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 Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:47 pm
After meeting with Mteuli and seeing more of the beautiful lands, the home of the Unity Walkers, Muroki had made his excuses to take another walk through the jungles before settling down to meet anymore of the pride. It was a big step, deciding he'd like to join the peaceful and welcoming community they had. To be honest it was like he'd wandered unintetionally into paradise.
It was overwhelming. Coupled with his old hurts, the ex-Dawnwalker really had needed to get out of there and just rove. Exploring roguelands just beyond the jungle seemed like a good idea. Not too far, but far away enough to feel more like his travelling self. If was such a fragile connection he had with the Unity Walkers, and he didn't want to jinx it, but by all the gods! It was good to be out in the roguelands with nothing else to do but walk.
Loping easily along, he made himself focus on the still night around him. The sights and smells of the savvanah that he might be leaving behind for a new life. No memories, no worrying about those who were lost....just taking in sights and smells.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 1:57 pm
The teal rogue looked around her caustiously as she walked through the tall grasses. It wasn't that she was afraid. She was positive she could take care of anything that could threaten her, no worries there. But she had never wandered so close to the jungle before. Up close, the trees were huge - as all trees were - but so close together and looming that had she been at her worst, she might have been startled or wary. Even this close to the jungle, she could smell the odors that junglelife created. She wrinkled her nose, not a smell she wanted to wake up to every day ...although there probably were some who did.
Soon after meeting her uncle, she had left him and his traveling partner. They were too happy even when they tried not to be that it stung her a bit. Growing up, she had never had such things. It was almost as if they were rubbing it in her face. She had to get away. Laini had been travelling in this direction quite some time. Not on purpose but at random. She was half-surprised she hadn't stopped to rest today. Night had already come in and she was still up and about.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:11 pm
Muroki probably had the humid scent of the jungle in his fur now. When he'd first gone in it's rich occasionally pungent smell had made him wrinkle his own nose. But now it was something he barely noticed. He'd become used to it.
The soft hint of grass pollen was what he detected now. And dust from the sun baked earth. Far away hints of a herd of some sort of grazer as well, from the breeze bringing clues like 'dung' and 'sweat' and 'animal' smells. Maybe a cheetah or something too...
And another lion. But these were the roguelands, so that was to be expected. Muroki didn't head purposefully upwind to follow this but kept his course. It was likely he'd run into them anyway the way he was going, unless they didn't want to be run into.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:20 pm
Laini frowned. Perhaps she should find somewhere to hang about for the night. But on the edge of the jungle, there didn't seem to be much shelter aside from the trees themselves. It wouldn't be the first time she'd have to lay about in the open. With a short huff, she decided to continue along her path. Perhaps there'd be something up ahead. She didn't know what there could be but she did know that she was too restless this night to sleep properly anyway. It was kind of like an adventure anyway, the wind blowing on her back, keeping her from knowing what was ahead. It was her own little mystery game and it kept her quite often amused.
As a matter of fact, she soon discovered she wasn't the only traveling along the edges. There was a lion not too far away in the direction in front of her. She stopped and frowned. Laini could keep to her course or she could go out of her way to avoid him. Avoiding was a waste of energy. He'd see her anyway. Might as well stay put and wait for him to come to me. It entertained her to think of what could happen while she waitied.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:37 pm
As the unusually coloured lionness came into view, Muroki slowed his steps. One, because it would be rude to run up to someone - not to mention that regardless of his casual posture it could be taken the wrong way. But two, because he had somethings to consider and the slower pace allowed him a few more moments to think on it.
So. Only the second lionness he'd seen since his beloved, lost Hisani vanished in the desert. Well, that took a little bit of the oomf out of his step. The tan lion knew that he needed to treat this and any lioness he met out here without prejudice. The first one he'd met he'd been...indifferent rather than friendly, polite and nothing else. This was a good chance to be social and get over his heartbreak-fueled phobia of the female of the species.
The other lesser thing was her colouring. It wasn't unattractive and he'd known one bright red lionness since cubhood. But truely it was if the gods are painted her themselves. Not a hint of gold or tawny on her. It was interesting.
"Good evening"
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 2:48 pm
So he was wary of her. She half-smiled to herself, yet to decide if that was a good or a bad thing. He had slowed his steps. What else could that mean when she was standing still? Yellow seemed to have mixed itself with every color on his body from the light yellow coat, golden markings, and brown mane that could also be traced back to a yellow tint. It meant he probably blended in well with the savanna, unlike herself. But he was tall and well-muscled, rising far enough out of the grass to be noticed.
What puzzled her the most was that as he approached, she noticed that smell she had identified with the jungle on him. What would someone like him who is suited for the grasslands be doing hanging around in the jungle?
"Good evening," she replied to his own greeting. "Fine... night, I suppose." She wasn't too used to conversation, more comfortable at glaring other creatures down ...or hunting them.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:07 pm
Keeping a respectful enough distance, he briefly bowed his head. All female cats are called queens and heartbreak or no, Muroki decided, it was time he remembered that. Manners were free after all.
