Part 3: The Coming Twilight

[Kirsui]

((OOC: Welcome to the 3rd part of the Great Battle! =D I'm not sure how long time has passed since the 2nd part, so I won't go detailed with that. Someone else decide. =3))



Kirsui stared up at the already darkening sky. The sundown was still hours from the current moment, but the creamy lioness had noticed when the light begun to grow weaker. A gust of wind blew, making her hair dance around her slightly. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She was waiting.

Opening her eyes she took a careful look around the area. She was sitting on a rock not too far away from the Burja Den - her Den... Her... and all other Burjas' Den. She had been accepted to the pride quite well, and she respected her leader Ina greatly.

Still, Kirsui had not had a proper chanse to show what she could do. She had been given simple guard duties. In fact, she had released the previous guard just a moment ago. And she was glad that she had not needed to do anything more than just guard.

But only partly glad.

She felt nervous. Extremely nervous. Feraga had taken back their Den. Feraga had killed the two guards who had been at their Den. Feraga had not striken back. Yet. And this was what caused Kirsui to feel so nervous. She knew they would strike.. She could feel it in her bones...

They would strike soon. And she was afraid.

---

Atlast she had arrived!

The dark figure stood upon a small hill, gazing at the Feraga Den below. She was an agile creature with long, slender legs similar to those of a cheetah. Her silky fur had no spots, however, as it was completely black. Except for the light area on her face. Her face, and the right side of her neck, were covered by long hair, as dark as her fur. And around her neck, she carried an odd amulet that sparkled golden as the sunrays hit it.

The creature shivered, but not of fear for what Feraga would do if they noticed her... She didn't shiver of cold, for the sun still made her fur feel nicely warm... No... She shivered of excitement.

Mwezi, the cheelion of Feraga pride, was finally home!

[Judas]

Night was approching quickly, in less an hour darkness would hold the savannah in it's grasp. The kopjes that scatterd the landscape provided perfect vantage points for scouting. A dark silouette was snakeing it's way through the crevises of a small kopje climbing towards it's highest point. The light from the starry skies illuminated the rock in a silvery glow, stepping onto the flat promontory the slender body of a lioness comes to a halt and just stares solemly out into the dark plains below.

Her name is Kisirani, she was given that name for a good reason. Her birth pride saw her as an ill-omen, she was born with a power that her pride's shaman reguarded as a curse by the evil beings of their world, she was seen a demon's protegé. Thus Kisirani was shunned by her pride, and other cubs alike, though powers where something each and every lion in her pride posessed hers was dramatically diffirent. She was a necromancer, a creature that could bring life to corpses.

Kisirani's eyes narrowed, despite her lack of vision the night pose little trouble, shortly after her birth the vision in Kisirani's right eye had been claimed by disease leaving her blinded. The nercomancer stepped down from the kopje having sighted a mound not far from her, she had heard rumors of two prides in this area, but she felt confident that if any hostilities came her way those of which would want to a test of strength with her would be in for a nasty suprise.

[Katari]

From beneath the cover of the small kopje he'd discovered three days ago, Chaza watched the sun begin its slow descent into the western skyline. It would have been a beautiful sight, if he'd taken the time to consider it in such sensual terms: the mingling colors of the sky and clouds and sunbeams, the soon to come patterns of the moon and stars -- whether or not any “Great Kings” looked down from them. Yes, some might call it beautiful. Chaza had other things on his mind; namely, how to stay alive. A simple problem, on the face of it, but he knew as well as anyone that he should never take anything on its face value. There were, after all, two prides, and more than a few rogues, who'd like nothing better than to make sure he never found the answer to that riddle.

He considered his surroundings. Drab, lifeless, except for himself. He toyed with the pile of remains from the gazelle he'd killed the day before, swirling them around his head like a miniature tornado of bones, touching the powers he hadn't used what seemed a long time. A small meal, little more than a snack, and easily ; Chaza knew he'd have to find a more fulfilling source of nourishment before long. But, it had been an easy catch, and it was something.

How long had he been here, in this land, with these prides, alone and forgotten? He hadn't taken the time to recall specific lengths; probably not as long as it felt. And it felt like an eternity. Too long, in any case. And to what end? Chaza had known, once, or thought he had. Conquest was what had driven him then. But now...now he was tired, and ruling over this particular swathe of savanna didn't hold as much appeal in the haze of the twilight as it had before.

“You're getting old,” he told himself with a chuckle. “Old and philosophical.” But he still had powers, and he was anything but senile. Yes, they would hear from him again, though they wouldn't care much for what he would have to say when that time came.

It occurred to him that he had come full circle -- from rogue, to manipulator, to warrior, to infiltrator, and now, back to rogue again. Right back where he'd started, in effect, though with many more enemies this time around. And a few friends, with few being the important word. Sitama was dead, now, and he was thankful for that; taking her into his confidence had been his greatest mistake thus far. He wondered whether or not one pride or the other had taken note of his absence yet. They would, eventually, though most likely in relief that he was gone. Ah, well. Stretching, Chaza rose from the hard, cold floor and started out into the grasslands.

He was hungry once again...and for more than meat.

[Lorien]

As Lorien stared at the colorful sky, watching the last remains of the sun disappear into the horizon, she sighed. She was far from home, like she usually was now-a-days. Ever since the event with the guards at the Feraga den...she hadn't been herself. Being younger, she hadn't been given any responsibilities with the pride, though she really didn't think that was the reason. She knew that she wasn't the same as she used to be and knew that this is why she hadn't been given any job as of yet, even though she had just recently reached adulthood. She sure didn't feel like an adult, she thought to herself.

