Previous Chapter: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/35536506/

A Leap Into Destiny

Chapter 2

Arco Bahim’s streets continued to teem with morning life, from the outer perimeter of the Guardian’s Estate in the South, all the way up to the commercial area in the North. In the heart of the city, long crimson flags waved atop the bright buildings, the sweet smell of spices and cooked fish lingered in the breeze, and the atmosphere was full of positive energy.

The echo of it all teased at Jelani’s drooping ears. He sighed in the shadows, leaning against the cracked, back alley wall. This is really what it has come to, isn’t it? he thought, wiping the sweat from his rum bottle.

I withered eighteen years in the poorest village in all of Naem. I gave my blood, my sweat, my tears, fighting my way to the top. Beating the odds. Working my tail off. All but killing myself for the chance to represent my people, to let their voices be heard all the way here, in the capital. But now... now what do I do?

A voice reverberated in Jelani’s memory.

“Thank you, Mr. Jelani, for what you did, for me.”

Emotion flashed in Jelani’s eyes. It was the flaxen lady, Jenny. Her wavy brown hair, her sky blue eyes; he imagined her perfectly in his mind. After a moment, he scoffed. “If only. If only I could make everyone back home as happy as I made her.” His head leaned back against the wall. “How... how can I show my face in Coronation again, knowing I’ve let them down?”

“You... have no idea know how much this helps me.”

It was that voice again. Jelani ran a hand across his face. That kind of praise, I didn’t deserve it. Still, he couldn’t pry her smile and those eyes from his mind. She was so full of gratitude, and, if he was being honest with himself, beauty. Jelani shook his head. “Ah, I have to get my thoughts straight,” he chided, “Maybe it’s the rum.” His clawed thumb ran across the bottle’s surface. It wasn’t even half empty yet.

“I hope that... fate leads you to even greater things, and that, that you are blessed for your kindness.”

That girl, Jelani thought, she keeps coming to mind.

“Ah!” He gasped, his eyes growing wide. What... is this feeling? A line of fur on his back and neck began to raise, and his ears began to ring. It was startlingly loud, so much so that it was disorienting, and he moved to bring himself to his feet. He could feel his veins pulsate and his body tense up. A sensation was coming over him. “What’s happening?” He breathed, looking at his shaking palms. This feeling... It felt familiar. My instincts? I... I feel like I’m about to boil over with instinctual power!

It was true that instincts were innate to earthlings, and that this natural force could drive them to accomplish even seemingly impossible feats. However, Jelani had never felt such an impulse, even with his skill level of controlling and manipulating his powers. He wanted to question why this was happening, but the answer was already in his mind’s eye.

Jenny.

His sixth sense was trying to tell him something. I have to find her, he said to himself, noticing a soft, yellow glow beginning to emanate from his body. I... have to protect her!

The frantic roo knocked over his rum bottle as he took off like lightning down the alley. He stumbled over some rubbish, but caught himself, and turned the corner. Passers by gawked and watched as he tore through the streets.

I knew I should have convinced her that I be her escort. Please be all right, Miss Jenny. Please be all right!

With each stride and rhythmic pant, Jelani could see the traffic ahead growing thicker. A billowing scarlet flag hanging from above caught his attention. He narrowed his eyes and increased his speed, and with great force, his strong kangaroo legs propelled him upward. His hands grasped the flagpole, and he swung himself up to the top of a building. From rooftop to rooftop he traversed, crossing connected stores and homes, and leaping over streets.

“Where are you?!” Jelani questioned aloud as his feet clapped along the edges of the buildings. He continued the skim the paths that were frequented with carts, but there was no sign of Jenny yet. Jelani huffed, taking higher and longer leaps. Now out of the city’s heart, the buildings were getting taller. He vaulted onto a high dome and he clutched its flagpole with one hand. The wind coursed across the blue sky, and whipped through his dreadlocks. He peered between the several that had fallen into his eyes. His irises darted back and forth up the view of the city’s incline, up to the plateau that was lined with windmills and shrubbery.

I’m coming, Jenny, he thought, I’ll help you.

-

The sun warmed the bumpy dirt path under Jenny’s feet. The cart was heavy, and her clawed toes pressed into the earth as she pulled. With every pull and jerk of the cumbersome cart, the thought kept running through her mind that it might have not been such a bad idea to have let the cart boy help her the rest of the way.

“Ah!”

