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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2022 16:20:51 GMT
Kovu had intended to pay his sister a visit, or at least her guard... but the lair was empty. The brown lion let out a sigh, looking for tracks but only for a moment. "Where is she?" with his own thoughts sharing the words he was hearing drawing closer, he didn't pick up on the panicked serval until he nearly tripped on her! "Whoa!" he stepped back and steadied himself. "Lion Guard!?" the creature shouted into the den, before turning to Kovu. "Oh! Kovu, your uh... Prince!" she seemed at a loss for the moment on formality. "Something's happened! The Lion Guard, y-your sister! Where is she!?" the serval said with a bit of panic. Kovu tilted his head, "Hold on... Hold on, calm down..." he coaxed her, "The Lion Guard is away, I know not where... but tell me, and I will tell..." he stopped. "I will handle it." he said as intentions changed, "What is going on? The serval looked at him, backing away some and with her head lowered. "Y-you? But I- " With a decisive look from Kovu, she nodded. "R-right. N-no offense I'm sure... I'll just explain!" she said, looking away. "You have to believe me, there's a strange creature! It's spooking the herds, causing us all trouble. It's not exactly attacking but, it is disturbing the peace... if it's not too much trouble, if you aren't too busy... something must be done." the serval said; Kovu did his best to endure her, as far as he knew justified, panic. The lion nodded, "I said I would handle it. I will look around for others to help, stay with me... and then take me... or us, to where you saw the stranger..." he spoke calmly, the serval nodded as she kept at his side while he gave Pride Rock a good look around. Hoping to spot his sister, but he wasn't exactly picky.
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Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Oct 8, 2022 4:40:34 GMT
Sam felt a little restless that morning.
The more he was stuck out here, the more he felt like he fit in. But on the other hand, the longer he didn't hear from the other humans, the more he worried. What was going to happen if by some chance they caused trouble or didn't know what was going on? Maybe they did, though, maybe they already were well-aware and had just not made it out this far yet. It was the not knowing that didn't help him too much.
Either way, it'd kept him thinking in the den longer than usual. So he had only just come out when he spotted Kovu.
The way he was looking, and the presence of another animal already set off alarm bells. But he decided to play it cool at least for now. "Morning, Kovu," He announced. "Everything OK?"
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Post by Deleted on Oct 11, 2022 20:37:08 GMT
Reflex almost kicked in, but Kovu glanced at the serval and shook his head, "Actually no." he answered. "This serval here saw something causing trouble in the Pridelands. I'm sure you would be happy to help." he nodded, looking to her again. The serval herself didn't seem too pleased with the boy, "I would be grateful, really we all would be." Her tone was hesitant, but not so much to betray what she was feeling exactly. "The Lion Guard has been doing well, I don't know how this... whatever it is, has eluded them. I think it not my business to know, either." She serval had a certain humility about her.
"Your help is needed, there doesn't seem to be anyone else... and anything you can offer will be of great help with addressing this..." Kovu rather pointedly kept a 'telling' tone, but not entirely so either. "We will follow her lead; Does that sound good to you?" the lion asked finally.
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Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Oct 12, 2022 3:21:32 GMT
Sam stopped and looked at the serval a moment.
Sure he'd be happy to help? HELP? Sam wasn't equipped for... Well, actually, he might be right person for this wouldn't he? He was the one that had worked for a joint Zoologist-Veterinarian for two years. But still, he didn't like just being offered up like that. "I mean, I guess I could help. I did apprentice to someone who specializes in -." He paused. "Wait? Did you say that you'd never seen it before?"
Crap.
Sam had noticed the weary look that she'd given him and alarm bells rang in his head. What if it was part of the expedition? God, he had expected the adults had the good intentions they had said they did, but... "Yeah, I'll try anyway, but because I want to help," He said, not quite being rude. But making it clear it wasn't because he was ordered to. "What did the thing look like anyway?" He asked worriedly.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 13, 2022 18:54:26 GMT
"Good." Kovu answered to what Sam had gotten out, then looked to the Serval to explain. "I'm sorry that I can't be of much help..." she pre-emptively apologized. "All I can say is that what I saw, certainly didn't look like anything I had seen before!" [/font] she exclaimed. Though he was becoming annoyed, Kovu did his best to keep his expression from showing it too much. "I can help you by taking you to the others! Er... they may be skittish, I really am so sorry if this will be difficult." her ears folded back. The lion put a paw on her, "Hakuna matata, so they say. Just show us where we can start looking, and asking." his tone a bit more commanding than friendly, nonetheless she started walking in a direction, looked behind, and then kept at it as Kovu followed, taking them in the direction of the floodplains.
