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 Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 3:19 pm
 " And the lake has more WATER! " They hadn't arrived too long ago, actually. But Kimaji had already managed to run all over the place, her fur was messy, she had a few twigs tangled in it; she'd even managed to step on the wrong rock and now one of her paws was bleeding. But she didn't seem not be paying any of those much attention; right now, what mattered was to re-explore home, because it sure had changed.
When she'd left to travel with Corellon, the lands were still in drought. There was no rain, and there hadn't been for a long time. The forest had been dying, the trees were losing leaves and the lake was getting smaller and smaller. She and her father had been forced to move to the outskirts, the air had become rather dry in a place named for "mist". But rain had returned while she'd been gone, and the forest was recovering well. Kimaji was simply ecstatic to see it like this, and had immediately started to run around.
"Theres MIST over it! " She exclaimed, finally flopping onto a small patch on grass, near Corellon, though her eyes still darted from here to there, as if she still could still not quite believe the change. "The rain came back! " that was probably the only explanation she could think of; especially considering she'd grown up hearing all over the place about the lack of rain(she'd only recently been in one).
For a moment she eyes her paw, it'd been cut between the pads which was.. rather painful, but she only winced for a moment before leaping to her paws. " We should go to our old cave! I bet its got a good view! "
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 3:44 pm
A smile on his maw, the god had watched in silence, tail flicking lightly at his paws. He was hardly surprised at the lioness' action, well used to her youthful energy by now, that surge that usually resulted in endless questions falling from her jaws, or joyful exclamations and bouncing paws.
This time there was reason her antics, certainly returning to find one's homeland restore was enough even to make the most frail of lions leap for joy. Ancient as he was, he had seen the cycle of drought and flood countless times, and yet it never ceased to be amazing, the difference even a little rain could make.
Where land had once grown dry and brittle, green had begun to take hold again, the river that was once a trickle, flowed freely with new life, the scent of rain heavy in the air. Perhaps not yet returned to it's former glory, the land was beautiful nonetheless, restored by that precious gift.
"It would be an honor."
A soft nod, a gentle smile, it seemed her energy was contagious.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 4:06 pm
"I'll lead the way! " Contently, the small lioness began to trot smartly, back towards the direction of the lake. She'd been there before while running around, but she hadn't gone up till her old cave, which had a very nice view indeed. The way up the mountain to it was tricky, but she still remembered exactly how; even after she'd "moved", Kimaji'd often race back up.
"I bet it looks much nicer now! " Without all the patches of drying trees and all that. " The air smells better too, " it was fresh. Once the mountain was reached, it didn't take Kimaji long to get up to the cave, which was rather high up-- enough to get the view of perhaps the entire forest, thoguh mostly she just looked at the lake.
"Its greener. " Kimaji flopped sat at the entrance, ears perked. " Hey! there's a few birds flying over there, " she pointed. "Most of them left, but now the rains back. So they came back too, I guess. " She smiled, finally deciding to give her paw a little more attention than a quick glance, actually licking it once or twice before the poor injured member went back to being ignored. Now Kimajio was sniffing around the cave.
"I don't think Swaii came back here, " Certainly didn't smell like it. " I think he doesn't wanan bother climbing the mountain anymore. " not unlikely, Kimaji's father was rather old.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 4:34 pm
The smile never left his maw, large paws finding easy footing along the rocky path, following after the lioness as a patient father or watchful instructor, mindful of her every step, of every stumble. Innocent though she was, Kimaji was stronger than perhaps she realized, a fact she reminded him of once again as they scaled the path to the waiting cave, a climb she made seem easy.
He settled on his haunches, tail flicking, eyes tracing the land from the vantage of the cave, gaze shifting from the trees to the lake, the line of the river and the edge of the falls. Ears twitched, catching the sounds of returning life, the chirp of birds, the splash of fish, the buzz of insects, the grazing herd.
"It is beautiful, I am happy it has returning. It would be a great tragedy were this land to truly fall."
