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 Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:47 am
 Wastelands. That was all the rogue lands truly were to him. It is an unforgiving, unbiased place where you have to fight to survive or face death as a consequence. There are no free passes or restarts in this world, it was all bases on experience and how fast one might learn.
Stalking the waters close by, Lopo waited for any movement, finding it strange that there was nothing on the banks next to the water, and all birds were hiding themselves in trees above. What lurked in the muddy depths? Was it a large reptile, or a short tempered hippo?
Moving a bit closer to the edge Lopo look hold of a decent sized stick and threw it in the water. An audible snap came soon after as the crocodile surfaced. That answered his question then, and without a second glance he moved away from the bank, following it in hopes that it might branch out or perhaps shallow up. Nothing could hide itself if the water was too low, and although it tasted worse when drank, the water would be safe.
He had gone for a few days without drinking much and could feel both his body and skin sag as he moved. Nourishment. He needed to find some, and hopefully a decent place to hide during the day as well. Night was soon over after all…
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:49 am
 Shaka could never seem to find her way around this place she came to know as home. Everything in this land always looked so much bigger then she knew it was. This place was so massive and part of her felt so small with each step she took. Maybe it was just her mind playing tricks on, but somehow she always felt that when she walked anywhere in these lands. "I need to stop thinking that way," she whispered quietly to herself. As she put her face to the sky and attempted to put a smile on her face. Sure they were barren, vast, and crowded lands but there had to be something good out there. One day she'd hopefully find it but for now she just needed a drink of water. For her throat was beginning to feel parched and her body a bit weak. She was running out of energy at steady pace, so with the last of her energy she looked around and spotted some nearby water. It looked a bit dirty but water was water after all. So slowly she took a step and walked in the direction of the water not even noticing someone else was near its edge.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:55 am
Lopo stared at the leopard before him, confused as to how she could so easily ignore all threats and even him in the area. Yes, the river was small and the water now shallow, but what of the other creatures around her. The snake that was likely to be venomous close by the waters, and the evil looking bird with its hooked beak and beady angry eyes.
“You might want to watch your step before it becomes a fatal one.” He voice was even and monotone, his eyes cold and unforgiving. He didn’t want to see the leopardess fall into the trap nature had set up for her. That would ruin his thirst and appetite.
Moving closer to the edge he examined the leopardess, gathering information on her state of mind and body. It seemed to him that she was also having difficulty with in life. Then again her actions already proved her inexperience.
“If you do not want death to befall you then follow me. Water and safety should be further down.”
His back was already facing her as he continued up the stream, the promise of the waters splitting becoming more and more evident.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:57 am
The moment Shaka heard a voice speak to her she jumped back a tiny step. "Where on earth was that voice coming from," she thought quietly to herself as she looked forward towards the water’s edge. The moment she did she noticed what looked to be a male of her same species. He was so strong looking, that part of her wondered how on earth had she not noticed him. As he came closer towards her she looked more towards him. While she was overlooking the person she had not seen, she accidentally looked directly in his eyes. The moment their eyes met she could tell he wasn't like others she had seen around the lands. He seemed distant almost, though then again she knew she might be reading too much into it. She slowly responded ”...I should?" She began wondering what on earth she had to watch out for. Was it not only the two of them out here; were there others she couldn't spot? As she heard him speak once more she nodded and said the first thing that came to her mind, "Okay… thank you." That was all she said as she ran up closer behind him and followed him closely to where ever he may be leading them.
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Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:28 am
Lopo didn’t respond to her questioning, as she obviously hadn’t noticed the danger below and half expected her to over react if he had pointed out the snake and cruel looking bird. Hell, he was starting to pity her with how quickly she attached to him at the order. What if he had been looking to steal her away, break her, rape her and cause her to harm? Did she not think that far ahead? Sighing audibly he turned to look over his shoulder.
“You are young and new to the lands aren’t you?” His paws continued up stream, the water clearing up as it split into two places. Yup, he had been right. Stopping suddenly he looked towards the sky, looking for signs of life between the two. Birds, they were all over the stream to the left. No predators would be around there… while the right… seems eerily quiet. Danger was surely ahead.
“I believe the left is the best path to take. Do you know why?” He was schooling her already. Why did he always do that? He needed to kick the habit already. Creatures didn’t deserve help; they needed to learn on their own like he had.
“…Or… maybe you don’t. Whatever the case may be I promise safety with this stream.” Picking himself up quickly he crossed the shallow waters to his destination, the outline of trees starting to come into view as the crystal clear water glistened underfoot.
