Part 1: The Battle Begins

[Deleted]

Ina stood there for a moment, waiting for Sitama to reply. "C'mon, lets head back, we've done enough damage for one day!" She roared out behind her and started heading for their caves.

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Zalira watched as Fire and Xena were fighting. "That's enough Fire!" She said and walked up to him quickly, ushering him away from Xena. "Sorry bout that Xena.." She said and put on a fake grin while still ushering Fire away. She turned around and glared at him."Would you stop that?? Are you trying to get yourself kicked out of the pride or something?" She asked him furiously, although she wasn't showing it in her voice.

[Katari]

Sitama leered at Ina, trying to rally the pride around her again. Too late...? "Oh, no, Ina," she said, catching up to the lioness and beginning to circle her. "You're the one who's confused. They" -- she nodded toward the massed pride, watching with varied expressions, from approval to distaste -- "are tired of this. You're not their leader any more; not in their hearts. And do you know why not?"

She stopped directly in front of Ina, facing her in the downpour of rain. "Because I am." Sitama looked up, addressing the pride as a whole. "She comes back as soon as the danger is gone -- just like I told you. Is this who you want for lleader? If you listen to her much longer, Feraga will be living in your own den!" They said nothing, many nervously pawing the ground.

"You see, Ina, my dear?" she purred. "They're not yours anymore."

OOC: Now we really need to reach some decision on where this whole rebellion idea ends up. Maybe we should take a vote.

[Fire]

Fire was about to say something else, but then he heard Zalira shush him. Zalira was a lioness that he respected and it was in his best interest to shut up now. He walked over to where Zalira lead him to and let out a sigh after Zalira gave him the 'word'. "I would leave this pride if I had the chance... Zalira, the only thing that is keeping me in this pride are my parents, Sumai, and you... And I don't even know where the other two are..." Fire was now getting worried as he indeed did not see his mother or father anywhere, nor Sumai as well... And did you just hear her now?! We got our asses kicked and she says that it was a 'sacrifice'... A sacrifice?! Who does she think we are, soliders waiting on her paw and call? She's not a true leader, Zalira... She's just an extreme version of a adrenaline-addicted lioness... And she only wants to win.. She doesn't care about us... She only wants what's best for herself... Xena is a monster..." Fire finally said.

[Cova]

Xena watched on with anger in her eyes as Fire was ushered away from her..she watched him still even as they moved away to talk..

"Everybody should get some rest...we can deal with what needs to be dealt with tomorrow...anyone seriously hurt should go to see Asha, as you all well know her healing powers have un-imaginable benefits."

At this she looked over to a pale Grey Lioness who nodded her head to Xena. She returned it with a weak smile added and then with one final glance over at Zalira and fire before moving to help one of Her Lioness who was still joining them..she seemed to be limping, slowing her progress.
On her way she Nodded to Sumai who seemed quite loss for words on the subject..but there was not much to say....Xena ushered a few of her pride away from the lagging Lioness and she herself kept her head on her side to guide her over to Asha, who seemed to have a hefty group of injured gathering. Leaving her there to head back towards the cave..jumping up the embankment surrounding the entrance to sit on her perch above the door....and think deep.
There was no way this insolence should be allowed....i wont let this pride go this way...i have to find a way...i will find a way..
Her thoughts loud in her head as she surveyed outwards to their now shrunk land....Shifting her eyes to be able to see in the dark....the rain still pattered down over them but this bothered her in the least...the water was refreshing..and the night sky just set the perfect backdrop...there was no way she could sleep..no..not tonight................not after catching a glimpse of something watching her pride.....

[Kirsui]

((OOC: The vote is a good idea, but lets wait for Saffy's reply to the "Just Wondering" thread at first. ))



Kirsui didn't say a word as Chaza left with the whirlwind. She watched the rainy landskape, turning then to see inside the cave. Stardust was asleep already.

A smile rose to Kir's muzzle as she watched the hyena sleep peacefully. He had taught her so much... About life, about her abilities...
The lioness turned back to the savannah and stood up, stepping a bit away from the cave entrance and closing her eyes momentarily. She took a deep breath, feeling the rain fall down on her.

