The Flooding of Kingwa Valley

[Reagen]

(OoC: So, we can post again now, right? ?_?)

Reagen spat in the water once the croc was out of the area. He did not enjoy making a deal with him, but it was his best bet to save the valley. He had rethought his plan. Grimork didn't trust him, he was sure of that.

But he is going along with my plan... Perhaps I should knock the small one off a cliff to gain his trust. Or maybe I could pretend to injure myself myself as an excuse for not betraying them. It's vital that I keep the crock off their backs until we break the dam. Hm...

He tossed ideas back and forth in his head for a while as he headed back towards where he had last seen them.

I'd better slow down, If I come back in a hurry they'll wonder why. Besides, Grimork might be back faster then I think. I'd better keep an eye out for him as well...

[Tamber]

Teh cheetah waited nervously for the replies that the others would give him. He was slightly disheartened to hear their preferences. They wanted to save the valley, to rescue the creatures all around them. Zulu didn't object. Besides, it was two to one, now, not to mention that the other two strangers prefered that path, as well. But Zulu couldn't convince himself to trust them. A crocodile...being social...and a haughty cheetah. Zulu couldn't see himself following people like that. He didn't see himself really following anyone. He prefered not to travel in a group unless he was leading them somewhere. And if that wasn't enough, Zulu didn't really want to save the valley, anyway. He wasn't a hero, nor would he ever be. Besides, they could succeed in the plan without him.

So what reason did he have to stay? The floods didn't particularly bother him. He could survive happily and easily with it. But this brought up a thought. He loved dearly the ability to maneouver through the flooded lands. It was exciting, exhilerating, a challenge in every way. Perhaps, if he ventured through the dangerous Northern lands during the worst flood of his lifetime, he would be able to prove to himself that he could travel through just about anything and survive. Who knows...maybe he could even help to keep others alive, as well.

Plus, if he didn't trust the new leaders, why would he leave his friends to travel with them?

He decided, against his instincts, to stick with the group, at least for the time being. "Alright," he said nervously. He then sat before his friends, waiting for the strangers to return.

[Reagen]

(OoC: Did Grimork and I say that we were coming back? I thought we just left.)

Reagen approached the group. Not too fast, not too slow. He didn't want to set them off, or make them think he was sneaking towards them.

Here goes, well, everything.

"Hello again." He nodded his head slightly, to show his respect. "I must apologize for my earlier actions, which were quite rude. Hunger can put a person on edge. I assume you heard Grimork quite well. I know he speaks the truth, although I wouldn't trust him normally. I use to live in the north, and before I left I saw the dam. If you're group is going to head north, I would like to join you. I can find you the safest route, although it wouldn't be without it's dangers. All I ask in return is to join with your group and to have the dam destroyed."

He spoke calmly but loudly. Trying to be friendly, but cautious. He smiled to himself. He lied often, and was good at it, but this was the first time he was lying about lying, because it was too risky to tell the truth.

He glanced back at the water.

After all, who knows when someone is listening...

[Alexandra Lyn]

Ayo had been walking for days. Ever since the rains he had been on his own, separated from all of his friends in Kingwa valley. He loved Kingwa Valley. It was the only place Ayo had ever really been able to call “home”. Everyone there accepted him and he was able to start a new life, a new beginning. Mentally and physically exhausted he collapsed on the ground. He laid there for what seemed like a long while before a noise in the distance woke him with a start. Slowly a figure emerged. It was a wolf Ayo had never seen before. Massive scars covered its body and tears mangled his ears. Ayo rose as the wolf came closer.

[KanuTGL]

OOC: Not one of my best posts, but oh well o.-

IC: "Count me in."

Isha's approval of the idea caused Dhakiya's tail to wag back and forth even faster and she now looked to Zulu to hear his opinion. To the wolf the matter was already pretty much decided, with or without the cheetah's consent, but she still wanted to hear what he thought about it. At the third agreement Dhakiya yelped of happiness and excitement and made a couple of joyful skips on the spot. Finally something was happening here!

