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 Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 6:40 pm
Kukuru's ears were drooping a little, on this day. The grey klipspringer's hooves dragged gravely along the ground, and the creature's shoulders sagged.
After all, when he was a fawn, he and his brother Makuu had been abandoned by their mother, and put in the care of a wild-dog, Chiboa. But the two had lived thinking that they were dogs for too long - only now were they old enough to realise how naive they had been, how different they were to their wild-dog family. Now, it was almost time to go searching for the truth... searching for the mother that gave them away.
Blinking, and shaking the thoughts from his head, Kukuru pressed onwards. A moist scent hung in the air... it had been raining, it seemed, and rain meant that the waterhole would be full!
He smiled, trying to cheer himself up. Maybe a dip would do him good, and cleanse his mind of the bad feelings he was going through. He bounded forward through the grass, not knowing who he'd meet, or what to expect.
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:15 pm
 Kunoki too had made her way to the waterhole, although her mind and thoughts settled on nothing in particular. She stood at the edge of the water, not particularly thirsty..but enjoying herself nonetheless. She was used to solitude, and honestly didn't mind it, especially on days like this. As she stood there, however, a sound reached her ears- rustling.
Tense. Predator!
She was immediately ready to flee, eyes scanning alertly for the source of that sound. It never hurt to be too careful.
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 8:31 pm
Kukuru ran noisily through the long grasses, sniffing every now and then, attempting to follow the moist scent- ah, there it was!
The waterhole was just ahead of him!
With a crash, the young adult broke through the savannah grass and found that there, right in front of him, was water. At first, he was happy to see it, but then he realised that he was going waaaay too fast to stop in time - and so, he stumbled awkwardly along the bank. Swaying dangerously, trying to regain his balance, he lost his footing and fell right into the water with a splash.
"Uh..." he groaned, picking himself up as he waded in the shallows, "... Gosh, I didn't think the water would be so close."
Then, came an itch in his throat...
Gagging, he spat out a small fish, and sat, bewildered, down on his rump in the shallows. Pfff, now his mouth tasted all fishy. Gross.
Suddenly, he heard the cracking of a twig underfoot, and saw the sillohuette of a klipspringer, a shadow against the sun. Instantly, he blushed, and looked down into the water.
Great. He'd made a fool of himself. And in front of a girl, too. Slowly, he waded towards the bank, hoping that the lady hadn't spotted him, despite the large splash and wave he'd sent moments before.
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Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:59 pm
Kunoki jumped at the splash, then blinked curiously at the klipspringer that had made it. He didn't look dangerous, in any event...just wet. Still, it was best to be cautious. And so, she went slowly over to him, trying to look as un-imposing as possible. "Hallo~" she called out, amused by his fish-spitting and blushing. It was nice, she told herself, to make contact with others once in awhile.
"Nice day for a swim, hm?" she asked cheerfully, flicking her ears a bit. Of course she knew it hadn't been a planned swimming-trip, but she didn't want to embaress the poor boy any more than he already was.
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 3:17 am
Kukuru insantly flushed a bright red.
"Ah... yeah, yeah... nice day for swimmin'... it sure is," he nodded, almost stumbling over the words, "And... uh, it's... a great day for... uh fishing?"
At once, he felt like bashing his head against a tree. So much for his dignity as a klipspringer and a man. Hiding his reddened face, he picked himself up from the water, and came dripping to the land, shaking his fur of droplets in true wild-dog fashion.
"But yeah, hey, I'm a champion swimmer. No sweat, no sweat," he looked up, and at once made the young ladie's azure gaze. The colour of her eyes... somehow, those eyes reminded Kukuru of his own. He grinned. Maybe they were related, in some strange way. He'd already met some of his so-called 'relatives' before, and they'd been strange folk, klipspringers too. However, something inside him told Kukuru that this girl wasn't a sister or cousin of his, and that different blood pulsed through her body.
"I don't suppose you're out here for a dip, Missus?" he asked, his ears flicking off water as he spoke, "That's actually what I came out here for in the first place. Swimming, eases the mind of problems."
He nodded briskly, trying to give off the impression that he was confident and that the fall into the waterhole was intended... but found that he was making himself look just a tad goofy.
"Uh... well... it's Kukuru, by the way," he said, looking away and puffing out his chest, attempting to look impressive in front of a girl, "Uh... that's not the waterhole, or the fish. It's my name."
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 9:56 pm
Kunoki merely laughed a bit at the fishing comment, and stepped back a couple steps as he...shook himself? That was strange...but at least it got him dry, she reasoned.
"A champion! How wonderful" she exclaimed, laughing kindly once more. What a strange, silly-sweet kind of fellow! She found herself charmed by him, and wanting to keep him talking. However, finding the right words was not an easy thing for her, most of the time.
"Kukuru..." she repeated, hating that she was beginning to sound a bit like his echo. "My name's Kunoki..and I would love to join you for a swim, if that's what you're asking." Perhaps it was, and perhaps it wasn't..Kunoki rather hoped that it was indeed the case, if only so she could spend some more time with this funny klip.
