Fully rested now, the siblings follow Mbio's lead to the waterhole,
- Plains
and catch their first sight of the super-predators so common in these new lands.
For once, the rolling savannah grasses don't cover the lands; closer to
the Outlands, the foilage drifts away to reveal the lazy plains, shorter
grasses from the herds that have either trampled or eaten the grasses down to
a meager simplicity. The land here rolls faintly; smooth hills flow across
the area with ease. On a good day, herds of wildebeast, hartebeest,
elephants, and families of giraffes can be spotted roaming the area, or
perhaps a lion can be seen stalking through the grasses.
Exits:
[Pr]idal Grasslands, [So]uth Kube Grasslands, [Ku]be River,
[De]sert Border
Well, he did just as he intended; after the weird confrontation with Matata, Mbio settled down and took a nap, recovering his energy and strength. Now, a bit far into late afternoon, on the verge of early evening, the boy begins to stir. Nose tucked between his paws, which are, in turn, hidden beneath his large, full tail, the silver boy's ears and eyelids begin to twitch. Eventually, gray eyes are peeking out from beneath their hoods, and his head is lifting as his maw unfurls in a considerable-sized yawn. Slightly drowsily, after the young male's jaws have closed, he glances from his spot to where the two others had been when he last saw them, before he fell asleep.
Though having been awake for quite some time, Teza seeks comfort snuggled against her sibling in the traditional method she has since birth. Besides, warmth and assurance is found this way. Nevertheless, her eyes had been open, and intent on the silently clashing grasses that momentarily tangle together while the evening winds rattled. She'd been half-alert to any quaint sound from something unknown, and to Mbio and Matata as they slightly stir during their rest. Yet, she hadn't been mindful, for if Teza had, she'd notice the silver-fox awakening from his rest. Or, perhaps she did regard him with a twitch of her black-tipped ears curbed to he, but chose to ignore any formal greeting. She is silent, yes. Tezzy hardly shuffles, and allows her bushy tail to lazily lay across the folds of the plains, as her head settled between her paws comfortably.
And the fox girl's sibling, too, has been awaky - for the entire time, in fact, unable to have brought himself to sleep after his rather awkward 'conversation' with Mbio earlier. But for all the movement he's offered since, he certainly may as well have been, and the other two wouldn't be far wrong in assuming him asleep. For Matata has sunken into deep, deep thoughts; almost unhealthily so, for unlike the realm of sleep it is a state not so easily awoken from without some outside inference. His ears flicker and twitch in response to the workings of his own mind without any regard at all to what goes on around him, blissfully taking for granted the small huddled warmth of his sister behind him. It's definitely going to take a bit of a poke or a nudge to bring him out of -this-.
He's unable to tell if either of them are awake, for open eyes are not seen from Mbio's point of view. All he sees are the two siblings huddled against each other, similarly to how they'd appeared when he drifted off. Slowly, the silver boy lifts from his spot, a bit away from the other two, and begins to stretch. One leg, then another. The usual routine. After finishing that, and now finding himself rather awake, the young male glances to the others once more, still unable to tell whether or not they are awake, and gradually sits down. He's not going to go and poke at them, however. Why would he?
Unfortunately, the girl isn't agreeable to expend any energy on awakening her brother from the deepest pits of his clouded mind, even if hunger and thirst beg to be satisfied. Perhaps Teza, too, has settled into a juncture of memories and thoughts, because she certainly doesn't look lively or active, or, for that matter, interested in the boulder her honey-brown eyes have conclusively alit upon for quite some time. Not even the louder rustle of savannah-grasses signifying the awakening of Mbio tears her curiosity from whatever her mind recalls. Thus, silence grasps, splitting apart the trio, and assisting to the darkness both Teza, and mostly, Matata feels. But, a sigh ruptures from Tezzy's muzzle, and she finally shifts her weight and flecks her tail. Abruptly, she conjures some energy, and crawls from her statue-like phase to lift slothfully to her paws. A mumbles is given to the evening atmosphere, "Why us?" It's finally obvious she forgot or doesn't realize Mbio's awareness, nor Matata's. Her voice had been soft and almost-angelic as she spoke with her head tipped to the darkening heavens only fleetingly until her eyes found Mbio. Surprised, the girl takes a step backwards, and hastily shifts her gaze to something else. "..ooh." Embarrassment, and shyness leak through her murmur and found in her shameful gestures.
