Asasabonsam Meets Nyigakali

[Elimnyama]

This is the first group RP of the Asasabonsam pack! It was great, guys! We talked, we hunted, we made snarky remarks to each other. XD

Characters involved:

Ouida
Razakal
Nyigakali
Immortus
Tabaruki

Summary: The pack encounters Nyigakali, half-starved and near death, and decide to take her under their wing... for their own ulterior motives.


[Forgotten Lands] Velvet Sea Plains
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From this distance, the Towering Rock formation looks like a child's
plaything left out in the back yard. To the West are clay-rich soils
and their resulting feeble attempts at vegetation, but to the east are
the sounds and smells of moving water.

When the Zagawa River annually floods and recedes to this area, it leaves
helpful deposits of fertility in it's wake; hence in this area, grasses
grow lush and full instead of scraggly and weedy, like in the rest of
the Forgotten Lands.

Grass, thick, deep--perfect for hiding in, right up to the rushes at
the riverside.

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'flmap' for Forgotten Lands map; 'gmap' for global map

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---------------------------------- Exits ----------------------------------
[E ] East - Kura Visum [NW ] NorthWest - Towering Rock
[SW ] SouthWest - Barren Grassland
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Evening is settling over the land, which means the stars are just starting to come out. The large alpha is settles in the grasses, ears perking an eyes narrowed as her attention is on the sky checking on the stars it seems to see what might be seen. A squeaky yawn escapes her, forepaws dig at the earth before her wishing the stupid clouds while leave already.

The rest of the pack - considerably diminished since the plague - is resting in the distance. Having caught her scent, Razakal is presently in pursuit of his lovely alphess. Call him crazy, but he finds beautiful perfection in her .. scarred and over-musculed as she is. The male pauses, glaring around until he spots her. With tail held in a position that indicates the slightly suboordinate rank he holds, Raz' sidles up to her and growls his affection. "Evening, my sweet."

Ouida ears pan backwards an she turns her head wondering who it is before she catches Raz's scent, a deep gruffy sound escapes her while her tail thumps upon the ground a few times. "Evening dearest.. The stars don't seem eager to show 'em selves tonight." She lifts her head to half nip an nibble at Raz's cheek as he stands next to her.

A crooked grin skulks across Razakal's face and before he takes a seat on his haunches he delivers a few playful and probably slightly suggestive nips to the back of Ouida's neck. At her words he obediently directs his attention sky-ward and chuffs a thoughtful noise out of the back of his throat. "Hr." But he's quick to divine the goddess' meaning in this lack of starlight, and with a confident edge to his voice he announces, "The Goddess has always preferred to be subtle. I know she will never turn her eyes from us.. the recent plague was doubtlessly her revenge against unworthy creatures."

Ouida eyes close, a few faint rumbling sounds escapes her an she grins turning to look at Raz while leaning into him faintly with her shoulder. "I know she will not let us down.. An yes the unworthy and weak were purged from the land by the Goddes will. Now the strong and worthy will be able to take what the others left."

Razakal continues to examine the starless sky, keeping the rest of his thoughts to himself for the time being. No unsavory emotions stir in him at the mention of the weak being purged from the land -- he feels only righteous agreement. It was the Goddess' will, nothing more. That it happened that another of Tondra's "demon" children was slain by the plague was, of course, the Goddess' will as well. "Speaking of taking..," he intones delicately, glancing back at Ouida. "The herds here are rather thin since the plague. The pack doesn't require much now, but once we begin to grow.." He gives her a knowing look and again raises his eyes to the heavens. "Something tells me the Goddess may soon be instructing us to relocate."

Ouida humms only to herself, a ear twitches froward while her gaze drifts over the land taking in the baren sights while she draws in a shakey breath. Her jaws click against one another an she nods a bit. "True.." She hisses out between her fangs. "We shall be on watch for the signs then as to were we are to move nect."

Something scurries nearby, and hot on its trail is a walking skeleton. Looking very little like a recognizable Wild Dog, Nyigakali gasps for breath as she manages to track down a large rat. THere doesn't look to be a scrap of muscle left on her bones, but she manages to pour on enough speed to finally pounce it. She ravagely tears into it, biting it in two and taking down the upper half first and devouring the lower half just a few moments after. Most of her fur is missing, sandblasted away leaving her skin exposed to the brutal sun; her ribs are very distinctly visible, and there is very little meat on her skeleton at all.

