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 Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 9:30 pm
Satomei breathed deeply, enhaling the air that smelt different than the pride land's air. It was crisper in some way, filled with scents that she had never smelt before. Her eyes wanted to close, but she knew better. She was out on her own, for the moment but she knew her Uncle would probably find her sooner or later, frustrated at her for sneaking off. The elder cheetah had stopped to talk to someone, probably to recruit the other back into the pride with them, and Satomei had used that moment to sneak away. Now, she wasn't particulary rebelious, and she never had been but this, this was a chance of a lifetime.
She had never been out into the rogue lands and, if she wasn't her Uncle's niece, she probably never would have been allowed out. Her Uncle had noticed her sullen nature within the pride and had wanted to cheer her up and make her realise the rogue lands weren't all that great a place, so had proposed to take her with him while he was out scouting for new members. It had thrilled her and her mother - who hadn't been too keen to start with - had let her go, it was such an opportunity.
The pale leotah was smiling to herself, a relaxed look on her face as she explored her environment. She was curious of everything, the rock that smelt like the slave in the pride - the lioness Matope who was odd but seemed friendly enough - and the birds which chirpped like birds she couldn't see, though they had to be there. She had to take it all in, because her uncle could storm over and snatch her back to the pride at any minute.
She glanced back over her shoulder at that thought, before giggling a little, spotting no sight of him nearby. Freedom was an odd thing to feel, and perhaps she was wrong to feel it about the rogue lands, but in the pride, everyone knew who she was, out here she was just another cub. She batted at a rock, before chasing after it as it rolled away.
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Posted: Thu Jan 06, 2011 11:00 am
Life was his, a puddle of water at his paws, a rabbit in his jaws! He had been running for the sheer love of it, and not even looking back. Oh, it wasn't that he didn't love his family. But for Ruu, they were not his end-all. No, his life was out here somewhere, in the big wide world, on his own! He knew he should have been heavy of heart the moment he set off at a dash away from his mother and father, leaving behind what sibs chose to stay at that time, but he hadn't. No, his heart had soared!
For many days he'd simply flung himself whatever direction seemed good, slowing to a trot only when his lungs heaved and his tongue curled in a heavy, open-mouthed pant. For a while his paws had been sore, bleeding at night when he rested. But he'd been running long enough now that they had developed thick, protective callouses. His body had grown more muscular too, fine-tuning to a long and lean bundle of muscle. He wasn't fully developed as yet, still with some growing to do, so he ended up looking quite gangly. Still, the travelling had done him more good than harm.
He also had a a still very cubbish fascination with bugs. He tended to be a bit embarassed about it around adults, but when alone he gleefully would chase thie one or that one, never killing it, but always examining them, laughing at them, or mimicking them. Flying insects were his favorites, and today he was merrily chasing a fleet butterfly that was darting about on the errant wind. Heedless of everything else around him, he leapt first this way, then that way, ducking when the breeze suddenly blew it back at him. He leapt again, twisting in mid-air, taking off after it again.
This was the manner in which he came into view of the younger female cheetah. He was completely unaware of her presence, even though the swiftly changing wind occasionally brought her scent to him, as it likewise took his scent to her. No, he was entirely caught up in frolicking with the brightly colored flutter that he endeavored to keep always directly in front of himself.
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Posted: Sun Jan 30, 2011 3:43 pm
Satomei had not been prepared for the sight of the cheetah bounding into view, having caught his scent once or twice but shrugging it off as the myriad of other scents drifting around the rogue lands. As he burst into view, she stumbled backwards, fearing an attack but soon realised he barely noticed she was there. Instead, he was chasing...a butterfly? She looked suddenly amused, but quickly ducked behind something, so as to avoid his gaze for the moment.
He was older than her, but not by much it seemed. He was differently coloured and - having grown up around her mother, uncle and aunt - knew that he was a full cheetah, not a halfblood like she was.
So rogue cheetahs did exist. She had only ever met cheetahs in her pride, and never seen a rogue, unless they were joining the Kuroi. She took the time to study him, watching as he played with the bug. What a weird habit, she decided, before glancing back over her shoulder, to where her Uncle most likely was. He was far enough away that he would not see her if she interacted with the boy.
She was curious. What was it like being a rogue?
She stepped out from her hiding place - a scrawny looking bush that did little to hide her but had allowed her some pretence shelter.
