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 Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:25 pm
 Kadogo had set out at dawn, and had passed most of the morning on a 'long patrol'. Storms had been rumbling in the mountains above the Mpinzani lands and, skittish, he'd decided that he'd wander along pack borders and beyond, away from the troubling weather. No one would miss him for a day or two - they'd assume he'd gone into the 'mini jungle' or gone hunting hares. Now he was in the unclaimed area where rogue lions and cheetahs and the gods knew whatelse roamed. Here, he didn't have to worry about the weather or any of his packs issues. The wild dog could amble along and turn his senses to avoiding trouble. In some bizarre way, the threat of real danger was soothing after more mundane problems.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:39 pm
 The morning weather was always her favourite, it was never to cold and never to hot, always perfect. The sun was still low in the sky when she decided she would take a bath in a nearby watering hole. I hope no one else has the same idea she thought as she made her way there, and to her great luck no one else was there. Kianga ran foreward towards the pool and Wild dog met water with a great big splash.
She was playng by hersef in a waterhole, chasing and pouncing after fish when she spotted Kadogo. She foze in pre pounce position and watched him through narrowed eyes, After all her meetings with other creatures Kianga was used to meeting strangers along the way, it didnt make her any less shy though. And hadnt had the misfortune yet of coming across a hostile creature, but she knew better then to assume all were good and agreeable.
She crouched down into the water untill just her head was out as she watched the fellow wild dog.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 12:47 pm
Alas for Kianga. After so much walking, Kaddy headed straight for the pool, as soon as the welcome scent of water found him. It was thirsty work, exploring the 'wilds'. It wasn't a lake, but it would do, he thought. Atleast there couldn't be crocodiles in such a small body of water.
Cautious anyway, he approached slowly. It didn't take long until he saw another in the watering hold, neck deep and watching him. So he smiled, let his ears flick back nervously, and paused before heading down to get a quick drink.
"Hello."
Kadogo lapped at the water swiftly, after a quick greeting. He was small for a male, about the size of your average female...and so the runt was still abit jumpy, even as an adult - even with other dogs. He could probably have delt with crocodiles better.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:01 pm
Her expression was probably shock and suprise, she didnt expect him to wander over to the water hole, but then again she wasnt very good at anticipating others actions. She blinked at his greeting and stood up debating on whether a hostile creature would have said hello.
"Good morning" she replied finally after much deliberation, she was resigned to wait it out and see. Still she kept herself mostly under the water as she watched the stranger drink from the water. Her eyes wandered across the male, yes it was deffinatly a male she could tell by his scent but he was awfully small. She too was a runt she he was bigger than her but he didnt know that, she was still under water.I dont think a male that small would be threatening she thought.
"What are you doing here?" she blurted out before thinking it through, she sounded like she owned the waterhole. Kianga shook her head she knew very well she must have sounded stupid.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:23 pm
"Erm...nice weather, isn't it?"
He raised his head again, his thirst quenched. Kaddy wasn't very good at small talk. So he grabbed the first cliche that came to mind and besides - it was true. He lived in a mountain area, and his shaggy coat was testiment to how cold it could be up there. Here, however, it was simply pleasant.
Kadogo debated leaving but decided to wait. Perhaps she'd turn out to be friendly. It was a she...it was hard to tell with water masking her scent. First female he'd met who wasn't his mother, his sister or his nanny. Made him have a certain amount of respect for her, straight off the bat. All the females he knew were strong and dependable and life-givers.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:33 pm
"yes, the weather is nice" she nodded. She stood up and made her way back to shore untill she was beside him. Just as I though, I am at least a good inch shorter then him. He wasnt half as talkative as the last wild dog she met, she grinned and shook the water off her fur while she was still beside him. She laughed quietly as water flew in all directions, including at Kadogo.
"I'm sorry, do you live around here?" she asked, by the looks of him he lived in a colder climate. He had much more fur then she did so perhaps she was the same size as him and his fur was just making him bigger than he really was.
