Argo
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Player of Jasper!c!Default
Posts: 216
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Post by Argo on Oct 22, 2007 22:25:30 GMT -5
Nothin’ in return, eh? A little strange, but perhaps he was just some nice soul. Well, he did want to talk to him. Probably a little lonely. Argo couldn’t blame him. Most creatures had enough sense to leave this cathedral of frozen rock and ice. He remained silent until Akmun inquired about the lights. He appeared almost dumbfounded as he stared at the dark walls and the ceiling of the cave, which whirled with the reflected light. It was a wondrous event to the leopard. Of course he had seen odd colored pelt, some that even seemed to change color in the light. But this was something else entirely. Orbs of clouded grey graze on serenely while he gently nodded his head in reply.
He wondered what it must be like, having fur as beautiful as his. Argo himself had no special markings. Just a golden pelt with the typical rosettes of a leopard. The only notable trait he had were his grayish eyes, although having an odd eye color wasn’t that uncommon. He also wondered if it had caused any quarrels. Argo knew that envy often caused conflict. There would definitely be cats and even other creatures jealous of a coat like Akmun’s.
"Argo eh? That’s a good name”
The leopard redirected his attention back to his newfound ally. Silently, he waited till Akmun had finished before replying. “Why don’t you then?” he began, “Change your name, I mean…” He still didn’t understand why the tiger just call himself something else. “It’s just a name, right? A single word. Nothing more. It doesn’t change who you are.”
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Ryu Arashi
Junior Member
"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!"!c!white
Posts: 279
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Post by Ryu Arashi on Oct 22, 2007 23:18:46 GMT -5
Akmun looked at Argo. "I cant change my name, its...well its a mark of my shame in a way." He looked sadly at the ground, his ears back against his head in sorrow.
"My name is a curse." Akmun paused, then continued haltingly. "When I was younger....my mother took me hunting, even though she knew i would fail. She...well she cared for me when no other tiger would. She wasnt my real mother, but she took me in." He paused a little, thinking. "Anyway, when she took me hunting that morning, she never thought to watch for threats. She was too trusting of the world. Anyway...my fur let off an amazing flash as the sun hit it in a hole through the trees, which alerted a nearby group of Jaguars of our presance."
Akmun looked at his paws, shuffling them slightly. "The jaguars normally wouldnt attack tigers, but mother wasnt strong and neither was i at the time. They surrounded us and overpowered mother. I managed to escape and get back to other tigers, but they shunned me. They said that i had killed mother, that it was my fault." At this a small tear ran down his large face. "They exiled me that day, and gave me the name Akmun Ra, or Killer Light. I bear it as a reminder that i can never get close to anyone again. I came to live here so that i would never have that happen again." At this he grew silent, and his tail hung limp on the ground beside him.
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Argo
Regular Member
Player of Jasper!c!Default
Posts: 216
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Post by Argo on Oct 23, 2007 9:31:31 GMT -5
Argo listened silently while Akmun went on weaving his tale. He wasn’t exactly sure what to say. A simple ‘I’m sorry’ wouldn’t do: it seemed void of compassion and sympathy. What was he to say then? Argo felt his jaw lock as the other cat told him about be blamed for his foster mother’s death and being exiled. The injustice of it all was infuriating to say the least, but Argo chose to remain silent until the end of the story. What had Akmun done do deserve any of that? He was probably little more than a cub then.
Once he had finished, Akmun sat there noiselessly. The howling wind seemed to be the only noise that broke the silence, although it had become hollow, white noise to Argo, who continued thinking about the senseless violence and idiocy. It was almost unthinkable, punishing someone for crimes that others had committed.
He finally found himself breaking the silence, which had rung in his ears. “Well… why carry a curse… when it wasn’t your fault? Surely your… mother… knew the risks of taking you hunting. It wasn’t as if you… meant for anything to happen. And it wasn’t your choice to be born with… a pelt such as yours. Right?” He spoke slowly, choosing his words carefully, and yet he sounded unsure of himself. It felt as if he was intruding by asking the question he was. It wasn’t any of his business why Akmun kept his name. But, for some unknown reason, he had to know the answer why…
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Ryu Arashi
Junior Member
"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!"!c!white
Posts: 279
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Post by Ryu Arashi on Oct 23, 2007 22:40:08 GMT -5
Akmun looked back up at Argo, his emotions cool and controlled now. He had not wanted to think about his mothers death, but for some reason he found himself talking more to Argo then he had to any cat before.