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Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Oct 14, 2022 17:44:48 GMT
Sam sighed too.
Honestly this wasn’t much of a help, but at least he could try. Though a part of him was nervous, he didn’t want to make Simba mad by getting too involved. But on the other hand, he didn’t want to let Kovu down either… So.
“Hey, I’m sorry for not being around by the way. After what happened with Kiara and Simba. I thought it was best I just uh… keep my distance?” He asked falling back so it was just the two of them. “I honestly didn’t want to get you guys in trouble. And it was pretty easy to find somewhere else to sleep.”
Honestly, he felt a pang of guilt about that. But he also knew that the king had his reasons not to trust him and he respected that.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 16, 2022 22:17:33 GMT
Kovu shrugged at the apology, "I really hadn't noticed? I stay away myself at times." the lion said dismissively; rather of seeing nothing wrong than not caring about the boy. "What happened with Kiara? he asked, clearly caring more for her, adding after a pause. "And Simba?. He glanced at the serval to make sure they were still following, she seemed more relaxed with them at a distance... in fact she seemed to be talking to herself as well.
Until of course, she started slowing down as she brought the pair to a small group of antelope at the edge of the floodplains. "Habari! the serval greeted, "I couldn't find the Lion Guard but her brother, the Prince can surely help us!" She gave a nervous smile, and the group waited for the three to be together before talking "Oh." Though rather than disappointment, the antelope that spoke first seemed nervous, and continued having already vocalized. "It's... we didn't want to make a big deal of it, we figured the Lion Guard would patrol or something and we could mention it..." he said. Kovu nodded, and an expectant look finally got them... something. "We're not sure what to think of it, but whatever it is... it's not from around here. I heard one of the rabbits trying to explain the Circle of Life to it, and um... well I haven't seen him since." His expression show he expected the worst. "After that the rabbits have been avoiding the floodplains, so I haven't talked to any of them about it either."
Kovu hrmed, certainly displeased. "Understood..." he spoke, trailing off to thought for a while.
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Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Oct 17, 2022 3:22:01 GMT
What happened? So he hadn't noticed.
On one hand, Sam should have been offended but on the other he wasn't at all. He had tried to keep to himself for the most part after all. But after a moment of thought he did answer Kovu's question. "Apparently Simba wasn't very happy that Kiara decided to let me stay. I mean he was nice enough even if he said he was still deciding about me," He paused. "But I was more worried about Kiara... Simba wouldn't hurt her, right? I mean, I didn't mean to get her into trouble with her dad. Especially if he smacks her around or something... That hurts."
The off-the-cuff comment about Sam's thoughts towards a parent's anger just what his experience with angry parental figures in the past (minus David) had been. But if he knew it was wrong to hurt your kids, well, he definitely didn't betray that he'd since learned that with his attitude at least.
As they stopped, Sam listened carefully to what they had to say. His head tilted a little bit in confusion, though it didn't sound too good. Maybe it really was another human, after all Sam had only just come to understand the Circle of Life a short time ago. Stepping forward, he calmly decided to speak up. "Ummm they didn't happen to look like a bigger version of me did they?" He asked politely. "Or be carrying anything dangerous?"
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2022 21:04:39 GMT
Kovu's body language gave off that he had something to say, but now wasn't the time,
"Simba would never strike Kiara." he said, choosing words carefully. "We don't do that here. I don't know of anything else, but he won't do that." his tone gave off a subtle protective quality. "Just, trust me. Simba can be...- but he does what he thinks is best." he noted. "That's a conversation to include Kiara in." Kovu shared.
The lion seemed a bit nervous at Sam's question, a bit bold to jump right to, but that would be the most worrying thing, especially with the question of what they were carrying...
"Huh. Maybe. the antelope said, "We thought it was just from the grapevine, but maybe... he hrmed.
Kovu let out a sigh, Let's ask around... if it's your kind, perhaps you'll notice something they didn't." the lion suggested.
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Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Oct 21, 2022 21:49:04 GMT
Sam shook his head.
They didn’t hit kids here? That was almost shocking to him. That had been a part of Sam’s everyday even after his mom died, after all no one took kindly to street kids or thieves. But still, he couldn’t really just leave Kovu hanging either. The chances were he’d look bad if not. “I didn’t mean to imply anything, sorry. I just… Back where I come from,” he shifted so if Kovu might look close enough he could see the part of a prominent scar down his back. But only for a few seconds before he pulled it up. “Parents don’t always use their words. Or adults for that matter.”