Jenny stumbled forward and landed hard with a thud on the rough terrain. It stung, and the sensation brought a wince to her face. “Ow,” she blurted with a wince, and shakily brought herself to her elbows. “Ohh...” The sparkle of blood was visible on her dark paw pads. They were merely scuffed, but it burned enough to almost bring a tear to her eye. She bit it back, however, and maneuvered herself to her knees, taking care not to get dirt on her scratched hand pads. “Well, this is going to make things more difficult,” she spoke aloud, studying her hands. She propped one forearm on one of the cart handles and eased herself up. She wiped her forehead, and the thought came to her that there was a big sheet in the back of the cart that she could make some use of. “Ow!” She yelped a bit when she moved, feeling that her knee was surely bruised.
“At least no one was around to see me make a fool of myself.”

It didn’t take too long for Jenny to tend to her wounds. The old cloth that she squeezed tightly between her hands helped slow the bleeding fairly well. Still, it burned quite a bit.

One of her ears flicked to the side, catching a noise that startled her. Her attention was drawn to babbling ambience alongside the forest path; there was a calm, clear stream. Jenny exhaled, considering that the noise was likely just a rock that had slid into the water. The smooth rippling sounds were quite inviting, and Jenny imagined the relief that the coolness of the waters would bring to her burning hands. It wasn’t far from the path, so after a couple of tiptoes and hops across a few rocky ruts, she knelt down to the little oasis. Jenny’s eyelids closed gently, feeling the sting on her paw pads being extinguished. The water lapped at her hands as she gently traced them over the rippling surface of the stream. The chill was especially comforting, so much so that she mused that a spring may have been nearby. She also entertained the idea of soaking her feet, but she quickly cast away the temptation; she knew she best be on her way.

A distant, somewhat muffled rustling seemed to hush the vicinity. Jenny’s ears and eyes averted to the forest. She froze.

The continued noise was reminiscent of wind coursing through the leaves and brush, yet this sound seemed almost rhythmic. Jenny rose to her feet. It became more rhythmic; heavier. Footsteps? No, this fast? Her feet almost tangled under her, and fear took hold. She dove for the path, breathlessly. Some unbridled force was tearing through to the forest’s edge.

“Miss Jenny!”

She breathed, her blue eyes widening. That voice. From her position, sprawled upon the ragged dirt path, she scrambled to turn herself around, just quickly enough to see a silhouette shoot from the forest.

Two boots planted down in front of her. “Miss Jenny, are you all right?!”

Jenny peered from behind her shaking arms that she shielded herself with. A loose, dark cloak flowed, and above, was a familiar, rugged face framed with a beard and dark locks. A sparkle of emotion was in his eye.

“What happened?!” the man exclaimed, kneeling down. “Did they hurt you? How many were there? My goodness, your knee!”

“Mr. ... Jelani!” Jenny breathed.

A slight move toward her prompted Jenny to edge backward a bit, pinning herself against the wheel of the cart. Jelani’s presence startled and confused her, just as much as his continuing barrage of questions.

“I knew I should have came along with you,” Jelani continued. “Where did they hurt you? Did they hurt you? What did they...” A gleam of silver from Jenny’s side halted Jelani’s words. “S-say, is that a, is that a dagger you’ve got there?”

Still visibly shaken, Jenny looked down at her hand; she had reflexively taken it out of her concealed leg holster. She looked back to him and tried to make words, but the residual fog of fear was impairing.

“Don’t worry, Miss Jenny, I’m here with you now.”

A very gentle hand extended to Jenny’s shoulder, and lightly encouraged her to stand. Her eyes studied his expression, as well as his other extended hand, and after a moment, she took in in hers. She shakily rose, and steadied herself.

“There, now,” the man soothed, “You’re safe, now. You’re safe with Jelani.”

For a moment, she could only stare back. “...You,” she breathed, toying with the dagger’s handle at her aide. “N-nothing’s wrong, I, I just,” Her ears pressed back further. “What are you doing here?”

Jelani retracted at her tone. “Oh, my dear,” he replied with an uncomfortable smile, “I... don’t believe I understand.”

That didn’t soften her tone. “What do you not understand? You scared me sixth senseless!” She eased back a step, but the dagger remained firmly in her grip. “Why are you here?”

Jenny’s defensive posture prompted a perplexed Jelani to take a step or two backwards. “Miss Jenny, I...” He took a look around, and took a few steps to rotate and scan their surroundings. After a moment of study, his eyes returned to Jenny’s. “You... weren’t attacked?”

“No... why?”

The blank confusion on Jelani’s face remained. “O-oh...” He murmured, and his eyes dropped contact from hers. “Forgive me, I...” He looked into his empty, dusty palms, remembering the the feeling that had came over him in the alley. “It’s so funny, I just...” His eyes rested again on his palms, as if searching them for an explanation, and he shook his head. “You’re not going to believe this,” he laughed.”

