Beyond the Horizon (continued from Nobody's home)

[Lokisenna]

The horizon is red as blood. It is the fire season and a group Lions and Lionesses cross the Savannah in hope of water. Friends from a time before the fires' a scraggy group of odds and ends of the Pridelands and Otherlands.

Cubs trying to find their parents, Lionesses with remorse for the past, and others with grudges over the recent evens in the savannah. Can they work together to get to water and establish themselves to find the missing Family of the young cub?

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idk....work with it. It gives a plot. the cub is Akira if anyone is intrested.
Start Nobody's homers and any new people

[Amani]

Now a year in age, the cub Amani walked in his mother Kora's shadow to escape the heat as she followed the group. Looking over, he saw Nina walking beside her mother as well. He did not no where he was, or he was going. Staying very close, he made sure not to get distracted or wander. Of course what could he get distracted by? The savanna turned dry during the fire season. Amani trudged on towards the endless horizon, not wanting to give up.

[Lionel]

Someone came from the Outlander side. A lion. The Field drab brown mane was swaying in the wind. His Duke blue eyes were looking beyond the horizon, sinking in memories and awaitings. His Mikado yellow fur was clean, like he wasn't touched by the thirst and the hot air.
The scar on his nose was always seemed to glow a bot. In blood red, just as the sky was, the scar was. He knew the savannah dogs won't be running around here, when he will be king, The angry one will fall. Moja Hasira will fall from my claws. Will fall from the claws of Wingu. Wingu Mshindi. Winner.

[angelgirl]

(OOC: The name's pretty cool! So, are we picking up where we left off or is this a flash-forward into the future thing?)

[Deleted]

(OOC: it's definitely a flash-forward, judging by Amani's post).

Kunona, or 'Uschi' as her companions knew her, struggled several dozen paces towards the rear of the group yet again. In the months since she'd been accepted into the pride of the plains, she'd done a lot more walking and became a lot more fit than she had been in her own territory of the mountain, where she'd been waited on hand-and-foot. She'd spent her time looking after the crèche of cubs, doing what she was good at - telling stories, and pulling faces to make the little cubs giggle and laugh, and learn, and taking them on excursions to the watering hole. It meant she didn't need to hunt, but was still able to share in the hunting party's kills. And the plains landers had been generous.

If it was at all possible she'd grown even fatter since her arrival. It hadn't bothered her at first, mostly because the cubs had all agreed that her soft round body made for excellent hugs and cuddles, and was extra-comfortable to sleep against at night. But now, despite the vast amount of muscle below her pudge, msde from chasing cubs around everywhere, her apparently-miniature limbs struggled with the mechanics of pulling her huge round and furry stomach over the dry and crackly grass of the savannah. Despite this, she wasn't going to ask for another rest. Not yet... Not so close to the last time she had asked for a break. She felt lonely at the back of the group - and vulnerable - but a lioness had her pride... And anyway, she didn't want to annoy them so much that they left her behind...

(OOC: eep... Hope this isn't too long! I thought I should recap what Uschi has been doing since her arrival, seeing as she didn't get to do much last time).

[Amani]

(OOC: Yea, based on the first post, i guessed it has probably been a few months or so, since its the fire season now.)

[Lokisenna]

(yes it is a Flash Forward. ) (and should I let Naief be here too?)

A red-brown Lioness walked nearer to Uschi than the others, deliberately walking slower as to be with her and keep a watchful eye out for other prides. He name was Shalnei, or 'Shally' as she prefered to be named. Being still the newest member but only a few days to Uschi she'd become quiet good friends with the broad lion, and didn't judge her on her previous life.

