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Post by rao on Oct 19, 2011 19:52:21 GMT -5
[glow=pink,2,300]RAO[/glow] Somewhere, far away, he was absolutely certain that no one was looking for him. No one was going to miss him. No one was even going to notice he was gone.
His golden paws trod on dry dirt, billowing up into the air with every exhausted step. His spotted coat shifted over the bulging muscles on his haunches. The hair on his spine stood up, Mohawk-like. His icy blues eyes scanned the area. It was densely shady by wiry baobab trees that dotted the flat ground. The area surrounding the trees had short, green grasses and plants. Birds chirped cheerily in the treetops, vibrant colors hidden by the fresh green of the leaves. A slight breeze caused the leaves to brush against each other. He could hear the trickle of crystalline water in the distance. His surroundings were a tableau a serenity.
He approached the peaceful paradise, reborn grass brushing the dust from his paws. A bright yellow bird fluttered down from the treetop and circled his head. It twittered and floated off into the trees, and he followed. It landed on an old Mopane tree that hung over a small, sparkling pond. The pond with surrounded on three of the four sides by stone tunnels. He stared dumbfounded at his discovery, in awe that there could ever be something this beautiful in the middle of something so horrible; nothing. All of the tunnels were shallow enough to be defined as caves, and cave plants lined the stone walls.
Exploration put on temporary hold, he returned to the clearing and dipped his muzzle into the pure water. He suspected that a spring was providing the water. What other explanation would there be for such a fertile paradise in the middle of nowhere? It's amazing how a spring can effect a place of nothing.
He lifted his muzzle from the water and stared around him, still in simple awe. Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words" |
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Post by kopa on Oct 20, 2011 19:54:31 GMT -5
 Large sandy gold paws tipped in the lightest of beige cream colors kneaded the dry dust under them. Large ebony claws had dug into the ground soaking up the vibrations and keeping the dirty from scattering and skittering across the dry ground. Long yellowed grass hid his form perfectly from the small thin group of antelope, they had lingered in the neutral lands for some time now and he'd taken the opportunity to hunt them when he could. Now was such a time and startling blue eyes fixed on what looked to be the oldest and weakest of the bunch, he would take that one.
A soft satisfied growl slipped from him and his large haunches shifted behind him for a moment, his claws slipping in and out. He had this. The male lion suddenly shot forward, surprisingly fast for his bulk, he was slightly more wiry than a certain lion he resembled but he still held a nice muscling to him. The antelope startled as soon as he broke cover and got onto the open ground, he suddenly realized he'd misjudged the distance between himself and the oldest of the herd and growled but pushed himself to go faster. The agile herbivores panicked but took off bouncing across the ground, their hooves thudding and clacking against the dry ground throwing up dust.
Kopa coughed as it invaded his eyes, nose and mouth but kept going, he was hungry and had no one to rely on to feed him but himself. He neared his prey and he smirked not unlike his father, "Gotcha" he muttered and rose up onto his back legs ready to sink his teeth into the antelopes hindquarters when a sudden divit in the ground caught on his left back foot and sent him tumbling head over heels in a cloud of dust. When it cleared it left the sandy golden lion on his back, his chocolate mane askew and his expression disgruntled. It was just his luck. He sighed blowing a piece of his mane from his eye before rolling to his feet and shaking the dirty from his pelt.
He shook his head and snorted, a few birds flying by laughed at him and he gave them a disgruntled look before breaking out in a goofy laugh. He was still alive, lucky to not have broken his neck, so that was better than nothing. He turned towards the oasis he'd found out here, the place he'd made home for the few days he'd been out here. He had a goal in mind but this place was turning out to be much more pleasant than the Outlands and much more peaceful than what waited him where he was heading. Trepidation about what he planned to do was a regular emotion for him and he frowned staring down at his paws while he walked.
He once again doubted himself. What if his father and mother killed him when he returned, or tried to and it ended in bloodshed that he didn't want. He had been convinced he hated them before but the closer he got the more he was uncertain. His thoughts troubled him all the way back to his waterhole, so much that he didn't even notice the scent that had invaded the area until he was almost right on top of it. He had approached it from behind the stone tunnels and he halted climbing to the top of them carefully before looking down. He sank onto his belly and finally spotted the intruder, a cheetah.
