``Boredom •• [Tse || Open || Joining]

[Miyu]

Kibou bent his bent to lap at the water, his tail lashing from his discomfort in the heat.
"'S hot out today," he muttered, staring at his oversized paws. He glanced at the water, then back at his paws.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
With a loud splash, Kibou jumped into the water.
"Wh-hoo!" he shouted, swimming out of the pond, his fur dripping. This is what set him apart from other cats-- he actually liked the water.

Kibou shook out his fur so vigorously it sent ripples down his skin. Water droplets flew everywhere, and he laughed at the dirty looks her was getting from a toad on the other side of the pond.

[' ' K.O.T.O.R.I.]

Everyone was leaving him, disappearing, abandoning him. If it didn't hurt so much, Tse would have been mad, so mad! He swear it would have been mad! But the tears were thick where they dampened his fur, where the trembling of grief wracked his ribs. She didn't even take him with her! Just left! With her tail tucked between his legs. Sniffle, sniffle, you could hear him walking; he wasn't too quiet with his paws too big for him, with his shoulders hunched, looking anxious as he hopped from one spot to the next. At least the winter's past --but that was a bad idea. He shouldn't have thought of the winter, or the time that he had lost his mother, and then she -- the very she he had started to idolize had found him. Large creature though not so big as Mama. Never as big as mama, but still strong enough, kind enough.

She had fed him, after all. Had kept him warm. Had given him a home .... but had walked away. No ... limped away from the fight with the giant mean cat. His eyes had been round when he had first set eyes on Ripshanks, when he had first seen those killer jaws, that brutality that made him just a touch insane. Why, he wanted to ask, to rub his little body against his paw and hope the same protection would be given over to him. But no, no, Ripshanks was of a different make and it had left Tse out in the cold so speak, or at least the rain. Yes, yes, the rain. The rain had come and washed everything he knew away. Even the way his mother had looked was slowly fading from his memory, as if in time she'd be nothing but an imprinted shadow with a distorted scent and a wealth of longing bundling up his heart. He wanted her, now. He wanted Kit. He just ... didn't want to be alone.

Frightened of the world, of the giant shadows that had stretched out toward him like claws, that held the vision of Ripshanks terrible anger, Tse had curled up mewling quietly for someone, for mama. For anyone. Roka where were you? He sniffled, like a child, ears flat against his skull as he hopped over the melting land, the sun on his back unable to coax his spirit into happiness. The mischief in him was gone for now, replaced by this awning pit of dread. What was he going to do? He couldn't take care of himself -- he'd die. He had grown enough to realize that at least. No one had taught him how to catch prey... he knew he wanted it but couldn't figure out which impulse to follow. So he wandered, miserable, until thirst led him down a path he had never followed before.

Unbeknownst he crossed the borders, trampled over the canitao without even a flick of his ear and stumbled through into the lashia territory. The stench of cat was overwhelming but he was young and was not familiar with the idea of territories that shouldn't be crossed. He didn't understand how the piss of larger cats were meant to turn him away and instead surged forward, excitement quickening his heart, his pulse, his body to awkwardly bound over the sprouting tall grass. Thirst had made a knot in his throat, but even that was not enough to contain him. He was a child, and his moods as capricious as the wind. He moved because he could, because he couldn't find a way, not to with the excitement that his mother might be here. "Mama!" he called out, a frail, tentative hope slipping out from under the plate of his chest and rising up to weave in the tone of his voice. "Mama?" -- he heard splashing and followed it, not knowing enough to sniff, to use his nose to see the world with. All he knew was there was a scent of cat and it might be her. "Maaamaaaaa!" and he pounced through the trees, squeaking when he misjudged and he landed in water.

