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 Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 11:38 am
She only traveled by night now, cowering in what shadows she could find during the day. Once she had walked timidly but comfortably under the sun. But now she covered herself and skulked, drawing as little attention to herself as she could. A stray chunk of material had given her the semblance of hiding, covering her bright markings and headfur. She kept the fabric wrapped carefully over her head, her bright green eyes peering out from the darkness. No, it wasn't safe, not at all safe out here. But she had nowhere to go.
It hadn't been recently that things had changed for her. She had left the odd group that had been her family, striking out on her own as some of her other sibs had when they were all adolescents. Four months after that, thoroughly lost but finding rogue life interesting, it had happened. He had been big, and sadistic, and had cowed her with his very presence at the first. But oh, how much worse it had gotten when he discovered her curse! The idea that his touch caused her pain had delighted him, and she had lost her voice to screaming.
Now, huddled in a very shallow cave as the sun rose above the horizon, she shivered in the morning's warmth. Her voice and body had recovered from the torture he'd forced her to endure months and months ago, but her mind and heart still writhed in his grip. The shame, the despair, the terror, they all lingered within her, wraiths that would give her no peace. She'd avoided everyone she possibly could and fled those she couldn't. She was exhausted, filthy, underfed, and about as paranoid as was possible. But a body could only hold up under such abuse for so long. Exhausted but on edge, she slipped into a light twilight sleep.
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 11:55 am
Kubwa’Jazi usually stayed close to the lands his family inhabited but today he had felt a sudden urge to wander and the leopard found himself on unfamiliar territory. Silent as a ghost, his paws carried him closer to the mouth of a small den. He could smell the scent of another feline in the area but failed to locate the source. He walked right past the den, blue eyes lingering on it for an instant before he dismissed it as unimportant when he failed to see anyone inside. From where he was standing, it had seemed like nothing more than a silent and empty space. He stopped, sniffing the air and looking around as he searched for company. Perhaps the other feline – a lioness, he believed – had left the area already leaving nothing more than her scent behind.
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 12:15 pm
Who could say what it was that woke her. The faint pawfall, a soft breath, or perhaps the deepening of the shadows near the mouth of the den. Whatever it was, she jerked awake with a start, eyes flying open and body tensing where she lay. Slowly, carefully she raised her head, and turned to look out the shallow den's mouth. There. A figure! She gave a sharp gasp and leapt backwards, only to find there was nowhere to go. No handy outcropping to hide behind, no narrow tunnel to dive down. She was trapped, with someone outside. Had they seen her? They must have! Otherwise, why stand there, blocking the way out?
She plastered herself against the back wall, wild-eyed. The fur down her back stood on ened, and her ears flattened completely against her skull. Despite this terror though, she did not bare her fangs or extend her claws. Instead, her gaze scattered about the small space, frantically searching for another option, and a soft whimper escaped her. She gave no thought to fighting back... she'd been taught well that this was impossible. Instead, she was more like a hunted gazelle foal, helpless and terrified. "Please, no!" she gasped inadvertently, scared beyond the ability to hold her tongue for her own safety.
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 2:08 pm
After the sound of rustling and the quiet whimper, Jazi realized rather quickly that the other feline was much closer than he had previously assumed. The leopard had just lowered his head to look inside the den – his eyes barely had time to adjust to the darker space before he could make out the shape of a black lioness – when the terrified voice forced him to take two steps backwards. He looked slightly confused at first but it didn’t take long for Jazi to compose himself. Rogue females could b jumpy but he didn’t think he’d ever seen anyone looking quite so terrified.
Slowly, the leopard took another step back without leaving the lioness’ line of sight. He sat down slowly and then lowered his body to ground, trying to make himself look smaller.
“I won’t hurt you.” He said softly, narrowing his eyes now that he back in the sunlight.
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2012 2:22 pm
Her eyes stopped darting around and fixed solidly on him, though whites showed all around her widened pupils, nearly masking the green entirely. Her whole body shook like a leaf, and her tail was curled under her belly protectively. The fur along her spine remained on end, and what little of that tail could be seen was three times the size it would normally have been. Her head was sunk nearly to the floor, her makeshift hood falling askew and revealing more of her face. What good was it now anyway, since he'd found her? Regardless of whatever else he was, there was no doubt now that he was male. That only made it worse, so much worse!
