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Post by Koedi on Jun 1, 2008 23:17:33 GMT -5
Koda:
*Footpad? That's a strange name.* Koda thought to himself. He heard Kenai relating stories to Nita about the salmon run, and, seeing that the raccoon was a new audience to his stories, launched into a story about himself and Bucky. He was glad that he had someone new to tell his stories to. Kenai seemed to be getting bored of listening to the same ones over and over again, for some odd reason...If it's funny the first time, it's funny every time, right?
Kenai:
After having told Nita some of the events that had occurred while I was at the salmon run, I noticed she glanced back behind us. I followed her gaze to Denaik, who was lagging behind, his head down. *He's probably just thinking. I was just like that when I first met Koda.* Thinking nothing of it, I was about to tell Nita another story when she called out, rather loudly:
"So, Denaik...is this your first salmon run, too?" I rolled my eyes, and, looking toward Koda and the raccoon, I walked up to them to see what they were talking about.
Denaik:
"So, Denaik...is this your first salmon run, too?"
The question startled me. Not because of how loud it was, but because someone was addressing me. I hadn't expected to be spoken to, and I looked up to see who it was that had spoken my name. It was the female, Nita, I think her name was?
"Umm..." I thought back to what her question was. "Yes, it will be. Erm...my first salmon run. Here, that is. See, I got separated from my..." I groped around for a word. "...pack, and now I'm pretty much on my own...I don't know how I'm supposed to find them..."
This wasn't true in the slightest. I hadn't hardly had a family, much less a pack. I had been on my own ever since...I choked back tears, not wanting to think about it. I had been to salmon runs before, many of them...never the same one twice, always wandering...
I walked up to Nita, seeking condolence. Maybe she would understand...
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Post by Epesi on Jun 2, 2008 7:55:52 GMT -5
At first the raccoon is merely a captive audience, listening politely only out of fear of offending his hosts. In spite of himself, however, he actually finds the story entertaining. At one point he even bursts out laughing -- briefly, as at that moment Kenai approaches, which makes him stop abruptly. He clears his throat.
"Uh...hey there, Chief, ya need somethin'?"
---
"Oh..."
Though Nita is a little confused by his mention of a "pack" -- are there bear packs? Then again, maybe that's what their own group is -- she doesn't doubt Denaik's story, and she feels a rush of sympathy for him. She thinks she knows some of what he's feeling, though it's not quite the same; she knows where her family is.
"I'm so sorry," she says gently as he approaches. "How long have you been separated?"
She notices with slight annoyance that Kenai has wandered off -- good thing she missed his eye-rolling earlier, or he'd have earned himself a lecture later on. It wouldn't kill him to be nice to the new guy, would it?
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Post by Koedi on Jun 2, 2008 14:33:16 GMT -5
Koda & Kenai:
Koda, who had been laughing along with Footpad, noticed the raccoon's sudden change in composure as Kenai walked up to them. He heard the raccoon clear his throat and say:
"Uh...hey there, Chief, ya need somethin'?"
Of course, Koda, not understanding the raccoon's awkwardness, leaps onto Kenai's back and hugs his brother's neck.
"Kenai, we were just talking about you! See, remember that time when you got your head stuck in that beaver dam-"
"Yea, Koda I remember." Kenai interrupted Koda as his face burned, and he turned to face the raccoon. "No, I just came up here to hang out with Koda and you..." He mumbled. "So Koda, how far is the salmon run from here? It's almost noon." Kenai looked expectantly at Koda.
"Well...it should only be another half days journey...if we keep walking for the rest of the day, we'll be there by bedtime." He looked back to the raccoon, hoping to continue his conversation with him.
"So you're nocturnal, right? I've never had a nocturnal friend before. I mean, I know a few owls that live by the salmon run, but I've never gotten to talk to one this close before! Shouldn't you be asleep now? Oh, that reminds me! Were you there when Kenai and Nita got chased by all the raccoons? There were at least a thousand of them!..."
Denaik:
"We've been separated for quite awhile now." I said evasively. I had to be careful about what I said. I didn't want her to pry too much into my lie. "I don't seem to fit in here with you guys. Kenai seems to be angry with me already, the raccoon and the little bear seem to be best friends, and the only person who's approached me is you." I gestured over to Koda and the raccoon, and now Kenai, who seemed to be chatting up a storm. "I've always been an outcast..." I looked at the ground again.
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Post by Epesi on Jun 2, 2008 22:51:50 GMT -5
In spite of his fear, Footpad can't help but snicker at Kenai's embarrassment. Maybe it's from staying up so late...but probably not. Still smirking, he listens to their conversation and learns that the salmon run is closer than he thought. That's a relief; he'd expected days of traveling in the sun like this.
Soon Koda is talking to him again, but apparently the stories are over -- now he's asking questions, to the raccoon's dismay. He braces himself against the barrage and waits for a chance to speak, trying to remember all the important parts. He starts with the last question.
