|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:28 am
“What are those things over there, Mum? They look all screwed up...” No really, what in the world were they? They look like giant hamsters! Sahra tilted her head to one side, looking at the creature from each angle and perspective that she could manage. Which meant zooming from one viewing area to the next, al around, and back again.
“Figure it out.” Sighing from irritation, a woman with fierce blue eyes nearly glared at the girl; how could she not know? It was so simple it almost made her laugh, but she held back her temptation; she was her daughter after all, laughing at her wouldn’t be a very motherly act. Her black and white ears flicked, as if a pest swarmed about her feline appendages. She sported black slacks, leather boots and a leather corsair over a white blouse.
“But Mum, come on! I have no idea.” She hissed in frustration, nearly tripping over her partner, Ephrem, who was speeding about beside her. “Watch it Re! What are you trying to do, trip me?” She huffed, regaining her balance quickly, patting the dragon on the head, and finally deciding to stop. Lounging beside her mother, the cheetah flinched impatiently, awaiting a final answer.
“Read the sign, Srra?” Ephrem suggested, constricting himself upward like a snake, until he looked her eye-to-eye. His gray eyes glittered with innocence, showing for once, he had no sarcasm behind his remarks.
“Oh...” Sahra nearly blushed, luckily for her, though, she was furred thickly enough that it didn’t really show through. She hid her face anyways, burying her eyes into the wool of her low riding olive colored sweater. “Um, right, I knew that.” She mumbled, embarrassed, this certainly wasn’t the first time she had overlooked an obvious detail.
Mew couldn’t help it any longer, she broke out in laughter, wrapping one arm lovingly around the girl’s back, and she pulled her hard against her side. “It is alright Sahzy,” She whispered, “It is only the three of us right here. For all anyone else knows you where just trying to get a better look at them. They’re Capybaras.”
“You could have just told me that before, and then pointed out the sign.” She whined, lifting her head to allow her eyes to scan over the large sign. “That is a very interesting creature, though~!” The cheetah exclaimed happily, smiling again. “Come on, let’s go see the next exhibit!” Sahra pulled away from her mother, bouncing off towards the next display, probably forgetting the whole ordeal. In forgetting, she would probably commit the same embarrassing act over again, not too much later in their Zoo visit, which was quite obvious as she began the same ritual over again. “What’s this, what’s this?” She chided, Ephrem close behind.
Mew snickered, “As happy as ever.” She spoke to herself, “Nothing ever gets to you.” With her long thickly furred tail finally at ease, Mew padded off in Sahra’s direction, taking extra care to hide the albino cobra wrapped around her arm under her blouse. “Those are sea otters, Sah.” She proclaimed, as she caught up with the pair.
“Oh, oh! Like that one kid, except not!”
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 11:47 am
"Boy, you're starting to get too heavy for this," Stevie grumbled from underneath Fleur who was perched happily on her shoulders. It was the same complaint she made at every exhibit, and by now, he had learned to ignore it. He had already offered twice to get down, but since she still had not deposited him on the ground, he supposed she did not mind as much as she claimed.
"What are those, Bah?" the skunk asked, pointing into the exhibit. They were standing right in front of the plaque, but since he was still learning how to read, Stevie did not fault him for ignoring it.
"They're sea otters, hon," she huffed, adjusting him on her shoulders again. "Remind me not to smack Chrysler next time she suggests I lift a few weights. You're growing too fast." She was just thankful his perfume was already heavily applied considering her nose's close proximity to the source of his natural stench. The scent of orange perfume was a little overwhelming, but it was much more bearable than what it was masking.
"Ohh...what's that?" Fleur asked, pointing again and ignoring her second remark, this time at something yellow near the exhibit.
"...first, boy, it's rude to call her a 'that'. And second, that's one of your senior classmates." At least, that was what she called the other children of D-Corp. Frankly, it was just easier for her to think of it as one giant school with junior and senior classmates. "Want to go say 'hi'? Give my back a break before it gets broken?"