Hackles rising and poofing out in agitation, his blue-green eyes landed squarely on the giant cat before him. Male. Not mama. Fear spurted through his heart and the fur around his face seemed to thicken as it puffed out, as his eyes widened into black pits of fear, ears flicked down hard against the flatness of his skull. A hiss and he was stumbling backward, tripping over his own tail and retreating to a shadow, ducking under it, claws unsheathed though he was unaware of it.

word count;; 777
tag;; Kibby-kins, anyone
OOC;; Just so you know
the posting minimum is 200. ^^

[Andarial]

Andee padded through the places that she knew like the back of her paw. She could run blind through this place and never miss a step. Pausing just at the bushes of the small oasis she frowned. She really hated coming here but she couldn't help it. It was partof territory and though she had been raped here she had to comehere and mark her territory wether she wanted to or not. Suddenly she stopped and lifted her nose into the air. She inhaled deeply and growled, there was an unknown male here and a cub. She crept closer, paw by paw and she opened her mouth, letting the scents hit her scent glands. Fear scent was coming off someone, the cub she was guessing.

She leaped out of the bushes and screamed ferouciously at the large male. As quick as an adder strike she was in front of the young kit and was crouched, her tail lashing ready to pounce. She would kill this male if he hurt this cub. "Little one are you okay?" she asked. Her teets were swollen indicating she had just given birth. So no longer did she have to worry about hurting her kittens and could fight once again with the best of them.

She glanced back with worried golden eyes for a few moments to show she was a friend. Her kittens were up at the dens being taken care of by one of the queens.

[Miyu]

Kibou looked at the tiny cub, and instantly felt his heart stop. Poor little guy, out here all alone. The oversized cat shifted uncomfortably at the kitten's gaze, but bent down anyway.
"Hey," he whispered, laying down outside of the cub's hiding spot. "Hey. Are you okay, little guy? What's your name? Where's your--"

Kibou had been about to ask Tse where his mama was, but then her remembered the little guy's howls, and cut himself off. Probably abandoned.

Then he heard the hiss and growl. "Mother of--!" the cat shouted, jumping up from his crouch in surprise. The female had scared the life out of him! He turned to her, steadily calming himself, and noticed her swollen teats.
"Uh, miss, maybe you should, erm, you know, lay down or something, uh, I don't think it's a good idea for you to, erm, overexcite yourself, I don't think that, uh, it'd be good for the cubs..."

Mistakenly, Kibou thought the female was pregnant, since he had no memory as to what pregnant females looked like. However, he knew enough to realize that she should be resting.
Gingerly he sat again, lowering his head to meet Tse's. "Are you okay?" he echoed, now completely relaxed despite the hostile female.

[' ' K.O.T.O.R.I.]

They were all crowding him, suffocating him -- mama, mama mama!

[/b], he thinks, jaw trembling, ears flicking down as he curls up tight against the harsh scraping of wood, of the terrible fear which pollutes his eyes, makes his world turn grey. He stared because he couldn't think to do anything else -- panicking, that's what he was doing. Panicking. His heart was hammering so powerfully in his chest it made ripples come alive in his green-blue eyes, in the turn of his muzzle where he cowered, tried not to make eye contact. So hard, though, to see anything but that face, that giant face, coming closer and closer, he swiped at it, a thrill of fear pulsating behind his eyes, in his temples. He missed, but it didn't matter, didn't matter at all -- it reminded him, grounded him back to earth. He could protect himself, of course he could.

A pitiful hiss rose out from his tiny chest, rolling over him as fur puffed out -- he looked more like a stuffed toy than a real animal but there was fierceness in his eyes, in the way his face was contorting in an agitated fear that might have given pause if he were older, if he had the body to back up his heart's intent. Get away! Get away! -- His tail lashed, heart beating so fast it was a steady hum, a lilting lullaby of death that brought too much oxygen to his head, made him dizzy, made him feel invincible even as the fear worked it's oily way through his veins. He saw red, saw blues, saw whites -- saw his mother, a ghostly memory as she screamed and fought, her snarls of power raking through human flesh. She'd come back. She said she'd come back.

