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Post by Meds on Jun 2, 2018 23:52:26 GMT -5
Kanga;
Ugh. The one question that he would have to lie about to answer. Of course the option to lie was always there, but Kanga most often chose not to. He was not against such things as much as say, Manaaki of course, he had lied in his time—but he preferred telling the truth. But Kanga was a wolf of many layers, and that possessed many masks (even if he only regularly chose to wear the most familiar one).
But here was Kaily, asking him, again, one of the philosophical questions about made him who he was. It was his own fault, he had said it was alright—but he had been expecting (or at least hoping) for easier, surface stuff: which female does he have his eye on; how many wolves had he killed; just what did his father do to him? Not necessarily easy answers, but compared to summing up in words what held together the fibers of his being? Pup's play.
Kanga moaned quietly, though it could have been mistaken for a sigh, staying in his flopped-position and more or less claiming the ground on which he lay for sleep. How should he answer? He glanced sideways and upside-down at the little fiery female beside him. What was it about him that so intrigued her? He was not fully innocent either, mind—he had asked his share of questions. But none of this quite so fundamental ones; unless one counted the inner-demons question. Which Kanga didn't. "Because," He started, his deep voice not hesitant, but rather steady and confident. Even if his mind wasn't, that didn't mean he couldn't throw his voice in any direction he desired. "Because I am cheerful, and Manaaki is such a dreadful bore, one of us has to keep things interesting." True, even if it was putting a joke on a real scenario. But now came the meaty part. The hard part. The part that Kanga wasn't sure whether he should lie about or not.
"And—" Oh, how to phrase such a thing without making it sound like he was a weakling—a victim? —I hide my problems because if I didn't, they would swallow me whole." Even as he spoke it, the truth, he felt the weight of it. Speaking things out-loud was a curious magic. "Because if I dwelt in my past, my memories, my early experiences that damn-near would have shaped who I became if it hadn't been for Manaaki... then I wouldn't be in Secluded Sunrise. I wouldn't be here speaking to you. If I let my problems in; into my mind where they so want to be? I would be over there." He nodded his head forcefully towards Midnight Silence. "There would be no Acribus, I would have killed him. I would be the Beta—unless I had already killed Fjord and became the Alpha." He shook his head. "I would not be here, the 'me' that you and I know. I would be a beast, no better-off than the mountain lions that we hunt and eat. Manaaki helped me in more ways than I could possibly count—but it didn't start out that way. There was a lot... before. They say a pup's early experiences are some of the most influential. I don't believe that, or I try not to, anyway—but those shadows within me have never left. Not even with a lifetime of companionship with the best friend I could have ever hoped for."
He exhaled. That hadn't been so bad. It was the truth, but not necessarily the sensitive pieces of it. Everything he said was spot-on, but there weren't any gruesome specifics. "What about you? Why don't you talk about your past, or your family, or what truly happened to that shoulder of yours?"
((I hope she hasn't referenced those things already, I forget!))
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Post by Fierfly on Jun 4, 2018 11:45:28 GMT -5
Kailypso:
"Because I am cheerful, and Manaaki is such a dreadful bore, one of us has to keep things interesting." There was autumn in Kanga's blood again. Full of mischief, eager for action, eager for happenings and change. Hrmm, another attribute of autumn she hadn't considered before that applied: elusiveness.
Strange how it was also one of those things one would associate with winter.
That wasn't all there was to it, Kailypso rolled over, coming off her back and lying more on her side - eyes deepening to an ethereal flame-yellow in the dying light. Kanga sucked in another breath and came clean. "I hide my problems, because if I didn't, they would swallow me whole." he talked. She listened. If he let himself dwell on those inner demons, if he thought too long or too hard about where he'd come from before, he wouldn't be the same wolf he was, he would be a Midnight Silencer.
A horrible feeling of dread came on her and she shivered and felt goose flesh come up over her.
