The Last King

[cheezeegriff]

Umoja sneered at the newcomer's little wink, and stepped forwards to deliver his own threat but failed to speak before Katakasha began her tyrade.

"...my, my... I would say you are in trouble, my dear..."

And NOW he could see through the newcomer's mask of confidence to the fear that widened her eyes, and made her breath come a little too fast. He leaned close to her.
"If I were you, I'd show a little more humility considering you just cost half a dozen lions their lunch."
He sighed, looking her over, glancing at Katakasha. He had a feeling the black lioness wanted to shed some blood, but he wasn't sure the newcomer's transgression was quite that great. He wasn't sure anyone on the planet deserved what Katakasha might enjoy doing to others.
"What's your name?"
he said.
"I'm Umoja, regent of this land. If you want to help us hunt, I'm willing to give you one last chance, but if you spoil things a second time you'll be hobbling from my king's kingdom with a few scars to ruin that pretty face. Courtesy of my friend, Katakasha.
"Otherwise, you can leave now and forget we ever had this discussion."
He turned away, walking further out into the grasses and turning around at the last moment.
"And who are you? Where have you come from?"

[genie]

Ayele looked at Derregan as he asked what sort of game to play and Ayele perked up at this, something to do... that was a improvement and he thought a moment before saying "Hide and seek... you're it" this had always been his favourite game. Ayele ran off quickly in search of cover.. after a while he spotted a old log on the ground - all hallowed out, being only small Ayele could fit into this quite easily, and he squeezed inside, waiting to see if Derregan would find him.

[Reagen]

Derregan closed his eyes as Ayele ran away to hide. He could easily smell where the cub was, but of course it wouldn't be much of a game if he used his Superior hunting skills. He waited a while before following after the cub.

He walked around the area where Ayele was hiding. Turning over rocks and looking behind trees, occasionally passing in front of the log.
"Hm, let's see. Where on earth could Ayele be? I checked all over the place but I just can't seem to find him..."
He lay down over the log lightly so as not to break it.
"Hm... Let me think. He isn't in the dens, or in the trees, or underwater, or standing behind me, or- Wait!"
He turned around quickly as if expecting to see the cub, then moaned in fake disappointment.
"Oh no, I thought I had caught him for sure. Hm..."
He stuck his head in front of the log. "BOO! Found you!"

He waited until Ayele had gotten out of the log, then brushed the wood ships out of his fur. "Wow, that was fun. Wasn't it?"
He looked around to make sure no one was nearby, then whispered "It's too bad Umoja wants me to go out and hunt now, otherwise we could play this all day! It's a shame isn't it? Now, you should go check on your sister. You know the way back, right?"

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Imani wasn't enjoying this little 'get together' with these two lions. The one that Umoja called Katakasha scared her to bits and she would've preferred not to deal with her angry side, which seemed not too far off. She put her head back from the black lioness a bit and then moved her whole body backwards so she had a little breathing room and possibly a little running room away from the two.

"Well, Katakasha as I suppose your called, a good huntress can sometimes be out of practice if prey is scarce. And I am sorry. I have lost my lunch as well haven't I?" She said to the black lioness, hoping this would calm her a bit.

She now turned to Umoja. "I am Imani, of the Chichenga pride, heir to the throne. But I chose to leave the throne to my younger sister, Sechenta." She gave a curt smile.

"I'm Umoja, regent of this land. If you want to help us hunt, I'm willing to give you one last chance, but if you spoil things a second time you'll be hobbling from my king's kingdom with a few scars to ruin that pretty face. Courtesy of my friend, Katakasha."

"I have already agreed to hunt, and of course I won't screw it up again. I'm hungry as well you must remember.

"No need to get violent, darlings." she said quietly.

[Dakota]

Ayesha slowly made her way back, stopping just short where she couldn't be seen ,watching with a smile on her muzzle as Derregan played with her brother. Stepping forward out of the shadows realising that they both hadn't noticed she was there

"So what's all the whispering about, not staging a coup are you Derry ?"

Moving, so she was standing beside the black maned lion, Ayesha let a smile appear as she stared into his green eyes "was kind of you not to head out with Umoja but stay and keep Ayele company. "

Looking down she reached for the cub and gave him a small hug, wiping away some bark, that was attached to his fur.
"Well Derry...ooh can I call you that, or does it annoy you ?"
Bringing up a paw grinning, she flicked the top of his left ear.." Sorry you had some bark clinging there as well looks like you boys got into whatever game you were playing."

