A Rouge's Journey

[genie]

Memkra smirked as they walked a merely replied "There'd be no surprise if you knew everything now would there..." and chuckled to himself quietly as they went on, so as to not wake up Leela who was making slight heavy breathing noises through Karensha's fur.

[Kirsui]

Seleter lifted an eyebrow.
"No?"
She blinked her eyes.
"Not that cloud...?"
She looked around again. Clouds were big. What could be even bigger?!
"The... sky?"
She glanced at Duna, and for some reason she felt that the answer was still wrong.

---

Night Flame very much enjoyed the situation into which Duna had managed to get Seleter. A slight grin was playing on his muzzle as the cheetah gave another guess. Oh how he was tempted to say what he thought the answer was... But he didn't, he wanted to see how long the cheetah could keep this up. He only hoped Duna wouldn't let Seleter go so easily from this little challenge.



((OOC: wow, this got to be the shortest post I've made in like months! XD))

[Dakota]

(ooc.. slaps a hand on Kirsui forehead to see if she feeling ok ..lol)

Maisha carried on walking while still humming to herself and a smile on her muzzle. She enjoyed going from one place to another, and experiencing new things, she wasn't one to just stay still, life got too boring for that.

Seeing a heat haze on the horizon and feeling the air she was breathing get warmer, Maisha started to get excited. I hope Talli Peak isn't much further and when we.....

Her thoughts trailed off when she saw the golden savannah come closer into view. Not being able to help her self, she stopped dead in her tracks, not realising the others were only a little way behind her and would soon bump into her.

" LOOK AT THAT ! , it's just awesome, it's...it's....it's..."

Trailing off, the lioness stood there with the only part of her moving, was her tail flicking around.

[Tamber]

Zulu was relieved when Shana kept her perky spirit alive, even as disapointed as she was to see her mother. She was a sweet girl, and he was sure that her mother cared for her, ragrdless of how uncomfortable she seemed around her own daughter. Sereana had a lot going on, as did Shana, but he knew they would work it out.

Shana gave him a quick look, blinking and looking back to her mother. He was pretty sure he understood, but he wasn't sure if he was comfortable. He didn't know what to say to Sereana, what to ask her. He thought that might be a conversational better served between the two of them.

He was glad to see Sereana perk up a bit, as well. She began to grin and kid around with him, just giving him a phony hard time. The cheetah smiled, joyed to see that perhaps his company was making the lioness feel a bit more at ease.

Very at ease. She seemed very keen on him, gazing into his eyes for many seconds at a time. Her joking was directed at him, rather than to Shana as well, and he felt rather on the spot. Out of kindness, he continued to grin, rather half-heartedly, however. Suddenly she nuzzled his neck. "Hmmm...that was...kind of her," he thought, but something caught his ears. Sereana began to say something, but stopped before she could finish it. Zulu thought he might have an idea of what it was, but he thought it a bit selfish to believe it was true. Why would she call him that? there was no way that that was what Sereana was thinking of him. He didn't think anyone thought that way of him, let alone someone outside of his own species.

His thoughts were partially interrupted by Maisha'a voice. Zulu suddenly noticed that she had made her way well ahead of them, and she seemed rather surprised by something he could not yet see. What was around this area that she could be so astounded with? He decided to run ahead to meet her. It would catch him up and get him out of the situation at hand, a situation in which he felt very uncomfortable. Without a word, he grinend strangely and ran up toward the brown lioness. He stopped next to her, hardly out of breath at all. "What is it, Maisha?"
______________________________
Duna held an even prouder expression when Seleter once again guessed incorrectly. She snorted a laugh and let the cheetah keep guessing. "Nope, wrong again!" She was so excited. She had come up with something even a grown up couldn't guess! Duna felt smarter than she had felt since she was traveling alone and fending for herself at all times.

[Dakota]

Maisha jumped a little when she heard Zulu's voice behind her.While she had been staring at the vision in front of her, she had forgotten about the others, completely entranced with the view her eyes now eagerly roamed over.

Spinning around with her tail wildly moving from side to side, Maisha accidently swiped the Cheetah across the face..
"Oh lordy... sorry about that, but...but.. look Zulu.... LOOK "
The golden lioness swung back around, giving Zulu another swish over his face.

"Zulu, why didn't you tell us all, what glorious sights we would see on our way to Talli Peak .. or.. are we there already?"

