[J] Summ RP logs

[Summer Rain 07]

Tsopa x Johari

Tsopa

The wind brought the scent of a thousand lives and every now and then there was the odd musky mark on grass, rock and tree; like milestones of information for each traveling creature. The rogue lands were so full of lions and other animals, each with their own little dens and boltholes, as well as the many constant movers. Tsopa was somewhat overwhelmed and enjoying his trip - though nothing he'd seen yet could top his beloved Swamp home nor had suggested a name to him.

Johari

Johari sighed as she slowly crept out of the hole she had slept the night in. "It's now or never." She said to herself as she reached a paw out into the sun coated grass. She slowly pulled herself out of the ground until her nose barley peeked into the sun. She sniffed around, seeing if anyone was there. She quietly pulled herself out of the hole and looked around again.

Tsopa

Tsopa sat not too far from Johari’s hole, facing the other way and siting still save for his mane. He was just feeling the breeze and wondering which way to go today. He had no need to hunt – he’d fed only two days ago and well – and there was nothing to keep him here really. Besides, there was so much to see while he still could.

Johari

She sniffed the air again, and caught the sent of another lion. She quickly turned to face the lion, her tail between her legs and her body close to the ground. She stood still, waiting. She didn't know what she was waiting for, but her mother had always told her to stay completely still in the hopes that whatever was there would loose interest, or think you were dead. But that only worked if she was lying down.

Tsopa

The wind was tugging Tsopa in the opposite direction from which he faced and carried his scent to the stranger. He however couldn’t catch hers being upwind. So, unaware of he turned as he got to his pas, intending to go that way – and seeing the brown female was a bit of a surprise. She was rather hidden laying down, but not much.
Tsopa padded that way, giving her a reasonable berth, and offered a smiled greeting in passing.

Quote:

="Johari""S..ssstay away.." She said, her voice so soft she could bary hear it. She started to shake as the lion started to advance on her, and her ears lay flat against her head.

Tsopa

“’Good morning.” He said as he walked by, ears pricked curiously as he glanced at her sideways. Tsopa wasn’t exactly walking close, and in his mind politely saying hello since she happened to be there. So why was she so scared?
Still, the moment passed and so did he, walking by Johari.

Johari

"G...good morning." She said a little louder and she kept her gaze on the male, watching his movements, waiting to see if he would attack her

Tsopa

Surprised, he stopped walking and looked back. Considering she’d been laying there like that Tsopa hadn’t expected her to reply. His usual smile blossomed once again. He ventured to strike up a conversation and kept his body language carefully neutral.
“Nice day, with all this refreshing wind, isn’t it?”

Johari flinched lightly when he smiled. "I guess.." She said. She couldn't help but glance up, letting her guard down

Tsopa

“…sorry to be rude, but I was wondering what I’d done to offend? Curiosity being a failing of mine.” Tsopa tilted his head. He’d leave in just a second and be on his way but truly, it /was/ a failing of his.
“I didn’t mean to disturb you at all, just I was passing by this way and the usual niceties….” He shrugged, thinking it clear enough what he meant.

Johari

He seemed to be nice, he spoke softly, and his voice was gentle. She felt herself gain some strength when he spoke. "Oh...uh, you didn't offend." She said as she looked down, and slowly stood a little.

Tsopa

“Then what’s wrong? You’re not hurt are you?” He queried, inclining his neck to get a better look at her face. Tsopa had never met someone so shy seeming. His pridemembers he knew, having grown up about them, and most rogues he’d met were instantly chatty. If he wasn’t the problem, maybe something was wrong for her anyway?

Johari

"Um...no, I'm not hurt." She said as she closed her eyes tightly, not wanting to admit the truth. "I...I guess I'm easily scared." She said as she shook lightly.

Tsopa

“Oh. That’s a shame.” Tsopa wasn’t sure what to say, really. His cubhood had been easy with the only danger of the Swamps the Swamps himself (and trust me, he learnt quick). So besides the danger of being a hunter, he was a pretty big guy and from a pride and nothing really would mess with him. He’d never had much to be scared of, at all, just his dreams sometimes. So, hard to understand. “Bad past?”

Johari

She nodded, and relaxed a bit more so she was now lying down in the grass, her head onto of her paws. "Mom and I ran away, but I haven't been able to find her.."

Tsopa

“How long ago was that? Because if you ask some other travelers, someone might have seen her if its recently, I often ask other rogues for ‘any news’.” Tsopa figured now that they were chatting it’d be safe enough to sit down. And it was true enough. Just a while ago he’d met that Kianga girl asking after the whereabouts of a Rahima. Tsopa hadn’t known but another at the waterhole had and presumably, the girl had found her Rahima fine.

