Part 3: The Coming Twilight

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Milo listened intently to everything said. He had forgotten how fascinating living in a pride was, not that he'd admit it or anything. He would stick to his guns that the life of a wanderer alway, always beat out the life of a pride member. He wanted desperately to be in a pride again, to have a family, but he couldn't just go back to his own. His mother and father would probably want to disown him by now. He had run away and left no trace of his existence there. No, they probably wouldn't enjoy a family reunion about now.

They had been listening for awhile now, and his outline was now visible. He silently cursed himself, for he had to take hour intervals in between his hours of invisibility. It would be atleast another forty five minutes before he could be unseen again. He came back to reality to listen to what was being said again, but there was silence. Suddenly, a lion came bounding out of the den, yelling.

Milo looked at him, shocked. He was terrified. This lion could easily kill him. He was about to answer, when a voice from behind him made him jump. He turned around and there stood what looked like a cross between a lion and a cheetah. He gasped out loud, confused. He needed to answer, obviously, and the sooner it seemed, would be the better.

"I-I." he stuttered. He shook his head. He was a prince and he needed to prove his bloodlines. "I am Milo. I am a wanderer. If you find me a threat, you are mistaken. I am no threat. I have no problem."

He looked to Timbre, who still hadn't said anything. Milo hoped he had some plan up his sleeve. It was, after all, Timbre's idea to sneak here. He curled and uncurled his toes. He was getting impatient and all he wanted right now was either acceptance or refusal, both without any consequences.

[Tamber]

The night suddenly came alight before the big cat's eyes. An airborne fire rushed toward him, the birthchild of the power fof the lion that led it along. He reach them and hovered over them angrily, growling in suspicion. Suddenly something appeared out of the blue behind them, a strange looking feline that was so black she couldn't have been seen in the normal darkness of the night. Thankfully the lion's flames lit the area up enough to catch a glimpe of her, so they could know just what were surrounding them.

Milo sat up and spoke, defending his position, so Timbre spoke quickly afterwards, sitting up out of his crouched position. "And I'm Timbre," he spoke in a calming tone, trying to sound relaxed and poised. "I am Milo's traveling companion. Please forgive us for intruding upon your land. It was not intentional. We sensed tension in the area and were curious of its reason."

Timbre looked into what he assumed were the leader's eyes and continued. "Rumor has it that there is a war in place in this stretch of the lands. All other prides have left the region out of discomfort. We are simply messengers looking for simple information to tell our families, so their minds may be rested. May I ask if you are involved in this so-called war?"

[Pulsar]

"You two shouldn't be here...."
A voice came from around the corner as Pulsar walked around.
He had been listening to them talking while he had been standing with Inlasta. He had to place her safely inside the Den before he could join the others with what ever threat had been outside.

As he walked up to them his mane and eyes glittered in the light of Sumai's fire.
"What kind of animal hears of danger in an area and seeks it out?"
He voice playing a somewhat curious and suspicious tone.
Pulsar stopped walking when he got as close enough as he wanted to be to the strangers.

"You should very well know that if a pride is at war, it's not a bright idea to wander near them...."
His wings stretched slightly from there folded position, as he clearly was stretching them.
"I'm sure your families would be more worried about your safety in being here, rather then the information you may be able to obtain BY being here...."

The lion looked them both over, eyes flashing in the light as he did so.
Unfortunately in such a day and age it's more or less nearly impossible to tell someone's abilities and power from mere looks alone.

Pulsar stretched out all four wings to make himself appear bigger and more threatening. He didn't intend to fight them, but it never hurts to show you are ready to if they make the wrong choice. As he stretched them out the speed at which he did so sent a light breeze past everyone in front of him. Perhaps enough of one to ruffle some fur slightly but that was about it. His white wings glistened ever so slightly from the light of the nearby fire as they reflected the light.

"You two are in the Lands of the Mighty Feraga Pride..."
He spoke after a moment as he folded his wings back in and relaxing his body into a more casual stance. He didn't feel too threatened by the two strangers, but, that did not mean he underestimated them. He may have not seemed it but he was keeping a sharp eye on everything, just in case something happened that he knew was not an ability of himself, Sumai or Mwezi.

[Reagen]

Terregu listened as Kirsui was appointed as leader. This was slightly unexpected for him, but he had spent alot of time sleeping after overusing his powers a while ago, so he was slightly out of touch with events of the pride. He wasn't exactly sure of Ina's judgment on this... And Kirsui did seem like she wouldn't back down from her position.

He nodded his head slightly, and spoke up so that everyone could hear him. "Then I give you my full support as a member Burja Pride. May you're rule be long and prosperous."

He did wonder what Kirsui intended to do... Perhaps set an ambush? Or use his powers to attempt a spy mission? A counter attack surely wouldn't work... The choices were endless, but few would work. Kirsui's decision would set the fate of the entire pride...

[KanuTGL]

Sumai growled, eyeing the two strangers carefully and not letting his guard down just because they said they were of no threat. Yes, they sure did look quite nervous, but who would send out spies who could not act? The flames that surrounded the general's body flickered impatiently and would grow and shrink in size as he listened to what queer questions the one named 'Timbre' posed. Sumai strongly agreed with what Pulsar, who was now standing next to his leader, had said; who would seek out danger? Especially a war zone? They had no business here! The red lion's green eyes narrowed. "Why do you seek this information?" he said to the intruders, trying very much to keep his voice calm and stable. The thought that these two could have powers beyond his own didn't even occur to him. These were his lands! Lands that Xena had given him and that he had sworn to protect! Intruders would not be tolerated, ever! A threatening murmur escaped the old lion's maw once again and the long tail swished back and forth impatiently like a whip.

"You two are in the Lands of the Mighty Feraga Pride..." said Pulsar and Sumai nodded.

"And you have no right to be here!" he growled, noticing that a few other members of the pride had joined the little circle around the strangers as well. The commotion must've got their attention. Good, at least a few were on the alert even in the darkest hour of the night... "I want you out! OUT!" he roared, letting the red flames grow further in size, and the emerald-green eyes started emitting a faint glow... The fiery old lion was not in the mood for hearing what the strangers had to say, he wanted them out of here this instant! Sumai roared again and attempted to swipe a clawed paw at the nearest of the intruders, which happened to be Timbre. "Tell your families this:" the general yelled "that they should stay out of our lands! I don't want to see a single one of them on my grounds without say-so! Now GET OUT!"

