoriented, lost, and hurt. So much had happened in the last few days and for the blind leopardess it was almost too much to take. The wind was still blowing pretty hard, throwing off her sense of sound and sent so it came as a surprise when she felt loose dirt under her paws. Before she could react the ground gave out beneath her sending her tumbling down a small embankment. Not grievously hurt Kanya just couldn't find the urge to get up, she placed her head down in the disturbed dirt and just let her mind drift where it would.
Poor Kanya was normally a very optimistic leopardess, one sort of has to be when one is blind, but ever since two days ago her life seemed to be made of bad luck. It had all started because she wanted to climb a tree.
At her pride there were only a few tree's that could support her weight and one overlooked a shallow stream. Kanya loved this tree since she could sit in its branches and listen to the gurgle of the water flow below her. So that was where she was two days ago when a storm took her unaware. The rain and wind seemed to spring up from nowhere, in truth Kanya was just so focused on other things she just didnt notice. The rain flooded the stream until it ran fast and deep. Kanya would have been fine except a strike of lighting split her tree sending her tumbling down to the ground striking her head on a rock. Stunned she couldn't stop herself as she stumbled down the slick embankment into the water where the rain swelled current carried her away.
It took her longer to get out of the water then one would think but she was more disoriented then ever before and she just couldn't get her bearings enough until she was on solid ground. By then she was lost, tired, hurt, and very wet so with the storm fading around her Kanya began to walk not entirely sure where she was going, or even what day it was until she ended up at the bottom of a embankment wondering what was to become of her.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 1:20 pm
The young adult leopon didn't think too much of it, though. He was heading home. After his encounter with Sliabh, and his mother worrying herself into a panic and coming to find him, he'd made it a point to never be more than his usual time away from her...and he was right on time, now. After all, it had been pure luck she had stumbled onto them in the first place.
He didn't want his precious mother to worry like that again.
The storms that had rolled through the vast area were refreshing, brightening sounds and smells after it had left. But, much as to how he wanted to explore more, he knew time was closing in. He had to get home.
Home, home, home.
Gathering himself, gathering speed, he leaped over a somewhat deep but narrow ravine of sorts, and stumbled as he had landed. His good eye definitely saw the same colour his other had those few days ago. Immediately he paused and peered down. And there, laying still and obviously wary and weak, was a leopardess, quite like his mother.
Sliding down, he cautiously approached and with a soft "...are you okay..?", nuzzled the top of her head. She was wet, he noted, and...well, she seemed exhausted. He shuffled his paws nervously. If it rained again, this place could very well be swelled with water. But he didn't want to move her, too badly, if she was too hurt to be moved. He was larger than a leopard, but just slightly smaller than a lion.
If she could be moved, he doubted he'd have a problem moving her...but he'd have to take her back home. He didn't want his mother to end up in the state she had the other time...and he didn't want to lose her, either.
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Posted: Sun Nov 07, 2010 9:13 pm
Kanya drifted in and out of her thoughts as the day grew longer the only benefit to her predicament was her paws got a moment to rest. She first realized something was going on when she heard something sliding down the side of wherever she had ended up. For the first time in two days she could pinpoint sound clearly. Kanya was relived since she had never felt so helpless as she did when she could not tell where she was going because so many of her senses began to fail her.
When someone approached and asked if she was ok Kanya nodded, "for the most part." With a groan she sat up but her head was still spinning so lay back down. "Apparently tumbling down what ever I tumbled down was not a good idea." She tried to smile but it was more like a grimace as she felt every bump and bruise flare to life. To her it seemed like her mental blindness shielded her from her physical pain but now that who ever it was showed that she still could hear, smell, and feel she wasn't quite as blind as she thought. Those that lost more then just there sight she grieved for because to be unable to tell anything from your surroundings was a torture she would not inflict on anyone.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 2:58 pm
Berhanu, for the most part, felt terribly awkward. And concerned. He kept glancing up to the sky, then back down to the female. When she groaned and slid back down, his attention became focused wholly on her.
"No...no, it really wasn't a good idea."
A moment to pause. She couldn't walk out of here.
"It's not safe to stay here, though. If it rains again...this ravine could flood. I'll help you--carry you out." He murmured, setting a paw gently on her shoulder. "I'm going to lay down on my stomach. I know it probably hurts a bit to move, but you can drag yourself up on my back...and rest your head on my mane."
He felt embarrassed, being so forward. But he had good cause for concern. And he couldn't just leave her here, defenseless and injured. If it did rain, she'd be in real trouble...not to mention if anything else came along that had a less than amicable disposition. So, he hunkered down by her side and waited for her to drag herself onto his back.
"Just take your time...there's no rush."
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:28 pm
Kanya couldn't help but smile when him, the one who joined her at the bottom of the ravine, agreed that falling was not a good idea. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she once again tried to sit up. This time, while her head still spun a bit she was able to stay upright.
"I think that might be the best idea." She blindly looked in his direction. "If your sure that is, I might be able to make it out on my own but to be honest without being able to see where to place my paws it might be difficult." Kanya had never really needed to rely on another so to need help in something as simple as climbing out of a ravine bothered her but without seeing where she should step Kanya knew she could hurt herself a lot worse then she was right then.
She could feel his body heat next to her as he crouched down waiting for her to climb onto his back. Putting her pride aside she slowly and carefully climbed onto his back, doing her best to center herself so she wouldn't throw him off balance. Once she felt like she was balanced she took a deep breath and said, "I think that should do it. Thank you."
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 1:28 pm
"I'm sorry..." He murmured, feeling the slight tension as she pulled herself up onto his back.
