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 Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:06 am
 The tan form of a scruffy canine emerged from onto the sunny plain of the pridelands, seeming to emerge from under the tree that served as the family's den. Stepping into the sunlight, he fell into a broad stretch that reached from his neck to his tail, accompanied by a jaw splitting yawn. His joints awakened, he settled onto his haunches for a moment to scratch behind his ear with one hind paw.
He had grown since that first day his friend Shin'Jougen had found him and he'd found dear friends and a loving family. He was taller, scruffier, his tail a bundle of fluff and a thick mane filling the ridge of his neck. But as much as he had physically grown, he was still the carefree, playful, and happy canine he had always been.
Now he sat in the sun, tail flicking lightly as his nose sniffed at the air and all the wonderful scents the world held. Silently he wondered which of the two cubs would rise first and maybe join in him a game. Perhaps a short bark would encourage them to join him on such a beautiful day.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:22 am
Early to bed and early to rise, hmph!
Kani was indeed the second to rouse of the five sharing the den, Totoro's bark just serving as motivation to do so quickly before he woke the others. Instead of being scolding, though, the tan female was all smiles as she emerged from the den. Spending time with Totoro was certainly a favored activity, as opposed to waiting around for Shin to be in a good enough mood to keep her company. She was beginning to get the feeling he might care more than he let on, but still preferred to avoid spending time with him when it just meant they'd end up bickering. Arguing and fighting took up so much energy...
"Morning, Toto..." She purred softly, moving forward easily to brush her head against the maned wolf's as she slipped past, easing into her own full out stretch with a jaw splitting yawn.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:40 am
One tan ear flicked, swiveling toward the den, the canine's keen ears picking out the sound of the stirring cub before she ever spoke a word. A happy grin spread across his maw as he saw her, a bright yip of greeting as his tail wagged lightly.
Ever the playful pup, Totoro bounded to his 'sister's' side, butting his head against her playfully, licking her face in his usually excited morning greeting. He barked again, tail not furiously wagging as if asking her if she'd play with him.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:45 am
Kani giggled a bit and shut her eyes in gentle shock, Totoro's morning greeting leaving her cheek tingling from the surprise. Once she had a little room again though, she looked at him again and let her own tail begin to slowly slash to and fro at the air in a feline manner.
"I bet you're itching to play, aren't you?" She grinned, then glanced back to the den entrance thoughtfully before looking to Totoro again with an impish expression. "Why don't we go for a walk while Shin, mom and dad are sleeping in?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 1:56 am
Totoro nodded, licking her again before bounding around the cub in a circle, tail wagging and a happy bark falling from his jaws. A walk sounded like a great idea, as did spending time with his sister and he leapt through the air in his excitement.
He loved both his siblings, enjoying both their company for the similarities and their differences. And though he saw them fight so much, he knew they truly cared for each other, they couldn't fool him with their games.
Yipping again, he bounded a few steps ahead of Kani, urging her onward. What a beautiful morning for a walk.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:21 am
A quick paw in return, and they were headed off, Totoro naturally more or less leading the way with Kani following "in tow".
Kani didn't mind following rather than leading, and just smiled serenely as the two trekked through the browned and golden grasses that swayed like waves throughout the Pridelands. Neither was aware that, at the moment, they were headed towards a new discovery and one who would soon be a new addition to the family. Life would indeed show that it had a sense of humor today, however, in the form of irony.
"Hey, maybe we can find something interesting by the river to bring back for the others, or maybe we'll find something to catch for breakfast? What do you think, Toto?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:30 am
The canine trotted a few paces ahead of Kani, his tail ever in motion, pausing every few yards to put his nose to the ground, sniffing at whatever intriguing scents lay along the path. Despite his excitement he was ever aware of Kani's presence, always sure that he was only a short distance ahead of her. It wouldn't be much of a walk if he wandered off alone after all.
