The Flooding of Kingwa Valley

[Sarafina]

Kye giggled a little.
"Thanks.."
She heard isha ask if she wanted to follow. She nodded
"ok.."
She followed Isha and sat sort of behind everyone. She looked around giving a half smile.

[KanuTGL]

Dhakiya snorted with a slight smile at Baraz's comment. True, true, she thought. And no, they would indeed not be thirsty in times like these. That was probably the only good thing about this constant downpour.

The fennec foxes had also returned, and before they knew it, Isha, the one Dhakiya had saved before, was in the middle of a fast-paced monologue about how much she disliked rain. Dhakiya couldn't help but lean away somewhat and look at her with violet eyes widened. Last time she had met a creature like this, it had taken her hours to get a bit of peace. But that time it had been a hornbill, and maybe fennecs were different. However, it always occured to the wolf how smaller critters seemed to have tounges swifter than the lizard's. Perhaps a trick to scare predators away? Dhakiya was sure that it usually worked... Unless the predator got them first and silenced them of course. Then a tounge like that would be quite useless.

The wolf snapped out of her thoughts when a voice spoke right next to her, one that for a moment seemed to drown out Isha's shriller speak. It belonged to Zulu. "The rain?" Dhakiya repeated, then glanced skywards with a thoughtful expression for a second, as if pondering deeply over what to answer.
Something she actually didn't, the expression was just a habit of hers.
"Well, I've nothing against it, really." she finally replied with a shrug. "It's only a bit... wet." The wolf looked over to the rushing river for a moment, then back to Zulu. "And sometimes it gets just a bit too much... Like now. If you know what I mean." It was quite obvious she was concerned, and found it quite odd that the cheetah, he must've been a cheetah, had this big aura of... calm around him; something Dhakiya found both weird and interesting at the same time. It was not often one met someone like that in times like these.

[Lorien]

OOC: Poor neglected RP...gotta get back into it, sorry all.

Kiala's eyes shot wide open when the fennec had embraced her neck in a hug, and it caused her to take a step back when she had released her grip. Her emerald eyes then found their way to the Ethiopian wolf, who was also thanking her. She only smiled slightly and nodded her head. The rush of energy and bravery that had come over her had stopped and she was now shrinking back into her shell of timidness. She looked around as everyone introduced themself and pondered whether or not to remain here. She figured it would be a good idea, especially in times like these. Who knew when a group would be neccessary? So, for the time being, she watched everything go on around her and kept her mouth shut.

[chrisfire]

A young lion cub sat perched on a rock. Her fur was soaked and her ears drooped a bit from it. Her pelt was tan-ish brown but it looked dark brown due to the rain and the brown star on her right flank was now black-ish looking. Her name was Rabia and she had to have food... she hadn't eaten in days. Before her mother died she was always full, lately she'd always been hungry.

Then a mixture of scents hit her. Oh please let food be near by! She leaped off the rock, then slipped and fell on her back. "Great... stupid mud!" Rabia rolled over and got back to her feet. Now was she not only soaked, she had mud all over her. What was with all of this rain? Oh well, all she knew was that if she didn't get food soon, she'd starve.

The creatures came into sight. But only one caught her eye: a male meerkat. A.k.a food. She'd chased down meerkats and caught them, but that was for fun. This was life or death. She always pretended she was a huntress, now was the time to actually be one. Rabia ran toward the group, almost slipping in the mud. And when she tried to pounce she slipped in the mud again and rolled, coming to a stop on her back.

"Grrr! Stupid stupid mud!" Rabia growled. "I hate this stupid rain..." She looked around at the other animals and her stomach growled for her. If only Mother were here... she'd be warm right now instead of shivering in the rain and mud. And she'd be full. And boy was that meerkat looking yummy....

[Judas]

OOC; Blagh! writers block x.x

Valerian had remained silent for a long while now, most of the other animals didn't seem to pay notice to him. Well that was all the better, all these predators ugh! Though the sound of a growl reached the meerkat's ear and he turns but a frigthening site heads towards him. A lion! "AHH!" the meerkat screamed as he watched the smaller feline sailing through the air towards him.