Where? Where? But it didn't matter -- yes it did! don't lie, little Tse. It mattered greatly in your angel's heart, in your mischievous little laughter. You were a rogue the day you were born, and now, abandoned a seed of hatred had been planted, a bitterness as sly as corruption to turn your heart into a demon. It matters greatly this interaction, this yearning for a creature who cannot come to you, who cannot, and probably up, or do you feel as if the moment you grew would be the moment she would not recognize you? For shame, for shame! -- but he cannot help the emotions of resentment that boiled in his blood, the utter fear that trumpeted through him when it was her job to take care of him, to hold him, love him. He couldn't even hunt on his own yet, sadness, sadness, he was too young to feel all these things -- childhood is supposed to be a gentle time, a simple time but his has become a knot of complexity. Abandoned thrice. Once by his mother, twice by wolves. They didn't want him, didn't want to see him around anymore. Sadness, indeed, as the trembling broke through the surface, made him shiver, made him quiver like a bow unstrung. Shock, terrible shock as he stared at the giant cat, the cat that was male, wasn't his mama, but he had hopes -- gods how he had hoped, but hope was in vain and he knew that now.

Knew it even as the other creature flew through the forests he had traveled, stepped in front of him and snarled so angrily. So numb it didn't affect him but he was rooted to the ground. He couldn't feel past the fear and it had come back to suffocate him. He was going to die, tonight. -- listen Tse! Open your ears and listen to what they're saying! "What do you want?" he snarled, but it was a snippy little thing as he backed up under the bush, hiding himself so he could only see the two through shifting layers of blossoming leaves.

He hadn't made the same mistake again -- she was not his mother. His mother wasn't going to be here. Ever. She had left. Took his sister and left him in the cave, in the den, to rot, to starve ---------- to die. He whimpered, a soft little mew he tried to stifle. "I'm worthless, so leave!" Oh little Tse! He trembled, eyes watering to damp pools where shadows were growing, where a broken heart was on the cusp of transforming to something other, something darker. Good or bad ... sometimes it was these simple things that made up that flavor of creature, and it was his turn to decide. His heart was breaking, and it would regrow -- it always regrew, but this time it might heal crooked, might show a keener, sharper edge. Would he heal, or would he break? His tail lashed as he bared his little fangs at them, though it was probably hidden by the mass of branches and leaves. [/blockquote][/color]

word count;; 823
tags;; Kibou, Andarial
OOC;; hai <3

[Andarial]

Andarial shook her head at the young snow leopard and faced the little one with her back to the larger leopard. Her ears were twisted backwards though making sure he couldn't jump her without her knowing. She reached forward with her head and nuzzled the little leopard who was trying so hard to be brave. She whispered in his ear just loud enough for the other leopard to hear too, "Don't worry, little one, I'll help you."

She tried to press her forhead against his, lovingly. A soft, growl-purr and chuffing sound came from her chest. She stood and faced the other cat. "Why are you in Lashia territory?" Her voice was angry, in fact it was soft, trying to keep the little leopard calm. Otherwise she would demand things, viciously. It was just her personality.

But something about being around cubs softened the beautiful she-cat. Making her so motherly. She was protective and happy around them. When ever since she had lost contactwith Kotori everything else seemed to make her furious. So she tended to stay near the cubs all the time. She wanted to cry otherwise.

[Miyu]

Despite his supposed "manly-toughness" aura, Kibou heard himself sniffle, and felt his eyes well up with tears. Quickly he blinked them back and nuzzled the cub gently. He didn't care if he got pinched by those little needle teeth, didn't care if he was clawed by the tiny razors in the cub's paws.

"Your mama left you," he whispered to himself, his head laying on the ground near Tse's. "She left you, like everyone always said my mama left me.
"I don't remember my mama," Kibou murmured to the cub. "I forgot about my mama. Everyone always said she left me, but I don't know... I don't know..."