"Yes. Clear skies, light breeze..." She didn't seem entirely used to making small talk, but then neither was he anymore. It was a random meeting of rogues and they often didn't go too well. But the fact she had spoken at all and had stopped was a bit heartening...
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:15 pm
Well, he wasn't being very helpful. Here she was, trying to make conversation, and he goes and makes a statement, giving her a hard time to carry the conversation. She wasn't a miracle worker. The head bow he made, though, amused her. It was something her uncle did, the polite gesture of bowing slightly. Very few lions did such unless they were in fact facing royalty. She returned it, her eyes never leaving his face but sparkling with amusement.
She took in a deep breath so she wouldn't give it away. "So what brings you to this part of the savanna?" she asked. She really was curious and sat down to emphasize such. "or jungle." she added quickly, recalling his particular smell.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:30 pm
My uncles kingdom was destroyed by plague and vulture. I couldn't rebuild it. My intented as vanished. I couldn't find her. My life's got no point now. I came to the jungle because I'm angsting like an adolescent whose been told they can't join in with the hunts yet and now I'm as unsteady as a new born giraffe. I can't even accept a good oppertunity without having to take a walk...
Yeah right. Like he'd whine like that to a stranger. Instead he tried a friendly smile and a smidge of truth.
"I was desert born and bred, so I travelled here to explore the jungle. It's very different from endless sands. And what brings you here?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:37 pm
She had found family, the one thing she had wanted to find ...and then she left him to go wandering. She could take his question as an insult ...but she had asked him the same question. It was only natural that he'd ask back. Did she tell him her unfun story of how life is a toll-road, not a highway? Nope. She decided she'd just as brief as he was, or maybe more so.
"Nothing much really. Seeing the world, that sort of thing," Laini replied. Whoops. She had ended up "bragging" instead. What a genius she was! Was he an interesting reserved character or just plain boring? Well she'd never know if she gave up now. She'd make the best out of her sleepless night, entertain herself with conversation if she could. "I'm Laini'ukungu but if it makes it easier, you can call me Laini."
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 3:51 pm
Soft mist? Or is that gentle cloud? Muroki wasn't sure. It suited her...not unnatural, just before unseen-by-him colouring well though. She seemed a sturdy sort though not entirely suited to these lands. It didn't come as a surprise to learn she was a traveller.
"I'm Malawa."
If lions had surnames, that was the equivalent of what he replied with. The name of his sire, his almost-forgotton father. The tan lion remembered that he'd been a good father and that he looked like him but that was all. His name was an alias Muroki had been using since cubhood. A lie but then, when he was a cub he'dlied non-stop anyway.
"How much of the world have you seen, Laini? I do not mean to be rude, just I am curious."
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:00 pm
Laini blinked a couple times. His name was Malawa? Flowers? She laughed so hard on the inside, keeping her outward composure. She let out another deep breath to return to her unfeeling state. "Nice to meet you, Malawa." she suppposed. "Well, I've never seen the end of the world, if that's what you mean. I would say about maybe a month's journey north of here, possibly more, and all around the general savanna region. However, I must admit, this is my first time near the jungle."
She considered grooming herself in front of him but she didn't want to seem too selfabsorbed. She was doing a good enough job already. Lions around here were such fickle things that she didn't quite know how to behave around them. They were a bit difficult to deal with too.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:12 pm
"It's a beautiful place, when you get used to it. It's not the ends of the earth, but it'll do just fine for me, I think." And with that Muroki remembered one of the reasons he'd hated being a rogue. Chit chat was nice but left a lot to be desired. Within the pride, he'd see the same faces every day. As sure as the sun rose - he mentally murmered a swift blessing at the thought of the sun - he'd get to know them with time.
This, however, was dull. It was all he could do not to yawn at her. She didn't seem too thrilled with the meeting either...at least he wasn't worried just because she was of the pposite sex though, so it the little talk had served its purpose.
"Nice meeting you. May fate keep you." He nodded again, noting inwardly that even with the customary wellwishing his quick goodbye sounded reasonably rude.
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:36 pm
Wait... he was leaving? He had interupted her thoughts with his presence, didn't even offer an interesting conversation, and was going to magically pop off? Just who did he think he was? He couldn't do something like that! Screw the bowing and all those formalities. He couldn't make her forgive him because he was polite. He better stay and talk but, without her getting up in his face, there was little possibility to make that happen.
Well, here goes nothing. Either she would be satisfied or completely angry for the rest of the night. "So you're the 'stay in one place' kind of guy. What made you decide on this place, might I ask? Other than 'it's beautiful' of course."
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Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2007 4:55 pm
"I never used to be a stay in 'one place sort of guy'..."
Dull, dull, dull. Why should she care why he'd chosen the jungle? He was still sorting that out to himself. It was paradise for one thing, with the pride and such overall beauty. Not that that mattered one wit to this Laini. She couldn't even offer interesting conversation...The ringed tail flicked.
"It's a new adventure in there, it's lush and there's life. It's not dusty ruins, timid companions and skeletons at the end of the road. Which is all I knew before. I've wandered far and this seems as good a place as any and better than most."
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