Now the cheetah stranger returned as well, seeming to have emerged out of the very air around them. He had interrupted the young wolf's cheery prances by doing this, but only momentarily. After all, hiding in the shadows and moving unnoticed wasn't really a work of art in times like these and expecting creatures to appear unexpectedly was what they should be expecting. Dhakiya looked at the cheetah, still grinning, and welcomed him back. She took a couple of steps backwards to let him inside their little "circle", then sat down to regard him further. What he now spoke of turned out to be something of very much interest... So he would act like a guide for them then? How very convenient indeed! Being too busy being elated about the coming adventure, Dhakiya never even stopped to consider anything about the new feline suspicious. Once her mind was set on something, especially an adventure, it was hard to let it go. The thought of being the new heroes of Kingwa valley certainly appealed to her as well, almost as much as the mission itself.

"Sounds like a good idea to me!" she said in reply to the cheetah, nodding. "I don't think any of us knows the way 'round up there, so a guide would definitely come in handy!" Turning to Zulu and Isha, she asked "What do you think?"

[mahewarac]

Simulia was on her Run. Her group of cheetahs send to-be leaders on Runs, which are journeys to the unknown when they come of age. She walked, finding no reason to actually run. Her long legs moved gracefully. Keeping her head up, she stayed alert for anyone coming. She had not seen anyone for ages. She was following the river, her only landmark. For a while she had noticed the river was getting wider and wider. Strange. She thought. No matter. She must keep on walking.
Small raindrops started to fall. Minor annoyance. She concluded, continuing her walking. But those small raindrops turned into large ones, and she stopped. In front of her was a valley, but the valley was flooded. She would need to find help. Walking along, she saw someone in the distance. It was a group, but she was able to make two out as cheetahs! Running to them, she bowed politly.
"Good cheetahs, would you do me the service as to telling me where I am?"

[Tamber]

Zulu turned to see the stranger return, the same confident look upon his spotted face. Zulu still wasn't so sure about him, but he had no logical reason to doubt him. After all, he had saved Isha's life.

The king cheetah sat tall and wore a calmed and almost sleepy expression as he listened to the stranger. He nodded his head at his points, and when he finished he heard Dhakiya's opinion, asking for those of the other two.

"I'm...alright with it, I suppose," he replied. "I'm a bit skeptical of the possibility of this plan even working, still. Plus I'm wondering how many good reasons I have to trust you," he said of the cheetah, looking at him as if he were expecting a convincing response.

However, they were all interrupted as someone ran up from behind them. Zulu turned to see that it was a cheetah, and she skidded to a halt in the mud. She immediately addressed him and the stranger, and Zulu took the liberty of answering. "This is Kingwa Valley, my friend," he said with a half-hearted smile. Normally he would be more friendly, but things were too finicky at the moment for him to be in his average peaceful mood. "Where are you from, and what brings you here?" he asked her.
___________________________
Jiro had watched the group for hours, and after noticing that they had stopped and were speaking to someone, whom he could not see, he had taken the opportunity to trot to a new row of trees, a row that reached south for a while. He followed it until he was near them, but not enough to make conspicuous noises. It looked like, from farther away, there had been some sort of crocodile involved in this conversation, but Jiro wasn't sure. As far away as he had been, he could have mistaken anything for a crocodile.

There were a couple new cheetahs on the scene, both looking much more normal than the marbled one. He hadn't heard much of what the others were saying, but the female appeared to be new in the area, and rather rushed.

But there was something else in the air that was fishy. He smelled something else, not a cheetah, not a fox, not a wolf like himself, but...he couldn't tell. He looked around him, feeling a presence, hearing a breath or two. He scanned the trees sternly and carefully, and once his vision picked up the things directly behind him, he saw something lying in the damp brush underneath the same group of trees as he. It was a jackal, a very wide-eyed jackal, almost feminine-looking, with strange piercings and ornaments in his ears. He was splayed out upon the damp earth, appearing to be fatigued and needing of rest. Jiro jumped slightly at the sight of him, then stood still and looked him over questioningly, a critical look upon his face.