His eyes teared again, and this time he let them fall onto Tse's head. "Is it okay if I pick you up?" he asked the cub. "'Cause you're not worthless, you know, like I'm not worthless and this here lady's not worthless either, I'm assuming. "
Then Kibou turned to Andarial, his ears flat against his head and his tail hanging low, obviously cowed.
"Sorry miss, I didn't know this was your territory, I just wandered here, honest, I don't know what happened..." he trailed off, lost in his train of thought. "I don't remember...."

[' ' K.O.T.O.R.I.]

He's scared. That's really all there is to it -- there's nothing in him that is brave, nothing in him that is defiant against the fate that had been rolled for him. Snake eyes, double ones, die, die, die -- and he'll probably end up dying, probably end up nothing more than a momentary kindness, a rag that wipes some of the smut off of another's soul. A good deed, is that what you want? A good deed? Will you take him home, dust him off and hold him in your pocket like some charity case? Damn you, damn you all! He doesn't need you, he doesn't need anyone, not anymore, no, definitely not.

But he'll starve soon enough, with his belly empty of food and his body sucking down the last of his strength, sucking down the last of his will to live, to exist in this world where his sister was, where his mother must be. Forget them! but he cannot, for their image, their scent is a branding thing, clamped in his nostrils, in his mind's eye, in the senses that flicker along the lines of his spotted hide.

He lives and he dies, and is nothing but a blink in the world of timelessness. So when the others crowd him, coax him, they only make him more afraid, more worried, more terrified of what was going to happen to him. Did he want to die? Did he want to cease existing? The thought was too heavy for him, for one so young, for one who shouldn't think of anything more complicated than which flower to trample first. Oh poor thing you must be thinking, poor thing indeed, but he would hate you for that, would resent every single ounce of pity that pours off of your lips to drip, drip, drip, on his head. It's dripping now, that pity, that gross, horrible isolation of empathy and he draws himself up, staring up at the tears falling down, the sorrow, the god damned pity and his jaw clenches, his gaze, a strange, fey colored blue-grey merely stares ahead. Then the gold, the molten lava that pierces him, turns to gushing warmth, to a terrible tenacity that bites at his mind.

Give in, they seem to be saying to him, let them help you, but he will not. He will not have this pity, this horrible feeling of being alone. Loneliness. He backs up, feeling the sticks and branches poking him hard, painfully, stretching his hide and making him bleed. The red is a vivid color contrasting in his life and it thrills through his heart. "Why aren't I worthless?" he snaps, his voice rough, full of hurt, and tears, choking on it in silence as he crawls out the other end of the bush, away from the faces, from the giants.

[/color]

word count;; 475
tags;; Kibby, Andee
OOC;; uhm, yeah >.>
Epic failure.

[Miyu]

and she said, we're all just prisoners here, of our own device

He took a deep breath, taking in the cub's fear-scent and then letting it out again, releasing all his tension with it.
Yes, this cub was a bit nutty, but something happened to him, Kibou knew, something he'd rather not talk about. And the leopard understood, he really did, but the cub needed to calm down or he'd seriously hurt himself.
Kibou was good with most cubs and he knew it, but Tse proved to be a bit of a difficulty. Usually a warm smile and kind words worked with the little ones, but the emotional trauma Tse had been through was reversing the effect.

and in the master's chambers, they gathered for the feast

He took in another breath, expelling it as a sigh. Worthless? A cub? He shook his head slowly, feeling the anger surge in his chest as he quickly shifted through possibilities of what the cub had been through. Most likely option was abandonment, from the sound of his cries of "Mama!" earlier.
Kibou understood the feelings of frustration rippling through the cub, could feel it in the air.
"You’re not worthless because you’re strong. Your mama left you, but you kept going anyway,” he murmured, voicing his guess, leaving it out to be judged. “You’re strong now, and you’re going to stay strong.
“I’m guessing you don’t know how to hunt?” Kibou continued, judging from the cub’s size. “I can teach you, if you like. I can teach you how to hunt and fight. I remember that much, at least….”

