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 Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:13 pm
It had been a welcoming place so far, if a little eccentric in a few of its beliefs. It wasn't cruel though, or unkind, and those were the keys to what made Roshan feel like this place could be a safe haven for them. That, and the location was, well, somewhere out of the way enough that he felt like his brother, and the rest of his demented family, weren't likely to ever find him unless they stumbled across a seer that could lead them there. He felt like he could live here in peace with his mate, make a new life for them, get on and forget their past.
"So what do you think?" he said with a flick of his tail, sitting down on a patch of dry grass around a tree, bringing up one paw to eye at the matted fur, a direct result from wading through the marshy swamplands. Putting the paw back down, he glanced over his shoulder to where he knew his mate would be close behind, following his lead as usual.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:23 pm
She flicked a bit of mud off her tail before smiling at her mate. "It's a bit wet but it is .... it's welcoming." Compared to where they had come from this was like a small slice of heaven. Even though it was a bit odd compared to the savanna. She paused beside him and nuzzled her head under his chin. "Do you like it?"
She knew Roshan was worried about them being safe and she wondered if a swamp was safe enough for him.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:48 pm
A large sloshing could be heard, and then a splashing of large paws hitting water -- not too uncommon a noise in the swamplands.
The past few months of living in the swamplands had found Domevlo happier than ever, creating grandious changes in the disfigured lion. There was a renewed strength in him, and a vigor for life that had been all but drained from him upon his arrival. All-in-all, he felt young and spry again.
The splashing noise turned into a sloshing, as Domevlo slowed, and began to walk through the water, which was now no higher than his dewclaws. Through a glimmer above, where the sun permiated the canopy of the swamp, his attention was directed to the two.
He couldn't remember ever seeing these two before. Domevlo approached cautiously. He had learned well before coming to these lands that his size could be intimidating, and ws often enough to frighten another well before his droopy 'half-muscled' face.
In a voice that didn't seem like it could belong to so large a lion, for how quiet it was, called to them;
"Hello, there. I am Domevlo. You are new here, yes?" His golden eyes looked from one, to the other, curiously.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:58 pm
"Wet, indeed," he said with a little chuckle as he reached out with a paw to splash at the reedy water before the small island of grass clumps they had temporary claimed as a sanctuary. He flicked his paw to rid it of most of the water before leaning into her nuzzle, a soft 'hmm' sound escaping his maw as he considered just what he did think.
"I like it," he concluded finally, or, rather, simply told her. It had been growing on him since they had set foot there for sure. "It's eccentric, but just what you wanted, isn't it? And the swamp is more than I could hope for, even if it means adjusting to something new. What's a little lifestyle chance?" He laughed gently at the comment, leaning in to nuzzle her chin.
His laughter died quickly as the sound of splashing paws (heavy paws, from the sound of it) began to approach. His whole posture stiffened as he turned his head in that direction, narrowing his eyes against the dim light of the swamp. If the male hadn't been making so much noise, Roshan wasn't sure he would have ever seen him. The fact that he wasn't trying to hide his approach was sign number one that he probably wasn't a threat, but it wasn't until that softer voice came that Roshan relaxed a fraction.
"Yes," he replied, albeit a bit more stiffly than Umoja probably would have liked. "We've only been here for a few days." Short and sweet, but then, he did often leave Umoja to the 'small talk' in situations like this.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 9:06 pm
"It is close to what i wanted." She nodded. The place reminded her of the better parts of home. A closeness to the heart of the earth without the violence and the restrictions. She could relax in her own beliefs without having to worry about all the weights on her shoulders.
Feeling Roshan move before she registered the noises she turned a moment after him to see the approaching male. He was rather large for what she considered normal but his voice spoke of a softness.
"Greetings Domevlo." She smiled, nudging Roshan gently to hopefully get him to relax. "I am Umoja'Nafsi, and this is my mate Roshan.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 9:19 pm
"Welcome," Domevlo said with a smile, or rather, what was meant to be one, as all but one side of his face responded, and made his way closer to the two.
"It is a pleasure to meet you both. I hope you plan to stay. This place-" He looked around, "Is a wonderferful home." Domevlo had nothing to offer but kind words for the only home he had ever had the pleasure of having. In truth, it had taken some getting used to, but he had been welcomed with open arms, and that was more than he could ever have wanted.
"What brings you here?"
