Jadeviper materialises next to Laura, and they wait patiently to see what transpires
The Swamp
The stranger walks through the crowd and a clear path is created, if they knew him.
As he got to the bar, he looked around the room.....he was looking for someone......his steely eyes peircing the huddling mass of bodies.....they where laughing, talkind about all manner of things....it was like a community, waffling away.
His gaze locked on to a dim lit corner of the room...the swamp trees wound their way into that corner.
Standing there where two figures, hiding away, looking very cautious of the activities. His smile was sly and his eyes glinted....."ive found you" he whispered.
Laura smiled and brushed Orophin's cheek with a light touch. 'Nice to see you, it's been a while, eh? But it's not December yet. What brings you back with us? Did you get a vacation from handling the state affairs?'
She was giggling at first, happy to see him, but then looking more closely at him she notices... 'You look tired, is something wrong?'
Laura was sending JV her worried thoughts... yellow eyes...what did that mean?
Jadeviper felt Laura's nervousness, and sent back reassuring thoughts to her. "Give it time" she thought.
eep! story jump!! anyways........
"i'm the king, i can take breaks anytime i want" he remarked smugly, but soon sank and frowned abit...."who am i kidding, i snuck out!"..........he was expecting a reasuring hug. he noticed her nervousness but also calming thought being sent to her.
He glanced over to his fav wood elf and sent her a thought...."thanks JV, for looking after her"...he smiled😊
The morning drew in, and the perpetual "happy hour" of the swamp bar continued unabated. the walls of the bar faded away into the mornig light as bar turned al fresco.
Laura wrapped her arms around Orophin and gave him a long warm hug. She was a bit shy with all the people around, but maybe they weren't paying attention. She wanted to ask more on what was wrong but she knew that Orophin would tell them when he was ready.
After letting go of him, she took a couple of steps back and turned to watch the others waffle away.
He soaked up the warmth from the hug, he almost cursed himself for letting go but it was okay cos' ne knew she wanted to do some catching up with the others. He left for the bar.
"hey barkeep, lemonade twist on the rocks"......the bartender looked farmiliar but he couldnt just quite remember.
He swung round on his barstool and looked into the crowd, focused on one person. He sipped on his drink as he watched her chatting and laughing away with JV........he thought how heavenly she looked.....he noticed she gave a fleeting glance back at him smiling........ROAR!!!
There was now a mass of fur and saliva covering his face. He lifted himself off the floor onto his knees and laughed...."i missed you too litt....oh, your not so little anymore are you Anwar".....the rubbed noses in the customary feline greeting and purred in unison.
The crowd where now transfixed on this man and the giant lion that seemed as dosile as a house cat.
Jadeviper snorts into her glass in a most unladylike manner as she sees the pandemonium caused by Anwar's appearance. Giggling, she grabs Laura by the hand and runs over with her to greet the huge lion.
Laura is so happy see the lion too. She remembers the time she rescued the cub from the busvelt and nurtured it back to life again. Such a long time ago... Seeing Anwar together with Orophin and JV... just like old times...
She knows that she still has books to read and things to study before her training period is over, but for the moment she enjoys the company of friends. Hmmm, where is everyone?
Jadeviper looks at Laura, Orophin and Anwar... the three of them standing round the lion all touching in some way, the others in the room just a haze in the background. It would be nice to extend the group a little, especially now Orophin and Laura are betrothed...
Yes, Laura is contented, her heart taken. But she can sense that Jadeviper would certainly like some new buzz in the hood. 😛
Laura knows about her friend's keen interest in motor vehicles and the way JV has been poking her head out the window to have a look at the fine tractor parked just outside...
Jadeviper is indeed intrigued by the tractor, but suspects the owner won't be much interested in her... 😉
Because few things come between the love of a man for his tractor
I prefer six wheelers myself....
.....he exclaimed with some delight.😃
Grim, you're starting to piss me off, and not just in this thread.
There'd been some kidnap attempts in this thread already, so Grim Reaper's threats were nothing new. Laura just shrugged her shoulders. 'C'mon JV, nevermind him. Lets go and see the yellow six wheeler instead ok? Is is a match to your Ford Transits do you think?' 😃
Jadeviper sighs and follows Laura. She'd been hoping things would have gone back to normal in the Swamp, but the past is the past. Steeling herself, she thinks about the wonderful six-wheeler and wonders about the possibilites of a six-wheeled Transit...
Wirelessly posted (Nokia7650/1.0 SymbianOS/6.1 Series60/0.9 Profile/MIDP-1.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.0 UP.Link/5.1.1a)
Orophin rolled up, revving his turbo charged, 400 horse power, hydrogen fuelled truck....with little Anwar roaring away in unison. "hey ladies, wanna ride?" he smiled and looked over io the distance....."i see grim's place and i'm in da mood for some major re-decorating" he gave an evil grin showing off his Colgate pearly whites (ping!)