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Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2011 9:10 pm
Shaka followed the new person at first in silence, that was until he spoke to her. She was happy he was talking to her even if it was just a little, it was better then the rest of the people in these lands. Since she had been out here for a few days and no one said one word to her. "Yeah I am new to these lands, I've only been out here for a few days now," she said with a kind voice realizing she had almost forgot to reply. She had to remember to stop getting lost in her own thoughts. That was right she had to keep all her attention on him, with a nod she looked at him and waited for him to speak again.
Until he did though she slowly walked behind him, next to the waters edge. She looked around and started to wondered where on earth were they at she had never been around here before. Then she watched as she came up to the split, she jerked her head upward and looked at both ways. In her mind the safest route looked to be the silent one. So peaceful and quiet it didn't seem like anyone was there.
"The left is the right path? Weird I was thinking the left would be," she said as she tried to think why it was best. "Um well thank you! An I guess because there are more signs of life that way and the left there are no signs of life?" she guessed though was kind of unsure of her answer. As she quickly crossed the shallow waters after him.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 10:14 pm
Already a fair distance away from the leopardess he just smiled to himself. Silly creature she was, so green when it came to living, though he was rather curious as to how she survived thus far without the knowledge of the lands. Was luck truly on her side?
Taking a look over his shoulder he waited for his new company to catch up. “You are correct. There is always a reason for silence, and even though I do enjoy the quiet, I rather be berated by noise than dead.”A soft smile fell on his face for a moment, before quickly dying.
“I am Lopo by the way, and also very interested in your story. Do tell me where you have been. Are you part of a pride?”
He was sitting rather stiffly, chest puffed out and muscles aching to be used. Yet, it looks as if that was something normal of him to do. Constantly be on guard even though there seems to be no reason to do so.
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 10:50 pm
Shaka began to almost speed up in order to try and keep up with her current travel companion. This new person was definitely different, he seemed to think of everything almost completely different than she did. Was there a reason for his way of thought, part of her wondered as she looked straight ahead at him.
Drawn out of her thought by his voice she listened. The moment she heard him say she was right, she almost tripped over her own feet. "I am ... " she said astonished never before had she been told that before. "Well yay and oh i see. Well I agree I'd rather be in a louder area, than one that is dead silent," she smiled softly as she finished speaking. As she was looking towards him once again she could swear she saw him smile, even if was just for a moment. It looked like he had a nice smile to, if only he would use it more she thought silently.
"Its nice to travel with you Lopo, I'm Shaka. An well my story isn't anything that exciting," she replied a little nervous,"Though I sure I can tell you it."
"I was raised by my grandparents in the outskirts of some pride. They were really happy leopards, I think it was cause' they loved each other so much. They were a tale of two leopards who shouldn't have ever liked each other but did," she said with a giggle trying to remember their faces in her mind before continuing, "...Though it was only a few months ago, they told me I needed to go out and see the world. So I started just wandering the lands, not knowing where I was going. I'd fall asleep in different open areas every night, and by day I just chose some random direction to go in. I've been so many unknown places I lost track to be honest."
As she finished her story, she looked towards him and noticed he looked a little stiff. Was this his way of being happy or content? "Though whats your story, Lopo?"
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Posted: Tue May 03, 2011 11:30 pm
Raising a brow at the leopardess he had to hold back a laugh when she nearly tripped over her own feet. It was only a compliment after all. Why get so worked up about it? Brown eyes watched her, glittering, amusement showing through. “It makes you feel alive.” Bowing down quickly, Lopo took a drink in the clear water, birds and butterflies also sipping at the peaceful stream. The waters were cool and crisp, much better than the mudded waters further downstream.
Sighing with pleasure Lopo looked back up to the leopardess, Shaka, his ears standing at attention at the mention of her story. Why was she suddenly nervous though? Was she on the run perhaps? Sharp eyes stared directly into hers before he spoke. “All stories are worth something. Never doubt them; they made what you are today after all.”
As she told him her story relief washed over him, she was just sheltered as a child. Not running away from something, not a post captive of the human clans. She was green, and only green.
“I must say, I am relieved at what you have told me.” Attention all focused on her, if he moved it was only to get a better view of her. “Though it does sadden me some that you have just been randomly travelling. It almost seems unkind of your family to just throw you to the wind. Perhaps I shall take you under my wing… If only for a little while.”
Eyes widened suddenly as she requested his own story. No one had ever asked him something like that. Especially someone so new. “Perhaps I shall tell you at a later date. Right now… We should find shelter.” Eyes wandered up to the sky, they had been there for some time, and even if you arrive safe, you may leave unsafe. “Shall we then? My home is not too far from here.”
