Before the Kings (open to anyone)

[Lokisenna]

(lol, sorry didn't even double check that, thank you for fixing that XD)

Saffina was pulled right out of her trance at the sound of the lioness and looked for the sound. she turned her head and saw the head of Nene poking out from behind the bushes.

Naiief was surprised, as far as she was aware noone knew who she was, "How--?" she started but also heard Nene call out. everything clicked suddenly, and she noticed the trap, hearing part Sembe's cry at about the same time and taking glance to the sky. the vulture was occupied and Naiief bolted towards Saffina, "SAFF! don't it's a trap!" She roared, knocking her friend to the side and landing in the trap.

Ngano heard the sound, and ran out of the Cave, "Naiief!" He called out as Saffina came running to him, "She says go!" the yellow lion exclaimed, "She'll catch up if she can, Sembe is with her!"

He nodded understanding the situation, it was now almost to dark to see the figures up ahead and he turned back into the cave, "I hate to rock everyone's boats, but we need to go..." He announced firmly but apologetically. Saffina came up next to him, surprised to see the cubs, "uh..." she said unsurely.

Ngano already had an idea, "Laith can you hold Kira? We can take turns until she has the energy to walk with us." He asked then looking to Fell and Clary." Do you think you could let Fell and Clary carry the cubs?" he asked Laith unsurely.

Saffina glance outside, "We'd better hurry."

Sembe was in the midst of fighting, absolutely in rage that her message had been cut short. she struck at the vulture with her long legs to try and fend it off as she went to land, she could move much faster there, faster than most birds, "How dare you!" she screeched at the vulture.

[Deleted]

When the trap sprung, it looped a rope of grass around the evil lioness' leg and hauled her into the air. Nene pulled herself to her feet and made a lunge at the yellow lioness, but Nene was too slow, the yellow lioness too fast.
"Gah," she said, growling in anger as the yellow lioness escaped. She would have to be quick, lest the yellow lioness gather friends. "Blowfly! Keep a lookout," she yelled, and her vulture friend took off into the air, breaking off its pursuit of the long-legged bird. He followed the yellow lioness instead, but from a height, where he could see.
Waddling closer to the strung-up Lioness, Nene cocked her head and bared her pointed teeth in a mockery of a grin. "Hello! I'm sure you don't remember me. I'm Nene. I used to belong to the termite pride before you wiped us out." She raised one paw and flexed her claws. "In case you can't tell by looking at me: I don't hunt in the traditional sense. My claws are VERY sharp. I just have one question for you and I'll let you go: where did you take my brother?"

[shani]

Kira woke up after all the noise, and hearing the violence outside.She covered her cubs with her body feeling a little bit better.
"What is going on"Kira asked.

----

Laith frowned and carefully picked up one of the cubs in his mouth.
"We have to go, for the cubs sake, are you able o carry kabibi?"
Laith saw Kira pick up kabibi and skilled.
"Guess you can then"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Clary and Fell hurried to Ngano's side, flanking him in case. "What is she talking about?" Clary asked, her gaze locked on the other lioness, Nenem she'd said her name was.

[Lokisenna]

Naiief made a gutteral roar, and Sembe landed no far away, with a quick sad glance, nodded and followed the Vulture by foot, being fast enough to keep up with its flight, by the use of her long legs.

Naiief then heard the accusations of the lioness. She was dumbstruck, "I--we...." she stopped herself, hangiing in the odd position had her brain muddled.

"We own no land stolen...." she paused as she processed the second question, "What....male? There are no Lions in our pride...

[Lokisenna]

(Sorry for the double post)

Ngano shook his head, "I have no idea, but we must leave now. Naiief will catch up if she can. I have no doubts in her." He said looking to the upward path, "follow me."

Saffina looked at Kira with amazement, " are you sure you can walk?" She asked as they headed out of the cave, "I can help..."

[shani]

"No these are my cubs and I will look after them."Kira said as she began to leave the cave.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"I'll stay behind and help Naiief." Fell informed the group. "Clary stay with Ngano and Saffina." He said protectively.

Clary made a sound to complain but changed her mind at the look Fell gave her, "Fine." She grumbled.

[Deleted]

"Stolen land?" Nene grabbed the evil lioness' ear wand yanked down hard, feeling skin and cartilage break under her claws. Putting her face close to hers, she held back her tears and gritted her teeth. "You stole lives! Mother, father, my sisters... The only ones you didn't kill were the cubs. My brother was a cub so-" she gave the ear another tug "where. Is. He?"

[Lokisenna]

Naiief attempted to pull away, "I have no idea what you are talking about! what male lion? if there were one in our pride I would know!" she said frustrated and aghast at the thought, "We took the land's peaceably. Mother told me so. I have no ides what you are talking about!" she said surely.

Ngano nodded, "Okay lets go, now." he said again firmly.