A bit of a poke or nudge, or perhaps a shifting of fur beside him and a soft spoken word; for now, upon feeling the sudden loss of the gentle warmth at his side, a greater awareness of the world around him drifts into young Matata, leaving him open to take in the gentle 'why us?'. At that, his eyes snap open abruptly, looking utterly bemused for a moment, but a swift alteration of his gaze towards his now standing sister soon quells whatever it is that may have startled the boy. A deep sigh then escapes his parted lips, and he draws himself up into a seated position, take a moment to blink the crusts away from his eyelids and shake some of the more pressing thoughts out of the fore of his mind. "D'ya both rest well?" he murmurs, eyes flickering briefly over Mbio's form but carefully avoiding contact, landing for a longer duration upon Teza's face.
As Teza unexpectedly rises as if she had never been asleep -- and she hadn't -- Mbio's smokey gaze flickers to her form. She seems oblivious of his presence, and this is confirmed as she questions the heavens. He remains still, now, until the girl-fox spots him, her humiliation easily seen. He feels he's always been able to read others consideribly well, and this time is no different. However, instead of quirking a brow, or adding to her embarrassment, Mbio dons vague smile, one of understanding, it seems. "You won't get the answer to that," he says, and sits. "In the end, y'll find out yourself." He still doesn't know what troubles the brother and sister, but it's clear that there's something. He says nothing more, then, and just glances to Matata, who has lifted as well. "Yup," the boy answers, his faint, usual smile still present. "You still thirsty?" His question carries the tone of a friendly retort to Matata's own query.
It's obvious there's a pronounced discomfort that envelopes the youngsters, but Teza is surely not willing to relax the tension by tossing in careful, placid words, or even by adding a smile. That's not her character, and this would be the reason why she's awfully disconcerted to know her previous utter was heard by the silvery-one. Though, her eyes do mingle to her brother, and she does calmly murmur, despite the lie hidden behind the simple word she speaks; "Yes." Then, her ears arch to Mbio's preaches, but not even a respectful nod or a word declares her acknowledgement. Yet, his query directed to her kin surely animates Teza, because she shifts uncomfortably and directs her attention to the distance as her tail sweeps back and forth. "I'm thirsty." Teza declares to no one in particular, but she makes her yearning decided.
It's strange, the emotions that hover in the air between the three young foxes; for while there is that definite tension, that lack of all-being-well, already there appears to be something of a bond forming, some strange recognition by all three that they have become something more than just wayward strangers; chances are, they will stay together, for some time at least. Similarly mixed emotions still gnaw persistantly at Matata's heart and mind, but he shows little of this outwardly as he answers, voice as equally calm and level as the tone his sister now uses. "Well, I've hardly had a drink since earlier, have I? Perhaps... perhaps you could lead us to this waterhole now, Mbio?" Teza's announcement increases his feeling of certainty at this possible decision, feeling that this is something that will do them -all- some certain good.
At this point in time, Mbio's really not sure what to think of his relation with the two siblings. With Teza's almost total lack of acknowledgment of him, and Matata's sudden aggression that was brought on yesterday, the silver boy must admit silently to himself that perhaps, soon, he should think about letting them be. .. And yet, still, there does seem to be some sort of relationship growing between them, almost unconsciously, to him. "Sure thing," the silver-phased fox answers with a light nod of his head, as he gradually lifts to his paws. "It's over in this direction." He speaks this and takes a step in one way at the same time, before glancing over his shoulder, and bidding the two to follow.
