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 Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:53 am
Halili's paws were caked with mud. As she had been trying to find some solace in the jungle, she was starting to learn that it wasn't where she really wanted to be. Her previous tries of leaving the jungle only led her to walk in circles. It didn't help that Kenna refused to assist her.
"You don't need to leave," the bird cried. "It's more dangerous out there than it is here."
"But Halili doesn't want to be here anymore!" she yelled back. Frustration led to tears, but the lioness continued on her way. She would find her way out, and there was nothing Kenna could do. Halili knew that she would follow her, and so when the african grey grew silent, Halili continued. Stumbling over hidden roots, pushing through rough plants. She wouldn't give up.
...well. She did need a break. Her limbs were sore, fatigue cling at her form as she let herself collapse next to a large fallen trunk. Kenna settled down next to her, watching over the lioness with a visible ferocity.
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:14 am
There had been a good bit of grumbling on his part when he and his companion had taken to wandering again, ignoring the better part of reason that brought them this far away from some things and closer to other things. There were far too many borders to pay mind to in these parts and while that did mean being able to collect stories from here and there it also meant being more careful and staying on his toes.
He'd parted ways with Usiku for a bit, leaving his friend to nap on the outside while he took a little trek into the jungle, peering around from where he was before taking another step in. For all that he supposed that he should be used to scenery like this, being what he was and all, it wasn't somewhere that he'd ever spent much time. It seemed like it would be easier to get lost in here than it would in the tunnels that his pride had lived in underground.
"Too quiet..." He muttered, shaking his head as he glanced around.
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:31 pm
Halili could almost feel herself dozing off. Oooh, sleep would be such a fantastic thing right now....but she needed to go. She had to. Her mind was fuzzy with fatigue, of how weird the past moons had been. She didn't like it.
Kenna squaked, alerting Halili to something moving out there. The parrot never understood just what it was that Halili liked about leopards, and lurking around in these jungles guaranteed them to run into their likes. She didn't trust them, even if they were what really raised Halili into being able to take care of herself. Kenna could tell her, but she'd never be able to show her.
Halili's eyes shot straight open as she looked around, gasping as she suddenly felt nervous. She didn't know why Kenna alerted her, but she would certainly keep herself awake now. She worried about who she might run into. While not being close to where 'home' used to be, she did know that she had only been going in circles for quite a while, and she could have ended up closer than she realized.
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:43 pm
He heard the noise and froze, looking around warily. Birds didn't make noise for no reason when things were this quiet. They usually made noise because something had happened and, in this case, he wanted to know what it was. It couldn't possibly be that the bird had heard him moving... No, birds tried to keep quiet when a predator was around, didn't they?
"Hmm..." His brow furrowed as he gave another glance around before stepping back. "I know you're out there!" A horrible bluff, something that he was known well enough for by those who knew him. "I'm not hungry, if that's what you're worried about. I've had my fill of... Whatever it is you might be."
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:01 pm
Kenna's warnings turned into a laughing sound. "You couldn't eat me if you tried. I'd peck your eyes out first." She ruffled her feathers up, puffing herself up and feeling quite proud.
Halili on the other hand, was embarassed. "Kenna!" she yelled, feeling a little stressed from this situation. "No say that!" Her rich green eyes scanned the foliage nervously, trying to wedge herself inbetween it and the ground. Since she was only getting herself more dirty and muddy, it wasn't really doing anything but make her look a little more brown.
Kenna's eyes glared down at Halili. "I'm just protecting you, y'know. Besides, I'm sure I can do a little harm. These claws and beaks aren't for nothing."
Halili only shivered, resisting the urge to smack the bird. She did need her friend, but if she was going to get them in trouble she would have to chide the parrot. "N-no hurt Halili please," she said shakily outwards towards the mass of the jungle."
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:18 pm
"Peck my eyes out, eh? In that case... You've got nothing to worry about." He grinned as he sat back, waiting a bit. "Birds don't have enough meat on them to make up for the trouble of keeping them around. I won't hurt either you or your loud-mouthed friend, Halili... Won't you come out and say hello?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:29 pm
"Mmmm." Halili was mixed on what to do, but she also knew that it would be a little rude to completely ignore him. Shooting a glare, not all full of anger but of concern as well, slowly pulled herself out of her little wedge, her face peering around every bit of brush to try and see where the voice had come from.
Kenna rolled her eyes, smoothed out her feathers, and hopped off of the log, hovering over Halili with short beats of her wings. She noticed the leopard that had most likely been the source of amusement for the parrot, and moved her way over to him, picking a branch that wouldn't be too easily reached. She peered down at him, but didn't say anything.