Maisha's enthusiasm made her more excited. whirling around to Zulu, she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a big hug, then just as quickly released him and turned away
"well Zulu, are you going to tell the others to hurry up..Please tell them to hurry"

Digging her paws into the ground Maisha took off racing. The warm breeze tickled her golden fur, lifting strands teasingly then letting them drop back to her body. On she ran ,heading toward a tall peak jutting out of the savannah grasses. To her there seemed to be a mass of different colours projecting off the side she was fast approaching, and sending a kaleidoscope down to the ground.

A look of surprise suddenly crossed Maisha's face, her paws weren't on solid ground anymore, it was all air beneath her and .....she was falling

[Kirsui]

The snoring laugh Duna gave made Seleter smile widely though her guess had been wrong again. She just loved to hear the cub laugh, she felt happy that she was the reason why the cub was happy. Had this happened before she had met this little group of lions, Seleter would have questioned her sanity. What cheetah in their right mind would play with a lion cub?

But the group had changed her somehow, and though she still was pretty much a cheetah and loved to do things cheetahs do, she had also turned into a team player. Not maybe as much as someone who had group living in their blood... But still.

So, with that smile still on her face the cheetah glanced around again, searching for what Duna was spying.
"So not the sky nor the clouds..."
She tilted her head.
'Trees, nope... Rocks, nope... Elephants.... Err'
Her line of thoughts paused briefly.
'Well there's none visible so it CAN'T be that.'
She shook her head before turning at Duna.
"I don't know, Duna", she admitted with a smile still on her lips.
"You've come up with something to spy that I just simply can't guess right."

"The sun."

Seleter's eyes widened in surprise at the deep voice coming from behind herself and Duna. She glanced over her shoulder, only to see Night Flame look at Duna with a... warm smile? If she hadn't seen it herself she would have said she imagined it, because the Night Flame she knew would in no way have taken part in a game like this - with a cub!

But he had, and he was now waiting for Duna's reaction. Night Flame was aware that his earlier... behaviour towards Duna might make her hurry away from him now that he had let out what he thought she was spying. But the little conversation he had had with both Karensha and Maisha had affected him.

But this was only a test, to see if Duna was ready to stand more of his precence. If not, he could always wait for a better time.

[Sarafina]

Nadayshana jumped off of her mothers back and next to Zulu. She gently jumped up on his back and her jaw dropped.

" WO BABY !! "

She shook her head and was mesmorized. She tried to say something, but couldnt. She looked down at Zulu and smiled.

"Wo Zulu... you really know some cool sites."

She giggled and nuzzled his neck. She then decided that she had to go back to her mother if she wanted to or not. She jumped back onto Sereanas back. She wondered why her mother was letting everyone go in front of her. She shrigged and layed down.

She closed her eyes and tried to relax. Her eyes popped open as she thought of last night. She couldnt sleep... not with Sereana. She looked at the sky and wondered if the stars were going to come out soon. She wanted to have another chat with her father. but this time, an actual full conversation.

She sighed and closed her eyes. Her happiness that she had about 3 seconds ago, was gone. Her gloomy Shana was back. She snuggled closer together and hid her face with one paw. She made sure that no tears came to the service. She wouldnt cry.

[genie]

Leela suddenly snorted in her sleep and started coughing away on Karensha's back... her eyes opening briefly before closing again and little snores could quiet soon be heard again..

After a while she started getting restless while sleeping and little sobs could be heard, and small tears were starting to wet where Leela's head laided, she was dreaming but it wasn't a good dream and every so often little whimpers of "mama..." were heard, she made out she did't know what happened to her parents and consciously that may of been true but sub-consciously memories were surfacing in her sleep. As she continued whimpering and shivered in her sleep she was sad sight to behold, one so young who had lost everything she'd known.

**************************

Memkra glanced at Leela and then at Karensha and shook his head slightly and said "Poor thing... should we wake her do you think?".

[Tamber]

A deep, rumbling voice seemed to shake the earth as it pierced the ears of the greyish cub. Duna, feeling proud and triumphant, was abruptly interrupted by her thoughts being spoken aloud...by Night Flame. She jerked her head around to see the purplish lion, expecting a relaxed, yet sorrowful gaze, but surprisingly seeing a look of content. He gave her a...smile? And he had guessed the answer correctly. Duna looked at him frightfully at first, but the longer he grinned at her, the more she realized that he was being sincere. Her ears perked up, and a smile came to her mug. Night Flame had taken part in her game, and he had read her mind succesfully.
___________________________
Zulu gazed over what Shana and Maisha marveled over, and he marveled himself. But what he marveled at was not the sight's appearance, but it's location. He realized now that he was much farther west of the peak than he had realized. He had subconscoiusly led the group in a direction that stalled their progression to Talli Peak. He was holding them within his grasp, and he had never consciously made the decision to.