Putting a gap between her and the dark brown lion Ayesha sat down on her rump while still watching him closely.

" Derry....Kesho isn't improving, what did you think of the panthers suggestion, that we take the prince to her master. We need to do something, we just can't sit around and wait for him to die, he's our last hope"

Something flickered on his face as she talked, making Ayesha a little suspicious. Standing to her paws again she circled around him slowly.
"Unless Derry, you have other plans for whats left of our pride, maybe you would like to be King... is that how things are looking for you."
Coming around from his rear till she was facing him, her nose nearly touching his.
In a low voice she leaned towards his ear. "Is that whats running through that little brain of yours...Derry ?"

[Reagen]

Derregan was slightly startled when Ayesha stepped out from the trees.

'It was kind of you not to head out with Umoja but stay and keep Ayele company'

He shrugged. "Katakasha went with him, and I think one of us scared away some prey. I thought it would best to split up, and then I saw Ayele sitting here looking like a zebra that fell into the mud, so, well, what can I say?"

'Derry....Kesho isn't improving, what did you think of the panthers suggestion, that we take the prince to her master. We need to do something, we just can't sit around and wait for him to die, he's our last hope'

He frowned and sighed. "I don't know... She might have a cure, but there's something I just don't trust about her. I'm not sure what to do."

Derregan looked surprised when Ayesha accused him of wanting the throne for himself.
"Now wait a second, That's a slightly large assumption for you to make. I voted for Umoja, didn't I? I think, if anyone, He'll probably know what's best to do with the prince sick. I'm worried that if, The stars forbid, The prince does die, Umoja will take control of the pride. If I had wanted control, I would have nominated myself instead of voting for him."
A smile returned to his face.
"Also, don't call me Derry."
He had had a mental twitch of pain every time she had used his childhood nickname, but of course he acted as though he didn't really mind. Now was not the time to act aggressive about anything, let alone something that should be insignificant.

[cheezeegriff]

"No need to get violent, darlings."

"There'll be every need if you mess up a second time,"
Umoja said.
"Use that as motivation. Now... that antelope couldn't have gone far."
He sniffed the air for a moment: the trail was leading roughly back towards the tree, on the hill in the distance.
"Now's your chance, princess. Run ahead and flush the beast towards us. And for the love of Kings, stay downwind?"

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Keshomaliki watched the skinny brown lion with hatred. His heart thumped faster in his chest: he wanted the nice lioness, Ayesha, to come back. She thought he would live... somehow, he felt that if she was around, his chance would be better, that this lion's negativity would hasten his death.
"You're still here,"
he said,
"And you're STILL sitting where Mother slept. Move... or I'll bite you. Then you'll be sorry."
The energy left him again though, and he turned his head away, whimpering softly.

[Judas]

The male had his gaze around him, and he found it to be quite cozy in here nothing like the outer areas or the meeting area were the majority of the pride slept, in here you actually had peace and quiet. Though his musings were kept short as an angry voice spoke up, and the wanderer turned only to meet a glare hatred from the sick prince. The prince threatened to bite him, but that didn't daunt Judas,

"Bite me if you must but I'm not moving. Decides someone must stay and watch over you.. and even if you like it or not. Right now that person is me." he paused for a moment, shaking his mane free of any dust, "So, you better get used to it." the male's voice didn't hold much emotion though it wasn't cold, but not exactly warming either.

Though the princes energy soon faltered and he turned his head away whimpering in what appeared to be pain. This caused Judas to frown, as he left the place he lay and went over to lay down next to the prince, the kid could bite him for coming this close and a bite would possibly mean certain infection, but as far as Judas knew he could've been sick already just by staying here.

Any alarm bells in his mind went unheeded as the male placed a large paw gently over the prince and for the first time in his life Judas found himself showing compassion to a stranger. "Everything will be okay.." the wanderer whispered perhaps a positive motivation would slow the progress of the disease, they couldn't lose the prince 'cause Judas didn't think Umoja was up to the task and not anyone else in the pride for that matter, if the prince lived Judas would take on the task as teacher.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

"Now's your chance, princess. Run ahead and flush the beast towards us. And for the love of Kings, stay downwind?"