Suddenly she slipped, and came sliding through the wet mud. The meerkat had scrambled up a rock, to stay away from the hungry cat. His ears lowered, the hairs on his back brizzled, while he bared his teeth in a growl at the cub. Stay away, or I'll bite!

[chrisfire]

OOC: It's ok, it happens to all of us.

Rabia then remembered how she ended up right here in the first place. The meerkat. Her stomach growled again, more fiercly. What did Mother do when she lost the element of surprise? Oh yeah, chase after them and take them down. Rabia rolled over and stood. She growled, baring her teeth. She ran towards the male meerkat again, but slipped and slid right past.

Mother would be able to catch it... Rabia thought. She turned and growled. "Sorry meerkat, but I gotta eat!" Apologizing to prey? Man would she make a terrible huntress. She ran again, some how keeping her footing. Then as she leapt, she slipped and landed on her stomach. "Oh... stupid mud!" She sighed as her stomach growled again.

[Kirsui]

Isha's ears perked up at the sudden growl. She turned her head, only to see Valerian stumble backwards from a cub lion, who apparently saw the meerkat as a nice little dinner. Isha's eyes widened and she swirled to her feet, dashing towards the meerkat and the small lion. The fennec slid into a stop, facing the lion cub with a slight snarl escaping her muzzle.
"You won't eat him!"
Isha flattened her ears and lowered her head slightly into a defencing position. She herself was not interested in eating the meerkat. Instead, she sort of felt a need to protect the small creature. It was funny, really... After all, Isha wasn't much bigger than the meerkat.

[chrisfire]

"Well of course I won't eat it." Rabia replied, setting her head on her muddy paws. "I can't catch it! Believe me... I don't wanna eat it. I'd rather have zebra."

"Rabia, come." Mother said, setting her paw on the freshly killed zebra. "It's time for you to eat."

Rabia's stomach growled again and she shook the picture from her mind. Oh Mother... why did you leave? You intended on me to live, but instead I'm going to either starve or drown or get eaten... Rabia had tears in her eyes. "Will someone just kill me and eat me please? It'll be better than starving. A lot better. Most likely quicker too." She rolled over on her back and sighed. She shut her eyes and tried to make the scene better.

She wasn't lying in the mud, she lying in the grass. The sky was clear and she was full. Very full. Mother pads over and picks her up, then sets her under a tree and begins to groom her...

Oh who am I kidding? Rabia asked, opening her eyes. She rolled over and stood. Then all of the sudden, she began to cry. You wouldn't have known it if she hadn't suddenly wailed and dropped down. Her shoulders heaved and she gasped for breath, tears gushing down her face. "M-Mommy w-why d-d-did you l-l-leave? Why d-d-did this s-s-s-stupid r-rain start?!"

[Tamber]

Zulu nodded at Dhakia's reply to his inquiry. He did agree that it was a bit too much, but he was positive that he was getting along with it better than most of those around him...

Which is why he had the tools to help the lioness cub that had just arrived in the group. He saw her fall repeatedly, trying to catch Valerian. He would have protected the meerkat had he been closer than Isha, who had come to the rescue more quickly. The feud between the three small animals was upsetting to him. They all looked...how you say...disoriented. It was a different sight to see a fox protecting a meerkat, at the same time standing up bravely to a lion. It plainly showed that there was turmoil in the area, and Zulu only wished they could get along like he could.

He decided to try to make that happen, especially when the forlorn lioness pleaded for someone to eat her. He strode over to her and looked down to the crying cub. He lifted her onto his back and and looked into her young eyes. "Rain is no reason to to give up, my dear," he said to her. "I understand you're upset about your mother, but don't think about what she expects of you; expect what she would want for you. She wouldn't want you to give up on life." He started walking with her a bit. "What do you say you come with us, and we'll share whatever food we can catch. Everything's better in groups." He paused and looked at her intently. "I promise I won't let you starve," he said to the sobbing lioness. He hoped that she would trust him, but most imporrtantly, he hoped that e would be able to live up to that difficult promise.

[Ellie]

OOC: I'll just jump in I suppose

[/b] she murmured quietly. She hummed softly to herself, and wished, for just one moment, she had a mother to hold her and tell her it would be better. She chided herself. "Mother always told you not to think like that. You must always keep your head up!" Suzume was one with pride. She had, in a way, gained it from her adoptive pack. They were a very proud one, and they embedded this pride in Su.