Saffina stepped back and took lead too, beginning up the path looking back to check on the others and glance over at Naiief.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Fell padded to the two females and stood close by Naiief, his gaze locked on Nene.

Clary glanced over her shoulder after her brother before following Saffina and Ngano.

[Deleted]

Nene carefully untangled her claws, and stepped back, controlling her breathing. Once she was calm enough and the trembling had stopped she said, "You're lying. I saw a male in your pride, just now. You smell like the one who took my brother. You even look like her." She met Naiief's eyes. "And I swear I will rip your skin from your flesh unless you tell me where he is!" She swung a paw at the lioness' face, right for the eyes, but at the last half-second a ball of feathers got in the way.
"Nene, Nene, stop! She'stellingthetruthcan'tyouseeshe'snotthelionesswhotookyourbrothershejusthelpedsomelionsplease-"
Nene was trying to duck past, but Blowfly kept getting between her and her target. "She's lying!" Nene roared, and batted the small vulture against the trunk of the tree. He srang a trap: a deadfall stone fell from the tree and crushed the back half of his body as he tried to rise. Blowfly gave a squawk and his head fell to the ground, eyes closed.
Nene gasped. "Blowfly!" she said, and waddled over. With all her strenth she pushed the stone aside and picked up the bird's limp form. "Blowfly... I'm sorry... Blowie..."
She turned the vulture over. His chest was moving, but his eyes remained firmly closed.

[Lionel]

((whoops. I saw only the first page. Would you mind to tell me a short tale of what's happening?)

[Lionel]

"Hey, what is going on here! Let her out!!!" Zeb said, looking at the chaos infront of him. A lioness traped another lioness and some vulture?!!! He has to sort this oout .

[Lokisenna]

"Fell help me out of this..." Naiief mumbled. She looked at the troubled lioness, "Ngano is a rouge who decided to help my cause to save our species...you may be talking of my mother Zayrna....but I would know if my pride had a lion in it. We are leaderless. and they are out in the Safelands. That is where me and my mother and pride are." She tried to explain.

As she finished this the second lion appeared as if out of nowhere and Sembe landed next to the vulture annoyed but definitely worried about the creatures condition.

Naiief flushed, she felt so upset. She was tangled in a trap, and now she was surrounded by lions she barely knew, what was going to happen now?

[Deleted]

Nene hardly heard the lion's words. She looked up at the long-legged secretary bird that had walked up to her. "What do I do? How do I fix a bird?"

[Lionel]

While the lionesswasn't noticing, Zeb quickly tried to untangle Naiief.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Fell helped the new lion, sending his teeth through the vine holding Naiief, it broke and Fell dived under Naiief ready to catch her on his back before she fell and hit the ground.

[Lokisenna]

Naiief landed on Fell's back and smiled thankfully, "Thankyou. I'll attend to Nene's bird and then we should go." She realized that perhaps Zeb didn't know who she was and what she was ultimately doing.

With little movement she was off Fell, "Could you explain what you know to Zeb and see if he wishes to join us. There is a....vullture who needs help."

She walked lightly over to the pudgy lion and stood chlose to her secretary who was already assisting the vulture.

Sembe was chattering information, even Naiief couldn't make sense of it, "Nene.." Naiief said carefully, having figured the Lionesses name from Blowfly, "The vulture needs rest and to be cared for gently." She paused, "If you come with me and the others maybe you could ask my mother is she knows of your brother's whereabouts." She suggested.
---

Once the lions reached the top of the ridge it was almost midnight. Saffina held back to stand near Clary and Ngano lead the group, with Laith in the back and Kira ahead of him, holding one of the cubs the other was with Kira.

Saffina looked back carefully and said to Clary, "do you think Kira wil be okay?" She queried.

The were sudeenly stopped when Ngano had found a suitable place for them to stay awhile and rest, "We'll rest till morning, as we are out of eyeshot of the Wilder Prides., he paused sadly, "If the others don't return by morning we'll move on."

[Deleted]

Nene growled and hunched over Blowfly when the evil lioness approached, but quickly realised how stupid she must seem. She was outnumbered three to one, four if she included the bird. If they wanted to hurt her they would have.
When Naiief offered to let her join them, she scoffed. "Phah! Why would I want to join the likes of you? A bunch of rogues without a home, hungry and footsore. Who are you all anyway? And who is your mother?"

[Lokisenna]

Naiief quickly figured that the respectful approach wouldn't work and Nene and instantly her reaction changed, "My mother is named Zayrna." She said proudly, "And I don't see why I even offered, when an obsene pachydearm like you! You can't even pull your own weight....oh the complaining we'd get. And then we'd have to care for your vulgar pet too. I'd never hear the end of it. "She paused and sneered, then reverted back to her normal self, "Sembe, leave the vulture, she obviously can take care of it herself."