"Hello?" She called out to him, but was unsure whether he had heard her. She felt...nervous, though she knew her uncle would save her, if things turned bad. No one would be able to save her uncle from her mother if she got hurt though, she thought and took a step back, just as a precaution.
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Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 12:54 pm
Intent as he was on his 'prey', his hearing was quite sharp. Thought quietly spoken, the greeting got his full attention in an instant. With a startled chirp he spun completely around in mid-air, butterfly forgotten. For a moment he stood stock still, staring in surprise at the smaller, pale colored female before him. Then he relaxed into a huge grin and collapsed into a sideways roll, flipping himself over to his other side and then sitting up again with a laugh.
"Oh hello!" he cried enthusiastically. "I'm sorry I didn't see you there. I hope I didn't frighten you with my gyrations." In retrospect, he probably looked like he'd lost his mind, traipsing about like that. "My name is Ruu! What's yours?" He still retained all his natural cubbish charm and sparkle, none of the energy lost that infected most youngsters. He paused to examine her a little closer, thinking she seemed a bit young to be wandering on her own just yet. "You aren't in trouble, are you?" Though tentative, his concern was quite real. Trouble for her meant firstly that she needed rescuing, but also meant therefor it would be trouble for him too. Was it time to get serious?
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:32 pm
Satomei was amused when the male seemed to turn mid-air, obviously startled by her appearance, like she had when he'd appeared. She startled when he collapsed, watching him roll and stand again with a playful ease. Well, he certainly seemed friendly.
She drew her attention to his words when he began to speak, keeping a careful ear tuned into his tone, in case it turned threatening, but it seemed as enthusiastic and friendly as he was. She relaxed a little. "You didn't frighten me," she protested, determined to not look weak and tilted her jaw up slightly, but relaxed again when he offered his name. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ruu," she said formally, like her Uncle had taught her, but with a somewhat shy smile. "I'm Satomei." She shifted, surprised at how carefree he was. Were all rogues like this? So...happy?
"Trouble?" She repeated, glancing behind her as if expecting to see a charging rhino or something, but saw nothing. For a moment, she was confused - but realised that perhaps young girls didn't travel on their own in the rogue lands. She walked on her own all the time in her pridal homelands. "Oh, no. I'm fine. I'm just out for a walk with my Uncle. He's...nearby, I'm sure," she said firmly, knowing he was no where in sight but if she screamed, he'd be there in a heartbeat.
She peered at him. "Are you a rogue?" She asked, unable to contain her curiousity.
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Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 10:00 am
She had a lovely, expressive face! He watched it avidly, with a grin of pleasure on his own face. He liked seeing the different thoughts shown visibly without guile or shielding. He smiled more at her formal introduction and name, all mismatched with his casual style, but somehow not clashing either. He looked behind her when she did, expecting to perhaps see someone coming after her, but chuckled as he realized she'd merely been wondering if he'd seen something she hadn't. They'd made each other look!
He looked behind her again though when she said she was with her uncle. Nope, no uncle in sight, but he didn't doubt her word. It just meant she'd wandered out of her uncle's sight. That still could be trouble, but of a different sort, one that didn't worry Ruu nearly so much. Angry uncles for such a sweet little thing as this couldn't be all that bad, could they?
Her next question surprised a bark of laughter out of him. Well now, there were two ways to take that, but as she was so young, he assumed she meant that he didn't have a pride or coalition he was part of. She was likely too young to know what the other sort of rogue was, the kind that mothers feared their daughters would meet. He took a moment to ponder if he was that sort of rogue or not, but swiftly discarded the contemplation in favor of answering her.
"Yes I am!" he chirped, giving a little joyful hop in place. "My parents raised me and my siblings out here in the roguelands, traveling and seeing the world." Granted, they'd steered clear of any prides, so he really didn't have much of an idea about the peoples who chose a single place to stay. He did learn a lot about the wilds though. "I am guessing you, young lady, are not a rogue!" He gave her his charming smile, eyes sparkling merrily.
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Posted: Fri Sep 16, 2011 1:00 am
Satomei waited for his answer with her head tilted and eyes pensive as they watched him. Rogues were odd, she mused, if this boy was to go by but he didn't ...bad odd, just odd. Perhaps she was just so used to the males of the pride and they were certainly different from him.
