The Search for a Home (Private or with Permission)

[Deleted]

"Yes: YOU have a problem. You're an intruder in my home and among my guests. You're outnumbered five-to-one. Ten-to-one by weight. You will NOT be staying tonight. If you're so feeble a hunter as to have to take it from others, then be my guest: there's a wilderbeast over there that's starting to lose its flavour. It's all yours. Take it and go." She stayed in his face, making it clear he didn't have any other choice.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Uruz smirked down at Walla, "I don't want to go though." He made to growl but another spasm passed through him and he staggered a little, crying out in pain. Slowly he steadied himself and looked at Walla firmly. "I'm a lot more powerful than you think and I can hunt, I just choose not to."

[Artemys]

Rhaegar now stood up, giving a loud roar as a warning to the pretentious intruder. He may not have been as bulky as other lions, but with his violet eyes blazing with fury and his defensive stance making him appear taller than he already was, he seemed more intimidating than a lot of lions. He may have been an arrogant lion himself, but he was also a hypocrite and couldn't stand being talked to in such a manner. Besides, he was a King. That justified anything in his mind.

"You dare speak to us like this? Look at you! You are one lion speaking of taking a home from a group of 4 lions!" Rhaegar roared, leaving Viserion out of the total head count because Uruz wouldn't have to do anything to scare him away. And he only included Walla, because Uruz would have a hard time moving her out of here, as she clearly had enough difficulty doing that herself. "Who do you think you are?"


From behind him, Kijani growled. Her brother was certainly quick to temper and she seemed to remember that it was not all so long ago that he had done something of a similar manner. Putting that aside now, she focused her attention on the confident lion in front of her. She just hoped he knew when to back down, otherwise there would be a whole lot of trouble trying to keep both males under control.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"I do dare." Uruz said calmly and he lowered his head, silver eyes glinting and a growl echoing in his throat as he stared down at Rhaegar.


Clary, always observant noticed the slight spasms that went through Uruz quite frequently, "Rhaegar, step down a minute. This lion; there's something not right about him, look." She came to his side as Uruz staggered a little, his shoulders jerking once more.

[Deleted]

Four lions? Can't he count? Walla thought, but was then distracted by the spasm of pain that made the intruder groan. Clary's observation confirmed it. A sick lion was often a dangerous lion, she knew, depending on the sickness. It could explain why he was behaving so rudely. Widening her stance and readying herself for his next spasm, Walla nevertheless softnened her tone and said, "Are you alright?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Uruz nodded slowly, "I'm fine." He said, all dominance and aggression seeming to have gone, his defences had fallen. He groaned loudly before turning and climbing up the tree again, with slight difficulty before he slumped down across a wide branch.

[zira]

*Zira had been watching them from afar and decided to come out in the open and make herself known* Hello dears. I am queen Zira off the outlands. *smirks* Quiet a show you two put on but in my opinion you should have killed him when you had the chance...

[Artemys]

Kijani had lowered her defensive stance upon realising that the lion was hurt. She had wanted to approach him and make sure if everything was all right but she didn't get the chance as the lion darted up a tree. Some place she couldn't follow. She was intrigued by the stranger, having spent most her life around arrogant and stubborn lions, she had learned that there was often a lot more under the skin than the lion would care to share.

Her head snapped up as another lioness approached. This one much lankier than most lionesses Kijani had met and she had a look of ill-intent about her which Kijani mistrusted.


Rhaegar looked disaprovingly at the lionesses as they suddenly all took down their guard. So what he's injured? A second ago, they had the fool where they wanted him and they could've finished the job in a few seconds. And then the foolishly soft hearts of lionesses got in the way when they saw he was an even bigger fool and tried to take on a group whilst injured.

The presence of a new lioness came as a complete shock to him. Rhaegar took a step backwards so he had both lions in his line of vision but didn't put down his stance.

"If you're expecting me to curtsey, forget it. And we can handle everything just fine thank you very much." Rhaegar growled, his eyes switching from this Zira and Uruz.


Viserion slowly got up as the new lioness approached and slipped to Rhaegar's side. He observed the lioness, what was an Outlander doing here? Viserion had heard the tales from two of the most famed Prides in the known world, the Pridelands and the Outlands, both seemed so caught up in their own feud that they seemed to forget they weren't the only existing prides of lions.

