Grassland

[Jetstar]

Tare nodded, bent over to the carcass and nudged it onto his shoulders. "Where do we bring it?" He asked, the death not bothering him in the slightest.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel

He followed Mura into the cave and settled on his haunches beside her, his head was tilted and he was wearing a sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry about your mother." He began, his voice gentle.


Lailah

"We'll take her to the outskirts. There's an abandoned cave somewhere near there. We'll put her in there." Lailah sighed, "Unless you know somewhere a little more respectable for us to take her?" She suggested.

[Deleted]

(hey guys:). Mind if I jump in with Wasana?)

"At last. I get you all to myself," Wasana said, to the gazelle carcass she'd stashed in the cave in the early hours of the morning. It had taken her ages to get away, what with her parents and the shaman, Mchawi, so keen on keeping her busy. With slight leopard ancestry she was a beautiful lioness by most estimation, though food had always been a weakness. And ever since the monkeys had taught her how to make poisoned darts from the Nightriguam plant they cultivated, hunting had become incredibly easy, and Wasana's waistline went further around than the length from her nose to the tip of her tail.

Still, it seemed that the only people who cared were her parents. They were new to the pride, and though the locals seemed to think a curvy lioness was an attractive sign of prosperity, mum and dad were keen to see her lose the belly and become a 'proper hunter', like her younger brother.

Oh how she hated her little brother sometimes.

Nevertheless she was all alone now. Her mouth was salivating. She opened it to take her first bite when she heard some footsteps, and froze.

"I'm sorry about your mother," the voice said. Suddenly her heart beat faster. Was that... Ezekiel? She leaned over the edge and saw him, that handsome male, sitting next to his sister near the cave entrance and talking to another young lioness. Her brow furrowed. Who is that? How did she manage to get Ezekiel's undivided attention? Why does she look so sad?

She leaned a little further, trying to identify the lioness. It looked rather like Shawni, but Shawni was older. Laila was speaking but Wasana hardly heard her, and leaned closer... Then her paw slipped on the ledge, and she fell, crashing to the ground.

"Oof!" she said, and groaned with pain. She had landed on her stomach, and though it provided rather good padding it was still a rough landing. "Ugh... sorry, everyone. Hi Lail," she said as the dust cleared. "Won't you introduce me to your new friend? And did I see Ezekiel around here?" She looked around, but didn't see him, and then felt something move beneath her.

Embarrassment like dread made her ears burn red hot. Wasana lurched to her feet and climbed off the... usually... handsome male. They were nearly of a height, for Wasana was a particularly tall lioness, and Ezekiel was a very tall male. But where Ezekiel packed his weight in muscle, Wasana packed three times as much in... well. Storage. "Ezekiel," she said, sniffing, "Are you ok?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

(Of course!)

Lailah

After getting rid of Mura's mothers body she found herself back with her brother, and waiting to see if Tare joined them when a thud distracted her from her thoughts and the sudden disappearance of her brother from her side. She looked around with surprise and laughed a little, "Hey Wasana." Lailah greeted with a smile, "This is Mura-" She said gesturing to the silent lioness. "And Tare may be here soon." She continued.


Ezekiel

He huffed impatiently when Wasana fell on him, he shuffled away from her when she shifted from him and nodded, "Yeah, I'm good." He grumbled standing up and turning to her with a smile, "How are you?" He asked.

[mane6]

"Thanks." She says, still staring at the cave floor. She turns to the other lioness, noticing the slight weight upon her. She nodded towards the new lioness in greeting, but no smiles, only a frown. She noticed that Ezekiel knew her, and the newcomer continued to look at Ezekiel rather fondly, of which Mura felt a pang of jealousy.

[Deleted]

(Oh, sorry guys. I misinterpreted shadow's post to mean Lailah was with her brother and Mura. Thanks SO much for accommodating me!.

When Ezekiel smiled at her, Wasana's relief was so tangible she apcould feel her muscles grow slack, and sat down with a thud. "I'm well," she said, smiling up at him. I can't believe he's not hurt. Oh he's so strong and handsome and good-looking! Then realised a moment later she was still smiling. Being around him had a tendency to turn her brain into mush, or even looking at him, so she cleared her throat and said to Mura, "It's a pleasure to meet you. Would you.. All care to join me for a meal of gazelle? I caught it this morning and hid it on the ledge up there," she said, pointing with her nose. To Mura she said again, "Are you hungry at all?"

[Jetstar]

"Hey Lai, it just felt wrong leaving her in that cave so I moved her to the sacred grounds." Tare said, walking into the vast cave. Not noticing the new lioness, he walked over to Mura, shouldered her gently and said "I know it's hard, trust me I've been there. If you ever want to talk, I'm here" he winked "I will give you advice now though. It doesn't matter when, but I think at some point you should visit the grave". He gave her a quick smile and looked up. Noticing the new lioness he spoke "Oh excuse me, I didn't know you were there, the name's Tare" he nodded, noticing how she was looking at Ezekial. Tare chuckled a little to himself. "Food? Say no more" he laughed.

