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 Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 12:25 pm
 There was a limit, and Skadi had reached it. First her aunt weirded out on her completely, then that dumb kid Blota gave her lip - and then they both dissappeared, right about at the same time. And what really, really ATE at Skadi, was the thought that she could have done something, in both cases, to prevent it. She actually wasn't sure exactly what it was that had driven her to this point - guilt, a need to find out the truth, or perhaps just genuine worry - but she had followed the cooling trail of her Aunt's last day in the Mizimu with a stubborn determination that the old bat would no doubt be quite amused by. She had asked around and now, finally, she had honed in on the last link in the chain. The Veteran who by all accounts should have been the one on patrol in the general area where Skuld was last seen. His name was Rauro, his pelt black and purple, and he was about to have a visitor, whether he wanted one or not.
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Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2009 10:06 pm
 Raruo was doing his normal rounds, watching for intruders and keeping his eyes on the weakest points in their lands, just in case. He was sitting on a high hill, scanning an area carefully, flicking his tail behind him.
He had told that old lioness he would come and find her if she was gone too long, hadn't he? She had not returned, though they had made a deal, and he was irritated about that. But how could he go and find her when things were in such chaos? He didn't even know where she could be.
Raruo shook his head, waiting for everything and nothing. He was prepared for the worst but hoping for the best, as always.
He noticed a lioness from within the pride approaching him, and he stood to greet her. Waiting for her to reach him expectantly, because her gait and focus told him she was coming for him, he nodded a hello to bypass and civil technicalities.
"It's dangerous out here," he pointed out, as if to tell her to go back without actually telling her to go back.
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Posted: Thu Oct 01, 2009 1:05 am
Skadi stopped at a decent communication distance from the big lion, giving him a careful once-over before returning his greeting nod.
"Yes, I know," she replied, adding on a "thanks" almost as an afterthought. She had lost none of her determination or momentum, but the size and respect that this Veteran commanded gave her a slight pause. She didn't want to actually offend him, but at the same time she was too distracted to wipe the determined frown off of her face completely, and the end result made her face look something like that of a sulky adolescent.
She gave his purple marks one more glance and then went straight to the point:
"Are you Rauro, the Veteran? Because I have something to ask him." It took her another brief moment to remember to add: "If it's not too much trouble."
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 6:45 pm
Raruo watched her. She had spunk, he could already see that. Whatever she was here for, she wasn't going to leave without getting it. Entertaining the idea of at least hearing her out, he stood patiently. Or at least as patiently as he knew how to.
"I am, indeed," he hummed, nodding his head. "It's no trouble. What do you want to ask me?"
He looked slightly impatient. He had things to think about, and do, but instead he was wasting some time talking to her. If she asked him something trivial he was going to get mad. In fact, he was already gearing up for it, as if anticipating it, but at least he tried to feign some patience. It was a continuing battle, trying to keep his temper in check.
Particularly right now, in a time of chaos.
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2009 4:53 am
Skadi's frown lightened up a bit as the big lion confirmed his identity, and she almost grinned with delight at finally having found him.
"Great! It won't take long, I promise. It's just that I believe you were the last person who saw my aunt when she left the Mizimu lands a few days ago. Skuld, an old Scryer. Always carries lots of bones...? Someone said she walked off in this general direction, and it seems like you were on patrol here that day. I'm just wondering if you've seen her, and..." Skadi faltered for a second, her eyes shifting guiltily. She knew that what she had in mind was neither smart nor acceptable, with the threat of war hanging over the pride and all... but what else could she do?
She straightened up, and looked Rauro straight in the eyes, almost as if daring him to question her.
"...And which way she went, if you can remember."
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 12:33 pm
Raruo looked a bit surprised when she launched into her speech. He listened intently, nodding his big head whenever he felt the need to.
He remembered his run in with Skuld, of course. It hadn't been too unusual. She had gone off with her bones, and he hadn't seen her since, despite his warnings. He watched the younger lioness as she spoke, taking in the way her body was saying more than her words on the matter.
He supposed it wouldn't be too much of a hassle to help her. After all, that was what he was meant to do. Not too much a fan of being looked in the eye so challengingly, Raruo stared back at her and shrugged his shoulders.