"Don't call me princess." Imani snarled at the lion. "There's a reason I left." With that, she began began running, downwind and low, towards the antelope. All she had to to was flush the antelope toward the others and all would be well. She noticed the wind's direction changed and she moved slightly with it, so as the antelope wouldn't realize her presence so near to him.

Her instincts began to kick back in, the "motivation" of injury was keeping her skill intact. She began to move a little closer to the antelope. She was enjoying hunting again; it felt nice to play with the power of being able to kill something so, easily, but holding back the inevitable.

She worked her way back around and then all she had to do was step forward and the antelope would be flushed toward the others. She stepped forward and the antelope bolted, right where she wanted it to go. It began running, full blast, right towards Katakasha and Umoja. She smiled to herself as she kept it on the right path, her hunting skills had returned.

[Dakota]

Ayesha watched closely as the lion talked, yet.... there was just something about him, she just quite couldn't put a paw on..as much as he tried to be nonchalant...his eyes flickered with little bits of emotion. I guess I'll leave it and give him benefit of the doubt

Stepping back away from him, she bent down towards her brother, stopped herself and looked back up at the lion. "Thankyou Derry.. I mean Derrigan, for looking after Ayele, he needs a strong male influence in his life now I'll just have to see if you are the right one." smiling a little she looked back down to the cub.

Brushing a paw across his head softly she patted down some fur that had started to stick up from his crawling in the log. "It looked like you were having fun playing Ele with Derrigan, from where I was watching it was nice to see you happy."
Sitting down beside him, she started to lick and groom his messy fur, while watching from the corner of her eye what Derrigan was doing. mmm when he grows up a bit I'm sure he'll be one not to be messed with, a strong fighter for his beliefs I think

Turning her attention back to Ayele she wondered how she could look after the little prince and still watch out for her brother, he had a tendancy to wander and get into mischief she was told by her mother.
Sighing Ayesha let her gaze wander up towards the heavens and just stared, wondering if she was being looked down upon and being judged. Blinking and letting her long white lashes rest on her cheek. I am, what I am.. I wandered around for months relying on my instinct and yes my trust was abused a couple of times I've learnt from that and it's made me stronger, it's all I have to use ,that and go with what my hearts telling me, so for now its how I'm going to deal with the prince and Ayele

[genie]

Ayele got found and he looked suspiciously at this then as he got out the dirt and bark was knocked off his fur and he was spoken to before saying any more his sister appeared and the two started talking, Ayele didn't really understand, stuff and leading and such. Ayesha spoke again and Ayele just sorta shrugged, it wasn't really long enough to enjoy properly and besides.. he'd prefer other cubs really, there just wasn't same feel with a adult... then he gave his sister a quizzical look, it just popped into his head, he wondered if she was going to have a cub... then screwed up his face and shook his head, no that wasn't likely.

[Kirsui]

"Don't call me princess."

Katakasha snorted.
"She's right, Umoja", she said with a disrespectuf tone.
"Don't call her princess... She's a spoiled brat, un-deserving of such a title."
Her eyes narrowed as the princess left, and she snorted again.
"I'm not hunting with that brat", she informed when the lioness was out of the hearing range.
"You can give her her chance, without me."

The black lioness' eyes narrowed as she looked at Umoja before turning her back at him and the coming hunt. Let the brat show him all she wanted, she had already seen enough on their first encounter. She seemed to be walking aimlessly as a few minutes passed, stopping then when she passed a skeleton of some dead animal she no longer could - or tried - to recognize.

Growling she stepped on one of the bones, claws extented. The bone cracked in half and the black lioness shook the dust of her paw before retracting her claws and heading back to the pride's Den. She wasn't hungry anymore, the brat had dealt with that part with her mere precence. Maybe, just maybe the brat would be stupid enough to mess up now too so that Umoja could kill her off.

She smirked wickedly. Or maybe he would let her do that...

[Reagen]

'Thankyou Derry.. I mean Derrigan, for looking after Ayele, he needs a strong male influence in his life now I'll just have to see if you are the right one'

Derregan smiled. At last, he was gaining some Allys in the pride! Or so he assumed. Although he wasn't sure if Ayele liked him at all. At least Ayesha seemed grateful of his efforts.
"Well, I suppose I had better find Umoja now, Perhaps he's caught something and needs help bring it back. I hope."

