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Post by Lans on May 16, 2009 23:00:29 GMT -5
"Well, yeah, of course I do," he said keeping up the smile. "I, like, said so didn't I?"
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Post by Leda on May 16, 2009 23:22:58 GMT -5
But lots of times people don't mean the things they say, Tikal couldn't help but think. Still, she hoped with every fiber of her being that he did in fact mean it. Approval in general made her feel more whole as a person, but she particularly pined for kind words from Manic. He was... different, somehow. It made her feel warm and fuzzy. Smiling gratefully, the echidna looked back at her companion with a sudden and unexpected shyness and said, "...Thank you.. Manic."
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Post by Lans on May 17, 2009 0:42:29 GMT -5
"Hey...no prob," he told her, giving her a light hug. "Now...whaddya say we, like, get back to the others?"
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Post by Leda on May 17, 2009 1:14:26 GMT -5
"Yeah... Yeah, good idea," the priestess agreed, turning aside quickly to dab at one eye. It was truly remarkable how such a simple gesture of kindness could be so moving. As Manic began to pull away, Tikal found her hands clasping loosely around his arm, and hanging on as they began to walk once more. "I hope we make it soon," she said, mainly just to have something to talk about. "I'm really getting hungry now."
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Post by Lans on May 17, 2009 3:50:57 GMT -5
"We'll find them before too long," he assured her as he led the way up the path. "'Sides, they're probably looking for us by now."
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Post by Leda on May 17, 2009 20:08:53 GMT -5
Whether or not being searched for was a good thing was debatable. Tikal had little doubt that the people of Manic's village would look for him out of concern, but typically when Pachacamac tracked her down, it was for the sake of wrath. A notion that caused the priestess to increase her speed.
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Post by Lans on May 19, 2009 0:52:08 GMT -5
A short time later, the pair had navigated their way back to the top of path and back to the side of the river. Manic, if asked, would have had to admit he was starting to get tad hungry himself by now. "Well...not too much longer. All we have to do is follow the river back now, right?"
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Post by Leda on May 19, 2009 0:55:56 GMT -5
"Yeah... but..." Tikal frowned. "I don't see any sign of Ridgy here. You don't think he's gone down the river since we left trying to find us, do you?"
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Post by Lans on May 21, 2009 20:43:27 GMT -5
"Well, with the current, I'm sure he was smart enough to, like, head back to the others to get help," Manic told her, but added inwardly to himself, ...at least I hope so.
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Post by Leda on May 21, 2009 20:49:12 GMT -5
That does make more sense. Why didn't I think of that sooner? the echidna wondered with chagrin. "Well, I suppose that would explain why he'd be near water but still be out of range." Shielding her eyes from the mid-morning sunlight, Tikal scrutinized the path upstream to where the much larger trees of the Oak Forest began. "I think it was just at the outskirts of the woods where I slipped," she announced. "If we go back to that area, I think I can find my way back to camp."
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Post by Lans on May 21, 2009 22:27:11 GMT -5
"Sounds like a plan. Though lets, like, not slip this time, ok?" he said jokingly. "I mean its been great and all, but I'd rather not go swimming for a while."
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Post by Leda on May 21, 2009 22:59:23 GMT -5
Tikal laughed sheepishly and scratched her head. "Heh, yeah, I'd rather avoid another dip if I can. I'm sorry I got you caught up in my mistake to begin with. I'll be sure to stay far away from the bank this time!" As they walked, the priestess's mind drifted to thoughts of her awaiting family. It was probably reasonable to expect a scolding at the very least for disappearing all day, whether it came from the Elder or her father. After all, they'd been counting on her to bring back dinner, and she never returned. Tikal's muzzle wrinkled; did that mean they'd all gone hungry that night? If nothing else, it could've been devastating to the wolverine they'd been looking after. He was so weak... I'll have to remember to gather something along the way back, she silently decided. Being incredibly late is bad enough without also failing to do what I was sent out to do. Tikal's eyes drifted then to Manic. Was he going to come to camp with her? He'd just said not long ago that his own village was probably searching for him -- especially if Ridgy had gone back home ahead of them for help. Athair may have wanted a report on the condition of the wildlife, but that was something Tikal could communicate for him easily enough. The echidna's face fell somewhat at the thought of parting ways with the hedgehog once they reached the forest. She had grown rather fond of his company.
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Post by Lans on May 22, 2009 0:47:49 GMT -5
Manic noticed her being quiet again. ...Had he accidently insulted her by reminding her aboutthe incident that had started this? ...How the heck did people do this stuff? I mean when you have to worry about saying something incredibly STUPID around an incredible girl like Tikal... "Hey don't worry, we'll be back at your camp in no time."
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Post by Leda on May 22, 2009 0:51:12 GMT -5
"...So you'll be coming with me?" Tikal perked hopefully. "Although, I wouldn't want to get you into trouble with your village."
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Post by Lans on May 23, 2009 22:22:27 GMT -5
"Eh, they won't mind," probably, "since its for a good cause," he assured her. "Besides, like, how are you all supposed to come back to the village if no one's there to show you the way?"
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Post by Leda on May 23, 2009 22:34:34 GMT -5
The priestess clasped her hands together, clearly overjoyed. "That's wonderful! I'm so glad you'll be coming along!"
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Post by Lans on May 26, 2009 22:38:08 GMT -5
Manic's grin was very genuine. "Wow, uh, glad you think so," he said, fighting down a blush.
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Post by Leda on May 26, 2009 23:28:02 GMT -5
Continuing along the river, the two eventually made their way into the dense foliage of the Oak Forest. Tikal examined the surroundings carefully, thinking out loud, "I still have to bring food back to the camp... Oh, and you might want to look for some breakfast, too, since I didn't find us any when we got up."
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Post by Lans on May 27, 2009 2:04:15 GMT -5
"Wish I'd brought fishing gear. Then we could have, like, taken care of that back at the river," he said, then shrugged. "Ah well, I'm sure it'll be no problem to, like, find something while we go. Just gotta know where to look.
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