When the question still got them nowhere, Sam sighed. Of course this was going to be the hard way.
Crossing his arms in frustration he nodded. “Where do you think we should start?”
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Post by Deleted on Oct 23, 2022 15:38:18 GMT
The serval looked at the two, and seemed to pick a direction but not seeming to be leading them per se, she looked around, likely looking for anyone else she could point to for help... distance would grow, she seemed to be moving faster... but it would be hard to tell why.
Kovu was too focused on Sam to question her. "It's fine, there's nothing to worry about here... It's not unknown to us, we just know better here in the Pridelands." Kovu asserted. "We keep the fighting to those who cause real trouble, only because we have to." he paused a moment to think on Sam's question.
"If it is one of er, what you are; What might they be doing here? What might you do, if you were... mean?" he quirked a brow, his tone working to keep it hypothetical.
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Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Oct 23, 2022 17:58:58 GMT
Sam noted the tone in Kovu’s words.
It was something akin to someone that might have known a little more about that than they let on. Sam knew because he used the tone with a lot of hurt people too… And for the first time Kovu may have noticed he seemed to loosen up a bit. “That’s good to know,” he said quietly. “I’ve… Spent a lot of time just looking over my shoulder about that stuff.”
When he mentioned what they could do when they were looking for trouble… Well, Sam had a laundry list. “I hate to say it. But a lot of adults hunt animals,” he explained. “It’s not something I personally do. Hate it, actually. Went with David to a summit to outlaw what we call “poaching” a few months ago. But that sure would cause a ruckus. Especially with your guys’ hunting ground. You do have hunting grounds, right?”
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2022 20:07:30 GMT
"You shouldn't be worried about that..." Kovu answered, though his tone carried less of assurance, and almost of... suspicion or concern, but he seemed to notice. "Let's focus on well... this, first..." he said. "Poaching, yes we call it that too.." he slowed as he walked.
"The herds are the hunting grounds... really, but we tend to drive them a certain way." he said, at least that's what he picked up on from the lionesses. "The lionesses I mean." he noted. "Maybe hunts we figured were cheetahs or something were..." Kovu blinked a few times. "Let's see if we can er, hunt down someone. When you hunt you pay attention to those things, maybe they noticed something weird."
Kovu looked around, "Maybe the best noses would be in the meadow." he said, looking to their right. "Or we could ask around the floodplains... it's sort of where everyone passes through." Kovu let out a thoughtful sound. "What do you think?" he asked, more or less putting the choice to the boy.
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Samwel Igwe
PRIDELANDERS
Human Prince of the Pridelands
Posts: 536
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Post by Samwel Igwe on Oct 29, 2022 23:43:02 GMT
Sam could still hear the way Kovu said that. But decided he was right to want to finish this first.
He shook his head a little, in disbelief they’d have poaching here too. But still, it was good to know that hunting was at least not handled… Badly? He guessed that was the best way to put it. “That makes sense. I haven’t even hunted for food myself out here. Didn’t know the boundaries and all,” he explained. “At least you guys are a bit more civilized than how we handle it. Hunters in my land get bolder every year.”
He considered Kovu’s choices carefully. That was a really good question actually and one he had to consider. Because as an activist of course he had some thoughts. “If everyone goes through the flood lands, we should start there,” Sam explained. “They’d have to be doing it somewhere they’d get a lot of choices but not be noticed. Everyone’s going to notice a hairless two-legged thing in the meadow.”
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Post by Deleted on Nov 5, 2022 19:35:34 GMT
Kovu listened to the boy, keeping thoughts to himself as he pondered things himself, "Hrm. You'll learn, or be provided for." he said dismissively, he wasn't sure what the situation would be, but even he had sense enough they wouldn't leave him to starve.
"Yes, good point..." Kovu let out a grumbling sound, "That must be how they evaded notice, snatching animals when nobody was paying too much attention." he shook his head, "With everyone there... we also can't start a panic." he started toward the direction. "We will need to look for clues, and ask for information... but without worrying anyone." he re-iterated.
He took a breath, "Just say we are looking for a friend... don't mention er... that they are not an animal. Just that they are not from around here and look strange." he stopped after heading the direction a bit, "If you have anything else to mention before we start treading carefully..." Kovu led.
The serval was out of sight now, either hiding or having left them entirely. Curious.
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