Hael had decided it was time again for him to travel and see the world. He was growing tired of his little corner of the world afraid he might run into someone who knew him. He knew that wouldn't be the case here. He was in a jungle unknown to him. Listening carefully he made his way through instead of taking the path.
He heard it and couldn't believe his ears. There off the beaten path was a jaguar coming his way. He leaned against a tree thinking this a lucky break for him. He hadn't gotten to talk to a jaguar before. It made him wonder what this one would say. He also knew it was a dangerous game he played with wild animals, but he played it well.
Hael was smiling just waiting. He was listening for the jaguar to come out and say something. He hoped it had a sense of humor. Then the unexpected happened when he thought he had a jaguar....
...But had a shifter instead.
Raxta had her powerful jaws around a freshly killed monkey and, with a few fluid leaps, she climbed a tree and wedged the body between a fork in the branches--dinner for later. Not quite a full meal, not quite the deer she had been hoping for, but it would do as a snack. Working her way back down and landing light on her feet, she shifted seamlessly from jaguar to human form (or as human as she got, anyway), as naked in that form as she was as a jaguar but with significantly less fur.
She sank to a crouch, knees drawn to her chest, and took deep breaths as she recovered from the change. It was always jarring at first, that switch in not only physicality, but mentality, and the change in senses and perceptions, in sight and sound and color and feel. A jaguar's brain was different than a human's, and that was what made the shifting tricky and potentially dangerous. She could not spend too much time as a full jaguar lest she lose herself to it.
When she had come back to herself, when her head stopped spinning and the sensory overload had faded (even touch was different as a human and a jaguar; hands were more sensitive than paws, and jaguar skin was protected by fur that a human's was not) she took a deep breath and wiped the blood from her lips, though it had already dried and smeared.
Alright. Hunting was done. Now she just needed to--huh?
She bristled, an unfamiliar smell catching her nose, and her ears flattened and tail lashed. Peering through the bushes, that was when she saw him.
A human. Too close for comfort.
With a jolt, she crouched down lower and held her breath, waiting. Perhaps he had not noticed her; humans could be incredibly imperceptive.
Hale was still just listening to the forest around him. He had expected the jag to pounce or something. Instead nothing happened. He wasn't sure what to make of this animal. Sighing he shook his head leaning against the tree. It seemed the best thing to do at that time as another idea struck him.
"I know you are there and you know I am here. Why avoid each other?" He said loud enough for the animal to hear him. He knew that it would translate into the animals language as needed.
Augh! He had seen her. With a grimace, Raxta slowly poked her head above the bush she had hidden behind, ears still flat and eyes dilated. He didn't seem a threat, leaning against the tree like that, completely at his ease, but Raxta had lived a life of near solitude in a place where almost everything was a potential danger.
All in all, with her spots for camouflage and a hunting style that relied upon the element of surprise as much as sheer strength, she was a creature that much preferred to remain invisible.
Exposed, she was vulnerable.
She cleared her throat, eyes narrowing. "Who are you?" she asked at last. "What do you want?"
There finally Hael had a visual, but that couldn't be right. He was sensing a jaguar right there in that bush. It was a human head that popped out at him. He scratched his head not sure what to make of this.
"Just some guy in the jungle wandering around talking. Who are you? Me? I just want to talk. I thought it would be fun to see what a jaguar said, but alas none around. Although any company is welcome to no company," he said still leaning against the tree. This was too puzzling for him.
Raxta hissed lightly at that, ears going up and sharp teeth bared. No jaguar, he said? He may not have meant to insult, but she still bristled on the inside.
"No jaguar, you say? Are you blind? You are speaking to one now."
Hael noted that this one was on edge. He wondered if he said something wrong. He heard what this being said, and it took him by surprise. His instincts were still good then. This was the jaguar even though it looked human.
"Sorry you just don't look like one. Its hard to tell one if they look human. So what brings you to this side of the jungle? Do you have a name? I'm Hael."
Raxta blinked, very slowly.
"I live here," she answered, as though the question were absurd. She showed no signs of moving from where she was though also no signs of fleeing, even though her body was tense in preparation to do so if the slightest threat revealed itself. Part of her wanted to vanish, to slip away, and it would be so easy for her to do so and leave this awkward human behind.
But another part kept her rooted there: simple curiosity.
"And I was named Raxta."
He watched and listened to her. Simple answers often came from animals they didn't have the needs or desires of humans. He was grateful for that. He stayed where he was too not even moving a muscle. He didn't want to scare her off.
"Raxta, how long have you been living here?" He asked wondering how old she was. He knew if it was her lifetime she would know everything about the area. He was hoping this was so, but prepared in case it wasn't.