Jadeviper can barely contain her excitement as she grabs Laura by the hand and scrambles up into the truck. They sit either side of Anwar and scratch his ears as Orophin stirs up the dust with the monster tyres...
Brrrrmmmmm, brrrrrmmm, brrrmmmmm the motor roars.
Demolishing Grim's, or anyone else's for that matter, house isn't exactly Laura's idea of fun, but she is in need of some kind of distraction from her ordinary routines. All the reading has made her head spin and action is most welcome.
Besides, Orophin knows both the law and the construction business, so no real harm can become of their little joy ride, she calms herself.
Laura leans back in her seat and lets the wind blow in her hair.
Bohemiam Rapsody blarred away on the radio as the troop sang along in an ode to that cinema classic Wayne's World.
They sped along the highway flanked by beautiful mountain scenery, the rood seemed infinite and orophin was thoroughly enjoying hos present company.
SCREEEEEEEEEEECHHH!!!!.....from 150 to 0 mph in 1 sec, the truck stopped, hurling the crew forward with serious injury only abated due to the highly effective seatbelts.
He checked to see if his passengers where okay..."shaken but not stirred" he gave a wry smile. "the bunnies!!" he exclaimed, then he jumped out of the truck a straight to front of the vehicle. There on the road was a whole family of incredibly cute white rabbits...babies and all.....they stared at him almost unaware of the near death experience.....or maybe they where in shock.
"hey you lunatic, what the *&$%� is up with you?!!" the small voice rang with a very angry tone. "i'm sorry Mrs um..." "Alice....the name is Alice". "Alice.....i'm sorry, i hope you and your family are ok"....."well, i guess we are...but be more careful next time!"....."i will mam, i sure wil" he nodded franticly and smiled along with Alice".
Laura, JV and Anwar were now outside abit perplexed the asertive little bunny.
the grim reaper pulls up behind orophin's truck. he saw the emergency stop in the distance in front of him. he jumps out to make sure everything is ok.
the crew of the truck seem even more shocked to see grim. they had just thought about domolishing his house & as the saying goes "speak of the devil & he will appear"
grim can tell by the look in their eyes that they are worried about something. unexpectedly grim shows he has a compassionate side so he offers to forgive & forget.
Orophin stared for a few seconds, then shook Grims hand. "Thanks for the concern dude, but everything is ok" he smiled....."now lets see that truck of yours"😃
Laura was relieved that they weren't going to demolish Grim Reapers house after all. Orophin and GR seemed to be getting along fine, doing the male stuff, examining the trucks, comparing the size of the vehicles. Laura smiled at them slightly amused.
JV stilll didn't seem quite certain what had just happened, but Laura was sure she would come around and forget whatever it was that made her upset in the first place.
The little bunnies were adorable. No female can resist tiny white and fluffy creatures so Laura went to have a chat with Mrs Alice and her babies. She had carrots in her back pocket and she offered the little snack for the bunny family.
'Iiiiii, yikes, helpmehelpmehelpme' the little ones started to cry.
'Why, I thought the carrots were your favourite?' Laura asked astonished. But then she understood. Anwar was hopping happily behind her and the bunnies - not having been properly introduced to the huge but friendly lion - were notably scared. It didn't take long however for the bunny bunch to get over their fear and soon they were all rolling around on the ground in one big heap of fur.
Jadeviper smiles at Grim then walks over and cuddles him, whispering "I'm sorry" in his ear. Turning to where Laura and the animals are, she whips out her 7650 and starts snapping away.
Jools says "Hey JV stop snapping at them - they haven't done anything wrong - STOP NAGGING"
He pulls out his ouzy 9mm and starts spraying bullets into the air. "Quick everyone he screams the the furry flying bunnies are starting to attack"
Cooly he puts on his shades and unleashes his pocket size rocket launcher. "Damn I am out of ammo" he turns and looks at the cowering shower of ABS mods next to him and thinks "Thats it its all over"
don't you start, I'm still not in the mood
Orophin picks up Joolsvern by the cruff of his neck, tosses him into the air, whips out his RPG ang fires a salvo at him.
Joolsvern drops from the sky onto the grass and Orophin walks up to him pointing the RPG at his face....."you wanna try that again?! hmmm.....i thought not!!!" he put the weapon to his side and picked Joolsvern up again..."JV needs a break and the bunnies aint your enemies.....so if you wanna stay....i suggest u use an AK-45 chinese model instead of that cheap Uzy." 😃
The gang facefaulted and fell over 😱
Boy, that was one big fight between the two... the flying in the air...
and all that water... some rain, eh? And the sentinels were kind of amazing... swarming the way they did...
Oops, Laura realizes she was talking about something she should not be talking about just yet 😃 No spoilers, nonono, 😃
She picks up a bunny and shuts her mouth.
LOL.......OROPHIN laughs and kisses her......."that should shut her up" he smiles.