|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 2:40 am
The song had left her. Her and her beloved leaves, yes that was for sure. For ever since the sun had first set some many days ago, she had found the song that rustled through the leaves in the form of early morning breezes gradually, but steadily, fading from her ears and existence. Now, as she stared upon the sparse leaves that grew in the branches of a thin, shrivelled tree, she saw that not a single breeze stirred their still forms, and there was no longer music to her ears. It was that music that got her through some of her loneliest days, and she despaired at the thought of having to make it through any more long days without the gentle rustle of her precious leaves to guide her.
For her, the single whisper of any one leaf was as clear a guide as the North Star itself, and it was these gentle sayings of the trees that helped her navigate her wanders or collect her thoughts. And now she was stranded without them and she felt quite alone. No longer did it feel as if the leaves, the whole world, belonged to her. They had deserted her, the leaves especially, and she felt only a profound sadness welling up inside her, for once the world turned its back on her, she had little left to go on.
And it happened to be those days... one of those days when she actually hoped to see at least some form of life that was not something that immediately brought the word 'PREY' to mind. She hardly cared if it were a lion or a cheetah, a hyena or a wild dog, she only felt the need to meet someone, even if it were for the simple pleasure of chasing them away, as was the case in meeting a hyena. She peered about her, seeing nothing but endless plains rolling away from her in all directions. With a sigh, she settled herself down at the base of the tree and laid her eyes dejectedly on her paws. She wouldn't get her hopes up to meet another lion. Not today. She closed her eyes. Rest was in order.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 11:51 am
As was always, Juke made his way across the roguelands with a bounce in his step. The music was always ringing merrily in his ears, always guiding his path in life. It was the one thing he actually needed to survive, he mused, besides the basics of food and drink. Then again, there was that pang for social interaction, that undying want to be with others. So goes the life of a rogue, unfortunatley, and that was precisely why he wished to join a pride some day. Though the thought was always somewhere in his mind, at thatmoment, it was not the foremost thing to ponder. As he had been dancing through the savannah, a sadder note entangled itself in his jolly tune. It had come and gone, just like every other note did, yet it had been so sorrowful it caused the male to backtrack. There was something oddly familiar about it, as well, and the thought of something familiar being so depressed was not a good one.
Loosing his happy dance, the rogue prowled with a catty quickness towards the music. He couldn't help but feel sorry for whoever was putting off this rather depressing tune, and would surely try to comfort the sorrowful creature when it was found. He pulled up wuickly, however, when he spotted a rather green lioness, one who could only be the curious Muujiza. He was rather delighted to see her, as he hadn't in wuite a while, but was also saddened that she was the one to send off the music. He roared out a greeting to her as he padded towards the dying tree, but there was a pain in his eyes when he neared her. "Is there something wrong, Muujiza?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:26 am
Oh, there it was. It came faintly at first, like a softly tinkling that nagged at the edge of her mind. And then it came stronger, more insistent, until she could almost hear the music again. But it was distant, and it was as if she were leeching off of another's music, and not her own. But it was good enough for her, for now she knew that the leaves had not died, their song had not risen to skies beyond her reach. They were still there, and had only left her for a little while. Her faith had been restored, if only for a little while, and she opened her eyes gently to peer about. For somewhere in with that jolly leafy music, she heard something that was oddly familiar, something she had not quite thought she might hear again for some time.
And there was Juke.
She heard his roar before she saw him, and she rose and squinted her yellow eyes disbelievingly. It really was him, and it was he that had been lending her the music so that she could hear the leaves whistled and play together once more. And she wondered if it would stay. Indeed, she wondered if it would stay with her once he left again, but for the moment, just being able to hear it was enough, and she shook her head. "Not at all, Juke. At least, not anymore." She felt her gaze wandering to the withering leaves of the malnourished tree. Even they seemed to have more life now that Juke was around. "I didn't think I'd see you again," She added jovially. And it was true, for it wasn't often that two rogues like herself and Juke met more than once.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 7:51 am
The male squinted at her, unsure of how to react at first. He was concerned for her state of being when he had first arrived, but now she seemed perfectly fine and practically jolly. He padded over to her side slowly, plopping in the cool dirt next to her. He couldn't deny he wasn't thrilled to see her again, but he still had to wonder what had been wrong. He was sensitive to music, including the music that others gave off, and it was not lightly that he took such a sorrowful tune. If she wasn't going to talk of it, however, neither would he, purely out of respect for the lioness. Matching her jovial mind, he grinned and gave her a gentle nudge. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again, either. What luck, eh?" His tail slowly beat out his song behind him, which had become somewhat bouncier since padding over to the tree. Looking up, he noticed the distinct lack of leaves on its branches with a confused look. Why would a creature such as Muujiza allow herself to be surrounded by bare branches? Perhaps he could persuade her to switch locations at some point during their conversation that was inevitabley comming.
