Administrator
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Nov 3, 2017 21:23:21 GMT
The pause in the flow of conversation hinted at the fact that she'd confused the rabbit. Jinora frowned at this. She knew she could sometimes be confusing when she tried to explain things, but she hadn't even said that much yet.
The shell was losing some of its novelty now. The rabbit seemed ready to move on, and so was Jinora.
She stood up and began padding in the same direction which the rabbit seemed ready to move, taking slow steps so that the lagomorph could control the pace. "Name's Jinora." She introduced herself, not finding it strange for an exchange of names to be so delayed. Some temporary meetings and partings didn't even get names with the expectation that you might never meet the other person again.
|
|
|
Post by 0 on Nov 3, 2017 22:15:10 GMT
Nodding at the stranger's name, the rabbit ceded, "Nice meetin' ya!"
She stooped forward to scoop up the shell in her jaws, not yet ready to let the curious object out of her sight. She was sure there other such shells buried in the ash sands somewhere, but who knew? Could be a simple souvenir, could be some strange ancient artifact. Either way, there didn't seem to be any harm in carrying it, save that the rabbit wouldn't be able to talk as well. Perhaps the mystery of the colors could one day be solved!
The feline appeared intent on walking with her. The rabbit smiled meekly, and before she picked up the shell, asked, "So, you just visitin' these parts?"
Her mouth closed around the shell, the rabbit lifting her head as she began to lope forward. One eye slipped over the sea tossing upon the shore, until another slid across the sands to stare at the cliffs and slopes rising and falling to the other side.
...Perhaps she should find something to tie the shell up with. She turned, slowly pulling herself over towards the coastal grasses that edged the beach.
|
|
Administrator
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
ashfall
Nov 4, 2017 18:28:22 GMT
via mobile
Post by Loner。 on Nov 4, 2017 18:28:22 GMT
"Yeah. Just visiting..."
It was always just passing through. Sometimes it seemed like an adventure, others just how she'd adapted to live. Feet guiding her nowhere in particular, finding shelter and food as need be.
She frowned at the thought. She didn't look forward to having to hunt, most likely later today. Shaking her head, she decided to focus back on the now, and cross those bridges when she got to them.
"Isn't it cold holding the shell like that?" She asked, lengthening her stride slightly to catch up to the rabbit who had moved on while jinora had begun to linger behind.
|
|
|
Post by 0 on Nov 4, 2017 19:35:24 GMT
The rabbit nodded twice, once to show that she'd heard what had been said, and another at the question.
The shell was cold and liked to suck the heat from her lips as they folded over it, which made it only more difficult for her to speak. But it wasn't numb or nothin', just a bit tingly, maybe burnin' a little the longer she held it, like how one's ears can get after being strung out in the cold for a while.
She quickened her pace to a lollop, pulling herself up a slope off the ashy sands and onto sandy soil instead. Silver eyes scanned the sparse, thin coastal grasses, and she spit out the shell.
A wind was slowly starting to pick up, brushing lightly between her ears and pulling particles and whiskers alike with it. She glanced back to watch as a small sand twister pick up against a corner from one of the nearby cliffs, wind rising in a whirl and tossing black sand onto the grasses clinging to its edge.
This coast was empty and exposed. Made her feel like a cottontail.
She stifled a sigh at a passing feeling of sehnsucht. She hadn't got a good look of this shoreline her first time around, but now she could see that the cliffs here were far too dusty to paint on--hardly any rocks at all to make it good for mapmaking. But it would be no use making the long trip back now.
Turning her gaze back around, the rabbit lowered her head, clipping clean through a few blades of grass in one bite each, leaving only prickly stubs. Then she sat down and began to carefully weave the thin stems together, an awkward motion for stiff-toed, calloused paws such as hers.
"Same here," she told the feline. She eyed the stranger briefly, a smile playing at her lips. Meeting fellow wanderers was always a treat for the rabbit, whether or not the others were as equally excited and willing about it as she. "You happen to pass through any interesting places on your way over?"