"You're a long way from home" Viserion remarked "Why would a Queen of the Outlands be following a group like us?" Viserion wondered. Clearly, royalty don't go wandering for miles just to get a view of a dysfunctional group fighting over anything and everything.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Clary growled at the female and even more so when Rhaegar stared at her, jealousy clearly evident she stepped to Rhaegar's other side and lowered her head glaring at Zira.

Uruz noticed the lionesses step down and felt slightly relieved but his gaze wandered between them each inquisitively, settling on the unusually coloured and slender lioness, before he turned to the one who had noticed him shiver first.

[Deleted]

(Hi Zira. Please make sure you read the forum rules and introduce yourself in the appropriate thread before making another post).

Walla looked at the second lioness in dismay. "I open up my home to four and I get six," she said. "The first one's a sick lion with no sense of judgement, and the second one thinks she's a dead psychopath. What are you doing so far from home, Zira? And what are you doing alive?" She settled down onto her huge stomach with a humph." Then she considered, stood and walked to the carcass from which they'd been eating. After a bit of pulling and tugging inside the chest, she emerged with a roughly ovular lump of meat, which she dropped before Viserion. "The heart. It's yours," she said, and gave him a conciliatory smile. Then she turned to Rhaegar. "Thank you for defending my home. Please, take your pick of food from any of my kills.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm hungry," she said. Waddling forward, she buried her face into the carcass and started eating.

(Ooc: Just in case Zira doesn't come back, which seems likely as she hasn't made any other posts on the forum, this is my post which assumes she did not appear. Also, would we be interested in marking this RP as private, shadow? Or by permission only? Or maybe we could ask TL to make it a proper RP?).

Walla looked up at the trees in dismay. "I didn't make any traps in the treetops," she said. "It's a good thing we're leaving tomorrow, or I'd have to sleep alone with the thought that there's some potentially rabid." She looked around at the others, particularly at Viserion." I'm really glad you're all here." She settled down onto her huge stomach. Then she reconsidered, struggled to her feet again - back legs first, then front - and walked to the carcass from which they'd been eating. After a bit of pulling and tugging inside the chest, she emerged with a roughly ovular lump of meat, which she dropped before Viserion. "The heart. It's yours," she said, and gave him a forgiving smile. Then she turned to Rhaegar. "Thank you for defending my home. Please, take your pick of food from any of my kills.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm hungry," she said. Waddling forward, she buried her face into the carcass and started eating.

[Ruby_Fehu]

(I'll make it with private)

"I'm not rabid." Uruz called down from the tree, he may be ill but his hearing certainly hadn't been damaged. "I'm just... tired." He didn't want to admit his weakness to the illness but at this point it seemed he had no choice in the matter. Wearily he shuffled on the branch and poked his head down through the leaves, "And to be quite fair; not many edible animals can go up trees. I've still yet to meet a lion who can, I only know from years of training."


Clary listened as Uruz spoke and felt a stab of sympathy, "What is wrong with you?" She called up the tree, padding to the trunk. The large male was silent for a moment but he felt comfortable speaking to her; he felt some sort of familiarity about her. "Humans." Was all he replied with.

[Artemys]

Rhaegar huffed and went to find himself a spot beside the fire, he was sick of the stupid lion in the tree. He attacked them, everyone hated him. When he realised he was heavily outnumbered, he feigned injury and suddenly he's everyone's favourite cuddly toy. Especially Clary who wouldn't budge from the forsaken tree. They shouldn't be helping him, he had just infiltrated the clearing that Walla had deemed safe.

Sick of him? Or jealous of him a small voice in Rhaegar's head seemed to whisper as his attention floated to Clary. Wanting to forget the lion, he walked over to the kill and was about to attack the shoulder before he made his way to the ugly head. He placed a paw on top of it and started padding around, lightly feeling the head of the wildebeest.