Then she opened her eyes. The pupils in them had dissappeared. Suddenly ice blue fire bursted up all around Kirsui's body. But the fire didn't hurt her. Those flames never could.
Kirsui heard a faint noice as water drops touched the flames. They turned into ice as soon as they met the fire, falling to ground like snow. Kir felt the water on her fur freeze solid.

She sad back down and started cleaning herself from the ice. This took a while, and all the time the flames were dancing around her fur. When Kir was satisfied she walked inside the cave and let the flames dissappear.
Her fur was completely dry.
The lioness laid down near the place where Stardust was sleeping. But she still refused to sleep. Instead she just placed her head on her paws and stared outside to the rain.

[Lorien]

Lorien looked with wide-eyes as Sitama challanged Ina. A few of the pride memebers had joined her in the cave to stay sheltered from the rain, and she looked to them for their reactions. One, who had been badly injured in their plight seemed to almost be cheering for Sitama. She looked at another as the lioness shook her head and looked to the ground. Lorien couldn't believe what was going on around them. Was her pride falling apart? What was going to happen to them now that they were no longer united? Surely this would be their downfall in the war that they had started. Honestly, she didn't want any part of the war OR the dispute between leadership. She just wanted to be alone for a while. She backed up without the others noticing and made her way to the dark back of the cave. With one last glance back at her pride, the look on Sitama's face, and she walked straight through the rocky confines of the cave. This power was good for evading attacks, but was even better as a means of escape.

Closing her eyes, she felt extremely short of breath, as if the rock around her were supressing her lungs. She didn't open them again until she felt the patter of rain upon her nose. She could still hear the yelling of the disputing Burja, and she looked to the muddied ground, saddened by what she heard. "Why can't they just...get along..." She exhaled from her nose sharply as a stern look came about her eyes. She didn't want to be here now. She'd come back to them when she felt that there had been enough time for them to cool off. Hopefully....she would still have a pride to come back to.

Lorien began to walk away from the cave, and as she did, the voices soon disappeared from her range of hearing. She smiled a bit as the rain seemed to let up a little. Her fur was muddy and matted and she really wasn't a pretty sight. Long fur and wetness really don't mix in a attractive way. Her green eyes peered out into the night, but with this rain, it made it extremely hard to see. She knew she was heading in the same direction that the Feraga had, but it didn't really stop her. They would most likely kill her if they found her, but she figured that wouldn't happen. She saw a rock formation not too far away and gasped as she saw blue looking fire come from it. She wondered what had made the sight as it disappeared shortly after. Being the young lioness that she was, she was extremely curious and her sense of judgement didn't kick in. She sped up her pace a bit as she headed toward the cave, hoping that it wasn't a member of Feraga that had made the fire.

As she approached the opening of the cave, she could barely see two figures in the dark. Good, it's not an entire pride...she thought. As she got closer she saw that it was the lioness and hyena that she had seen before their attack on Feraga. She smiled as she saw the hyena sleeping, but stopped when she saw that the lioness was looking straight at her.

"I..I.." she sputtered. She figured the two were friendly, but could never be sure. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to disturb you..." She sat down slowly after backing up a step or two toward the entrance of the cave. "I saw a blue light and...wondered what it could have been." She spoke in a soft tone, not wanting to wake the sleeping hyena.

[Katari]

Chaza chuckled at what he saw: the Feraga pride, just beaten by a surprise attack, and now arguing over whether defending themselves was worth it or not. The fools.... If they only knew what he had in mind for them.

And if only he could get this voice out of his head. Kill, kill, blood and killing, sweet killing. He growled a vicious curse and clawed the ground. If only he could rid himself of that droning nuisance -- and why did it want him to kill so badly? It was...disturbing. His thoughts flashed to the pair he'd left back at the cave; to Lorien and the Burja pride; to his own home of long ago, with his mother and sister...and his father. He wouldn't think about his father, not right now -- that would only make him angrier.

