Children of Mobius

"I hope I'm going in the right direction..." said the white Bengal tiger Mobian as she studied the map a kindly shopkeeper gave her back in The Badlands. She stopped walking and concentrated on the map she held and she trailed an index finger down the wide paper. "I do believe I am. Yes, yes. I should be getting close!" The tiger giggled and rolled up the map and continued to walk down the sandy and dusty trail. As she walked with hope, she adjusted the shoulder tote she had and begun to smile happily. She was happy to leave the horrible Badlands; the place of her birth. The tiger thought about the chilling memories she had of that place and she shuddered. Not only was The Badlands a perfect place for thugs and bandits, but they were also a breeding ground for bullies and future terrorists. When the tiger was a little one, she was brutally bullied by the Mobians on the "wrong side of the tracks" because she was into books and learning. The tiger shook the memories out of her head and continued to smile.

"Well, I'm going to a better place now. I'm so excited! I wonder how many libraries they'll have? How many schools?" she skipped one and searched her tote. She took out a stuffed tiger plush that wore a sari and a dupatta. It was white like her but it had black stripes, not teal ones. "Padma, you've been with me since the beginning. We're going to start a new life together without the menaces!" The tiger took a deep breath and her smile grew wider. Make a good impression, Lazul. If you want to make friends, you've got to make a good impression! Relax, be yourself, no facades! Just make sure you hide Padma; the people won't be pleased to see a fourteen year-old with a stuffed animal. The tiger nodded with determination and hastened her steps to a new horizon.

It was with great regret that the mercenary left the shade of the rock spire where he had stopped to take a break. The winding trail he traveled was dry as a bone, and the sun above was blistering hot; its rays burned the dusty path and yellowed what little grass struggled to grow, as if the Rainy Season wasn't going to show this year. This was an average day out on the Savannah, and certainly a better one than the Badlands up to the north, but that didn't make the trek any more comfortable.

Rolling his shoulders, the Pangolin rattled his armored spines in an attempt to shake out the accumulating dust. A cloud of the stuff puffed out around him, and was then blown away by the light, warm breeze that was gently gusting across the land. Brushing off the dust that tried to settle back, the mercenary let out a tired huff and began to cast around for landmarks.

The shifting sands and short-lived greenery were unreliable sources to mark ones path, and with how drastically the weather could change the landscape when it threw about its fury, maps were only good for a short time. Thankfully, though, rock and stone were stronger than the weather, and could stand in place for many years. This wasn't exactly his first trip between the distant Savannah villages, but this road was the longest without civilization. At least when he got to the crossroads he'd know he was almost there…

The Pangolin slowed for a moment as he noticed movement on the path ahead - a small white figure rounding one of the landmark dropstones. Out on the Savannah, a color like that was a fast way to attract unwanted attention, but he'd heard the color wasn't so strange in the Badlands. Was this person a traveler?

The little tigress slowed her march and paused to view the old map she possessed. Her stuffed tiger doll, Padma, was held on her arm as Lazul reviewed her map. She smiled with a nod and traced her index finger horizontally then, diagonally on the paper. "Looks like I'm on the right track, still. I just don't want to get lost - that would pose an issue wouldn't it, Padma?" Lazul coiled up the map carefully and took a careful step forward and placed an outstretched hand above her eyes to keep the sun from blinding her view. "Nothing out there yet, Padma. I still see small mountains and cliffs. Luckily, I packed lots of water and fruit from that shop we passed by a day ago! I'm not hungry or thirsty yet. I'm too excited!" Lazul continued walking with haste. "Imagine it, Padma: I'll have friends, a library to visit, and maybe even younger scholars to teach things to! The city is a place filled with education and history. I can't wait to indulge on its rich culture!"

Suddenly, the tigress stopped walking.