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:15 pm
Kukuru found himself shrinking back a little as she laughed. But then, his brain whirred as he replayed the whole situation in his mind, and found himself chuckling as well.
Well, he supposed, maybe it had been pretty funny. He grinned.
"Kunoki?" he paused, liking how the name rolled easily off his tongue, as if he were pronouncing his own, "Well, that's a nice name. I suppose we klipspringer's gotta' have nice name's... and hey, great minds think alike. 'Ku' has got to be the best syllable of them all."
He stepped back, sizing up Kunoki in his mind. He really didn't have a reason to look at her with such intensity - but, for some reason, he started gazing at her if weighing her up for something. He liked how she looked - gosh, he'd never seen anyone look so beautiful. Maybe it was because it was his first time meeting a lady around his age, or maybe it was just that red fur that made her look so... so...
Oh, gosh. There was only one real word to describe it. She was -
"Hot," he murmed, and then, realising what he'd said, turned a red that almost matched Kunoki's fur, "Uh, I-I-I MEAN... it's HOT. Like, today's hot. So, yeah, I thought, if you wanted to come into the water... it's real nice."
He hadn't actually been hinting for the lady to come into the water with him - my, he was much to shy to ask a direct question like that. But, judging by her reply, she'd... she'd like to...
"Come in, then," he said, dipping a hoof into the water and beckoning Kunoki to follow with his tail, "It's great in, and the water's fine!"
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:38 pm
" 'Ku' is a good syllable..." she agreed, grinning like a fool. "Kukuru's a nice name as well.." And it was, she found, repeating it to herself. The repetition of the first syllable made it sound adorable (like him, she thought) as well as making the 'ru' contrast nicely.
She blinked nervously as he stared at her, fidgeting and flicking her ears uncomfortably for a few moments...and then took the opportunity to look him over, as well.
Although she'd not seen all that many klipspringers before, she was dazzled by the color of his coat. It fairly shone in the sunlight, darker in the places where he'd gotton wet. And then that one small spot of white fur on his chest...! She had the sudden inappropriate urge to go and bury her nose in it, and laughed softly at herself. Where had that come from?
Kunoki was a bit taken aback by his murmured assessment- and once mire charmed as he blushed and stammered- though perhaps she was wrong, and he truly had been talking about the weather. She'd go with that, if only for the sake of not embaressing him. And so, she bounded into the water beside him, leaping a bit higher just before she reached him so that she splashed him...just a little bit.
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:55 pm
"Kukuru's a nice name as well.."
"Th...thanks," he gave a genuine smile at this, and shuffled further into the water, "It's a name that was given to me by... well, someone I don't know. My mother, actually," he looked up at her hopefully, "Say, you don't suppose you've... met any other klipspringers around the place, do you?"
He wanted to find his mother, no matter what. And if his birth-parents were to reject him a second time, it wouldn't matter. At least he'd be able to find the truth with his brother, by his side - and then he could rest. Klipspringers usually seemed to be tightly knit creatures... and maybe, just maybe, Kunoki knew something of his parents.
Then, a jet of water splashed against him, and released him of his family thoughts, bringing him back into the world of the girl - Kunoki, a possible new friend, was here and by his side. He'd met other klipspringers before - a girl that he suspected was his little sister, his close brother, and two other adults... though none had made him feel so free as Kunoki was making him feel now. It was as if he were a fawn again.
"I'll get you back so bad for that!"
Kukuru darted left, and playfully splashed the girl back, laughing. It wasn't until he was too late, had he seen the sinister shadow moving towards him through the water...
"Ku... Kunoki!" he yelped, staggering back, "Run!"
His heart was beating faster now, and Kukuru noticed that the shadow was travelling faster now, right towards the two preybeasts. It would only take a minute, and it would break the surface and pull them down...
"KUNOKI! CROCODILE!"
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:08 pm
"You're one of the first klips I've seen in a long time..." she told him sheepishly, "I tend to be alone most of the time..strange for a klipspringer, I know." She wondered why he was asking, but figured she'd have time to figure that out later.
For now, she was worried about playing. She attempted a dodge, but ended up getting splashed anyway. She laughed happily, and almost didn't hear his warning.
Run?
RUN!
Kunoki felt her own heart begin doing double time, and she bolted a ways away, imagining jaws closing around her with every time she touched the bottom. She stopped only when she was in the very shallowest part again. "KUKURU!" she called desperately, intensely fearful that she was going to lose her new- and only- friend. "KUKURU!"
A part of her urged her onto dry land, and awayawayawayaway into the grass...but she just couldn't leave him, not now, not with a predator here. Oh, how she HATED crocodiles, right now!
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:37 pm
Kukuru's own heart was racing, the blood pumping loud in his ears. Oh, gawd no... he couldn't die here... not yet. And certainly not in a way that would get him ripped apart, limb by limb.
