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 Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:06 pm
 The lioness stumbed again. The ground was rough going. No matter how carefully she went, Shukriyya thought she tripped every dozen steps. Back on her feet the red lioness lightly tapped her paw forward. Testing the ground this way was the only way she could move forward without tripping every step.
She could feel the heat of the sun bearing down on her back. Rocks grinding under her paws and the smell of dust in her nostrils. It was nearly impossible for her to find shade herself. Unless she came across it accidently.
Now she was worried about the ground underfoot. Rocky stuff like this usually had cliffs and hoels. She didn't want to find herself falling into another ravine like the one that had caused her blindness. Another step and tapping began with her other paw now.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 7:27 pm
 Esche had been minding his own business laying in the shade under an overhanging rock. He'd been deep in thought, thinking over things that someone had told him recently. It was a heavy topic, one about being alone and scared versus looking for the rays of sunshine peeking through the clouds in life.
The scent of another lion brought Esche back out of his deep thoughts and into the here and now. It seemed to be a lioness who was a little ways off but not too far for Esche to see that she seemed to be having trouble walking. He frowned to himself and wondered if she was ok. The way she was walking was strange to him as he'd never seen another lion walk that way. It was almost like she couldn't tell where she was stepping.
Esche rose to his paws and made his way over towards her. He wanted to help her if he was able. "Hello there!" He called out to her. "Are you alright?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2011 1:53 pm
She was about to take another step. A voice speaking suddenly caught her with her foot raised and she froze. She wasn't alone. No scent came to her. 'Riyya couldn't tell what specie this other was. Her head shifted side to side.
"Who's there?" How she was coming to hate saying that. If she could only see, then she wouldn't have to ask such a stupid question. Shukriyya ignored the question asked of her. Of course she wasn't alright. That was nearly as stupid as her question, but she had to ask it.
Her head dipped slightly as it still scanned back and forth. She was having trouble pinpointing the other's location. It had sounded male, but she wasn't sure.
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 11:20 am
It finally occurred to Esche as he got closer to the lioness that she was blind. She had to be with the way she turned her head around as if trying to find him but being unable to. He stopped near her, but not too close, he didn't want to make her alarmed. "I am Esche." He offered to her. The thought passed through his mind that maybe he should elaborate on that but she hadn't asked what was there, only who, so he left it at his name.
"I am to your left..." Esche hoped it wasn't rude to point out where he was to her. He just felt bad to have her searching and unable to find where he was, though he'd never been in this situation before so he had no idea how he should be acting. His instincts told him he should help her find her way to wherever she was trying to get, maybe even make sure she had a decent meal since surely she couldn't hunt on her own. "I thought maybe you needed some help."
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Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2011 10:52 pm
She confirmed in her mind that the one around was indeed male. Her head turned mostly toward him as he spoke up. It was much easier for her to locate him when he was talking. 'Riyya didn't think he was one to talk much. She tilted her head.
"That depends on what you call help. If you could point me around any large holes that would be alright." She tried to put as much dignity into her words as she could muster. Asking for help, or worse receiving it, was not her strong point. As the once future greatest huntress in her pride, she should be the one offering help.
"I've had enough help from them." She wondered what else he might do for her; or if he'd offered his help with something wicked in mind.
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Posted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 8:57 pm
Esche had to wonder who exactly "them" was. He could only assume that whoever it was, this lioness was tired of them trying to help her or something. It made him more sure that he should tread lightly with this lioness. He could understand that though, to ask someone for help took a form of humility, and he of course had no idea what her story was, if she'd been born as she was, or if something had happened to make her lose her vision.
"I certainly don't mind pointing you around any holes, large or small. Though it would help to know where your goal to reach is. My name is Esche by the way." Luckily Esche had nothing at all wicked in his mind, only a desire to help someone he saw as in need.
Esche's voice came out friendly and gentle, though with no pity in it. It wasn't that her losing her eyesight and wandering alone wasn't something that was worthy of pity to him. It was more that he felt that pitying her would not do her any good. He was helping her because he had received help in times of hardship, and that's part of the reason he was still alive today. He made a point of helping others as a result, feeling it was only right to do the same for others as many had done for him.
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:04 pm
Shukriyya twitched her tail. His voice sounded in no way that he thought himself better than her. Which soothed her slightly. She analyzed her situation slowly. Asking being the last thing she wanted to do; she needed to find a way to suggest what she wanted without asking.
Then he asked about her goal and it brought her up short. What exactly was her goal? First, getting her eye sight back popped immediately into her mind. But that was impossible. Originally she'd been looking for her family. A nasty thought had been crossing her mind the last few days. If she couldn't see, she couldn't hunt. So many times she'd bragged about being the best. Would her family take her back even? If they did, she'd be nothing but a burden.
'Riyya sat feeling lost and alone in her own dark world. What could she do? She didn't want to wander until she died.
"I.... um... I don't know where I'm going anymore. Shukriyya, but you can call me 'Riyya."
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:18 pm
Esche could read the sadness in the lionesses's face, and hear it in her voice as well. From her answer it sounded like she was alone. For that Esche could feel nothing but sympathy for her. To be alone, with no goal had been his lot in life for a very long time.
"Riyya. It's a pretty name." He did like the sound of it. It did seem to him the females were often given much prettier names then males. "If you are not heading somewhere in particular...perhaps are you thirsty? I can lead you to the nearest watering hole." He thought maybe she was hungry too, but offering too much at once seemed like it might upset her. Best to take small steps in his mind. Once she had something to drink, and maybe had been able to rest under some shade he could offer her food.
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:24 pm
At the mention of the waterhole, 'Riyya felt as though her throat and mouth were parched. How could she be thirsty at a time like this? It seemed illogical to her, but her body would not be denied.
"Thanks, I think." A lot of good a pretty name did her. She gave a nod of assent. "Yes, the waterhole sounds fine. I could use a drink." 'Riyya stood up and started walking in a random direction. However, almost immediately she tripped and stumbled. She cursed the rocks once her feet were back under her.
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Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 2:48 pm
Esche winced in sympathy as he saw Riyya trip and stumble. "Ah yes... maybe if you walk a little slower I can make sure to warn you of any pesky rocks. Currently there's the ones you just found to your left and a bit of a dip in the rocks in front of you. If you go to your right though you should be on more solid footing."
Normally he'd strike up a conversation about asking more about someone's life. He was afraid to now since he didn't want to bring up anything painful for the lioness. Instead he focused his thoughts on making sure he guided the lioness on good places to step and giving her clear instructions. He was so busy looking at where she was going that he neglected looking where he was going. He stumbled on a larger rock himself, hitting his paw against it. He paused giving a surprised and slightly pained noise.
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Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:28 pm
Shukriyya tried to muffle the growl that threatened to rise from her throat. She hated relying on others for anything. While she realized he was only trying to help it still bothered her that she needed it. Clearly she already knew about the rocks she'd stumbled over, but she didn't say anything. The lioness paused slightly then moved slightly right. She proceeded forward at a much slower pace.
'Riyya paused and 'looked' back toward Esche. "What is it?" She asked a little harshly. Had he seen a group of lions or hyenas? Even though he was helping her, she wouldn't expect him to defend her too. Blind or not, the lioness was determined to put up a fight.
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