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 Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 9:38 pm
 Movement-in-the-Grass collapsed at the edge of the swamp, a tangle of limbs. He was so exhausted that he couldn't remember if it took 15 minutes or 3 days, it was all the same to him. He didn't know why he was out here, so close to the... openness, that it made his skin crawl. But he had finally made it, and now all he wanted was to rest, at least for a few moments, before going to find something to eat.
Ahead of him, there were the on-going flat-lands, smooth as a mud beetle's back. On either side of him, Movement could see the stragglers of the trees. They were sparse and far between, but they offered him a bit of shade and a feeling of belonging. He was grateful for them. Behind the kimeti, stretched the swamp. Mother Marsh in all her glory: bugs buzzing happily, trees and roots poking out of the mud, crocs waddling through the shallows towards unsuspecting prey. Why would any swampgoat stray from that?
He was so hungry, but it had to wait. He had run, almost mindlessly through the last stretches of the Marsh. Over obstructing roots, and fallen trees he had leapt, and it was a wonder that he hadn't even paused to catch his breath, not once, until he got to where he was now. 'This can't be good for my lungs.', he speculated, heaving out loud as if his chest was diving deep under water. His limbs felt heavy as boulders, after exerting themselves for so long. All he could be grateful for, was that he had made it to the where he had to be.
All that he knew was that something was calling to him, something wanted... needed him to be out here on the skirts of the flatlands. He might even let himself believe that soft voices whispered at him, and that was what drove him to this spot. Those voices seemed to be more urgent all the way out here. 'What do they want?' Movement thought to himself as he looked out onto the expanse before him.
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 10:49 am
 Tender leaf picked her way daintily through the undergrowth, browsing for the sweeter plants and small marsh creatures that Kimeti preferred to feed on. If there was one upside to being so close to the plains, it was that food, at least of the vegetable variety, was easier to find. There was more sunlight between the widely spaced trees, and plants flourished. It was drier here, too, which made it less of a chore to keep her oddly silky white coat free of mud. This was hardly any consolation to the Doe, whose ears twitched nervously every few moments. She felt exposed here, open to the elements, visible to attackers. Pale eyes darted to regard the dry-and-flat with distrust. The sky out there was so big... so huge. She could almost lose herself in it. As she contemplated this frightening prospect, she nearly stumbled over a grass-green buck, who was well-concealed by the long blades which closely matched his coat in color. If she had not at the last moment seen the movment of his heavy breathing, she might have stepped on one of his over-long ears. "Oh!" She exclaimed, startled, "Oh.. um... Excuse me!" The pale doe shook herself, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "I didn't see you here." Tender leaf was backing away was she spoke, her muscles tensed and trembling, her heart racing. In a quavering voice she added, "So, um, sorry to disturb you...."
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 12:44 pm
Limbs crashed past him as a pale doe stumbled out of the marsh. 'She nearly stepped on me!' Looking around him, he realizes why. 'Of course! These grasses hide me better than anything I could ask for. It's no wonder she didn't see me right away.'
Movement looked at the doe with interest, slowly regaining his breath from the run. She was pale as the moon, and unnaturally clean for a kimeti. And she seemed... skittish... as he would put it. His lips parted in a half-smile as the doe stumbled upon her words, he was beginning to think he'd like her. The shyness appealed to him, many other kimeti he had come across were bold and independent. Perhaps she was different?
Now that his breathing was steady once more, he spoke gently, so as to not frighten the already terrified doe, "No worries, fair Lady. You'd be surprised how often this happens to me, and by bigger creatures than you, too. Besides, you didn't do me any harm. Are you alright?" As he spoke, she steadily backed away, closer and closer to the openness. Clearing his throat, he struck a leg forward to indicate behind the doe and said, "Would you like to come lay down next to me? That doesn't look like a pleasant place to be, if you ask me. Gives me the shivers." His coat visibly shivered as the thought of being out there bound across his mind.
