Ciniki
Disciple Pony
“Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer.”
Posts: 68
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Post by Ciniki on Mar 9, 2014 22:25:55 GMT -5
The morning sun shone brightly into her and her fathers hut. A break in the trees let a beam of light brightened her hut and warmed the inside. As her eyes opened she lifted her head and looked to the bed next to her. Her father was still fast asleep, so she took this time to start cooking breakfast. Something simple and easy to make. Bread from the Kickuyu tribe and jam made herself from berries that grew near their hut. She put a kettle of tea from the Shoelu tribe over the fire. She ate her meal and left out an empty cup and some bread for her father once he wakes up.
She now took this chance to walk outside of the hut and stretch her legs for a morning walk to patrol the area around their hut and check her snares. She of course took her bow with her, strapping it to her back along with a hunting knife strapped to her right side. She hummed a tune she learned as a child to bless her hunt and bring her good luck. Who knows what kind of creatures were out there.
The air outside was cool and calm but slowly warming and growing more humid. It was going to rain soon she could smell the rain in the air. She walked around a good distance away from the house keeping a sharp eye out for her favorite kind of berries and for anything that wants to cause her or her father any harm. Stopping along her way to check her snares. She never took the same path twice because carving a rut in the forest would only alert anyone or anything out there with malicious intent that they were there. The only way to and from her house was on the cart road she had made. She made sure nopony would stumble upon her hut by making back roads and wrong turns leading anypony in circles if they took them. Only she and her Father new the correct path.
Finding that all her snares were empty she turned around and headed for one of the false cart paths that travelers or those with malicious intent find themselves usually trapped on. Wouldn't want a dead zebra just lying about on the road it may attract any number of monsters and such. Staying hidden in the trees she made her way slowly and silently toward the edge of the road, hidden behind a bush and scanning the area for any signs of life lost on her false path.
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Post by Ofuna on Mar 10, 2014 14:37:48 GMT -5
Ofuna had gotten up early that morning so he could get to the nearby tribe sooner and avoid the coming rain. He had been walking for over an hour until he reached a fork in the road. Not sure which to take, he chose the left path. He walked along it until he noticed another fork. Or, as a good look around revealed, the same fork.
Here it was a couple hours later and, through trial and error, he had gotten pass two more forks and a fallen tree. And here he was at another road block. "This is just not my day." The zebra was scratching the back of his head, a little off put by the fact that somepony clearly didn't want any visitors.
Ofuna could feel the humidity in the air increase as the storm got closer. Not wanting to be outside when it hits, the zebra wondered what to do. At this rate he wouldn't get to the tribe before it started raining. He could set up camp here and wait it out, but he doesn't know what manner of beast live nearby. Nor does he want to find out.
His thoughts were interrupted by a noise coming from further down the road. Not knowing the source of the noise, Ofuna jumped into a nearby bush. He grabbed his crossbow and removed one of his bolts from his quiver. He loaded and readied the weapon in case he needed to defend himself. Now he just watched the road and waited.
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Ciniki
Disciple Pony
“Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer.”
Posts: 68
|
Post by Ciniki on Mar 11, 2014 21:09:58 GMT -5
Ciniki flicked her ears and lifted her ears up. She heard something jump into the bushes down the road from her. Deciding it was in her best intentions to move she drew her knife from her side and slowly made her way down the road. Instead of taking the path directly down the side of the road she made a U-curve deeper into the vegetation. As she went she watched each of her steps trying not to crush leaves of snap twigs. The soil was still damp from a more recent rain. Possibly the night before or the morning dew. The singing birds and the wind blowing into her face covered a few of the sounds she made.
Once she finally got within sight of what ever it was in the bush she breathed a silent sigh of relief. It was just a pony or Zebra. She could tell from the equine figure of it's silhouette. It's back was to her so she wasn't sure if they were armed. Replacing her knife in its holster she silently string her bow and knocked and arrow. Taking a deep breath she drew back the bow sting bringing it to her muzzle and waited.
