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 Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 9:55 am
 It wasn't her fault, Gabby told herself.
It simply wasn't her fault....
He wouldn't be angry, would he? No, he wouldn't blame her, she was sure...
...She wasn't sure, but she...well, it was too late. She had already decided. She was already in position.
She was going to sneak in.
Orange eyes seeming wider and brighter than the sun, the wild dog was crouched and camouflaged in a wide cluster of dry shrubs, their sharp, hard sticks poking into her skin, painfully in some places. But that didn't phase her. She was focused as an assassin, breathing quiet and body not moving an inch. And there she remained, watchful and alert, entirely absorbed in the task at hand.
She would get in. She had to see him. She had to know if...if he was okay, that was all. Maybe he needed something, but he couldn't get to her? Or maybe he had talked about a meeting place, but she hadn't heard? Oh, gods, if she...if she hadn't heard...she could ruin everything. She had to see him. She had to know. It was her job.
Well...well, aside from my job, I...
...I...
Eyes clouding over and lips seeming to quiver, the wild dog bent her head down, pressing her forehead hard into the ground. She took several deep, trembling breaths to calm herself. When she finally raised her head, her expression was sharp once more. She let her body sink into the feel of the earth and the sticks that pressed against her, mentally becoming one with her surroundings. She sank in, letting her eyes move where they wished, watching for the right moment to slip through--waiting for a lapse in the defense...
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 3:31 pm
Kichee had told him a few times to try to make noise when he walked and he just hadn't been able to master it. He was so used to trying -not- to step in dirty that he'd started walking softly and lightly and despite his companions complaints hadn't stopped. He always felt bad when he accidently snuck up on Kichee but ... well he didn't know what else to do.
So in light of that he'd been watching a mottled female trying to decide something while he patrolled the borders to help his friend. He wasn't quite sure what she was up to but it looked kind of interesting.
"Is there food? Is that why you're crouched like that?" His head tipped to the side as he watched the female. Maybe she didn't know there was a pride here.
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Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2010 6:24 pm
So consumed by her own concentration, Gabby had been careless.
She hadn't smelled anyone approaching--hadn't heard the steps. She hadn't noticed. She'd been careless.
She made--...she made a mistake.
Pupils thin as grass blades, the wild dog seized upwards with a sharp, desperate-sounding gasp, spun around, and gazed upon the face that the voice belonged to.
Every part of Gabby began to register what had just happened and what she was seeing. There was a wild dog, a male, brown pelt, gold eyes, puzzled expression--was he a member of the Mzawa'kondo? Was he an enemy? Or was he a neutral party? His face said he was confused, so he...he didn't know she was an enemy? Stranger or foe? Pride member or rogue? Stranger or foe? Stranger or foe?
What was she supposed to do?!
Panting quickly through her black nose in distress, ears folded back and eyes wavering frantically, the female took a few steps back, mind raging like a hornet's nest. If only Nukta were--NO, she had to...she had to do this herself! She could handle this, she could. It was up to her to conceal the plot. She could do it, she could!
She didn't...need anyone!
"Y-yes...!" Gabby said, her voice cracking. She cleared her throat faintly and swallowed, taking a deep breath in a poor attempt to calm her startled nerves. "I was hungry, and I thought I smelled...something." she explained meekly.
What was going to happen, what was going to happen?
She felt sick.
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Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:45 pm
She was certainly acting really weird for there being food around. "Does food make you that nervous? I couldn't have scared you that bad ... i don't scare anyone." He was pretty sure that if any of the pride members did so much as say 'boo' to him he'd jump half out of his skin.
"I'd be careful though." He grinned. "There's a pride here and they don't take well to strangers. So i don't think they'd like it if someone was taking their food"
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 8:40 am
Oh, no...
Gabby blinked nervously, avoiding meeting the other wild dog's gaze. Her heart was beating so fast and so strangely that the female suddenly feared it would somehow split itself in two.
He was questioning her--wondering why it was that she was so frightened. Obviously her "cover" was weak and could be seen through. Of course it could, of course, she knew she couldn't act, she couldn't act in front of anyone...she was weak and easy to read, always fumbling over her words, always with a lowered guard...
She wasn't the tough wild dog messenger Nukta needed.
Eyes welling up with tears, overwhelmed by everything all at once, the wild dog blinked several times and swallowed, body rigid and tail stiff.
"A...p...pride?" Gabby murmured, just above a whisper. "Oh, I was just--I just...thought...perhaps they'd..." she swallowed, throat beginning to tremor. It was all lost. It was already lost. Her next words were leaving her lips even after she realized it was not going to help her case. "...they'd share..."
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Posted: Sun Jul 25, 2010 4:31 pm
"Well .. they share with me, but i'm in the pride ..." So maybe that was different. He wasn't really sure how he was suppose to deal with finding a rogue. Kiche hadn't really told him since he wasn't on guard duty or anything.