"I dont really have a home, I'm a wanderer" she said with a smile.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 1:45 pm
Oh. She was dainty. Or perhaps it was just her smoother fur. This was novel though, being able to smile at someone without having to tilt his head up a bit. He only had seconds to ponder on sizes and fur however, before he had water droplets being flung his way.
Kaddy made an amused sound, a very quiet sort of laugh, and shook his own fur out.Have your water back, miss.
"I was going to ask if you lived around here. I'm part of a pack - " ...technically a prince but Kaddy never really felt like one, with so many siblings " - and only wandering for a day. What's your name...?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:00 pm
"A pack you say?" she replied, she moved around the watering hole, keeping her eyes on the dog suspiciously. The last Wild Dog she met belonged to a pack, he was a hunter though, stronger looking than this one.
"My name is Kianga, what's yours?" She sunk into the mud a bit on her circle around the water hole making her paws look brown. Maybe if I rolled around in this I could look normal she thought as she examined her paws. It was one of the reasons she felt like an outsider most of the time, she had oddly colored fur.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 2:10 pm
"Yes, the Mpinzani pack...I'm a hunter..." His large ears flicked back a few moments admitting that. Runt. Tiny, he was called. Or affectionatly, Mouse by his friends. Kadogo knew he didn't exactly fit the decription of your average hunter. He'd just been born into it as one of the leaders huge litter; hunter was pretty much just an honorary title.
"A pleasure to meet you Kianga. I'm Kadogo."
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:20 pm
"Oh, I met a hunter from the Hamaji pack the other day" She shuffled back over to him, once she washed the mud off her paws. No she would disguise herself, what use would it be? Maybe I like being unique she thought trying to convince herself that was the case.
He dosent look like a hunter she thought once she looked him over again, but then again looks can be deceiving. "Are you hunting right now Kadogo?" Kianga looked around but she really didnt see any prey in sight.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 5:48 pm
"Never heard of them but I've not met many other dogs who aren't family." Kaddy tilted his head. So there were other packs besides the two he knew of. Maybe all the dogs out here were smooth furred and paler? If so, he must stand out like a sore paw. He felt shabby compared to such handsome traits.
"Not right now, I'm simply exploring." And avoiding a storm, but Kianga didn't have to know that. "And what would you call yourself, Kianga? A hunter, runner...? Or just a wanderer?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:10 pm
"So you're sheltered, huh?" She wagged her tail a bit, he was quite the opposite of her. She had never been protected from the harsh realities of life, she was exposed to every single one that came her way. She guessed it was just the price of being a wanderer..not that it was her choice. She didnt ask her mother to abandon her at such a young age.
"I'm just a wanderer" she smiled but turned away anyway, she felt embarassed about admitting it. It was like saying she really didnt belong anyway, she wanted nothing more than to belong but she felt weird about joining a pack especially since they all seemed to know and love eachother. It was like intruding upon something sacred.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 6:18 pm
"I suppose, in a way. But I'm a bit of an outsider, so..." He shrugged and offered an almost apologetic smile, for his boring home life. Kaddy had seen more of the world than some at least.
"Maybe I'll become a wanderer too, one day." It seemed a nice sort of life, going where you wanted. Of course there'd be more danger as a lone dog, but his parents had been younger than he when they wandered alone, before the made the pack.
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Posted: Wed Feb 07, 2007 7:22 pm
"Being a wanderer is no fun" This Kianga knew from experience, she hated being alone, even though she wasnt particularly social she would still rather have company.
"Have you been here before? You look like you live somewhere colder" She put her nose in the air and inhaled, she smelled a rabbit nearby, or maybe it was a meerkat. All she really knew was that she was once again starving. Without saying a word to Kadogo she wandered off toward the smell.
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Posted: Thu Feb 08, 2007 12:35 pm
"Not too much colder. But yes, it's cooler and nope. First time out."
It was out of habit that Kadogo took two seconds to study her stance and another two to fall into step alongside her, causually ready to assist in catching a meal. It was his only job after all, and instinct lent itself to the hunt.
"That a rabbit or a hare, do you think?"
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