|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:25 am
For want of a better description or explanation, Zephyranthes was now a willing captive in what could have been in potential enemy territory. However as fate would have it, peace had been favoured and a deal had now been struck between the two stubborn and somewhat uncompromising rulers. Neither had wanted to back down, but neither had seen the very obvious solution their problems until the lioness and Leo had presented them with it.
Urgh, males!
Nevertheless as part of this brokered deal she had volunteered to remain in the Kizingo'zaa as an act of good faith. It gave her a rare and very valuable opportunity to explore and investigate the plant life and animals that lived within the region. She'd seen most of the animals before, but the plant life was foreign to her and she knew that some of it might have very valuable medicinal properties.
As a Hlare, there was nothing more valuable than potential medicine. She had heard stories of devastating sicknesses ravaging prides and while the Bahari had been safe, no one ever knew when such a thing would strike. She had been granted permission to explore by her pride ruler before, and now that she had been exposed to the roguelands she knew that the world wasn't quite as rose-tinted as she had assumed.
This morning she set out to follow the same routine as she always did - she woke up, satisfied her thirst and then departed to explore another undiscovered region of the Kizingo'zaa. She had yet to be introduced to many individuals within this pride, but perhaps today would prove to be an exception for her...
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2012 7:24 pm
Dhoru woke to a warm and sunny morning. Blinking his eyes open, he raised his head groggily and stretched his jaws wide in a massive yawn. He licked one forepaw and tried to rub the stubborn blurriness of sleep out of his eyes, then stood and stretched luxuriously for a few moments.
When he felt sufficiently awake, he padded out of his den with the intention of taking a quick swim, followed by a romp through the wilds to see if he could find any valuables to bring back to the pride. While all the items he brought back were pretty in their own right, he had yet to find anything that he would like to keep, and was hoping that today might be that day.
On his way into the Rogue Lands, he spotted a pelt that was slowly becoming familiar - the lioness Zephyranthes. Zephyranthes was actually a member of the Bahari'Mtoto, but ever since the near-war between the two prides she had been living with the Ki'Zaa. The lioness intrigued Dhoru, but he hadn't yet had a chance to speak with her.
"Well, here's a chance. Why not speak to her now?" Hasi's voice rang inside his head as the lioness butted in - as usual. Shrugging his shoulders, he decided that Hasi was right and changed direction to head towards Zephyranthes. Trotting up, he fell into step beside her.
"Hey there - Zephyranthes, right? We haven't had a chance to meet yet. I am called Lightningclaw." While the lioness was staying with the Ki'Zaa, her position was most likely only temporary, so Dhoru decided to stay on the safe side and not give out his true name. Noting her expression, he added, "Is there anything you need help with?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 1:51 am
She started, unaccustomed to others creeping up on her - she was so surprised in fact that she looked rather like a deer in headlights until she had recovered her composure. It was only when she had settled again, rebuild her composure (and some dignity), that she cleared her throat and provided the lion with her usual warm smile. She wasn't an antisocial creature and nor was she usually shy, she had just grown used to how things were in her temporary home - she puttered about, stayed within sight, and the pride tended to leave her be.
...Suffice to say that she had yet to discover that their names were all 'false'.
"Just Zephyr," she replied at last, tilted her head to the side and she observed the lion in front of her. Overall he seemed the harmless sort, his expression was amiable, his body language relaxed. It was a striking comparison to how things had been when both pride leaders had sought to threaten the other. Ah, but it only served to make her more comfortable, she had yet to meet a Kizingo'zaa lion that was truly awful.
"It's a pleasure to meet you," she added before pursing her lips and giving his question some thought. Was there anything he could help with? He obviously knew the lay of the land better than her but it was inappropriate to steal someone else's time. "Ah, not really, I'm just wandering about here and there looking for rare plants. Everything is surprisingly different here and you aren't that far away from the coast at all," she mused.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 4:28 pm
Plants. Dhoru didn't know much about plants. Sure, as a thief he'd gathered a few plants here and there that looked somehow striking or unique, plants that could be used in crafting adornments for the pride; but did he know what they were called? Did he know if they were considered rare? Of course not. He shrugged the thought away and responded, friendly smile still firmly in place.
"Alright; Zephyr," he replied. Dipping his head, he extended one foreleg and bent low to the ground in an extravagant and unnecessary bow. Straightening, he continued. "The pleasure is mine. While I don't know much about plants, if you'd like some company I'd be glad to tag along. I know the lands well, and I just might find some treasures to bring back."
