Shinobu
New Member
GO... NINJA STAR!!1!1ONE!
I've got to hang on...
Posts: 32
|
Post by Shinobu on Feb 17, 2008 23:33:40 GMT -5
Please...take me just a little farther...don't give in under me, please! Shinobu was exhausted from her journey, and it was obvious to see. Her good eye was norrowed in determination to keep moving, but the thin young wolf's legs were shaking, begging their owner to let them crumble beneath her. Her ears were tilted back in desperation and she was breathing hard from working so hard. She wanted to get as far as she could into Khuno so the one in charce of acceptance would be more likely to see her, but her health made it hard to continue much farther. Still, Shinobu was stubborn and would travel as far as her legs would take her...
...which was about five more steps forward.
Finally, Shinobu gave into her exhaustion and fell onto her right side. She clenched her teeth in frustration toward her weakness. What pack in thir right mind would accept me in this state? Shinobu rested for a few minutes, but once she had caught her breath she pushed herself back up. I need something to take the edge off.
She turned her head back and forth, looking for a particular plant. Finally, she saw it, a small yellow flower with delicate green leaves. Knowing this plant would give her a little energy boost, allwing her to keep moving, she padded over to it and bit the stem in half. She left the lower part in the ground in hopes of the flower replenishing itself in time, and swallowed the rest whole. With any luck, I'll be perkier when the one in charge comes to question me. Shinobu smiled a little and sat down, letting the plant take effect.
|
|
Ringo
New Member
Lean Green Pimp Machine
Posts: 33
|
Post by Ringo on Feb 18, 2008 16:21:41 GMT -5
Ringo trotted briskly next to his Scout. He wore a smile on his face and a lolling tongue, a sign that he was enjoying himself. The weather was warm, even on the forest floor. It was one of the days that made him glad that his job took him around the territory.
Being a messenger wasn’t an extremely laborious task. He was assigned to trot around with a Scout and rush back to Khuno if anything was out of place in Tlaloc’s territory. That was a rarity for now, and Ringo ended up just getting to wander to his hearts content. His mind wandered back to Koji, his best friend, stuck back in the heart of Khuno. I feel a might bit bad for him; stuck up there doing who knows what sort of tiring or ridiculous thing while I’m out here.
The male yawned. He lifted a paw to scratch his muzzle, but a soft thud interrupted the action. Ringo blinked, puzzled, and turned to look at his Scout. He was busy refreshing a scent marking, and appeared to pay no heed to the noise. The gray wolf snorted inwardly, and moved in the direction of the noise.
“Qué linda…” Ringo spoke under his breath upon spotting a gray female sitting a little way from him. She was malnourished and sick, he gathered from her smell, but still very handsome. He shook his fur, to straighten it out a bit. His piercing tinkled as the struck one another, hopefully drawing the female’s attention to him. Ringo strutted toward her, tail held high, ears forward, and a neatly closed maw drawn into a smile – albeit more of a seductive smirk than a smile.
“Buenas Días, Señorita.” He called out to her. “I am Ringo, messenger of the pack of Tlaloc, and I mean you no harm.”
He was close to her now, so he stopped advancing. Up close, Ringo could see a few scars lacing her pretty figure. He lowered his head down to her eye level. She had pretty blue eyes…well, one eye at least, as the left one was covered by a curtain of thick, black hair.
“What might a pretty she-wolf like yourself be doing around these parts, hm?”
|
|
Shinobu
New Member
GO... NINJA STAR!!1!1ONE!
I've got to hang on...
Posts: 32
|
Post by Shinobu on Feb 18, 2008 20:08:20 GMT -5
Shinobu smiled as she felt her stamina returning. My friends the plants never fail me when I need a boost...if only they would satisfy my hunger. Her ears tilted back a bit when she heard the jingling of metal hitting metal. She squinted a little, trying to make out the source, and saw A green and gray male strutting toward her. Her smile widened at the confidence with which he walked. He knows who he is in life.
"Buenas Días, Señorita. I am Ringo, messenger of the pack of Tlaloc, and I mean you no harm.”
"That's good to know," she said in her sweet, gentle voice as she stood up, "my body harms me enough. I am Shinobu." Shinobu gave Ringo a sideways glance and swished her tail bashfully. She'd never been looked at so adoringly by a male...well, by her father, but that was different entirely.
“What might a pretty she-wolf like yourself be doing around these parts, hm?”