As she wandered the grasslands of outside of her pride's territory (though careful to stay out of Feraga's reach), she was able to keep to herself. Anymore, she would only speak to a few of the pride, mostly Ina or Kirsui, and only then if she had been spoken to first. Her frame was getting skinnier; the lioness refused to eat, and the only time she did was to appease Ina...and then she only ate very little.

Lorien didn't know why she was in such a depression, but she was. Playing with the small animals that roamed around no longer pleased her. The smile that was usually seen on her face never came anymore. She spent her days out in the savannah by herself, as if she were searching for something...but what was it? She herself didn't know what it was that she was looking for, but she knew that she would find it away from the pride. Perhaps it was her sense of purpose, her sense of belonging. Whatever it was, she hadn't found it yet.

As the cool twilight came over the land, Lorien looked around her. Another day wasted. Out of pure boredom, she made a copy of herself, allowing it to run around while she herself lay down in the cool grass. Suddenly, she thought she heard something, and the copy disappeared in a poof of greyish brown smoke. She stood up, claws extended and looked around herself. Twilight was retreating into darkness, and as Lorien gazed around, she noticed a dark figure, large too, in the distance. Quickly, she ducked, not wanting to be seen. This had been the first encounter she had had with any leonine creature outside the pride's territory, and by the beating of her heart, she knew she was frightened of what might happen.

Closer and closer the creature came, and as it did, she noticed it was a large male lion. A thought popped into her head, but she quickly turned it out again. It couldn't be. Yet as the lion grew closer, she knew her thoughts to be true. However, she didn't know what to do or say. From what she knew, Chaza was a Feraga lion know. He might not take her presence too kindly. She felt herself becoming excited, despite this fact, and a small smile came to her face. Yet as her mind raced, she quickly remembered her feelings of betrayal that she had felt not long ago, and the smile soon faded into a more saddened expression. Her mind was torn between being excited to see the large male again, though she didn't know why, and between the hurt that she had felt.

She was stuck in between a rock and a hardplace. If she kept to herself, she might lose the only chance she had to see Chaza again, besides maybe on the field of battle. If she showered herself, he might not be as friendly to her as he once had been. She let her heart do the deciding. She had trusted him once, and she would trust him again, even if he had chosen a different pride. She knew it had nothing to do with her. Closing her eyes sharply, she took a deep breath and stood up. She was now just far enough to see his eyes. She wondered if he had noticed her before.

"Hello...Chaza," she said quietly, but loud enough to hear. She wasn't direclty in front of him, more to the side. "It's...been a while." As she stood there, her heart racing, she was ready for the worst, claws extended just in case. She wondered how he would react.

OOC: Sorry I've been gone...I haven't had computer access until now. Yay for part 3!

[Judas]

OOC: I'd thought I take the oppertunity to interdouce Vincent into this RP ^^

IC: Night had finally arrived, after a restless slumber of nearly six hours he had reason to awake. The cold stone floor, of his little sancturary despite being padded with dry grass and soil was still very uncomfortable, after almost 300 years he still hadn't masterd the art of building dens a feat it seemed he would never master.

A pair of pale red eyes squirted through the pitch blackness of his home, he could see clearly in here despite the lack of any form of light, indeed this place was seeminly devoid of light. And with a good reason, Vincent was a semi-nocturnal being, litterally speaking he couldn't afford any sunlight, and no sunlight natrually meant that neighter the light of the moon would penerate into his hive.

Weary limbs stretched to ease the muscles of his body, this followed by a faint yawn as the leonine creature made it's way out of the barrow's entrance, the silvery light of the moon coverd the dark savannah. Starry nights like this wasn't an uncommon sight for Vincent, infact they made his nightly routine easier, the pale sandy colored pelt seemed to shine under the moonlight createing a nearly ghostly aura around him. Picking a random direction the vampiric lion strode off into the darkness.

It was time for Vincent to leave the area surrounding his den, and find some other pastures. But first he needed food, rats and other creatures would sustaine him through the night, but this evening he was indeed of something special if he hoped to make a long distant journey. To night he was a hunter of his own kin, lions.

[Katari]

Soft words, spoken softly, startled Chaza as they caught his ear from out of the gathering shadows. What is only his imagination, or did he truly recognize that voice? He hardly dared turn his head to look.

But when he did, what he saw was what he'd both expected and feared. Lorien. Standing there, staring at him, looking fearful -- her claws were even out; what must be going through her head? -- and...he didn't know how to describe the other emotion. Some combination of excitement and sadness, playing across her face like the multicolored patterns of cloud in the twilight sky. And, like those clouds, a thing both beautiful and untouchable. Chaza didn't want to touch it, to risk hurting her again. But she had spoken, and he would have to answer.

“Lorien.” That was all he said. That was his great, his brilliant, his perfect reply. As if. But it was all he could think of, considering the cirumstances. “Yes,” he said after a moment, in response to her statement that it had been a while. “Yes, it has been.” He forced a smile. “Too long.”

Now this, being at a loss for words...Chaza didn't care overmuch for the feeling. But Lorien did that to him. He couldn't shake the feeling that he'd betrayed her confidence and, in some small way, shattered a part of her innocence. He took a moment to study her closer. She looked much the same, but all too different. Older, very much so, even though it had been only a short while since he'd last seen her. Harder, certainly. It was not a change for the better. We all have to grow up, he reminded himself. No one can escape their destiny.

