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 Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:29 am
Tearh walked along with Murasame, slowly, as the sun began to move from the highest point in the sky. It was a wonderful day, clear sky littered with white clouds. But no avias today, so it meant for a quiet day, least she thought so. "Do you think they travel in groups, clans even, like us?" She asked Murasame whose eyes had gone upwards, he seemed to be contemplating it as well.
"Perhaps, maybe, I've heard, or do you remember when some birds with the very long legs would gather at the waterig holes back in the pridelands?" he asked her, she seemed to nod at the memory. "Those were kind of like..clans, prides of birds within the pridelands, so maybe those prides of birds fly together to different areas, but just not through here, not just yet."
"What a pity, I'd like to see something large and alive like that, a pride of birds in the sky, flying and moving as one. I wonder if they circle with one another, would look like a dance."
"You and dancing," he said with a chukle, "is that what you've been thinking of constantly for the passed hmm, day or so?" she seemed to nod. "Does that mean you'll grant me some kind of show in the moonlight then?"
Miakoda was moving by himself, almost cowering to the ground, Oh goodness, oh my goodness, he was alone, out in hte open, he might be seen. Holy goodness, what if one finds him and wants to talk, what will he say? They are so pretty, but goodness scary. What will he do? Will they eat him for cowering? Will they take offense? He was hyperventilating, needing to breath. Bright eyes scanning the area and he saw two individuals heading his way and he gasped, sounding as if he had been punched in the gut and he scampered for the nearest bush to hide himself in.
He breathed in and out, eyes wide, sweat on his brow and his heart was beating in his chest. Not good not good. What if they were female, what if they wanted to talk? OH no, nonono. Not good.
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:49 am
  Chochokpi lay quite still in the grasses, her whole body poised and tensed like a spring. She flexed the muscles in her hind legs as if to test their readiness, feeling the shift in her shoulders and the warmth of the earth pressing against her chest. She was aware, too, of the dark brown lioness somewhere across from her - though they were both now well hidden amongst the grasses as they waited for the moment to spring their attack.
Their target: a gathering of rabbits grazing at the edges of the meadow. Eeva Subiani had circled around to cut off their escape - perhaps the more difficult of the jobs. Chocho had only to drive them to her and hope that one unlucky rabbit leapt into Eeva's waiting jaws. Even still, her heart was pounding against her ribs and she had to force herself to calm enough so that she could run hard and fast. Had Eeva had enough time to take up her position? Was she ready? Well, if she wasn't then this would all have been for nothing.
She launched up and out of the grass, her white body brilliant under the sun as she charged full speed at her prey. The rabbits startled and scattered and she was after them - so fast and swift that for a moment she believed this was what it was like to fly. Her heart sang for a moment and then her prey were turning in the wrong direction and panic ceased her. She'd lost concentration and now they were going to get away!
Across from her, Eeva exploded from the grass, charging after the rabbits, her whole expression transformed upon entering the hunt. Chocho turned herself into a sharp arc and went after her, already breathing hard. But even she could tell that their food was going to get away. They'd had a head start on Eeva and skilled a huntress as she was, no lion was built for a marathon.
Ahead of her Eeva had begun to slow and the white adolescent did, too, until the two of them paused - side by side - to revel in their misfortune.
"I'm sorry, Eeva." The white female replied.
"Don't apologise. We just got unlucky, that's all. Hunting is never a predictable thing."
And then voices. The brown female turned her head and her eyes lit with interest. "Expecting someone?"
"No." The white female replied. "You?"
They shared a look and then turned together to face the newcomers. "Shall we go and say hello then?"
"I think we should."
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:58 am
Being from the Mantis clan, and very reserved themselves, possibly even considers outsiders as well for their minimal tattooing (though they loved the stories the images held) Tearh knew only more friends could be made within the Ela. That was what brightened her day as of late and with Murasame seemingly just as eager to be out and about, perhaps making new friends so that he himself might get out more as well, Tearh was glad for it.
"Hear something?" Murasame asked, looking about. He heard some kind of commotion not far off, just beyond some ground vegetation ahead, and they started heading that way. "Not avians, I don't believe, they would have taken to the sky I gather, wouldn't you think?" he asked in all sincerity.
