=--------------------------------------------------------------------------= ___ _ _ ___ ' | ` |__| |__` oooo | | | |__, .ooooo. o 88 ---------------------------------------------------- o8" `"o8 88 ooo oo888oo ooo ooo ooo oo ooo ooo ooo d8' " 88 8 ,8' `8. 8"8 8 8 o8' 8 8"8 8 d8 88 8 88 88 8 8 8 8o' 8 8 8 8 88 oooo 88 8 88 88 8 8 8 88o 8 8 8 8 88 di 88 ,o 8 `8. ,8' 8 8.8 8 `8. 8 8 8.8 `88. ,8i o88ooooo'o8o `"ooooo"' o8o o8o o8o `8o o8o o8oo o8 (c)"88oood' =--------------------------------------------------------------------------= The Lion King is copyright 1994 by the Walt Disney Company. This MUCK in no way constitutes a challenge to this copyright. =--------------------------------------------------------------------------= Administrative contact: TLK Admin Registered users: type 'connect ' to connect. Guest users: type 'connect guest guest' to connect as a Guest. For finding a name, type 'names' after connecting, and to apply for a character, read the rules and type 'CCS'. *If the MUCK is DOWN, please email the Admin so they can restart it!* =-------------------= NO HUMANS BEYOND THIS POINT! =---------------------= [ May 17, 1999 ] Outskirts of Utatu The greens and yellows of the Utatu Lands begin to fade dramatically around you as you move away from them. The earth beneath your feet has has become hard and dull --lifeless. Cracks line the tawny dark depths and you begin to wonder if anything can grown let alone live here. A dusty path well worn by paw marks but looking like it hasn't been used in a long long time leads forward into a dark forest up ahead- The trees are bare and dead- but there thorns still prick. Do you dare continue? Continue on into a (D)ark (F)orest Retreat back to the (U)tatu (L)ands You can see... [IC ] Showing off his first 'kill'..a tiny mouse. [Vollutt] Jicin Jicin is a young female Ethiopian Wolf pup, so thin that her flanks shudder with each rasping breath she takes. The unkempt pelt that covers her is a light brownish grey, darking to a deeper slate color on eartips, spine and feathery tail. Her angular face, framed by overlarge ears, holds her one striking feature: a pair of yellow green eyes. These, and indeed her overall posture, hold an expression of nervous uncertainty, mingled with a pathetic eagerness to please. Her head is held low, her tail curled under, and any movements she makes slow and cautious. Young as she is, this pup has learnt her place well, and has far too little confidence in herself to try and gain anyplace greater. Jicin thuds to her rump in the dust, shoulders hunched as she stares at the ground below and in front of her. A surprisingly intent gaze, at what by any account is of exceeding little interest...but then this pup is rather a strange one, and she has precious else to observe! Sleeping mother and sister are to be avoided, and lastime she looked upward brother was not within sight. Kicking up a bit of dust as he trots back, Vollutt comes towards the group. He takes a look at the sleepers and snorts softly, gripping the item between his teeth a little tighter, and then spots his sister. Ah...Jicin. He alters his path and comes towards her, a smug smile on his wolfie lips, tail proudly wagging out behind him. Jicin lifts her head at the sound of pawsteps, although her posture remains hunched and submissive. This only grows more intense at seeing her brother, and, awkward, the female pup tries to back away. She manages only to set dustclouds spinning about her, cloaking her fur in similar dusty grey-brown. Out of this, her wide eyes can be seen, gleaming with some unknown emotion. Nervousness at least, if not fear. So far in her life Jicin has not haad much joy in knowing her kin, and especially not her bullying brother. The male regards her and stops very near her with a stomp, dropping the dead mouse from his muzzle and bending down to sniff at it for a moment, as it seeing if it was still alive. Whether he had actually managed to catch it, or had simply found it like this, would not be known. He glances over to Jicin and smirks. "Don' be such a meerkat, Jicin, I'm jus' droppin' off my denner." He paws at the lifeless creature and decides it's no longer as fun. After all, he didn't exactly eat that much in the lines of solid food yet-even though they were slowly changing to that trend. He looks over to his sister, now more