literature

Zodiac: River barrier

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"Is everything ready Mal?" Taiga would ask his companion, one of the taller furry man's ears flicking in his direction momentarily before he would take the time to answer him. "Almost boss, Yubou is being a little stubborn about the saddle this time." Though...maybe this was better described as playful. The giant spotted feral was hopping all about and skirting away from him every time he neared with the saddle with a playful twinkle in his eye. Throwing his paws down to the ground and rear to the sky like a playful dog. He couldn't help but wonder if this was because he was fur covered as well but..ah, that was a silly notion wasn't it. He didn't look that much like a dog in his own opinion, and it was strange to have something so lion like interact with him in this way. Mal sighed, drooping and letting his ears drop down behind his head staring at the playful Shi'vali. Not moments later he'd feel Taiga clapping a hand onto his shoulder, finding the man to be wearing one of his common grins. It hadn't been long since he was hired to help the Tiger striped man with his practical herd of Shi'vali, but he'd yet to see that smile leave his face. Not that he was complaining, a friendly boss made his job easier.

"C'mon Mal, I told you to stop calling me boss! You can just call me Taiga, 'boss' still has a weird feel to it and I'd like us to get along." That said the cat like man would take a few steps out in front of his furry companion, Yubou's eyes lighting up. "You just gotta play it right." He would offer with a knowing smirk, immediately throwing his hands up and jumping at the Shi'vali who would in turn let out a delighted bark and put his head down for Taiga to get hold of. Enjoying the mane ruffles and cheek rubs he'd receive so much the giant feral would practically be wiggling with pleasure before nuzzling Taiga and hopping back to lay on the ground and roll about on his back. Right in time for the belly rub of his life. "Prompt this big boy with rubs or playtime and he's putty in your hands!" Taiga would call out, getting the shi to lay on his stomach and reaching out to both grab and plop the saddle on his back no problem. "I'll leave the rest to you, yeah?" He would add, that smirk returning to his face as he got up and returned to working on finishing getting the saddle tied on his own ride for the day. The large blue Shi'vali having waited patiently for his return, head held high and a slightly judging look upon his face as he watched the other feral's antics. "Now Jing..don't look at him like that, you should have some fun too!" Taiga would chide playfully, rustling the Shi's mane and earning himself a grumbly chuff in return.

One of these days Mal would figure out just how in the world the Tiger striped man had made all of these creatures love him so much. But as for now, he would take the lesson about this particular spotted ball of excitement in mind and remember it well when he had to work with him. His job was to help care for them after all, taking notes on how each acted or were coerced into cooperating with him was a very smart idea if he wanted his job to be easier at all. "Understood boss-...Taiga, sir." He'd respond in his usual monotone tone of voice, turning to Yubou and finishing up getting his saddle on correctly. "There, now we're all ready to go. Right Yubou?" Mal would ask, getting an immediate tongue to his face. His fur was wet and splayed in all directions, his face completely blank of reaction to all of this spit all over him now. "...........Thanks." His only offering to the feral as he proceeded to wipe the spit off on the feral's neck. Taiga was laughing in the distance, he knew it..but it didn't much matter to him.

Both Shi'vali saddled up and bags loaded with supplies for the distance, it was now time to get to the real mission for the day. People from all over the land had been directed to attempt to find the source for the Jhou river's drying up. It could be that it was blocked, or something was interfering with it somehow. Most likely some misplaced rocks, some kind of animal or fallen logs were Taiga's thoughts. But he decided taking along a companion and two strong Shi'vali would be the best course of action. This and not knowing how far they may need to travel before finding whatever was doing this, he had loaded them both up with plenty of supplies to travel for up to a couple of weeks. Of course he wasn't risking leaving the rest of his Shi'vali alone for that time however, and had decided to add on another hired hand to his slowly growing crew. They would be left in charge for now, interesting as that was to think about based on their attitude alone..but the Shi'vali would put him to work for sure.

With that both Taiga and Mal set off on the beginning of their either very short, or very long journey to come. They both went all about and around the lands, following the river's every twist and turn looking for any issue that might make itself readily available for them to solve. Overall...it was looking like this was going to be on the long side of things journey wise. And so eventually it was agreed that they would begin heading for the lake at the center of the river. If anything to cause blockage in multiple places, this was as likely as any other, if not more.

