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 Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 12:40 pm
Chyou wasn't doing bad for herself out in the rogue lands. The hunting was good, the weather was fine, and there were enough water sources that dehydrating was never much of a threat as long as you exercised caution. The one thing she did abhor about the lifestyle was loneliness of it all. Quick chats were never hard to find, but she needed something deeper than that; some kind of solidarity in her life.
The Pridelands came to mind.
She had never seen it in person, only felt like she had. The stories spoke of a place beautiful and green; peaceful and prosperous. Chyou assessed the scenery around her that morning and became certain she must be getting close. Little did she know just how close.
In the distance was a lone lion she could tell had not grown into his mane quite yet.
Chyou started his way. Maybe he could help with some directions.
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Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:51 pm
Soren was loving life! Ever since he had started growing his mane, he was able to travel much more around the Pridelands. His mother had told him stories about what lay beyond the borders, and although they seemed treacherous at first, Soren still wanted to explore them.
At least…the edge of them.
The pale lion was quite lanky, another obvious sign that he wasn’t done growing. His legs were quite long, but lacked the muscle mass a normal full grown lion would typically have. This didn’t bother Soren much, except for the fact that he found himself always tripping over his legs. His mother told him it was just a phase, and he’d grow out of it. Soren only hoped this was the truth; the day when he didn’t trip over his over feet would be heaven!
The smell of another wafted into the air. The Pridelands was such an immense pride, Soren was meeting members he didn’t even know lived there! Perhaps this newcomer was a member as well? Or not…she was so close to the border?
Soren was too for that matter. Oh well, he’d chance it. She was heading towards him anyways. It was the best idea to look as friendly as possible; there was no need for a threat.
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Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2012 9:09 am
Chyou was thinking the same thing. She had never looked threatening in her life (unless you were an antelope) and she planned to keep it that way. Lately, she heard of lions that decimated anything and anyone they encountered, stealing possessions and sometimes the cubs. To make matters worse there was not one pride responsible from what she could tell. And rogues were starting to turn on each other too. To be one was starting to get dangerous, not just lonely.
That's why she, a lioness who more often than not puttered around shyly in the company of strangers, was approaching one now. He didn't look like someone she'd regret speaking to.
Chyou had no choice if she was going to find her way. "Excuse me," she said when she was close enough. To a stranger, first impression implied she was by no means bashful. She spoke clearly and at a steady pace. "Do you think you could help me?"
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 7:03 am
Soren’s ears perked forward in curiosity. A soft ‘hmm?’ released from his maw as she got closer. His head tilted as if he thought about her question for a moment, before answering shortly.
“I can…try?” He hoped he could. There was always a gratifying feel when one was able to help another out.
Her question wasn’t something that he’d get asked every day, especially by someone he didn’t know. Then again, he was still a “youngster” in the eyes of adults, so maybe they just always bypassed him when they needed something. Either way, at this current point in time, Soren would say he’d be useful for something!
He waited patiently for her, although small bouts of anxiety roamed his body. He felt himself nudging the ground a bit, something that he had always done as a toddler. His mother called it wandering feet---something she had had when was younger too. It was no doubt his sense of adventure was received through her.
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Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 10:08 am
Chyou's mother had names for things she did since she was young too, like asking if someone would offer assistance without specifying what agreement entailed, and waiting for a reply before doing so. She called it annoying, and told her daughter she ought to knock it off before she got too old to break a bad habit like that.
And yet here she was. What would mother say?
'Stop annoying the kid, Chyou!' sounded about right.
Chyou did not see him as befitting the title of 'kid'. Young, sure, but he was nearly an adult. And she was not very keen on speaking to even cubs as though they were burdened with debilitating mental conditions. Everyone deserved to be talked to respectfully.
She, in light of that belief, sounded very humbled he had consented to letting her borrow some of his time. Sort of.
"I'm just looking for the Pridelands." Chyou smiled charmingly at him. "Do you happen to know if I'm going the right way? I'd like to get there soon, so if you can help with directions..."
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:51 pm
Her short silence seemed to cause his anxiety to grow. Soren was about to stand on his feet when the female spoke. His movement in his paws ceased at once, as a smile was brought to his maw.
“The Pridelands?” he repeated. So, just for the little deduction, Soren could safely assume that this lioness was not of the pride. What member would not remember how to get to such a large pride? Unless she was born here and taken away by family members at a young age? Oh, now the pale adolescent was confusing himself.
“I sure do!” when she asked if she was going the right way, Soren gave a swift nod. “Here! I can show you, if you like?
“The Pridelands aren’t far really, you’re just near the borders now!” If the lion showed the lioness the way, it was like going on a little adventure for him with a sidekick! How awesome was that.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:28 am
Goodness. Chyou was no pessimist, but she hadn't expected it to be this easy. Were the Pridelanders really all as welcoming as she'd heard?
"I would love that." She tried not to sound as eager as she felt. Her mother also told her getting excitable did nothing but make other lions think you were weird and chase them away. "Thank you so much. I've been walking a long time -- I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't want to hear about all that. My name is Chyou."
And Chyou was more than happy to take on the role of sidekick.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:01 pm
“Well…hopefully you can walk just a little bit longer?” Soren joked, his feet itching to begin moving.
He had turned his body, so facing the opposite direct of which he originally was at. Already from their spot, Pride Rock loomed in the not so very distant distance. The rock formation seemed small against the horizon, but the sheer size would amaze anyone who stepped close to it. Even though he grew up here, the landmark amazed Soren.