"I only ask because if its been awhile you'll know this place better than I would. I just arrived and haven't been here long. Could you show me the wonders of the jungle?"
One ear flicked as a fly buzzed too close, but aside from that Raxta was perfectly still. His next question was equally odd to her. "My whole life."
His questions only got odder, however. Wonders of the jungle? What was this human talking about? In any case, by now she had determined he was not a threat--or not much of one, in any case. He was odd and seemed rather foolish and she wasn't sure she understood him, but threatening? No.
In fact, if he was as clueless as he was implying, he would not live here long.
Standing, still dressed in naught but her spotted skin, she sighed and turned to rummage in the bushes for her clothing, where she had stored them earlier before her shift. "I am not sure what these 'wonders' are," she said. "But if you tell me, I am sure I can show you."
Hael was glad to hear it her whole life meant she could indeed show him what he wanted. That was until she questioned it. He sighed wondering how to make her understand him. He had a feeling this wasn't going to be easy.
"What makes this place different from any forest I've set foot in? That would be one of the wonders of the jungle. I'm sure there are more, but I'm not sure how to word it," he said a bit at a loss of words. He was trying to think of a better understanding.
"What are you looking for?" He asked not realizing she wasn't dressed.
Raxta glanced over her shoulder at him and blinked slowly. "I have not been to these other forests," she said, "so I could not tell you what's different."
She found her skirt, then, a crude wrap made of deerskin, and picked it up as he asked his question. Turning to face him, not at all minding her own nudity, she held up the skirt to show him. "My clothes."
He was stumped at how better to explain this. He suddenly got an idea. Seeing she was holding up clothing he turned around quickly. Sighing he wondered why he hadn't picked up on her not being dressed sooner.
"Sorry didn't realize you weren't fully clothed. Let me know when you are so I can turn back around. Well what do you like best about this place?" He asked not sure how else to word this. It wasn't every day an animal stumped him. He was just at a loss of how to explain the wonders of the jungle.
Raxta tilted her head, wondering why he had turned away so abruptly.
"Why are you sorry?" she asked as she wrapped the furs around her waist, leaving her breasts bare. The concept of modesty, and nudity being uncomfortable, was lost on her completely. She pulled out the cloth she used to bind her breasts, not because they needed to be hidden, but simply because movement was more comfortable when they were supported.
She began to wrap it about her chest. His question was rather odd to her, for she never really thought about what she liked or disliked about it. Survival was at the forefront of her mind, and everything else just was. But...hmmm...now that she thought about it...
"I like the river," she said with a shrug as she finished tying off the bindings, "And that you are never truly alone, even when you are. Also, I'm clothed now."
"I am just being polite," he said forgetting he was talking to an animal again. He listened as she spoke glad when she said she was clothed. Taking that she wouldn't trick him he turned to face her again. Hael was relieved she was dressed didn't want to send the wrong messages just in case another was watching. He was always careful.
"How is one never truly alone in the jungle? Other than you I see and feel no one else," he said puzzled. It wasn't like this in the forest. When one was alone they truly were alone. None of this made any sense.
"Then perhaps you could show me the river?"
Raxta flicked her tail and gave a wry smile. This human was not very bright, was he?
"We're not alone." She raised a finger and pointed upwards, toward the thick canopy above. "The trees are full of monkeys, birds, lizards, snakes, insects. In any case, yes, I can show you, I suppose."
Why not? He seemed harmless, and also a little slow. Besides, he was human, and she saw no weapons on him. If anything went wrong, she was certain that she could slip away from him with ease. But for now, she had deemed him not a threat, and that was good enough.
She stepped from the bushes, barefoot, and eyed him curiously. "Do you have a name?"
He heard what she said and looked up wondering why he hadn't felt those. He realized it was because he had focused too much on the jaguar, which wasn't good. He widened his senses again and found she was right.
"Thank you I'd like to see. Perhaps you could take me through a day in your shoes?" He said knowing that would be no small feat. Animals didn't always like showing him their favorite places let alone what it was like to be them. Some thought humans were beneath them instead of smart intelligent beings capable of standing their own.
"Oh sorry forgot my manners. I'm Hael."
Raxta wasn't sure how she felt about that, about having him tag along while she went about her business. It seemed like he would get in the way or slow her down, but she supposed that if he annoyed her she could easily leave him behind. Still, she didn't like it; she had always been a very private person so the idea of letting him in on her daily routines was...
Disconcerting.
"I'll show you to the river, Hael," she said, promising nothing, and added with a wry look, "And I don't wear shoes."