Razakal gets to his paws and begins to stretch and then move around in a slow, restless sort of way. "Naturally," he rumbles, giving Ouida a small grin as he passes her. "I have a feeling her next message will be anything but subtle. But if she is waiting to give one.. perhaps a small sacrifice would get our prayers answered more quickly. Afterall, she slaughtered our unworthy.. we ought to repay her, don't you thi-" The male jolts suddenly, startled by the ruckus nearby, and in an instant he's alert and stiff and searching with his eyes for the guilty party. Razakal spots the rat and then its hunter. In the dark from this distance, it is hard to make out the state of Nyigakali's body but he can firmly identify her species. Hmmm. He glances over at Ouida, awaiting her first move as alphess.

Ouida chuckles an humms softly at the thought before nodding. "True true.. Would just have to find the right sacrifice of course." She murrrumbles out while stretching on her stomach an looks rather relaxed. That is until the rat an something else comes into her line of vison an she blinks while watching. "Is that a over grown rat?" She questions while shifting up onto her paws, claws gripping at the ground while her eyes narrow upon the poor excuse of a dog.

Nyigakali grunts ... that one rat had more meat than she'd managed to find over a whole moon in the desert put together. She pants heartily ... so weakened by her ordeal, her senses aren't as keen as a dog's should be and she fails to notice the two other dogs. She has a festering stench to her as well as the smell of desert sands that seems to be soaked into her very skin. Her ears selectively do find the sound of water to the east, and her tongue lolls out of her dried, cracked, parched lips in the anticipation of a drink.

It's the smell that enlightens Raz' to Nyigakali's pathetic condition. The gears of his mind spin to life, all a-flurry with excitement and ideas. He sees any member of his own kind as a potential convert to the goddess's following. So violent is his passion for converting others, in fact, that after only a few second's he's already positively -itching- to attack Nyigakali and beat into her skull the infinite pleasures to be had in service to Mithra. But luckily, Raz' was also blessed with an excess of patience and while he -wants- to execute his first instinct and attack, he is quite capable of remaining stock-still as he is now.. his eyes still fixed upon Ouida as he waits for her instruction. After another beat, he crosses to his mate's side and murmurs something in her nearest ear.

You whisper, "Razakal growls quietly, "This is a sign from the goddess.. She wants this lowly beast converted to her patronage, I can feel it. Might we not approach her and offer the things she most needs? We can lead her to water and promise her a large portion of our next kill... in return for a favor? She may think little of committing herself to the goddess in expectation of food and drink.. I will follow whatever you decide." He pulls away, his eyes now on Nyigakali." to Ouida.

Ouida's maw opens, a bit of drool dripping from her fangs at the thought of ripping into the sickened wild dog. That is until her mate 'speakes' with her. Her maw closes an her eyes tick one way then another in thought. Help the poor excuse of a dog? Well that could.. An if Raz says it is a sign from the goddess she then can not kill her..yet. "Yes.. we should do what the goddess wants." She murmurs faintly to her mate while rubbing up against him slightly while she starts to move forward once again, a wickedly sly grin crosses her scared maw. "Evening there.. Looks like you could use some help..hum?.." She hisses out.

Nyigakali is finally aware of the other Wild Dogs. As pathetic as it might seem, given she weighs only a fraction of either Ouida or Razakal, the mostly-starved shewolf strikes a defensive posture. "Who ... who are you?" she asks nervously. She hasn't seen another of her kind in a long time.

Once Ouida has made contact, Razakal knows he is allowed to speak to the stranger as well. He moves away from his mate's side, making a slow approach to Nyigakali with his ears forward and his nostrils dialating -- he's just curious about her, from all appearances. Though her posture irks him slightly, his expression is full of composure. He offers Nyigakali a smile. "My dear, you're starved.. You look like you've been through hell." Continuing to smile he withdraws a few paces, his posture dominant. "This is Ouida. My name is Razakal. We are the alphas of the Asasabonsam pack, faithful servants of Mithra.... who are you?"

Ouida tilts her head while following after her mate, tail flicking slowly while she nods to the males comments. "Indeed you to.." She hummms out while taking in a faint breath. A tingle flows over her an she leans close to Raz an nips at him. "Speak with her. Easy her trouble mind I will be back. I much see to something first." She offers an turns trodding off, something seems to need her utter most attention at the moment.

Ouida has disconnected.