She sniffed shortly. Sniffed because she was cold, and shortly because of the smell. It smelled like other animals. Suzume looked around, and sure enough, in the distance was a pack. A strange pack. Small animals, foxes....perhaps some cats? A grin spread on the cubs face as she sped toward them not caring about sliding on the mud.

"HEY!" she called to the group. "HEY! Wait for me!"[/ul][/size][/font]

[chrisfire]

Rabia sniffed, looking at him. Slowly, she nodded. Mother always said lions were meant to live in prides... Rabia wiped her eyes with her muddy paws. It clung to the fur on her face and slowly seeped off, giving her an almost comical look. "I-I'm Rabia." She looked around at her strange new 'pride.' "I never thought I'd be in a pride where I could eat some of the members..." She smiled a bit. "I'll be good though. Cross my heart and hope to die."

Rabia turned her head when she heard a cry to see... a cub? She cocked her head. "I think we should wait for her..."

[KanuTGL]

OOC: I've completely neglected this RP, please forgive me D:

IC: Dhakiya had watched the last few events with interest; a lot of things had happened at the same time. The wolfess felt sorry for the little cub who was the current reason for all the commotion... She seemed so lonely. Zulu spoke comforting words to her though, and Dhakiya couldn't help but admire the cheetah for his calm. Few others could keep such a mask in times like these. But had he just assumed that they were a group now? Dhakiya cocked her head and looked at Zulu, a little surprised. Then she glanced at the others of the odd little gathering, one by one, and rather quickly figured that, yes, they were a group. They were all on their own, and they were all in need of company. The wolf got to her feet, padded over to the little lioness and sat down next to her, giving her a gentle pat on the head with a large canine paw. "You'll be alright with us, uhm, Rabia was it?" The wolf giggled. "Sorry, I'm an absolute goldfish when it comes to names."

Then another cub's yell echoed through the constant murmur of the pouring rain. Dhakiya looked over her shoulder, though turning her head just a little too fast; the remaining wet mud from before wasn't quite out of her fur yet, and a few drops of it flew right into her violet eyes, making her blind for a few seconds. "Ouch!" she mumbled and one of her front paws was quickly there to rub it away. The canine shook her head, her big ears making a flapping noise, then she turned around to look again, being more careful this time. Mm... That was odd. That must surely've been a lion cub calling, she could tell by the voice, but... there was... a smell of wolf around it all. Very strange. Dhakiya raised an eyebrow questionly and lowered one of her perked ears, giving her face a very confused look. She hadn't seen other of her kind for days and weeks, so why would a... lion cub carry the scent of one?

[Tamber]

The marbled cheetah grinned at young Rabia and Dhakiya for comforting her along with him. He then looked to where a new cub was arriving. She wa calling for them to wait for her, so Zulu stayed where he was and waited patiently. Dhakiya seemed wary of the young cub. What could have been the problem?

((AH short! DX)

[Ellie]

((Sorry for the wait!

[/i] She shook her fur, and without thinking she waltzed right up to her. Sitting down upon her rump, she looked at the faces, some confused, some wary, and some...well, some just weren't paying any attention. She looked up at the wolfess.

"Hi! I'm Suzume, but my mum and my brothers and sisters called me Sue. Well they weren't really but....anyways." She turned her attention back to the wolfess. She had been addressing the rest of the group. Her "mother had always said it was only polite to introduce oneself when meeting others. "Do you know my mother?"[/ul]

[chrisfire]

Rabia smiled and nodded. "You got it right. My name is Rabia." She turned her head to look at the lion cub, but stayed close to the cheetah. Rabia and her mother had never belonged to a pride, she'd only seen them before from afar. So, she was acting rather... coy around this new lion cub. And why did she smell like wolves? Rabia looked up at the cheetah. "You know my name, but I dunno your name." She felt a certain affection for the cheetah. It might be because he was the first to comfort her or cheetahs and lions were very distantly related to one another, but she just seemed to like him. Almost like a big brother.