Then something struck him. What if he was one of them? What if he knew Jiro had been spying and was tracking him down? Still, this guy didn't look like a tracker, just a curious, innocent pup. He just lay there, staring at him with those big green eyes, and Jiro couldn't help but be interested in him. It was bothering him not knowing his business.

Giving the group a last look, he slipped back quietly and carefully, standing a bit closer to the stranger, close enough that he might hear Jiro's whispers without the group hearing them.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, an impatient expression playing upon his scarred face.

[Reagen]

'I'm a bit skeptical of the possibility of this plan even working, still. Plus I'm wondering how many good reasons I have to trust you...'

Reagen pretended to act amused by this. He smiled and tried to think of his best answer. "Well, I saved the life of your friend, I want this place to go back to normal as much as you do, We're both cheetahs, and I don't really see how I could betray you without getting killed in the process."

Or course, being the same species is no reason to trust someone, and Reagen saw quite a few ways to betray Zulu. None of which he intended to do, of course.

When the second cheetah arrived he nodded in return to her greeting, but let Zulu do the talking. Reagen was pretty sure that Zulu was the leader of the group by now, and he didn't want to act like he was in charge.

[mahewarac]

One of the cheetahs asked her where she came from and why she had come. She smiled. He was a little sour, but she could tell he was usually playful. Trying her best to sound polite, she started.
"I am from a land far away called the Pridelands. I am Simulia, princess of the cheetahs in that land. I come with peace and hope of friendship." She bowed her head again. "I come here on my Run, a journey for my coming of age. Kingwa Vally, you say? What a nice name. It sounds majestic, like a land with a story. " She shook herself a bit, but because of the still falling water it did no good. "I pay my greatest apologies if I interrupted something. I will leave at once. Farewell and have my greatest respects." She headed over to the river and started to drink.

[Dakota]

~ Posting for Sarafina ~


Kye sighed when the new cheetah – who claimed to be a princess – introduced herself to the group. There were far too many tall folk for her to feel entirely safe. She gazed around to keep an eye out for that crocodile... then spotted something crawling into some bushes a little further back.

Her hunting instincts switched on: her little eyes widened. Glancing over her shoulder at Zulu and the other members of the pack, making sure she knew where they were going, she then leapt into the bushes to follow the little movement. Through the soggy leaves and mud she caught sight of a drowned rat darting out the other side. It jumped into the water and started paddling for its life.

Kye didn’t want to go into the water, but she was very, very hungry, and this was a meal that would suit her perfectly. So she leapt in, following the little bundle of fur as it swam past where the strange cheetah had been sitting when they found it.

Of course, mole rats could swim particularly fast, and though she was gaining on it, it was a long time before she caught up. Once on dry land she pounced, pinning the little rodent between her paws and killing it with her jaws.

It tasted delicious! And the thrill of the chase dissolved into a happy contentedness. When she finished her meal she took to high ground, looking about for the other members of the pack. They weren’t that far away: just within earshot. A little swim and she’d be with them again.

So she took to the water.

It was particularly quiet, she thought, without the other group members nearby. She could hear them in the distance, but even the water didn’t make a sound. Only the pitter-patter of the rain met her ears, and as she glanced around she saw ripples in the water to her left, moving towards her.

Fear pierced her to the core. A splashing sound met her ears before a vicelike grip closed around her little body. Milikye gave a sharp, loud yelp as the air was squeezed from her lungs, but as she tried to take another breath she felt herself being pulled underneath, into the murky depths of the stagnant water, and after a moment, she knew no more.

(Milikye is now out of this RP)

[mahewarac]

Simulia looked up just in time to see someone get dragged beneath the very water she was drinking from.
"EEEEAAAKK!" She screamed, jumping back. Thinking again, she hopped into the water's shallow part, trying to see in the river. Clouds of blood started to flow up, almost making her throw up. She kept looking, running to each side multiple times, but she could still see nothing.
"I'm sorry, I-I tried to save her," She was stammering as she reapproached the group, "B-But I was to slow. Who could have done that?" She hung her head. "I only wish I could save her in time."

