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 Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:14 pm
Being one of the runts in the litter, and one of only two boys, having Zita for a sister and Azula for a mother, it was no wonder Kadogo had suffered so many insecurity issues growing up. Now he was just a bit older, certainly old enough to wander, not that his father bothered to tell him otherwise.
He'd gone hunting to see what he could bring back for the two of them, leaving Kadogo to wait back at the den, though that didn't last long. Not meaning it as a show of disobedience or rebellion, he simply craved companionship. Jaded by his mother's and sibling's disapperance, he had gradually stopped asking himself why. He knew. She must've gone looking for that white pelted stranger that looked like Ashi. She left him behind because she thought he was weak and worthless.
Well wouldn't she be in for a surprise some day?
Kick, clatter, a pebble rolled to a slow stop after being forcefully nudged by his paw. The bitter little male didn't even bother staying in the shade, conditioned that well, at least, that the heat didn't bother him so much anymore at this time of day. It might've been the only decent thing his mother did for him besides giving him life and feeding him. Why did he have to be born so small?
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 1:25 pm
 Ilahle had vowed she'd explore more again today, regardless of bathtime or the challenges of good natured playfights with her siblings. Not that she didn't love to spend time with them - she was proud of her brothers, even the ones she wasn't especially close to. It was just boring to spend all day and every day by the family den. Or paying visits to the nearest waterhole.
Of course after her last vulter scare, she'd taken a few days off. The 'vultmer' as she'd then called them had really freaked her out. Even after her brother Spaki had cheered her up, she couldn't forget the disgusting creature. Or the fact it could kill a lone cub easily...though Ilahle didn't know most were too lazy to do so. The desert heat killed enough carrion for them to gorge on.
Today, however, she was out and about. Glancing at the skies every now and then she was getting closer, unknowingly, to were Kadogo'Moto was. Her brown eyes were too busy taking in the sights of their homeland...and double checking any possible movement above that caught her attention.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:01 pm
Kadogo slowed to a stop as his eyes followed the pebbles path, right up to the paws of a young female. Her pelt was blacker than the night itself, her bright red markings stark against the rest of her fur. Feeling slightly optimistic, he spoke up uncertainly.
"H... hello..."
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:07 pm
Had that been a black shape that'd darted behind that cloud? Had it? What if it was one of those things... She stared up at the sky, squinting a bit from the sun and berating herself from being paranoid. When she was spoken to, Ilahle looked round with surprise. Oh! She blinked at the cub. Lucky thing was beautifully red.
"Hello."
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:36 pm
The youngster forced himself to clear his throat, trying to physically bolster a bit of confidence lest he come across looking foolish. Azula had always detested the way he stuttered over his words, and his father always told him to show some pride in himself.
"Are you alright? You seem kind of distracted."
Actually, she looked like she was being watched, the way she kept looking around.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:41 pm
She smiled and put the vultures from her mind. She was young enough to be distracted from her worries if something interesting came along. Meeting someone new would do just fine. Ilahle had met so few outside her family.
"Oh I'm okay. Just looking around." A small casual shrug. Forget the birds, forget them... "Never see you before. Do you live here?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:48 pm
In answer, he nodded, watching her quietly before his tail grew restless, shifting against the sandy rock, his eyes averting quietly. "Yeah... with my dad. We spend a lot of time out there."
He looked out over the sandy dunes to illustrate his point, not saying anything of his mother or siblings. Who needed them? He smiled this time as he turned his attention back to the black cub, daring to move closer with more certainty this time.
"My name's Kadogo'moto. What's yours?"
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:05 pm
"Little Fire?" As always she tried to decipher the name into the common speech, since she'd latched onto the idea that names helped define someone and held power in their meanings. And luckily his name wasn't too hard - what Firekin didn't know the meaning of 'moto' after all?
"I'm Ilahle'Wumuhu." She took a step forward, studying him. He seemed a bit reserved when mentioning his father, avoiding her gaze. Otherwise he was making a good impression so far. Unlike the only other male she knew besides her brothers...maybe all not-related males weren't jerks after all.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:16 pm
Kado couldn't help but cringe, his ears twitching to lower to his head for a moment as she translated. Small fire, little flame, (and what made it all the more akward was he was older and barely even showed it in size!) even his birthrite was demeaning, yet another insult from the female that had given him life, but he was determined not to let that hang over his head for the rest of it.
"Yeah... mine is kinda lame." He mumbled under his breath before expelling it in a soft huff, watching quietly as she took him in. "Yours is cool though. So, um... do you wanna do anything? It's kinda quiet and maybe hanging out together would be more fun than wandering around alone, I mean..."
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:21 pm
"I don't think it's lame...but if you'd like to play or explore, I'm happy to do that. It's more fun to stuck together." Her ears flickered forward and she frowned, worried she'd upset him by translating but unsure what was wrong with his name.
It didn't seem like an 'insult' to her, but then, her name was about the glowing remains of a fire...not even aflame...because of her dark coat with it's bright markings. She had thought it'd been a reference to him being a cub, a little flame, born of his parents, bigger flames. Heritage sort of thing.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:25 pm
The instant that Ila's expression shifted into a frown Kadogo fully pinned his ears back, certain he'd said something too much, something stupid. He felt old insecurities kicking up again but repressed them for the time being, simply berating himself for being such a downer.
"If you think so... Sorry, my mom picked it, and she never really liked me much. Anyway, exploring sounds fun, do you think we could make it to the oasis over there?" He grinned a little bit and nodded his head in it's general direction. It seemed the ideal place to play since it had water, shade, and places to hide.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:39 pm
She offered a sympathetic smile, though she couldn't imagine having a mother who didn't like her. On impulse she padded forward and nudged the flat top of her head against his shoulder in passing. A comforting gesture of the sort she'd use for a brother. Kadogo wasn't even a friend yet but Ilahle was sorry for bringing up something upsetting.
This took all of two seconds since she had to get by him to go towards the oasis. Cheering up and hoping he would too, she started towards it.
"Only one way to find out!"
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 3:53 pm
Kadogo's eyes widened a bit at the show of affection, or reassurance, apology, whatever itwas, it was different. Growing up in a family that didn't really care enough to use those kinds of gestures, save for his sister Zari, Kadogo was taken off guard. He felt a plesant flutter in his chest though, and smiled a bit as she passed by. The next instant she had moved past him, and he rounded about with a flick of his tail to catch up. He was definitely feeling better about it all.
"Come on then, let's go!" He called out, quickening his step until they reached the sand dunes.
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Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 4:10 pm
Ilahle had a long stride - that hopefully she'd grow into one day - but soon worked out how to keep pace with him while the crossed the dunes. Only once did she look up and frown, she couldn't help it just that once, but it was brief...she hoped he didn't notice. (Besides, hadn't she heard that there was some big god-bird that'd carried off cubs before now? That'd be as bad as vultures). Otherwise she felt very happy, since Kadogo had been nice company so far.
As they neared the oasis however, she turned to grin at him. "Race you the last bit?"
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Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2007 9:35 am
"Your on." Kadogo grinned back, easily shifting his stride into a run and expecting her to do the same. It was the first time for him that he'd been happy since being too young to know what happy was.
The oasis came rushing into sight from there, it seemed like. Their little challenge passed the time like nothing, and soon they could smell the water and grass. Who would win their race?
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