Post by Avalikia on Oct 1, 2010 13:35:39 GMT -7
Characters:
Dushta - Male Black Tiger
Xynala - Female White Tiger
Setting:
Dark Understory
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It's nice to be back in his old favorite stomping grounds, even if there's a vague possibility that he might run into more friends of that bird here. Then again, he hasn't seen them around the temple and it's less likely that they'd look here. Besides, he knows this area like the back of his paw, and as he travels through this allows him to be practically silent and nearly invisible; he knows where all the patches of ground are that would make his steps easy to hear and avoids those, and he also knows how best to use the cover. Not to mention that the perpetual dimness of the forest here works nicely with his all-black coat.
Speaking of birds, The white tigress is merrily making her way through the dark jungle, scaring quite a few of the birds off....creating quite the racket as she maneuvers through jungle she is unfamiliar with. If one had experienced bushwhacking Xynala had done her fair share of it up to this point through the thicker portions of the jungle, and nearly once ran into the web of a dangerous spider, and once nearly got bit by a snake. Yes it can be rough in the jungle for a fur who doesn't know it as well as Dushta would. To add to the ruckus, she is currently in the middle of a song her mother Nijali (Nija) taught her when she was a cub. She maneuvers through not paying much attention to scents or anything as she is thinking about past memories and such as she sings. There once was a Chital who thought he was a tiger. There once was a snow leopard who thought she was a liger, there once was a Vulture who thought he was a Hawk, but ask me how a leopard can truly change his spots. Oh How can a leopard, truly change his spots? Its quite hard to go right from cold to hot. It takes time to get a fire going from one spark, oh tell me how can a leopard truly change his spots....She continues singing for a bit humming the rest of the tune as she maneuvers through the understory.
It isn't very difficult at all for Dushta to notice the very obvious tigress cutting through the forest. Even if her color didn't make her easier to spot than the average tiger, the racket that she is making makes it child's play to locate her. And also, given Dushta's familiarity with the area, child's play to sneak up on her and watch her for a few moments. Well, he definitely doesn't consider this one to be a threat. That doesn't take killing her off the table by any means, but perhaps he might see just how interesting she might be alive first? He's coming to find that occasionally some creatures are more fun alive than dead. And so it might seem as he steps out into the open directly in front of her that he simply appeared there, wearing a half smirk on his face as he asks, "Do you have a death wish?"
The white tigress just finishes her song when the 'ghost demonic' looking black tiger steps right in front of her, seemingly to appear out of nowhere. She jumps a moment but does not turn and run away, nor does she get into a defensive posture, just yet anyway. She looks the tiger over for a moment and blinks. "Just where did you come from? I didn't see anyone here the entire time!" she just stares. A black tiger. She's never seen one before, only heard stories. And her a white tiger. Something special must be about to happen because no one would believe a black tiger ever meeting a white tigress would be possible. Maybe its a good sign. Well, at least until he asks her if she has a death wish. She holds her ground, but stammers a bit as she speaks, a bit nervous at having been startled by a tiger that looks like a demon in some ways. "Uh ---oh---uh no Sir." She replies..."I was merely passing through, I did not know this was your uhm--territory.....if if you want me to leave I will----no harm---no foul." She paws at the ground a bit nervous, wondering if there're are more tigers around here, and not knowing the landscape very well here, the other tiger has the upper claw right now. "I..I'm sorry if I d d disturbed you." she replies.
Looking her over for a second now that he can see her without any greenery in the way, he seems a little disappointed in her answer. "Pity: that means we now have to negotiate about whether or not I kill you - it would have been easier if you said yes," he says with a smirk, nevermind that he'd contemplated not giving her the option just a moment before. It doesn't really phase him that she is white; he doesn't think much about his own color so why should someone else's matter to him? And in direct contrast to the tigress, he looks completely at ease. "Though I'm afraid that this is not really my territory anymore - I suppose I don't quite have one at the moment. At least not a formal one," he says idly, not seeming to be in a hurry to make good on his threatening words.
Xynala looks over the tiger some more.....and then gets an idea in her head. Maybe this tiger knows other tigers around here? Brilliant deduction Watson!!!! The white tigress flicks her tail and glances around the jungle some more to make sure they aren't being watched by others. "Excuse me,Sir, but you seem to know this area better than I, perhaps you happen to know if there are other tigers around here or a clan perhaps? You see I am on a spiritual journey of sorts, trying to find my path in life. And well, I just can't see myself going back to where I came from,....I need a new direction in my life...a new way of thinking...a chance to be who I truly am." She gives him another glance or two. "By the way Name's Xynala, but most call me Xy."