His ears flicked, looking up at the cub with a bark and a nod at her suggestion. The river, maybe they'd find something else interesting there as well, or maybe a new game.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:38 am
Kani began to purr then, subconciously and quiet too, at first, but the sound gradually grew within her chest as she watched her younger "brother" explore every so many inches of new ground. It was relaxing, just the two of them like this with the other creatures still dozing for the most part.
Her own nose was working silently too, memorizing the early-morning feeling, the rush, the smells, the sights and the sounds. It felt so wonderful to just be out and among the few early risers-- especially since the birds were already singing. She was really lucky that their family denned in a tree, they usually had a full morning chorus, at least from time to time when Mosi or Juhudi or Shin'jougen weren't sleeping in the treetop.
Up ahead lay a small bundle, almost right in Totoro's path. It, a maned wolf pup, was smaller than Totoro and Kani for certain, but bigger than Totoro had been when he was found. Roughly the size of a large juvinille lion, the pup slept on almost quietly ahead, face and nose tucked into her forepaws not too far underneath the shade of a rock.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 2:48 am
He paused for a moment, one paw raised, tan ears flicking at the morning songs. His nose twitched, muzzle raised to scent the air. There was something nearby, a scent that pierced his nose. Then his head was lowered, nose to the ground, sniffing, searching for the scent he had found.
He barked once, as if telling his 'sister' he had found something, head vanishing among the tall grass as he hunted the scent, tracing it to the sleeping pup nearby.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 4:45 am
Totoro's barking actually startled Kani out of her reverie, surprising the adolescent. Her pale blue eyes finally snapped back to attention, gaze shifting from unfocused to intent as she sought out her canine brother's form more clearly. He'd gotten a few yards ahead of her, so she bounded to catch up.
Kani's head tilted to the side, a light frown in place. "You found something, Totoro?"
The pup was certainly oblivious to the approaching strangers, her ears twitching atop her head in silent subconciousness, tracking the noises of those tracking her. Stirring to be bothered to see who was haunting her dreams, though? Not going to happen.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 5:55 am
He didn't look up, barking an acknowledgment to Kani without lifting his head, least he lose the scent. His nose twitched, tail swishing over his back like an excited hound. There was something there, something new, something...canine?
A sharp bark as he came to a stop, snorting in surprise as his nose found a canine creature. Smaller than his own form, but yet somehow similiar, a bundle of dark and silver fur. His head tilted curiously, watching the creature, then finally nudging it with his muzzle and a questioning bark.
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Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2007 11:54 pm
Too much noise, too much noise! Ukilia couldn't take anymore. A miserable, high pitched pup's whine emitted as she reluctantly stirred from her dozing and untangled enough to look up at Totoro with no trace of fear, only question. What did he want, waking her up like that?
Her pointed ears swiveled to rest against her head, however, as a second large figure came into view-- Sheshe'kani.
"A pup...?" Kani grinned slowly, stopping a bit away from Totoro and Ukilia.
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Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:03 am
The canine's tail flicked in a gentle wag, perhaps to show that he was not there to harm the pup, lowering his front end in a non-threatening crouch. He sniffed at the pup, barking at her again, asking in his own language what she was doing out here alone. Did she have family nearby, or was she an orphan like him.
Lifting his head, Totoro turned toward Kani, barking again with another excited wag of his tail. It was a beautiful day indeed for they had found a new friend, and perhaps...new family as well.
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Posted: Fri Aug 03, 2007 11:27 am
The puppy in question, her eyes grew as wide as saucers at the sight of the lioness staring right at her, and she didn't hesitate to yelp and duck behind Totoro, blindly hoping he'd protect her. Had she crossed into someone's territory? Her father had always warned her about doing that, why did she never pay attention to where she was going?
"Oh... no, it's okay! I don't want to hurt you, we're friends, Totoro and me! Well, brother and sister."
Kani tilted her head to one side, a little worried that she'd terrified the poor thing, and it might run off before they could say more. Thankfully though, that wasn't the case.
The malamute colored pup only then shyly and slowly peered from behind one of Totoro's legs, peering up at Kani with brown eyes.
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