The Dawning - [PM if interested to join]

[Jenna]

I thought we could do an RP with our OCs! I'm terribly rusty, but I'll do my best to set up a scene :3

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It was the small hours of the morning. Even the birds had not quite woken up, and the wind was quiet too. On the edge of the Pridelands things seemed even more silent, given that it was the entrance to the wastelands. Nothing lived here, except for scavengers and bugs. It was overshadowed by skeletons of animals that had chosen (or not chosen) to die here.

For Zara it was, and had always been, home. Her dusty fur fit into her surroundings. She was much easier to miss here than in Pridelands, where the sun still favored them. She was content as one could be, living off of scraps. She knew better than to wander into the tall grasses. Still, she could appreciate the red light of the sun as it struggled to make its way through the dust and haze. She could see value in the small bugs that made this place a home, and the few hares that wandered in. She was thin, and not terribly strong, but living here had made up for it. She was quick and agile, and could usually stay our of trouble. The small scars on her sides showed that she was not always successful at running away, though.

And so, in this quiet, where she was still talking herself back to sleep, it came as a violent shock to here a CRACK from the other side of the ravine where she made her home. It was louder only because of the silence, but it meant a larger animal was nearby. Having not eaten recently, Zara was hardly up for a fight. She slunk deeper into the shadows of the boulders she had been using for shelter, and waited with shallow breaths for the other to pass by.

[This Land]

It had been a very long journey for Sheek. Over the season he had just been walking in one direction, trying to discover a place where he could start anew. The night was ending and the sun had started to make a presence. In the distance it lit up a place that looked exactly in his head what he had been looking for all this time. Only thing in his way was a place that seemed quite the opposite, dark, scarce and not welcoming. But he has to go through it.

He slowly made his may down back into the shadows, the sun disappearing once more, though hopefully not for long. He was halfway down the ravine when a sharp cold breeze brushed over him. He suddenly paused in his tracks with a shiver, but a scent entered his nose. He was not alone. With that thought on his mind he wasn't paying attention to his surroundings and took another step forward right on top of a dead underlying branch which made a loud CRACK. Sheek grimaced at his stupid mistake and stay dead still for a moment to hear if he caused any unwanted attention. He thought he saw some sort of thing moving in the shadows but was too faint to believe it was real and his mind was just playing tricks on him. A few more moments past and he took a deep sigh of relief. In that moment the gravel supporting the branch gave way and both tumbled down the rest of the ravine....along with Sheek.

[Jenna]

From her hiding spot among the rocks, Zara waited as silence fell once again on the ravine. Her ears twitched back and forth, trying to pick up where the sound had come from. She didn't dare move, not knowing if the other was a lost prey animal or someone she should avoid. She could hear her stomach growl softly at the thought of potential food. Nothing worth eating came in here unless it was trying to escape another animal, and by the time they were in the ravine they were usually too tired to put up a fight.

Midway through these thoughts though, another loud crack came from the other side, along with the sound of rocks tumbling down the slope. A loud thud followed, before the area was mostly quiet again, save for a few pebbles still falling. For what seemed like several minutes, Zara stayed put. Whatever had fallen wasn't moving, or she would have heard it. Perhaps it was...dead? She furrowed her brow and made up her mind. She scanned her surroundings, deciding on the best places to run should she need to. With the area marked, she cautiously stepped out of the deeper shadows and into the ravine.

At first she didn't see anything. Dust was still settling in the area where the rocks had fallen. She moved closer, slowly, dark amber eyes trying to pick out some sort of animal. As the dust cleared, she began to make out the form of....a lion? Oh no, she thought, eyes widening slightly. He wasn't moving, so maybe he was a goner. She tilted her ears toward him, trying to pick up any signs of life. Even if he was alive, there was no way he wasn't at least dazed from the fall. She had time to escape, if she needed to.

[This Land]

A half conscious Sheek slowly opened his eyes only to feel thick dust stick to them. He blinked several times to try and clear it but in the end kept them closed and blacked out again.
He opened his eyes once more, slightly better this time and he became more aware of his surroundings, he still didn't know how long he was out for but with the commotion he made, if there was anyone around, there would be now.
His delayed shock reaction of what just happened kicked in and he sprang to all 4 paws, though his front right paw limped as a uncomfortable pain shot through it, regardless of his dazed state, he knew straight away he was at a disadvantage and would be harder to defend himself.
He turned his attention from his paw and looked ahead. His stare locked onto a blurry figure
"Who ?" he stammered
He coughed a couple of times to clear his throat from some grit that found its way in during the fall
"Who are you" he tried to sound dominant but squeaked at the end
"Be carful, I wont be afraid to"...

He took a step forward out of dominance to show strength, of course forgetting straight away about his paw. He limped straight away and sucked through his teeth.
"Dammit!" he growled

He slumped back onto his hind legs to take pressure off his paw. Submission was the only way to survive this, he shook his head a few times and tried to focus the blurred figure, the images eventually aligned and it turned out to be a lioness. Quite skinny, but he wouldn't like to leave that to chance.

[Jenna]

Zara's face remained stony as the lion started to move. Admittedly, if she could get at him quick enough, he would make a decent meal before the scavengers arrived. He shot to his feet, but was obviously in pain. Lions unfamiliar with this territory often found themselves hurt, or worse. It was an unforgiving terrain, even for those who had grown up in the dirt. He noticed her.

Zara's eyes narrowed as he tried to get words out, struggling no doubt from the wind having just been knocked out. "Who are you?" He finally managed to make a coherent sentence. I'm sure not telling you, she thought. There was no reason for him to know her anyway, it's not like he would be around very long. He uttered a half-hearted, half-thought threat before his limp set in and he sat on his haunches. His eyes appeared to focus on what was surely a less-than-welcoming gaze from Zara. She could feel the scowl starting to form, but there was no sense in this morning's entertainment if she didn't have a little fun.