What that meant - all the ramifications: a wanton killer, someone who killed to drink another's blood, to rejoice in the suffering. Kailypso tried not to let her thoughts linger on that, or else she would lose her last meal. Kanga seemed to agree with her. Such ruthless and delighted killing was little better than animal behavior - it was degenerate and wrong on every fundamental level. What's more is he would have been the alpha, it would have been his past time, his life and he would have led the ruthless raids himself, a wicked gleam in his eye and his teeth around an innocent's throat.
Kanga...what had happened to you?
It was because of Manaaki that he hadn't shifted that way. Manaaki had kept him steady and stolidly neutral. He'd taught him to laugh, to look on the bright side and Kanga had thrown his heart into it. Still, with all that, the inner demons lurked just under the surface. Not even his lifetime with such a moral guide as Manaaki could heal that.
Still, he yet refused to give into that. He was Kanga, he was still a great big crooked grin, he hadn't let it beat him. "I wish I could say I've dealt with my shortcomings as well as you have." she admitted, a tad enviously. To be fair, Kanga had had help - she'd distanced herself on purpose from most she'd ever known and her relations with others were not to be bragged about.
Kanga turned and asked - what were hers? Well, they were back to the inner demons topic - they'd broached it having already proposed a trade, she supposed it was only fair of her to reciprocate and come clean herself.
"I don't talk about my past because I can't change it, and I wish more and more every day that I could. I don't talk about my family because we're not on speaking terms right now and we never will be again. That's one's not fair, I did tell you what happened to my shoulder. It was a foolish accident, and I was the fool." What could the detail hurt? Kanga had been honest enough with her. "I was pestering my half-brother," the pained, angry eyes came back to her mind's eye. "I said something I know I ought not to have and he swiped at me. I tumbled back over a ledge and landed on my shoulder, it never set right after that." There, it was out. "I don't like to look back because I realize how unbearable I am, and I wonder - if others see the real me, if they know what I've really done and what a hypocrite I am - if they would still find me decent, or if they'd hate me as much as I hate myself."
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Post by Meds on Jun 5, 2018 8:57:31 GMT -5
Kanga;
Kaily gave more or less a calm reaction to Kanga’s opening up—which was nice, and surprising, too. Everything always felt so much worse when one kept it hidden away inside. It’s like the problems and fears and bad memories festered and grew, taking root in logical thought and happiness. Kanga was no exception. He owed his life as he knew it to Manaaki. A good wolf, a better brother. Without him, although Kanga wasn’t sure his analysis to Kailypso had been spot on... It wasn’t far off the mark either, he was sure. When he did bring up the slightly more darker stuff though, even though she didn’t gasp or outwardly curse his name, Kanga felt the familiar twinge in his deep-gut at the reaction he knew she was trying to hide. Suddenly he could smell, not necessarily fear—but something closer to it than happiness, that was for sure. But when she next spoke, she merely said she wished she could be more like him. Kanga managed to keep his brow from raising, but just. Not many wolves strived to be like him, except perhaps in size and strength (a feat as yet unmet, as far as he knew).
Then, though he could tell she wasn’t on fire about the idea, she opened up to him. It was much the same as the way he had opened up to her. The details, true enough probably, but nothing too close. Nothing that was still raw. He listened quietly, nodding that he agreed when she reminded him she had already told him about her shoulder—though this time he got the story. So her brother had pushed her off a cliff? ”I’d be lying if I said I’d never tried to push Manaaki off a cliff,” He grunted and gave a rougeish smile. ”He’d probably bounce though.”
And then things got more serious, with Kaily opening up that she thought she was unbearable, and she worried that others would think the same. There was the insecurity. Kanga had guessed as much. Granted, she wore it on her sleeve for the most part—confident wolves didn’t explode at slights quite three way Kailypso did—but Kanga was no better, truly. He sighed.
”What a pair we make, eh?” He shook his head with a dry chuckle and heaved himself off the ground. He strode to the edge of the flat space as the moon was starting to rise, and gave a quick look back. ”And you are decent, by the way.” He grinned, then turned back and lifted his head. The howl he gave to the moon was deep, echoing, seemingly almost quieter in close-range because of the low frequency, but he knew that it would travel easily across the Barrens. He greeted the moon, as well as tossed all dark thoughts back out at it. There was no time to dwell on such things.
