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+--- Thread: Verdigris Ravine the road goes ever on and on (/showthread.php?tid=65963)
the road goes ever on and on - Sari - May 10, 2025
It had been nearly a year since S’ari had graced the high walls of the ravine, and now that she had returned, she could tell immediately that her little Tribe had long gone. Deep, deep in one of the caves, she found the body of a dead wolf and sighed, for she was not strong enough to drag that dead weight out of the cave. She supposed it would have to be eaten, or the meat left to rot for a long time.
She hummed a tune to herself as she continued exploring the ravine, wondering how her children fared and if they were still alive. She felt no remorse for having left, for those of the Tribe were often overtaken by wanderlust. It was simply a side effect of Desert Life.
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Balarina - May 22, 2025
Though Balarina had never been in these lands, Journey claimed to know the way. She trusted the wolf in these things, even though she was still new to the Caravan lifestyle.
The hunting cat stalked onward, forging a path ahead while the rest of the Caravan packed their life away and prepared to depart from their temporary camp. She hoped to have breakfast for the band when they caught up with her, but she was just as content to make conversation when she came across the scent of coyote instead. She quieted her steps and follow, sneaking on instinct despite having no plans to harm the stranger.
It was still a long moment before she remembered herself and called instead, hoping that the coyote would be able to understand her as well as the canids that she traveled with.
"Hail, wanderer," she spoke, her voice carrying. "I have a secret to tell you."
She continued to seek the other woman, intent on imparting her invitation, and gathering what information she could about these lands.
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Sari - May 22, 2025
S'ari smelled the cat before she saw her, and was up on her paws, dancing in high emotion, by the time the puma came into view. A wolf was big enough compared to a coyote to take her down with no issues. A puma was a great hulking beast compared to a wolf. And she was a tiny little speck in comparison. S'ari would not say she was afraid of much in this life, but she, at least, had a healthy respect for gigantic hunting cats.
When it spoke to her, she was not quite surprised, but continued her pacing back and forth, back and forth, ensuring that the way was open to her from behind, lest she must suddenly fly for her life.
A great hunting cat of the Deserts has a secret for little old S'ari?she asked, grinning at the puma, pacing, pacing, circling the creature from a distance.
She hopes this one does not insist on whispering it in coyote's ear, no? This one may impart her secret from over there.
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Balarina - May 22, 2025
The tension mounted; Balarina's heart was thrumming by the time she caught sight of the little creature. These coyotes especially were so pretty when they felt hunted, helpless. It made the cat's toes curl with want to pounce — but, of course, she could manage those instincts.
"But that is the best way to hear a secret," she said, enunciating each word in her best approximation of the canid tongues; this one understood her, but she wanted to put the strange woman as much at ease as she could. And, for this reason, she did not insist on any whispering.
"But I will tell you from here, if you do not want to feel my breath on those pretty, pretty ears," she said, stalking just a bit closer and then planting herself quite firmly in the sand. "I have come to these lands with my band. Wolves and coyotes and other creeping things. We brings wares, and songs and stories, and we will present these things to all who gather — North of her, in the height of summer."
She peered at the woman, measuring her interest even as her own interest grew. Coyotes, she knew, were pack creatures. Where was this one's band?
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Sari - May 22, 2025
The cat seemed, for a moment, as if she were playing with her food. S'ari could almost feel its claws on her, its maw breathing in her ears before it tore her to shreds. But then the cat spoke of something that made her still in her incessant pacing, and she stared in wonder instead.
There was a tribe, here? Not her Tribe, but a tribe. At once, her nervousness left her, to be replaced by a wondrous excitement.
S'ari is part of a wandering tribe much like yours,she said, her brown eyes shining in the Desert sun.
Her own tribe is far from here, for its members often wander for years, breaking off from the group to go far and wide. It, too, offers wares and songs and stories. S'ari would love to join you in the sharing of these things.She spoke quickly, her tail wagging like a whip.
It has been long since coyote has met others so like her.
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Balarina - May 22, 2025
The strange little woman answered Balarina's unasked question — her band was far from here, apparently on sojourns of their own. How S'ari had come to be left behind was unknown, but her joy at being rescued from this lonesomeness was clear even to the dancer.
Balarina eyed the woman's lashing tail, translating it to canine enthusiasm before it could arch her back. She waved her own tail in kind — a gesture that felt awkward even so many years later; even with her own inate grace.
"You are welcome among us," she said to the woman, compassion in her voice despite her lack of sympathy. She did not feel lonely in the same way she had learned these canines could, but she knew it to be a terrible plight from all their tales of woe. "There are others like you," she added, knowing this to be of some importance; not all bands were tolerant of coyotes, but their contained several coyotes and halflings.
