On The Brink

[Hypercube]

(OOC: I'm so excited to start this =D P.S. I purposefully didn't do too much as Simba or the other NPC's because I wanted to give everyone the chance to play as them so go right on ahead!)

---

Xoren stood outside the large alcove high above the ground as the wind ran through his mane. His looked around at the many faces that had gathered upon pride rock, the emotions ranging from joy to the questioning of whether or not the mission they had volunteered themselves for was worth the risk. He shifted his attention to the stern faces of the guards the flanked the entrance into the cave that the king resided within and then back to others, slightly intimidated by their size. He looked to either side and saw his two daughters, both so grown from the time he had reunited with them, and his mate with her sleek features and cunning gaze. After the silence persisted for a bit with little more interruption than small whispers of small talk between the crowd, the guards looked over their shoulders and shifted to make a larger opening as King Simba, Prince Ezca, and three others stepped out from behind the threshold.

"I thank you for coming today." Simba said with a raspy voice that only intensified his sickly features. "You are here because you are the members of the Pride Lands that believe you can make a difference in what is thought by some to be inevitable," as he spoke, his eyes danced around the crowd, giving equal attention to all those around him, "you are here because you believe what we have is worth fighting for."

[Ruby_Fehu]

A russet hybrid with dark red spots padded out of the infamous Pride Rock cave, her slender figure, brushing against the cold wall and her slight paws, pressing down on the warm rock easily, warming the pads ever so slightly as she surveyed the area in which there were many creatures gathered, all exchanging looks and whispering amongst themselves, as she padded out into the open from her shelter she caught snippets of each conversation, "King Simba-"

"Too weak."

"Making a mistake."

"New Prince."



Ruby sighed and rolled her eyes a little when she noticed her mate stood a small distance away, his eyes running over her as she padded along. She paused beside Simba who glanced at her with a polite nod and smile. She flicked her tail slightly and dipped her head politely. "Are you quite alright Ruby?" Simba asked and she was taken aback that he not only knew her name - but had used it informally.

"Yes sire, just tired. Travelling for so long has really taken it out of me." She admitted sheepishly, turning her blood red gaze away from him and to Xoren instead. "May I?" She asked Simba, hoping he would dismiss her, as she'd hoped he chuckled a little and nodded. She flashed him a grateful smile and hurried over to Xoren, each step seemingly weak, evidence of her exhaustion. After a few more steps she reached the fellow hybrid's side and slumped into a lying position beside him, "Why did I let you talk me into coming here?" She groaned, resting her head on her paws, a disgruntled growl passing her lips. She stared towards Simba and Ezca as Simba began to speak but it was obvious from her distant gaze that she was rather preoccupied. Her features were relaxed as she nuzzled into Xoren's paws, using him as a pillow, waiting out Simba's announcement.

---

A slightly smaller feline with the exact same markings as Ruby stood a small distance apart from everyone else gathered, chatting enthusiastically with her sister. Her slight ears perked up and she raised her head when she sensed her mother nearby, she spun away from Sola and smiled at Ruby who was lay with her father. She trotted over them and ran her nose along her father's cheek before turning to her mother and snuggling into her, the way she used to when she was a cub, a low purr passed the younger cat's lips and she pawed at her mothers face, draping her paw over Ruby's nose and growling playfully. "Can we go hunting later mum?" She asked hopefully, cocking her head to one side.

"Ask me later Iris?" Ruby replied and Iris detected how tired her mum sound, her normally perky voice was heavy and thick, her words seeming slightly slurred to her ears.

"Is something wrong mum?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"You just seem offish, that's all."

Ruby gave Iris a small smile and she returned it before slinking around behind them and settled on her haunches on Xoren's other side; she rolled onto her side and then onto her back, swiping at thin air boredly, just like when she was a cub. "Why are we here? You never did tell me, and don't say it's because I'm too young to understand, I'm a teenager now." She huffed, peeking up at Xoren with the same red eyes as her mother, waiting - impatiently - for someone to tell her.

[Deleted]

Kaimu looked around at the group that had gathered here, trying to look as relaxed as possible as to not appear intimidating because of the skull he was wearing. Being a hyena, he knew how risky it was to be here. He didn't know the whole story, but he did know that a lion named Scar joined up with a hyena clan to take over these Pride Lands. He is putting himself in danger by coming here, but he wanted to help and prove that not all hyenas are bad. Although, he might not have arrived here if it hadn't been for the lion he was sitting next to, Kulaani. He came across Kulaani while travelling and had learned about this gathering from him. Kulaani allowed him to travel with him, but something about this lion seemed a little strange to him. Kaimu sat up straight when Simba came out and spoke to them. He saw how sick he was and wished that he knew of a way to cure him. Although, it probably wouldn't matter, Simba most likely wouldn't accept help from a hyena.

---

Kulaani kneaded the ground impatiently as he waited to hear what this was all about. The hyena, Kaimu, sat next to him and he tried to remember why he let him tag along. There was something different about this hyena and he knew that Kaimu would be of no threat to him. He knew that Kaimu was here to help this pride, but Kulaani didn't care. While he would pretend to be concerned and willing to help, he was only here in the hope of ending his life long search. He hoped that by travelling with this group, he would come across the two lions that had ruined his life. He was so lost in thought that he had missed the arrival of Simba and he listened as the sick king began his speech.

[Hypercube]

Xoren smiled as Ruby laid on him, her presence acting as a calming agent to the heavy task Simba would soon lay out for them. "Because you love me" he said sheepishly as he nuzzled her, hoping that once she knew why they were their she would still be willing to help the cause. As Iris approached and demanded to know why they were there, Xoren immediately began to think that she would be too young to fully understand. As she spoke though, it became more and more apparent to him that Iris was no longer the little cub she was when they met.

"King Simba needs help with a problem," Sola said walking towards her younger sister, "and we're here in order to rectify the situation." As she reached her family's huddle, she brushed up against Iris in a playful fashion as they did when they were younger and smiled to her parents as her father's tail flicked behind her own body as well as his. After a short while, Simba began to cough violently and was lead back into the cave by the two guards, one of which he used as a sort of balance beam to move without collapsing. Ezca, now moving to the front of the three generals, stood in the same way Simba had with a similar authority in his stance. "We should probably pay attention now," Sola told them, "I think Ezca's going to speak now."

---

"King Simba has called you all here because he..." the young general had difficulty formulating the correct words through the sorrow they carried, such that he took a small pause and looked down to the gray rock he stood upon. "He wont be around for too much longer. I'm sure you all are aware by now that I have been named the heir to the throne, and you think that this means everything will transition smoothly, but this is not the case which some of you already know. It seems that a group, once dedicated to the traitor Scar, has found ancient knowledge of something called The Resurrection Stone, and they plan to utilize its power to return Scar to life and take the throne once again."

[Accalia]

Kivuli carried her exhausted and injured form towards her last shred of hope; Pride Rock. She had been running for months and she was now holding onto her final piece of hope. When she was smaller her father had taught her of the beautiful and safe lands of Simba's pride. However now she had found them she felt as if there was approaching death coming to the lands.

Her body was a patchwork of bruises and scratches as she limped through the life rich plains. She was exhausted and not far from death, her whole body ached and the pain was so immense that she was beginning to feel nothing. The only thing keeping her numb legs moving was her fathers soft voice and advising words. A tear came to her usually clear blue eyes, it flowed down her cheek but Kivuli didn't bother to brush it away, simply continued deafly walking towards her last hope of life.

Kivuli stood at the foot of Pride Rock and took a deep breath in, the pain echoing throughout her whole body. Her tears had began flowing faster down her cheeks and leaving contours through her fur. She stepped onto the smooth stone of Pride Rock and began climbing upwards, hoping King Simba would take mercy upon her. Concerned and somewhat regal voices came from the summit of Pride Rock and she slowed her pace to a hobble. There were many voices, she realised and knew she had no hope if they found her a threat, but she hopped her condition and still slightly lanky frame would show them that she was defenceless and incapable of attack, she was nearly past her adolescent stage in her life and so she was not fully grown as of yet.

She took a shaky breath in and gave a very soft nod before taking a step into the open. She decided she would wait for the speech to finish before drawing attention to herself. She bent her legs slightly and kept her head low, but she noticed that most of the lions were golden and she felt as if instead of her mainly grey body helping her melt into the background caused her to stick out further.