Might as well gather some rumors and tales while she was at it. When would she get another chance?
|
|
Administrator
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Nov 4, 2017 23:56:50 GMT
Interesting places hmm... She worked backwards
"To the west and north a bit there is a mountain pass that seem to sing when the wind blows through them. And you can Sometimes see will o' wisps dotting the trail." She'd tried talking to them but they hadn't said anything of value.
"Beyond that deeper in the mountains is a lake so hot, nothing lives in it, minerals line the bottom and even cake the shore. Its like a rainbow embedded in the earth."
What else...
"In a lake even further west beyond the mountains theres an island with a tree that stays in bloom all year long, except for when disaster is about to strike. Where it looks like its dying."
"And those are just a few."
|
|
|
Post by 0 on Nov 5, 2017 1:04:08 GMT
The rabbit's ears perked high in interest at the places that were described. She was brought out of her efforts for a moment to stare wide-eyed at the feline, a line of disbelief streaking across her features.
Some things were familiar, but others...she'd never heard of such fantastic places before. Some of them didn't even sound like they could be real--the only way to find out for sure, however, would be to venture forth herself.
And, well, she was never one to turn away from an exploratory challenge! The descriptions and directions were locked in her mind.
"Well, you beat me," she offered at last with a resounding laugh.
She finished spinning the stems together, brought the shell close with a paw and began to tie it up with the string. As she did this, she tried to bring back the memories of where all she'd been in the past year, so that she might have something to give back to the feline. But with all the interesting things coming to mind being in the west, and the mention of those being only a few...the feline might already know of them.
"Straight to the west is a rugged coast, the foothills of a great icy mountain. From here you'd be passing through a foggy forest to reach those plains, where the tree bark glows during sunset, and towards the late evening the air hums. On the high cliffs of that coast there's a hidden cave--ya gotta climb down the wall to reach it. It's filled with colorful crystals, and presents a spectacular view of the ocean at sunrise."
She paused for a moment, squinting as she struggled to tie the shell up right, and reveling in the memory itself. The discovery of that cave was still held dear to her heart.
"And a little to the southwest of that," she continued, "where the land evens out into a rainforest, there's a small cove surrounded by rocky cliffs. The walls are embedded with clear stones that reflect light in an array of colors, and at sunset the cove's air becomes filled with colors."
The excitement rose in her voice, the rabbit finally succeeding in her efforts with the shell; she'd managed to gnaw a tiny hole in it (practically desiccating what could yet prove to be a priceless artifact), and through that had tugged the string. She pulled the loop of braided grass over her head, which drifted across her shoulders, the scallop shell settling on the white splash of fur that covered her chest. There was that slight chill when it touched her, but as she stood up it swung away, hanging mere centimeters from the skin beneath her fur.
There--that should make it easier to haul around until its colorful mystery could be solved.
She looked back up at the feline with a meek smile. "Like I said," she continued in a calmer, slower tone of voice, "ya beat me." At that moment the small wonders she had found seemed outweighed by the great oddities she'd heard of only minutes before. Still, she of course couldn't wait to eventually come across them.
The more she thought about it, however, the less the feline's directions made sense. She'd scoured the coasts of this island, but hadn't delved much into the deeper parts of it. Perhaps those other landmarks were just hidden away, the island bigger than she remembered it.
She'd have to work harder at this if she didn't want her map to be inaccurate.
|
|
Administrator
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
ashfall
Nov 5, 2017 4:19:32 GMT
via mobile
Post by Loner。 on Nov 5, 2017 4:19:32 GMT
The snow leopard smiled at the rabbit's descriptions of all the interesting things. "I'd say we're tied. She decided, finding the unknown greater than the known when it came to the value of information.
Getting there though had its share of complications.
