[PRP] Morning Mysteries

[CaliWolfe]

Damu had encountered fog before. It would be impossible to call herself an explorer and say otherwise. She had gone to deserts and seen a thin layer of mist. She had gone to jungles and witnessed the ground suddenly fill with the stuff after a pleasant rainfall stopped. She had even gone all the way up to the top of a mountain before and seen a lake plagued by mist and snow. So she couldn’t really say she had limited contact with that type of weather. But a new sense of excitement was washing over the leopardess due to today being foggy anyhow.

She couldn’t help it she supposed. It was in her genes. Her adventure seeking, thrill loving genes that filled her with the desire to see every inch and corner of the known world. The genes that made waking up to a lovely, foggy morning seem that much more enticing.

The grassy landscape was drenched in the stuff. Thick as bread it was, impossible to see no more then maybe five feet in front of you clearly. Which was perfectly fine in Damu’s book. It added some sort of mystery element to the landscape that she liked!

The leopardess gave a loud yawn as she prowled across the ground, not one to care about who had heard her noises. She supposed she was probably getting close to a new pride of some sort on account of her nose picking up several new lion scents in the area… Hmm. Oh well. If she was bothering someone by being in their territory Damu assumed they’d find her and tell her to leave. Otherwise, she was content on just continuing her trek through the fog.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

The dark coated leopard moved silently through the fog, his steps as even and confident as always. The murky weather didn't bother him in the slightest, just as torrential rain or the burning heat of the sun didn't affect him. For to be affected, would mean that he had to feel, that that was something that had died within him a long time ago. Emotions, sensation, pain... all of it had been beaten from his body as a youth, leaving only the cold golden eyed stare of a trained killer behind.

Ears twitching he caught the muffled sound of someone else moving through the veiled landscape. A female from the weight of her tread, and not someone who cared weather or not they were discovered. For she was taking no precautions against such an eventuality. Halting his tried the tall leopard stood, a looming shadow in the thick mist, listening to her as she approached. He didn't really know why he stopped, as surely it would be far more expedient for his mission if he were to simply avoid her and continue on. But something kept him.... held him in place as if waiting.

Only moments later he could start to discern her outline as she emerged for the gloom, and knew that she would soon see him in return. Head up and ears back he waited, waited to see what she wouod do upon discovering she was no longer alone, Though he made no sound, no vocal greeting or warning. He simply stood and waited.

CaliWolfe

So so so sorry this took so long!!

 

[CaliWolfe]

At first, Damu didn’t really notice anyone in front of her. It wasn’t that she was blind more than she was distracted. She had at some point during her march turned her attention towards the ground. It appeared that some sort of small critter had scampered through the area, because she swore she saw the outline of hare tracks in the soil. Curiousity had taken over and just for a moment she lowered her head to sniff the trial.

From the smell and look of ‘em those tracks were at least a few weeks old. She doubted she’d have much luck rooting out the animal who had made the tracks by tailing them any further… With hare for breakfast out of the question Damu raised her head in time to make out a foggy outline of another leopard in the area.

Oh. You’d think with all her sniffing and smelling she’d have figured out she was a short sprint away from walking right into someone! No matter though, the fact that she hadn’t meant that was a potential disaster safely prevented. “Hello!” She chirped merrily towards the stranger after a few seconds of silence. “Nice morning, isn’t it?”

Tanakako

Sorry for the wait on this!

 

[Tanakako]

When she finally spotted him he remained silent and still, waiting to find out if she was going to attack him or not. Ruyken generally expected all strangers to be hostile. And typically even those that weren't when they first met him, turned to violence soon after. Whether they knew what he was, sensed the darkness within him, or simply connected the death and destruction in the area with the stranger they had encountered, he did not know, Nor did he really care. If she attacked, she would die. If she didn't well... he rarely started a fight, he just made sure to finish them.