He could feel it. Hael was the outsider again as was always. He hated this feeling, and was trying hard to fit in here. The forest was home and always would be no matter where he travelled. Every time he left the forest for some place else he was reminded of this.
"Didn't ask if you did. I'd love to see the river."
Raxta tilted her head, brow creased with confusion. "You asked to spend a day in my shoes."
It took Hael a moment then he realized what she was talking about. He chuckled and shook his head sighing. He had forgotten than animal took everything literal not like humans.
"No no, its just a saying. It means I want to see the world through your eyes. I want to experience what you do in a day," he said explaining. He had a feeling he would be doing this quite often if he didn't watch what he said.
Raxta was swiftly deciding that this man made no sense. Still, she motioned for him to follow as she began to walk on ahead, trusting he would catch up as she headed through the foliage and toward the river.
"Why are you so interested in how I live?" she asked, and glanced back at him over her shoulder. "Also understand I can't, and won't, show you everything. You're not like me. You can't do everything I do."
It wasn't meant as an insult, just a blunt statement of fact. But besides that, she just wasn't willing to show him the full scope of her territory. She was far too private for that.
Hael walked behind her letting her lead he thought this a good idea. She spoke he listened it was easy enough. He kept up as well as possible.
"Animals fascinate me they are much easier to understand than any human. I grew up in a forest surrounded by animals, but not the same ones in the jungle I'm interested in you because you are the first one I've met," he said then heard what she said about not showing him everything.
"I understand there are thing you can do that I won't ever be able to. I'm human whether I want to be or not. No animal has ever shared everything with me I expect no different from you."
"Good," Raxta said. "I'm glad we have that understanding."
With a flick of her tail, she picked up her pace and lead the way through the dense, humid jungle. Eventually, the sound of water could be heard over the chatter of birds and screeching of monkeys, and when she parted some low-hanging branches, there it was--a wide, clear river with a swift current. However, it was shallow at this part, so there wasn't really a risk of being swept away.
It also meant it was too swift for the biting fish.
"The river," she said, announcing the obvious in case he missed it.
"It always helps when we can understand," he said following her still. Eventually they got to the river. When she said the obvious he just nodded not saying a word. Sometimes silence was best something he had learned growing up.
"What do you like best about the river?"
Raxta gave him an odd look.
"I..." That was one of the strangest questions she'd been asked. She motioned vaguely in the water's direction, not quite sure how to answer that. Were all humans so dim? That was like asking what she liked best about water--which was, essentially, what he'd asked. "It's...a river."
She let her shoulders slouch and tried to be more helpful in her answer. "I like swimming in it. And drinking from it. Do rivers have another function where you come from? That is a very strange question."
"Well I am a strange guy so strange questions do come," he said chuckling a little. It wasn't the first time he had been called that. He also didn't think it would be the last either.
"Those along with cooking some food. We also fish if any are there so we can eat them. Some bathe in it. I've seen fires doused with water as well," he said imparting some of his knowledge about water.
"Do you swim well?"
Raxta continued to stare at him as though he were very dense. Clearly he did not realize that she wasn't being literal in her questioning.
"I...know that." And yet he was imparting that knowledge onto her as though it were some profound wisdom.
While she had been uneasy around him at first, she was starting to grow a little insulted. Maybe it wasn't that he was dense at all; perhaps he thought her stupid.
The end of her tail twitched a little quicker, and she deigned not to answer his revelations. "I swim very well," she said. "Do you?"
Hael heard what she said about knowing all that. He thought that strange of an animal, but then looked at her again realizing she wasn't just some animal. This one could pass as a human. He saw her tail twitch.
"I do okay swimming not as good as you maybe," he said not sure if he wanted to prove that. He was better on the land than in water nobody had really ever taught him to swim. He looked awful when it came to that.
"Is the river safe or do I have to worry about snakes?" He asked knowing she was the one to ask. This was her territory. If he wasn't careful she would leave and he would have to learn on his own. It was something he could do, but would rather not.
Raxta laughed at the question. "Here? It's usually safe," she said, motioning to the swift waters. "Too shallow to swim, though. But I would still be careful if you're thinking of going in--there are sometimes anaconda."
Hael was glad to learn it was safe, but heard the usually part of it too. He sighed wondering if he could ever just relax instead of worry about what in his surroundings would kill him. He had a feeling the only way that would work if he was either six feet under or living in some village. Both which he refused to do.
"What's an anaconda? I don't remember seeing one in the forest areas. Naw don't need any water right now," he said being the curious guy he usually was. He had a bad feeling it was a snake as he had asked about those. Animals, especially the ones he talked to, had a way of being ironic.