[Tamber]

Timbre glanced at Milo once or twice as the flaming lion and a new winged one spoke to them. He couldn't tell who was leader and who was just warrior, but it didn't matter at the time being. Timbre decided that he needed to use some good lying skills and a calm demeanor in order to get them to cool off, as well.

He sat down and didn't flinch at their words or volume. He took in their every move, recognizing their attempt at proecting strength. They did a good job; Timbre would never consider fighting these lions, but he was talented in keeping a peaceful mood in a group. He looked at them and took in their words, reacting to them as if they were only conversational statements rather than threats in a quite hostile tone. Once they were finished speaking and yelling and threatening, only left to their snarling and growling, he chose to speak.

"Yes, yes I understand that you don't wish for us to be here," he said matter of factly and in a rather friendly tone. He let off a very faint, light blue glow around him, just to give his presence a more calming aura. "But, if you would let me explain, I will. Our pride used to inhabit this land. We lived but a mile or so to the east. As soon as the rumors of war started, we chose to leave. We traveled for a few days until we came upon a pride who treated us quite hostilly. They were constantly questioning where we were from and why we were near them. We assumed they were at war, and we agreed to leave, but they continued to question us. As we were heading away from them, not planning on returning or bothering them again, they attacked us. They killed six of our lionesses and two of our cubs, and left us with the few we had remaining bloodied and scarred.

"We are scouts looking for the pride they are opposing, for we wish to seek revenge ourselves."

Timbre had no idea what he was getting himself into, but he was game for a challenge. He sat, still with a peaceful llight around him, and awaited their replies.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Milo tried to keep a nonchalant face going the whole time the fiery lion and the winged one spoke, but it was getting harder. He wasn't used to other liones being so, well, hostile towards him. They had done nothing wrong, and yet they were treated as if they were terrible warriors from an enemy pride. Did these lions really think they were spies? It would make sense of all the anger the fire lion had towards them.

"We are scouts looking for the pride they are opposing, for we wish to seek revenge ourselves."

Milo somehow kept his uncaring look as Timbre spoke. Revenge?" He wondered. Why would they be thinking of revenge? They weren't even from the same pride, he hardly even knew Timbre at all, really. It was confusing to say the least, but he supposed he would stand by Timbre. It wasn't like he had anyone else but himself to stand for at the moment. He just nodded in agreement with all Timbre said, trying to look convincing.

[Kirsui]

Kirsui waited, working hard to keep her nervousness in control and to show a calm face to her pride. Their eyes were on her, she could hear whispers around them, but she wasn't sure if what was spoken was against Ina's decision or not.

"Then I give you my full support as a member Burja Pride. May you're rule be long and prosperous."

The creamy lioness turned her gaze to who had spoken, Terregu if she remembered his name right. She knew very little of this lion, but gave him a grateful smile anyway. He had stated his support to her after all and the surface had now been broken. Though she still could see doubting looks sent at her direction, nods of agreement and whispers of support could be also heard.

"So be it", she said.
"I would have the normal amount of scouts patrol on the lands. They are dangerous missions, but it's our best chance to get any sign of warning of when the Feraga will strike."
She paused, narrowing her eyes.
"Also... I believe we have a slight advantage of surprise at our paws."
She smiled faintly.
"The Feraga are unaware of the change of leader. I don't look like a leader, and if we can keep the Feraga thinking that I in fact am not, they most likely will at least somewhat keep themselves busy with trying to figure out who the leader is. If this slows down their plans on attacking us, I would gladly keep my status as a secret."

Then Kirsui paused once more, a thoughtful expression on her face. She remained silent, the gaze of her blue eyes wandering on all pride members.
"And finally... If there is anyone who would be willing to risk in a more dangerous mission... I would gladly send a spy to the enemy lands. I wish to know what they are up to."
She sighed, looking at the gathered crowd.
"I'm not forcing you to go, any of you. It's dangerous, and the Feraga would instantly kill any Burja they find on their lands. I simply ask for volunteers, if there is any."

---

Mwezi lifted an eyebrow at what the two wanderers - or well, the other one of them - said.
"You tread on dangerous ground, wanderer", she said on a low voice.
"This Mwezi was unaware of such a pride you spoke ever existing here..."
She glanced at Sumai and Pulsar before her gaze returned at the back of these two wanderers' heads.
"If it is as you said, that your pride left when they recieved a word of the war... That must have happened a long time ago, as this war has been going on much longer than any of us has lived. Still you speak as if you had been there?"

The cheelion took a deep breath, closing her eyes as she did so and letting then the air out very slowly.
"Are you aware what it costs to lie, wanderer?"
She opened her eyes, staring at both these wanderers with a cold look.
"You do not smell of a pride. In fact, you do not smell of having been with eachother as long as you let us believe. This Mwezi is a huntress and knows the meaning of strong and weak scents. So perhaps you would like to try answering again why you are here, unless our leader has already gotten bored of you two."
She smirked faintly.
"And please do not lie again..."

[Tamber]

Timbre sat still, a calm and peaceful expression on his face and a patient, positive mood radiating from him. He was confident in his lying abilities, and each time he was proven wrong, he would learn more through what this so-called Mwezi told him through her arguments.

"This Mwezi was unaware of such a pride you spoke ever existing here...That must have happened a long time ago, as this war has been going on much longer than any of us has lived. Still you speak as if you had been there?...You do not smell of a pride. In fact, you do not smell of having been with eachother as long as you let us believe..."

All good arguments, but all of which Timbre could manipulate. He nodded calmly to her, raising a paw every once in a while when she would start to become hot-headed. She snarled at him and told him not to lie again, and Timbre couldn't help but smile.

"Nonsense, I wouldn't dream of it," he said in his ever-mellow tone. "Hopefully this Mwezi will understand that by 'we' I mean our pride. We did leave long ago, before our time, but I assumed that would be obvious information, since apparently you are very aware of how old this war is to this day. Also Mwezi will recall that this war is older than her, correct? So perhaps we left before your birth.