There'd been plenty of times when Jinora had thought she was going to a place but missed it completely thanks to factors that couldn't be accounted for by a simple beast's error. She had yet to determine the cause of it.
|
|
|
Post by 0 on Nov 5, 2017 4:57:09 GMT
The rabbit offered up a shy grin at the stranger's response, and in the silence that followed awkwardly pulled at an ear.
Normally she'd have said her goodbyes by now (she couldn't even count on her paws just how many strangers she'd met in split seconds and then sped away from), run off for the horizon, but for once she wasn't entirely sure where to go now. She'd picked the ashy coast on a whim, and since she arrived had found it unsatisfactory. She could head for the places that the stranger had told her of, but she'd only just come from the west! She didn't feel much like backtracking just yet, even if it was going to lead to strange new lands. She needed hefty stones to paint on, but, again, the ones she knew of were far to the west.
Her gaze was cast across the flat coastal grassland that spread out opposite the ocean. Perhaps it was the unknown's turn, time again for the undiscovered.
Still she was hesitant. Reminded of the black sheep that she'd left in the highlands, a fellow explorer (though he didn't seem to consider himself such), waiting for him to meet her at the mountain. Reminded of the kind, scrawny lion that she hadn't seen for seasons, who seemed so desperate to prove he was worth his salt. The old albatross through which her first real discovery had come, teaching her many things without even intending to...and the zebra who only wanted some companionship without being constrained. Where did they go? The lost, orphaned okapi who fled back into the rainforest, the odd otter who came visiting, the horse building an empire. Whatever happened to them? The rabbit's heart thumped, the memories that came with those lands that she'd described filling her head, the stranger herself a reminder of the people she'd met, the things she'd done, what she had experienced.
Her ears fell, the rabbit's paws turning her away from the feline as the memories swirled in her mind, hiding the forlorn expression that befell her face. Her muscles twitched, but she steeled herself before, like always, she could run away. She missed all the folks that she'd met along the way more than she cared to admit, many of whom she knew she'd never get a chance to see again, not even in passing.
Run, run, run; it was all she ever did. She'd kept trying to run away from those facts, unwilling to face them. It wasn't just about making a map anymore, was it? She was so sure that she could go back to running around on her own as she'd always done before.
"Uh--uh, sorry," the rabbit mumbled, realizing that she was prolonging the silence into a rather unwelcome stretch of time. She wiped a paw across her face, tossing away the tear that settled in her fur. She turned back around to offer the stranger another smile, although a keen eye would notice that it looked a bit forced.
There was another moment of hesitation, the rabbit struggling with formulating the words for something that she wanted to ask. Instead she settled for simply repeating what she'd said before; "It was nice meeting you, Jinora." Another traveler she'd not see again.
|
|
Administrator
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Nov 7, 2017 16:53:53 GMT
Silence left room for observation, and body language spoke volumes. Not facing her, drooped ears, quivering muscles, moist eyes when the rabbit finally did turn back to meet her...
Something was up. Jinora could practically feel the emotional charge tingling potently as she remained on standby by the rabbit's side.
She took a deep breath, preparing mentally for a task which could turn out to be quite simple or super complicated.
"yeah good to meet you." She began by agreeing. "but is something the matter? you seem a bit distressed." It was not always good to prey but Jinora honestly wanted to help somehow if there was a way that she could do so.
|
|
|
Post by 0 on Nov 7, 2017 19:48:07 GMT
Crud. The rabbit was caught red-handed--or perhaps red-eyed, as it were.
Heat soared into her ears with suppressed shame, giving their velvet black skin a subtle hint of reddish tint. Limbs twitched, pulling the rabbit back in a single hop, but she steeled herself once more before she could turn and dart for the horizon.
No! She had to stop running at every opportunity. She needed to fight back against it for once. If she could so easily be acquaintances with predators that could snap her neck in one bite, she shouldn't be so afraid of...this.