Lazul turned to her right, then her left. Her large ears lowered and her elated expression withered into worry and anxiety. "P-Padma...I have a feeling we're being watched..." Lazul backed up slightly and she raised her right ear and it flicked in alert. "I...I-I hear something. I'll put you away, alright? I have to try to protect us..." Lazul held fast onto her tote and looked down at her hands. Alright. I have claws. I'm a tiger. I have to use my claws to defend. Come on, claws! Come out! ... Lazul looked up quickly then looked down at her hands again. "Wh-why am I always having trouble with this? Come on, anatomy! I have to defend!" Lazul quavered in fear for a moment then looked back up and looked around. She tipped her ears back enough to gain a slight advantage against air friction inhibitions and began to run. I'm not too quick on my feet but if I hurry, I should evade an issue that could arise at any moment! Oh my...the fear...I can't wait to leave this horrible place!

Kione raised an eyebrow as the white figure began running in his direction. Why the sudden hustle? There was nothing for another ten miles down the road behind him...did the stranger intend to run all the way to the village? Or....was there a predator nearby?

Now on edge himself, the Pangolin's armored plates bristled out, and he turned around on the spot, looking for the source of the threat. But he could see no birds in the sky, and no lions prowling on the ground…where was the threat? What was the Badlander running from?

If I just keep moving...I'll be able to go on undetected... Only if she knew that idea would be foolish. She tried to use her speed to run past the figure but her fear got to her and she began to slow down. Lazul panted to catch her breath and she looked up to see a golden figure much closer and she finally got to see some details. Lazul tipped her head to the side slightly as she noticed the armor this figure wore and she took a step back. There's no running past this enigma. Wh-what was I thinking? Stupid girl, stupid! She began to think and her face expressed concentration. Showing myself as friendly will not work. What if this person came from The Badlands? What if they were a criminal? A thug? A ruffian? Or worse, a budding terrorist of the world? I have to be careful with everything. I have to watch my movements, my words, my tone... "Uhh..." The tigress stood her ground but the apprehension in her voice was evident.

She was clearly suspicious of the individual that stood in her way between a life filled with hardships and a life filled with friendships.

Kione turned to look down at the small Badlander, and he raised one eyebrow in disbelief. Was this kid even old enough to be traveling on her own? Looking her up and down, she didn't look at all prepared for a trek through the desert. She seemed to have no provisions, no water, no sun shade, and no visible weapons to defend herself with. The Pangolin relaxed his stance, finding no threat in the little tigress.

"Kid, what are you doing out here alone?" He asked. "This savannah is a dangerous place, especially for someone who stands out as much as you do."

Lazul blinked and she frowned, her large ears lowering at the same time. She adjusted her tote that she wore around her shoulder nervously and looked down around the ground. W-well, at least he seems friendly enough, I hope. I honestly shouldn't be talking to strangers but if he's friendly, he can help me out for a while... "Umm...I, uh..." her eyes continued to scan the ground but she looked up at the armored figure that stood not too far from her now. "I'm trying to get away...from it all. Um, I mean...The Badlands. I'm from there and I have this map and I'm going to a civilized area called 'Emerald Town' on it." Lazul took a step back and got her map from her tote. She unrolled it and pointed to the destination she was heading. As she did, she concentrated a little, perking her ears upward, and she nodded once. "Yes, that's it - here." She went up to the pangolin and showed him where she was pointing at.

"This place is a town and it's near a city so it must have neighborhoods, schools, and even better, libraries! It's so much better than this barren wasteland and it's filled with people that actually want to gain knowledge and help others! That place is for me." She sighed. "I despise The Badlands. I can't wait to get to Emerald Town and meet new people. Thing is, it's taking a while to get there but I won't let distance discourage me!" She felt through her tote a little. "I may be running low on some of my resources but I have a feeling I'm getting closer so I'm not fazed at all." She smiled with beaming hope. "Nothing will stop me from becoming the greatest professor and Emerald Town will be my first start to such a wonderful life! I can finally get away from all of those thugs and bullies!"