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 Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:13 pm
 “Poor, poor little creature,” said Tahir, looking down at the mangled body of a… of something. There wasn’t much left of it now, but it still kicked and wriggled, trying to cling on to life. Tahir lifted a paw, watching it hang limply from side to side,” It seems life has not been kind to you, has it?”
The creature struggled and let out a mournful mewl. It was once some sort of genet or cat then, but now it was so covered in red and filth that one could barely tell the color of its hide.
“Did a buzzard pick at you, little one? Or did you break your leg in a fall and have the gluttonous ants of the savannah set upon you?” Tahir cocked his head, the corners of his black lips twisted in a grin,” Probably neither. They rarely leave scraps for mangy wolves to pick at. Very well.”
Tahir dropped the thing the ground. With one swift motion he clamped his jaws about its head and twisted. The body stiffened then fell limp, its neck broken. Tahir settled back down in the dirt to enjoy his meal – what was left of the poor battered carcass, anyway.
“Shame,” he said, but his smile never wavered,” There’s hardly any meat on you.”
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:37 pm
 Dortoka traveled as a lioness today. It had been a long time since she had taken this form. This was the first form she had taken. Her colors were the same, however her markings were much more simpler. It was easier for her to blend in if she looked a bit more simpler, she thought.
Today she was out searching for some new friends. It was something she had been meaning to do. Her current friends were great, but she wanted to have more. Variety was always nice to have. So far she had little luck. She ran into a group of mice who thought she wanted to hurt them. Far from it, hardly ever hunted, and only did so to help others. That was one of the nice things about being a goddess was that she didn't need to eat, making it easier to make friends with even more critters!
As she traveled she spotted a maned wolf in the distance. Perhaps a future friend, she thought with a grin. She quickly picked up speed and dashed over to him, though she did slow down when she was closer. Then she saw the mangled thing and realized it was still alive.
She frowned. "Poor little thing." She said as she watched it twitch. "Do you know what happened to it? How it got left this way? I always hate when predictors leave their prey still alive like this. It isn't fair to the poor creature to leave it like this."
She glanced at the maned wolf and gave him an awkward smile. "Oh, I'm sorry. I just sort of interrupted, well, whatever you were doing. My name is Dortoka." She gave him a nod of her head. "I haven't seen this area yet so close up. Usually I see it from a distance. I think it is much more interesting up close. Well, except for this poor thing. I think I would have rather seen him up and running then like this."
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:29 pm
Nice was a word Tahir only new in theory. He certainly wouldn’t apply it to himself. But he didn’t hunt nearly as often as other animals – not by choice, no, he was simply too scrawny and weak to keep up with most prey, and the stink of his unkempt hide proclaimed his presence to anyone he neared.
Tahir’s ears twitched and pricked. Someone was approaching. He dropped the mangled body of the animal and rose to his feet, his hackles bristling down his spine. A lion. He tried hard to make himself appear large and intimidating, but he was emaciated and thin, his fur lanky. Even his most fearsome hackling could hide his size.
But… but this lion seemed very odd. Almost child-like. Tahir startled and took a step back as she spoke, brow raised. Very… strange indeed. Like she pitied his prey.
How very interesting.
Tahir calmed himself, fur flattening, but his did not sit. She was much larger than himself, after all, and he needed the upper hand should he have to run away.
“I’m Tahir,” he said, voice clear, but low,” And unfortunately I found the poor dear already like this. Battered around by some careless predator.” Why not play along, after all? It could be to his advantage,” But alas, it will feel no pain any more. I’ve broken its neck.” He prodded the body with a paw.
He stomach stirred, but he quelled the urge to dig in. He would wait and see what this strange lioness had in mind.
“Do you not eat prey, Dortoka? I’ve never met a lion that fed only on grass.”
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:48 pm
"It is very nice to meet you Tahir." She said with a smile. "I hope it finds peace in the next world." Dortoka scanned the body once more. Then gave her attention to Tahir.
"I could eat prey if I wanted to, but I don't usually feel like it. And grass?" She gave out a laugh. "I don't think that sounds good at all! I guess if I was really hungry and had no prey to hunt I could eat grass. I probably wouldn't like it though. I guess I wouldn't know for sure until I had some, but I don't think I will be trying any, any time soon."
She turned away from the mangled body. "I just wish hunters would finish off their prey and not leave it. Killing and leaving the body is pointless to me. If you must take a life, shouldn't it be for a reason?" Mindless slaughter was something she wasn't fond of. Even she knew that and she had just been 'born'.
Her thoughts went to her previous life, she wondered how she would have dealt with this situation before. She liked to think she would be much the same, but for all she knew she could have been one of those types of hunters, killing just for fun, not caring what happened to prey she killed. It made her feel a bit bad inside. She wished that she could remember just a little bit about her past, her life before becoming a goddess.
"If you are hungry I wouldn't be upset if you at the poor thing." She said quietly to him. "You look like you haven't had a proper meal in ages. Plus it would be better than it going to waste."