Viserion grinned back at Walla and enjoyed the heart that was in his hands. He listened inquisitively to whatever the monkey-lion had to say. There were very few lions that came into contact with humans that managed to return and tell a tale, so this would be interesting for him. He was thankful the rogue was in the tree and certainly out of the way, he had felt rather foolish when the lions had arrived and Viserion had hid behind Rhaegar. But it wasn't as if he had anything to fight with. His strength were words, whispers and secrets not fighting. He had claws, but no strength to swing them. He had teeth, but wasn't fast enough to catch anything with them. All in all, when it came to physicality; Viserion was pathetic.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Rhaegar padding about the head of the kill. He looked slightly demented but Viserion ignored him.


Kijani made her way beside Clary, worried for the lion that was sleeping just above them. He wouldn't be coming down any time soon, they needed to get someone up there instead. Kijani had climbed very small trees or ones that were easy to climb before but she would've never dared try and get up one of the massive trees that surrounded Walla's clearing.

"Can you climb?" she asked Clary looking up.

[Lionel]

(( You don't mind if I pop back in here? ))

[Artemys]

(I don't ^^ but you might have to see with Shadow... I'd love to have you back again though!! Rhaegar's getting pretty worked up with all the testosterone about, it would be exciting to have him back again )

[Lionel]

( A fight for Clary. Cool)

[Ruby_Fehu]

(I don't mind, it'd be awesome to have you back )

"No I can't." Clary replied looking to Kijani with a frown, she glanced around and saw Rhaegar had gone off a small distance and was now watching the three intently, she let her gaze wander to his eyes before smiling weakly at him and turning back to Kijani, "If I go to your brother so it'll only be you and Uruz, try talking to him, he may be more willing to talk if he doesn't feel so smothered." Clary said to Kijani before padding away, she had half told the lioness the truth, she had mainly wanted to be by Rhaegar's side though. With that she settled on her haunches beside him with a sigh, "Are you okay?" She asked gently, having seen the anger flare up on his expression when she'd defended Uruz.


Uruz watched slowly as Clary walked away and slowly he clambered down to a lower branch so he was closer to Kijani but out of harms way if necessary, his silver mane fell in his eyes and he shook it away, "Are those two mates?" He asked of Clary and Rhaegar, amused by the binary oppositions of the pair. He lowered his gaze to Kijani and tilted his head patiently, before letting his gaze wander to Viserion and Walla, "And them?" He continued.

[Deleted]

The average lion can eat about a fifth of their bodyweight. Walla was better than average, and weighed about as much as five lionesses. Hence when she was finally finished eating there was a sizeable hole in the carcass before her. Hey belly - already large - was now enormous, and sat on the ground heavily between her legs. Breathing a sigh of relief - for it was a hard job eating so much food so quickly - she turned and looked over at Viserion. He didn't appear to be paying attention to her, more's the pity. That was part of her motivation for eating so much, for in her own culture, a lioness who could eat much was almost as desirable as a lioness of significant size.

Clary and Kijani were still at the base of the tree, looking up at the intruder in her home. She was glad they were here - all of them - or she'd feel too vulnerable in her own home to relax. She was grateful for their support earlier, especially Rhaegar. Not so much Viserion... she'd need to do something about that.

"Viserion," she said, shifting backwards on her stomach. "I have a trap I want to check. Would you mind assisting me?" She held out her paw, encouraging him to help her to stand.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Uruz, feeling comfortable around Kijani - she and Clary seemed the least threatening of the gathered, clambered down carefully and sat in front of her, a shiver passing through him again.

[Artemys]

Kijani looked at the other two pairs of lions at Uruz's mention at the mates. She hoped that perhaps talking about something more banal would help him calm down. Trust was an important ally to have, and trust was earned by sometimes doing the simplest of acts, chatting was one. Rhaegar thought that you could only gain trust by accomplishing great deeds, Viserion did not believe in trust at all, but Kijani had a different opinion. she had never been a main character in any story and it had given her the time and space to observe how others act, what lions like, what they don't like and she had seen that sometimes it didn't take famed legends about one's self nor did it take growling or baring of claws and teeth to be recognised. Sometimes it was the simplest things that helped others trust you. That's what she had done all these years with both brothers, talking, comforting, keeping them going when either showed sign of weakness.

