Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Apr 25, 2021 20:08:51 GMT
Him? Over qualified to lead?
Kabili couldn’t help but stifle a little laugh since so far Bandit hadn’t exactly proved himself a *capable* leader, but out of respect of not having a fight about it... Well, he was going to be casual about this. “Look, you might have experience but I have something else,” Kabili responded. Taking something from his backpack - his mom’s journal he’d mentioned before as having been reading, “My mom’s notes on Zion. She was researching it before we left. It’s not much but she has descriptions of how it was depicted in literature and stuff.”
Sure it wasn’t a map. Hell his mom didn’t even know it was in the Pridelands if it was, but it was a start. Even if he still didn’t quite understand why his mom was so hell bent on finding Zion in the first place. “And since Tara and I are the only ones that can read I guess I’m gonna have to take point if we’re going.” He explained point-blank.
Hearing Fuli’s comments he paused a moment, honestly he had a feeling about that too. Taking a deep breath - he then added. “Like what? We’re in the middle of a wasteland, Fuli,” he pointed out. “It’s not like the fruit grows on trees out here.”
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NOBU
Administrator
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Post by NOBU on Apr 30, 2021 16:21:03 GMT
Fuli ran back like the wind; no. The wind was not fas enough to follow this cheetah!
The Lion Guard's fastest zoomed right back to the group, where she found herself in the middle of the same discussion they were having before. She sure was fast, but was her gone for just two seconds, or did they not fix it yet?
There was a strong wind coming from the right path where Fuli came from. That path lead to three other possibilities. The left path remained unexplored.
Kabili argued for reason on his leading, Fuli acted out of duty. The canine asked for a trial by combat, but Tara? She just decided to press forward. Like the brave adventurers she represented, she went past the Jackal, unless Bandid decided to do something about it, and, believing she kept walking forward, she was soon to find... Something interesting.
In the distance of this long canyon, there was one small animal. Brown, with dark legs and a bushy tail... It looked oddly familiar to Bandit in that sense. Its ears were down, and it looked not exactly vibrant. It was small, smaller than any of the animals in her group. The animal seemed to walk in her direction with uninterested steps, most likely not even aware of her presence.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 30, 2021 17:28:11 GMT
Bandit rolled his eyes at Fuli, lowering his nose and putting his hand up in a mocking way as she talked. "That's what I'm tryin' to do!" he argued, "You may be no alpha but ya make a good scout, cheets." he gave her a goofy smile, and looked toward Kabili, listening to him, then moving aside for Tara, now that she's made a decision. "Nah, that means Tara is in charge." he turned to follow the girl. "All you got is that, and she can read it. She's got the 'yena's recommenda-dation." he said, "Else-ways, I'll fight on her behalf too."
He walked with Tara long enough to spot the creature, "'ey! It's one of my cousins!" he announced, "I wonder how they've been gettin' along out here." he put his paw to his snout in thought, "Wait if we's in Jackal territory, ya think..." he gulped, "You think the Jackals and Hyenas might be feudin'? Did they take out Njaa?"
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Fuli
PRIDELANDERS
The Wanderer
Posts: 131
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Post by Fuli on Apr 30, 2021 23:06:50 GMT
"My name's Fuli," the cheetah scoffed at Bandit. "And I don't really appreciate nicknames." As the others seemed to decide on crowning Tara as leader, Fuli decided it was better than nothing. Bandit was shut up, the others had stopped arguing, everything was all well and good. However, she was a bit less happy about Tara and Bandit moving ahead before she could scout out the path. With an audible groan, she sprinted ahead of them and walked a good dozen feet in front of them to make sure no harm befell the others. Like it or not, her job was to keep everyone safe. Upon reaching the strange animal, she stopped, and prepared for a fight. However, he seemed to pay them no attention, and Bandit confirmed he was just one of his cousins. Okay then? "Hey, you there, we need directions back to the Pridelands," she said, stepping in front of him. Despite her serious tone, she tried to keep as neutral an expression as possible to avoid intimidating the jackal. "The path we came from is blocked off."
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2021 19:29:49 GMT
Tara just crossed her arms and gave a small smile to Bandit, but not meaning anything bad by it, as Bili pulled out...well the perfect qualifications of Zion information. Even she hadn't known they were that prepared. Now her mind really was made up, well still mostly.
She then shrugged to the reading comment, though Bandit didn't need it and was back to his cheerful self. She wouldn't forget he could be bold when called for though. "Alright then let's go, at least we still sort of know the way though I agree a map would have been amazing to have", she smiled back to Bili but of course didn't blame his mom that they didn't have one.
She'd provided enough already, in a sense.