He thinks I'm pretty? What odd taste, I'm so outta shape. Surely he can do better. The compliment made Shinobu avert her gaze and her smile faded a bit. She simply wasn't used to this kind of male attention...still, this was part of joining and being a member of a pack: males were bound to flirt. After getting over her insecurity at being sweet-talked, Shinobu raised her head to answer Ringo's attention. "I have come here hoping to become a member of Tlaloc, Ringo. Are you in a position to help me?"
|
|
Ringo
New Member
Lean Green Pimp Machine
Posts: 33
|
Post by Ringo on Feb 18, 2008 21:29:21 GMT -5
Ringo’s heart fell a little when her gaze fell from his and her smile faded. Perhaps I’m being too forward… He pulled his muzzle away from hers and took a small step backward. Shinopu raised her head to answer his question.
“I have come here hoping to become a member of Tlaloc, Ringo. Are you in a position to help me?"
The gray male felt his tail wag slightly and a smile return to his lips. “Join Tlaloc, you say? That’s good to hear!” His voice was bright and happy, betraying the excitement he felt at finding a new member. “Messengers aren’t the highest-ranking officials, as you may have guessed, but I can get you to Khuno quickly and safely. We wouldn’t want you injuring yourself on the way there, now would we?”
Ringo mentally kicked himself. He was being forward again, and he knew it. The male smiled sheepishly. He turned in the direction he had come from. They needed to walk by his Scout, so that he knew where the hell Ringo had gone, and where he was going now.
“We can leave now, or rest a little while longer, which ever…” He stole a glance up at the sun. It was midday already, which meant they would have to move soon if he wanted to get into the mountains before dark. The Andes were treacherous enough as it was, let alone venturing up there with a stranger who wasn’t in top physical condition. “We’re in no hurry, right?” Ringo smiled as he spoke.
|
|
Shinobu
New Member
GO... NINJA STAR!!1!1ONE!
I've got to hang on...
Posts: 32
|
Post by Shinobu on Feb 18, 2008 22:00:12 GMT -5
“Join Tlaloc, you say? That’s good to hear! Messengers aren’t the highest-ranking officials, as you may have guessed, but I can get you to Khuno quickly and safely. We wouldn’t want you injuring yourself on the way there, now would we?”
Shinobu tilted her head slightly as Ringo smiled sheepishly. He's an odd one, one minute flirting and the next being bashful...maybe he's unsure of what to do. Shimobu;s smile returned, in hopes of reassuring the male wolf. He ddin't waste time beating around the bush, but there were worse ways for one to behave. At least he wasn't a bloodthirsty moster that would rather maul first and ask questions later.
“We can leave now, or rest a little while longer, which ever…We’re in no hurry, right?”
Shinobu sighed in thought as she looked up at the sky. It's the afternoon already. I'm not fully rested, though, so waiting to continue traveling until I do might actually save time, especially if my destination is far off. Hmmm...what to do? A navy blue eye focused on Ringo, who was smiling. She didn't know if he wanted her to decline his offer to rest a little or to accept it, so it was down to her logic.
After a few minutes of thought, Shinobu lowered her body into a laying position. "I think it would be wise if I rested just a little while longer." She smiled apolagetically at Ringo. "I've come a long way already, and I wasn't made to go so far without rest...I've lacked physical strength ever since I was a pup, and well..." ...being skinny doesn't help a tiny bit. She wagged her tail and gave Ringo a grateful look. Yes...if everyone in Tlaloc is as kind as him I'll do fine.
|
|
Ringo
New Member
Lean Green Pimp Machine
Posts: 33
|
Post by Ringo on Feb 18, 2008 22:31:50 GMT -5
Shinobu let herself slide down onto her belly. "I think it would be wise if I rested just a little while longer." The she-wolf smiled apologetically at Ringo. He nodded and let out a short bark in the direction of the Scout. That would at least let him know where Ringo was.
“Sorry ‘bout that. Messenger travel around with a Scout and I kinda ran off without him.” Ringo settled himself down on the cool earth in front of the female. “Well, we don’t have much else to do while we rest here. I suppose I could chew your ear off with my unimportant stories…or I’d love to hear about where you come from.”
It was true. He wondered if she could be from up north, like him, or whether she was a Tlaloc native or ventured west from Vauran. His mind drifted a little. She sure is pretty – albeit rather skinny. I’d offer to hunt for her, but I’d rather not leave her alone without a Scout or someone else…Maybe the one I was will pick up something for us to eat.