There is something that seems very dangerous about the way Dushta's ears perk at the word 'clan'. Exactly how much does this tigress know about the Ran Garjana? Tiger clans aren't exactly a normal thing, after all. Of course, he has no idea that she herself comes from a clan and might not see that as an odd question. Instead he brushes that aside to mull over for a moment with: "I don't think that you understand the gravity of your situation. You see, I'm greatly in the habit of killing everyone who sees me and, though I've made many exceptions to that lately, I /do/ miss my old hobby. Therefore, you should not concern yourself with such trivial things as who I may know when there are more important matters, such as what I should do with you, to discuss. Perhaps it would help if you tell me about this 'spiritual journey' of yours," he says, looking like he's enjoying this conversation, strangely enough. "Then again, perhaps it will harm you - I can't promise it won't," he has to add, just to be cruel.
Xynala glances around just in case she'd need to find an escape route, but what good is that, she's stuck in the middle of a dense jungle, and well the way she came was rather hard, and well he probably knows the lands with his eyes closed. She's screwed to put it mildly. The tigress lies down, since it appears she's not going anywhere any time soon....she clears her throat to tell him her story. "I come from a clan called the Do-Rakhanaa......my father was in the military during the wars with the Sakht Nakh, my mother was a well respected storyteller. You probably heard my song, I learned that from her. Well, everything was cool and all, until the day I saw my parents participating in the execution of cubs...--well they had always expected me to be good, and great, like a white tigress is supposed to be, but they're killing cubs....well...I couldn't stand that---How could they fake being good when they really weren't good tigers? I hate liars, and fakers. And well I don't want to be good like them. So I want to find tigers who identify with me...Whats the point of lying and faking your way through life right?" She asks the other tiger. "Am I right, or am I right?" "So well, here I am, this is me."
Fortunately for Xynala, Dushta is curious enough about her presence here to actually listen to her whole story. In fact, though his attention seems to drift a little in the middle, he seemed pretty interested in the rest of it. So, this tigress claims to be defecting from the 'other side', eh? After a moment of consideration he sets aside his earlier suspicions and comments, "No, you are wrong. But that's not your fault, having been raised with such foolish ideas. As if there were such thing as 'good' and 'evil'. Hah! Who's to say what is good and what is not? Just a bunch of arbitrary rules made to get in your way. There is only that which you want to do and that which you don't want to do." As he says this his smirk changes into a superior grin; he's really on a roll now.
Xynala nods. "At any rate, as you can see, my mind has been clouded with lies....and well I'm looking for a way to set things straight. I do not want to live life as a faker, a liar. I need a new direction in life, and thus am on the journey I told you about. Where it leads only time will tell. I am hoping I can find others who share my values and ideals. But if I must go it alone I will go it alone." She says. "Though it would be nice if I didn't have to wander for the rest of my life. It would be nice to find some place to settle down in and call home. Would you know of such a place.
" She inquires. She looks him over again. He is rather handsome. And well Black and White could get interesting down the road. She can't help but feel as if there is a reason they met today. She is a younger tiger who needs direction, needs someone to be a mentor figure to her, to help guide her to her future path. Who those furs will be has been yet to determined but this has potential. She lets him mull this over, as she rests in the understory.
His ears flick backwards for a moment when she again asks so directly. Some would see her eagerness as a positive sign that she'd fit well into the group, but it only makes him highly suspicious that she's come as a spy. Her story sounds plausible, but then again she could be lying. The only saving grace is that he'd expect an actual spy to be more subtle and clever about it - or maybe she's just a really bad one? Nevertheless, his answer is, "I may know of such a place. But tell me - how do I know that you're telling the truth? I'd /hate/ to have to clean things up if you aren't." Then again, the way he says that makes it sound like he'd actually /enjoy/ cleaning things up. A lot.
Xynala hmmms and mulls this over. "Why would I be lying? I told you who I am and what I am after. If you are still unsure of me, then perhaps you could provide me with a test of loyalty? A challenge of some kind that would prove to you I am who I am? I would be willing to endure whatever you come up with if it will show you my honesty. I am not a faker, nor a liar, I can assure you I did not even know any others lived here before I traversed this harsh jungle. But one thing is clear, there is no way in hell I am going back to my former home. Besides, wouldn't you agree, a white tigress would have a lot to offer a handsome male such as yourself?" She adds this last bit in to get him thinking about the possibilities.
