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 Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 4:43 pm
When the sun rose that morning, Muroki had woken with a feeling. It was too peaceful to be called 'restless' nor was what his aunt had called 'itchy paws', a fevered feeling of wanderlust. One that had so often griped her, as he remembered her. No, this was just the gentle but strong inclination to stroll where ever his paws took him.
After a few minutes spent in the customary prayer, the sandy lion started to wander. Through the trees, past the waterhole, tarrying in the stone pass into the pridal lands....enjoying a cool breeze here, stopping to sniff a scent mark...even a wade through a waterhole.
Eventually he was padding along the edge of the jungle, looking out at the brilliant grasslands, dazzled by the bright sun after the shady undergrowth. It'd been a long while since he ventured out here.
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Posted: Thu Aug 02, 2007 7:00 pm
The Kusini lands held nothing for Safiya. The cubs who were to be her new charges had rejected her love. She had been foolish to think there was a chance at life and happiness there.
Safiya had left those pridelands; the second place that could have almost been home. Both prides had been full of such gloomy lions, so many sad faces. Would she never find a place to welcome her with happiness, not melancholy? The girl who loved everyone had lived her whole life alone. Was she doomed to die alone?
These thoughts continually whirled in the white lioness' head as she dazedly watched her feet take step after step. She did not know how long she had been walking, but it had been a terribly long time. It felt like forever since she had seen a friendly face, much less spoken to one. She did not remember the last time she had eaten; she simply had no energy to hunt.
Safiya was wandering aimlessly, not looking up from the ground, no clue as to where to go or what to do. She had no ties to hold her any place. But she knew she should keep walking...just keep walking until something told her to stop.
For the first time, the never-fail optimism that had kept her going through so much had finally been beaten, trodden to death by failures. Happy Safiya seemed to have lost her happiness...her will to smile.
((Wow, I did not mean to make it so depressing. o.0 I hope you can get something out of that ^^))
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 5:02 pm
Since little moved out on that stretch of grasslands at this time, save the ever buzzing insects, Muroki spotted Safiya without trouble. Her pale colouring didn't hurt either, reflecting the sunlight on her back. But what really stuck him was her posture - head down, tail low, and apparently not really paying heed to where she was going. Almost as if she were in a trance...
As peaceful as he felt, compassion was hard to ignore, and curiousity too. He'd been a rogue a long time and while in the last few months he'd found endless strangers tiresome, he did miss getting news from the outside world. As much as he loved the pride. Plus, what could be wrong with teh dazed looking creature?
Hunger? Thirst Pain? Fatigue? Depression? Se didn't look scrawny at least...Muroki padded out, blinking in the sunlight, to intercept her path. Last time he tried to help anyone they'd lashed out - but still. She didn't look so good. He couldn't ignore that.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 7:50 pm
Safiya's ears pricked to hear the coming of another soul. As tired and downtrodden as she was, hope and happiness bubbled up in her. Someone to talk to, at last! The lioness lifted her white head to see an adult male emerging from the trees. She barely recognized how different the scenery was; all that mattered was that she had company.
A smile broke on Safiya's face, weak but earnest. "Hello there, friend," she called out to the stranger, suprised out how odd her voice sounded. It was scratchy and hoarse from lack of use. "You don't know how glad I am to see you."
She took a few eager steps towards the male. But the sudden movement made her dizzy, and she stumbled, and then her legs finally gave way beneath her.
Something had apparently told her this was as good a place to stop as any.
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Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2007 12:15 pm
"Are you alright, friend?" He picked up the pace a bit and closed in, face outstretched and catching her scent. Didn't smell like she was sick, Muroki thought. Maybe she hadn't drunk enough water to combat the savannah's heat? The sun was near constant from sun up to sun down, and for all he knew she'd travelled a long way. And her voice was hoarse as well...
"I'm called Muroki. I live nearby...are you on a journey, miss...?" He smiled, voice friendly.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 8:30 am
Safiya picked herself up off the dirt, but her legs were shaky. She was thrilled to hear kindness in the male's voice; it refreshed her soul. "It's delightful to meet you, Muroki. It's been so long since I saw another soul...I have been walking for a very long time. I suppose you could say I am on a journey. But it is a journey with no particular destination." Saying that aloud pained her, but at least she was talking. That alone was a blessing.
