I wasn't going to try for him, but I've been headmating Sanjana for the past few days and she has been very convincing. >> I fell in love with him the first time he was up and Sanjana has loved him immensely since they've been together. I feel it is only right for me to give it my best for her as well as myself. <3
I know a few areas of my form are lacking, but I've been pressed for time and needed to cut back
somewhere. X_x
I would like to adopt!
Number:9
Picture:
Name:Pleek
Species: Smili
Personality:Pleek is very determined and driven. He will not give up on something once he's set his mind to it. He's sensitive and sweet as well. He cares immensely for Sanjana and their cubs and refuses to every separate himself from them since he promised Sanjana he wouldn't leave her like her mother did when she was younger. He's very accommodating of her and understands her moods and feelings very well.
Physically, he's agile and strong, but isn't one for shows of strength. He simply uses his natural gifts for survival.
Likes:Sanjana and his family
Wind/breezes
quiet days
Dislikes:Uncertainty
Distrust
Separation
BackgroundThat little voice. So persistent, so convincing. Without it, he is lost, without her, he is lost.
It was windy that first day. It whistled through the grasses and sighed through the trees. Pleek liked the wind; it had such expression and emotion. On days like this, he’d simply sit alone and listen, imagining it was the voice of Mother Nature herself, whispering to the life of the earth, encouraging its perseverance.
A low growl interrupted his thought and he looked around for its source, wondering if he was in danger. In fact he wasn’t the sound had come from another Smili, but was not aimed at himself. It was a female, apparently hunting something in the brush. He stared, wide-eyed at her. He’d never seen such color on one of his species. She was red and black, the colors swirling along her pelt in an almost hypnotic pattern. She was the most beautiful thing he’d seen.
He continued to watch her as she tensed and pounced on her prey. She let out an exasperated sigh.
“Missed again.”
Pleek was curious now. She obviously had trouble hunting, but that was not the only reason he was wondering about her. He knew these woods and the smili within very well, yet he had never seen this strange female before.
He approached her cautiously; his curiosity had gotten the best of him.
“Is something the matter?” he asked, his eyes soft and imploring.
She had been muttering to herself and the question seemed to surprise her. She had not expected anyone to be around.
“Oh! I, uh, it’s nothing. I’m just clumsy, I guess” she sounded unsure of herself and avoided eye contact, as though she were ashamed of herself.
“Would you like some help with a meal?” Generosity was one of his stronger points. He liked to help others and she certainly looked like she could use a bit of it.
“No, no, thank you, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.” She turned away from him, starting to head off into the trees.
Pleek wasn’t convinced. ‘Perhaps she’s too proud to ask.’ He thought in confusion. ‘But she looks so hungry’ He figured he’d help her anyway, secretly, of course. “Good luck, stranger.” He called after her, but she didn’t turn back or answer. He smiled to himself. She was different, that was for sure.
He set off, intending to circle around in front of her and hopefully find something he could help her catch. He was only halfway around her when he spotted the deer. It was young and inexperienced, easy enough for him to catch. He waited, until it wandered within pouncing distance, then, struck. Instead of making the kill, he simply bit into a hind leg, ensuring that it would not be able to easily run away and drawing blood to ensure the strange female would be able to smell it. He then leapt off into the cover of the trees and waited to see if she would come.
After a few minutes, she did indeed appear. Seeing the wounded deer, she crouched and pounced. She was early on her pounce and an uninjured deer would have easily escaped, but it was slow enough to allow her time to strike out a second time and deliver the killing blow. She seemed ecstatic and dug right in, filling her empty belly.
Pleek waited a moment, and then sauntered out from his hiding place, when she spotted him, he feigned surprise.
“Oh!” He exclaimed with a bit too much surprise in his voice. “I see you were right. I’m glad you found a meal, are you enjoying it?” His question was softer, sincere care in it.
She stared dumbly at him for a moment, not sure what to think of this second meeting, then, slowly nodded. “I love deer.” She said simply. “I was lucky to find one injured . . .” She seemed embarrassed at that second statement, as if she was ashamed to admit that her meal was an easy catch.
Pleek smiled kindly and sat facing her. He decided to change the subject so as not to make her more uncomfortable than she already was. “I haven’t seen you around before today. Are you a traveler? That must be nice.” The question was casual, but it opened up room for conversation.
The stranger finished her last bite before answering. She told him her name was Sanjana and that she had left her previous home not too long ago. She didn’t know where she was going, but she’d know when she got there. She told him of the places she wandered through since she left and he listened intently, growing ever more fascinated and admiring of her in her journeys.
“And now I’m here . . .” She finished, staring at an awestruck Pleek. She giggled a bit at his open-mouthed expression. “What about you, handsome?” She asked slyly. “Surely you must have seen some interesting things in your time.”
If he had been human he would have blushed. He laid his ears back and smiled sheepishly. “I uh, I’ve only ever lived here and this is pretty much all there is to it.” He laughed nervously, expecting her to find him boring.