Nyigakali backs herself up slightly, as though it would do any good ... she doesn't have enough meat on her bones to win a fight, nor would she have a sniff of a chance in her condition at running. She breathes a bit hard, facing the possibility she may have just entered her own graveyard. "My name is Nyigakali," she woofs roughly. "I came from a pack whose territory resided within an oasis amid a monstrous desert ... but the oasis dried up and we had to disperse, go our seperate ways. It took me many moons to cross the desert."

Razakal returns Ouida's nip and watches her depart for a few moments, feeling his thorny heart soften a few degrees simply at the sight of his love. But anyway. He looks back to the stranger, now determined to carry out Ouida's orders. He quirks one eyebrow softly, but that is the extent to which his feelings make themselves known. "It is fateful to meet you, Nyigakali," he replies in a courteous tone, his posture still obstinately superior. "That is a sad story, I must say. Your survival is indeed fortunate; doubtlessly the Goddess was watching over you." Razakal tilts his head and offers another small smile. "My dear, my heart goes out to you. It pains me to see one of my own in such a state. I wish to help, if I can. Could I perhaps lead you to the nearest water? You look parched."

Nyigakali feels very cautious and afraid of this stranger. Help her? To a quick death maybe? Nyigakali is alarmed and confused, she hasn't had to deal with other dogs. The desert is so spartan, if she saw something that could keep her alive, she'd grab it ... there was no other dog out there to claim it. "I could use some water ..." she woofs. She tucks her fleshy tail under herself submissively and keeps herself low.

Razakal dips his head in a small nod and turns slowly northward, keeping his pace quite slow so that she will have the least amount of trouble keeping up. "Your wish is my command, Nyigakali. You will be much the better for a good, long drink. By the goddess', it is a short journey. While we walk, perhaps you'll favor me with a little more of your history? Just to make the time go faster. I quite understand if you'd rather not." He chuckles as he walks, flicking an ear in his companion's direction. "If you'd prefer to keep quiet, clearly I can fill up the air on my own."

Nyigakali stays submissive following Razakal. "There isn't a whole lot to say ... I was just an adolescent when our pack had to break up ... I've spent all the time since alone, eating carrion, lizards, anything I could find, and I only ever got a drink by breaking into whatever cacti I could find ... nasty stuff, cactus water," she says, "but it was all there was and I had to get used to it."

In the early hours of evening, the alpha male can be seen striding alongside an unfamiliar half-starved, dead-looking female. Razakal listens casually to Nyigakali's story, nodding occasionally while his expression is one of mild interest mixed with mild sympathy. "How tragic," Razakal intones at length, shaking his head. "Really, /cacti/.. You've suffered much, Nyigakali. I certainly hope your days of misfortune are behind you. But surely you must admit, to survive in that harsh environment /someone/ must have been looking out for you?"

Nyigakali slinks behind the alpha male. Its hard to tell the two are the same species. Nyigakali's diet has been so extremely spartan that lumps are visible in her belly from the rat she ate. "There were some days I felt it might have been more merciful for /someone/ to have brought a quick, swift death. I dunno why I carried on ... I knew even if I made it out somehow, I would never see my family again," she sniffles. "The ravaging hunger, the burning thirst, the sweltering heat ... those things paled to being alone for so long." She slinks even lower, feeling very vulnerable ... so long alone, she tries to remember the rules of being in a pack. First and foremost, respect a foreign pack's borders ... her senses were so weakened, she hadn't noticed crossing one but apparantly she had, and she quietly curses herself for her weakness. She must try to prove herself, but she knows she couldn't compete even against pups at this point. She's still not sure these dogs won't use her as some sort of sacrifice ... She's still not sure these dogs won't use her as some sort of sacrifice ... she doesn't remember her parents saying much about gods and goddesses, but she tries to pretend for the moment to as ignorant as she is. Water ... real, actual water she doesn't have to suffer thorns and foul-tasting ... she's not even convinced she isn't hallucinating. Maybe she was still in the desert, so far gone she's concocting all of this in her mind ...

Immortus was lounging by the river, taking advantage of the odd time of day just before the sun finished setting where the hippos weren't quite on the move to the shores yet, so it was still safe to linger. There is was much cooler due to a soft breeze coming from the east, and he was quite content to stay as comfortable as he was...that was until he caught the scent of the Alpha male and a stranger. Oooh, female hm? The male sits up, running his tongue absently over the fur of his chest while he waited for the two to crest the hill into view.

