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Post by TheJungleOne on Dec 27, 2020 12:57:19 GMT -6
A stream gently trickled past the young Jungle Dude. Eating a fruit, the Jungle Dude watched it like he would be watching people pass by if he was still in his native Winnipeg, but Kainak of Pomaika'i didn't dwell on the past. In fact, he was taking in the endless present of life in the island's jungles, which was a lot better than how things had gone prior. A gentle breeze blew, which felt fantastic on his mostly-bare skin, and he closed his eyes to savor the moment. Moments like this were not rare; surrounded on all sides by one of the last virgin jungles on earth, he could hear the birds chirping and smell the mixture of trees and other flowering plants. He chuckled, while chewing the fruit. That old hag Hana might've gotten him kicked out of the Teo village, but in a way, he should thank her. He felt like he truly belonged here.
Kainak was a lean 18-year-old man, built like a gymnast, swimmer and runner. He swung among the trees, on the branches and vines. He swam in the rivers, chasing fish. And he ran through the jungle, chasing enemies and food. Or just for fun. His skin was slightly tanned, not just from the sun, but also from miniscule Cree ancestery. His hair was shoulder-length and well-groomed. Unlike some jungle people, he had the good grace to bathe once in a while. He carried a leimano, a club rimmed with shark teeth, the most common weapon on the still as-of-yet "undiscovered" island, the culture of which was Polynesian. In fact, it was still a tribal society, like the uncontacted regions in Brazil, and the bushmen of Africa.
As he watched the stream run past, he picked up a sound with his sharpened hearing. Looking to his right, he stood up, clad in his Tarzan loincloth and looked for whatever had made that noise.
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Post by Spirals on Dec 27, 2020 13:14:39 GMT -6
That noise had been made by another inhabitant of the jungle. Rocco the boa constrictor was a 20 ft long snake who was nefarious for his playful ways. With light green scales with brown markings on his back, the smaller than average reptile had been slithering through the canopy, bored once again. That is, until he flicked his tongue and caught the scent of something new. The boa was on a mission, and as the sun glistened across his girthy coils, Rocco followed that masculine, and rather clean scent, until he looked down and saw the source.
It was a man cub! Young, fit, and handsome, Rocco's eyes widened with surprise and glee. It was unusual to see a human so far out in the jungle and away from the village, but the giddy reptile was not one to ask questions. Curious, the boa slithered a little bit closer for a better look, only to snap a branch. Rocco stopped moving, and watched as the jungle boy got up and looked around. The snake was impressed by the man cub's enhanced senses and now more than ever desired to make himself know. Being the outgoing snake that he was, Rocco decided that the best approach was to go full out.
"Well hello there! Fancy meeting you here!" Rocco giggled as he lowered his face right in front of the jungle dude's, their noses mere inches apart.
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Post by TheJungleOne on Dec 27, 2020 13:18:43 GMT -6
The reptile popped in front of Kainak so quickly, he reacted by reaching for his leiomano. But the snake's sudden speaking caused another reaction. "GAH!" he gasped and fell backwards. He tripped on the side of the little stream and fell in it. Luckily, he only fell on his a**. Visibly unhappy with himself for letting the snake get the drop on him, and falling in the stream, he sighed.
"Uh, hi," he replied. "Wait--YOU CAN TALK!?"
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Post by Spirals on Dec 27, 2020 13:29:02 GMT -6
It all happened so quickly, that Rocco couldn't help but laugh! The boa didn't even notice the man cub's visible unhappiness as he wiped tears from his eyes with his tail.
"Of course I can talk" Rocco replied, not understanding why that was shocking to the jungle boy as most animals spoke in the jungle. "I- oh here let me help you up!" Rocco said cheerfully, offering his services. His chubby tail wrapped around the stud's left wrist, and yanked the man cub back onto his bare feet. In fact, Rocco couldn't help but notice that this human wasn't wearing anything except for an animal skin.
"What is surprising is what a man cub such as yourself is doing so deep in the jungle? And wearing such an odd little cloth" the boa giggled, circling around the jungle dude, appearing to be examining his muscles and loincloth. "Lost are we? Wandered too far from the village hmmm?" The curious snake asked, clearly having no sense of boundaries as he grew closer and closer.
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Post by TheJungleOne on Dec 27, 2020 13:41:54 GMT -6
Kainak grumbled at the snake laughing at his expense. Most animals he encountered didn't speak human languages.
"Not all who wander are lost," Kai replied. "Besides, I live here... Not here-here, but, you know what I'm getting at, right?"
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Post by Spirals on Dec 27, 2020 13:49:09 GMT -6
"How intriguing! A man cub living in the jungle?" Rocco said, growing more excited by the second. The boa knew of humans living in the village but never in the jungle itself. "You must be very brave and strong to reside alone. But you shouldn't be running around with sharp objects!" The boa exclaimed, quickly grabbing the stud's leiomano. Rocco twirled it in the air and threw it far behind him, smiling as he heard it crash in an unknown tree above.
"Surely a jungle boy such as yourself is smart enough to know the dangers of such an object" Rocco said grinning. The snake hated weapons and felt threatened by them, which is why he threw the leiomano away, to ensure no harm came his way.
