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 Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 1:58 pm
 It was a cold night as Zuri tried to make herself a comfortable sleeping place. She found a large tree that would provide good shade for the morning sun, but she couldn't find a comfortable position among its tangled roots. The roots were hard and bumpy, scratching against Zuri's back. She tried to readjust herself to be more comfortable, but no matter what she did, she couldn't be relaxed.
After several attempts to be comfortable, Zuri got up and moved to the other side of the tree, hoping she may be able to find more comfort there. As she was moving, she heard something rustling in the branches above. She paused, keeping silent in case there was danger around. A bird flew from the tree quickly, squaking as it flew. The sudden commotion panicked Zuri, who let out a loud shriek of fright.
Upon realizing it was a bird, Zuri felt foolish for reacting in the way she did, but just laughed it off. Hopefully no one was around to hear, it would be pretty embarassing for her. With a smile, Zuri curled up by the roots of the tree.
'Ugh, still not comfortable,' thought Zuri, letting out a groan.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:08 pm
She had finally decided to move on. Isi had been walking for a few days now, humming a tilted tune that seemed to change with every step.The Pridelands was too big, too daunting, for her. Atleast, for the moment. Maybe she would go back someday. But for now, the dark lioness was on the move, blending in with the shadows. She didn't know where in this huge huge world she would go, but the memory of the big water kept tugging at her, pulling her paws and full out dragging her at times.
It seemed so peaceful. Happy, even.
The night had closed in on her, and she still kept walking, ignorant of the funny laughing things called hyenas, and other lions who might wish her harm. Isi was going on a full belly [What a lucky find that zebra carcass had been!] And did not intend to stop anytime soon. That ridiculous feather her young friend had given her was still tucked in her hair, safe from falling. So on the lioness that blended with the night moved, humming that random, silly tune.
"Huh?" The lioness was jerked from her steady pattern, and looked up. A shriek? "Halllllo? Anyone there?"
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:16 pm
"Oh, great," muttered Zuri quietly. There was a witness to deal with. Well, maybe she may be able to help Zuri, find her a more relaxing place to stay.
"I'm fine, I just got scared," replied Zuri, loud enough for whoever was out there to hear her. "Do you know any place to sleep? I'm travelling on my own, I need somewhere comfortable to stay. This tree has very uncomfortable roots and lying out in the open ground can be dangerous for a young lioness."
Young lioness. That usually did the trick when Zuri asked for help. The 'vulnerable and helpless' guilt trip for help. Zuri smiled slightly, hoping her plan was working to have whoever was out there help her. Hopefully it wasn't someone dangerous. Though, the way she spoke didn't seem too threatening to her.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:26 pm
Isi nodded to herself, relaxing a bit. She hadn't even noticed her shoulders had tensed up till then. "Mmm, that makes sense. I would scream if I ever got scared, too." She peered aroundthe tree and grinned happily at her. Maybe her travels would nto be so lonely after all! "Ah, no, I don't. Just passing through m'self. Sorry, little lioness."
"Yes, yes, it can be veree dangerous, with all the laughing hyeeenas, and nasty mean lions and stuff." Her voice was starting to sound rough, some of her words botched. The lioness didn't notice this, though. "You could travel with me, though! If you want, of course." Her grin stretched wider, and she was now shifting her weight onto one paw, then the other.
It never really occured to her to ask why she was traveling alone, or where her parents were.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:31 pm
A travelling partner? Perfect. Even if only temporary, a travelling partner may very well just be what Zuri needed. Perhaps what has been so difficult about this journey is her lonliness through it all. Being by herself the majority of the time only allows for Zuri's mind to wander off into negative thoughts filled with doubt.
"We could definetly travel together! Oh, I'm Zuri, by the way," said Zuri happily as she walked over to the lioness. Although it was nighttime, Zuri felt awake enough to travel some more. "Where are you headed to anyways?"
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:43 pm
It would be wonderful to have someone to travel with. She hadn't talked with anyone in a while, it might have been why she was putting that strange sound onto some of her words. Her mind was rarely filled with bad thoughts, and althoguh happy, they were rather lonely. It seemed that it had been just the lioness and her horrible tunes. Not anymore, though!