"I'm not quite sure where I am," she admitted. "Is there water nearby, kind sir? I don't mean to burden you," she added quickly, remembering how many lions she had encountered in the past did not welcome her intrusion into their lives. "I have not seen water in quite some time, and have not had the energy to hunt. If I could just get a drink and rest a bit...I think I could continue on my way." Safiya was glad to have company, yes, but this male was a stranger and she had been learning all her life that strangers were never as happy to see her as she was to see them. She was determined to change her ways and try to not be so annoying; and she would start by letting Muroki know that she would not hang around long and bother him. After all, he probably had his own family and life to get back to.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:01 am
"You're no burden at all. Can you make it?" He meant moving and nodded towards the trees, then he padded over to her side to be instep with her should she start walking. Compassion was something he'd always been encouraged to have and Safiya clearly needed some right now. Let's see, water, food, rest....and directions if she chose a place to go from here. At the very least he could tell her where 'here' was and he knew the way to several other prides from this jungle.
"You're by the Unity Walker lands. I can't take you inside the pride's valley but I can make sure you're comfortable here. There's a waterhole not far from here and I could catch you a meal while you rest, if you'd like?"
Inwardly, he winced, realising that some lions would suspect hidden motives behind such generiousity. He did noticed that he was no longer feeling bitter inside and sarcastic. Muroki knew he was back to his old, kindly, foolish self. And he had to wonder if that was a good thing or not...
After all, last time he was this nice, it cost him a broken heart. Maybe he should tell this stranger off for being foolish enough to travel until she was this spent...hm...
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:25 am
Safiya was stunned by Muroki's generosity as she walked with him to the waterhole. "You're the nicest lion I've ever met," she said softly, meaning it wholeheartedly. No one, even when she was a helpless and orphaned cub, had shown her this much kindness. Her heart filled with gratitude and warm feelings.
She listened as he spoke, concentrating carefully on each step she took. Though Muroki walked beside her - such a sweet gesture secretely thrilled her - she did not want to fall and seem weak once again. The Unity Walker name meant nothing to her - she had neither seen nor heard much of the world, but she recorded the name into her memory for future reference. "I don't need to go into the valley, just a little water and shade, thank you."
She considered his next offer more intently. As much as she would like to have a meal ready-caught for her, she had never been the object of so much attention. Safiya had always been independant; having another lion do things like that for her made her feel strange and a little uncomfortable. But his generosity continued to amaze her. "You don't need to trouble yourself, really," she said, gushing intense gratefulness but starting to feel strangely shy. "That would be too much of an imposistion, my kind friend. I have never been dependent on the kindness of strangers." But as soon as she said that, Safiya realized it was only true because she had never had the opportunity.
She did not wonder at the male's motivates; Safiya herself would have done the same thing in his place. But she did wonder why she had not met such gentleness in all her life.
As the two walked, Safiya snuck glances into the kind face of Muroki, pondering his story, and why there seemed to be conflict behind his steady eyes.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:43 am
"As you wish, Safiya." He nodded his head at her wishes, mane falling into his eyes as always. Muroki weighed up how easy or hard a meal would be for her to find on her own out here, after she was refreshed, and set all worries aside. As a rogue she'd have to be able to look after herself and since the pride hunted inside their lands, prey out here was reasonably plentiful. she'd be alright.
The gratitude he was recieving however only made his inner conflict more confusing. He liked being nice, always had and getting a little recognition from Safiya was pleasing. It was more satisfying than winning an argument and much easier. It would take a lot of effort to slip back into his depression again - perhaps that had been the peaceful feeling this morning. he'd been cured of the bad mood he'd been in so long. The Unity Walkers had done him much good.
It wasn't long until the reached the pool Muroki had swam in earlier. It was deep and clear when undisturbed, kept cool by the thick jungle shade.
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 1:48 pm
When Safiya's blue eyes first saw the glittering of the water ahead, her childlike enthusiasm and thirst gave her a burst of energy. Forgetting her earlier decision not to embarass herself in front of her new friend and thus drive him away, Safi dove for the cool water.
The sudden emersion chilled her and thrilled her and delight filled her with energy. All the dirt that had dulled her pure white coat on the journey was washed away, all the doubts and pains and unhappiness. She stayed under only moments, letting the water cleanse her, and then she climbed back out dripping and smiling. "Don't you just love water?" Safiya asked Muroki pleasantly.
Safiya drank her fill and lay down in the dirt, her muscles feeling wonderfully relaxed at last. She was as comfortable as she could be, even with hunger still gnawing at her. But that didn't worry her now. Her tired body felt blissful and light. Closing her eyes sleepily but always wanting to talk, Safiya tried to keep the conversation going. "It must be heaven living in such a wonderful place. If I lived here, I would go swimming everyday." Mmm. That was a nice thought.