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 1:47 pm
 Fierce stalked her way through the tall stalks of dying grass and scraggly trees, head hung low and nose kept close to the ground, tigerish and soft in her movements. Her ears flicked softly open and listening for any sound that may alert her to danger. Never had she been this far out from the marsh from her home back in the swamp, through all the traveling she had done never once had she dared to come out to the edge of the land like this..
Now though the openess had appeared, rumors of a clear sky that looked out over a dry dead landscape, rumors of whispers and voices a certain calling need. Unable to deny her inquisitive nature fierce couldn't help but come out and see for herself. The doe's head perked up as she heard caught a piece of voices in the distance, picking up her mud caked hooves and pressing herself to move quicker in order to see. It had been quite a while since she'd come upon any travelers of any sort, and despite her solitary nature she was almost eager to see some life. She could almost laugh at herself for feeling the tug of homesickness, feh as if she really needed others to be happy.
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 11:06 pm
Tender Leaf stopped moving back as the buck's voice reached her ears. It was softer than she expected, and his smile was reassuring. She returned it with a tentative smile of her own. “I'm alright.”
His words were as kind as his voice, but as he directed her attention to the frightening Open which was currently at her back, she looked over her shoulder warily. “Hmmm... Yes.” The doe's words were almost a whimper. Tender Leaf was quickly beginning to think that the bright green buck was the least of her worries. “Th-thank you. I'd like that.”
Leaf approached the other Kimeti with some caution, but her outright terror had faded. She folded her legs beneath her and lay down next to Movement. Hesitantly, she spoke, not quite able to meet his eyes. “I'm Tender Leaf. It's nice to meet you... out here...”
She smiled shyly, then looked down and plucked a shoot of grass to nibble. “That Big Place is really... scary.” Leaf added, eying the edge of the plains with evident distrust.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 12:29 pm
Movement watched the doe as she cautiously lay down beside him, which only made him smile a little wider. She's wary of me. Ha, but not as much as she is of the Open. That's a much better thing to be wary of. When the doe introduced herself, he replied, "Nice to meet you, too. My name is Movement-in-the-Grass, or just Movement, if you like." After attempting to catch the doe's eye and failing to attain any contact, he continued, "What brought such a pale maiden out of hiding? This is my first trip out here to the edges that I try to avoid. Why are you out here? So close to.... that..." At the word that, he nodded towards the space that was unknown to this kimeti.
As they lay in the grass, sharing how they came to be at the edge of Mother Marsh, there was rustling behind them. Movement with his overly long ears, did not have superior hearing, but admittedly, he could hear quite a bit better than most kimeti. His right ear swivelled back a little bit, so he could listen to the rustle behind him that sounded slightly like something running through the brush a ways off.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 3:11 pm
Fierce lifted her head slightly as she caught the movement of the pair, a splash of pale pale gray, not unlike the moon itself, and a flash of green..was it green? It was hard to tell if there were two or one at present, one far more visible then the other, the grasses serving well for there purpose of hiding their kind. Fierce letting out a light yip, as so distracted by the others was she that she failed to keep track of where she was stepping. Cursing and growling under her breath at the thick deep mud her right hove had managed to slip into.
The doe couldn't help but sigh roughly as she went to work at getting herself unstuck without landing in any more trouble. "Well so much for being stealthy" she thought to herself sarcastically, tail swishing in anger as she made a face at the sucking mud. Honestly this little trip out here was making the swamp back home seem like a pleasant dream, she would never forgive herself if she gave up now though.
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 5:51 pm
"Movement." The doe repeated, her eyes shyly downcast and voice warm. He was offering his nickname within moments of meeting? This was quite unusual, but she found it rather charming how open he was, how his smile widened when she came near.
She was almost too flustered to answer his question. "I'm not sure why I came here, really..." Leaf's voice trailed off as she realized how odd this must sound. "Usually I stay as deep in the swamp as I can, but now... It's as if I drawn here. I know it sounds crazy, but-" She stopped, hearing the rustle of an approaching creature some seconds after it registered in Movement's more acute ears.