interested in her. Yes, it was funner to mess with her. Especially since his mother approved of toughing up the little runt. "So, pitying ya self 'gain Ciny?" Jicin sits up, or at any rate tries to do so, with a vigorous shake of her head in silent denial. Her gaze flicks to the still mouse, and she swallows, but makes no move towards it. Envy is in her expression now, of favor, and food, and the strength and confidence to find it. Vollutt sets down and raises a hind paw to scratch behind his ear for a moment, and then, while it's still hovering halfway in the air, he grins maliciously at Jicin, used to her silence. "Wanna practice attackin'?" He was in in the mood for a little rough housing, and it didn't really matter if Jicin wanted to or not, it wasn't a true question. The mouse he had 'caught' is forgotten. He wasn't really hungry anyways. He got plenty of food. Jicin's head moves in an uncertain answering action--she wants to shake it for 'no', but rather strongly doubts denial will help her in avoiding a scuffle. Then inspiration strikes, and with a sharp nod, the smaller pup states, "Yah. If winning means som'ing." With the exception of the swallowed sylable, it is an adult statement; in fact, nearly a quote from their mother, and as such should hold some weight in the dicussion. Arching a brow and grinning with a devilish pup smile, he actually laughs a little. "And you thin' ya can win?" But then again.... "Okay...An' if I win I want somethin' too!" Dropping his paws, his large ears cup in Jicin's direction, liking this idea. Jicin has gone too far to back down now. "What?" She asks in answer, in as close to a challenging tone as the submissive youngster ever gets, which, it must be admited, is not very. But it'll do. Vollutt tried to think this one through. He already managed to bully his way into getting the best of most things, so what could he get from her. Shaking his head after a moment, he smirks. "I'm not gonna tell ya till I win. An' what do _you_ want?" His word of _you_ is spoken with a hint of disgust. Obviously mother's little pride and joy. Jicin's green gaze slides to the abandoned prey, transparent in what she wishes. "That," comes the confiming statement. A flicker of a thought is considered briefly, then dismissed. Trying for more probably would not work, and would be more likely to antagonise the young male. Glancing over to the still slightly warm morsel, at first he felt anger. She wouldn't have _that_ pretty catch. She wouldn't have _any_ of his catches. However, could he resist the urge to put her in her place? She was stronger then Sekar had proved to be, but surely that could be easily broken. He wanted all of his mother's attention, and was born and raised to get it. "Fine. I'll give you that if you think you can actually beat me!" He snorts and suddenly lunges at her, no, not some kind of, kill, real fight lunge, but that of almost a pounce, except with an eviler idea. This was the only way he knew how to 'play'. Jicin keeps silent as she is tumbled backwards in a tangle of her own limbs, and the brother who has seemingly almost without effort managed to tackle her to the ground. She stills, but is not going to give up immediatly, despite outward appearances. Vollutt feels Jicin still, almost relax under his one lunge. He snorts and looks down at her with a trained, malicious scowl. "Tha' was it??" That wasn't any fun... He doesn't know that his sister is still determined and thus grumbles and jumps away, kicking out a back paw in hopes of delievering one final b suppose to get stronger if all I 'ave to train with is my sis'..." Jicin rolls, dust rising and obscuring her as she manages to get to her paws and lunge across the slight distance now seperating her from her sibling. Caught unaware, Vollutt is bolled over by the sheer wait of the impact from Jicin, and with a loud yelp, not at all consistant with his before atitude, he growls and tries to roll back over onto his feet, being slowed down from his slightly pup-pudgy size. Jicin, determined now at having the advantage for a moment at least, keeps her weight on the other pup as her jaw gapes, trying for a hold. Not a throat-hold specifically, although that would of course be prefered, but any grip that will secure her somewhat more. Vollutt barks loudly as Jicin latches into his tender pup ear and seems