[Deleted]

"A pleasure to meet you too," Wasana said to the new male, but couldn't help but be puzzled by what Tare said, to the young lioness. "Er... I'm sorry... Has somebody died? How?"

[mane6]

At the question Mura turned her gaze away, to the cave entrance. "Im going to go now.." she mumbles, walking out of the cave. "Thankyou Tare and Ezekal" she says. "I will be back soon." She says, before finding her mothers body in the cave, she laid her head on her mothers body as she began to cry, the tears like rapid waterfalls. "Im sorry mother, I wasn't there when you needed me the most. I never even got to say goodbye..." she says trying to wipe the tears away. "But you would've wanted me to be strong, and not be like this. And I will do that for you mother. I hope your having a nice time wherever you are." She says, before sitting up and walking out of the cave, looking into the sky, her cheeks were still damp and darkened where she had been crying.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah

The lioness frowned when Mura left before turning her attention to her close friend, "Yes; Mura's mother was killed. Some plant thing which I can't say it's name." She admitted with a laugh, turning to face Tare before back to Ezekiel and Wasana. It always amused her how oblivious they both were to each other's feelings. Stretching she nodded a little, "Food sounds good!" She agreed eagerly.


Ezekiel

He grinned at the curvy lioness, "Aw come on sweet, you know I like food." He said using his playfully affectionate nickname for her. "Lead the way, did you hunt it or set a trap?" He continued, going to her side.

[Deleted]

"That's horrible!" Wasana said. "You mean she just lost her mother?" She was about to suggest that someone go keep an eye on her when Ezekiel stepped up beside her. Whatever concerns she had slipped away like a meerkat down a hole. She stood and started waddling towards the kill, enjoying the way the narrow path meant he had to stay so close he was touching the curve of her stomach. "I... I used a dart the monkeys taught me. Really, can you see me catching anything faster than a rock?" she said, then giggled, unsure if she was out of breath from the climb or from Ezekiel being right there. Right there! When they reached it she stopped. "Erm... Would you care to open the carcass? Please?" That was always the hardest part. Wasana might do a lot of eating, but males still had the stronger teeth and jaws.

[Jetstar]

Tare laughed as Lai looked to him "Nightinra....Nightingrao....dammit now i can't say it" he laughed and followed the two towards the kill. He walked beside Lai and whispered to her "You see it too right?", nodding towards Ezekial and the other lioness.

[mane6]

Mura saw the group just walking across. She could hear them laughing and such, she shrugged, but diden`t budge from her position.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah

She smirked as Tare stumbled over his words before laughing at his question, "Yeah I do. Its completely obvious. I like it though because he forgets to be all protective over me when Wasana is around, which gives me some peace." She then glanced over her shoulder at Mura before shouting, "Join us when you feel ready. If you don't feel like coming I'll bring some food for you."

Ezekiel

He sent his gaze over the carcass, feeling his mouth water before stepping forward and unsheathing his claws and placing a neat slash along its stomach. "There we go." He said, smiling fondly at Wasana.

[mane6]

She smiles back at her friends. "Im just gonna join you now.." She mumbles, following after the group, not uttering a word from her maw.

[Jetstar]

"Haha peace and quiet" he smiled at Lailah "I would kill to have someone who looked after me like that though. It's been so long" he smiled at Lailah. "But with him out of the way, at least for a short while, I guess you can look at the produce" Tare said, nudging Lailah in the shoulder and winking his left eye playfully.

[Deleted]

Wasana's eyes nearly popped out of her head. He used his claws. Who uses their claws? Most lions spent at least five minutes gnawing and pulling at the skin with their teeth. How did he manage to keep his claws so sharp? She was about to offer him the first bite when Mura arrived, so she turned to the sad lioness and smiled sadly. "Would you like to choose a part? I'll get it for you." Then she waved Ezekiel and the others to the carcass. "Be my guests! Just leave some for me." She winked. To Ezekiel she said, "I must show you how to make the dart the monkeys use. Maybe that way you would be les busy, and maybe we'd see each other more often?" She sidled up next to him and sat down within reaching distance of the carcass, hoping he would do the same.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah

"Peace and quiet." She repeated before starting to giggle a little at the wink. "I see a flirt." She replied playfully, brushing up against him and smiling over at Mura who came over. "Go ahead and eat." She said, "I can wait."


Ezekiel

He slid onto his haunches beside Wasana whilst he waited for Mura to eat, not missing the wink Tare gave to Lailah causing him to give a warning snarl to the other lion which in turn caused Lailah to roll her eyes at him. "Learning to make darts should be interesting." He said, turning his attention to the girl beside him.

[Jetstar]

"Meow" Tare snarled playfully to Lailah then noticed Ezekial's snarl "Hey hey now, I said I'd respect your decision. However..." Tare said walking over and sitting beside Ezekial. "If she was to initiate it, well that's another case" he nudged him and winked at Lai, then jumped away to dodge any physical replies that might have been sent his way.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah

She went to Mura's side when Tare walked away from her, "How are you feeling?" She asked softly.