He folded his front paws one over the other and rose his head cocking it to the side with a smirk his tail thumping behind him. "You know you should really watch your back friend, its not safe out here for anyone as calm as it looks" he said not moving from his spot on the rocks above the Cheetah. From behind he couldn't tell much about the feline except that he was male and that was from his scent, that and the male had been running from the way he was drinking and his hair was sticking up stiffly.
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Post by rao on Oct 20, 2011 20:23:22 GMT -5
[glow=pink,2,300]RAO[/glow] His eyes searched the stone walls of the clearing with interest, perhaps ignorance. The thought that anyone could have snuck up on him at such a time seemed absurd to him.
"You know you should really watch your back, friend. It's not safe out here for anyone, as calm as it looks."
His reaction was instantaneous. He whipped around into the water, sending crystalline droplets flying. He crouched into a predatory stance, and his mouth scowled and let out a fierce growl. His eyes screamed punishment.
Such was an acceptable reaction, being a feline born and raised in the Outlands. Being so venomous was the only way you could see another day. But, being as soft-hearted as he was, he regretted his reaction. It all faded the second he saw the playful smirk on the lion's face. The lion's face itself was familiar, but not so familiar as so he could put a name to the face. Also not familiar enough so he would mention his recognition. Instead, he responded to the newcomer once he had relaxed.
"Yes, well, being a cheetah does give one some sense of assurance. Besides," He chuckled half-heartedly, "where is it safe these days?"
It was true enough. Nowhere was there a true respite from any form of danger. And he did feel ashamed that he had let his guard down, but he hadn't since he had left. And, he told himself, he deserved a moment of relaxation, even if it was thoughtless.
Whoops. Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words" |
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Post by kopa on Oct 20, 2011 20:51:27 GMT -5
Almost as soon as he had spoken the Cheetah had whipped around, his stance was hostile and the growl that came from him confirmed that was no coincidence. Despite being bigger Kopa still had to say he was glad to be above the feline on the rocks out of his reach for the moment. It wasn't that he was scared, no he was never scared, he just didn't like the idea of a fight breaking out so immediately upon meeting. His expression however didn't falter when he looked at the male.
The tinkling of the water broke the suddenly tense silence and Kopa stared down with a cooled expression. The other cat however seemed to realized that he'd overreacted but the reaction made Kopa wonder, he'd seen ones like it before from the Outlanders. Perhaps this Cheetah was an Outlander, but if he was he was very far from home. Kopa kept his curiosity to himself for now and offered a wider toothier grin, just in case the male didn't get that he'd only been starting conversation. The delayed response to his question had him smiling naturally and he shook his head, being fast was good but not if someone snuck up on your and got their claws into you before you could run.
He left that particular nasty tidbit left unsaid, he didn't want this conversation to be chastising or uncomfortable. After so long on his own a good chat would do him wonders, not to mention he could always get information from the Cheetah. The large male finally got to his feet and stepped down from the rocks with fluid movement, his powerful shoulders bunching the fur between them in rhythm to his steps. When he was finally on the same level as the Cheetah he studied him quickly. He was lean like any of his kind but he had gentle and wide blue eyes, their color slightly deeper than his own eyes.
He gave a wry smile himself about the danger comment and shook his head, his chocolate mane tossing lightly. "There are places, they say some of the jungles...and the Pridelands" he muttered the last word almost. His face creased with trepidation and slight frustration again at the thought of the place. He cleared his throat deciding it was far past time he introduced himself, "So you got a name Cheetah? I'm Kopa" he said with a gentle and good natured grin over at the golden cat.
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Post by rao on Oct 21, 2011 16:51:01 GMT -5
[glow=pink,2,300]RAO[/glow] The sandy lion slunk down the rock face and down into the clearing, mane tossing and tail whipping. Even his gait was familiar. The color of his mane, body structure, and face structure all struck a familiar chord in his brain. Only his eyes were unfamiliar. They were blue; only a shade or two lighter than his own eyes. They familiarity was overwhelming and, honestly, a little annoying.
He said with a real sounding confidence, "There are places. They say some of the jungles... and the Pridelands." The lion's wry smile continued to assure him that this was a friendly conversation, but his hesitation on the word 'Pridelands' showed some sort of connection to the place. Of what kind of connection, he wasn't sure yet. He chuckled. "The Pridelands? Please... that's a false hope the Pridelanders and its allies tell themselves." He resented the critiquing tone he had taken. Shaking his head, he said, "But... no, that doesn't matter."