"I do think so, why would they stay upon the ground when they have wings to take flight? Rather silly to think of an avian trying to crawl upon the ground out of harms way," Tearh said laughing.
"Sounds close, lets go see," Murasame said and Tearh nodded at his obvious request. They began heading towards hte sound of voices, not knowing how close they were to a bundle of fur that was already almost having a heart attack.
There were two, oh goodness two. But one was male, but the other, female. He gulped. Miakoda looked between the two of them. They did not seem related, but they did not have as many tattoos as he. Newcomers? No, much older than he. He gulped again. The female was nice, very pretty, the male was lucky to have someone such as that to have upon his shoulder, within his den. Miakoda hoped the dark and white ale doted on the silver female. Females were meant to be cared for.
But oh goodness, he couldn't even muster the courage to speak to them, even a taken female. He tried to be still, but heard voices behind him as well. He tried curling up as much as he could, and a realization hit. Two female voices, one, a sister, but the other.
Oh no, a friend of some sort.
Oh no, nonono. What was he going to do? If he tried to run, they would see. Maybe if he was still...
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 12:16 pm
"Greetings!" Eeva called out as she came into view - the younger white female close behind her. "Are you lost, friends?" The fact that the pair were adults but had only a spattering of tattoos signified they had not been born within the lands, but joined much later - just as it was with Eeva's own mother. "My name is Eeva Subiani, daughter of Rehema and Ona'raha. I am the leader of the Shadows." She dipped her head politely for a moment and then stepped aside to make room for her white companion. "And this is Chochokpi Galvlati. We were out on a hunting expedition and heard someone coming this way. I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting each other before today?"
"Nice to meet you." Chochokpi echoed carefully, eyeing the pair curiously. The male was dark and handsome but the way that the other female stood close, it was clear they were mated. She wondered, then, what they were doing so far out.
And then her eye was distracted by something and she peered into the foliage suspiciously. Was someone hiding there or was it just her imagination? Her tail flicked and she took a short step forwards.
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Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2012 7:11 pm
Tearh looked to the incoming females and smiled. They seemed quite nice, friendly, open, intriguing, covered so much so with tattoos. It was wonderfully intriguing. "Not lost, no, we've just been out and about, seeking new faces of the pride to meet, seems we picked the right path to travel today," Tearh said with a smile.
With their mention of hunting, she looked to Murasame, ears flickering, "I do hope we did not intrude on your hunting grounds or within your hunting party, we just meant to travel this way for a walk of course."
Murasame looked to Tearh, the females, dipped his head, "I do hope that we were not the cause of any trouble. We heard voices, perhaps a bit of a skirmish, so I hope we did not scare off your prey this day," he said apologetically.
"I am Murasame, and this is Tearh, we're of the Mantis clan. As my mate said, we've only come this way for a walk, seeking to meet others of the pride. Since the festival long ago we've not met many others, we normally keep to ourselves," he said with a shrug, but not of disrespect. "It is a pleasure to meet both of you."
Miakoda watched as the four were well within reach and he gulped. His lighter sister was there too and with.. someone he didn't know. But she was female, seemed strong, and was very pretty. The image of the ...wolf, perhaps jackal howling on her shoulder stood out to him. With such interesting details relating to a wolf, he wondered why there were no ties to the wolf clan.
But his mind wandered, and he had to bring himself here.
He saw his sister looking, and he waved a paw out at her, as if to try and say go away, but he should have known better, it made the bush rustle a little.
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 12:38 pm
"You certainly did." Eeva smiled. "Intruding? Nonsense. Neighbouring clans are always welcome and it was more hunting practise than a serious expedition in any case." She nudged the smaller white female. "Practise makes perfect and she's coming a long way."
Chochokpi blushed a little, folding back her ears and trying her best not too look to affected by Eeva's compliment.