"Still there is no telling how old the war was when we headed out. I'm not sure how long you've been around, or how long we've been gone, but it has been a generation or two...perhaps a bit more." Timbre found himself almost talking exclusively to himself, making this entire fictional situation real in his mind, so that everything came out as the truth. He turned his attention and small grin back to Mwezi, so he might finish. He spoke politely and with no hint of haughtiness or uncertainty. "Regardless, we simply want to help with any job that might be needed. Then again...I'm still not sure if you are involved or not, though you certainly act that way."

[Reagen]

'And finally... If there is anyone who would be willing to risk in a more dangerous mission... I would gladly send a spy to the enemy lands. I wish to know what they are up to.'

Terregu thought about this for a moment. Truely, it would be dangerous. But it was perhaps the prides best possible move to make, if it was succesful.
He looked around. No one seemed interested in going on a nearly suicidal mission. But then again, who would want to? He smiled. Oh, that's right. Me. He had always loved taking the most outrageous task possible as a cub. Perhaps old habbits die hard.

He spoke up again. "I'll go, then. If no one else wants to."

[Pulsar]

Pulsar watched as both Mwezi and the other creature spoke to each other.
Their debate about events past didn't really have any significance at all.
Sighing he shook his head.
<They act like the facts they speak are of any concern, the age of the war and the family of the wanderer don't have anything to do with the fact that these two are trespassing on Feraga land...>
The lion knew that if these two lingered too long that Sumai might loose his patience and those that knew of his powers knew that it was not something you wanted to see.
"Your debate about history is meaningless, what has been and done doesn't have anything to do with the hear and now. And the NOW is, that you two are trespassing on Feraga Territory, it is also the fact that you have been told by our leader that your presence here is both unwanted and unneeded...."

He thought it would be a prudent idea to get these two wanderers out of the territory, if not at least for their own safety from Sumai.
"You two will come with me, I shall escort you out of Feraga territory...."
Pulsar said as he walked past Sumai, lowering his head slightly in respect to his leader.
His eyes locked onto Mwezi as he walked over, his head not moving as he looked at her.
"This isn't negotiable or arguable..."
The lion continued as he stopped in front of the two wanderers, eyeing them both to see their reaction.
"If you both value your lives you'll come with me and cause no trouble in doing so."
He hoped they would see he was trying to help them stay alive. After learning about the faith of the old Feraga leader, Pulsar was in no mood for more blood shed at this given moment in time.

Realizing he had been staring at the ground with a spaced out look, he brought his gaze back up to the two wanderers, frowning slightly as he looked back at them. His thought of the Feraga leader pasted, washing from his mind as he brought himself back into the here and now, not the then and when.
"Well?.... Will you both come with me, or not?"
As he spoke he stood upright in a slightly "attention" Stance. Orbs of yellow energy formed from nothing and began bobbing up and down in the air around him as he waited for their reply. Making it obvious to them that a "No" was an answer that simply wouldn't be tolerated.

[KanuTGL]

"Yes, yes I understand that you don't wish for us to be here," Timbre dared utter nonchalantly, as if nothing had just happened, and this only made Sumai even more fuming mad. "So you understand do you?" the old lion thought, and if looks could kill Timbre would've been out of this game by now, queer blue halo or not.

"We are scouts looking for the pride they are opposing, for we wish to seek revenge ourselves."

Nothing of the story Timbre weaved before them seemed believable and Sumai had already decided not to trust him. He if anyone knew the history of these lands and the only prides in this area was his own beloved Feraga and those Burja cats... That was the way it had been since who-knew-how-long-ago. These plains barely fed two prides, so how on the earth would a third one be able to survive here? No, there was no such thing. Not even as far back in the past as this cheeky young male was now suggesting as opposed to Mwezi's many valid arguments. No. He wanted them out and he wanted them out now. They were testing his patience and Sumai could feel his levels slowly sinking to the point where he would drop all thoughts of mercy for these two; they were asked to leave a war-zone, in which they had no business whatsoever, but they refused. Therefore something had to be suspicious about them. The faint green glow emitting from the old lion's eyes intensified for a moment before he calmed himself down somewhat - there was no reason to waste that much energy on them... Instead he let the size of the blaze that still surrounded his body grow larger and his stance became yet more offensive.

"If you both value your lives you'll come with me and cause no trouble in doing so." said Pulsar, who was now making another attempt at getting these troublemakers off their lands.

"Wise words." Sumai thought and emphasized them by stomping a front paw into the ground, something he usually did when warning allies about the heatwave he sometimes sent out as an attack in battle. Pulsar's way of approaching the intruders could've been the wiser first choice here, surely, but Sumai was not in the mood for playing nice this morning. "We do not require nor ask for your help in this war." he spat "If I didn't make it clear enough to you the first time - I am commanding you to leave our territory, and quickly! Here your words are worth less than a wingless bird against ours and when asked to leave you are no one to oppose us on our own lands!" The loudness of Sumai's voice had escalated from being almost a hiss to a roar and his annoyance was only growing every minute Timbre and Milo remained. "So you do best to leave. Now. Or I will lose my patience with you." he growled, finishing off his statement, and waited for the trespassers to understand the seriousness of the situation take their leave.

[Tamber]

The leonine creatures surrounding the unidentified blue cat and the black lion were extremely persistent, not buying into one word Timbre gave them. It seemed they were set on distrusting him, no matter what he would say. They hated the both of them, and Tim knew that one more word could have them both killed. Not hearing anything from Milo, and wishing he could get some help from his traveling companion's mind, Timbre barely kept the light blue glow alight, but did not let his face show hesitation or any emotion that would let them know he was fibbing. They alrieady knew it, but he refused to give in just yet. No motive was set in mind, but the young creature was determined to get these fierce animals to trust him. They were tougher than anyone he had ever come upon, but he wouldn't let their red glows and big feathered wings stop him. For once he used a bit of truth to try to get them on his side.