He looked away. This was...well, awkward was the only word for it. Another feeling he wasn't accustomed to, and another he hated with a passion. Chaza was reminded, again, of Sitama. She had been, for all her obvious faults, a mentor of sorts, an authority figure in Lorien's eyes. And he had taken her away. Xena had been the killer, yes, but it was as much his deed as hers.

Chaza sighed. His thoughts were beginning to drag on. He needed to come up with something else to say. “Uh, and how have you been? The last time we were together wasn't exactly...ideal.”

[Deleted]

Ina lay there in the soft green grass, twirling a strand around her claw. She couldn't sleep, once again. She was getting old... and she couldn't be Burja's leader forever. She knew she had to find someone to take over her place, and start getting them ready for becoming the leader. If they weren't already ready, of course. But she had no idea who to choose. She could choose Lorien. Or maybe even Kirsui. She let out a deep sigh and let her head fall down ontop of her paws. She would figure out eventually. Hopefully...

[Kirsui]

Kirsui let out a faint sigh as the sky darkened even more. It became dark and she shivered. A faint smile played upon her lips as she thought about her friend, Stardust, the hyena who had saved her life and had told her stories during night time.

Kirsui's eyes flashed faintly, and the pupils disappeared, leaving her eyes completely blue. Soon enough a ball of bright blue flames appeared above her head, emitting cold light around so that she could see. Some Burja lions backed away from the light the ball gave away, apparently still not liking her ability of freezing flames.

Kirsui shook her head and looked around. She saw Ina, her leader, not too far away. The lioness was lying at the grass, clearly deep in her thoughts. The creamy lioness tilted her head as curiosity took control of her actions. The creamy lioness stood up and walked slowly to her leader.

"Lady Ina..."
She whispered her greeting and bowed her head slightly, sitting down near the lioness.
"Is something troubling you, My Lady?"
The ball of blue flames was still floating above her head, giving up the light to the area. Kirsui glanced around the area every now and then as she waited for Ina's reply, seeing as how she was still supposed to guard.

---

Mwezi stood on the hill, watching the Feraga Den as the sunlight faded away and the moon and stars took its place on the sky. The golden amulet on her neck had begun to glow as soon as the last sunrays had disappeared. She grinned, looking up at the sky, at the moon... She loved the moon, that's what gave her her name too! She could already feel how her strength returned as her ability to absorb moonlight and starlight begun working. The travel had been a long one indeed...

She shook her dark fur, turning her greyish-teal eyes at the Feraga Den again. She sighed:
"Home...!"
Pushing a few strands of hair away from her face, she begun her way down the hill. She approached the Feraga Den slowly, not wanting to seem a threat to the guards that perhaps wouldn't remember her anymore. The only ones she knew should remember her were Xena and Sumai, the leader and the general.

Of course, Mwezi had no idea of the recent events that had taken place...



((OOC: lets still wait for those who haven't yet posted in part 3 before we jump into full action again, ok? =3))

[KanuTGL]

OOC: Isn't it funny how both my *bleeping* Internet connection and Proboards crash just as I hit "Post Reply"? *is not happy*

IC: The air was getting chillier. The obscure creatures of the night were slowly creeping out from their nests, he could hear them, and the crickets had already commenced their nightly concert... The grass still felt warm and soft under his belly, but also the ground was cooling off, and the mist came creeping in. None of this he saw, Satoba, but he could feel it, smell it, and hear it. That was how he determined his surroundings and what was going on around him. Most of the pride were resting now, preparing for the night and, hopefully, some peace. The time that had passed since the war had begun had been as if the very air around them was quivering with worry and anticipation for the future. First Ebun's terrible death, she was buried now, under the trees where she had always loved to lie, then Auri's disappearance; he was probably dead too by now, slayed by the vicious Feraga, no doubt... They were at war now, nobody could think otherwise. The young male let out a sigh, and wished that all his troubles could've gone with it. But they did not. Lorien, another lioness Satoba had had much faith in, had also changed. The time between the moments he noticed her presence had grown longer and longer again lately, and it made him sad to... "see" that. The last thing they needed was the pride falling apart. Should that happen, they would surely be doomed.

A cool breeze suddenly swept by and sent a cold shiver through the grey-furred feline's body. The den would be nice and warm now... Satoba yawned, deciding to give his brooding a break, and got to his paws. He padded slowly towards the familiar scent that had always meant safety, and hoped it would stay such.

------------------------------

Sumai stood atop the group of rocks that formed the Feraga pride's home, looking like a bronze statue in the fading light. You would usually find him here nowadays. He had been standing there now for at least an hour, just watching the sun set and the twilight roll in. So much had changed. Nothing was the same anymore... And it made him sad to think of it. They were at war, and nobody knew when peace would again come to reign in these lands. The red and black lion on the rocks was one reason for it. The grief he still felt, less than one moon later, over Xena's death had driven his mind into thinking in different ways. Sumai had always been a lion of war, though he had never imagined to be leading one as he did now. But the Burja pride were still a threat to them, and until he had made sure that his pride, his family and comrades, could relax without worrying about being assassinated in their sleep, the red lion would not rest. Time had passed now and the wounds, at least the physical ones, healed. Soon would be the time to strike...