The speech was intriguing to Kivuli, but her mind could only take so much and so she could only take in so much. She gathered that the was a race to a magical rock with healing powers to save King Simba from death, but the other team wanted to save the old nemesis from death. It took a few moments for it to set in but when it did she was somewhat startled; King Simba needed to be saved from death, meaning he was ill or old and that meant that he would most likely not be in power anymore. She didn't know anything for certain but she truly hoped whoever was in charge would show her mercy, even if it was in the form of a single mouthful of food ,anything would be better then nothing.

[Pulsar]

As all the lions and lionesses gathered at the cave entrance to Pride Rock, Pulsar took up a position behind the crowd. When the call had gone out for helpful lions within the pride to gather, he could hardly not answer the call. Perhaps one could say that because he had not been a part of the pride for long or indeed never really considered himself to be, that the matter didn't concern him. That being said, when he initially arrived in Simba's lands he was in a bad state and the pride had shown him compassion and generosity which he had rarely seen in his travels. He was up here on this rock with the all the other lions because he felt he needed to return the favour to the pride and it's leader for what they did for him. While everyone stood around slowly chatting to themselves, he sat at the back, resting his rear on the warm rock base. He sat so that he was almost separate from the crowd itself. His colours would have made him stand out had he been among them anyway, at least behind them he was out of sight and thus out of mind.
As he was sat on his rear, he raised his head so that he could see over the small crowd that had gathered before him. His thoughts running through the possibilities of why the king would have all these animals gather here like this. His eyes scanned the crowd, no where among them was a very familiar face. Faces perhaps he had seen once or twice, but not any he personally knew. As he scanned across the crowd he did catch an odd sight. It was a hyena, not exactly an animal you would have expected to be at a gathering like this. Considering the history this pride had had with them this also made it even more odd to see one here with the possibility that it was here to help. Mentally shrugging it's presence off, Pulsar's eyes drew back toward the main body of the crowd before him before looking toward the guards standing at the entrance to the cave. Pulsar had been here a while and made a bit of a name among the guards and fighters, but since he mostly operated at night he never really ran into the normal crowd that would be up and about during daylight. Nighttime was his element after all, while he did love the light of the day, his colours made sneaking very difficult, where as at night, they blended him into the darkness far better.

---

The low chatting from the crowd seemed to be a mix of all kinds of emotions and curiosities. It seemed that at least he wasn't the only one who was in the dark on why the gathering was held. His attention was drawn from the crowd as the guards at the entrance moved aside and Simba finally emerged with Ezca at his side. As Simba spoke the crowd became silent, all ears aimed and intently listening to their leader. Pulsar couldn't help but frown as he looked over the crowd and examined Simba, the lion looked like he had seen better days. He had difficulty standing, he looked fatigued and his voice... All clear signs the once mighty lion was suffering.
How unfortunate, a pride is nothing without it's king just as it is without it's subjects. Pulsar wasn't the only one to be thinking about the state of the pride and it's lands should Simba pass. From the very back of the crowd he could hear faint whispers between one or two lions. Clearly they had some thoughts on the subject just as he did.
A few moments later the sickly king turned around and began making his way back into the cave after giving a short attempted speech. As he made his way back inside he used another lion as support. This caused Pulsar to let out a sigh of concern, he couldn't just let this happen, not to a pride as good as this, not after how they helped him. before he could continue his trail of thought however, Ezca stepped forward, drawing the crowd's and Pulsar's attention once more.

When he spoke, you could feel the emotional pain in his words. It was evident that Ezca loath having to speak of the unfortunate truth of his king. But it had seemed that there was hope. Not only had Simba chosen a successor but there was a stone of some sort. When Ezca spoke of the stone, Pulsar's frown deepened. It was very clear now why they were all here and even clearer as to what they had to do. He had heard of the lion known as Scar, of his ruthlessness, his devious plans and how ultimately he had failed and Simba had reclaimed what was always his. If this stone was real and he was brought back, it could mean a lot of trouble for the members of this pride.

Pulsar didn't need to know any more other then what direction he needed to go to find the stone. A debt needed to be settle between him and this pride and he intended to pay it in full. No traitors or usurpers were going to stop him from doing just that.
He remained at the back of the crowd listening intently, waiting for Ezca to finish speaking and for the crowd to disperse.

[Ruby_Fehu]

"You can go off people." Ruby replied to her mate with a smirk when Simba and Ezca had finished their respective speeches. Ruby paid particular attention to Ezca's seeing as he was in fact informing them of the task at hand, which was why she had agreed to join Xoren in the first place. The hybrid pushed herself to her paws and scanned the area, “It would have helped if we knew when we were to start our travels though.” She pointed out with a small grumble, watching Ezca pad away out of the corner of her eye. Ruby stretched herself out, opening her jaws in a yawn when she turned to Iris and Sola, “Iris, I definitely don't think I'll be able to hunt tonight but your father or Sola may take you.” She explained apologetically, letting her gaze wander whilst she spoke. She shook her head and focussed back on her family. “I promise we'll go hunting tomorrow. I'm just too tired today.” She glanced to Xoren as if passing a silent message to him. She then glanced to her two daughters and padded closer to Xoren, placing her lips against the right side of his face so she could speak to him in a low voice and Sola and Iris wouldn't have been able to know any better. “Is it wise letting the girls come with us?” She asked quietly, “It's going to be dangerous and I don't want either of them to get hurt or lost. Not after what happened a few years ago.” She pulled away from him and frowned slightly, she knew deep down he had wanted their daughters to come along but she decided to give one last attempt to talk him out of it.


She stepped away from Xoren and passed her sight over the lions gathered again, paying particular attention to their size and form, but they didn't seem to notice as they were already talking to those close to them again. She froze when she caught sight of a familiar form over her mate's shoulders and her jaw seemed to drop noticeably. “I thought-” She began then shook her head. “Excuse me a moment.” She said licking Xoren's muzzle and grinning warmly at him before slinking away past her small family and starting towards the lone lion, she slipped through the crowd, apologising every time she caught one of them by accident. Eventually Ruby emerged and from the crowd and closed the gap between her and her old friend. “I didn't think I'd see you again any time soon.” She said as greeting, approaching the black and white lion. “It's been a few years.” She grinned, raising her paw and flicking his mane playfully. “At least we're not soaked to the bone again.” She laughed, sitting in front of Pulsar and looking up at him.

---

Iris growled playfully at Sola after the 'big speech' and jumped around in front of her, lowering herself in a position to pounce before diving at her and knocking her over, standing over her sister and giving her a mischievous grin. “Well Sola, looks like you're taking me hunting unless daddy does.” Iris said shooting Xoren an angelic smile, she always called him 'daddy' when she was after something. The youngest hybrid looked up when her mother excused herself and walked off towards something she couldn't see. Wearing her trademark grin she got off her sister and crept after Ruby, the way she used to do when she was a cub and feeling particularly nosy. She slipped between each feline gathered, pausing briefly beside each one to make sure she was still concealed, ignoring the protests each time, she hesitated when an unusual looking creature with a skull over it's head was in her sight and paused to stare before shaking her head and shrugging, she padded past him and reached a large rock a small distance from where her mother was and stood behind it, peeking around it. Iris didn't see her mother's small frame until Ruby moved to the other side of the lion and pawed at his mane. Iris cocked her head to one side. Who was that? She'd never heard of a lion with the size and colouring of the one nearby but Ruby quite obviously knew him.

[Hypercube]

Ezca found himself unable to continue his speech; it was too difficult for him to talk about the inevitable. As he turned to enter the cave, he spoke moved next to Nayru and whispered such that none of those listening would be able to hear. "Could you..." Ezca weakly asked, "could you finish the briefing? I don't think I can handle it..." Nayru looked back to the distraught prince and lowered her head in respect as she spoke: "of course sir."

---

Xoren knew that the quest they would soon embark upon would be dangerous, but he knew that leaving his children behind would tear him apart; something deep inside of him told him that they would better coming on the journey. Once Ruby and Iris weaved themselves into the crowd and became lost from Xoren's vision, he moved towards his daughter, leaning up against her in a fatherly gesture. "I never had the opportunity to ask you Sola," he said to her, "but do you want to join this group? It's going to be dangerous and I just want to be sure that-" "Dad," she interjected, "I'm nearly an adult, I think I can handle myself." With her usual playful smirk on her face, she nuzzled her father and then looked back towards the cave.