While the journey through the plains to seek water isn't appealing, Teza stand prepared. And, for once, she steps closer to the silver-fox, and even manages to cease at his side as she awaits for her sibling to join. Yes, bonds are beginning to form after a few night together with the stranger, and even Teza is aware of this. Unfortunately, Matata's rage of a few hours earlier may of weakened some cohesion, but if the trio are going to be united, the occurrence may increase the connection. However, Tezzy, though awfully close to Mbio, will remain silent and not quite accepting to the other's company. Not yet, anyway, but her closeness to he doesn't suggest this. She's not a talker, anyway. For now, until she's slightly older and more experienced, Teza will decidedly trek after Matata, even if she does become a burden. "How far?" the girl questions, obviously directing her wonder at Mbio, for he's the only of the threesome with the knowledge.
Now that he's been left to himself, with the other pair obviously in wait of him to rise and ready himself for some travel, Matata takes on the task of lifting to his paws, once again stretching out the kinks of his slender russet form. His back curves neatly into something like an elongated s-shape, rump high and front legs flattened along the ground, maw gaping briefly in a stretch of his jaws likewise. Then, satisfied, he turns and trots neatly toward the other two, his head tilting slightly at Teza's query of the silver fox and then nodding slightly, as though the same question comes from him, too.
"Not too far," is all Mbio can think to say in reply. It really isn't, but who knows how long it may seem to the timid Tezzy, or injured Mata'? Still, if they want water, he's sure they'll put up with a walk. With nothing more to add to his answer, the silver boy flicks his head a bit, as if urging them to follow, and then he turns and heads off at a moderate trot, one easy to keep up with.
-Water Hole
Tha white lioness is lying near the water's edge. Head alert as the wind blows her long fur.
Travelling in silence, the young fox Matata flicks his limbs smoothly and easily over the cold, moon-drenched earth, keeping close to his sister's side but also both eyes on Mbio and the path that he takes, forcing out the dull aches that persist in his skull and instead, focusing on the promise of water soon to come...
Darkness had fallen upon the three young foxes as they travelled, and now late evening seems in full swing. Still, though, Mbio moves in an easy trot, knowing that the water is surely up ahead. And, indeed, soon enough the boy is rewarded as the water hole comes into view, the moon reflecting off its surface. "Here we are," the silver one calls over his shoulder to the two others, as he smiles to himself.
Walking through the savannah only induced the small aches and pains in Teza's paws to return. During the trek, she often grumbled and complained, especially when the plains contiously stretched without an end in sight. Nevertheless, an oasis-like setting is thankfully viewed by the youthful eyes of the crimson-colored fox, and for once, a smile brightly etches upon her muzzle. Finally, her body will be given the chance to properly regain the expended energy lost while struggling to find find the Pride Lands, and wasted during their reptillian confrontation, and not to mention the somewhat lengthy walk to /here/. And so, Teza falters to a stop, letting her brother's pace increace her vulnerablity. Honey-brown eyes search through the leafy trees, but soon fall upon the comforting patches of exhuberant grasses when compared to the spindly dry savannah in which they rested within. Then, Tezzy's gaze finds the water hole, but settling her attention upon the surface makes a realziation of the distance between herself and her kin. "'Tata!" the girl mutters, attempting to slow his pace as she quickly bounds towards his side once again. She hasn't yet noticed lioness; that's a good thing.
Nyatia looks up at her grandma and nods to her. "That would be great Grandma." Then she notices new arrivals in the area. "Are these arrivals prey grandma?" as she lowers down and stares at them.
Shahila's ears flip backwards as she hears the foxes and looks carefully at them. Then she look over Nyatia and smiles "Ok then..." then she whispers "Stay by my side..." she says as she points the foxes.
Nyatia goes over to her Grandma and stands by her side as she watches the new creatures. She just watches them and tries to not growl at them as she tries to figure out what they are. She looks up at her grandma and tilts her head at her. "What are this strange looking animals grandma?"
Shahila smiles and chuckles at her "They are foxes..." she says with a sly grin ans she says carefully at her "Lesson number one: Dont try to kill someone if you dont have a good reason, ok?"
