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 Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:36 pm
 It was raining again. Always raining. As if the sky could some how read Himeru's heart and manifest the sorrow that ate away at her inside until she was nothing more than a hollow husk filled with the endless ache that made the heavens weep for her. Honestly, it was just like her to blame herself for something so incongruent and unpredictable as the weather. Luckily the jungle that had sprung up around her as she moved across the landscape on raw paws, providing some shelter from the harsh wind which might have easily carried the waif away with a particularly strong gust.
The rain was heavy enough that it beat almost deafeningly against the lush canopy over her head, trickling against wide, waxy leaves to spill to the leaf littered ground. Once milky white pelt was drenched, laying flat against ribs which showed, with great unpleasantness, the state of the wasting leopardess. The jungle floor had become a swamp over a short period of time so that the young female was covered in several shades of brown. A palette of the earthy hues she wore from layers of dirt and dust gathering upon her limbs, making it impossible to tell where the artificial color began and the natural dusky color of her stockings began. She was growing accustomed to the extra weight that made her body tremble with every exhausted step, forcing herself deeper and deeper into exile, though it seemed, no matter where she went there was always someone there. Staring at her with eyes filled with pity or perhaps it was sympathy, it didn't matter either way Himeru cringed to think that they would waste their time on her.
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:37 pm
 Akua -hated- the rain. The rain not only made the world darker due to the gray, dirty clouds that scudded across the sky and the constant sheets of water that poured from them but they made it impossible for Akua to smell clearly... to hear clearly... to feel clearly. The rain isolated him from the entire world, shut off his senses, made travel almost impossible and made him feel completely alone.
He'd blundered into cover, a forested area he found he wasn't very familiar with. That made things a little better. He could see a bit clearly for lack of constant rain but things were dimmer beneath the canopy. The sound of a thousand raindrops hitting against the leaves was easy enough to zone out. He lifted his great head, mane shaggy and damp, as he glanced around the crowded landscape in vane. The world was a murky brown-black blur. Tree trunks were no more than a black smudge on a blacker background.
With a sigh the great lion took tentative steps, listening to the rain, the wind, and hoping to find some kind of shelter soon. He -wasn't- expecting to nearly trip over the listless form of someone else. Before he realized it he was bearing down on another, his cheek and then chest pressing against them before he gave a startle and a step back, blinking in surprise and alarm.
“Wh... Hello! Sorry about that, I guess I... didn't notice you...” He narrowed his eyes, unable to keep that horrible little voice in the back of his head from whispering evily 'You didn't -see-.'
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:38 pm
Even if it had been customary to occasionally run into a stranger in her travels, Himeru had never expected to see anyone out here in this sort of weather. Even the birds were surprisingly still this evening. Yet as she moved with her nose nearly on the ground, vacant gaze and pinned ears completely void of the world around her, the sudden collision of a much larger body caused her to seize in terror. Pinned on her one shoulder as she was cross-checked, oblivious female immediately began to cower, her tail curling tight against her haunches. She'd been so violently torn from her mindless wandering that Hime had absolutely no idea what was going on for the brief few moments where her body was coveted by another. The warm breath that slid over her cold, damp body causing a chill to roll down her spine in response to the strange sensation.
Was she being attacked? Mismatched pastels lifted hesitantly to the unfamiliar face, too stunned to speak. A lion. A very large lion. Not the first she had met but a lion was a lion. She always tread with caution when first meeting them. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, he seemed not to mean her any harm, reeling back once he realized he had stumbled onto across another living creature of sorts, the pale leopardess didn't much pass for living these days. Her lips parted to speak. Awkwardly. But always quick to reassure. Pl-please d-don't.. apologize. I-I'm not much to notice... and if what you say is true.. then my wish to disappear is finally happening. I'm.. I'm grateful.
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:39 pm
He was so taken aback by her hollow voiced words that for a little while, Akua couldn't say anything. “What...?”