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 5:37 pm
"Yes, I love water." Muroki chuckled as the lioness dove right on it, and found a place to lay down while she had her dip. Her enthusiasm was catching and somehow refreshing. Some lionesses he had known had been so...timid. It was nice to see a lass enjoy herself. Especially when she'd looks so down and worn before she emerged from the pool.
He took a moment to think of the Temple Pool that he'd left behind so long ago now. Flowers and reeds, and cool water just above your back as you waded to the central sacred isle... Or fishing and swimming near the inlet in the fresh clear water. Silver fish as long as four pawlengths all around you...Yes, Muroki loved water.
"There's a beautiful pool near my den in the pridal lands I usualy swim in early in the morning. Or this one, if I'm out here." He kept the conversation going, lightly.
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 7:59 pm
Safiya nodded at Muroki's words as she rolled her head back and closed her eyes. It was so peaceful here. She felt the sunshine and a cool breeze on her fur, heard birds and the soft movement of the water. For a few minutes she lay there in a near meditative state, lost in a rare moment of silence.
And then, just as suddenly as she had decided to leap into the water, she woke from her daydream and decided it was time to hunt. Her head popped up, her big blue eyes opened, and she jumped to her feet.
"All better," she said, giggling and smiling at Muroki. "This place does a wonderous job calming one down. Now I'm hungry. Would you like to come on a hunt with me? I've never hunted with someone else before; at least not since I was a cub. I think it would be fun. Don't you think it would be fun? What kind of prey is around here? Anything tasty? Though that's not very important; I could eat anything right now, I think." Safiya's words were a waterfall, tumbling out of her mouth in rapid succession.
She remembered her manners just a bit too late. He might not want to go on a hunt with you, the one little calm part of her brain reminded her. Maybe he has something better to do. Besides - you can hunt on your own.
Unsure of herself, but wanting to cover her bases - she hated rejection more than anything at all - she said in a less enthusiastic voice, "Of course, you don't need to come with me. You've done quite so much for me already, and I really do appreciate it very much. I would understand if you have to go. I mean...don't let me keep you. Of course."
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:19 pm
"I'll hunt with you, big game or small."
He nodded his shaggy head with a smile at her suggestion. Then he got up with a luxurious stretch, flexing his claws into the jungle loam. Mm, this place was nice and relaxing indeed. It had done wonders for him after all, acting as a balm against his bitterness. As she'd been swimming he'd poked and prodded his heart...counjouring up memories of the sweet times with Hisani to make it mourn her loss, of the bad times too to make it angry. But besides a small bit of emotional hurt he couldn't make himself sarcastic and grumpy.
It made it harder too, to be grumpy when his current companion was such a sweet girl. Instead of getting angry and defensive she'd been gracious and friendly. No frowns when he'd offered her, no accusations. Very nice girl all around too so far. Kind of last he used to play with and flirt with, back in the day. Seemed long ago.
"It's easier to hunt outside this jungle, or on the edge. How does bushbuck for lunch sound, Safiya?" Muroki had offered and the offer still stood about hunting for her - but with her would be much nicer. He padded over to walk alongside her again.
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 1:38 pm
Muroki's words brought a warm smile to Safiya's mouth. Acceptance was always brought a wonderful feeling into her heart. Safi had rarely encountered it.
Her big blue eyes watched his movements as he stretched and approached her. Her heart felt funny, fluttery and weak. She blamed it on her hunger and thought no more about it.
"Bushbuck?" it was an unfamiliar word. "I've never heard of such a thing." And it wasn't uncommon; Safiya knew so little about the world, even as a full-grown lioness. That was why she decided to travel in the first place. "Is it tasty? What does it look like?" She laughed. "In fact, I don't care what it looks like, I'm so hungry I could eat the ugliest-looking thing ever!" She was never exactly the wittiest girl, but her heart was in the right place.
She hopped around goofily, playfully. "Okay, you ready? Let's go!"
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:10 pm
"Well, they are sort of ugly. Kind of brown antelope, they live near the dges of the trees. with faces squished like this -" Briefly he pulled a face, sticking his neck out for the long antelope's neck, putting a paw out from his muzzle to elongate it, with a frown and forward facing ears to finish the look. He chuckled, swishing his tail in amusement.
"Not ugly enough to put you off your meat though. Remember the way to the trees from here? Let's go."
And so they went hunting, ate bushbuck, which it turns out aren't that ugly but it's more fun to pretend they are. The End.
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