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Post by Kai on Oct 25, 2010 15:07:31 GMT -5
The ghost lay on the border between the Outlands and Kube, his pale, clouded eyes staring aimlessly into the distance. His mind seemed far away, he was very silent and still. The occasional tail flick was just about the only movement to be seen. Kivuli was feeling his old urge to wander. But why? He'd finally found a place that he might be able to stay. Maybe he was too used to the ways of the rogue, maybe he'd spent too long roaming.
Suddenly, a dark shape seemed to appear before him. The visage of a dark male appeared in his vision his face contorted into a vicious snarl, and just as the lion went to strike he started. He looked around, a little surprised. He had slipped into a daydream without his notice. He sighed, even outside the world of sleep he seemed to be tormented, and no matter where he ran he could never seem to escape these spectres that haunted him.
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Post by Narifia on Oct 25, 2010 15:12:06 GMT -5
A friendly, chuckling laugh came from behind Kivuli.
"Whatsa matter, Ghosty? Did a fly sneak up on you?"
It was Anasi, and she had been walking by when she'd spotted Kivuli's sudden jolt. She had taken to calling him "Ghosty" as a nickname because of his strange coloration and behavior, and it was meant to tease him but really she liked the guy. Anasi of course was as cautious as any of the Four, however she trusted in Narifia's judgment. Besides, Kivuli seemed like a decent fellow to begin with, regardless of Decimus' thoughts on the matter.
'Ah, Deci will come around,' she thought to herself as she awaited a response from the startled lion.
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Post by Kai on Oct 25, 2010 15:15:00 GMT -5
A rare smile flitted across his face briefly. Others may have taken offense to her teasing, but he could sense her good intentions. Besides, he was easygoing by nature. She was the one member of the Four who seemed to be most open to accepting him.
"Ah, no. Just kind of... came back to earth. My mind was wandering." He explained.
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Post by Narifia on Oct 25, 2010 15:20:00 GMT -5
"Wandering, eh? Looks like your mind was doing more than that."
Anasi winked at him and settled herself down beside him, curling up comfortably. She let out a little yawn, then asked, "Have you heard? We apparently have a new 'guest.' At least that's what Deci told me this morning. Haven't seen 'er yet, though, as Kuru, 'Lana and I were out scouting last night. We slept out in the open, kinda like what you always do, huh?"
She grinned at him as she mentioned his habit for sleeping away from the pride. Of course, she didn't know why he chose to sleep away from others, but that didn't stop her from picking at him about it.
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Post by Kai on Oct 25, 2010 15:24:07 GMT -5
Kivuli wished he could think of some witty replies to her good-natured ribbing, but he seemed to lack the social skills to know how to joke in this way.
"Old habit of mine. I've gotten so used to sleeping in the open while I travelled, it's become more comfortable to do so." It was the same excuse he'd used forever, but it always seemed to satisfy those who questioned. He nodded as she talked about the other newcomer.
"I have seen her, but I haven't spoken to her. I felt I shouldn't be a bother. She's been told to rest, it's apparent that she was in a very severe altercation." Kivuli recalled seeing her wounds, the smell of blood and the stains on the ground.
"She doesn't like to though. She won't stay still for long." He said cryptically, seemingly without much thought.
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Post by Narifia on Oct 25, 2010 15:36:12 GMT -5
Anasi gave an understanding nod in response to Kivuli's explanation about his sleeping habits. It really didn't bother her. After all in a way she could almost relate--there had been countless nights when she and the others hadn't had a place to sleep except under the cover of the night sky. Those were old memories though, and it wouldn't do her any good to reflect on them at this exact moment.
She began to groom her face casually as she listened to him, and when he was done she continued,
"Deci says she reeks of hyena. Poor thing. Whatever she's been through, I'd hate to have to face. Hyenas are a rotten race."
She raised a brow at Kivuli's cryptic observation.
"Oh? All that from just a glimpse of her, eh? You know, Deci says she's here on some kind of 'business.' I wonder what that could mean," Anasi prodded, wondering if Kivuli might know anything.
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Post by Kai on Oct 25, 2010 15:40:34 GMT -5
Kivuli didn't agree with her observation about hyenas, but he didn't particularly feel like starting an argument. In addition, he didn't really want to stir up trouble. Although they seemed to like him here he was still new and therefore still "on probation" so to speak. So he simply said, "That would explain it. They are social creatures like us, so she probably dealt with multiple attackers."
"Oh? All that from just a glimpse of her, eh?"
At this comment he tensed a little, almost imperceptibly. He had lapsed back into old habits. Habits that had made him extremely unpopular in the past. When she didn't appear to press the issue, he simply continued speaking. "I wonder as well. Whatever her intentions, they must be important for her to have travelled through such apparently hostile territory."
He concluded, swatting a fly away with his white-tipped tail.
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Post by Narifia on Oct 25, 2010 15:45:42 GMT -5
The fly that Kivuli had repelled apparently didn't have much sense (either that, or it had gotten dizzy from being swatted away), because it flew haphazardly away from Kivuli and towards Anasi. Bad luck for the fly; Anasi eyed its frazzled movements for a moment before a snap of her jaws put an end to it.
Anasi licked her lips, noting Kivuli's apparent tenseness. 'Huh, wonder what's got him so jumpy?' she thought as she remembered his earlier random jolt. 'Maybe all of the hyena stink is getting to him,' she reasoned, and that seemed to explain it in her mind.