"Who are the others?" she asked her father. "Those are the three generals of Simba's army: Din, Farore, and Nayru. It seems that they will be the ones finishing off the speech." Xoren scanned the crowd, looking again to the varying faces that crowded the precipice until he spotted a strange sight, a hyena that stood within the midst. Even stranger, the hyena seemed to have donned a skull and stood in an obviously nervous fashion, at least to Xoren. Being sure not to make any sudden accusations, Xoren padded through the crowd, dodging skilfully through the small corridors they created naturally. Once he reached the hyena, he approached in such a way that it seemed he was about to pass right by as he wrapped around behind the canine. "Hello" Xoren said as he sat down beside him with a smile, "not to be rude but, I never expected to see a hyena here."

Sola, now aware that her father had skulked away, decided to find her sister within the crowd. As she too skillfully walked through the openings in the crowd, she noticed Iris eavesdropping on their mother as she spoke a lion that Sola did not recognize. She silently wrapped around the conversation, careful not to be spotted, and came up behind Iris a stalking fashion. "Boo!" she quietly shouted as her paws pushed against her sister's back.

[Deleted]

(OOC: Hey Hyper, it's better to wait until everyone in the rp has replied before you post yours. It's much easier to follow that way.)

Kaimu shifted uncomfortably, so it seems that the trouble was related to Scar. That didn't bode well for Kaimu, now these lions were less likely to trust him because of what he is. He glanced around nervously, already starting to feel curious stares from a couple of lions in the group. He even caught sight of a young hybrid staring at him, but thankfully she didn't seem too concerned with him and moved on. He started to go over what he just learned about The Resurrection Stone, and how he was going to prove to this group that he really wanted to help.

---

"If you keep fidgeting like that, then you'll just draw more attention to yourself." Kulaani said to his hyena companion. Kaimu seemed nervous before, but now he seemed to be bordering on panic.

"Sorry, but this news has gotten me worried. They might not allow me to help them." Kaimu responded quietly.

Kulaani shook his head. "Prove that you do want to help then."

"I will, it's just much harder now." Kaimu said. Kulaani rolled his eyes. He still only intended to tag along in order to find his parents killers. Just then, something crossed his mind. This group of Scars followers were looking for a Resurrection Stone to bring Scar back from the dead. Maybe he could use that stone to bring his parents back. The idea brightened his mood, now he was even more determined to help these people. For the first time, his top priority was no longer finding the murderers, but the Resurrection Stone.

[Accalia]

Kivuli saw that the leading lion was struggling and as he retreated back inside the cave and as the other lioness took charge she sighed but as she did so she spluttered and blood pattered from her mouth onto the warm stone. She touched her shaking paw to her mouth and wiped the blood from her maw. She needed to ask for help now or she would pass away and she felt as if by not trying she would fail her father and she couldn't do that to him.

Kivuli had always been shy but when her family was killed she had just gone further into her shell and hadn't dared to come out of it ever since. She took a rattling breath in and looked up at the lioness now on her way in continuing the brief of the magical stone. She pushed herself to her paws and took a shaky step forward, her whole body aching with the effort. She knew that this was a bad time for this pride and that this lecture was important but she couldn't ignore her basic instinct to survive. So no matter how her personality restricted her she would put her instincts first when it came to death.

She gently weaved her way through the crowd of lions and lionesses to the front. Being careful to avoid contact as much as possible as she worked her way to the front of the cave. When she reached her wanted destination she bowed her head and looked up at the lioness before the cave and she just stood there shaking before saying feebly "Please.. I need help.." she didn't want to interrupt the what seemed as a very important brief but she couldn't wait much longer. She bowed her head in respect and just stayed there awaiting her reply. She was frightened and in pain, she didn't want to trouble other lions for help or be in their debt but she had no other choice, it was this or death. She awaited her response but didn't lift her head, she knew that she had to be careful about how she looked and how she acted, especially if she needed their help.

[Pulsar]

(OOC: Since Hyper seems so adamant about everyone else trying to make use of the characters I guess I'll give it a go. I tried to make their actions etc fit the profiles we were given so here's hoping. If I muck it up let me know and I'll never touch the NPCs again =P )

As Pulsar continued to listen to Ezca, it seemed they too could not finish their address to the crowd, their own sorrow for the king's condition weighing just as heavily on them. With that, Ezca had retreated inside pride rock, not before passing a word onto Nayru it seemed. Did the generals have more information for them? It seemed that once Ezca had finished talking the crowd took the opportunity to break out into chatter amongst themselves. "I wonder if such a thing exists?", "I thought the rumours about scar's followers were just a hoax..", "What if we fail?", these were just a few of the pieces of conversation Pulsar's ears picked up as he passively listened. It would seem that there was doubt. In trying times like these though, could one blame them? With the queens passing things had been difficult on the pride's moral, now with the king following the same route, this was certainly a time if any for one to be allowed to have doubts.
"It's not over while there's still a chance." Pulsar thought to himself as he continued to gaze into the crowd.

A moment later a familiar voice echoed into his ears, causing the lion to both flinch and cringe as his brain connected the voice to the face. "Creation preserve me..." Was the only thing that managed to run through his head as a female sat in front of him and flicked his mane. How? When? Where on earth did she come from? Had she been here this whole time? how did she sneak- "IS SHE A PART OF THIS PRIDE?" Pulsar's eyes widened as he considered the fact. But, how? Yes he hadn't been around the pride that long, but he would have recognised her at a glance had he seen her at any stage. It was then that he realised he had been staring at her in bemusement, probably for a good few seconds.
"R-Ruby..." he bagan, his voice stuttering as he tried to register the fact. It had been years since they had last seen each other and truth be told when he had parted ways with her back then he had never expected to run into her in his lifetime.
Shaking his head ever so slightly to snap himself out of it, his facial expression shifted to one of a more collected if not curious manner.
"I never thought I'd end up running into you again... Clearly faith has decided to punish me further." He continued, visibly trying to retain a childish grin from showing. She had been one of those rare occasions where Pulsar had found someone who not only managed to test  the limits of his patience but who had also turned out to be a reliable friend. Something that was rare enough in his travels.
"How is it that you're-"

His sentence stopped short as a few gasps escaped the crowd. This drew his attention as his eyes broke from Ruby and looked up. A lioness of some kind stood in the opening between the crowd and the generals and guards that stood at the cave's entrance. She was covered in blood. Was she a member of the pride? he didn't recognise her, but then again, he hadn't yet met all the members of the pride.
"I'm sorry Ruby, you and I will have to play catch up later..." Pulsar's voice spoke to her in a serious tone although he never broke his gaze from the bleeding lioness to look at Ruby as he addressed her. Standing up he shifted his way past her not waiting for her response. It was rude yes, but if something was wrong he needed to make sure. As a guard he felt it was his duty to.
"Excuse me", "Pardon me." He said in a rather oddly mixed tone, sounding slightly apologetic and commanding at the same time. The lion almost pushed members of the crowd out of his way as me made his path directly through them. The crowd showed no real sign of response to the injured female, aside from the odd gasp and chatter of curiosity.
"Everyone step aside and stand back!" He spoke once more as he broke through the other side of the crowd, this time his voice was raised so it could clearly be heard and it was very much meant as a command.

As he got through the crowd he could tell from the reaction of Din that this female was not of the pride. The male general had stances himself as though he was preparing to fight. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" Din barked commandingly at the injured female. His reaction was quite brash, but Din was never know for having a gentle social etiquette. Could he be blamed? With Simba in his current state and the news of the stone, this was the perfect time for Scar's lackeys, loyalists and fanatical lunatics to try something against the pride. "Now Din, there's no need to be so rude." Nayru interjected holding up a paw as if to calm him. "Firstly, this female is in no physical condition to pose a threat." She continued, lowering her paw to the ground and she briefly looked over to Din for a moment before returning her gaze to further examine the female before her. "Secondly, she is more then outnumbered. Even if she could fight, she would not stand against those of us here." Din let out a low growl as Nayru spoke, his eyes glancing at the injured lioness then to the crowd and then back at the lioness once more. "I agree with Nayru." Farore's voice spoke out from the opposite side of the female general. "This lioness is clearly here in need of our help, I doubt she possess a threat to us." Farore paused his words as he took a step or two slowly toward Kivuli gazing over at his fellow general as he did. "We have always be known for our compassion as much as we have been known for everything else. It would be wrong of us not to answer her plea." It had seemed that Farore agreed with Nayru's assessment of the situation. Neither of them felt her to be a serious threat, not one they couldn't have handled if such a situation had arose. They had more important matters to deal with after all, the stone had to be found if not for Simba's sake then for the pride's sake and if not for theirs then for the land's. Scar's forces could not be allowed to obtain it and they needed to brief everyone fully before they could begin the search. Anything else was a hinderance to that and unless it was a real credible and serious threat, wasn't deserving of their attention.