In response to the golden lion, Kopa's, question, he said, "Nice to meet'cha, Kopa." He shot him a kindly smile. "I'm Rao." Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words" |
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Post by kopa on Oct 21, 2011 19:31:56 GMT -5
The Cheetah chuckled when he mentioned The Pridelands being safe and passed it off and simple rumor from the Pridelanders and their allies, wishful thinking so to speak. Kopa's face dropped back to a thoughtful neutral expression, to be honest he wasn't sure what he would find when he returned to his place of birth. He didn't know if Simba, his father, was even ruling those lands anymore. It was always possible he'd been overthrown though the lion doubted it, surely Simba being overthrown would have been big news. Then again he'd been weeks without news...
He raised a brow at the male when he shook his head claiming that no it didn't matter. He wasn't sure why he felt the necessity to add that, perhaps he'd felt bad about sounding so pessimistic or maybe he was from the Pridelands. Curiosity was almost overwhelming as to where he came from and Kopa resolved himself to asking. Their greetings to each other were pleasant and he was glad to learn the name of the male to which he spoke, Rao. "Likewise Rao" he said inclining his head slightly with a genuine smile his bangs shading his eyes for a moment before he lifted his head back to full height.
He finally felt safe enough to slip past Rao and over to the water, even comfortable he circled the waterhole so that his back wasn't to Rao. Something you learned in the Outlands was to never turn your back on anyone, he'd lived there too long not to carry some of their laws with him. His long pink tongue dipped into the water taking deep drinks of the crystalline waters, relief was instantaneous and he let his blue eyes close for a moment basking in it. Eyes still closed he stopped drinking but didn't lift his muzzle from the water instead letting it linger only centimeters away. "So Rao I'm guessing you're not from around here...mind telling me where you're from?"
His eyes opened after he asked and he looked up at the male slowly raising his head and standing tall again. He fixed him with a curious but light stare. He had to wonder and ask, it had been inevitable, just as he was sure he'd be asked the very same question. His own answer was slightly more complicated, for his entire life he'd kept his birthplace a secret, never revealing who his parents were. Fear had kept him from doing so when he was young but now it was mostly habit and the want to keep any danger at bay that might result from it. Caution. Many would seek to use him knowing his ties to the Pridelanders.
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Post by rao on Oct 21, 2011 20:01:15 GMT -5
[glow=pink,2,300]RAO[/glow] Kopa's formalities were dismissed. They were required, and therefore meaningless.
The golden lion looked as if he would inquire about Rao's actions, but he held his tongue. This newcomer was an enigma. But, then again, so am I.
Kopa circled the pure spring, bent, and lapped up water from its surface. His tongue's impact on the water sent small vibrations through the surface, disturbing Rao's midday reflection in the small pool. He noticed that he didn't trust him enough to set Rao at his back, but that was as to be exspected. He would do the same. You learned such things when you grew up alone, especially in the Outlands.
Kopa paused in his drink, looking up slightly, saying, "So, Rao, I'm guessing you're not from around here... mind telling me where you're from?" While he had been speaking, Rao had wandered over to the cave to initiate further investigation of his new facilities. He intended to stay here, for as long as neccesary. There was shelter, water, and prey nearby. Who wouldn't? Although, if Kopa intended to stay here... alone, then Rao would leave. He didn't like the idea of shedding blood over this.
"From..." He paused in thought.
'From' was a delicate word for Rao. Most would say he was 'from' the Outlands, but he had never been exactly a part of the Outlands Pride or anything significant that went on in the Outlands. He hadn't fought on the Outlands' side in the war with the Pridelands, although he still nurtured a certain dislike for near all Pridelanders like most Outlanders. Had he grown up with a family, he most likely would have automatically have answered, "Outlands." But he did not.
"I'm not sure." He paused, attempting to form an adequate phrasing of his thoughts. "I grew up in the Outlands, but I could hardly say I'm 'from' there."