"No--nothing," she told the stranger with another strained smile, trying to assure that it was nothing too worrisome, really. Nothing the stranger need concern herself with. "You reminded me of something." A moment later she recognized that half-lying was just as bad, and yet more warmth flooded her face. The shell tapped against her chest as she leaned back, staring partways at the stranger, eyes nearly rolling in their sockets as rabbits tended to do when overcome, and the scallop became a color it hadn't yet been before: a bold, vivid red.
Paws continued to twitch, and the rabbit forced herself to sat down, pushing her long feet over her front paws and digging them into the dusty soil. She tried to take deep breaths without being too obvious about it. Slowly the shell's red began to fade, loosening into a softer orange.
"I was just overtaken by the memories, is all." She hesitated. Still holding back. Oh, come on; she'd admitted that much to a total stranger: the rest should be easy.
Slowly she stood back up, gave herself another shake; the shell swung away and was white once more. "And I...wanted to ask you something," she forced the words to slip out before she could stop them. She rubbed shyly at an ear, no longer looking towards the feline. "Would you mind wandering with me? For a little while?"
And, at that, a great sigh was released, all the tension unstrung from her muscles. It wasn't the answer she'd been dreading, but merely the simple act of asking.
--Although she did begin to dread what answer might come in the moments afterwards, not entirely sure whether she truly wanted the request fulfilled or not.
|
|
Administrator
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
Post by Loner。 on Nov 9, 2017 3:28:22 GMT
Aside from her question Jinora said nothing, patiently waiting for the rabbit to continue her thoughts through to their end. Aside from the occasional twitch of her thick fluffy tail, The snow leopard barely moved, attentively listening for every valuable word. A twitch of an ear to listen to the words, a slight shift in her gaze when the shell changed its hue, proving her theory likely be erroneous.It was clear her question had stirred up quite the emotional storm in the rabbit, a thing Jinora slightly regretted but understood might be necessary as sometimes thoughts were not orderly in times like this.
And eventually there was a question so simple, and plain that it was almost laughable. But jinora didn't laugh, didn't even simile. She knew this was a serious question to ask.
She bowed her head low, nose nearly between her front legs in an unusual gesture which for her was a matter of acknowledgement and respect. "If you'll have me I'll gladly wander with you for a time." She didn't mind. She'd been traveling on her own for quite a long time. As for her private concerns, she'd find a way to make them work out.
|
|
|
Post by 0 on Nov 9, 2017 5:38:01 GMT
The rabbit blushed, pulling an ear down close to her face. Beside herself, she gave a hop and a skip when the feline voiced an answer to her request.
Yes!
Instantly her mind filled with kooky adventures to be had with the stranger. She shook them away before she got too far ahead of herself, smiling as she attempted to mimic the feline's gesture with a curt nod.
Then she sat up tall, ears high as her head snapped around. Her energy was soaring again, and she needed to hurry and pick a route to take.
Although she didn't take into account that she'd likely tucker herself out before nightfall, what with her long journey over to the ashen coast, as if by instinct her gaze was drawn to a distant figure. Across the coastal grassland was a faded mass, nearly imperceptible; it was like a long cloud that stretched across the horizon, but keen eyes distinguished it as what may prove to be some manner of faraway hills or mountains.
Along the way one could see the rare boulder scattered about the relatively flat landscape. An experienced explorer would know, however, that if those were indeed mountains, they would take a long while to reach even at full throttle. Other landmarks could pop up out of the woodwork in that time.
"This way!" she said, popping to her feet, and instantly speeding off.
A second later she reminded herself, slow down! Her paws dug into the dirt, dust flying as she skidded to a stop, before she could get too far ahead. If she was going to wander with someone, then she shouldn't up and leave them behind.
Unfortunately a rabbit didn't have many gaits to choose from; a slow lope and a quick dash were about all she had. She could only walk or run, not jog.
