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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:01 pm
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Tzarach was perched on his friend's back while she knelt at the river, drinking. They had to be close now! It had been a hard journey through the mountains, but it would be worth it once they found the pride of lions blessed by the Goddess of Birds. Then they could be around people who didn't look at him as if he was, and he could quote, "an unnecessary and unattractive growth that should be eliminated."
Then the bird looked up to see another lioness, this one with a bird flying around her head.
"Oh, look there! They must be from the pride! Isn't this wonderful?"
Teet ignored the tickling of Tzarach's claws on her back with the ease of long practice as she drank slowly. No reason to founder herself now when they had to be so very close. The bird was much more excitable than she, so it was just as well that she take her time and try to teach him some patience.
So only after she had drunk her fill did the green lioness look up to see a pair of strangers coming for them, another lioness and another bird.
"So it seems," she replied slowly. "But we may not be there yet. Do not get too excited, my friend."
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:13 pm
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:20 pm
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Teet breathed a sigh of relief as Tzarach didn't take his cue from the other bird that was flying around, excitement apparent in its every movement. She knew her old friend could be as (she hated to say it) featherbrained as any avian out there, but over time she'd managed to instill some form of manners into him.
"Don't worry about it," the green lioness told the black and white one. "My name is Teet, and this bundle of feathers," she jerked her head backwards at her familiar, "is Tzarach. We've been looking for the pride that favors birds as partners."
Tzarach was twitching on Teet's back. He knew that she preferred to take her time about things, but could she talk any more slowly? Not to mention the other lioness was walking so incredibly slowly, but he knew that if he just flew over there to get a better look as she was coming, Teet would ask him just what he thought he was accomplshing, and he'd have to admit that it was nothing at all, and she'd give him one of those sighs...
Better to stay here and fidget. But when they finally got close enough for the lionesses to talk comfortably, Tzarach pushed off from his partner's back to get a look from above, and to get a better look at the other bird.
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 4:54 pm
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Shikra decided to spend her time staring at the green avian in front of her, since he was being so quiet. Quiet! It was so strange to the little hawk. How could a bird ever be quiet? "Talk, talk!" she called, snapping her beak a few times to make more sound.
"Quiet, Shikra," the lioness laughed, swatting her tail at her as if she was a little fly. "I'm Lomasi, and this is my bonded, Shikra. You may not have noticed it, but you've been within the borders of what you seek for some time." She paused, looking concerned. "It is strange that you didn't run into a scout while going through the mountains, but they can be....dangerous."
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 5:27 pm
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 5:44 pm
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Lomasi understood the stranger...well, Teet's concern. "I don't really know," the lioness answer quietly. "I haven't been here that long myself." She shifted a bit, settling herself down. It was tiring to stand for so long, and even Shikra would quiet down when she realized how exhausted Lomasi got on her walks. "I know that it isn't as many as there should be. I....nearly died in the mountains. Its why I'm here, within the Aka'mleli now."
Shikra's head turned to the side for a moment, eyeing Tzarach. She fluffed up her feathers in irritation, disappointed that this bird wasn't one that riled up easily. How boring. "Sure, sure," she said in an oddly disapproving tone, flittering over to settle on the front toes of her bonded. Her ploy hadn't worked, and now she was sulking like a cub near her 'mother'.
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 6:12 pm
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The darker lioness nodded in understanding. "My thanks to the gods that you survived," she told the other quite seriously. She was not one to care for the shedding of any blood, even when the other deserved every death she could deal a thousand times over. And the fact that a potential mother should have had such a brush was a crime. Teet took life and death very seriously, and expected no less of those around her.
Speaking of which, it was always remarkable how Tzarach was as much of a chatterbox as Shikra...when no one else was around. The moment they came amongst others her little green bird would clam up. So shy, and yet she could hardly twit him for it. It was simply a part of who he was.
"Perhaps, then, you could take us to whomever rules the Aka'mleli?" she suggested. "We have come seeking admission."
Tzarach, now that he wasn't being pestered, completed his examination of Lomasi and her familiar. He noticed that her muscles seemed to be vibrating an awful lot for someone just standing still. Maybe she was nervous? He wasn't very good at reading a lion's body language even after so long with Teet. Well, that was a lie. He could read his partner, always.
Still, he puzzled it over as he settled down to perch on the green lioness' head.
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 6:56 pm
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:01 pm
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:06 pm
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Lomasi laughed lightly. "No, I'll be alright. Walking is helping to build back my strength, I've just been taking it easy so I don't collapse. I only ask for patience, that's all."
Shikra glided up above them, going higher and higher as she decided that the conversation was a little boring. Besides, she would use her eyes to find Mfalme, Umoja's bonded bird, and alert Lomasi to where he was. Where Mfalme was, Umoja was, and it would make it easier for all of them to get to their destination.
With a few slow steps, Lomasi began her walk. "Well, he is our king," she started slowly. "He's a little stiff on the outside, but I know he will let you stay here. Just make sure you're not as chatty as Shikra, and you'll do fine."
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:11 pm
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:18 pm
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Lomasi nodded. "I will let you know. After what happened to me, I've learned that it is not shameful in asking for help." If there hadn't been help, she would have died. It was strange to become bonded to a bird when one was so close to death, but somehow Shikra had found her, claimed that the lioness was her own, and found help. Strange, what was possible within the Aka'mleli.
Shikra was happily soaring around above until she spotted Mfalme. He liked the high thermals as well, so it was always easier to spot him before Umoja. With a happy cry that echoed the skies, she swirled down to land neatly onto of Lomasi's back. "Found Umoja!" she announced proudly. "Close! Go more north, he'll be there!"
Lomasi was a little worried to see him again, but at least it would be for a good reason. These two would need to see him at some point, and sooner was always better than later. "Alright. I guess I won't have to walk too terribly far. I don't know as much about the pride as I could, but I'll share with you what I understand while on our way to him. Deal?"
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Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2012 7:24 pm
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