"Are you going to go find her, then? When there are so many dangers for our numbers? I do remember having a similar discussion with your Aunt. And I haven't seen her since. It wouldn't be wise for you to go looking for her on your own."
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Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 11:38 am
Skadi's ears folded under the Veteran's direct gaze. She knew that she shouldn't be challenging him, and her body showed it, sinking just low enough to show submission, but not betraying her conviction. She fully expected Rauro to try and stop her, and there was just no way that she would let him.
"Yeah," she admitted through clenched jaws, not breaking eye contact this time. "I'm going to go look for her. She was supposed to meet me here a few days ago, and she never came back. I know some people say that she must have run over to those rebels-" she spat the word and almost growled as she continued. "-But you know what? That's just retarded! I will not believe that until I've seen it with my own eyes! My aunt may be a crazy old bat, but she is not a traitor!" Finally having gotten that not-so-well-prepared speech out of her system, she straightened up a little and lowered her voice apologetically.
"So... if you could just tell me which way she went, I'll be fine. I'll be careful. I... I just want to find her."
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Posted: Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:54 pm
Raruo sighed.
These were situations he didn't like. He was good at being a jerk. He didn't make friends and that was a choice, not some kind of curse or fluke. He didn't want friends, besides Kaihdin and what few others he may have picked up over the years. Being friendly implied caring about others, and caring about others meant helping them out when they seemed to need it.
If one cared about one creature, they would have to care about them all. As much as Raruo hated to admit it, he cared enough about this relative stranger to not want her to go outside the lands in this time of turmoil and get herself in trouble.
She was, after all, the blood of his pride. That had to mean something important. It was his duty to protect her, as it was to do so for everyone else.
"Ah. So you don't like the rumors, huh? Want to check it out for yourself? I don't think that's a very wise decision, but it's yours to make. I can understand why you're so mad about this, and want to prove them all wrong. So how about I help you look for her? That way you can snoop around, and I can make sure you don't get mauled if any of those cowards do show up."
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 1:54 pm
Having been fully prepared for an outright rejection, and possibly even threats, Skadi's reaction to Rauro's unexpected sympathy was almost comical. Her ears straightened up as suddenly as her neck, and her jaws worked air for a while as her brain hurried to catch up with reality.
"Uh..." She blinked rapidly a few times, not even noticing that she raised one paw like a small cub, uncertainly inviting an adult to play. "That would be... I mean... Yeah. Yes, thank you. I'd... appreciate that. If-if you've got the time, of course."
Some small part of her pride stung briefly as the veteran's comment of protecting her from being mauled finally hit home, but she was far too grateful towards him to risk his benevolence by yet another snippy comment. Besides, she knew well enough that she'd have to be Sakata to even have a chance at surviving alone against the rebels if they were to come at her more than one at a time. She would indeed appreciate having a seasoned veteran at her side while she searched for her wayward aunt.
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Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 2:47 pm
Raruo tilted his head at her odd reaction. Had she not been expecting him to agree? He wondered, then, if she had expected a no why should would have wasted the time in asking. But at least he had surprised her. He would rather help her out than see her go off and get into trouble.
"I've got the time," he said, almost chuckling. "Come, on, let's get to it, then. The sooner the better, right?" He waited for her to lead the way, ready to be her body guard for as long as she needed him to.
It was his duty and, underneath all that, he'd jump at the chance of putting Dhati members in their place.
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Posted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 2:53 pm
Skadi's paw dropped back to the ground at the hint of mirth in the Veteran's voice, but she couldn't help but smirk a little at herself, and her luck. Things was finally going her way. Maybe not all old lions were obstinate, difficult and roundabout in everything they did.
Awesome.
She let her smirk grow into a full-blown grin, and more or less bounced over to Rauro's side, every fiber of her body suddenly itching with energy and gearing to go.
"Yeah!" She almost chuckled, "No time like the present!"
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Posted: Mon Jan 18, 2010 12:07 pm
Raruo watched her as she bounced over to him, nodding slowly. He would play bodyguard for a while, and help her out as best he could. He began to walk, though he would need her to lead. He was just here to support her.
Hopefully it didn't come back to bite him later. Doing nice things always had a way of coming back.
END
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