She sat softly and dug her claws into the sandy ground before turning her gaze to his hurt paw. "You're certainly welcome to try and fight me, or catch me, but I don't think you'll have much luck." The wind blew gently across her back, and she could see the sun truly beginning to rise out of the corner of her eye. A decision on what to do with this lion would have to be made soon, before others started waking up.

Zara stared the other lion down, but ultimately her curiosity got the best of her. "What are you doing out here anyway? You hardly belong, given your lack of....coordination."

[This Land]

"You're certainly welcome to try and fight me, or catch me, but I don't think you'll have much luck."
Sheek knew in his current situation he was at the less advantage but he didn't like being made a fool out of, and he felt threatened.

He stood completely still as this lion stared him down, he started to get anxious. His claws instinctively extended into the dirt just incase, If things turn sour he will either die fighting or die submissive, either way he would be done for. He tensed his rear legs, ready to strike....

"What are you doing out here anyway? You hardly belong, given your lack of....coordination."

In a split second before the words sunk in, as still being slightly dazed, Sheek extended his rear legs but at the last moment cancelled the full force so as he only leapt forward a little, using his one good paw as a brake and dangling the other.  He noticed a slight glimmer of curiosity in her face.

Sheek grunted
"I know -exactly- where I was going, just this natural wreck of a place was in the way" 

Sheek shook his head once more, everything seemed to be getting better now and felt more alert. The dust flew off his mane and his hair fluffed out.

"Where I intend to go is none of your business" he growled

He took a few carful steps back, he glanced at the top of the ravine and let out a puff of air through his nose as a slight sigh.

"What does it matter....I'm stuck here for now, no way I can get back up this ravine like this"

Sheek sat back down again but kept his eyes locked onto the lioness as he took a few licks of his paw to try and sooth the pain, he stretched and relaxed his paw to try and pinpoint the pain, it felt like it is just sprained. He placed it lightly back down on the ground.

"Well, seems like the next step is up to you, I'll just have to react accordingly" He said Plainly as he kept his gaze. But his brows slightly softened

[Jenna]

OOC: SO SORRY for the late reply, work was hectic!

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Zara withheld a smirk as she watched the lion try to angle himself for an attack. As if he could do anything, she thought a bit smugly. He seemed...annoyed? ""I know -exactly- where I was going, just this natural wreck of a place was in the way." Zara rolled her eyes, but held her tongue. Of course this guy thought it was a wreck. He had, after all, just fallen from the top and landed smack in relatively dangerous territory. Dust went flying as he shook himself off and regained some composure.

"Where I intend to go is none of your business." His attempt at being threatening was a joke at best, but Zara was smart enough not to take chances. Her claws had been ready since he entered the ravine, and she had no intention of putting them away. There was certainly no air of comfort between the two, each sizing the other up. She looked him over. He was dirty, but whether that was the traveling or the new dirt from the ravine was yet to be determined. "What does it matter....I'm stuck here for now, no way I can get back up this ravine like this." He sat back down. What a baby. It's just an ankle. Sure, her idea of "injured" may be a bit skewed, but surely it wasn't that bad.

"Well, seems like the next step is up to you, I'll just have to react accordingly."[/i] Zara tilted her head at his slightly relaxed gaze. What an idiot. I could kill him...if I wanted. She heaved a sigh and sat down, not getting closer, but not backing away. She thought about her options. She could, of course, leave him for the scavengers. She could alert the other lions in the area, but that would mean she would have to deal with them to. Lions, all animals really, tended to leave each other alone in these parts. No one was trustworthy. Bringing this one to them was....well, suicide.

"Here's the thing. If you can't walk, you're a sitting duck. You'll have predators and vultures all over you in an hour, tops." She looked over her shoulder slightly. There was no telling if they were alone. She turned back to him and then stood up again. She didn't owe him anything, and she had given him the advice she felt he needed. She could just leave him to fate. Still, she wasn't quite as uncaring as she seemed, and even though it could be the death of her she moved a little closer to him.

"You'll never make it out of her like this, not on your own. I don't care where you're going, but I'll get you to the edge of the ravine. After that, we can part ways." She hesitantly walked toward, and then past, the lion, then tilted her head toward the deeper part of the ravine.

"Coming?"

[This Land]

OCC: Its fine, totally understand about work life xD , I tend to reply straight away as I'm furloughed from work atm though and have too much time on my hands xD
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Sheek kept his gaze as she sat down. Doing so, a bit of tension left his body and a glimmer of calm entered between them he had hoped, but he wasn't to let his guard down.
"Here's the thing. If you can't walk, you're a sitting duck. You'll have predators and vultures all over you in an hour, tops."
He gave single slight nod in agreement, this Lioness is speaking sense. Just in the very short moments of them together he got the vibe that she wasn't some typical outcast and had experience in these parts, and knew how to defend herself. He had very much the same experiences on his own travels prior to them meeting.

"You'll never make it out of her like this, not on your own. I don't care where you're going, but I'll get you to the edge of the ravine. After that, we can part ways."
Sheek cracked a faint, almost confused smile as this lioness seemed to have a little trustworthiness as she walked past him. He got a proper looks at her now and could see her ribs moving under her skin and her stomach practically non existent. No lion or lioness should deserve to become this thin. However the muscles on her legs shown that lack of proper big meals didn't hinder her loss of strength. A true survivor.
She motioned the direction she was heading

"Coming?"