His words did nothing whatsoever to soothe her. Others had spoken those words, oh yes, and hadn't meant them at all! A sob choked her throat, nearly making her gag as it prevent her from swallowing. She shook her head and gasped a breath around the lump of terror before th sob finally made it out. Tears rolled down her cheeks, merely darker trails against the already dark fur. "Yes," she finally managed in a whisper, "yes, you will." It wasn't an argument. It was a statement of fact. Everyone hurt her eventually, even her family, though she knew they at least hadn't meant to. A head-bump there, a grooming lick here, a friendly shoulder-touch... it all hurt. A heavier shudder rocked her. "They all do," she rasped despairingly.
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 2:29 pm
Jazi tilted his head to the side ever so slightly, accepting that her words most likely had a tough past to back them up. Arguing would most likely be pointless and he didn’t really want to contradict a terrified lioness he could barely even see.
“Not on purpose.” He replied to her statement quietly, keeping his body low and as harmless-looking as grown male leopard possibly could. He was facing a small dilemma now though in his own way, Jazi had already reached a decision. She was obviously scared and probably wanted to be left alone but the leopard couldn't really leave her without making sure she was alright and uninjured. She knew her voice would never leave his mind if he simply her fate to… well Fate. “Do you want me to leave?” Depending on her answer, Jazi already knew what he’d do.
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 4:19 pm
That was true enough. Not everyone who hurt her had meant to. No, but some did. Oh, how they had! She cowered further, but her mind was processing the way he'd responded. It was more like she'd have expected one of her siblings to have reacted. It gave her pause for thought, even while her body still reacted in pure terror. His next words were enough to stall even that.
She held still, as if frozen by his offer. She tried to think if anyone had ever offered to leave entirely, not having touched or bothered her at all. It certainly made it less likely that the fears ignited by that cruel male would apply to this one. Besides, he looked much smaller than the one who had hurt her. In fact, he might even be smaller than she was. She hesitated further. Did she want him to leave? "You... don't want.... to hurt me?" Oh, he could be lying! So easily he could be lying... but her instincts, based on what he'd said and done thus far, told her differently. Still....
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Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 6:33 pm
“No. I don’t.” Jazi replied softly. She hadn’t completely denied his presence and told him to leave so the young leopard felt a little better about scaring her so much before. “Are you injured?” He refrained from moving closer to take a better look at the lioness. She probably wouldn’t appreciate the gesture and inquiring about a potential weakness was probably intimidating enough.
“Are you hungry?” He could easily find her something to eat if she was. Gods knew that if was as frightened as she sounded, it might’ve been a while since she’d left that den.
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Posted: Wed May 30, 2012 9:40 am
Should she believe him? Why should she? But oh, how she longed for someone she could trust again! She missed her family! Even if they had hurt her, it was always on accident, and they cared about her. They made sure she was fed, safe, and never completely alone. Not like out here!
She refrained from answering his first question. It seemed dangerous, but also she honestly wasn't sure what the truthful answer was. She wasn't suffering a bone or skin injury, of course. But was her curse an injury, somehow? Or was her physical weakness a type of injury? She shuddered her hide, sending up a soft cloud of dust from her ungroomed and ratty fur. His next question was entirely unexpected, though.
"H-h-hungry?" she stuttered in surprise, even as her stomach rumbled loudly, betraying her. She gave a soft gasp and held her breath, shutting her bright eyes and ducking her head as if waiting for a blow. Months and months ago, that male had always struck her when she'd given any indication of a need, such as hunger. Even those signs she couldn't control, like the growling of her belly. She shivered for a moment, but opened one eye as no blow fell. To her releif, this male was still where he'd been, a distance from the entrance. It was only just now that she realized he was giving her room to leave. A trap? Or a kindness?
She didn't really bother debating it with herself... there would be no answers until she did something. Taking advantage of the chance he'd given her, she took a hesitant, very small step forward, braced to dart back if he moved or even bared his fangs.
