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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Mar 7, 2009 0:59:36 GMT -5
((Sorry, my fault. My animal mood died. It'll come back soon enough. =_= I go in rp phases.))
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Post by Autumn's Nightmare on Mar 18, 2009 20:09:27 GMT -5
((It's okay love, take your time. ))
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Jul 25, 2013 0:44:09 GMT -5
The white cheon heaved a sigh as she finally re-entered the Weu'Ukoo clan territory. For two, long, agonizing years Niko had stood by her side with his 'brothers' and helped to liberate the pride of lions. Many lions had fallen, and many more wild dogs had fallen. Not far from her she saw a twisted dead body of a wild dog. She inspected it, and shook her head at her findings. This dog hadn't been killed, it had starved to death. It's eyes were sunken back into its head from dehydration. The lions and cheetahs would be next. She padded almost silently up to a dirt den opening, took a deep breath, then descended into the darkness. The passageway was short and by the time she had reached the den, she could see well enough. A cheetah form lay before Sora, in all appearances asleep. She cleared her throat softly, trying to work up the nerve to speak to Niko. "Hey, Niko. I... I need to talk to you." She started, shifting her weight. She studied his body, noticing for the first time just how thin he was. Sora knew she hardly looked any better, this war had done damage to them all. Everyone was starting to starve to death. She waited a moment for him to replay, but before he could she plowed on ahead, "Niko, We have to leave here. I think it's time we gave up. Ever since Denver died we haven't been able to make any head way. The people have us all surrounded, we need to get going from here if we want to survive. They've built their city, more people are moving to it, as you well know. But there's another thing." Sora took a deep breath and closed her eyes, "The dogs have rabies." People had been swarming around more and more, and the air had a frenzy to it. She didn't know how the dogs had contracted it, but it was just a matter of time before the skirmishes started giving the nasty disease to the lions and cheetahs. All it took was a but of blood/saliva transfer and bam, a cat would go down in a horrid, painful manner. She shifted her weight again, feeling anxious to leave. "I also went rounds with Trysta again." She winced at the thought, knowing bruises and cuts hid under her fur from the latest scuffle, "The lions just won't leave. They will fight until they all die or they get their pride back. And they won't, not ever."
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Itsaki
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There is a time and a place for everything, my love, and let no one tell you different.
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Post by Itsaki on Jul 27, 2013 5:05:33 GMT -5
Niko stirred from his fitful rest at Sora's words. He sat up to give her his attention, his lean muscles tight against his bones; his skin and fur felt like leather. He listened to her harried plea, but inside he was torn with conflict. "I know that we cannot live in the wake of the humans. I have seen others driven down only to have their skin cut from their body and left to rot in the sun. This whole war has made me ill, not physically, but with the anxiety that searching for food will be my death; the paranoia that just living will kill me. Sora, it's been a long and hard fought two years, and I wish that the moons I've seen and the hills I've run with you could have been on any other terms. But I've lost half of my clan fighting dogs in the name of a home that is not mine. "If we do not win thsi war, then they have fallen for what? And if we die, then it is for no cause that any of us have died. And so while I desire more than anything to live in a world unpopulated by both dogs of four legs and dogs of two, I do not. But if fighting a war with no end and no victory will mean the death of myself, you, and my only brother, Riko, then we must leave. But being half lion...draw you no concern for the death of those with whom you also share blood?"
Riko struggled to lift his head from the his front paws. It was not for weariness, but of injury that his neck agonized him, a long ago gash that spread from his left ear to his left shoulder. The dog that gave it to him was scattered across the countryside, but the scars of war never truly healed. he heard Sora and Niko speaking and his ears turned forward, listening. Sora sounded troubled, and Niko sounded weary. He understood both cheetah and cheon, for his love was not war, but running. Though he had managed to survive this long, he wasn't sure how much longer his thirsty throat and ached neck could carry him on. But he took comfort in hearing that Niko would keep him alive. And with the last of his speech fading dimly from the earthy den, Riko returned to sleep with vague images of sunlit savannah warming his fur.
