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 Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 12:36 pm
(( AIM RP Log ))
Somehow, her tired old legs had brought her to the jungles, a place she hadn't been before. Ducking the thick overhangs, and keeping low to the ground, Nyumbani desperately hunted for any source of food. There had to be a more steady supply here... the jungles were thick and luscious, and someone had to be living off of that. Therefore, someone was killing to live off of that, as well. She'd find food somewhere.
Safely pulling into the open of a clearing, her eyes fell on a previously killed rabbit, barely picked at. Though part of her leapt in joy at the sight, the other mourned silently at the creature's death. Bending her head close to the creature's ears, she whispered quietly.
"I apologize in advance for what I am about to do, but my body needs nourishment, and you are long passed, little one. May your spirit find peace, wherever it may be." Laying a paw on the rabbit for a moment more, Nyumbani closed her eyes, silently giving a prayer for the rabbit.
"Thank you," she whispered, then started her meal.
Mleli was still in a foul mood after her encounter with Kujack, still unhappy with his sudden and complete change from one view to another. So much so, she was refusing even to return to her home, to her tree, where she'd last seen him. It was a spiteful thing to do, a petty thing to do, for it made no real difference if she moved house or not. It was in this state of mind that she'd started wandering through the jungle in search of a new, unoccupied tree to call her home once more. Something far away, but not outside the jungle. The leopardess liked the jungle too much, and felt by leaving the lions would 'win.'
She was walking by the clearing that the wild dog was in with full intention of ignoring whatever creature was in it, for sure knew there was something nearby because of the scent. Before she could walk by through the brush, she heared the apologetic whispers. She could not hear what was being said, but she could hear the whisper and almost what the tone was. It caused the leopard to glance over, which was enough to see that the creature was not a lion. Wondering, she stepped closer and into the clearing but said nothing.
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:12 pm
At the sound of another entering the clearing, Nyumbani raised her head and turned slowly from the rabbit, seeing a creature much larger than herself. Smiling softly, she turned fully to see the other better, and dipped her head.
"I am terribly sorry if this was your kill. madam. I am but a mere wanderer, searching for food.." she said, still in a very light tone, but above a whisper so that it was audible. Her green eyes refused to lock with Mleli's; they remained on the focus of all of her, not really sure of what to look on. Rising from sitting, Nyumbani turned away slightly.
"Should you wish it, I am easily able to leave."
Mleli took a good look at the wild dog, and was at least pleased to hear some respect come from the strange creature. Especially considering she definetely seemed to be much older than the leopardess, and that usuall had it's own demands for respect. Whatever the case was, Mleli was pleased that it was not a lion she'd run into and part of her was even pleased it was not a leopard.
"The rabbit is no kill of mine, you look like you could use it more than me even if it was mine," she replied arrogantly and lifting her nose. She made no comment on the ability of the old girl to leave, deciding to see where a conversation with a new creature might take her. She had hopes that at least it would not turn to lions, for that would be a good sign.
"Bless you, miss." Nyumbani added softly, bowing her head slightly in thanks. Turning to glance at the rabbit, she sighed quietly, smile fading.
"I've managed several days without food, but I finally had to stop and eat. A trip through the desert is harder than one would like to think.." glancing back to Mleli, she smiled again, trying to seem cheerful, atleast.
"But, enough of this old dog's troubles for you. I'm sure you have plenty on your mind without listening to me ramble." Nymubani laughed, just enjoying the company now. It'd been a very long time since she'd spoken with anyone, really.
"This place is beautiful, I'm amazed my travels never brought me here before. Oh, I would've loved this so much more as a young pup."
Mleli was pleased to have her 'kindness' appreciated, no matter how much of a common courtesy thing it was. Perhaps she wasn't going to be too upset by this, of course she didn't think it was possible to be too much more upset than she already was. Her ears perked at the mention of the desert.
"I've lived in the jungle all my life. I've seen the desert, but I've never crossed it," she replied in an almost conversational tone, "I would imagine it would not be an easy journey for some, though. But I'm sure it was worth it to see the jungle, it is certainly a wonderful place to live." The leopardess looked the scrawny old dog up and down thoughtfully, before looking back to the green eyes, "What is your name?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 1:47 pm
"What a wonderful life it must be for you here.." Nyumbani cooed softly, a spark behind the old, green eyes.
"I've seen many a place in my travels, but never one as lovely as this. You're very lucky to live here." She said, pausing to listen to the other. Chuckling lightly, she sat down once more, seeing as she'd gotten a conversation started.