Right now, he needed to decide which course of action would be better -- whether to show himself to Feraga or to slink back to his hiding place. His injuries were beginning to heal up now, he felt much better. Physically, at least. But he'd spotted Xena atop the cave, looking in a direction that was roughly where he was -- could she have seen him in the rain? The rest of the pride were inside the cave, presumably treating their injuries -- most prides had a healer lioness; Feraga must have one -- and resting for the next battle.

He took a wary few steps forward, moving in a sideways pattern, eventually taking him to the other side completely from the cave's mouth. If Xena could actually see him, she'd almost have to do something about it, and he was still far away enough from the rest that they'd not reach him at once.

Oh, why not; taking chances was one of his fortes. "Rather foolhardy to sit alone in the rain, don't you think?" he said, not loudly, but loudly enough to be heard. "Especially when there are...enemies around." He said it in a non-threatening tone; no need to have her calling the rest of the pride. "You might catch cold." Or claws. Better to leave that unspoken.

[Cova]

Xena's eyes danced their night time green as her head stayed perfectly still along with the rest of her body. The patter of rain that layed waste to all around was enough to stop most sound of advancing...but the now boggy ground gave sound back so it was even either way.

The night suited Xena perfect....it was where she felt most at home..most at peace and comfort, but right now she was not quite there. The sight of the lion moving shone clear in her sight as she now knew he intended of coming closer. Xena breathed calmly and slowly, rain pattering off her entire jet black body as the night air was pierced with that familiar voice.
The voice of Chaza...Xena may have had a long day but she did not let any tiredness let her guard down, she thought to her pride down below, she wanted them to have their peace. The sound after all was not one of seeming hostility.

Yes she could simply fall invisible and have him as her play thing..she smirked at the thought of how he seriously underestimated This Lioness's powers at night. But decided to take this seriously, slowly getting up to stand tall and proud watching him before slowly turning and hopping down into the muddy bog below with a splosh.
Xena hung her head low and kept her face emotionless as she walked a little way up to the gleaming white in her see vision of green, stopping about 10 paces short of him, now a slight distance between herself and the Cave.

"It's where i sit......" commenting on his words as to her sitting alone...a air of comedy about the way she said it, not knowing what way this should go...she kept silent for another moment before using more words.

"Now what do you want..."

[Kirsui]

Kirsui stared at Lorien. Her expression was blank at first, but then she smiled weakly.
"Oh, it's ok" she said, lifting her head from her paws when the other lioness mentioned the blue light.
"Ah, you must mean this..."
With the smile still on her face Kir got up to a sitting position and lifted her right front paw. Her pupils dissappeared and ice blue flames rose to her paw.
"I was just playing around with my fire..." she explained, making them dissappear. When the flames were gone, Kirsui's pupils came back to her eyes.

She examined Lorien momentarily. Hadn't she seen her before with the Burja pride?
"I'm Kirsui, by the way.." she introduced herself, pointing then to the sleeping hyena.
"He's my friend Stardust."

[Lorien]

Lorien's eyes went wide as she witnessed one of Kirsui's powers. She smiled soon after. What a neat ability! When Kirsui introduced herself, Lorien bowed her head slightly in introduction. "I'm Lorien. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kirsui." She looked back out of the cave momentarily, a sigh escaping her. She wondered what was going on with her pride, but really didn't want to be there to witness it.

Suddenly a tinge of pain shot through her shoulder. She looked down at it and noticed blood matted with her wet fur. She then remembered that the lioness whose eye she had taken had clawed her pretty badly. Well, not everyone can come out of a battle unharmed. She then decided to turn her attention back to Kirsui.

"Are you from around here? Besides...when my pride went to...battle...I've never seen you before." She tilted her head to the side quizically, a slight smile on her face.

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Back in the temporary cave, Asuka was sulking in a corner. Her normal appearance was ruined. She would always have the scar and her eye would never see again. She growled to herself, cursing the youngling who had caused her this pain. She watched as the other members gathered around Asha, but she didn't join them. There was nothing that could be done for her eye, and she knew it. Besides, she would always have this to remind her why she hated the Burja so badly. She would always be reminded who to go after in the battles to come.

[Kirsui]

Kirsui noticed Lorien's brief look to her shoulder but said nothing. Instead she waited for the other lioness to speak again.