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Post by TheJungleOne on Dec 27, 2020 14:12:29 GMT -6
Kainak had been trained in the ways of the leiomano by the Teo tribe, as they'd also taught him the way of the warrior and how to survive in the island's jungles. It was only a year of living in harsh conditions until Kai became comfortable enough to be a Tarzan-like figure, only without the racist implications.
So he was dismayed when the snake took the leiomano, which he used like a hunting knife, but he wasn't depressed. Instead, he grabbed the snake's throat with his right arm, glaring at him. The snake tried to wiggle free, but Kai was strong and firm. "Listen, I don't need to be patronized by a snake," he said. "Who are you!?"
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Post by Spirals on Dec 27, 2020 14:25:15 GMT -6
*GULP* Rocco choked as he felt the jungle boy's iron grip around his throat. The boa tried to trash and wiggle free but without air entering his system his other coils were useless. It was here that Rocco froze under the man cub's glare, as his strength was made known. The snake had no idea who Tarzan was, but if he did it would be clear now that Kainak was a good representation of the figure.
"O-of course *choke* my apologies *gulp* man cub" the snake wheezed, chuckling nervously. "I did not mean to question your strength. A handsome, young, and muscular human s- *wheeze* such as yourself is worthy of the title of jungle boy" Rocco smiled sheepishly, trying to flatter the hunk to get on his good side.
"My name is Rocco and if you would be so kind as to *cough* let go of my throat then maybe we can get to know each other? Maybe you can start by telling me your *gasp* name?" the boa said. He was still curious despite the man cub's aggressive actions. Rocco still desired to befriend, or at least get acquainted with the jungle dude.
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Post by TheJungleOne on Dec 27, 2020 14:28:23 GMT -6
Kainak immediately let go of the snake's throat, allowing him to breathe. "There, that's better, eh?" he said. "Name's Kainak. Rocco, huh? Doesn't sound like a name from around here, but oh, well. What are you up to?"
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Post by Spirals on Dec 27, 2020 14:40:40 GMT -6
Rocco gasped for air as his throat was finally released from the jungle boys grip. “My goodness you are a strong cub. But I suppose your more man then cub” the boa teased, referencing Kainaks youthful yet mature appearance. The python guess he was 18-20 in human years.
“My name? It was given to me at birth so I’m not sure what’s strange about it” the snake explained, once again slithering closer.
“Oh I was just in the area when I caught sight of you Kainak. I do like that name. Sort of rollsss off the tongue” Rocco giggled, as his head looped around Kainaks broad shoulders. “With a name like that I’m sure you were born in the jungle right?” The snake asked, ignoring Kainaks visible expression of annoyance. The snake just didn’t know personal boundaries.
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Post by TheJungleOne on Dec 27, 2020 14:48:55 GMT -6
"I wasn't born here," he said. "I'm from a magical place called Canada." He knew Rocco wouldn't know what that is. He looked like the kind of snake that wouldn't understand certain human concepts like countries and stuff. "I've been here for 2 years. It was... kind of an accident, but I've moved on. This is my home now. He accidentally showed a wistful expression, downcast eyes gazing at the ground, remembering the ship sinking, him clinging to his suitcase and floating up to the island's shores. But that was in the past.
He shook his head, ejecting those painful memories. "So what is it with you and your touchiness?"
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Post by Spirals on Dec 27, 2020 16:20:50 GMT -6
"I see" Rocco said, noticing Kainak's display of emotions. It was true the boa did not know of a "Khan-ah-dah" as the snake pronounced it in his head, but truthfully Rocco didn't care. He really only worried about the jungle and the ones who lived on the island. Such as Kainak. "I won't pry anymore man cub I can tell it's a sore subject for you" the snake reassured, watching the jungle boy look down at his toes.
"My what? Whatever do you mean Kainak?" Rocco giggled, as his head slithered down the hunk's muscular chest and around his waist. Rocco enjoyed the feeling of the jungle dude's lightly tanned and sweaty skin against his smooth scales. "I'm just trying to make a new friend. Am I succeeding?" the reptile asked, now coiling around Kainak's left arm and squeezing his bicep.
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Post by TheJungleOne on Dec 27, 2020 16:26:06 GMT -6
Kainak remembered the situation he was in when Rocco slipped his tail around his waist and arms. He wondered why he was so obsessed with him, and concluded that it might be because he was examining how different he was from the snake. That had to be it, since, well, he's a snake. "Like that!" he said. Not angrily, just to clarify his question.
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Post by Spirals on Dec 27, 2020 16:41:51 GMT -6
Rocco giggled when Kainak clarified the question. The boa of course knew of his touchy and playful ways, and enjoyed playing dumb. Rocco had seen maybe one or two other humans before Kainak, but that was a long time ago. The snake was having fun as he was given a refresher on the anatomy of a man cub. So in a way Kainak was right as human limbs seemed to fascinate the reptile (arms, hands, legs, feet) since he had none of his own.
"Oh don't mind me Kainak I'm just...feeling around" The snake giggled as his tail slid between the jungle dude's legs and wrapped around his right thigh and calf. "Why? Is there a problem?" Rocco teased as he wrapped his neck around Kainak's head in a sort of crown, not covering his vision, but just so the boa's head rested on top of the man cub's.
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Post by TheJungleOne on Dec 27, 2020 16:49:12 GMT -6
Kainak cringed at the feeling of Rocco's tail near a certain sensitive area--not his legs, that is--and tried to say something, but he felt himself being lifted into the tree.
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