He started to leave, then turned his head back. "I'll see you later Ayele, maybe we can play some more when I'm finished helping Umoja."

________________________________________________________


Derregan eventually caught up to Umoja, just as katakasha left.
"Umoja, sorry I was gone. I figured you and Kata could work together and I would split of from the group. All I found was-"
At that moment the antelope jumped out of the trees straight into them, Derrgen leaped in front of it, having only a second to react he almost flipped over, and forced it to halt.

[Dakota]

Ayesha glanced down at her brother with a quizzical look on her face "what are you looking at me like that for...huh...do I have something smeared all over my muzzle ?"
Tapping the end of his nose, she gave a laugh.

Seeing Derrigan about to move off, she looked away from Ayele and up to the lion
" you know we really need fresh meat Derrigan. we have to build up our strength after this disease has wiped out so many,...just ... see what you can all find..its getting desperate."

Ayesha looked around where they all normally lay, no one was in sight, maybe they were all out looking for prey.
"Ele, have you seen Judas around here at all, he was with me in the royal room I thought he followed me out when I came to see what you were upto"
Suddenly a horrible vision raced through her mind and his words echoed around 'the pain will go when you die'.
"Ele come with me quick we have to get back to where the prince is resting"
Using her paw she pushed him forward, speeding herself up trying to get back to the chamber.she nearly tripped over some hidden tree roots, stumbling but rerighting herself in time.

Rushing inside, she stopped quickly realising that more blood hadn't been spilt it was just her imagination working overtime. Slowly she crept forward her eyes widening at the scene before her. Judas lay there with his eyes closed curled up by Kesho with one paw resting on the cub.
Leaning over the cub, she could see he was sleeping. Raising a paw Ayesha skimmed it over his head expecting to feel heat, but for once it felt much cooler.
About to lower her paw back down to the ground she hesitated then moved it closer to Judas. Gently she touched the fur on his back and let her paw move along a little.
Jumping back as she realised what she had done, Ayesha backed back and left the chamber. Kesho had someone to watch over him for now, she smiled and turned away.

[cheezeegriff]

Umoja frowned as Katakasha walked away. What was he going to do with her? Somehow he had to temper that anger, or put the energy to good use at least, before she hurt herself or someone else.
He sighed, and concentrated on watching for the antelope. It would be harder by himself, most likely, then again Katakasha's dark coat didn't tend to be good camoufla-
His ears pricked at the sound of the antelope's rapid footfalls.

"Umoja, sorry I was gone. I figured you and Kata could work together and I would split of from the group. All I found was-"

The creature sprang out of the bushes and slammed into Derrigan's flank, but the young lion turned on it and held it still. Pausing in surprise for but a second, Umoja leapt and grabbed the beast's neck, dragging it to the ground, strangling its cries as he crushed its windpipe. When it had kicked its last Umoja straightened up and laughed.
"Haw, well done!"
he said, slapping Derrigan on the shoulder.
"I should take you with us more often! Maybe more food will run into you. Save us a lot of walking wouldn't it?"
He chuckled.
"Don't eat yet. Let's drag it back to the tree."
He lifted his nose, pointing it back the way from which the antelope had come.
"Princess!"
He called.
"Well done. Come back to the tree with us and meet the rest of the pride. I'll give you the honour of taking the first portion.
"Derrigan, help me here,"
he said, taking the creature in his jaws and dragging it backwards towards the tree. Finally, food for them all! He hadn't felt this good in a while. Not only had they caught food, but snagged another huntress too. The pride needed another female. Several others, in fact, but one - and one of royal blood - was a good start.
"Give me your name again, princess, and I'll introduce you as that if you wish."