"My name..." Nyumbani mumbled, smile fading slightly, "Is Nyumbani. Should you wish to shorten it, I'm perfectly fine with that." She added softly, used to being called other things by now. Some of them weren't as friendly as one would hope, but.. that didn't really affect Nyumbani in the first place.
"Might I inquire what your name is, since you now know mine?"
Mleli could not hold back a snort at the mention of having a wonderful life here. Life had seemed wonderful after she'd been old enough to take care of herself, to leave the care of her adoptive 'mother', then it took a downward spiral the more she saw of lions. She shook her head, and took a seat as well, "You'd think life would be good, and it is quite perfect except for some of those in it." It was quite evident she was unhappy with someone or someones.
"My name is Mleli, and I'd rather it not be shortened for it is quite short itself, Nyumbani," she replied with a small shrug, "How long have you been in the jungle? Surely it can't be long, if you've not eaten lately. There is quite a bit of food around here."
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:22 pm
"Not long at all, actually." She said, glancing around, taking a careful watch of the light in the area. It was a bit brighter than when she'd arrived early this morning, so, a little time had passed, at least.
"Several hours, if this old dog still has any sense of time." Nyumbani laughed slightly, looking back to Mleli.
"And that's a beautiful name, Mleli. Take pride in it, and don't let your name betray you." Looking up toward the canopy, Nyumbani sighed slightly, closing her eyes.
"..And don't let what you love escape you."
"Then you've not seen a lot of the jungle, I'm sure you'll enjoy your stay here even if you don't stay permanently," Mleli remarked, able to find the irony in her words herself. How odd it would be that she could in fact be so welcoming to a stranger in the jungle, but clearly one old dog, as Nyumbani had even refered to herself as, was little threat. Mleli would take a harmless old wild dog over any lion, even an old harmless one.
"Why thank you," she said in a more vain than grateful tone, and then raised an eyebrow at the wild dog's advice, not entirely sure what she meant by what she said.
"You must think I'm just an insane, old woman," Nyumbani laughed, returning her eyes to Mleli's. Sighing, she lay down in the soft grasses of the clearing, needing to let herself rest. It hadn't hit her till now that she was so physically exhausted.
"Which very well may be true, but.. that's up to you to decide." Resting her head upon her paws, Nyumbani closed her eyes slightly.
"I apologize for lying down, but, the trip here has exhausted my old body. Oh, what I wouldn't give to be young again."
Nyumbani's words reminded Mleli of the encounter she'd had with the young lion, Majani. He'd called her insane, simply because when he startled her her first instinct had been to defend herself. She watched the wild dog make herself more comfortable as she silently deliberated what had been put forward- was Nyumbani actually a crazy old lady, or was there some actual wisdom in what she said? Despite herself, Mleli did have some respect for the elderly that prevented thinking Nyumbani outright insane. Perhaps in her own way the wild dog was wisely insane.
"Perhaps you are," she said finally, "crazy, I mean. Did you get any of that rabbit to eat? You should if you're going to rest. Sleep on an empty stomach after a long trip may not go so well."
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:34 pm
"Too true, maybe I am." Nyumbani laughed, but stopped when the other encouraged her to eat. Turning to the rabbit, she grasped the body gently in her mouth, laying it in front of her. Her lonely gaze fell on the rabbit, making her sigh softly.
"Such a dreadful waste, whoever killed the poor dear. They didn't even use its body.." Nyumbani said, almost regretfully. Taking a bit of the rabbit, she chewed at the meat gently, and finally swallowing.
"It's poor family, too."
Mleli rolled her eyes when Nyumbani commented on the rabbit's poor family, watching her eat as if it were of some interest. "It's best not to think of prey and their family, you cannot survive without eating and it is their loss if they cross your path," she replied cynically, "And to whoever killed the creature you should be grateful, in the end it found some use. I myself would never leave such a thing to chance, but it seems lucky for you."
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 2:44 pm
"Yes, I always am grateful for those who didn't have my experience. Those who can still take life," Nymubani said, pausing from tearing some meat away to look up to Mleli. Smiling softly, she shook her head.
"But, I do apologize, you're wrong. No creature that crosses my path is injured, be it great or small, young or old. I made the vow long ago that I would never kill again, and to this day, I haven't once." Nyumbani said, taking a small bite, and repeating her very slow methods of eating.
"The gods spared my life when I was smaller, it seems only fair I return the same to their creations."