In the fading sunlight, another is also stretched out nearby the water--Tabaruki's ragged ears are cupped to the breeze, and when Immortus stirs the female's head shifts ever so slightly, sliding her gaze over towards the other dog. she herself doesn't sit up, but after a minute she lifts her muzzle to sniff at the air as well, and her gaze turns towards the direction Razakal's scent is coming from. She says nothing, although the unfamiliar scent that seems to be travelling with their Alpha's makes her nose wrinkle.

Is she being /snarky/ about the goddess? From the subtlty of Nyig's tone Razakal can't be sure, but internally his temper begins to bubble just a little. Outwardly he smiles widely, the picture of handsome assurance. "Now, now, we must all suffer at some point in our lives. Suffering enhances our ability to feel, and feeling is what gives joy to life. Suffering and passion are of the same sprig, you know. Life isn't worth living without either." Razakal ends his monologue just as he and Nyigakali reach the summit of the hill from which the river can be clearly seen nearby. "There you are, my dear," Raz' announces smoothly, looking like a sultan gazing out across his empire. "More fresh, delicious water than you could ever want, and bless Mithra it's got to be some of the best I've ever tasted." Spotting Immortus and Tabaruki, Razakal smiles even more confidently as he begins to stride toward the river, tail and head held high.

Nyigakali pants anaerobically and jumps out into the water, gasping as she sucks it in. With so little -anything- in her, so little meat on her bones, her throat and digestive tract can be seen expanding and pulsing at the sudden intake of water. Her tail thrashes and she almost seems a puppy ... she's certainly not had enough water to bathe in for months, and flowing behind her is a trail of dust, grime and blood as she dunks herself beneath. She struggles as she manages to get herself out a bit farther than she should, as having zero fat on her, she cannot float ... she manages to drag herself back to standing depth, fortunately. "Did you ever have to go long without other dogs nearby?" she asks, turning her head to look back at him ... and then she notices Immortus and Tabaruki nearby. She stands still, trembling in fear and then backing up a few paces in the water, keeping her tail tucked tightly under herself. "Wh ... wh ... who ...." she asks, shivering in fear.

[Elimnyama]

Immortus lofts a brow, his skull-pattered face distorting in an eerie grin, "My my, Goddess is so good to us, ney Tabaruki? She brings us good fortune with another pretty face." Acidic green eyes giving a faint glow in the growing darkness, he rises to greet his alpha and the stranger, watching the female as she literally dives for the water. Immortus takes a step around to the side of Razakal. That strange grin still accompanying his face, he tuts gently to himself at the cowing of the new face, "Jumpy hm?" he chuckles.

When Nyigakali goes tearing past them on her way to the water, Tabaruki actually leans away from the other female a bit, her eyes narrowing. "If your tastes run towards /mange/, Immortus." Her voice is low and gravelly, and the oracle does push herself to her feet, now, leisurely, giving herself a shake. "Where on Earth did you find this, Alpha?" The words themselves are disdainful, but the tone she uses to address Razakal is respectful.

Razakal smiles coolly as Nyigakali takes off toward the water- but as soon as she has passed him the alpha rolls his eyes and smirks in the confidence of his two packmates. He continues down toward the shore at pace and posture that, next to Nyigakali, looks positively regal. Raz' directs a mysteriously broad grin to Taba' and Immortus and then gives Nyigakali a benevolent smile. "No need to fear. This is Immortus and Tabaruki, who serves as the pack's oracle and interprets the will of the goddess. Brethren, this is Nyigakali. She has suffered long in the desert and has come to us in great need. We will happily oblige her in any way she might require." The pack stands to gain from helping those in need -- yay for converts!

Nyigakali continues to quiver and tremble, despite Razakal's assurances, as though she were surrounded by lions instead of kindred dogs. A wild, terrified look has a hold in her eyes ... it will take more than food and water to bring her back into civilized Dog society. "I ... I'm sorry ... I .... am not used to ... others ..." she utters amid shivers of fear.

Immortus grins snidely at Tabaruki, "You doubt the beauty given inherently by the Goddess to all creatures, Tabaruki? Tut," he shakes his head in dismay and nods at the words of Razakal, "wisely spoken, Lord. Why, I believe in the span of one Moon she'll be right as rain?" He eyes the skinny female, feeling pitty for her. He couldn't imagine missing a meal and was far too keen on the company of others to go alone again. Striding calmly forward, he addresses her with a smooth, reassuring tone, "No need for such wide eyes Miss, come on now and we'll fill up that empty stomache of yours, hm?"