[Alexandra Lyn]

The wolf was hiding behind some bushes facing away from Ayo. He was staring intently at something Ayo could not see. The small wolf turn around and sneek toward him. He looked at Ayo questioningly and asked what he was doing.

"Resting......what are you looking at?....and why are you sneeking around?...and why are you whispering?....and why are you so grumpy?...and why are you looking at me that way?...why?"

[mahewarac]

Simulia picked her head up to look at the group. She knew, in her diplomat fashion, she needed to do something other than apologize. It was a way of honor.

"I present myself as a faithful servant to this group to avenge your friends death, may I help you whenever you need help, and stay at this pledge till you release me yourself."

She bowed her head again. I hope I know what I have entered myself into. she thought, praying to Mufasa's dead soul that they will release her in a reasonable time.

[Tamber]

"Well, I saved the life of your friend, I want this place to go back to normal as much as you do, We're both cheetahs, and I don't really see how I could betray you without getting killed in the process."

This didn't make Zulu trust the stranger any more, simply for the fact that he seemed so confident that he had a list of them that were supposedly logical and inarguable. Sure, he had saved Isha, and he was greatful for that, but Zulu couldn't help but think this guy was just vying for his trust, rather than honestly earning it.

But rather than arguing with this stranger at the moment, Zulu turned to the other stranger, a sweet young cheetah who had just run upon the scene on some sort of coming-of-age mission. Though he had no good reason, Zulu found hismelf trusting this young lady right away. Something about her innocent nature made her seem completely honest.

Suddenly she had run off and back to them in a hurry, reporting that a young fennec had just been killed. It must have been Isha, who had wandered off. Zulu couldn't help but be spooked, though not entirely upset. She had hardly spoken to any of them, even when Zulu had tried to make her feel more comfortable. It filled him with even more concern, showing all of them in a very real way how dangerous these lands could be at this time.

"Simulia, I welcome you to join us, if that is what you wish," Zulu said sternly, trying to be serious in this stage after a very quick death in the group. "We are simply trying to survive, and I think Isha's death shows that we will have safety in numbers."

He waited a moment, then spoke again, finding his more cheerful nature. "Still, don't think yourself a servant. You're a friend," he said wth a friendly grin. With that he turned to his smaller friends, looking to them one last time before he spoke to this stranger. "I suppose we will go with you," he said to him, still rather sternly. "But only if you will give us your name," he said, even allowing the strange cheetah to see a small smile from him.

Beneath his conposed srface, Zulu was quite mixed up. Suddenly he was being seen as a leader, and it hadn't bothered him until he had larger animals among him. When he was just with Dhakyia and Isha, eh felt that they were just comrades trying to make it through. Zulu was jsut the nature boy, finding it easy to get along with smaller animals. But now there was all this decision making to be done, these two cheetahs joining him, a crocodile in close proximity. Suddenly he felt that he had lost comradeship and gained an unwanted position. Still, he didn't know how to turn it down.
___________________________

Jiro did not have to wait long for the pup's answer, his very long answer. But it was not the length of the answer that made it seem to last for days. No, it was the volume.

The jackal spoke in an all-too normal voice, one anyone would use if they weren't hiding from a group they were spying on. Apparently the kid didn't get the picture, and Jiro's heart wrenched as this guy started speaking to him in a voice clearly loud enough for the group to hear. The wolf panicked and grabbed the jackals mouth with his paw, an annoyed and extremely peeved look upon his face.

"Shut up, kid!" he said in a whisper as the jackal watched him with big eyes and heaved through his half-covered nose. "You're gonna blow my cover and get us both killed!" He immediately turned to look in the group's direction, not seieng them beyond the trees, but listening and watching to see if they might approach. He then whipped his head back toward the jackal, the mean look playing again, and his paws still holding the kid's head and covering his mouth. "Shut your face. Not a word," he said in a whisper that was barely audible. Again the wolf watched in panic.