Eyes shifted to the lioness, drifting to her paw for a moment. He might have said something were she not so excited at the moment, but it didn't seem serious.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 4:54 pm
"Do you think it would've caught on fire? " She tilted her head. Fire was another thing she hadn't seen much, more-so just a few small puffs, occasionally. but Swaii had once commented that the forest was dry, and how vulnerable to fire it could've been.
"I think I'm gonna go swimming later! I wonder if the monster is still there. " the mosnter, in fact was a fish. She knew what it was now, but when she was a cub she'd been terrified of it, back when she met Kiburi. They'd made such a fuss, thinking it'd make off with them! .. wait, Cor didn't know that. "The monster is a fish, " She smiled. "There weren't many, either. I think there's gonna be more now, tho'. " Kimaji was finally calming down a bit, which the view was probably helping out with. It was hard to be hyper with the lands seeming so calm from up here.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 5:21 pm
"It could have."
He answered with a solemn nod, a trace of somberness in his voice. It was the greatest danger of drought, as the land dried so did the trees, brittle vegetation turning to tinder, waiting for the stray spark to ignite deadly forest fire. It was that very trait that made the first rain joyous, and yet deadly, for there was no greater spark than lightning.
"And yet even in fire, there is life."
While fire was often feared, a force to be respect, it was also the great purifier, the bringer of new life. As life fell to the flame, new life rose in its wake, nourish by the enriched soul, a fresh start. Yet he was glad such a fate had not befallen this land, he would not have wanted to see Kimaji sad.
"That sounds like a wonderful idea, perhaps I will join you."
The smile had returned to his maw, the brightness to his eyes, this was indeed a beautiful place.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 5:32 pm
"There's life in everything, " She nodded. She'd been starting to get that just about everything in nature somehow managed to come back, perhaps not the same, but it came back.
She blinked at this comment, looking at the gods wings for a moment and pondering. " What happens if your wings get very wet? Once by accident I knocked a bird into the water-- I pulled it out, but it couldn't fly for a bit. thats when I met Sei. " The birds feather's hadn't been looking so great either-- but there were those other birds that dove into the water no problem!
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:01 pm
The god nodded, a touch of pride in his smile. So much she had learned in their short time together, accepting every answer he gave with the eagerness of a child. Her company had become his greatest treasure, it was far too quiet without her.
He could not help but laugh at her question, it was the sort he had come to expect from her, yet he could not help but feel the joy of her naivety. Such a simple question, though perhaps a warranted one, it was true that there were those winged creatures who did not fly well in the water, who were forced to seek the shelter at the slightest sign of rain.
"Don't worry, I will still be able to fly."
He was after all no stranger to water, ocean, river, or lake, it had been the lightning rather the rain that had forced them to seek shelter not so long ago.
"Perhaps we will find your fish."
It was there, that spark in his eyes, that playful nature he had first shown her in the mountain forest of Tibet, that mischievous game in the snow.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:22 pm
"Okay! thats good. " She smiled, then after testing her paw once, decided that she didn't need to worry much. She'd get it clean once getting in the water anyway, so there was nothing too bad there. Without waiting much longer, and one last glance to the scenery, Kimaji started to make her way down, mostly by jumping ledge from ledge, though there were parts which she climbed down more carefully, if only because she new some rocks were more slippery than others.
Soon enough, Kimaji reached the bottom and it was a race to the water, leaping in without hesitation. Now she'd missed that!
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 6:58 pm
The game was contagious, youthful energy seizing the god as it had his companion. He had lept to his paws barely a moment after she had, bounding down the mountain, hoping from ledge to ledge, sliding with the rocks with surprising speed for a creature his size.
Reaching the base, there was no pause in his steps, charging forward toward the lake, leaping from the edge, hind legs propelling him near the center of the revitalized pool. With a great splash, the god plunged into the water, crystalline drops spraying in all directions, a wave surging through previously peaceful surface.
