Fuli
PRIDELANDERS 
The Wanderer
Posts: 131
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Post by Fuli on Sept 28, 2022 1:39:54 GMT
Fuli's long tail swished behind her, bobbing up and down with her pace. Her ears flicked back and forth every so often, and her eyes scanned the terrain from behind the shadows of her dark tear markings. Her long legs moved with practiced grace, carrying her slim but well muscled form gently across the land. Her short, golden brown fur was dotted with pitch black spots, which blended into stripes the higher on her body they went. The mane-like mantle that adorned the back of her neck in cubhood was long gone by now.
Here it was. Home. Sure had been a while.
The cheetah leaned down and felt the long grass brushing gently against her muzzle as she walked. Turning her eyes skyward, she took a second to watch the clouds fly slowly south with the wind. Off in the distance, occasional acacia trees dotted the landscape and large herds of grazing animals formed spotty brown patches in the sea of green. A small river cut through the landscape, sending its precious fresh water off to some distant watering hole. It was beautiful.
She didn't intend to stay for long.
Fuli had come a long way from the Tree of Life. And she was going to go a lot further. But it didn't feel right to just walk on past the Pridelands and not catch up with some old friends. So here she was. Walking to Pride Rock one last time.
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Kiara
PRIDELANDERS
Princess of the Pridelands
Posts: 75
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Post by Kiara on Sept 28, 2022 2:19:24 GMT
Kiara had dealt with two disturbances this morning alone and three the night before. What was going on in the Pridelands? The Lioness was tired and she wished her parents would return from their much needed time away. She missed them, but the lands beyond them had never been seen by her parents and they had wanted to enjoy some time together. Kiara had taken up the reins as Queen Regent. Kovu was doing an excellent job, but Pridelanders looked to her for the answers they sought.
"Princess Kiara?" Her eyes opened to look at the Majordomo for the day. Several birds had taken up the job of helping her with the morning report and to keep an eye on the Pridelands. Today was a young Hornbill and he was eager to please, as always. "Forgive me, your highness, but a Cheetah is coming to Pride Rock." Kiara lifted her head in confusion... A Cheetah? They had very few in the Pridelands, most the time just those passing through or a few mothers and their cubs.
The cubs were known to stay longer then the mothers though, protected by the lands... But when they reached age, they normally said their farewells. "Did you see who, Hamu?" She asked as she stood, stretching out a little as she walked to to the edge of Priderock, searching the lands.
"Um... I'm sorry, but no... I am afraid she is a new one to me," he said, landing beside her. Hamu was young and not from the Pridelands, but had traveled here and had volunteered to help. He had done a fine job so far. Kiara nodded and looked across the savannah, soon spotting the Cheetah in question. For a moment, she could not tell who it was, then she saw the familiar markings and a smile spread upon her face.
"It's Fuli... Thank you, Hamu," she said before she left the edge and followed the path to the ground and towards the roaming Cheetah. It didn't take long for them to meet and Kiara's smile never faultered. "Fuli! What a pleasure it is to see you, friend," Kiara said as she approached. TAG: FuliLOCATION: The Savannah in the Pride Lands COMMENTS: ^_^ |
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Fuli
PRIDELANDERS
The Wanderer
Posts: 131
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Post by Fuli on Sept 29, 2022 23:36:58 GMT
From a good 500 tails or so, Fuli could see a lone figure sitting on Pride Rock. A lioness, from the looks of it. As the distance closed, she recognized the solid light brown fur of what was most likely Kiara, given her status in the pride. A smile crossed her face as the princess left her perch to meet on even ground. Fuli continued walking for a bit until they were within ten tails of each other, then the conversation started.
"Same to you, Kiara. How's it been around here?" asked the cheetah, veering off to Kiara's right. She quickly looped back around to the lioness' left flank and sat down, just a few whiskers away from touching. "I take it the place didn't completely fall apart without me?" Fuli joked with a smug grin.
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Kiara
PRIDELANDERS
Princess of the Pridelands
Posts: 75
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Post by Kiara on Sept 30, 2022 2:21:10 GMT
Oh, how Kiara had missed the smugness that was Fuli the Cheetah. A smile spread across her face as she Cheetah came to sit beside her and Kiara looked around the area and shrugged.