"I think i'm suppose to take you back with me, or something though, so maybe if you're really that hungry you can ask when i take you with me?" He smiled. That would be much easier. He could go find one of the Ashikari and they could figure out what to do about the wild dog. "Or if they wont share maybe they can tell you where the other food is. They're not that mean"
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Posted: Tue Jul 27, 2010 8:00 am
Gabby saw the male dog's mouth move as words left him, but her ears felt momentarily filtered of all sound. Her eyes were wide and blank, and her lips were slightly parted, making her look both terrified and pathetic. But there was something else amidst it all--amidst the expression...
Excitement.
Heart pounding in fear and anticipation, the wild dog could only think of Nukta. He filled her mind like a sick poison and made her feel so confused--so absurd. She wasn't supposed to like him, was she? Wasn't it not...allowed? But still, as the words of the other wild dog began to register, ears unfiltered, something in her felt happy to have been caught.
Now she would...she would get to see...
No, no, no, no, NO!
She wasn't supposed to be captured! Her being captured could bring Nukta's plans crashing down in a heartbeat, all because of her. It would be her fault; she would be to blame and everyone would despise her, even--...
But...if she ran away now...she would be chased...and the plan would still be ruined.
So...either way...it wouldn't matter...
...She could...go and see--...
Face pensive and almost consumed by her own thoughts, the female gazed at something invisible beside the other wild dog. Her heart was pounding in her chest and head, blood pumping hotly in her veins. Her paws trembled where she stood and she blinked, eyes coming back into focus to fall upon the wild dog before her.
"I..." she began, swallowing once. She was still unsure of herself--still questioning her decision. But she had been seen. Already, the plan was in jeopardy. She couldn't flee, because the pride would be alerted, and the plan would go to ruin. If she went, she might be able to fake things along a bit and leave, if she played her cards right. But she lacked confidence. She felt she would fail--no, that she had already failed. So if she did fail in that option, the plan would eventually be found out, and the plot would fall. All because of Gabby. It would be her fault.
But what else...could she do?
Maybe she could...try and play along...maybe she could make them thing she really was just a rogue. If she...tried...
"I'd hate to...impose," she said meekly, eyes averted. "So I'd better be on my way, unless you--" she swallowed, "--insist..."
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Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2010 6:39 am
He was really confused as to why she was acting like she was. He wasn't threatening, everyone told him he wasn't, so she couldn't be scared of -him-. Did she dislike lions that much? Did she have some reason to be scared of a bunch of them?
Getting up he padded a few steps around her to set himself between escape and the pride. "i ... well i sorta have to insist. Otherwise i'll have to call an alarm and they won't be nice if i do that." He smiled. "They'll be nice if i just bring you to them though. Easier on both of us."
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Posted: Tue Aug 03, 2010 7:53 am
When the other dog wedged himself between Gabby's choices, showing her only one possible outcome, the female's heart felt cold in her chest. She swallowed, though there was no moisture in her mouth. She blinked rapidly for a few moments before hesitantly meeting the wild dog's eyes. But she looked away again, never wanting to stare into anyone's eyes for too long.
Escape was impossible now. He had showed that to her. Now, all that remained was to do as he said--go with him...into the pride...
Into the enemy territory...
...To Nukta...
Swallowing again, ears folded back, Gabby tried to plaster a friendly smile on her face. Whether she succeeded or failed, she'd never know, but it didn't matter at that point. She was going to be taken into the Mzawa'kondo openly, rather than secretively. She could potentially ruin everything. The very thought made her so frightened and sick that she felt light-headed for a moment, but recovered, and pointed her nose towards the other wild dog once more.
Throat trembling, words trying to crawl out of her throat, Gabby tried and failed to speak a few times. Finally, when she was successful, she said, "All right," with a gentle nod. "I'm--I'm sorry...I've just...never been--..." she rambled softly, unable to complete her thought, but sincerely hoping the male would understand what she was trying to say. Maybe if he believed...if he believed she was only a simple rogue looking for a bit of food--a nice, quiet, obedient rogue wild dog, alone in the world, then maybe...she wouldn't be questioned. Maybe she could get in and get out with no fuss.
Maybe she wouldn't...ruin everything...and let everyone down.
Maybe she wouldn't let Nukta down...
Tail limp, the wild dog tried her friendly smile again and stepped forward to follow the male wild dog into the pride. That was the next step. That was the path before her--there were no other choices. All she could think of was trying her best to act innocent--trying her best to just get in and out with no trouble. If she pulled it off...if she could pull it off, it could work. She could succeed. It was possible. But only time would tell.
Right now, there was only one path before her--following this wild dog into the heart of the Mzawa'kondo.
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