Then the old lion's thoughts were suddenly interrupted. One of the guards had shouted at him from the bottom of the rocks that a stranger had been spotted crossing the borders. Sumai got moving immediately and was about to start following the guard to where this stranger had been seen when he noticed that this was no longer necessary. Just a little further ahead was a tall, black-furred figure. She reminded them first of a cheetah, but at a closer look, her build was also very similar to a lion's... So was she a... cheelion? The newcomer was barely visible in the dark, but the necklace she carried emitted a weak glow that at least made you able to tell where she was. Sumai froze, for a second not recognising her, then relaxed again and even smiled a little. "Mwezi." he said, nodding at the long-lost member. "That is a sight for sore eyes." The guard next to the general looked confused, obviously not recalling the cheelion. But he came to the conclusion that if the leader knew her there was nothing to worry about... He walked off again, returning to his station with a sigh; his shift was not over yet. Sumai gave him a quick glance, then turned his attention to Mwezi again and approached to give her more of a proper greeting. "I barely dared to believe we'd see you around here again." She was a very welcome addition to the pride, her abilities were valuable and could come to pretty good use both in and outside of battle... The old lion smiled, he was happy to see her. "Welcome back."

[Jenna]

Icarus stared at the coming night, eyes wary from lack of sleep in the two nights before. His sleep was interrupted by frequent needs to move. These had just started, and he listened to them. Lately he had a nervous feeling about him, as though nothing was going to be alright. As though the world was going to turn over on itself, broken in pieces. Icarus did not like this feeling, and he wished it would leave. As it did not seem to be the path his conscience felt like taking, he had to settle for being uncomfortable. The dusk calmed him momentarily. The hues of blue mixed with hot pinks and purples, fiery colors like gold and red and orange given off by another dying sun. Odd that I should be lucky enough to glimpse this as it goes away... His thoughts trailed off into a mixture, a blur of colors, numbers, shapes. Icarus' head hurt, pounding in time with his heart beat. We don't have time here, Icarus. Not much. A small smile played on the lion's lips. Not much time. He remembered his father's words as he left him. Be loved, and love. Understand and be understood. Forgive, and be forgiven but never forgotten. His father would have been...satisfied with his son's style of life. Not perfect, full of wrong, but nice.

Icarus lay down in the cooling grass, head on his paws, and watched as the final streaks of gold left the sky. Stars were like pockmarks on the sky, making each piece different than the next. Much like the life down here.

[Judas]

OOC: I'll post something for Kisirani later on, when I can make something up xP

The moment the killing sun had disappeared beyond the horizon the otherwise warm temperature of the savanna went plummeting. It had been centuries since Vincent last felt the warm soil beneath his paws, though he didn't want to admit it the vampire missed his days as a mortal. Ironic that one false move and he would be damned for a life in solitude and darkness, even after 300 years of traveling he had never met any other accident like him.

The vampire clans shunned him, some were more violent than others; They guarded their families from ill-blood like him, and they would kill if the chance was offered. Vampires in contrary to common belief aren't mindless monsters, and depending on their mortal species they may even form clans though these clans are few and far between. In addition admittance is at the sole discretion of the vampire elder. Despite his lonely existence, Vincent had found a way to justify his existence he needed blood to survive, but if he had leonine blood the blood of his mortal race he would be able to walk in daylight.

Vincent had imposed a strict creed upon himself, no never harm any innocent lions. If he was in need of daylight travel he would have to seek those of ill-savory nature, those that threatened the innocents. But in a land ravaged by a war between mortal factions, how do you distinguish innocent from the guilty? The vampire clans stayed out of mortal affairs, as this war unless it didn't concern them would be but a fleeting speck of dust in their perception of time. For when you are ageless time means little.

But to Vincent these things mattered, as he had involved himself with mortals from behind the scenes, removing murderers, traitors, conspirators and other malice. But now he faced his own struggle to separate the good from evil. The lion was thrown out of his thoughts as a smell coursed by him; It smelled familiar that of lions but what pride he couldn't distinguish even though his sense of smell was 10 times greater than that of his mortal counterpart. He could only sense that they where male and female. Deciding it was worth checking out, as they may yield him any news about the spurring conflict as the bats where never any good keepers of information, if he wanted a subject known he had to turn to the source.

[Lorien]

A quiver came to Lorien's lip: almost a smile, but it faltered before truly forming. She retracted her claws, seeing no more threat in the lion before her. Taking a step forward, she looked slightly to the ground before her eyes went to the coming stars. She couldn't lie to someone if she were looking directly at them.

"I've been...all right." She hoped that her faltering voice didn't give her away. She didn't want to look weak in Chaza's eyes after the last time they had been together. She had felt so vulnerable, and she wanted to show him that she was a big girl and didn't depend on others for security..even if she knew it wasn't true. She didn't say anything about their previous encounter, however, knowing that he would catch on to her facade. The thought of Sitama popped suddenly into mind. She had tried her hardest to eschew thoughts of the lioness since her death and had succeeded for the most part. Quickly, the gray lioness pushed the thoughts from her head, knowing that it would only depress her further if she thought about it.

As she took a step toward Chaza, her face turned to face him. "So...how has Feraga been treating you?" If she sounded smug, it was because she was being so. She didn't mean to be, but she just couldn't help it. The pent up frustration had made it's way through. The gray lioness reclined to her slender haunches and waited to hear what he would have to say about the pride, although she highly doubted that he would have anything to say to her about it.

