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 Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:33 pm
At least it looked like his company wasn't the talkative type. Not that Uzumati always minded when someone wanted to strike a conversation but he truly wasn't the best at responding. At least with Padma he could feel more at ease after spending years together but it was still a struggle dealing with other earthlings. Uzumati had just found his voice and already he was being forced to socialize more and more as he worked in the nearby villages. Still, he did have to admit after a few steps that he was curious. There was another earthling he had encountered once or twice with such orange hair and the few familiar features made him pause whenever he glanced back towards the teen. Surely not?
"Name?" He finally asked after a moment, his green gaze sliding across the teen again before focusing on the path ahead.
[Uzumati 8]
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:33 pm
Lioe 9
Lioe could practically feel the eyes watching him, his own remaining firmly down to avoid contact. Was it the man watching over him, or was it possibly the witu hunting them? Had there even been a witu? After all, he hadn't actually seen anything. Yet, why else would some random guy pull him into the lake and risk drowning him? What other reason could there be for dragging him to the middle of the lake? Now it seemed like they were walking back toward where he had originally been! This was so confusing.
The question was almost a relief. If the guy didn't know who he was, then surely it was as innocent as he had claimed. Yet, there was that inexplicable flicker of recognition... "I'm.. Lioe," he replied lightly, peeking up briefly. "What's yours? ..Where are we going?" Perhaps that should have been his first question, but he was new to these situations!
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:33 pm
Lioe. The name seemed strangely familiar. Uzumati blinked thoughtfully before gesturing towards where he had first found the teen. Beyond that brush was a satchel and Uzumati's tunic and boots that he had discarded before swimming. Even if he was accustomed to living without shoes or a shirt the man reasoned it would be a waste to simply discard them and his other belongings because of one witu. He just hoped the beast hadn't caught scent of the sweet breads he had bought in town before leaving towards the forest.
"Uzumati. " The man finally stated his name before trudging forward, his bare feet splashing through some of the wet areas around the edge of the lake as he kept them away from the heavier cover of trees...just in case.
[Uzumati 9]
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:33 pm
Lioe 10
Lioe chewed on his lip thoughtfully, finally feeling his body calming down more fully. He was going to need a nap as well to fully recover! He was finding himself excited about the prospect of being able to write about the event in his journal. Maybe he would make a side story with a little more risk and adventure in it! That would be fun.
He cocked his head at the name grunted at him, eyes narrowing. Uzu.. mati? "I've heard about you," he stated with surprise when the recognition clicked into place. "You're Padma's boyfriend! Or, husband. Or... friend?" He pursed his lips and shook his head slightly. Not that it mattered much to him... "She's one of my half-sisters." Emphasis on half! Family stuff tended to put him on edge, and now the connection could not be ignored. Would he tell Padma about today? Would she tell their dad? Would he be upset? He didn't want to make his father worry!
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:33 pm
Uzumati blinked as the teen's words finally registered. That was why he had recognized the shock of orange hair...Maritza? Uzumati let out a huff as he recalled the foreign woman with her strange trinkets and sharp words. At least her son didn't seem to be so judgmental? Was that a good word for it? Uzumati tried to ponder what earthling word would describe the prickly woman. Either way the concept that Padma had such young half-siblings was still something that Uzumati had to grow accustomed to. He had met pieces of her family throughout their years together but Uzumati was always a bit more distant, not much of one for conversations or heart-felt reunions. He much preferred keeping busy in the local towns or staying in the forest to hunt.
At least while he was reflecting on the teen's words they had gotten closer to his belongings. Uzumati stopped and reached over so that he could grab his satchel from the ground. After a thoughtful look towards Lioe he let out another soft sigh before digging around in his satchel and pulling out a piece of bread that he ripped in half. "Here." He offered almost as if apologizing for dragging the teen into the lake.
[Uzumati 10]
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:33 pm
Lioe 11
Thankfully, the rugged man seemed less than interested in pursuing family related conversation. Lioe hoped that such would remain the case after they parted ways.
