The Hunt

[Alex]

Despite her fluttering heart, Shana smiled. She was surrounded by friends and she knew she could rely on them.
"Well," she sighed, "I'd better get on with it. I think it would be better if you all stayed here until I've explained - we don't want the lionesses to get worked up. But... if things get nasty... would you - would you help me? Maybe just... you know, appear, so that they know I'm not alone."
Glancing around, she realised how easily and quickly friendship could grow when it was given a chance.

[Lunar Crecent]

Reika smiled and bowed her head.She nodded and loooked up at the other two awaiting their responses.

((OOC:sorry No Muse...-.-''))

[growl1]

"Of course," Kala replied.
"Do you think I should?," Kiume asked, then said,
"You know how your father feels about males."
Kiume and Kala looked at each other, and Kala smiled, knowing that she could count on her 3 friends when it really came down to it. They both turned to Reika and Kala said,
"Thanks for coming with us, Reika."
Kala turned back to Shana and said,
"So how long will we have to wait before they come back? Not long, I hope."

[Alex]

Shana flashed a grateful smile at Kala before turning to Kiume.
"You might not need to come up to the den; I might be able to manage alone. But all I mean is that if my father or Azura try to make me stay, I can call for you, so they know I'm serious. They probably won't believe me when I tell them I'm leaving but if you all appear behind me, they will. And yes, my father will probably get wound up that there's another male - but if we explain everything and you make sure he knows you aren't a threat, we'll cope."
After adding her thanks to Kala's and Kiume's, Shana said,
"I should expect that my father will be arriving soon. The lionesses will have hidden the kill from their hunt somewhere before they came up to the den, so my father will probably have gone to eat some before he comes back here. Why don't we start to make our way to the pride boundary? We'll meet Father on the way, I would think. And once we've conquered Father, I'll have to come back to face Azura and the other lionesses."
Shana could barely believe she was actually going to do this; she was actually going to confront her father and Azura, and she was going to leave. No-one would stop her now.

((OOC: We need someone to play Shana's father! I can't, I already have two charries, and neither can you, Growl. Lunar, would you like to? Either that or we need another RPer - or we could just kind of skip that part so that we don't actually meet Shana's father, ie. I'll say something like:
Shana left to face her father and she returned an hour later, sad but relieved, after her father agreed to let her leave peacefully.
What do you guys think?))

[Lunar Crecent]

((OOC:Hmm....I'll Play Him!Whats His Name?Just So I Know....?))

Reika nodded to this plan, ehr eyes seeming lifless in the shadows of the night.She looked at her new friends and stood, streching her legs, ready for the run to the border.She couldn't wait!She hadn't run in such a long time and she wished time could hurry and run faster!

[Alex]

((OOC: He hasn't been given a name yet, so you can call him whatever you like. The only thing I would say is remember that, since Shana's mother's death, he is permanantly paranoid of attack - so you have more of an idea for a character for him )

IC:

Shana could feel the tension building and she was sure the others felt it too. After scenting the air and stretching a little, she smiled at her friends.
"Ready?"
When they nodded, Shana turned towards the pride boundary, her brown eyes keen and her muscles tense, and growled, "Let's go."
She sprang clear of the rocks and began to lope steadily across the savannah. She basked in the freedom of it; the crunch of dirt and dry grass beneath her paws, the easy motion of her muscles, the cool breeze of the evening rushing past... This is how it should be, she thought as she glanced at her friends on either side. This was how a lion's life should be: free.

[Lunar Crecent]

Reika followed after easily.She hurried in next to Shana.

"What Wll Azura think of This?"She asked quetly, her long legs strecheing long then the lioness's own form.

She couldn't help, but feel slghtly nervous at the feeling.
____________________________________________________________

A Large male lion was ripping up a carcass when he lifted his massive and sniffed the air.More outsiders.He growled lowly and followed the scent to see on the horizon a small group coming from his home.He stepped forward with a bound and stood in front of his daughter, a male behind her, a silvery creature next to him, and another lioness he had never seen before.

"Shana!Who Are They?!?"He growled out in anger.

((OOC:Ok...his name is....Astramater... dont know i cant think now!>.<"'))

[growl1]

(OOC: I really like Shana's father. Where did you come up with the name, Alex? Astramater? Is that it, or are you going to change it? And Lunar, I think you forgot to put the word "head" after massive. Just letting you know!)
IC: Kala stepped forward and said,
"We're her friends, your Highness. My name is Kala, current Queen of Pride Rock."
And she gave him the traditional respectful nod that most royalty did when they met each other. She waited for one of the others or Shana's father to say something.

[Lunar Crecent]

((OOC:Actually growl i made it!))

Reika looked at the king in great respect as she herself bowed her head, since of course she was royalty of her own blood.She looked up at the male, his stern eyes catching her gaze instantly.Curiousity?Wonder?They lined his eyes perfectly with alos great protectivness.
______________________________________________________________

Astramater looked at the one who spoke and bowed his head respectfully as well.He knew much about what had happaned at Pride Rock and he was disgusted with Scar.She shook his mane out in anger then turned his gaze to each in turn.He looked at the femlae cat in wonder.How had such fur come about?He tilted his head back to his daughter, Shana.