[mahewarac]

"I thank you for your acceptance of me as a friend." She smiled, finding these folks much nicer than others she meets as a [shadow=red,left,300]princess[/shadow]. "I think I can serve you well in your quest for survival. I was raised strictly to have a broad knowledge of the land, fighting skills, and hunting skills."

She smiled again, happy to have found some friends to call her own. She didn't have very many that she was sure wasn't only with her for power. The cheetah's in her pack would do anything for power.

[Reagen]

"Ah, yes. Of course. My name is Reagen. Pleasure to meet you all, I'm sure."
He was getting slightly impaitent. Hopfully soon some action would be taken, the sooner they start the sooner they can end this mess.
"Now that we all know eachother, we should probably get moving. No use in sitting around if there are crocidiles in the area. I for one am hungry, perhaps we should hunt?"
He scratched his head. It had been an awufully long time since he'd had a conversasion. He hoped he didn't look like an idiot.

[mahewarac]

"Yes, sir, I think we shall." Simulia said. "I think the cheetahs would do well together, we can all keep up." She smiled at Zulu. "You seem to be the leader, would you lead the way?" Looking out, she scanned the vally. "We will have less ground with the rising water, so the herds may be less plenty. However, they may be more compacted, so it may go to our advantage."

[Alexandra Lyn]

Ayo was shocked by the wolf's hash wispers and even more surprised by the paw that suddenly covered his airways. "Why do I have to be so quiet?" Ayo tried to whisper but the wolf's paw made it come out in a unintellegible muffle. Ayo watched the wolf's scarred face turn to the forrest with a horrified expression.

[Tamber]

Zulu nodded at Reagen as he introduced himself. He then turned to the young cheetah next to him, Simulia. She spoke to him, assuming him the leader. "Ah, well...I'm a leader, more or less," he responded, still not feeling compelled to be in charge of lives, though he did care for his little friends.

At hearing the word hunt, Zulu flattened his ears a bit. He hadn't ever hunted with a group, and is skills weren't top notch. It might be a bit embarassing hunting alongisde two other cheetahs who he was sure would easily take something down, especially in a team. The king cheetah had always been a bit self-concious about the fact that he was this great legendary hunting species, but normally the prey pretty much blew him away.

"You two can-" Zulu tried to catch his breath as he let out an uncomfortable cough. After a few moments he blinked hard and opened his eyes wide, getting his bearings and returning to his sentence, his voice a bit more gruff. "You two can hunt. I'm a bit tired, anyway." Zulu wiped the tears from his eyes and sniffled, proceeding to walk with the others.
__________________________
Jiro didn't move as he listened for any reaction by the group. Feeling and hearing the pup start to speak again, he squeezed his muzzle even tighter, shutting him up once more. Jiro was soon settled, hearing the group's voices grow quieter as they walked away from them. Within a few moments, he could hear that they were far enough away from he and the pup to speak normally.

Jiro glared at the pup and whipped his paw away from his face. "Thanks for the discression," he snorted at him. "Go on your way, kid. Mind your own business next time."

[mahewarac]

"You two can hunt. I'm a bit tired, anyway."

"Oh, that's to bad. Very well then." Turning to the other cheetah, Simulia smiled. Her cheeks where getting a little numb from smiling so much, but diplomacy is important! "Shall we be off?"

She jogged for a bit, saving her energy for later. She began to think her first theory was correct, she didn't see any animals fit for prey! Suddenly, she saw an antelope in the distance!

"I found something!" She sped ahead, her legs pumping. The wind blew at her, giving her a fantastic rush. Squinting her eyes, she got closer and closer to the animal. It finally spotted her and started to run, but was too late, With one last burst of speed, she jumped on it's back and bit it's neck. It struggled for a bit, but she stayed in her place, her claws locked on it's back. It eventually fell. "I have some food!" She shouted back. "Come and get some!"