As they trio reach within view of the waterhole, Matata too allows himselt to roll gently into a brief halt, but several paces so ahead of his sister; and there he waits for her to reach his side once more. A short nod and grin is shot towards Mbio, nostrils twitching keenly as they take in the fresh scent of decent enough drinking water. Ahhh, compared to those slimy, muddy, crocodile infested river banks, the pooling of water that spreads out before them now appears to be pure bliss. But Matata still has enough wits about himself to exercise some caution; he ducks his head low, uttering a hissed "Hush..." - towards Teza, for the most part, but for Mbio's benefit as well. He knows enough about the gathering of creatures to assume that they may -not- be the only creatures out for a drink, and so he creeps foreward a few careful pawsteps, ears keened towards the soft babble of voices that eventually reach his quivering ears.
Soon after Mbio has turned to chuff the announcement of the waterhole in sight to the two others, the familiar scent of leonine, fresh and strong, had attracted his immediate attention. Nose lifting to the air, the boy takes a good whiff, as if to confirm that the smell is what he suspects. And, as enigmatic and swift the young male can be at times, he doesn't seem to let the presence of the lionesses nearby trouble him. He, usually, isn't hassled by the lions of the area. Perhaps this is a mistake. Matata seems to have picked up on something as well, and Mbio merely follows suit, lowering himself with ease into the grass, and then continuing forward, moving towards the water's edge, which is still some distance ahead of him.
Halting again, Teza's ears are quick to fleck and flay to the conversation that's not enticed by either her brother, or Mbio, and it's with this realization that that the girl's stomach wrenches discomfortingly. Then, commanded by her brother, Tezzy's ears fall against her skull and a simple half-nod is given. Yet, she's not sure of the situation, and if she had heard the previous conversation shared between the lionesses, Teza would become almost-uncontrollable. Stepping aside her brother, and closer to Mbio for extra assurance, the fox-ess finally admits with a trembling voice; "I'm afraid." Her eyes are careful not to search through the darkness to find the creatures the previous voices belonged to, but Teza is almost certain that, whatever her eyes cannot see, they're powerful and mighty beasts. But, the girl calms herself enough to encourage her speed to quicken and finally succumb to an eventual halt upon the slick mud banks, but not too far ahead of the other two. Teza's maw plunges within the lukewarm water without much consideration on crocodiles, or other dangerous reptiles and creatures that could be lurking in the pool, and hastily fills her stomach. The idea is to drink quickly to depart quickly.
Nyatia looks up at her and tilts her head at her and gets a confused look on her face. "Really I thought it was the other way around grandma?" as she rubs her head against her grandma's chest.
Matata's movements are quick, agile, and after sporting a short nod towards Mbio for some reason or other, he slinks hastily at Teza's side towards the water, throwing cautious glances to the lions that lounge around. "I don't think they'll give us any trouble if we don't do anything to them..." he offers, sounding almost as though he's trying to convince himself as well as her. But after chancing a glance towards the great white lioness that stands by the water, he bites his lip and dips his muzzle for a series of swift laps at the water, which is pleasant to the touch, only just beginning to cool after a long still day under the african sun. Clearly, his intentions are now the same as Teza's, drink swiftly and leave swiftly; for the thought of all the great cats so close at paw make the young fox -more- than uneasy.
Shahila stays awfully quiet "There's no need to kill all the furs around without a good reason.." she says very softly no her granadaughter. You dont know what she's thinking about looking at the foxes with her cold blue gaze.
Nyatia blinks at her and tilts her head and looks at her with a confused look on her face. "So I should not protect fath err I mean Sir then?" as she looks over at the foxes for a minute then looks back at her and purrs at her and rubs up against her.
Mbio, however, takes a good look at the lionesses who stand by, almost as if looking them over, sizing them up. But, his gaze doesn't linger upon them for too long, and soon the boy follows suit with his two companions and dips his snout down near the water, pink tongue escaping his maw in quick darts as the cool water is lapped up. All the while, one black ear is canted in the felines' direction, and every so often he glances sideways at them. Soon enough, his thirst is quenched, and the small canine pulls back from the water and shakes his head just slightly, as if to rid his maw of the water which hangs from his whiskers. His gaze returns to settle upon the two others, now, as Mbio waits for them to finish.
Shahila smiles and chuckles "I mean. Protect Sharvi is a really good reason.I mean that you cant walk around the pridelands killing all the animals that come to talk to you. Do you understand what I mean mu lil huntress?" she says nuzzling her neck.
