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Post by Jack on Jan 25, 2009 14:51:02 GMT -5
It was a fairly nice day out, the sun was shining and there were few clouds in the sky. Jack, a Barren Ground Caribou, was walking around the forest not doing much of anything. He was a loner, so had no one to take orders from. Worked well for him because he was a natural loner. He had always liked being by himself, and making his own decisions. He didn't think he could fit into a herd anyways, if he could. He was a different type of deer then most. He was only a small Caribou as he was young, there were other Caribou much bigger then him. But he was still much bigger then most other deer. His antlers grew to be quite large, bigger then most other deer, even bigger then most other Caribou. He was sure he was much stronger, but probably slower then most. Running wasn't his hobby anyways.
Jack put his nose to the ground and started looking around for something to eat. He really wasn't hungry, but didn't have anything better to do. He tended to eat when he was bored, but never seemed to gain much weight. He was sure he hadn't gained any in the last month, but that didn't bother him. He was sure his antlers could make up for his size. Jack looked up when he thought he heard a noise somewhere. He wasn't to worried, but was always cautious. Once Jack was sure he didn't see anything, he went right back to eating what he could find.
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Post by rannoch on Jan 25, 2009 15:20:54 GMT -5
Kalana found herself standing in the middle of some wood, she wasn't really sure how she got there. But she was there just the same... a wandering doe. Kalana had been separated from her parents when she was just a fawn during a ambush by a pack of wolves. During the ambush, she was bit,but somehow managed to escape. though the scar of the bite is long gone, it's effects remain, after the bite, kalana was very sick, the old stag in her herd cared for her. The sickness took a more than two months to get over, and by the end she was not the fawn she had once been. Unlike most cases of changlings where the fawn is born with the ability, Kalana had acquired the ability to change into the form of a wolf from a strange sickness, which had looked like an infection. As Kalana finished up the rest of fawn hood as a changeling the old stag had died, leaving her with the large heart of a deer, and nothing to fill it with. But there was one thing that both the old stag, and being a changeling had taught her. Be bold, and anything is possible.
So there she stood in the middle of what she decided to call -the forest of bad weather-... at least until she figured out what it's real name is. She sighed bored. Trying to forget the past, she moved to look around for some vegetation, and grimaced when all she found was some tough bitter tasting plant. Then she stood for a moment, curious, had she drifted far enough away from her old home to meet different deer. She had to have, she had been walking away from it since a spring ago, there had to be another herd of deer around here... somewhere. Kalana gracefully lifted her snout to the wind... nothing yet... but wait, there it was clear as day. Well allot clearer than this day, she thought. She could indeed smell the scent of another deer, or, she thought that was a deer. But since the wind was blowing back and forth, she figured to wait, Kalana was never one to move first, rather first observe how the other shall move, then play along for a while. The other deer will sense me, and move to find out who i am... thought Kalana happily to herself. satisfied with her plan, she continued to graze.
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Post by Jack on Jan 25, 2009 18:34:15 GMT -5
As Jack continued eating what he could find on the ground, he sensed another deer was around. He figured they must have just come near him, as he hadn't smelled them before. Jack lifted his head up from the ground, and into the air. He looked around to see if he could see anything, and at first he saw nothing but trees. Then he saw in the distance, a white doe. Jack took a few steps closer toward the doe. He then stopped and just looked at them. He thought if he should go more towards them or not.
Jack finally decided to go introduce himself to the doe. He slowly walked towards them, hoping to not spook them. He wasn't sure what their reaction to him would be, but he figured he would take a chance anyways. Jack stopped a few feet in front of the deer. "Hello..." Jack said, as he waited to see what the doe would do.
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Post by rannoch on Jan 25, 2009 19:26:28 GMT -5
Kalana was ecstatic when what seemed to be a deer with large antlers came near her. she could feel the vibrations his hooves were making through the ground, yet she waited until he said hello before making her move. As soon as he did so, she lifted her head, faining surprise, though it was obvious that this was not the case.
"Oh, hi!" said Kalana in a friendly voice while trotting a few steps closer for a decent conversation. She did not bow, nor use long winded greetings as was traditional of the northern alliance. She had no taste for such things, it seemed to her that their only purpose was to suck the joy out of life for such traditions made conversations predictable. She was relieved to hear him say hello, instead of, hello ma-am, or something like that. There is hope for this one, and maby this conversation will be a little less predictable than others. she thought hopefully.