The Sun had seemed, if at all possible, to have gotten hotter and Shally's back was blistered in pain. looking back for a moment she noticed the rusty colour of the horizon and the small tongues of orange which sprng up from it, as if the Sun was kissing the earth itself. She sighed painfully, It was the worst fire season in years. Looking to her friend she urged her on, "Keep it up Uschi..." she said quietly in a rasp. Her throat was dry as sandpaper and she had to keep herself alert as to not be foolded by the Water-like mirages on the ground ahead of her.

she looked to the others of the "pride" that she was with and saw ahead of them a small out crop of trees, "Is there water!?" she called out, forcing her voice to be audible.

[Lionel]

(Yea, Naief should be there.)

[angelgirl]

(OOC: Sorry, I'm confused again, but are they all walking in a group together or what? I need to know how I can bring Kala and Mufasa into this, please!)

[Deleted]

(OOC: I think that's the idea, but you don't HAVE to be if you don't want. You could be off scouting or something:)).

[Lokisenna]

(they are in the group but like kirssi said you can be walking ahead in stuff (and okay wingu)

[angelgirl]

(OOC: Ok, thanks!)

Kala and Mufasa walked off to the side of the group. Mufasa groaned as he said,
"Ugh, my paws are killing me!"
Kala smirked and replied,
"Don't be such a wimp, babe. We'll get to. . .wherever we're going soon."

[Deleted]

Uschi was really glad for Shally's company, and expressed this with a broad and toothy smile that reached her large brown eyes. "You know... you're the best friend I've ever had, Shally," she said between breaths. "I hope... One day... You have a litter of unruly cubs so I can take care of them and make it up to you."
Then she looked up, and saw the crop of trees in the distance... But it was accompanied by a shift in the wind, blowing stiffly from behind. At first it only brought smoke and the smell of burning grass, but then, a few moments later, little red embers blown by the fire started flittering about overhead. One landed on the small of her back above her tail, and with an "ow" she stopped and turned around, trying and failing to reach the place across her many furry and fleshy rolls...
And that's when she saw it: little embers landing hither and thither, stoked by the wind, forming little fires that very quickly gathered together, rolling forwards with their hungry tongues in a great line, right towards them.
"Fire!" She shouted towards the main group of lions. "Run!"

[Amani]

Amani looked up at the outcrop. A small ember landed on the brown tuft at the end of his tail. He flicked it repeatedly against the ground and rolled on the ground. Landing on his belly, he glimpsed at the fire springing up in horror. Kora grabbed him by the scruff and sprinted forward to escape the approaching flames.

[angelgirl]

Both lions had heard Uschi's cry of fire. They needed no one to tell them to run. They ran, full out, trying to get away from the fire, Mufasa completly forgetting about the soreness in his paws.

[akira]

((OOC: Sorry I'm a little late! I had finals for school, but I'm here now so count me in! The first paragraph is kind of a little 'flash back'.))

After Akira had begun to wander away on that night to find home, shelter, and family the group had begun moving. This had alarmed her and she had quickly gathered back with everyone to follow in their pawsteps. The sun had been hot, but not nearly as hot as it was in the 'fire season'. There had been tall lush grass that flowed in the breeze, and ponds of water all around. But that had all gone now...

Akira was not yet quite an adult, she's only 10 months old, but fortunately she was growing and she was becoming stronger and faster than she was at 8 months. She had heard Ushci's voice shout, "Fire!" Akira had panicked.. Which direction? She could only feel the heat of the flame and sun on her back. She ran frantically unknowing of who to look for or where to go. Moments ago it had been calm and the group had been together; were they a pride now? She had felt as if they were but she didn't not know and didn't want to make anything awkward by asking.

She coughed and tripped over a large rock protruding out of the ground and stumbled down a medium sized hill that she continuously rolled down. Akira had been cut off from the group, there was no one in sight, and nothing she could hear but the fierce fire. She couldn't run back though, the only place left was forward. She was confident she would find someone sooner than later no matter which direction she ran. Knowing it was the only thing she could do she ran further and further.

[Lokisenna]

Shally encouraged the Large lioness to run, he tail getting clipped by the fire constantly and she growled in pain, "Keep going Uschi!"