"I think many Ela'wadiyians could say the same. The only time I really ever get to meet others outside of the clan is during the festival. And that certainly was a time ago now. Another one should be due soon enough, though. That will be something worth looking forward to." She did, despite all the odds, have a few very close friends within some of the other clans. "There is a stream only a short walk away from here if you need something to drink or you are welcome to recline closer to the heart of our clan and meet others..." She trailed, distracted by Chochokpi's sudden huff.
"What's wrong?"
"My stupid brother is hiding over there." The little white female announced in an overly loud voice. "Come over here Miakoda! Stop being so rude. No one is going to bite!"
Eeva chuckled, amused. The antics of siblings...
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Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 3:56 pm
"Picked a good day then for a small travel of a walk." Tearh smiled. "It would be wonderful to visit with another clan for a time, even if only a short while. I feel as if our den site, though moved around quite often, is still so far away from others that we see another perhaps once or twice in the cycle of the moon. It can be frustrating when just wanting to relax and tell stories. As I have already heard all of his," she said nudging Murasame. Murasame quirked his brow and dismissed the comment.
Murasame was gracious and thought both females were very kind. "I remember my first attempt at hunting, and the times afterward. Though I was quite a bit smaller than you, so be grateful you've a bit of size and much more speed on your side than I had had," he chuckled. "It does take time and practice, but when all is said and done, you will be quite glad to have earned the skills, and they will become refined in time. You'll do quite well, I can already tell," he said with a nod of reassurance. THe small female had a spirit in her, and she'd be just fine.
Tearh looked to the females and then Murasame, then to the area where this other male was hiding. "Why would he hide?" she asked. Was she really that scary? She thought her tattoos were delicate but strong. A nice balance. Murasame's as well. They weren't doing anything wrong, right?
"He's not giving you any trouble, is he?" Murasame said, realizing he was sounding like a father, "does he do this often?" it was quite a concern. Why would a male hide? Three females and a male. Surely they were not threatening. Was he a runt?
Miakoda's mouth opened. How could she do that? How! He was biting his lip now, trying to not be huffy or upset, but he was! He was afraid of the females...afraid to talk to them. What would he do now? Now he couldn't hide anymore, they were all looking this way. He gulped and removed himself from the shrubbery and moved over to where the group was, head down, shoulders together, walking slow, not making eye contact with the gray one or brown one.
He was afraid to talk to them. He wanted t make a good impression, but what if he said something wrong or did something wrong or they didn't like him and he wasn't good enough how would he ever find a girl that would like him? HIs brain hurt. He stood a little way away from his sister, but closest to her, and said "hello," in a very soft tone.
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Posted: Sun Jul 01, 2012 6:53 am
"I know what you mean." Eeva agreed. Clan life could be lonely at times. She knew everyone in the clan well. It was impossible for it not to be with it being a relatively small group, and yet it could be lonely, too. Lonely because she was surrounded by family and those who knew what she was. Being a leader came with those sorts of burdens. It was hard for people to look past her rank sometimes, even when she went out of her way to be casual and friendly.
At her side, Chochokpi had lifted her head at Murasame's praise. To be praised by a male was something to be proud of, after all. Especially one fully grown as he was.
And then...the topic of her brother. "He's a big scaredy cat." She explained, perhaps almost embarrassed of him. "Come out, Miakoda. You're causing offence and I'll tell--" Oh, there he was, coming closer. And then he spoke his greeting, so small he might as well have been a cub.
"Miakoda!" She hissed under her breath so that the others might not hear her. "Are you a lion or a mouse?"
"Be kind to your brother, Cho. Strangers are a rare occurrence here." Eeva replied, smiling. Siblings and their differences. She knew about them well enough! And then to their guests she said: "Some of the Shadows are shy lions and lionesses. My father is one of them. Newcomers are not so common that we are used to them yet. Visit enough, however, and you'll be welcomed as family."
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 1:16 pm
Tearh looked to Murasame and nodded at him, glad he was being open to others. When they were alone he could be very quiet, it was nice to be able to hear his voice, and not just with simple conversation of what was happening within the day. A nice change of pace, she determined, and vowed they needed to keep such a thing current within their lifestyle.