She listened as he spoke, fascinating to hear that he had traveled and saw the world all his life. Her eyes went wide and she peered at him, mouth slightly open in surprise. “Really? That sounds amazing!” She blurted out. “You must have seen so many sights!”
His question surprised her, though it really shouldn't have. Oops! What had her uncle told her? Not to tell anyone about the pride! And what did she do? She asked somehow about their pride lives, knowing they would ask about hers. Stupid! “Yes,” she said, not wanting to lie. “But it's not near here.” She didn't want him to find out where the pride was! Auntie Nyoka would kill her if she gave away the location of the pride.
But...he didn't seem mean, so maybe it wouldn't matter if she did. She gave him a slight, shy smile in response to his smile.
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Posted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:21 pm
"Ooooh, so you are traveling right now too!" His answer was gleeful, one adventurer sharing delight with another. "I suppose I might have seen things you haven't," he added with a pause for thought. "I never really thought about it. I've seen lots of different places... waterfalls and rivers, mountains and deserts, forests with huge trees and plains with no trees at all!" He did a little dance in place, waving his paws animatedly as he described the myriad locations. "I met a lot of other people too, though my parents were very careful about who we got to talk to. Some people we avoided." He leaned forward and said in a conspiratorial whisper, "There are some real bad characters out here, you know!" He winked at her and sat up again. "But I always had my mum and dad to protect me. Now of course I'm on my own."
He again paused, a little more seriously this time. "I haven't met anyone dangerous yet, but if I do...," he trailed off as if uncertain of what to say next. Predictably though he brightened right away and slapped a paw on the ground emphatically. "I know! I'll run away!" He pinned his ears back and mimed running his fastest, which soon turned into him bounding in place, eyes rolling and tongue lolling out in a caricture of what he'd look like running away. He finally broke out laughing and fell to his side, breathless with his antics. "It's good that you have your uncle to ptotect you," he finally concluded. "Being alone out here and so little isn't a good thing." Oddly, he felt a strong urge to stick around until her uncle showed up again, just to be sure she didn't have to face things alone. He shook it off as just common sense, and grinned up at her from the ground. "So why are you out here anyway?"
Satomei tilted her head, looking contemplative. “I suppose we are travelling, but I don’t know for how long,” she admitted. She doubted they would get too far, Nanashi hadn’t planned any long distance voyages, just a short trip to the rogue lands. She doubted her mother would have agreed to much else. Her eyes went wide at his descriptions, bouncing on her paws a little at the sounds of all those scenes. “That sounds amazing,” Satomei gasped, though she soon looked curious. “Bad characters?” She scrunched up her face in thought. “But…Uncle said Mama was more ferocious than anything in the roguelands.” Admittedly, that comment had been to emphasise her mother’s ferociousness, not the gentleness of other rogues, but as a cub, Satomei hadn’t been exposed to that side of her mother.
She giggled at his silly running on the spot, her eyes dancing. She bounced on her paws a little, unable to stop her laughter until he fell over. “I hope you actually move when you try to run away from those people!” She giggled out, grinning childishly. She’d known he was running on the spot on purpose, but still. She frowned a bit. “I can protect myself!” She fluffed up. “I always beat my brother in fights!” Not that her and Hikaru fought. Neither of them liked it. She hesitated. “Though my sister Kanie always beats me. She bites too hard.” She pouted. “Oh, uh,” she paused, realising she would have to side-step the truth again. Gosh, this trip was a good practice in lying! “Uncle needed to go on a trip to meet some people, and I always wanted to see more of the rougelands , so he let me come along.” It was a very, very broad summary of their plans, but it wasn’t really a lie, so Satomei smiled.
He looked at her askance as she declared her uncle and mother as more ferocious than anything else alive. "Have you ever met a grown up lion?" he asked skeptically. After all, had she not just said she was a pride girl, and not used to the roguelands? Wouldn't he know better than she? But then she fluffed herself with the insistence that she could hold her own, and he burst out laughing. It wasn't a cruel, mocking laugh, but a tickled and outrageous laugh. He could just see this little fluffy, sweet female facing off with a giant of a lion, or a pack of hyenas, and scaring them away with her cuteness. He chuffed and gave her a swift cheekrub of affection. "Aye, we could hold off a whole pride, you and I, eh?" His grin was teasing, but invited her to join him in the illusion, rather than criticising her for her statement.