"Thankyou....for your hospitality" He said plainly but gave a long nod with a crack of a smile, he wanted to be polite, but not too friendly as this time, it was too soon.

Now behind the lioness he started to slowly follow her, giving them a bit of distance, just incase. After a couple of normal steps he almost forgot about his injured paw and then continued to walk with a limp....

[Jenna]

Zara started walking, slowly, knowing this other lion's limp would be a hindrance. WHAT am I doing? she thought. The edge of the ravine was no short walk, and if anything...anyone...should happen to them, he at least would be done for. Still, a promise is a promise and she intended to keep hers.

As the walked, the ravine got darker, and deeper. The sides of the walls climbed higher, blocking what little sun was shining as the morning came. With all the dust in this part of the territory, the most sunlight you would get was a red haze. Here, you didn't even receive that. The sides of the ravine were threatening, and the ground was cracked and littered with branches...and bones. Zara tried not to look at them. Though she had made the walk to the edge before, it was only once. She hadn't wanted to go again.

She looked over her shoulder at the other lion, then turned ahead. "You haven't told me your name." It wasn't so much a question as it was a statement. It wasn't like she had given her name.

A breeze went through the trees at the top of the ravine, and what few leaves they had made their slow way to the floor. It was, in fact, the only noise other than Zara and the other lion's quiet footsteps. It made her nervous.

[This Land]

OCC. If you want to add in some temp grunts, characters etc I'm all for it
****************
Sheek continued to follow her but started to become not very convinced at where this was heading. Things were getting darker and deeper. Was this a trap ? Or was it darkness before getting light ? It seemed that neither of them wanted to make this situation worse, a mutual agreement of getting out of this mess and parting ways would seem to be the best for both of them. But he was trying to reserve judgment unless something happened.

"You haven't told me your name."

"It's Sh...."
Sheek paused about to say his name. The the first word spoken echoed all around them. It was quiet...very quiet. It was like the surroundings were trying too hard.

"It's probably not a good time to blurt out names to strangers" he whispered

He lowered his body and softened his steps

"I'm not sure if you are used to all this, but this place don't feel...right."

[Jenna]

OOC: I was thinking about adding grunts for now! I have another OC I'm cooking up for this (might use an RNG/dice roller for fights?)

dice roller website if you want to use it ^^ I'm thinking 1 dice for now, 1-3 is successful, 4-6 is unsuccessful.

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"I'm not sure if you are used to all this, but this place don't feel...right."

Zara turned back to look at the lion, who had almost given his name. She gave a short nod, and stopped mid-step. Though she normally avoided walking this far into the ravine, it seemed even less inviting than normal. It was so still. Why wasn't there anyone, or anything, at all? She looked at the ground. Not even ants. Something was wrong. She felt the hair on her back stand up, and she dug her claws into the ground.

"I don't think we're alone..." she said softly. It was only when she spoke that she realized she had been holding her breath and-

SNAP!

A branch broke, somewhere in the area, and low growls could be heard from all sides. Zara couldn't pinpoint the location, but the ravine was echoing the sound and she felt surrounded. She backed up and looked for any possible escape route. The only option, as slim as it was, was a small crevasse in the rocks ahead. She looked at the other lion. Would he make it? He has to.

With no other choices, she turned and began to run to the crack, hoping that whoever was also in the ravine was too large to get in. "Come on! she yelled back, not caring anymore if her voice bounced off the walls. She was close, she could see the inside of the rocks. Without another look back, she slipped, just barely, between the sides and into the dark hole. She gazed out and tried to see the other lion through the dust, hoping adrenaline would make him forget his injury and help him run faster.

If not...there would be a fight.

[This Land]

Sheek returned the nod. Though his suspicions were confirmed when she started to look very uneasy, he glanced at her claws , extending into the ground.
 “ I don’t think we’re alone”

Sheek’s eyes widened, was this a setup all along? Tailing him along through a place that just appeared to get darker and harder to spot any potential ambush.
”Forget this, you’re on your...”


SNAP

The lioness darted off, this quickly answered his question and his suspicions were gone,  she was on her own and she was saving herself, he doesn’t blame her.

Sheek started running behind her but soon couldn’t keep up,  not only she was lightning fast but his paw wasn’t helping. He continued to limp, but trying to put pressure on it to help him gain more speed. He gritted his teeth and tried to ignore the pain.
He glanced behind him to the direction of where the snap came from. A couple of silhouettes faded into view with the threatening sounds of low growls, this wasn’t good....this is what he has always tried to avoid during his time alone. How was he so stupid to go straight down the ravine and not try and find an easier way around in the first place questioned him, he was just desperate to get to the other side that seemed so hopeful he guessed, he had been wandering for so long.

”Come on”

Sheek snapped out of his thoughts, his ears flicked and turned his head back towards the lioness, he seen her slip through a tight gap up ahead. Lucky for her and her slim figure.
A few short moments passed when he finally got to the gap, he knew it was going to be very hard to squeeze through such a slim gap but he had to try...  He used all his strength on his rear legs to try and push himself forward but to no avail. He used his one good paw to try and claw the sides to pull himself through, the horrible screeching ringing through his ears, but nothing was working. He then heard 2 amusing chuckles behind him....

He backed himself up and turned around to become face to face with another 2 lionesses. Unlike the one he has just met, these 2 straight away had the impression of not being friendly in the least. Teeth bared straight away, bodies in a position to pounce and claws bared.

