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 Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:48 pm
"I bet it wasn't easy to get a bite of grass, either, was it?" Uhai asked carefully, flashing his teeth a bit in a small smile to demonstrate a point about the teeth, "Hunting is thrilling, she's not the only one who does it or enjoys it. I hunt regularly, even though I don't need to eat. We look the way we do because we're supposed to be able to hunt, you even noticed how I don't look much like Pala. Prey beasts don't even look like predators, they don't act all the same ways."
He could see he was getting to the little god, he glanced to the flexing claws. He wasn't terribly surprised to be asked how predators eating prey was good for prey too. It was easy to side with the prey beasts, they were the ones that were directly killed. Predators were indirectly killed when they were unable to catch anything.
"Predators need prey for food, they can't eat the grass like prey can," he said carefully, "Herds aren't usually all killed when hunted, I've never seen anything like that happen before. You said Pala taught you about traveling because the grass wasn't always green? What is green would be eaten up a lot faster if there are a whole lot of you all in that one place, right? Bigger groups need more food, it would be harder to keep everybody fed. Not to mention you get stuck with anybody who can't take care of themselves, but I guess they aren't a danger to anybody in a group with Palahala."
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 7:57 am
Khuluma nodded, finding that biting grass did not come easily to him as everyone else. The blades slipped through his teeth and he had to tug on it and pull up the blades before he could eat it, and even then he had to spit it out because he felt like he would choke on it. It had been a horrible experience, but he saw it only as being a god that did not need food. Now he saw it was something different. His teeth were not made for grass because he did not eat grass. He had once worried to Palahala that he might get a urge to hunt, but the God told him that he would not need to worry because he was a god, who did not eat, and that everyone in his group did not feel the desire to hunt. It was true, and after a while, Khuluma felt that he had to have been wrong to think he could ever have imagined himself as a hunter. He felt more and more like one of the prey beasts, but maybe he had been hopeful and a bit delusional. He knew lions ate, but as a god, he didn’t think the rules applied to him. Had he been wrong?
What was even more sad was that the reason why his brother did not look like Palahala was because he was a predator, and following logic, he looked down to his own paws. He didn’t have the hooves that his friend had, nor had that amazing ability to sail through the sky as easily as the other klipspringers. He did not have horns, which is why he had to make his own, and he did not resemble any of the other prey beasts. It was this reason why they had been hesitant around him when he first arrived into the herd. They though he would hunt them.
A hard twisting came in the pit of his stomach, and Uhai continued. It made sense that if the group got too big, there wouldn’t be enough to go around. They were always moving to find more food. How often would they have to travel if the herd was larger? Could Palahala protect them ALL? And then he heard the words. That…they would be stuck with those who cannot take care of themselves. He frowned, and felt his paws curl into his chest. He…was independent, but he so often came to Palahala to be taken care of. Was he one of those that the Prey God was stuck with?
“I don’t want to be a burden to Palahala. I want to help him.” He said, his voice oddly level and serious. He, looked up to the God of Predators. “..I only want to help him. Does that mean I should hunt? ” It felt somehow wrong, but if it helped prey, hunting had to be a benefit. A good deed that only helped the herd thrive. “I’ve never hunted before. ”
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 9:44 am
It took Uhai a moment to realize what he had said that made Khuluma so worried, so serious. Pala was taking care of him, teaching him things and helping him out- he must have thought of himself as one of the lame or weak creatures a herd might lose first if they were hunted from. But he was still identifying with them a bit too much. He didn't mean to make him feel bad, or turn entirely on Palahala (or did he?) but he couldn't pretend he wasn't a little pleased to have been convincing.
"You are not the kind of burden a meant," he corrected himself for the benefit of the younger god, "Herd members that are slow, weak, injured or sick are the easiest ones to catch. If you try to keep them safe, it can be harder to keep yourself safe."
He offered a smile and a shrug, "I think you should give it a try. You can be a friend and be helpful without pretending to be something you're not."
