They might look like a zebra, but okapis are actually part of the giraffe family! These zebra-like stripes help them blend into the vegetation and dead leaves found in the forests of Congo where they live!
Don’t call me a Zebra!
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Bahati paced the cave, his paws strinking the ground, arising shards of ebony shale and traces of lapis lazuli. A thin, eerie mist bellowed beyond the horizon and streaks of whispy cirrus clouds drifted among the grey. His mother had disapeared,or at least that’s what he had begun to expect since he had awoken to a rustling of grass, disturbed momentarily by a slithering body. Bahati tried to drag his mind to more pleasent thoughts, he tried to imagine his mother leaving the den, bounding out for a hunt before dawn.
He briefly envisioned her stepping into the mouth of the cave and quickly apologizing for leaving without warning him, but this thought was replaced by an awareness of a figure, a wispy silhouette among the misty landscape.
It was not his mother, it seemed so alien to him to see another living creature besides his mother and the occasional Violin spider scuttling along the jagged surface of rocks.
“Do not be afraid,” the voice consoled.
Bahati could barely speak, maybe it was because her silvery-blue eyes seemed to stare into his soul, or maybe it was because his mother had vanished and now he was speaking to a stranger and she was talking to him like they were very good friends. She seemed to expect companionship, anyway.
“Who are you?” Bahati managed to whisper.
He tried to look at her in the eyes, to rid himslf of the awkward feeling that engulfed him.
Her eyes soften to a misty grey, and she giggled. She giggled as if it was the most stupid question someone could ever ask of her.
“I,” she announced (still chortling slightly). “I am Kaskazini.”
She finally took a step into the cave and Bahati could make out a tall, thin animal, a dull brown covered it’s torso, only to exchange into a rather alarming zebra pattern decorating her skeletal legs. Her prolonged neck stiffly positioned on her shoulders.
Large ears extended from atop her head, below her brilliant misty eyes shined vibrantly.
There was a silence, the silence pressed against Bahati’s ears. He decided she was expecting an introduction of some sort. Sheepishly he bagan to stutter.
“I am-” but he was quickly interrupted by the rather annoying, sing-songy voice of this intruding individual.
“I know who you are, you are Bahati Mtoto.” she gloated and smiled.
“Come with me, I’m sure we’ll be best friends.” she whispered acquiescently.
“What?” Bahati snorted. “Well… do you know where my mother is?”
Kaskazini stared at him sympathetically and breathed a sigh.
Bahati hoped for the best, but he knew that where ever his mother was, a journey was ahead.
He patiently waited and held his breath… he awaited his answer.
* * *
What will happen next?
You decide!
Thanks,
Your Fellow Earthranger,
Gabjas
That was a great installment! I can’t wait to hear the next one. I bet that his mom is still ok but she is on a special mission. Then Bahati and Kaskazini team up and try and help his mom with her mission. What do you think? Am I right?
Why thank you!
I don’t want to spoil everything but
your guess is very accurate, there is still yet
more adventure and mystery to come…
you’ll see!
Here’s another episode coming up.
Enjoy.
* * *
The two stood in silence as Bahati awaited an answer from the okapi named Kaskazini.
She stared and directed his attention north-westwardly. Bahati desperately tried to contain his growing frustration with her.
“Where?” he fumed. “Where, exactly?”
Kaskazini glanced at him in shock.
“Oh, sorry.” she apologized. “Do you really want to know?.”
Bahati’s patience rapidly diminished as she spoke.
“Yes…” he snorted, grinding his teeth.
“Oh, well then…um. I really don’t know.” she whispered and grimaced as Bahati erupted.
“WHAT?” he yelled at her.
Bahati lunged at her, fully intending to throttle her in the process. She easily dodged his swift movemnets and backed into the corner of the cave. He finally managed to calm, and as soon as he wasn’t trying to strangle her, she decided it was relatively safe to explain.
“She was supposed to be safely led to the eastern realm, but… something happened. Someone managed to detour her to the edge of the sea in the northwest and then…” she trailed off.
Bahati breathed a mournful sigh and begged her to explain the rest.
“Well, that’s all we know so far. What we did figure out was that whoever imprisoned her had to be of royal blood, that means they had to have attended the semi-annual meeting that we hold in the heart of Africa.”
Kaskazini frowned and tried to read the emotions welling up in Bahati’s eyes. When she spoke once more, she muttered in a hushed voice, as if someone outside of the cave could possibly overhear.
“You see, all the royal blood of Africa took an oath that they, as the protectors of Africa would never commit forms of evil in anyway… unless, of course it was for the greater good. Do you know what that means, Bahati?”
Bahati thought for a moment and then shrugged, he really did care for giving much effort into this answer… he wanted to know what had happened to his mother.
Kaskazini stared grimly out into the misty afternoon.
“It means…” she breathed. “That oath has been broken, someone is a traitor.”
* * *
Uh-oh!
Bahati didn’t expect that a blood traitor lives within the heart of Africa, and that certain individual has captured Kusemnheana! Remember to keep checking back for the next installment of Bahati’s story.
Ideas welcome!
Thanks,
Your Fellow Earthranger,
Gabjas
P.S. At the very end of the story, I will present the entire saga of Bahati Mtoto in one giant installment… we may begin another story afterwards- details will follow!
Hi, sorry this story hasn’t gone anywhere so far…
I realised that te story I was planning out will take
much too long and I’m sure everyone has already lost interest.
I will probably write other stories on this website some other time.
On a less sour note, I am opening up a new ‘Guild’
on the Gray Jay page and would like to invite everyone to come!
It’s just a page dedicated to questions, animal facts, polls and other
fun stuff like contests and stories!
Please spread the word and visit the guild for yourself, more
details are on the guild’s ‘Gray Jay’ page!
Thanks,
Your Fellow Earthranger,
Gabjas
OMG this animal is so cool i mean so cool like OMG OMG OMG OMG 🙂
i love animals lets save the wild!!!<3
I just started reading this story…… a bit confused. What type of animal is bahati because right now they’re talking and acting like humans. Can you also explain the royal blood thing too? Like it sounds kinda like they are people and how could animals imprison other animals. Sorry. Just so many questions. You should keep on writing though . It sounds like a really good plot so far. It should be a book. If it were I’d so buy it.
Thanks,
your fellow ranger,
Lizzy
Please Please don’t stop writing. And what is your website?
hi guys!!! hi gaubis!!!
hi
gabjis the okapis looks like a zebra and a horse P.S. nice story.