With a voice slightly less calm, an expression showing some uneasiness, and a quick gulp, Timbre jumped back in. "What if we brought reenforcements?" He blurted out, looking a bit more flustered. "Like if we brought back one of our lionesses. If I brought you our strongest, to prove to you we're legit'. We were planning on fighting alone, but if this is what it takes to prove our truth to you, then we will show you. We have a pride, we sincerely wish to help. I'm sure you don't need our assitance, as you seem quite strong, but it is help all the same. We'll help you defeat this power more easily. You have to believe us. Why would we lie under such circumstances?"

Timbre let his movements and expression become more dramatic, cowering back a bit, and hopefully showing desperation but pure honesty. He looked to his traveling companion, still in character, sharing a glance and a shaky, pleading nod with him, then looking back to the bright red lion. Even Timbre was beginning to believe his story, and as he gazed into the fiery red eyes of the large creature, he only hoped that these wouldn't be his last words.

[Pulsar]

"ENOUGH!"
Pulsar let out a short and abrupt shout as he unfurled one of his wings. The wing now forming a sort of wall between Sumai and the two wanderers, preventing them from looking at each other.

"You will no longer speak to Lord Sumai. You arrogance in thinking that you can continue to address our King when told to leave is disrespectful and will not be tolerated."
He growled out at the more active outsider who still continued to blurt out what was only nonsense as far as they were concerned.

"We do not need your help, be in sincere or not. We will destroy our enemies by our selves. Bring your best warrior if you wish and they shall be slain by ours, and their body will by placed for all your kind who venture here to see!"
Pulsar paused very momentarily as he lowered his head slightly, his aggressive gaze locked on Timbre.
"... so that they can see what happens to those that oppose the Feraga Pride, or her leader...."

As he finished speaking, the lion's mane and tail fur began so stand up on end and sway around slowly as if being blown by a gentle breeze. His wings both now spread out, glistening as the feathers, like the fur, began to move as if being blown by a gentle wind.
Then slowly but surely little bolts of electricity began jumping all over his body, even back and forth between the orbs or energy that had been floating.
As the enegery increased, the lions eyes went from being basic yellow eyes, to glowing pure full yellow light.

"You have twice ignored my lord and commanders orders to leave...."
The sound of his voice far deeper then before.
"Choose your next words carefully whelp..... for they might be your last...."

[Kirsui]

"I'll go, then. If no one else wants to."

Kirsui nodded her head at Terregu after a moment of silence.
"I appreciate that, Terregu..."
She looked at the rest of the crowd.
"There's nothing more I wish to say for now... Let us return to our normal pride routine. Those who have their patrol turn should leave now for the borders, and those in guard of the Den should take their places."

She then walked down from where she had stood and held the meeting after Ina had left. The pride begun to scatter, each member leaving for their duties or going back to their rest inside the Den. The creamy lioness herself walked to Terregu, stopping when she stood in front of him.
"Be careful..." she said with a lowered voice.
"And take no unnecessary risks. We don't need to loose yet another pride member."
She smiled at him faintly as she begun to make her way to the guard spot near the den that she had occupied on her guard turns since she had joined the pride.
"Good luck Terregu."

---

"Also Mwezi will recall that this war is older than her, correct? So perhaps we left before your birth."

The cheelion growled low, her eyes narrowing sharply. But before she could retaliate, Pulsar took over the situation. She calmly stared back when he locked his gaze with hers, telling there was no place for argument here. After a moment of holding her gaze still she had to lower her head and let him win. He was right, even though these two outsiders seemed to ignore the fact it was time for them to leave.

"What if we brought reenforcements? -- Why would we lie under such circumstances?"

Mwezi's eyes widened as her head snapped up, a low, angry hiss flowing out of her mouth before she could stop it. Her claws extented as her long tail flickered behind her. She didn't even realize when her hold begun to slip, but her form begun to sift between her solid and mist form, causing her to be partly transparent before becoming solid again.

"Choose your next words carefully whelp..... for they might be your last...."

Mwezi couldn't have agreed more with Pulsar, and she was preparing to float out of the winged lion's way if he decided to attack the two.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Milo was looking more and more flustered. The whole argument was beginning to sincerely get under his skin. He hadn't even said much, and already they seemed quite angry with the two of them. Timbre was digging a deeper and deeper hole for both of them, and he would really be appreciating getting up out of the bottomless pit they seemed to be floating in.

"What if we brought reenforcements?"

Milo jerked his head questioningly at Timbre. 'Reenforcements?!' he thought. What was Timbre getting them into. There was no one but the two of them and Timbre knew that. They were royally stuck. They were going to be killed. Their bodies would be on display for other wanderers to see and take caution from. Milo was just sure of it.

He shook his head. He was getting hysterical and he knew he would do something stupid if he didn't calm down. The Mwezi character hissed and he nearly jumped. He let himself a small flinch just to react and not hold it in. He took a deep breath and calmed and quieted his thoughts. He closed his eyes for a time and centered himself, taking a few more deep breaths.

When his eyes opened, he looked much more calm and collected than he had even when they had first met this little crew. "Why should you distrust us?" He asked simply. "We are obviously not of this other pride you speak of, so why distrust and turn down an offer of help?" He had asked calmly, so he hoped for a calm answer in return.

[Reagen]

'Good luck Terregu.'

"Thanks, I'm gonna need it." He stood up and streached, heading for the exit.
"I'll see you later..." And, under his breath, he added. "Hopfully."
He didn't want to worry anyone, but he wasn't sure how much knowlage he could gain without endangering himself. But he would try. And if he learned something vital to the Burja pride, nothing would stop him from bringing that information back.

____________________________________________________



Terregu looked over the hills. In the distance, he could see the Feraga pride entrance. He crouched and continued moving.

[Pulsar]

Pulsar glared at Milo.
<This one just doesn't know when to take a hint....>
He thought as he slowly concentrated all his energy into orbs.
As he did so the lightning energy and the glow in his eyes faded and he returned to normal. The only difference now was that there were several yellow orbs bobbing around the lion, clear signs that he had the energy read for use if needs be.

"We have no reason to trust outsides..... In war you can't trust anyone you don't know."
The lion said, wings still extended to prevent the outsiders from interacting with Sumai.
"It's not like one doesn't think about using spies and the like to infiltrate the ranks of your enemies..."
He paused, his what had been a fierce expression was now that of a calm solemn look.