The duo would stop for the night just beyond the lake's edge, setting up camp for the night. Jing would yawn toothily, eager to take a rest from all of the time today on his paws. Lying down and resting his head on his paws, eying Yubou with a sense of boredome as the never endingly energetic feral bounced around the riders as they set up the campfire and started pulling out their food. He was something wasn't he..hopping about for a dog, making cute faces once the meats had been removed and placed on the fire as if to squander some of it for himself. Did this other Shi'vali have no poise or manners? The striped one was very soft and giving, they would undoubtedly get their own share of the meal in due time. No point in jumping about like a fool for it if it would come to you on it's own. He'd lift his head as if to say something, but his ears would catch the delighted laughter of Taiga and he would again lower his head, simply watching and waiting. Though his furry brows would lift when a scrap of meat was thrown to Yubou early. The spotted shi snapping it out of the air with a radiant sense of victory flowing off of him. Hm. Maybe there was more to that foolishness than he thought.

His victory claimed, Yubou would trot over to Jing with a friendly look on his big ol face and immediately lean down to nuzzle the other large male's mane. This would earn him a disapproving rumble from Jing, but he could hardly care. Seconds later he'd be laying down next to him, snuggling up to the Cloud laden Shi'vali. Not really the results wanted happening, as Jing would growl and move away, but that was okay! He knew the other male wasn't the fondest of Shi'vali other than his sister getting too close yet. Maybe he could fix that!! Jing always looked so clean and soft, he kept his fur as silky and beautiful as possible at all times.

The time for snuggles was cut short however, as both Jing and Yubou raised their heads with ears held up and alert. Both riders would follow suit, the two of them and Yubou standing to investigate. Their worry would be removed as the approaching figures revealed themselves however as Meimei and her Ko'kumai companion Aphelion. She would appear with an incredible grace, this catching Jing's attention, and having the Shi'vali right himself to a proper pose of respectfulness. Yubou the complete opposite as he immediately hopped up and bounded over to greet the weird and interesting and so so shiny little cat thing that had come with the woman. "Have you found anything?" She would ask, both men shaking their heads solemnly. They had just arrived at the lake and intended to investigate properly tomorrow. "We're going to look more thoroughly tomorrow morning." Taiga would offer, focusing more on the two newcomers than what Yubou may be up to.

The spotted feral was completely convinced he could get Aphelion to play with him, pulling out all the stops to get the smaller Shi'vali to join him in romping around. The Ko'kumai not exactly..taking interest in his fun. Noticing his efforts were not exactly working, Yubou would have the grandest idea come to him! The lake was only a bound and leap away, a big splash would invite that sparkly friend to play! And so the Shi'vali would take off in a run and bound toward the water with a mighty leap-and a rather loud yelp as his huge body crashed into an invisible force between him and that wonderful water. The sound would turn all eyes to him, the feral picking himself up and shaking his head to clear it before whining at the lake in front of him, pawing at the force to figure out what in the world he'd just hit. Circles of light bouncing around his paws as he touched it. "What in the world..?" Taiga would utter, going to both check on Yubou and touch the strange force himself. "What is this?" "A barrier..." Meimei would speak quietly, moving forwards to place her hand upon it. "This must be what is disrupting the river..Aphelion, we must inform the others. This must be broken."

Mal and Jing would travel in haste to bring this information to the capital, while Meimei, Aphelion, Taiga and Yubou came up with various plans of attack. Teeth, claws and weapons were ineffective, so perhaps they would need something else.
Zodiac quest entry! Party 1

No worries, Yubou got plenty of meat scraps and belly rubs for finding it!


Shi'vali Import: Jing 599
Shi'vali Level: 1
Tracker Location: Jing EP tracker
Applicable Bonuses: None
Activity: Traversing


Shi'vali Import: Yubou 458
Shi'vali Level: 1
Tracker Location: Yubou EP tracker
Applicable Bonuses: None
Activity: Traversing



WC: 1,760
© 2017 - 2024 Jenndragon
Comments11
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AmaranthineRain's avatar
Aaaaaaah I love that Taiga has a smile that never seems to disappear :D
D'awwww Jing is such a grumpy pants xD
Belly scratches! The bane of a playful personality!
Ack! Face drool! Poor Mal...although I was still cracking up xD
Hahaha! I can just picture Yubou running face-first into that invisible barrier.

I'm glad I read this before writing another piece with Taiga - I mean I figured this was pretty much his personality but I feel like I can write him better now. He's hella fun and will be a great counterbalance for Adilshan's morose outlook (well, morose for now).

An edit suggestion if I may! --> "...eyeing Yubou with a sense of boredom as the feral bounced around the riders with endless energy as they set up the campfire...

This may be semantics but is there any reason you wrote it with "would" added to your verb tense: "Jing would yawn toothily" instead of "Jing yawned toothily"? It sounds almost like I'm halfway in the moment halfway reading a fond memory - like the narrator can't decide if we're in the past or present? I dunno how to explain it, pardon me ^^; I only know to suggest trying to remove them - it may just be me but I'm mentally hiccuping reading it with so many "would"s x___x