Looking out onto the savannah he had just been dancing in, Juke smiled lightly. He turned his head towards the green lioness and took a deep breath, enjoying her scent and the feel that the area around her had. "How have you been, Muujiza?" He swished his tail about subconciousley, his head bobbing slightly to the same rhythm. He really couldn't help this display of beat, even if he was paying full attention to the female.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 1:26 am
Muujiza smiled and nodded, the sound of music bringing to her mind a dozen other things. Birds, bees, flowers, and then leaves, leaves, and more leaves. If anything, the music had returned stronger than it had left, and it confused her somewhat. Why was it that, while sounding distant and far away - which told her she was simply leeching off of another's leafsong - the music could sound so much more vibrant than it ever had been before? It made little sense, but in that nonsense that she felt running through her mind, she found more contentment in listening to this lent music than anything else. For the song of the leaves was all she had to listen to. She hardly heard music as well as Juke, or even attempted to hear it as well as he did. It was only the leaves on any one tree that could spark up her interest, even dying ones.
She tilted her head as he took a deep breath, blinking and smiling gently as she awaited the words that she knew he was about to say. "How have I been?" She echoed, taking a moment to truly consider. She had had better days, she concluded, ever since the song had left. But it was here now again. Did the rest matter? She decided that it did, and she may well just tell him. Perhaps he knew a solution. "I've been better," She admitted with a nod. She gestured toward the tree. "The leaves stopped singing. But it's back now," She added quickly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2007 5:09 pm
Cocking his brow, Juke tilted his head a little, a perplexed look stamped on his face. The music had stopped? Was that even possible? To his knowledge, it never stopped pumping. It was like the heart of the savannah, something that could never rest. If it had ever stopped, he surely would have noticed. Perhaps Muujiza had been distracted by something; that would explain it. "It's good to hear that it's back. Hopefully, it will stay this time." He smiled at the lioness, and let his gaze draw over her features. She really was qute unique in color, so green that she would blend in with the purest of grasses. Her eyes, strikingly yellow, must be a horror to any herd to come upon on a night hunt. Mmm, a hunt would be nice right about now, wouldn't it? He had hardley eaten in two days, and was growing on stomach pains. Perhaps later, after a chat with the leafy female.
In a majestic feline pose, he turned his attentions to the savannah once again. It was, unfortunatley, not bustling with life and activity. How disappointing. Life was what made music, and the less life there was, the less interesting the tune was. Then again, Muujiza's theme was one that provided at least a few hours of analysis. It was mystical and curious, with a beat unique to her, found no where else that Juke had been. The meoldy, soft yet bold, was interesting enough, creating a tune that was hard not to dance to. Perhaps some day, he would teach her how to dance, like he had taught that juvenile male a few weeks back. Suddenly, his mind changed topics. "Muujiza, do you ever get lonely out here?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 2:27 am
Muujiza shrugged. Perhaps it would. She was hoping that once he left, she would stop having to lend off his music and be able to keep her own. "Yes, hopefully..." Her brow twitched, as if she were about to frown, but had decided against it, and she blinked her sharply yellow eyes almost lazily, although perhaps it was simply the way she functioned. She never found the need to rush anything. Not in this lifetime, she concluded, it's not as if life isn't short enough. And perhaps this, too, could shed some light on the curious fact that while she had long since reached maturity in years, she was still somewhat on the small side, and was still constantly growing. Being relaxed had lent her body some extra time, perhaps, so that it, too, was taking its time to grow.