He could not help that laughter that tore from his jaws, echoing across the nearby mountain stone, paws beating furiously to keep his weight afloat despite the drag of large wings. Tail flicking like a rudder, a grin on his maw, he tracked his young companion, watching with a playfulness in his gaze, the coming game could possibly rival the snowball fight of those months ago.
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:23 pm
Kimaji squeaked, making room as the god leaped into the water, pushed back by the wave at first, though she peeked out of the water moments later. Oookay, note to self; don't stick around when someone that big jumps in the water. Or waait.. that. .wave thing was pretty fun!
However, the lioness was quick to catch on to what would be a game, and without hesitating much more she-- ducked underwater. Where Kimaji currently was, if she stood the water reached about her shoulders, ducking gave her a good enough cover. Now, while the water in the lake was rather clean, it was still not exactly clear-- especially now that they'd have kicked up dirt, so even if she did open her eyes(which rather sung at first) Corellon could only be identified perhaps as that slightly lighter patch of water over there.
However, just because of that didn't mean she'd give up on the attempt, and in moments Kimaji had snuck a bit his way then leaped out of the water, kicking her paws in he friends direction. "Raah! " she shouted, before flopping back into.
Let the games begin!OOOHI'MSOCORNY
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Posted: Thu May 08, 2008 7:53 pm
"Wha--wait! AHHHHHH!!"
He had barely lost sight of her for a moment, distracted by the waves that lapped at his hide long enough for her to circle unseen. Paws flailed in the water, quickly back stroking away from the water that splashed his way, retreating from the watery barrage.
"Oh, so that's how you want to play, bring it on!"
Brilliant laughter, eyes shining, the god reared his own paws back, batting at the water, flinging splashes of water at the lioness, before ducking beneath the water himself, swimming beneath the surface, circling his young friend for a strike from behind.
He was far from a swift swimmer, larger and weighed down by great wings, and perhaps his white fur was not so easy to hide in the translucent water. But it didn't seem to matter, it didn't make the game any less fun.
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 3:03 pm
She laughed at Corellon's reaction, though squeaked and hurried backwards when he retaliated. Riight, he had bigger paws. He could send more water. But that was okay; she'd played before. Sometimes. When Swaii was in a good mood.
The splashing stopped soon enough, and next thing she knew Corellon had vanished under water. That wasn't usually good.. Looking around for a few moments, Kimaji decided best not sit around like a duck, and ducking underwater, started to swim in any random direction. Though soon enough, she'd have to peek out for air.
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 3:37 pm
It was perhaps a bit of a disadvantage, even swimming beneath the water's surface, Corellon was not entirely hidden, easily betrayed by the tall antlers that peered above the surface. It was fortunate then, that he was quite clever.
Wings folded tight against his frame, the god swam toward the surface, the tip of his black nose visible just above, eyes peering from the liquid like a stalking crocodile, searching for his 'prey'. Mischief in his grin, he dove once more, this time swimming for a different target, a small leafy branch floating on the surface, the perfect disguise.
Catching the branch in his antlers, shrouded in leaves, perhaps they would seem as if nothing more than a sapling poking through the water, taken over by the quickly rising lake. Camouflage in place, he returned to the hunt, circling beneath the water again, stalking, paws reached for a tufted tail.
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Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 4:31 pm
Corellon was quite clever indeed, Kimaji didn't even suspect the branch. At least not at first. It took a while for her to glance in its direction long enough to wonder over its suspicious pattern. Was it... following her?
Lets test that theory. Eying the branch, Kimaji moved to one side, than the other. Okay.. it was definitely moving weird. Quirking a brow, she paused just for a moment to stare at it a bit longer, before turning her attention away to a fish, picking at a leaf that'd dropped into the water to test if it was a good meal. After deciding it wasn't, it moved on.
Fortunately for Cor, this made Kimaji forget about the suspicious branch. So she set off to walking around in the water once again, ryin to locate the god. how had he just.. vanished?
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