His attention snapped back to Shinopu. His tail drifted back and forth slowly as he waited to see if she would start conversation.
|
|
Shinobu
New Member
GO... NINJA STAR!!1!1ONE!
I've got to hang on...
Posts: 32
|
Post by Shinobu on Feb 18, 2008 23:01:15 GMT -5
Shinobu flinched a bit when Ringo barked in the direction he'd come from. However, she recovered quickly, and nodded in understanding after his explanation.
"Sorry ‘bout that. Messenger travel around with a Scout and I kinda ran off without him.”
Shinobu chuckled a bit at that. She'd often run off without her parents in the rare periods of time when she was healthy, simply to see how far she could get without Karen freaking out. That was never very far.
“Well, we don’t have much else to do while we rest here. I suppose I could chew your ear off with my unimportant stories…or I’d love to hear about where you come from.”
Shinobu's smile faded and she looked at her paws. Do I have to talk about it?...No, I don't have to. He can know where I came from without knowing what happened... "I was born North of here, the last born in my litter. It was my mother's first time giving birth, and it hadn't been easy for her. Somethig which I cannot remember happened to me which severly compromised my lungs." She looked up at Ringo. "That's why I have a hard time traveling long didtances, among other reasons. Anyway..." she looked at her paws again, thinking of what to say next. "...My brother, Jack, was always looking out for me. He wasn't nearly as fragile as me, but he was perfectly happy to keep me company when I wasn't strong enough to leave the den. Annie, my sister, took pleasure in making fun of my condition. I'm not mad at her for it now though...in a way she helped me learn to test myself in ways I wouldn't have otherwise. Mom was always worried about me, hardly ever let me out of her sight. And my father, he was wonderful. He was understanding and always smiling, and I could see my mother's eyes sparkle when he looked at her. He was all a daughter could ask for, but then..." Shinobu stopped short, reluctant to continue. He was so kind, so loving and gentle until he went mad. Shinobu's shoulders fell and she lay her head on her paws.
She knew she'd have to talk about it eventually. Keeping it inside her wasn't going to do anything to make the hurt leave. It had been a year since it had happened, but it still hurt, and even thinking about it still rubbed salt in the wound. Shinobu's eye watered, but she wiped it dry before the tears could betray her feelings. Her ears were now completely flat against her head, and her tail was wrapped tightly around her right side. She looked at Ringo and tried to smile a bit. "...I'm sorry, Ringo...that part still hurts to talk about." Maybe one day, he'll be the first one I open up to...but that day isn't today.
|
|
Ringo
New Member
Lean Green Pimp Machine
Posts: 33
|
Post by Ringo on Feb 19, 2008 15:22:50 GMT -5
A sense of pity welled up from somewhere inside Ringo. This female had been through a lot in her short life time. At least she had a good family to back her… so he thought, until her demeanor changed. She grew dark all of a sudden, withdrawn and sullen.
“...I'm sorry, Ringo...that part still hurts to talk about.” She averted her gaze and stared at her paws. RIngo crawled forward, extending his nose to touch hers in consolance.
“Come now, Shinobu.” He tried to sound comforting, but it probably ended up sounding flirty. “You don’t have to tell me, I understand. After all, why spill you life story to some wolf you randomly met in the forest?”
“So you come from up North?” Ringo said quickly, changing the subject. “Same here; I come from the land the humans once called Mexico. My family traveled south for the entire of my puphood, and Koji and I kept going ‘til we hit Tlaloc’s territory. Koji’s my best mate; I’ll have to introduce you when we get to Khuno.”
Ringo stole a look at their shadows. They were slowly growing to the left Ah, ignore it Ringo, he told himself. You’re here to get here there safely, not quickly.
“So,” He said, groping for conversation, “What made you decide to join the Tlaloc pack?”
|
|
Shinobu
New Member
GO... NINJA STAR!!1!1ONE!
I've got to hang on...
Posts: 32
|
Post by Shinobu on Feb 19, 2008 16:27:05 GMT -5
"Come now, Shinobu. You don’t have to tell me, I understand. After all, why spill you life story to some wolf you randomly met in the forest?”
Shinobu smiled at Ringo, grateful for his kindness and understanding. Her tail wagged in spite of her sadness and she felt her spirits lift a little as he gave her a comforting gaze. Here she was, a complete stranger, and there he was, being as kind to her as if they'd known each other forever. It was enough to make anyone smile.