”Aww, looks like our wandering meal is stuck” one of them grinned
”We have been watching you and your little friend, but you seem to be hurt, this makes things sooo much easier” the other mocked
”When we are done with you, and unlike you, we can squeeze through there, we have done many times, we will go after your little friend ! “ 

Sheek’s mind sparked, he went into pure survival mode, his adrenaline rushed as he slammed both front paws on the ground with claws bared and went into a fully defensive position. The pain subsided quickly, he just had to show he will not be taken down easily. Not only he wanted to protect himself, but he had a strange feeling to protect the Lioness he had just met,  yes he literally had just met her, first impressions of her friendly nature were questionable,  but she was truthful and was keeping to her word to help him. He felt he had a duty of care.

He quickly glanced through the gap 

“If you can hear me, RUN !” he yelled

Sheek turned his head back to be met with a swing of a paw that knocked him down on his side. He quickly leapt back up with a massive roar and pounced straight on top of Lioness 1 , she had made no attempt to shield herself or she was just taken by surprise at Sheek’s surprising comeback, which surprised him too. He took this opportunity and went straight for the neck, sinking his teeth deep in and had her in a death hold, The lioness roared out in agony.  Suddenly he felt claws dig into the back of his shoulders by lioness 2, before she could do the same to him he flipped over on his back to break free from her grasp while still keeping a throat hold on lioness 1. She was done for. It just was going to take a moment, she tried to struggle free by clawing and pushing around his head but his thick mane was doing its job . Lioness 1 was still on top of him but becoming lifeless and a useful shield from lioness 2. This was still a bad situation, but he will try anything defensive to buy him some time until this lioness was dead, then hopefully Lioness 2 would flee in panic seeing her accomplice dying, or she would avenge her soon to be dead friend.

***Rolled dice for chance of Avenge and was 2,  avenge successful. ****

Occ, feel free to take over grunt/s 😊

[The-odd-crow]

"Khali..?" The lioness uttered in disbelief as she stood and watched her lifelong pride sister, but no answer came from the lifeless body. The sight sent lioness 2 into a frenzy, her pupils grew so small her eyes seemed almost fully white, her back rugged, teeth bared and her claws dug deep into the ground as she prepared to leap onto the wounded maned lion, she decided then and there that his death would be slow and full of pain, she would make sure of it.
    But then a rumbling sound echoed through the ravine, it quickly grew louder and louder until the lioness realized its' meaning, a rock slide.
This force of nature made the lioness drop her lust for blood instantly, living was more important and to live, she had to run. She slung her body around and made for the same passage she came from, while quickly turning left and right to evade the boulders tumbling her way. Her agile movements made sure she just made it out from the rock slide alive and once the dust settled she turned her head toward the place where she last saw the maned lion, and her face frowned at the new pile of unstable boulders resting between her and her new enemy, the lion who claimed her pride sisters life, this fight will have to wait she thought to herself.
    "Hear me maned one! Nature may have favored you and your friend today, but I, Imara, shall hunt you to the ends of the earth if so be it, to avenge the death of my pride sister. One day we shall meet again and that time... there will be more of me!" Imara gave out a rage filled roar before she bolted off into the dark passage from whence she had first arrived.

The rock slide had barely missed Sheek, the coincidence seemed almost too good to be true but just as Imara (lioness 2) had bolted off a figure appeared from the top of the ravine where the rock slide had originated from, and then another slightly smaller shape emerged next to it. The rock slide had created a rather unstable looking steep ramp from the top of the ravine to the bottom and these two figures seemed to be sliding down toward sheek on it, the closer they came the more clear their shapes took of lions.

*** Rolled dice for rock slide killing Imara (Lioness 2), result: 6, death by rock slide unsuccessful ****
*** Rolled dice for rock slide scaring off Imara, result: 2, Imara successfully scared off ***
OOC: I hope it is ok that the surviving brute lioness 2 now have been named Imara, I was thinking she and her possible future bigger pride of brute lions could still be characters that everyone who wants to can take control over!
Also I'm very rusty when it comes to RPs so pls if you see anything I'm doing that is not how one usually does things in a RP then feel free to tell me so! ^^

[This Land]

"Khali"

Sheek heard, and was mentally preparing for whatever came next.
Suddenly, something very unexpected happened, the ground began to tremble, and out of all the things that could happen, it was a rock slide !
He held on tighter to the now known Khali, though she has now pretty much become lifeless she was still a good shield, not just from the other lioness but now falling rocks!, Though a direct impact from a large boulder would mean certain death regardless, it would soften any blow from smaller rocks. This soon became true as he felt loads of small thuds from the smaller rocks hitting Khali.

The ravine fell silent once more as the rock slide passed. Sheek threw Khali off himself and looked around, All the large boulder had just missed him and made a blockade between himself the other surviving lioness.

"Hear me maned one! Nature may have favored you and your friend today, but I, Imara, shall hunt you to the ends of the earth if so be it, to avenge the death of my pride sister. One day we shall meet again and that time... there will be more of me!"

Sheek let off a deep growl
"You gave me no choice" He shouted
His muzzle went from snarling to almost sympathetic as his glanced over to the dead Khali
"It shouldn't of ended like this" he sighed

He heard Imara darting off, he was kind of safe for now but he had to go fast before she returned, most likely with reinforcements.

The good thing that became of this rock slide, not only it resolved the situation of this fight but it seemed to have shifted the rockfaces and he swore that the gap that his new acquaintance squeezed through but he could not, had in fact widened.

Sheek was about to attempt to squeeze through the hole once more when his ears picked up another shuffling sound from walls of the ravine, thinking it was more rocks he turned around to see if they posed a danger while he was attempting to get through...but it wasn't, it was more lions !