"I would not expect one to harm every preybeast that crosses their path," she replied, looking at Nyumbani now as if she were a bit crazier than she first seemed, "But everyone must eat, even you, gods or not. Perhaps you would look and feel healthier if you took proper care of yourself." Mleli was back to being more rude than conversational now, but she was being honest. What a life Nyumbani must live, travelling across deserts and just hoping to find something that another has wastefully abandoned so she can live to travel back across the desert someday. And she sounded so regretful when she comment on the waste of food, now there was no question in the leopardess' mind that the Wild Dog should have sounded grateful.
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 3:10 pm
"Have you ever heard of The Great Plague, Mleli?" Nyumbani asked, seemingly jumping to an entirely different topic. Eyes locking into hers, Nyumbani raised her head entirely from the rabbit. Any trace of a smile she'd had was completely gone now, as she began.
"It was a terrible disease that swept through Africa, killing off the young, the old, the weak. No matter what species you were, it was a serious threat to us all. I was young then," She sighed, "and foolish, and hopelessly in love. I'd known him since I was a pup, and we grew up together, falling in love. He gave my my first litter, as well." Pausing, as if trying to fight back a growing sadness within herself, Nyumbani cleared her throat. "They were beautiful, and we were very happy together. It wasn't long, though, before my life turned. The plague swept our home, and others began dying. I was a fool." She spat, lowering her gaze to the ground and grumbling. "The plague hadn't affected me, and I thought that my family was safe. How wrong I was."
Looking to the rabbit, she tore more meat for herself, closing her eyes as she swallowed gently.
"No other deserves to mourn the loss of loved ones by forces they couldn't control. That's why I won't kill."
Mleli listened silently to Nyumbani's life story, what happened to her.. how the plague had effected her. While the old wild dog was clearly not the only one that had been effected by the plague, she clearly lost a lot because of it. And though the leopardess could still see some illogical side to refusing to kill, and some hypocrisy in being a scavenger, something stopped her from commenting on it as viciously as she had just moments before.
"I've heard of it, yes," she replied, "But it didn't effect only you. No one may deserve it, but it happens and your own loved ones would not want you to risk your life like that." Her tone was more calm and understanding than before, but still she would not admit that one should live without killing. One should watch out for themselves, especially when one has or had someone or someones that cares.
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:04 pm
"You may a good point, Mleli." She said with a soft smile, having finished off a good portion of the rabbit. Standing, she padded slightly away to a dirted area, digging a small hole in the ground, decently size to be a burrow. Returning to the rabbit, she picked it up gently, turning and heading to the hole. Taking one last bite of the meat, she slid it down into the hole, covering it with the dirt, and smoothing it out. Swallowing the meat, Nyumbani turned to Mleli with a smile.
"Thank you very much for the company, Mleli. It's been ages since I had a good conversation with anyone." She admitted, laughing slightly.
"I'm sure you could tell, talking to an old coot like me."
Mleli lifted her nose a bit at the compliment, always pleased to hear such things even if she is not fully agreed with. It was nice to have someone speak agreeably with her, and compliment her so nicely. She watched the wild dog take the body and bury it, finding it to be a nice thing to do, even if she herself had never done such a thing. It was one respect one could do, even if one did the killing themselves.
"I've not had a good conversation with anyone in a long time, either," she replied, and rolled her eyes, "But I have spoken with others recently. You've been much nicer to talk to, I'm quite certain."
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Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2006 7:23 pm
Nodding in understanding of Mleli, Nyumbani smiled softly, returning to her patch of grass and lying down. Still keeping her gaze firmly on Mleli, Nyumbani laid her head on her paws.
"Well, I do hope things look up for you, Mleli. I would love to continue our conversation, but this old body needs rest, and I'm not sure I'll be any interesting for much longer." Closing her eyes, Nyumbani's ears flickered slightly as she attempted to relax.
"If you happen to return, and I'm missing, it's likely that I've headed out once more. I know it's not good for me, but, I'll see as much of the world as I can before I die, and if it kills me, well.." laughing softly, Nyumbani wagged her tail softly in happiness at the thought.
"I'll have that many more stories to tell my family when I see them. And who knows? Our paths may cross once more someday."
Mleli nodded slowly as Nyumbani settled in for a good, much-needed rest. There was not much left to say now, just to bid the wild dog farewell.
"You take your rest, and be wary in your wandering. Starving would not be a pleasant way to go," she said seriously, and then looked back around a tthe trees, "I should return to my tree hunting, in any case." With that, the leopardess gave the wild dog a farewell nod, got to her feet and walked off. She was not ready to admit a liking to anyone, and was not ready to admit how much just talking to someone helped. It was tiring to be so angry, and now she could just hunt for a new home in peace.
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