“So you come from up North? Same here; I come from the land the humans once called Mexico. My family traveled south for the entire of my puphood, and Koji and I kept going ‘til we hit Tlaloc’s territory. Koji’s my best mate; I’ll have to introduce you when we get to Khuno.”
Shino cocked her head in interest. "Oh? That must be nice, having a close friend join the pack alongside you. It must help with any homesickness you two have." Shinobu sighed and stretched her neck out a bit. Shino looked up at the sky. The day was wearing on, but Shinobu didn't feel in such a hurry now that one of the members of the pack was with her. Her main reason for quick travel had been so a resident would notice her and point her in the right direction. That had happened, so she was perfectly content to rest until Ringo decided that they'd better get mocing.
“So, what made you decide to join the Tlaloc pack?”
"Hm?" Shinobu took her gaze from the sky and looked at Ringo. "Oh, I'm not entirely sure...maybe it was the desire to start a new chapter in my life. Then again it could be because there's a gap I need to fill in my heart." She shrugged. "I never really thought about it, oddly enough. I just thought to myself, 'wouldn't it be nice to join a pack? You could make new friends, have a job to do...yeah, that sounds nice.'" Shinobu chuckled at how silly she must have sounded. "I know, silly isn't it?" Shinobu stood up and stretched her back out. She smiled at Ringo and took a few steps forward. "Well, I'm feeling better now. We can certainly keep talking as you escort me, though." She looked back at Ringo and lifted her front right paw, showing him she was ready for him to show her the way.
|
|
Ringo
New Member
Lean Green Pimp Machine
Posts: 33
|
Post by Ringo on Feb 19, 2008 17:56:28 GMT -5
"Hm?" Shinobu took her gaze from the sky and looked at Ringo. "Oh, I'm not entirely sure...maybe it was the desire to start a new chapter in my life. Then again it could be because there's a gap I need to fill in my heart."
It was all Ringo could do to keep his tail from flying into a happy wag at the mention of the heart. Yes, he may have his kind, shy moments like those before, but he is still a male – and still very much a flirt.
Shinobu continued to speak. "I never really thought about it, oddly enough. I just thought to myself, 'wouldn't it be nice to join a pack? You could make new friends, have a job to do...yeah, that sounds nice." Shinobu chuckled. "I know, silly isn't it?"
Ringo snorted good-naturedly at her last remark. “Oi, those were the reasons I joined a pack too ya know…” He conveniently ‘forgot’ to leave out the fact that packs are where a large amount of females reside. Shinobu stood up and stretched her back out. He, too, rose and stretched. "Well, I'm feeling better now. We can certainly keep talking as you escort me, though." She looked back at Ringo and lifted her front right paw.
The male trotted up to her side. Quickly taking in the scents of the air, he started to lead her in the direction of the Scout’s scent. Ringo didn’t wish to cause panic to his partner because they couldn’t regroup at the end of the day. The wolves of the new world had not been fortunate enough to have clear paths carved out in the brush by their ancestors, and so the path the pair traveled was a little overgrown and rough in places. They had not gotten far when the ferns to the left of the path rustled and a large brown head thrust its way through the undergrowth. The other wolf blinked once, and recognized his pack member.
“Ah, luring innocent females back to your den yet again, Ringy?” The other Tlaloc wolf’s bark was dripping with sarcasm. Ringo, in truth, was a horrible flirt, despite it being a hobby of his.
“Feh!” Ringo had his ears pulled back and a grimace replaced his normal smile. He felt hot under his fur, and embarrassment caused all witty retorts to escape his mind. “Thought I’d be polite an’ tell you where I was goin’. Nice t’ know you care.”
Ringo stalked off down the shady path. The Scout lowered his large muzzle to whisper to Shinopu. “You be right careful around that Casanova. He’s crazy and unpredictable.” This received a bark of annoyance from the male in question. The brown wolf winked and continued past the female. Ringo stared back, waiting for Shinobu to catch up.
|
|
Shinobu
New Member
GO... NINJA STAR!!1!1ONE!
I've got to hang on...
Posts: 32
|
Post by Shinobu on Feb 21, 2008 0:00:16 GMT -5
“Oi, those were the reasons I joined a pack too ya know…”
Shinobu's eare tilted back and she swushed her tail at his response to her answer. Everything he said made her like him more. It'd be really hard if his superior decided not to allow her into the pack, after meeting such a nice guy. She followed Ringo quietly through the untamed woods, until a brown wolf face popped out of the bushes. Shinobu took a few alarmed steps backward out of surprise.