That last part causes a smirk. "Well, we'll have to talk about that later then, won't we?" Dushta is not about to let his this female distract him from the main point: "But why would you lie? Because there are those who are foolish enough to dislike the idea of tigers banding together for a little fun," Dushta says, his smirk explaining all too eloquently what he thinks about /them/, "If you are one of them, then of course you're going to lie." And then, as if suddenly showing just how seriously he is taking this conversation he gives a big yawn - this feline doesn't have the slightest worry in the world at the moment. "But I suppose I can trust you, if only because if you /are/ lying, you'll soon see that you'd best make that the truth because otherwise your life will be very short and unpleasant," he says with a grin, before suddenly turning to the east. "Follow me," he says as he starts walking purposefully in that direction, his voice firm enough to make that a command and his ears tilted back so that he can make sure that she obeys it.
Xynala looks at Dushta for a moment....How could he believe she was a spy? It is a ludicrous idea. She didn't even know any other tigers existed here before she stumbled upon this black tiger. She suddenly stands to follow him but before they leave. "Swipe at me then. Mark me. A spy would not let you do such a thing I am sure of that. A loyal clan mate on the other claw." "I am not afraid of pain...." She says. "I will not flinch from your claws.....but the bond it will create between us...will be of far greater importance." She states. She waits to see what he will do next.
That offer is enough to cause him to stop in his tracks, and when he looks back at her there's a bemused look on his face that quickly changes to a scowl. "If, when, where, and how I hurt you is /my/ decision," he says lowly, clearly not pleased. Nevertheless it seems to have /some/ good effect on him because though he immediately turns back to continue it's only a moments before he adds, "My name is Dushta, by the way."
Xynala nods and flicks her tail. "Dushta...an honorable name." She remarks. She follows him into the thicker jungle, her, sticking out like a sore paw, and him blending in nicely in the shadows. She was not afraid of pain--and could take whatever he dished out. So long as she proved her loyalty to him, that is all that mattered now. There was after all, no turning back from here on out.
Dushta - Male Black Tiger
Xynala - Female White Tiger
Setting:
Dark Understory
----------------------------------------
It's nice to be back in his old favorite stomping grounds, even if there's a vague possibility that he might run into more friends of that bird here. Then again, he hasn't seen them around the temple and it's less likely that they'd look here. Besides, he knows this area like the back of his paw, and as he travels through this allows him to be practically silent and nearly invisible; he knows where all the patches of ground are that would make his steps easy to hear and avoids those, and he also knows how best to use the cover. Not to mention that the perpetual dimness of the forest here works nicely with his all-black coat.
Speaking of birds, The white tigress is merrily making her way through the dark jungle, scaring quite a few of the birds off....creating quite the racket as she maneuvers through jungle she is unfamiliar with. If one had experienced bushwhacking Xynala had done her fair share of it up to this point through the thicker portions of the jungle, and nearly once ran into the web of a dangerous spider, and once nearly got bit by a snake. Yes it can be rough in the jungle for a fur who doesn't know it as well as Dushta would. To add to the ruckus, she is currently in the middle of a song her mother Nijali (Nija) taught her when she was a cub. She maneuvers through not paying much attention to scents or anything as she is thinking about past memories and such as she sings. There once was a Chital who thought he was a tiger. There once was a snow leopard who thought she was a liger, there once was a Vulture who thought he was a Hawk, but ask me how a leopard can truly change his spots. Oh How can a leopard, truly change his spots? Its quite hard to go right from cold to hot. It takes time to get a fire going from one spark, oh tell me how can a leopard truly change his spots....She continues singing for a bit humming the rest of the tune as she maneuvers through the understory.
It isn't very difficult at all for Dushta to notice the very obvious tigress cutting through the forest. Even if her color didn't make her easier to spot than the average tiger, the racket that she is making makes it child's play to locate her. And also, given Dushta's familiarity with the area, child's play to sneak up on her and watch her for a few moments. Well, he definitely doesn't consider this one to be a threat. That doesn't take killing her off the table by any means, but perhaps he might see just how interesting she might be alive first? He's coming to find that occasionally some creatures are more fun alive than dead. And so it might seem as he steps out into the open directly in front of her that he simply appeared there, wearing a half smirk on his face as he asks, "Do you have a death wish?"