to hold steadfast, her weight on him temporarly making it difficult for him to stand up. Finally, he manages to reach a standing position, but the way Jicin has his ear, he's tilting his head towards her and trying to keep it from being pulled at. It hurts! Oh he would get her! "Let go of my ear now!" He shouts, headless of waking his mother and other sister. They were heavy sleepers anyways. He reaches up a paw fruitlessly to bap the muzzle away from his ear. Jicin clenches her jaws, anything but willing to let go of her advantage, most especially as retaliation will come of it. But for this moment, there's triumph, unexpected and most definately unusual--and the pup savours it. Vollutt isn't used to being treated this way except for by his mother and quickly twists his body, ignoring the pain in his ear, and trying to knock Jicin off guard by pushing his weight against her and twisting his head downward to hopefully losen her grip. Jicin is, indeed, knocked off--so violently that she lands on her side almost a body-length away, wind knocked out of her thin fame so that she pants for breath, rasping in distress. Wiggling out his ear after he finally manages to free it, he steadys himself from being set off balance from Jicin being knocked off. Then, growling loudly, he turns and leaps after his sister. "I'll skin ya hide for tha'!" He cries out! Jicin can only cower down against the ground, still to shocked to even move and try to protect herself from the worst of the punishment that will be forthcoming to her. An easy target. Vollutt lands a centimeter away from crushing Jicin and snaps out at her muzzle, his eyes full of rage, but not really the dangerous kind. He's too young for that kind of hate. All he knows is what he's been trained. "An' wait for the punishment Ma's gonna give ya!" He snorts, stopping after he does or doesn't do damage to her tender pup nose with his milking teeth. "Ya, I think I'm gonna leave ya for Ma to punish. " However, he doesn't move and just leers down at her. "I guess I win. You want to know what I want?" He growls out. Jicin winces as, with an effort, she lifts one forepaw to pat ginerly at her bitten nose. Her eyes tear, but she closes them to hide it, and by the time they are open again she feels strong enough to sit up. Doing so, swaying a fraction, as if buffetted by wind, she rasps out, "What?" His eyes narrow threatening, and the world around him seems to freeze for a moment. Passion is strong in his voice, and his manner is cold. Unlike Jicin and Sekar, he had adapted and grew strong in this cruel world made by his mother. "Everything." He states. Jicin whispers, cowering, "Don' understand..." The hesitency and half-swallowed sound of the words are a fallback to younger days, never far from her. Not with a mother to submit to, and a pair of bullying siblings as well. So hard to grow, in that environment. Vollutt's muzzle forms a smirk, almost a smile. "Of course you wouldn't you little scaredy-meerkat." Some things were beyond the reach of the weak, and this was one. "But one day you 'ill!" He snorts and turns quickly, his tail flashing out behind him in order to give one more knock to his sibling. Nowhere did he feel guilty for his treatment of her. He'd been taught that this was the way of life, the powerful over the weak, hate over fear. He stops his padding to look down at the mouse. He wasn't really all that hungry, but he bends down to snatch it up. "I think mother deserves this mor'." Jicin's gaze fixes on the morsel, and she watches its passage, saliva pooling in her mouth. She tried, but it's lost to her. Gained nothing, lost yet more. So, another lesson--don't take chances. And an old one confirmed yet again--there's no point in hoping. Lessons were hard. Vollutt had learned to hide any fear or compassion. And there was no hope in his world, except for that of domineering his world. As his young pup mind could not see what his actions and thoughts would do to his future, he plays his part in life, and drops the mouse by his mother, and then pads over towards Jicin. "Let's go somewhere. I have somethin' ta show you." He states. Or did he just want to get her away from here and leave her? "No," Jicin replies, her voice still a rasping whisper. A simple statement. Unaccustomed defiance, but she does not trust, and with good reason. Vollutt