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Jul 29, 2013 11:42:58 GMT -5
Sora tossed her head in frustration and stomped one of her hind legs, which ultimately led to her current favorite past time, pacing. Thoughts raced through her skull, all fighting to be the one she focused on. These past two years had changed her quite a lot, but she knew inside her that the playful, wary cheon still existed, the one that started this journey with Niko and his clan. More and more lately she had started seeing Niko as her equal, then as her own leader. She never felt the overwhelming drive to fight with him anymore. Sora shook her head, trying to get it to focus on the problem at hand. Finally she strode over to Niko and sat beside him and rested her large head on his shoulder, tilting her head slightly so she could look at him with her lavender eyes for a moment, then dropping her gaze back to the cave floor. "My stomach churns at the mention of your fallen family. I feel that your remaining here is my fault, though it has been made clear countless times we were under no obligation to remain here. Your clan stayed with you because they loved you, and I like to think, after a while, they loved me as well. But as those that died fell, did they hate me? Did they blame me for their suffering?" She paused a moment, thinking. "No Niko, you are right. We must, at the very least, avenge them. As for my lion blood..." She let a longer pause fill the air before she sighed softly. "The Weu'Ukoo Pride took me in after my mother left me. I was just barely off of her milk when she decided she had better things to do. I never knew my father. Sombra and Denver were there for me for my first few months of life, teaching me how to fend for myself. While I felt like I could fit in here- Cheon amongst white, grey and black lions, I felt the need to to travel. I met Sanura, stayed with her a few months, then headed north again, intending to find my way back here, but I got picked up by... That other pride." She stopped, thinking back now on her life in the previous pride, the pains and abuse she suffered. She was impressed to see that while it still hurt her, she was getting over it. The pain wasn't as bad anymore, the wound now just a scar, like the one she bore on her leg. "After that ordeal, I met you." She rubbed the top of her head against his cheek, then stood and padded away from him a few steps, "I feel kinship to the Weu'Ukoo pride, but as of late they have done much harm to me. They have hurt my new family," She indicated Niko and Riko, "Though by no fault of theirs. They have attacked me multiple times for insisting they quit this futile war and just leave it." She dropped her head again, but when she raised it, her eyes glowed with excitement and energy. "Niko, you're brilliant! My lion blood! Why don't we call upon it? Demon!" She bolted out of the den, her body filled with so much hope that she could hardly contain it anymore. She ran around the den opening a few laps, then stopped, panting slightly. Sora looked down at the den and said loudly enough for him to hear,"Niko, you're faster than me. You need to go get my brother. And Tori, too. Riko could use her help right now. I think we can win this thing with his help. Dammit all why didn't I think of this sooner? Will you go for him?"
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Itsaki
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There is a time and a place for everything, my love, and let no one tell you different.
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Post by Itsaki on Aug 1, 2013 5:58:50 GMT -5
Niko purred against the top of her head. he did not blame her for the loss of three members of his pack. Rion, Ako, and Nesi were dear to him, family to him, but they died for the hope that they might find a new home away from such troubles. He loved them and missed them, but he still wanted for a new home away from humans and rabid dogs. And at this point he needed a new home just to live in peace in their memory. Niko listened to Sora with a sense of sadness, for her troubles and for her guilt for him. None of his family hated her. But he was shocked from thought at her exclamation of excitement. He emerged from the den in confusion. "What am I to tell Demon and Tori? Or do I simply yank them from their den and tree and request their following?"
