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Post by jessimyre on Aug 3, 2008 19:08:27 GMT -5
Aw damn wasn't paying attention. I'll edit...
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Post by blossom on Aug 4, 2008 9:36:19 GMT -5
LOL, no worries.
As everyone loaded into the jeeps, Rika went through the contents of her bag one last time. Her PDA and cell phone were strapped onto her belt, along with a retractable grappling wire and a knife for quick access. The rest of her usual gear was safely stowed in her backpack.
Satisfied, she threw her back into the back of the nearest jeep. As she pulled her sunglasses down from the top of her head, she realised her blonde hair was attracted notice, much as it had in the airport.
She took it in good stride, but noticing Savannah's grin, she raised her eyebrows and gave a wry laugh. "Something I think it'd be easier to dye it, but I'm too vain for that."
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Post by jessimyre on Aug 4, 2008 18:27:34 GMT -5
"Nah," Savannah called in reply as the last of their party climbed into the vehicles and engines were started, "You'd be suprised where it can get you around here. Marriage proposals, for instance." she laughed.
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Post by twilightblade on Aug 5, 2008 18:39:17 GMT -5
Twi chuckled at Savannah's last words even as he fastened himself into place in the Jeep. He was feeling good today. He'd had a good sleep, a great breakfast, was headed out for who-knew-where on something that was bound to become very interesting indeed...and his plane was fastened down and protected. As yet another bonus, he wouldn't need to be ferrying any more odd passengers about for a bit.
He looked around as they started off, enjoying even this seemingly sparse scenery.
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Post by jessimyre on Oct 15, 2008 2:02:20 GMT -5
The minutes passed quickly and before long, the hot sun had risen. The land was a mixture of open plain and bush, every now and then various wildlife crossed their path. A small herd of elephant were enjoying a bath in a waterhole, zebra grazed and warthogs trotted past. Savannah recited their swahili names to herself. Gods she missed this country.
Before long, the jeeps slowed and then stopped in some bushland at the bottom of the hills. Juma cut the engine and they all hopped out.
"We walk from here." Savannah told the others. "Take off any jewelry or metal buckles if you can, and cover what you can't in mud, we don't want to attract attention." she told her new companions. Now came the more dangerous part. She just hoped they wouldn't meet any more aggressive wildlife because if they had to shoot something the noise would alert everyone within a few miles of their presence.
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Post by twilightblade on Nov 13, 2008 20:18:15 GMT -5
Twi stretched luxouriously, then retreived his pack and set it at his feet, then stood, hands on hips, surveying the country with a smile on his lips. He was all ready to go, and this country was getting more beautiful every time he took another look at it.
His eyes skipped among the scattered brush, searching it for any sign of human or animal. He had missed this sort of life; it was good to be back.
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Post by jessimyre on Nov 26, 2008 3:30:37 GMT -5
Savannah wasted no time in checking the buckles on her belt and pack to ensure nothing was shiny enough to give them away. Juma and his men were ready to travel, not needing to carry anything other than a spiky array of weaponry. Only in Africa, she thought, would one be at perfect rights to carry machettes, spears and clubs without being questioned.
Savannah glanced around at the others. Spotting the blonde girl, she suddenly had an idea. She rummaged quickly in her pack and brought out a khaki scrap of cloth.
"Here," she offered Rika, "cover your hair." she held the bandanna up for the other to take.
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Post by blossom on Nov 26, 2008 18:24:25 GMT -5
"Thanks," Rika grinned, taking the bandanna and tying it securely round her head. Most of her blonde hair was effectively covered, though the very end of her ponytail still bobbed about on show.
She hoisted her pack up on her shoulders, and adjusted the utility belt at her hips so it was more comfortable, her sparkling green eyes all the time locked on the breathtaking scenery before her. Not quite the lustrous green landscape of Ghana - the only African country she'd been to - but just as wildly beautiful.
She wished she had time to just soak it all in, maybe take some photographs. But that wasn't the purpose of their trip.
"So," she said, glancing over at Juma, "Where to now?"
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Post by jessimyre on Nov 26, 2008 21:01:09 GMT -5
"We go this a-way." Juma answered in his rich, deep voice. A thick accent betraying that english was a second - or more likely third or fourth - language to him. Juma looked around to ensure everyone was ready and then nodded to his own tribesmen. They set off at a brisk pace, their long legs carrying them effortlessly over the rough terrain and up the beginnings of the steep hill.
"Keep moving," he warned them, "stay together. And don't stop under tree, in case chui get you."
