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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Sept 6, 2008 0:41:10 GMT -5
Sora glanced over her shoulder, watching them go. She felt sick, hot and angry. Her skin prickled uneasily, and she twitched her tail again, more anxiously this time than anything. Sora was disgusted with herself, feeling a total failure and freak. She flicked her tail again, then deciding this was letting her emotions show a bit too much, she pinned it down with a heavy paw, her claws partially unsheathed. "When'd that happen?" She mumbled to herself, trying to resheathe her black claws but finding herself unable to do so. Her body was shaking, and her fury with herself simply grew more at this discovery.
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Itsaki
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Post by Itsaki on Sept 6, 2008 0:54:03 GMT -5
Niko decided to leave Sora be, she seemed upset and frustrated, and Niko would rather not press her any further. He decided to hunt instead. The meat that Riko had brought back was already swarming with ants. He ran to the south a bit before he caught the scent of a herd. He quietly stalked through the grass, body low, ears high. He found a male that looked as though he had a broken leg; he was limping, but only slightly. Niko sprang from the brush, his legs moving himself powerfully across the level ground, his speed pushing wind in his face, it felt great. He leapt at the gazelle, his teeth sinking deep into its hindquarters, his claws raking its legs. When it's back legs finally surrendered, Niko leapt at its throat, biting into it's neck, blood pouring over his chin. He held his teeth in until the gazelle finally stopped twitching, it's body finally dying. Niko gorged into the gazelle's ribs, tearing out the meat and feasting on its innards. He ate along it's hindquarter, savoring the tender meat. He rolled the gazelle over, and tore off a large part from its hindquarters and along its ribs, using a bloody claw to help remove the slab. He carried the bleeding slab back to the Home Rock where he climbed up to the top, placing the meat gently down beside Sora.
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Sept 6, 2008 1:00:28 GMT -5
Sora had been lost in thought, and Niko's sudden appearance scared her. She jumped to her feet, heart racing as her brain tried to catch up with her body. Seeing Niko's face, Sora sighed softly, sitting back down. "Thanks." She whispered, pawing the meat half-heartedly. Her pink tongue tasted the blood on her paw curiously. Gazelle. Yum. But she just wasn't hungry. Ears pinned to her head, Sora looked away from Niko. "I appreciate the offer. Maybe later." She licked her wound, trying to ease some of the pain she felt both in it and in her heart.
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Itsaki
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Post by Itsaki on Sept 6, 2008 9:50:59 GMT -5
Niko flinched when Sora jumped to her feet. "I'm sorry!" He instinctively yelled. "Oh." he said after. Niko nuzzled her ear. "I'm sorry you are upset. If there's anything I can do." He figured that it would be easier if he left, so he walked a bit down the rocky slope, laying down. The others would leave when he damn well felt like it. And he would leave when Sora felt like it. He found a flat spot and began cleaning the rest of the blood from his paws and his jaw.
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Sept 6, 2008 11:37:48 GMT -5
Foreseeing the long journey ahead. Sora ate as much of the meat as she could keep down, then worked her way slowly down the rock. Near the end she got herself into predicament and couldn't get her paws steady. The rock under her defiantly broke because her lion weight had been on it too long and she tumbled to the ground, the only noise made was the rocks tumbling and a dull thud as her body hit the ground a few feet below where she had been. Sora pushed herself to her feet with a grunt and limped over to Niko, dust billowing from her coat with each step. "I cannot discuss the matter with you at the moment. Maybe someday. But I saw human metal objects coming from their territory, and I can hear them now. We need to get moving." With that, she started south at a much slower pace, watching for more traps.
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Itsaki
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Post by Itsaki on Sept 6, 2008 11:47:08 GMT -5
Niko hesitated for a slight moment. He wanted to help the injured cheon, but she was right. He called to Riko and the others, telling them it was time to go, now. He climbed down from the rock, slowly beside Sora. He headed south, all of the cheetahs around he and Sora, all of them traveling at the same pace as her.
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Sept 6, 2008 12:45:13 GMT -5
Sora kept moving throughout the day, her lock-legged pace unchanging. Even as dusk overcame them, she moved on, her stamina high. As darkness came, she ignored it as well, her eyes adapting to the darkness and her three legs carrying her onwards. With a sigh of relief, Sora spotted her intended target for the day- the forest. "I know of a den in here that we can stay in for a while." She said, panting slightly. The effort of jogging on three paws was taking its toll. As she went into the forest, the sound of a waterfall hit her ears, and she heaved another sigh of relief. The water came into view- it was a moderate sized waterfall in the middle of a meadow, and behind the waterfall she knew there to be a cavern. Coming around from the side so she didn't have to go into the water, she called, "Demon? You in?" At no reply, she went into the dark cave, eyes barely adjusting to the pitch black cave. It was empty. She wandered deeper in and found a fresh carcass. "He must have left for the evening. He won't mind us here." She layed down and rested her head on one paw while licking the other.