Halili, watching where Kenna was going, almost leaped after her until she remembered that it was her fault they were in this mess. Brows furrowed, she shook herself, getting only a trace cleaner before taking a few more steps towards the direction that the bird had gone.
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:37 pm
"Why hello there, pretty bird." He tilted his head up to the branch, tail swishing slowly behind him as he watched her for a moment, attention shifting as he heard movement in the direction she'd come from. Her companion must have been considerably larger if she wasn't going to fly out too...
His brow lofted slightly as a lioness emerged. "And hello to you too, lady lion... Not all that bad out here, is it? Nothing to be afraid of."
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 1:54 pm
Her eyes swiveled forward, surprise showing in her face. "Oh!" A leopard! Well....that wasn't very expected. Did Kenna know? She looked over at the bird, and it was obvious that she had. Hmph! Leopards were not bad, no matter what Kenna thought! She should have learned by now. Halili had never come across a bad leopard, and so she always had full trust in any of them that she met.
"H-hello," she said shyly, her eyes jumping from him to Kenna before they settled on her toes. She inched a bit closer before she stopped, settling down to sit where she was. SHe peeked up at the leopard, but her eyes wandered quite frequently.
Kenna, quite amused, flapped her wings at the leopard. "Perhaps," she said, a trace of humor in her voice. "But I promise that I don't go back on my word," she chuckled.
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:03 pm
"Now, now... I rather like my eyes in my head." He nodded with a smirk, that expression turning into a grin as his gaze drifted from the bird above back to the lioness. "I'd miss out on seeing all sorts of pretty things without my eyes. If I missed out on seeing things I'd have fewer stories of my own to tell and that wouldn't be any fun at all."
He shifted slightly to find a more comfortable sitting position, tail wrapping around his paws. "Since I know your name, it's only right that I tell you mine, isn't it? Mpatis, and it's a pleasure to meet you, Halili."
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:21 pm
Kenna snapped her beak, the bird's version of a snort. Well, that wasn't any fun! At least he had a sense of humor...even if she considered it mild. She watched Halili carefully, knowing how the lioness would react to leopards. The girl needed to learn to not place the species above herself, but she hoped that she would learn that all on her own. Someday.
Halili's eyes glistened for a moment, but she still felt a little shy. While she admired leopards, she still considered him a stranger, and she would have to climb over this shy feeling.
"Mpatis," she said, bowiing just slightly. "Halili thinks it's a pleasure to meet you." She could feel a small bud of excitement in her chest. "D-does Mpatis live here?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:27 pm
He shook his head slowly. "No, Mpatis doesn't live here... He..." He coughed, shaking his head once more to clear himself of adapting her form of speech. "I. Live some distance from here. My friend and I travel near and far to collect stories to bring back to the members of our pride that stay in one place. We like to wander a bit too much to stay put." He nodded with a little wink. "And what about you, Halili? Do you and your pretty bird live here?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:37 pm
"Oh." Wander? Halili's brows furrowed again as she thought about it.
Kenna's patience was a little thin. While it was safer for the lioness to stay here within the jungle, she knew that it would be hard on the lioness. A fresh start would be the best, but it would also contain more danger. Kenna didn't know if she wanted to deal with that. Imagine! Halili out there! Kenna could almost feel her feathers falling out when imagining it.
"Halili lives here with Kenna," she said, though it was obvious that she didn't want to confirm what he had asked. "Halili....is hoping to find a new home someday, though." Her form fell as she slouched a bit, her eyes wandering back to her white toes. Someday....she'd get out of this jungle. She had followed what she thought was out, but instead they had been landmarks that guided her back to where she didn't want to be.
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 2:42 pm
"You know..." He pushed himself up onto all fours, stretching out before leaning over to give the lioness a gentle nudge. "I could help you, if you wanted. I'm sure that Usiku wouldn't mind a bit of additional company in exchange for a story." His soft smile turned into a bit of a grin. "I'm pretty sure I remember my way back out of the jungle, at least."
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:52 pm
"R-really?" She looked excited for a moment, even so much as to inch a little closer towards him. She shook her head, though, before clarifying. "Halili doesn't have any sort of story to offer, though. She's just lived here for as long as she can remember..."
Kenna's eyes darted towards the lioness. While she didn't like what the outcome would be, offered a hint that she might be able to help. "What sort of stories do you collect? I might have something, or Halili might, she just doesn't realize it. She's been through a lot in her life."
Halili blinked, thinking that Kenna was being a little too forward. She had only lived here, nothing really special. Right?
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