The white tigress just finishes her song when the 'ghost demonic' looking black tiger steps right in front of her, seemingly to appear out of nowhere. She jumps a moment but does not turn and run away, nor does she get into a defensive posture, just yet anyway. She looks the tiger over for a moment and blinks. "Just where did you come from? I didn't see anyone here the entire time!" she just stares. A black tiger. She's never seen one before, only heard stories. And her a white tiger. Something special must be about to happen because no one would believe a black tiger ever meeting a white tigress would be possible. Maybe its a good sign. Well, at least until he asks her if she has a death wish. She holds her ground, but stammers a bit as she speaks, a bit nervous at having been startled by a tiger that looks like a demon in some ways. "Uh ---oh---uh no Sir." She replies..."I was merely passing through, I did not know this was your uhm--territory.....if if you want me to leave I will----no harm---no foul." She paws at the ground a bit nervous, wondering if there're are more tigers around here, and not knowing the landscape very well here, the other tiger has the upper claw right now. "I..I'm sorry if I d d disturbed you." she replies.
Looking her over for a second now that he can see her without any greenery in the way, he seems a little disappointed in her answer. "Pity: that means we now have to negotiate about whether or not I kill you - it would have been easier if you said yes," he says with a smirk, nevermind that he'd contemplated not giving her the option just a moment before. It doesn't really phase him that she is white; he doesn't think much about his own color so why should someone else's matter to him? And in direct contrast to the tigress, he looks completely at ease. "Though I'm afraid that this is not really my territory anymore - I suppose I don't quite have one at the moment. At least not a formal one," he says idly, not seeming to be in a hurry to make good on his threatening words.
Xynala looks over the tiger some more.....and then gets an idea in her head. Maybe this tiger knows other tigers around here? Brilliant deduction Watson!!!! The white tigress flicks her tail and glances around the jungle some more to make sure they aren't being watched by others. "Excuse me,Sir, but you seem to know this area better than I, perhaps you happen to know if there are other tigers around here or a clan perhaps? You see I am on a spiritual journey of sorts, trying to find my path in life. And well, I just can't see myself going back to where I came from,....I need a new direction in my life...a new way of thinking...a chance to be who I truly am." She gives him another glance or two. "By the way Name's Xynala, but most call me Xy."
There is something that seems very dangerous about the way Dushta's ears perk at the word 'clan'. Exactly how much does this tigress know about the Ran Garjana? Tiger clans aren't exactly a normal thing, after all. Of course, he has no idea that she herself comes from a clan and might not see that as an odd question. Instead he brushes that aside to mull over for a moment with: "I don't think that you understand the gravity of your situation. You see, I'm greatly in the habit of killing everyone who sees me and, though I've made many exceptions to that lately, I /do/ miss my old hobby. Therefore, you should not concern yourself with such trivial things as who I may know when there are more important matters, such as what I should do with you, to discuss. Perhaps it would help if you tell me about this 'spiritual journey' of yours," he says, looking like he's enjoying this conversation, strangely enough. "Then again, perhaps it will harm you - I can't promise it won't," he has to add, just to be cruel.
Xynala glances around just in case she'd need to find an escape route, but what good is that, she's stuck in the middle of a dense jungle, and well the way she came was rather hard, and well he probably knows the lands with his eyes closed. She's screwed to put it mildly. The tigress lies down, since it appears she's not going anywhere any time soon....she clears her throat to tell him her story. "I come from a clan called the Do-Rakhanaa......my father was in the military during the wars with the Sakht Nakh, my mother was a well respected storyteller. You probably heard my song, I learned that from her. Well, everything was cool and all, until the day I saw my parents participating in the execution of cubs...--well they had always expected me to be good, and great, like a white tigress is supposed to be, but they're killing cubs....well...I couldn't stand that---How could they fake being good when they really weren't good tigers? I hate liars, and fakers. And well I don't want to be good like them. So I want to find tigers who identify with me...Whats the point of lying and faking your way through life right?" She asks the other tiger. "Am I right, or am I right?" "So well, here I am, this is me."