Sembe moved back reluctantly, hearing the firmness in her tone, "Ma'am." She responed

[Lionel]

" Hey, should I get rid of the vulture? " Giggling said Zeb. Then he went to Naiief and introduced himself.
" I'm Zeb, prince of the mountain lands, currently on a journey. And who would you be?" Zeb said and looked down to the bird. " And who wold you bee to my apologies, that I didn't notice you sooner."

[Ruby_Fehu]

Fell nodded in reply to Naiief before turning andd explaining everything that he knew for definite and what he'd guessed from listening to others, when he'd finished he scowled, realizing Zeb hadn't been listening at all. Still wearing a hard expression he turned his attention back to the feuding lionesses and waited patiently for Naiief to speak after Zeb introduced himself.

Clary smiled reassuringly at Saffina 'I'm sure she will be. None of us will want to see a lion in need.' She replied.

[Lokisenna]

Naiief ignored to pudgy lion for a moment as Sembe relocated her efforts to the new lion, "I am Sembe, Naiief's friend and companion." she introduced nodding to Naiief who smiled, "And we are the leaders of scouting for lions who wish to rid themselves of these horrible lands." she claimed brightly.

Naiief looked suddenly worried, "We should leave as soon as we can..." the sky was black and hundreds of stars could be seen. after a moment of silence the smell of blood that covered the lands wafted into the noses of the lions and birds surrounding, it was the blood of lions and not appealing to the nose.

Saffina sighed and lay down at one side of the plateau, suddenly alert and watching.

Ngano was humming a sort of jungle song quietly to himself looking outwards constantly on watch also.

[Lionel]

" Well, i have a free spot rght besides my lands... We just need to get rid of a lion called... Oh, what's is name... Something about clouds..." Zeb said, looking at his claws.
"So, who are the other travellers then?"

[shani]

Kira moved forward towards all the commotion carrying kabibi in her mouth laith not long behind her.
"Whats going on?"Kiara Asked.

----

Laith followed behind kiara carrying maliki in his mouth.He gently nuzzled Kiara and looked at the other lions.

[Deleted]

Nene gulped at Naiief's words. That was exactly why she didn't want to go. She listened for a while, hoping to hear who they were and what they were doing, but the description Naiief gave one of the other lions wasn't particularly helpful. "... we are the leaders of scouting for lions who wish to rid themselves of these horrible lands," Nene repeated in a mocking tone, and scoffed. "That's descriptive. Well, Leaders of Scouting for Lions, watch where you step. I have traps everywhere. And please rid yourselves of these horrible lands soon. That way I might catch something worth eating."

With that she turned around, and came face-to-face with the long-legged bird. "I didn't realise you were someone's pet," she said, and put Blowfly gently in her mouth and used her forepaws to pull herself up a grass runner, into the tree. Surprisingly she did this very quickly, and lay Blowfly in the middle of the tree. "Sorry, little friend," she whispered, then shuffled out onto one of the tree branches and sat down where she could glare at everyone.

It was then she spied the cub, and her heart stopped. It looked so much like she remembered her brother...

[Lokisenna]

(the cub it up the ridge and into a set of rocky mountainous area, she would not be able to see it XD)

Saffina looked to Kira and her cub, "We are resting for the night, tomorrow morning we'll move on til we get near the valley, there are large bird there that we can catch and eat." she looked at Laith pointedly, "The lionesses will hunt only, if you with to join me Clary?" she asked back pointing out that outside male assistance would not be liked even if she had to hunt alone.

---

Naiief huffed and ignored the lioness, if she was going to act like that, she could, it wasn't her problem, " We have lands, and for now, they are the Safelnds. You could join us to these lands if you wish, as you seem to already have a pride you are content with, though I wish your pride safety as out kind gets more and more barbaric and insane." she nodded and looked to Fell, "Lets follow the ridge, It is close to the depth of night and we can move better now."

Sembe make an abrupt squawk at Nene's claim but said nothing more in defense to her, after a moment of listening to Naiief she added, "Take percaussion as we leave Ma'am."

Naiief nodded, "of course, but you cannot see, so please come on my back as we walk." The bird hobbled carefully over to Naiief and leapt onto her back and sat down, her long legs splayed awkwardly.


(guys please remember that it is completely dark now, so all animals who can use night vision such as predators and lions themselves can still see, but not as in daytime)

[Ruby_Fehu]

'Is it safe to hunt now Saffina?' Clary asked, 'I will hunt with you though, two of us hunting is better than just one of us. You seem to know these lands better however so you should lead us.' Clary replied.


Fell nodded at Naiief and padded along beside her, 'Would you like me to carry the bird?' He offered with a smile. 'We need to move quickly its not safe around here from what I know. We need to find the others and quickly.' He continued protectively.

[Deleted]

"Get on my back, Sembe. Pick at my lice, Sembe. Leave the vulture to die becuase the lioness was so rude my pride was hurt!" Nene poked out her bottom lip in a mockery of misery.