[Kirsui]

Mwezi approached the Den slowly, noticing how one of the guards raced off from his place and returned soon with another lion... a lion who was in command of things. She couldn't help the slight smirk that came to her muzzle. She had known he was the one who she would meet soon when returning home, he had always been around and Mwezi had no reason to believe this had changed while she had been away.

She had stopped, waiting for the two lions to come to her. She couldn't help it, but she suddenly had this odd feeling. Something was... different. It was more like a voice whispering at the back of her mind, telling her that something had happened while she had not been here. She ignored the feeling, as well as the guard, and caught the smile that came to the older lion's face.

"Mwezi. That is a sight for sore eyes."

She grinned, bowing slightly.
"Sumai... It has been a while..."
She looked up, her dark eyes seemed to sparkle faintly.
"I am glad to be back here. My trip... wasn't successful."
She frowned.
"I did not find my father... I followed the traces, followed them so far... And I could not track him down. It was so foolish to even leave to look for him, but I realized that all too late. I have truly lost him completely, I should have seen it before I left... But I didn't, and I traveled all this time for nothing."
She sighed, looking around the Den area. Her faint smile came back.
"This... is where I belong..."

Turning to look at Sumai again, she lifted an eyebrow slightly.
"So... What has happened while I was away?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the scents around the Den. She hadn't noticed it earlier, so glad she had been of being back home and talking to someone who actually still remembered her... But now she knew what that feeling she had had earlier was.
One scent was missing...
"Sumai..." she begun, her voice more quiet than a moment before.
"Where is Xena...?"

[Deleted]

Ina was interupted, mid thought by a familiar voice.

"Lady Ina.."

The white lioness lifted her head, her bright teal tuft hanging over her eyes. She smiled gently at the lioness before her, especially at her next words.

"Sit down dear..."

She motioned to Kirsui. She may aswell tell her anyway.. since it involved her.

"I'm getting older.. and i won't live forever. Which means the pride will need a new leader."

Ina blew her tuft out of her eyes and looked at Kirsui.

"My two choices are Lorien, or yourself... How would you feel about becoming the prides leader?"

[Katari]

Chaza looked away, his thoughts shattered by the words that had come from the young lioness. He didn't think she had been all right, not from the uncertainty in her voice; but, then, when had any of them been “all right”? He couldn't remember the last time that he had. Nor could he guess the next time he would be again. If it ever came. “I'm glad,” he said quietly, meeting her eyes a moment before averting them again.

He stirred, uncomfortable with his situation. Lorien wanted to know about Feraga. Of course she did: she was a Burja lioness, and she had last known him to be a member of the pride that was her greatest enemy. Like most things, it wasn't that simple at all. His loyalties had hardly belonged to Feraga; they were to himself, as they had always been. But she wouldn't understand that. And the bitter tone of her voice now told him that he must be careful. This wasn't the same innocent Lorien he had known before; she had grown in more ways than one.

But he had nothing to hide, not now. “I'm not one of them,” Chaza muttered. “Never was, really. Things just...happened.” He glanced at her, sitting there, an unreadable look on her face as she listened. Was that a footpad somewhere in the growing gloom, or had he imagined it? “You know what I mean,” he said, hoping that she did. “What I mean is...I'm...sorry, Lorien.” That was hard; he'd never been one for apologies.

He tried to regain his usual poise, or at least, to feign it. “But you have to understand: I'm not wanted here. Two prides want me dead. What else was I to do?"

[Judas]

It didn't take long for the vampire to find someone who might yield him news. Vincent's ears twitched, he could clearly hear and smell the lions somewhere ahead of him, but thanks to the tall grasses he couldn't see them. But what they spoke of was clearly audible to the vampire, Vincent's brows narrowed as he listend intentivly, one of the lions that sounded like a male and from the tone of his voice he sound like he's apologizing for something.

The vampire's ears swirled around as his pale red eyes tried to pinpoint the lions whereabouts. He knew that revealing himself to these mortal's might cause some problems for him, but right now he was in need of information. The vampire decided to approche the lions head on, and braceing himself if they decide to attack he walked in the general direction of the lions his positure non-threatning. If you didn't know what to look for Vincent looked just like any ordinary lion, the only physical trait giving away of his vampiric nature was that he never seemed to draw breath.

[Tamber]

The sun had lost its final rays, and the sky was becoming black with the night. He could have shone a bit of light upon it, but he found it much more pleasant in the darkness tonight. It calmed the nervousness he had developed. Being a traveler, he chose to find a new land. But the farther in he got, the more he was told to turn back, to avoid conflict. There was war here, and though it had taken a short pause, it was most certainly not over.

Knowing he could either take the risk of passing through, stay in the outskirts of the land, or turn back to where he started from, Timbre chose not only to stay in the area, but to learn of the problem. He was intensely curious, and though it may put him in danger, he just had to know. Timbre had never seen war before, never experienced the hate carried by those at war. It interested him, though he was not interested in getting involved.

The problem was finding those who were fighting. Though he had been sensing unrest for a few days, he had come upon no one until tonight. Timbre crouched about a quarter of a mile from a rock formation, upon which he could see lions. Their attention seemed to be diverted, for there was most likely some action on the other side. Perhaps these were the ones at war, and they could tell him something if he showed that he was no threat to them.