"Well you see those two" She nodded at Rhaegar and Clary "They're both falling for each other, but when it comes to love Rhaegar is a little sensitive so don't be bothered by anything he says or does, he just feels the need to prove himself worthy of Clarissa. And the other pair over there is a little more complicated" She turned to look at Viserion and Walla "Walla certainly has a thing for Viserion but he's hopeless at that sort of stuff, and he's not picking up anything. Which is fairly ironic as he's usually the most perceptive of the three of us." Kijani laughed lightly.

Her eye quickly caught the attention of yet another shiver and she got slightly worried. "Are you alright? What happened with the humans? Do you need to sit down?"


Viserion looked over at Walla as she called, distracting him from what Uruz was going to say. He half wanted to hear what Uruz was going to say, but he knew that he could always ask Kijani later. The humans were a race that intrigued him. Physically they were almost half as strong as he was and yet they were dominant species in the land. Where the humans were, the others fled. And wasn't as if there were many who got the opportunity to study them up close, or at least there were few who returned to tell the tale.

Though it would be rude to deny his guest a simple request, he wondered why she asked him so often. Rhaegar, surely was a much safer lion to travel about with. He'd be more use than Viserion would ever be. Viserion just pinned it onto Rhaegar being a pompous quim and left it at that. He approached Walla and gulped slightly, wondering if he could take her weight, considering strength wasn't his most renowned trait.

"Of course" He said politely, extending a paw.


Rhaegar found the place that he needed, somewhere the skull was weak, a spot of weakness. He pushed down with both paws and a loud crunch was heard as Rhaegar cracked the skull. Fluids of all kinds gathered in a puddle by the creature's ugly head. After clawing and chewing at the little that remained of a defence between Rhaegar and the brain, Rhaegar had soon found his way to the brain. He sunk his long pale claws into the slimy organ and slung it over to where Walla was.

"Thank you again, for allowing us to stay here for the night." Rhaegar managed. He didn't smile nor was his tone much nicer than usual, but it was an act that he wouldn't normally do. Though it had been brought to his attention that there were few who bothered to understand him and instead just labelled him as harsh or arrogant, without knowing anything about him. None of them knew what he was like and here he was trying to prove he was something else. And why would he do that? Usually he didn't care what others thought. He was a King after all and he didn't deserve to be disrespected by anyone, what would their opinions on him matter anyway? Why was he doing this?

It seemed the voice behind him held the answer.

"Nothing's wrong Clary, I just don't know if we can trust anyone we meet." Rhaegar said, thinking back to how the sworn guard of his father had betrayed the family in a blink. He didn't want that to happen again. And he also felt jealous of the attention the lion had received from Clary, maybe she didn't particularly care for him and perhaps it was just her being nice.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"Walk with me." Clary said, nuzzling into his neck briefly.

"Ah, I see." Uruz said thoughtfully, looking to each of the pairs curiously, particularly amused. He turned back to Kijani when she asked about the humans, "I'm fine." He said gently, reassuringly; he settled on his haunches studying the lioness before him carefully. "They poisoned me, I don't know what with but it's halved my life completely. I may not live to see past five." He murmured sadly.

[Deleted]

Walla grabbed Viserion's paw and pulled. The effort got her back legs off the ground but also pulled Viserion into her chest. In fact he moved more than she did. "Whoops!" she said, and giggled. "Thank you, Viserion. Would you follow me?"
She turned to go then, only noticed another problem: no amount of sucking or arching her back would lift her stomach off the ground, so full was it with the meal she just ate. Still she did the best she could and waddled - very slowly - down another trail, well out into the trees. Leaves and twigs got caught on her enormous stomach, but she was used to that, as on anything but completely flat terrain it happened anyway. The biggest difficulty came from her extra weight, and the fact that with such a full stomach she couldn't quite get a full breath. Hence in no time at all she was panting like a rhino, but she still managed to give Viserion a smile along the way.
When they were far enough out, she stopped and turned.
"I lied: I don't need you to help me check a trap," she said. "I am troubled my something: You consider yourself a man who uses words and knowledge to make your mark on the world, yes? So why on earth did you remain silent in the face of danger??"

