Another day, another sunrise }{ [AW/ Bhu]

[I L Y I C H]

Watch your step, love is broken
Save your breath, your heart has spoken

It had been so long, this trek into the unknown. But then everything was unknown besides the warmth of his body along side my own. My precious protector who didn't seem to realize I was protecting him also. My tail curled slowly, looping behind me in an anxious show. How far had we come, these last months? Was it far enough? No it would never be far enough, one day they would find us. And we would die.

You know what, let them.

The heated rumble of rebellion was still a foreign thing to me even after Daniel's and my escape from our prison. I had never been afforded the luxury of it before then. But now I felt it with ever step I took. Never would I let them hurt him, and if hurting me hurt him then I must be sure to guard myself as well. Maybe it was selfish of me to be glad he worried over my smaller frame, but did. I adored his self-conscious love with my entire soul.

Because this was the only love I could ever want and would ever have. My dearest Folami. The boy who defied his very nature to love me. We had been walking so long, and he had never left my side. That weird fuzzy feeling in my stomach had expanded to the rest of me. It was dazzling,and all to confusing at times. After all I had spent my first 3 years in some secret metal cage unknown to love or even social interaction. Still came the days when my dear Daniel had to correct some speech error of mine.

I stuttered still. That was the worst bit, that damn stutter. But he never grew aggravated with it. It was wrong, how my entire world oriented itself around him, but I couldn't fight gravity. I wouldn't even try. But that was beyond the point. The point being this; Daniel was my one and single true mate be him dog or not. I would never let him go.

Just as I prayed he would never let me. I was just as self-conscious in my adoration as he was, though I loathed to admit it. We made an awkward pair at times, unsure if our touch was one to be accepted. unsure if our words were correct and true. It made for an odd mash of social awkwardness. But it was the inside that counted, and on the inside I never doubted anything. Daniel had saved me. Emotionally, physically and mentally.

And no matter how corny that sounded it was true!


But alas I had gone rambling off in my too thick skull again. My eyes slid upwards, watching the land in front of me instead of the dust under me. Oh look, more dust. Ah so deadpan. Scrub rumpled up at odd intervals but other then that my wholly black form stepped obnoxious and loud through a tawny landscape. Having learned from a young age that hiding oneself, mentally and physically was the only way to survive I was in a self issued state of terror. But I tried to contain it. if not for my sake then for Daniel's.

I was just a coward, but I wanted to be brave for him. he had gotten us so far and I was just a pathetic half helpful companion. I could at least provide some emotional support. A smile pulled up on my features, lifted to shine towards his soft onyx eyes. My own eyes grew warmer, softening around the edges. I could never look at him in any other way. no matter how vedamently I denied it, Daniel was my protector. My savior.

I would walk where ever he said to go,and I would be glad to simply be by his side with my soft smile set in place for good.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

It was not uncommon for the unease to work itself into a crevice of my brain, hiding dormant there, growing larger off my other worries, to burst forth one moment with a force that nearly thre me backwards. Now was one of those moments. The girl walking beside me could do so much better than me, choose an animal that had no potential to snap and easily crush her with jaws made to slaughter her kind. Love forced down the instincts that had been bred into me, but I was not sure how strong love was.

After all, it was only shortly ago a foriegn concept.

And now it was all I knew, that warm feeling that gave reason to a pointless existance. My dearest walked beside me through the storms, and wether she knew it or not, she was my hero. I was long overdue for death and I would have welcomed it only a few months ago. But now I wanted to live, and I would fight for that right. It was in my make-up to kill this creature rubbing against my pelt in silence, but instead I would kill and die in her defence. I felt and acted for her in the opposite of what my instincts screamed to do.

And I would be killed for it, but that was a fact that lay way off in the future.

For now we could only have pleasure in this sorry little existance we had. Our relationship was an oasis within this desert of hate and sand and hate. That thought reminded me of a physical desire I had pushed aside while contemplating my deeper wishes.

"I'm thirsty."

It was simply put, my voice rough in the unease I felt. It had been so long since we had found even a puddle. Despite all the pain felt in the training kennel, we had always been provided for. If not for the fact that Vice had been replacable in the eyes of the humans, I may have suggested we return home until conditions in the wild were better. But, no, at this point we would both be killed. I was a malfunction and Vice was disobedient. We were outcasts. We were refugees for crimes we did not commit.