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Posted: Wed May 04, 2011 12:11 am
Shaka nodded he was right it did make a person feel alive. Since her story was now told she bowed down and took a drink of the refreshing water. The water was delicious, the perfect thing to have after a fay of walking and much conversation.
As she lifted her head she listened as he spoke about her story, she hoped he hadn't thought it to boring. Though with the words he spoke he seemed to have kinda liked it, or was that just her imagination? As his body and eyes focused more on her, she listened more intensively knowing he must be about to say something important.
Never in life was she prepared to hear what came out of his mouth. He seemed to be worried about her even if it was just a little bit. She looked towards him and smiled a smile of gratitude. In her whole life no one had ever been worried for her before, especially someone she had just met. "It might seem like that, but they had good intentions I promise. I mean I wasn't their child after all," she spoke before continuing,"...though you would do that for me?" She moved a tad bit closer to him to see if he was really serious. Inside she really hoped he was since even though she wouldn't admit it, it would be great to have someone else beside you and to not be so alone.
The answer to her question surprised her though, and made her curious what kind of past he had lived. Though she didn't ask any question and just nodded, "I would like if you would sometime, and I believe we should. Since it'd be nice to rest my legs a bit." So this was the area he lived in, she thought as she looked him up and down. Did he live alone all the way out here, like she traveled alone in the wilderness? Questions bubbled in her mind as she pounced a little in front of him, so that she didn't fall behind again.
All in all this Leopard Lopo was so full of mystery that it made her curious, and want to know all she could about him. It looked like she actually might have a chance too. An who knew maybe he as lost as she was. or he just might be what she had been really looking for while wandering out in these lands.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 4:32 pm
When she responded, all Lopo could do was shake his head. He didn’t agree with their teaching methods, but wouldn’t make her feel any more awkward. “Maybe they did…” His voice was a bit distant as his paws suddenly sunk into the rocky waterbed he was travelling through. “And possibly?” Looking back at her he couldn’t help but smirk. “Depends.”
Yes he was teasing her a little bit, but it was amusing him, and to top it off, it seemed to amuse her. Well at least he thought it did. Slowing down a touch he kept flicking his gaze back to her then on the trail ahead. The would have to travel west some, to a thick cluster of bushes that he had made his makeshift home.
“Well then, if you can keep up I shall keep a promise of telling you a little about myself.” Perhaps he would make a game of it. She would learn something about the lands from him, then something about himself. He couldn’t just leave the female out in the lands like her grandparents had. He had some sort of conscience in his being after all. “It will be a little bit before we get to my lands, almost the time of the sun, but surely keeping this pace will get us there before then.”
Perhaps he was happy. With the spring he had in his step, or perhaps that was a limp, but he still seemed to be happy. No longer roaming wild without much worth. He had someone to train now, something to work for again.
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Posted: Sat May 07, 2011 5:05 pm
Shaka couldn't help but smile when he said maybe. She knew he probably didn't believe what she was saying to be true, since she hardly believed it herself but it was nice that he didn't outright say he didn't. With a eased heart she listened to his next reply, and could tell from the look on his face he was having some fun.
With a giggle and soft smirk of her own, she decided to play along with him. "Oh ... Depends on what?" she said in a innocent like voice as she looked up towards him. She awaited his answer as she gathered up her speed and tried to catch up with where he was ahead of her.
As she finally caught up with where he was, she heard him mention a deal of sorts. To her it seemed like a simple matter, all she had to do with make sure not to fall behind and she could learn something about him. So she just had to last until they reached his home, that didn't sound to hard she had decided in her mind. "I say its a deal then! Since I really would love to learn more about you, I mean ... since we are traveling together from the looks of it," she said with her own smirk growing. It was nice to have someone with her, and let alone it felt good not to have someone just throw her to the curb. She was so used to people just leaving her to find her own way, that inside she was beginning to feel more at peace. Something inside her felt like maybe this guy was different then all the others in her life...
Slowly she left her thoughts and looked back at him. "I see, well that doesn't sound to far away and with the pace were going I think we might actually beat the time of the sun," she said with a nod of her head. Part of herself hoped that she was right, since she wasn't exactly sure how long she could keep up this pace they were at. Her legs already were starting to feel a little like jelly and her breath was beginning to grow slightly heavy.
I can't break our deal, she thought to herself deciding that no matter how tired she got. She wouldn't fall, since she truly was too curious about this guy's past.
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