\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

Keshomaliki heard the brown lion's words, but he was in too much pain and far too tired to understand. When a soft weight fell over him he closed his eyes, enjoying the closeness - something he hadn't had for so long, he had almost forgotten what it was like.
His carers kept him away from them, first his mother, then his father as each of them fell ill, not daring to let him get close enough even to say goodbye lest he catch their terrible affliction. Father had been busy before he caught it, and mother had been out hunting more often than not. He had been left with nursemaids too afraid of Father to become close to him, to comfort him, and who later became ill themselves. Then he had been alone.
Umoja brought him the news. He explained it as kindly as possible, but there was no hiding the fact: Father would never hold him again, and Mother would never sing him lullabies. That's when he had first started to feel the pain in the pits of his limbs, the tiredness, the pointlessness. The deaths and sickness had stopped by then, but he still caught it, and welcomed it; the pain in his body took his mind from the pain in his soul.
Now, though, with warmth around him, the pain receeded a little, and when he heard someone enter and place their hand on his forehead he blinked wearily.
"Mother?"
he said, but the room was empty, save for him and the brown lion curled around him.
He remembered, then: Mother was dead. The pain came back. The room became colder, and he snuggled backwards into the brown lion's warmth, trying to forget again, and did, for a small while.
"Did you have a father?"
he said softly.

[Judas]

Judas wasn't really in a deep sleep, he wasn't a deep sleeper right now he was only resting but his ears were trained on his surroundings. He could smell who that had entered and he could hear the princes' words of 'mother' but he didn't do anything he just lay there pretending he slept.

His breath was slow and rhythmic the signs of sleep, yes he was good at faking it. Though the paw that brushed over his back made him want to shudder and thus threatened to blow his cover, though the shudder was not of cold or discomfort but pleasure, he found that he liked her touch. He could hear paw steps fade away along with the smell, Ayesha had left them alone.

First now Judas' opened his eyes and glanced down at the prince that had snuggled closer to him. The wanderer's ears twitched as the soft words called out a question. Yes he had a father, and possibly still had unless the old man had been defeated or sub-come to age. Nah, his father was a fighter; a seasoned veteran it would take alot to bring him down.

"Yes.. I do." Judas replied in a soft whisperer, "I also had many siblings, but none of them passed the 'test'-" Judas added but cut his sentence, he wasn't so sure if he could tell the prince about his own youth, the youngster would possibly not understand, or rather it was Judas that didn't understand the prince's upbringing, perhaps it was he there was something wrong with.

"My father was never showed me love.." well not exactly the love you'd expect a parent to show for their child, Judas had an upbringing faced with death, and struggle it had been a part of him from the day he was born. "Not even my mother showed me much comfort." His mother hadn't been a bad parent she taught her surviving children the meaning of Independence.

But she wasn't the queen so Judas' wasn't of true royal blood, more a *** child than anything, but his father valued Bakari.. she had been his favorite mistress and concubine, and that entitled Judas to as comfortable a life as you could get in a land ravage by famine and disease. If he of course proved to be healthy enough and not end up getting killed at birth, Judas was lucky enough to pass the test.

[Reagen]

Even as Umoja was congratulating him, he had no idea what had just happened. The chances of an antelope running into a lion were... Zero! What had just happened?

'Don't eat yet. Let's drag it back to the tree.'

That snapped him back into reality. He grabbed it by the scruff of the neck, and started dragging it. Hoping Umoja would give him a hand at some point.

'Princess! Well done. Come back to the tree with us and meet the rest of the pride. I'll give you the honour of taking the first portion.'

Now Derregan was really confused.
"Princess?" He said through his jaws, as he was still holding the antelope. "Did no one tell me that Keshomaliki had a sister? What's going on here?"

[cheezeegriff]

Keshomaliki listened to the brown lion's words, and through the swamp of his own sorrow, a twinge of pity seeped through. He put his arms around the brown lion's forearm and hugged him.
"Would I pass the test?"
he asked.
"What did you have to do?"

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Imani had heard Katakasha's remark as she had left, but had chosen to ignore it. She assumed it was probably better not to mess with the dark lioness... for now anyway. She smiled ear to ear as she heard the congratulatory sound of the antelope's fragile bones crushing and breaking between the jaws of a lion.

'Princess! Well done. Come back to the tree with us and meet the rest of the pride. I'll give you the honour of taking the first portion.'

Imani began jogging back towards them at an even pace. She smiled in an accomplished -and slightly flirtacious- way to Umoja. She giggled. "It's not 'princess' remember.... The first portion?" she asked in awe. She had never even had the first portion when she was in her own pride. That had always gone to her adopted mother and father, or the hunters and huntresses.