Tara followed with her gaze as Bandit pointed out 'one of his cousins'. The idea of a feud did not sound good at all. She frowned thoughtfully, "I hope not..." she answered to the speculation of Njaa being taken out on purpose, "Why's she still hanging back if she knows at least you, though?" she asked, taking cousin literally whether that was what Bandit meant. Sure there were also the other three of them the pup might be wary of.
Fuli was able to approach, though. Tara waited to see what the pup said on Fuli question before mentioning their actual purpose, knowing they should keep that close as long as they could and yet any info the pup had could prove useful.
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Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on May 5, 2021 5:28:29 GMT
Kabili frowned and pouted a minute.
It wasn’t that he was against Tara leading, but honestly he had been out to prove himself in some small way by showing that he could be a good leader. So of course, they were going to try to take that away from him! Dammit. “Well I mean, I guess...” Kabili grunted. “As long as we get there and don’t lose it. It’s very important to me.” He made as firmly clear as possible.
That said, he did not like the comment about his cousin.
A cousin? Wasn’t Bandit supposed to be the only one in his family out here? The boy quirked his eyebrow and immediately turned to Bandit. Not really paying Fuli’s actions much mind. “I thought you were the only Jackal out here? You mean there are more in the Outlands?”
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NOBU
Administrator
Posts: 42
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Post by NOBU on May 5, 2021 21:03:53 GMT
The jackal was following his way, eyes to the ground, ears down... He certainly didn't look very happy. He had not noticed the group- No, wait. Ears came up, tilted towards the cheetah and well, he directed his eyes to her. He looked surprised! But as soon as it was clear they were not aggressive, his sad face came back "The Pridelands are.... In that direction" He nodded towards where they came from.
This was a rather small jackal. Quite a lot smaller than Bandit, with a different tone to his fur. He answered the human boy "There are jackals all over the outlands... I just don't know who he is!"
That one seemed quite interested in the older jackal. Slowly approaching him, sniffing the air in front of him. He walked around Bandit... That was some kind of greeting. Likely not one Bandit was used to bit certainly he had seen that before. "Hey, Where are you from?"
Tara waited, but the jackal cub seemed to approach them and didn't seem to pay the... apparently elected leader of the group, any recognition.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 7, 2021 19:56:35 GMT
Bandit gave Fuli a laugh, "What? Ya don't? Oh in Rabia we love nicknames! We don't never use our real names." he snickered, putting his paw to his snout as he did so. "You don't know what yer missin'" he shook his head, then shook it again at Tara. He seemed to be getting a bit dizzy from that...
"Oh nah, I just mean she's a jackal, and I'm a jackal... I mean we might be related but I don't know that!" he gave her a goofy grin. "Yeah most of them came out here! Pops took his friends and me maw and me into his own little pack." he clarified.
He grinned when the jackal pup asked him, he seemed perplexed by the greeting, "'ey, in Rabia we normally sniff each other's butts." he informed him, as he shook his tail, and drummed his paws along the ground.
"But you don't know 'bout Rabia now do ya, let me tell ya... nah, sing ya about it!" he raised his snout to the sky, then bringing it down as he started an impromptu song!
"I'm Bandit! You might call me Mkuu wa Wezi! he laughed
You heard me right, pupperoo! Mkuu wa Wezi, that means Prince of Thieves! Mufasa done kicked us out, yeah, I'm telling you, Rabia's our home, but don't fear no disease!
He grinned, kicking some dust into the air. "But nah I don't think you would know me, Not even if I told you my real name! Rabia, land of thieves, stealin' everything! If only we could steal friends, what a shame!
He smiled a goofy grin as he paused. "How'd I do?" he asked, turning to look at everyone, the pup and group.
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Fuli
PRIDELANDERS
The Wanderer
Posts: 131
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Post by Fuli on May 7, 2021 21:20:17 GMT
Fuli face-pawed. Nothing, nothing in the whole wide world could have prepared her for this expedition. And it was clear her patience was starting to dwindle. It was barely noticeable now, just a little shift in her voice, a few extra lines on her forehead. Nothing too serious yet.
"Not the time, Bandit," she said to the musical jackal. Turning back to the little guy, she re-iterated her previous question. "I'll make myself more clear. The path we came from is blocked. We need the next shortest way back to the Pridelands. Do you know which way to go?" The cheetah's tail twitched anxiously. This was taking longer than she liked. The longer they stayed in one place, the more likely it was that they'd be tracked down and killed by their assailants from earlier.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2021 21:38:34 GMT
"Oh! You meant cousin in...the general sense, got it", Tara nodded as Bandit explained. This was the first she was hearing about any of Bandit or his clan, unaware of the tensions with the Pride Lands and how everyone from Zazu to Rafiki was very concerned with Bandit's father's history and claim of friendship.
Not that she needed to be enlightened by song.
Bandit's song wasn't the first time she had encountered the random singing the Pride Lands were very prone to, but she was still getting used to it. "Oh you don't have to...".
