|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:25 pm
It hadn't been hard for Cam to sneak away from his home to visit the Pridelands - the 'forbidden territory', unless of course his mother was sending him there to do something for her. Today this was not the case. Still, every time he crossed over the invisible border, where brown grass turned to green and flowers dotted the fields, he felt free.
He wasn't going for any particular reason. Cam hoped he might see Siri, but he wasn't counting on it. The juvenile knew that she spent a lot of time with her family, which was an entirely foreign concept to him. No, Cam just felt like getting away from the dark emotions that always lingered over his home camp. By nature he was a fairly cheerful boy, something that he couldn't show at home.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:45 pm
Umilele was stretched out on top of a smooth slab of stone, sunbathing. Her fur was pleasantly warm and she was drifting in and out of sleep. Now that her pups were grown up, she felt like her life was oddly lacking. Oh, sure, Zor was still hanging around with her, but there was no dependance on her anymore, no one that really needed her. Lele found herself lazing the days away because of it.
Her nose twitched as a new scent came into the air. The Pridelands were especially busy so it was no surprise that she wouldn't remain alone for long. But the smell was unfamiliar, and so she twisted her head, peeking at the small black cub curiously. She hadn't seen him in the Pridelands before, but he was so small, perhaps he was one of the cubs that had arrived with their families.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:51 pm
Cam stiffened as he noticed the maned wolf. No matter how nice these lands seemed, he was always afraid he'd get hurt for trespassing. But she didn't stand up or even say hello. Maybe it was okay...
But after a moment or two, he blinked with surprise. No, it couldn't be! The female so resembled the wolf Tain had described to him so many times. There was always a wistful, longing tone to his voice as he described the maned wolf who had been his nanny as a newborn when his mother needed a break. The slate coloured fur, silver mane, distinctive markings on her face, and the bright blue eyes - which Tain has described to him, more than once, as being friendly and welcoming.
"Um," he said softly, tilting his head as he approached her. "Is your name Umilele?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 10:58 pm
Lele blinked with surprise.
"Yes, I am," she said, pulling herself up to her belly. "I hope you don't mind me asking, but... how do you know that?"
She wasn't well known by any means. In fact, the only creature she knew that had 'connections' elsewhere was Kiwi, and even that wasn't anything that could be considered good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:02 pm
The young male was shocked. What were the odds?
The words came pouring out faster than his mouth could process. "Tain, I know Tain, my mother is Roho but I'm not like her, really, I'm trying to help him, and so is my sister, but we're too little to do anything right now other than sneak him food, and he's doing okay except he's really depressed and kind of thin but I guess that's not too weird considering he's being held prisoner and..."
He stammered, looking up at her with wide eyes. "And you can't tell anyone but we're gonna try and break him out when we get bigger. Kai and Ishida and I don't like being there either and we're gonna escape with him and we're gonna bring him home to his family cuz that's where he wants to be. But if his dad finds out I'm afraid he might try to come rescue Tain and then Mama will know what Kai and I were planning and I'm afraid none of us will escape and everything will be ruined!" Cam trembled slightly. "My name is Cam."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:07 pm
"I... what?"
Lele's eyes widened as the poor little cub let all the secrets he'd been keeping loose. "So, let me get this straight," she said carefully, not wanting to miss any details. "Your mother is Hodari'roho? And so... you know Tain. And you've been helping him, at least, as much as your possibly can? And... you plan on helping him escape."
She sighed, trying to absorb it all. "That's very dangerous to do, sneaking behind your mother's back," she said, "but you're very brave to try and help him. I'm impressed that you've got a good heart, even having been raised in such an environment. You should be proud of yourself."
Not telling Kiwi? How could she not, knowing this vital information that his missing son was alive and (relatively) well? But it was clearly important to the young male, and he made a point. Roho would go out of her way to prevent Kiwi from rescuing them if she knew that Cam had betrayed her.
