#;; just a trick of the light (njozi)

[jabbers-wild-world]

[jabbers-wild-world]

"Hey, Njozi!" Simba called out with a frown as he headed toward the fox. "What was the deal with your friend and that hole? There wasn't even anybody there."

Unprompted Asks | Always Accepting!

“Hm?” The cape fox paused a moment, watching the cub. “Oh! Right! You know, I found him after that little incident, and— you’ll never guess!” He chuckled, pausing a moment to scratch an itch before stepping off the dirt mound he was sitting on to meet Simba halfway.

“He’d managed to get out before we’d even got there!” He padded around the cub a bit, tail waving as he feigned a playful excitement. “As it turns out, an elephant shrew heard him shouting for help, and she in turn told a drongo, who told a cheetah! And that cheetah ran the message all the way across the Pridelands until she found help from a martial eagle, and he managed to rescue my friend. I guess I was so panicked I didn’t even think of that!”

[jabbers-wild-world]

A Few Tricks of the Light

It was a clever thing, really. He moved across the Pridelands, from place to place, territory to territory, and he worked his magic. Tricks and clever ruses to get what he wanted out of the deal, be it protection or food or simply to be the one in control for a while. But it was more than that too. He offered a service to the animals who came to him, and they paid for his services. And the thing about all of it was, Njozi was charming and charismatic. Animals trusted him, and that was what he needed from them.. Well, what he needed, to get what he wanted.

A gentle flick of the Cape Fox’s tail, and he settled himself upon a large rock, overlooking a fair-sized gathering of animals before him. Smaller animals, like elephant shrews or meerkats or even an aardvark or two, lingered at the front of the pack, while larger animals stayed near the back. It was the rules Njozi had set for these gatherings. Let the smaller ones come first, so as not to be forgotten. Then he would address the larger members of the crowd. And as he looked over this particular gathering, he couldn’t help but give a smirk. It was a good turnout this time. Word had begun to spread quickly of his ‘good deeds’ and his ‘wisdom’. And though it may not have been true wisdom, Njozi was nothing if not cunning and clever. Now, he bowed his head in greeting to the other animals, and they to him.

“May the smallest among you step forward with your offerings, and I will give you the answers you seek.” Yes. Offerings. Shiny stones Njozi himself had a weakness for, and which he knew he could use for his own purposes. For payment to another. A pygmy shrew now stepped forward, doing her best to push forward the largest shiny stone she could have found to offer.

“Please, o venerable priest, my babies have gone missing, and I’m afraid they may be dead! Tell me where I can find them?” An outstretched paw, and Njozi took the offered stone, inspecting it briefly before he stood on his hind legs and raised it to the sun. Light hit the stone just right and cast a million glimmering reflections along the ground, as the fox now pretended to be caught in a wild trance and a vision of the shrew’s answer. Finally, he dropped back on all fours, and bowed again.

“The Great Ones have bestowed upon me your truth, Lady Shrew.. Go west to the tallest tree, your children are stolen by the liars that rest within.”

“Stolen?! How can I get them back?!”

“I am sorry.. But I can only answer you one question..” But from the back of the crowd, an elephant raised his trunk.

“I can help retrieve your little ones.” The little pygmy shrew perked up quickly, darting to the elephant and beaming up at him.

“You’re a gift, you are!” And with that settled, now two meerkats came forward, each carrying their own shiny stones to offer to the fox ‘priest’.

“Our tunnels are collapsing, and the ground shakes something fierce!”

“Water rushes in and our families nearly drown!”

“How can we stop this from happening?!”

“What is happening to our homes?!” Njozi took the stones in his paws, and raised them to the light- and this time he shuddered and played out a horrible nightmare vision.

“You are cursed!” He gasped out. “You are cursed to bring forth the end of all things! Go forth, find the hottest fires and burn the curse from your lands! Only then can you be freed!” All the animals gathered gasped and looked back and forth amongst each other, and then, all the rest stepped back from the meerkats, wary and uncertain. And the two in question exchanged terrified glances, before they bowed to Njozi.

“Thank you, priest. If that’s what we must do!” And then they were off.. That one.. Njozi smirked a bit to himself. That one was a prophecy he’d been eager to give. What would come of the meerkats setting fire to the land? More problems, and more animals to come to him for aid, that was what. And it would only continue like this now, from the elephant shrew to the elephant himself, each came forward with their questions, and their offerings, and Njozi gave them their answers. Some terrible, some hopeful, but all bore an underlying tone that sowed the seeds of discord amongst the animals.. Those that chose to assist with others’ problems would do so, but now there was suspicion and distrust among others as well. And Njozi reveled in it. He was the only one they truly trusted, because he spoke for a higher power they knew nothing of, and how could they not trust him when he so convincingly was caught up in wild and turbulent visions, and spoke prophecies to them from the Great Ones?

Finally, with all said and done, Njozi allowed himself to collapse upon his rock, seemingly exhausted by the many visions of the day. He lay sprawled now, the glimmering stones scattered around him as he panted heavily. And then.. he looked out at the crowd that remained.. All had been given their answers, but all looked on in worry and sympathy. And Njozi let his ears drop low, offering a weary smile.

“I am sorry.. but that is all I can offer you today..” He claimed. “As the Great Ones speak through me, I must give my energy to them, and now.. I have given all I can.. Now I must rest, and perhaps I will answer more questions tomorrow.”

“Of course, o wise priest.” The elephant offered now, and ever so gently lifted the fox with his trunk, laying him back in his den tucked behind the large rock Njozi had sat upon. The rest of the animals as well did their part to bring the shiny stones to the fox’s den, bowing in parting and then.. all left him, off to attend to the visions and advice he had given them.. and begin the chaos he had sown. As they left, a dark grin made its way upon Njozi’s muzzle, and he now took to counting his stones. Yes.. This was all going according to plan..