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Post by Ofuna on Oct 16, 2014 22:34:54 GMT -5
Ofuna had continued to lead the way for almost an hour before slowing down to walk beside Ciniki. He didn't regret his decision to leave the remains, but he did wonder what she thought of it. He couldn't tell if she was upset or just tired. Either way the heat wasn't helping matters any.
Though, his thought's kept going back to the stranger. Who was he? What was he doing there? What are these tickets for? So many questions circled in his head. Yet he had no answers, and didn't have any idea on how to find them. A fact that didn't help Ofuna's mood any.
He was unsure about how much time passed as he thought about this. But, Ciniki's question snapped him out of his revere. "Hmm. It's been three years since I've been in a zebra village. As I've said before, I lived in Equestria during that time. And before you ask, I chose to return for two reasons. One, the Diamond Dog's allying themselves with Black Mane and attacking would cause to much trouble. And two, there aren't that many zebra's in Equestria. I needed to come back and interact with my own kind."
"How long have you been trading with all the tribes, Boss? And why hire a body guard this time?" Taking his mind off the stranger managed to improve Ofuna's mood. However, he was still fairly somber. It wouldn't be until the next morning that he would be his usual self again.
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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 Oct 19, 2014 13:00:46 GMT -5
"I've been trading with the tribes as long as my Father was able to take me along. Ever since I was a little filly I've been walking through the tribes." Ciniki smiled as she remembered the days of her youth. It was nice to take a stroll down memory lane some times. she looked at him while she replied to his second question. "I hired a bodyguard for the same reason you returned. Tensions are growing and the way things are going having an extra set of hooves is nice. Plus I like your company." she smiled at him breathing hard. Staring to pant from the heat. Turning back toward the road Ciniki sighed.
"If we want to make it to the colored tribes by morning we'll have to walk all night. It's also probably best to keep moving because who knows what kind of monsters are following us." She turned and looked back on the path behind them. Nothing was in sight but that doesn't mean nothing was out there. This was going to be a long night. "Lets stop for a minute though for lunch." Ciniki pulled the car to the side of the path under the shade of a tree and took off the strap and sat on the ground trying to catch her breath.
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Post by Ofuna on Oct 22, 2014 18:13:20 GMT -5
"Alright. But let's not take too long. I want to arrive as soon as possible." Ofuna laid down not too far from where Ciniki did, taking his lunch when she passed it too him. He ate in relative silence, continuing to keep an eye out for anymore surprises. It didn't take him long for him to finish his meal. With the sun beating down, a few more minutes of rest would do them some good, so Ofuna didn't try to rush things.
When enough time had passed, Ofuna stood. "That should be enough rest for now. We'll be able to rest proper once we reach the tribe." Again he lead the way, following the trail to their destination. "The beasts have an easy enough time getting a meal without one sitting out in the open. Though, we know there's one gbahali that won't bother us anytime soon." Ofuna comments, attempting to break the silence.
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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 Oct 29, 2014 16:30:10 GMT -5
Ciniki chuckled slightly at his dark sense of humor. She nodded at him and replied "You're right we shouldn't dally in one place for long." Strapping the cart back up and trotting to catch up with him she enjoyed having company this time to break the dreadful silence. "I'm looking forward to resting up once we get there. My hooves are killing me." The ground below her crunched with every hoof step and under the rolling wheels of the cart. The steady drone of rocks crunching continued on as they spoke and walked. It was almost comforting, much like the chirping of crickets on a cool summers night.
They continued making small talk as they went along all afternoon. As the sun began to set the temperatures cooled. "The predators will be on the hunt again now. We'll get to the tribe sometime in the early morning." Looking around she felt better with the cooling air, but grew wary and ever watchful.
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Post by Ofuna on Nov 14, 2014 17:03:05 GMT -5
"Well, we'll just have to be extra careful then won't we?" Keeping a watchful eye open, Ofuna surveyed their surroundings. "Although, as we've seen, that won't necessarily keep us safe. Especially at night, when they'll have an even greater advantage."
"Best we would be able to do at that time would probably be to cover ourselves with seasoning and..." He glanced at Ciniki, knowing she knew what he was going to say. "Anyway, let's just hurry to that village. We've been on the road long enough as is."
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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 Nov 22, 2014 12:21:29 GMT -5
"I think I have a few delicious blends in the back if you want to get some marinating done." Ciniki said sarcastically. She enjoyed the idea of being eaten just as much as the next Zebra. Obviously none at all. It was about time for them to pick it up and get to the village where they would be safer. Relatively speaking. With the temperatures cooling down she decided that going into a trot wouldn't hurt. "Come on lets pick up this pace a little bit let's see if you can keep it up" Ciniki challenged. The cart wheels crunched faster along the gravel as Ciniki rhythmically trotted down the road keeping a nice steady beat with each hoof fall. This was an endurance trot so the pace wasn't to quick.