However, it was good to see this place again. Just over the knoll that he presently stood upon, he could see a relatively small expanse of grassland, with grasses of all different shades of yellow and green. The fields were colorful, and the birds were plentiful, singing beautiful songs that trickled through the cheetah's ears. As he flicked them around he looked ahead at Maisha, who was bounding among the fields happily. He saw her gravitating toward a rainbowish rocky area. The rocks shimmered beautifully, an irridescent orchestra of stone. He couldn't see much of it from here, but something about it bothered him. A deja vu passed over him , telling him that something about that particular area wasn't right.

Suddenly the memory encapsed him, and his eyes widened in realization.

"Maisha! STOP!!"

But his efforts were too late. He dipped down swiftly and allowed Shana to roll off his back. Not looking down to see if she was ok, he rushed forward in a panic, leaving the rest of them in the dust. His fear had proven to have happened...he could no longer see Maisha in front of him.

Zulu reached the rocks, the wet, rainbow and reflecting rocks, slippery with the strange substance that made them twinkle so. He tried to skid to a hault, but found himself struggling. The slickness of the rocks were too much for his claws to slow him down quickly, and he was rapidly approaching the edge of the gorgeous cliff.

The king cheetah fluttered his legs about him until he finally came to a haulting stop as he stopped him self with a firm, jutting rock. But it was too late for Maisha. Zulu's eyes panned down from the colorful, majestic, jubliant land that surrounded him, and just beynd the irridescent rocks beneath his feet, he saw a deep, muggy trench, surrounded on the north and south by canyon walls created long ago by a river that had dried up. Nothing could be seen past the thick fog that started about 50 down, and he knew that wherever Maisha had ended up, it couldn't have been a soft landing.

[Dakota]

Karensha was walking along in silent companionship with Memkra, finally getting used to having the little cub nestle down in her purple fur. Hearing whimpers coming from behind her neck, the snow lepoard with her eyes widening looked frantically at Memkra.

"what's happening, what's she doing.?"

Coming to a sudden stop, Karensha stood there staring at the lion. "We have to wake her up, what do I do once she's awake, I'm not good with cubs."
Watching Memkra still stare at Leela, she turned and reached for the cub. Lifting her gently away from her fur, wincing a bit as some strands were twisted in Leelas small sharp claws that were pulled out as well. Karensha sat on her rump, then slowly lowered herself to the ground and gently cradled the cub in her arms.

Looking up at Memkra with a puzzled expression on her face, Karensha turned and bought her gaze back down to the now waking cub. Gently the snow leopard opened her mouth and her tongue started to lick away the tears that were still spilling over and running down Leela's cheeks till only a trace of flattened fur was remaining.

Her eyes meet Leela's, and they both just stared at each other not really knowing what to do or say. Long purple eyelashes floated down covering her thoughts and Karensha turned her head to gaze at Memkra with a pleading look on her face.

[Kirsui]

He waited patiently, not once letting his warmn smile disappear. He watched when different emotions ran through the cub's eyes, and when she finally grinned at him he let out the breath he didn't know he had been holding.

She wasn't afraid, and Night Flame was glad of that.

Seleter watched in amazement when the dark furred adolescent walked a little closer to herself and Duna. If that wasn't enough, then she surely was even more surprised at what Night Flame said next.
"I take it is my turn to spy now...?"
Because Seleter just knew Night Flame would never play with a cub. And yet there it was, the playful grin that she never would have expected to see from him. She was so awestruck that she couldn't say a word.

Night Flame briefly glanced at the cheetah before he let his gaze wander around. He knew already what to spy, but this was merely a distraction for the cub to prevent her from knowing what exactly he had in mind. Then he returned to look at Duna, the playfulness still present in his expression.
"I spy something strong."
Amusement twinkled in his teal eyes. He knew this was a hard one to guess, and there was just no way the cub or even Seleter would know what he was spying.

[Sarafina]

Sereana watched as Nadayshana came back up and fell asleep.She watched Zulu and she stepped back a little. Memories flashing back. She stopped and er head hung a little. She wasnt liking this trip at all. She Turned to look at Nadayshana. She looked just like her father. she sighed and licked her ear.

Her attention went to find Leela. She finally saw Karensha waking her up. She smiled as she saw the look on Karenshas face. Sereana looked in the direction whhere Zulu went. She then turned back to Karensha. Her paws then gently brought her body towards Karensha.