[/color]
•kibou
•280
•lyrics © hotel california, the eagles

[Andarial]

Andarial stayed back as the young cub fled from them. She watched him carefully though. She listened to what the othe cat said to the kitten and Andee smiled kindly and directed theconversation somewhere else. "Little one, would you like to see my cubs? They are just about your age."

She shifted her feet and thought about what she had said. Andee had practically just invited a strange cat to come see her very vulnerable family, but seeinghowscared and confused this little cub was she knew she'd do it again in a heart beat. She couldn't ignore a cry for help, even if he didn't know he was making one.

"You can come to," she said this to the other older cat. "If you do not know where you are from perhaps you'd like to join the Lashia pack?" They could always use more members, especially now that there was danger in ther air. Now that there was a new hostile leader of both of the other packs. She paced a few paw steps away and then looked expectantly over her shoulder.

(sorry its not 200 I couldn't make it, my muse is n'tthe best right now)

[' ' K.O.T.O.R.I.]

If you could glimpse anything from Tse's mind it would be this: he was afraid to trust. Wouldn't they just go away, too? Wouldn't something come up and suddenly he was one too many mouths to feed and kick him out the door? Or not even that -- just get up and leave him behind. He didn't want to be left behind anymore. Better to be on his own, trying to find out how to survive, living that way, as opposed to giving himself to these people, falling into the rhythm of safety he had given to Ketsu. A sniffle, remembering her, and how she had gone. A sniffle, a cry as he realized he had no where to go, really.

What choice did he have, in the end?

"Promise you won't let Ripshank eat me?" and he poked his head around the bush, looking at them with watery fear-filled eyes. "Promise?" and he looked up Andarial, though he didn't know her name, looked at the beautiful pelt that stretched over her body and knew that his mother's had been the same, that his mother, his stupid mother had looked at him with such a tender look once. He had taken it for love, but he knew better now and ground his teeth against the desire to rub his body against her paw, to cower under her shadow knowing that the fierce fangs, and ugly, frightening snarl would be used in his defense. But there was the male, and the male had seemed so nice, though Tse wasn't one to admit that aloud.

He waited for the briefest moment, looking between one cat and the next before creeping forward, tail tucked against his body, shoulders hunched, eyes cast downward, though they peeked up once in a while, as if too afraid too look away for long. Paws dragging, he felt his heart melting in a child-like trust of these two. "Will you be my Mama and my Papa?" he asked, voice quavering at the ends as if he wasn't even sure he should have asked. They looked the same, though they smelled different -- and his nose was too new to distinguish the smells of a different species between the heavy musk of cat and gender.

word count;; 385
tags;; Kibby, Andee
OOC;; my posts are getting shorter Y_Y

[Miyu]

Kibou stared down at the sad, lonely cub, then stared at his paws, then stared at the mysterious, beautiful female, and with a jolt of realization, the knew she was the Alpha.
"I would love to, miss," he replied to the Alphess, dipping his head in submission and recracting the claws he hadn't known he drew out.
He looked at the cub again, and found himself choking down a lump in his throat, glancing again at Andarial when his question was voiced, then decided he didn't care what she thought of him, because he knew he had to help the little cub, be his surrogate father.
"Sure, baby, sure," he said, kneeling down to pick Tse up by the scruff, swinging him around and tossing him in the air so the cub landed on his back. "I'll be your Papa. And I won't let this Ripshank character eat you."
Kibou flexed his muscles as he said this, twisting his head to grin at the cub.
"Do you think he could eat me? I'd knock him on his behind is what'd I'd do!"
He found himself laughing now, the painful knot in his belly untangled, his heart soaring like a bird. He was high, so high, and he never wanted to come down.

I'm so sorry I took so long
to reply. T-T My Kibby
muse has been dead...