"Oh...um..." Fleur's ears tilted back a little. He was still not sure about meeting new people despite making friends with three other D-Corp projects already. Stevie, however, did not wait for a real response, depositing him on the ground where he immediately wrapped his tail around himself out of nervousness and idly hoped the girl would not see him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:12 pm
"They're so cute~" Sahra exclaimed, leaning onto the railing with her elbows, her chin resting in her hands. "And so utterly playful! Look at that little guy," The feline released one hand from it's position long enough to point out a young sea otter. "He, or she, must just be learning, because it can't even stay on it's back!" Sahra giggled, eyes wide as she watched one take up a shelled clam from the bottom of it's enclosures pool, and start pounding at it with a rock.
"Srra!" Ephrem's words slurred as he yanked on the girl's jeans with his canines. "Move over, I can't see." He whined, slithering up her side, and perching himself up against her.
"But you're fine now, Re." She smiled, not quick to notice that their were other foreign eyes looking upon her. "Oh, hm?" Sahra turned her head slightly, chin still resting on her palms, she looked over a slightly smaller furred child standing not far away. What was he supposed to be? He almost looked like a feline, maybe a canine, but his strong citrusy smell suggested otherwise. "Hello!" She beamed, not making much effort to move, as she would send her dragon partner tumbling if she did.
Sahra glanced upward, eyeing the other person standing near the child. Now what's that supposed to be? She wrinkled her nose, turning her attention back to the other child, she smiled. "Are you from the Corp, too?" Her ears lolled, tail twisting about, "I'm Sahra; and you are...?"
Ephrem followed suit, although not speaking aloud, he tilted his head, plopping loudly down back onto the boarded ground, his curious gaze was set upon the good-smelling item that stood before them. "Hm."
Mew smiled a toothy grin, it made her happy to see her daughter socializing, not to mention it appeared to be another kid from D-Corp, someone she was yet to see or meet. Maybe coming to the Zoo was an okay idea.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 12:33 pm
Fleur squeaked, his hopes of being overlooked crashing around his furry feet. "U-Um...I'm Fleur..." His ears tilted back again from nervousness then straightened back up again when he noticed Ephrem, unable to keep himself from staring. He had never seen a real dragon before - just the eggs in the incubation facility. "Is that your dragon..?" As usual, surprise seemed to be loosening him up. Whenever he encountered something new and intriguing, he forgot how nervous he started off.
Fleur jumped, his tail bushing out in surprise, when Stevie let out a loud cry of, "Relief!" and collapsed onto a bench nearby to rest her back and shoulders. The start and being further away from her reminded Fleur of his situation, and he wrapped his tail tighter around himself before looking back up at Sahra, his eyes stopping on her tail. Hers was very different from the other three children's he had met, and the difference was intriguing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:23 pm
Smiling, Sahra backed away from the railing, waving a quick good bye to the little otter that had propped itself up against the glass, and was deliberately staring at her. She couldn't help but giggle again they were just so funny!
"Fleur, huh? I don't think I've ever heard of you before." She chided, he voice raspy; she quickly ended that by clearing her throat. "Well Fleur, it's nice to meet you! And by the way, you can just call me Sah." She nodded, standing straight up and folding her arms comfortably behind her neck. "So how've you liked everything so far? Aren't all the animals just so interesting~?"
Ephrem nodded to the boys question, seeing as the cheetah had most likely either forgotten to answer it, or her fascination with the otters had caused her to overlook it. "I am 'her' dragon, yes." He answered in his natural low tone, "Ephrem." He corrected- he wasn't just a dragon after all, he was just as good as any old D-Corp kid. Re slithered off in the opposite direction impatiently, using head movements to usher the others onward. "Come on, let's go see something different now!"
Well it seems Re actually approves of this kid, so far anyways. That's always a good sign. Sahra reached upward to tuck some loose strands of hair behind her ear, "Yeah, let's see what other weird confabulations they have around here."
Mew shook her head, "As impatient as ever, those two always have to be on the move." She seemed as if she was speaking to herself, like some crazed lunatic, but in truth, her words were in fact directed at someone.