Jenny’s eyes merely narrowed, studying him harder.

“...But this sensation just... came over me while I was in town.” Jelani illustrated the strange instance with some motions from his hands. “It was almost like my instincts were trying to tell me that something was wrong, and there was this aura.”

“Have you been drinking?”

Jelani’s lips parted in surprise. “N-no! I mean, well, yes, but not enough to-“

“I’ll be on my way now, thank you.”

“W-w-wait a minute!” Jelani stuttered as he trampled over to block her path. His move was met with the sharp end of a dagger. “Ah,” he breathed, raising his hands, “Yes, I’m... very glad you’ve got that to protect yourself with, but you... ah...” His words were delayed by a realization. “A... your escort, where did your cart boy go?”

Jenny’s arms crossed over her chest, and she released a sigh. “I left him at the edge of town. Now, if you don’t mind, Mr. Jelani-“

“Why?” The persistent dreadlocked roo prodded, again stepping in her path.

“Because!” Jenny exclaimed tensely. “Look, I can get you your money back.”

Jelani shook his head. “I don’t care about the money! I just want you to be safe!” He reassured, and studied her eyes that had drifted away from his. “Miss Jenny, even I would not want to travel this particular road alone.”

“What good would it do me to be accompanied by a complete stranger?” Her jaw and fists clenched, barely containing a simmering angst, which she tried to quell with a breath. “You can’t trust anyone. I’ve seen enough to know.”

Jelani’s brow furrowed. “Well,” Jelani began to assert, in a bit of a troubled manner, “It’s certainly not helpful taking a dangerous trip on your own either! I just cannot let you go on by yourself and feel right about it.”

“Let me guess, you’re still having that ‘sensation’?”

“No, but my conscience is not letting up.” Jelani tried to retain eye contact with her as she moved away. “Listen, if it makes you feel better, you can bind my hands to this cart for all I care, but I feel like I have to go with you to Ki’Miya Mara.”

Jenny had already turned to her cart and was readying to pick up where she had left off.

“I just... I don’t want what happened to one of my brothers to be what happens to you.”

Jenny’s hands froze in their place, holding one of the ropes that held down the stone bust.

“Listen. I know you do not know me, Miss Jenny. There are a lot of things that you do not know about me. But one thing you can know with absolute certainty, is that I mean you no harm.”

Jenny’s ears had leaned back towards the persistent man. The rope remained clenched between her fair hands.

“Please,” Jelani repeated lowly. “Please allow me to escort you to Ki’Miya Mara.”

A moment passed, and Jenny turned to Jelani, her eyes meeting with his. His expression was concerned, but warm, and with a hint of a hopeful smile.

Her eyes lowered thoughtfully. “All right,” she spoke softly.

Jelani’s ears perked.

“Come with me.” Jenny added, turning to tuck the excess rope back into the cart and make some adjustments.

In a surprised kind of relief, Jelani’s shoulders drooped when he exhaled. “All right,” he breathed in a more positive tone, and he dusted off his shirt. “Let’s... get you going.”

Jenny had walked to the back of the cart, and just as Jelani was about to say something, he made an observation. “Oh.” The left wheel of the cart caught his eye. “Stuck in a rut there.”

“It’s nothing much.” Jenny grunted as she began to push against the back of the cart.

Jelani hurried over. “L-let me get that for you.”

“It shouldn’t be too-“ One more shove and Jenny had nearly freed the wheel, but it slid back into the crevice with a clunk. “...difficult.”

Jelani stepped up to the side of the cart. “Hang on a second.”

The dreadlocked roo secured his big, rugged paws underneath the cart, and before Jenny could even offer to assist, the cart’s left front wheel lifted away from the rut, and clunked to safe earth.

“There we are.”

Jenny’s eyes darted back to Jelani. It took her a double-take or two to believe that he had just done such a thing with that much ease. He merely smiled heartily, and sized up the cart.

“That felt good.” Jelani laughed. He then moseyed over to the front of the cart. “You can hop into the back if you like.”

Jenny’s eyes were still fixed on the cart’s wheel that was seemingly magically lifted from the craggy rut. “What?” She exclaimed, looking to Jelani, who was already standing in front of the cart. “Oh,” she replied, moving to join him, “N-no, it’s fine.”

Jelani spoke up once more, “Would you prefer to bind my hands to the cart?”

Still a bit bewildered by Jelani’s strength, it took Jenny a moment to process what he said. “That... won’t be necessary.”

Jelani nodded. “Right,” he replied, and his boot scraped the ground. “Shall we?”

With that, they moved along, continuing the down the wide forest path.

