Night, and the spirit of life...is ebbing...away..

[prismatic]

Pain.. but above that panic. Sheer overwhelming fear of the unknown. Not just what lie beyond the veil shrouding the inevitable other that death had in store, but also for what might come from the dark night around. Dabu could feel it like a nagging festering wound with no actual physical location. His mind as well was on edge, causing him to jump at the occasional noise in the darkness, forcing him to remind himself that he was healthy with claws and teeth to defend unlike the troubled creature he currently sought out.

His paw settled with a wet and sucking squish into a stream bed barley visible in the limited starlight from above. Dark clouds rolled overhead obscuring the moon. The type that teased at the promise of rain but never quite managed to deliver. Raising his head he stilled, the night breeze pulling gently at the feathers and satchels that littered his mane and adorned his tail tuft. It carried with it the faint sounds of struggle and exertion. The efforts of a doomed soul struggling to keep foot hold within a vessel that was slowly failing it.

Moving forward he followed the stream and the growing ache of mind and body until the limited light revealed a thrashing form hidden in shadows. It to sensed or scented him as well and stilled its exertions least they draw him to it for an easy meal. Dabu was not hungry though. he had eaten recently enough and saw no valid reason for this soul to suffer any longer than it had already. If it could not be healed there were other ways in which he could offer aid.

He stopped some feet away from the zebra. Its eye, wild and rolling, regarded him with terror. And it spouted empty threats between its labored breaths.

*Stay away! I mean it! I'll ..I'll..kick you!*

Dabu smiled sadly at the beast. Ignoring the waves of terror he could feel coursing through the animal he replied calmly.

" You've no need to fear me. I swear on the kings I'm not hungry nor do I take any delight in causing pain just for the sake of doing so."

His gaze traveled over the creature and the various cuts an abrasions across it's pelt. The worst of which continued to ebb an ever slowing flow of blood into the pool the creature lay in. His sad smile flattened and he sighed quietly shaking his head.

" I can't fix that.. even if I tried you've lost to much blood. Yet it's been a slow process, painful.. hasn't it? I can help another way..."

The zebras eyes widened and it began trashing a new. Realizing what the creature had taken his words to mean he shook his head.

" No..no, calm yourself..you'll only make your pain greater. I have no intent of using tooth or claw on you. In fact the only aid I'll give at all is what you agree to. What I'm offering would come in the form of herbs. They'll dull the pain and help you rest, and if you chose I'll make it strong enough to ensure you don't wake before its over. I'll even stay if you'd like to be sure no other comes along to.. disturb your journey."

The zebra considered, eyeing the feathers and whatnot's in Dabu's mane before swallowing nervously and giving his head a shaky nod.

********
Dabu had stayed true to his word, guarding the zebra until his carcass had long cooled and the first rays of sun had broken the darkness. He'd then departed leaving what remained to take its place in the circle as a meal for those who sought out carrion.

As the day wore on the blessed peace brought to his mind and nerves with the zebras last breath began to ebb away. It never lasted long, there was always another in need. Some other soul aching or body in pain to sense and aid in whatever way he could. The question now remained of just where this next soul he was sensing would be found.

[cheezeegriff]

“Food!”

Figgy couldn’t believe his luck. There in a pool by a creek lay a zebra, banged up but otherwise untouched by other scavengers. He darted forward, green eyes glinting with delight and greed, barely containing himself as he sniffed about to make sure the kill was safe.

That’s when his nose picked up the scent of another large cat. He wasn’t sure what it was. Maybe a lion. Or a leopard. But why hadn’t it eaten anything? Just left the creature here to die? He could also smell herbs and medicine on the zebra. So a healer had tried to heal the zebra after the big cat attacked it. But he couldn’t smell a third creature.

“A mystery. I do enjoy mysteries. And I would love some company.” He looked about. The big cat’s tracks moved off to the north through the grassy underbrush. He could follow them, if he wished. But far be it for him to pass up a free morning meal.

“Besides,” he added, “Sometimes company is bad company.” Then to the zebra, he added, “But food? How can there be such thing as bad food?”

It was a philosophy that was evident over his roly-poly form, for Figgy was the roundest lion in all of Africa, and possibly the entire world, with a body that fit in better with bears or hippos than other lions. Beneath his thick black mane there were fat rolls behind his ears, and his tail and limbs, and even his paws, were plump. Beneath his four splayed legs his creamy-yellow undercarriage hung almost to the grassy floor. A testament to his skill as a hunter, or so he liked to think. By some strange mutation he was also covered in extra floofy red-brown fur, even apart from his mane, which made him look even bigger than he was.