"You don't know?"
Raxta's eyes lit up and she looked to the water. Kind of reminded her of when her mother had first told her about it--at first in jest to scare her into behaving, and then in all seriousness. They were a very real threat.
"They're a large snake," she said, and stretched out her arms. "A very large snake. Larger than the both of us together, and large enough that it could eat either of us. They like to swim in the water."
She gave a little shudder. "If it can wrap around you, it can kill you and swallow you. I've seen it take monkeys, deer...even jaguars." She shrugged. "Sometimes they win, sometimes you win. I think it's better not to chance it."
"No sorry I don't think I know this one. I'm still learning many things about animals," he said before looking to the water as well. He heard what she said looking back at her. She motioned with her hands the length. He was more and more glad he had the chance to learn from her.
"Wow yeah I agree better not to chance it on that. I know not to talk to hungry animals that ends up bad," he said not sure what was next. He figured he would just follow her lead.
Raxta laughed at that, a rich sound. "That's generally a good idea," she said with a grin, "even if they're not dangerous. Hungry creatures are cranky creatures."
Hael liked hearing her laugh. He wasn't sure but thought maybe she could be a new friend. He just had to make sure not to offend her. That wasn't always easy to do with animals.
"Yeah I've seen my fair share of cranky creatures before feeding time. It's the dangerous ones that worry me. I take it your mate doesn't mind you hanging out with some human guy?"
"My mate?" Raxta blinked at that statement, head tilted. "What mate?"
And then she laughed again, bright and thoroughly amused by his assumption. "I don't have a mate," she said with a grin, baring large fangs. "Not yet. My kind, we're a quiet, solitary people, and I'm in no rush."
It relieved Hael to hear he wouldn't have to worry about some male coming out of the bushes and trying to harm him. He was trying his hardest not to show that though. He didn't want her seeing him fear anything even though she could be considered a dangerous animal.
"I understand that well. I'm the same way," he said not sure what else to say. He was enjoying his time by the river. He still listened to what was around him trying to keep his hide where it belonged.
Noting his tension--for as a predator, she was more aware than most as to the body cues of others--Raxta laid a hand lightly on his shoulder.
"Relax," she said with a smile. "You're tense. If you act like prey, you'll be perceived as prey."
"It's kind of hard not to be considered prey. I'm not exactly the top of the food chain here. For all I know you could be leading me to a secret place later and devouring me," he said joking a little. He was trying to relax, but that didn't come easy to him.
"Have you ever thought of travelling the world seeing what's out there? I feel like I'm looking for something, but I have no idea what," he admitted not sure why he said that to her. She seemed easy enough to talk to.
Raxta's brow furrowed at his question and she tilted her head. "No..." she said, tail twitching. "Why would I want to leave? There's nothing I need to find that can't be found here."
She folded her arms over her chest and peered at him. "And how can you know you're looking for something if you don't know what it is?"
"I guess that's the strangeness of humans. It feels like something is missing in my life. That's why I must find it, but that 'it' is what I don't know. I'm sure when I do find it then things will feel right again," he said not sure if he was making any sense to her.
"You have a good point. The jungle is very sufficient at providing what we need."
"That doesn't make any sense..." Raxta mumbled to herself, but left it at that. After all, her entire world was her territory within this jungle, and her lifestyle was fairly simple: hunt, eat, find shelter, make clothing if needed, explore, stay alert. Naturally introverted, she didn't mind the solitude. And, as she'd said before, she never really felt alone, anyway, with so much noise around her.
So she certainly couldn't fathom the idea of wanting something she didn't know existed. How could she need something if she didn't even know what she needed?
How odd!
She tilted her head. "What if you never find it?"
"I'm sorry that I can't explain it better," he said wishing he could. It wasn't the first time an animal misunderstood him. He had a feeling it wouldn't be the last either. He found her unique and interesting. He watched her tilt her head.
"Then I shall remain in this state always seeking it even if it takes the rest of my life," he said knowing it was true. He couldn't remain this way forever, but then again it could take that long to find this missing piece of his life.
"Do you know your family? Your mother and father and siblings?" He asked not sure if this was right. He knew it was different for some animals. Like birds for instance. None of them knew who created them, and they didn't completely understand his questions. He was done talking with birds though they weren't that bright.
Raxta grunted at that, not quite sure what else to say. What a strange man! She found it much better to just be satisfied with what she had, than waste time mourning something that might not even exist. Strange, strange humans.