2 Thoughts entered his mind, either more hostile lions or could they have caused the Landslide thus saving him ? Sheek stepped backwards into the hole, half his body was through, he felt he could get through as a last resort but he wanted to avoid running or another fight if he could. The adrenaline was wearing thin and he was exhausted from the previous fight, panting heavily. He stood defensive and waited to see what these Lions actions would be.

[The-odd-crow]

Shujaa used her paw to stop her son from sliding down any further once they'd reached the bottom of the steep ramp, her orange eyes had watched Sheek carefully the entire time they went down.
"Mom, he was defending that other stranger with his life, that really doesn't sound like an evil lion. Plus he's even limping, what could he possibly do?"
Shujaas' expression frowned a bit but she then removed her paw, to say that she was protective of her only surviving offspring was an understatement.
"Atleast... keep your distance..."
She took a firm grip around the lifeless body laying on the ground and began to carry it upward the steep ramp. Shujaa was slightly bigger than a normal lioness and even tho she could probably be even bigger in lands where one is well fed, she didn't look especially under-fed either, no bones were showing at all. But she still looked the part for life here, her left ear had been torn off, leaving only a funny looking small tuft in its' place and on her chest were old deep scars that seemed to hint of a fierce battle that took place long ago.

Once Shujaa were busy carrying the body toward the top of the ravine Jua happily seemed to disobey his mothers wish and scurried closer to the gap where Sheek were. The 4 year old had almost reached the height of his mother but his long narrow legs that seemed attached to paws too big and his coal colored mane just beginning to sprout out around his neck gave him the lanky look of that of a young-ling who had still not fully developed into its' adult build.
"Wow man that battle looked fierce ! I hope the boulders didn't hit you? Aiming the rock slide was much more difficult then I thought. But the way you just tossed your enemy around and used its' body as a shield against the boulders was so clever! And even tho you were outnumbered you seemed to just swoosh around in lightning speed and grab one of them and then- oh right, maybe I should introduce myself, I'm Jua! Mom named me so since my eyes are as yellow as the sun, see?" He opened his eyes as wide as he could as if it was important to prove to Sheek that his eyes was indeed yellow. "And my moms' name is Shujaa" He nodded his head at her direction in the background.

In stark contrast with his mother, young Jua seemed to have too much to say in too little time and had eagerly moved his body to demonstrate everything he was talking about, to say that he seemed excited to talk to Sheek was an understatement.

[This Land]

Sheek stayed defensive as the 2 Lions came nearer. It soon became clearer what they looked like. One an adult lioness and another a male who seemed to be a more developed adolescent. She had her gaze locked onto Sheek in which he returned the same. She seemed just as unsure as he was, though at least they both didn't seem immediately hostile, just wary.

"Mom, he was defending that other stranger with his life, that really doesn't sound like an evil lion. Plus he's even limping, what could he possibly do?"
"Atleast... keep your distance..."

A mother and son, that explained how carful and wary she seemed. Looking at all her battle scars and what seemed like a missing ear, she has had to be very protective in the past it seemed. He understood why she acting how she is.  Compared to Sheek's clean and non Battle worn body with only a small recent sprain to his paw, it kind of put it into perspective how different they both were. Sheek has always managed to somehow avoid these things, he can fight and will if provoked but avoiding it has always been his first option. But unlike Sheek, she had offspring to protect and running would always be a more difficult option.

He watched as the lioness took the lifeless body and started carrying it up the slope without any signs of aggression towards him. He relaxed his stance but kept an eye on them, but now looking somewhat curious.

The male adolescent used this opportunity of his mother's turned back to come closer to Sheek. After all that's happened, Sheek should of gave some sort of warning not to get too close but the expression and body language of this male didn't seem threatening at all.

All of a sudden the adolescent started talking quite excitingly about how caused the rock slide and all he had seen Sheek do in the recent fight, Sheek couldn't help crack a faint smile at this and just the enthusiasm of this lion was a nice change to see. Sheek couldn't help but agree in his own mind what he had done, was clever and quick thinking, but what he had to become to save his own life made his smile drop.

Oh right, maybe I should introduce myself, I'm Jua! Mom named me so since my eyes are as yellow as the sun, see?"
"And my moms' name is Shujaa"

Sheek noticed at how yellow his eyes were and his smile returned a little, just because the enthusiasm of him amused him.
Sheek took a slow nod
"Nice to meet you Jua, your name certainly fits" he chuckled slightly.

"I'm not one to give my name out so freely, but since you both saved me from a further terrible fight, even maybe my life....My name is Sheek"

Sheek felt it right to now stand down a little, this Lion seemed genuine and his mother is just being protective. He laid down slightly to his side against the rockface. The pressure lifting from his legs felt great and it was nice just to relax a little without worrying about anything, even if just for a short while.

"Nice work on the rock slide, although dangerous for me, I would take a rockslide over an avenging lion any time of the day, heh" he cracked a faint smile.

"What brings you around these parts anyway? Same as me just traveling ?" He tilted his head slightly and flicked his ear, curious

[The-odd-crow]

"What brings you around these parts anyway? Same as me just traveling ?"

“Nice to meet you Sheek! We’re nomads of the outlands, mom doesn't want us staying too long in one spot because you don’t want strangers to know where you sleep. But I like to think of us more as adventurers traveling all around the drylands!”
Jua sat down with a loud thud and a proud straight back as he titled himself an adventurer.
“But why don’t you give out your name? Are you a spy??”
“Son, don’t bother him.” Shujaas’ voice was calm but stern as she spoke.
She had gotten down the rock slide seemingly effortlessly while Jua and Sheek were speaking. She walked up next to her son, but the body she had previously carried was no longer with her.
“Mom this is Sheek! He’s a spy!” Jua said in his usual energized mannar.
Shujaa bowed her head down slightly as she looked at Sheek to greet him.
"What brings a ... spy... to these drylands?"