"Your uncle sounds like an interesting fellow," he replied at her explination. "If you stick with him, it sounds like you will learn much more about the roguelands than you know." His smile was warm, eyes dancing, his whole demeanor joyful. "Maybe you'll like it so much, you'll come be a rogue too." He chirped a laugh at the idea that came next. "Perhaps you'll be a rogue, and we'll meet out here in the wide, open lands! Can you imagine that?" He grinned at her and got up, shaking his fur out, pausing to swiftly clean dust off his flank. Had to keep his white fur white!
Satomei shot him a look, as if to say ‘of course!’ “Grunt Matope is a lion,” she explained. “They’re not that scary.” Not that Satomei would hang around Matope on her own. Her uncle didn’t seem to mind the lioness, but something about her scared Satomei a little. Just a little. “And Enzi’s a cheeton, so I’ve been around lions before.” Well, not full grown male lions, but that didn’t really matter, did it? What difference were males to females? Matope was scary at times, but she wasn’t dangerous. Satomei went a little pink under her fur at the cheekrub, lowering her eyes and giving an embarrassed smile, but her smile grew to a grin at his words. “They’d be the ones running away in fear,” she agreed, with her bright smile firmly on her face.
“Uncle Nanashi is great,” Satomei enthused. “Mama doesn’t like me spending too much time with him, but he’s very clever and teaches me all about the pride, as well as the rogue lands.” She looked horrified at the idea of becoming a rogue though. “Oh no! I could never leave Mama,” she blurted out, eyes wide. “My siblings and me are all Mama has, not including my uncles. She’d be heartbroken if any of us left.” She shook her head, firmly. She’d never leave Aiko, not for good. She paused though, tilting her head. “But…maybe we could meet again on another of my visits,” she announced brightly instead. She liked the boy, he was funny. Surely it wouldn’t be too hard to find him again on one of her future trips? The rogue lands couldn’t be that big, she’d be fine.
He frowned slightly and opened his mouth to ask what had happend to her da, but shut it again as it occurred to him that it might not be something for talking to strangers about. If he'd lost his da, would he want to tell someone he'd just met? Not very likely. So he bypassed that issue with a clear concience, moving on to more positive topics. "Yes, I suppose I could come back by here someday!" His tail waved excitedly and he beamed brightly. "It wouldn't be too hard to find my way back. I've been all over, it seems like, but there is always somewhere new to discover!" He pranced about in a circle, as if exploring the wide, wide roguelands. "I've heard of a coalition of cheetahs somewhere, and I plan on checking them out. I don't mean to stay there, though. I just would like to visit." He paused to smile at Satomei. "Maybe I could visit your pride sometime! Perhaps next time I visit!" For some reason the idea of exploring the home of this bright new playmate was very appealing. "Maybe even now, come to think of it! I don't have anything else to do. Would your uncle mind a tagalong?" His excitement was innocent and all ignorant of the fact that she'd been trying to keep her origins from him. How was he to know it was a secret where she lived?
Satomei grinned . He’d come back passed this area? She scanned it, trying to memorise it, so she could come back someday too, but since she lived in a pride for so long, she wasn’t completely confident in her skills at direction. She’d ask her uncle, she decided. “You can tell me all about your travels when we meet again, tell me all the places you’ve seen since I saw you last,” she encouraged enthusiastically. Well, if she could travel on her own, then she could enjoy his stories at least. She blinked, tensing at the coalition of cheetah idea, hesitating. Was he talking about the Kuroi’nera? No, they weren’t known to rogues, unless one of the pridal members was taking them back to the pride, and even then, they couldn’t just walk up.
At his question of visiting, her eyes went wide. Oh! “No!” she blurted out, “I mean, I don’t think Uncle would be okay with that! It’s, uh…” Oh, how did she explain it without hurting his feelings?
“And just what wouldn’t I be okay with, Satomei?” Nanashi’s voice came from not far away, the dark figure stalking towards the pair. His face was cold, but his eyes hard as they glanced at Ruu, as if demanding to know why he was standing so close to his niece, and why he wasn’t backing away from her right now?
