Ohm & Asante (AIM log)
A deep, rib-cracking yawn escaped the sleek male as he stretched, bones creaking and popping. Straightening, he blinked ple blue eyes and gazed round the area of his temporary den. He had been in the lands a week or so now, after gaining permission to stay in the area, but the first day had been spent collapsed on one of the small hillocks that remained relativly dry. After resting from the long hike, the ex-rouge had simply enjoyed the safety that being back among a pride offered. He hadn't seen the young female that had guided him here again, though each day he kept an eye out for her in hope. He had wanted to talk to her again, but he had spent all week waiting around and he really couldn't continue to do so. He had to pull his weight now, his conscience wouldn't let him do otherwise.
Stretching one last time he shook the dry mud and leaves from his dark mane and set of, padding quietly through the swamp, whoes mud swiftly covered the shimmering gold markings on his hind legs, covering the proof that he was infact of royal blood, the Lost Prince of the Takatifu Duniani.
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Ohm had risen with the sun and slipped out of his den on the edges of the pride's lands. The mouth of the den faced towards the east, and was placed just so the growing light would filter through the trees and strike it full on. He liked rising early. The world was quiet and still, and he felt like he had the swamps to himself. He stretched and groomed himself in the early sun until his sherbert fur seemed to glow. The whole time he said not a word, and he kept his silence as he finally sprang off. From hillock to hillock he leapt, tiptoing over stones and sunken logs. He managed to keep himself entirely clean in the process, though he made it seem effortless.
Oh hello! Through the branches he spied someone new! A brown lion with a daub of white on his nose. Well it wouldn't do not to be friendly. He sprang over a silty stream that oozed into a wide 'lake' of mud and fell in beside the male. "Nice morning," He said. His voice was quiet and calm, and utterly nonthreatening.
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Gold-tipped ears twitched as the light pawsteps intruded on his roaming thoughts, though it certainly wasn't an unwelcome intrusion. When the owner of said paws moved into view, Asante offered a warm smile in greeting, pale eyes open and welcoming. "Indeed it is." He replied genially, glancing up at the clear blue sky beyond the branches above them. He let the silence return for a few moments, not being one of those lions that felt the urge to constantly babble, Asante was confident enough to simply walk quietly with the stranger though politeness did prod him to at least offer his name. "I'm Asante." Padding through a puddle he smiled slightly, feeling the cold dampness soak into the fur of his lower legs. Part of the reason he had asked to settle here was the swamp itself. It alowed him to hide who he was, or rather, who he had once been.. Zawadi Ya'tatu, youngest prince of is birth-pride. The vibrant gold markings on his body belonged tot he royal bloodline and marked him clearly for all too see. But the mud and leaves that were everywhere in this new land made the perfect cover, concealing the infernal markings and the pride itself, hidden away so far from his homeland, ment that it was almost impossible for any of his old pride to locate him. Content with this new life Asante had no intention of returning and this morn the only thought on his mind was impending breakfast.
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Once long ago, when Ohm had been Kaleo, he would have been babbling nonstop to this total stranger. Asking questions, commenting on this and that, he'd been an earful for everyone around him up until they'd finally been able to 'get rid of him'.
He'd come back from his journey a changed lion. He'd once beeh highstrung, but now he was permanently mellow. He plodded along in silence, a half smile curving his lips up. Food occured to him, and he wondered if he should go hunting. Sometimes his girlfriend spoiled him and brought food. Sometimes not though.
As if in answer to his silent thoughts, something flipped by in the deep muddy waters. Without any hesitation (or noise) the spotless lion dove in after it. Several long moments passed before he resurfaced, coated heat to toe in muck, and with a still flopping fish in his jaws. "Breakfast?" He offered.
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Asante was taken by surprise at the sudden splash that showered hi own coat wit brownish water. He had been planning on hunting somethin with four legs, indeed, he hadn;t even considered the option of fishing, and it was with fasinated eyes that he watched the water's surface. When his young companion surfaced, he grinned rather goofily, eyes shining with excitement.
Nodding vigerously he eyed the wriggling fish with fasination. "How did yuo do that?" He asked unabashed, padding forwards to where the soaked male stood, unashamed that he clearly knew nothing abou fishing.
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Ohm waded to the shore and shook himself off before Asante got too close. Some folks didn't like getting dirty, and though this one didn't seem to mind, Ohm hated to get people upset. It harshed the mellow.
"What, fish? It's easy. You go in the water, and grab the fish!" He chuckled, and bent to nose at the fish. It was dying, floping slower and slower. Taking pity, he bit down on its head, killing it swiftly. "Actually it just takes practice. My mother taught me. Or tried. I was a bad student."