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Aug 1, 2013 12:21:20 GMT -5
Sora swished her tail, thinking. "You should be able to just explain the situation to them. I hope. I think. Demon is always willing to help, and he liked you guys that night. If nothing else works, tell him I'm in danger. That should bring him, haha." Sora laughed, rather dryly. A series of howls filled the air, causing Sora's hair to stand up slightly. "Tell them... Were all dead meat if they don't come to help us. Guilt tripping always works, right?" The cheon said softly, lowering herself slightly to the ground. "I guess I should go deal with this arising problem. What I'll try to do is rally everyone while you're gone. We've really branched out, and that is probably why we are losing so horribly. I can't guarantee they'll listen to me. Hell, each time I try talking to most of them I get a paw to the face. But I''l try to raise morale and get everyone rallied together. "Now, you'll have to blast through the dogs and the outskirts of the human city. You better be damned careful, or I will find you and I will kill you for leaving me to fight this war by myself." Her lavender eyes were dark, sad, but hope glinted in them still, "We can win this, Niko, so long as you don't fail. No pressure or anything. I'll focus on keeping everyone alive."
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Itsaki
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There is a time and a place for everything, my love, and let no one tell you different.
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Post by Itsaki on Aug 9, 2013 9:42:57 GMT -5
Niko nodded. "You get things settled here. Riko will help wherever needed." Niko looked towards the howls. "And promise me I'll come back to a living you. Don't worry about me, I'm faster than humans or dogs. I won't let you fight this war alone, trust me." Niko's ears turned forward as he scanned the horizon. It wasn't yet dawn, but the distant sunrise cast a grey haze over the plains. Birds awoke in the thin white trees, and any sensible cat was still asleep. He looked into the den he came out of. "I'll be back Riko." With a slight purr to Sora, Niko took off towards the north. It wasn't an all-out sprint, but a decent run. He ran until the sun broke the horizon on his right. His lungs burned, and his lean muscles brought him to slow. He hadn't seen any dogs yet; they were probably forced west by the growing human city to the east. The cheetahs and lions had been fighting them for the past two years, but the humans killed ore of them than they did. But they killed lions and cheetahs, too. They were an enemy to everyone. There wasn't much in the way of hunting here. There wasn't much in the way of hunting for as far as Niko knew of. He managed to snag a meerkat just before it dove into its hole, but that was it. He stretched his front legs towards the north before setting off again to the north. A few minutes later, the wind shifted in the mid-morning. And that's when he smelled it. The scent of rotting flesh rolled over him and jolted him from his run. He crouched low, ears forward to catch even the slightest sound. His quick eyes darted all the way around him. He couldn't see anything, so he stood and followed the scent upwind. In a cleared patch of grass, two cheetah carcasses lay almost picked clean. Niko growled in rage and horror, though he didn't recognize either of them. But around their bodies layed nigh on a dozen dogs, throats and tendons ripped and cut by sharp claws and sharper teeth. Niko made his way around the small battlezone until he was upwind of it, to see if he could smell anything else. Nothing came to him on the wind, but a sound caused his ears to twitch. It was subtle, oh so subtle, as soft paws on soft grass. He readied himself, holding steady in case of attack. But there was no leap and roar, no onslaught of teeth, rather a parting of grass by a black nose, then yellow and black. Niko almost gasped, having gone almost a year without seeing another living cheetah. The new cheetah looked almost as stunned as he was, and Niko realized he was still upwind from the newcomer and crouched low, out of sight from above the tall grass. The two stared at each other for a moment, and Niko realized that this one was...young. Rather young. And female. "Who are you?" She asked first. "My name's Niko, from the south. Who are you?" "Niko from the South. I'm Arana, from the west. Why are you here?" "I'm going north, to find friends. Were you with these two?" Arana dipped her head. "I was. My family. We were attacked by dogs, they told me to run. They never came back." "Is there anyone else?" Arana dipped her head again. Niko knew the answer already, but he didn't want anymore surprises. "Why did you come back?" "To know." She stared into Niko's eyes. He felt remorse, but also understanding, towards the young girl. He had seen family fall too. "Come with me. You're not safe wandering about alone." Arana said nothing, then nodded. "It's been so long since I've seen another cheetah. We came from the west to find better hunting grounds. We didn't find any." "I couldn't tell you where there are any. The south is in war, the east is human territory, the north is struggling..." "Follow the monkeys." "What did you say?" "That's what all the leopards would say. Follow the monkeys. In the forests of the west, it made sense, but when we got here, we met a lion that told us the same thing before he ran off to the north." "Well, you won't find any monkeys out here. Some baboons, but no monkeys. Come, let's head off north."