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 3:48 pm
He was uncertain, and being uncertain made him feel sick. It wasn’t right for him to be at a loss for words, or to have a standpoint that was wavering in the face of a new idea. It was one thing to argue a point, but if someone was showing you the truth, there was no way to argue against that. Well, not without knowing you were lying. Khuluma would like to think he tried to seek the truth as often as he could, but he knew that if he wanted, he could push the subject his way. Maybe Uhai was right, but if he was right, it made Khuluma afraid. It meant he couldn’t get away with pretending he was a herd animal that could be content resting in the savannah surrounded by prey beasts. At the same time, finding out he might be showing a truer self made him excited, and he felt it was an opportunity he should not pass up. If this was how he was suppose to be, then why would he not want that?
Palahala. The god was his friend, and there was a risk involved. Still, Uhai had mentioned it was a benefit to prey animals to have prey, and that he could still be friends while still being himself. If this was who Khuluma was suppose to be, could Palahala hate him for it?
“I’ve never tried. I don’t even know how.” he looked up at the God of Predators, unsure of the claws he held back out and flexed. No one had taught him to hunt, as that would have been a task given to him by a older sibling or parent. He didn’t even have siblings to play with, gaining the tools he’d need to fight later on. He was just Khuluma, the wandering god cub who liked to talk. Fighting hadn’t been something that came around. He was too young to actually fight another animal, and he didn’t need to eat. The necessity that would have pulled him to hunt hadn’t been there. “How do I even begin?”
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Posted: Mon Oct 12, 2009 2:18 pm
"You'll learn how," Uhai said confidently when Khuluma expressed concerns about never having hunted before, he was just a cub after all, he didn't have to know how yet, "You won't be able to catch much while you're so little, but you should do things normal cubs do to get practice! Find some friends that don't mind being rough and play with them. Wrestling is lots of fun! And hide and seek can help you learn how to track, if you're careful, the herd might play that with you."
Uhai thought about his own time as a cub, trying to think of any more games he had played when he was learning. He had played a lot of them with Palahala, even though Palahala never seemed to like it. Pala was just too much fun to harass!
"How sharp are your claws?" he asked, holding up his paw and sticking out his own claws, "Do this, let me see."
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 10:23 am
He was greatly relieved to find he was not large enough to hunt. It bought him time, and he wasn’t put on the spot. Instead, he could play games! Khuluma loved games, and he often played with Palahala and the other klipspringers whenever he could. Some of them weren’t into his sort of play, as he had paws as they had hooves and the older klipspringers weren’t for playing, but the smaller ones often hopped around him to play tag. Having another reason to play just sounded great to the god cub even though it was for purposes other than fun. He would be doing as he should, or as Uhai said he should be doing.
When asked to show his claws, Khuluma lifted his and looked at them before holding them out for Uhai to see. Slowly, he flexed his small claws out, and looked down at his own paws and over to Uhai’s massive paws, the claws extended and large. “I’ve been keeping them very clean.” He said, in hopes to make up for their size.
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Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 8:13 pm
Uhai was pleased with the young god's enthusiasm and waited patiently to see his paws. He wiggled his toes when Khuluma extended his little claws and looked to Uhai's. They were pretty small, but he could use that to prove his point.
"That's good," he said, trying not to discourage Khuluma in any respect now, "See the size difference? That's why it's OK for you to play rough, why it's easier than it would be for me now. You probably can't do a whole lot of damage with them. But I don't think it'll be long before they get stronger and sharper, so you should play with who you like while you can."
He probably wouldn't be able to really injure anything for a while but if he was playing in a herd who knew little about being hunted, they might not appreciate even smaller scratches. Uhai wasn't really sure, his image of the lot of them was a bunch of poorly practiced and wimpy things. Maybe he was wrong, but he didn't like to think so.
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Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:33 pm
Khuluma examined his claws and looked over to the other god’s paws, regarding the size. They were impressive, large and sharp, and gleaming in the sun. He wondered if his would grow that long and he wondered how dangerous that was. He really didn’t give his claws much thought. It was something he didn’t think could he shown off as much as his hair or wings. He’d have to reconsider the aesthetics of his claws.
“I’d love to try it. I never gave them much thought. Out of sight and out of mind. I suppose I should now. ” He flexed his claws in and out, testing them as if they were a new tool he hadn’t owned up until now. He looked back at Uhai and smiled. “Did you play with Palahala when you were a cub like me? Do you still play?”