"Around here?" Kir asked, chuckling slightly.
"Oh, not at all. I've come a long way here, a long way that has some parts I wish not to remember."
She sighed a little. Lorien seemed rather nice, so Kirsui thought it wouldn't harm to tell her a bit more.
"You know... I used to be part of a pride once... It was a rather large pride, living on the other side of one spesific desert. The most remarkable thing about the pride was that, well... Other lions were normal. None had any special abilities. Well,except for me and my mom..."

Kir flattened her ears when she thought about her mother. For a moment she just gazed outside to the rainy savannah. It was as if the rain would never end.
Then she returned her eyes to Lorien.
"Are you hurt?" she suddenly asked, jumping from subject to another.

[KanuTGL]

OOC: O.O *faints*

May I ask for... a little... time-out? I sorta... need to... catch up to you guys -.-'

[Deleted]

(OOC: Do you think you guys could slow down abit?? Please!?!?!?! I had having to read lots of stuff at once!! And yeah... Kannie.. you ain't the only one!!!! -.- )

[KanuTGL]

OOC: Okay, so because I'm feeling guilty about holding this one RP up, I will make a crappy little post now so that you guys can carry on...

IC: Sumai lay down on a rock just outside the cave and sighed. The sun had set long ago and a few lonely stars twinkled now above them. Even they seemed pale and dull tonight... The sky was also empty of a moon for the moment, which didn't exactly improve the mood of the situation. No light, no hope... The old lion glanced at the other members of his pride, most of them were wounded and tired. They needed hope and guidance more than anyone, much more than the General. He had seen this before, yet it cut him deep inside to see proud Feraga look like this. He began to rise to his feet and felt a sudden burning pain in his back. He groaned and looked over his shoulder to see the cut a flying rock had made before... The old blood had coagulated long ago, but when the lion suddenly had made a move, the wound had cut itself open again. Sumai frowned and decided not to care...

As an argument broke out between his leader and the talented young Fire, he also decided not to break in and interrupt it. The powers needed for that were currently not with him... The discussion ceased however, thanks to Zalira. But Fire didn't seem happy at all about it... As Xena walked by him, Sumai stood at attention almost instinctively and watched her disappear into the darkness that hid her well indeed. Then the firely lion turned to the two that had been left behind by the black lioness and walked up to them. Sumai had heard the final sayings of Fire's but didn't say anything, just kept the regular stern look on his face. He did agree with the young lion, to a certain degree, but Xena was his leader, his commander, and a soldier does not go against their commander... The fatigue that had finally come over the old lion also played a certain role when it came to his lack of speech...

[Katari]

So she wasn't going to attack right away. Very good. A knowing smile crept across Chaza's face; this was going as he'd hoped. Honestly, he'd been ready to fight or flee, but Xena seemed, not friendly, but civil. It had been wise not to appear threatening. Her question caught him off-guard, because he didn't know what he was after here. "Well." He paused, hoping she couldn't see his tail twitching anxiously. If only the blasted rain would stop -- his wind power was strong, but not enough to move rain clouds away. And she was waiting. He might as well be blunt, double-talk would be a waste of time.

"It's always a good idea to know where one's, uh, 'threats' are at." He smiled, obviously mocking with the word "threats" -- he didn't feel in any particular danger, whether or not Xena grew angry. "It's not as if I tried to be seen. Your night-eyes must be like a leopard's for you to have...well, spotted me." Chaza snorted at his own accidental pun. "Your pride took quite the beating today," he said, knowing that it was partly his fault, but not wanting to bring up that detail. "Thrown out of your den, licking your wounds, some of you dead. And if I heard right, not everyone in that cave is happy with your leadership." He grinned, but that insult was only truth -- he'd caught wind (well, with wind, anyway) of the lion named Fire, and his frustration with Xena.

He shook his head with an expression of mock confusion. "No, things aren't looking up for you, my dear. What do you plan to do about it?"