It was another two days run north before Niko found the forested area where Tori lived. He and Arana slept in hidden boughs at night and ran during the day, though she was slower then he. They had to run wide to avoid the chance of running into any humans, and at one point were on a dire sprint to avoid a trio of dogs. But they made it with tired legs and heaving lungs. Niko was slow through the forest; trees had always made him uncomfortable. They were too....tall. But he liked the undergrowth. Easy to hide in and easy to walk through. By the end of the third day, he and Arana made it to the pool near where Tori lived. "Tori!" He shouted, knowing the blind leopard would hear him. He couldn't tell one tree from another, so his chances of finding her tree was slim to none.
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Aug 26, 2013 12:25:06 GMT -5
Sora watched Niko leave, her eyes sad, but she shook herself and started out on her own, much smaller journey. Hunting down all the remaining lions and lionesses in the pride wasn't going to be easy. The cheon started in the den first and found 5 lionesses dozing in there: Sombra, Trysta and three sister yearlings, Goran, Wiskati, and Hiltrian. "Hey, get up!" Sora demanded, the lionesses acknowledged the cheon, but all went back to resting except for Sombra. "What is it, Sora?" The alpha lioness looked emaciated, her ribs and hip bones showed clearly through her skin. She stood up slowly, stiffly, but once she was on her feet she looked like she could still handle a fight or two. "We have more dogs approaching. We need to gather up to fight them off. Do you know where any of the other lionesses are?" Sombra stood there thoughtfully for a moment, "I think you can find Sedaeja's squad over to the west point of our lands, Feanor has his group to the northeast. Gconai, Haaren, Fiaell, Rysith and Ochoco are wandering separately, last I saw. Running around, being spies, I suppose. Haha." She laughed dryly, but stopped suddenly as more howls filled the air. By this time, the other lionesses had gotten up and were standing at the mouth of the den. "Where are your clan members? I know you've lost a fair few, but if they are nearby, could you send them to help us? We'll go head the dogs off while you find the rest of the pride. I never thought the day would come where I would not only need the help of cheetahs, but desire and look forward to it." The lioness glanced around, "Where's Niko?" Sora gazed out the den, watching the sunrise, "He's gone for help. It's time we ended this war."
The leopard laid in a tree above where the two cheetahs stood, her blind eyes pointed towards them, but seeing nothing. Her tail swished lazily from the branches, listening to the sounds of the forest around her. At the call of her name, she started her surprisingly quiet descent from the tree. At a low branch, she made a leap of faith and hit the ground on all fours with a dull thud. "You called, Niko?" The small leopard stuck her nose in the air and gave a good sniff, then asked, "Who's your friend? She smells lovely." From behind the waterfall that ran into the pool, midnight blue eyes watched the trio, a slight grin played on the giant black maw.
Miles south of where Niko and Arana were meeting with Tori, Demon watching them, Sora had managed to catch two meager meerkats and was carrying them in to the den where Riko laid. She set one down before him and laid down opposite with hers. "Breakfast? Sorry it's not much, but, well, you've seen the hunting grounds." She finished hers off in only a few short bites and set to licking her paws for a moment, "Riko, do you know where the others are? I'm going to go fetch all the lions of the pride, right now Sombra and four others are going to head off that pack of dogs. If you could gather the rest of the cheetah boys up and join them, that would be great." She stood up and approached Riko and rubbed her cheek against his head affectionately. "I know I can rely on you. I will bring the rest of the lions as soon as I can. Hopefully they are already on their way, and hopefully Niko has already found Demon and Tori."
((I thought you would be amused to know, my computer wants to auto-correct 'meerkats' to 'beermats'. My computer apparently has priorities, and they do not lie in African rodents.))
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