It had been his intention to treasure hunt today anyways, so if he and Zephyr didn't hit it off at least the day wasn't wasted. He might even be able to convince her to join him for a dip in the ocean - though he doubted it -and if she wasn't a water-loving feline, it's not like the ocean was going anywhere. He padded closer to her and adjusted his angle to match the direction she had been headed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:35 am
She couldn't help but giggle at his rather extravagant bow. Her pride had never been one for that sort of ceremony, in fact, the only ceremonies they had were festivals and they were generally full of laughter and 'chaos'. Oh sure, the procession would always be orderly but when the flood gates opened and the elders permitted everyone to enjoy themselves then everyone did just that - bowing had never been part of the equation.
As such, she promptly gave a clumsy bow of her own and turned round to step into line with him. She may not have known him, but she would certainly appreciate the company. The fact he knew the lands well was an added bonus for her and would surely improve her chances of finding the more unique and elusive plants that hid within the trees. It would benefit them both - he could hunt for treasures and she could hunt for medicinal herbs.
"Lead the way then, Dhoru," she murmured, a smile of her own lifting onto her lips as she padded after him. "You can show me all the secret groves, maybe there'll be something wonderful inside, eh?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:24 pm
Epine de Rose Tag! :3 Just a side note, Zephyr shouldn't know Dhoru's real name. ;P
"Funny you should choose those words, Zephyr," Dhoru remarked. "Secret grove" were the exact words he would have chosen to describe a small clearing in the nearby jungle that he regularly visited. He was fairly sure that no one else in the pride had discovered his sanctuary - he never found any paw prints or vegetation out of place and the only lion scent he ever detected was stale and belonged to him - and Zephyr's words surprised him faintly. He did, however, know of another place similar to his secret place, but that had occasional visitors other than himself. It was this location that he chose to reveal. "I know just the place."
As they trotted casually toward the trees, Dhoru tried to describe all the various plants he could remember seeing in the clearing. He described the colors, patterns, and shapes as best as he could while not knowing what exactly would interest Zephyr. Of course, he avoided the plants he knew, such as grass, trees and the like. Perhaps some of the flowers that he overlooked while treasure hunting were actually valuable enough to be brought back to the pride, provided Zephyr didn't need them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:30 am
Rennekae Lol, consider her to have said 'lightning claw' I tend to get Kizi names confused when I'm typing things up quickly.
"I'm sure that your lands like mine contain quite a number of hidden surprises," she remarked, although she would have conceded her's consisted more of caves and jungle than sheltered forest and vegetation. "Secret groves or common, though what one individual refers to as special and worthy of attention may be different to someone else," she mused softly, her head tilting to one side.
"I know for a fact that one of my cousins loves a specific cave in the Bahari because when the sun sets she's able to harvest the pearls," she explained and rolled her shoulders in a loose shrug. "But I never much saw the appeal of wrestling with clams during low tide..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:17 am
Epine de Rose It's okay - I'm fairly new to Dhoru having more than one name myself. haha
After a short while walking and chatting, the two reached their destination. The clearing was rather small - only large enough for four adult lions to occupy comfortably - but he knew that many secrets were hidden here. He padded to the center of the clearing and stopped beside an odd assortment of stones, then turned back to Zephyr.
"These lands are indeed rich with surprises, especially for those who know where to look and what to look for. For instance, these rocks. I played on them with my siblings as cubs, climbing them, running around them, oblivious to the secret they held. Returning as an adult, I discovered that the rocks aren't actually rocks." Extending one forepaw, he deftly flipped the nearest stone. When looking at the underside, one could see the skull of a wildebeest from the inside, preserved with very little damage. "A skeleton, somehow encased in rock. Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way for us to remove the skull without breaking it, and so it will remain just an interesting piece of landscaping."
He tore himself away from admiring nature's artwork with the skull and regarded Zephyr's expression. It may not be a plant, but he was sure she would appreciate the unique beauty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:01 am
Zephyr was not a wallflower and to assume she was sigh was very silly indeed! Her mother had raised her to be respectful, but in the grand scheme of things... Well, as she had grown up a thick skin and a keen sense of optimism had been required. She had been a b*****d child due to her mother's decision to birth fatherless children and the former leader had been less than receptive. In fact, she had openly encouraged others to treat her mother with disdain and the traditionalists had done so...
It had only been through her mother's strength and Ram's sweeping reforms that the lack of tolerance had been silenced. The traditionalists still looked down upon those who flung themselves into carnal relationships, but the children were no longer blamed for their fate. The only thing that Ram had reinforced was that a Bahari'mtoto lion should always enter into a relationship before conceding to passion.