She laughed and he worried that that was a bad thing. He was feeling a connection forming between them, and he hated it. He knew she wouldn’t consider him. He was surprised when she simply smiled at him, a sweet smile, almost loving. After a short while, she stood again, her face suddenly growing solemn as if remembering something painful.
“I should go.” Her words were dry. “I’ve been in these woods too long as it is.” Without waiting for his response, she turned away from him.
“Wait!” Confusion apparent in his voice. “I don’t understand, don’t you like it here, don’t you like . . .” He stopped himself, embarrassed again.
“That’s the problem” She answered without looking back at him and took off running through the trees, leaving Pleek to wonder what she’d meant.
The next few days, Pleek spent in anxiety. He had been drawn to Sanjana and her leaving words had stung, but there was something pulling at him, telling him to follow her. His life was here, it always had been, but this force was growing stronger with each passing moment and he soon started to lose his want to stay.
Two weeks after she’d left, he was once again sitting, listening to the wind. This time, there was urgency in it, not the calm whisper he heard before, but an anxious rasp. ‘What do you want?’ He thought.
The wind blew stronger and he could hear a voice, but it was faint and he could not make out its meaning. He listened harder, then, in that sweet voice he’d heard only weeks ago he heard it.
“Waiting for you, love~ I’m waiting for you~”He was astonished, sure that he hadn’t imagined it, yet unbelieving of its reality. He stood in one fluid motion, waiting for it again.
“Waiting~”As the wind died down, he found a new resolve. He would find her again. There was nothing for him in this forest, his life would be with Sanjana, if only he could find her again.
His face grew hard, throwing off the astonishment at hearing the call. He took one look over his home, then shot off in the direction he’d seen her go without a second thought.
The first two days he kept up a fairly good pace, his determination being his main driving force. He’d left the last stretch of forest on the morning of the second day of his journey. This new land he was in had far fewer trees and growth. Hunting was hard here, but it only made him think of how much trouble Sanjana would be having. He was glad she had had the deer before she left, there was little chance she would have been able to catch something here.
After another three days, the land gave way to open, grassy hills, certainly no place for a short-legged smili to hunt. With no cover whatsoever and much too much space to run, he wasn’t able to hunt at all. By now, he was growing worried, not only for Sanjana, but himself, what if he was going the wrong way? What if she was already too far ahead and he would never catch up?
This time, the whisper was stronger, more soothing and it drifted to him from across the hills.
“Waiting for you~ Don’t forget me~”The re-emergence of it, reinforced his determination, but the anxiety was not totally swept away. He pushed onward, hungry and more tired than he’s felt in his life, but wanting so much to be with her.
Eventually, the hills gave way to mountains. Huge, looming, steep mountains. Luckily, he was agile enough, steady enough, and his paws large enough to give him good footing on the rocks. His long tail worked excellently as a balance and he was finally able to hunt again. The goats that lived here where as quick and agile as he, but his coat masked him well against the dark rock.
Although he was faring well, his anxiety for Sanjana only increased. She wouldn’t have such good camouflage here and he wasn’t sure of how well she could navigate the cliffs.
Again, the whisper came to him, echoing off the mountains.
“Hurry, Love~ I’m waiting~”He was suddenly aware that the voice was growing stronger. ‘perhaps I’m getting closer’ He thought hopefully, though his desperation was beginning to be more apparent.
The mountains gave way to a swamp. It was misty in the trees and he quickly learned to use this to his advantage. He hoped she’d learned as well. Even with her vibrant red pattern, the mist would be able to mask her pretty well.
He soon ran into trouble, though. The heart of the swamp was muddy and he worried about getting stuck in the muck. He paced at the edge nervously. Going around would be nearly impossible, but going through would be potentially fatal. He began to panic. His eyes watered and a lump formed in his throat, but his determination was absolute and he took a wary step into the mud.
To his surprise, the mist began to swirl around him and he froze on the spot. From the gloom, a shape appeared in the mist. It was Sanjie. The misty form wrapped around him and whispered clearly into his ear.
“You’re close, love~ Don’t be afraid~”He looked sadly at the apparition. Wondering if he’d truly be able to see the real Sanjana again. The misty figure floated away, but only to a short distance where it stopped and beckoned to him. He was entranced as he followed it’s lead through the swamp. He was sure it was leading him through safely and trusted in it’s guidance. As he reached the end of the mud, the whisp vanished with a single word of encouragement.
“Close~”His heart jump and he took off into the trees, so glad to be out of that dreadful place.
Soon, he reached another forest, much like his own back home, but infinitely more beautiful. The plants themselves seemed more vibrant and colorful, birdsong filled the canopy, and the chittering of small animals washed through the undergrowth. He grew evermore excited as he wandered through this place, he could feel his search ending.
Then, he saw her, Sanjana, sleeping beneath a downed tree. She was as beautiful as ever and the sight of her took his breath away.
“Found me, love~” A picture you drew: