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 Posted: Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:14 pm
 It had been a week since Jamadagni had left the little litter of maned wolves with their feast of nyati. He'd taught them to keep the buffalo meat from spoiling, hide it from more fierce predators then themselves, and how to hunt small game more effectively. There wasn't much more Jama could have done for the little canines beyond adopting them, and the litter didn't want to be adopted. They'd barely trusted him to eat the meat he'd given them.
Now it was up to them to survive both from hunger and from bigger, badder predators then themselves. Jama's heart and best wishes went out for them. But it would be their will that would be keep them alive, that and sticking together as a unit. Afterall, maned wolves were pack animals just as the nyati or the waterbuck or the hippos that were scattered about the continent.
Jama felt his own stomach protest in hunger. He hadn't eaten in a day or so, not finding any prey. Well, that's not true, there was plenty of prey animals about. Like that herd of waterbucks, or those gazelles, and then there was the giraffes. It just was that Jama didn't like taking down young, healthy prey animals. While they would put up more of a fight, they were needed to produce more prey. And the herds he'd come across so far had few elderly or wounded or dying members, so Jama had moved on.
Patience was a virtue he had in spades, and Jama knew it. He could wait some more while he found worthy prey. For now, though he was tiring and had miles more to walk until he did find what he was looking for in a meal.
Jama found a decent shade under a large tree that had not been eaten bare by the tall necked giraffes, at least not yet, and moved toward it with the thought of resting until high noon had past. High noon was too dangerous for a hungry lion to be traveling. Too much energy wasted. Sweat more. And there was a decent sized watering hole near by to keep from dehydrating. This looked like a great place to nap.
Jama settled down, placing his head on his forelegs and drifted into sleep.
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Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:29 pm
 Stumbling out from her hidey hole, Jalouzi staggered weakly about for a few moments. Her body trembling from head to toe, she'd hardly escaped that hungry hyena, and goodness only knew how she'd managed to do that. Her stubby little legs were limp as spaghetti noodles, and her belly growled in anger. It had been days since her last meal, and really days old scraps from an old bare bones carcass couldn't even be called a meal! She was miserable, desperate, and without a clue. Squinting her eyes against the harsh noon sun, Jalouzi let out one of the most pitiful moans she had ever heard. And blinked a tear from the corner of her eye. She just needed help, but being so alone in such a large, unwelcoming place didn't bode well for her wishes. Instead she was left to live her life in fear, always looking over her shoulder for the next predator out for an easy, quick meal. Something that apparently, she looked quite good for. As her stomach let out another menacing growl, the young cub staggered her way to the west, not exactly sure where she was going, or what she would do once she got there. It felt like decades, as she drifted her way through the lands, her paws burning under the hot sand beneath her feet, and her mouth drier than she'd ever experiences it before. Lifting one paw from the ground, she brought it up to her face and winced in pain at the tiny cuts and burns on it. Setting it tenderly on the sand once more, she quickly regretted the decision. She couldn't put weight on it, the pain was finally too much for the small cub to bear. Looking off into the small distance she could see before her, she made out what looked to be trees. Trees usually meant other lions, or animals, maybe if she yelped just loud enough, she could attract the help of a kindly soul? Knowing in her gut, that this wasn't her best idea, the young cub closed her eyes and let out a series of really long, loud yelps.
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 4:22 pm
Jama dozed lightly as was his custom while he waited for the sun's light and power to move past the highest point in the sky. He snapped out of his light sleep, eyes snapping open and searching. If he was lucky, one of the prey animals would have injured themselves beyond repair. And he could finally have a meal.
Scanning the horizon before him, Jama didn't move anything but his eyes, and he wouldn't until he had too.
It wasn't his lucky day at all. Not one of the prey animals were laying on the floor, looked injured or even limped slightly. No, they all looked in perfect health.
Sighing, Jama took a better look around, moving his head this time, looking beyond what he'd been able to his in the corners of his eyes. A white creature staggered and swagged as it stood. Well, if that could pass for standing. And it looked like a little cub. Without any other lions around. And it was drawing attention to itself, when maybe it would have been safer not to. Especially when hyenas and other predators loved to pick on weak defenseless creatures, never mind weak defenseless and exhausted creatures.
Or cubs. And it was a club. A very small alone endangered cub.
Jama was up before his brain finished processing all the information. All he knew was she needed help and fast. Too many predators would love to dine on lion cubs just because they were lions. Jama was quick, but he didn't run. Running would bring more attention to the situation.