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Post by Fierfly on Jun 11, 2018 10:49:26 GMT -5
Kailypso:
Oh lovely, now he was getting into her head. She'd not told anyone the story - never. Not even her family. Great, she was going to end up telling him a good deal more too, ah well - maybe it would be good for her to get it off her chest. Besides, Kanga was a secret-keeper by nature, he could be trusted with that truth that had once shattered a young heart - or, at least she hoped so. He'd trusted her with some of his inner demons, some of the curses that haunted his existence, it was only fair that she be truthful with him.
Don't think about it, don't dwell too long - move on, nothing has changed, you're still the same wolves you were when this conversation begun.
"I'd be lying if I said I never tried to push Manaaki off a cliff, he'd probably bounce though."
A half-hearted smile flitted across her lips. Yep, still the same wolves.
Kanga rolled and heaved his bulk back onto his paws and paced to the ledge facing the moonrise. "What a pair we make, eh?" oh, there was no arguing with that. A couple of copper wanderers born to the wrong place, wrong time, and wrong fortunes with old fears and desires lurking so dangerously near the surface with no real way to get away from them - oh, they could try, but some things were just a part of creatures - it was in their natures.
Kanga grinned and assured her that she was decent - and before she could argue the point, raised his nose, tipped back his ears and howled, "singing up the moon" as she'd heard it called. It wasn't a calling croon, quieter - just barely, more like a greeting between old friends or family - acquaintances at worst. She rolled over onto her belly and settled her chin on her forepaws, ears flicking appreciatively at Kanga's solo. The low baritone - wait, was it bass? Mmm, probably bass - no, baritone. He could reach baritone if he wanted, ah hang the term! There it was, one of the things that was just part of how a wolf was made - their personality, their birth season in their blood, and that familiar, irresistible urge to howl - or "sing up the moon".
She bit her lip, unsure if she wanted to join. No need to interrupt Kanga's performance, but there was something bewitching about the moonlight...she bit her lip again and thumped her tail against the snow. She hadn't howled with anyone since she'd left home, no need to start now. Still, she couldn't resist a quick, soft salute to the white mother of the night. It lasted less than three seconds and she burrowed her nose back under her paws again.
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Post by Meds on Jun 13, 2018 11:55:25 GMT -5
Kanga;
She smiled as Kanga observed just how similar they were—be that for good or ill. Sometimes like-wolves strengthened each other. Other times, they merely spread the poison and made it thicker. It was a fine balance, one that Kanga was used to dealing with. It was always interesting to find out, down the road, which situation it was.
From the ground, after Kanga howled, Kaily joined in. Kanga was about to throw his own voice even louder, making a game and an unspoken competition out of it—when her voice died. Kanga’s howl continued for a moment longer before he realized she had stopped. He closed his own mouth then, and turned smoothly to face her. The rising moon cast its light on his fur, making it appear darker until he shook himself and flashed a fire-like red out to the night. ”I’ve never heard your howl,” He mused, dragging his paws through the snow as he walked slowly back to her. He was pretty sure he had howled, or at least given a few loud whoops, on their previous meeting—but he couldn’t recall the same from Kaily. lIt’s nice. Small though. Like you.” He snorted and lay down with another great thump beside her. Wouldn’t it be fun if he goaded her enough into giving a real and true howl? What a treat.
”Why so many deep and personal questions this evening?” He grinned. ”If I can ask you a deep and personal question, that is.” He laughed, for usually asking after doing didn’t work. But Kanga did what he wanted.
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Post by Fierfly on Jun 14, 2018 10:45:21 GMT -5
Kailypso:
Kanga's howl stopped short soon after her brief greeting to the night ended and he turned in that pure, fluid way he had - almost on a dime to eye her quizzically. The moonlight cast a darker, more washed-out light over him, making his shadowed front look almost black and only the flashes of fire red when he shifted his muscles and disturbed his undercoat assured her (well, that and the enormous size) that she was still talking to the same wolf. His silver eyes looked almost white too - funny how everything came out different by the light of the moon.
