Post by Bhaskar on Sept 25, 2010 18:20:29 GMT -7
Cast:
Saadarshan (Golden Liger)
Bhaskar and Lakshmi (Tiger, Golden Jackal)
------
Fallen Tree
This portion of the rainforest lacks a decent high canopy from the sal, teak and other tall trees which dominate other areas of the forest. One giant teak fell long ago and its rotting, hollowed, mossy and mushroom-infested carcass lay on the ground. Its interior is large enough to accomodate a chital deer or small goat, but not anything the size of an adult tiger. With no significant tall canopy, the sun is able to break through to the ground level in a number of spots, especially near the fallen teak. Sound in the area is dominated by the roar rushing water, mostly loudly from the falls to the southwest but also from the raging rapids before the falls; the river runs from the northeast to the northwest where it turns south toward those falls. With little tall canopy, a lot of medium and smaller trees and brush thrive here, including a small bamboo forest. Mango, jamon, jackfruit and piar also grow well here, bearing sweet fruits when they ripen.
------
The sun is out and the humidity is thick enough to form a nearly visible wall. It's a perfect time to sleep, and that is precisely what Saadarshan is doing. The golden cat is stretched out alongside the fallen tree, his shoulder and back propped up against the rotting wood with his limbs stretched out to his side. His eyes are closed and the slow rise and fall of his chest and side suggests the giant feline is sleeping or, at very least, resting.
Many animals are sleeping through this time of day, more than likely. It passes the hours until nightfall, when the heat, if not the humidity, of the afternoon will burn off. What a creature as large as a tiger is doing up and about instead of conserving his energy is anyone's guess. Perhaps Bhaskar had woken up and found himself unable to drowse off again, or perhaps he has some purpose in mind--either way, he comes padding through the trees with Lakshmi at his side. His gait is unhurried and his paws are quiet against the earth, but he stops moving altogether when an unfamiliar scent enters his nose among the sweet tang of fruit and the musk of rotting wood. As he's approaching from the opposite side of the massive tree, he doesn't see Saadarshan right away; instead he sniffs the breeze, trying to pinpoint its source.
Saadarshan learned quick the mistake of ever sleeping too deeply, lest something catch you unawares and call you dinner. Granted, a liger might be a bit too big for most anyone to consider dinner-worthy. As the soft noise and vibration of steps upon the earth catch his attention, the cat cracks open yellow-green eyes and raises up his head. It appears lifting above the top rim of the log, squinting as he looks from one side to the other and then takes note of Bhaskar and Lakshmi. He remains wordless, though his ears swing forward in a silent gesture of acknowledgement.
Bhaskar doesn't have to search for long; while the many vegetation-smells in this area can be overpowering, Saadarshan's head pokes into view above the dead teak a moment later. The tiger's appraisal is swift and silent, as is Lakshmi's, before his own ears flick. It's hard to say what he's thinking, but even this glimpse of the other male's head must be enough to tell him that Saadarshan is no tiger. His facial structure is different, though not quite like a lion's either. "Samkara," he rumbles in understanding. "My greetings." The jackal stays silent, although she stands beside him so fearlessly that it's obvious she's not trailing him at a distance in hopes of scavenging off a kill.
There's no immediate response as Saadarshan turns his gaze away and shifts himself so that he can regain his footing and rises up off the ground, likely putting to rest any suspicion he is not a tiger. He's entirely too big and his stripes too pale, scattered, and mottled with spots. Only after he's arched his back in a spine-popping stretch does he return his gaze to the tiger and his companion. "Good day." There is a look in his eyes, not so much one of apprehension as one of expectation, though what he is expecting is left unspoken. His voice is deep, but soft and smoothly spoken. "I haven't strayed into your territory, have I? I hadn't caught any markings, but with the falls, there's enough moisture in the air to miss smells."
The curious pair of feline and canine observe wordlessly as Saadarshan regains his feet and stretches. Bhaskar's expression is unwavering, so it's likely that he's identified the other as something not quite a tiger and not quite a lion. To see a hybrid, especially one with such golden fur, is such a rarity that it must come as a surprise to both of them--yet his pokerface is excellent, and when Saadarshan returns his greeting along with an inquiry Bhaskar gives his head a slight turn in negation. "No," he confirms verbally, "these lands are not mine. I'm passing through them myself." For what purpose, neither he nor Lakshmi say--at least for now.