"Yeah, I was there. Not for long, though." He winces at the memory. "I, uh, got hit by that branch she was swinging, and...I don't really remember much after that." He regrets admitting it even before the words are finished. All he had to say was that he was there; he didn't have to tell them how badly he failed. He did manage to hit Kenai with a pinecone, but he doesn't think it'd be a good idea to brag about that in front of him.
Eager to change the subject, he tries to remember the other questions. Shouldn't you be asleep now? Oh yeah, that. Thinking about it reminds him how tired he is. "Well, I would be asleep, but I decided to come with you guys to...wherever you're going. Just, y'know, for a change of pace."
He looks at Koda warily, hoping there are no more questions.
---
Nita gets the hint and stops asking about Denaik's family -- it seems to be a painful subject. She's surprised when he suddenly opens up about not fitting in with their group; it looks like he needs some reassurance.
"Well, I think they're still upset about...what you said earlier." She tries to put it as gently as possible. "Especially Koda. He's really a sweet cub, and I'm sure he'll forgive you if you give him a chance. I don't think I've met anyone he didn't like. And Kenai...this trip is important to him, and we've had a few setbacks already. He's just had a bad day.
"We just got off on the wrong foot. Nothing's going to change if you just stay in the back and never talk to anyone, but if you let us get to know you, I'm sure you'll fit in fine." She gives him a hopefully encouraging smile. She's still not sure what to think of Denaik, but at the moment she feels sorry for him.
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Post by Koedi on Jun 3, 2008 7:18:32 GMT -5
Kenai Koda and Denaik:
I take Nita's advice and, with a hurried thanks to Nita, I head to the front of the group where Kenai, Koda and the raccoon are, and prepare myself to set things right.
As I approach, I clear my throat and immediately wish I hadn't done so because everyone turns to look at me.
"Uhh...Hi? Erm...I just wanted to say sorry,Koda, for calling you a twerp. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." I heard Koda grumble something in Kenai's ear, then and then Kenai kind of hit him with his shoulder and whispered something back. Koda sighed and finally said,"I forgive you Denaik..." Then there was a rush of fur and Koda suddenly appeared on my back and hugged me.
I must have appeared confused because Kenai said, chuckling,"Don't worry, that's just Koda being Koda."
I was genuinely surprised. I hadn't expected Koda to just forgive me like that. I turned back to say something to Koda, but was lost in a barrage of sound as Koda, talking as fast as bearly possible, related to me stories of past Salmon Runs and adventures with Bucky.
Just Kenai:
I smiled at Koda and Denaik. I was glad that Koda had forgiven him, even if I had to somewhat coerce him into doing so. I was feeling better, and because of this, I put a question to the raccoon I normally wouldn't have put out there.
"So, you being nocturnal and all...Do you want to sleep on my back? Your lighter than Koda so it wouldn't be a problem, and I'm sure that you're tired."
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Post by Epesi on Jun 3, 2008 20:11:44 GMT -5
OOC: Unless the place we're staying has internet access, this will be my last post until Sunday or Monday. Sorry it's so short. ^^;
BIC:
Nita smiles, relieved and pleased that she said the right thing; she was afraid Denaik would be harder to reach. She hangs back to watch as he approaches the others, and sure enough, after only a few moments and a little prodding, Koda has warmed up to him already. Nita rejoins the group feeling content.
---
Footpad is taken completely by surprise; it never even occurred to him that he could get a ride. "Oh, well, I wouldn't want to impose," he says, yet he climbs onto Kenai's back as he speaks. "Thanks a lot, pal. That's really...generous of you..."
He's already half-asleep.
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Post by Koedi on Jun 3, 2008 22:10:21 GMT -5
OOC: No prob ^_^ I wasn't able to post before because I was in St.Augustine for awhile, so I understand =3
BIC: Kenai, Koda, Denaik:
Kenai was surprised at how quickly the raccoon fell asleep. He knew he'd be tired...but not that tired. The raccoon may have been dead weight, but he was much lighter than Koda. Thinking of Koda, Kenai glanced next to him at Denaik to see how he was taking his dead weight.
Denaik listened to the stories that Koda told him, envious of all the past experiences that Koda had shared with his friends and family. Strangely enough, Koda never talked about his mother, and Kenai only seemed to have met Koda last year. Surely they aren't brothers? Maybe there was a connection...
Meanwhile, Denaik is trying to find a breaking point in Koda's speech to ask him a question. Finally, as Koda takes a breath, Denaik quickly interjects, "So how did you and Kenai meet?"
Koda seems taken aback by this statement, and looks over at Kenai, as if to make sure that he was allowed to tell this story. Kenai, who had apparently heard the question, vigorously shakes his head at Koda. Koda, taking the hint, now becomes very quiet and hops down from Denaik's back, walking over to Kenai. Much whispering is heard. Once, Kenai looks onto his back to make sure the raccoon is asleep.