Both Nayru and Farore looked over at Din, the male was still clearly tense but his expression and his stance had relaxed a bit. "Fine!" he grunted as he stood up straight and regained his regal composure. Looking at the female he gave a snort before noticing Pulsar standing behind her, placed between her and the crowd. He gestured his head sharply to signal him to take her away, to which Pulsar responded with a nod before approaching the female. Both Nayru and Farore's gaze had turned back from Din to the female. "Go with him, he will take you to our healer." Farore's voice spoke out to Kivuli as Pulsar walked up beside her, gesturing both his head and a paw to signal her to follow him.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby pouted a little when Pulsar walked away from her, clearly he was still mad at her for constantly irritating him all those years ago. But when she saw the reason she wasn't as offended and watched with dismay as a lioness, who was close to death started begging for help, until the three leaders came to an agreement. She cocked her head to one side with a sympathetic look as the lioness limped away to get help. After a few moments, she turned to face the large rock and she grinned a little, the girls were still hidden but she was a mother and mothers always sensed when they were up to mischief and so she lowered herself to the ground and slunk around the opposite side of the rock - away from the heads and gaze of the two girls - until she got a clear pathway to get to the two of them with a grin she ran forward and jumped behind them before saying, "You can come out now." She said with a grin, fighting back the urge to laugh when Iris jumped away in shock. Ruby rolled her eyes in a good natured manner before standing to walk from the girls, "I'm going to find your father, if you're going to stay here, make sure you stay in sight of us. We don't know this area so I don't want you to get hurt or separated from us." She warned before sidling her way through the crowds again until she saw the familiar outline of her mate talking to someone who was wearing a skull over its face like a mask. As she padded closer she realised with surprise that it was a hyena, something that - if she had to guess - would be closer to the bottom of her imaginary list of animals.

Ruby reached Xoren's side and sat beside him without uttering a word, an action that had become all to familiar to her in the past year, she noted that he was speaking and so decided to remain quiet and just listen, it was obvious straight away that he had been less than subtle in addressing that the figure before her was a hyena. "Don't be rude." She scolded him gently, turning to the hyena and tilting her head to one side, looking to him curiously, "What are your names?" She asked the unusual pair politely.

---

Iris giggled when Sola pounced on her and began to tussle with her, tugging on her ears gently. She continued toying with her sister when Ruby's voice sounded behind them and caused her to jump and look at her sheepishly, "I wasn't spying on you." She said quickly before realizing that she had just dropped herself in it. "I- I mean-" But she didn't finish because Ruby started walking away looking amused and saying something about staying in sight, when Ruby finished talking Iris waited for a few seconds before turning and pouncing on Sola again, a playful growl passing her lips.

[Deleted]

Kaimu turned to the lion, surprised that someone had actually approached him. He was about to reply when a hybrid scolded the lion and Kaimu relaxed a bit.

"No, it's alright. I know that no one would have expected a hyena to turn up to this. My name is Kaimu, and the lion next to me is Kulaani. Don't mind him though, he is not very sociable and is a bit of a grouch. What are your names?"

---

Kulaani was so lost in his thoughts about the Resurrection Stone that he almost missed the injured lioness being lead away. He wasn't sure what had happened to her, if she even explained what happened, but it's obvious that she wouldn't have lasted much longer if she hadn't arrived. He heard someone talking close by and turned to see a lion and a hybrid speaking with Kaimu. Kaimu introduced him to the pair and he simply nodded his head to them before turning away again. He wasn't concerned with making friends, he just wanted to find this stone.

[Hypercube]

"It's nice to meet you Kaimu and Kulaani" Xoren said blushing a bit as Ruby's interjection, "I am Xoren, and this is my mate, Ruby. I would introduce you to our daughters" Xoren said as his eyes searched the crowd, "but it seems that they're off doing something elsewhere." Xoren's voice trailed off a bit, his focus being stolen by the commotion that had just occurred towards the entrance to the cave and the leading of the strange lioness away. "Any idea what happened up there?" he asked turning his face to Ruby.

---

Sola did not jump when Ruby had approached from behind them; she was already somewhat aware that she would be upon them soon when the larger lion left the conversation. "Come on Iris," she said chuckling as Iris pounced on her, "how did that scare you?"

[Accalia]

Kivuli spluttered and said as well as she could "I'm Kivuli, I am just looking for help." She listened as they argued and debaited her fait; her life. As they continued the sounds Kivuli heard began blurring into each other, the growls and words moulding into white noise. She shuffled to the side as she tried to regain her balance, but through her medical breakdown she managed to say "If I am better by the time your fellowship leave, I will go and help.. if you'd let me." she spluttered and followed the dark male slightly off balance as she was lead to the healer that had the power over her life. She doubted they would pay attention to her proposal, but she needed to say it none the less.

Kivuli's mind was swimming but through it all she couldn't stop mulling over everything she knew about the mystical healing stone and the journey that the group sent to obtain it would go through. It was just a dull thought at the back of her skull but she had a feeling that made her feel as if she needed to be a member of the group to travel the long journey to retrieve the stone, as if she needed the journey to make her feel less dead and severed from society. She shook her head to try and set herself straight, but it didn't work and the world around her continued to swim. She knew she was just a set back for the leaders of the Pride lands and that she must have appeared pathetic but they didn't know her story and she doubted they ever would.

[Pulsar]

The three regal generals watched as Kivuli addressed them, none addressing her back as she spoke. When she was finished speaking Nayru nodded to her to acknowledged that they had heard what she had said before she turned her gaze and looked at Pulsar. He knew from the look Nayru gave him that it was time for him to lead the injured female away. As Pulsar and Kivuli started walking away the three generals remained silent as they traded looks between themselves. Din was very much still in a huff despite yielding to the decision of the Nayru and Farore. His displeasure with the whole event could be plainly seen on his face which scowled at anyone who looked at it.
As both Pulsar and Kivuli walked along, he couldn't help but look at her. Her wounds were pretty bad, if they were not attended to soon they could probably be very fatal. A frown creeped onto his face as he assessed the female's physical state, he couldn't help but pity her. He himself had been in a situation not too dissimilar to her's when he had first arrived in these lands himself. His eyes shifted as he noticed that she had seemed to be having some difficult maintaining herself, no doubt due to her wounds. "She must be exhausted..." he thought to himself. In a short action he stopped and placed himself beside her. "Here, let me carry you to the healer." he said as he hefted Kivuli up onto his back so she wouldn't have to walk. His action was quick enough that it didn't really give a chance for her to protest. "You must be exhausted, don't worry, I'll have you to the healer soon and she'll take care of you." he spoke once more as he shifted his body to more comfortably distribute Kivuli's weight on his back. After a moment or two he began walking once again down the trail leading away from the crowd gathered outside the cave into Pride Rock, the crowd itself slowly disappearing from view as they got further down the path. As he trudged along with Kivuli on his back his eyes looked down to his paws, watching for rocks and debris. Dust lifted up from under each paw step as he walked along, his attention on the ground to ensure that he didn't trip on anything. He couldn't help but find his mind wondering however, pondering as to how the female had managed to get so far into the territory without being spotted, let alone up to the top of Pride Rock. It was the seat of the land's king and his advisors, it was SUPPOSED to be a very well guarded and defended location. For a stranger to be able to just waltz up to the entrance without any interference certainly posed a security issue. Something that this following of Scar's could make use of it they dared. He would have to speak to Din about it when he got the chance, once he dropped the female off with the pride's healer that was.

[Ruby_Fehu]

(OOC: Sorry it's such a short post, I have a bit of writer's block :c)

Ruby smiled politely at her two new acquaintances before turning to Xoren when he spoke to her, "I'm afraid not, I only know that she has somehow been badly injured and that those four lions are tending to her." She replied with a slight shrug before turning back to the unlikely duo and settling on her haunches, "Like Xoren said, we'd introduce you to our daughters but they're currently winding each other up and 'not spying on me'" She laughed, quoting Iris easily. "What do you think of this situation anyway?" She asked with a small frown, replacing her amused expression, she didn't like the idea at all - especially if it meant Sola and Iris would have to come along, it would be dangerous for them and she didn't want to get separated from them again. 