"Good." Saadarshan says with a dip of his white chin. "I make it a point to keep clear, but, mistakes happen. The world is a small place sometimes, others, entirely too large." With no threat seeming forthcoming, he seems content enough to drag a few smoothing licks across the rumpled fur of his chest before he utters a soft, neutral sort of grunt. "No need to stop on my account, though. I'm sure you have elsewhere to be, and, I suppose I should be moving on myself. Night isn't too far off that I shouldn't be considering dinner."
"It is indeed," Bhaskar murmurs in agreement. He's a tiger and therefore well used to keeping his own company, or rather his own and Lakshmi's, and so it's unlikely that he feels any real need to strike up a conversation with a stranger; and it's equally unlikely that he'll inquire about Saadarshan's heritage. A younger animal might, or one with less of a social filter between his mouth and his brain, but Bhaskar is neither of those things and so he stays taciturn on that subject, dipping his head this time when the other male continues speaking. He even moves forward a step. Then he pauses again. "I take it," he begins, "that you have not seen any other tigers in this area--much less any males of about my age, with fur more orange than red?"
Saadarshan seems about as indifferent to an extended conversation as Bhaskar, though the tiger's question does seem to focus the liger's wavering attention. "Another tiger? I've spotted one or two at a distance in my travels, but, I wouldn't know the difference between them save the pattern of their stripes. None in this region, though, I'd be a poor judge. I only came into this area the evening before, you're the first I've spoken to here. Is there one I should be keeping a watch for?"
The tiger's ears remain attentive, and though the answer is a negative one he doesn't seem particularly surprised. It's not so easy to track down one individual in a large region, after all. "Not around here," Bhaskar replies. "I seek an old acquaintance." His amber eyes look Saadarshan over before he adds, "You look well capable of defending yourself, but you might avoid the rainforests to the south. There /has/ been activity there worth looking out for. Animals have gone missing, some of them quite large. It may be related to a handful of tigers that have moved into the area." That warning dispensed with, from one traveller to another, he begins moving again. The jackal follows him. "I'd advise even one such as yourself to be careful if you do end up down there. Good hunting, stranger."
Saadarshan dips his head in an understanding nod. "I'll keep it in mind, thanks for the warning." Says the liger to the tiger, yellow-green eyes touched with an honest appreciation for the information. He's not lying when he says he hasn't been around long and he hasn't got to fix in on the local rumor mills and gossipmongers. "And good hunting to you, you and your companion." And that said he turns to move off and into the forest.
Saadarshan (Golden Liger)
Bhaskar and Lakshmi (Tiger, Golden Jackal)
------
Fallen Tree
This portion of the rainforest lacks a decent high canopy from the sal, teak and other tall trees which dominate other areas of the forest. One giant teak fell long ago and its rotting, hollowed, mossy and mushroom-infested carcass lay on the ground. Its interior is large enough to accomodate a chital deer or small goat, but not anything the size of an adult tiger. With no significant tall canopy, the sun is able to break through to the ground level in a number of spots, especially near the fallen teak. Sound in the area is dominated by the roar rushing water, mostly loudly from the falls to the southwest but also from the raging rapids before the falls; the river runs from the northeast to the northwest where it turns south toward those falls. With little tall canopy, a lot of medium and smaller trees and brush thrive here, including a small bamboo forest. Mango, jamon, jackfruit and piar also grow well here, bearing sweet fruits when they ripen.
------
The sun is out and the humidity is thick enough to form a nearly visible wall. It's a perfect time to sleep, and that is precisely what Saadarshan is doing. The golden cat is stretched out alongside the fallen tree, his shoulder and back propped up against the rotting wood with his limbs stretched out to his side. His eyes are closed and the slow rise and fall of his chest and side suggests the giant feline is sleeping or, at very least, resting.
Many animals are sleeping through this time of day, more than likely. It passes the hours until nightfall, when the heat, if not the humidity, of the afternoon will burn off. What a creature as large as a tiger is doing up and about instead of conserving his energy is anyone's guess. Perhaps Bhaskar had woken up and found himself unable to drowse off again, or perhaps he has some purpose in mind--either way, he comes padding through the trees with Lakshmi at his side. His gait is unhurried and his paws are quiet against the earth, but he stops moving altogether when an unfamiliar scent enters his nose among the sweet tang of fruit and the musk of rotting wood. As he's approaching from the opposite side of the massive tree, he doesn't see Saadarshan right away; instead he sniffs the breeze, trying to pinpoint its source.
