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 Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:28 am
 It was funny how he always landed himself in the place where the conditions were, more or less, impossible for him to get comfortable for a night or two of rest from a long walk. These lands were most definitely not an exception, and as two amethyst orbs gazed at the distant grounds, he let out a sigh.
"Of course, it's always the dry place where I have to rest," he grunted in dismay. "Why couldn't I find an oasis every once in a while, for some sleep?"
Jamani sighed and continued walking, forcing himself into silence. He was walking into unknown territory, after all, and he was a prey beast. That much he knew, and he would in now way be able to protect himself should a nearby predator decide to entertain itself with an early dinner. It wasn't that he was afraid to die, but....he was too young. He just entered into adulthood, and it wouldn't be very fair to just die. Especially in such a place.
He grunted. "Trust me to dream of dying in lush, green lands with tons of food and a good family around. Ah well, no use complaining." A pause, as he heard a rustle nearby. Hr forced himself to ignore it, of course, just to keep most of his nerves relaxed. "I die if I die, whenever and wherever that may be...."
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:45 am
 Obi patrolled the south edge of the mist weaver territory. Something he found him self doing that quite a bit lately. The rest of the pride had shunned him because of his impure blood. Only Maji and Kisulisuli had accepted him now... Obi couldn't understand this sudden change of heart. So random, so unethical.
He let out a deep breath as he looked out over the vast desert as he thought over what was going on.
"I wish there was something I could do for you father..." Obi mumbled quietly to himself as he watched the wavy horizon.
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:10 am
The walk slowly became silent, as it always did since he was alone. However, he let out a small gasp and darted for the closest thing for cover as he saw a massive lion heading in his direction. He kept his eyes on his possible assailant, and all his muscles tensed. It'd been a while since he was threatened by a predator, since most of the savanna tended to be empty and devoid of any signs of life. He ran into small packs every now and again, but his demeanor (and luckily their lack of an appetite) usually kept him on all the predators' good side.
Just relax... he thought to himself Hiding will obviously give away that you're scared.. The lion had, by now, gotten much closer, and Jama's eyes widened. But he's huge! I'm dead...I'm so dead.....
He couldn't really be blamed for being scared, since his head only reached to about 3/4 of the lion's leg. He was minuscule compared to it, and there was definitely no chance of survival should the lion be hungry. So, to keep himself as sane as possible (which wasn't very by now, he's just a little too scared) he kept quiet, praying that his hiding place would suffice.
Naturally, he didn't realize that the tips of his ears and most of his tail were completely visible.
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:27 am
As the little jackle's luck seemed to be running, Obi caught a glimpse of something white heading for a nearby dried bush. His head lowered as he sniffed at the ground. Whatever it was was too small to be a threat... That was noted by the visible tiny ears and tail.
"...." Obi inched forward cautiously. "It's alright to show yourself... I mean no harm unless you mean it first."
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:06 am
Jama lifted his head above the brush that failed to properly hide him, a sheepish grin across his maw. The lion, while large and intimidating, had a friendly enough demeanor, and by the tone of his voice sounded very much so. He pushed past his "hiding place" and stood before the lion, suddenly curious as to why he, a jackal, was still alive and well at this point. "Hey," he said, voice shaking a little.
"I can't do any sort of harm to you even if I wanted to." A pause, but he then he quickly added, "Not that I want to, mind you."
Content with knowing that he was safe enough, Jama took a seat, looking up at the large male. "I'm Jamani, by the way. Jama for short. Thanks for uhh...not eating me." He laughed lightly before asking, "And you are?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:21 am
Obi lay down after Jama asked him for his name. Odd, but not surprising that one so small would assume that he would devour him.
"My name is Obi." He chuckled. "I really don't have anything shorter than that"
Knowing that this little one could not harm him if he tried Obi rest his chin on the ground so he could be more at eye level with him.
"So what are you doing way out here? ... if you are comfortable sharing that information with me."
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:37 am
"I'm just wandering, really," he replied, much more comfortable now since he didn't have to strain his neck to look the lion in the eye. "You know, your everyday average vagabond." He quieted for a while, not really knowing what else to say. Jama moved his gaze to the distance toward his left, in the direction that he'd been going in.
"Uh, is there any water around here? It looks pretty.....empty. Maybe a hidden source, and a good place to sleep? I've been wandering around for days, and I'm exhausted." The small jackal looked back at the lion. "Or....not?"