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Post by Jack on Jan 25, 2009 21:48:20 GMT -5
Jack was glad that the doe seemed friendly. He watched as she took a few steps towards him, and Jack knew she wasn't afraid to have a conversation with him. Jack wasn't exactly sure how to start the conversation though, so he started small thinking he could work his way up. "So how are you?" he asked. He thought the doe would probably think he was pretty stupid, as Jack had met many deer who knew how to start conversations well. Jack lifted one of his hooves up then pawed the ground a little, as he was nervous. He had looked down at the ground, but then looked back up at the doe. "I know it's none of my business.. But I was wondering what you were doing around here? I haven't seen many deer here.. Thought I might be the only one" Jack said to the doe. He looked at her more closely, and noticed she had some nice markings. He thought she looked pretty, and thought the markings fit her well. But he wasn't going to say anything to her. He didn't know how she would react.
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Post by rannoch on Jan 25, 2009 22:27:05 GMT -5
Kalana giggled at his attempt at small talk. he seemed a little nervous, though she was not sure why. She sighed at the next question directed at her, "i am here only because i have no herd to go to. And you? what is a stag such as your self doing out here?" she chimed, tilting her head slightly. The questing she really wanted to ask was what species of deer he was. but, seeing no way to asked politely, she just stood there waiting for his response in this game of small talk they had created.
Kalana could feel her heart begin to beat more rapidly, yet she was not sure why. She did not feel nervous, neither was this the feeling of being hunted... no it was something else. perhaps my body is nervous while my soul is calm, she thought to her self
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Post by Jack on Jan 25, 2009 22:52:33 GMT -5
Jack felt a bit stupid when the doe giggled. He knew he was making a fool of himself, but he just couldn't help it. Jack listened as the doe explained why she was there. "Ah" Jack said to her. Jack thought about what to say, when the doe asked him what he was doing there. "Same as you I guess.. I have no herd either" He said. Jack continued to look at the doe, examining her markings. He then continued talking. "I don't think I'd really fit into a herd anyways.. So I'm just a loner." Jack said. "So, what's your name?" Jack asked, hoping the doe didn't mind him asking. He hadn't met much deer in a while, so wasn't really sure how to act around them, and had no idea what to say that wouldn't make them mad. But he knew every deer were different, some nicer then others. Jack thought the doe seemed real nice, but was still a bit cautious around her.
Jack then pawed at the ground some more, and started eating some random leaves that was on the ground. He immediately spit them out, as they didn't taste so good. "Guess I should watch what I eat" Jack said. He then looked up at the doe, wondering what she was going to do.
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Post by rannoch on Jan 25, 2009 23:30:07 GMT -5
She could see now why he was feeling nervous, it was happening to her too, but what it was... she couldn't put her hoof on it.
"I'm Kalana" she cooed slowly, taking only one more step closer to him. Instead of asking in return, she mearly turned her head so it was obvious that she was curious of his.
When he had attempted to gobble up one of the bitter plants she had tasted earlier, she giggled softly again. She knew that it made him nervous, and may be thats why she did it. But regardless, she couldn't help it, it was her nature and she refused to fight it.
On the outside Kalana seemed to not care too much about what the other deer thought about her, she just kept her friendly and playful demeanor. But on the inside, she was dieing for aproval... from anyone, however, she was an expert at subduing these feelings.
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Post by Jack on Jan 25, 2009 23:43:34 GMT -5
Jack continued looking at the doe, and was happy to hear her say her name. "It's nice to meet you, Kalana. I'm Jack" He said. He had a very simple non interesting name. But at least it was easy to remember. He wasn't sure if he could remember the name 'Kalana' but was going to force himself to, as he really liked the doe. He watched as Kalana moved towards him, and he forced himself to stay still. When Jack had ate the bad tasting plants, and had spit them out, he heard Kalana giggle. This time he had to laugh along with her, because he thought it was a bit funny, and could imagine the look on his face when he had eaten the plants.
Jack then looked around, trying to think of something else to say. "So uh.. it's a nice day.." Jack finally said to the doe. He hoped he could think of something better to say to her, but couldn't find anything to say. After looking around for a few seconds Jack looked back at the doe. He wondered if he should tell her that he thought she was pretty, but thought he would sound stupid. Especially if he couldn't find the right way of saying it. So instead Jack stuck to looking around the forest, waiting for Kalana to say something.
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Post by rannoch on Jan 26, 2009 0:12:03 GMT -5
Kalana liked the name Jack, It was simple and bold. She could tell the stag was getting some of his nerves back. Yep, he's a keeper, she thought happily to herself.
Upon hearing his next remark, Kalana couldn't help it. She didn't just giggle, she laughed outright. With her chorus of laughter still ringing through the forest, she blushed at her loss of control. In an attempt to gather her dignity up, "what... what type of deer are you." She said, eyes flashing from the ground to his noble face, embarrassed.