Finally reaching the little cub, Jama picked it up from scurf of its neck and walked it back to the shade of the tree. Laying it down close to the tree's trunk, Jama noticed its state of health, or lack thereof. It was dehydrated, exhausted, starved, wounded, and who knew what else under the fur. He scooped some water into his paw and dripped some water onto her muzzle. He'd have to control how much water it drank or it would make itself sick guzzling it all down. Same with its food.
Obviously, Jama didn't have the luxury of waiting patiently for his preferred prey to show itself. He'd have to take down one of those around as soon as he was sure the little cub had drank enough water to not die of lack of water.
"It's okay, little one. I have you know. Drink slowly, drip by drip." He rumbled, nosing its side in comfort.
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Posted: Sat Jan 28, 2012 10:19 am
By the time her savior arrived, the young cub was so lost in her own delirium she hardly took notice of what was going on. She was fading in and out of sleep, her eyelids unable to hold themselves up long enough for her to discover just why she felt like she was being carried. Or why she felt like she was lying against the bark of a tree. Instead her mind focused on other things, like her Mother, and how she would have handled that terrible hyena who'd wanted her daughter for dinner. Her dreams were peaceful, mostly of her Mother's sweet embrace, but soon she was jostled out of her peaceful sleep as small droplets began sliding down her maw.
Sputtering from shock, she attempted to jump to alertness, but that didn't prove a good idea. Letting out a rough squeak she relaxed her muscles and looked up at the water droplets falling to her face. Beyond them, she could make out a bigger form, possibly a lion? Her lids began to fade once more, but this time she fought them. Listening intently to every word being issued to her.
As the lion bent down to comfort her, the small female let out a small cry, "M..Mommy." She smiled slightly and attempted to place her paws on the face of her protector. As more droplets of water fell, she could some of her alertness returning, she didn't seem as though her eyes would close at any moment. But her tummy on the other hand was a completely different story.
"Thank...you.." She mumbled, with a bit more strength than she thought possible. "Mom."
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2012 1:48 pm
Jama made sure the little cub drank three more pawfulls of water before tucking her into the nook between the tree's trunks. He shook his head as the little one mistook him for its mother. It was the first he'd ever been mistaken for a female, but then the little cub was under duress so Jama wasn't offended at all. Instead he became more determined to care for her at least until she was better, and able to fend for herself.
"Stay here, little one. Don't move and relax. I'll be back with some meat for you." Jama nudged her side with his nose to make sure she was satisfactorily tucked in and protected.
His mind at ease that she wasn't in any immediate danger, Jama took a look around at the animals assembled near the watering hole. Still no preferred prey, but there were plenty of young and healthy ones around. Ones that didn't seem to have young ones to care for. He'd be taking their live in exchange for the little cubs, but it was one he was more than willing to take.
Jama made relatively quick work of the hunt, finding a young male gazelle that was not near his childhood and was hopefully not a father, or at least an absent father. As he took down and killed the gazelle he said a blessing over the meat and thanked the gods for the meal for the little cub.
Jama dragged the meat back to the tree and shade. He nudged the cub out of her nook and toward the meat. "Come out and eat now, little one. Regain your strength."
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Posted: Thu Feb 16, 2012 4:55 pm
Weak and exhausted, Jalouzi merely lie back and faded in and out of the present. Her eyes simply closing and reopening in a different time. At one point she remembered a gruffer voice, definitely not her Mother's speaking softly to her. She then remembered her eyes feeling heavy, and what seemed like only a moment later her eyes reopened. She noticed herself to be alone for a moment, but then out of the corner of her she saw the figure once more.
Her vision was clearing, and she could now tell she had heard a male's voice. Slightly confused, the cub attempted to push herself to her feet. She was able, though just barely. Her legs wobbly she looked up at the male and smiled lightly. The fresh kill smelled wonderful, far beyond the leftovers she had been able to scrounge over the last couple of weeks. Salivating she let two words slip from her lips before diving into the food headfirst. "Thank you.."
After taking a few small bites of the meat, the cub's belly began to betray her sensation for food. She felt nauseated, and even more dizzy than she had felt before. Confused, the cub took a few steps back and sat on her haunches.
"I..I can't eat it...?
She mumbled pitifully, leading the statement more into a question as she went on. "Why can't I eat it?" She spoke aloud looking up at the male once more for support and aid.
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Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:36 pm
Jamadagni sighed in relief when the little cub was able to get to her feet, wobbly but still up. Her smile was soothing as well. She hadn't panicked when she realized he was neither her mother nor anyone's. She trusted him. That was good. It would make caring for her and getting her back to full strength easier. "You are most welcome, little one."