“So. Food first. Company later,” he said, then plopped down next to the zebra. “You’re not going to waste,” he said kindly, then started ripping and tearing as quietly and respectfully as he could, less he attract someone he would have to share a meal with, or give the impression to any earthly or spiritual witness that he wasn't grateful for (yet another) meal.

[prismatic]

Dabu closed his eyes and focused on the sensations hinting at the edges of his senses. The pain was present but not badly so. It originated in his paw. Likely a twisted foot, a thorn in a pad, or a cracked hoof perhaps? At any rate the origin of it was conveying more annoyance than fear or anguish. The wound would most likely heal on its own with no intervention given time. It wouldn't hurt though to give the creature a bit of devils claw root to chew for the inflammation and possibly a little dried Kanna as well to help relax the beast. At least then he would be able to move on in peace in his search for the next soul in need.

Pausing to plant his haunches on the ground for a moment, he reached up and clutched at where he normally kept the herb pouch in question secured in his main. His claws met air. Feather and hair as well of course but the place where the pouch should have been was vacant. Moving his paw back towards his shoulders he nudged the small bundle of fur tangled in the strands that camouflaged well with the youngsters pelt.

"Mdogo.. are you laying on the patch kit by chance? It's not in its usual place.."

The small fury bundle yawned and stretched. Reveling its self to be a, rather on the small side, African golden cat kitten. Eyeing beneath and around itself sleeply it shook its head and replied in a sleepy tone.

*no... s'not here Dabu.*

Dabu sighed and eyed over his shoulder, it must have come loose after he'd tied it back on himself once the zebra had been treated. He hadn't wanted to wake his young apprentice in the dead of night if it could be helped. Glancing in the direction of the sensations he'd been feeling he frowned. The animal would have to recover on its own. There was no telling when he'd come across the plants to restock the herbs in that pouch nor when he'd come across an animal much more in need than a simple hurt foot.

Turning around he headed back towards the zebra with his small rider diligently at work giving himself a bath as they traveled.

..........

Awhile later the white and black carcass of the zebra came into view again. It was not alone though so as he approached the rather hefty cat helping himself to the remains he cleared his throat so as not to startle him.

" My apologies for interrupting. I've no interest in eating rather I seem to have left a rather important belonging of mine around here somewhere. As soon as I find it I'll leave you at peace with your meal."

That said he dropped his eyes to the ground and began looking around for the missing pouch. The young kitten on his shoulders bounded down to the ground to do likewise.

[cheezeegriff]

Figgy listened, then laughed. “It’s like you can read my mind,” he said, “But seriously, there’s enough zebra here to go around. Eat some, otherwise I’ll eat it all and regret it later. Please!”

He stepped aside from the carcasse, licking his oversized nose of fresh blood, sitting with his legs splaying out from his enormous paunch. But of course, no sooner had he stopped eating than the cravings began again, and he looked at the zebra longingly. Still, it wouldn’t do to turn his back on a stranger. It wasn’t safe either.

“What you looking for? Maybe I can help. I’ve got a good nose, so tell me what it is and maybe I can help?

“Oh… wait. Is this it?”

Figgy pulled a pouch out of the grass by his side. It smelled like herbs, like what had been given to the zebra along with many other things. He held it out to the skinny, spotty and feathered cat with a chubby paw. “I’m Figgy, by the way. Master of traps and an inventor. Who are you? And, what are you? I’ve never seen a cat with feathers before.” He sniffed as Dabu came closer.

[prismatic]

He grinned as the tiger held up the small satchel he'd been searching for.

"Yes that is it indeed, thank you."

Dabu connected his gaze with that of his apprentice and nodded towards the oversized cat before them. The kitten scampered over to retrieve the pouch and then half leapt half scrambled his way up to Dadu's shoulders to busy himself tying it back into its place next to a particular feather. Dabu chuckled as the tiger inquired about the feathers in his mane and tail tuft.

"Those are a sorting system of sorts, makes it easier to recall what herbs are in which pouches. I'm...well, there are many names for it? A healer, a Shaman of sorts? As for my species well, that's a bit more complicated."

Lowering himself to the ground in a sphinx like pose he smiled. It wouldn't hurt to take the time to chat with the fellow after all. He wasn't expected anywhere, so whether he followed his paws and senses wherever they might lead now, or later it really didn't matter. Nothing was pressing, no ones pain calling out to him at present.

"So and inventor you say? Of what exactly?"

[cheezeegriff]

“Ah, terrific! I thought you might be a healer. Just didn’t expect it to be a lion. Usually, it’s baboons or mandrills.” He stood up, shuffling closer, sniffing about Dabu’s person. “Your herbs smell nice. I’m guessing you’re a mixed species, right? Part leopard? That’d be my guess. And don’t worry, I won’t judge! I’m all lion – as far as I know – but a lot of people would say otherwise.