"I dont exactly know why i carry it, but it seems like if i forgot it, then it would be like ive forgotten my mother. I tried changing it at one point back to what it was before, but it didnt feel right for some reason." Akmun paused a little, thinking about his past, and what had happened. "I dont usually think about it that much, i dont talk to many people around here, so i usually dont have a need for a name. I know that my mother knew the risks, but i think she also was over trusting in the other tigers. I think that she thought they would protect us if something happened." Akmun shook his fur, casting more light into the cave.
"It is complicated though, i love my fur, yet what it caused has brought me much grief and hardship. I cant get away from it, so its not like i can change what i am. But at the same time i almost wish i had normal fur, something that would have allowed me to still be with mother." He trailed of in thought again for a moment.
Snapping back to the present, Akmun looked back over at Argo. "Well, enough about me then. What about yourself, why are you on this giant chunk of ice we call a mountain?"
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Argo
Regular Member
Player of Jasper!c!Default
Posts: 216
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Post by Argo on Oct 30, 2007 22:19:18 GMT -5
Argo asked no more questions, struggling to understand. Although he still didn’t quite get it, he pretended he did by giving a simple nod and a quiet, “I see” when Akmun trailed off. For a few seconds, he sat completely still, apart from the occasional blink. He gradually became aware of feeling in his limbs in that short period of time. Experimentally, he flexed the blunt claws on one of his golden paws. It did hurt, but the pain was the price of being able to move again. Grey orbs settled on the ground, enjoying the silence.
"Well, enough about me then. What about yourself, why are you on this giant chunk of ice we call a mountain?"
His head snapped towards, eyes narrowed. There was a threatening glint in those eyes, one that told the tiger that asking wasn’t wise. It was only after this action did Argo realize how much of an ass he was being. With a dejected sigh, he turned away and rested his head back on his paws. “I was looking for someone.” It was a statement of pure misery. He didn’t want to tell his newfound friend any of this, but felt obligated to. After all, Akmun Ra had told him all about his past. The leopard’s eyes, still narrowed, glared at the entrance of the cave, where snow appeared only as a white blur. “She…” hesitation was clearly in his voice, but he forced himself to finish his sentence. “She disappeared a while ago.” That was only a half-truth. She had disappeared although he knew, along with anyone who had known her, that she had left on her own.
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Ryu Arashi
Junior Member
"Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup!"!c!white
Posts: 279
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Post by Ryu Arashi on Nov 1, 2007 20:04:44 GMT -5
Akmun wondered at Argo's reaction to his question. The quick threatening look from the cat only made Akmun more curious. Akmun walked back into the cave a little, and shook off the little amount of snow that had stuck to his glittering fur. The storm was quieting down a little, the snow falling slower and slower.
Akmun flopped onto the floor, scattering some stray snow that had made its way into the cave.
"Oh, well I hope you find her. Though in this mountain, I doubt that you will find anyone. Even I have problems tracking around here, especially after one of these storms. Though luckily it seems to be halting, or at least slowing down for now." Akmun yawned and growled a little, he was not tired, but hanging around in this cave always made him yawn.
"So what does this girl look like? She must be pretty to get you to almost die up here to find her."
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Argo
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Player of Jasper!c!Default
Posts: 216
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Post by Argo on Nov 11, 2007 14:24:37 GMT -5
Akmun chose to come a little closer, obviously curious, much to Argo’s disdain. He shoulda just lied. Made up some story about getting lost or something. Would’ve been easier for him. Ar wasn’t fond of speaking about his past. It was because he knew he had screwed up and that it was his fault. He couldn’t stand that fact. That it was his fault… He had to fix it. Somehow. But he wasn’t even sure that he could fix it. The leopard had no idea how to or if he should even try to. If he did find her, which he doubted, he would atleast tell her he was sorry. Not that that seemed to mean a whole lot.
He turned his golden head towards Akmun as he began speaking. He did seem to mean what he said. That meant little to Argo though. What did it matter? Simply hoping for something brought about little change. Argo knew that well. It was the reason that he was out here instead at home, where he had stayed until he made an ‘amazing’ discovery. Simple sitting there, wondering and worrying about Salem would do little. If he really wanted to ever see her again, he’d have to go find her. Yet another motive for being on this stupid mountain, instead of someplace nice and warm, like the jungle that he missed dearly. With a sigh, he rose and stretched out a little, but didn’t move from under the heavy pelt. Although Akmun was right about the storm quieting down, it was still too cold for Argo. He settled back down on the icy ground, grateful for his help. “Thank you,” was the only thing he could think to say.