"Are you thirsty?"

And this was our life. We knew we loved each other but the truth was, neither of us had been allowed much socialization back in the kennel, and we had not come across strangers in this land so our speaking abilities were greatly underdeveloped. Actually, the lands seemed almost barren--lifeless. There was no water, only dead plants, a not a cat or dog in sight. It was all eery...a ghosttown.

And I was terrified. Only that smile I caught from the corner of my eye is what kept me from laying my tail between my legs and laying down to die.

[I L Y I C H]

Vice-
I lifted my head a bit farther, looking up into his eyes. "A b-bit, but I don't see 'thing. Keeping w-walking I guess." I looked back in front of me, peering out into the hazy water mirages lifting off the ground. Such things had wrought their havoc in my psyche already, Id learned their tricks. Waving my tail slightly, to brush it across his haunch, I sighed. It was troublesome how hard life outside the kennel was.

At least we'd had a steady supply of water to sooth out misery. But there was no misery here just yet, despite the cottony ache in my throat. It was a morbid thought, but I would happily die beside this man. That was another thing left behind in the kennels. Prejudice. Who had once been a friend I was waiting to defect had become something too great to loose. I was more sure of him then I was of myself. This odd emotion called 'love' contorted me, though. I couldn't be trusted to make clear headed decisions.

And then a gray head popped out of absolutely no where, its silver muzzle stuck right into my face. both of us slammed backwards with equally high yowls of shock. The folami puppy whom I had almost run over rolled from the position she had landed in (flat on her back in a quiet un-folami like manor) to clamber to her paws. The little girl rose, staring up at both Daniel and I.

"Uh-er-I?" Her body moved back an inch, eyes flaring about as if looking for something. Noticing that action above the others I backed up in a hurry.

"P-parent's, child?" It wasn't right, that sentence. My face screwed up, fighting the confusion of sentence structure before I gave up. the girl gave me an exasperated expression apparently not to fond of being called a 'child'.

"You talk funny" came the automatic childish grudging remark. I grimaced and smiled at the same time. I hated that being pointed out. Yes I know I speak oddly, but I think and feel perfectly well enough. I backed up farther, feeling for my Daniel with my whiskers. The heat suddenly seemed far more intense against my black shoulders. "But Mommy and Daddy left us, we're just 'children'" she said the word like a curse, spitting it out like it was poisonous.

I relaxed, though not fully. Who knew what they trained gullible children to do know a days. I remember the cunning too well, I had too many scars to prove so. "L-l-love?" The stutter got worse as I grew more worried.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Daniel

I hated how slow to react I was. My Vice had conversed with the dog before I came to focus enough to push my way between. I didn't care that this dog said the parents were gone, she had also said the plural of child. A pack of Folami cubs could kill my cat and that was an idea I was not willing to prove.

Something touched my tail.

I yelped in shock as a paw whacked my tail like a ball of yarn. Staying between the young Folami and Vice, I spun around with a snarl, ready to shred. To my surprise, it was a child....a lioness. "Ermmm...."

"Hey! I was playing with that!" The little lioness ran around to my back side and whacked at my tail again, shrieking in excitement when I reacted in the same fashion as before. This continued for five or six spins before I gave up and sat down, hiding my tail beneath me.

Looking to Vice, confusion and unease (though a mild amusement) plastered across my face. "Carefree kids, love. Not trained or training toys." I let a smile break forth, coming to terms that no child who had been raised to hate or be hated could have such playful natures.

"Mister, you're sitting on my toy!" The lioness came ramming her skull into my ribcage before I could respond. I couldn't help it, I gently whacked her to the side in a playful manner and bellowed a laugh.

"My tail."

"Ashley is right, you both speak weird."

My smiled shrank and I huffed in frustration. Children were open and I had not been ready for that. Looking to Vice, I made a gurgling sound, as if asking her what the hell we were going to do with two abandoned, mix matched beasts with two much energy.

