+- In Dire Straits (https://dires.net)
+-- Forum: Packlands (IC) (https://dires.net/forum-18.html)
+--- Forum: Saboro (https://dires.net/forum-55.html)
+--- Thread: give me the song and i swear that i'll sing it like never before [RII - Gray] (/thread-3972.html)
give me the song and i swear that i'll sing it like never before [RII - Gray] - Zanna - April 15, 2018
![[Image: fxRP7W1.png]](https://i.imgur.com/fxRP7W1.png)
Life was slowly – slowly – getting back to normal for the crimson girl. She could feel, day by day, her strength coming back to her. She could go longer distances without losing her breath; She could push heavier objects around; She could jump higher, farther. It was a small step for a long journey, but she could feel the optimism rising within her, compelling her to try harder, do more.
Of course, this was not all accomplished by Zanna herself. No, she had someone else to thank for her progress.
Kappa had been doing an astounding job of not only being a supportive packmate and mentor, but perhaps becoming a friend to Zanna. Their meetings thus far were strictly business (basic training, conditioning, circuits), but Zanna couldn’t help but feel a part of her beginning to form a bond with Kappa. It may have been a one-way feeling at this point, but the crimson girl was slowly finding herself trusting Kappa more and more. Only time would tell, and she still had a lot of progress to make before she could try for the Dragon Spectre rank once again.
Today was a day off, but rarely did she take more than the necessary time to rest. She was planning to go walking today, to see how long she could go before needing to rest. She usually started at the lake at the farthest end of the second ring, and would work her way toward the first ring. Last time, she was able to make it half way before needing to stop and catch her breath. But she’d gained more muscle since then, and her lungs were getting stronger, so she felt that today she might be able to make it all the way.
Of course, there was always the risk of getting caught at the division between ring one and ring two, however it was a risk she was willing to take – she had no malicious intent, no secrets to hide. Being intercepted would only slow her progress.
So Zanna walked, her breaths even at first, growing ever slightly heavier as she trekked onward. Her tail swung slowly behind her, her pace relaxed and steady. She used this time to reflect, to think about the many things that swirled in her mind day in and day out. She thought of the old Saboro – how it met its demise, the people that left, what they left behind. Did she miss it? Maybe a little bit. It was hard not to. But she was so hopeful for what lay ahead of them, for what this new land could offer them. She was hopeful for those that came along for the journey, for those that didn’t give up.
Zanna didn’t want to feel any malice toward those who didn’t come along. But the days ticked on, and the chances of them coming back grew smaller and smaller, making it difficult not to feel a sense of anger. Some tiny, miniscule part of her was clinging to the hope that perhaps they’d return. That perhaps Crenate would come back, return to them, lead them as he had before.
She missed him. And maybe part of her missed the old Saboro. Her old rank. Her old body. Her old life.
Part of her wasn’t ready to rebuild and move on. It was hard.
But she had to, there was no choice.
Shaking the thoughts from her head, she moved forward. Her breath was slowly becoming more ragged with each step, her muscles getting tired, aching from the previous day’s workout. She could tell she was close to the first ring, but not quite there. She wanted to push herself, to get there. But she couldn’t risk doing more harm than good. She continued. Just a bit farther. Just a bit farther.
If she could have faith in Saboro rebuilding and recreating itself into something magnificent, then why couldn’t she have faith in herself? Why shouldn’t she be able to restructure herself entirely – becoming something better than what she was before. She would have faith. She did have faith.
She hoped that everyone else would have faith. Not only in Saboro… But in herself. She’d rise to the top, one way or another. She always worked hard, always put herself out there. She had no fears, nothing to lose.
A heavy breath forced itself out of her nose in a grunt as she pressed onward. She would get stronger. And she would be great.
Of course, this was not all accomplished by Zanna herself. No, she had someone else to thank for her progress.
Kappa had been doing an astounding job of not only being a supportive packmate and mentor, but perhaps becoming a friend to Zanna. Their meetings thus far were strictly business (basic training, conditioning, circuits), but Zanna couldn’t help but feel a part of her beginning to form a bond with Kappa. It may have been a one-way feeling at this point, but the crimson girl was slowly finding herself trusting Kappa more and more. Only time would tell, and she still had a lot of progress to make before she could try for the Dragon Spectre rank once again.
Today was a day off, but rarely did she take more than the necessary time to rest. She was planning to go walking today, to see how long she could go before needing to rest. She usually started at the lake at the farthest end of the second ring, and would work her way toward the first ring. Last time, she was able to make it half way before needing to stop and catch her breath. But she’d gained more muscle since then, and her lungs were getting stronger, so she felt that today she might be able to make it all the way.