Jelani began to muse. “I’ve never had quite the push from my instincts to do something so impulsive like this,” he spoke aloud, wrangling the cart. “I suppose that’s what instincts are, right? Acting on impulse?” He looked down at his traveling partner. “But it was so intense. Have you ever felt anything like that before?”

It didn’t take long for Jenny to ponder. “Hmm,” she replied, placing a hand under her chin, “Well, when you bounded up to me, it did activate my fight or flight response.”

Jelani looked surprised.

“When a strange man comes bursting out of the forest like a maniac towards a woman,” Jenny continued, with a clever look in her eye. “Well, let’s just say that’s not the most reassuring sight in a woman’s eyes.”

Jelani’s ears and head lowered a bit. “I’m sorry.” He seemed to hunker down in his gait. “If I weren’t so sure that something was wrong, I would have went about approaching you in a more, more um...” He looked aloft, through a few dreads that had fallen into his face. “Ah...”

“Tame manner?” Jenny offered with a slight smile and a raise of her brow.

“Yes,” he replied, his face lighting up. “Naemian is my first language, and sometimes there will be that one word or two that I cannot quite reach.”

“That’s understandable. I only know a little bit of Naemian myself. Still, you’re pretty well spoken, even with your accent.”

A laugh escaped Jelani. “I can’t hide it. Growing up in East Naem, you’re going to be stuck with one.”

“Honestly, it’s rather charming.”

Jelani’s ears eased back. “You think so?” His tone sounded doubting. “I suppose it’s been an object of ridicule so much in my time on council, that I don’t think of it that way. I appreciate it.” His humble thanks prompted a smiling nod from Jenny, and he continued. “Your accent, you sound like you would be from further north. It’s nice.”

Jenny responded with a soft laugh. “Hardly. It’s such a bland sound.” She continued before Jelani could rebuke. “But you’re right. I used to live not too far from Tengai, actually.”

“Oh,” Jelani responded, with a sound piqued interest. “You uh, have family there?”

“Just my mother.” Jenny replied. “My parents parted ways when I was a little girl.”

“Ah,” Jelani voiced in soft acknowledgement, looking away. “I see.”

“Yeah,” Jenny sighed, “It was for the best. When I was old enough, I made my way south to get closer to Arco Bahim. I knew I’d have a better chance with business in this area rather than in Tengai. The clay and stone market is so much better.”

“You’re right,” Jelani agreed with a nod, and continued to watch the terrain in front of him. “It’s Naem’s speciality.” He was quiet for a moment while pulling the cart, and he got a thoughtful gleam in his eye. He then looked up wistfully. “Oh, if you if you could just see Coronation Square.”

“Coronation Square?” Jenny repeated with a tone of interest. “Is that the-“ A realization hit her before she could finish her question. “Oh, you’re from there, aren’t you? Coronation? That’s the place with the huge market?”

Quite the conversation blossomed from their musings, and they talked for hours as they made their trek north to Ki’Miya Mara. With every flower-laden knoll and lush grove they passed, and through every tunnel of trees, Jenny became more comfortable with her escort. Jelani was more than happy to help her along, and his conscience felt satisfied.

-

“Actually,” Jelani responded, continuing an ongoing conversation, “I have seven brothers and sisters.”

“What?!”

“Well, I did have seven. One of my older brothers, he passed.” Jelani’s voice softened with that mention. Jenny subtly studied his expression, which had softened as well.

“I’m sorry,” she murmered.

“Marty,” Jelani continued, focusing on the ground ahead of him. “It has been... almost fifteen years now.”

Jenny felt the somber shift in his voice. Her ears eased back. “I... remember you saying something earlier about your brother. I hate to hear something like that happened.”

Jelani heaved a sigh, and shook his head.
“It... just couldn’t be helped.”

Jenny made a noise in acknowledgment, sparing a couple of glances. His face looked different than before.

“My parents tried so hard,” he continued, shaking his head again. “Marty just wasn’t a good boy, and... it cost him his life. The bandits, they are so much worse in the East, have so much more influence.” Jelani sighed. “If I was older at the time, if I could have just got through to him...”

Jenny wasn’t sure what to say in response to such heavy words. “Well,” she murmured, “I’m sure he was blessed to have you as a brother.”

“Thank you.” He responded, still looking ahead, under half-closed eyelids. “You’re never really the same after something like that.” He mulled over his thoughts for a minute, and sighed in disbelief. “It changed me. It’s part of why I’m, well-“ he gestured with a nod of his head, “here.”

“Council?”

Jelani grunted in agreement. “Fate works in strange and cruel ways.” he added, “But that’s how it worked out. I wanted to change things. I didn’t want any more families to have to suffer like that.” The look in his eye changed, and he looked away. “So much for all of that, anyways.”