“Ah, luring innocent females back to your den yet again, Ringy?”
Shinobu's ears flattened against her head and she stared in disbelief at Ringo. Tell me it's not true...please tell me that...
“Feh! Thought I’d be polite an’ tell you where I was goin’. Nice t’ know you care.”
That hadn't been the response she'd been hoping for. She stayed where she was as Ringo continued on. He's awful eager to get away...do this stranger's words hold any truth. She startled a little when she felt the other male speak close to her ear.
“You be right careful around that Casanova. He’s crazy and unpredictable.”
Ringo barked, making Shinobu flinch, and her tail curled between her legs. She nodded as the brown wolf winked her and walked on. "Uh...mmmm, right. Careful..." She gave Ringo an uneasy look and hesitated a moment before finally approaching him.
Her ears perked up a little and she gave him a slightly desperate look. She looked away and trotted a little ahead of him before looking back warily. "Ringo..." She swallowed and let his name sink in a little more before continuing. "...I trust you, Ringo...please...please don't make me regret it..." She closed her eye and sighed. That was a horrible thing to say...I need to just relax. That other male was probably just yanking his chain...yes, that's it. She looked up and smiled sadly at Ringo. "I'm sorry...he probably just meant to scare me..." Her smile widened and she giggled, trying to laugh the encounter off. "Let's just forget it, Ringo. Shall we continue?"
|
|
Ringo
New Member
Lean Green Pimp Machine
Posts: 33
|
Post by Ringo on Feb 21, 2008 18:16:28 GMT -5
Ringo’s own tail fell when he accidentally startled his charge with his bark. Her demeanor grew skittish, too, after what the Scout had said to her. Shinobu hesitated before catching up with him, and then wouldn’t make eye contact. The male was confused, and a little worried. In all honesty, he expected her to tease him about it. Her shy and fearful attitude caught him off guard.
“...I trust you, Ringo...please...please don't make me regret it..." Ringo’s right ear twitched, his expression totally blank. She looked up and smiled sadly at him. "I'm sorry...he probably just meant to scare me..." Her smile widened and she giggled. "Let's just forget it, Ringo. Shall we continue?"
The gray wolf blinked once. He smiled very cheesily, far more embarrassed than he could ever remember feeling. If blush could be seen on a wolf, his shade was far redder than the proudest tomato’s. He laughed uneasily “Heh, oh dear, I’m sorry about that. I admit, I’m a bit of a flirt, but most of the females around these parts think I have the charm and grace of a rock, so…”
He decided to stop talking before he made more of an idiot of himself. Ringo padded down the path a little more. He turned back to address her. “I promise I’ll get you to Khuno safe and sound no matter what my packmates may say of me.”
He smiled, earnestly meaning what he said. He flipped his tail and continued to walk down the trail that lead to Khuno.
((We could timeskip to night now, or keep talking, I’ll leave it up to you. =3))
|
|
Shinobu
New Member
GO... NINJA STAR!!1!1ONE!
I've got to hang on...
Posts: 32
|
Post by Shinobu on Feb 22, 2008 23:15:43 GMT -5
((LOL I'll do both XD))
“Heh, oh dear, I’m sorry about that. I admit, I’m a bit of a flirt, but most of the females around these parts think I have the charm and grace of a rock, so…”
Shinobu giggled at the idea of a green rock trying to woo a female wolf. She shook her head slowly to shake the funny image from her head and looked at Ringo. "Well, that's only most of them, Ringo." Shinobu smiled and wagged her tail in a friendly gesture. She was liking Ringo the more time she spent with him, but she was still unsure how to tell him, or if she should. What if she wasn't accepted? Then the two would never meet again, or forever be part of a forbidden romance. That wouldn't be fair to either of them, so it was best, Shinobu thought, to wait until her place in the pack was securely determined.
“I promise I’ll get you to Khuno safe and sound no matter what my packmates may say of me.”
Shinobu sighed and turned toward Ringo, taking a few steps toward him again. Her smile was warm and gentle, ever so sincere. "I know you will, Ringo...like I said before, I trust you." Shinobu turned and began following Ringo again, her thoughts wandering back to the deceased family she was leaving behind.
Later...
By the time Ringo and shinobu had reached their destination, the sun had almost completely set. The landscape glowed with the mystery of twilight and the air was still as the daytime creatures tucked into their nests and burrows. The creatures of the night had not yet emerged, and wouldn't for another hour or so, leaving Ringo and Shinobu alone, together, in the waning light.