[Artemys]

Rhaegar reluctantly pulled himself up and followed Clary. A part of him wondered where they were headed and why they needed to get away from but Rhaegar said naught, it wasn't as if he had been particularly busy back where Walla was. He walked alongside Clary, taking in the noises, the sounds, the sights of the nocturnal life. Once they had gone far enough, Rhaegar turned to face her.

"So what did you want to say?" Rhaegar asked.



Viserion turned a violent shade of red as he crashed into Walla and he muttered an embarrassed apology to the lioness. He followed her and it soon became obvious that she wasn't going to check on a trap. Which could only mean that she needed to talk to him and it probably was't going to be a compliment either. As they stopped he waited patiently for her to speak. He could not help but hang his head a little lower when she brought up the other lion.

"I know" Viserion answered her first confession. That would be the easier part to answer. "Walla, I'm afraid you have it all the wrong way around about me: I don't want to make any mark on the world, I serve. I serve Rhaegar, family, those who can offer something I need, those who have some value. I don't want to make a print, no one would care. No one has ever cared, Walla. When danger rears up, I slip away. If you're looking for someone who's here to make a mark then go talk to Rhaegar, because I'm not that kind of lion."



Kijani's eyes widened in shock as Uruz told her about the poison. She had no experience with poisoning, being so very unfamiliar with humans she knew naught of how it was administered, how it functioned, how serious it was. And she felt useless at that point in time.

"Do you want me to get my brother, I'm sure he knows something about this. And he may be able to help you." Kijani offered

[Deleted]

Walla's heart nearly broke, nearly. The feeling in her chest was a mix of pity and distaste for Viserion's own self-pity. Walking a little closer, she said softly, "Viserion, lift your head and look at me. You're a very smart, clever and handsome lion. And I feel stupid for admitting that last part." She shook off her embarrassment and exhaled loudly. "*I* care. But I don't care whether you want to make a mark in the world or not. After all, nobody's goal should be to 'make a mark.' Poor choice of words on my part. Even a leader 'serves.' A good one, anyway. He serves those who require his protection by sacrificing his time and risking his life for his subjects. That's how the world should work, anyway. My teacher taught me that." Lowering her hindlegs into a sitting position - even though her huge stomach prevented her from actually "sitting" - she said, "Does that sound strange, or wrong, to you?" She held her breath, searching his eyes as she waited for his response.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"What is wrong with you? Why the sudden temper tantrum." Clary said with concern, sounding slightly harsher than she intended. She settled on her haunches and fixed a steady gaze on him, her eyes narrowed a little, "I don't like moody Rhaegar." She said, her tone softer. "I like the Rhaegar who may be sarcastic and rude and everything else, but not moody. It's frightening when you're annoyed. The skull of our meat that you destroyed, I've never seen that side of you." She said, looking up at him; her eyes wide with upset.


"There's nothing you or your family can do Kijani." Uruz said gently, "I'll fight against it for as long as I need, until I grow weak and can't fight anymore. I'm not going to let the human's destroy everything. I'll find a mate and a family in the next 2 years, I'm not going to take this lying down." He glanced down at her. "And I know what you're thinking and the human's injected it in my food. It was like an experiment of some sort. I still don't fully understand what they were experimenting for but I'm here now, free and I'm going to fight it." He said with a sad smile

[Artemys]

"Sounds like a Utopia" Viserion smiled at Walla, he couldn't actually believe it but he could feel his face getting hotter as Walla spoke. It was such a strange feeling that he felt and it worried him. He had a sudden urge to slip away and escape whatever it was that was messing with his thoughts. Think straight! He ordered himself, trying to suppress the strange sensation that was taking hold of him. He turned his mind back on to what Walla said and tried to separate his mind from body. "Though theory and practice are a lot further apart than it may seem. I understand that I have a limited experience, but those who have power will abuse it and that leaves lions like us where in the Grand sheme of things?"

---

Because I care, and I don't want those other lions looking at you the same way I do, was the response that instantly sprung to Rhaegar's mind. But he couldn't say that out loud. No. That would be a sign of weakness. That would make him look stupid. Maybe he could avoid the question, he didn't want to start having to losing Clary. But he couldn't possibly face the truth.