OOC//: When Jazz claims they both speak weird, she is referring to Vice's actual inability to formulate a proper sentence, yet....and Daniel's short, jagged sentences. It is not that he speaks incorrectly...just oddly.

[I L Y I C H]

Ashley--

I perked my ears, gray head tilting. "Jazz don't be rude!" I wouldn't concede to the fact that I said it myself. I smiled brightly, happy at my joke as I bounded up to the black woman peering down at me. "Hello miss" I chirped, eyes warm. The panther blinked in surprise before she dropped her head to give me a smile.

"H-h-hello little girl" I tilted my head at her, ears flicking. She did talk weird, like she had never really learned how to speak. It was odd, but I guess everyone had their right to whatever way they talked. How did I know I didn't sound weird to them? I wagged my tail at the black jaguar before striding around her.

The woman's eyes followed me, lifting to look at her friend. Love? Were they siblings? I tilted my head in confusion. No they must be 'married' like Mama and Daddy. I puffed up my cheeks as I hurried over to Jaquelin. I wished she let me call her that in general. But no, I learned quickly never to say that name allowed. She could sense it.

"Yes, y-your right, I think" She twisted her thin body about to follow after me, brushing up against the folami and stopping there. Yup. Mama always got huffy when no married people did that, and no one around here seemed huffy. It didn't matter that no one else was around here the logic made sense to me. "M-my name is Vice, c-children." She looked up at her mate, eyes rich with warmth. "This is David" she seemed pleased to have gotten through a sentence without stuttering, a soft glow of pride entered her eyes. Or maybe that pride was focused on her mate.

"I'm Ashley" I supplied happily, tail beating the dusty into rivulets behind me. I waved my head at Jazz, offering her up for greetings. I wouldn't introduce her, it was instinct. Somewhere deep down my body told me Jazz was alpha, her personality was simply stronger. I followed her. I would not throw myself out there, as the subordinate member of the duo, and just fling out her name.

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

OOC//: Haha, I think Bidziil and Nimrod just died a little on the inside. First a Folami and Feline fall in love, now a Folami considers a Lioness the alpha.

Daniel

When Vice offered my own name, I looked at her hesitantly. I was not upset at her supplying these two without my own consent, it was simply an inborn fear that Hell was about to rise up and swallow us. Decoys, these two were decoys. My Brother's, The Pack, they were watching this. The human's had discovered our direction and sent their slaves to retrieve us, dead or alive. My chest puffed out, eyes anxiously scanning the fauna as my nose took to the air. I couldn't smell anything but those three right near me. These trained pack members were good. They could mask themselves with perfection.

Heart still beating in uneasy rythums, I masked over my concern and turned my attention back to the children. My mistress' touch had brought some comfort, but I could not allow myself to relish in the moment, knowing that the pack would use that weakness as an advantage. I was a born monster who had broken his chains; many of my kind had not been so fortunate. Inside, somewhere deep and hidden, perhaps they were like my outterself. But they kept it hidden. They were masters of disguse.

When the Folami child offered up her own name, I glanced to her with respect, giving her the floor as she deserved. She didn't go further, did not hand us the lioness' name. Yes, these were definitly pack animals. The lioness did not have a name because she was a toy. She was not allowed an identity. I tensed beside Vice, preparing to fight off the attack I knew was going to come. I looked to the lioness, ready to aid her, too. Vice and I would take the poor child and find her a home with her own kind, away from the tortures of prison life. We knew that place all too well, Vice more so than I.

"The name's Jazz."

That tone she used told a whole different story than my head had come up with. She was confident, puffing out her own chest to try and match my own. Her eyes were defiant, challenging us to do who knows what. This was not a lioness who had been beaten down by a swarm of Folami, stolen from her family to be an object with no voice. No one could play the part so well as someone who actually lived it. This lioness and this Folami were either of one litter, thus siblings, or they were actual friends. A new emotion pulsed through me.

"Say youngins, are you siblings?"

If they were, then Vice and I were not the only ones going against all the rules. I loved my woman with uncompariable intensity, but it would be comforting to know there were more like us.