Lifting his snow white head, the snake that lie hidden under her sleeve let off a soft hiss, to lazy to attempt to form words, he coiled partway out of his odd hiding place, and gazed around at their surroundings. With nothing particularly interesting to him, he coiled back around Mew's wrist, although still in view, if you looked close enough.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 1:43 pm
Fleur just blinked blankly at her for a moment, trying to wrap his mind around the word she just used. "What's a...con...confa...whatever you said?" His vocabulary was not the best just yet since he was still getting the hang of reading though he tried his hardest. That was just too odd a word for him to recognize. He did not notice the movement at Mew's wrist - skunks have poor eyesight, and he was no exception though his eyesight was certainly better than a real skunk's. It was estimated, however, that he would someday need glasses.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:38 pm
Sahra smiled, "Con-fa-bew-lay-tion, to me it means otherworldly, like something is so strange that is seems like someone created it with in their mind. But that's just on my terms, I use strange words matched with my own made up meanings. Just ignore me~! The real word means something completely different." She would have to take a mental note to not use large confusing words anymore that made no sense to anyone but herself, she really needed to get out of that habit.
Now that that was behind her, Sahra felt obligated to turn her head to look over her shoulder, and take one last look at the lovely little sea otters. "I just can't get over them, I don't know why." Sahra shrugged, her ears twitching as she stopped slouching forward, and stood up straight.
"Srra-cub." Ephrem shook his head at his partner, thinking she was even crazier than ever, he slinked onward a short ways, and turned back around to gaze down upon the two furred organisms. "Come on, Srra, um, Fluffy-kid, let's go on to the next area!" The lindworm bobbed up and down impatiently.
"Hm, you know what," She whispered to Re and Fleur, "We could easily sneak off away from these guys, let's go see some more stuff! Have some fun! I don't feel like being watched like a hawk anyways. Besides, my Mum has Aja." Sahra grinned, a devilish look shining in her eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 6:29 pm
"But won't they worry about us?" was the first thing to pop into Fleur's mind, and he could not stop himself from blurting it out. He was really not certain about being out of Stevie's sight regardless of the fact that she seemed to be ignoring him right now, concentrating on relaxing her shoulders. Fleur supposed it would be okay as long as they did not go too far...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:35 pm
"Nah, not if they don't notice we're gone! Besides, it's not like we'll go outside the Zoo gates; the whole Zoo is surrounded by a big fence. We'll be fine!" She nodded reassuringly, "'Sides, Ephrem and I wander off alone all the time, no big deal." Sahra fiddled with the end corner of her sweater, running the soft wool repeatedly through her clawed fingers.
"I agree." Ephrem blatted simply, slithering up against the cheetah, "Let's go and see the next exhibit, before we all die of old age." The dragon slinked forward a tad, just ahead of Sahra, and pushed his body against her legs. This caused her to fall back onto him.
"Ack. I hate it when you do that Re..." She mumbled, grabbing onto his neck, and pulling herself upon onto a decent enough position to not fall off. Ephrem's more recent growth spurt had left it much easier for her to ride the dragon now, although with her small size, she was able to ride him for a good time before, it was just easier now.
He could manage to carry others as well, with his long lanky body; all you had to do was catch a seat. "Come on!" The lindworm chimed, "Get on, let's go, before the two Ma's notice our intentions."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Feb 06, 2007 8:27 pm
It took the skunk another moment to finally agree, just hoping Stevie would not be angry with him when he returned. "Get on?" Fleur asked at Ephrem's prompt, staring at him. He thought he was only supposed to ride his own dragon - granted, it was still an egg. Ephrem seemed to not mind though, and since he was the one being ridden, Fleur timidly climbed on, trying to mimic Sahra so he would not fall off. "Where are we going?" He had no idea what the next exhibit was - Stevie was just taking him around at random.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 10, 2007 3:10 pm
Ephrem grinned, rounding a corner with the two creatures upon his back, he was careful not to go to fast for the younger child. While Sahra was used to his speed capacities, it was quite obvious to him that the fluffy boy might not be able to handle to much speed. "Hm, I don't know." He admitted no stop in clear sight, "A decent ways away from them. After we go far enough we'll get off and start looking~!"
Grasping the lindworm's collar, Sahra wasn't used to such slow speeds. High speeds always gave her a rush of adrenaline, in which she was currently craving for. But she knew better, thank god. "There!" She pointed, shadowed ears standing straight up. "Look at those; what are they? They have really long tails and they're hanging from the wire of their enclosure with them...weird."