He peered at the man's belongings curiously, though he wasn't one to pry. The spot he had been lying down at wasn't too far off from there, but he hadn't brought anything extra with him. Of course, he hadn't intended to go swimming either! He couldn't help noticing how clear it was that there was no way he would have seen the witu coming. This Uzumati really must have been a forest dweller.
He was pulled out from his musings by the offer of the bread. After a brief hesitation, he nodded and accepted the offer. "Thank you. I mean.. for earlier, too. I never needed saving before." He picked at the bread to place a piece into his mouth and chewed slowly. It would have to be comfort enough until he got home. "Are they as mean as the books say?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:33 pm
The man couldn't help but to quirk a brow at the comment. Never needed saving before? Either the teen was extremely lucky, coddled or a lot stronger than he appeared. Uzumati almost grinned at the thought before basically inhaling his own piece of the bread. Even if he was more civilized as they would call it, the leafling still kept certain habits like eating quickly so that others couldn't try to catch him off guard. Uzumati found himself pausing though at the sudden question, his expression shifting into a frown as he thought about it. Not that he read books much but he was assuming the teen was talking about the witu.
They were just predators so it was just their nature...did one call it mean? Uzumati let out a sigh before gesturing towards the series of scars crossing his body, some of which were a courtesy from local witu. "Territorial, yes." He finally offered as he pulled the cotton tunic over his head so that it covered the majority of the scars again. He fought witu for territory a lot so did that make him mean? Perhaps. Uzumati let out an amused pft at the thought before glancing back towards the teen. Why was he here and not...whatever that strange continent place was called?
[Uzumati 11]
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:33 pm
Territorial.. That had different intonations than "mean." Perhaps calling an animal mean was giving them too much credit and personification. "Territorial then," he corrected, cocking his head with a look around. It really would be better to leave the witu's "territory" then. His eyes kept away from the lake though. The sensation of flailing around in the water after he'd been let go, knowing that the only way to go was down. Down would have been cold and suffocating and dark and... Hearing about a witu hunting him was nothing compared to that sensation.
He shoved in another bite of the bread to distract himself. "Do you need anything else? I guess we should.. go to our own territories before it tries to eat us again."
[Lioe 12]
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:34 pm
Uzumati gave a firm nod of acknowledgement for the correction. Territorial made a lot more sense to him, especially considering how he used to fight with the witu over territory while growing up in the wilderness. He wasn't exactly a mean person though...he just was trying to fight to protect what was his home. Uzumati pursed his lips at the question before shaking his head. He had his own belongings and didn't need anything....but slight rustling behind them made the man's body tense. He definitely should not leave the teen alone yet.
"I'll escort you." He muttered as he brushed the last crumbs from the edges of his lips, his body twisting to survey the area around the two of them one final time before he glanced back towards Lioe.
[Uzumati 12]
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:34 pm
[Lioe 13]
While he wasn't the most observant when it came to the subtle nuances of earthling emotions and the tracking of nature, even he could see Uzumati tense up again. The threat must still be around, and not just the lake's depths!
Lioe couldn't help his cheeks flushing sharply. Escort? He knew what that meant. It meant that Uzumati was concerned about leaving him alone. It meant he was the weak one here. He pressed his lips a moment and shook his head in an unusually obstinate moment. "I'll be fine. Just need to leave the territory," he huffed, marching off in the direction of home. Did his father ever need escorting? Did his mother? Ujana certainly wouldn't have needed it! Surely this witu's territory wasn't that big.
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:34 pm
Blink. Uzumati opened his mouth and closed it before opening it again as if to call out after the teen. Had he said something wrong? The man's brow furrowed with confusion as he simply watched the teen stalking away. Earthlings could be so confusing sometimes....wouldn't it be best if they went the same way? Eh, he could probably just leave him. Uzumati turned as if to leave before freezing again, his hands tightening into fists at his sides. Even if he didn't like the foreign woman as much the teen was still related to Padma. How could he just go home without making certain that Lioe made it back safely first?