<If this little guy doesn't quit with the talking Sumai's going to loose it and end up leveling the entire area....>
Pulsar lowered his head and looked back in the direction that Sumai was, that is, where he would be, if you were able to see past Pulsar's wing.
Letting out a sigh he brought his head back to face the two outsiders.
"If you agree to follow me to the border, I will possible be willing to hear you out."
He paused very briefly.
"But that's it, take it or leave it..... And I would advise you to take it...."
Pausing once more, Pulsar raised a paw and pointed at Mwezi.
"Because, THIS Mwezi doesn't like outsiders too much, and the only thing holding her back is the fact that I am talking to you both."
He put his paw back down on the ground.
"So if you refuse to accept the term I have laid before you, well... Let's just say that.... You wouldn't like to see what Mwezi is capable of....."

The yellow maned lion rose his head ever so slightly as he waited to hear what the talkative one might have had to say... or even the one that had been quiet, he didn't really care as long as one of them agreed, because no doubt then the other would follow....

[Tamber]

Timbre was relieved to hear Milo finally speak up. The blue feline was almost plum out of ideas, and Milo might have gotten them out of a tight spot, though he looked about as unsure as Timbre was.

"If you agree to follow me to the border, I will possibly be willing to hear you out."

Timbre's ears perked up, and the cat sat up taller. Perfect. Either they could weasel their way into this whole mess, or they could escape without a scratch, being conveniently on the Feraga border. Tim looked at Milo and nodded, hoping he would follow suit. He turned to face Pulsar again and nodded to the large black and golden lion, trying to hold a calmer expression than what he was feeling inside. Taking a breather, he spoke to the large lion. "I'm open to the border idea," he said, even grinning a bit to appear friendly.

[Kirsui]

Kirsui watched Terregu dissappear from her sight. The young leader felt nervous, the pressure of keeping a whole pride alive during the time of war laid on her shoulders. This wouldn't be easy, she knew. From what she had seen during her short stay on these lands, she had learned Feraga would not be an easy pride to negociate with.

From her lone guard spot the creamy lioness looked back at her pride and its members who were returning to their normal duties after the meeting. Some were still staring at her with wide eyes and an un-believing face. She gave them a re-assuring smile before she turned her gaze away and to the surroundings.

She also knew should she want to keep this new position within her pride, she should do well in the eyes of her pride members... And though she herself believed war wouldn't get this current situation between the prides to a happy end, she had no idea how to convince both the enemies and her own pride to think the same way.

Kir heard her name be spoken and as she turned her head she saw one of the younger pride members stand there, asking if he could take her place on the watch. She didn't really mind taking her turn on guard, but she did stand and let the lion take her place.
"In case Terregu returns while I'm away", she told the lion.
"Or anything else arises, I'm patrolling the lands."

With the promise from the lion to let everyone know she was away, Kirsui headed away from the Den. There were too many eyes watching he every movement when she was at the Den. Though she knew she had to get used to it, the event of becoming the leader was still too fresh for her and she just had to get out and clear her thoughts. And what better way to do so than to take the morning walk and check the Burja lands in case there was trouble.

---

"Why should you distrust us?"

The cheelion was still hissing out low, and her already narrowed eyes narrowed even more when her gaze focused on the intruder who had now spoken for the first time. The calmness on which he spoke, she was sure he was fighting to keep himself from jumping out of his skin.

However, Mwezi wasn't allowed to know for sure as Pulsar voiced out the condition to the two intruders and the one of them who had spoken first quickly agreed. Her hissing subsided, somewhat, and though her claws were still extented she managed to regain control of her form again and lifted her head to stand in a calm position.

She would let them go with Pulsar, no matter how much she still was annoyed at the two intruders appearing here out of nowhere. She'd stay here at the Den for now, unless Sumai had other orders for her.

[kae]

Madaha walked through the night. Her white coat glintened with the moonlight. Madi was so exhausted from the seemingless, never ending treke to be reunited with her mother again. Her small wings hung loosely down her sides and her tail was drug behind her in the dust. Her head was down and her tongue was lowling out of her mouth. Her legs ached and she felt like she would collapse at any moment. Madi was so hungry, so thirsty. When she felt as if she would just give up and lie in the dust, but then she saw a figure in the distance. A lone figure, with a long mane. Madi tried to shuffle her feet faster, but to litle avail.

"Hello?!"

She called with her little voice. This creature was close enough to see her now. Madi could tell that this creature was a lioness, she had a long mane that was lighter then the rest of her body and a dark tail tuft. About ten yards away from this last hope for her survival, she fell. Madaha tried to make her legs work, but the tired limbs seemed to not answer her call. Madi tried to create a small gust of wind to help her up, but it couldn't help her. She looked up at the lioness, fear in her sky blue eyes.

"Please... help."

Madi probably looked pitiful. Her white fur was dirty and mangled, her mane was nearly brown with grit, and her wings needed to be preened badly. But she didn't care. All she cared about for the moment was the fact that this lioness could be her last fighting chance at life.

[Lorien]

The morning air hung in silence as the sun's rays cast over a sleeping figure. The lioness opened her eyes, the pale green optics looking around her surroundings. Lorien had been gone from her home for a while now. With everything that had been happening, the young Burja lioness needed time to think, to clear her head. It had not been that long that Sitama had been killed...had not been that long before Xena had been slain. She knew there were bad times ahead of the two conflicting prides. She knew that this was not going to end anytime soon.

She had said goodbye to Chaza, the lion she had grown close to. After their run-in with the vampire lion, he had made his leave from these lands. She missed him, but knew that he could not stay here. He wasn't welcome in either pride.

With a stretch, Lorien rose from the cool, damp ground, the morning dew lingering on her brownish-grey fur. She shook her tail, flinging droplets of water off of the fluff. She took a deep breath and looked in the direction that the Burja den lay, her pride's lands cast out in front of her. It would be a long walk, most of the morning, but she would return. It was time.

As the silhouette of the Burja den came into focus, a sigh of relief came over her. While she had been upset before, it all seemed all right now. She didn't feel as troubled as she did then. It felt good to finally be home again. Closer and closer she came, and she smiled as she saw the rock she usually perched herself on during the days...at least the days that hadn't been stricken with war.