He observed that he'd never heard her howl before - that quick salute had not counted, it had only been half a howl - she really hadn't gotten into the right position or had opened her lungs or anything. He observed it was nice, though a bit on the smaller side, like her. Then he shuffled back over, dragging up the snow and landed with an earth-shaking thump a respectful distance away, but altogether beside her. "I'm told I'm decidedly tone-deaf, I don't think you want to hear a real howl from me." she assured him, besides - a loner howling was just asking for attention: which she was not, she wanted to remain as anonymous as possible in her sojourn here - as Kanga had so keenly observed, she was small, better to play things safe.
"Why so many deep and personal questions this evening? If I can ask you a deep and personal question, that is." he chuckled good-naturedly. Well, at least he wasn't put off that she was prying.
"Oh, I dunno, the dark seems friendlier to secrets - more forgiving of shortcomings. Why not ask at night? Besides - you were the one who wanted to be distracted." distracted - well, he was the one who wanted it. "Fire away, it's long past your turn."
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Post by Meds on Jun 14, 2018 15:14:09 GMT -5
Kanga;
So she was tone deaf, was she? Kanga guffawed to the darkening heavens. The moon had risen more by then, and the first few stars were coming out. ”Oh come on!” He barked, lifting his front paws into the air. Nobody told Kanga what he “didn’t want”. ”I won’t even laugh. Here, look, I won’t even smile.” He allowed his lifted legs to flop over to the side, which pulled his great form over as well, so his back was to her. He grinned then to make a point, knowing she couldn’t see.
She made a good point then, saying that the night was for secrets. Kanga more or less agreed. It was easier to speak of such things in the darkness, it seemed. It was in a way much more peaceful, but also more mysterious. More closed off. It somehow felt right to match its mystery with a secret of ones own. Branching on that, she surprised him by saying that his question was welcome. He remained not facing her, just in case she decided to howl after all, but then cleared his throat.
”Why is laughing at yourself a foreign concept to you?” His voice was deep, but his smile couldn’t be heard through his words. It was an honest question, and one that he had wondered before. Most of Kanga’s existence was laughing at himself—but Kailypso seemed offended more often than not. It was the first thing he had noticed about her, in fact. That she was decidedly proud, and very easy to offend. What he wanted to know was if it was just a force of habit—or if something had happened to her to cause her to be so very far to one side of the spectrum.
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Post by Fierfly on Jun 15, 2018 10:34:48 GMT -5
Kailypso:
Kanga objected - she'd heard him whoop and howl, now he wanted to hear hers. She shook her head, pursing her lips. He insisted he wouldn't laugh, he wouldn't smile - he wouldn't even watch! As if watching was what made her uneasy about it! It was the sound that mattered, and hers wasn't right - another one of those short-comings that haunted her.
Kanga was stubborn though and left her with a nice, big, fat window of opportunity to howl - he still didn't turn back. She was suddenly overcome with a terrible desire to throw a pawful of snow at him. Impulsive as ever - she scooped up a small mound, clearing her throat officiously to help cover the scraping noise, patted it down with her chin, and launched it at Kanga. There was a slight giggle with the involuntary flinch of the enormous giant as the ice made contact. "You so sure you don't want to watch?" she asked with raised eyebrows and tilted head, a coy little smirk molding her maw. She was not going to howl and Kanga was not going to wrangle it out of her, so there.
Kanga took it well and asked why laughing at herself was such a foreign concept. The smile slipped and she shrugged lamely, "Mistakes are too costly to be laughed at - it's a luxury I can't usually afford." Besides, she didn't see what there was to be laughed at. Many of her mistakes were critical, or could have been if some of her encounters had not been with friendlier souls or had at least had one nearby to help her dig herself out of the proverbial pit she'd fallen into. Even in her birth pack, the mistakes she'd made had been no laughing matter. She'd been too impulsive, too loud, too slow - and it had cost her every single time. It wasn't easy to laugh when your belly was as empty as she'd felt hers some nights.