To late, he was going to sing anyway.
Of course she'd heard Mufasa's name by now and couldn't help looking surprised as that came up and how he had been kicked out by the royal family. She glanced to Kabili, but just in being curious what he knew on it and then back to Bandit as he finished and that seemed the only useful info.
Well other than the thieves thing. "Uh...I'm still getting used to the fact that you all just burst into song randomly, but uh, that was very informative", she commented, not commenting on the song itself and trying to still sound casual about the last truthful bit but she filed away the Thieves Kicked Out part.
Fuli was still trying to get the jackal cub to tell them the way back, or her. "Or...have you seen any odd mountains around?", was the only way she could think to ask about a temple or such without stating what it was, and the name Zion, something she wasn't sure the wise-ness of just yet to just anyone, cute cub or no. Cute cubs had adult guardians or parents and Bandit said he wasn't related to the other jackals, and Bandit was apparently a thief anyway.
Tara was getting a headache at having agreed to come but pressed on, as Bili said, it was important.
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Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on May 13, 2021 4:35:29 GMT
Of course that was what he meant.
But for once, he and Fuli were on the same page about this not being the time to literally burst into song. Did he just do that? Come on! He knew it was part of their culture but they were dealing with a bigger problem than what key they were supposed to be singing in, come on Bandit! "OK, as cool as that song and dance number was," He said trying his best to be nice. "We really need to get moving. Soon. And it seems like there's no way back right now. But there might be if we keep going another way... Maybe."
Honestly, he hadn't read through a ton about the journal yet. But he had hopes that he'd be right - or at least semi right. "Yeah, odd mountains. Or like a really big rock. With lots of steps." Hell, he didn't even know if steps were a thing for them. But maybe he'd get lucky.
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NOBU
Administrator
Posts: 42
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Post by NOBU on May 16, 2021 15:55:54 GMT
The little jackal lifted one eyebrow with a mix of surprise and... Disgust when Bandit spoke about their usual greeting. "Yuck!" Jackals here were rather different it seemed. "Rabia?" He asked about the place Bandit spoke about... And his answer came in song format.
The jackal pup sat down with just the most adorable face and tail wag listening to the performance. That actually put a smile on his face! He seemed genuinely interested in this odd group.
"I don't know" he told Fuli about another way into the Pridelands "But mom might. She knows all about the Outlands, she's been here fur a while!"
To the humans, the jackal tilted his head to the left and lifted one eyebrow "Steps? I don't know no walking mountain! But I'm sure there's one somewhere..!" And then a smile again "mom would know about that too!"
"It's just from where I came! I can take you there and you can ask her!" He noted towards the direction he came from, the direction the group was headed.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2021 18:50:37 GMT
The larger jackal gave a deep chuckle. "Haha! Ha! Kids, sure are the darndest things."
The song and dance thankfully came to an end, for the pup to speak of his ma "She sure sounds like who we do need to talk to!" he grinned a goofy grin.
"And you thought I was stupid." he rolled his eyes at the group. "Take us to your ma! Iffin ya do, we'll owe ya! At least me, I'll pay up." he chuckled, but it was an odd one, it wasn't his goofy chuckle, but one that at least the jackal pup would realize means he is hiding something.
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Fuli
PRIDELANDERS
The Wanderer
Posts: 131
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Post by Fuli on May 16, 2021 20:43:44 GMT
Fuli frowned. While she made it a rule not to trust random outlander pups that walked around unsupervised, it was their only real option to get back home. So for once, she agreed with Bandit. Although it was probably best if he did most of the talking. She decided that she'd go wherever the jackal pup led them, but stay in the front of the line as usual in case of danger. Aside from that, she kept her mouth shut and focused on scanning the area for dangers. It was good that nobody was arguing anymore, and Fuli wanted it to stay that way. Of course, this would be a whole lot easier on her own, but life was rarely that simple.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2021 19:31:24 GMT
Tara curbed a smirk as Kabili pointed out more bluntly than her perhaps backhanded compliment had that now was also not the time for bursting into song. Though they had been stranded at the same time, Bili still had more time among the Pride Landers and Royal Family than her experience in the still unclaimed lands and so she left it to him on how unusual it was, culture or no.
Even for a culture of singers, it was apparently still odd.
Bili caught on to what she was doing, trying to explain the temple or whatever Zion would be inside of in a way that an animal would catch. Maybe it was literally in a mountain, who knew. Something amidst the flat seeming land had to help right?
The pup didn't have many answers, though, but his mom might. As long as she didn't eat them, and eitherway Tara couldn't see a better option right now. Bandit smirked and she smirked back in amusement, "I didn't say that...bluntly, and hold the gloating until we find out if his mom actually does know anything". She started after the pup, but keeping alert. He was cute, but they'd been ambushed once.
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