[I L Y I C H]

Ashley--

These guys were weird, but they seemed friendly. So I would be friendly back. The jaguar gave her friend a look of apology in response his glance, her mouth turning into a low frown. The wagging of my tail slowed, eyes flickering. Had we upset them? Tawny stare turning to Jazz I gave her a look of confusion. What had I said?

Tensing at the folami's tenseness I leaned backward, arching my body towards Jazz. We would protect one another to the death if that's what it came down too. I may be a bit childish at times, but I was mature enough to know that much. Tail shifting into the slightest arch of threat I shifted towards my friend, no my sister.

When David relaxed in response to her words I did as well, nose twitching at the sudden slacking tension. His question brought the smile back to my maw, and my tail lifted again into its happily waving position. "Yes, sir we are"


ooc:// ewwwwww

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Jazz

I saw the excitement the words of my friend brought forward into the dog's eyes. It confused me and I eyed him curiously. What was going through the brutes head? I looked between the two, noted their touch, and decided to clarify something. "We mine as well be." There, the excitement bubbled down to hide behind an expression of disapointment. The dog still seemed calmer now, but that thrill was gone.

"Where are your folks?"

The man questioned further, his voice tense at the edges. My friendly expression changed to one of a challenge. "Why do you need to know? Going to attack us if the folks aren't near by? Well, Daniel, I would like to see you try." My voice was rough as I placed myself defensivly between the adults and Ashley. Face contorted into one of a sudden anger, I looked to stare the two down. If my aggressiveness did not hold them back, then maybe a lie saying our folks were nearby would.

[I L Y I C H]

ooc:// note to self Vice has trouble with b's l's n's p's s's and w's

Ashley--

I smiled at the elder folami's eager expression. Something had sparked in him at my words. Something important. The panther, her eyes soft leaned sideways into him, and my mind connected suddenly. Daniel was excited because he thought we actually were siblings. He thought he and his mate, the cat, weren't alone. My mouth fell open, horrified apology written all over my face. I hadn't meant to get his hopes up. Either of theirs! It would be my fault if those hopes got crushed. Jazz beet me to the explanation though, and with a whine I slunk up to her side. Vice tilted her head, smiling calmly at me. As if to say it was fine without speaking.

She seemed to not like her voice all that much.

His next question was another interest, and it hurt a little bit. Our folks were dead. Our poor humans. But I had no time to silently mourn, for Jazz found threat in the question and reacted as such. In most situations the subordinate member would act accordingly, but Jazz was not a folami. I could get away with dominating her once in a wile if I had to. The soft stutter caught me just as I strode up to shove my dear lion out of the way.

"P-please, dear. We aren't gon-n-na hurt you" She leaned forward, eyes wide and earnest. I prodded Jazz with my snout, nipping exaggeratedly at her tawny shoulder. See! No jumping to conclusions! Dont make me say your real name out loud! Golden eyes stared down at Jazz, threatening to do just that. I turned to smile apologetically at Vice, my tail wagging slowly. "W-we are simply w-wandering, Jazz. I s-swear it."

[Bhu ♥ Irwin]

Jazz

I let my Folami friend nudge me into submission, knowing my actions may have been a bit over the top. Looking to the Folami, who was now eyeing me cautiously, my lip twitched to hide any hint of desired aggression. My eyes said enough, making the brute turn his gaze to his female as she spoke.

She seemed honest enough, though one could never be too sure. I was not about to let my guard down to these two giants, but I could play pretty, as Daddy used to say when he picked me up in his large hands to stop me from killing the mice that so often became a neat plaything. I eyed these two as I had the mice back in this good days. Gee, I wasn't even a year old yet and I already had "the good days" and the nowadays. What a ridiculous world.

"Well, the folks aren't here." I was not ready to face the truth that my humans had demised. They were on vacation. A very long vacation. That was all. Pursing my lips, I glanced at Ashley with uncertainty. I didn't know what I was uncertain about, but Daniel seemed to read any hidden thought I may have held.

"Well, suppose yall can stay with us until your folks return." His eyes were gentle on Ashley, but a bit more stern on me. His expression was one to say he would teach me some manners, and that was something I found myself smirking deviously at. Try, my oversized canine. Just try. Looking to Ashley, I let her reply to this one.

As always in the major situations, I was indifferent.