"My name is Imani, and please don't call me Nini..." she shuddered, "Its a childhood nickname that I haven't been able to shake in a while." She laughed softly. Then she finally computed all he had said. "The whole pride?" she asked, "Are you in the market for a royal lioness who happened to have run away and would like to join up?"

[genie]

Ayele blinked as Ayesha suddenly tapped his nose and asked if she had anything on her face and he looked away and down feeling silly and mumble "no... nothing there...".

He glanced back up but apparently Ayesha didn't hear and had diverted her attention to inquiring about food, at this Ayele perked up his ears, he was feeling hungry... finally something that was interesting was being talking about.

[Dakota]

Ayesha heard a little tummy rumble beside her as she talked with Derrigan. Moving back to let the lion pass it seemed he was in a hurry to reach Umoja and maybe join in whatever prey she hoped they would come across.

Looking down at the cub, she lowered herself to his level, stretching as she moved.
" Ayele, come here for a moment, we need to talk."

Ayesha didn't want to treat him like a baby, she felt he needed to know what was happening, she wanted his opinion about Kesho as well.
"You know the royal prince is sick, well it looks like I seem to have taken it upon myself to try and bring him some comfort as he is terribly ill. we aren't sure if he has the plague that killed our King and Queen, but Ayele... its means that I can't spend as much time with you... I need to watch over Kesho".
Bringing her paw up she lifted her brothers chin so their eyes could meet.
"Would you rather I left him all alone with no one to care for him and maybe he will die, or.. you saw that black panther that came in our midst before, she said her master could cure the prince. What I'm asking Ele, if that was you inside the chamber, what would you want done ?"

[Kirsui]

Katakasha glared at the pool of water and the tree next to it. She stood on a nearby hill and could see the Den rather well. She had stopped here in order to regain the control of her expressions. The wicked smirk was hard to push aside, and one could still see her sharp fangs between her slightly parted lips.

Her ear twiched and she scratched the wounds again, damaging the healed part and causing them to bleed again. She flicked the blood away from her paw before shaking herself, her bright red mane swaying from side to side before settling on its usual position once again. Then she sat down, examining what was happening at the den area. She couldn't see the prince anymore, someone must have taken him back inside while she had been gone. The liard female was outside with her little brother, and apparently the two were having some kind of discussion.

She tilted her head slightly as the wind brought new scents to her. She frowned in displeasure when she caught the scent of Umoja and Derregan with the scent of the "princess" and fresh antelope blood. So the spoiled brat had succeeded in the hunt.
'Wonderful', she thought as she rolled her eyes.

Kata turned her gaze to the direction from which the hunters would be approaching, but remained where she was with an expression of utter boredom on her face. She would rather starve than eat anything the spoiled brat had been part of catching.

[Judas]

Judas remained silent, mostly he was lost in his own thoughts. Maybe this panther's cure was the only chance for this pride to stick together during this desperate time of need. If they lost the prince most would lose any reason to stay, as they're oath of allegiance that had laid with the royal family was broken.

At least that included Judas as he was a rogue taken in under the wing of the king. He had been a lowly guard, a mear sentry and border watch during the pride's hey-day before the plague, now he was without a duty the borders were weakened each pride member had to stay close to the three the center of their home, to protect the prince.

The wanderer was a soldier, he had always been a soldier, groomed in a militaristic lifestyle that forbade any showing of weakness or frailty. The prince's voice however threw him out of his thoughts as he felt someone hug his fore paw, maybe the prince was sensing his worry, and was trying to calm him,

"Not if you are sick.." his voice was low and his ears laid back gently, "If you were healthy then I bet you would've.." the soldier smiled trying to reassure the youngster. Then Kesho asked what he had to do? So the prince thought it was an actual test of skill.

"It wasn't a test of skill, your majesty." the tannish lion said shaking his head, and his voice held a grave tone. "I couldn't have done anything, as I was just a newborn. If I had been born with frail health or a weak will.. then my parents, or rather my father would've ordered that I'd be killed, throw out to the river with the crocodiles." he sighed, regretting to having to tell the child such gruesome stories.

Judas had seen it the screams and wails of the cubs crying for their parents for help as the crocodiles rip them apart. "I've would've never done that to my own children.." the lion confessed through a whisperer, but had he remained at home, might have been forced to do it.