[Reagen]

Reagen padded up to her.
That was the most reckless, stupid, and idiotic way you could have possibly...
"Nice catch, Simulia."
Reagen took a chunk out and started eating.
"I'm not sure if this will be enough for everyone. After I eat a bit I think I'll look for something else as well."

True to his word, after he had eaten just a little he got up and left. He couldn't see anything around, but that hadn't stopped him before. He sniffed the air. All he could smell were the usual things, water, water, and more water. Oh, and did I mention water?
These floodwaters make it near impossible to find plants. Which means no prey. I don't know how that little runt of a cheetah managed to catch anything.
He sat down and looked behind him. The others were a fair ways away, he could make them out standing around the antelope.

[mahewarac]

Simulia looked as Reagan approached her, and read the expression on his face. He wasn't very good at hiding his emotions, especially with his wavering, almost sarcastic, "nice catch Simulia." She knew her style of hunting was flashy. It was the way she was taught. Royals of various cheetah groups often went hunting together, and it was very important to impress your companions with your hunting skills. It was really the only way you could prove your group was worth interacting with.

"I'm not sure if this will be enough for everyone. After I eat a bit I think I'll look for something else as well."

She looked at her kill. It was kind of small, not like the large and well-fed ones they have back home. She was about to ask if she could join him, but he had left. Snorting, she turned back to the meat. "Attitude won't do you well in the world, sir." She mumbled. "Not when your survival depends on keeping others happy."

[Alexandra Lyn]

The scarred wolf released his muzzle and started to walk away. "Wait!" Ayo yelled after the wolf. "Hey!" he shouted again, but the wolf ever turned around. Ayo leaped to his feet and took off after the wolf. "Where are you going?" Ayo asked once he caught up. The wolf acted as though he hadn't heard. Ayo looked around trying to see what the wolf was watching earlier. He noticed that the trees were starting to thin and he could see the drowning plains of his home. He looked back at the wolf to see if he was as upset as he was. The wolf's expression never changed. Giving up, Ayo concentrated on keeping up with the wolfs quick steps. Finally the wolf spun on Ayo.

[SandKitsu]

It ALWAYS ended up bad for her! First the flood now, this! Whimpering the small muddy colored lioness cub padded through the mucky mud of the over rained areas of a little isle. What was supposed to be fresh dry land was nothing more then an outlet, from the constant rains from the heavens above. Okumi sighed, she'd got lost from her pride due this unending flood.

Being swept away from a strong current of a river's bank when the flood first started. Of course she though she was dead. However the Great King's ether hated her,or pitied her for such a way to go. Because the poor little cub was still alive, and this poor little cub was lost, confused, and hungry.

Okumi whimpered once more the dampness of the warm air wet her fur making it hard for her to walk correctly. Suddenly the muddy ground gave way causing her fall down a ravine and onto the area where she spotted (Upside down of course) a pack of strange animals... "Um... a little help? Please?" She mewed scared.

[mahewarac]

Simulia looked up from her moping to find a small, muddy and kinda pathetic looking lion cub emerge from a ravine. Running over, she picked up the cub with her teeth (getting a very unpleasant mouth full of mud) and gently helped it to it's feet. She pointed toward the rest of the group.

"Honey, what are you doing here? You could get hurt! You'd better come with us. I'm Simulia, and you are?"

[SandKitsu]

"T-Thanks..." started Okumi as her eyes drove over the rest of the group before landing back onto Simulia. "I-I'm.. Okumi." She whispered the last part in a scared mew. Before looking at the group. "What's going on?" The lioness cub questioned with a nervous stare.

[Reagen]

Reagen noticed something going on back at the group. It looks like they had just added another number to their ranks.
Honestly, if I was in charge I would have eaten that scrawny little thing. What is it, a monkey? No matter. As long as it doesn't slow them down, i'm fine with it...
He shook himself a little. Remembering what he was trying to do. He continued looking around for any form of prey. Seeing nothing, he decided to start heading back to the group.