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Itsaki
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Post by Itsaki on Sept 6, 2008 14:17:55 GMT -5
Niko wondered where in the world the forest cmae from. Well, of course he had not explored far so he wouldn't know about it, He was surprised about the cavern, though. "Are you sure he's fine with us being here?" Feri asked. "Well, we obviously wouldn't be here if Sora didn't know who lived here. Of course it's okay." Niko sat down.
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Sept 7, 2008 23:25:50 GMT -5
"Of course it is okay. You probably won't even get to meet him." Sora grunted, closing her eyes. As if to purposely defy her words, a black form filled the entrance. "It appears I have company." A deep voice purred out, and the giant black lion moved into the cave. "Greetings and be at peace here. There is enough room for all of us. And of course, a friend of Sora's is a friend of mine." He said, flopping down in his favorite spot, which happened to be right next to where Feri was. "Good evening." Demon said to the cheetah beside him. "How many are ya in here? Four cheetahs and the hybrid?"
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Itsaki
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Post by Itsaki on Sept 9, 2008 22:29:35 GMT -5
Feri flinched when the lion layed down. "Uh-" he stammered, "Six cheetahs, um, and Sora." Feri retreated. Niko controlled a snicker before confronting the lion. "My name is Niko. We are from the north, but the humans have run us from our home. We thank you for allowing us to rest here." He went back and sat beside Riko.
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Sept 10, 2008 1:25:36 GMT -5
Demon flicked his tail in acknowledgement. "A regular posse. I smell blood. Sora's." He looked over at her, but was surprised to find the little female sleeping. "So, like I said, you are welcome to stay here. I would like to know more about what has happened, "Demon inclined his head towards Sora, "And how far south you plan on going. When you want to tell me is your choice. Now or in the morning." He set to fastidiously cleaning his paws.
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Itsaki
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Post by Itsaki on Sept 10, 2008 9:17:48 GMT -5
Feri nodded, and he found a place near the back of the cave to curl up and sleep. Most of the others did the same until Riko and Niko were the only ones still awake. "Go, rest, you will need it." Niko said to Riko. Riko nodded, and he curled up near the others, tail around his back legs, head resting on his forelegs. Niko layed down before Demon. "We are apparently travelling quite the distance south. She said about a thirty day venture. Her leg was caught in a human trap, that is why she is injured. She insisted upon leaving, even with her wound. Thank you again for letting us stay here, my clan and I appreciate it."
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Sept 10, 2008 12:56:28 GMT -5
"Ahh, I know where she's taking you. You'll be safe there, though I warn you the lioness is a bit eccentric there." He smiled softly, thinking about the wily black female. "Well, you are very welcome. Stay as long as you please. Nothing will harm you here, not even humans. And I wish you good luck in your journey." He inclined his head respectfully to the clan leader, then rested his head on his paws and dozed.
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Itsaki
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Post by Itsaki on Sept 11, 2008 23:41:08 GMT -5
Niko thought for a while before actually sleeping. This would be a good place to stay until Sora healed. As long as Demon didn't mind six cheetahs, they would stay until Sora could run again. Niko layed his head on his paws and closed his eyes, soon drifting into the unconcious world that he loved so much. He woke before the sun rose, and he stood, walking out of the cave and out through the forest back onto the plains. He ran for a while, just going a relatively short distance and coming back. He still needed to keep himself in perfect running shape.
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Post by Shu'al Raethir on Sept 12, 2008 19:00:20 GMT -5
((*Snerk* Gotta stay in perfect running shape, of course. Never mind the fact that we are wild cats and we don't GET fat. X3))
Demon instantly left the fog of sleep as Niko left, and soon followed the brute out into the morning air. Demon's powerful hearing listened to the cheetah's light footfalls as he ran about, slightly jealous of the cheetah's small form and ability to slip quickly and easily through the jungle. His own, personal large shape was bulky in here, but size and black pelt were to his benefit anyway. Demon lowered his massive ebony head to the water, shockingly pink tongue slipping out of his maw to lap up some water. He crouched there, reveling in the cool taste, muscles showing through his ebony pelt with the tension.
Inside the cave, Sora woke up, a growl in the back of her throat. Her paw was throbbing painfully; the memories of her other wounds prevalent in her mind. This one was showing signs of mild infection. Sora licked it furiously and bit at it despite the pain. She had known a lion that died because of an infection from a wound like this. Stopping the infection was imperative to survival.
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