At his question, though, she laughed and flicked her tail. "Of course I know them," she said, and began to walk into the river, wading in until it was to her waist. The talk of anaconda had been half to scare him, half truth, but her keen eyes saw no signs of the creature so she felt it safe enough. Besides, it felt wonderful to get out of the humid air and into the cool water.
"My sister, Nikaj, is my twin. She is more like your kind than mine. She likes to visit the human places and spends most of her time there, but we see each other once in a while. My parents...I don't see them so often. They have their own lives. I have mine."
She smiled and shrugged. "We're not like your people. Solitude doesn't bother us."
It was good hearing her laugh. He hadn't heard laughter in a bit, and figured it was because he was hanging with animals. Humans were just too much work though. He could tickle one, but that might get him punched instead of a laugh.
Hael watched as she braved the water. He wasn't about to do that though. He wasn't fond of snakes. They were just creepy to look at, but actually talk to one? None of them wanted to talk it was like they preferred to keep their distance. He didn't mind that much.
"Do you two look alike then? I can see why she'd want to. Humans can be interesting at times. I don't really think so, but I'm doing the same with animals. I get along better with most of them," he said not sure what else to say.
"I don't mind that either. Being alone sometimes is much better than having to watch what you are saying or doing around humans."
Raxta grinned. "Very similar," she said, sinking into the water as she took a seat on a large rock. "But different spots. It is true what they say, no jaguar has the same spots. Not even twins."
Swishing her tail through the water, she flicked a little at Hael. "Quiet is nice. More time to my thoughts. Less people to entertain."
"I've never heard that before. I'm wondering what else I don't know about jaguars," he said intrigued. He made sure to note that so that he wouldn't try to call one by another name. That was if any of them would talk to him. So far it was only Raxta. Not that he minded that.
"Hey now. Sure that water is nice, but its a bit cold," he said pretending to mind. Honestly he didn't. Just so long as nothing tried to attack while she was in there. He then realized how strange he was being. This was an animal that would attack not be attacked.
"You know very little about jaguars," Raxta stated plainly. It wasn't meant as a put down or to call him stupid, but she was blunt enough it might easily be taken that way. "Because you're not a jaguar, and very few of us are like Nikaj. We are elusive, secretive..." She shrugged.
"Not many let outsiders in. And besides, you can't really know much about something you're not, can you?"
"That is true I don't. If things are kept a secret then there is no way for us to know of jaguars. I wish to learn more about you and your ways. I'm not like the others of my kind I know of no other human who would be asking this of you. Most don't take the time to understand each other rather than another type of being altogether," he said glad this had come up. He took no offense to her words, but rather an understanding.
"You are right on that. I can't know much on something I'm not, and yet I what I am I still don't understand. I look human and I can walk in their world, but I will never truly be a human. I was raised in the forests. I hear and understand this world better than I ever will the human one," he said hoping to bridge some understanding here too.
@Rhi-Rhi
Raxta's expression twisted into a puzzled one, and she gave him a look from head to toe. "Of course you're human," she said, eyebrow raised. "What else would you be?"
"Yes I was born human. I wasn't raised as one though. I grew up in the forests much like you have here in the jungle. I don't understand the need for money. When I was found and brought into a human home I didn't understand the need to dress from head to toe either. It seemed like a waste of time and cloth. I grew into it I guess, but it took time. And sleeping in a bed was new to me as well. Most humans have those down from when they are little children," he said wondering what else he had gotten used to.
Raxta didn't really have anything to say to that, so she simply grunted in acknowledgment. She couldn't really wrap her mind around it. She had been born jaguar-kin, and she still was jaguar-kin, and always would be jaguar-kin. The idea of being jaguar-kin but not feeling jaguar-kin was...completely alien to her. Every creature in the jungle knew what it was. How could you not?
Even Nikaj, who Raxta had said was more like a human than jaguar-kin, still knew she wasn't human. At the end of the day, she was still the same as Raxta. Both of them knew it.
Shaking her head, she dipped her hands in the water and brought some to her lips to drink, ran the excess through her short hair and splashed some on her face, and then waded through the water to the other side until she was across the little river from Hael.
"So what is it you want? To follow me?"
Hael noted how silent she was. He figured he had lost an opportunity with his special case. He knew he was different, but that hadn't stopped him yet. He loved the woods and the jungle was growing on him. He only hoped she wouldn't mind him being his usual pest.
He watched what she did and noticed she was across the river. He would have to cross if he was to follow her. He figured maybe she didn't want him to and that was why she crossed first.
"If you don't mind I would like to. I was hoping to learn more of the jungle creatures. So far you are the only one to even talk to me. I understand if you want to be alone though," he said figuring he would do his best either on his own or find another if she said no to this.