Murasame watched as the two siblings seemed to be...at a distance, with one another, in what they wanted to be done in this situation. The boy, though with a mane growing in, seemed rather shy, too much so for Murasame's liking. He was nearly an adult. How would he provide for a female with such a feeble prowess? He had no such pride in his heart, it seemed.
The boy seemed to wince at the mouse comment, and she quirked a brow at the two of them. "At arms are you two, hmm?" Tearh said letting a soft laugh escape her mouth. "Why so nervous?" she asked looking to Miakoda, "we don't bite."
"Yes, why so reserved, boy?" Murasame said with a little narrowing of his eyes, but he stepped, once Tearh hit him in the shoulder. It was true though, what was said, friends could become family, if given the chance, but this boy was so afraid. Did they really look that scary? Murasame didn't think so.
Miakoda gulped and his ears went into his mane, head ducking down with his shoulders as his sister's voice shot into his ears. "I am not a mouse," he said softly, with a shake in his voice. Eyes on the ground, he told himself, eyes on the ground. She wouldn't understand. And he couldn't tell her either. It was obvious the male was with the silver female, but what of his sister's companion? He did not know, and her markings, so intricate, so delicate. They were beautiful, as she was. And it made him nervous. Oh so nervous.
He wanted to bite his tongue. "I-I am sorry, it is nothing," his eyes did not raise from the ground, he kept them where they were. He didn't want to say something stupid.
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:35 am
Chochokpi might have said that her brother was embarrassing her with his antics, but she held her tongue, knowing that it probably wouldn't help matters much. She felt sad for him, in truth, and could not help but wonder why he was the way he was. They were all family and no one would ever harm him. Not here in the clan.
"Then prove it." She said quietly in response, her tail swaying slowly behind her.
Eeva, unsure how to proceed, gave the strangers a wave with her paw. "Come, come, I'll show you to water and perhaps we can trade stories? The young ones can join us if they wish." She smiled at both of them, wondering if it was the right course of action. She did not want to pressure him into group conversation if the thought of it was too much for him. But, perhaps once he'd steeled himself, he could come and join them.
"It's only a short walk." And she moved closer to the strangers, turning in the direction they were to head.
Chochokpi gave a long sigh. "I'll come, too." She called, turning to look over her shoulder at her brother. "It's up to you, brother. Stay and be a mouse or come and be a lion."
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Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2012 3:50 pm
"Stories? Yes, that'd be wonderful, though we'd have to see which you'd like to hear. We've so many, though we've heard each other's numerous times, hmm Murasame?" Tearh asked, Murasame simply nodded. His eyes, she noted, seemed focused on the boy, in an almost pitiful manner. She felt sympathy for him, perhaps the social complexities were too much for him, even at this age.
"Come Murasame, let him decide, do not pester him like a fly," Tearh said moving against his shoulder with a nudge, following their new found friends, new companions. A wonderful thing indeed, and a kind gesture. These new friends would be new and kind for always, she knew.
He was still bothered by this boy, so quiet so reserved. If he were Murasam'e son he would have a word or two with him, but alas, he was not. Murasame quirked a brow at him, shook his had and merely sighed and took steps away, looking to the two females and dipping his head, "will be wonderful to exchange stories, been so long since we've heard new ones to hear and wonder about," he said with a sincere smile.
Murasame felt sorry for the boy. But what could he do? The adolescent seemed removed, and as Tearh suggested, he would not become an annoyance. The boy had his sister to push him, and Murasame was not his father, he had no right, though indeed, in his heart, he wished to help.
Miakoda went to speak to his sister, but held his tongue when the adults exchanged words. He bit his lips and ears flattened back and he pawed at the ground, eyes cast downward. He would prove it, he would, if his heart would give him a chance. It always made him so nervous, and he did not want to let anyone down. He wanted what he dreamed of, but it seemed, his dream was too far beyond his reach.
He watched his sister go with the older ones, the pair and the lioness who held beautiful markings upon her, stories true to herself and her character. She was beautiful, and he wished to tell her so, but he was afraid. He rose to take a step, but then closed his eyes and slumped on the ground, watching them walk away.
He was not a mouse.
He was a lion.
He was just scared others wouldn't accept him.
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