[This Land]

“Nice to meet you Sheek! We’re nomads of the outlands, mom doesn't want us staying too long in one spot because you don’t want strangers to know where you sleep. But I like to think of us more as adventurers traveling all around the drylands!”

His story echoed Sheek's own, like them Sheek is a wanderer, though not his entire life. He was about to mention this himself to make conversation but Jua couldn't contain his curiosity

“But why don’t you give out your name? Are you a spy??”

Sheek Chuckled and about to shake his head but got distracted by Shujaa walking up to them

“Mom this is Sheek! He’s a spy!”
"What brings a ... spy... to these drylands?"

Sheek raised his head and a single swift shake, the word "Spy" span around in his head.
"woah woah no no, heh" he Chuckled
"A Decent spy would use a false name, but an honest Lion that wouldn't want to gain unnecessary attention would try to remain anonymous...and not show weakness"
Sheek glanced down at his paw and looked back up to them both of them.
He let out a slight sigh
"My past is a little...blurry to say the least. I can't remember much and I'm still trying the put the pieces together. The only useful information I can share with a couple of strangers is I walked away from an old life....a bittersweet decision that was for the best from what I have remembered so far. Now looking for a place where no-one from that old life knows me and I can start afresh."
Even Sheek confused himself with his own words, but it was the only way he could explain, he shook the confused expression from his face and lifted himself up slightly from the rockface
"Well, I say strangers, but you did assist in saving my life, I can at least say acquaintances" He raised a smile
Sheek slowly got back up onto all 4 legs and had a quick shake to flick off the settled dirt on his pelt and mane.
"This dirt is doing my head in, do you know the nearest water source ?

[The-odd-crow]

OOC: "Bunga" = Foolish in swahili according to: africanlanguages.com/swahili/
----------------------------
"A Decent spy would use a false name, but an honest Lion that wouldn't want to gain unnecessary attention would try to remain anonymous...and not show weakness"

Jua narrowed his eyes and suddenly said "So how do we know Sheek is your real name? Maybe your actual name is Bunga!"
Shujaa gave him a light nudge with her paw "Jua, the only foolish one here is you, now let Sheek speak."

A sense of seriousness swept across the atmosphere as Sheek told bits of his background. A longing for a new fresh life was something the small family could relate deeply to, the strive to reach something...better than what was.

"This dirt is doing my head in, do you know the nearest water source ?"
Mother and son smiled at each other as if they came to an agreement over something by simply looking at each other.
"You can use our water reservoir by our den, but a pride of lions control this ravine as you've noticed so if you want to follow us you'll have to get up by this slope." Shujaa pointed her head back toward the newly created slope and then looked back at Sheek. "Do you think you can make it? with your leg I mean."
Jua had already hurried over to the slope like an excited child eager to start the sleepover with its friends.

[This Land]

For Sheek, it was a quick warming moment to see how Shujaa and Jua smiled at each other at the same time. It reinforced the fact that they were very close.
"You can use our water reservoir by our den, but a pride of lions control this ravine as you've noticed so if you want to follow us you'll have to get up by this slope."
Sheek wasn't expecting such a confident and definite answer, for the first time in a while Sheek's eyes lit up.
"Do you think you can make it? with your leg I mean."
Sheek took a long stretch, along with a few clicks in his joints.
"I will make it, ha ! "
Sheek slowly put pressure on his paw, the adrenaline now gone and pain was still there but not as sharp or strong as when he first injured it. A good indication that it wasn't broken and should soon pass. He winced through the pain and started walking on in the direction that Shujaa had gestured. The last thing he wanted to look like is a Liability.

[The-odd-crow]

After a quick correction from Shujaa to an over excited Jua the whole group made its way slowly up the slope as to not shift anything and go down with jet another rock slide.
The trio traveled until they reached the beginning of a dried mountain range, the slope in front of them looked at first too steep to climb but Shujaa and Jua showed a ledge that went back and forth until you reached a plateau halfway up the mountain. It looked surprisingly homey up there, another rock ledge above the plateau created a form of natural cover from the weather. In the middle a formation of flat wide stones made for a good sun spot, and at the edge of the plateau a dried up tree stood facing the area where the ravine was.
Jua and Shujaa stroked their heads together for a moment before Jua ran up to the dried tree and looked at the view from the edge, the coal colored tufts of mane he had started getting around his head and neck began to flow in the wind. Shujaa instead walked to the right of the rock ledge and pointed at something on the mountain wall for Sheek to see. "Here's the reservoir. We noticed water dripping faintly from a small hole in this mountain wall, and managed after a long time to claw the hole slightly bigger. It's quite small but at least it's a secluded pool of clean water unlike those mud filled water holes you tend to find around the wastelands..."
The mountain wall where Shujaa stood had a lighter color than the rest due to an excessive amount of claw marks, but there was indeed a small stream of water coming out of a hole on the mountain wall, it flowed onto the plateau where a small dent had been clawed out too, creating a shallow bowl shape with water filled in it. Shujaa drank some and then jumped up on the sun spot and laid down, head turned toward Sheek.
"Go ahead and take a sip, It fills up on the early mornings so it's more than enough for everyone." Shujaa gave a smile toward Sheek, encouraging him that it was indeed okey to take from the water.
Jua turned around and faced Sheek too, with his usual smile covered face. "It's also the greatest water you've ever tasted, I bet it'll blow your mind! Or well... not actually blow your mind, just you know... you'll think it's great!"