Making sure he was seen by the pride before he was attacked, Timbre shone a waving green light above him so it was obvious that he was approaching. As he walked closer, ever cautious, he saw some of the guards take notice and become roused. Two of them leaped down from their posts and became deffensive, questioning his origin and affiliation. Timbre made his neutrality very clear and asked to see their leader. At his request the guards looked at each other in uncertainty. Then, with one staying behind with Timbre, the other ran off to the other side of the formation to find the leader.

Timbre let his light dim for the time being. As he waited patiently, he took a good look at their den. With no light in his eyes, he could now see the many eyes looking down upon him.

[Lorien]

Lorien listened as...was Chaza apologizing to her? She looked away, saddened a little by it. He didn't seem the type for apologies, and she could tell by the seemingly difficult time the words had coming from his mouth. When he had finished, she felt bad for the remark she had made, but more for the tone of voice she had said it in. He hadn't joined Feraga to hurt her. She felt betrayed over something that didn't even have anything to do with her. She felt childish.

"I understand, Chaza." Looking up at him with a slight smile on her face, she nodded her head. "It was selfish of me to act that way." As soon as her smile had appeared, it faded once again. "I for one do not want you dead, but I can't say the same for a lot of the others, on both sides of this war." Her face once again turned to the night sky on the horizon, eyebrows furrowed a bit in concentration. She was trying to imagine what would happen now.

"I'm sure Xena will want your head for leaving Feraga." Not knowing of the lioness's fate, much like everyone else in the pride, she shuddered at the thought of the black one's last words that she heard, a threat. Looking to Chaza once again, concern defined in the lines of her face, she said, "If you want to stay in these lands...you are going to be in danger a lot of the time, but I think you safest choice would be toward Burja." She knew that, in reality, his safest choice would be to leave the lands entirely, to get himself out of this war that was filling the air with a tense feeling, but she didn't really want him to leave. She felt a sort of bond to the large male but didn't understand why, exactly.

Lying down in the grass, the coolness of it sending a chill down her spine, she lay her head upon her paws. She was confused, yes, about this war, about herself, but especially about those around her. Her mind was racing so much that she didn't hear the approaching footsteps, faint but present. Sighing, she waited for a response from Chaza, wondering what he would have to say about his own situation.

[Anu]

"Couldnt care less." Said a low and almost unheard whisper.

The reply was nearly as silent: "Telling that to yourself wont help things out! Our leader may be a noble and modest but he is still a leader nonetheless."

"The healer, of Feraga or whatever tribe thats name it was. Had repeated this 'importance of loalty' to me on several occasions since we met and i foolishly accepted her call to join them. Since having nothing better to life for.

Why didnt i just jump into the darn river again and get drown? Easier that way, life was so boring anyway."

These were the thougts of Anuójat, an ex-slave in far northern lands which this place had never heard of.

He was naturally the last of the slaves, as it was obished long ago. This slaver was the last... and last was his curse that eneded on him, Anuójat.

This land he had found only afterwards, Anu had escaped from that norther-east country 'Tanogal', hell house of opression. His health now low and weak, he had ended up on a river which had carried his body to this spot: Jut few miles near that Tribes den, but naturally Anuójat neither knew nor cared where it or anything was. In fact he could care less where he was; the beach and the rivers shore plus the land around it was as good as in the middle of nowhere.

"Youve already spoken of your prides little history to me, so thanks, but no more bable please." Said Anu. "I might be a member now but, i will never care for anyone or anything anymore, so if you have orders to bring any rebels to your leaders judment: Come and try 'HEALER'! For i as you well know aint much of resistant now."

He looked away. Turning his grey, greenish grey spotted lynx (and partly lion) body aside. His mane sliding along the sand. The always appearant ability toblend into surrounding concealed the mane to look like sandy little stones...

Thr healer behind him seemed to move; She came very close to Anus ear , lowered her nuzzle and whispered:

"There are some things even i cannot heal. I admit."

[Katari]

She understood. Chaza had felt waves of relief wash over him with those three words from Lorien. She understood. He smiled, the first real smile he'd had since the conversation began, a measure of the tension fading as his shoulders untensed. “Thank you.” Yes, whatever else he might have to work out, he knew that she understood.

Or said she did.

The smile faltered, just slightly. He didn't mistrust Lorien, not really, but he had to be cautious, even with her. Nodding, he knew that all of her words were true. Ina, Sumai, Kirsui...many names, on both sides of the fight, and the one thing they all held in common was their hatred of him. It was, he thought, a sad life, in many ways, to be in peril from all sides. But it was the life he'd always known, and would continue to know. The strong could endure it, and the weak could not; survival lay in the difference of the two. Those were footsteps he heard; well, let them be so. It didn't matter, his thoughts were on other things.

He cleared his throat. “Xena's dead.” The words were simple; their implications, not so simple. By Lorien's statement, he knew that she -- and, likely, the majority of her pride -- was unaware of the black lioness's demise. “Since three days past. She's gone.” He felt happy for that, now; one less enemy at his throat.

“My life.... My life has always been a thing of chance, Lorien. It's who I am.” That was the truth of it, but he looked away as he spoke, pained somewhat by the admission. “And as for Burja,” he went on with a smirk, “your leaders won't have forgotten me, I'm sure.” He phrased that almost as a question, though not quite, as he could already guess the answer. “I don't think there's any safety for me there. And I won't let you risk yourself for me.” Not again.

Chaza felt the grass beneath his paws, the sun's heat gone out of it, the cool touch of night brushing it now. Cold, much like his heart, in some ways. Too many. He glanced at Lorien, framed in the light of the dying sun and the birthing stars, buried deep in her own thoughts, but listening at the same time. “I used to know what I wanted...now, I'm not so sure.”