[Tamber]

Zulu's ears perked up as he heard young Rabia's voice directed up to him. He looked down to her curious eyes and grinned. "The names Zulu, ma friend," he said in a quite friendly tone. "And I'm gettin a bit tired of meeting new people. Care to walk along with me?"

Without waiting for an answer, Zulu began mozying forward slowly, not really caring it the cub tagged along. He looked around the wet world that surrounded him. He remembered how such a short time ago he was but a loner enjoying this variation in nature. Now it seemed that he was becoming one of a group, something he had never expected to happen again.

He sat alone a few hundred yards from the group, upon a ledge that looked over the flooded land. For once he saw the ugliness in it, the ugliness that the others saw. Perhaps it would take an introduction to their suffering and unhappiness to show hi just how frightening it could be. For once he looked over his home and envisioned what it used to be, green grass and blue sky with white clouds dotting it beautifully, flowers growing up from the ground and blowing with the wind, birds soaring overhead and calling happily down to those beneath them. Wow, the cheeath thought. It really was better...wasn't it?

[KanuTGL]

Dhakiya's expression didn't exactly turn less confused at the little cub's behaviour. The everything-but-lion-like bodylanguage was one thing, but the wolfess had been quite taken by surprise at her very straightforward introduction. "Uhm... I..." Dhakiya began, then got quiet again, as if she was thinking over the situation. "I don't think so, uhm, Suzume." she finally said, looking a tad less confused, but more curious now. Were there other packs of wolves around in the valley? She had never known this. In that case, maybe her family members could be with them, if she found them? The thought had suddenly made her very excited; perhaps all hope wasn't lost just yet!

Though, it felt quite unlikely to find anyone left of her kind around. After all, their future was looking rather... bleak. With the rain constantly pouring down like this, the risk of the whole place flooding over was increasing. In fact, every raindrop and puddle made survival in Kingwa less and less likely and the wolf shivered at the thought. Then she noticed that the king cheetah-fellow, Zulu, had left the group somewhat and was now situated some hundred metres away from them, on top of a small ledge. Dhakiya decided that he had been interesting enough to talk to and got to her feet.

"So what do you think?" the canine asked, upon sitting down next to the big cat. She, too, took a look out over the lands; the view from here was surprisingly good. "What do you think our future will be?" Dhakiya paused, then sighed and glanced towards the sky, though very quickly, or the falling water would hit her eyes. "The future of Kingwa Valley..."

[Kirsui]

Isha, feeling rather bored, wathced as Zulu walked a bit away from the group, followed by Dhakiya. The fennec tilted her head slightly, her tail swooshing from side to side behind her, sendins small water drops flying in different directions. After glancing around she got up to her feet, shaking the dirt away from her fur. Not that it mattered, really. Being so small on a very damp season meant being muddy almost all the time.

The small fennec slowly walked over to where Dhakiya and Zulu were, trying not to slip on the mud. Being a curious creature that hated to sit down, she wanted to know what they were discussing about The rain felt heavy against her fur, and she wished there wouldn't be hard wind blowing anytime soon. If there would be, she was sure to get sick.

Before she reached Dhakiya and Zulu, though, she heard a rustle and stopped right on her tracks. Her ears were perked up and she sniffed the air. The rain was making it so hard to smell the scents...

She heard the noise again and decided to investigate. Making sure she wouldn't make any sound, she made her way over towards the source of the sound. The grass was giving enough cover for she small fennec and she was sure that what ever was making that noise wouldn't notice her approach.

And so, when she finally saw what it was, she grinned. It was a bird, a little smaller than the fennec herself. Its feathers were damp and muddy, but Isha guessed they had been yellowish-brown. Her grin widened slightly. And then she pounced. The bird couldn't escape and soon enough the fennec was lying on top of the creature, ripping off feathers to get a bite of the meat underneath.

[Tamber]

Zulu turned as he heard footsteps in the standing water on the ground. He saw Dhakiya, the Ethiopian wolf, approaching to sit next to him. He then herad her raise her deep question.

So what do you think?...What do you think our future will be?...the future of Kingwa Valley...

