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 Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:05 pm
 Sepoko was content. It was the best he could hope for, though it was rare. He wasn't entirely certain what "happiness" was, but he supposed it was close enough to contentment for him to not need to care.
It was a pleasant day; not too hot, but not too cold. It was, admittedly, a little damp, as a fresh rain had soaked the jungle just the prior night. Sepoko leaned against the stone face of the low hill into which their den was set, and water rolled down and splashed him on the face. He just let it happen, blinking a little each time a new drop hit. He didn't really care. It was just water, after all. It wasn't going to kill him.
It was awfully quiet though, especially for the jungle, and this unsettled the little amber cub greatly. Where were momma and daddy when you needed them?
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Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 4:12 pm
Ajabu rested quietly beside the awoken Sepoko. As soon as movements jumbled around, he too opened his eyes. Although, the darkness in his eyes was more fierce than the water that his brother pondered about. Snorting, he simply rolled onto his other side, ignoring his younger brother. A moment of silent passed before he spoke loudly. "Shut up, Sepoko! I'm trying to sleep!"
He hissed lightly and then closed his eyes once more. It wouldn't be long for the fun truly began, when Ajabu actually woke up.
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Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 5:12 pm
Sepoko blinked even more rapidly than the water had made him blink as Ajabu grumbled. In surprise, he looked down at his grouchy brother, who he had thought had been napping, just as peaceful as he. Now he saw his elder brother glaring at him with his dark eyes, and bit his lip. Why, he hadn't even been speaking! Not aloud, at any rate. Yet, clearly he had done something to disturb his dear brother. Perhaps he had hummed, or sneezed, or breathed too loudly. This made him hang his head in shame. How could he do something so thoughtless and disturb his brother's rest? "I'm sorry," he whispered, and left it at that.
For his brother's comfort, Sepoko decided to shuffle a few feet away and try to breathe as shallowly as he could and still get enough oxygen. That way, he shouldn't again wake his sleeping brother! Then perhaps Ajabu would be pleased with him.
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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 2:54 pm
Ajabu hissed as the young Sepoko scooted away from him a little. Slanting his eyes, he raised himself off the den's ground and stretched himself. He was ecstatic to get out of the cramped cave, and go out exploring. Although, he faintly remembered mother and father telling them not to leave the den, he barely listened. He was too busy being a stubborn mule to his younger, weak brother.
He scowled, as he approached the reddish-brown male. "So, are you coming or not? ... go ahead and be a big sissy and hide in the den." He grinned and fled in an instant, leaping from the exit.
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Posted: Mon Feb 26, 2007 5:14 pm
Sepoko sat and hung his head, frowning at Ajabu's hiss. What had he done now? All he wanted was for his big brother to be happy. He sat and waited until he was wanted or needed. As far as he was concerned, he had no function unless others needed him.
He almost didn't notice his brother getting ready to leave until he no longer saw the tan-and-brown out of the corner of his eye. "Ajabu?" he asked quietly, curious, but when he looked up, there Ajabu was, right in front of his face. Sepoko squeaked, startled, and fell back against the cave wall. Ajabu asked if he was coming. Coming where? Where was he going? And then he was gone just as fast, dashing up the mouth of the cave. Sepoko stared in shock. What was he thinking? "Ajabu, wait!" called the younger brother. "Wait, momma and daddy said we were s'posed to stay here!" But it was too late. There was no stopping Ajabu now.
As for Sepoko himself, he didn't want to leave. He was far more comfortable in the safety and security of the den; it was like a second womb. Besides, momma and daddy said to stay, and momma and daddy's word was law...
...but Ajabu expected him to come, and he hated to disappoint. And besides, he couldn't just let his big brother go off by himself, could he? What kind of brother would that make Sepoko! He groaned and heaved himself up onto his feet. "Hey, Ajabu, wait up!" he hollered, then scrambled to catch up with his brother.
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Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 5:52 pm
Ajabu scowled in frustration as his younger brother Sepoko trailed behind him. "I wait for no one." Rolling his eyes, he grinned and then padded ahead farther. He had only a few things on his mind at the moment, and wanted to keep them intact. One was tricking their parents by leaving when they were told not to leave, and two -- Sepoko following him, and in turn, getting into trouble along with Ajabu'kenai. It always worked, because the older cub always went to his father to whine, and Koda believed him the most, for some strange and bizarre reason.