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Post by Ofuna on Mar 11, 2014 22:57:37 GMT -5
Ofuna continued to wait in the bush, listening for any further noises. After a few minutes of not hearing anything, he carefully released the string and removed the bolt. He returned the bolt to the quiver as he stepped back onto the path. The humidity had increased a bit over the last few minutes, and, unless the zebra had a sudden stroke of luck, he was going to be stuck out in the rain.
"I'll just wake up early and get to the tribe before it starts raining. What could possibly go wrong." Ofuna says to himself frustratedly. With a sigh he goes around the road block that had stopped him. Continuing down the path he soon finds himself at yet another roadblock.
Now he was just exasperated. "There are way to many road blocks and wrong turns for this to not be intentional. Possibly done by bandits to trap unsuspecting travelers so they can ambush them." With this thought, he quickly readies his crossbow again. Prepared for the worst, he surveys his surroundings looking for any signs of movement.
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Ciniki
Disciple Pony
“Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer.”
Posts: 68
|
Post by Ciniki on Mar 12, 2014 17:03:00 GMT -5
Watching the equine figure put away his weapon and walk out into the street she noticed her curiosity growing. Who was this pony or zebra and what were they doing here? Silently quivering her own arrow Ciniki left her bow strung and placed it on her back before following behind him. She remained in the bushes and got a better view of the equine figure seeing now that it was a male Zebra.
Watching him work his way around the road block she snickered softly when he got trapped behind another. Took him awhile to figure out the road blocks and path confusion was intentional. Deciding he had enough and that the rain was coming soon she wanted this to be over with. She had bigger fish to fry that day. She pulled her bow out and re knocked the arrow drawing the string back ready to fire.
She figured it was in her best intentions not to startle the Zebra who appeared to be armed again. A startled zebra with a cross bow wasn't a very good combination. Calling out from the bushes she alerted him to her presence. "Put down your weapon and back away from it. I wont hurt you as long as you don't hurt me. Quickly now we don't have long before this storm hits" she commanded. Promptly she made her way out of the bush keeping her sights trained onto the male in front of her.
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Post by Ofuna on Mar 13, 2014 20:23:27 GMT -5
Hearing the voice of a woman coming from his right, Ofuna promptly turned to face that direction. He was a little surprised when he saw it was another zebra, with her bow drawn and pointed at him. It didn't seem unreasonable to conclude that she was the one who made the wrong turns and road blocks.
Letting out another sigh, he releases the string, again, and puts both it and his crossbow away. "Okay. Okay. I'm not giving you my crossbow, but I am at your mercy." He calmly states in an attempt to diffuse the tension. "Now I rather doubt you're a random passerby who happened to get lost like I did." His adds, his tone taking on a hint of sarcasm.
"Which would mean that you know how to get of this maze. Which you probably made. Is that correct?" He asks her as she continues to point her bow at him. Ofuna weighs his options. He could go with her, and probably have some sort of shelter. Or he could run, where she could either shoot him, or he'd be caught in the rain. To him the first option sounded like the best one to take at the moment.
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Ciniki
Disciple Pony
“Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer.”
Posts: 68
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Post by Ciniki on Mar 13, 2014 21:11:07 GMT -5
Ciniki squinted her eyes watching this Zebra. She knew she had the advantage here but she was weighing her options while he was. She could turn him around and go on his way but the rains were coming in a matter of minutes. Taking him home would show this stranger the way and who's to say he wouldn't repeat it to even less favorable company. she could force him to leave or she could kill him right here and now. Deciding she wasn't cruel enough for that she let him choose his fate.
Keeping her bow drawn she replied to him "Yes I made these roads and I do know they way out." Being careful of how much she gave away to this stranger she continued. "They way I see it you have there options and you probably already know what they are. I could escort you back to my hut, I could kill you or I could leave you here." Pondering in silence for a moment she relaxed her draw but kept her arrow knocked. Maybe he could be useful she thought.