Of course, there was always the risk of getting caught at the division between ring one and ring two, however it was a risk she was willing to take – she had no malicious intent, no secrets to hide. Being intercepted would only slow her progress.
So Zanna walked, her breaths even at first, growing ever slightly heavier as she trekked onward. Her tail swung slowly behind her, her pace relaxed and steady. She used this time to reflect, to think about the many things that swirled in her mind day in and day out. She thought of the old Saboro – how it met its demise, the people that left, what they left behind. Did she miss it? Maybe a little bit. It was hard not to. But she was so hopeful for what lay ahead of them, for what this new land could offer them. She was hopeful for those that came along for the journey, for those that didn’t give up.
Zanna didn’t want to feel any malice toward those who didn’t come along. But the days ticked on, and the chances of them coming back grew smaller and smaller, making it difficult not to feel a sense of anger. Some tiny, miniscule part of her was clinging to the hope that perhaps they’d return. That perhaps Crenate would come back, return to them, lead them as he had before.
She missed him. And maybe part of her missed the old Saboro. Her old rank. Her old body. Her old life.
Part of her wasn’t ready to rebuild and move on. It was hard.
But she had to, there was no choice.
Shaking the thoughts from her head, she moved forward. Her breath was slowly becoming more ragged with each step, her muscles getting tired, aching from the previous day’s workout. She could tell she was close to the first ring, but not quite there. She wanted to push herself, to get there. But she couldn’t risk doing more harm than good. She continued. Just a bit farther. Just a bit farther.
If she could have faith in Saboro rebuilding and recreating itself into something magnificent, then why couldn’t she have faith in herself? Why shouldn’t she be able to restructure herself entirely – becoming something better than what she was before. She would have faith. She did have faith.
She hoped that everyone else would have faith. Not only in Saboro… But in herself. She’d rise to the top, one way or another. She always worked hard, always put herself out there. She had no fears, nothing to lose.
A heavy breath forced itself out of her nose in a grunt as she pressed onward. She would get stronger. And she would be great.
RE: give me the song and i swear that i'll sing it like never before [RII - Gray] - Gray - May 31, 2018
![[Image: title510455969_by_ghoul_d-dbrxm1l.png]](https://orig00.deviantart.net/2bc6/f/2017/300/9/1/title510455969_by_ghoul_d-dbrxm1l.png)
G R A Y
✦ Speech Text ✦
The gray monarch languished in the memory of days past until there were no tears left to cry, or fucks left to give. Eyes dried and he returned, not as a disillusioned, muddled fool but as their red inscribed King.
Looking so much like his father, he took up the mantle like it was birth right. Saboro breathed beneath her shattered parts; a wheezing, wretched gasp, but still alive.
With lungs much healthier and strides much wider, the King would catch up to Zanna in easy, light bounds until he looked to be ahead of, and even, impeding upon her course of direction. A physical stop sign to her hazardous workout ethic and perhaps, if she were to look at (or run into) him, she’d be met with a cocked eyebrow and a look that seemed to say, ‘what?’
“The point of exercising is to get healthy, but it seems like you’re trying damn hard to achieve the opposite effect.” In other words, slow down dear, I don't need another casualty on my hands. There was a pause and a thoughtful look, Mara flickering through his mind briefly. “Why do you push yourself so hard?” He smiled mischievously. “Don’t tell me, you’re trying to compete with my hot bod?”
Were Kings supposed to make jokes? Shouldn’t he be stoic and intimidating and all powerful? Oops.
Looking so much like his father, he took up the mantle like it was birth right. Saboro breathed beneath her shattered parts; a wheezing, wretched gasp, but still alive.
With lungs much healthier and strides much wider, the King would catch up to Zanna in easy, light bounds until he looked to be ahead of, and even, impeding upon her course of direction. A physical stop sign to her hazardous workout ethic and perhaps, if she were to look at (or run into) him, she’d be met with a cocked eyebrow and a look that seemed to say, ‘what?’
“The point of exercising is to get healthy, but it seems like you’re trying damn hard to achieve the opposite effect.” In other words, slow down dear, I don't need another casualty on my hands. There was a pause and a thoughtful look, Mara flickering through his mind briefly. “Why do you push yourself so hard?” He smiled mischievously. “Don’t tell me, you’re trying to compete with my hot bod?”
Were Kings supposed to make jokes? Shouldn’t he be stoic and intimidating and all powerful? Oops.