In terror, the klipspringer shrieked, and kicked up water, stumbling in short bounds towards the shore. But he was not quick enough - in a minute, the creature reared up from the water, it's jaws just a hair's breadth away from Kukuru's exposed foot. Kukuru wheeled around, chest heaving, and saw the beast's open jaws, fangs sharp, pointed and reeking... it was so close, that he could smell it's horrible breath brush against him - and by the freshness of the death scent, this crocodile had polished off a victim only yesterday.
With a lunge, Kukuru started forward, kicking the crocodile in the face as he propelled himself towards the shallows. The water was slowing him down... and suddenly, Kukuru felt something smash into his leg - and he fell, momentarily dazed, confused and in pain, right smack down into the water. The crocodile lunged forward-
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 11:51 pm
..And Kunoki moved too, as fast as she could, toward her friend and the crocodile. She wasn't even thinking now, only acting. But even in such a state, she knew she couldn't let Kukuru die. Kicking at the crocodile with all her might, she snapped at Kukuru- out of fear, mind you, not anger.
"MOVE!"
Darting away (although not as far this time) again, Kunoki kept herself within what she guessed would be the range of the predator's sight, hoping that at least that way, she could give Kukuru a head start. If he was hurt, he'd need it, and she didn't know if he was. Please, oh please let him live...
As she stood, she trembled with nerves, ready to dash again- even though if the croc really was determined to get her, she'd probably already missed her best chance for escape.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 2:50 am
Kukuru's heart almost leapt into his mouth, and he blinked as he saw Kunoki's red hooves dart past him... and into the dangerous reach of the nearing beast. He cried out - Kunoki had awakened him from his confusion. She'd practically saved his life. Gratitude and a sense of duty rose in his chest.
"Kunoooookiiiii!" he cried, his voice strong and loud against the silence of the morning, "Kunoki, I'm alright! Kunoki, get away... go, Kunoki!"
He found himself sounding even more helpless, and was verging on becoming disorientated, but kept his mind on the situation. He was no brave klipspringer - in fact, every inch of his body urged him to flee while his lady friend kept the crocodile busy. But the heart didn't always listen to the head, and Kukuru lunged forward, pulling Kunoki back as the crocodile bit down (on, thankfully, nothing more but thin air) with a sickening crack.
But Kukuru knew that the crocodile wouldn't be held back like this for long. His mind raced - how to escape, how to escape. Then he remembered something that his wild-dog father had taught him a long time ago.
'Makuu, Kukuru, in case of a crocodile attack, run in-'
"Run in zig-zags, Kunoki!" he yelled to his friend, blood flowing faster and a cold sweat running down his forehead, "Dart about everywhere, and it won't be able catch you!"
Kukuru leapt to the right, and then to the left. The predator lunged again... and closed his jaws, once more, on nothing at all. Kukuru's eyes gleamed.
"Hurry!" his voice was urgent, and he surged forward, sending small waves towards the shore. He stopped briefly, taking a small risk, to see if Kunoki was behind him... he couldn't loose her. She was... she was a new friend. And she'd made him feel... different.
And Kukuru wouldn't leave a friend like Kunoki behind.
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 11:02 am
Kunoki squeaked as Kukuru tugged her back from the beast's teeth, her eyes widening to almost comic proportions. She couldn't help but imagine her leg being caught in that gaping mouth, splintering bone and muscle, and...eugh.
She gave him a small, grateful nuzzle, before catching his shouted words- zig-zags? A blink, but she didn't have time to ask why...only to do as her friend suggested, darting after him in jagged left-right leaps. She would trust him- could trust him, she was fairly certain- with her life. She wasn't sure why, especially since she'd only just met him...but it was true.
"Kukuru!" she called, hurrying to catch up with him, "Faster! Go!" She couldn't lose him, couldn't let him be caught..."Come on! Go!"
Drawing ever-closer to the land, to the safety of the tall grasses, Kunoki whirled in a quick circle, making sure he was with her. She was terrified- of course she was. She was so afraid that she could barely think...but she yet found it in her capacity to worry. A bit odd, yes...but she wanted to have lots more time to have fun with Kukuru. She'd never had a friend like him before...
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:31 pm
As the two neared closer towards the land, Kukuru picked up speed. He made sure that Kunoki was following, and suddenly proud of himself and Kunoki for outwitting the crocodile, and thankful that the girl had been there with him - for without her, and her brave distraction, he'd surely be dead... teared up, drowned and limp inside the mouth of a beast.
His hoof struck firm sand, and the male pushed forward, his muscles suddenly stronger than ever. Adrenalin pulsed through his blood, and Kukuru managed to hurl onto the bank and into the long grass that surrounded the waterhole.
He gave a shrill whistle, hoping desperately that Kunoki was following him. He stopped, chest heaving, breath fast... and, ears perked, listened.
Would he hear her reply?
"Kunoki!" he cried out, and anyone could see that he was distressed. She'd been right beside him up until now. Where was she? Cautiously, he began making his way back, though he knew that crocodiles could walk on land, too.
He felt so fearful, like if Kunoki died, something inside him would also die. A friend was something to protect, like a limb on a body or a piece of food. Losing things like that would leave you with nothing.
"Where are you?" he couldn't see, and looked desperately, pushing back through the grass.
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