|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:22 am
Still, the thought of a cold drink and perhaps a bath fueled her. She trotted a bit faster until her head came out of the tall grass and over the clear river. She let out a sigh of relief and let herself collapse against the water, her head practicly dunking into it. She drank deeply and needily, and finally leaned back, her front side dripping wet. She smiled and sighed contently, then glanced around for any sign of danger... What was that? A flash of brigh orange caught her attention, and she blinks sideways at a small orange flower beside her head...
After a long day of following Kolo's direction, Zikomo was finally beginning to feel comfortable with his position. He was a quick learner and eager to prove himself and from what Aailyah had told him, the grey male was impressed. Aailyah always seemed to have a positive word to offer Zikomo and while the younger male was appreciative, he wondered if sometimes the group leader offered her friendly words simply to make him feel more at home.
Busying himself with patrolling the borders and keeping away intruders, Zikomo hadn't found the time to really meet many members of the group and make friends. Having lived a life on his own, the male found that he wasn't too lonely. It was only when he watched the way Kayin and Aailyah or Kolo and Nadifa spoke to one another that he became curious if his position was really enough to keep him happy.
Zikomo was preparing to return to his den for the night. Kolo typically took over his shift once the sun set. Before turning to retrace his steps, the form of a dark colored figure could be seem from the corner of his eyes.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:29 am
She was so tired, she didn't even notice the male that was a bit in the distance. She laid down on the ground, chin resting on her paws. Her icey green eyes stared at the flower beside her pensively, lost in thought, for a moment... She sighs softly and closes her eyes. She was so tired now... The water filled her belly a little, so she wasn't as empty feeling... Now just weary... She didn't even notice the water rippling in front of her, and two sets of repitilian eyes staring at her through the water's surface, only to duck back down into the depths eagerly...
With a quiet sigh, Zikomo switched course, keeping low to the ground to ensure that he was able to spot the intruder before they heard him approaching. It was growing darker and he was suspicious. He had heard from Aailyah that some of their greatest foe were rogue lions and hyenas and this would be the perfect time for an ambush. The story of the attack from the Aikanaro'hini was still fresh in his mind and he felt his lip curl back in a snarl as the scent finally reached his nose.
It took a moment before Zikomo realised that the scent seemed familiar and as he continued to approach, the distinct form of a cheetah appeared before him...nearing the approaching figure of an alligator in the water. With a hushed whisper, the male addressed the cheetah with an authorative voice. "I would advice backing away slowly from the river." His voice showed no signs of worry, but simply came out as though it was mandatory for him to advice this stranger.
She blinks, her body tensing... How didn't she notice someone approaching!? Was she really THAT weak... She growls and springs to her feet, eyes turning to glare at the male. The greens of her eyes reflect a bit of the dim light, narrowed at him as she bares her small but deadly teeth. "Get away from me..." She growls...
But then pauses, a twinge of dread running down her spine. She yelped and scrambled past him, right as the alligator had thrown it's self out of the water towards her... It's large, gapping jaws snap wildly, only catching the dirt that had been left in her wake. She doesn't stop for a while, running away from the river in a panic. Then slows, panting, eyes heavy. "Freaking... alligator..."
Zikomo did not shift when he noticed the female jump up and become tense. He had been trained to remain calm and collected during situations such as these and he was careful to keep a distance from both the stranger and the dangerous reptile lurking in the waters nearby. When she Sora narrowed her eyes and began to bare her teeth, Zikomo felt himself take a few steps back as though to look the situation over. It did seem to be just his luck to run into trouble right before concluding his shift!
Before Zikomo could speak again, the alligator takes its opportunity while the two cheetahs are distracted. The reptile's next move seemed so sudden that the male did not even have an opportunity to help the other cheetah. She seemed slow and her senses were dulled. From what the guard-in-training could tell she appeared to be injured or in dire need of a hearty meal and rest. Quick on his feet, the male cheetah followed quickly after Sora, ensuring that he was not too close to cause her uncomfort.
"Hold on!" He called out, voice weary from a clearly long day. "I can't allow you to travel alone at this time." Again, the male was not comforting, but solid in what he spoke.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 12:37 am
She grumbled a series of curses under her beath, eyes narrowed at the ground. How could she be so STUPID? She hadn't been snuck up on since she was a cub... and the alligator... She sighs and sits, shoulders slumping with shame. Was she really growing so weak...?