He only spoke again because he felt so appreciative to the huge tiger. It would feel wrong to refuse to tell him after all the assistance Akmun had given his. Argo already had too much guilt, so he spoke, although not very confidently. He couldn’t remember exactly what she looked like. It felt like a lifetime ago that he had last seen her. He closed his eyes, trying to picture her. A frown had appeared on his face, as he concentrated on her. It was difficult. Argo could picture her, but couldn’t actually see her. It was blurry and undefined. Nothing more than a faded image in his mind…
“She…” he stopped, still unable to see her clearly. He opened his eyes to look at Akmun as he spoke. “She was a leopard. Her markings… they were like mine. Regular rosettes… but her coloring was lighter, more like a clouded leopard’s. And her eyes… they were...” he released a heavy sighed. “I can’t remember what color they were.” He shook his head. That was just about all he could remember. But maybe it was better that way. It sort of made it easier, not being constantly reminded of what he had lost.
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Akmunra
Newbie
Yet another alter ego of ryu arashi
Posts: 5
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Post by Akmunra on Nov 12, 2007 14:13:39 GMT -5
Akmun couldn't help but feel sorry for Argo, he knew what it was like to loose a friend. Though maybe Argo would be able to find this leopard he looked for. Akmun was a kind cat, and wanted to help, but he was out of ideas on how.
He looked out the cave, staring at the now clear sky. The air was colder now that it stopped snowing, even with the slight clouds that were left behind. The snow had piled up outside of the cave entrance, high drifts on either side that caused icicles to form from the melted snow.
"It must have been a long time since you've seen her." He dropped his head down onto his paws, resting his chin on the tops. "What makes you think that she is in this icebox of a place? It seems an awefully odd place for a leopard, though you are here so I suppose maybe..." Akmun trailed off in slight thought.
Akmun had never been in love, though it didn't surprise him. After he was shunned by his people, he came up to the mountain and pretty much ignored all the other cats. He simply lived on his own, and helped the stray cats and animals that wandered by him, not that it happened that often. He wondered somewhat what it would be like to fall in love, but then dismissed the thought. He didn't want to complicate his life again by trying to mingle with others, he liked it up here anyway.
Akmun turned his attention back to Argo, yawning slightly out of inactivity.
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Argo
Regular Member
Player of Jasper!c!Default
Posts: 216
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Post by Argo on Nov 20, 2007 12:27:24 GMT -5
Frustrated that he wasn’t able to remember what she looked like, Argo stared hard at the entrance of the cave, into the blinding whiteness that had trapped him here. He didn’t know what to do, anymore. Was there even a point to looking anymore? He could barely remember her, so how did he know he had already found her and simply walked off because he couldn’t remember her? It was useless. This conversation with Akmun had proven it. Argo frowned as he came to this realization. How much of his life had he wasted on looking for her? Now, there was no d**ned point. His jaw set as his eyes continued to focus on the outside world of ice and cold. This time he glared past Akmun, until the tiger finally spoke.
All Ar did was nod at the first statement. Why exactly had he chosen the mountain? It was quite simple. “I’d looked everywhere else. Maiziden seemed like a good enough place as to search… except for the fact that I didn’t know who cold it was…” He shrugged. Stupid as it was, it was his only reason. Slate grey eyes drifted from Ak back to the huge hole in the wall that let in the freezing air. Argo now stared hopelessly and pathetically.
He and Akmun Ra weren’t anything alike, as far as he could tell. He had been raised by most of his family and the small clan they had traveled with, while the kindhearted tiger had been raised by only his mother. Argo had fallen in love and was used to having someone by his side; Akmun seemed to enjoy being the only one he had. Akmun’s life seemed to hold some reason: helping creatures stranded on the mountain. Argo was looking for something lost, something that would probably stay lost. The only thing they shared was the fact that they were alone.
The anger returned as Argo stood, eyes still fixed on the only way out of the cave. The huge pelt still had covered most of him as he had rose. With a yawn, he stretched a little. His muscles had begun cramping from lying so long on the hard ground.
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Akmunra
Newbie
Yet another alter ego of ryu arashi
Posts: 5
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Post by Akmunra on Nov 24, 2007 18:02:43 GMT -5
Akmun chuckled to himself. Not know how cold it was? That seemed hard for Akmun to grasp, how could someone not know how cold it was. But then, there were many animals who came onto the mountain, underestimating the severe weather.
"So what do you plan to do now? I imagine that with the storm dying down, maybe you could search more? Or perhaps check in other places, though I dont know how much good that would do, seeing as how you've checked everywhere else." Akmun flicked his tail at a little drift of snow that had caught itself in his fur.
Akmun watched as Argo got up and stretched, his eyes seemed to gather anger in them as he did so. Akmun didnt know why the cat would be angry, but he decided that enough had been asked at the moment, so he didnt bother Argo about it.
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