[KanuTGL]

OOC: Right, the king (Sumai xP) is back in action. At least for the moment.
Let's celebrate, woo.
By the way, Zulu, which pride's guards is Timbre referring to?

IC: Sumai nodded slowly at Mewzi's tale. He had some faint memories roving about in his head of her telling him the story before she left, but this was all good for an update... Then came that question he had not wanted to hear, but knew was inevitable. The red lion looked down at the ground, pausing for a moment, and took a deep breath. "Xena..." he began "Is dead." There. He said it. Short and concisely. Sumai looked up at Mwezi again, the green eyes slightly more narrow than before. "She was killed, not too long ago. Slain in battle. Three days ago... Burja." The old lion sighed and looked over his shoulder, watching the members of his pride outside the den. The fear was everywhere, he could even smell it. "Just like so many others..." The death toll thus far hadn't been terrible, but it was loss of lives none the less. For next time he would've changed that; the training over the last week had had good results, and he was positive that they would be fully capable of a battle soon. "A lot has indeed changed since you left... We're at war now, Mwezi."

Those were heavy messages to deliver, and must've been even harder to recieve... Sumai couldn't quite tell what the black lion-cheetah cross' expressions were in the dark, but he could quite easily imagine what he could not see. "Xena passed on her leadership to me before her demise, and I intend to keep my loyalty and sworn duty to protect my pride." The old lion turned around and began to head back for the cave and hopefully some sleep before dawn, when he would be out on guard duty. Sumai still didn't consider himself 'too good' to not do the simple, but very important, task of keeping watch so he would usually be out the hour before and during dawn. Which was also his favourite time of the day. "Are you hungry, Mwezi?" he asked and motioned towards the den. "We still have some fresh kill left since this morning. I'll tell you more of the... recent events once we're inside." The leader didn't wait for her to follow, if she came, she came, but carried on walking, climbing the rocky steps to the main cave and lying down by the entrance. The stars were barely out yet, but one could discern some faint twinkling lights above. A thin crescent moon lit, or tried to light, the lands but didn't manage too well. It'd be better once it was full again. Yes... Yes, it would.

[Kirsui]

Kirsui tilted her head slightly as Ina begun to speak. Her last words caught her off guard, though, and she stared at her leader in surprise.
"A", she begun and gasped, "leader? Me?"
Thoughts ran in her mind. She was still a very new member of the pride, and that the current leader considered naming her, Kirsui, as the heir... It was... amazing! She had not expected this, she didn't even know if she would be a good leader!

But...!
"I... It would be a great honour."
She smiled at Ina, feeling amazingly happy of how much the older lioness seemed to trust her. Kirsui was young, both on age and as a pride member. And to become the next leader...
"I admit, I didn't expect this..."
Her smile widened slightly, her eyes sparkled in excitement.
"... but if you do choose me, I will do my best as the leader to keep our pride safe."

She couldn't help the smile on her muzzle as she turned again to gaze over the area. She was after all still on guard duty. It was dark, and so it was harder to see around clearly.

Which is why she almost missed the figure not too far away from the Den.
"We have company, it seems."
Kirsui looked at Ina, smiling at her leader as she bowed her head slightly.
"If you'll excuse me, My Lady, I will go and see who it is."
The creamy lioness bowed her head again, then begun heading towards the figure, bringing the glowingorb of ice blue flames with her.

As she came closer, she saw it was another feline, possibly a lioness. However, at the dark it was hard to see the features of the creature, and so Kirsui decided it was best to speak up.
"You there", she begun with a demanding yet friendly voice.
"What brings you to the lands of Burja pride?"

---

"Xena... Is dead."

Mwezi couldn't fight back the growl that formed when she heard these words. Xena... dead...? It was bad news, bad news indeed. And she didn't like it at all. The cheelion forced herself to listen what Sumai told. She wasn't all too surprised to hear he was the leader now.

Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she nodded her silent reply to Sumai as he headed towards the cave. Her eyes narrowed as she tried to sort out what little information he had given her while she followed her leader. Burja... Oh how she hated to hear that name now. Mwezi climbed up the rocky steps easily, seeing where to place her paws in the faint glow of her necklace. She approached Sumai by the cave entrance. From her eyecorner she saw the older lioness who she remembered as the pride healer, along side with a small feline whom she had never seen before.

Shrugging slightly at the odd looking feline, the cheelion sat down near Sumai, gazing at the area. She looked up at the moon and closed her eyes, focusing on relaxing herself so that she could re-gain her strength from the moonlight.
"If there is need for my abilities", she begun, her eyes still closed.
"I am more than glad to put them on use in order for out pride to survive. You know what I can do, Sumai... And know also that I am willing to put myself in danger if that will help Feraga in this... war..."

She finally opened her eyes, turning her head to look at her leader. She waited for him to speak now, to fill in the information he had said he would give her of this war.

[Tamber]

Timbre sat and waited for someone to return for him, and soon enough, someone did. From the light he could see that it was a creamy colored lioness, with long, flowing hair. She spoke to him in a friendly tone, wihch suprised him, considering that the guards had been more hostile, and for good reason. However, this lioness's cordiality calmed Timbre a bit, and he sat back.

"Nice to meet you, ma'am," he said with a short bow of his head. "Burja, is it? May I ask if you are the leader here?"