“No,” Jenny asserted, propping a hand on his shoulder. “You stood up for Coronation. You did what you could.”

A sheepish smile pulled at the corner of Jelani’s mouth. “I wish that was enough. I’m... still not sure if I am going to be able to face my people and family back in Coronation after all of this. I had so much that I wanted to do for them, but...”

“Maybe it’s for the best.” Jenny chimed. “If you, along with all of the previous representatives of Coronation couldn’t get things done for your town, then maybe...”

Jelani’s ears eased up.

“Maybe another door will open for you.” Jenny continued, with a compassionate smile. “Your heart’s in the right place. Just keep following it. That’s what I’ve been doing, or, that’s what I’ve been trying to do at least.”

Jelani felt as if his heart had warmed, and when he looked to Jenny, there was a bit of a sparkle in his eye.

Jenny felt her cheeks flush, and she looked aside. “But...” she laughed nervously, “Not that I’ve got a lot of experience... with life.”

A little laugh escaped Jelani, too. “I like your positivity.” He beamed. “And you’re right. I cannot give up. I will not give up, especially after coming this far.”

Jenny noticed that Jelani seemed to pull the cart with more vigor. His concurring with her gave her a bit of a spring in her step as well. She smiled to herself.

“So,” Jelani spoke up, eyeing her from the side, “So uh, what kind of plans do you have for following your heart?”

The question took Jenny by surprise. “Ah,” she replied, “Just to market my art in Arco Bahim, I suppose.” She brushed a hand through her wavy hair.

“Hm,” Jelani acknowledged. “Well, I think you’ll do just lovely there. With the talent you have, I can imagine you having a lot of success.”

Jenny retracted a bit from the praise. “Oh, thank you, but it’s not so much a talent.”

“Come now,” Jelani teased, “Give yourself some credit.” Jelani’s eyes shifted in thought, and his mouth showed a hint of a smile. “Talent or not, I’m a little jealous of that bust you made.”

“Jealous?” Jenny questioned. “Well, like I said, it’s not really a talent. Anyone can learn how to sculpt.”

Jelani opened his mouth the say something, but Jenny continued.

“It’s just like drawing or painting. It just takes time, effort, and the desire to do it.”

“Ah,” Jelani laughed, “That would be nice, but what I was going to say...” He paused, getting a bit flustered when he locked eyes with her. “Was... that I was jealous of that bust because he gets to go home with a pretty girl.”

Jenny’s breath caught in her throat, and her face illustrated quite well that she wasn’t prepared to hear that.

“Heh,” Jelani laughed in unease, averting his eyes.

“Mr. ... Jelani,” the red-faced girl breathed in surprised disbelief, looking away.

Her escort bit his lip. “If that was uncalled for, I-“

“Don’t be.” Jenny interjected.

“Huh?”

“Don’t be jealous of it.” She clarified. Her face was still flush, but she wore a smile. “You’re not missing out on much.”

Jelani studied her from the corner of his eye, in a bit of awe. “W-why would you say that?”

Jenny laughed dismissively. “When your life is consumed by art like mine is, I dunno, I guess I just see myself as... somewhat of a boring jill.”

“Well that’s a funny way of thinking.” Jelani looked up at the cloudy blue sky in thought, and then back to Jenny. “Because, to me, you seem like a really bright and lively girl.”

Jenny’s eyes glimmered, the sunlight through the trees highlighting her humble enchantment.

Jelani stopped.

A half a step more, and Jenny froze. Before she could turn around, Jelani’s hand grabbed her shoulder.

“Shh.” He muttered. “Keep walking. Look ahead.”

From the very corner of her eye, Jenny could see that Jelani was staring straight ahead. Something was amiss. It felt like the world had stopped.

Some rustling sounds came from the undergrowth down by the creekside.

Jenny felt her heart spring to her throat.

“Miss Jenny,” Jelani whispered, with seriousness in his voice, “Do not look around. Keep moving.”

Jenny’s eyes had become round with terror. Her legs were frozen, but a gentle nudge from Jelani encouraged her forward. She tread stiffly and shakily, her heartbeat far outpacing her footsteps.

The crack of a twig sent chills up her spine.

“Let’s go,” Jelani repeated quietly, with another soft nudge. “Stay close, and do not run.”

Jenny’s breathing became apparent to her, and her mouth became dry. It was difficult to swallow, as well as to remain calm, as the ominous noises seemed to encroach.

A gruff voice called out behind them.

“Stop right where you are!”

-

Next chapter: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/38712205/