Another makes her way onto the scene, the female alpha glancing around as she goes tail lashing as Ouida makes her way on towards the others not giving anyone to long of a glance. A smirk escapes her as she peers at the new dog before a chirp like sound escapes her. "Evening all." She offers while pressing onwards moving to where Razakal is.

"I doubt the beauty given inherently by the male brain to any pregnant dog of breedable age," Tabaruki replies dryly, easing up nearby Razakal; her eyes are on Nyigakali, and they're critical. Her ears tilt back a fraction as the Alpha speaks, then right themselves. "As you say. She looks as though she should be dead. Mithra is truly benevolent to have spared her." The oracle, though, doesn't sound terribly moved; she's too busy sizing the new canine up, her expression unreadable. "--Alphess," she adds as Ouida makes her entrance, dipping her head to the larger female.

While the males of the pack are strictly under Razakal's authority, his domain usually doesn't extend too far over the females, and particularly not when Ouida is present. Therefore as the alphess appears Razakal deflates a fraction and spends a minute happily abasing himself before her with a few puppyish bows and a couple of licks to her muzzle. Once this ritual is complete he stands calmly beside her and surveys the three dogs nearby. He grins amusedly at Immortus' words as much as Tabaruki's reort. Pack life is divine, it really is. "Perhaps if you ask nicely, Immortus, Nyigakali will later regail you with the tale of her tribulations. But at the moment the poor girl needs nourishment more than Tabaruki needs entertainment! What says the pack to a quick hunt?"

Nyigakali cowers even lower at the reappearance of the alphess. She is shaking so bad, she looks as though the thin, dry bones that are all that she has left are about to rattle apart and crumble into dust, and Tabaruki's critical regard doesn't help her feeling small and dispensible. She suddenly bolts, scampering out of the water and hiding behind Razakal for protection, bobbing and swivelling her head around at the various other dogs present. She looks up at Razakal from her cowering posture. A hunt /for/ her? She slinks lowly near his side, her tail tucked tightly beneath her and she glances over at the alphess, but not lifting her eyes to gaze into Ouida's.

Immortus snirks cooly at Tabaruki's snippit, though his attention is of course diverted at once as Ouida makes herself present and accounted for. Gracing her with his devilishly dashing smile and a respectful bow...just as Nyigakali goes racing by. What a quick little thing she was. "A superb idea, Lord, and I would be most enthused to sit to a tale of one such as her."

Ouida gaze twitches over the others after she gets a drink, her shoulder presses into her mate's side while her tail lashes about a few times. Her large ears twitch an perk as she merely listioning choosing not to say anything just yet it seems. She takes in a breath an licks across her maw an she nods to the other three. "Evening." Her voice comes out in a slight hiss while she stretches her form, forepaws grip at the ground an a few bones pop back into the right place before she gives herself a shake which sends dirt flying. She humms at the talk of the hunt an grins. "Ah.. yes, sound like a superb idea indeed Razakal."

The oracle's ears tip back again when Nyigakali barrels past them, and the female heaves a sigh, although it's quiet. "The Goddess does indeed work in mysterious ways," Tabaruki mutters under her breath, but when Razakal speaks she grins at him, the expression toothy and amused. "I suppose I can survive without Immortus' banter for awhile. A hunt sounds most excellent, alpha."

Razakal rubs his side along Ouida's and again turns toward the pack, ready to organize the pack given his understanding of the alphess's taciturn nature. He smirks gently as Nyigakali snakes along the ground near him, but her wretchedness adds fuel to his fire. "Splendid!" Bowing his head he utters a quick prayer in a commanding tone: "O Mithra, give us the wind, give us the breeze. Goddess, bless this hunt. Our victory is to your glory." ... The hunt does indeed prove successful. An hour later finds the group clustered around the body of a gazelle. Razakal smiles benignly at Nyigakali from where he stands near a haunch. It goes against typical behavior, yes, but he issues the quick direction that the starved female be allowed to eat her fill first. "Brethren, if you please," Raz' calls, stepping away from the kill and motioning for all but Nyigakali to join him nearby.. where he intends to speak to them in low tones.

Nyigakali looks up at the alpha even as he speaks away from her with the others such as she cannot hear. She feels a bit delirious and torn, wondering if this was some sort of test. Uncertainly, she paces in a very submissive slink nearby the kill lowly, but doesn't come within earshot of the alpha nor the others in the pack.

Immortus was hungry, but he could wait to eat. He surely didn't need it as much as Nyi. Upon Razakal's call he trots over, giving his pelt a light shake just for the sake of it.