Balarina crept closer, now, wanting to investigate the scents on the creature's pelt.
"This is your name? Sah-ree?" she asked in her own accented imitation of canine speech.
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Sari - May 22, 2025
The cat spoke of others like her—coyotes, she assumed—as she crept closer.
Even now, even through all her excitement, her instincts to keep alive made her back up a little. This was the first time she had met a Cat who was not intent on killing her. But then she recalled every instance of prejudice against her kind by her cousin wolves, and it twisted her excited smile into a frown. Was she just as bad as they were? Gods, she hoped not.
Forcing a breath, she stood still and let the cat approach her, her nape hairs standing on end.
Yes, this is S'ari's name,she murmured.
This one will have to excuse coyote. She is not used to Cats being so... friendly. And what is this one's name, hmm? It feels rude to call you Cat.
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Balarina - May 22, 2025
The preyscent of fear made her whiskers tremble as she drew near; the coyote reeled back, and she tamped down on the instinct to grab at the smaller creature. She'd never yet harmed one since making her life with them, but the desire to do so was always there behind her eyes.
"It would be silly not to fear me, at first," she said, her voice gentle, "but you will learn that I am a good ally to have — and a pleasing companion for all who are pleasing to me."
A feline smile and a shake of her tail belied her soft words. Though she was a dancer first, always, the huntress in her enjoyed this fear. She drank it in willingly, knowing it might not always be there for her to savor.
"I am called Balarina. Dancer," she replied. "Tell me, Sah-ree, what you are. You say that you are from a people of culture. Wares, songs, stories — which of these is your specialty?"
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Sari - May 25, 2025
Well, at least Balarina understood S'ari's fear, and was not offended. It would not do to offend a Great Cat. Her words also worked to soothe the coyote, who felt the hair on her neck settle. She sat down in the sand, mostly all right now, though still a little tense in the muscles, lest this was a trick, and she must fly at a moment's notice.
She grinned at the cat's question.
S'ari is a storyteller first, and a fortune teller second. There is some debate about whether these two professions are the same thing, no? S'ari supposes it depends on what one believes. Are the gods real, or are they merely... stories? Can the stars tell your future? Are there really djinn wandering the sand dunes who can trick a coyote--or a cat--out of their sanity?She gave a shrug and a wink.
S'ari knows the true answer... or maybe she does not. She will never tell.The coyote chuckled, then gave the cat an appraising look.
And what is Balarina, hm? What gift does she bring to her tribe?
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Balarina - May 29, 2025
S'ari sat, and so Balarina did, also, lowering even her chest to the ground. This would hardly hinder her, should she wish to pounce, but she had found that mirroring her canid conversational partners could sometimes help set them at ease.
For good measure, she lashed her tail again.
And, in true pleasure, Balarina purred to hear the mischief in S'ari's voice. She was a wicked little creature, and this was something the dancer greatly admired. There was nothing quite like testing one's tongue against another's and finding it razor sharp — she hoped that the little coyote would continue to speak freely. Freer and freer, perhaps.
"Perhaps we can make a trade, you and I," she suggested, a wickedness of her own in her voice. "I am but a dancer — but I would dance just for you, in exchange for a story of my own."
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Sari - May 29, 2025
Mature Content Warning
This thread has been marked as mature. By reading and/or participating in this thread, you acknowledge that you are of age or have permission from your parents to do so.The participants have indicated the following reason(s) for this warning: The barest hint of flirtation.
S'ari tingled a little at Balarina's suggestion. She tilted her head slowly, and stared at the cat, sniffing the air a little, trying to scent the woman's emotions.
What kind of dance for what kind of story?she asked in a low voice, smirking, her eyes darkening with interest. Perhaps this was a ruse to get her to drop her guard, but if it was, S'ari thought that going out like this would not be the worst way to go.
Either that, or she had completely misread the cat's suggestion, in which case she would easily laugh at herself and offer up a story of S'ari the Fool, Who Thought That a Great Cat Was Flirting With Her.
RE: the road goes ever on and on - Balarina - June 08, 2025
An understanding passed between them, a holy bridge across species.
"Perhaps my dance will inspire you," Balarina suggested, slinking closer still. If allowed this closer, her whiskers would brush against S'ari's cheek as she spoke: "Or perhaps you will tell me a story, and I will dance to your words."
She wheeled back, poising to prance, and fixed her gaze on S'ari once more.
"I await your command," she purred.