[This Land]

Sheek Let Shujaa overtake him as they approached the slope so he was behind, so if he was to loose his weakened grip, then he wouldn't take anyone with him. Sheek had grown accustomed to only caring for himself but oddly he felt different in this case.
After the first slope was tackled a sigh of relief escaped Sheek's muzzle. He stopped for a moment to look at the View, which of course was so much nicer then being stuck in the Ravine.

Sheek Focused on the Ravine below and Zara was nowhere to be seen, he pondered in thought...Who knows where that crack in the rockface lead to but at least she is safe. Even though they only knew each other for a short while and she came across quite abrupt , she still was willing to help him. Unfortunately He wasn't safe down there and had to leave. Shujaa and Jua offered their hospitality and had made a way out to escape, he had no other choice.

Sheek snapped out of his thoughts and looked away from the ravine. He could now make his own way, continue his own path, he was a good several paces away from Shujaa, he could just slink away unnoticed and continue his own lone journey, he's bound to find water now by himself. He didn't want to feel dependable on them, he has been self dependable for so long it felt wrong to rely on them, and slow them down.

He looked to the side and took a few steps away with his head lowered, but couldn't help turning it to the side, glimpsing back at them. They were the first Lions in ages to be friendly to him, they are even taking him to their den which shows a great amount of trust. A sense of slight guilt flowed through him. He huffed a puff of air through his nose
"I cant leave...doesnt feel right"
Sheek re-diverted his tracks and carried on the path behind Shujaa, picking up a slight pace to catch up with them. They reached a large mountainous area and he followed their path going up, from ledge to ledge.

Up here was just...perfect. It had everything! Lookout spots (which Jua taken use of straight away), shelter, sunspots and their own personnel water reservoir with the cleanest water he ever had seen.

Sheek took a moment to take it all in. While getting his breath back from climbing.

"Go ahead and take a sip, It fills up on the early mornings so it's more than enough for everyone."

Sheek looked up at Shujaa and gave the warmest smile he had done in ages, it even hurt his cheeks!
"Thankyou...I...." Sheek paused, he was just overwhelmed. He hadn't come across such luxury (for him). The tension in his body slowly let go as he couldn't feel any safer as being at such a vantage point.
He went for the water, lapping it up quickly, the cool feeling spreading down his throat and stomach was very well welcome.

"It's also the greatest water you've ever tasted, I bet it'll blow your mind! Or well... not actually blow your mind, just you know... you'll think it's great!"

Sheek suddenly chocked on the water from an unexpected chuckle but soon regained himself
"Very True Jua, it is Mind Blowing" He grinned.

He took many more laps as he felt needed, but still leaving some left, even though it would refill he still didn't want to seem greedy. He was satisfied with his share anyway for now.

He Immediately slumped to his side on a patch of sun hitting the ground and took a peaceful sigh of relief, He looked over the picturesque view they had here and took in the sense of calm. He rolled onto his back to warm his underbelly. For once he felt at peace, he knew it may not last so he made the most of it.

"What a day so far huh?" as he shifted his glance between the 2.

[The-odd-crow]

Shujaa smiled back when Sheek thanked for the water, it gave her joy to be able to have helped someone out.

"What a day so far huh?"

Shujaa gave out a sight as she remembered the events of the day. "Quite, it was a bit too exciting for my taste."
"Not for me! If the day happened all over again I would have jumped in to help Sheek from the beginning, I'd swing down by a vine and-"
Shujaa raised an eyebrow "A vine? And from what tree would you find that vine in a desert ravine exactly?"
"Oh righ..." Juas' brows frowned as he was deep in thought, then he suddenly lit up again. "I would have gotten down by starting the rock slide earlier and surfed my way down on a a flat rock like this one!" He suddenly jumped up on the sun spot to demonstrate how he'd steer the inanimate object through a rock slide whilst his quick frolicking moves almost pushed Shujaa off of the sun rock, but she didn't seem shocked but rather as if this was a normal occurrence. She eventually pushed him off the sun spot and he continued his grand tale of heroism as he started attacking the dried tree instead, talking about it as if it were a couple of challenging lions, or was it a hoard of lions? It wasn't very clear.
While Jua told his story and attacked the tree in the background, Shujaa leaned toward Sheek with a quiet voice so Jua wouldn't notice they didn't pay attention to his performance.
"I don't want to alarm you Sheek, but the lions you met earlier today... well..." Shujaas' one remaining ear flickered in suspense. "They're not really known around here to forgive and forget as one says."

[This Land]

"Quite, it was a bit too exciting for my taste."
Sheek turned his attention more to Shujaa
"You can say that again, never can have a quiet life"

Jua then spoke up about his heroic description of how he would of done it all over again which was amusing, even more so when Shujaa became involved with how his story wouldn't work and him making it all up again. Him almost pushing her off her sunspot and then himself getting pushed off, even then it didn't phase him, he just carried on. Young ones do the funniest things, one of the things in life he hasn't experienced before...a family.

"Or did I ? Did I have a family ?" Sheek Pondered on this thought and Jua's story became muffled and unhearable in his mind.

Suddenly a voice perked his ears up
"I don't want to alarm you Sheek, but the lions you met earlier today... well..." ..."They're not really known around here to forgive and forget as one says."

Sheek turned and spoke softly
"I understand, I had a feeling that fight wouldn't be the end. You and Jua have a nice thing going here and I never want to Jeopardize that and the wellbeing of you both"

Sheek paused to make sure Jua was still talking away about his story.

