|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:02 pm
Croc didn't know what it was these days. His nights were all a haze to him, his dreams tainted by blood. Something was happening in the swamp but it was beyond him to guess what. He was just a simple buck, he was! All he needed was a good meal and a flat rock to lay upon on the evening. None of this hidden stress that was pooling around him.
He was restless, and so today he went walking. He was determined to ask any other kimeti he came across if they had noticed the changes going on as well, felt the same things. While Croc ended up being something of a solitary creature, he was not awkward in social situations. Let whoever it was join him as well, should they care to. It would be a little while yet before dusk came, though in some parts of the swamp you wouldn't know because the trees were so thick.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 12:44 pm
 Midnight's Shadow was curled up atop some roots that rose up from the swamp. He was nestled into the nook between the trunk of this mangrove and it's roots that stretched forwards and only then did they curve down into a steep drop. He often walked underneath these roots, as if they were their own little forest, but now he slept.
Foxbuns, of the tiniest size, frolicked among the tall grasses, chasing some unknown flutterbug. And as before, a dark mass would dash in and snatch one of these creatures up, dragging it away. Dead. Now all that could be seen was the head of this unfortunate foxbun, trailing behind its own body. It was covered with blood. Blood was gushing from the bite marks that covered its small body, and a consistent dribble of it also streamed from its mouth as its eyes turned that milky shade of death.---
Midnight was stirred from his dream by some nearby noise. Sleepily, he pulled his head up from his forelegs and turned his ears to the sounds. Twigs cracking, leaves rustling, grasses swishing. Someone was walking by. Who's that? Or maybe, what's that? He resolved to go find out.
The colt stood up, shook the sleep out of his young body and then stalked in the direction of the walking noises. A glimpse of white. A big glimpse of white. He slunk closer, sticking to the shadows of the tree roots where he blended so well. A kimeti! What's he doing out here? Where's he going? What's his name? Would he like me? Deciding to follow him a while longer before presenting himself, Midnight mulled over these questions in his inquisitive little mind.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 1:29 am
And the older male seemed none the wiser for the moment. He turned his head slowly, here and there as if trying to scope out anything of interest. It all looked the same so far, and he had traveled here often. Today he aimed to push all the way to the flatter plains of Matope, see what lay there, if the noises could reach so far. He was getting more vicious at nights, he had noticed, all as a result of his dreams and the things he kept hearing. A darker side of him he wasn't so sure he liked. If nothing else, maybe this journey would wear him out some.
A hum thrummed free of his throat as he speculated on what was becoming of the swamp, of him. Old stories from his childhood circulated slowly through his mind, things the adults would tell a rag-tag group of children and anyone else who would listen. While Crocodile Smile had made himself familiar with the swamp he lived in and dwelled within her shade, sometimes he felt as if he didn't know it so well. Other kimeti... they had a certain sort of spirit to them that made them whisper stories and sing to one another in the dark. Sometimes that just felt so hollow for him.
"Mother Crane help me." He sighed aloud, and halted as he felt something off. The air was sniffed, and the buck turned slowly about himself, shaking his thoughts free. "Is anyone there?" Croc called curiously. He had felt as if there were more than the birds' eyes upon him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2009 12:10 pm
Finding someone new was always exciting. He did this often. He'd follow a passing kimeti, stalking them for a good distance, and if he found them interesting he'd pop out and say hello. Most often, however, they did not like him, or were afraid of him for his dark looks. But even more often than that, it was his eyes that they were scared of. He didn't see what was so bad about them. They were red, and they glowed. Big deal.
But this one. Yes, this one seemed interesting. He was a tall buck, not that Midnight had much to compare him to, he'd only met a handful of kimeti in his short life-span so far. He was white and had red markings, and long fur. He had a troubled look upon his features as he called out to Mother Crane. He needs help. What kind of help? He's not hurt... at least no where that I can see... He doesn't seem lost...
On a second's impulse, Midnight's Shadow trot a few steps forward, as silently as he could and then jumped out in front of the stranger, skidding to a halt on stiff legs. The slide stopped about two feet in front of the buck, and it looked completely natural on the colt. He had slid out like this many-a-time. His head held high, his legs stiff and straight, his tail swishing back and forth. He stretched his neck forward to get a sniff of this new buck and then returned to looking at him from this closer angle.
"I'm Midnight's Shadow. What's yours?" He began walking a circle around the buck, keeping that 2-foot distance between them. "Why'd ya need help? What's wrong?" He'd made it to the buck's tail now, "You're not hurt or anything... I don't think you're lost either..." the colt finished the circle and returned to where he started. He plopped down and waited for a response from his new found friend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:14 am
A colt. Croc found himself relaxing even though he hadn't realized he was tense. As the younger male circled him, he merely turned his head, feeling the corners of his lips twitch. A dark little thing, though, wasn't he? Very regal- seems like he practiced.