"Thank you Karensha..."

Her voice was soft. She smiled and looked at Leela. She saw the tears down her cheek, yet her eyes were still a little groggy. She could tell she had fallen asleep. She licked between Leelas ear.

"Oh baby .... Shhh its okay..."

Her nose then gently nuzzled her daughters cheek. She wondered why she fell in love with Leelas as son as they met.. She didnt care. She looked at Karensha.

"How was she?"

She asked gently, looking bac at Leela.

[genie]

Before Memkra could think what to do over what Karensha question - she solved itself, she herself panicked as she did't know how to handle a cub that was upset, yet he himself did't know either... his life before this unlikely group had formed had not exactly been filled with cubs, he had no more idea than she did.. perhaps less because he sense she did have some instinct inside her that he did't.

He watched as she lifted the cub down and licked at her, despite her fears he thought Karensha did a good job, he himself probably would't of thought to lick at the cub to calm her down from her dream.

Then as Karensha looked at him pleading for help, Sereana came over and he noticed Leela responded well to her presence.

******************

Leela had been lying asleep on Karensha's back crying while sleeping, dreaming of a time she'd last seen her parents... something she did't remember or perhaps subconsciously repressed.

The next moment she was awoken with a jump, hanging by the skin of her neck in Karensha's mouth as she was slowly lowered to the ground and she sat there bewilder, groggy and sleep in her eyes shivering away, she did't remember what she'd just been dreaming of but she was still feeling emotionally sore. As Karensha washed her down with her tongue whipping away the sleep, though confused she felt glad she was there, looking at her, somehow she felt safe.

Then Sereana came up behind and spoke to Karensha before licking and speaking to Leela before speaking to Karensha again. For reasons unknown to her, tears of relieve welled up in Leela's eyes, a sense of great relieve washed over her, Sereana her adopted mother, yet she loved her same as her real mother and she even looked similiar, the relieve at hearing and seeing her was suddenly to much.

With a sobbing cry of "Mama!" she rushed straight to Sereana's leg and grabbed hold of it repeating over and over "mama...mama..mama.." her little body shaking from her upsetness.

[Tamber]

((OOC: For anyone who didn't notice, Dakota changed her post on the 16th. Maisha fell off of a cliff, and that is why Zulu is flipping out.))

Mouth hanging open in shock and extreme fear, Zulu's eyes darted in circles, scanning for any trace of Maisha, as if somehow her fall had stopped in midair. He knew he wouldn't see her, but he looked through the mist desperately, waiting for a miracle. Once reality overtook him, his heart paused, and he felt a choke come to his throat. He swallowed, trying to cease it, but his breath cut short and fluttered in and out irregularly. He felt warmth and wetness on the inside of his eyes, but he had no strength to stop it. He stood frozen, his heart wrenching. He knew the trench was here...he kenw somehting was wrong about the area, but he hadn't remembered in time. He peered down into the canyon with guilt seeping through him. Memories of his childhood rushed back to him...this feeling of indirectly causing...death.

The cheetah involuntarily backed away from the canyon, and in truth, backing away from himself. Shaking his head and staring down at his feet, he argued with himself. No, no no no...she can't be gone...it's...it's not true! She-she's not dead. Not Maisha...i-it-it's not my fault. I couldn't have stopped it..not me...not her...DAMN IT I knew something was here...why couldn't I remember...damn it! Stupid idiot! Why do you keep doing this? What the hell is WRONG with you?...

Zulu found himself slumped over, burrying his head between his front legs, tears seeping from his eyes. Even if Maisha was alive, how would he find her? He had never been into that trench before. Not even Zulu dared to venture into an area like that; it wasn't his taste, wasn't his idea of "fun" exactly. He didn't know what was down there, nor how deep it was. It could have been a shallow river, a swamp, a series of volcanoes...or even just a flat, rocky bottom. He shielded his mental eyes from the idea of Maisha's body smashing upon the hard ground below her.

Zulu found himself staring in the eyes of his past. Just as he thought he was gettng somewhere, just when he thought his obsession with his brother's death was fading, he caused tragedy again. Dead or alive, Maisha was in a world that Zulu felt he simply could not reach. He had put Talli there, and now a dearly beloved friend; both had been so good to him, and now they both suffered from his stupiditiy.