Shinobu was tired, and her feet were sore. She hadn't complained during the journey to this point, but her exhaustion could not be kept a secret now. She was lightheaded and it was getting hard for her to focus on what was in her line of sight. Reluctantly, Shinobu lay down. She rested her head on her paws and stifled a yawn. Her navy eye locked on Ringo, who was looking ahead. She sighed and lifted her head. A tired smile appeared on her mouth. I knew he'd get me here safely...he may be a flirt but his heart's in the right place. "So," Shinobu said in an inquisitive tone, "what happens now, Ringo? Should I wait until morning to go any further?"
((Blerrg, crappy. I'm sick, tired, and can't think straight.))
|
|
Ringo
New Member
Lean Green Pimp Machine
Posts: 33
|
Post by Ringo on Feb 23, 2008 13:03:12 GMT -5
Night was beginning to unfold upon the Andes Mountains as Ringo and Shinobu were starting their assent into the main city of Khuno. The peaks of the majestic hills glowed with the dying light of the sun, illuminating the foliage. A huge condor soared on breeze that drifted down the canyon. Faint scents of the Tlaloc pack reached the two wolves on that breeze. The gray male looked forward to getting back to his warm, moss-down den with Koji.
"So," Shinobu spoke from behind in an inquisitive tone. Ringo looked back to find her on the ground. "What happens now, Ringo? Should I wait until morning to go any further?"
He stared at her quietly for a second. It was clear she was exhausted; her head was just barely hovering over her paws and that brilliant navy blue of her eye was half covered by its lid. “If you don’t mind walking a little bit farther, there are some out lying Khuno dens that we could spend the night in. I’m pretty sure they’re more comfortable than this stone path.”
He indicated with his muzzled a little cluster of stone buildings on a ridge perhaps twenty feet up the path. It was a good thing the Inca Empire of the ancient man had been so large, for they provided many stone dens for traveling wolves. They were out of the wind and enclosed – safer than sleeping exposed on the mountainside.
((Sorry 'bout da short post, 'specially 'cause it makes your next post short too. >>; I swear the next one will be longer.))
|
|
Shinobu
New Member
GO... NINJA STAR!!1!1ONE!
I've got to hang on...
Posts: 32
|
Post by Shinobu on Mar 1, 2008 2:03:11 GMT -5
((Sorry about the long wait, Ringo. Lotsa stuff happenin' at school and such.))
“If you don’t mind walking a little bit farther, there are some out lying Khuno dens that we could spend the night in. I’m pretty sure they’re more comfortable than this stone path.”
Shinobu shook her head, indicating that she didn't mind walking a little farther. She looked at the stone buildings Ringo had pointed out to her and stood up. She stretched out her rear right leg, which was beginning to ache from all the traveling. That leg had been giving her all kinds of grief ever since she got hurt, and it hurt the most when she traveled long distances without stretching it occasionally. As she stretched, her mouth opened in a yawn. She shook herself off and smiled. Only a little farther, then I can rest.
Shinobu quietly followed Ringo up the path to the Incan buildings, taking in her surroundings. She wasn't used to being around such large pieces of archetecture. All the buildings she'd seen were in complete ruin, utterly destroyed until only fragments of what they had once been remained. The ground was almost completely level where she was from, and here was this huge man-made mountain with openings that made fantastic dens. Shinobu was in awe, and that feeling only increased when she saw the inside of one of the empty caves.
The cave was lined with a soft, slightly luminescent moss. It gave the cave a warm, inviting glow that lured her inside. She walked slowly, her eye taking in the beauty of what was before her. She had become used to her own cave, which was nothing special: rock walls and a dirt floor, none of this soft foliage to make sleeping more comfortable. The beauty of this place kept showing up in unexpected places, and this cave was one of them. She looked at Ringo and gave him a bewildered smile. "Ringo...this place..." she closed her eye and her smile widened. "It's beautiful..."
Finally, her fragile body had been worked to its limit. Unable to stand any longer, Shino collapsed on the soft moss. She was utterly exhausted, really and truly tired. She had come a long way in just one day, and her body could move no farther. Still, her smile stayed on her face as she drifted off to sleep. She knew this was the place for her. All around there was beauty, it creeped into every crevice of this place until it burst forth and took her captive. She felt safe here, as if nothing bad could reach this place.
She had found her sanctuary...so long as the Goddess would accept her.
|
|