[genie]

Ayele sat as his sister spoke to him, his head tipped slightly to one side as if what Ayesha was saying was difficult for him to understand, once she had finished he sat there thinking, he looked at the ground a few times like it would give him a answer then he finally answered "I'd want to be well..." though at same time looked sad as he understood that meant his sister not being around much.

[cheezeegriff]

"Are you in the market for a royal lioness who happened to have run away and would like to join up?"

"Royal or no, our pride's in the market for anyone that can hunt."
Umoja said, then bit down on the antelope and helped Derrigan pull it back up the hill. Once under the shade of the giant fig tree he mumbled,
"This'll do,"
then let the carcass go.
"Everyone! Gather 'round, we have food,"
he said, smiling, and waited for those present to gather closer. In a quieter tone he said,
"I'd like to formally invite Imani into our pride. Her efforts went far to contribute to the hunt's success, so you all have her to thank for the food that's about to fill your bellies."
He turned to the newcomer.
"Imani, welcome. Please, take your portion aside quickly - I for one am starving and there's a lot of mouths to feed. Would you like a leg, or something from the body? Whatever you prefer."

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Keshomaliki listened to the brown lion's story, using it as best as he was able to keep the pain off his belly. When the smell of food wafted in through the entry it sparked a hunger within him almost as bad as the pain, but then, a moment later, the thought of eating made his stomach twist into knots.
He clamped his mouth shut as it filled with fathers-know-what from his belly, and swallowed it, coughing uncontrollably. For a while he felt like he was drowing, barking too hard to draw breath, but he staggered away to the same place as before and wretched in the same spot.
The coughing didn't stop though. He lay on his side, gasping between fits, and managed to ask,
"Would... **cough**... they... **cough**... kill me... **cough**... now?"
He winced in agony. Right now, lungs burning, body full of pain, being thrown to crocodiles didn't seem too bad.

[Dakota]

Ayesha saw the sadness on her brothers face as she tried to explain to him what she felt she had to do. "Ele, I'm trying to help the prince live, and what I'm doing I hope someone would do the same for you if I wasn't around. I love you little one and if I'm not with the prince I will spend every moment with you...ok ?"

Giving him a little nudge "now look what I see, lets go fix that rumbling tummy of yours and maybe you can spend some time with Derrigan or Umoja, while I go and see if Judas would like to come and get some meat too."

Moving Ayele over to where the other males were standing, her head came up in surprise when Umoji 'invited' the lioness who was standing there quietly to join their pride. well, well another female, lets see the rush begin
Not paying her any attention Ayesha moved and sunk her teeth in pulling off a piece of bloody meat and gave it to the cub.
"Umoji, could you watch Ayele, I need to go see Kesho and let Judas come and eat, and ...you need to see why katakasha is hiding up on the hill to our right".

Stepping back towards the antelope, Ayesha didnt look at anyone but again ripped meat away from the carcuss and turned away moving slowly towards where the prince lay.
Stepping into the 'room' just as Kesho had his coughing fit, Ayesha tried to hide the emotions that flitted across her face, as he again emptyied his stomach of its contents.
Moving forward till she was standing beside Judas she let the meat drop. Lowering herself down to the ground she gently touched keshos cheek and slowly rubbed back and forth.

"Thankyou Judas, I'll look after him now. You'd better get some nourishment, they finally had a kill ...plus there's someone out there Umoji would like you to meet, a princess I believe."
Meeting his eyes she stared for a moment trying to guage his thoughts at what she had just told him, then gave up and turned back to the prince.

[Judas]

The tan male frowned as the prince began to cough, it sounded almost like he was going to throw up from it. Reaching out for the youngster he could sense someone entering the room only to turn and see that Ayesha had returned, with a piece of meat in her jaws, which she dropped to the floor before she settled down. He was about to answere the child but he couldn't now that Ayesha had appeard, if she knew what the wanderer had told the child she would probably scold him for it, esspecially since such stories weren't exactly fairytales for kittiens.

The feline thanked him, and said that she would take over the watch of the prince, saying that he should go and get some food for himself. Though Ayesha mentioned that there was someone Umoja wanted him to meet a princess of sorts, to this the wanderer's brows narrowed, "Well.. there won't be much of a princess left of her the longer she stays here." he replied sitting down on his haunches, the former soldier had no wish to leave.