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Post by twilightblade on Nov 29, 2008 15:52:39 GMT -5
Twi had picked up his pack and moved off with the others at Juma's word, settling the fit as they walked. Now he glanced over at Juma, alerted by the warning. "Chui?" he questioned, glancing at the trees. If there was something about to be wary of, he wanted to know.
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Post by jessimyre on Nov 29, 2008 17:06:42 GMT -5
"Leopard." Savannah answered, not wasting breath on a long-winded explanation, Juma's men would move fast, much faster than most of them would be accustomed to walking any great distance.
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Post by blossom on Nov 29, 2008 17:51:55 GMT -5
Rika arched an eyebrow then shook her head, mutting to herself, "Leopard. Nothing too serious then."
She glanced round warily as she followed after Savannah and Juma, though she knew she probably wouldn't see anything. Juma and his men set a quick pace, and Rika soon settled into her stride. She had plenty of questions to ask, but saved her breath as the ground sloped upwards into a steep hill. There would be time enough to talk later.
She glanced down briefly as her cell phone vibrated on her hip. Pulling it from its holder on her belt she flipped it open and quickly scrolled down the text Jet had sent her. Her mouth twisted thoughtfully to one side, then she closed her phone and put it away again.
Shifting her pack on her shoulders so it was more comfortable she concentrated on climbing the hill.
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Post by twilightblade on Dec 8, 2008 18:19:26 GMT -5
Twi nodded at Savannah's short explanation, then spent the rest of his time concentrating on picking his ground as they moved up an increasingly steep hill. He was distracted only once, when Rika pulled out her cell phone and perused a message that had been sent to her.
His curiousity nibbled around the edges of his mind, but he waited until they reached the top of the hill to speak. "Anything interesting?" he asked her casually, gesturing toward the pocket she'd tucked her phone into.
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Post by blossom on Dec 8, 2008 19:29:09 GMT -5
Rika glanced over at Twi, confused for a moment, then understood when he gestured at the pocket in which she kept her phone. She absently put a hand over it, smiling, then shrugged, readjusting her pack.
"Kind of, yes. My little sister's back in the States and she does a lot of research for me," she explained. "Apparently she didn't have much else to do yesterday so she used the webcam images I sent her to construct a digital 3D model of the Kashmir hide Juma showed us."
She pulled a wry face, knowing how it sounded. "She can't be certain without a first-hand examination, but she estimates that that patch of skin is approximately two hundred and thirty seven years old. She also wanted to inform me that the Kashmir are not, in fact, extinct, as I so ignorantly presumed. At the last census there were still 160 alive."
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Post by jessimyre on Dec 9, 2008 17:58:21 GMT -5
"That could be useful info." Savannah spoke up, her voice low so it would not carry. The tribe were not slowing down and they sped down the hill together, into the depths of a valley. Above them, curious Colobus streaked along the branches, following them.
The journey was fast, and exhausting. Before long, Juma called a halt in an area well hidden. He and the tribe crept carefully around the rocks and trees, searching for any evidence of big cats or dangerous snakes resting there.
When it was all clear, he motioned them into the shade of the trees that pushed up through the rocks.
"Rest now." he said to them in his thick accent. "Keep eye out for trouble, stay close to us. Soon we go closer to camp." he told them.
Savannah checked her chosen rock carefully before sitting, the last thing they would need out here was snakebite or scorpion sting. At that moment, heavy footfalls caught her attention as below them and not quite one hundred meters away a white Rhino and her calf ambled into view. She smiled as she watched them, eyes not leaving them as she fumbled for her water bottle. Only in Africa, she thought.
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Post by twilightblade on Jul 17, 2009 22:03:14 GMT -5
-.- Just going to post. ^^ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Twi found a large rock under some partial shade and unclipped a water bottle from his belt, unconsciously mirroring Savannah's movements. He had also checked for any possible creepy-crawlies before taking his seat, and now he took a long, slow swallow of water before screwing the lid back on and reattaching the water to his belt. An inscet whined about his ear and he swatted at it, the movement causing him to catch sight of what Savannah had been staring at.
Rhinos. And white ones at that. Weren't they rare? He went still on the rock, watching the huge creature and her baby made their way though the tumbling of rocks just meters away. That momma would probably be angry and dangerous as all get out if she thought they were a threat to her little one, and he figured the best course was not to attact attention. He only hoped the others would be as careful.
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Post by jessimyre on Nov 17, 2009 18:41:27 GMT -5
Bumping - who's turn??
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Post by twilightblade on Jun 22, 2010 22:38:17 GMT -5
posted.
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