Johari

She shook her head. "It happened a while ago." She said as she looked back up to him with her hazel eyes. "We finally were brought out of our cage, and mom told me to run." she said as she started to shake from the memories. "I heard a big bang sound, but mama told me to run as fast as I could no matter what and to never look back."

Tsopa

Well now, that just made him think up about a dozen other questions. What was a cage? What could have kept them captive if they’d been held in this ‘cage’? What could the bang have been? Tsopa had never seen nor heard much of humans though he knew the basic ‘big bald monkies who wave sticks about’ line. Feeling it would be insensitive to ask however, he closed his eyes and lowered his head slightly in sympathy.
“Sorry for your loss, miss.”

Johari

"I still...." She started slowly. "I still hope to find her." She said as she brought her tail close to her, petting the tuft softly.
"But thank you," She said softly and smiled lightly.

Tsopa

“Here’s hoping that you do. I’m sort of searching for an old friend myself and if I happen to hear of a female looking for a girl like you, I’ll let them know you’re looking to.”

Johari

She smiled lightly, "Thank you.....um..." She said not catching his name. "I'm Johari." She said softly, introducing herself first unless he hadn't.

Tsopa

“My name is Tsopa, though perhaps not for long.” He said cheerfully. He knew her name meaning straight away – he’d always liked knowing such things because he’d always looked forward to his own name quest. Gemlike, jewel. It suited her.

]“And whats your mothers name, Johari, just in case I hear a rumor?” He asked, with a small gesture of his paw. It was such a slim chance, really. The wind brought the scent of hundreds of animals and the roguelands were so big…never mind the pride lands…but it was the least he could do to keep an ear out.

Johari

She gasped in shock as he asked the question. Her eyes were wide in shock. "I...I don't know.." She didn't even know her mother's own name. She felt terrible and tears started to streak down her cheeks. She couldn't believe she didn't know her mother's own name. She had never told her, and all that those in white would call her was "Number XII"

Tsopa

"I'm so sorry....please don't cry..." Tsopa shifted his weight from one paw to another, unsure what to do. Had she been one of his sisters, or one of the lionesses he'd come to see as sisters growing up alongside him, he'd have nuzzled away her tears. Comforted her. But as a complete stranger with a problem he could only just relate to...he wasn't sure what he could do.
"If nothing else there's the hope she'll recognise your name, and with us both spreading the word you're looking for her...."

Johari

She looked up to him with her large topaz eyes and smiled lightly, "I'm sorry," She said as she sniffed and brushed her tears away with her paw. "They just...started." She said and looked at him with wonder, "I...I guess your right." She said, "Mother would always call me by name, even when the men in white were around, she'd whisper it to me, giving me strength."

Tsopa

"It's alright...and names have power, so just remember your mother using yours to give you strength and be strong. We'll find her if we can." He tried to assure her, wondering if they could make a scarifice to the spirits and ask for guidence. It did seem unlikely they'd find this girls mother, but, Tsopa was a believer in hope. Hope could see you through even when you had nothing else to cling to.

Johari

She nodded, "Your right..." She said softly and looked down, hiding a blush. "T...thank you....Tsopa." she fiddled with her tail. She couldn't believe how nice he was being to her. Never before had someone sat to talk with her, even trough her fright. He seemed different, and she liked it.

Tsopa

"That's alright..." He said sheepishly, still unsure if he was doing this right. He liked this strange female, she was interesting and both so innocent seeming and so scared - it was almost instictual to want to help her and cheer her up.
"It's fortunate you're not where I come from, since names change there. Tsopa you see is just a name to call me home by, a cubs name. I'm out here because I need to find my true name."
He changed the subject, hoping to distact her from the odds stacked against them finding her kin.

Johari

"A true name?" She asked as she looked back up to him, "What's wrong with the one you have?" She asked, tilting her head to the side, "Don't you like your name?"

Tsopa

"It's not that I don't like it, it's an alright name. But it's only a cubhood name. It's not really who I am." He smiled as she seemed interested in the concept, the way his pride did things. Tsopa grasped at a better way to get her to know what he meant though.
"Everyone leaves our pride to travel at this age, and comes back to annouce their real name before everyone. Just how you find it is a mystery until you've found your name yourself. Its different for everyone. I've longed for this trip for all my life...."

Johari

She nodded lightly as she started to grasp the idea, it did seem interesting. Then again, all prides confused her. She had never been apart of one, and didn't know if she'd be able to. She knew it was bad to use her fear as a crutch, but what else could she do?
Her eyes went wide as something hit her, "But, how will I know it's you if we meet again?" She asked, fear of loosing him cascaded through her, making her whole body shake.