Oh, how daft was the boy. Soren turned sheepishly turned Chyou, a goofy grin plaguing his maw. “I’m Soren.”
“Why are you looking for the Pridelands?” It was probably one of the stupider questions one could ask --- but one could always surprise another.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:14 pm
"I'll manage," Chyou replied.
At risk of sounding too whimsical, she felt this encounter had lifted her spirits high as the Gods themselves could soar. She needed a good conversation as bad as her paws needed this journey to end. Just because she didn't complain about it didn't mean they weren't sore!
"Nice to meet you, Soren." Weren't his grins just contagious? Basking in the cheery atmosphere, Chyou even managed to keep from looking all that sad when she answered him: "My birth pride is gone... But my father was born here, so I decided to find it.
"The rogue lands are lonely -- and getting dangerous." She shook her head, a glimpse of frustration on her face. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to keep ranting. Were you born here?"
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 2:43 pm
His ears drooped a bit hearing that her birth pride was gone. He couldn’t imagine losing his pride, whether it was from disbandment, sickness or whatnot. As much as Soren wanted to explore, his home held a special place within his heart. Knowing that you couldn’t return would tear that piece out and leave a gaping wound that could never be repaired.
Soren wondered if she had a wound like that.
It looked like a part of her father was still with her, as she had certainly found the pride. Maybe once a pridelander (albeit, pridelander by blood, not necessarily born within), always a pridelander.
“Danger?” His ears perked with interest once more. So his mother was right!
“My mother has told me stories of the rogue lands, especially the hyenas that roam it too,” Soren wasn’t born at the time of the big war between the hyenas and Pridelands, but he had heard of it. Stories were just stories, but when others had explained the exact same scenario, there must have been some kind of kernel of truth there.
The adolescent nodded. “Yes’m I was!” He was proud of this. “So was my mother…and her mother and father…and their parents…” His lineage could be traced all the way back to the old Pridelands royalty.
Pride Rock was quickly approaching. Soren wondered just where he should take this female…or perhaps, maybe she wanted to find who she needed on her own? He kept his thoughts quiet.
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Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 4:02 pm
Hyenas? What a peculiar thing to focus on, Chyou thought. The hyenas were nothing to be afraid of unless you were sensitive to their heckling or driven crazy by their constant, maniacal laughter. She’d met a pack of them and had no further plans to associate with their kind. That was one thing, but to be scared of them? They were half the size of her. Why…?
It was the lions you had to watch out for!
Chyou was so tuned in to his list of relatives she’d almost lost track of what was in front of her. Jutting from the ground was the mighty stone that was often the first thing mentioned when talk of the Pridelands was had. “Is that Pride Rock?” she asked excitedly. She didn’t know what she’d do if not! Could there possibly be a more impressive landmark than that?
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Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2012 6:07 pm
“Yes’m it is!” Soren answered, smiling. His mother had taught him to always use manners. No matter who he had met, the pale lion was always speaking with sirs and madams, pleases and thank yous.
He could see her excitement. Pride Rock was a rather exhilarating landmark. Even for being born in the pride, the sheer size and just amazingness of such a formation intrigued a lot of pride members, including Soren. His excitement had never really died down, more or less, he just didn’t express it as physically as others did.
“Pretty cool, isn’t it?” He asked, slowing his speed a bit.
Then it dawned on him something she had said earlier. Her father was born here, wasn’t he? Maybe Chyou was going to look for him? She had also mentioned that the rogue lands were getting lonely and dangerous as well. Had she wanted to find a place of her own? It probably was painfully obvious, but Soren wasn’t always the brightest crayon in the box.
“You know,” Soren began, “I’m sure the King won’t mind if you stay around for a bit. If you like it, that is?”
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:56 pm
Chyou felt a little nervous when Soren mentioned the king. Someone else might have been taken aback by how dense he was on the matter, but not her. Instead, she scolded herself for thinking she was entitled to stay just because she'd managed to get here. That was sort of what she'd heard, that the Pridelands would take anyone as long as they behaved. She was a good lioness. Why wouldn't they?
Ever one for modesty, she asked in the same tone, "Do you think I could? I would really like to." Her leisurely gait had slowed to a crawl. "I don't really have anywhere else, and I don't think there's anywhere better."
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Posted: Tue Jan 01, 2013 2:10 pm
Hopefolly (I think we can wrap it up in a post or two if you wanna? smile )
“You seem okay by me, and I like to think I’m a pretty good judge of character!” Soren puffed out his chest, making him look bigger than his actual adolescent self was. He wanted to seem proud of that aspect of his life.
“This is the best place ever.” The male stated, reassuring the female. “You will love it here!”
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Posted: Wed Jan 02, 2013 9:01 pm
Chyou got the impression he was proud, and she couldn't blame him. What a great lineage to have. She thought of her own and wondered where all her family was for a moment. An instant of dwelling was all she could bare.
"I think I will," Chyou agreed. Love it here, she meant. Another look around and she realized she truly felt her choice had been right. This was a comfort she hadn't experienced since... since the last time she had anywhere to belong. It had been a long time since she had a home -- and a friend.
She would need to search for any of her family soon. That was something she wanted to do alone, but.
"Can we --" Chyou couldn't muster the nerve to look him in the eye. "Could I talk with you again some time? If you're not too busy -- if you are, it's alright."
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