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:04 pm
“Peace it did not find in this one,” said Tahir, covering the broken creature’s face with his paw. Much like other beasts he’d tangled with as of late,” But it would be sad to let its body go to waste. I would hate to be one of those predators that kills without point. I think I’ll take up your offer and finish it off… later.”
After he’d figured out this strange lioness and determined whether or not her company was of use to them. And, mostly, because her presence here would dictate that he should share his spoils, and Tahir had no such desires. He so very rarely got fresh meat, and this tiny creature offered him so very little. A shame to waste it on another being, who seemed unwilling to do the work Tahir was incapable of.
A waste indeed.
Tahir had spent months trying to fill his belly with grass, once, but a wolf wasn’t made for such things. He spent most of his nights vomiting up what he’d eaten, only keeping the bugs down.
“What brought you to the savannahs of the rogue lands, stranger Dortoka? And, better yet, what kept you staying afar for so long? Strangers aren’t uncommon here, but most don’t choose a life of solitude.”
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:16 pm
Dortoka found a bit of graying grass to lay down on, after she had walked away a bit from the dead prey. "Well I am a wanderer. I never stop traveling. There is nothing keeping me in one place and I think I would rather see the world around me then settle down. At least for now. Eventually I might change my ways and find a place to settle down."
She thought about his next question for a moment. "Well, I didn't notice you at first, I was busy looking at other things. But when I did see you I came pretty quickly I think. I usually don't travel alone for too long. Usually I pick up a companion or two for my travels, though eventually we part ways and I return to my sorta home." She didn't want to call the place she went back to home, because really it wasn't that. It was where her three friends waited for her. She would tell them all about her adventures. Then she would leave and find more adventures.
"What about you. Why are you traveling alone?" She did a quick glance around to see if there were anyone else out there. As far as she could tell Tahir was by himself. Being mortal and alone must be a terrible life. Raina had told her that she had always had company when she was a mortal. It was a small comfort for her to know that.
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Posted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 11:15 pm
Tahir listened in silence, but his attention was split between the strange lion and the prey beneath is paws. She seemed eccentric in her manner. He hadn’t meant many animals that chose to wander, with or without companions. The rogue lands were a place for people to fester and die, not to flourish, not a life to choose. Unless the second option was worse than exile into the barren desert, to loneliness.
“You seem to be quite the adventurer, miss Dortoka,” he answered, finally. Her question was one to ponder – not because Tahir was uncertain as to why he wandered alone. He knew full well, but it was no story he’d tell a stranger. He needed a better tale, one to tug at her heart strings. Gain her sympathy.
He so loved pity.
“Ah, alas, I once had a home and many with whom I travelled. A lovely she-wolf at my side and our few pups. Sons and daughters that played with those of our alpha. A beautiful life, and I lived in a much more beautiful land. But my good fortune did not last. I left my lovely mate one evening, hunting then - when I was not so skinny, and stronger –“ as if he’d ever been,” I stalked mice and rabbits for the evening, eating some, but leaving most. I had many bellies to fill after all. The hour grew late and I did not wish to hunt in the dark, so I took my kills and made my way back to the sleeping dens of our pack.”
He looked away, shutting his eyes tight as if with pain. It was so easy to play this role.
“There was a strange smell on the air…. It was… blood. Death,” he made his voice hitch,” Hyenas. My heart raced and I dropped my kill, making for the foot of the den. But I was too late. Much too late. My pack lay slaughtered, my beautiful mate…” he trailed off, shaking his head.
“I’ve never had the courage to find another pack since then. The memory still wounds me.”
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Posted: Wed Oct 17, 2012 11:33 pm
Dortoka listened to his tale, a sad one. The thought of losing one of her love ones, made her feel cold inside. Slaughter, unneeded deaths, why is such a beautiful world must there be crimes like those. Death was something she had seen, but had never felt the impact of. She would always keep those around her safe and never let anything harm them.
"I am sorry for your lose." She said, with a frown. "I wish that terrible things like that wouldn't happen. However, sometimes for one thing to live another must die. That's the way the world works. So maybe you can hope that their deaths weren't meaningless, that they provided nourishment for another." She knew her words wouldn't be the best comfort, but to her it was as close to comfort that she could do.
However, something she was better at was to be a friend. That was something she could do for this wolf. "I might not be a pack, but if you would like you could travel with me for sometime. My adventures are hardly ever boring and I meet so many interesting creatures. I can also promise you won't get hungry. I feed my friends all the time and I've been told I am a pretty good huntress if I try."
If he took her up on her offer, she would try and show him the greatest parts of life, and maybe help him find a place where he could belong. Her companions never lasted forever, she knew traveling life wasn't meant for everyone. Once they found him a place to call home they would depart. Eventually they might meet again, but most likely they wouldn't. It was life, Dortoka thought. But if he didn't want to, she would be fine with that as well. She would however keep an eye on him, from a distance of course and make sure he had plenty to eat. Once she made a friend, she would always make sure they were safe, no matter how little they knew each other.
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