The voice called out to her, snapping her back to reality and the task at hand. So he was following... She glances back at him and growls lowly under her breath. Springs to her feet again, ignoring fatigue to glare at him, head aggressively low. "What?" She snaps softly, her weariness making her more irritable than normal.
Despite his time he'd spent at the Duma'Chama, Zikomo was still learning to interact with others. He wasn't stupid, but he simply did not ever have a strong desire to make himself part of a group. Sora's response certainly expressed this same desire to be alone. Even knowing this, however, the male couldn't find any way in which he could fulfil his duty and also allow her to leave.
Clearing his throat, Zikomo repeated himself. "I cannot allow you to leave the coalition lands tonight. You are weak and in need of assistance." The male was not trying to be rude, but he found that being straight forward was the quickest way to make himself understood. Upon further inspection, the male finally realised that the cheetah he spoke to was actually a female. Beneath the aggression expression and hissing words was actually a frail, boney female. Zikomo's ears lowered as he waited for her to respond.
It was true, at first glance she might not appear that... feminine. Her wild, slightly dirty fur and bitter demeanor made her a bit more masculine, at first. But she really was female, her body thin and lean, but very toned... Perhaps the human equivalant of a dancer, in feline form. Though the past weeks had left her thinner than normal. Perhaps if she took better care of herself... She'd be quite beautiful. Her eyes were strikingly light green.
She continues to glare at him for a moment, then blinks... "What?" She repeats, though not as aggressively. Coalition? What the hell was that? The offer of food intrigued her, but she was too proud to automaticly accept. "I'm fine..." She grumbles, never one to admit that she was weak.
Zikomo's ears perked up before he spoke, as though he hadn't realised that they had fallen earlier. "I understand that you may not want my help, but you're no longer in my the roguelands. This land has been claimed by the cheetah group, Duma'Chama. It would be against our entire code if I did not extend a paw to you. We have many dens available for you to sleep inside and there are scraps of meat from earlier hunts today."
Swallowing slowly, the male tried to keep his cool. Aailyah and Kolo had not prepared him for a situation like this. Who would really say no to help when they truly needed it? Even Zikomo couldn't relate to the thin female who appeared to have issues with trusting. Having looked away for a moment, the male returned his gaze and offered as gentle a smile as he could, "You're welcome to leave before the others wake."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 1:23 am
Sora frowned at him, her ears tilting back. Even when he smiled a little, she looked reluctant... But food... and shelter... She could feel her stomach tightening with need. After a few long moment she sighs and hangs her head, looking almost deated. "Fine... For tonight... I'll leave before dawn though..." She grumbles softly, stepping closer to him. Once she was closer she had to look up to meet his eyes. "Well, come on, let's hurry up..."
Her muscles were in knots, ready, just in case... She was prepared to use up her remaing reserves of energy, if she had to...
A part of Zikomo felt guilty for forcing the cheetah to follow his direction, but he felt better knowing that she wouldn't be left on her own. The encounter with the alligator was not something he'd experienced often and he'd hope not to see one soon, but it was still out there, which posed a threat if she left.
When Sora brought herself face to face, Zikomo felt his cool slowly melt and his throat suddenly become dry. Clearing his throat and shifting his gaze off to the side, he nodded to her direction. She was certainly a firey cheetah. He could only hope that bringing her to the coalition would not cause trouble.
Leading the way, the male went slowly towards the dens. There would be plenty of room for Sora and she could rest without being bothered. It wasn't long before the two reached the sleeping area and Zikomo, eager for his own rest and understanding that she wanted her own peace nodded politely and turned his body to leave. Before doing so, the male reverted his gaze to the frail female and asked, his stern voice something much more gentle, "Do you mind if I ask your name?"
Sora followed behind him, making sure to keep a few feet between them, her head low. She obviously did not trust him at all. Neither did she seem pleased to be coming with him. But still... she came. Swallowing her pride long enough to just survive.
The tired female curled up against the wall only inches away from the exit of the den. She seemed unwilling to go any deeper. It was more comfortable here, where she could easily escape... Back there she could be trapped and cornered. She curled up upon herself, legs tucking under her, chin resting on her paws, her tail looping around her side. Her eyes had closed already, though she grunted roughly in response. "Sora." There wasn't more that followed... She didn't ask for his name, and in fact it seemed like she had already tumbled down into a restless sleep.
Zikomo seemed satisfied by the female's response. With a faint smile, the male turned and finally made his way to his own den.
Certainly a long day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