Maybe she was out of practice laughing, she'd concede that - but it wasn't as though she had much opportunity or cause to practice in mirth and happiness.
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Post by Meds on Jun 16, 2018 9:57:42 GMT -5
Kanga;
Icey teeth broke through his fur and shattered against the muscle in his shoulder. His ears flattened on their own accord to avoid any ice getting in, but other than that he didn't move or speak. Kailypso giggled behind him, but he wouldn't give her the satisfaction of saying anything more. He was above that. Childish. Childish. He noticed that even after abusing him, however, she still did not howl. Typical.
Then she answered his deep and dark question though, and when he was quite sure there was no howl forthcoming, he rolled back over and glanced at her. It was no properly dark, and his brown eyes appeared black but for the almost-glowing silver ring around them. Kaily explained that she couldn't afford to laugh at herself. Now, Kanga didn't really agree with that logic or mindset. One could afford whatever they set aside for. Kanga knew it was inevitable that he would do something stupid one day or the next. He knew it. And while perhaps Kaily wasn't quite as accepting of doing ridiculous things—sometimes they were unavoidable. Kanga knew it was coming anyway, so he didn't fight it. It made it easier, anyway. If a wolf never made mistakes, or worse yet, got angry every time one happened? Well, not only did that make it easier for others to laugh—but it made it that much worse, too. Kaga figured that laughing it out often lessened the blow.
"Well, I can always afford it. Don't worry. I'm sure I'll laugh at you enough to make up for it." His eyes closed and he gave an awfully smug grin. Then he sighed loudly and obviously, stretching until his back cracked. He moaned in contentment, and settled back down. "Kailypso," He said. "Have you ever had a mate? Been in love—had feelings for somebody?" His earlier thoughts of Manaaki and Amora and everybody else, it seemed, were coming back in pieces. Sometimes he wondered if he was missing anything.
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Post by Fierfly on Jun 16, 2018 10:32:56 GMT -5
Kailypso:
Kanga was not amused with her pawful of snow. Well, whatever suited him - it certainly wasn't hilarious, but it was funny to have finally gotten a bit of a drop of the giant, and she liked the snow - it was fun to share it. It didn't change her mind on laughing at mistakes however. She might not mind laughing at herself, but with how often she bungled things - no, it was something she generally could not afford.Though Kanga might have done well to remember that she had indeed laughed when they first met - when he'd simply been watching her, before introductions had been made. She knew how to laugh, it was simply a rarer treat for her than it was for her enormous friend.
"Well, I can always afford it. Don't worry. I'm sure I'll laugh at you enough to make up for it." he shrugged, smug grin smoothing out the crooked divot in his smile, then closed his eyes and began stretching ridiculously. She was sure it was all normal for him, if she was the size of a bear she was sure she'd be stretching half to Kingdom-come as well, but that didn't make it any less entertaining to watch. "I'd appreciate that." she smiled, laying her chin on her paws again and closing her eyes as Kanga settled back down with another thump.
Then he asked if she'd ever had a mate or been in love...
Ghoulish fire-yellow eyes in a nearly black face due to the washed-out light popped open and her head shot up back off her paws. "What??" it was something between a yelp, a gasp, a snort and a grunt - altogether the most unladylike sound that could have come out of her mouth and even rivaled Kanga's play hacking from earlier. It barely escaped her throat before she choked on it, heat flushing her face. Oh thank goodness that it was dark, she was sure her face was a glorious crimson under her coat now. Her ears too at that. She caught herself and laughed out of sheer shock. "Kanga I'm not quite two - I'm hardly old enough for that kind of romance - no, I've definitely not had a relationship like that before." what on earth had put a question like that into his head? "I mean, I saw all the older wolves in my old pack find mates, or at least start to - leaving to find one or starting to try and flirt with each other: I was two years younger than the ones closest to my age - it never even crossed my mind, I was so little..." wait... "Why, have you?" She wasn't angry at the question as she might have been had anyone else asked, but she was certainly curious.