Fortunately for Xynala, Dushta is curious enough about her presence here to actually listen to her whole story. In fact, though his attention seems to drift a little in the middle, he seemed pretty interested in the rest of it. So, this tigress claims to be defecting from the 'other side', eh? After a moment of consideration he sets aside his earlier suspicions and comments, "No, you are wrong. But that's not your fault, having been raised with such foolish ideas. As if there were such thing as 'good' and 'evil'. Hah! Who's to say what is good and what is not? Just a bunch of arbitrary rules made to get in your way. There is only that which you want to do and that which you don't want to do." As he says this his smirk changes into a superior grin; he's really on a roll now.
Xynala nods. "At any rate, as you can see, my mind has been clouded with lies....and well I'm looking for a way to set things straight. I do not want to live life as a faker, a liar. I need a new direction in life, and thus am on the journey I told you about. Where it leads only time will tell. I am hoping I can find others who share my values and ideals. But if I must go it alone I will go it alone." She says. "Though it would be nice if I didn't have to wander for the rest of my life. It would be nice to find some place to settle down in and call home. Would you know of such a place.
" She inquires. She looks him over again. He is rather handsome. And well Black and White could get interesting down the road. She can't help but feel as if there is a reason they met today. She is a younger tiger who needs direction, needs someone to be a mentor figure to her, to help guide her to her future path. Who those furs will be has been yet to determined but this has potential. She lets him mull this over, as she rests in the understory.His ears flick backwards for a moment when she again asks so directly. Some would see her eagerness as a positive sign that she'd fit well into the group, but it only makes him highly suspicious that she's come as a spy. Her story sounds plausible, but then again she could be lying. The only saving grace is that he'd expect an actual spy to be more subtle and clever about it - or maybe she's just a really bad one? Nevertheless, his answer is, "I may know of such a place. But tell me - how do I know that you're telling the truth? I'd /hate/ to have to clean things up if you aren't." Then again, the way he says that makes it sound like he'd actually /enjoy/ cleaning things up. A lot.
Xynala hmmms and mulls this over. "Why would I be lying? I told you who I am and what I am after. If you are still unsure of me, then perhaps you could provide me with a test of loyalty? A challenge of some kind that would prove to you I am who I am? I would be willing to endure whatever you come up with if it will show you my honesty. I am not a faker, nor a liar, I can assure you I did not even know any others lived here before I traversed this harsh jungle. But one thing is clear, there is no way in hell I am going back to my former home. Besides, wouldn't you agree, a white tigress would have a lot to offer a handsome male such as yourself?" She adds this last bit in to get him thinking about the possibilities.
That last part causes a smirk. "Well, we'll have to talk about that later then, won't we?" Dushta is not about to let his this female distract him from the main point: "But why would you lie? Because there are those who are foolish enough to dislike the idea of tigers banding together for a little fun," Dushta says, his smirk explaining all too eloquently what he thinks about /them/, "If you are one of them, then of course you're going to lie." And then, as if suddenly showing just how seriously he is taking this conversation he gives a big yawn - this feline doesn't have the slightest worry in the world at the moment. "But I suppose I can trust you, if only because if you /are/ lying, you'll soon see that you'd best make that the truth because otherwise your life will be very short and unpleasant," he says with a grin, before suddenly turning to the east. "Follow me," he says as he starts walking purposefully in that direction, his voice firm enough to make that a command and his ears tilted back so that he can make sure that she obeys it.
Xynala looks at Dushta for a moment....How could he believe she was a spy? It is a ludicrous idea. She didn't even know any other tigers existed here before she stumbled upon this black tiger. She suddenly stands to follow him but before they leave. "Swipe at me then. Mark me. A spy would not let you do such a thing I am sure of that. A loyal clan mate on the other claw." "I am not afraid of pain...." She says. "I will not flinch from your claws.....but the bond it will create between us...will be of far greater importance." She states. She waits to see what he will do next.
That offer is enough to cause him to stop in his tracks, and when he looks back at her there's a bemused look on his face that quickly changes to a scowl. "If, when, where, and how I hurt you is /my/ decision," he says lowly, clearly not pleased. Nevertheless it seems to have /some/ good effect on him because though he immediately turns back to continue it's only a moments before he adds, "My name is Dushta, by the way."
Xynala nods and flicks her tail. "Dushta...an honorable name." She remarks. She follows him into the thicker jungle, her, sticking out like a sore paw, and him blending in nicely in the shadows. She was not afraid of pain--and could take whatever he dished out. So long as she proved her loyalty to him, that is all that mattered now. There was after all, no turning back from here on out.