Suddenly the conversation was intterupted by a voice that came from behind him. He jerked his head around in slight surprise and saw a thin lioness in the darkness. After her command at him to turn his light off, Timbre slowly and reluctantly complied. He sat back and watched as the new lioness seemed quite sure that she knew who this Burja female was.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

The teal and black lion had been watching this strange blue flame for a long while. It suddenly went out when another lioness had come near. He was curious, but wanted to be nonchalant about it.

Being nonchalant was his "thing". He hated people who overly showed their feelings. It was a bit, annoying. He slowly crept a might bit closer. Slowly, slowly he moved forward, staying low. He pushed himself to become invisible, knowing rightly that no one around here knew his full name to call him out.

He smiled widely when all of himself was invisible. He quieted his breathing, which seemed louder every second, and his heartbeat, that sounded as if the entire world could hear it. He froze when he stepped on a twig and heard the deafening snap that it gave when his weight was put on it.

[Deleted]

Ina smiled at Kirsui's reply.
"Thankyou, dear. It's a pleasure to know you'd be up for the challenge."
She then, too, noticed the figure in the distance.
"yes, please do see to it. Make sure he's not here to cause trouble.."
She looked around again.
"Speaking of trouble.. i wonder what that Chaza's up to."
The white lioness said to herself.
"That would be a problem.. if i was to make Lorien leader. She has a connection with him... regards him as a friend.. and that wouldn't be good for the pride."
She rambled on to herself for the next few minutes before standing up.
"It's decided then."
She announced to herself as she padded off after Kirsui.


When she reached the lioness and the figure she'd seen she looked at him with a slightly tilted head, not recognizing him at all. She simply stood there and listened to what was going on.

[Kirsui]

"Nice to meet you, ma'am," he said with a short bow of his head. "Burja, is it? May I ask if you are the leader here?"

Kirsui was startled when she heard this voice. She turned from the lioness she had seen before to see another uh... feline. Kir had never seen another like him before... And she certainly was confused as to why she hadn't seen him from her guard spot near the Den entrance, for the light he apparently was controlling was clear enough to be seen from far away.

Then the lioness whom Kirsui had come to check out spoke. The odd feline turned his light off, but Kirsui kept her freezing fire burning. She looked at them both.
"No, I am not the leader", she replied to the odd looking feline's question, turning her attention to the lioness.

"You wouldn't say you've never heard about me now, would you?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly. That voice... was... familiar. She saw the lioness better now that she had stepped to the light of her fire, and could see the huge grin.
'Wait a minute...' she though. 'A grin?'
She gasped, and then smiled widely.
"Spinger!"
She made her fire disappear, the pupils returning to her eyes when the last flames vanished. She replied to the grin that Spinger had, though it wasn't quite as wide as Spinger's
"I thought I'd never see you again..."

She caught the sound of movement from behind and turned to look, seeing Ina approach. She smiled at her leader.
"Lady Ina", Kirsui said, pointing then at the other lioness.
"This is my friend Spinger, whom I met quite a while ago. We got lost from eachother while hunting..."
She looked at Spinger, smiling widely.
"And I am sure glad to see you again."

[Judas]

The vampire kept his approche at a casual speed, he was afterall not in a hurry. The rounded ears of the pale lion swirled while his pale red eyes narrowed. A light gust of wind flew through the nightly savannah, the lion came to a halt on an outcropping of rock not too far from the lions. If they had heard his approche now they would certinly see him, "Fear not.." Vincent began, ensuring these mortals that he was no threat. "I seek but news of the conflict that ravage these lands? Do you have any to share?" the male concluded as he gracefully jumped down from the rock and took the initiative to approche the two lions with a slow stride.

OOC: Bah, sorry it's short xP I am braindead -.-

[Tamber]

Timbre sat back uncomfortably, with an astranged look upon his face. He watched for a few moments as the lionesses pounced around at the sight of each other. It was a strange moment for him, to sit upon a new pride, whom he was going to interrogate slightly, and watch a reunion.

He looked around him quite uncomfortably, twirling the fur on his legs into a faux cowlick. Perhaps that wasn't the best time. These two would be getting acquainted, and his questions, which would seem quite silly to them, would only interfere. Besides, they would most likely be quite distracted and uninterested in what he would have to say.

The large, blue feline looked up to the white lioness who had appeared. He met her gaze and bowed slightly, silently telling her that he would be on his way. Timbre then turned to the North and commenced in trotting away. Perhaps he could find something else to interest him tonight. He was not tired, and as far as he was concerned, he could sleep when he died.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Milo saw the strange blue feline head off in another direction. He saw the two others were getting aquainted and he was increasingly curious. He resolved to follow the bluish one and he turned.

As he began walking after the other lion, soon catching up and jogging silently beside. He suddenly realized he was becoming visible. He only had five minutes left and he was vaguely showing himself. He realized the only showing things so far was his outline, but his strange teal lightening bolt was clear. He cursed his strange marking.

As he finally became completely visible, he slowly ran behind now, hoping the other wouldn't notice him, but assuming he probably did.

[Deleted]

Ina's eyes widened when Kirsui's attitude changed towards the feline infront of them. Where on earth did she know the feline from, Ina had never seen it before.

She waited not saying anything, just watching and then she was then introduced to her.

"Spinger.."

She smiled gently at her.

"Pleasure to meet you, dear."
She paused and waited for Kirsui or Spinger to say something more.