Undoubtedly the loud wheels would attract some attention but they were going to either way. Every now and again Ciniki would dare a glance over her shoulder to make sure they weren't followed to bad she couldn't see anything in the dark. Their steady breathing and trotting in time gave her a weird sense of assurance. It was probably the fact she wasn't alone this time in the dark and not totally vulnerable.
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Post by Ofuna on Dec 16, 2014 11:52:02 GMT -5
Ofuna shivered as the temperatures slowly dropped. The cooling temperatures would only serve to make matters worse. Or so he thought, until Ciniki sped up to a trot. Ofuna paused, a look of surprise adorning his face as his boss and then the cart passed him.
It didn't take him long to recover, and he was soon catching up. Once he caught up to the mare, he slowed his speed to match hers. "This isn't such a bad idea. It'll help keep us warm, help us get to the village fast, and, if there's a beast laying in wait further up the road, march us to our deaths in record time. Absolutely brilliant."
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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 Dec 17, 2014 20:07:19 GMT -5
"That was my thinking exactly Ofuna the predators must be hungry it's well past supper time. Plus cold meat isn't as good as warm meat." She replied. Sarcasm must be his coping mechanism. Ciniki played along with it because she enjoyed the sarcastic banter between the two. It was something new and rather entertaining. His dark sense of humor made her chuckle at tense situations she would normally get overly stressed over.
Time ran on just as the two Zebras did eventually it was morning again. They had trotted most of the way through the cold night stopping every few miles to catch their breath at a steady walking pace. Over the horizon a shack came into view. It was the very edge of the tribe they were trying to reach. They had made it through the rest of the wilderness without encountering any monsters. Ciniki slowed to a walk to catch her breath. "We're almost there Ofuna let me do that talking" she reminded him, "If they ask you something answer obviously but let me do the buisness."
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Post by Ofuna on Jan 5, 2015 19:51:36 GMT -5
"That was the plan, boss." Ofuna responded with half-hearted enthusiasm. The darkness was making him wary. Uncertain as to what lay beyond his field of vision, he was constantly surveying their surroundings. He would be relieved when they finally made it to the tribe.
Looking back the way they had come, he remembered the papers the poor sod had with him. Recalling that he had put one in his bag, he turned to Ciniki. "Maybe when we get there, I'll ask around about the poor soul we encountered. Perhaps somepony will know something about him and about the papers he was carrying. At the very least, we find his family and inform them of what happened."
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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 Jan 6, 2015 9:14:05 GMT -5
"That's a good idea Ofuna I would start in the square asking the ones who look like him if they knew him." They approached the village quickly and were in eye sight of the other zebras within seconds or even before they had seen them. Luckily for them they had recognized Ciniki and her cart and welcomed them into the village square happily. "First things first everypony" Ciniki said "I would like to introduce you to Ofuna who will be joining me this time around!" They looked at him curiously but didn't stare for to long before reverting their attention back to Ciniki. Trading was already starting, and Ciniki threw Ofuna a quick glance to tell him he can go and search now for any information on the deceased Zebra they had found.
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Post by Ofuna on Jan 13, 2015 16:11:59 GMT -5
A brief nod and faint smile was all Ofuna gave in response to Ciniki's approval. His mood improved with the thought of, possibly, giving the deceased's family some closure. His mood improved even more when they finally arrived at the village. When they entered though, he was caught of guard by the warm reception. Being greeted by such friendly faces felt... odd.
He continued to follow Ciniki to the village square. Uncertain on how to react to the zebras staring at them, he couldn't help but smile awkwardly. And when Ciniki introduced him to villagers, all he could do was add an equally awkward wave. Though, their attention quickly returned to the mare. He glanced at her, and the expression she gave him, she was telling him to go find information on the zebra. Without waiting, Ofuna gave a quick nod and left to gather whatever information he could.
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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 Apr 9, 2015 18:05:38 GMT -5
Hours passed by and Ciniki thought nothing really of it. He must be trying to find some pony who knew that poor soul. The hours dragged well into the night. Ciniki boarded up in an unoccupied hut the villagers happily allowed her to sleep in. After unloading her things and locking them safely away inside she went to search for Ofuna. He had been gone all day and never returned to her. She was beginning to get worried about him. How much of a colt was he to get lost in a small village?
Walking through the village at night few zebras remained outside and were all cozily tucked in for the night with their families. The moon lite her path shining brightly helping her see. After walking through the village at least three times Ciniki gave up and turned in for the night. She deserved some sleep after the long trip.
The next morning Ciniki awoke to the sounds of the bustling activity outside the door. Looking around Ofuna still had not returned to her. Sighing she stood up to stretch and brewed her morning tea using a campfire and a kettle she brought along. After her morning routine Ciniki stepped out the door and began her trading for the 2nd day. All day long no sign of him. She began to ask her costumers if they had seen him. None of them had until finally one told her that he had left late last night going East. They're next path would've been West. Realizing she was betrayed again she hung her head and continued her routine through the savanna to return home and continue her life alone.
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