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Posted: Fri Jun 01, 2012 7:31 am
It was hard for Jazi to understand the lioness’ movements – she was so dark after all – but he could tell she had cringed for some reason. It made him angry that someone had had the heart to hurt her so badly and left her in such a state.
When the lioness took on hesitant step forward Jazi showed no signs of having recognized it apart from taking one silent step backwards, keeping the exact same distance between them.
“Yes, hungry. Do you want to go hunt something?” Jazi repeated, his voice soft but firm. “I can go on my own if you‘re not feeling up for it. I know where I can find a small herd of gazelle hiding in the tall grasses not too far from here.” His eyes left the lioness as he looked in the direction where he’d last seen the animals and his whole body leaned to the side as if not to pressure her in any way.
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Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2012 8:45 am
Her eyes darted about furtively. This could work. Whether he came back or not, she could escape! Her whole body shook like a leaf with a combination of fright, anticipation, and a touch of sadness and hope at being treated nicely. It wouldn't last, though. It never did. Someone always ended up touching her, or scorning her, or something similarly hurtful. So it was time to employ a skill she was not very good at, but that had sometimes worked to get her away from strangers. Deception.
"Y-yes," she squeaked, her voice breaking from disuse. "I'm hungry," she managed a bit more normally, though still shaky. "P-please?" She lowered her jaw towards the floor of the shallow cave, tilting her head up towards him in a way reminiscent of a cub asking for something. Her eyes were still wide, pupils huge round black pits with a thin line of brilliant green. If she played her cards right, he'd head off immediately, if nothing else taking her offered chance to get away from her. Who wanted to be close to a broken soul such as her? A part of her even suspected a part of her mind was broken, relegating her to the unsalvagwable category of insane. Now to wait and see if he took the bait.
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 6:39 am
“I’ll be right back.” Jazi said simply, blue eyes watching the lioness’ posture as he turned to leave. In all honesty, the leopard wasn’t sure he’d find her here when he returned but that mattered little. As long as there was a chance, however small, that he might be able to help her, Jazi was willing to at the very least do his best possible attempt at fixing whatever problems she had.
He walked away at a quick pace, his mind recalling the forest area where he knew small herbivore herds were gathering. It was the perfect place for him to hunt and Jazi was certain he would be able to bring back something large enough to satisfy a lioness.
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Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2012 4:52 pm
It worked! She nearly bared her teeth in a feral mockery of a smile. She was free! She crept to the edge of the cave to watch him go. The moment he was completely out of sight, she stepped cautiously out into the light, waiting for him to leap back out to 'catch' her in the act of 'getting away'. But he did not return immediately. After waiting for an agonizing amount of time with her breath held, she bolted. At top speed she darted in the opposite direction he'd gone, thinking only of escaping.
That is, she began by only thinking about escaping. But her stomach, which had awakened with the mere thought of freshly killed meat, pinched and growled and demanded she eat something. Of course this was simply impossible, since she was out during the day, of all things, and weak as a newborn cub. In fact, her flight speed was not actually very fast at all. No whipping branches, wildly stirred up leaves... no, instead she was stumbling along, nearly tripping over her own bony paws, sight limited by her hood, and by the time she stopped to consider her stomach, she wasn't even out of sight of the cave yet!
Maybe... maybe he would come back. What if he did? He'd only hurt her, was the immediate mantra. But maybe she could get a meal out of it? Was it possible he really intended to feed her? Her stomach snarled at her again, though weakly. Could she afford to risk missing a meal if he indeed was meaning to feed her? She heaved a great sigh. No, she supposed not. But what if he was coming back with someone else, coming back to hurt her?
The idea came to her slowly, but it was a solid, workable idea. She'd hide. There was plenty of places to hide, and if she spread her scent around, he wouldn't be able to find her at all. Then she could see if he brought back a buddy or brought back dinner. Yes, this could work. Then she could let him feed her until she was strong enough to hunt on her own again. Yes, that was a good plan. Surely she could keep him at a distance until then! Mind made up, she set about laying her scent around the area before choosing a pile of rocks surmounted by bushes as her hiding spot. She could see him coming, but he'd not see her.
This had to work!
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