He blinked water out of his eyes uselessly, leaning forward a little bit. He didn't want to alarm her by getting as close as he'd need to be able to see her face clearly... but at least he could tell her shape more clearly from the muddy land around. “What in the world would make you say something like that?” The concern in his voice was clear... what was so horrible that made her wish she could disappear!?
“Here... let's get out of this rain. It does no good... do you know of any place we can take shelter around here? A cave or... some place that will keep the wet mostly out?” He lifted his head and cast about out of habit. It was partly because he still hadn't forgotten the days when he -had- been able to see clearly and part bluff that he was so used to doing it was as good as programmed in to his actions.
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:40 pm
Petite figure was slow to roll back to her feet, her posture always one of submission as cream colored audits twitched and flattened tightly against her head until they were merely two odd blotches of color against the dingy gray of once pristine pelt. She crouched timidly in the male's presence and craned her neck backwards as he leaned into the invisible box between them. There was something strange about him, Himeru sensed it almost immediately, alerted as if by some sort of invisible antennae that picked up on such intangible things. In truth, she had always been sensitive to the emotions and slightest deviations in others. It was what made her such an empathetic soul, able to soothe, empower, cheer, quiet and generally befriend a vast plethora of personalities with her giving and nonjudgmental nature. Unfortunately the distraught minx had long lost sight of the gift, finding it difficult to remember her own worthwhile qualities when they were countered by so many faults.
A startled pitch encompassed the stranger's voice and even though she was growing accustomed to the misguided reaction, Hime couldn't help but shudder, as if it brought her physical pain to distress him. Her stomach knotting with anxiety to be confronted so abruptly, head ducked low between her rounded shoulders. I.. I'm no good... for anyone..
There was a familiar burn in the back of her throat as her eyes welled with tears, spite the fact that Himeru was certain she had depleted them months ago. Voice barely above a murmur as it trembled with shame, trying to swallow it back. His request caught her by surprise, biting her lower lip. Though she'd been wandering this jungle for a few days now the lone twin had barely taken much notice of her surroundings or any place that might have been suitable to take shelter given that she hadn't paused to rest her weary legs in days. Still, all things considered it was in her nature to oblige no matter how difficult the task. I don't kn-know.. of any places, but.. I could l-look for one.. for you.
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:41 pm
Akua gave a small shake of his head. His voice gentled softly and he lowered his face further towards her, realizing she was leaning back and away from him. “You have already just proved yourself wrong.” A small smile lifted his features. “Offering to help me has made yourself quite 'good for me'.”
He paused, ears flicking forward and sideways as though to try and listen for anyone else who may be in range. He angled his head a little, giving her a better view of his face from beneath the blond shag of his mane. Let he see his murky gray eyes.
“...I don't. See very well.” Normally he would have done anything he could to resist informing her of this but the weather was so dismally bad and his eyesight was so poor in it... and she sounded so sad. So defeated. “If you would be my eyes for just long enough to find someplace to get out of the wet where I'm sure we would both be happier I would be very grateful. And you would be very helpful.”
He backed away, so as not to completely intimidate her with his presence. She surely could have gotten a good look at his next to useless eyes by then. With another gentle, encouraging smile he looked towards her yet with his eyes not focusing on her... on anything. “My name is Akua. Might I ask yours?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:43 pm
If she leaned back any further Himeru would have fell right over, so she tried to resist the urge, shrinking as much as she could as he pressed his face towards her own. Her stomach twisting with insecurity even under the reassurance of his rather striking smile. Despite the awkward moment and the state of his fur, drenched as they both were even Hime couldn't deny that the giant was a handsome creature. A sudden, dark hue of crimson rushing under her fur with an accompanying heat at the compliment as she shook her head, blatantly turning away it away. He'd only just met her, so how could he have known that she wasn't worthy of his praise.