"Shana!Where do you think you are going?"He roared out in rage, "Awnser!"

[Alex]

Shana stepped forward. She had been silent, thinking hard, waiting for her friends to finish introducing themselves. She felt that if they were honest, her father would be far more likely to let her leave without a struggle. Now, she sensed it was her turn.

"Father... these are my friends. Kala, Reika... and you know Kiume. He was injured nearby a few months ago and you allowed him to stay here until he recovered." Shana could see her father's temper was rising and she ploughed on. "They're not here to stay; they'll be gone by the morning. We'll all be gone by the morning."

Before her father could say anything, Shana stepped closer, not so close as to be dominating or invasive, rather the contrary. She looked pleadingly at her father and went on, "I know you try your hardest for the pride, and I appreciate that, I really do. But I can't stay here - I need to live my own life. With Azura ruling the pride when you're not around, I'm forced to be subservient, and I - I can't, not any more. I need to be free, Father. Kala has invited Kiume, Reika and I to live with her at Pride Rock. I hope you will see that if I go with them, I will not be leaving out of spite or anger, but out of need - need to be with my friends in a different pride, need to have cubs of my own..." Shana smiled wryly, "need to be invited on hunts, not left behind to cub-sit."

[Lunar Crecent]

Astaramatar looked at his daughter in outrage.How dare she!

"You are my daughter!Why has Azura not taken you out on hunts?!You may stay here with Kiume.I Allow it him here, but you are not going anywhere!What would happen with you and these people?You could get killed!"He growled lowly at his daughter, his eyes shifting to glare at Reika, who stepped back in respect toward him.

[growl1]

Kala had heard that and she was not backing down. She just glared at Astaramatar and then said,
"What if I promised you she would be safe at Pride Rock? She's one of my best friends, and I would protect her like I protect my own family. And I take that job very seriously, I assure you."
Kala stepped back a little, hoping she hadn't angered him by saying this, but she kept her eyes on him, and waited for him to say something.

[Alex]

Shana bristled with anger at her father's words - how did he not understand? How did he not realise that she was miserable here - and had been for years?
However, when she heard Kala's reply, she grinned broadly. To hear Kala say that she would protect her like she was family made Shana's heart swell with joy.
She turned to her father and said,
"See? I would be perfectly safe. And anyway, I can protect myself if I need to. No, Kiume and I can't stay here, Father, we need to get out on our own! I need to live my own life - if that means a little danger now and then... so be it! I'll have my friends, and that's all I need."

[Lunar Crecent]

Astramatar growled lowly in his throat as he looked at his daughter and the girl who spoke up.

"You shall not Leave these lands unless I have spoken with the two royals.Girl What is Your Name?"He roared out quietly.

He glared down at Reika who had kept her form right in front of him instead of backing away like the others.She held herself with a regal air, he had caught that.
___________________________________________________

Reika looked on at him in silent rage, her eyes nor form or muzzle protruding the emotions out.She bowed her head as he asked for her name.

"I Am Reika, Sire......My Father was King Hasoma -Tep....Mother, Lunarium Kata from the North...I am now the true Heir of the grounds of where their dead bodies used to lay and I promise on My Rulling Duty that I shall protect your daughter with all my Life!"She remarked as she roared out the ending, her eyes once again, lifless.
__________________________

Amastar tilted his head to the side as he heard her speach.He smiled and came up toward her.He placed a huge paw on her head with a smile and rubbed her skull.

"You have not Changed one bit..You do remember me right?"He asked laughing, his laughter like the rolling thunder of the rare rains that came across the savannahs.

He saw her smile and nod as she muzzled him friendly and as a greeting.

[growl1]

Kala just stared in disbelif at Reika and Shana's father. She said,
"Do you guys know each other?,"
while looking from one to the other.

[Lunar Crecent]

Reika turned her head and smiled at her new friends.

"Yes...My father came toward King Amasatar when I was just a cub to negotiate to keep our area of land....."She replied, smiling widly.

[Alex]

Shana couldn't believe it. She gaped at her father and Reika, unable to believe her eyes. They knew each other?

Smiling, Shana realised this was to her advantage - if her father already knew Reika, he was likely to trust her more. And from the friendly greeting they had just exchanged, Shana knew her father would be in a much better mood to listen to her, rather than ignore everything she said.

She remained silent, and simply smiled innocently - she felt that if she kept out of it, her father's mood would improve even further through reminiscing about happy memories.

[Lunar Crecent]

Reika smilled at the older male.She looked back over to Shana with a confused.

"You do not remember me Shana?"She asked quietly,"That little puffball of silver fluff?"She asked laughing.

[growl1]

(OOC: I hope everyone doesn't mind a plot twist. I decided to make one for a change. Does everyone agree to Kala's pride finding her? If so, tell me and I'll write it.
G.1.)

[Lunar Crecent]

((OOC:GOT YA...SURE GO AHEAD WITH IT!))

[Alex]

((OOC: Yeah that sounds great! ;D))

IC:

Furrowing her brow, Shana thought hard. After a moment, she shook her head, disappointed.