As she approached the den, the familiar figure of Satoba caught her eye. She looked around but didn't see Ina anywhere in sight. She wondered if the Burja leader would be angry with her for being gone for so long. Setting herself down next to the young male, she smiled.

"Hello Satoba." She looked out onto the lands that were her home. "Have you seen Ina anywhere?"

((OOC: Aaaand Lorien's back in it. It feels wonderful to be RPing again! I just regret it's taken me this long to get back into it...))

[KanuTGL]

Persistent little...! A low murmur escaped Sumai's maw and the sound merged with the already growling red flames that still encircled the old lion. They just wouldn't give up, would they? If Pulsar had not stepped forward to stand in front of the intruders, Sumai would probably have lashed out on them by now... The long tail swished back and forth a few more times while he focused on what was being said between the black lion and the others.

"I'm open to the border idea" the blue one replied to what Pulsar had suggested.

"So am I!" said Sumai and stepped forth to stand next to his winged friend, still making sure to keep the embers around him burning even if he let them fade somewhat now. "It sounds like an exceptional idea. In fact, I'd like you to carry it out at once!" The leader then nodded at Pulsar, giving him full responsibility to handle these two and make sure to remove them from their kingdom with that one glance, and turned around to walk back towards the den entrance. No guard duty now... It was better for him to stay here and calm down before he did anything else. He would've taken the intruders to the border himself, but Sumai doubted his temper would keep stable enough for that and rather trusted Pulsar to handle the task instead... Yes, having him, Inlasta and Mwezi back was indeed a relief, for there were few other pridemembers the leader would entrust with power now. Xena's passing had truly shook the whole pride, and while Sumai knew that there were many who would follow also him to the death and beyond, there were also those who would not... Fire had not been seen since the night of Xena's death, and Zalira and Asuka had also gone missing... The old lion sighed. Were they falling apart? If that was the case, it'd mean the end of their proud heritage and everything they fought for without even a battle, and that thought alone was almost too much for Sumai to bear. Not the battle part, but rather the idea that Feraga might fall apart and dissolve from the inside...

The old lion made sure that Pulsar and the intruders commenced their little stroll to the border before he let the bright flames fade into nothing. He yawned, stretching out his tired muscles once more and sat down next to Mwezi. "You may get yourself some sleep if you wish, Mwezi. You must be tired after your travels. Get Sinzia while you're inside too, will you? She needs to go to and replace Elan..." Sumai gazed towards the rising sun. "Myself I think I need to stay here now and... watch over things."

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

Morning. The sun's warming rays were definitely welcomed after the chilly night had passed. It had been a night to remember too... Or a night to not remember. Satoba could feel that his tear-drenched cheeks started to dry up however and that was at least good. Ina's departure had been so unexpected and he hadn't had any time to mentally prepare himself for it. A Burja without Ina just seemed like such a... strange thought. He had a lot of faith in Kirsui as their new leader, but Ina would always be sorely missed by this young lion...

"Hello Satoba."

He winced. Satoba had been too lost in his thoughts that he hadn't even noticed Lorien's return. But there she was, suddenly. Saying that he wasn't surprised at this would be a lie, because she hadn't been seen around the pride for days and he had even begun to fear that she wouldn't return.

"Have you seen Ina anywhere?"

At this Satoba could barely hold back his tears again and he had to swallow once before answering, now resting his head on top of his front paws. "She's... she's gone..." After taking a deep breath, he continued "She... passed on the leadership to K-Kirsui before she left. I don't... think she'll be back..." Thinking it in his own head had still been bearable, but hearing himself say it only made him feel worse. "I'm sorry..." he whispered, burying his face in his paws to hide the tears, even if it surely wasn't of much use. "I don't know why I'm like this... I guess I just... just didn't expect her to go so soon..." Raising his head again, the young feline said "I miss her." Those three words summed up his feelings perfectly.

[voluptuous♥penguin]

Mwezi looked over at Milo and his insides shiverred. He was, to put it quite simply, obscenely anxious. His stomach was rolling repeatedly over itself and his mind was running in circles. His first instinct was to turn invisible, but he knew that making himself unseen wouldn't help matters much. Prides just generally didn't enjoy an unknown force parading around their land. His second instinct was to put up a forcefield, but that would probably also arraise some sort of suspicion.

"It sounds like an exceptional idea. In fact, I'd like you to carry it out at once!"

Milo nodded and followed behind Timbre to wherever the border of the Ferraga lands happened to be.

[Pulsar]

The black lion looked at his superior as they stepped forward beside him.
When Sumai acknowledged the idea and suggested in be carried out at once, Pulsar simply nodded.
"Sir..."
The lion said in a blunt response to his commanders wish.

Once the two outlanders had started moving Pulsar slowly began following suit behind them.
As they got further away and he seen Sumai turn around and go back to the Den, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief. A better outcome for that given situation there might not have been.

"You...."
Pulsar said addressing Timbre in a manner that made it clear he wasn't too pleased.
"When someone tells you something and you're on their land I suggest you do as they say..."
He continued, snapping very lightly with his voice at outsider.
"You're lucky you didn't get yourself killed, and if you keep going around here with an attitude like that I don't think it'll be long before you do end up dead.."
The black lion closed his eyes and frowned, recalling how the outsider had acted.
"Honestly, some common sense, you were clearly outnumbered, not to mention that you were being faced with aggression..."
As he continued his rant, Pulsar walked past both Timbre and Milo, taking point to lead them toward the boarder.
"If I ever catch you here again, and with an attitude like that..... I'll be doing the very opposite of what I did just then...."
He said without looking back at either.
"Consider yourself warned...."