---

Iris stuck her tongue out at Sola and shrugged. "I didn't see mum, she just came up behind me. You would have seen her." She argued, pouting up at Sola before grinning a little, "I want to know how mum knows that lion. Do you think she used to live here?" She asked enthusiastically.

[Deleted]

Kaimu chuckled. "Oh, I think I've seen one of your daughters already. She seemed quite puzzled when she saw me, I'm guessing she had never seen a hyena before." Kaimu gently nudged his skull mask and bone necklace. "Well, at least a hyena wearing this stuff." When Ruby asked about the situation, he considered it a moment before answering.

"Well, I've heard about Scar and what he did, so knowing that he might come back is pretty bad. I would like to help out if I can, but I'm not sure they will let me considered the trouble my hyena cousins have caused here."

---

Kulaani turned to Ruby when he heard her ask the question.

"I don't really care much about this Scar or Resurrection Stone, I'm more interested in the group working for Scar and who might be amongst them."

It was a half truth, he was interested in finding this group, but he knew he had to lie about the Resurrection Stone. If he went on this quest and the others find out that he wants the stone, then he would never get his chance to bring back his parents.

"You always seem like you're looking for someone, who is it?" Kaimu asked.

Kulaani turned to the hyena and snarled. "It's none of your business mutt."

Kaimu shook his head. "You have been trying to pick fights ever since we met, why can't you just try and play nice with others?"

"I tried that once, it didn't end well for me. I don't intend to make that mistake twice." Kulaani growled, losing his patience with the hyena.

[shard]

(Hypercube gave me permisson to join this rp... so... can i join if its ok?)

After many years of... well living in solitude of a jungle, Shard had found Pride rock."if i go there... they might not remember me... they might attack me... but i would just have to show that i used to live here." Shard had found himself padding towards pride rock, seems like simbas reign had brought back the land, but that wasnt was caught his eye.


As soon as he finally entered the perimiter of pride rock, a speech was on...pretty importent none the less. Shard sat down in the back... which probebly wasnt a good thing since his white as snow mane and fur and black rimed ears and black tail tip stuck out like a saw thumb... or in this case paw of the other tan brown and gold lions... and anyone of the generals would think he was spying on the pride cause Shard sure as heck didnt know them!.

He looked around with his sky pale blue eyes and looked at most of the lionesses two of them (Ruby and kulaani) seemed to be talking to a.....hyena? Confused, he padded over but had the "hello dont worry im friendly and im only curious" look on his face, Shard gentley pawed the hyena and said "So... your friend of the pride? cause i dont really know you"  Shard sat down and let one of his black rimed ears twitch, he only did this to see if he could start a conversation with the hyena and the two lions, he was always like that.

(ok guys i have no idea what happened to my text.... but i cant be bothered to change it so yea)

[Hypercube]

(OOC: Sorry I haven't posted in a while, I've been really busy with graduation coming up and all that stuff =P)

Xoren was a bit concerned with Kulaani's attitude; that type of behavior would not be very constructive to the cause. He closed his eyes, tuning his vision onto Kulaani to hopefully find something in his aura that his body wasn't saying. What he did see he wasn't sure what to make of: it was as if behind the regular mahogany spirit that Kulaani was obviously made of, there was a speck of gold near his heart that screamed to express itself. Before he had the chance to pull Ruby aside though, Nayru began to speak, her calm voice entering the ears of only those that were listening.

---

"I don't know..." Sola responded with similar curiosity, "I've never seen him before and you would know more about where she lived before now." After speaking to her sister, she looked around the crowd wondering where her parents had run off to. It didn't take her long to find them in the mass of unfamiliarity, and when she did she nudged Iris a bit and said with a smile "let's head over to mom and dad" before trotting in their direction. As they moved, a loud roar came from the mouth of the cave: "LISTEN UP!" Din bellowed, forcing Sola to freeze in her tracks and snap her attention to the three lions.

---

"Din..." Nayru whispered a bit annoyed at his brutish methodology. "Okay," she restarted with a timid confidence, "Ezca has asked me to brief you all before disperse for the night. As you all know, we will be facing a group that is sure to attempt the use of force to provide them with the opportunity they need to use the Resurrection Stone. As a result, we will be traveling with a group of soldiers from one of our strongest battalions as well as the three of us." She padded next to Farore and looked down the line at each general as she spoke their name: "At the end is Din, in the middle is Farore, and I am Nayru. We are three of the generals of king Simba's army and we will be leading the excursion. It is very important that you all know-"

"What she's saying" Din interrupted still angered over the situation involving the unknown lioness, "is that we are in control and this mission is dangerous - very dangerous." "Din!" Farore shouted at him, "If you don't think you can handle it," Din continued, ignoring the other general in a fit of rage, "then don't come, but those of you that are brave enough: we leave in the morning." In the silence after he spoke, it was as if the Earth had stopped: the wind did not blow, the clouds did not move, and time felt as if it stood still. Not far into the silence, he turned his back to the crowd and walked into the cave, his steps on the hard stone echoing against the cave, leaving the other generals staring at him in frustration as he left.

[Accalia]

As the male stopped beside her she felt as if she was swimming within her thoughts, surrounded in questions and secrets. None of these lions knew of her secret gift of invisibility and silent movement and at that moment that was how she wished it to be: for her to be a mystery and just appear as a lioness in need. She doubted that any lion would truly know the reason behind her battered form and the darkness of her past, but she also believed that she would be doing much more running from her past and so she was relieved somewhat.

As the dark male lifted her onto his back her ears pricked up and she was just about able to hear the faint call of Din -"Brave enough: we leave in the morning." she began thinking about the journey once more and made it her mission to ask the male about the quest that seemed so important. She didn't bother rejecting the lions help, she knew she needed it and that it would be futile to reject it and so she just formulated a course of action in her mind of how she would get to the gathering point by morning. After a long moments silence she finally spoke to the lion assisting her "Is there any way I can make to meeting point by morning?" she asked slightly deflated by her physical state, but that was the best she could manage, she hoped he understood what it was that she was talking about. She patiently awaited his response and she watched the ground moving beneath her as she swayed upon the lions back.

[Pulsar]

As Pulsar continued to make his way down the path on the side of Pride Rock his ears caught the sound of a voice, the female on his back was addressing him. His eyebrows raised as she spoke and his head and gaze turned behind him to view her. Given her current state he was certainly surprised to hear her speaking. Still making his way down the path, he looked at her in silence as he considered what she had asked him. His bright yellow eyes scanning over the lioness, taking in her current state. Her question was both a simple yet complicated one. "Any way to make the meeting ..." he started speaking after a moment of silence before bringing his head back forward and looking in front of him. "You intend to try join the expedition I assume. I'm not sure if that'll be possible." pausing a moment he turned as the path curved and continued to descend. "I'm not sure if you've noticed, but you're not exactly in what one would call a good condition."
As Pulsar reached the end of the path at the base of pride rock he took another turn, following another worn path that branched off and curved, hugging along the base of the majestic landmark. As the many members of the pride made their way around day after day, many paths like this were worn into the ground. The areas and paths that had seen more hustle and bustle made it easy for the members to know where to go. The current path that the male was walking was taking them to one of the few caves that are in Pride Rock. Although the cave he was taking her to was very specific in it's purpose. "Plus, you aren't a member of this pride. The excursion is far too important to them to just let anyone join them in it." He added after a brief silence. What would make her want to join them anyway? He thought to himself as he carried her. A complete stranger, wanting to aid other complete strangers when she herself is in no condition to offer help. Pulsar frowned as his brain reminded him that his situation was not too dissimilar to hers when he had first arrived himself: Indeed it could be said that even now he was repaying the pride for helping him survive in what was a somewhat dire time for him. His gaze once more looked back to Kivuli for another brief moment, the frown still upon his face. Looking back forward he let out a light sigh under his breath as they approached the entrance to a cave near the side of the base of Pride Rock. "We shall see if you can join the search tomorrow. If you are genuine, I'll vouch for you, however you'll remain with me at all times so I can keep an eye on you. You are still an outsider after all." he paused a brief second as he entered the mouth of the cave. Various lions and lionesses stood around the cave entrance conversing with one another, this was the location of the pride's healers and was often a location that was very busy with activity. Every lion in the pride came here for treatment from everything for a thorn in the paw to a serious life threatening wound or ailment. "That is all assuming you manage to survive your wounds that is." He continued from where he had left off, the darkness of the cave slowly enveloping them as they went inside.

