|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:02 pm
 Asali was a bit confused. When he was last this way, the area was pretty deserted. A few hares, some snakes (tasty, tasty snakes), the occasional waterbuck or roaming leopard had been it.
Now, a few months later, the place was relatively teeming with life. The big kind. Lions and leopards and a few cheetahs. Even a wild dog or two. And someone had shoved a bunch of rocks into the stream. The bridge it made was kind of handy, he had to admit, but the pool it formed was a lot deeper and broader then the stream had ever been.
He was forced to assume this was some kind of new pack or something that really liked shoving rocks around. He had seen several rock structures in the area. Maybe if he met anyone who looked like they had an idea, he would ask.
There was a largely white wild dog up ahead. Asali decided not to bother with her. He found that wild dogs, although fun, rarely had much sense. The ratel closer to him though . . . was another story. He sniffed. Female. And Pretty, as a bonus. Asali made his way towards her.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:13 pm
 Ukuta wasn't entirely sure what Sutala's issue was, and the honey badger was bound and determined to send the wild dog away to do something productive. She'd just finished up assuring Sutala that she would be within shouting distance if something strange or scary happened. It still baffled Ukuta how quickly Sutala had become dependent on her, and while it was fine with the badger she still wasn't completely sure why she was so clingy. Shaking her head as Sutala walked hesitantly away to find offerings for her shrine, Ukuta turned around with a loud exhale. She caught sight of a ratel coming towards her -- that was strange in these parts. With a scowl she drew up to him, chest puffed out and ears perked in the male's direction. "Are you here to visit the shrines?" she asked gruffly, ready to chase him off if he answered in a way she didn't like.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:23 pm
"Shrines?" Asali cocked his head, then realized she must be talking about the rocks piled everywhere.
"Sorry, miss, I had no idea this land was actually occupied now. Last time I was around here, there wasn't much of anything. I didn't mean to intrude on sacred ground. Should I talk to someone to be able to move through the lands?Although if there is a shrine for wanderers or ratels or luck I should probably stop by there. Or honey. If there was a shrine to honey, I'd stay here forever."
He considered tacking on a line along the vein of "and you could join me in my honey bath" but he didn't want to be to forward before he actually got to know the lady. It wasn't just the male honey badgers that were the most ferocious animal on the savannah.
"I don't mean to trespass, miss."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 4:35 pm
Ukuta grumbled wordlessly as she eyed the male. She knew that the pride was welcoming to all sizes and shapes of creatures that roamed across the savanna, but sometimes it was so hard to be nice to others. He was respectful enough, she supposed, and damned if he wasn't a handsome bugger too. It was just so hard for Ukuta to be POLITE. You didn't make it far in this world by being polite, Ukuta had learned that much.
"This land is where the shrines are now," she mumbled, lifting up a paw to gesture towards the various shrines that littered the area. "You're more than welcome to stay as long as you wish, and if there isn't a shrine to honey, well, you're more than welcome to start one up s'far as I know."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 7:04 pm
"I don't think I would be much good at taking care of a shrine," Asali said truthfully. He wouldn't stick around long enough. And he wouldn't want to inadvertently offend the god of honey, if there was such a god. Avoiding trouble was the best plan.
"I don't want to be too forward, but could I ask you to show me around for a little? It's always nice to talk to another ratel when you meet one."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 9:35 pm
He did have a point there. She was always so busy taking care of Sutala, making sure that the wild dog did important things like eat, sleep... you know, stuff that normal wild dogs did but for Sutala those sorts of activities didn't come easy. But she was torn; what if Sutala needed her?
Sending the male a sideways glance. He was handsome enough, she supposed. Ukuta had never had a romantic interest, and really she'd never even thought about it before. Ukuta liked to have a purpose, and right now her purpose was to take care of Sutala.
"I guess I can," she grunted, eying him. "But don't try anything funny." She scowled at him. Sutala was pretty skittish about males... maybe there was something behind that. "Follow me. I'm Ukuta. Stop calling me miss, makes me feel like I'm an old lady."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 10:30 am
"It's nice to meat you, Ukuta. I'm Asali Kuwinda. I promise, I will try nothing funny, or even mildly humorous." He was content to follow the pretty female around the shrines for a while. Maybe get to know her a bit, see if it was worth sticking around for a while.
"So, Ukuta, what brought you to the shrines? I'm just wandering through, myself."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 8:54 am
"I was just passing through myself," she said stiffly, sending him a sideways glance. "I met a shrinekeeper here that needed some help and it seemed to make sense for me to stay. These are good folks, peaceful and nice, and it's a pretty place. Pleasant." Yeah, that was a good word. Pleasant.
"Didn't plan on staying," she continued, "but Sutala -- that's the one that needed help -- she needs me and so here I am." She glanced at him again from the corner of her eye.
"You're a wanderer, then?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 9:53 am
"Yes, I've been wandering since I wandered away from my mum one day when I was just a kit. I got lost, couldn't find her, and just kept wandering. Haven't really found a place to ever call home. And it's surprisingly hard to find a place where ratels are welcomed without being slaves or somesuch nonsense."
He sent a sideways glance at her, missing her look by a few seconds. She was quite pretty.
"It looks like the smaller animals around here are treated a bit better though."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 2:36 pm
"Nobody is really mean to anyone here," she said gruffly, "And if you needed some place to stay and something to keep yourself occupied, well, I imagine you've found the right place." She shrugged and flicked an ear in slight annoyance. She wasn't a tour guide but she pretty much felt like one at the moment. Thankfully he wasn't a snooty or flirty beast. Actually, he really didn't seem THAT bad.
"I bet if you wanted you could even start your own shrine. I mean, if you wanted to stay." She snorted. "Not that I'm saying you should stay. I'm just... saying."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 18, 2011 5:33 pm
Asali noticed the flicking of the ear, and decided it was best not to push his luck. Ukuta was not one to flirt with lightly, and he didn't think she'd appreciate it if he got any more aggressive. "Well, thank you for the information. I think I will at least rest here for a while. And if I decide it's time to move on, I can spread the word about this place. It's the least I could do for being allowed to stay."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