Well that sounded idiotic. Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words" |
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Post by kopa on Oct 22, 2011 19:30:41 GMT -5
Kopa could see Rao checking out the network of small shallow caves that the lion himself had been using but didn't comment. He wouldn't begrudge the male staying here if that's what he wanted, the company would be welcome and he knew how inhospitable the area around them could be. Especially with the drought that had been seizing the area as of late, the Outlands had seen just as much of it as the other areas. Though their prides were holding up fine, they were used to the hardships and so had adapted well, as well as they could anyways.
The question he'd asked was almost repeated and Kopa raised his head giving Rao a slightly apologetic look. He hadn't meant to make him uncomfortable with the question, even though he seemed hesitant he still answered the question. Kopa gave him a lopsided grin, he wasn't sure, boy did that sound familiar. His next statement all but solidified the similarity between them. "I could say the same thing, where I was born and where I was raised are two different places...I don't really know if I belong in either of them" his tone wasn't melancholy just slightly confused.
He cleared his throat and shifted his paws before motioning towards the plains where he'd hunted. "There's, uh, plenty of prey out here and plenty of room. If you want to stay, feel free, I wouldn't hate the company...besides I have to move on before too long. I've got...family matters to take care of" he glanced in the directions of the Pridelands without thinking and his brow furrowed. Did he even have what it took to be King if he arrived and found forgiveness and acceptance? Did he even want their acceptance, they had wronged him after all so why did he feel like a cub again every time he thought about it.
He had no doubt that this journey was going to be hard, and even harder when he reached its end. His distraction was enough that he momentarily forgot that Rao was there, or that he might expect him to be listening. Too long without any company hadn't kept his manners in tip top shape.
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Post by rao on Oct 23, 2011 9:21:35 GMT -5
[glow=pink,2,300]RAO[/glow] The topic obviously made the both of them mildy uncomfortable, but the both of them answered anyway. Perhaps it was because of a satisfaction for curiousity, but he couldn't justify his own reaction just yet. Kopa's words were comforting. That's all that mattered. He nodded his head, but continued his investigations.
"Right now, this is the only place I belong. It just took me a while to figure that out." At the mention of 'this place', Kopa cleared his throat, and Rao peered at him over his shoulder. "There's, uh, plenty of prey out here and plenty of room." His gesture was obviously toward the space just outside the copse of trees. "If you want to stay, feel free, I wouldn't hate the company...besides, I have to move on before too long. I've got...family matters to take care of." He gave the golden lion a full-on smile. Looks like he had been reading his thoughts. "I'd be honored." Honored? Wow, you really need company to be alive, don't you? "Looks like we've both been without company for a while." This concerned Rao and poked and prodded his curiosity. They were both young creatures. What horrible world is this that misfortune fell upon them both so early in life? It made him question a lot of things. And then the mention of 'family matters' left Rao stumped. That was one thing he never had.
I finally found the upside to not having any family. Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words" |
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Post by kopa on Oct 24, 2011 23:57:52 GMT -5
Kopa couldn't help but look concerned and stare at the male Cheetah for a long moment, if he belonged on his own that was sad indeed. Rao seemed like a genuinely good person and Kopa hated that someone like him would be left on his own when much worse animals still held company. Then again there was only true freedom when one was alone, at least for those that came from the Outlands. He scuffed a large paw in the dirt scattering it to reveal a new shoot of grass and marveled at it for a moment.
Kopa smiled back slightly dazed in the face of Rao's full on wide grin at him, it was almost blinding in its brilliance. Apparently his offer had been more well received than he thought and his words only confirmed that. Kopa had the humility to look bashful for a moment when Rao mentioned them both having been without company for a while. He was right there, Kopa had been on his own since he'd left his little foster family, mostly due to his name being something he didn't want spread. If Zira found him...or Simba...well he didn't know what could happen if they did. Nothing favorable for him he was sure.
He noted the concern on the Cheetah's face and also the mystified look, perhaps this male didn't have a family. Kopa could say he didn't at this point, both of his parents had shunned him after all and he sighed flopping down on his stomach and folding his large paws one over the other before looking down into the pool at his reflection. "Or maybe I should realize my place is here, not in the Pridelands, Simba would never let me come back..." he had been mumbling but suddenly swallowed his words. He had just uttered too much he was sure and his blue eyes went up to Rao.