"So what, mom and dad can't tell me what to do. ... " He slanted his eyes, as he turned to look at his younger sibling. "I know you care, but thats because your a suck up. ... and you worry about everything. Ever heard of 'letting loose, and having fun' every now and then, brother?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2007 6:05 pm
Sepoko scurried along frantically on his little legs. Being rather smaller than his elder brother, he practically had to scramble to catch up. He was panting by the time he got up to his elder brother's heels, and he jogged alongside him, surveying him with worried gray eyes. He knew they were going to get in trouble, he just knew it... but Ajabu wanted him here, and he'd hate to disappoint his big brother, and he'd hate to let him get in trouble alone. If they were going to get in trouble, they'd get in it together... as brothers.
Still, Sepoko couldn't help but worry. He hated being in trouble. He wondered if perhaps he could convince Ajabu to turn around and go back with some quiet reason.
"Wull, they only tell us what to do because they're trying to protect us," Sepoko assured his brother. "I mean, the world's a big, scary place and... we don't know much abou it yet. We're just cubs. They're adults, they've seen all kinds of things. And mommy, she's traveled all across the land!" He hung his head. Maybe he was a suckup. He wasn't sure exactly what a 'suckup' was supposed to be, but he was sure it was something bad. He hoped he wasn't a suckup.
"I just listen to them because I think they have some good things to say," he whispered finally.
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 4:30 pm
Ajabu rolled his eyes in return to Sepoko's remarks. He did not need protecting! This was Ajabu'kenai that he was talking about! In a mad fury, he growled at his brother, his brow furred. "I do not need protecting. Do you think i'm weak, Sepoko? -- you have no room to talk." He snorted loudly, as he smirked. "I know enough about the world to go exploring in it. This is why I am your superior, brother."
He darted ahead of Sepoko quickly, and then veered off to the left, racing off the little jungle path.
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Posted: Fri Apr 06, 2007 6:01 pm
Sepoko hung his head in shame. He'd offended his brother. How could he? Ajabu was family... was blood. Family was the most important thing in the world! He couldn't believe he had done offense to a member of his own family. "I'm sorry, Ajabu," he murmured. "I didn't mean it." He shuffled along behind his brother slowly, accepting his tongue lashing as it came. He understood his brother's scorn. After all, he'd insulted him with his comments! He deserved to be scolded. "I understand," he whispered, as Ajabu told him his place. Sepoko knew how it worked; firstborn was in charge, and all born after were subservient to him.
By the time Sepoko looked up, Ajabu was very nearly gone from sight. He heard his scampering, and saw his form just barely disappear around the corner. He gasped and bolted, trying desperately to catch up with his brother. He, too, turned the corner...
...but when he got around it, Ajabu was nowhere to be found. He sat a moment, staring around with wide silver eyes. "Ajabu!?" he cried out. In tension, he chewed on his lip and prayed he wasn't lost in the jungle. Whatever would their parents think!
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 10:45 am
"Don't feel sorry for me. Just shut up and try to follow me." And it wasn't long before the little cub disappeared into the darkness of the jungle surrounding him. He grinned, looking back behind himself. "Haha, Sepoko will never find me now!" He flew past a few more trees, and then turned back around, towards the den. It only took him a few minutes, to once again hear his brother's cries.
"Sepoko, you were -that- upset that I was gone for a whole few minutes?" He popped out from behind a tree, and stuck out his tounge at his younger brother. "Oh come on, grow up a bit there, brother. You don't need to cry just because you can't find me ... " He slanted his eyes, and churned a little cub growl in his throat.
"Fine, i'll stay here and walk around with you, but don't think that i'm going to wait for you to catch up if I start running again. You need to learn to run faster." He started walking away, ignoring Sepoko and headed towards the den, which was infact not very far away.
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 1:07 pm
For a few minutes which seemed like forever, Sepoko sat, huddled up and sniffling, crying out for his big brother. He was terrified, to be stranded like this. He couldn't see home, and he wasn't sure he could make it back without Ajabu. And what if something happened to Ajabu and Sepoko wasn't there to help him!? The little rust colored cub didn't think he'd be able to forgive himself for that.
It didn't once occur to him that Ajabu might've lost him on purpose.