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Post by Meds on Jun 17, 2018 0:14:31 GMT -5
Kanga;
When she said she would appreciate it if he laughed at her (more than he already did), it made Kanga's ears twitch. He hadn't expected that. Perhaps she was easing up after all. The real fun came when she reacted to Kanga's question. It caught her off guard, and fair enough—for it had only popped back into Kanga's head seconds before he said it. She blabbered for a while, reminding him that she was basically fresh out of puphood, and Kanga listened quietly. Yes, he supposed that all made good sense. When she asked him, he groaned quietly to himself: mostly out of having to answer at all, but also about having to think why.
"No." He picked a spot in his teeth with his tongue, gazing up at the stars in the night. He knew she would want more than that. He sighed again, now lifting a massive front paw to scratch at his ears. "No I haven't." He rolled his eyes to himself, but hoped in the dark Kailypso wouldn't be able to see. "I don't know. Lately I've been wondering if that's wrong. I mean I've been with females; I'm not so young as you... But I've never had feelings for any of them, really. Never love, definitely never anybody I would want to take as a mate." But now with Manaaki and Amora, and who knows what was going on there—he wondered if he would be the last one left. Everybody else seemed to have their eye on somebody. Was he wrong? "I just wonder if I should just... you know, pick somebody. Just anybody, just to say I did. Manaaki and Amora will be hitched up soon I'm sure. Where does that leave me?" He shrugged. He wasn't morose; far from it, actually. He was merely confused, perhaps slightly regretful... but also quite steadfast. He didn't know what he was supposed to want, or even if he was supposed to want anything. He had never had male role models to teach him such things—only Manaaki—and Manaaki had had even less females than Kanga.
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Post by Fierfly on Jun 21, 2018 18:07:26 GMT -5
Kailypso:
His fun-poking query had come back to bite him in the butt. He was not very enthusiastic about his answer. No, he hadn't ever had a mate or fallen in love before. Part of her refused to believe him. He must have had some sort of outing with a pretty femme once or twice - nothing serious, maybe some innocent flirting - hadn't he joked about them courting when pig-headed old what's-his-bucket came on the scene? She could have sworn he had...that didn't count then? Good.
Kanga wasn't turning this one into a joke though. His voice sobered, the low, rich bass fell into thoughtful, almost wistful contemplation. No, he hadn't ever pursued an interest like that, he'd admit it readily enough. But...was that right? She tipped her head at her preferred angle for thinking. A childish habit she'd never really cured herself of, tipped exactly three whiskers to her left, ears perked, nose aimed directly at whoever she was speaking with. He had spent time with other girls (she didn't want to think too hard about what he meant about being with other females, she could allow for some not-so-innocent encounters she supposed, he was ruggedly handsome (which, by the way, was purely an observation on her part)) but it had never been the love described in fairy-tales. It wasn't that true, love-at-first-sight nonsense, or even the slow-budding romance between the betess and his brother. He'd found some good pals and girls he could have fun with, but he hadn't found a companion for the remainder of his days.
So, what if this was wrong? Maybe he shouldn't fly solo anymore? His brother had found someone, so, shouldn't he? If for nothing else than the sake of saying that he had-
"Don't rush it." she said flatly, "My sire just looked for who was available and found my dam - just picking for the sake of picking is how problems like me are born, don't do it for bragger's rights." she had to take a deep breath in before she let her emotions get the better of her. Kanga's concern was likely a legitimate one, she didn't feel the pressure of time like he did, but she didn't see why he should. "If Manaaki and Amora do fall in together, then it leaves you as the big, fat, Crooked smile brother-in-law that will spoil all his nieces and nephews shamelessly and thrive doing so." this was a real problem for him, treat it as such. "Well, maybe you've come to the wrong wolf for advice on your romantic life Kanga - Power knows mine sucks, but..." she squirmed uncomfortably - should she share it if she didn't really believe in it? "Well...my dam always said that Heaven and Earth had their own timing and plan. To be honest, I'm really not so sure, seems like their plan hasn't worked out so well for my kith an' kin in the past...but I'm inclined to believe there is something better out there. Definitely not all-at-once, no good thing ever came - boom - just like that, but a little at a time." erg, she was preaching to the choir - time to just say what she was trying to say. "I don't know, I guess - just because others are settling down, doesn't mean you have to. Manaaki is like that - he finds things to find things, well, I dunno how hard he was looking for love, but it sounds like he found it. From what I've seen, you look for things for the journey and learning along the way. Sure, maybe keep your eye open, but don't do it just to keep up with your brother. He'll always be your brother and friend, even if he's not always right where you can see him."