[Kirsui]

((OOC: Zulu, you might want to post something with Duna, I can't move my characters before Duna does something. XD))

[Dakota]

Just as Karensha was warming up to the idea of looking after little Leela, and she was feeling pretty pleased with herself that it was her that had stopped the tears from free falling down those cheeks, she found herself and the cub, just staring at each other. An emotion she had never felt before, began to rise. Lifing her paw off the ground the snow leopard was about to engulf the small body in a hug, something she had never done or wanted to do in her past. Before she had even touched Leela, the cub was being lifted away and out of her reach by Sereana.

Looking over at Memkra, her thick purple lashes came down and her head drooped as well.
"She was just having a bad dream and we were comforting her... we... I.. haven't hurt her or anything, her tears were from her sleep".
Taking a few paces back, Karensha moved around Memkra,Sereana and Leela. "I think I will just catch up with NightFlame and the others, seeing I'm not needed here any more." Taking one last look at the cub, she moved briskly ahead noticing that it was Seleter who was now in front of her on the trail.

Glancing around, Karensha couldn't see the King Cheetah or Maisha anywhere that's funny, Zulu always tell us when he's going to go off by himself, he never just disapears. Craning her neck, and looking around she also pushed her body up higher on her paws to give her more elevation. Still no movement through the long grass, nothing seemed amiss, yet her intuition knew something was wrong.

"NightFlame.... Seleter. We need to find out where the others are, I have this feeling in my gut that wont go away, I hope I'm over reacting, but the stillness out there is unnerving."
Pausing, Karensha looked at NightFlame first to see if he would be mocking what she had just said, and then her gaze moved to the female cheetah.
"You know Maisha, just as well as I do Seleter. Where ever she goes there's ..mmm.. lets say some sort of disturbance, it's a habit of hers, a good one, but still a habit, it's how we always keep track of her." Pausing she moved nearer to where Duna also stood.
"It's too silent, and Zulu missing as well, something isn't right ! "

[Sarafina]

Sereana watched Karensha. She knew the crying wasnt from her.. She sighed and suddenly felt worse then she did before. she shook her head and looked down at Leela. He tongue gently ran over Leelas head. She sighed a soft sigh and shook her head.

Something then jumped off her back. It was Shayna. She must of heard Karensha. She looked at Leela and picked her up, placing her on her back. She then followed Shayna.

"Nadayshana! Stop..."

She tried to sound like a mother, it didnt work. She didnt want Nadayshana to run off too. She sighed and trotted next to Karensha. She worried. She knew her daughter would do anything for Zulu. She shook her head.

"Shana.... please. Come with Mom..."

. . . . .

Nadayshana was at a light sleep. She then she heard a light voice.

"It's too silent, and Zulu missing as well, something isn't right ! "

Her head shot up and she jumped off her mothers back. She then ran to the last place she saw him. She stood there panicing. No. She needed Zulu. She looked around and heard her mother. She shook her head.

"Who would that be?!"

She shot back at her. She knew she would regret herself for saying it, but right now, she couldnt care less if she hurt her feelings. She sniffled and looked around.

"ZULU!!!!!"

She screamed for him. She needed him. He was the ONLY one that understood her right now. She looked around again and hung her head low. Her eyes closed and she sat down.She wanted to find him. She needed him..... How could he leave her? She didnt now what happened... but she had a feeling her just left.

[Tamber]

((OOC: Oh sorry, Kir. I totally forgot. My bad))

Duna was half expecting Night Flame's congeniality to be a farce, as if he was just playing a cruel prank on the both of them. But the longer she watched him, the more she was amazed. He just kept grinning, kept looking at her and Seleter kindly, and he even joined them. Walking along beside her, Night Flame even took part in the game! He had indeed gotten the answer right, and it was now his turn to spy something!

Duna watched him intently, unnoticingly craning her neck in anticipation as he scanned around for things to spy. Finally he came up with something.

"I spy something strong."

Strong...strong...what in view was strong? Duna darted her eyes around, thinking about each item she saw. Hmm...a big rock...a tree...all her ideas were pretty obvious, and she hesitated to guess them, for she hoped that Night Flame wasn't going easy on her. She thought of something more far-fetched. The cub looked down to the ground. Nothing strong on the ground...just tiny rocks and blades of grass, an occassonal flower here and there. But that big thing below them, the thing she stood upon...the ground itself was very strong. Whether the answer was right or not, she loved the idea she came up with.

"The ground!" she said excitedly.
__________________
The shock and guilt that filled the cheetah's mind was put on hold as he heard the voice of something of utmost importance. It was the voice of Nadayshana, calling for him desperately. He stood up and turned around, tears still on the rims of his eyes, and looked around for her. The golden grasses were too tall, and he couldn't see the cub anywhere. "Shana!" he called out, obvious in his voice that he was distraught. "Shana! I'm right here, girl!"