It was evident that all his annoyance was aimed at Timbre, then again, Milo hadn't really done or said much, in fact... Milo had been the more compliant one. Which was the best way to be. With things the way they were, having an attitude like Timbre's wasn't something useful.
<Huh.... after all, who the hell replies to a comment made by a lion with flames flying around them?>
A slight grin appeared on Pulsar's face.
<Talkin back to Sumai like that... This kid's either got some amount of cuts, or some lack of brain cells....>
Letting out a sigh, he looked up to the horizon where the sun was beginning to appear.
<Well, guess it doesn't matter now, what's done is done, at least once I get these two out of here I can see about settling back in at home....>

With all the commotion that had happened, Pulsar had gotten little, in fact, no time at all, to settle back in.
He still needed to keep an eye on Inlasta and make sure she was ok, he didn't even get enough time to rest her somewhere nice while she recovers.

"Let's get one thing straight now, while I have your attention..."
The lion turned his head around and looked back at both outsiders as he walked.
"You aren't welcome in the Feraga lands, that's it, end of story, no debate, no questions. Fact, face it, deal with it, stay the hell out and you'll live to see a long life...."
His voice came across as very demanding and commanding.

"However, if you so wish to test your luck with staying alive. I suggest you go annoy the Burja....."
The lion gestured his head in the direction of the Burja territory and Den.
"I'm sure they'd be as welcoming and open armed as the Furaga pride."
He continued, speaking in a sarcastic tone of voice.

[Tamber]

Timbre snorted to himself as the leaders of the Feraga pride huffed and puffed at him with their orders, poking him with their words as if he were a child. Tim didn't take to authority easily, regardless of what danger it might put him in. Besides, he was fine now. All he had to do was follow this grumpy, golden, winged male to the border. Milo would probably want nothing to do with him anymore, but Timbre had lost friends before. He would live.

The mohawked cat strolled along peacefully behind the grouchy, ranting male. It made him grin slightly to hear how peeved he had caused the lion to become. He could tell none of his anger was directed at Milo, which was how it should have been. Timbre had done most of the talking, anyway, and he had been hoping that his diarrhea of the mouth wouldn't end up hurting Milo. Tim had dragged him right into...whatever Timbre was trying to weasel himself into. He still wasn't sure, but it wasn't often that his trickery failed as it did here.

"When someone tells you something and you're on their land I suggest you do as they say...You're lucky you didn't get yourself killed, and if you keep going around here with an attitude like that I don't think it'll be long before you do end up dead...Honestly, some common sense, you were clearly outnumbered, not to mention that you were being faced with aggression...If I ever catch you here again, and with an attitude like that..... I'll be doing the very opposite of what I did just then....Consider yourself warned...."

Tibmre chuckled at Pulsar's words. The cat hardly ever took threats seriously, mostly because he always expected bluff and thought most of them sounded ridiculous. Not taking to heart any of the lion's advice, Timbre chose to respond, refusing to let down his personality for the sake of protecting himself.

"And how logically does the land itself belong to you?" he asked with a grin, looking Pulsar in the eye without a hint of nervousness. "I mean...you know...what happens after Feraga is gone? Is it still your's? What about all the creatures living on the land besides those in the pride?" Timbre spoke now as if he were simply thinking out loud, pondering these thoughts to himself. "Now there is a kind of...mutual law among the lions, I suppose, that prides have the right to claim land for themselves, but still...I can't help wondering...can you really call it your's? You didn't make it. God didn't give it to you. Your name isn't on it, and it will most likely be gone someday anyway, or at least change into something new. Doesn't the land really belong to the earth, to the life of the world, rather than to you?"

Timbre had no second thoughts of asking these questions, though he was expecting the lion to gripe at him again. Let it be. It would probably be entertaining.

"I must say I have never been approached with such hostility on these terms in my life," he continued on a separate topic, thinking out loud again and not speaking to anyone in particular. "I do have this hobby of mingling from pride to pride, and they have all seemed fine with my presence. Shame Feraga thought differently of me.

"However I can't promise you I won't return," he said directly to Pulsar this time. "I live my own life, by my own rules, and I don't take orders easily, certainly not from someone who has no authority over me. I have my ways of surviving, and I've made it this far."

The silly, cocky cat continued to walk along peacefully, a slight smirk still on his face. He did wish for this lion to lose his temper again. He had never tampered with a lion so on edge as the ones he had met tonight, and it was invigorating. His childish, stupid side was showing, and he was ready to dart off if anything looked too iffy to stick around.

[Pulsar]

The moment Timbre had gotten his last word in, the yellow maned lion stopped in his tracks.
In the blink of a moment and with a low growl he had turned around and grabbed Timbre by the throat.
"Listen to me you arrogant little S**T!"

The lion said in a deep and all too aggresive tone.
"I don't give a F**K what you think or how you live your pathetic little life on this earth"
Pulsar raised his arm lifting Timbre not fully off the groud but enough so that the outsider could no longer touch the ground with his front legs, even if he stretched them.

"You're this close from pissing me off completely!"
The lion continued, tightening his grip, but not enough to fully choke the creature.
"I don't care how other prides threated you, I don't care about your opinions and I much don't care about you!"
He snarled out at Timbre, his feirce gaze directed so he kept eye contect constantly with Timbre.

"You're pure ignorance leads me to believe you think you can talk whatever way you feel and will often or not get away with it. But that won't work for you here...."
The lion continued in a deep voice. His gaze and exspression not faultering in the slightest.
"Give me one more reason and I, WILL, KILL, YOU!"
He then let his arm down lowering TImbre back on all fours, but as he was letting go, he pushed the outsider backward in a minor show of force, so it was known he wasn't messing around.

"Just keep it up and you'll give me an excuse to drive your sorry corpse right into the ground..."
Pulsar snarled, before lightening up on his glare.
Giving a short glance at Milo, he then turned back around and continued walking.

<This outsider is begging to annoy me severaly. The idiot has no idea what he's dealing in.>
The black lion thought to himself, his still lingering frown now aimed at the ground as he thougt.
<This one's arrogance is unbelievable, only a complete idiot would be doing what he's doing now.....>
Letting out a short snort he looked back up onto the horrizon.
<If he keeps this up i'll be more then happy to dig him an early grave....>

[Lorien]

Lorien listened as Satoba told her of Ina's whereabouts. Her green eyes sunk as she heard that she had left for good. Bowing her head, a tear streamed down her face. Since her mother had died when she was young, Lorien had looked to Ina as a mother figure. She was always the one she went to in her times of need. Looking down at Satoba, she wiped at her cheek with her paw.