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The pride was muttering amongst themselves now, and Sitama was a bit nervous. Whatever she might have thought, the lionesses didn't seem to be leaping up to support her bid for power; idiots, all of them. And Ina was watching, a small smile on her lips. "What are you waiting for?" Sitama shouted to the pride. "You know what you have to do -- follow me, or you'll all be killed!" How could they not see it?

"Come!" Three lionesses came forward and stood beside her. Sitama looked them over: Amali, Zerea, and Vatasa. Good, at least someone had sense. She decided to try and rationalize with the others. "Think, all of you, think: Feraga is beaten, but they'll be back, and looking for revenge. Will you be ready for that?" She glared at Ina evilly. "Will you? Listen to her, if you want -- let Ina lead you straight to Hell!" She snarled bitterly.

Why didn't they understand? They'd sen it proven over and over, and still...nothing. No more advanced to help her. Fine! She would do the only thing left. Sitama started away from the Burja lions, out into the savanna, her three followers behind. "I'm leaving this pride, with anyone who wants to follow. And I'm warning the rest: if Feraga doesn't kill you first, then I will. I swear." Nodding, she turned her back on Burja and set out to find her own way. No more lionesses joined her, but they would pay. That blasted Lorien! She had thought the younger one would follow her. Oh, well.

Turning to her three consorts, she grinned cruelly. "Let's find a place to stay the night. We've got work to do."

[Cova]

Xena stood quiet, her eyes still locked and un-blinking. Her Fur totally drenched and water simply falling from every part of her. Her Lips parted to reveal a glimmering set of pearly whites as he spoke about their pride taking a beating. She reminded herself that he was simply trying to antagonize her and tonight of all nights she was NOT in the mood. Her claws sunk easily into the gushing Mud as she began to speak.

"You speak to much...don't you have one shred of a soul in you...."

She snarled loudly, thinking of the horrific ways this could go, restraining herself from lunging at him as he spoke his blasphemy's on her own lands.

"You can try it...and you can Bring the rest of Burja....but tonight..Back off"

She spoke calmly before rolling her tounge and spitting on the ground at his feet, a final insult..showing him that there was no signs of Friendship...before turning to Leave.

[Lorien]

Lorien glanced at her shoulder again at Kirsui's question. "Only slightly. The battle scene really wasn't for me..." She sighed, but noted how the other lioness had changed the subject so quickly from her past. She wouldn't ask about it again, but wondered if it brought the other painful memories.
---------------------------------------------------
Asuka, still sulking and grownling to herself in the corner of the cave, watched as everything happened around her. She looked at the two young members, Fire and Zalira, and spat on the ground. That lioness had turned on her, on her own pride, to save that stupid lioness of Burja. She had half a mind to go and teach her a lesson, but decided to bide her time. She wondered if Xena or any of the others had seen the display of treachery, but it didn't matter. She could deal with it herself...

She then watched as Sumai came back inside the cave. She had known the general all her life and she greatly respected him, as many in the pride respected her as well. She shook her head, taking her eyes off of the group. What was her pride coming to? It was all that Chaza's fault. If he hadn't been there, they wouldn't have been so caught off gaurd by the advancing Burja. She sneered at her own thoughts, the very thought of the black lion making her blood boil. So many things angered the usally kind lioness, and perhaps the events of the night would change her demeanor forever...

[Katari]

Chaza watched the lioness in the rain, a thin smile on his face, and a wary look in his eyes. So, she didn't want to talk. That was fine. "You talk too little. As for my soul, well...I lost most of that a long time ago." He smiled again.

Ah, the rest of Burja, was it? Well. She had his identity wrong, then, just like Burja themselves. That was good; if they didn't know who he was, they could never know just what it was he wanted. A shadow as dark as his own coat. "Ah, well. I suppose it wouldn't interest you that the Burja pride is, shall we say, dividing?" He turned as if to go, hiding a grin. "No, I guess it wouldn't." If that didn't arouse her interest, then nothing would.

[Deleted]

(OOC: so much for slowing down for me.)