"Never mind. What about you? Do you...live here?" It seemed like mindless chatter, and in all honesty he wasn't all that interested (he was very slightly interested though), since he was both hungry and thirsty.
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 2:47 am
Obi attended to the most important question first. There was little, but enough for this little one to refresh himself.
"I'll take you to some water... we can talk along the way." Obi smiled as he got to his paws again.
He took a step, than paused and waited for Jama to follow. It would be hard to keep at such a slow pace for the little one, but Obi would do his best.
"I live here with my Father Maji." He spoke to get the promised conversation going.
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2008 3:00 am
Jama tried his hardest to keep up with Obi, but every now and then he had to stop and rest, making their walk a bit longer than it had to be. He said just a few things during the entirety of their walk, and inwardly scolded himself for not being more friendly. In his defense though, it was hard to hold much of the conversation when he was constantly winded, and his throat was always dry.
Before long, he smelled the scent of water nearby, and he smiled. "Your father?" he asked. "It must take a lot for the two of you to live here. Don't you ever want to...you know, travel around, maybe found somewhere with more food and greener...grass?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2008 1:31 am
Obi didn't mind stopping for the little one. He understood that it would take longer and honestly he had nothing urgent to do today.
"This place, from what my father has told me, used to be nice. But it's dieing... and has been or a long time now." He sighed. "I do wish we would leave this place and the evil that runs around here."
Obi looked down at Jama. "If you get tired, you can ride on my back."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 1:52 pm
"Evil?" he asked, ears perking slightly. He decided to let the subject go, thinking it better not to ask questions concerning anything that was a potential life threatener.
Then Jama smiled and shook his head, politely rejecting the large lion's offer. "I'm alright, thanks. It's good exercise, so I'll keep up no matter how tired I get." And with that they continued on their walk, his eyes occasionally looking up at Obi and asking a question or two, or maybe making a comment about something that looked a bit odd.
Before long they reached the watering hole and Jama bounded ahead, dunking his head into the small lake and taking in as much as he could without drowning himself, then pulled his head out again. "Haha, how refreshing!"
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:01 am
Obi just sat down and reflected on the happenings around the area. Every day it was worse. Their ruler did little and his own father, who did much more, had been cast aside. Obi didn't want to leave this place. It was where he was raised, it was most of what he knew.
When Jamani laughed and commented on how the water was Obi looked down at him. "You feel better?" he asked with a smile.
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:16 am
"Yes, I do," the jackal answered quickly, then took a seat beside his acquaintance. "Thanks very much for your help." He was indeed very grateful, as his lack of water intake would've probably brought his life to an end sooner or later. He'd never had much luck with finding sources of water after all, so with this particular encounter he felt his luck already changing.
"So, Obi, what keeps you and your father from leaving here?" he asked now, feeling much better than he had been when they had first met. Jama felt he could tackle any particular subject and its consequences now, after the little dip of his head. Foolish, perhaps, but Obi didn't seem the type to lash out violently over such a question, so he felt it was safe enough to venture into the topic.
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:32 am
" I stay where my Dad is, he needs my help. And my Father... he loves this land and is trying to do everything he can to bring it back. But I feel that this may not happen for a long time." Obi sighed. "But we do what we can."
He looked around. This place was dangerous... and it would be unwise to let this little one go off by himself.
"This is a very dangerous place, Jamani, I would feel better if you were to stick close to me. " Though Obi had only known the little guy for a short time he still didn't wish any harm to him. And to be honest it was nice to have him around to talk to.
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Posted: Tue Mar 25, 2008 1:41 am
Jamani nodded, sensing that Obi was very loyal towards his father. It was an admiring characteristic, he had to admit. And it was one that they shared, as he too only parted with his own father when he'd passed on to the next life. It was a very painful time for him, as his father was the only family he had ever known. His mother had died giving birth to him, so he was never entirely sure whether he was sad that she was gone or...rather indifferent.
And he looked up at Obi, a sort of understand smile on his face, though it soon turned to a look of surprise. "Oh...well I wouldn't want to be a bother," he said after Obi offered his protection from the lands. "I'd hate to be a hindrance should your father need your assistance." And at that, Mani turned and gave Obi a big smile.
"I really do appreciate the worry, but I think I'll be heading off on my own." Then he was off again, scurrying between the brush of the dry lands that he was determined to grow familiar with. After a while though, he couldn't help but stop and look back to see if the large lion had come after him..
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