I.. n-no. If.. if I was better. I wouldn't have tripped you. If.. if I was any good at all.. I would have paid attention to where I was going... so.. so I could be more help to you. Her gaze had lifted towards his own only briefly to take in the dull, silvery luster of his eyes. It dawned on her at his hesitant admittance that there was something unusual about his distant stare, wondering if it was his impairment of vision that had stirred her senses. Such a disability could prove fatal in their world and the leopardess could recognize his bravery and trust in her for revealing such a weakness. If he could manage to run into her in such inclement weather without the full advantage of the sharp eyesight their goddess had blessed them with certainly the directionally impaired femme could find some way to locate a safe and comfortable place for him to wait out the storm.
I'll t-try.. there wasn't much faith in the words, obviously doubting her ability be of an use, but the edges of her statement was colored with a quiet determination.
For the first time since they'd met her ears pricked attentively, though still low with uncertainty. Ah...kooah..?
She tested his name as if it were something fragile. Easily broken if not handled delicately, biting back a tiny smile. Akua. She liked it! Though quickly ducked her head again awkwardly at the quest for her own moniker. Himeru didn't want him to know. He didn't need to know. Shaking her head stubbornly without answering. Can.. you follow me.. by scent?
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:44 pm
“It's a little difficult to smell anything with the rain washing it all out.” He moved until he stood beside her, very much towering over her. He very gently stood beside her, however. Close enough that their sides brushed. “Walk, and I'll trust you not to run me into a tree.” He smiled that easy, gentle, reassuring smile again and turned his face her way, not really seeing her. He found he wished he could.
He flicked his tail a little bit. He had noticed she hadn't given him her name yet... but he wouldn't push it for now. Perhaps when they reached some sort of cover.
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:45 pm
It was only her first suggestion, but Akua had already beat her to the second, resisting the urge to scoot sideways as they stood shoulder to shoulder, well, granted his shoulder was quite a bit higher than her own. His misguided faith in her abilities were quick to make Himeru doubt herself. What if she couldn't find anything? The pressure to perform causing slender frame to jangle with nerves. I don't.
She admitted even as she began to lead the way through the darkness, her nose and ears were far less sharp than Akua's acquired adroitness due to his impairment, so sniffing out a den would have been a close to impossible feat. Still she tried to pull knowledge from her previous experience. Himeru and her sister had grown up in a jungle not unlike the one she currently occupied. All jungles were pretty much the same weren't they? Sagasu had always found dry thickets under the bases of the largest trees created by the roots that rose off the ground and stretched like spindly fingers across the earth as if pointing to something of importance. That would probably be their best bet.
Taking a deep breath Hime tried to steel herself, terrified by her own penchant for failure, but refusing to let it get the best of her she carefully picked her way along, nosing at roots and pressing her paws against branches to force most of the clutter out of the way so that her companion wouldn't stumble. This of course had her occasionally leaving his side, hurriedly bounding ahead of him to adjust their path to accommodate him, but she always returned, bare bone ribs gently pressed against his own side while her eyes glows with a nocturnal incandescence. Scanning the tree bases for the widest trunks and lifted roots that might indicate a potential thicket.
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:46 pm
He was a little anxious the first time she left his side but learned over and over that she would always come back, and what was more that she seemed to be putting in an extreme amount of effort to help. He paused when she once again left his side, listening to her move around and clear something or another from the path. When she returned he gave welcomed her quietly.
Her little body trembled beside him, from cold or fear or the strain of having to lead him he wasn't sure but it was enough to make him worried. About to bring it up he took a breath, only for her to flit from his side once more. She was calling out in that soft, disbelieving, distant voice of hers to come over and he followed her voice carefully, putting one foot in front of the other with practiced care.
It seemed she'd found a place for them to rest. From the smell of it a large tree with giant roots that arced up out of the ground like some strange serpent caught forever in the earth. Beneath was only slightly damp moss and a small gathering of old leaves. It wasn't completely dry, but he hadn't been expecting it to be. Padding into the area he had to duck down a little, even crawl on his stomach along one spot to get completely under and settled. He gave a shake of his head, droplets of water flying off in every which way.