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Posted: Fri Oct 23, 2009 9:42 pm
Uhai nodded, looking satisfied with his work and feeling it didn't need a great deal more encouragement. Khuluma got the idea, that was what mattered. It made Uhai feel helpful, and a little bit sneaky since Khuluma was a friend of Palahala.. but he hadn't said anything untrue! Not as far as his truths went, anyway.
"I loved playing with Palahala when we were cubs," he said brightly, "I don't think he enjoyed it quite as much as I did, but it was fun. We don't really play anymore, though. We don't spend much time together at all." He shrugged.
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 8:31 am
It seemed both were satisfied. Uhai for imparting his wisdom, and Khuluma gratefully gobbling up the lesson. He was still flexing his claws, something he would probably be doing for most of the day, when he looked back at Uhai. “You should not let yourself become separated. I’ve talked to many gods who no longer talk to their siblings or parents. You have something very precious. Please, do visit him sometime. I’d be happy to see you again too, Uhai!” He set his paws down, smiling as he did as a thought dawned on him.
“Uhai…I know I am not related to you by blood, but would you mind if I still called you my brother? If that is stepping too far, can I at least call you a friend?” He didn’t want to impose, but it was now a habit of Khuluma’s to try and extend his adoptive family to those he met, and Uhai had been kind and showed him something that Khuluma saw was valuable to finding out who he was. He would be honored to have him related by a shared friendship, even if they just met.
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 12:33 pm
He chuckled when Khuluma tried to say that he should not let him and Pala become separated. He wasn't one of the gods who never say his family, he had an advantage if he wanted to find them, which he on occasion did. He was an excellent tracker. And Palahala was his favorite to track.
"I don't think that'll happen, we don't play but Pala can't get rid of me that easily," Uhai grinned, then he was surprised when Khuluma asked if he could call him brother, "Uh- well- I guess family can never be too big." He smiled, approving of the idea.
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 6:38 pm
He grinned, happy to have Uhai aboard on his patchwork of put together family members. Another member, and another friend. Brother Uhai. “Thank you! I’ll try and be a great brother to you! ” He was glad that Uhai still was with brother and felt warm at the thought. Grinning, he rechecked his claws before flapping his wings. “Thank you for everything you’ve taught me. I’ll learn to plan and do just as you say. I’m really excited to try this predator stuff, just to see if it’s me. ”
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:02 pm
"Good luck learning," he said honestly, grinning at Khuluma as he made promises to try it and explained he was eager to see if it was for him, "I'll be expecting to hear how it went, but don't worry if you can't find me, I'll be able to find you. I'm an excellent tracker, you know." He winked and then chuckled to himself. It was a nice little talk he'd had with Khuluma. Part of him wanted to go bother Pala now, but he expected that might be the direction the little god was going if he really was part of the herd. Maybe he could find his other brother or mother to chat with.
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:09 pm
Grinning, Khuluma placed his feet on the ground and was about to leave. He could talk for hours, but he knew when a conversation was over. It had been a nice one, and he felt that he would cross path's with Uhai once again, if not just to tell him how being a predator had been for him, IF it was for him. He was still willing to try, though he didn't know how it would work for him.
Turning, he opened his wings to fly back home. Evening was coming and he had to go back to the herd so he could find a nice place to rest, preferably next to Pala. As he was about to set off, he paused and turned around. They were family, right? So family didn't just leave like this.
Walking over, he grinned at Uhai and gave him a proper and good nudge as his way of a hug, taking one paw up to hold him. "Thank you again. I'll see you later in life, my brother." The word "brother" made him grin, and he turned, wiggling his tail end before pushing off the ground and leaping into the sky, back to the herd, and with a better idea of what he was. God, Prey, and possibly even a little Predator.
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Posted: Sat Oct 24, 2009 7:16 pm
"Goodbye!" Uhai called after Khuluma as he flew off. He had restrained himself against nudging the little one in return, for once considering that maybe he would be a little too rough in doing so. He didn't mind when it was Palahala, it was just what they did, but Khuluma was a different situation. He wasn't going to push that. He watched the god fly off before he turned back to the direction he had been heading before he had stopped to chat and then jogged off again.
Fin.
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