A moment later they came into a large open area in the cave, various lions and lionesses were lying around on leaf beds throughout the room, others of the pride tending to them. Fires lit up the walls and the rest of the room. For being under a giant landmass like Pride Rock and being deep enough in a cave: the room was surprisingly cool and the air surprisingly fresh. Smaller holes along the cave walls allowed for air to circulate the room freely. "Ah! Pulsar my dear cub." Pulsar slowed to a stop as an old rough female voice called out to him. His yellow eyes catching the figure as it lifted up from among the a group of other lions and began slowly strolling it's way over to him. "Lady Tavari-"
"Now now dear, lady is so formal, I stopped being a lady the moment I stopped being a spry young cub such as yourself." Tavari said with a faint laugh and a smile as she drew closer to him, the old lioness was easily among the most ancient of the elders in the pride. Her fur had gone a dusty tan almost being grey in colour from her sheer old age. Wrinkles proudly displayed themselves all over the female's face, almost enough to draw one's attention away from her right eye, which was white with blindness and adorned with a scar of three claw marks that stretched along the majority of the right side of her face and down her muzzle. Long since healed. "Come seeking my services once again are we? I would have throughout it a cold day in the afterlife that you would need to see me again." she paused as she stopped in front of him. "Just couldn't stay away is that it? I'm sorry dear but you're just too young for an old wildebeest such as myself."
"ergh... That's not, I mean, I don't want... That's not why I'm here." Pulsar stuttered in reply. Tavari's blunt yet lighthearted delivery of her words always caught Pulsar off guard, although, more so what she said then how she said it really. "Come now, there's no need to be shy." She continued, verbally poking him. "I'll have you know I was quite the specimen when I was your age." She added as she attempted to hold a mischievous smile from appearing on her face.
Taking a deep breath and letting out a sigh, he tried to put what she had just said out of his mind. While he would ordinarily enjoy bantering with the old female, the current situation had him preoccupied. "I have someone in need of your attention." He finally said after a moment.
"Oh? Well why didn't you say so?"
"Well, I was about to until you-"
"Well where are they?" Tavari interrupted the male, making him scrunch his mouth in response. Rather then try to speak he simply turned slightly to his left so that Kivuli was in sight of Tavari's good eye. "OH MY!" the old lioness let out as she stepped up to Pulsar's side to view the female on his back. "Poor dear, these wounds are certainly very serious!" She turned around and walked ahead of Pulsar. "Her wounds need to be seen to immediately, why didn't you tell me." She said scolding the male as she walked past him, Pulsar frowning and grunting in reply before following behind her. "Bring her this way, quickly now."

"Lay her down here, be gentle about it" Tavari said as she gestured to a leaf bed near the side of one wall at the end of the room. "You there, go get me my herbs, some silver leaf, palms and crushed vert root." she called to and gestured at a nearby female who nodded in response and went running off to fetch the supplies. "Now, young one, you rest here." the old lioness said as Pulsar gently laid down and shifted Kivuli from his back onto the leaf bed. "Can you save her?" he said in a curious tone as he stood upright, his yellow eyes gazing down at the injured outsider. "She is not of this pride?" Tavari replied as she looked over Kivuli's wounds. "No she is not..." he replied, his frown deepening as his gaze turned to the old lioness. "I will do what I can. My medicines and powers allow me to do many things. As long as she is not too far gone..." she replied to the male in a low and less joyful voice then when she had initially seen him. "... but even I have my limits. Her wounds look severe but then again..." her head tilted up and she met Pulsar's gaze "I've treated worse." Pulsar wasn't sure whether he should be relieved or concerned by her statement. As he turned his view back to Kivuli he pondered as to why he was so concerned for her safety. Perhaps because her situation reminded him so much of his own back then. "You will be remaining here to guard her?" Tavari's voice snapped the male's thoughts back to reality. "I will, yes." Silence. "Very well, you may stand over there." The old female said as she turned back to her patient. Pulsar nodded his head without looking at her, before taking a few paces back then placing his rear on the ground. "You're safe now little one." Tavari said as she ever so gently pet Kivuli's head.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby saw Xoren's expression change and she knew what it meant he was doing but she decided to play dumb until he spoke to her about it, preferably when they weren't around who he was trying to 'read'. She snapped her gaze up when Nayru began to speak but her lips soon contorted into a scowl and her red eyes narrowed disapprovingly when Din started addressing them – rather rudely she might add. When the generals finished talking she scoffed in disgust at Din and turned her gaze to Farore and Nayru who were both conversing in low voices and shaking their heads, a hint of annoyance etched onto their faces. Clearly they too did not approve of Din's treatment towards his Pride. Ruby turned her attention back to Kuulani and Kaimu and smiled a little when Kaimu said about seeing one of their daughters. “That sounds like it was probably Iris, she always has been the most inquisitive of our family. She's never happy until all her questions have been answered” She explained, chuckling a little as she did. She was about to speak to Kuulani when he and Kaimu started bickering causing Ruby to tilt her head to one side. “You know Kuulani. Being rude and impolite won't get you very far. You'll make numerous enemies rather than acquaintances and allies.” She was being blunt, she knew that but she really didn't care.

---

Before Ruby could say any more she was approached by Iris who nuzzled against her mothers flank before sitting beside her. “Speak of the devil. This is one of our daughters, Iris. Which means Sola will no doubt be nearby.”

“She's coming now I think mum.” Iris piped up, looking up at Ruby. The way she held herself and her expression was identical to Ruby's before she turned towards Kuulani and Kaimu, her eyes lighting up. “You're the strange lion that doesn't quite look like a lion.” Iris stated looking at Kaimu with a grin. “You look more like a hyena. Are you a hyena? Why are you wearing that mask? What are you doing here?”

“Told you.” Ruby laughed, giving Kaimu an apologetic smile. 

---

Just then a new figure appeared beside Xoren and Ruby looked up at Farore, his verdant mane falling in his eyes. The hybrid smiled politely up at the general but moved closer to her mate, slightly intimidated by him but he just gave the group a friendly smile. “I am Farore.” He introduced.

“We know you've told us already.” Iris said rudely earning herself a glare from Ruby before she fell silent muttering a quiet apology to Farore.

“Sorry about my daughter Farore, I am Ruby and this is my mate Xoren, my daughter Iris and our two acquaintances Kuulani and Kaimu.” She said giving Kuulani a pointed look, a smirk forming on her lips as her sarcastic and abrasive personality made itself briefly known. “How may we help you sir?” She asked politely.
Farore looked at the group with a mildly amused expression, holding himself high and confidently which continued to intimidate Ruby and even Iris slightly. “Nayru and I are just going around making sure that you are all definitely okay with joining our hunt?” He looked at each of them in turn.

“I am, but I worry for my daughters. Will it be safe for them to come along?”

Farore exhaled heavily and closed his forest coloured eyes. “It won't be safe for anyone, your daughters are teenagers correct?”

“Iris is yes, Sola is almost an adult.”

“If they were cubs I would have suggested they stay here, it is not going to be an easy task. What they do is up to them and you and your mate. We leaders don't really have much of a say when it comes to anyone older than cubs joining us. So you must discuss it between yourselves I'm afraid. Personally, if they were my children, I would bring them along purely because there isn't going to be many lions here. Only a handful of our younger healers and of course King Simba and Prince Ezca. It would be far safer if you knew where your daughters were at all times.” He was silent, as Ruby let the words sink in and she frowned giving Xoren a 'you win' look before turning back to Farore and nodding. “Thank you.”

“Any more questions?” Farore asked giving the group another friendly smile.

[Deleted]

Kaimu felt a nudge and was surprised to see another lion had approached him, and looking rather friendly.
"No I'm not a friend of the pride, at least not yet. I was travelling through when I heard about this meeting and wanted to check it out."
He was about the ask the lion for his name when he got distracted by the young hybrid he saw earlier, Iris was the name Ruby told him. He chuckled when she started pouring out questions and opened his mouth to answer, but closed it again when one of the generals, Farore arrived. Kaimu took a pace towards him and dipped his head slightly.
"Sir, is it alright if Kulaani and I tag along? I know that this pride isn't fond of hyenas, and the idea that the enemy will be trying to bring back Scar won't help their view of my kind, but I would like to help out in any way I can."