"My name is Crocodile Smile," He began, his brows furrowing a little with amusement at the spew of questions. However, they dismayed him a little. He'd been listening? Well. There was really nothing to be embarrassed of... "Strange things feel like they've been going on, Midnight's Shadow. Have you felt... anything like that? You're right, though, I am hale and I am well secured."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:11 pm
Crocodile Smile. Hmmm... Midnight gave the buck one more look over and decided he suited his name. Strange things? This could get interesting! He nodded at the other's ascertainment of his situation.
"Strange things? Well... I guess that depends on what you mean by strange... What do you mean by strange? I mean... I've been having really weird dreams... foxbuns dying... being hunted... they looked delicious..." his eyes glazed over a little. He might be craving a bit of meat... shook his head and continued, "But there was blood everywhere. And the thing hunting... a big black shadow... He cast his glowing red eyes towards the ground and thought to himself, Black shadow... blood everywhere... that couldn't be... me? No. No, no. It couldn't be. But the foxbuns sure looked good... He shook his head once more, a little more violently this time to disperse such thoughts, and looked back up at Crocodile Smile.
"And there've been disturbances to the swamp too... loud noises that come from nowhere. Have you heard them? Do you know what they are?" He was remembering a time not long ago where he pursued such noises. "And voices... singing... but it seems so sad. Have you heard the singing? It's like someone is trying to call me towards them, but they're not always there. Like they randomly sing to me and then don't. I don't understand what's going on, Crocodile Smile." His expression changed to one of confusion. Perhaps this male had more information about what was going on. Midnight had to know what was going on, his curiousity was his default emotion the last few weeks.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 7:28 am
As Croc listened to the youth speak, he began to feel an odd sense of relief wash over him. So he wasn't going crazy, then. Or at least he wasn't the only one. He recognized that look in Midnight Shadow's eyes, the one of hunger, and felt the corners of his maw curl just a bit. That was no desire to chomp on greens.
"I have heard the... noises." He agreed, hesitating a moment before he admitted, "I have heard crying and screaming. There are voices that I feel are teasing me, but I have never been able to discern what exactly they are saying." The songs, he didn't add, they tormented him. They called him and damned him. More than ever he felt his inadequacy.
"I will admit that I do not know the source of the disturbance," He told Midnight, lowering his head slightly to better look at the younger male, "But I plan to find out. I am on my way to the farthest reaches of the swamp now to see if those occurrences won't cease, and because I have never been so far. If you wish, you are welcome to join me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2009 1:18 pm
The colt's head tilts to one side as he listens to the older male's words. He spoke of similar things, and this intrigued Midnight. Finally he had found someone else who was willing to admit there was something going on in the Swamp. He had asked others if they heard the same things, but no one had been willing to divulge any information. The only person he had been able to confront these with was his twin. They had gone on their own little adventure, searching for the answer to random noises resounding in the trees.
Midnight's Shadow rose onto his spindly legs and walked around to stand next to Crocodile Smile, facing the same way as him. "I would like to come with you." He bent down to scratch at his foot, which had started up an itch, "You're the first to answer my questions. Or atleast try... Everyone else I've asked just tries to ignore it. Pretends it hasn't happened, or nothing's wrong." He turned his head to look at the older buck and said, "I need to know what's going on."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:26 am
There was a time to lie, and a time to be honest. Croc could be glib when he wanted to, but quite honestly he was a little distressed at the moment. Perhaps it was the colt's darker disposition that encouraged him to speak the truth, or perhaps he just needed to tell another. Make sure he wasn't the only one. Going crazy wasn't really Croc's problem- it was going there without his permission or control. He did so love to manage himself and his surroundings.
"Most kimeti will look down upon you because you are young," He offered, "Perhaps they believed they were doing you a fine favor keeping you ignorant. Or perhaps they are afraid to simply give you what they had to earn. I say, you are wise to ask questions, and your persistence should be rewarded. However, I do warn you, there is a certain price that comes with knowledge. The more you know, the less happy you tend to be." A brow was quirked, cryptically.
"Simple play does indeed make for an entertainment, at least for the moment. An experience lasts much longer. Come, then. We have much ground to cover and little daylight to spend doing it." With that, the ivory buck continued his walk.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 27, 2009 10:21 pm
The young buck listened to the older one's words patiently, but when it came time to reply he simply shrugged and said, "Thank you for your honesty, Crocodile Smile. But I believe I need to know, and I am willing to put knowledge ahead of my own happiness. That's what presses hardest on my mind, not the urge to be happy and prance about like a filly." A sly little smile made it's way across the dark colt's lips as he altered his stance to shake out his legs before he started to walk again.
A few steps behind, Midnight trotted to catch up and then adjusted his pace to keep level with this older buck. He glanced over at him and decided that this was definitely someone he could get along with. This buck was accepting, honest, and rather blunt, all of which most kimeti could not be in his presence, and for that, he admired him in a way.
Looking back at where he was going, Midnight picked up his hooves higher to jump over a fallen log, clearing it no problem, but it was what brought his attention and his thoughts back toward the environment and the mission at hoof. His ears perked up and he went back to focusing on the surroundings, looking for any clues that would help them figure out what was going on in the swamp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