Her inquiry made Zulu breathe deeply and sigh. He continued to look over the flooded land as he answered her. "I guess you just can't say, can you?" He replied. "We'll be fine. Life itself, it will be fine. The valley...perhaps it will become our next watering hole." The cheetah puased, thinking about that possibility, then continued. "It's strange how the simplest little drops of water can change so much, and leave so much devestation, when every day before this even started, we relied on the drops just to survive. We still do...we just forget." Zulu looked at his paw, muddy with wet clumps of hair. He continued mournfully. "Strange that no matter how much pain this causes, it will undoubtedly be over, and we can know so without having a crystal ball to predict it. It's just what nature brings us. And someday when the drops of water shrivel into the sky again, right where they started, we'll be searching for them again, and wishing we had them back. And regardless of what happens to us, there will be life after this. And this kind of thing it won't remember. No matter what the Earth chooses to do to itself, it will recover, no matter what the cynics say."

Zulu soon realized and accepted the fact that he was simply thinking out loud, and his thoughts brought a slight smile to his face, seeing a positive light in the flooded land once again. "Life is inpenetrable. And boy, are we lucky."

[Zorayda]

Renwa the lynx-lioness trudged wearily through the mud, looking for survivors.

Pretty soon, I'm going to be one among the drowned or starved... she thought sulkily.

The memories kept flooding back to her... the ones of her bobcat mother. Her death...

No. She wouldn't think of that right now. She had to survive. Her tawny paws were coated with thick layers of mud, and it squished quite enjoyably between her toes.

She'd always loved mud.

A tiny half-lynx cub nuzzled closer to her mother, squeaking and looking for milk. The mother smiled and licked the single surviving cub's forehead.

The American-made cage lay near them--the cage they had escaped from so many months ago.

The mother knew she only had a little while to live...

NO!

Renwa growled and shook the memories out of her head. She had to live...

Her pointed ears perked up when she heard the sound of a tiny fox-bark.

A fennec! I could use a little snack...

She saw it now... it had just pounced on a little bird.

Renwa flattened her body to the ground, her slightly petite frame allowing her to hide behind a bunch of half-drowned grass. She wiggled her rump in a preparatory stance....


And she pounced.

[Kirsui]

Isha was so glad of the meal she had caught. The bird, though muddy, tasted wonderful after not having much to eat lately. Eating the bird almost made her forget about the deprsessing rain that just refused to go away.

Almost. The fennec still felt each drop of water that dropped on her already damp fur. She doubted she'd ever feel dry again.

Suddenly, she caught a scent on the air, scent that she didn't recognize. In an instant her head snapped up and she let out a warning growl, only to have it turn into a horrified scream. Isha saw a creature pounce on her.

And then her instincts kicked in, taking command of her actions. She didn't know what she was doing until she found herself dashing towards Dhakiya and Zulu, zigzagging through the grass as fast as her small feet could carry her. She screamed all the time, and stopped only until she was behind Dhakiya's front paws, curling up into a miserable ball of muddy fur that shook in fear for her dear life.

[Zorayda]

Renwa snarled loudly, her disappointment in letting her meal run off evident in the lines on her face.

She gave chase, her powerful legs touching the ground in quick intervals.

The little fox was just ahead...!

Renwa suddenly sensed that the fox was not running aimlessly... She scented more animals, and suddenly she came upon them, the fox scared out of its mind.

Renwa barely registered the animals as she ran, but she knew they were big--one looked like a giant fox, and the other was a dark cheetah-ish thing...

She came to a screeching halt in front of the others, spraying mud in all of their faces.

"Uhhh..."

[Tamber]

Zulu was jerked out of his thoughtful state as he heard tiny footsteps running towards him and Dhakiya. He Spun his head around, an intrigue expression played upon his face, as he saw a frightened Isha dashing toward them in a panic. Zulu's eyes widened, and he leaned back a bit as the fox zipped in front of him and hid behind Dhakiya's front leg. The predator that chased he suddenly appeared on the scene, throwing mud into the cheetah's face as it skidded to a hault.

After wiping the mud away, Zulu looked upon the surprised, possibibly embarassed newcomer. It was strange...almost like a small lion, with big, fuzzy ears. What was this thing, and where did it come from? Zulu had never seen anything close to its appearance before.