Upon catching sight (and hearing) of the famed uncle, Ruu's eyes got a bit big, and he sat abruptly, his spine straight and his manners at their best. "Greetings sir," he said respectfully to the grown male. "I was just asking your niece if I could come visit your pride." It was said plainly, simply, without his previous silliness or excitement. It was a bald statement of fact. He invented several ways to explain why he wanted to come visit, but with the stern glare directed at him, he had a feeling they'd all be taken the wrong way. He cleared his throat uneasily, but continued to turn on his natural charm. "She has told me much about you, sir. You sound like a very interesting person, one I am glad to meet. My name is Ruushan. My family are nomadic rogues, but of good reputation." Why that should suddenly come out of his mouth, or why he thought it should matter, he couldn't have said, but it seemed like the right thing to say. Why did it feel so important to impress and reassure her uncle? He dismissed the puzzle as something to mull over later. For now... what would the uncle actually say about a visit? A glance at Satomei told him she was certain about a negative answer, but she at least didn't look afraid of the intimidating cheetah male. That was something at least!
Nanashi flicked his gaze over the younger cheetah, pleased that it was a cheetah at least and not some lion that his niece was befriending. He had no real problem with the lion species, but Nyoka would not be pleased if Satomei came back speaking of her new ‘friend’. His comments of his family caused Nanashi to raise a brow and then glance back at his niece. She was only a Juve, and she’d already got males hanging around her. She really was Aiko’s daughter! He almost wanted to laugh, but it wasn’t really funny, so he glanced back at Ruu.
“No,” Nanashi said bluntly, almost regretful as he caught sight of his niece’s fallen expression. “If you enter our pride, you may never leave. I doubt a nomad such as yourself would appreciate the restriction.” Well, not exactly true, but leaving the Kuroi’nera was never an easy process, not after the secrets of the pride had been shared. Plus, he doubted Satomei would be too pleased to see him knock her ‘friend’ unconscious and drag him back to the pride, as he’d be required to do. “It’s a matter of security.”
Satomei knew what her uncle’s answer would be, but her face still fell at those words. She heaved a gentle sigh, casting Ruu a sad look. “Told you,” she mumbled, sighing. She glanced up at her uncle with a wide-eyed look. “But I could come back out and visit Ruu sometime, couldn’t I?” Her eyes got as big as they could get, knowing her Uncle’s weakness for that look.
Nanashi blinked…damn! Why did he constantly underestimate Aiko’s daughter? He wanted to groan. “Perhaps. If your mother agrees.” One look at those big eyes, of course Aiko would agree, especially if Satomei said it was about a boy.
He was quite honestly baffled by the refusal due to... security? He glanced between the two quizzically, but did not ask. If they wouldn't even let him visit briefly because it would make the pride unsecure, then why would they tell him how he would be a breach of security? Something warned him away from this situation. Whatever this pride was, it wasn't something he wanted to be part of, no siree! He actually backed several steps away at the news that he'd have to come and stay permenantly, if he came at all. His hide shuddered. No, this was not for him!
However, at least it sounded like he might be able to see his new friend again sometime, without needing to remain in one place forever. This cheered him up, and he gave a soft chirp of pleasure. "Thank you sir, please give her mother my regards!" Goodness, this girl brought out the oddest things in him! It was high time to be on his way, to get some distance so he could think over events. "I think I'd best be moving on," he said cautiously, sending a wary look at the male, and a last grin at Satomei. "I promise I'll be back by some day. We'll meet again. I'm sure of it." With a last churr of friendliness, he backed away, then leapt in the air, spun in mid-air, and shot off in a random direction, away from the direction she and her uncle had come from. Oh yes, this encounter was going to be on his mind for a long, long while.
“Bye Ruu!” Satomei called out childishly, grinning after him, though sad to see him leave. She was glad that he was so sure that they would meet again. It made her happy to think that she’d run into him again, and bounced on her feet a little, giggling as he leapt into the air and spun, disappearing off at a run. He was fun, she decided, before glancing back at her Uncle, repentant as she saw his disapproving look.
“Uhm, sorry?” She said, sheepishly, giving him those wide eyes again.
Nanashi was a fearless leader. He had seen people die, had done plenty of bad things to protect his family, and he would do them again – but one look into those gentle, sorrowful eyes and he sighed. “Just…don’t tell your mother you snuck away so easily,” Nanshi grumbled, leaning down to pick the juvenile up, settling her on his back for the walk back to the pride. “It’s embarrassing how easily you get away from me these days.” He gave a half smile as he heard his niece giggle, but kept tense and wary, in case the male circled back and revealed himself as dangerous. Just because Satomei was so trusting of the stranger she had met, didn’t mean that Nanashi would let his guard down.
- f i n -
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