"I mean, it remains to be seen... Dad and Mom are gone, so who knows what might fall apart next," she said with a teasing sound in her voice. The two not been close as cubs, but with Fuli a part of her brother's guard, they had learned a mutual respect and grown a nice friendship.
"Did I hear correctly from a wayward bird? That you and Azaad had cubs?" The news had come from a flying friend that had brought a message from her brother and Rani. The message also included the subject of new cubs belonging to Fuli and Azaad. She did not see any other cheetah's with Fuli. But, Cheetahs were not the type to stay with their parents long.
Fuli had struck out on her own when she was young as well. In fact, Kiara didn't even know if either of her parents had been to the Pridelands before. TAG: FuliLOCATION: The Savannah in the Pride Lands COMMENTS: ^_^ |
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Fuli
PRIDELANDERS
The Wanderer
Posts: 131
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Post by Fuli on Oct 4, 2022 0:40:14 GMT
Fuli nodded. "Yes, four. Manjano, Doa, Mkia and Mstari."
As the cheetah listed off the names, her expression seemed to lack emotion. Her eyes didn't wander or close, her thoughts didn't drift off to memories of her motherhood. It was as if she didn't love her own cubs.
"They've come of age by now. Azaad's gone on his way, and so have I. And with my responsibility taken care of, I'm free to do whatever I want," she told the princess.
Fuli's face softened for a moment. Her ears drooped slightly. "The... the Night Pride is doing fine. The Tree of Life is way easier to defend than this place. No angry hyena clans or scheming crocodile leaders or giant fire spirits to fight wars with."
She smiled slightly as she recalled all her adventures with the Lion Guard. Back when she was young and wild and pretty dumb sometimes.
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Kiara
PRIDELANDERS
Princess of the Pridelands
Posts: 75
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Post by Kiara on Oct 6, 2022 13:18:03 GMT
Kiara sat and listened to the names of the young cheetahs. The lack of emotion to Kiara was bizarre, but she had heard her own stories of Cheetah parents. They didn't stick around once the cubs could hunt for themselves and everyone seemed okay with that. Maybe there would be different cheetah parents? Maybe there were? But Fuli had lived like that, to her understanding.
"I hope to meet them some day," Kiara said, especially since she had met Azaad and he seemed like a lovely cheetah. She hated that they had gone their separate ways though... But, Fuli had always been a loner, except when she helped protect the pride lands. "I am glad everything it well at the Night Pride." Kiara was very glad for that and the same of relief on her face was there.
"How long do you plan on staying in the Pride Lands?" Kiara was more curious than anything. Having Fuli around, it would be nice to enjoy her company. But, Cheetah's rarely stuck around more than they needed to. To be honest, had Fuli not joined the Lion Guard, she likely would have left when she was fully grown. TAG: FuliLOCATION: The Savannah in the Pride Lands COMMENTS: ^_^ |
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Fuli
PRIDELANDERS
The Wanderer
Posts: 131
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Post by Fuli on Oct 6, 2022 22:48:01 GMT
Aaand there it was. How long was she staying? Well, time to break the news. Kiara wouldn't be happy, but at least she'd have closure.
Fuli sighed, and took a deep breath. She looked Kiara straight in the eyes as she spoke. "Just a few days, at most," she admitted. "I've left the Night Pride. The Tree of Life's in good paws, and the Pridelands is too, from what I remember. It's time for me to go."
She hoped this would need no further elaboration. Everyone knew cheetahs were loners. Fuli lived with her friends in the Pridelands for a long time, but it was time to move on.
Something in her, a deep, inexplicable spirit, was urging her to move. Not just run, but move. Away from here, somewhere beyond the horizon, to some unknown place across the world. Her life in the Guard kept the spirit tamed, its desire for adventure satiated. But the journey across the world she embarked on a little over a year ago had awakened it, and once her responsibility to her cubs was over, she now felt its full force. Fuli couldn't stay.
She stayed silent a bit, waiting for Kiara to respond. Her expression reflected poorly concealed sadness, her gaze involuntarily drifting downwards no matter how she tried to hold her head high.