Tsopa

"I'll still look like me, smell like me, sound like me...only my name will have changed. And it'll suit me better too I bet!" The Swamp lion almost chuckled but he had caught on quickly to her fear. It wasn't just that, like most animals, he could sense fear on some level. She was wide eyed and shaking!
The poor female seemed so traumatised and her life seemed to be lived from one terror to the next...Tsopa wasn't sure he wanted to leave her alone. How on earth was she coping with just living?

Johari

Her tremors slowed, but she sill shook lightly, "I guess....your right." She said in almost a whisper. But would she be bold enough to stop and wait? Wait to see what someone would look like, wait too see if she recognized the sent, wait till they were close enough to hear their voice? Too many questions were flooding her mind, making it hard to concentrate, she winced a little as she tried to gather her thoughts.

Tsopa

"...are you travelling Johari? Or do you live in this place?" Tsopa asked, tentively, his tail tip twitching agitatedly. He'd been waiting all his life for this trip, to find his true name, and he didn't want anything to possibly go wrong or make it too complicated. But on the other paw...

Johari

She looked back up to him, his voice breaking through the wall of her own voice that filled her mind, "Uh...no, I don't live anywhere." She said with confusion as she tried to read his face.

Tsopa

"Just if you're travelling in the same general direction as I am...then maybe we'd see each other around." He paused, biting his lip with his fangs. Mama Bwana help him, he had no clue what he was doing! All he knew was this scared girl needed /someone/ to look out for her.
"I'm not saying 'travel with me' because we're strangers and all but you know...if you're about the same area I am, we'd know where the other was and it's always safer to hang about in a group. Easier to be found too, so if your mother did hear rumor of you..."

Johari

Johari thought about his words for a long time, and choose how to say what she wanted to say. She mulled over the consequences, but finally said something so bold, it took her by surprise. "I...I want to travel with you." Her words were so soft, and her head was hung low so her bangs covered her eyes.

Tsopa

He had to strain to hear her, ears flicking forward to catch her reply.
"Well then...that's settled then." He said, looking down at his own paws. This exchange hadn't lasted all that long, he'd just woken up this morning with no real plan but to travel and see what he could see, and now - now he had a travelling companion. Completely at random. Tsopa wasn't unhappy just surprised and hoping he was doing the right thing.

Johari

Her head snapped up at his reply, her eyes wide as he looked at him. She felt her cheeks were wet but she was so taken back by his words that she couldn't move. It wasn't that she was afraid, she was happy for once. But she couldn't believe that...that he agreed.

Tsopa

"If you want that is?" Maybe he'd misread her or misheard? She seemed shocked again. Maybe she didn't want to travel with him then, maybe he didn;t suddenly have this responsibilty - not that he'd minded. He felt drive to look after her, being scared of everything and lost and all.

Johari

"No, I... I do." She said as she stepped closer to him and placed her paw on top of his, another bold move. I do, really."
"I do really." She said as she met his eyes for a moment before looking down again, her face hot with a blush. "I just... I've never done this before."

Tsopa

"It's okay..." He said, reassuringly, though he was rather aware she'd just placed her paw on his. Tsopa could have kicked himself for it and took a minute to tell his stomach to stop it. He just wanted to help her. Just because he'd not had a girlfriend in a while didn't mean he should act like a teenager just because a pretty girl put her paw on his.
"We'll just start by keeping to the same area, okay? I'm not worried about which direction we head anyway, so, you just travel like normal and I'll just be about if you need me."

Johari

She shook her head lightly, "I....want to be /with/ you." She said, her voice soft again. She started to shake, she couldn't believe the words that were coming out of her mouth, but they were all true. How could she be so afraid of the truth?

Tsopa

"Are you sure?" Tsopa was surprised and again, had to tell himself to stop it. She was a vulnerable lioness and clearly needed a good friend to help her out. She was trusting him, a stranger, to look out for her and help her. She was even shaking again...
"If you're sure, then alright."

Johari

She looked back up to him and smiled. It was warmer, less forced. She couldn't believe she was actually going to be with someone. She wasn't going to be alone any more. Someone who wanted her around as much as she wanted to be around them. She knew this was a step closer, a step to become more brave, and a step to find her family.

 

[Summer Rain 07]

Tsopa x Johari 2

Tsopa

Tsopa felt better after meeting his 'sister' Chaka. The older female was not one of the fosterling litter, but one of Queen Asali's own daughters, but she and Tsopa were fast friends and considered themselves adoptive siblings. Meeting her out here, when she'd been gone so long on her name quest, had lightened his heart. It was good to know Chaka was doing well out here and was on her way to finding her name and purpose in life.
It was with a spring in his step and a hummed little song he sought Johari out. He'd not seen is travelling companion since yesterday.