With the hunt over and an animal caught they can at least relax a few days if nothing else. A yawn escapes Ouida an she shifts on her paws scratching her her side with a hindpaw a few times before settling down on her haunches an smirks a bit as she hears her mate. "Very well.. So the Goddess says, she blessed us with the hunt and a new pack member so she shall eat first."

It's as Tabaruki passes the strange female on her way to join the others that she finally speaks to Nyigakali directly: "The Alpha has permitted you to eat first. Don't spit on his generosity." After all, she just seems to be creeping around the kill instead of actually eating it. However, the oracle doesn't slow, and she stops neaby the others, her ears flared forward--attentive.

Razakal motions for the others to come closer to hear him. They don't need to look like they're having a huddle or being secretive, they just need to be able to hear what he says. XD He nods in agreement to Ouida's comment before turning to the others. "Clearly the goddess has guided Nyigakali here because she desires her to be converted. Why else would this creature appear, half-starved and in need of so much help, immediately after the pack has been diminished by the plague? Mithra wishes us to grow and it would be much more difficult to convert a pregnant dog who was healthy and needed nothing from us. In return for food and water, we will ask for her allegiance." He glances around at the others for their thoughts, his brows slightly furrowed.

Nyigakali jumps at Tabaruki's address, and after only a few moments, her fear of being tested is overwhelmed by her starvation and she pounces on the carcass, using what little pathetic strength she has to ravenously pull and tear hunks and strips of flesh from it. She pants hard at the endeavour, and the lumps of meat portrude lumpily as they make they way down her tract and settle in her belly. It isn't long before she has stuffed every last bit down that she can and, stepping back from the carcass, walks a bit funny, not accustomed to having much any weight on her bones. She whimpers softly as her stomach, shrunk and tightened from such a long famine, struggles to stretch at its load. She lopes back into the water and laps thirstily, the tip of her tail twitching back and forth, even tucked as tightly as it is under her belly. She lopes back onto the shore and lays, rolling on her side a bit uncomfortably as the meal begins to settle. She pants heartily, the tip of her tail now thumping the ground.

Ouida eyes the thin female slightly an lifts a brow, a snort escapes her. Though her attention turns back to her mate an she listions. A faint nod is offered. "Were have to keep an eye on her though.." She murmurs faintly to the ones near her. Her attention turns back to Nyigakali an she humms faintly to herself.

"Nursing her back to health is going to be a massive challenge," Tabaruki grumbles, her eyes on Nyigakali as well. "She owes us nothing less than her allegiance, I should think. Pray Mithra she calms down soon." She understands perfectly well why it's easier to bring a dog in need under Mithra's guidance...she just doesn't have any patience for this twitchiness. XD

Ouida has disconnected.

Razakal smiles at Ouida, glad for her approval. Tabaruki gets an amused snicker - apparently the alpha finds her irritation entertaining. XD "Indeed it will be a challenge," he answers, nodding. "But when she is well we'll have her loyalty and at times that can be an invaluable posession. And then.. if she dies..," Raz' trails away, shrugging unconcernedly. "In the meantime, if you don't wish to help her don't feel obligated, jsut don't drive her away. There's no /obligation/ to take advantage of the goddess' bounty, but punishment awaits those who despoil it." With a final nod he draws away and slowly approaches the spot where Nyigakali is now rolling around. Reclining onto his haunches, Razakal smiles slightly and speaks in a comforting voice. "Be at ease, Nyigakali. The unpleasantness will pass in a few hours and then you'll feel infinitely better."

Nyigakali grunts and submissively licks at Razakal's paw. Her tail's thumping into the ground from her sideways lay increases in fervishness. "What land is this?" she asks.

"This?" Razakal lifts his head and gazes around thoughtfully. "These are unclaimed lands.. neutral territory I suppose. Our scout reports that they are bordered by the territories of three lion prides, and in one area leopards and panthers are unusually abundant." His eyes return to Nyigakali and he yawns broadly before continuing, "The Asasabonsam pack is nomadic. We go were the goddess directs us. She always provides the necessary resources." A strange smile. "Life is good in her service, Nyigakali, I assure you. Are you feeling a little better now that you are fed and watered?"

Nyigakali continues licking at the alpha's paws, rolling back onto her paws but staying submissively low with her tail tucked as she does so. "Thank you for your generosity," she whines. "I hope I can become worthy of your gifts."

FIN!