Denaik, noticing that Nita has come back, stretches, glad to have Koda off his back, and goes up to her, muttering, "I wonder what that was about..." Then, a thought occurs to him. "Say, do you know how Kenai and Koda met?" He looked at Nita with questioning eyes.
OOC2: Sorry about how long this post is >< Kinda hard to do 3 characters -lol- =3
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Post by Epesi on Jun 7, 2008 9:59:43 GMT -5
OOC: As it happens, the place does have access; I've just been busy the last few days. ^^
BIC:
Nita is almost as puzzled as Denaik about all the grave silence and whispering. She realizes for the first time that she doesn't know how much Kenai has told the other bears about his background. Is it just because Denaik is a stranger that he doesn't trust him, or are the other bears still in the dark? She had assumed that those who came to the wedding knew -- of course they must have known that Nita was human, as it had been a human ceremony.
When Denaik asks her instead, she has to think quickly to prepare a safe answer. "Well, it was about a year ago." Starting this way allows her to stall for a brief moment. "Kenai was new to these woods, and Koda had recently lost his mother, so they went to the salmon run together. They've been like brothers ever since."
She looks over at Kenai, wondering if he was listening and if he approves of that answer. She doesn't know why he didn't just say it himself, and she's afraid that Denaik won't believe it's the truth because of the way Kenai acted. She's going to talk to him about this later. In the mean time, she wonders what to say if Denaik asks about her next.
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Post by Koedi on Jun 7, 2008 12:37:11 GMT -5
OOC: No problem ^_^ glad you've been busy with your family. Hope it's been fun.
BIC:
Denaik:
"Oh, I see. Poor guy." I sigh, knowing what it's like to lose family as a cub. "Well, it looks like he and Kenai seem to be getting along great." My voices edges on envy on that last sentence. I catch myself by clearing my throat. "So how about you? Are you from around here? Not to be overly inquisitive or anything." I added hastily.
Koda, now very solemn, stays with Kenai in the front of our group. Neither seem to be talking.
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Post by Epesi on Jun 8, 2008 18:17:22 GMT -5
Nita is relieved; this question is easy enough to answer truthfully without revealing too much. "Oh, no, that's fine. I'm from the cliffs to the northeast. It's a few days' journey from here."
She watches Kenai and Koda up ahead, the two of them looking as if they're in a funeral procession. It's so quiet without Koda's cheerful chatter; sometimes that's a good thing, but not now. Nita's not sure what put him in this mood, but she guesses he's missing his mother. This makes her think of her own mother -- and suddenly, it really does feel like they're at a funeral. Someone needs to lighten the mood.
With sudden inspiration, Nita runs out in front of the group. "Catch me!"
She is forgetting about the raccoon sleeping on Kenai's back.
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Post by Koedi on Jun 9, 2008 8:07:45 GMT -5
Without warning, Nita suddenly darts in front of our group yelling, "Catch me!" Confused, Koda and I look just watch her as she disappears into the forest.
I turn to Denaik, who had just been talking to Nita, and awkwardly shove the raccoon onto to his back saying, "Here, hold this. I'll be right back." With that, I disappear into the forest with Koda hanging onto my back in chase of Nita.
"Uhh..."
Denaik seemed completely dumbfounded, unsure of what to do. He now had a sleeping raccoon on his back and the others were in the forest playing. Wanting to get in on the action, he softly slid the raccoon onto the floor and ran after them.
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Post by Kirchy on Jun 9, 2008 14:18:00 GMT -5
A young, female bear cub was walking through the forest alone. Kirchy was trying to find her way to the Salmon Run. But from what she could see, she had gotten totally lost. She growled in frustration as she spun around, trying to find the right way. She turned around as she heard bears running and laughing. She quickly climbed the nearest tree. She lay down on the lowest branch. She didn't want to be seen being lost by anyone. She wanted everyone to know that she could make it on her own.
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Post by Koedi on Jun 9, 2008 15:53:08 GMT -5
Denaik now thought that running after the bears wasn't such a good idea. He could hear them, but he was unsure of where they were now. He spotted a young cub laying down on a nearby tree.
"Hey you! Have you seen any bears around here? We got separated and now I can't find them."
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Post by Kirchy on Jun 9, 2008 16:31:49 GMT -5
Kirchy looked down at the bear who questioned her. She shrugged and jumped down to the ground. "Yeah, I did," she replied calmly. "They went that way." She pointed off to the right.
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Post by Koedi on Jun 9, 2008 16:38:33 GMT -5
"Thanks!" He said before running off in the direction the cub pointed in. He then suddenly came to a halt. "Hey, do you want to come with us? We're headed to the salmon run and there's room for another bear." I smiled at her.
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