Nyatia smiles at her grandma and nods to her. She purrs to her and rubs up against her. "Oh okay grandma. I will try to remember that." as an evil grin appears on her face.
There is confidence, however. First her brother's explanation convinces Teza to relax, and even the closeness of both her crimson-coated brother and -even- the silver-colored half-stranger assists to calm the adolescent more-so, but it doesn't leave her completely lax. As the boy's drink, Tezzy lifts her head and permits her ears to pivot atop her skull. With a quick swipe of her tongue she collects the remainder of the water droplets that haven't soaked into her muzzle fur or dropped to the earth. Still, her eyes fail to view the close proximity of the lioness, even if curiosity is great. Up until this point, the felines have been nothing more than a rumour, and not feared while living with her family-group. Now, the threat of these awesome predators are very real, and that only makes Teza fearful enough to not even wants to look. And so, standing between her brother and Mbio, she glances to her sibling. "We done?" She simply questions, obviously in a hurry to make a hasty withdrawal.
It's more than likely a result of the slight injury he sustained from the encounter with the crocodile that has left Matata slightly more parched than the other two, and thus, dips his head down for further drink, lapping longer than either of them. Even as Teza completes her drink and offers her question, he shakes his head in a manner that seems to say 'not yet - almost ...before dipping his snout back down for a final lengthy series of gulps. Eyes shift constantly towards the great felines lounging so close, the white female with her coat bathed in the moonlight, but even her close proximity will not convince the boy to leave until his great thirst is satisfied. It is only when he feels as though his belly is swollen from the great intake of liquid that he allows his now thoroughly wetted muzzle and throat to lift from the waterhole, first turning his gaze and then his whole body back to his companions. "'right..." he murmurs, choosing to try and lick the stray droplets from his whiskers rather than shake them off. "'m done." A brief pause, in which he scoots another swift glance at the cats, and then he ducks his head back down and speaks in a fast, semi-hushed voice to the silver one. "Where to now?"
Shahila smiles and nods "Im glad you understand." she says as she nuzzles against her head.
Nyatia looks up at her grandma and smiles at her and purrs to her as she rubs up against her. "That is good to know. I wish Masoud would hurry up and wake up so you could ask him that question you asked me."
Shahila smiles "He is your best friend huh?" she asks with a warm smile.
A light nod up and down of his head is offered to Teza, but it appears Matata isn't quite finished. So, while waiting for the other adolescent to finish up, Mbio gazes towards the cats once more. He's rather unafraid of them, which could be costly later. Nor does he find himself curious of their species, of envious of their strength. Instead, he's happy with the general sleekness of his own species, and would rather slink and dart with ease than lumber about with great power. Then Mata' announces his finishing, and the silver fox swings his head around to glance towards him. Where to? "Seems like th'safest place would be ... well, not here, that's for sure. Think we should just look for a place that doesn't have .. too many others hangin' around? I don't really care."
Nyatia grins at her and rubs against her while purring at her. "Yes he is my best friend. But you wanted to know if he is my boyfriend. I do not know the answer to that one yet."
Shahila smiles "Perhaps its better you discover it by yourself..." she says rubbing her head against hers.
The reply from her sibling wasn't satisfying, and Teza shifts uneasily while her eyes come to settle upon Mbio, now. Surprisingly, her optics bore upon his silvery coat for longer than one might expect of this youngster. It's as though she's attempting to memorize or find some pattern, or reasoning, to this quaint coat that separates him from their own fiery-fur. Even more astonishing is how Teza's honey brown eyes fidgets to find his own optics of grey-hues. The reasoning for her staring is left to interpretation, but in truth, it's much better than struggling through the darkness to catch the muscular felines hidden behind it. Whatever the explanation, Teza does catches herself after her lengthy, thoughtful look as Matata's utter grasps her attention. She declines to answer, but she allows Mbio the time to offer his suggestion; despite the lack of direction he'd offered. "Well," Tezzy initiated in a slightly lowered-tone, and straightens her body to prepare for a swift retreat; "Somewhere not around here." This, perhaps, had been the most she spoken all day, but it equals Mbio's vagueness.