But at the sound of Ajabu's voice scolding him once again, Sepoko gasped and wheeled around. Still sniffling a bit, the younger cub wiped away the tears from his eyes and smiled. Ajabu might be criticizing him, but to Sepoko it sounded just like the helpful advice of their parents, and he appreciated it immensely. "Sorry, sorry! I'll try harder, Ajabu. I'll be strong for you. Promise!" he declared, and he nodded furiously in his assurance.
Feeling a warped sort of delight that Ajabu had come back for him, Sepoko trotted along eagerly at his brother's side, doing his best to keep the pace, and intensely relieved that they were headed back towards home. Perhaps Ajabu had seen the light after all...
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Posted: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:38 pm
Ajabu led Sepoko back home, though he had another idea. "This way." He turned towards the trees and began darting, though slower than before. "Here's your chance, Sepoko." Then the darting turned into a dash, as Ajabu raced rather quickly. Making an entire huge u-turn around a bunch of trees, the larger cub returned to the path they were on only a few seconds ago. He stopped and looked behind him, trying to spot the little runt. Seeing him coming, he grinned.
"Sorry, I just wanted to test you, thats all. We're back where we were before, heading straight for home!" He yelled out to Sepoko. He snarled out a chuckle, and then continued padding on, not even waiting for the younger brother to make it back. "I made things easier for you, we're only a few baby-steps away from the den. You can make it back yourself, right?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 10, 2007 12:39 pm
One would think that, by this point, Sepoko would learn to start picking up the signs of when Ajabu was planning something... or at least, would learn to stop trusting him. But Sepokow as a little slow on the draw, and it wasn't his nature to be defiant in any way, even subconsciously. He was a born follower in every way.
And so it came as a complete surprise to him when, just as they were almost home, Ajabu veered abruptly off the path. "WHAT!?" he cried out, and his paws led him to scramble after his brother before he could even think about it. He wasn't about to get left behind again--he'd hate to disappoint his brother. "COMING!" the younger cub called out as he bounded along behind. At least, he thought, Ajabu was making it a little easier on him and not running so fast...
...or not...
Suddenly the elder brother picked up the pace and, with a gasp, Sepoko strained to keep up. He forced his body into overdrive just to keep Ajabu in his line of sight, nearly falling over on the turn. One of these days, he swore he was going to break a leg ((FORESHADOW!)). When they finally came back to where they'd started, Sepoko fell, wheezing and panting, at his brother's feet. "Did... did I do good?" he managed to choke out, half-dazed.
Then, his ears snapping up in alarm, he sat up abruptly (making his head swim in the process). Trying to balance himself as he got moving, although utterly unable to get anywhere, dizzy as he was. "WAIT! Where are you going!?" he cried out. He didn't like the idea of his brother going off alone.
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:18 am
He grinned as Sepoko caught up to him, the young cub was sitting silently on his haunces, awaiting his brother's arrival. "Ah yes, Sepoko, you did fine! I suppose thats enough excitement i'll get out of you. I don't want to get you lost out here ..." He smiled, and then stood up. "Anyways, i'm tired out myself. How about we walk back ...?" It was almost as if he didn't want to pick on him anymore just because even Ajabu was tired, himself. He yawned, and then drug his tail across the jungle floor, trailing towards the den.
"We're not far from home, don't you worry." He coughed, and then went through the trees slowly, taking them directly back to where they started, at the den opening. "See, didn't I tell you?" His grin widened. "You need to learn better navigation, brother!"
He snorted, and then padded into the den's opening, somewhat exhausted from all the running.
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:20 am
The fact that Ajabu was suddenly being so nice to him made Sepoko simultaneously curious and suspicious and pleased. Ultimately, mostly pleased. And he tried to smile, though found it difficult with how hard he was gasping for breath. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," he said over and over again, eternally greatful for Ajabu's kind words, consideration, and tolerance of him. Sepoko knew he was an awful lot for his brother to put up with sometimes. "Yeah, let's go back," he panted. Getting clumsily up onto all fours, he stumbled after Ajabu like a drunkard, trying his hardest to maintain a straight line.
Seeing the little cave through the gaps in the trees, Sepoko's racing heart calmed a bit. Home was a great comfort to Sepoko. As long as he was within sight of home, Sepoko was never too worried (relatively speaking). "You're right, Ajabu," Sepoko agreed. "I'll try to learn." Although he thought that what he really needed to learn was to trust his big brother more.
Ajabu really did know best.
With a happy sigh, Sepoko trotted on into the den and contentedly rested himself upon a bed of ferns.
And when mom and dad got back, then it would really be home.
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