"First things first. What is your name and what are you doing out here?" As she said this the first drop of rain fell and hit her on the tip of her muzzle. She needed to make a choice quickly she hated being caught out in the rain. "Secondly if you want to come with me you will have to wear a blindfold so you can't learn the correct path. Otherwise the way out is back the way you came and the first right."
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Post by Ofuna on Mar 17, 2014 15:17:34 GMT -5
"My name is Ofuna, and I was on my way to the nearby tribe to look for some work." he said in response to her question. Not wanting to stay out any longer due to the looming threat of being caught in the rain, he chose to go along with her requests. "I'll wear the blindfold. Just tie it quickly. I don't want to be stuck in the rain."
As she ties the blindfold, he wonders why this was happening to him. He thought about it for several minutes. Eventually he came to the conclusion that the universe was messing with him. Not exactly a conclusion that helped his mood any. Yet he let her lead him through the woods, hoping that things will start to look up for him soon.
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Ciniki
Disciple Pony
“Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer.”
Posts: 68
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Post by Ciniki on Mar 18, 2014 18:34:50 GMT -5
Ciniki relaxed her draw and put back her bow, tying her tail up again with the string before putting on his blindfold. "I'm Ciniki it's nice to meet you. Pardon my manors but I have to be wary of unknown Zebras. You know how it is with the tribes." Walking down the path she made sure her knife was easily accessible to her if need be. The rain getting heavier she quickened her paced and urged him faster. "It's really starting to come down now Ofuna we're almost there."
Upon reaching the clearing where the hut was she untied his blindfold and ushered him inside. The pot of tea was still warm and her Father wasn't in sight. No doubt he was awake anyway and just not in this room. "Please sit Ofuna and make yourself comfortable. Would you like some tea and something to eat? Also, I would ask you give me your weapons in the case of your crossbow let me hold onto your arrows." She still didn't trust him and found his story to be false. She had heard it many times before now.
She out some of the herbs she had collected while she was out and her berries on the counter next to the simmering pot of tea. The plate and the food she had left for her father were gone so she assumed that he had already eaten and gone out to do something. Hopefully he wasn't still out in this storm she didn't need a stranger and a sick father to worry about. She wasn't going to be home for much longer before she went out for another job. She needed to get rid of this stranger by then and insure her fathers safety. "Tell me again what it is you are doing out here Ofuna"
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Post by Ofuna on Mar 18, 2014 22:45:37 GMT -5
Upon entering the hut, Ofuna removed his quiver and placed it by the door. Looking around the place he could tell that she didn't live alone. From what he could tell, she probably lived with a stallion. She certainly didn't act like the kind to settle down with someone.
"I'd love some tea. As long as it isn't poison flavored." He stated, his voice taking on a sarcastic tone. "As for what I'm doing out here, I was on my way to the nearby tribe. I was looking for possible employment. Hopefully something that involves travel."
Hoping to ease the tension, he attempts to change the subject. "I can see that you don't live alone. Though, I don't really see you as having a special somepony. So I'm curious, who is this person? And why don't you live among the tribe where it's safer? I feel it's safe to assume that you made the roadblocks and wrong turns as a way to throw off bandits."
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Ciniki
Disciple Pony
“Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer.”
Posts: 68
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Post by Ciniki on Mar 19, 2014 17:15:26 GMT -5
Laughing at his comment while getting down a tea cup for him she replied "You don't have to worry about it being poison flavored". After filling the cup she carefully walked it over to him and set it on the table. She set her cup down opposite him and took a sip. Looking up from her cup as he spoke of his plans she politely listened to him. She may live in the middle of no where but she had manors.
When he changed the subject to that of her residence she put down her cup and nodded softly. "You are correct in assuming I do not live here alone. Also correct that I do not have a special somepony." Just then her father entered the room. His tall and muscular structure hid his age well. He looked as if he could go out to war right now and come back alive. In actuality though he was old and becoming more and more frail. Ciniki did not tell Ofuna that because it just may keep him from doing something wrong. "Who is this" her father asked with a deep and husky voice.