"I promise I won't," she said, her voice clearly reluctant. "But I need you to keep yourself safe, okay? And your siblings, too. You won't be any use to Tain or yourselves if you get careless."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:14 pm
He sat down, legs shaking too badly to stay standing any longer. "Yes," he said, sounding relieved.
...Brave? No one had called him brave before. He couldn't help but puff out his chest a little bit, very pleased with the compliment. And when she said he should be proud of himself, he felt slightly odd. Cam had always been belittled and demeaned. Hearing that was almost unsettling, but reassuring at the same time.
"Thank you," he said, his voice small. "I want him to know really bad, cuz he deserves to know that his son is okay, but we can't risk it."
Suddenly he felt weak again. She had told him to take care of himself. That alone was more parental care than he had ever gotten from his own mother. No wonder Tain had spoken so fondly about her. Here he was, a strange cub, the son of her best friend's enemy, and she was treating him so kindly... it was so foreign to him, but it felt good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:19 pm
"I understand," she said sympathetically. "It's a tough position for me, not being able to mention this to him, but if it ultimately means that you four are safe, then it's something I'm willing to do."
Lele looked over the black cub, taking the time to evaluate him. Nothing about his words or actions made her believe that he was lying, but boy, he was in rough shape. "Oh, honey," she said, leaning over to lick the beginning of his mane. "Your fur is all tangled. Lie down for me, will you? I'll help." The wolf assumed that his mother had never bothered to teach him how to properly groom himself. She nibbled at a knot, trying to each untangle it or break it off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:22 pm
Though he was a little uncomfortable with the unfamiliar behaviour, he again was warmed that she cared enough to try and help him. So, he complied, sliding to his belly to give her easier access to his messy mane.
"You really don't have to," he mumbled half-heartedly, but he couldn't control the purr that was rising in his throat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:30 pm
Umilele worked diligently for several minutes until his fur was presentable. "There you go," she said warmly. "I'm guessing you don't know how to keep your fur neat? Don't worry about it, dear," she added hastily, not wanting to make him feel bad about himself. "I understand that no one really taught you."
She sat up, licking the side of her paw before running it over her forehead and the front tuft of her mane. "Like that," she said. "Every once in a while, run your paw over your head to keep it free of tangles. Unsheath your claws if you feel a knot. That should break it apart." Lele smiled down at him. "Knotted manes can be a pain to deal with, especially once it starts growing in more."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:37 pm
Cam was thoroughly embarassed that a stranger had to help him, but he smiled at her, appreciating the gesture. "Thank you," he said, his eyes bright. "I'll be sure to do that. I've got more important things to worry about than detangling my mane!"
He stood up and looking over his shoulder hesitantly. "I think I should be getting home," he said. "I don't want to get in trouble." He knew it was unlikely but he didn't want to take the chance of getting on his mother's bad side. "Do you think I could see you again? I could let you know how Tain is doing." Truthfully, he just wanted to spend more time with the motherly wolf.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:59 pm
"Of course," she said, her eyes shining. It was easy to tell what his real intention was, but she didn't say anything. "I'm here at this rock every day, dear. Come by any time. I'll be happy to see you."
She paused before looking around at the pebbles surrounding her rock. Finally she found one and picked it up in her jaws, dropping it in front of Cam. "If you think you can sneak this to Tain, please do," she said, her eyes glistening with emotion. "I gave one to each of the cubs when they were very young. I'm sure Tain has lost his, what with... ah, everything that has happened. Maybe it'll give him a bit of comfort."
Lele gave Cam a lick on the forehead. "Stay safe, Cam," she said. "I'll see you soon."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 12:00 am
Cam looked down at the gray rock, which was shaped like a crescent moon. He knew Tain would be happy to have it, so he grabbed it carefully in his mouth and nodded at Lele.
"Bye," he said, his voice muffled by the rock. "Thank you."
Before he could convince himself to stay a while longer, he turned and hurried back home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