Her reaction to the food, to eating took the relief right out of him. She hadn't had a decent meal in longer than he could have guessed if her stomach wasn't even accepting those small bites she'd managed before it started to protest. He didn't want to consider what she'd been surviving on up until now, but the protector in him was rearing its head, for better or for worse.
Hushing her panicked whine of despair as gently as a hummingbird alights on a flower, Jama licked some of the dust and sand of her travels off the top of her head. He nudged the girl over to the water. "Take smaller bites and eat slower. Count to a hundred before you move onto the next bite. Eat and drink from your paws."
Slower was the only answer he could think of. Slower because she was starved. The little cub may want a feast of a hundred elephants, but her stomach was only going to accept the feast of a few bites at a time.
At the edge of the watering hole, Jama scooped up some water and demonstrated, taking a lap at the water flowing out of his paw. "Take the water like this too and then wait, counting to a hundred again before taking another sip. I know you starving, but your stomach isn't used to the food or the water. It's grown smaller, weaker and can only handle so much. You need to help it. Take ten sips and then come back over to our meat."
Again Jama nudged the girl in comforted, waited to make sure she didn't need him and went back over to the meal he'd secured for her. He started ripping into the meat, taking out the organs and setting them aside. They were the healthiest parts and those were the ones Jama wanted her to eat as much as possible of. He shredded the meat, separating them into little selections, like little dishes.
Finally when he had the organs shredded into smaller bites for the little one, he pulled the toughest part of the meat off the meal and slowly started eating it. He'd pace himself so that way he'd finish around the same time the cub would get through a few of the dishes. Maybe until she was full.
He had to figure out if the animal he'd chosen was bad. Poisoned somehow. He didn't smell it and after the first few slow going bites, Jama determined it was fine. Tough. His lest favorite part of the meat, but fine. The meat would serve as his meal and keep his own strength. No matter how little he enjoyed it.
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:12 pm
Jalouzi was more than grateful for the random lion's perseverance in assisting her. Though her words were scarce at the moment, she hoped he understood by the look in her wandering eyes.
She was quite confused though - when he spoke of eating smaller and slower bites. She was starving! Didn't he see that?! She thought back to the last time she'd met a strange lion, the comments they'd made regarding her appearance made her positive he could tell. But, if he understood, why did he insist on such a slow method? She had no clue, she had very little knowledge of the world, and that only seemed to worsen as she grew older. A weak, pathetic cub wandering alone and starving. She was hopeless. But for now, all hope wasn't lost, this male, this random male had offered her his aide. And she intended to make use of his heart warming offer.
Sluggishly follow him over to the watering hole, she watched through bleary eyes as he gathered water with his paw and slowly drank it. She could do that, at least - it looked simple enough. Jalouzi nodded her head fiercely in acceptance. She watched as he walked away, and then gazed longingly at the water.
Dipping her paw as shown, she instantly felt relief wash over her painful paws, her muscles relaxed slightly and she yearned to try just a sip. Cupping a portion with her paw, she watched desperately as her paws shook and the water drained quickly. OK, so it wasn't going to be easy, but she would do it!
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After quite a bit of time spent, trying to drink the water, Jalouzi succeeded. Her throat was refreshed, her paws felt cleaner, and overall she was confident. Almost confident enough to skip over to the male, the that attitude quickly changed when she attempted it. Instead she reverted back to her small slow steps, and finally sat by his feet. Her mouth salivating even more as the aroma wafted around them.
"It smells so yummy!" She smiled, looking up to his face, and lightly brushing her face into his shoulder. "Thank you for helping me sir." She mumbled looking up once more for further instructions.
Because surely it would be rude to dive right into another's kill.
Yes. Surely it would.
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 8:58 pm
Jama watched his little ward as she finished drinking. Dehydration was always worse than starvation. A body could survive on eating the oddest things when desperate, it was dehydration that killed. No one and nothing could survive with out water. The little cub was especially vulnerable as all little cubs and pups and hatchlings were. Jama wondered how she'd come to be out in the wilds without family or friends to help her, but his wanderings stayed in his mind. They weren't important at the moment.
No what was important was that she was moving and action better. She moved and walked a little shakily, but not like she was going to drop dead in the next ten seconds. A vast improvement. If the meal stayed in her stomach, she'd regain her strength in no time. "Good. Jamadagni, not sir. Jama for short." He felt his lips twitch in a grin and he hoped it didn't scare the little cub. He knew he had big sharp teeth, and he kept them white by chewing on reeds and bark. But he knew it sometimes freaked some smaller predators out.