"No kidding. Gotta hand it to her--she's brave and determined regardless of what her goal is. Narifia must think something of her if she's letting her stay, anyway." Anasi smiled and added, "Then again, I doubt Narifia would turn any injured creature away, even if it were a gazelle at dinnertime! She'd nurse just about anything back to health."
It was evident in Anasi's tone that she rather admired Narifia for that quality, unlike Decimus who evidently saw it as a weakness. 'Decimus is going to have a talk with her about that,' Anasi remembered from what he'd told her this morning. 'I guess he's right in a way... but still. Her quality of character is a welcome change of pace from what we're used to. I just wish Deci would settle his haunches down and enjoy that fact. He'd be a lot happier if he did.'
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Post by Kai on Oct 25, 2010 15:58:27 GMT -5
"She certainly is helpful. I am glad for that. It seems to have given me..."
There was a brief pause before he finished with, "...a place to stay."
Oh how he longed to say a different word. Something about this place compelled him to use that word, and yet he was afraid to say it out loud. It was as if on some subconscious level he was afraid voicing it would make it untrue and ruin everything again, as if even daring to think about it might be tempting fate. Perhaps he was too influenced by a time long ago where life was filled with superstitions and signs, but then why take the chance?
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Post by Narifia on Oct 25, 2010 16:12:08 GMT -5
"A place to stay..."
Anasi smiled warmly at that statement. She lifted her nose to the wind and took a deep breath in, enjoying the floral scents carried on the breeze. Were lions capable of purring, she'd be doing just that right now.
"... and an end to wandering."
She rested her head on her paws and closed her eyes--and it didn't quite seem as if she were really referring to Kivuli or Shetani with that last comment. She seemed somewhat lost in her own thoughts for a few moments, as if reflecting on her past and all that had happened leading up to joining Narifia's pride. Finally, she opened her eyes and looked at Kivuli.
"We're pretty lucky here, aren't we Kiv? You don't mind if I call you 'Kiv,' do you? I mean, you were a wanderer right? Well, Deci, 'Lana, Kuru and I; we all were too. All we had was each other. And now... well, it seems as if we finally can rest, you know? Heh. I'm probably not making any sense at all, am I?"
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Post by Kai on Oct 25, 2010 16:22:44 GMT -5
"... and an end to wandering."
An end to wandering? He glanced to Anasi for a moment, sensing her contentment, and another emotion he couldn't quite grasp for a moment. It didn't take him long to understand: she seemed to really feel that she belonged here. He envied her. It was a feeling he had yet to know personally.
"No, no. You're making perfect sense. I understand."
And with his words the ghost who knew the feelings of others shrouded his own. It was second nature to him, for though he understood these concepts only vaguely, mostly through others, he talked as if he knew. Despite that stability, permanence, and (metaphorical or literal) "rest", were somewhat lacking if not totally absent at times for him.
"Somewhere to finally settle, where you're wanted. Where you belong."
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Post by Narifia on Oct 25, 2010 16:25:34 GMT -5
"And where there isn't any fighting," Anasi added to Kivuli's last statement, and that seemed to be the most prominent point she had to make.
"I'm not talking about petty fighting, mind you. No matter what, a pride will always have that. I mean... well... war. Hatred. An atmosphere where, no matter what, there's always a tense feeling and an urgency to keep constant watch over your back."
There was a brief flash of pain in Anasi's mint-green eyes and a solemn look on her face. She had experienced far too many of those feelings in her life.
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Post by Kai on Oct 25, 2010 16:28:35 GMT -5
Kivuli's clouded blue eyes fell on Anasi once again, and he felt that brief pain. Not only through his senses, but personally this time. He was silent for a time.
"Hm, that would be wonderful indeed."
There was silence for a time.
"...Is there no war here?" He inquired, not having been in the Outlands long enough to know.
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Post by Narifia on Oct 25, 2010 16:31:35 GMT -5
Continued From Where to Start[/b][/size] Anasi looked at him and replied, "Well, so far, no. There isn't. I hope that there will never be another war, because I've lived through far too much of it in my lifetime." She smiled and added, "I don't think we have too much to worry about, though. We already have a Pridelander living peacefully with us, and I have a feeling that Narifia is working towards an alliance, if not a friendship, with the Pridelanders that we warred so much with in the past." "Hmmph. If you really want to call being all buddy-buddy with those pansies a good thing," came a masculine voice from behind them.It was Kurunzi who had spoken, and he was joined by Ardilana and Decimus, who had gathered them all together for a hunt just moments before. Decimus eyed Kivuli for a moment, then focused on Anasi and said, "Anasi, we're going for a hunt." "And I suppose you want me to join you?" she asked sweetly, although she knew that Decimus had given her more of an order than a statement. Decimus just frowned and gave her a scolding look. Anasi chuckled and said, "Oh, fine, I'm coming. You don't have to go all serious on me." She rose to her feet and stretched, then looked at Kivuli and asked, "Care to join us?"
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Post by Kai on Oct 25, 2010 17:13:49 GMT -5
Kivuli hesitated for a moment. Anasi's invitation seemed sincere, but Decimus' initial reaction lingered in his mind. Although, Decimus did seem a little more willing to work with him now for whatever reason.
"Yes, I would like to."
He didn't step forward immediately, but waited for some confirmation that he should come. A nod, a word, or even if they just started walking and expected him to follow. Decimus seemed to be in control here, and he wasn't about to let himself tread on anyone's paws. That tended to get you in trouble quickly.
"If you will have me, of course."
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