[genie]

Memkra trailed behind the procession, there was little to jump to conclusions about, if Maisha was in trouble then zulu would surely have come to them and he should be able to outrun anything else so it seemed likely they were just talking somewhere.

[Sarafina]

Nadayshanas ears perked up and she tood back up. She tried to look for him but couldnt see him. She was about to cry. She couldnt cry though .. she had to be strong ! She tried to stand taller to find him.

"Zulu....dont leave me...."

She whispered softly. She needed her best friend. She sniffled and looked around. She then started to pace. She looked at the ground and then tried to find him again. She then turned to look at her mother, she was to busy with Leela. She looked back and wanted to run to find Zulu. She just didnt know where anything led.

"Zulu! Where are you ...!"

She yelled softly yet hopefuly loud enough for him to hear her. She sniffled again holding ack many tears. Sooner or later, there would be a river flowing down her cheeks. But as of now she couldnt let it get to her. She closed her eyes and sat down. Where was he ...

[Kirsui]

Night Flame chuckled lightly when Duna guessed the ground. Slightly he shook his head, his long front mane swaying from side to side before settling back on its usual place.

Seleter lifted an eyebrow but kept her mouth shut. If Night Flame was willingly playing with Duna, she might as well step back and watch where things were going. But she didn't want to leave him alone with the cub, just in case he was up to something.

Night Flame's ear twiched slightly and he momentarily turned his gaze from Duna. Karensha was approaching them with an expression he thought was worried.

"NightFlame.... Seleter."

Both the dark furred adolescent and the golden cheetah listened at what Karensha was saying. Seleter's calm expression took a hint of worry, while Night Flame remained as calm as ever, with the exception there was still a faint, playful smile on his lips.

Seleter glanced at Duna, then at Night Flame before turning back at Karensha.
"I'll go ahead", she informed.
"If I see something I'll come let you know."
She hesitated for a moment before leaning closer to Karensha's ear.
"Keep an eye on him."
She whispered this very quietly to prevent Night Flame from hearing. She really hated to leave Duna alone with said adolescent. But she smiled at Duna before gently nuzzling the top of the cub's head with her muzzle.
"I'll be right back."

Then she dashed, running forward in attempt to locate Zulu or Maisha, and preferably both.

Night Flame blinked when Seleter raced off before looking at Karensha. Then he turned his attention back at Duna.
'Might as well keep her busy so she will not worry...'
He lifted an eyebrow at the cub, a faint playful smirk on his lips.
"I believe you still have to guess what I am spying."

[Dakota]

Suddenly Maisha couldn't feel anything under her paws What, whats happening, Looking wildy around her, she felt her gut wrench in dismay and rush up to meet her throat. Down she sank, free falling , her legs splayed in all directions.

I'm gonna die, I just know it... why me, I've been really good..WHY ME

Branches started hitting her body, pulling at her fur and skin, one of her paws slammed into a rock jutting out of a ledge, bending it back, making her whimpers turn into a sharp cry. Maisha had been watching, eyes wide everything she was passing, but now she closed them, squeezing tight just waiting to see if she was visiting heaven or hell.

The wait was over, Maisha slammed into the ground, loosing consciousness. Her legs were forced back under her, making her stomach protrude at an unhealthy angle, and a trickle of blood was oozing out from the corner of her mouth slowly leaving a trail sliding down her fur, then dripping onto the foul smelling carpet she now lay on.

Small insects cautiously inched in closer, seeing if what lay before them, was indeed going to be nutritious and juicy, it had been a while before a fresh dinner had been served.

(ooc .. No Maisha isn't dead she just floating dreaming about cute lions)

[genie]

They had been heading the right way when Memkra's ears picked up, a tiny voice carried in a air, a small pleading voice and he tensed up "Things are wrong he said to those in front" and he rush forward. Running fast past everyone without waiting for them he ran farther and farther.. he saw a shadowy figure soon in front of him and skidded to a halt... the fog quite bad here, he saw it was Zulu, laying on ground.

Apparently not hurt but seemingly upset, he glanced about - no Maisha.. then he saw the canyon edge, his eyes widened in disbelieve, he glanced at the cheetah angrily, he was doing nothing, Memkra walked up to the edge, there was nothing to be seen below, things were obscured. Memkra's claws extended and dug into the ground, he raised his head and let off a mighty roar, the others would hear it and come and perhaps Maisha would know help was coming.