But maybe he wouldn't need to convince the teen. Uzumati let out a soft sigh as he watched something prowling along through the crystal grasses, the tall foliage masking the crystal spines that grew along the witu's back. Uzumati purposefully turned his back, his hands swiftly securing his belongings as Lioe kept getting further away. One breath, two breath, three breaths....Uzumati tied his satchel and slipped it across his back before turning on his heel and darting through the trees after the teen, something that perhaps would have seen more playful if it weren't for the witu that suddenly leapt through the grasses. The prey had separated from the pack and so it was time to strike!
[Uzumati 13]
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:34 pm
[Lioe 14]
Attributing the chill that went down his spine to the fact that he was still cold and wet, Lioe kept marching on. Part of him knew that he was being silly. The man had just been trying to help him. The sting of the implications had caught him off guard though. Perhaps it was because he was already feeling vulnerable after the lake... Whatever it was, Lioe ignored his concerns and walked on without looking back.
The rustling behind him grew closer, and he felt his shoulders fall with relief. Maybe Uzumati was going to push the issue and walk with him?
He turned to look over his shoulder, and took a step back when he saw how quickly the adult was moving toward him.... and how Uzumati wasn't the only one rushing his way. The witu was just a little closer... Considering his earlier reaction to being in danger, Lioe's body instinctively reacted as ineffectively as possible. Yelping with fear at the charging witu, he dropped to the ground to duck under the leaping beast. Sharp claws dug into his back and he felt himself tugged along with the creature's momentum, his breath stuck too tightly in his throat to make any noise.
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:34 pm
Adrenaline raced through Uzumati's veins as he watched the witu pounce the teen. A growl escaped from his throat as he threw himself after the pair, their bodies tumbling to the ground in a tangled mess. Uzumati wrapped his arms around the witu's neck and pulled sharply so that he could peel it from the teen's back, the creature's mouth snapping at air when it had been trying to dig its fangs into Lioe's neck. A grunt left his lips as he continued tugging, his legs wrapping around the witu's lower body as he tried to hold it back from biting Lioe.
"Move!" The command was fierce and almost guttural as Uzumati yelled towards Lioe. The leaf earthling was doing his best to fight with the creature, to pull it away from the teen enough so that he could slip free.
[Uzumati 14]
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:34 pm
Lioe 15
His hands had snapped up to cover his head, his fingers feeling the scrape of sharp teeth and furry lips. Lioe gasped in a sharp breath when the claws pulled from his back as Uzumati pulled the creature away. He pressed his face into the dirt, flinching away from the vicious noises coming from behind. Uzumati had reached him and was wrestling the beast...
Move? Oh, he knew he should. He needed to move. He had to move! He peeked over his shoulder, and got his first good look at the witu. Those claws had gotten him? Those teeth had nearly sunk into his neck! After a brief freeze, Lioe finally felt the fire burn through his body. His teeth clenched tight as he dug his fingers into the earth and pulled himself out from under the struggle. A dozen expletives slipped from his lips once he was free and got an outside look at the fight. This was.. his fault. "Uzumati!" he called out, continuing to back away from the pair. Was he really as useless as he felt right then?
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Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2021 5:34 pm
Uzumati truly wasn't the best for words especially when fighting a witu. As soon as Lioe escaped from beneath the creature the scene burst into explosive action, the pair tumbling and tossing each other back and forth as the witu and man sought control of the fight. A more wild nature emerged from Uzumati during those few intense seconds as he slipped back into his older habits while fighting. His only weapons were his hands at the moment since he wasn't wearing gauntlets or anything sharp, his weapons tucked away since he had been working with others on building this morning rather than hunting. A roar of pain left him as the witu dug its claws into his arm but Uzumati used the moment to slam his free hand into the creature's snout, the force shattering some of the delicate bones throughout its face as it tried to dig into Uzumati's skin with its fangs.
All he could do though was buy time for Lioe. Uzumati hoped the teen could find somewhere safe or do something while he continued to fight with the witu, the pair eventually breaking apart to move in some strange dance as the creature tried to dart forward while Uzumati continued reacting so that he could block its path. He just hoped the witu would give up soon and leave them, but even Uzumati wasn't certain what would happen since the younger witu seemed new to the area and unfamiliar with the strange leaf earthling who almost fought like a witu himself.
[Uzumati 15]
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