Johari

Johari had wandered a few miles west from where Tsopa had left her. She had spent most of the day lazing around and trying to convince herself that she could hunt on her own. That she didn't need to wait for someone to have their share and then leave the rest of the carcass for the vultures. Then again, she had never been hunting on her own and had already failed many times

Tsopa

"Johari?" Tsopa called, after padding along for a while. "Jooo?"
Having spent time with Chaka, he'd talked about the brown female with her and they'd even offered a sacrifice to the spirits to see if they could offer any help. Tsopa wanted her to be happy and feel safe, and the spirits were wise... but they had seen fit to give him a vision that seemed more about himself than about Johari. So Tsopa had decided he was worrying to much for her and needed to think about his adult name more.
Didn't mean he hadn't missed her company however.

Johari

Jo's ears twitched lightly as she heard a familiar voice. She turned to see Tsopa in the distance. A smile came across her face as she hopped to her feet and ran up to meet him. He was earlier than she expected, but she wouldn't say anything about it. "Hey Tsopa, how is your sister?" She had been working on her small stuttering problem, and her voice was a little more confident.

Tsopa

"Well - thanks for waiting for me." The Swamp lion had let her know of his unexpected meeting with his sister before vanishing for a night of course, and wondered how she'd been doing while he'd been gone. "Did your hunting go well?"

Johari

She looked back out to the herd. She could swear they were mocking her. "Not too well." She sighed lightly, "When I think I can finally do it, my legs tighten up and I can't move them."

Tsopa

"You just need a little more practise, Jo." Tsopa encouraged.
He'd eaten with Chaka and so wouldn't really want much, but if they went after some small antelope rather than a larger kill, they could always try hunting together. With success came confidence and with practice came skill, after all.
"If you want, we could go out and try our luck together?"

Johari

She shook her head lightly, "That's alright, I had some pickings early today." True she may not have had the best meat on the animal, but to her it was a five course meal compared to what she had as a cub.

Tsopa

"Alright. Do you want to hit the trail then or just hang around here for a while?" He stratched behind one ear briefly with a paw and looked around, at the herds and the long grass. It wasn't a bad spot and he really didn't mind if they stayed or went. He was in an easy, good mood.

Johari

She shrugged lightly, "Whatever would be best for you."
She gave him a light smile. She had to constantly remind herself that she was just tagging along, that he was on a mission and she was just keeping him company. "Whatever would be productive in your case, I don't mind." She had always thought of herself as a follower.