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Post by rao on Nov 23, 2011 11:26:42 GMT -5
[glow=pink,2,300]RAO[/glow] He was lost in his own reflection, staring blue-eye on blue-eye at the rippled image of himself in the spring. It wasn't often that you could look yourself straight in the face and mentally scream, Why are you alone? His expression was one of the totally and utterly lost. Glancing up at Kopa, he saw similar goings-on. He turned back to the pool and stared vacantly at himself again.
Faintly, he heard Kopa mumble, "Or maybe I should realize my place is here, not in the Pridelands, Simba would never let me come back..." His head snapped up. "What?" He paused a moment, giving Kopa a fair chance to reply. "You were born in the Pridelands?" Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words"OOC:: I apologize for the vastly inadaquate post |
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Post by kopa on Nov 23, 2011 15:45:44 GMT -5
He watched in almost slow motion as Rao's head snapped up sharply and his blue eyes fixed on him. He should have known to keep his mouth shut, but it was out now, the Cheetah would know if he tried to cover something up now. They had been getting along so good as well and he felt like now something would change. He stood up sharply as well and took a step back, "I well...yes...Simba, is my father" he muttered softly and then bitterness twisted his face. "Was my father" he corrected shaking his head, the bitterness still apparent on his muzzle.
No real father would have exiled their child like that, Zira had been so certain when she'd told him so long ago. He shook his head again and looked up at Rao, "It doesn't matter, he exiled me, cast me aside when I was a cub for disobeying. Zira was clear about that. I've been on my own ever since, I doubt he'd even recognize me" he said heatedly at first but at the end his tone fizzled out and he dropped to his belly laying his large head on his paws and staring miserably at the pond in front of him. "I'm no Prince, or King, just an outcast" he muttered softly.
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Post by rao on Nov 24, 2011 12:28:56 GMT -5
[glow=pink,2,300]RAO[/glow] His reaction was instantaneous and jumbled within a mix of other emotions. He was confused and overwhelmed... and somewhat sour. He had believed that the both of them had had so much in common up until he had revealed his true alliance. The Pridelands was as far from his homelands internal structuring as you could go. He remembered the confused way in which Kopa explained his roots, and he again felt empathy for the fellow outsider. The fact that he was born in the Pridelands didn't change his vision of their relationship much, until Kopa replied with bitterness, "I well...yes...Simba, is my father." His vision spun. He had only known this young lion for a short while and yet his perception of him had been altered drastically; from mysterious traveler, to forlorn outsider, and then to runaway prince. Again, the thought crossed his mind in which he questioned the sanity of two such young souls already having such questionable, convoluted lives. "Was my father." The bitterness with which he corrected himself again brought into question Rao's view of Kopa.
"It doesn't matter, he exiled me, cast me aside when I was a cub for disobeying. Zira was clear about that. I've been on my own ever since, I doubt he'd even recognize me." Again, his view of the young, doleful prince was altered. "I'm no prince, or King, just and outcast."
Kopa had been exiled, thrown from his own home, for 'disobeying.' On what terms Kopa had 'disobeyed' was lost on him. And then there was the uncertainty with which Kopa knew himself that Rao so often related to himself and himself alone. Kopa did not beleive his father would know him should he return. Rao was of the same belief; he thought he would never know his father. Rather, if he did, that his father would not know him. He had lost hope that he would ever meet his father long ago. But, this young lion still had a choice. Kopa still had a chance. His father was out there and he knew who he was. Regardless of who he was or what he did, he had a father.
"Kopa..." He searched for coherent words. "Being raised in the Outlands meant being raised amongst outcasts, foreigners, and traitors. I know this. We all may have been pretty messed-up creatures, with all different ways of doing things, but we all shared one common hatred: Pridelanders." He sat, pausing to let his statements sink in. "Pridelanders were the embodiment of luxury and companionship. They were hated because of their good fortune and loyal Pridemates. Why, you might ask? It's because everyone in the Outlands, absolutely everyone, had been exiled from such luxuries. What they all want is to be part of it again. You can ask anyone there and they won't admit it." He inhaled and continued. "The only reason I'm telling you is because I don't want to be like them. I don't want to be a traitor, murder, or fleabag." He looked directly at Kopa, and said, "It doesn't matter if you're a Prince, King, or Outcast." A small smile spread across his face. "As long as you're not an Outlander, you're doing okay." Legend:
Thoughts
"My words"
"Others' words" |
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