"What you mean the Rhaegar you threatened when we first met?" Rhaegar said in a sort of sarcastic tone, playfully nudging Clary. Maybe that might put a smile on her face. The world was a brighter place when she was smiling.

---

Kijani smiled and licked the lion on his muzzle.
Kijani had difficulty understanding how the lion could actually come to terms with his death. If it had been either of her brothers, she wouldn't have let them accept their fate like so. Though she felt that she would do so out of selfishness as well as for their own sakes. Though there was something about Uruz's tone that seemed like he had lost all will to continue living, and Kijani felt there was very little she could do to change that. The feeling of helplessness made her feel slightly that she couldn't do anything to help him.

She looked at her paws, before turning to Uruz again. "I hope you find what you're looking for then"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Clary rolled her eyes good naturedly and laughed, "Yes, that Rhaegar." She returned the nudge and began circling him. WIth a playful growl she pounced at him, rolling him onto his side and pinning him down, "I like that Rhaegar a lot more than I should." She replied airily, leaving the ambiguity looming in the air between them. She purred and nuzzled him playfully before climbing off him.


Uruz gave her a tired smile and nipped her ear affectionately. "I will, I'll make sure of it. I just don't want to leave a family alone, you know? I want to see my children grow up, I want to grow old with my mate, I don't want to have to fall in love then break theirs and my own heart." He admitted steadily.

[Deleted]

(Arry! Welcome back!)

Walla breathed a sigh of relief. Though Viserion was doubtful such a situation could exist, he at least had the values to recognise a servant king as a good thing.
To answer his question, she said, "It leaves us exactly where we are. Corruption and abuse of power is the norm, isn't it? But we must have ideals to strive for." She looked about and then motioned for him t come closer, and put her head beside his so her voice wouldn't carry too far. "I've turned my life upside down for this ideal. I didn't know it at first. I just had this feeling, that benefitting from my father's bloody deeds wasn't right. So I left, but since then I've had a lot of time to think about what my old teacher taught me. I know what I want now," and what I want is you. She didn't say that, but rather took his face in her paws and gazed into his beautiful eyes. "Inside you is the making of a truly great king. The servant king - the king who puts others before himself. But cowering in the dirt is nothing but selfish. So-" she heaved herself to her feet, "- I want you to roar at me." And take my breath away. She dared not say it with her mouth, but tried to say it with her eyes.

[Artemys]

(Thanks Krissi! And sorry that Viserion is completely missing everything Walla's throwing at him =P)

Rhaegar felt at a loss for words when she nuzzled him like so. In fact, when she pulled herself off of him, Rhaegar almost felt paralysed in that position. Though he quickly snapped back to reality and quickly rose to his feet. He couldn't pin what he liked so much about Clary, by the standards of the culture he had been born into, she was everything a lioness shouldn't be and yet there was something about her which he found himself so undeniably attracted to.

But being in a relationship. Giving a lioness power over him like that. Was that what it would end up as? Just him working to please her? He didn't want that. He just wanted this.

"Well that makes you the fussier of the two of us, because I like any Clary." He said giving her a satisfied grin as he playfully pushed her.

---

Viserion looked at her strangely. Wait. He thought this was a debate over the traits of a good King and not a self-help session. Why did she want him to roar? He didn't roar well anyway. In fact he had a hard time remembering the last time he did it. And the way she was staring at him scared him slightly. He didn't enjoy being placed in the spotlight.

"In the world we live in, selfish wins." He said, as a sort of reply and as a way to try and get out off having to roar with her. The others would laugh if they heard him.

---

Kijani sighed and looked at him with large violet eyes, if only there were some way she could make his sorrow disappear.

"It's not my place to say this, but no one is ever truly alone unless they make it so. Don't be afraid of what you're leaving behind, celebrate what you've accomplished." She smiled at him, hoping that what she had said might make him a little happier.

[Deleted]

"Not necessarily. 'For evil to thrive, all that's required is for good lions to do nothing.' My old teacher taught me that.
So, do something. Roar." Walla smiled at him.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"Any Clary?" She repeated amused, "Well I'll have to make sure you keep to that." She purred, nuzzling him again.


Uruz smiled crookedly at her, "Thanks." He replied.