“And who’s your little friend here? Not a blood relative? Did you adopt him?” He leaned closer and, more gently, said, “Hello, little fellow. I’m Figgy.”
Then he stepped back.

“I invent traps! Mostly. I weave all kinds of things. Grass in the grasslands, or vines in the jungle. I can show you, if you like. You’ll never have to chase your prey again.” He sat down and gave his heavy stomach a pat, grinning as if it were something to be proud of. “It’s the way of the future, animals using their brains over their brawn. You’d know all about that. Healers need lots of knowledge, don’t they? One day we’ll all be setting traps and using herbs to cure our illnesses, and who knows what other things animals dream up?”

Figgy was pleased when the healer settled down, as if keen for a long chat. He sat down himself, rear legs splaying out around his huge middle, paws in the air. It had been a long time since he’d had some big-cat company and he was grateful Dabu didn’t need to run off somewhere. “You sure you don’t want something to eat? Seriously, you’d be doing me a favour.” He gestured over to the body of the zebra.

[prismatic]

OOC: opps! so, I read the part about his being over weight but somehow missed the description of his being a lion, and the tiger in your avatar looks a bit healthy in weight lol so I thought that was him. Sorry for the references to him as a tiger.

BIC: One brow arched as the other cat made his way about Dabu's person. Taking liberties to sniff in such personable way that a more aggressive cat would likely have been put on the defensive. Dabu however simply gave a mild and amused smirk.

"Yes Leopard, among other things. And that would be Mdogo, my apprentice. He is studying so that he may eventually go his own path one day and help others in his travels that I will not come across in my own."

The small kitten grinned at the heavy set lion and flick his til in greeting.

*Hey, nice to me ya.*

Dabu shook his head respectfully at yet another offer of a share in the meal.

"I'm afraid I'll have to decline, I eat one when and what I must to meet my needs to remain active and healthy. As for the traps you speak of your welcome to show me. I'm always willing to learn about something new. However I'm still incline to catch my own. the hunt is half the health benefits of a meal. Exerting energy before you partake helps keep a body balanced."

He glanced around looking for any sign that the lion might be a member of a nearby pride.. trails through the grass or other evidence.

"Would this be your territory? Or perhaps you are a wanderer like myself and young Mdogo?"

[cheezeegriff]

“Well. You’ve a lot more self-control than I do!”

Figgy turned about to eat a little more as Dabu spoke, wrinkling his nose when he started talking about balance and health benefits.

“You sound like my mother! If I had one,” he said, gulping down an unidentified organ. “But to each their own. That’s the response I usually get. But chasing down prey isn’t an option for every lion. What happens when you’re injured, or you get old? That’s why my way is better.”

He pulled back from the carcass and licked his snout.

“Take me, for instance. Since I was born I’ve had this extra-long fur.” He looked down at himself like a specimen. “It’s super-long, super-itchy, and even when I was skinny-“ He was never skinny. “-I would overheat before we’d even found the prey. Trapping has allowed me to not only survive out here, but thrive. Heh… maybe I’m a new breed!

“But myeah. I’m alone for the moment. I’ve paired up with various lions over the past, but nothing lasted long. Most prides take one look at me and think I’ll be useless. Then take offense when I drag half a dozen successful hunts into their pridelands to show I’m anything but useless. There’s no pleasing some people.

“So what about you?” he said. “You’re a wanderer. Are you from a pride originally? Or were your parents wanderers too? Looking for a place to settle down? And how’d you meet this little guy?” he pointed to Mdogo.

[prismatic]

" Nomadic, yes.. my parents were shamans as I am, as were my mothers parents before her. It is a life style passed down the genetic line for longer than I know of. "

He turned his gaze on Mdogo who was busy trying his best to catch a lizard on some nearby rocks.

" Mdogo's parents met with an ill fate. He had no one and as I have yet to father any cubs of my own to mentor, I took him in as my apprentice. He's actually proven to have quite a sharp mind and focus for the art."

Dabu yawned and stretched a bit, flexing his claws in the earth in a non threatening way.

" No, there is no settling down in the lifestyle he is training for or of which I lead. We go where we are need and stay till we are not. "

[cheezeegriff]

"If you're happy with that, then more power to you," Figgy said, after swallowing. He looked up at the strange feathered cat-hybrid. "So. It's only morning. What are you doing for the rest of your day? Me, my plan is to wander towards the Northern Mountains," he hoiked a thumb at the distant blue hills behind him. "I heard there's a tribe of lions there and I want to go see if I'll fit in. You could travel with me for a while, if you like. I'm sure there'll be lots of needy zebras along the way and I can show you my traps, too.
"Whadayasay?" Figgy grinned toothily.