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Kiara
PRIDELANDERS
Princess of the Pridelands
Posts: 75
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Post by Kiara on Oct 7, 2022 12:52:08 GMT
As Fuli spoke about leaving, Kiara let out a sad sigh, but gave her a reassuring nod. It was something she knew about Cheetahs, they enjoyed moving about. It wasn't uncommon for an old friend to appear on the edge of the Pride Lands or to come to Pride Rock. Most Cheetahs were respectful, they did not cause problems.
There were always a few who could be excluded from that group... The few who wanted to cause problems.
"I am glad you are here for a few days though... And I hope you will always know, you have a home here, when you need it," Kiara said with a smile on her face. She was sure that Rani and Kion had told her the same. She was sure they did, but she did not wish to pry into her past conversations.
"I hope you will join the Pride for the evening? Maybe even enjoy a meal? The hunting party should be back shortly," It was different then being invited to a hunt, which had happened before. TAG: FuliLOCATION: The Savannah in the Pride Lands COMMENTS: ^_^ |
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Fuli
PRIDELANDERS
The Wanderer
Posts: 131
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Post by Fuli on Oct 9, 2022 1:33:52 GMT
Kiara's reassurance made Fuli perk up a little. A small smile crossed her face as she met the lioness' gaze once more. Her time on the Guard taught her that it felt good to have a friend sometimes, even if she was still an introvert.
"Thanks, but I don't need lions to hunt for me," she said, her smug grin reappearing. "I'm probably a better hunter than your whole pride anyways."
Fuli stopped a second, her smugness subsiding. "Besides, you know what I'm like at parties," she added with a hint of shyness, her ears drooping a tiny bit. Everyone that knew the cheetah knew how bad she was with large groups of animals. Singing at a performance? Sure, then she had something to focus on other than the crowd. But when it came to casual socialization, she was hopelessly awkward. It was kind of funny how someone so arrogant and overconfident could seemingly deflate so quickly when faced with a normal social gathering.
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Kiara
PRIDELANDERS
Princess of the Pridelands
Posts: 75
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Post by Kiara on Oct 11, 2022 15:41:58 GMT
The smugness of her personality made Kiara smile in remembrance of their first hunt together. Kiara had been preparing for her first hunt, an important thing for young Lionesses to do alone. Fuli hadn't been to happy when they hadn't actually taken down the animal, but it made Kiara better prepared.
"I would never[/] assume that," Kiara said with a smile at her saying she needed lions to hunt. At the next part, she chuckled, enjoying the tease that came from Fuli and her personality. "Well, I know a few young lionesses who are... Well... Not so great hunters." She would never name those she thought of, but it wouldn't be the first thought that had crossed her mind about the hunters.
"You have always been someone I enjoy being around. I would love to host you at least for an evening before you leave, but if you can't, I understand," she said and the tone showed she meant it. Kiara did not wish to cause her any trouble or to cause her any guilt for not coming around. Fuli was a Cheetah... She had her own life and one far different than her own. TAG: FuliLOCATION: The Savannah in the Pride Lands COMMENTS: ^_^ |
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Fuli
PRIDELANDERS
The Wanderer
Posts: 131
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Post by Fuli on Nov 13, 2022 11:38:47 GMT
Fuli rose to her paws again, and turned away to look at the horizon for a moment. The endless rolling expanse of grass seemed to beckon her. She then turned back to Kiara.
"That's all right, Kiara. Thanks for the offer," she said, smiling. "But I know where I need to be."
The cheetah looked back at the horizon, and took a few steps towards it. She paused and looked back at Kiara, her eyes soft and compassionate. "Stay safe, I'll see you around," she said warmly. Then she turned back to the horizon and began walking away.
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Kiara
PRIDELANDERS
Princess of the Pridelands
Posts: 75
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Post by Kiara on Nov 13, 2022 21:57:49 GMT
When the cheetah rose to her paws, Kiara did as well and smiled when she dismissed the offer. The expression was friendly and warm, she meant no ill-will, which Kiara never thought she did. Kiara watched as she began to walk away and nodded to her softly.
"You too, friend," she said calmly to her before she left and headed towards Pride Rock once more. TAG: FuliLOCATION: The Savannah in the Pride Lands COMMENTS: ^_^ |
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I look forward to affiliating in the future if this is fixed though!