Though a streak of bravery or stupidity, impulsively Memkra leaped down, the canyon wall was close to vertical but it was't entirely, there was out jutting's, pieces of rock that would support him, as he leaped from one to another rapidly travelling down. A few times he stumbled and rolled down the side, cuts gashing at him but he regained his footing and carried on, finally landing the final 10 foot in a boggy marshy ground.

Mud was a splashed upon his legs and underbelly from the landing but he barely even noticed it, pushing forward it wasn't long before he came to a spot where small broken branches and a motionless body laid in the mud. The cowardly bugs having long since scurried away before he got there, standing over her he bent and nudge her and gave her face a few licks but there was no response though he could tell she was still alive.

He had to get to the others - to get out of this canyon yet.. well he wasn't going to be able to climb the canyon walls.. he glanced about, as far as he could tell, the way to the right seemed to be the way to go, it seemed the walls got lower in that direction and that seemed the logical way to go to be able to meet up with the others. Maybe they would figure out the same or maybe they would just wait for him to return... still he didn't have time to wonder, Maisha needed getting out of this unpleasant looking place.

Carefully and awkwardly he managed to get Maisha's inert body onto his and he began slowly walking towards where he thought he should go, keeping to the side of the wall, he let a roar out after a side thought thinking that it should let the others know he was headed in that direction.

[Dakota]

Maisha let a small groan escape her muzzle, she felt as though her body was being pulled in every direction and someone was using her for target practise.
ooh have I died and don't really know it yet.. come on girl open your eyes and have a look, stop being a baby

One eye that was already puffing up, with bruises surely to follow, flickered then cautiously started to open. Closing just as quick, and then opening faster the next time, Maisha looked around her. She was seeing rocks and dried debris move past her.
well I'm either still falling, hallucinating, or somehow I'm being moved, but who...

Blinking and bringing her eyelash down, to wash away some dust that had collected ,the lioness opened her other eye making contact with a large mud splashed brown paw. Gasping she stopped midway, as pain shot through her ribs, her mouth gulped in air silently and snapped shut again. oh lordy am I with the ghost of the strong brown lions. Giving a small snigger, Maisha just lay there, feeling herself being carried along.

Poking her tongue out and runing around her parched lips, the lioness really needed to stop and have some water, her stomach was starting to churn, and she was afraid she would be embarrassing herself real soon.
Rubbing her cheek over the warm skin, Maisha lifted her head as high as it could go and murmured helplessly " Please stop, I need to have something to drink and just stop the motion sickness I'm feeling.... PLease .."

[Tamber]

Apparently Duna's guess was wrong. Darn, and it was such a good one, too. She began to look around again for something strong. Which kind of strong? Strong like hard, like large, like powerful, like brave? It was very difficult, for nothing in view seemed to be particularly strong. Grass, a few trees here and there, then those in the group. Nothing stood out. Night Flame was good at this game...he'd picked something pretty hard to guess.

She ignored Karensha coming up and speaking to Seleter and Night Flame. Nothing interesting or important she supposed. At a loss of good ideas, Duna came up with something she could say. She turned to Night Flame and saw him and the others whispering, a bit hastily, too. It seemed that something was wrong, and Duna wished they wouldn't hide it from her. As they walked away and Night Flame asked her to guess again, she looked at him and at the leaving Seleter in a perplexed way. Now she was extremely curious, and a bit worried, about what was going on. Still, she played along and guessed again, this time questioningly. "Um...how 'bout Memkra? He's strong."

_______________________________

Shana kept calling back frighteningly to Zulu, panicking at not being able to find him. He tried to remain calm so as not to worry her further. "Shana! It's okay, girl. Over here, follow my voice. Just listen and follow the sound of my voice. Right over here, girl." He kept calling out to her, hoping she would find him soon. He had another issue to deal with; the fact that Maisha could have fallen to her death.

Though he was still wiping tears from his cheeks, certain that Maisha had passed on, it seemed that Memkra felt otherwise. He ran up beside Zulu and looked him over quickly, staring at him momentarily as if he were disappointed in him. Zulu returned the look, unsure of why Memkra was so upset with him. For a moment he feared that Memkra felt that it was Zulu's fault, too, the way Zulu did. Do they know that I knew the trench was here? Oh god, they'll disown me if they know.

Suddenly Memkra launched himself forward and began sliding and falling down against the trench walls. Zulu called out after him in fear, unsure of how long he could keep his balance and maneuverability. Memkra soon fell out of sight, hidden beneath the thick fog that filled the canyon. Zulu heard nothing, saw nothing, could only imagine what had happen to both of them. He had to call the others immediately.