Her gaze had wandered out to the savannah spread out before them, and she pulled her attention back as she heard him begin to speak. She blinked, and then nodded. "Why, of course I get lonely, Juke. There is freedom to being a rogue, but sometimes I wonder if it's just a small part in the loneliness it causes." She glanced back at the waving grasses. "And the lack of food," She added with a chuckle. Not that food did much for her. She could go days on end without eating much, so long as she got to quench her thirst. It was strange, she knew, but perhaps it was simply a defence mechanism. She wouldn't starve as quickly as most if famine were to fall upon them. "Do you, Juke? Get lonely?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2007 10:05 pm
Feeling a comfort level about the lioness, Juke did not hesitate to answer hoenstly. "All the time, it seems. The music, of course, keeps me company, but I can't talk to it. It's just... there." He gave a hopeless little shrug and sighed, flopping his body down to a lying position. "It makes me want to join a pride even sooner." And find a mate, he added in his own mind. There was a canidate for the position buuuuttt... He wasn't sure how she would feel about it, and had never mentioned it to her.
Letting his head droop to the ground, he pushed his weight onto his side and looked up at Muujiza through tired eyes. It wasn't often that he got this way, so dramatically depressed in stature and feel. His tail, however, still softly kept the beat. No matter the circumstances, it was always moving, always keeping time. If it stopped, Juke's very life force would be drained. Without the music, he was nothing. It seemed, on some of his worser days, that he needed more than just a rhythm to get by, however. He craved affection and attention, socialization and conversation. A rogue's life was no longer suiting him, though he had done quite well with it until recent months. Perhaps it was his personality, a softer being, that was repulsed by the idea of never really knowing if you'll see a lion the next day. Though he was in some ways independant, he knew that he also needed the mere idea that he would be able to seek out others any time he wished. A pride would give that, would it not? Even on the sluggish days, when all was asleep, there was at least the comforting thought that, if need be, they were there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 6:16 am
"Oh?" She nodded slowly, know just how he felt. Of course, her leaves would never completely disappear on her, but their music would, as it had proven so only days ago, and although the very presence of the leaves soothed her, and they would never completely drain her of a will to live. Perhaps it wasn't quite so with music. It could leave, that she had learned the hard way.
The green lioness's pale eyes caught Juke's tired gaze. He looked so tired, so... sad, in some strange way, that she felt the urge to reassure him. While her mind hesitated, she found herself leaning forward almost subconciously and gently rubbing her muzzle against his cheek. As friends, perhaps with a little something else snuck in that she herself had no way of fathoming, but it was her way of telling him it was okay. She was there for him, at least until they had to part ways again, that she was there to make a big fuss over him, if nothing else, for she knew the life of a rogue, and she knew the loneliness. And more often than not, she wondered if a rogue's sole purpose was to wander and crave attention. And she wondered, too, if she could ever perhaps help some other lion in any small way. And maybe here, she could help Juke, no matter how little.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:40 am
He was moved at the lioness's tender nudge, and returned the tough with his own little nuzzle, burying his forhead in her soft neck. He was glad to have come across her on the savannah today, as otherwise he would've been left to wallow alone in his pathetic slump. His tail twitched gentley, slowly bringing the beat from it's sad state to a slightly happier, faster pace. He pulled awa from Muujiza too look up at her from the ground, a half-hearted smile on his face. "Have you thought of prides much since the last time I saw you?" His mind was spinning on the idea that she, too, did not deserve the rogue life, and would be better off in a pride. There was a sense of protection in him, one that needed to be used. He couldn't just run off, find himself a mate and then join a pride. She would still be out here. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, a tiny voice whispered ideas to him, but it was so small he hardley heard it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:48 am
She felt content to stay in the small embrace until he pulled away, and avoided directly answering his question. In truth, she had given it a great deal of thought, but her mind had drawn a blank as to whether or not she really wished to join a pride. "You are tired of the life of a rogue too, I presume?" She said, wondering where the 'too' had slipped itself in. She had had no intention of adding it, and yet, while her mind functioned overtime, perhaps it had found that her heart truly desired a place to stay for good without ever letting it be known to her.