Seeing as Dhakiya was serving as a shield for the fox, Zulu stood up and approached the huntress, who stood as still as a rock. He could tell the creature was intimidated, so Zulu chose to be firm, yet understanding of her. Afterall, they all needed food, and they were all vulnerable in this point in time.

"I'm gonna have to ask you to let the young fox be," Zulu told the huntress. "but I'll let you off easy for chasing her." The cheetah looked into the huntress's eyes and waited for a reply.

[Zorayda]

"yeah.... sorry about that..."

Renwa was quick to recover from her shock, got to her feet and stood as tall as her mediumish frame would allow her.

"My name is Renwa. I... am a rogue, and the flood hasn't exactly helped my case... "

Renwa was not one to be openly friendly however, and her stance indicated a defensive and untrusting pose.

"I'll be on my way to find food, then. Unless you all have an unquenchable desire for company, I won't be staying. You could, however, give me some tips on where to find food...?"

Renwa's slightly bitter and sarcastic tone only barely hid the rising tremor in her voice. Since she was a cub, she was slow to accept that not every stranger was out to get her...

Something in the cheetah's eyes kept Renwa from panicking completely, however, and on tensed legs, she awaited the reply with bated breath.

[Sarafina]

Milikye had been watching the animals. She didnt want to get in the way of anything. If they moved, she followed. SHe didnt want to get left behind. She sighed, and her little body climbed up onto a rock. Well she tried. The rock was pretty large. She huffed and jumped higher. She finally got a good grip and pulled herself up. She layed down and rested her head on her paws. Her large ears up and listening to everything around her. She didnt want the others to ditch her.

((Sorry for being out of this for a while. ))

[Tamber]

Zulu turned first to look at Dhakyia, making sure it was ok for Renwa to stick around for the time being. Seeing the wolf was fine with it. He turned back around. "I do know a place or two where food is most likely to be. There's a valley to the South, where I came from. It's on higher ground, but we'll have to cross a few areas that are very flooded in order to get there."

The cheetah got to thinking about the high valley. "In fact, its high ground will probably make it a good place to stay for a while. Aside from the mountains, its probably the best place to be. Don't get me wrong, its not dry by any means, but its better than this or the deep plains surrounding it." Zulu shrugged his shoulders at his own offer. "It may not seem too exciting, but it may be our only choice."

Normally Zulu wouldn't be thinking about staying anywhere or finding a safe place to hang, but it seemed that the others didn't know much of what to do or how to survive, and in Zulu's travels and interest in the floods, he had come to find a lot. Perhaps he could help them find their way and go off on his own afterwards.

But first he had to see if they even cared about his idea.

[Zorayda]

Renwa sat on her haunches.

"Hmmm... that's valuable information. I'm extremely good at tracking, but the water will pose a problem for me... I'll go and help as long as everyone else wants to."

[KanuTGL]

Dhakiya listened carefully in quiet astonishment over Zulu's thoughts. She found herself already respecting this cheetah, and very much so too. Yet, it felt a little bitter to appear so tiny in this massive universe, and the young wolf wasn't too fond of the thought. "How can you say that we won't be remembered? What then would be the point of existing?" she said, perhaps sounding a little more defensive than intended. "What is our reason for living if we're going to just pass by unnoticed? That doesn't make sense. Not to me it don't." Dhakiya continued, looking away, down into the brown rushing river. An innumerable amount of lives had already been taken by it, crushed among the debris and the immense powers of the water. Who would remember them? "Why should be be here unless we had a purpose to the things we d--" Her words were suddenly cut off as something screaming, small, wet and fuzzy dashed in to hide between her paws. "Isha?" the wolf exclaimed in surprise, staring pretty dumbfounded at the little fox. "What...?" She had been about to ask the reason for the screaming and running, but found that she did not have to. The young cat that skidded to a halt behind them answered that question perfectly. The sprinkles of mud that now covered the canine's face also confirmed that she was not an illusion, even though she resembled nothing that Dhakiya had seen before. Or wait, on a second thought, she was quite similar to a caracal wasn't she? That was at least the closest one could get, even if the wolf had never seen a spotted caracal before.