"I will leave when you want, Its my scent they will track so you both should be safe, But I cannot thankyou enough for what you have done"

Sheek turned to Jua to make as if he was still paying attention

[The-odd-crow]

Shujaa shook her head. "I don't want to send you away, it's been nice having another adult to converse with today." She paused for a moment and turned her head back to her son. "Besides, Jua would never forgive me if I sent his new friend away." A quiet chuckle escaped her as she smiled.

Jua were at the moment silent as he had found himself hanging from one of the higher tree branches with his front paws, clearly rather nervous about the fact that he didn't reach the ground with his back paws that were now batting and stretching simply a few centimeters above ground. He eventually released his grip around the branch and tumbled onto the ground. Looking a bit embarrassed as he got up and shook off some dirt and bark stuck on his fur.
"Ahem, well as I was saying... I would jump onto the big bad guys' back and launch myself up onto a higher ground, making him faceplant into the dirt! And then I'd make a flip in the air over to his second in command and-" He was back at the tree again, jumping and clawing between the different branches.

Shujaa suddenly changed her smile to a serious expression as she quietly spoke to Sheek while still watching Juas' tree climbing performance. "That pride of lions are a menace to this place, and I fear Juas' naivety might get the best of him one day... What I want..." She turned her head toward Sheek "Is for that pride to leave. Imagine if we could find more lions to join our cause to rid these lands of that aggressive pride. Or if we could orchestrate some form of ruse to lure or scare them away."

[This Land]

"I don't want to send you away, it's been nice having another adult to converse with today."

Sheek's expression turned to slightly surprised and confused as compliments were an alien thing to him. His ear flicked and he turned his attention back to Shujaa, who was looking at Jua.
"Besides, Jua would never forgive me if I sent his new friend away."

Sheek turned his head back at Jua again, who was continuing his epic tale of heroism. His look turned into a gaze, He admired Jua's enthusiasm, a warm smile once again appeared. It was a nice feeling knowing that he was wanted.
"That pride of lions are a menace to this place, and I fear Juas' naivety might get the best of him one day... What I want..."

Sheek's smile flattened from the seriousness of her words and looked towards her and she was looking at him, part of his mane flipped over his face so he gave his head a quick flick to clear his view

"...Is for that pride to leave. Imagine if we could find more lions to join our cause to rid these lands of that aggressive pride. Or if we could orchestrate some form of ruse to lure or scare them away."

"It would be an arduous thing to do"


Sheek glanced back at Jua, seeing how happy and care free he was and the life he was living and the den that they have here. It may not last. But for once in his life it wasn't just the feeling of being wanted, it was now also being needed.
Sheek looked Back to Shujaa
"But it's essential...for both of you."


He closed his eyes and exhaled through his nose.
"I haven't mentioned everything...Before the whole incident this morning, I was on my way to find an old distant friend, the only one I could remember. By coincidence he is very wise and was going to ask him to help with my future, But I'm confident that he will help you and Jua too, friend's of mine are friend's of his kind of thing"

Sheek slowly rolled onto his front, opened his eyes and grinned lightly, attempting to lighten the air.
"Anyway...first, I have a Jua to see to" He said mischievously 

Sheek lifted his body slightly off the floor and started slowly slinking towards Jua, he still seemed occupied in his story and his attention still averted. Sheek shifted his rear legs and swayed his tail playfully. He then Pounced up towards the tree. He Grabbed Jua from behind, wrapping his one good paw around him and pulled him from the tree.
"Expect the unexpected young warrior" he laughed

Sheek leant back, rolling onto his back with Jua, with a couple of playful non harmful bites on the nape of his neck.
"Come on Jua, think fast" He grinned

[The-odd-crow]

A gasp escaped Jua at the first shock of being unexpectedly pulled out of the tree, but once he realized who had done it he laughed and teasingly said:
"Oh yeah, well is this fast enough for you old man?"
He pushed his hind legs against the tree that he could just reach from the ground and the force spun him out of Sheeks' grip, he stumbled a bit as he found his footing again but then quickly crunched down into a playful attack stance. Head low, shoulders up, legs ready to launch and a confident smirk to top it all off as he swayed his tail back and forth.

Shujaa smiled as the two play fought, it was calming to see her son so happy and in a friends' company. She got the feeling that everything would work out in the end, this friend of Sheek sounded very promising and come next morning she would ask more about him, but first she needed to rest. "Rest?" she though, it felt like something she had not done for years. But she laid her head down on her paws as she felt her eyelids grow heavy, and they slowly closed as she watched the two, happily and at ease, she eventually fell into a slumber.

[This Land]

Sheek was half taken back in amazement as Jua quickly counter-attacked and managed to spin himself out of Sheek's grasp. Sheek quickly rolled back over onto his front.

He took a playful stance, taking small steps from side to side with his head low and tail swaying.

"Old Man....OLD MAN?" He laughed

"This old man still may still have a few tricks"

A soft lighthearted growl rumbled in his throat as he took a few small steps towards Jua. He pretended to make a few pounces by jolting his rear legs to cover his intentions as he grew near to Jua. Sheek's mane flopped infront of his eyes, one thing that always happened with his head lowered. He had grew accustomed to flicking his head to the side to sway it away.

"I call this one the..."

Sheek's attention for a moment was distracted when he flicked his head to the side and was met by the sight of Shujaa. Her eyes had closed and looked to be at peace. Sheek's mischievous playful grin turned to a soft smile, she looked so content and it cemented another example of trust between them. It ran through his mind that all this time she must be on edge, looking after her son would be a very hard thing to do with the worry and the safety for him. A single chuckle hummed through his nose, he remembered what she said to him about being a new friend to Jua. For this Moment all 3 of them where having, it was a very welcome one.

Sheek snapped out of his thoughts and turned his head back to face his original direction...