______
OOC: I'm rusty, be gentle
RE: give me the song and i swear that i'll sing it like never before [RII - Gray] - Zanna - July 07, 2018
Zanna was struggling, though she was pleased with her progress. She was so close, she was so close she could taste it. Her feet were beginning to nearly drag, her tail dangling between her legs rather than being held high behind her. Her tongue lolled out the side of her mouth, panting heavily.
Suddenly, a gray blur appeared before her, placing itself before her, forcing her to stop. Her breaths were heavy, her eyes struggling to focus on the figure before her. Just… Gray fur. Gray fur and distinct ember smudges around the eyes.
“The point of exercising is to get healthy, but it seems like you’re trying damn hard to achieve the opposite effect.” Said the voice. Masculine, deep.
Zanna’s legs wobbled beneath her, her mind finally realizing how hard she was pushing herself just then. Her lungs burned and her vision refused to focus. Who…?
“Why do you push yourself so hard? Don’t tell me, you’re trying to compete with my hot bod?” He asked then, and Zanna shook her head lightly, attempting to rid the film from her eyes.
She squeezed her eyes shut, then reopened them to look him in the face. She said nothing for too many beats, her heart pounding in her ears, the taste of blood at the back of her throat.
“Cre…nate…?” She croaked, disbelief strong in her tone. It couldn’t be him, could it? It couldn’t.
Would… Would Crenate say that?
At that moment, Zanna collapsed. Her legs finally gave from beneath her, and her maroon body crumpled in a heap on the ground. Her tongue spilled from her maw, her head leaning against a paw. “I’m… I’m so sorry…” She managed, her voice raw and her chest heaving. “I’m sorry I… Failed you.”
She shouldn’t be apologizing. Like Kappa said, it wasn’t her fault she got sick. She didn’t mean to. Who would do that on purpose? Zanna should really be asking him what happened to him, why he thought it would be okay to just disappear and leave them all hanging. That’s not what a good Sabor would do… That’s what …. That’s what a coward would do.
But she could never utter those words to a King. That would be suicide.
So instead, in her weakened state, she’d grovel. With weak lungs and an even weaker heart, she would kiss the toes of her superior and beg for forgiveness, beg for her old life back. Beg for things to go back the way they used to be.
Perhaps she wasn’t ready to start over. Perhaps this was a sort of fear that was laying deep within her, only surfacing now because she was physically incapable of keeping it in for even a second longer.
“I’m sorry…”
Suddenly, a gray blur appeared before her, placing itself before her, forcing her to stop. Her breaths were heavy, her eyes struggling to focus on the figure before her. Just… Gray fur. Gray fur and distinct ember smudges around the eyes.
“The point of exercising is to get healthy, but it seems like you’re trying damn hard to achieve the opposite effect.” Said the voice. Masculine, deep.
Zanna’s legs wobbled beneath her, her mind finally realizing how hard she was pushing herself just then. Her lungs burned and her vision refused to focus. Who…?
“Why do you push yourself so hard? Don’t tell me, you’re trying to compete with my hot bod?” He asked then, and Zanna shook her head lightly, attempting to rid the film from her eyes.
She squeezed her eyes shut, then reopened them to look him in the face. She said nothing for too many beats, her heart pounding in her ears, the taste of blood at the back of her throat.
“Cre…nate…?” She croaked, disbelief strong in her tone. It couldn’t be him, could it? It couldn’t.
Would… Would Crenate say that?
At that moment, Zanna collapsed. Her legs finally gave from beneath her, and her maroon body crumpled in a heap on the ground. Her tongue spilled from her maw, her head leaning against a paw. “I’m… I’m so sorry…” She managed, her voice raw and her chest heaving. “I’m sorry I… Failed you.”
She shouldn’t be apologizing. Like Kappa said, it wasn’t her fault she got sick. She didn’t mean to. Who would do that on purpose? Zanna should really be asking him what happened to him, why he thought it would be okay to just disappear and leave them all hanging. That’s not what a good Sabor would do… That’s what …. That’s what a coward would do.
But she could never utter those words to a King. That would be suicide.
So instead, in her weakened state, she’d grovel. With weak lungs and an even weaker heart, she would kiss the toes of her superior and beg for forgiveness, beg for her old life back. Beg for things to go back the way they used to be.
Perhaps she wasn’t ready to start over. Perhaps this was a sort of fear that was laying deep within her, only surfacing now because she was physically incapable of keeping it in for even a second longer.
“I’m sorry…”