[Cova]

((ooc. only been 4 posts in 5 days..and one was double from kat))

[Deleted]

Ina scowled at her. She was just about to ban her from the pride when the lioness did it herself. "Good.. saves me the trouble." She grolwed at Sitama. "Lead them to hell?" She then questioned. "I highly doubt it.. even if that does happen, it's more than you would achieve!" She dug her claws into the ground, holding herself back. "You'll kill them all? And to think some of them wanted YOU to be their leader. Shows what a leader you are." She yelled angrily as she walked off with 3 others. "Lets go!" She then exclaimed to her pride before walking off. She stopped and turned around, waiting for the pride to follow, and observing who was there. "Where's Lorien?" She asked the few in the front.

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Zalira frowned ever so slightly at Fire. She agreed with him up to a certain point. She was about to make a reply when Sumai approached. "Sumai.." She said and nodded her head respectivley at him. She then turned her head towards a pair of eyes that had been watching her. Well actually, there was only one eye. One eye? She was the lioness who had attacked Lorien. She glared slightly at the lioness before turning her attention back to both Fire and Sumai.

[Kirsui]

Kirsui smiled slightly at Lorien.
"If you're sure it's not bad, then ok..." she said, the smile still on her face. She glanced at Stardust, seeing how the hyena was still fast asleep.
"I only asked because I... well..."
The lioness paused. She had only just met Lorien... Why was she being so helpful towards a stranger this quickly?
"I might have been able to help you" Kir continued. "I mean... I'm able to heal wounds... Sort of, anyway..."

Kirsui smiled again, chuckling slightly.
"So, umm..." she said, trying to think up something to talk about.
"You belong to that pride, right? Burja, was it?"
She paused momentarily, hoping she wasn't being too curious.
"Why aren't you with them?"

[Lorien]

Lorien smiled slightly at hearing Kirsui could heal wounds. That must come in handy, especially when someone's traveling alone. She then asked about Burja and why she wasn't with them. At hearing this, Lorien sighed a bit, glancing to the entrance of the cave. "I..." She shook her head, bringing it back to the front. "We won the battle...but..." She didn't know how to explain it to the other. "The pride is being torn apart...it's a big fight. I didn't feel like sticking around for it. I'm not much of one for confrontation."

[Cova]

Xena allowed herself the smallest of sinister smiles to herself. As she stopped in her tacks..so..Burja were having a few tiffs were they? most probably on what to do next, she thought. The Black Lioness put her head down slightly...Blinking once and turning her green night vision-fed eyes back to their norm. Watching as the water pooled around her paws in the sinking mud where she had stopped..seemed they were on a bog of some sorts.
Xena thought to herself of what opportunities Burja fighting could bring for her own Pride, but first it seemed she needed to know more. She could turn and query the intolerable Lion for answers...but she was sick at the thought of letting him have something she herself wanted and decided to find out for herself. After all, Chaza had just told her the most valuable piece of information he could give.

"Well that's to bad for them"

She sneered quietly to him..pearly whites glistening in the night as a bolt of Lighting flashed in the background. Indeed a big storm had now set in above their home. But to Xena, things suddenly looked alot brighter. Making her way back towards the temporary Feraga Cave.

[KanuTGL]

OOC: So it was raining? Ah hahah... Sorry ^^;

IC: Sumai kept silent. He did not feel like commenting on the matter concerning Xena...

So quickly had the rain rolled in... He was already soaking wet and followed the others into the cave. Well there, the red lion shook some of the moist out of his fur before lying down near the entrance. That was another old habit the many years of higher military service had given him, a strong sense of protection and responsibility for his pride-members, and by lying near the cave entrance Sumai felt like he had better control of what was happening both outside and inside the cave, since he had good view over all. When Zalira nodded respectfully at him and said his name, the General nodded back and looked after her as the lioness walked by further into the cave's darkness.

Sumai turned his head back to look out into the darkness and rain that was still heavily falling down from the clouded skies... A blinding lightning, followed tightly by a mighty thunderclap, slashed through the sky and for a short second revealed the lands benath. The firey lion's emerald green eyes for a moment thought they could discern the sillhouettes of the pride's main caves far away... Those now occupied by Burja... These rock formations where the Feraga resided at the moment lied at the very edge of their territory did well as temporary shelter and the hunting party sometimes rested here after a long day's hunt when the sun had set and it was too far to return to the main caves. Though, yes, temporrary... A whole pride could not stay here for too long.