And something clicked. She couldn't see?
"You mean you can't see?" He blurted, then winced and cringed. "Sorry, again."
He started off slowly after picking himself up, finding she had done a good job at putting herself along the center of his back. Carefully, he picked his way out of the ravine, looking for the easiest way out to give him the side he still wanted.
"I mean...I..." He started, but paused...and then went on, feeling it was only fair. "I am losing sight...in one of my eyes."
He didn't say it, but it was making him nervous. His mother told him his father had horrible eyesight. What if he lost it in his good eye, too? How would he function?
"Let's just get as far away from the ravine as we can, now..." Extending his stride, he turned to continue the direction he'd been heading. 'And get further home.'
"Why are you in such rough shape..? Oh...oh...and I'm Berhanu, so you know."
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 5:58 pm
Kanya was confused, "Sorry for what? If anything I guess I should be the one saying sorry after all you are the one who is going out of your way to help me." When he asked if she couldn't see Kanya could feel the muscles in his back twitch and when it was followed by another sorry she figured he cringed over his thoughtless question. She couldn't help but smile softly. "It depends on 'see'. Yes my eyes are useless but I can still see things. Every tree sounds different, smells different, feels different, tastes different. When one sense is removed the others create the world around you."
She felt him begin the climb. Kanya did her best to keep as still as possible to make it as easy for him. "Your losing your sight? Oh I'm sorry. I wish I could say it gets easier but I was born blind so I don't know what its like to know what things look like one day but cant see the next. If you want I can try to help you adjust." Kanya made her offer just as she felt him 'level out' giving her the idea that they were now at the top of the ravine.
She stuck to his back like a bur on a blanket afraid of what would happen if she fell as his stride widened. The wind had died down so she was able to hear him and silently she agreed, being stuck in a hole was not something she wanted to repeat. It didn't occur to her to ask to be put down so she could continue on her way. "Hum? Oh well its truly a long story I guess. The short of it is I got caught in the storm and my luck seemed to run out." A shudder ran through her when she remembered not being able to tell anything about where she was going, being blind didn't bother her but being that blind scared her beyond reason.
"Berhanu." She smiled as she said his name. "Thank you Berhanu for saving me. I'm Kanya, Kanyaratna."
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Posted: Wed Nov 24, 2010 11:42 am
"Ah..." Well, that was definitely an answer, and he felt sorry for the blind leopardess. It downright sucked that her luck ran out at that time, but if he could say so himself, he figured it was back on track. He was around to help her out, that was lucky. It wasn't someone else that would just pass her up, or something looking to take advantage of her apparent weakness...what with being stuck down in that ravine and all.
"Kanya..? Pretty name. ...and it's no problem. I was just making my way back home."
And home was still on his mind.
"So...if you want, I can help you get back on your feet over the next few days--however long it takes. I'm a pretty good fisher and can catch you fish...maybe some small game too, if I'm lucky." If his declining sight in one of his eyes didn't mess his chances up.
And that way, he could still make it home and not worry his mother. And he could help Kanya like he wanted to. And he'd know she would be safe, too. It seemed win-win all around, but he had a good feeling she was a tough cookie. And headstrong when it came to taking care of herself. So it had to be an agreement from her...or he'd have to find another way to swing it.
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Posted: Wed Dec 01, 2010 2:53 pm
Kanya wasn't really sure how to take the complement so she focused on the second half of what he said. "Oh your going home? I hope I didn't slow you down. If you would put me down I can go my own way so I wont get in your way." Kanya really didn't want to be a burden, she hadn't been a burden since she was a young cub. But nor did she want to just leave since he did help her.
When Berhanu offered to care for her Kanya's first reaction was no but she kept silent until he finished his offer, after all she was still inured and slightly disoriented from her fall a small period of rest would be best even if she would prefer to care for herself. "Well..." She still hesitated accepting his offer. "Alright as long as I can help some way. Thank you." She knew what he was offering just as Kanya was determined to help him some way in return.
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Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:30 pm
"I don't think you'll slow me down at all, really..." He chuffed in amusement. While she wasn't "light as a feather", she wasn't a heavy burden, either. His frame could handle her weight easily for a while.
The fact she agreed to his offer surprised him, even if it came with a condition. Feeling a grin stretch across his maw, the leopon gave a short purr and swish of his tail as he continued his forward movement. Home. He really wanted to get home, but he kept his pace to a more moderate one so that she wouldn't be jostled, and she wouldn't fall off.
"Mmm, yeah. I'm sure you can help out a bit~ There's definitely lots to do."
--- --- --- --- ---
Several breaks - and a successful fishing attempt - and long miles of walking, Berhanu caught sight of the edge of his home. Picking up his pace just slightly, the "jungle" slowly but surely drawing closer with each step, the leopon felt his heart soar.
Almost home~
"Oh...oh, Kanya. We're almost there. It's...something like a jungle, I guess. Lots of trees, and lush grass, and things...and...and...lots of smells and sounds." He was a bit giddy, being so close to seeing his mother again, and it showed through in his quick, breathless words. It was good to be home.
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Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2011 2:53 pm
After a long day of traveling and several breaks Kanya was a bit revealed when Berhanu said they were almost there. She could feel the difference in the wind, it had more of a greener smell and feel. The bird calls and tree rustles were still faint but growing with each step closer they traveled.
"It sounds beautiful Berhau. It sounds like just the place to rest and recuperate" Her luck had changed for the better. Now if only it would stay that way.-Fin-
(Word count: 2621 Post count: 11)
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