"Yay! Oh, thankyou! Thankyou! I'm Isi." She perked her head, and looked at the lioness. Very gray. "Headed? Well, Idunno. Just... heading somewhere."
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 2:47 pm
"Same, just heading around, looking for my family," said Zuri confidently. Or, at least, she appeared to be confident. She tried to act confident hoping that it might actually make her confident and hopeful, as opposed to doubtful and uncertain. "I got lost from my brother and my ma, I'm hoping to find them again."
Zuri started walking away from the tree, not even checking if Isi was following after or not. She walked with her head up high, trying to look proud and prepared, feeling the need to impress Isi, for some reason.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:32 pm
"You're lost?" The lioness's face took on a mildly concerned look. How terrible! "Your.. Mother.. and brother?" This sounded familiar. Oh. Isi's face scrunched up for a second, her silver eyes vacant. She could barely even remember her own Mama's face, nor her Bro's. She shook her head, ridding herself of the memory. No reason to think about it, right? "That's terrible!"
Oh, good. The young lioness would lead. Isi wasn't up to it- she had a horrible sense of direction. Smiling gratefully, she followed Zuri, not doubting her direction.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:49 pm
"Yeah, I hope to see them again someday soon," said Zuri wishfully. Zuri continued walking, noticing that Isi was following her. Zuri wasn't too sure on where to go, but she could probably find some where, especially with protection from an adult. If she just travelled alone, she probably would end up being attacked by lions, mauled and ripped to shreds.
Oh. Lovely thoughts.
"So, where did you come from?" asked Zuri, trying to get her mind off the idea of her being killed.
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:54 pm
"I'm sure you will!" The lioness chirped, tagging behind her. Whereever they were going, she was sure that they would get there safely. Nothing would, or could, happen to them it seemed. Poor little cub, though. It's terrible to lose you're family like that. It had been.
"Me?" Isi paused for a second, bewildered. She had no real answer for that! "Africa?"
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 7:25 am
"Well I know that much," said Zuri. She wasn't quite sure whether Isi was just joking around with her response or didn't understand her question. The question was pretty vague, so it was understandable. "I mean, any specific place? Do you belong to a pride or live near any one place?"
Zuri thought about her old 'home', or place she last lived with her family. It was a small den practically in the middle of nowhere. As she thought more about it, she remembered faces from her past. A hyena, Neus, from some area with lots of bones. He was a nice hyena and helped Zuri escape. There was also a lioness, whose name was also 'Zuri', but actually Aurizuri. She was from a pride...the Pridelands.
If only Zuri could find her way back to there, she may have a better chance of finding her family.
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 3:34 pm
Isipho paused for a moment, frowning. "...No. Once, when I was a cub, but even then I... we wandered. I guess so, anyways." The lioness looked perplexed by the question. She couldn't remember a den... but maybe there had been one. She furrowed her brows, and looked at the ground, concentrating.
"What about you, Miss Zuri?"
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 3:37 pm
"Well, I guess, I don't remember how to get there though. I just remember it was near the Pridelands. I think, at least. I met a lioness from there when I was near my home, so I think that means I lived kind of close to there," said Zuri. "I'm not sure where the Pridelands is though. Do you?"
Zuri looked at the lioness hopefully. Perhaps she would be able to help Zuri even more than she thought!
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 3:45 pm
"The pridelands? I was just there!" Isi's eyes brightened. She was pretty sure she remembered where the large pride was, and smiled confidently back. "It was uh... That ways, I think." The lioness pointed a paw in a random direction, slicing her arm through the blackness.
She wasn't too keen on visiting the place she had just left, but she would be glad to help this lioness.
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Posted: Tue May 22, 2007 3:48 pm
YES! Things were truly working out for Zuri. Hopefully Isi did know where it was, it'd be bad if they got lost. But Zuri was too happy to think about that or doubt Isi's navigation.
"How far away was it?" asked Zuri. If it was close, they may be able to make it there that night, though if it was far, they may have to stop to sleep before getting to the Pridelands.
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