Sumai sighed and closed his eyes for a moment. How would they retrieve their home? It would be difficult... However, both sides had suffered losses and he did not believe the Burja's numbers were too much higher than their own. And he, as the General and Second Commander, had to believe they could do it. For the sake of his warriors... The stern look of concern returned to the old lion's face.

Now... where had Xena run off to?

[Katari]

OOC: Whoa, I was behind!

So, she wasn't as interested as Chaza had expected...or was it a well-constructed mask Xena was hiding behind? Surely, is she wanted to know more, she'd have asked him. But then, maybe she would see to spying herself -- he recalled that she could turn invisible any time, as the now-healed cuts on his back attested. Oh, blast it all!

"A pleasure talking to you," he snapped, before turning and walking away. He did not use his wind-raising ability this time, deciding to walk at a normal pace instead...it would give him more time to think about the events he'd set in motion. Oh, Xena may have brushed him off with a feigned bored air, but he well knew her curiosity was piqued. Something good was sure to come out of it; for him, anyway.

Nearing the cave where he'd left Kirsui and her hyena friend, he saw four other figures through the driving rain: lionesses, by the looks of them, going in the same direction as he. "You, there! What's your business here?"

"My business is my own," came a curt reply from the first lioness to come into plain view. Chaza's eyes widened, because the lioness now standing before him, mud and rainwater dripping from her fur, was none other than Sitama, the Burja member who'd wanted him dead. Three others came to a stop just behind her.

"Well. This is quite...the surprise." And if she was in a vengeful mood it could turn ugly very fast. Chaza tensed without appearing to; he looked relaxed, but one wrong flip of a tail, and he'd be ready to lash out in self-defense. Kill them, quickly! Blast -- the voice inside was back! "Ah, what brings you this way, Sitama?"

"We" -- she turned her head to include her companions -- "left Burja to make our own way." She looked angry about it, too. "I will take my revenge on them, but I can't do it alone." Sitama sighed and bowed her head. "Will you...I need allies." Well; this was not what he would have expected. "I know you've got no love for Feraga; working as a group, we can strike hard at both prides."

Chaza mulled the offer, prodding the possibilities with a mental paw. If she could be trusted, it -- no, no, he could never come to trust her fully, but perhaps a...partnership of sorts. He'd still have a hold on the power.

And if four more joined his cause, well, why complain? "All right," he said. "There's a cave not far from us, you're all welcome to stay." Until you're not useful anymore, he thought. After that he could do away with them. Permanently. Smiling slightly, he led the four on to the cave.

----------

Sitama had been shocked at the rogue's acceptance of her proposal, even more so when he offered them shelter. And the immediacy of his response was surprising, too. But nothing stunned her as much as finding Lorien, of all lions, in the cave he took them to! Fool girl that she was, Sitama might've known Lorien would run right to Chaza as soon as the fighting stopped; but he looked as dumbfounded as she was. Well.

"Where did you get off to?" Sitama demanded angrily. But, she supposed it didn't matter if Lorien was there. Her feelings for Chaza would have to be worked through, but after that she might be useful. Two other strangers were nearby as well -- including a hyena, of all creatures! -- but they were of no interest to her.

And as for the male.... Sitama smiled cruelly. She'd play along with his little power trip until she had no more use for him...and then, let him die at her claws. Yes, this would work out nicely.

[Kirsui]

Kirsui listened at Lorien's words. She felt a bit sorry for this other young lioness.
But before Kir could say anything, Chaza returned. And he was not alone. Kirsui was surprised to see this other lioness she had seen with Burja pride. Sitama, if she remembered right.

'What's she doing here?' the creamy lioness thought, but let the thougts be her own.
She flinched a little when she heard Sitama's voice, demanding an answer from Lorien. With a glance, Kir looked at Stardust, seeing how the hyena moved a little, apparently stirring from his sleep.

Kirsui sighed and stood up from her spot, walking back to Stardust and seeing the hyena look up at her with his dark purple eyes. Kirsui said nothing, just sat down near the hyena and watched the other lions, her blue eyes flashing slightly.