Ezekiel

"If she initia- what?" He demanded, glaring over at his sister before making a swipe at Tare but narrowly missing him as he jumped away, "Well either way. You hurt or upset her in any way. You will pay." Ezekiel continued.

[Deleted]

Wasana noticed the look in Ezekiel's eyes. Before he did anything dumb she said, "Zeek!" Then whispered, "your sister's very smart. Let her make her own decisions. How would you feel if my own brother stopped me from seeing you? Not that we're exactly SEEING each other, per se.... Erm.... Would you like to... Start seeing one another... Properly?" She held his gaze, and her own breath.

[Jetstar]

Ezekial slightly nicked Tare's shoulder with his claws "Ouch" he whispered, looking at the blood while walking back to Ezekial "It's not like I could hurt her anyways, I couldn't even date her. Im a coward and she's way out of my league" he whispered, Albiet a bit loudly, to Ezekial, then walked over to Lailah. He smiled as Wasana asked Ezekial. He always had a soft spot for romance, although his own harlequin romance was to strong to overcome.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel

He nodded once at Tare and then softened at the warning Wasana gave him before looking slightly taken aback at the question. "I thought the male was supposed to ask the girl." He replied slowly. "But yes, let's give it a shot." He nodded with a crooked grin. He then frowned a little at Tare as he admitted to slight cowardice. "When the time is right." Was all he said.


Lailah

She smiled as her brother accepted Wasana's question before turning her attention to Tare and his cut. "Are you okay?" She asked, starting to nose at the wound before licking it a little to start cleaning it. "Let me sort it out."

[Jetstar]

The lick sent goosebumps down his spine. He'd forgot what it was like. He looked at Lailah "Well now, we haven't even gone on a date but if you insist" he joked. "Dammit why can't I just leave situations be?" he muttered, sighed and then turned his head to Lailah. He noticed something of hers, that for some reason caught his attention "Hey Lai, what colour are your eyes? I can't see them in here"

[mane6]

"Im, um, not really that hungry." She says noticing that both sides were getting slightly romantic. She smiles. She turned to Wasana. "I didn't really introduce myself. Im Mura." She says, nodding her head with a friendly smile.

[Deleted]

Wasana couldn't help but grin like a fool, then. It was as if all her dreams were coming true. "I don't mind asking you. You can propose to me, when you offer to be my Life Partner. If. IF you offer... I'm sorry," she said. She wanted to scream, what do you see in me anyway? But was too embarrassed to around the others. Instead the skinny lioness reduced the awkwardness by introducing herself as Mura. Wasana replied, "I'm very happy to meet you. And I'm SO sorry about your mother. You must feel awful, with only strangers like us for company. But I hope we become friends." She smiled, and winked, then looked at the others. "Hey, when we're done eating, we should take Mura back to the rest of the pride. And we should ask Monkey Mchowi to perform the Song of Passing for your mother." To Mura she said, "it's tradition here. It's to ask the spirits of the elders to look after your mother in the next life, so every hunt will be successful. Would you like that?"

[Ruby_Fehu]

Lailah


She rolled her eyes goodnaturedly at Tare, "Oh shush." She laughed before stopping cleaning the wound when he asked about her eyes. "They're blue but they've got green and grey in them too. Zeke, has that colour too." She replied, "It's strange I know, but I like the colour." Lailah then turned her attention to the conversation between Wasana and Ezekiel and quirked her eyebrow in amusement. Her brother was so useless when it came to girls and commitment. She thought she may be good giving him a word of advice or two.



Ezekiel


He laughed at her words. "Not just yet." He said, allowing the ambiguity to hang in their air before turning to Mura. "Wasana is right, there's plenty of others there. You may find someone attractive there too." He said to Mura playfully. "Don't you agree little birdy?" He asked, turning to Lailah who nodded her agreement, smiling at the use of his nickname for her.

[Jetstar]

"Blue, with green and grey" he laughed amusingly. "That sounds so....amazing. Mine just look like they're dead" he chuckled as he trotted over to the gathering. His head lowered and ears drooped, "More lions? Oh god gone from just me to a lot in a day" he sat down beside Lai and Mura "Do you guys think I'd be, well, able to join?"

[Deleted]

"Were... Were you only interested in me because you found me attractive?" Wasana said. She was smiling ruefully, and then turned to answer Tare's question. "That depends. There's lots of commitment rituals you need to pass first. The first one involves making a kill of wilderbeast all by yourself. If you can do that, then the monkeys test your ability to climb a tree. After that there's the roar test, and after that the obedience test, the underwater swimming test, and then.., what was the one after that?" she said, looking to Zeke.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ezekiel

"No, there's a lot about you which makes me more than happy to be your mate." He then turned to Tare, Mura and Lailah listening to the discussion and explanation. "The final one isn't exactly a test and it's split into two. You need to swear an oath and promise to be loyal to the Pride and then the Pride need to decide whether they like you or not. Like friendship I guess, because that's a huge part of Pride life." He finished with a small smile.


Lailah

"You'll be fine doing it Tare. Besides I'll be there." She said gently, "I've got your back." She turned to Mura, "Do you want to join too?"