A splash, a yip of surprise! The skittish doe tensed, ready to leap to her feet if she needed to flee the unknown maker of the sound. If it was not for Movement's solid form reassuringly between her and whoever made the sounds, she'd probably have aready fled. "Wh-who's there?" She called tremulously.
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Posted: Sat May 30, 2009 9:41 pm
Movement was not one to keep secrets, rather opposite to that, actually. He did not go around telling everyone what he knew, but he did not shy from the truth and honesty. It was one of the things he bore proudly: his honesty.
The doe's words trailed off as he turned his head to the side, looking in the direction of the yelp. He could see snips of bright green amid the tall grasses and trees to his right. It looked like another kimeti? He wasn't sure. Calmly standing up, taking caution to do this slowly, so as not to trip over his own feet as he often did. He bent his head down close to Vibrant and whispered in her ear, "I'll see what it is, you can stay here, hidden, if you like. I'll be back in a moment." Straightening back up, the buck stalks towards the creature quietly. When he's close enough he sees that it is indeed a kimeti, like he thought at first. Taking the last few strides into view, he calls, "Hello, miss. Are you..." looking down at her foot for a moment and then straightening back up, adopting a charming smile, "...in need of any assistance?"
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Posted: Mon Jun 01, 2009 10:50 pm
"Whos there? Feh no ones here, just a large green muddy bush.." fierce replied to the timid questioning voice, sighing as she caught the approach of the male, tensing up at first, unsure of him. The bright green coat and long ears caught her attention.
"Ah whats this, chivalry apparently still lives in rare parts of the deep wilds eh? I suppose, I could use maybe a tiny bit of assistance" she huffed giving him a quirky smile, normally she would be against ever accepting any such help, specially not from some male. Her current predicament, and where she was dictated she used caution and aid while shoving her pride aside. It would be foolish to risk hurting herself, so close to the edge out here, and sensing she was closer to the destiny she'd been searching for.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 9:17 pm
Tender Leaf nodded gratefully to Movement, and hunkered down deeper into the concealing grass. From between the swaying blades, she watched his progress until he was hidden by the undergrowth.
Seconds later, an exasperated female voice made sarcastic reply to her inquiry. Her only response was to duck back down into her hiding place, waiting and listening. The newcomer did not sound dangerous... Tender Leaf relaxed a bit and ventured to peer out again, now watching openly for Movement to return with the doe.
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Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:57 pm
The bright female bore a ton of confidence as she replied to his question. Exchanging her smile for one of his own, he bowed his head to take a closer look at what the doe had gotten herself into. Her foot was stuck in the mud, so it would only be a matter of loosening the mud's grip and tugging her foot out. He pressed his hoof gently into the puddle and nudged her leg with his muzzle to get her to pull it back. "There. Just a bit of mud."
Movement straightened up, once more, nose really close to the doe's. He spoke gently, "You should come out to the edge with me. My friend's here, too. Something has drawn us here, I assume it has lead you here too. Do you know why we've been called out to the Open?" At this, he turned and strode towards the patch of grass where Tender Leaf was hiding. He parted the grass to her right and held it back for the newcomer to pass through.
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2009 7:52 pm
"A bit of mud can be a right pain, sucking nasty stuff." she muttered darkly glaring at the substance that once held her hoof captive "Thank you though for the help, heh that was nice of you" she smirked slightly, eyes glued to the male as he got closer, his voice dropping low and soft, almost sweet really. "To the edge with you and your friend?" in all honesty she'd been thinking of nothing more then doing just that the entire way here, making it to the edge. Though she'd never factored in traveling with others..it was a foreign concept, considering where she was heading though it might be smart to be with others.
"Indeed it has lead me here, heh I suppose it would be smart to go along wouldnt it? I mean afterall you hardly seem the dangerous sort..What friend though, I didnt see another soul out here besides you" she asked curiously, glancing around a second time, no nothing but grass and mud.
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