The two watched and waited, waiting for what would happen next...

[Lorien]

Lorien was startled when she heard feet behind her and as her head turned around, her eyes grew wide with surprise. Chaza? She hadn't expected to see him again in a long time, or even at all. A smile seemed to appear on her face but it quickly faded when she saw the muddy mess of lionesses behind him, Sitama at their front. She got to her feet and took a step or two back, her ears flattened against her head and her tail between her legs. She was in trouble and she knew it, even before Sitama barked her question at her.

She quickly glanced at Chaza as if looking for help, but knew that he couldn't and wouldn't bring any to her. She didn't even know why she did this, it wasn't like she really knew him. She then looked back to Sitama, could see the anger in her eyes. She wondered then why these lionesses weren't back with Burja and feared that they had come to look for her. "I-I-I..." she stammered, obviously scared out of her wits. She had always respected Sitama and had made it a point, for good reasons, never to get on her bad side. She didn't know what to think now. "I...didn't like the fighting." She looked down to the ground, a bit ashamed at leaving her pride at such a critical time. "I didn't want to see our pride fall apart." Little did she know, it already had. What would she do now, now that her loyalties where split in two?

[Katari]

"Didn't like the fighting?" Sitama snarled. Chaza would have rolled his eyes if he could -- nothing worse than temperamental females! Now she was in Lorien's face, practically spitting with rage. "You ran off because you were afraid! What's wrong with you, Lorien?" She extended deadly claws, forcing the younger lioness back against the wall. Chaza had seen more than enough.

"Back off." Not angrily, or very loudly, but dead serious. "Right now." She wasn't going to talk to Lorien like that.

The accuser looked back over her shoulder, confused. "Or what...?"

"You don't want to find out." He smiled. "Or do you?" The sky seemed to darken then, like a storm about to break loose. The small cave became even smaller as the air thickened. "Well?"

Sitama's face darkened, and her trio of followers muttered amongst themselves -- something about attacking from behind, probably --; a look from their leader silenced them. Sitama wore a submissive look, obviously difficult for her. "All right, all right." She stepped away to give Lorien more room.

Chaza nodded, but he wasn't finished. "Good...now apologize to Lorien." What better way to show her where she stood?

"W-what? You're joking!" Sitama sputtered indignantly. "I'm not --" He raised his eyebrows in a wordless query: Oh, you won't, hmm? Sitama sighed. "Oh...." She refused to look up. "I'm...sorry...Lorien." she ground through clenched teeth, then glared at Chaza. "Enough for you?"

The dark male grinned. "Sure. Now leave us."

"What?"

"You four" -- meaning she and her followers -- "scout the land. Lorien and I will stay here. Come back when you've made sure there are no enemies around. Now go!" They slunk off, scowling and griping.

Chaza smiled and walked up to Lorien, all tension gone from him. "And how are you? The last time we met was kind of, uh, rushed. But it's good to see you again."

[Lorien]

Lorien gasped a bit as she saw Sitama advance on her, backing up into the cave wall. She cringed as she looked to the ground, unable to look the lioness in the face. Tears began to come down when she saw the extracted claws and the anger in her voice as Sitama belittled her. She actually feared for her life. Then, she heard Chaza's voice and opened her tear enveloped eyes to see what was going on. She listened as the two bickered and her eyes widened considerably when he told her to apologize. She looked to the ground when she heard Sitama's words, not really wanting to hear them. When the lionesses left, she finally looked up, her eyes searching for Chaza, whom they found quickly.

"Me?" She looked to the mouth of the cave as the last sight of the lionesses disappeared from her sight. "I..I'm fine." She stared out into the rain for a few seconds more before her gaze came back to the larger figure of the black male. "It's good to see you again, too." She smiled slightly, but it soon faded as Sitama's face flashed in her mind. She had never seen her that angry, especially at herself, and she never wanted to see that again. "You shouldn't have done that. She's really mad..." Her eyes fell from his face and trailed off back into the rain. "I...I deserved it anyway. I shouldn't have run away from them..."