Saadarshan learned quick the mistake of ever sleeping too deeply, lest something catch you unawares and call you dinner. Granted, a liger might be a bit too big for most anyone to consider dinner-worthy. As the soft noise and vibration of steps upon the earth catch his attention, the cat cracks open yellow-green eyes and raises up his head. It appears lifting above the top rim of the log, squinting as he looks from one side to the other and then takes note of Bhaskar and Lakshmi. He remains wordless, though his ears swing forward in a silent gesture of acknowledgement.
Bhaskar doesn't have to search for long; while the many vegetation-smells in this area can be overpowering, Saadarshan's head pokes into view above the dead teak a moment later. The tiger's appraisal is swift and silent, as is Lakshmi's, before his own ears flick. It's hard to say what he's thinking, but even this glimpse of the other male's head must be enough to tell him that Saadarshan is no tiger. His facial structure is different, though not quite like a lion's either. "Samkara," he rumbles in understanding. "My greetings." The jackal stays silent, although she stands beside him so fearlessly that it's obvious she's not trailing him at a distance in hopes of scavenging off a kill.
There's no immediate response as Saadarshan turns his gaze away and shifts himself so that he can regain his footing and rises up off the ground, likely putting to rest any suspicion he is not a tiger. He's entirely too big and his stripes too pale, scattered, and mottled with spots. Only after he's arched his back in a spine-popping stretch does he return his gaze to the tiger and his companion. "Good day." There is a look in his eyes, not so much one of apprehension as one of expectation, though what he is expecting is left unspoken. His voice is deep, but soft and smoothly spoken. "I haven't strayed into your territory, have I? I hadn't caught any markings, but with the falls, there's enough moisture in the air to miss smells."
The curious pair of feline and canine observe wordlessly as Saadarshan regains his feet and stretches. Bhaskar's expression is unwavering, so it's likely that he's identified the other as something not quite a tiger and not quite a lion. To see a hybrid, especially one with such golden fur, is such a rarity that it must come as a surprise to both of them--yet his pokerface is excellent, and when Saadarshan returns his greeting along with an inquiry Bhaskar gives his head a slight turn in negation. "No," he confirms verbally, "these lands are not mine. I'm passing through them myself." For what purpose, neither he nor Lakshmi say--at least for now.
"Good." Saadarshan says with a dip of his white chin. "I make it a point to keep clear, but, mistakes happen. The world is a small place sometimes, others, entirely too large." With no threat seeming forthcoming, he seems content enough to drag a few smoothing licks across the rumpled fur of his chest before he utters a soft, neutral sort of grunt. "No need to stop on my account, though. I'm sure you have elsewhere to be, and, I suppose I should be moving on myself. Night isn't too far off that I shouldn't be considering dinner."
"It is indeed," Bhaskar murmurs in agreement. He's a tiger and therefore well used to keeping his own company, or rather his own and Lakshmi's, and so it's unlikely that he feels any real need to strike up a conversation with a stranger; and it's equally unlikely that he'll inquire about Saadarshan's heritage. A younger animal might, or one with less of a social filter between his mouth and his brain, but Bhaskar is neither of those things and so he stays taciturn on that subject, dipping his head this time when the other male continues speaking. He even moves forward a step. Then he pauses again. "I take it," he begins, "that you have not seen any other tigers in this area--much less any males of about my age, with fur more orange than red?"
Saadarshan seems about as indifferent to an extended conversation as Bhaskar, though the tiger's question does seem to focus the liger's wavering attention. "Another tiger? I've spotted one or two at a distance in my travels, but, I wouldn't know the difference between them save the pattern of their stripes. None in this region, though, I'd be a poor judge. I only came into this area the evening before, you're the first I've spoken to here. Is there one I should be keeping a watch for?"
The tiger's ears remain attentive, and though the answer is a negative one he doesn't seem particularly surprised. It's not so easy to track down one individual in a large region, after all. "Not around here," Bhaskar replies. "I seek an old acquaintance." His amber eyes look Saadarshan over before he adds, "You look well capable of defending yourself, but you might avoid the rainforests to the south. There /has/ been activity there worth looking out for. Animals have gone missing, some of them quite large. It may be related to a handful of tigers that have moved into the area." That warning dispensed with, from one traveller to another, he begins moving again. The jackal follows him. "I'd advise even one such as yourself to be careful if you do end up down there. Good hunting, stranger."
Saadarshan dips his head in an understanding nod. "I'll keep it in mind, thanks for the warning." Says the liger to the tiger, yellow-green eyes touched with an honest appreciation for the information. He's not lying when he says he hasn't been around long and he hasn't got to fix in on the local rumor mills and gossipmongers. "And good hunting to you, you and your companion." And that said he turns to move off and into the forest.