((Gotta get to bed. I'll reply in the morning D; ))
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 10:00 pm
He grunted lightly from the nudge his mate offered his side, but did just as she intended. He let out a small sigh and relaxed his posture, nodding to the other male as he approached closer. It was obvious at this point that he was a pride member, if a bit of an odd one, and Roshan wasn't one to hold outward appearances against someone. He, of all people, knew that outward appearances could be misleading. His own brother looked elegant, almost fragile with his coat's pattern.
"It's nice to meet you," he said with a dip of his head, his tail flicking behind him before curling up and brushing against Umoja's side. "This place really is quite an unexpected find, I admit." He even added a smile to it, mimicking what he thought was a smile on the other male's face.
"We came looking for somewhere to belong," he said, short and simply, though his bright eyes slid over to his mate in case she felt the need to elaborate.
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 10:10 pm
"Somewhere to belong and somewhere safe." She nodded and smiled softly as her mate relaxed. They needed somewhere to belong and somewhere that Roshan felt was safe for the two of them. "It is a bit wet here ... but lovely in it's own way."
She liked the new surroundings and so far she liked how welcoming the place was sounding. "It is good to meet someone here who enjoys it as much as you seem to." She smiled brightly. She could easily see the problems that the large green lion could have and if he was welcomed happily then the lions who made this their home had to be wonderful.
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 8:49 am
Domevlo nodded.
"You are certainly in the right place. I, too, came here, looking for a place to belong."
Domevlo, for a minute, thought it was a pity that they had not come before the queen's passing, but perhaps it was better now, than to have then come in a time of sadness. But the pride had a new king now, and things would move on..
"Would you like for me to lead you to the central grounds?" His name fore the large, dry-ish, island, also known as the main den.
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 1:23 pm
Though he wouldn't say it aloud, lest it offend, Roshan had to admit that if the somewhat homely male before them had found a home and acceptance here among these swamp lions, then he and Umoja had a bright future ahead of them as far as he was concerned. A pride, secluded in an unlikely terrain, with large numbers - it was almost more than he could ask for.
With a bright smile and an enthusiastic nod, he pushed himself back up onto his paws and glanced sidelong at his mate once more before turning back towards the male. "Yes, we'd like that very much." He didn't move from where he was standing, simply let his tail waver behind him like a blue banner as he waited for the strange fellow to take the lead.
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 1:27 pm
"That would be lovely." She smiled as she pulled herself up and shook off her paws again. If the others were as accepting as this male was then they would be able to find a happy home here.
"Is there by chance somewhere that with deeper water? the swamp is nice but i think i would rather it not cling to me for too long." She laughed softly. The wet mud would stain her fur if she wasn't careful.
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 2:44 pm
Domevlo began leading the way, and thought for a moment, going over his mental map before answering Umoja.
"To the east are the mountains. There the rocks filter the water that comes down from its peaks. The cleanest water is there, I'd asume. I'm not sure of it's depths."
All the same, he wasn't sure of the cleanliness of the deeper water he had ran through just prior. Cleanliness was not something he thought much of anymore.
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 4:04 pm
A small touch of laughter escaped his mug at his mate's question, unable to contain it at the thought of her necessity to remain clean. It was a feminine habit, no doubt, as he wasn't having too much problem with the fact that he was dirty - he was just unfamiliar with the feeling of his fur being matted and stuck by the murky water they had been walking through. He was almost positive that he'd be able to get used to it. Then again, as he glanced down at his paler mate, he had to admit that it would have been a shame to tarnish such beauty with mud constantly. It would be quite hard for her to stay clean, though, he had no doubt.
"So how far is the main pride lands?" he asked, trailing after the male as he began to lead the way, his footfalls a touch quieter than those of the large brute ahead of them.
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 7:22 pm
"I will have to look into that water then." She laughed softly. "Hopefully i can get used to walking in the wetter land quickly." It would be bad if she started sinking in mud and ended up covered in it. She ignored Roshan's chuckling for now as they followed after the larger male.
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Posted: Mon May 18, 2009 9:18 pm
"Not too far, I'd say. Everything looks the same almost, so it can be hard to tell when you lose the path. Depending on the water level, that liklihood fluxuates, but the central lands are, for the most, dry. It's a steady up hill walk. When you feel we are heading up hill, then I'd say we are part way there." Domevlo tried to explain.
His mind worked in a way that often didn't lend well to speech - Domevlo used the sense of touch, more than sight. As he spoke, he'd often tilt his head, as if he were thinking, or squint an eye.
He could only hope his explaination made sense.
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