[Deleted]

Uschi tried to run. She stretched out her chubby legs and tried to increase her stride, but her big belly got in the way as well as the fat on her neck and chest. Her belly bounced and rolled two-and-fro, nearly dragging her over with it, and she had to stop before it threw her onto her side. It was all she could do to keep walking.
"I can't," she said, huffing for breath. The smoke was getting terrible. Her eyes stung and were filled with fluid, and she could barely see even three paces ahead of her. "Shally, run for the trees. Maybe there's water there," she said, then noticed a sandy depression in the grass and at the bottom of it, a big burrow, made by no animal Uschi knew. "I'm getting in the burrow!" she said, voice drowned out by the roar of the fire, then waddled at it as fast as she could. Because of the smoke she couldn't even see if Shally had decided to go in with her or whether she had headed for the trees. She simply closed her eyes and slid down the slope on her stomach, kicking with her chubby legs, before she felt the cold earth close in around her, and the roaring crackle of the grassfire cease as if it never occured..

"Phew," she said, to the darkness of the burrow. The air down here was earthy, but fresh compared to the smoke above. "Made it..." Then she tried to crawl in a little deeper, away from the heat, as the fire passed overhead. Despite all her efforts though, her back legs still poked out of the end, as well as some of her chubby body. She was stuck fast by the waist.

Gritting her teeth, Uschi prayed to the ancestors that the depression would be enough to save her chubby behind from being thoroughly cooked, and that the others would be okay too...

[Lionel]

The fire was coming closer, around wingu, but not close. Beneath his feet, downhill he saw two lionesses trying to run away. He looked, as they fought against the smoke and the fire. And then the slim one got in the burrow, but the other one did not. They were in a trap. Weingu knew, that there wasn't enought air for them both in there, while it's all smoke outside. And then he leapt down, dodging falling trees and looking into the flames.
He tried to pull out the chubby lion.
" C'mon. You can't stay here. And you too, in there, out!" He roared and then started walking. He had to start running, or the smoke will take him away. He didn't notice, how a falling, burning branch was going to hit him. and it did, making the lion roar in pain.
"FASTER!"

[angelgirl]

(OOC; That's ok, finals suck, I know.)

Kala suddenly stopped. Mufasa screamed,
"Honey, what are you doing?!"
"Where's Akira?! I don't see her!"
"Well, let's find her! I don't want her to get hurt!," Mufasa yelled, then said, " Come on."
"No, stay with everyone else, I'll find her!"
"Ok, please be careful."
Mufasa ran on ahead and caught up with the group, while Kala went in search of Akira, calling her name. She slid down a hill which still had vauge traces of Akira's scent, she followed the scent, yelling for her young friend.

(OOC: Akira, do you want her to become Kala and Mufasa's adopted daughter for now, until we find her parents?)

[Amani]

Amani gasped and coughed from the overwhelming smoke, his scruff still in Kora's mouth as she carried him towards the outcrop. A burning branch landed on Kora's back. She roared in pain as Amani fell from her jaws, unharmed. "Run towards those trees. Don't stop!" she told Amani. They just had to run a little further. Fires began to catch on nearby trees, devouring them as they ran again. Suddenly, a loud crack wrung out as a tree fell from its unsound roots. Kora slashed at it, breaking it as it was knocked in the other direction. She caught up with Amani at the outcrop, making sure he wasn't hurt or burned. There, she found an oasis that supported the circle of trees and small shrubs. "Water!" she yelled back, hoping everyone was alright.

[Deleted]

(OOC: Sorry Wingu, but I'm not letting you pull Uschi out of the burrow. For one thing, she's not just 'chubby': she's equivalent to the weight of about four lionesses! So unless Wingu is super-strong he's NOT pulling her out;). But also, Azylumin didn't even say if Shally got in the burrow before Uschi did so it's probably not safe to assume that she did until she makes a post. You can say that you tried to pull Uschi out though, if you want in that post, and here's my response:).