When she greeted him so cheerfully he blinked, surprised by her friendliness. It was... unusual from a rogue. "Nice?" He asked, only realising he had spoken when he heard his own voice ringing through the thick air, a low and raspy sound that sounded alien to him. He wasn't much for talking, even back home. In fact he couldn't remember the last time he spoke, possibly before his apprentice had made Master. And he had not seen Lumiya in a long time, he had barely been back to the pride even. Pushing away such pointless musings he eyed the strange leopardess before him. He supposed he should practice talking again, as he doubted it was a skill he really wanted to loose. it would certainly make some aspects of his work harder.... She seemed as good as any target to practice on.

CaliWolfe

Its fine!!

 

[CaliWolfe]

The fact that he seemed generally surprised or confused with her statement filled Damu with slight worry, but more so curiosity. Was it constantly foggy around here? She imaged some areas of the world were plagued with certain weather that never seemed to cease… She just hadn’t really imagined this was one of them.

“Well, if you don’t like fog I guess it’s not all that nice.” She waved a paw through the air as if to magically will the wispy smoke away. “I don’t think it’s so bad though…” After a few seconds Damu without the male responding Damu opted to say something more so the conversation wouldn’t die. “You from around here stranger? Seems like I’m a little bit lost.” She gave him a weak smile.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

He watched as she spoke and waved her paw around. Though he wasn't sure just what she expected to accomplish with the latter. The fog wasn't going to go away any time soon.

"Fog is very useful." He replied, forcing his rough, growling voice out, trying to smooth it so at least it wouldn't break or grate too badly. He really hadn't spoken in so long? That probably wasn't a good thing. Well fine. Here was a chance to fix that.

"No, I am just passing through." He wasn't about to tell some stranger where his pride lived. It would only get her killed if she decided to go find the land of the Sith. "But I am familiar with this place, if you were wanting to go somewhere specific..." He offered after a moment.

CaliWolfe

 

[CaliWolfe]

Ah, so he was a traveller just like she was. Good to know! Though she had doubts about how likely it was; him being on the move meant that Damu could possibly run into him again at some later date.

When he suggested to guide her to some place in particular Damu had to take a moment to think about it. There wasn’t actually any particular place that she had wanted to go, which was sort of poor planning on her part when she had phrased her last question like she had. Ermm…

“Is there a river near here? I’m getting sort of thirsty.” She told him with a smile.

Tanakako

 

[Tanakako]

While she thought about it he simply waited patiently, settled on his rear. His eerie fire-touched eyes never left her, studying her with a level, intent gaze. It was as if he could sit and wait for her all day, there was an air if infinite calm about him, an untouchable serenity. And yet it was not the quiet of innocence, there was a sense of danger to him like the calm surface of a deep lake. Dipping one paw into it wouldn't hurt, but to try and swim in those unknown waters could be deadly.

When she finally answered, he nodded briefly. Accepting what she said without much reaction. He stood and started to walk, pausing only briefly to look back at her expectantly. When he spoke, his deep voice was ghostlike, made strange and echoing by the mists that surrounded them. "This way then."

CaliWolfe

 

[CaliWolfe]

Damu didn’t appear to mind the somewhat eerily way Darth spoke to her. Though she vaguely felt something prying at her. Something that told her he was deadly, that following him was probably a bad decision.

But then, Damu was all about risky and dangerous decisions wasn’t she? She was transfixed, intrigued by danger and threats. How long before her wits and her luck ran out? How long before she got seriously hurt on one of her adventures? She was almost drawn to Darth Ruyken because of his eeriness, his potential to be a threat.

Despite her better judgement, Damu elected to follow this odd stranger. “Lead the way then.” She grinned.

Tanakako

Good spot to end it?

 

[Tanakako]

Her indifference to his pressence was intriguing. Most folk of any species tended to steer well clear of him. Even within his home pride he was considered one of the more irrational and dangerous creatures in a pride of assassins and madness. It was.... strange. Not to be feared outright. Not to be known. As she made her choice the tall leopard resumed walking, tail curling behind him lazily. he kept his pace slow so he wouldn't loose her in the fog. Such a strange day and such a strange female.... For the first time in a very long time, Ruyken felt himself... relax. Whatever happened this day, he was willing to let it unfold on its own for once. No plans, no plots, no preconcieved notions.

Head tilting he looked back at her, a smile twitching unknown across his muzzle.

CaliWolfe

Fin!!