It was getting late. She yawned, shook out her ruff and laid her head down on her paws, closing her eyes. "'Sides," she mumbled from her lips that refused to shape properly, "You'll still have me,"
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Post by Meds on Jun 22, 2018 11:04:09 GMT -5
Kanga;
Something that he said made her squirm slightly—he wasn’t sure what. He could guess, but she was already speaking again and so he let it die. She cautioned him not to rush into anything—not to make a mistake for the mere-reason of making a mistake. Kanga’s head thumped down to the earth agaian and he have a frustrated growl. She made sense. He just didn’t want to hear it. When she likened herself to a mistake, Kanga’s lip lifted and revealed one long canine. There were mistakes, and there were mistakes. Some pups were unplanned, and some killed their mothers on the way out. Some had to sing or dance for their food, and some had to beg for their lives everyday. He didn’t know exactly which Kailypso was, but he certainly knew which he was.
She made some good points though, about how Manaaki wouldn’t just leave him in the dust to die. Kanga knew that in the back of his mind—his twin had literally picked him out of the dust on more occasions than once—but it was the thought of it all. Perhaps this was just the next logical step in a wolf’s life. But did he even want it?
Kaily said he would still have her regardless, and as she spoke to the heavens, Kanga turned slightly and looked at her. It was a deep look, not the kind of one that he was wont to give. Could she become the answer to his questions? His eyes traced her fur, her form, her face. It was an innocent and cautious glance. His stomach turned uneasily. No, he couldn’t do that to her. Oh it wouldn’t be so hard... females weren’t all so different. But he couldn’t do that. He would be tortured by the idea that he was just doing it to fill a void—to still a fear. And Kaily was not filler. Not to Kanga, anyway.
”Our first sleep over,” He rumbled as he glanced at the moon. ”How grown up of us.” A deep, wild chuckle broke from his teeth, and then he rolled over. It would be good to sleep. His throat was getting itchy...
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Post by Fierfly on Jun 22, 2018 12:12:28 GMT -5
Kailypso:
At her comment about being a problem or mistake from a hasty paring - Kanga lifted a lip and bared one canine. Wow, he could get that precise? Cool! No, put that lip back down mister. Yes, she had been a problem in her old pack, she'd own up to it easy enough. Deal with it. Not everyone thought she was good fun to poke at and tease, to some she was a mouth to feed and cost too much to keep around, that was just how the river ran.
At any rate, she was getting ready to fall asleep when his cheerful bass broke the silent again. Their first sleep over. How grown up of them! He laughed richly and she conceded a largely humorless chuckle. Huzzah! She was laughing! Kanga should feel proud. How grown up indeed - how very posh and sophisticated of them to be camping out on a cliff and sleeping out away from Kanga's pack and all friends, practically right next to the Midnight Silence border, very grown up.
And maybe a little stupid.
But that had never really stopped her in the past, just wound her up with a nose bleed or twinged paw and a talking-to and her own ugly mood for an hour or so until it moved on.
Really, things couldn't have gotten too bad here: Kanga could rip any intruder's head off their shoulders if he wished, and snow never really hurt a body. It was safe enough. "G'night Kanga," she put on her best imitation of his rough, bass burr and the lilt of his accent, slit a yellow eye to watch his reaction, then closed it again, curled into a tighter ball of fluff and fur and fell asleep.
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