snorts. Well, there was no way he could pick her up and carry her there, so he would have to rely on different measures. Grinning cunningly (or maybe just stupidly) he motions back to mother. "I _dare_ you to go ove' and ge' that mouse from mother's paws!" This should be interesting. Jicin swallows hard, as she shifts to see the distance and angle. The calculation is automatic, closer to the measuring of possible reach and punishment than the more benign questions of food-gathering. Possible? Barely. Is she willing to try? There is the question. The pup falls still, as if awaiting further encouragament, or condemnation. Vollutt smirks harshly looking at his sister. "Well wha' are ya waiten for?? She's not gonna sleep forever!" He makes his words slightly louder then they should be. Perhaps he has a reason behind this. "Or are ya scare' of your own ma now?" Of course she is. What has she ever felt towards her mother but confused fear, since moments after birth? But Jicin does not say this aloud, would not dare to even if she could articulate the sentiment. "Not gonna," she states at last, sulky. Even Vollutt is afraid of his mother at times, but he makes it seem he's not. He barks loudly a few times, laughing in between, and even attepts a feeble excuse for a howl. "Scaredy-meer! Scared-meer!" Did he love his role as brother or what? He walks over to Dendrine and carefully grabs up the mouse quickly jerking away as if bitten. Then, he pads back towards his sister and drops it before his paws. "Let's see if ya think you can muster 'nough braves ta take it from me." His eyes narrow, the mouse on the ground now. Jicin shifts, hindquarters lifting as she stands, tail drooping--as always--in depressing counterpoint. The female pup's forepaws push forwart, splayed, so that her front half is lowered in an ironic parody of the 'play- bow'. No playfullness here. Determination, though, as she focuses on the limp brown mouse, and the large grey paws caging it. A moment, and she will try. Vollutt's head lifts a little, as if instinctively from her lowering her head down. He arches a brow as she stares at his mouse. Prey for prey. Somehow appropriate, though _he_ would decide when she ate. He liked these mind games. He had learned them well from his mother, even though being the butt of many of them, and suffering as well. Such was life. He doesn't move, his muscles slightly tense. Jicin tenses as well...and then, sudden, lunges forward over the few pawidths between them. Hardly thinking about the brother who is likely to now be leaning over her, just down and forward, yellowed teeth agleam as she snaps for the prize. Vollutt was prepared for that, and raises a paw, quickly standing from his postion to avoid being slammed into in her desperate lunge for the food. Claws with puppy newness, sharpened by the dry dirt and dust in which he walked over, outstretch, trying to get a nick at Jicin. She had to learn that nothing was for free. A hastily swallowed yelp can be heard, a reaction to the scrape of claws down the side of Jicin's neck and face. They do not puncture skin--the fur is loose there, enough to protect, just enough, but it hurts all the same. She jerks backwards in one of her awkward, unprotected tumbles, dust in her fur and pawpads and eyes. And for all that--did she gain even a sniff of the food she has dared so much for? Vollutt laughs sadly as he watches his sister give up so easily on the morsel and then just shoves it at her. "Oh jus' take it. No't hungry anywa'." He sets down and licks at his paws, following what Dendrine normally did when she attacted someone. Of course, there was no blood there like the latter. Jicin's gasp of startlment in stiffled as she grabs the mouse in her maw. She looks about almost wildly, then backs up quickly, a few jerky steps, before gulping it down in hurried bites, not caring how much of what she consumes is fur or bone. Vollutt watches his sister eat in disgust and then paws at the ground before him, kicking up dirt and dust. He didn't want that mouse anyways. Jicin finishes, and remains standing for a moment, flanks heaving as she gulps down air, in the same way as she was gulping down food moment before. Sated for the moment, and shocked by her own luck, she falls silent. Vollutt lays his head down on those restless paws now, and starts to drift off to sleep.