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Post by Jack on Jan 26, 2009 0:24:04 GMT -5
Jack watched as the doe started laughing. Jack laughed a little along with her, but wasn't sure what was funny. Kalana had then asked Jack what type of deer he was. "Oh.. I'm a Caribou..." Jack said. He hadn't expected her to ask what type of deer he was. He figured he probably did look a little bit different to most deer. Especially the common type of deer. "What type of deer are you?" Jack asked. He wasn't going to ask her that, but figured he would anyways since Kalana had asked what type of deer he was.
Jack bent down and started eating some more grass, trying to make sure not to eat anything bad tasting. "I haven't seen much deer lately.. I've been a loner pretty much my whole life, but I haven't seen a Caribou in any of the deer I have seen.." Jack said, randomly. He had stopped eating as he said that, so started eating again. Once he was done chewing, he looked back up at the doe. "It's still none of my business, but I was wondering.. why don't you have a herd to go to? I'm sure any herd would accept you.." Jack said. He didn't know much about Kalana, but he still thought any herd would accept her.
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Post by rannoch on Jan 26, 2009 1:00:01 GMT -5
"oh, a caribou. I had never known that any caribou lived around these parts. As to what type of deer i am, i am a white one... i wish i could tell you what species, but my i was separated from my herd at to young of an age to have learned that stuff." sighed Kalana. Now the question that had been nagging at her hide had been appeased, she could focus better. And yet, she was still nervous.
She was taken off guard by his next question. She then replied in a dignified voice "it is not a herd that would reject me, but i who will not accept the herd. Most stags will allow almost any doe into their herd these days, and i refuse to sell myself into such low standards." The small spark of anger she had now subsiding, she took a deep breath. then realizing that the stag before her might think that she was mad because of his question, which was not the case, she was mad because of how stupid some stags could be. she added in a kind, playful voice "besides, if i had joined a herd, i wouldn't have gotten the chance to start this conversation with you... now where would we be then." she blushed after saying this, but she knew she must or else jack would think that she was mad at him.
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Post by Jack on Jan 26, 2009 9:52:50 GMT -5
"Yeah.. Caribous aren't rare, but there isn't many herds because most of them choose to stay in one herd. So usually if you see one caribou, you will see thousands others behind it. Unfortunately I'm a different case" Jack said. He then listened as Kalana told him that she didn't know what type of deer she was, and that she had been separated from her herd when she was young. "Oh, that must have sucked" Jack said. He knew he should have said something else, but didn't know what else to say. So instead Jack just looked around the forest some more.
When the doe started speaking again, Jack looked at her. "Oh" Jack said when he heard what Kalana said. He then looked at her cautiously because she seemed mad. He assumed it was because of his question, so he backed off a little bit just in case. Jack didn't like making anyone mad, and didn't like fighting unless he had to. Jack was a little surprised at what the doe then said. He then laughed a little. "True" he said to her. He took a few steps forward, as he was sure the doe wasn't mad anymore. "Well, I think most herds are controlling. You got people bossing you around all over the place. I don't like taking orders from others" Jack said.
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Post by rannoch on Jan 26, 2009 17:11:52 GMT -5
Kalana laughed very silently to herself when Jack had backed off. A stag who is frightened by the wrath of a doe she joked in her mind. But though she would not admit it to herself, Kalana was pleased that he had some reaction, it showed that he cared. She lifted one foot off the ground to rest it for a second.
"herds? controlling? no." she joked at his next statement. Then she added, a little more seriously "the herd i was apart of was, extremely controlling. But I've herd of herds in the land that arnt so..."
Kalana liked this strange caribou stag. they had only been talking for a little while, and already, they had found a few things in common.
Inside of Kalana's graceful head, her thoughts were confused, only stooping long enough for her to recognize one or two. She was frustrated that she was loosing control of her own thoughts. She closed her sparkling eyes for a moment, and took a deep breath to steady her nerves, inhaling the freshness of the woods around her. when the breath was done, she felt better. Kalana slowly opened her eyes and looked into those of the stag, sheer happieness dancing about her expressing.
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Post by Jack on Jan 26, 2009 22:00:58 GMT -5
Jack looked at Kalana when she talked about the herds. Jack laughed a little when she joked about the herds being controlling. He then nodded his head a little when she told him her herd had been extremely controlling. He then wasn't sure what to say. He didn't know too much about herds, but did know most of them were controlling. "I still would prefer to be a loner.. or maybe in a small uncontrolling herd. It would be neat to be the leader, but I don't think I would make a good leader for anything" Jack said.
Jack then backed away a little bit, then moved to the side to find something good to eat on the ground. He tried as hard as he could to avoid the bad tasting plants, but every now and then would eat some thinking they would taste good. Jack happened to look up to see the doe looking at him. He looked right into her eyes, and just stood there staring at her. He had some grass still in his mouth that he had forgotten to chew while he was staring at the doe.
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