That was true enough. He'd talked through all her lessons and bee nsent packing more than once. He'd had to relearn it all when in the rogue lands, but it'd turned out alright. "Here. Share with me before the flies get it." His offer was half command, but his soft voice made it sound more like an invitation than anything.
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The ex-rogue didn't mind getting wet, indeed he usually did it on purpose at least once a day, wet mud was the best thing to cover his unwanted royal markings with. Listening with interest he obediantly stepped forwards, dropping his belly to the ground as he stared at the fish before his companion killed it. "It can;t be as easy as all that..." He returned, wanting to poke the fish but realiseing it would probably be rude.
Chuckling at the polite command he inched forwards, waiting for Ohm to take a bite before stretching forwards and tugging a piece of fresh flesh free for himself. It was strange, oily but very tasty. Grinning as he chewed and swallowed he decided he liked fish and planned to try catching them for himself. He wondered if this lion would give him some tips, but was reluctant to bother him by asking After all they had only met by accident not half an hour ago.
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"Hmm...well. You get in the water, and you get the fish...I guess it takes practice? I've seen others do it by sitting very still on the shore, and smacking the fish out. I can't do that. But I don't mind being muddy, or wet. So getting in the water works for me." The orange male brightened. "Ah! It helps if you swim up to them from behind...they don't notice as often."
He nodded and gnawed another strip of the fish. That was about all he could think to say. Practice was the most important part of it. And patience.
"...We haven't met. I'm Ohm, now. You must have joined or come back while I was gone." He had been gone a long long time. The journey had become more than a name finding, but a soul searching as well. His parents had been worried after him, especially when he was gone so long, and overjoyed when he'd returned.
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Asante nodded slowly as he memorised the advice, thogh he was fairly sure it was alot harder than the youth made it out to be, he figured he would just go to some place alone and practice until he was decent enough to catch them.
Chewing on the mouthful of fish he nodded before swallowing, the lessons on manners he had learned as a prince had stuck fast throughout his wanderings and as a result he was rather more polite than most ex-rogues. "I turned up about a week ago and have been allowed to stay." he agreed easily, already having decided his choice to settle in this swampy land had been the right one. "I'm originally from a different pride, but I have been a rogue for a couple of years. I thought it was about time I settled down and came across this place." Smiling he paused to glance round. "I fell in love so here I am."
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"Oho? Love? Well I would advise you to find a lioness to spend that on, not the swamp. She is a wonderful home, and very protective of us, but she makes a poor lover." The grin on Ohm's face and the glint in his eye grew brighter at his gentle jab. He hadn't lost all his humorous ways, and he was plainly amused with himself in this case.
"I'm glad you like it. Life here can be very peaceful, and rewarding." He finished off the fish and swatted the bones back into the swamp's murky depths. The land would reclaim the waste and grow from it, he knew. "Are you heading towards the center of the pride?" He rose and shook his paws off a bit. "We can walk together. Come."
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Asante chuckled, not at all upset by the light teasing, and when he replied, a friendly grin curled across his muzzle. "Ahh.. but I never said I wa sin love with the swamp, did I?" Winking to the younger male, Asante smiled warmly, letting his mind flick back to the young female who had met him at the boarder on his first visit. He really hoped he would track her down again soon, but he was starting to worry her friendlines shad been her nature and that she mighbe avoiding him now... Either way, he wouldnt let it worry him when there was so much else to do this day.
"I was thinking of going hunting actually.. but I can put that off for a little while now." nodding towards the ripples that teased the bank from the fish bones re-entry to the waters, he tilte dhis head slightly. "I've still as yet not been able to look around properly... if you are going that way, I would love to accompany you for a while."
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Ohm smiled back over his shoulder. "I suppose I've spared you that, hmm? At least you won't be sight-seeing on an empty stomache. And I am. It's this way, a ways. If you haven't been before, keep an eye on the ground. There's some deep spots that look like shallow ones..."
He waited, tail swishing, for the other male to join him. It was nice to see the pride was still attracting newcomers. That the stressful days of the past were behind them. The swamps were at peace once more, thank the gods. He waited until the male had joined him and then started walking, leading him deeper into the gloomy swamps.
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Asante chuckled softly and nodded bfore climbing to his paws and absently saking the light mud from his underside. The action had already become a habit after only a week in the swamp land. "Thank you for he fish, I will have to practic catching my own now." Padding up beside the young male he smiled easily. "I will keep a look out, I have already taken a tumble or two this week, but I think Im getting my mud-paws sorted out." Giving his new companion a warm smile he waited for the youngster to lead the way then followed, content to have a guide for what was only his third foray into the inner sanctum of the pride itself.
FIN