---

Kulaani growled at Ruby, what right did she have to tell him how to behave? She didn't have to go through what he did when he was younger. He kept his mouth shut though. It wasn't worth getting into an argument with her, he would have her, Xoren, and Kaimu against him. He wasn't scared of that, but it was just a waste of time. Besides, he needed them to trust him enough to join this quest and that wouldn't happen if he was fighting everyone. He simply watched Kaimu converse with the group until the general Farore approached them. Kaimu asked about both of them joining the group, so he decided to keep silent and let him do the talking. He caught the smirk Ruby gave him, but he ignored it and simply turned his thoughts back to the stone and his plan on taking it.

[shard]

Shards ear twitched again as the hyena told him that he wasnt a friend of the tibe but only came to hear about the meeting, he sighed and said "oh let me introduce myself, my names Shard, the white lion. I came from the jungle far from here." Shard looked over at Simba, he wasnt in good shape... "I've been away too long... i remember when he was.... in his prime" he shook his head and let out a little roar like yawn... it kind of alerted a few of the other lionesses as some giggled and the others let out a scream, only in playfulness, Shard then looked over to the two lionesses (Kulaani and ruby)"So whats your twos name?" Shard then turned to see one of the generals, farore in which the white lion also bowed his head. "I will come with you too... even though you dont know me.."

[Hypercube]

Xoren heard Kulaani growl at Ruby and took a heavy step towards the lion with a similar growl. "You can be as inconsiderate as you wish Kulaani" he said with fiery anger, "but you will NOT threaten or be disrespectful to my family in any way." Xoren's eyes continued to stare into Kulaani's, the insatiable anger he possessed forcing its way into his expression as his teeth showed and his eyes burned. Sola saw the scene unfolding and immidiatly stepped in and placed herself between her father and the stranger. "Dad" she said looking him in the eyes as to disengage him from Kulaani, "dad, come over here, you need to see this." Xoren looked into his daughter's eyes and immidiatly knew what she was trying to do. With one final look of anger towards Kulaani, he walked away with Sola at his side. "Thank you" he said as they approached Ruby and Iris, his heard still beating quickly from the encounter.

As they walked into the conversation, Sola heard Ruby asking about the safety of the task at hand for her and Iris. Part of her felt somewhat offended, a feeling that her mother did not think she could handle herself emerging but quickly subsiding. She was actually rather happy that Ruby cared so much as to make sure she was safe, and Sola herself would not be able to forgive herself if something were to happen to Iris. She approached her little sister just as she began to bombard the hyena with her questions. "Iris," she said with a slight laugh, "are you being overly inquisitive again?" she turned her head to look towards the two strangers as she introduced herself; "My name is Sola, I'm the other daughter they've been talking about."

---

"Hello Sola," Farore said with a respectful tone, "I am Farore, but I would believe you determined that already. If you would please excuse me for a moment, I need to speak with these two" he told her referring to Kaimu and Kulaani. "Of course" Sola said, moving so that she was no longer between the two parties and stood with her family. "I do not have any problems with you joining our mission and I am more than humbled that you would offer your services to us," Farore said with sincerity, "but I must warn you that others may not feel the same. Not to be rude, but you are a member of the main species we are fighting against so you may not be accepted by everyone." As he finished, he noticed Shard standing near and then hear his question to join through a bowed head. "I thank you too Shard." he said with a the same tone as earlier.

"It may be best for you all to retire early tonight," Nayru said from the mouth of the cave with a slightly raised voice as she looked to the crowd of people and to the slowly setting sun as the shadows it cast danced playfully on the exposed stone of Pride Rock, "we will be leaving at sunrise tomorrow and today has almost expired."

[Accalia]

Kivuli listened to the males response and gave a very slight nod, her expectations becoming a reality. She let out a small sigh and felt as if she simply had to go, the expedition being the only thing occupying her mind. Though her physical state was so bad, her mind was still racing through the several different options she had; she could always await to become fit and healthy once again, and race after the group, but she feared she would never catch them.

The mighty surroundings of the famous Simba's pride-land simply seemed to melt away and Kivuli was left inside her own little infinity, the gentle sway of her bearer slowly helping her brain overcome her torrent of questions and thoughts. Within this infinity she found her families voices and instead of mourning this she embraced it and she relished in the ability of hearing them once more, not knowing how long they would remain within her little infinity.

The dark males words startled her slightly, though she made no physical evidence of this and she simoly stared back at his furrowed face, her eyes swimming in questions and dreams, her fiction and reality forming a large mixture that was her life. She was only then aware f there surroundings as they entered a cave with several lions inside in several different forms and health. She took a long breath in, the crisp air filling her nasal passages and clearing them slightly from her previously unnoticed clogged passageways. As a voice floated towards them she moved her head to see the rather old female walking towards them, a wide smile spread across her face.

Kivuli took an automatic liking to this certain individual and took all of her aspects in, from the way she addressed the male carting her to the way her eye always appeared warm and caring. Kivuli had automatically seen past the scars and wrinkles, she didn't tend to let her mind linger on the outsides of people, but preferred to make loose assumptions about the type of person they are. Her words didn't seem to form properly within Kivuli's ears and so she simply began quietly listening to the way voices sounded and how everyone has not only a unique pitch but also shape to the way they spoke sentences.

She saw her gentle face approach her and she just stared vacantly, her face unable to show too much expression and instead her mind simply over formulating ways of saying hello that it would most likely forget when it woke up from its inevitable sleep.

She felt her fur slipping from the males back and felt the soft touch of leaves and opened her mouth in a small yawn. The surrounding world swirled together to form a small glade where she could run again and she smiled in her small haven sleep brought her and she remained within her infinity for quite some time.

[Pulsar]

"So.." Tavari began as her voice broke the silence. "How did this poor little thing come to such a state?" The old female keeping her eyes and attention on Kivuli although her words were directed elsewhere. "I'm not sure." the yellow maned male replied with a short shake of his head. "She just appeared out of nowhere, showed up at the meeting."
"Out of nowhere? Was the meeting not at the entrance to Pride Rock?" Tavari's voice sounded intrigued. "Aye, it was. How she got there is as of yet unknown." Pulsar replied, adding further to pre-emptively answer what her fallowing question would have been. Tavari's wrangles shifted as she frowned at the answer. "How curious.." Her attention still on the injured female resting on the leaf bed.
"Lady Tavari!" a female lioness called out as she approached them, supplies on her back. "Here are your herbs and other pieces."
"Thank you young one. Now, please attend to some of the others"
"But Lady Tavar-"
"While I appreciate your want to help my dear, I'm afraid this little one is in a state that only I can take care of... There wouldn't be much you could help with." The young lioness nodded her head almost unwillingly at her mentors words before going off to tend to some of the other injured or sick that resided in the cave. Tavari began applying the bandages of leaves as well as a paste mixture of ground herbs and plants. The male's bright yellow eyes watched as his companion went about her work, a frown still occupying his face as he worried over the well-being on the stranger. One bandage after another was placed on or around parts of Kivuli's body, some wrapping all the way around her legs and running up then further wrapping around her stomach. Over the course of the endeavour Tavari had to shift Kivuli's body around to make it easier for her to apply the medicine and bandages to the right areas. By the time the ancient female was done with her work, her patient was nearly covered head to tail-tip with leaf bandages. Only one or two spots remained untouched, around her back left leg and around the middle of her front right, another clear patch being at her neck to allow for movement of the head.
"You work fast, as always I find myself impressed."
"Are you trying to imply that I'm old?"
"What? no, of course not" Pulsar panicked that his words were taken in the wrong context.
"So what? An old dusty pile on wrinkles like me can't do fast work huh?" Her voice becoming more accusing as she turned her attention to the male, a death glare coming from her eyes.
"Maybe I should retire, go out and let those vultures pick me apart, wouldn't want to be a burden to you youngen's"
"No no, I didn't mean it like that!" The male frantically waving a paw as if trying to clear away an evil spectre that haunted his presence.
A moment of silence followed. Pulsar frantically trying to find a way to get out of the apart gorge he had put himself into. That was, until a devious and almost malicious smile of joy appeared on the wrinkly crones face.
"You cubs are so easily panicked, like a herd of antelope at the sight of a charging lioness." Tavari let out a light chuckle. "You'll have to forgive me dear, I couldn't help myself."
Pulsar let out a deep sigh of relief, he was too happy about the fact that he wasn't going to be skinned alive to care that she had been maliciously toying with him.
"Now if you'll give me a moment." the lioness spoke as she turned her attention back to her patient. Placing a paw on one of Kivuli's bandages, a look of intense concentration slowly crept onto her face. Pulsar watched as the paste under the bandages on Kivuli's body began to lightly glow. As Tavari's expression deepened so did the paste react, lighting up brighter and brighter. Pulsar found himself squinting slightly at the light being given off. As the light slowly began to fade, Tavari's face returned to normal, a sigh escaping her muzzle. "Well, that's all I can do. We will have to wait and see if my work takes any effect." She said, her eyes closing in contemplation of the situation.