Eyes watched to see what pace the feline might automatically pick, ready to try and adjust her own speed to fit it. As soon as the feline was close enough, the rabbit would offer a curious look and ask, as the idea came to her, "Or would you like to lead?" She'd never given the reigns to someone else before...it could prove interesting.
|
|
Administrator
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
ashfall
Nov 12, 2017 13:58:44 GMT
via mobile
Post by Loner。 on Nov 12, 2017 13:58:44 GMT
Well the rabbit was sure excited. How quickly her mood had changed. The snow leopard too was excited, but in a more subtle way. It didn't show in more than a smile until she loped after the speedy Rabbit. Soon she closed the established distance, and slowed down to a trot.
"You'll burn out running like that." She pointed out, knowing that the ideal pace for wandering across the land was not a reckless dash. Her slower pace was close to the ideal, a mile eating jog which could make the leagues seem like nothing.
As soon as she was asked to lead, the snow leopard strode ahead onto the sandy dunes. It was half sand really. Soil mingled with the coarse earth creating a place where hardy salt-tolerant plants could grow on the mild, and not very noticeable hills before the flatlands beyond.
She didn't quite realize that the rabbit might have trouble keeping up with her median pace.
|
|
|
Post by 0 on Nov 12, 2017 19:14:54 GMT
The rabbit grinned at the feline's comment about burning out. "I'm used to it," she said.
She'd run all the borders of the entire island, after all. --Well, not in one day, of course: it had taken her a whole season to do that. She was sure she could handle a mad dash to mountains she could see just on the horizon. Now, whether the feline could....
The rabbit's ears pulled forward as the feline took her up on the offer to lead, and began to jog at a steady pace. Oh...so THAT was the speed she was going to take up.
Awkwardly the rabbit tried to keep up, shifting between an oddly fast lope and a painfully slow dash. Her long feet beat an inconsistent rhythm on the hard, sandy soil. She shifted constantly between meeting at the feline's side, then falling behind as she tried to match the pace, only to do it all over again. It quickly began to wear on her nerves and patience.
Dumb bunny anatomy. She wished she was a hare, although she might just find the same problem waiting for her there, too.
She was soon trying to think of solutions.
The last time she had traveled alongside someone else, it was with an albatross flying high in the sky at speed, and she'd been able to keep pace with him from ground level at an easy run; 'course for the bird he was soaring, no effort being wasted on his part. They didn't always maintain sight of each other, but managed to meet up in the end regardless.
It seemed strange having to suggest a similar course of action to a fellow land-runner, but she couldn't think of another strategy.
--Aside from asking to ride the feline's back, a passing thought which she quickly pushed out of the way. And she'd considered herself embarrassed before...hah--if she made such a request--! Her paws were perfectly fine; she didn't need to be carried around like a limp lizard.
With that in mind, when next she came up beside the feline, the rabbit gave her a glance and said, "Maybe I'll just run on ahead. I'll keep a straight course and meet with you at any noticeable landmarks." If anything cropped up in the meantime, they could discuss plans there, or otherwise wield their own wits about them.
Golly, who knew wandering with someone could be an expedition in its own right?
|
|
Administrator
|
Loner, Kazetatsu, Kaze
PLAYER NAME
|
|
ashfall
Nov 23, 2017 13:19:15 GMT
via mobile
Post by Loner。 on Nov 23, 2017 13:19:15 GMT
Once jinora noticed that the rabbit was having trouble, she slowed her pace down to a slow walk. This was too slow. It made no sense to be going at a walk for hours on end unless you were keeping conversation.
She hated to admit it but the rabbit's words made sense. "Maybe so. You're built for sprinting, while this pace is for taking long stretches nonstop." Jinora could sprint too, but she probably would run out of breath faster which was, if one thought about what the various paces were naturally for, the whole point. The rabbit was supposed to be able to cover the distance to the burrow before the big one could close the distance. "Keep yourself safe kay?" The rabbit was probably more aware than Jinora was of the dangers that a small animal could run into out in the open.
|
|