Coming to a slow stop, Re arched upwards.
Sahra quickly jumped off, being right near his front portion, meant she needed to get off. She took the cue as soon as it was given to her. She wasn't worried for Fleur, since she knew Ephrem would only raise high enough to see over the bars, which left Fleur very near the ground, and in no danger. "Ohh! They look so weird. But I can’t see them close enough; these stupid bars are in my way."
The cheetah stood on her tip toes, squinting. It was then she knew what she had to do! Lifting one foot, she placed it firmly on one bar, and hoisted herself up on top of the railing. "Ow." She mumbled only loud enough for herself to hear, an automatic reaction, as her boney bottom hit the metal works. Up and now over; plop onto the cement ground below. Sahra pranced up to the side of the exhibit. "So," She began, words directed at a darkly colored creature coming to greet her, "What are you exactly?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:20 pm
"Ah!" Fleur yelped as he scrambled off of Ephrem to follow Sahra. "Are you sure it's okay to do that?" He had a feeling the bars were there for a reason, but he did not want Sahra to think he was too skittish to follow her, so he peeked over the railing at her carefully.
The creature greeting her definitely was strange, and he had no clue as to what it could be. He was still not certain getting that close was such a good idea, but Sahra was older than he, and she seemed to think it was...
Much slower and less graceful than Sahra, Fleur awkwardly climbed over the railing as well to rejoin her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 10:59 am
"I don't see why not." The cheetah responded, tilting her head awkwardly and staring wide-eyed at the dark furred critter. "We can't see from behind the stupid railings so we just have to climb over them! That's what Yin told me at the beach, when we where on the boardwalk. Trying to see the sunset over a five foot railing is kind of hard for us both, so we went under them and out onto the beach." It seemed logical enough to her, it had never occurred to Sahra that this could possibly be breaking the rules. After all, what really could the animals do to them? They were animals themselves, well, part at least. They weren't utterly vicious!
"Besides, they're really playful!" Leaning down to the ground, Sahra scooped up a stick in her clawed hand. She stuck it through the wire fencing, and poked at the creature.
The dark creature, hanging by its tail grabbed a hold of the stick, and snapped it in half. Letting out a loud shriek, it climbed off onto a sort of rafter in it's exhibit, and caressed the stick like a youngling, guarding it possessively from the other creatures as they dog piled it, herding all around.
"Wow." The cheetah awed, "That's strange. It's just a stick guys not like it's a shiny jewel or something."
Ephrem was behind them, cracking up, staring up at the commotion from the walkway. What a mess they all were, messed up that is, for fighting over such a useless object as a piece of a branch.
"Hey you kids!" A woman dressed in a navy blue T-Shirt labeled 'Zoo Staff' and white kakis was running from a distance away, shouting at the top of her lungs. "Get away from that cage! Get out of there!" She was huffing furiously, eyes blazing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 4:11 pm
Fleur also looked at the creatures oddly, wondering what was so fascinating about a stick. "It's not even colorful...why do they like it so much?" he asked. If it was brightly colored, he could see the fascination as he was also fascinated by bright colors. "Maybe they don't have sticks like that in there?" It almost made sense but not quite - there were lots of plants in the cage, so why would a stick be that much different?
Fleur yelped and ducked closer to Sahra when he heard someone yelling, tilting his ears back. He hated being startled and was not sure what was wrong - he just knew that person looked very angry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 5:30 pm
"Ack, Fleur we need to get out of here!" Sahra gritted her teeth, "I am not sure why that lady is so angry but she is coming after us! We have to get out of here!" The cheetah grasped the railing with both hands and pulled herself upward, mounting one foot firmly on a bar. She climbed upward, turning around slightly and extending a hand to Fleur. "Come on!" She urged quickly.
Ephrem picked up on all the alarm, although his fascination in the dark creatures did not end, for they were all now howling, perched on the sides of the exhibit staring at the them. "Alright..." He sulked, "Let's go then." The lindworm awaited the two, watching the lady get closer and closer. Couldn't they go any faster?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