“Thank you...” he paused, awkward, a little afraid she'd just go... “Don't... don't leave. Please?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:48 pm
It was strange how he always seemed to be waiting with baited breath when she returned to his side, as if he half expected her to disappear into the night and leave him to his own devices. Maybe a more self preserving leopard, given their solitary nature, might have but Himeru could never abandon any who requested her aid. Occasionally brushing her cheek against his shoulder in reassurance as they moved through the underbrush. Her gaze sifting back and forth in careful contemplation before an enormous tree in the distance finally caught her attention just as the nagging voiced n the back of her head had about convinced Hime that it was time to give up the farce of competence.
Could it be true? Really, really true? Excitement caused the slender female to dart off in the direction of the arching roots without giving Akua fair notice of the possible find. Crawling over gnarled tendrils, odd-eyed gaze flashed with delight when she stumbled into a moist, but mostly dry under hang. Shelter! She'd found shelter! Lashing her tail slender frame quivered with a rush of glee, too delighted with herself and afraid that she would lose the den to dare leave it as she beckoned to her companion. A-Akkkuaaa! Akuuaa! I'm h-here! This way!
Prancing forward as she watched him move carefully towards the sound of her voice, Himeru repeatedly danced back and forth, caught between wanting to keep an eye on the cozy thicket and wanting to help lead him to her. When finally he reached her the drenched mink shifted, leaving the opening to the cozy, but not suffocatingly small shelter open to his entry, watching with a shy sense of satisfaction once Akua was comfortably settled. Y-your welcome.
Tiny voice purred, voice touched with pleasure that she had proved useful to someone before fading away to dust. Caught off guard by the request as she attempted to slink off into the night, biting her lower lip. I.. I'm not.. deserving.
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:50 pm
It made him glad to hear the triumph in her voice. Something other than that monotonous sound of defeat she'd had before. He gave a short 'Bah' when she tried to claim unworthiness, and patted the ground beside him once more. “And I'm any more worthy? Is it because I'm a lion or because I'm male? Or perhaps it's because I'm secretly a God-King for some far off land?” He scooted over, looking steadfastly in her direction, hoping that she would come nearer.
“If you ask me you're more than worthy. You've found this place, and I would hate to sit here alone knowing that you are still wandering out there cold and wet.”
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:51 pm
She couldn't help but smile faintly at the sound of his disagreement, tucking her chin to her chest as her tail curled against her haunches. Slowly finding herself backing away into the rain which thumped fat, wet droplets upon her thin rump. If.. I stay.. I'll only be a burden. I've grown rather accustomed to the rain, a-anyhow. I... I don't mind it.
Hime lied through her teeth, shivering now that the warmth the giant lion had seeped into her side during their brief journey together. Y-you're too kind though. Thank you.. for the offer.
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:53 pm
“Nonsense. I can't see you shivering but I hear you.” He half raised up, looking towards the sound of her voice through the wet and the cold. He frowned a little bit, his voice softening a little, trying to sound more coaxing. “I would like your company... and perhaps if you feel like sharing your name as well. I can't force you, I won't try to either. But I have to say if you chose to wander away I'll just have to leave and follow after you.”
He raised up a little further, the confusion in his voice plain. “Why are you so insistent on being miserable?”
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Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 2:55 pm
B-ut it took me so long to find this spot! Himeru practically wailed in dismay at the thought of Akua abandoning all her hard work just to trudge along with her through the currently withstanding, miserable weather. Honestly she didn't understand the strange lion or why he would have chosen to do such a thing, hesitantly glancing over her shoulder at the open area behind her, suddenly dropping to the ground with a squeak at the rustle of lumbering frame. Eek! B-but if we leave I might not be able to find it again!
At this point she was practically pleading with him to stay, reluctant to move at the thought that he might stubbornly persist after her. Certainly he could have been bluffing, but Hime wouldn't have taken the chance even if she were the sort to think such suspicious thoughts. A frown tugging at the edges of her muzzle as she buried her face between her muddy paws, uncertain why the question made her empty chest wrench speaking into the ground in a tiny voice not really meant for anyone else to hear. ...mi-miserable? I'm.. a miserable person.
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