"No," she murmured sadly, "I don't remember you... I guess I would have just been a cub, too."

Shana suddenly found memories of her cubhood flooding back. The first time she met the rest of the pride, other than her mother... playing with the other cubs in the sunlight... spending long lazy days snoozing beside her mother... She felt as if she could just stretch out a paw, and feel the wonderful warmth of her mother. Then she realised that Reika and her father must have approached her pride around the time that Shana's mother had died. At that thought, a series of memories flashed through her mind; she remembered that her mother had stopped going on hunts, and had begun to spend more time resting in the den, alone in the dark... Quickly, Shana dragged herself back into the future. Any memories after that were just too painful to relive.

[growl1]

While the others stood there talking, Kala suddenly caught a scent on the wind. It was her sister, Tani, her daughter, Kira, and the rest of the pride. She whispered to Shana,
"Excuse me for a second, I have some business I need to take care of., and raced off and after she'd gone about 4 miles, she suddenly heard from her left,
"Mom!,"
and next thing she knew, Kira had pinned her and had a look of absoultue joy on her face.
"Hi, Mom."
"Hi, Whirlwind."
Whirlwind was Kala's nickname for Kira. She giggled and they got off just as the rest of the pride, led by Tani, came in.
"Hi,sis."
"Hi, Tani."
She greeted each of the pride memebers in turn, then said,
"Come on, I want you to meet some friends of mine."
(OOC: Well, what's everybody think?
G.1.)

[Alex]

((OOC: I think this twist is great! But, I'm a little confused, how many characters are you playing now? I thought you could only play two characters at one time in the same RP, and you already have Kiume and Kala. I'm not sure whether the rule of two characters will apply to a practice RP though, it might just be for the "real" RPs. It might be worth finding out though ))

IC:

Surprised, Shana watched Kala sprint away, wondering what her friend was up to. Then, she caught a strange scent on the air; more than one lions, heading downwind towards them. Perhaps Kala had gone to investigate, so that Astramater wouldn't be distracted from the conversation now that they were so close to making their dream a reality?

Shana glanced quickly at Reika and Kiume to see if they knew what was going on, but saw faces just as blank as her own. Her father looked confused too - and wary. Worried herself, Shana prayed that these lions weren't looking for trouble.

[growl1]

Kiume sighed. He hated to see Shana so confused. Of course, he was confused, too, having no idea who these lions were or what they wanted. He said,
"What do you girls think we should do? Should we go after her?"
(OOC: Um, yeah, I just thought it would be ok if I put Kira and Tani in it and gave them some dialouge and besides, am I not allowed to play my own characters? True, they're from my stories, but they're still mine What do you think, Alex?
G.1.)
.

[Alex]

((OOC: I really don't know - I would think that, seeing as this is only a practice RP with just 3 members, it won't do any harm for you to play a few more characters if they don't have major parts. I don't mind! So if Lunar doesn't mind either, I would just go ahead with it. I'm not sure though, so don't take my word for it!

I'll wait for Lunar to post before I continue.))

[Lunar Crecent]

((OOc:Its fine with me.....))

Reika tilted her head away from the male as she saw Kala run off.She excused her self and followed after her, Amastar just standing there confused.
_____________________________________

Amastar saw many lions and lioness coming across his lands.He growled lowly and followed after Reika slowly.He crept toward them and sighed.

"Who are you and your Pride?"He asked warrily.

[Kirsui]

OOC: stopping by again...

The amount of chars that one can RP at the same time is 2, and only for a very good reason is player given permission to play more than those 2 characters.

True, this is a practice role play, but I suggest you guys try to stick in to the rules applying to the whole TLKGO. That way one will learn the limits and won't have problems when one joins in to the real role plays.

~ Kir

[Alex]

((OOC: Oh, OK, thanks for keeping us right Kir! So, Growl1, what do you want to do? I guess someone new will have to come into the RP to play the new characters?

I suggest we pause the RP until this is all sorted out.))

[growl1]

(OOC: Thanks for the advice, Rok, but I don't think I want to. I'm having way too much fun with this, but I'll ask everyone else if they want to, so I guess we can move it or something to a real role-play. What does everyone else think?
G.1.
P.S. I guess someone will have, too. Tani and Kira will only be in it occasioally. You know, they'll come in with a comment or something. I'm so confused!
Jennifer A.K.A G.1.)

[Alex]

((OOC: Well firstly, thanks for helping us, rok - I appreciate that you're trying to help us because we're new to the site. But I'd just like to say, I am actually involved in two, possibly three, RPs, which I'm thrilled about! However I don't want to flood those RPs by posting constantly, so if I didn't post in this thread, I would end up unactive for long periods of time. And I don't know about anyone else, but without regular RP practice my posts would be terrible, when I actually came round to writing them - and this thread is for practice, isn't it?

Like Growl1 said, I'm really enjoying posting in this, and I think it's been really good for all of us who are new to RPing to practice our skills when we aren't in a "proper" RP. Surely having this as a little practice thread for all new RPers can't harm anyone? But I understand exactly what you're saying, rok, so I'll accept it if we have to stop posting here. Just say the word!))