[/half arsed attempt to get the RP moving again]

[Tamber]

((OOC: Sorry...I feel quite responsible for this RP's slowness...forgive me.))

Zulu sat back from the group a bit, closer to his friends Isha and Dhakiya than the others. He didn't feel quite right around the other two. The new cheetah was sweet, but he didn't know her yet, and Reagen still hadn't made it to his good side. The king cheetah sat alone and watched the others munch on the small antelope that Simulia had caught so quickly. He was not hungry, nor did he have the energy to go hunting with Reagen to find more. He didn't even feel like talking to his closer friends. He sniffled a bit, wiping his nose with his forearm. Zulu felt a tickle in his throat and turned away from his friends to cough into his shoulder. Turning back around, his eyes were droopy and tired, the cheetah giving up the attempt to keep them looking alert.

From the corner of his eye, Zulu could see something approaching them. Before he could catch a good glimpse of it, it slid into a muddy ditch. Simulia rushed over and lifted it out, and Zulu could now see that it was a small lioness cub, covered in mud and looking quite lost.

The cheetah had a deep soft spot for children, always seeing his younger days in their eyes, and he felt obligated to go speak with the new arrival. Padding over to her slowly, slipping in one or two places as larger puddles popped up unsuspectingly, he reached her and Simulia and sat before them. "Hello, Okumi, was it?" he said in a weak voice, but with a smile very friendly and welcoming. "Why is it you have no traveling companion at your side?" he asked with a grin still playing, waiting for her explanation.
_________________________
As soon as Jiro had stood up and begun walking through the thicket in the general direction of the group, he could hear leaps, bounds, and cries yelling after him. The wolf growled to himself, despising the fact that he had run into this little pest. Still, he did not turn around or humor the pup's calls or pleas for attention. He simply kept walking, his head held straight out in front of him and lower than most animals naturally held their heads. It was his normal posture, and he did not stray from it.

But the pup persisted his calling. Over and over he beckoned after the wolf, and Jiro could hear his steps quickening, trying to keep up with him. With a final cry from the jackal, Jiro spun around and stared angrily into the kid's face, stopping the jackal dead in his tracks and leaning back to keep from running into him. Jiro did not move, and after a few moments, he spoke.

"What is it about me that makes you think I would want your company...kid?" The wolf bared his fangs at the little pipsqueak, holding his glaring, hunched position and hoping that instead of a response, he would run off in a cower.

[SandKitsu]

"Um... well... I- I- Got swept away by a current... and got separated from my pride." Okumi confessed as her head hung low in defeat. "They probably think I'm dead now..." Okumi whispered as she looked at the elder Cheetah. "Um... yes I'm Okumi- um who are you sir? Sorry I didn't ask!" She mewed quickly in shock and nervousness.

((Sorry for the lateness >.<))

[cheezeegriff]

"Going somewhere, Reagen?"
Grimork smiled, feeling his eyes crinkle slightly, though of course his massive jaws moved not at all. He eyed the young cheetah, taking pleasure in the fact that Reagen didn't seem to know where the voice came from.
"In the water beside you."
Reagen's head span on his shoulders, and Grimork looked into his eyes as the veneer of confidence smothered any startlement. Land animals' facial expressions were so easy to read.
Only Grimork's head protruded above the surface, and it was coated in so much mud and moss and grime that it was indistinguishable from the rest of the muddy, flooded landscape. Though his legs tensed beneath the surface at the smell of the cheetah, he ignored the instinct to lunge and instead said,
"Sit down, my friend, with your back to the group. Pretend you're looking at the scenery, so they don't know you're talking to someone."
He waited a moment, marvelling at the luck that Reagen had wandered right past him.
"You want to know your end. Wasn't that so? I have percieved it, but before I tell you, I wanted to remind you of the little manner of payment. In meat."
He grinned, pleasantly as possible.
"Still think you can manage?"