"PULSAR!" A loud authoritative voice rang out from behind the black and white male and his wrinkled female companion, both turning their heads to view the source. It was none other than Din. "Keep your voice down you oaf, I have patients here that need sleep to recover!" Tavari snapped in an equally loud voice, drawing the attention of some of the assistant healers. Din growled at her as he approached, his attitude still very much disturbed from earlier. "I would speak with you." Din said looking at Pulsar as he closed the gap to them and stopped. It had seemed he was not interested in paying Tavari any attention. "Disrespectful brute, do I go bounding into your little 'leaders meetings' and blurt out what I want with no regard for the location or presence?"
"I have no time nor patience for you and your antics today Tavari" the large male finally replied as he glanced at her. "My apologies his majesty lord high king Din" Tavari said faking a bow "I forgot that we lowly healers and the sick are not worthy of the respect of the ALMIGHTY DIN!" her voice which had been mockingly submissive at the start of the sentence shifted to a spiteful snap. A low growl slowly built up in Din's throat as his eyes still stared at Tavari who returned a more noticeable look of disdain.
Pulsar all the while had been sitting there watching the exchange. "Sir, you wished to speak with me?" he finally interjected, a decision he felt wasn't the smartest. Tavari and Din were two creatures one did not want to get in the way of when they were on the war path. Still, it was best to jump in now before things became too heated.
Din's growl faded as his gaze turned to Pulsar. "Privately." Din responded, his tone a bit calmer then it was a moment ago. He gestured his head for Pulsar to follow him before turning and walking away from Tavari and Kivuli. Pulsar gave a look to Tavari who returned the glance and gave a nod of submission to Din's request of Pulsar. Nodding back to her Pulsar then followed the big male to a small corner of the room where they began to converse quietly between themselves. Tavari noticing out of the corner of her eye, turned her head to see all her assistant healers looking over, once they realised she noticed they all hurriedly tried to make it seem as though they hadn't.

Tavari turned her attention back to Kivuli, checking over the injuries. Sadly it was too early to tell if the healing and bandages had had any effect. She had only applied them all just a moment ago after all.
"Do you understand?" Her ears twitched as she caught Din's voices, obviously less concerned about being quiet.
"Aye sir." Pulsar replied with a nod.
"Very well, I must return to my duties. Do not forget."
"I won't sir."
With that Din gave one more glance at Tavari who responded by sticking her tongue out at the male earning her a grunt in response. Nodding to Pulsar he finally turned and took his leave of the cave. Once he had disappeared from view, Pulsar returned back to Tavari and Kivuli.
"That fluffy puffy muscles for brains, what did the posturing oaf want with you?" the female spoke as Pulsar returned.
"I'm sorry Tavari."
"I see... Well, I've done all I can for this young one, you keep watch over her and i'll be back to check up on her. I have others that also require my attention." Pulsar nodded in response, his eyes looking over Kivuli and her bandages.

[Ruby_Fehu]

Ruby had wandered off into her own mind, making sure to studiously ignore Kuulani's glaring before Farore ushered the small family away, she was trying to figure something out. Nibbling on her lip she peeked up at Xoren through her eyelashes, she needed to speak to him alone and then she needed to speak to their daughters afterwards. It was as if the great kings had given her a blessing when Nayru announced that they should all consider turning in for the night and the hybrid was more than eager to comply, but she had to speak to her mate - no more putting it off. She started to follow her family before stopping and shuffling to stand in front of Xoren whilst Iris looked over at her mother with a confused expression, "Iris, you and Sola go on ahead, find someplace big enough for the four of us to sleep peacefully close together." Iris nodded before going on ahead of her parents. Ruby took the chance and waited until their daughters and most creatures on Pride Rock were out of earshot before lowering her voice and moving her lips close to Xoren's ear. “In case you're interested my darling. There won't be four of us making this journey there'll be about six of us.” She murmured to him before moving her muzzle away and smiling sweetly. Turning her back on her mate, Ruby strolled after her daughters, making sure to glance over her shoulder at Xoren, interested to see if he'd figured out what she'd meant. She chuckled to herself at the thought before turning and red gaze back to the cave ahead of them and padding inside, close behind Nayru.



Ruby scanned the cave curiously until her gaze fell on Iris who had found a spot for the family and was now lay down, watching the rest of the lions roam the cave. She smiled a little and padded over to Iris' side and settled in a sitting position. She wasn't tired, more excited to see what her mate had to say of her news and then, of course, her girls. The hybrid continued scanning the area, the dimly lit cave bring dark enough for her markings to glow a pale red colour, she needed to resume training herself to have her markings illuminate when she wanted them to illuminate. She did know however, from Iris that her markings extinguished themselves when she fell asleep. As she continue surveying the area she saw a large red figure stalk back out from one of the many tunnels looking annoyed and Ruby realised with surprise that it was Din, she may have been new to the area but she didn't trust that general as much as she did the blue and green felines. Her curiosity overwhelmed her as she stared down the pathway from where he'd just appeared. The urge to go down that way and investigate was powerful but she knew better and she couldn't leave Iris alone for who knows how long whilst she went to have a look at what was going on. Allowing a disappointed sigh to pass her lips Ruby lowered herself into a lying position and rested her head on her paws, waiting for Xoren and Sola before she would fall asleep, the gentle sound of Iris breathing was soothing to the ear but when she was alert like this, there was no way she'd be able to fall asleep easily.

[Deleted]

Kaimu dipped his head to Farore. "Thank you sir. I understand that won't be fond of me, but I hope to prove to them that not all hyenas are bad."
He turned to go find a place to rest when he saw the tension between Xoren and Kulaani. Kulaani growled as Xoren walked away and Kaimu simply sighed, he couldn't understand why Kulaani had to be rude with everyone he comes across. Knowing how untrusting some of the other lions would be of him, Kaimu found a spot away from the others to sleep. Sitting down, he raised a paw and pulled the skull off his head, placing it nearby so to not lose it. He pulled of the bone necklace as well and placed it with the skull, then lied down to rest.

---

Kulaani growled furiously as Xoren walked away, clawing the ground until he forced himself to calm down. He didn't know why the male got him so worked up, but he needed to let it go, the lion was the least of his concerns. Kulaani walked over to where Kaimu was lying, a little surprised to see his face for the first time.
"Why do you have to be so ill tempered?" Kaimu asked.
"Why do you have to be so nosy?" Kulaani retorted as he sat down next to the hyena.
Kaimu gave a weary sigh. "Because you have been getting on every ones bad side since we got here. Can't you just try and be nice?"
"No I can't." Kulaani replied.
"But why?" Kaimu asked.
Kulaani snarled. "Why can't you just mind your own business?"
Kaimu gave him a stern stare. "If we are going to be stuck together on this mission, then I need to know why you act the way you do. Why are you mean to everyone?"
Kulaani looked away from him. "Your a pain in the rear Kaimu."
"Ditto. Answer the question." Kaimu continued.
"Back off mutt." Kulaani responded, losing his patience.
Kaimu tilted his head a little. "What are you afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid of anything." Kulaani responded.
"Then why can't you trust anyone?" Kaimu asked.
Kulaani rounded on the hyena, his eyes now purple as he started losing control of his temper. "Because the last time I did, my parents died! The lion I trusted killed them, happy?!"
The hyena's gaze softened. "That's why your here isn't it? Your hoping to find him."
"Yes!" Kulaani growled.
"And if you don't?" Kaimu asked.
"I will find him!" Kulaani turned away from the hyena, after a few moments he let out a heavy sigh and sat down. "I HAVE to find him. I can't let him get away with what he has done."