The cheetah jerked himself around to call for the others, but was relieved to see Seleter running in his general direction. "Seleter!" he called so she would see him. "Get the others and bring them here, quickly! Go, now!" He then remembered that Shana was still lost in the tall grasses, and he gave her another call. "Shana! Shana, can you hear me?"

[Sarafina]

Shana now had tears down her face. She could hear Zulu, but not see him. She couldnt see ANYBODY. She looked around paniced.

"Zulu! ZULU!"

She started running in cirlces. She stopped and jumped up. She still couldnt get over the grass.

"ZULU!! I ca...cant see... you... I..I cant fi..find you!"

She said loud enough for him to ear, hopefully. She shook her head and layed down. She hid her face with her paws afraid to woder around. She didnt want to get mroe lost. She couldnt hear anyone talking..She didnt like this. She was never leaving an adult again!

"Help...."

She whispered softly hoping someone would be able to find her.

[Dakota]

Karensha was startled when Memkra rushed past her and Night Flame, something was definitely wrong.

The snow leopardess pushed forward, momentarily forgetting that Seleter had asked her to keep an eye on Night Flame being with Duna. Looking over her shoulder at the lion, she shouted out to him .
" Pick up Duna and follow, as quick as you can Night Flame, it's all gone wrong."

As she ran, karensha stumbled into something warm and furry that seemed to be rolled upin a ball. Digging in her claws to stop herself before she could do any damage, she looked down to find it was Shana
"what, why couldn't you stay with your mother, instead of running after Zulu. Your mother loves you, but you aren't making it easy for her, in fact you are making her life miserable."
sighing and feeling guilty for what she just said to the cub, Karensha leaned down and picked her up by the scruff of her neck and placed her on her back towards her neck so she could hold onto her long purple tuft.

"Ok Shana, hang on tight, we're heading towards where Maisha and Zulu seemed to disapear"
Hers ears twitched as she heard Memkra roar, not once but twice, something was definitely wrong. Not waiting any longer Karensha surged forward, with the cub hanging on as tight as she could.

[Dakota]

~ Posting for Sarafina ~

Nadayshana lay there crumpled up in a ball, feeling miserable, small tears still ran down her cheeks she had been mean to her mother so she wouldn't be looking for her, and now she couldn't find Zulu.

"Ouch" her little voice squeaked out, then realising it was the snow leopardess who found her, she was about to hug her leg, when she started to tell her off. Hanging her head Shana, felt even worse..yes she had been mean to her mother, but her mother didn't want her any more, all she wanted was Leela, it wasn't her fault.

Shana thought Karensha was going to leave her there, but suddenly she felt herself being lifted and placed on her back. oooh her tuft is soft and silky . Clasping with her small paws, Shana held on as tight as she could bouncing along.
what... she said Zulu and Maisha have gone somewhere, what if zulu is hurt..Nooo

[genie]

As Memkra walked with Maisha there came a small weak voice from behind him "Please stop, I need to have something to drink and just stop the motion sickness I'm feeling.... PLease ..".

Memkra stopped walking, so it seemed Maisha had regained conciousness to a degree... Memkra looked around, the water here did not look good to drink but up ahead he could hear a trickle, a spring perhaps.. that water would be ok to drink. Memkra spoke softly to her "The water here not good... hang on a little more and we will reach a spring so you can drink then..." and he started walking... squelching noises being made as he walked on the boggy land, he hoped she could stand the little more movement but he really couldn't let her drink right now.

After a few minutes he reached the source of the sound and he layed down and gently nuzzled Maisha off his back and encouraged her to move forward the little bit with his head and nose so her face reached the water and she might drink.

[Dakota]

Maisha felt herself being gently moved off the lions back, she still hadn't worked out who it was, maybe she could get a look now she was on the ground.

Moving slightly she felt her head start to pound, and that sinking feeling in her tummy started to rise oh lordy I'm going to throw up, what a great way for an introduction
Jerking her head to the side, Maisha embarrassed herself greatly, but feeling better she finally moved herself back so her mouth was level with the cool water again. Lapping thirstily till she could take no more, Maisha gave a little burp and rolled onto her side grimacing with effort.

There they were, those brown furry paws again. .Craning her neck to the side her eyes moved higher and higher till she met his eyes. A smile broke out "Memkra, it's you, you came after me., Guess I owe you now, tell you what I'll name my firstborn after you"
A laugh left her muzzle, followed by a gasp, as her paw went to her ribcage.

" Where are we Memkra, and where are all the others ?"