Zulu was the first to recover from the sudden moment of speechlessness and Dhakiya listened eagerly, ears perked, to what the young newcomer would reply. Where were her parents? Or, well, that was a stupid question to ask in times like these... Then a movement at the corner of her eye caught the canine's attention and for a moment she looked away from Renwa, as the young one's name was, to find that the other fennec, Milikye, had also joined them on the slippery rock. Dhakiya smiled and waved a paw at her. Then Zulu caught her attention again. He seemed to be looking at her for approval; Renwa's joining? Well, sure, why not? Dhakiya nodded, still smiling. Then what Zulu said next, facing the caracal-ish cub now, most certainly piqued her interest. "Another valley you say?" A spark of hope was suddenly lit inside of her. Maybe it was possible to get out of here then? The thought had actually never really occurred to her before; leaving Kingwa Valley seemed unimaginable. Not only because it was her home, and had been all of her life, but because the jagged mountains that surrounded the valley were extremely difficult to cross. They had always been their protecting wall before, but now they were imprisoning the dale and its inhabitants, sentencing them to a cruel death... But desperate times did indeed call for desperate actions. "I say that sounds good enough." she replied, getting to her paws, appearing ready to go at once. Renwa seemed to approve of the idea as well. "Then it's settled!" Dhakiya barked, forgetting the two fennecs in her excitement. Which she realised. "You want to come too, right?" she added, looking first to Isha then to Milikye, eyes suddenly aglow and her tongue hanging out of her mouth in a typical dog expression. The wolf turned back to Zulu. "How far is it?"

[Tamber]

Zulu chuckled lovingly at Dhakyia's excitement. He hadn't seen her this happy in the entire ime he'd known her, though that was only a few short hours. "Well..." Zulu turned to look South, as if it would help him. He was often looking in the general direction of things far away, as if to give them a distant promise that he will arrive there someday.

The cheetah turned back to the wolf and replied. "I'd say its about ten miles, more or less. A little more than a short jog, but we can make it. Walking there won't be hard. The hard part will be avoiding the deep, low-lying areas around it. They tend to get a lot lower than you would expect. But I think we can handle it."

Zulu then turned to the foxes, wondering if they wishes to go on such a long journey.
\\\________________________///
///________________________\\\
How ironic that water now had the greatest possibility of bringing him his death. Fire had come so close, but it didn't kill him. It just left him in hell.

Being Arrow was not easy. He didn't gain his nickname with ease or with happiness. At least the scars on his forhead didn't hurt anymore from the incident, though they still looked as if they were always very painful. No, his body left the hurting to his legs, which never had time to place to rest, and the cuts and scrapes all over his body that were being stung and infected by water and dirt dripping inside of them. Jiro's expression was condistenly even more bitter than usual. An face that used to just make others step to the side now made them walk with great caution and fear about him. He felt as thought he wre in an enormous prison. The rain and its extent seemed neverending, lasting for as far as the mind could think or the body could travel. And the wolf was left alone on earth to bear it all himself. During the rains, he just chose to always be walking. Sitting made him feel wet and disgusting, moreso than usual. But walking made him feel on the move, active. Maybe he would eventually walk out of the rain's reach.

When the wolf heard voices near where he walked, he didn't think twice. Just more animals with companions and others to lean on, unlike him. But Jiro couldn't help but overhear their conversation. They spoke of some valley to the south, apparently one that was safe. But the stubborn wolf had trouble believing it. Therefore, he took a few moments to stop from his strolling and listen to their words, remaining behind a tree so as not to be seen.

[Kirsui]

As Isha's breathing calmed down to somewhat normal she dared to glance at the strange feline that had tried to eat her. The fennec tilted her head in curiosity, but still remained hidden behind Dhakiya's paws. When she was sure that the feline was no threat to her she stepped forward, sitting on the muddy ground and looking up at both Dhakiya and Zulu, listeningclosely at their every word.

Isha's ears perked up when leaving the valley was mentioned. She had never been outside of the valley before... Her eyes widened in excitement and suddenly the fennec was on her feet.
"YES!" she exclaimed, her tail swooshing from side to side.
"I'll come!"
She spun around, pouncing from place to place and had clearly all ready forgotten she had almost been eaten a moment ago. She saw Milikye, sitting there all alone. Isha pounced next to the other fennec and tilted her head.
"Are you coming too?" she asked, sounding almost worried that Milikye would say no.