Nyatia looks at her and tilts her head at her and sighs deeply and nods to her as she purrs to her and rubs up against her. "Okay. I wonder when I will discover the correct answer to that question you asked me?"
Shahila lifts a brow and chuckles "Just time will tell..." she says in a very soft and calm voice.
A quirk of the maw that could just as easily be taken for a grimace as a grin, especially in this light, preceeds Matata's reply to the vagueness of both silver male and firey female. "Right.." he says, with an increased creasing of his expression, trotting a few paces closer so that they might converse easily in more hushed tones. "Well.. I'm none too keen on heading back t'wards those crocodiles..." he says, and it would seem that he's almost wearing a smirk, now. Ears flicker downwards, however; possibly because of a babble of feline talk that drifts their way once more, or possibly because of some unspoken thoughts of his own. "So... per'aps we should head out t'the grasslands 'n the other direction? We might come 'cross some sort o' shelter or hollow in the ground... something to last the night out in, at any rate..."
If the girl's staring had been noticed, Mbio gives no sign. But who knows whether he did or didn't. Usually, after a while, you can feel such a stare on your back, and sometimes still refrain from turning around. Now, though, he focuses on an idea of where to trek to next. "Yeah, you're probably right," the boy agrees, soft-spokenly. "How 'bout we head .. that way?" His head is bobbed to the west, where there isn't much to be seen but grasses, and the large form of Pride Rock protruding upwards.
Curious by nature, it's ironic how Teza disregards the construction or the wonder of the immense stone spire shrouded by the settling night, and half-cloaked by the grassy savannah that separates water hole and Pride Rock. Rather than wasting time, her mental urgency encourages her to make a swift retreat, which overrides the natural inquisitiveness she's been susceptible to show; despite her timidness of others. But, she speaks between her brother and their 'friend', whispering lowly, but unnecessarily; "All right." Nothing important is found in her hushed word, but it does signify her readiness to make a swift departure, even if her stomach isn't fully satisfied of it's craving. Yet, the fox steps forward, shifting from the mud-slick embankment to the tawny-colored grit with her eyes upon her blackened-paws. Discomfort is found as dirt and sand cling to her moist, mud-caked paws, but she doesn't worry now. Besides, it'll loosen enough by time they find some secure retreat for the colder, savannah night. And so, having been the first to saunter forward, the girl ceases to pitch her regard over her shoulder and awaits for the boy's to join.
A silent jerk of a nod is offered in confirmation, the moonlight catching in his eyes for a moment on the upward stroke. But, oddly, it's the remnants of a frown that now tweak at Matata's maw, though more likely than not just signifying an air of concentration within the boy. Even though the lions by the water's edge do not seem to be making any form of menace of themselves, he still regards them as a danger to be wary of, and so when he takes off at a trot, moving to overtake his sister, he veers around to skirt the opposite bank to which most of the felines lounge, giving them all a wide and hasty birth. "'s go."
"Take me to the water, drop me in the river
~ The Talking Heads 'Take Me to the River'
There's nothing too spectacular about this place, oddly enough. It's just
another waterhole; a depression carved into the land as a holding place for
the rains. But it's significance to the creatures in the Pride Lands is
profound. The shore itself of the hole is muddy; several hoof and pawprints
are scattered around, from a variety of species. The water is luke-warm
sometimes, but, more often than not, cool and inviting to parched lips. The
grass immediately around the waterhole is shorter than is the norm, most of it
seemingly trampled, and rocks litter the area, as well as a few trees that
provide shade from the heat of the day.
Exits:
[We]st into the Heart of the Northern Savannah, [Ku]be Grasslands,
[No]rth to A Worn Path
Perhaps Teza's right. The beastly form of the well muscled lioness is standing near the water's edge. Mighty and powerfull white lioness. Heh.
Push me in the water, drop me in the river
Washing me down, washing me down
Teza is the (s)queeproperty of Ayre.
Mbio is the (s)queeproperty of Aidan.
Pictures may be drawn later if any of them are bothered.
Teh_Photos are from hereand here.