He pushed her toward the first dish that had the most heart organ meat in it. "Eat the dishes slowly. If it feels like it did before where your stomach wasn't accept the meat, stop and lay down. East slowly. Scoop some of the shredded meat into your paw and bring your paw to your mouth. It's important to go slow. Don't push yourself and don't listen to your mind. At least not right now. Your body will tell you when its had enough.
"If at any point you feel sick, it's okay. Stay away from the water and the meat. Go onto the other side of the tree or behind me. You'll need the food and the water later, so keep them clean. Rotting meat, died of old age prey animals, and sickness taint the waters. In the desserts that's more dangerous than many realize." Jama didn't mean to lecture a bit, but he figured it was good information to pass on to the little cub and it was a good time to do it considering they didn't want to taint the waters here and now. If she could remember that in the future, she'd also know where good water was to be had. Little keys of survival.
Jama slowly continued to devour the tough meat he'd taken for himself. He knew the carcass was going to attract other predators. Hungry predators. He would have to either preserve the meat for later or sacrifice it for their safety. He'd also have to find a better spot to den for the night. Under a tree for shade during high noon when shadows were rare was fine, but it was too exposed for the night. Not if he wanted to shut his eyes even for a second.
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Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 1:09 pm
Nodding in understanding, she clung to the male's every word. Trying to force every one to stick to her brain like glue. But she was so forgetful, she had little hope of that actually happening. Instead she would focus on what was logical for the time. She would do as she was told, and focus on remembering later. "Ja-ma. OK!" She smiled, realizing her voice was becoming less hoarse and more itself once again. "I am Ja-loo-zee Nan See-yel" She pronounced each word simply, she felt it helped her to remember names and maybe it might help others too.
Looking down once more at the meet, she took a quick glance back at Jama, before going over his notes in her mind. Now all she had to do was eat. She hunched over the first thing Jama pushed her way. It smelled wonderful, and her stomach actually seemed to want a bite. She lunged in for the bite, but realized suddenly the tips Jama had given her. "Slowly.Right." She mumbled to herself picking at the meat with her teeth slowly. It tasted delicious, but just as Jama had predicted her stomach soon turned on her. Groaning, she took a step back from the meal and lie on her belly looking as pitiful as ever. "Is it normal for my tummy to not want food? I don't think i've ever felt this way before." She whined slightly and looked over at the meat longingly. "I really want to eat, but my tummy keeps saying no! I'm sorry Jama."
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Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2012 2:56 pm
"Do you want me to call you Jalouzi nan Syel?" Jama asked finishing his meal and flinging it as far away from their make shift den as he could. It landed clear across the watering hole. Now the scavengers could have something too. Circle of life.
Jama nodded at the little cub. "It is normal for a stomach that has starved for food. It's grown smaller. It'll take time to grow it back to its normal size." Jama stood and walked back over to the meat. He had taken one piece of tough meat for himself, but he didn't want to waste the healthy animal's sacrifice. He pulled another section off the prey meat and settled himself back down, closer to the little cub this time. "You have nothing to apology for, little one. If you can't eat, yo can't eat. I still want you to keep drink though. Drinking and nibbling as much as your stomach will let you."
The piece of meat was smaller, but less tough than his first piece. Slightly anyway. Good thing the cub wasn't eating these pieces. If her stomach couldn't handle the organ meat thean these pieces wouldn't help make her stomach any stronger.
Swallowing a bite of his second piece, Jama eyed the cub. Maybe she was too tired to eat? "If you feel like you need a nap before you can eat, then you should take one. I won't let anything happen to you." Sometimes the body just wanted to sleep. Normally Jama slept during the hottest hours of the day, noon to about an hour before twilight so that he could enjoy the night, but Jama could forgo a day's worth of sleep. He'd forgo a week's if he needed to.
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2012 6:19 pm
Jalouzi could do little more than offer Jama a weak nod as he asked about her name. She had no preference, she'd really never had time to think of it. Could she go by another name all together? Did lions actually do that sort of thing? She didn't know and her mind was for too tired to process it all. Her ears perked, if only slightly though at the mention of a nap, oh gods it had been some time since she'd last had a safe sleep. Yet here was this male, offering himself as her protector. Her small heart was swallowed in warm fuzzy feelings as she nuzzled her head lightly against his side. "You promise Jama?" Trying to offer a weak smile, she was able to do so but just barely. "Thank you for your kindness." As she lie there next to him, she could only do so much to keep her eyes open. But the more she tried, the heavier they became. "Thank ... you ..."After that her small breaths soon turned into soft snores as she dozed under the safe protection of a far more capable adult. Dame NightFury Fin? biggrin Thanks for the reminder! I had lost the link to the RP :[
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