"I'll stay I think, as I am not hungry.." he confessed, it was true that he wasn't hungry but that was only part of the reason; Ayesha was here and thus he had no wish to leave, he wanted to stay keep a watch over the prince, he could always go and find some food later on Judas was in no hurry he was used to starvation. Decides the rest of the pride had more need of the food than he did, the tanned male had no wish for food, no will to eat.

"Ayesha.." Judas began slowly, as if he was unsure whether to say it or not, "I would like to apologize for my bad behavior earlier today. I shouldn't have been so cold and harsh with the prince.." he paused for a while, "My background doesn't justify my behavior, or gave me any reason to act the way I did. I am sorry." Judas bowed to the feline. "I don't wish to become like my father.." those words weren't spoken out loud, though ran through his mind.

[Reagen]

Once everyone in the pride was eating or had eaten, Derregan took his piece of meat up to Umoja. It was time to find out what he intended to do.

"Hello Umoja." He said as he sat down. "It certainly is nice to have something to eat, isn't it?"
He took a bite and paused for a moment.
"You know... I've been thinking about the prince. He's not doing well at all. I think that that panther might really have a cure, crazy as it sounds. I just have a gut feeling."
In reality, Derregan respected the panthers opinion and ideas about as much as he would a rotten fruit. However, true or not it could prove useful to him.
"I think, we should at least find out what she would want us to do to get this supposed 'cure' from her master. I doubt it could put us any worse off then we are now if we tried."
He continued eating, waiting for Umoja's response. No matter what happened at this point, it would fall in his favor. Unless of course they all died of illness there and then.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Imani grinned brilliantly at Umoja. "I'd be honored to be a part of this pride." She felt incredibly happy at the moment. Finally she was a part of a pride again and it felt good. They only knew that she was a princess and nothign else. They didn't know she could just about run faster than anyone in all of Africa.

"Imani, welcome. Please, take your portion aside quickly - I for one am starving and there's a lot of mouths to feed. Would you like a leg, or something from the body? Whatever you prefer."

She was still slightly shocked that she was getting the first portion, so it took her a few seconds to compute his words. She was about to take her portion when another female took hers. She would've probably said something in another situation, but the female seemed to be slightly maternal and she gave off a kind glow, so Imani said nothign and quietly tore away a small amount of the carcass. She stepped back quickly so as the others could take theirs.

[Dakota]

Ayesha thought Judas would leave as quick as possible away from the sick prince and get back to the others, but was surprised when he said he was going to stay, and as for the not hungry suggestion. Beneath her lowered lashes she gave him a quick glance over mmm he can't really afford to pass up the offer of food, he's a bit too...slim.

About to lean down to the prince once again, she stopped when she heard her name softly spoken. Turning her head to meet his eyes she paused, Judas was apologising to her about his choice of words to the prince.

Blowing her white tuft out of her eyes and back onto her head, Ayesha thought for a minute about how to reply.
"Judas... please don't apologise, we are what we are, circumstances can lead our lives no matter what we would want otherwise....just.. he's a cub fighting for his life with so many expectations on his head. It may sound silly, but the less he hears doom and gloom, I feel it will help him fight whatever it is trying to take him from us, call it naive, but its just what I feel."

Moving back down to the prince she used more fresh leaves that were wet and gently washed his muzzle. Using a paw she then soothingly rubbed in circles, massaging his trembling stomach, watching as she finally saw it subside.
Leaning back she ripped off a small bite sized piece of meat and started chewing till she was satisfied that it was nearly pureed. Glancing sideways at Judas, Ayesha blushed slightly, aware that what she was about to do seemed gross to some, but it was what was need to be done.
Leaning down near to Keshos muzzle but not touching, Ayesha pushed out some of the pureed meat and let it drop on the cubs mouth, then using her paw she pushed it into his muzzle and rubbed gently. At the same time she started massaging his tummy and softly spoke encouraging words to him waiting to see if he would come around and swallow for her.

"Kesho I'm here it Ayesha, I need you to eat for me, it's only a little bit, and it will make you feel alot better...please little one, for me...swallow"

Hearing his breathing behind her, Ayesha had forgotten for a moment Judas was there. her glance went to the lion then down to the remaining meat. "I think it's your turn now...don't you?"