"This is who I live with Ofuna. This is my father you can just call him sir." Turning to her father now she introduced Ofuna and got up to pour him a cup of tea. "What are you doing here what is it that you want?" He asked in a more authoritative voice.
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Post by Ofuna on Mar 19, 2014 19:26:39 GMT -5
Ofuna was taking a sip of the tea Ciniki had given him when her father walked in. The older stallion's sudden appearance had taken him by surprise and he started to cough up what little tea he had drank. The stallion she called he father did not seem the least bit pleased.
With his little coughing fit over, Ofuna remembered that things like this is why he left the zebra lands in the first place. And the reactions of these two made him wonder if it was such a good idea to return, or at the very least travel to this tribe. Yet here he was, nothing he could do about it now.
Taking a brief moment to clear his throat, Ofuna answered the stallion's questions as respectfully as he could. "Well sir, I was on my way to the near by tribe to find myself some work. On the way I found myself lost, when I was... found... by your daughter. To get out of the rain, she blindfolded me and brought me here. If it isn't too much trouble, I will be leaving as soon as the rain lets up."
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Ciniki
Disciple Pony
“Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer.”
Posts: 68
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Post by Ciniki on Mar 20, 2014 17:18:04 GMT -5
Seemingly satisfied he nodded to his daughter and left them, returning to what ever it was he had been doing. "Sorry about him Ofuna his years have shown him that if given the chance anypony would cheat and lie to you." Shaking her head and standing she walked over and rinsed off the berries she collected. After washing them she put them into the bowl and placed them on the table between them.
"It may be awhile before these rains let up Ofuna, so tell me what it is you do for work." She popped a berry into her mouth and sat back down opposite Ofuna. She gestured for him to have some if he wished and smiled softly. "I'm a hunter and a trader. I travel around the Zebra Savannah hunting the predators threatening the tribes and trade the materials I collect from them. That's why i don't live in a tribe. Being out in nature is much more soothing to the mind and helps me focus. Plus it keeps Father safe while i'm gone."
The thunder roared outside and the rain was now obviously coming down harder. Seeing as how the only light was the cracks of lighting she got up and walked around lighting a fire in the fire place between the kitchen and the dining area. Then she continued around the rooms with a stick from the fire lighting candles to brighten up the hut.
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Post by Ofuna on Mar 20, 2014 22:19:59 GMT -5
Still feeling a little wary, Ofuna turned down the offer to partake of the berries. The mare's sudden change in behavior didn't help put his mind at ease. On the contrary, it made him think she was up to something. But he couldn't figure out what, so he chose to play along until he could.
"Mostly I travel. Though, I often find myself taking jobs protecting traders and caravans." Ofuna stated, before having another sip of his tea. "I enjoy wandering, and as such, I don't stay in one place for too long. That's why I take jobs that require me to go from town to town."
He looked to the entrance of the hut. Wondering how long the rain was going to last. He desired for it to end soon so that he might continue with his travels. However, it would probably last a couple hours. With that thought, he let out a small sigh and sipped his tea.
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Ciniki
Disciple Pony
“Be everywhere, do everything, and never fail to astonish the customer.”
Posts: 68
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Post by Ciniki on Mar 30, 2014 22:28:04 GMT -5
Looking out the window at the rain she grinned softly and sips more of her tea. Placing the tea cup on the table she put her hooves together and rested her muzzle against them. "Ofuna I have a business proposal for you. Travel with me on my hunting trips as protection. Of course I want to see your skills first before I hire you, but I'm considering a partnership here." Smiling at herself she got up and stoked the fire before continuing to speak. "You travel the savannah with me while I hunt and protect myself and my wares from unpleasant folk and I'll cut you in for...30 percent of my sales. You'll have the chance to travel around and see many zebras"
She poured herself some more tea and refilled her bowl with some apples taking one for herself and sitting back down at the table. Taking a bite she looked him over and nodded "We would have to remain here for a bit longer so I can be sure that I can trust you and see your skills before hitting the road. Can I trust you Ofuna? Are you willing to travel and defend me and my cargo?"
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