She let the words sink in for a moment, during which small idea popped into her head. One in particular seemed to linger while all the rest were banished as impossible. Perhaps they could travel and join a pride together. He hadn't found his mate yet, she presumed, but perhaps a friend could take the place of a mate for some time yet. Something inside her didn't want to let him leave without her, for she knew that there was always a very real chance they would never see each other again. And after all she had learned about him, she didn't think she could bring herself to that.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 7:59 am
It was a good attempt at avoiding the question, but the male caught it very quickly. If ther ewas an uneasiness with it, however, he would drop the matter for now and let it come up on its own later on. "Yes," he sighed, letting his head plop on the ground once more, "I'm sick of it. I don't think I've ever been sick of anything in my whole life but this." He was, by nature, a happy go lucky creature who took things in stride and thought that everything had at least some sort of a purpouse. It was extremely rare for him to have a foul thought about anything, which is why the recent unhappy days had hit hims o hard. There seemed only one solution to the problem, and that was to join a pride.
Closing his eyes for a moment, he surrounded himself in Muujiza's theme. That funky beat and wayward tune were hard to resist, and he quickly found his back paw tapping. Dancing would be nic,e rght now, but no, he'd save the urge for later. A thought crossed his mind that he could teach Muujiza how to dance some day. Teach her how to hear the music even better, possibley. Some place where the music was strong, like at the water hole. He remembered the day he had actually listened to a liquid tune, and had fallen in love with the sounds it made. It was entirely unique. His thoughttrain stopped there, very quickly. Teaching Muujiza how to dance by any body of water required him actually seeing her again. The thought came up that perhaps... she could join a pride with him. "Why don't we go to live someplace nice together?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:04 am
She watched as his paw seemed to latch on to some beat, and wondered if he would break into what he called a dance. She blinked as her attention was drawn back to their conversation. "But I don't suppose you've yet found that mate you were looking for?" She said, bewildered. It was what he dearly wanted, from what he had told her. And yet, here he was suggesting that he could put that part of his life on hold for the moment so that the two of them could find respite from the loneliness that surrounded the life of a rogue.
It didn't sound like a bad idea, travelling with Juke, travelling to a pride. It was a drastic change, it would be a turning point in her life, for she had never so much as considered abandoning her freedom before the moment she had first met Juke, and now she was seriously considering his offer. She wanted to, that was for sure. But somewhere at the back of her mind, a little nagging voice seemed to sound and buzz. Would she ever be able to adapt to a life without wandering?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:16 am
He paused for a moment, unsure of where the thought had first come of. Now that she had brought up the mate topic, he was slightly... latched to it. There was a want to follow through with his plan, follow a structured anything. Then again, when had his life ever been organized and structured? With a smile, he shook his head. "Nope, I haven't. I wanted a mate before going to a pride so that I'd have someone with me who knew what it was to be a rogue. If you go with me, though... It'll work just the same." His spirits were lifted greatly by this idea, and he nodded enthusiastically, tail and paw still thumping away. That would be nice, wouldn't it, to travel with muujiza. He liked her plenty, and they got along with her just fine. It could be fun.
Of course, there was always the question of where he would go. Some place with plenty of water would be nice. Current songs were amazing to hear, and had such a strong beat that dancing was almost a given. He kind of wanted a smaller pride, too. Something that wouldn't be over powering to a new commer, with all of it's members and thick history. He knew well that in some prides, a new commer wasn't taken all that well, as there were long lived family lines. A smaller group would be easier, he thought, to push his way into. To push /their/ way into, that is, if Muuji agreed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:24 am
It'd work just the same? Perhaps she had been right, at least in a way. She barely hesitated before nodding. "I'd love to go with you, Juke," She added, for somehow, it seemed that nodding was rather insignificant in the presence of such a change to come to her life.
She wondered where they would be headed. She was happy enough to be going along with Juke, no matter how daunting the idea of joining a pride might be. They would both know what it was like to be new, and neither would be left out. And so, in such a way, it mattered little to her which pride Juke might be interested in, and she was happy enough to let him choose, if he wanted to. She knew that if they were to make a joint decision, she would be little help anyway.
Her ears perked slightly. The battered leaves dangling from the wilting branches above them seemed to rustle and sing with more energy and vigor than before, as if they sensed something new had come by nearby, and she felt herself smile. Even the leaves agreed with her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