The burrow was tight but not too uncomfortable around Uschi's middle. The only discomfort came from the heat towards her rear. She tried to struggle in a little deeper yet again but it was no good. She was well-and-truly stuck.
Then she felt someone tugging on her legs. Realising the fire must have passed for someone to be rescuing her, she tried to help by pushing back against the burrow's floor, but she was leaning downwards, and it would take a lot more effort than one lion could muster to get her out. Eventually the pulling hurt her knees so much she was forced to kick at whoever it was to stop. She tried calling out to them, but didn't know if the crackling blaze had died down enough for them to be able to hear her. So she simply sat and waited for the heat to die down, and hoped that once the fire was over, her companions would come back for her and help her out... Somehow.

[angelgirl]

Mufasa reached the oasis, and saw Kora and Amani there. He asked,
"Are you two ok? Did Kala and Akira get here yet?"
He rubbed at his eyes, they still stung from the heat.

[Amani]

"We're alright. No, I haven't seen them." Kora answered.
Nina and her mother had made it also, to which Amani was joyed.
Amani rested at the oasis for now, trying to save his energy for later.

[Lionel]

Wingu had to run away from there, he couldn't stay. He started running, feeling pain between his shoulders. His paws were burning from the hot ground under his feet. After a while Wingu saw an oasis and ran towards it. There were other lions around it, but he didn't care much. He landed in the water.

"Claws and scars! It burns out there!"
He shouted, and then recognized mos of the lions around him.
"Sorry... Hello Mufasa, , Amani. And you too."
He looked at the lioness he didn't know.

[angelgirl]

Mufasa looked up.
"Hey, Wingu. Amani, are you and your mother ok?"
His eyes anxiously searched the horizon, looking for his wife and Akira. he whispered,
"They should be back by now, I hope they're ok."

Kala wandered around, starting to cough now. She was really worried. She wanted to collapse, but sheer will forced her on, following the scent of Akira's fear.

[Amani]

"Hi Wingu," Amani said before answering Mufasa, "Yea, we're ok." He went over to see if Nina was alright.
Kora looked at Wingu. "Hello. I'm Kora, Amani's mother." she said. She then looked at the fire, "Is anyone still out there?"

[akira]

((OOC: Sure thing! Akira would love to be Kala and Mufasa's adoptive daughter))

Akira had slowed from sprinting to walking sluggishly. She was coughing hard attempting to catch her breath. The fire had chased her wherever she had ran, it seemed as if there was no escape... She was fearful and felt trapped and she had no fight left in her little body. She closed her eyes tightly then opened them; that is when she made her decision. She coughed more and more then plopped down on the ground... She was giving up. She lay on her side with her legs sprawled out and her head rested upon the ground. The heat of the fire began to enclose on her and the ends of the hair on her tail and back were singed. The earth and the ash had covered her body; it almost looked as if she was a black lioness.

Her mind had begun to wander, 'I hope everyone made it okay..' She closed her eyes and began to rest..

[Lionel]

"Yes. I saw two lionesses and wanted to help, but a burning branch hit me on my back. And I'm glad to meet you. I'm Wingu. Wingu Mshindi." He said, getting out of the water.
"Mufasa, you haven't seen Nuri recently?" Wingu asked and looked for some shade. And then he saw something, that he needed to check. There was a little lion running, but then falling. He ran towards that place, right into a fire circle. Wingu searched untill he found someone lying on the ground. A cub, and seemed familiar.
"I'll get you out of here, don 't worry." And then Wingu grabbed the cub and runned out of the fire ring trying to guard the cub from fire.

[angelgirl]

(OOC: That's great!)

Mufasa smiled and said,
"It's nice to meet you, Kora. Yes, my wife and our adopted daughter are still out there."

Kala thought she saw a familiar lion grab Akira and run off. She followed them, calling out the first familiar name that came to mind,
"Wingu! Is that you?! Do you have Akira with you?!
She started coughing really hard and almost didn't have the strength to keep up with them.