"I don't really have anything I need to do..." He was puzzled for a second. "You mean for my name quest, right?"
He pondered the idea. There was no set way to take your name quest really. You went out into the world, travelled, and came back to announce your true name triumphantly. You found yourself in your own way. He was kind of logical however and was touched she cared he was on a 'mission', so he made a suggestion.
"I suppose we could knock around a few ideas why we'd relax if you'd like? For my name. Since I'm unsure."
6:59 PM
She blinked a few times before she smiled and tilted her head to the side lightly. "Sure." She had to admit that she was being more open with her actions and feelings. Maybe all she needed was to get to know someone like him. Maybe that was all she really needed, someone to talk to, who would understand her. "Hmm... what would be a good name for you.." She said as she sat back down on her haunches and looked up to the sky.
7:02 PM
He studied his paws a minute, glad she was going to help, more than he let on with a curious little smile. Johari was...well, he really /did/ like her. And as Chaka had suggested, maybe the spirits had intended that they meet, that he help her - and maybe she was supposed to help him! But it felt so personal, getting her help with his true name...
"Well, Tsopa means 'clay'. Cub names and true names aren't always related but its a start I suppose."
7:07 PM
She looked back down to him, "Clay.." she repeated and thought for a moment, "But that's more a name on appearance." She said as she looked him up and down. "Shouldn't your true name be based on who you are and not what you are?" she asked as she tilted her head to the side again
"...nice point." He looked at her with eyes crinkled by a wider smile. She was amazing sometimes. Pity she didn't seem to realise.
"I think I was given that name because of my colour but it sort of suited me as a cub. The prides traditions and religion very much shaped who I am."
7:15 PM
She nodded, and then went back to thinking. "Well lets see..." She blinked, "What are your amiable qualities? You should probably pick a name that shows who you truly are." She gave him another smile, "Like, honest, helpful, loyal... Something like that."
"Oh stop it, you're making me blush." He said, jokingly, but with some truth behind it. It was nice to know she thought well of him. "Honestly, I just try to do the right thing, whatever that seems to be. I'm not really a noteworthy character..."
She shook her head lightly, her ears flopping along the sides of her head. "I see it as a very redeeming quality. I mean, you could have been like any other guy out there and try to take advantage of me." She said as she looked down to her paws, "But instead you were very kind, and helped me. You listend."
((*listened
7:27 PM
"I'd never try to take advantage of you Johari and I swear, no one else will while you're traveling with me - I'd stop them." He said, in ernest, as soon as she'd said that. Tsopa really meant it and had said it before when they first met...but now it seemed more important than ever she knew that. "I'll worry about you when I've found my name and I go back home. I'm not saying I don't think you can take care of yourself now, but I'd worry."
He paused, sheepishly adding. "I'd miss you."
She couldn't help but blush at his last comment. She looked into his eyes with hope when she realized that she was only kidding herself. After all, he was leaving. She had been thinking that she would be able to go with him. But he had never invited her to go, and what he just said made those words burn. She would not go with him. "I...I'll miss you too..." She tried to make her voice sound cheery, but it cracked in the end, and with the crack came a flinch, realizing that her emotions could be read all over her body.
7:36 PM
((Hon, random, but had an idea for Johari's Swamp name  You know what a "diamond in the rough" is?))
((something from aladdin? *shot))
((It's a person with hidden qualities. Someone wonderful who doesn't seem much or whose hard to spot - like Johari was. Hidinga nd scared but she's awesome now she's getting her confidence X3 ))
((Could play off that and call her Johari-fichika or Johari-fichwa. "The Hidden Jewel/Gem"))
((I like that. *writes it down*))
((x3 and yet I have no clue for Tsopa, haha...))
((XD))
He caught his lip with a fang nervously, studying the lioness. She'd become one of his best friends, as dear to him as good old Shu...he really would miss her terribly when he went back to the Swamps.
She'd been slowly regaining her confidence with him around and was blossoming into someone Tsopa admired. Surely, if she wanted, she'd be able to learn the prides ways. She was strong enough and smart enough!
"You could erm....stop by and see me...maybe even y'know...stay. Join the pride. I mean you've heard me waffle on about it for so long, you know what its like and if you wanted..."
7:47 PM
Her ears perked up, and she looked up to him with wide tear filled eyes. "Join?" She repeated. No one had ever asked her if she ever wanted her to join anything, let alone a pride. "You...you think it would be possible?" Her voice was soft again, and she started to stutter like she used to.
The thought of loosing him was just causing her to erase the progress she had made with him.
"I think so, yes!" His voice was almost imploring now, hoping and praying to the gods and spirits this was the right thing to do. All he ever meant to do was the right thing, by his pride and by the creatures he met. "I can teach you our ways properly and if you agree with them...if it actually feels right to you, like it could be a true home, not just because I'm there...."
"I'd love to have you come home with me and find a home there." He said after a pause, moving a paw towards her, offering it.
7:57 PM
She smiled lightly, and reached out her own paw to meet his. She hatted to admit it, knowing that he would disapprove, but no where would be home without him there to protect her. Sure half of her thought she was overreacting, but the other half knew the endless amount of love she felt for him. How could anywhere be home if he wasn't there?
8:01 PM
"Well then..." The second she took his paw he felt more like doing a backflip (though he had no idea what a backflip was so maybe the feeling was more akin to playing leap-frog over an elephant) that getting back to talking about things. She was no longer the damaged and skittish creature really, she was going to be a Jini'msemi in fact....he could let himself love her without feeling like a creep...
"I'd better actually explain the vijini and the gods to you, and some of our rituals. Lesson number one." His own true name was forgotton at the prospect of Johari coming to live in the Swamplands.
"Our queen Asali will not find you wanting with me as your teacher." He hoped.
((wanting?))
((basically, unfit, needing something she lacks...it takes a while for an outsider to be accepted ad their sorta watched/judged for a while)
((okay))
She nodded as she took on this new information. "Asali.." She noted. She then gasped. "But, what if she doesn't like me... what if I do something wrong?" She started to panic. Never before had she had to present herself to anyone.
8:12 PM
"You'll be fine. I'll be there alongside you, just like now, helping you and guiding you...if this is the path you've chosen I'll walk it with you." He reassured her, as he'd done since the day the pair had met. Though his nerves were jittery as well. If she failed it'd be the worst thing in the world. And one day she might wonder just why he cared so much about keeping her with him - Tsopa wasn't sure she'd love him like that, not knowing those seeds had already been sown in her heart as well.  

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