,,,Children deserved both parents.
"I've noticed that," Zephyr confessed and offered a small smile. "The last time I was here I stumbled on many things, in fact, the lion who assisted me in the negotiations between our prides was very helpful. We had a long discussion about the properties of various plants," she continued. Nevertheless she stopped here with that explanation and cast her eyes towards the landmarks he had pointed out.
...To say she was surprised by what the rocks had hidden was an understatement.
"I wonder what on earth that wildebeest was doing," she murmured, lifting up the rock to inspect it more closely. "I didn't even know you could get stuck in stone, did you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 3:05 pm
"I will admit, I completely despise being far underground and I always have. Even still, I'd never thought it was actually possible to become trapped in the rock. Needless to say, it only strengthened my distaste." Dhoru chuckled; while he did indeed hate being underground, it wasn't something that bothered him when he wasn't doing it, and therefor he felt comfortable making jokes about it. When he wasn't underground, anyway.
Dhoru felt pleased by Zephyr's reaction to the fossil. He was so intrigued by it, and he would have been very disappointed if she hadn't cared at all. But, of course, he must think of why they had come here - Zephyr was in search of plants. In this particular grove, there were many plants, but one of them stood out to Dhoru because of it's coloring - a tree with low-hanging branches that were carpeted in a beautiful purple flower. Purple was his favorite color, and the specific shade of the flowers on this tree always brought a smile to his face.
"Regarding plants. There's a tree over here that always catches my eye. I know that "pretty" doesn't always mean "useful", but it's worth a shot, right?" He flashed her another friendly smile and began to lead her to where a few of these trees were clustered together on one side of the clearing. "Here they are. What do you think?" He leaned forward briefly to sniff at the sweetly pungent flowers, then looked back to Zephyr hopefully.Epine de Rose This is the tree he's referring to - the violet tree. I googled "Medicinal Plants in Africa", and this came up. It's perfect since it grows almost anywhere in Africa and it's his favorite color, so he'd be sure to remember it. If you scroll down that page, there's a section on medicinal uses. I don't know if you want Zephyr to already know about some of them or what, but it's definitely a useful plant. c:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 11:12 pm
Rennekae Derp, I thought I'd responded to this. =_=
"I can't say I've ever been that far down," she mused softly and then shook her head to dismissively. "Then again if the opportunity ever comes up I may try it at least once, rumour has it that their are some good herbs hidden away in tunnels," she pointed out. However, rather than settle on this subject for long she soon turned her attention to the purple plant that he had thought might be of interest to her.
...Bright usually meant 'dangerous'.
Then again, 'dangerous' could also be a blessing in disguise when it was refined correctly.
She sat down and regarded the plant with a thoughtful expression before shaking her head. "I couldn't possibly comment," she confessed as she turned to look at Dhoru. "Bright plants are usually the most dangerous but they can also be the most valuable as well - it's something I'll need to experiment with," she continued and sighed softly. "Work out which bits are the useful bits and which parts need to be avoided, you know?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 8:01 pm
Dhoru nodded slowly. He didn't know, but that was okay. Apart from when he was asked to search for specific ones, the aesthetics of plants were all that mattered to him and that wasn't about to change; however, his interest was piqued by Zephyr's mention of 'experimenting' with the tree. He wasn't sure what that entailed but he was definitely willing to find out.
"Well, if I can help you with any of those experiments let me know. Short of ingesting something that's potentially fatal, I'd be happy to help." Once again, he smiled amicably at the lioness. "Is there anything else I can assist you with? Because, if not, I'd like to head out; I can't find valuable items if I don't look."Epine de Rose That's okay. c: If you'd like, you can do a quick wrap-up post. Or you can keep the rp going; I'm not picky either way. Were you interested in doing another rp about these 'experiments' in the future?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:30 pm
Rennekae Lol I got swamped with work, I tend to read these things and then think I've responded to them when I haven't. As for a follow-up RP, that'd be cool, it could be fun to have the exposure and a little bit of help for Zephyr.
However his offer was appreciated and she gave a warm smile to emphasize this, "That being said it will be used for other things too so having a subject to trial the more innocent and less dangerous properties of the plant would be nice," she remarked. Nevertheless she wasn't one to hold an individual back when they had things to do or people to see - he'd shown her a treasure and she suspected she could entertain herself from here.
"If you would like to head out then you most certainly can, I'll have to return later with my things so that I can investigate further but I wouldn't like to hold you back. You have my thanks for showing me this, hopefully it turns out to be a nice addition to my collection."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