"I can't believe she left..." Lorien looked out to the Burja lands before her, as if expecting to see the passing form of her former leader. "I didn't even...get to say goodbye..." She placed a paw on Satoba's shoulder, trying her best to comfort him. Lorien remembered the day that Satoba had been adopted into the pride. She was not much younger than he, and she felt a bond toward him, as if he were an older brother or something.

Lorien lied down beside the blind male, hoping that the contact would help to comfort him. "What's going to happen now?" Her head rested in her paws, she thought about the war they were in. "Any news about Feraga?" Trying to change the subject, though not to one much better, she sighed. "It's probably only a matter of time before they retaliate." As the she pondered the thoughts, the deaths of all those in the war suddenly popped into her head. They had lost many, as had Feraga. "They'll especially want revenge after..." Wait a moment...she had learned of Xena's death from Chaza.

Jumping to her feet, Lorien looked around the den. "Satoba...where's Kirsui?" Not knowing what the Burja knew, she wanted to find the new leader quickly. If they did not know of Xena's passing, they might not know what to expect in the days to follow. They would not know that the Feraga would be plotting their revenge. "I need to tell her something that I learned while I was away!"

[Kirsui]

"Hello?!"

Kirsui's ears perked up and she stopped walking, gazing around suspiciously when she heard an unknown voice speak out that word weakly.

"Please... help."

But instead of finding a Feraga as she had feared, she saw a small, winged cub. She blinked, her eyes slightly widened in surprise. How had this little one gotten here in such a condition?

The creamy lioness glanced around the area, making sure there was no one around before she went to the cub. The poor thing was all messed, and propably badly injured as well. But she didn't dare to heal the cub, not so close to the Feraga lands. She didn't want to risk her own safety, just in case any Feraga would venture this close to the Burja lands and see her weakened.

"Little one..?"
She spoke softly, lowering her head slightly, testing if the small cub was still conscious... or alive at all.

---

Mwezi watched how the trio finally begun heading away, her claws were still dug deep into the ground and her tail flickered behind her in a sign of real annoyance over the situation. It wasn't until Sumai spoke that she broke away from her prepared stance.

"You may get yourself some sleep if you wish, Mwezi. You must be tired after your travels. Get Sinzia while you're inside too, will you? She needs to go to and replace Elan..."

Mwezi bowed with her head slightly.
"As you wish, Sumai."
She gave one last glance at the direction where Pulsar and the two intruders had gone before she headed back towards the Den. Sinzia... The name sounded distantly familiar... She went through her memories of the pride members, but she couldn't recall the face of this lioness.

"Sinzia!"
The cheelion called from the den entrance, waiting for a moment for the word of someone calling for Sinzia to pass around. It didn't take long before a somewhat faimilar lioness approached her.
"Sinzia?" she asked, and the lioness nodded.
"Sumai has requested me to remind you that you have to replace Elan."

The lioness nodded again and left. For a moment the cheelion watched her go, before she shook her head and made her way to where Inlasta was resting. She laid down on a fairly large stone. She was restless, slightly. There was much she had to fill in here, such as what was going on with the enemy pride.

Sighing softly, the cheelion rolled to her side on the stone, allowing the sun's rays to warm her dark fur.
'Mmmmm, relaxing.......'
She smiled, closing her eyes briefly to enjoy the warmness.

[Tamber]

Timbre chuckled to himself after he finished speaking, and he looked excitedly toward the lion, a grin playing on his face. He was so eager to see the angered lion's response.

However, his excitement was snatched from him in a split second, as was his breath, as Pulsar grabbed him by the throat and held him up before his enormous face. Timbre's smile was gone, and he gazed into the lion's eyes with his own, wide and fearful. Pulsar growled and snarled and hissed and spit at him. Timbre could see veins popping from the creature's face, and he imagined Pulsar having a heart attach with all this anger pulsing through him.

But Timbre felt no concern for the lion's health, for his words pierced the cat and deeply offended him. It was this that he hated in territorial animals, why he wished never to join the cult that is a pride system. The lion shot him down repeatedly, screaming at him in the most belittling way. For a moment Timbre forgot the danger he was in and let out a slight snarl as he hung from Pulsar's grip. His teeth hid from behind from gums once more as the lion's rumbling voice hollered in his face...

"I, WILL, KILL, YOU!!!"

Timbre was put to the ground and pushed over by the hateful lion. Pulsar simply gave him a violent shove, now none but bullying Timbre with his sheer strength. As the cat fell to the soft grass, fury raged in him. He would not take this degradation, not from anyone. The cat often forgot how relatively weak he was, especially compared to this great creature, but his offense and rage overcame him, and as stupid a move as it was, the cat stood on his feet once more. He gave one of his great signature leaps, flying over the lion and landing before him, staring him in the eye, an angry and warning expression on his white face.

Before carrying out the plan in his mind, he turned to Milo.

"Milo..." he nodded, "Au revoir."

Turning back to Pulsar, seeing the lion's enraged face, Timbre gave a side grin, loving himself for his relentlessness. With a deep, slow inhale, Timbre roused his brain and gathered his thoughts and emotions. He closed his eyes for a few moments as he did so, then opened them again and glared with his smirk at the watching lion as he held in the air. With a quick, cocky wink and a flattening of his ears, Timbre released the bomb lingering inside him. Pulsar's mane blew back furiously as a deafening, windy symphony erupted from Timbre's mouth. The cat's entire being shook with pride, his fur standing on end at the mixing sounds. It was one long musical strike, each instrument audible harmonizing with the other, and all notes working as one to explode into an earsplitting surge of anger and surprise.

The wind around them blew furiously, even after the strike, and Timbre flipped himself around to face the other direction. With a powerful surge, his legs sent him high into the air, flying far ahead and away from the lion, and an exhilarating song that matched his fleeing mood played around him. As he came back down he leaped again, and he repeated henceforth, leaping with enormous, swift bounds away from the *** off Pulsar and his short term friend Milo, musical emotion encompassing the act. With each leap he soared through the air with great speed. Before long he was almost out of sight, and as he looked back, he laughed out loud at himself and his cunning.