A Rouge's Journey

[blaqk.noise]

"If you need help, maybe the two of us can be of assistance."

"Yeah sure, I'll help. I have nothing to do, so I might as well do something productive with my spare time." Basilisk looked back at the snow leopard, "I feel that you and I have gotten off on the wrong foot, let's start again. I've told you my name, Basilisk, what's yours? I don't believe you've told us yet."

Basilisk still wasn't 100% cool with her because of their mishap at the beginning, but if he was going to help her and the rest of her group he didn't want her angry and unable to trust him.

[Dakota]

Raising her head the snow leopard first looked at Maisha, who seemed to be enjoying the position she was now in standing between the two males, but seeing she wasn't forthcoming with any suggestions, karensha made a snap decision. Looking first at Basilisk and then onto Uriah, she held his gaze.

" Something to eat for all of us would be welcome, its been a little while since we have had anything to eat, and I feel we are going to need all our strength to find our way out of this jungle we're now lost in."
Switching her gaze back to the other lion and giving him a small smile.
"My name is Karenhsa, and this is Memkra".
Slowly she went around all their group introducing them one by one.

[Lyonize]

It was relieving to see that everything was beginning to go more smoothly. The snow leopard was infinitely more calm than she was a minute ago.

" Something to eat for all of us would be welcome, its been a little while since we have had anything to eat, and I feel we are going to need all our strength to find our way out of this jungle we're now lost in."

Uriah was glad that the group had accepted his help. He breathed a sigh of contentment.

"My name is Karenhsa, and this is Memkra".

The snow leopard introduced herself and the others in the group. Uriah nodded at each one as she introduced them.

"It's nice to meet all of you." Uriah said. "My name is Uriah. Now, if you'll excuse me, Ill be off to get that food I promised."

Uriah turned around and disappeared into the jungle to retrieve the gazelle.

[genie]

Leela looked up the cliff face as Sereana suggested they find a way up, her little head going up, up, up... then there was a little thud as she fell backwards. Scrambling back onto her feet, she was't hurt, she was big and strong like mummy... but then Sereana started grooming her and she muttered "aww mummyyyy..." with a giggle.

-------------------------------

Memkra stayed quiet during the whole conversation, he still had a very uneasy feeling about the jungle, perhaps he was just a bit more spiritual than the others but he was getting a very bad vibe... it felt like they were being watched, but by what. Perhaps a single lion was't worth bothering over... but they were a group here, he shifted uneasily and looked over to the cub.

[blaqk.noise]

The snow leopard gave him a small smile, which he was glad to see because it meant he was getting somewhere.

"My name is Karenhsa, and this is Memkra".

He watched as she introduced ever member of their group.

"Nice to meet your acquaintance all of you." Basilisk said.

He took a moment and looked at them all. He hoped he could help him with their problem.

"So, what exactly is this problem that you guys are having?"

[Dakota]

Maisha jumped up when the snow leopard started to tell them everyones names, standing there she grinned at the newcomers.
" And of course my name is Maisha, which I'm sure you wont forget now will you?"

Turning away she saw Karenhsa stare at her
"What ? I'm just being friendly, no harm in being that now is there?"

Maisha swung her eyes around watching the lion called Uriah leave where they were standing and make off back into the dense jungle, she found she was licking her lips in anticipation of what was to come.

[Lyonize]

It didn't take Uriah long to grab the gazelle carcass and head back toward the rest of the group. He dragged the meal by the neck to the group and set it down in front of the snow leopardess. He didn't say anything but just took a few steps back. Assuming they would let the cubs eat first, he peered around Karensha at the cub in her mothers cradle.

Uriah thought of his brother, Zoba. Zoba loved cubs even though he had none of his own.
Then Uriah looked back at Karensha.

[genie]

Leela tipped head to side as she noticed this new guy looking at her, what was he looking at? Leela looked back.. and then suddenly she noticed food on the ground and scrambled to her feet rushing over to it. She skidded to a halt a short distance away... she suddenly was unsure if it was for her to eat...

[blaqk.noise]

Basilisk watched as Uriah brought the gazelle carcass back to the rest of the group. He found it odd that he would give up the food that he had worked for, he just gave it to them for free, he didn't expect them to do anything for him.

"Maybe I've been by myself too long," Baslisk thought to himself, "I don't understand people these days."

He watched as a cub ran towards it and suddenly skidded to a halt. By the look on her face, she was unsure if she could eat it or not.

[Lyonize]

When the cub ran up to the meal Uriah brought but then stopped, she looked unsure.

Uriah laughed quietly and said "Dig in, little one. You'll need to eat to grow up big and strong."

He noticed Basilisk looking back and forth at him and the gazelle inquisitively. He definitely was a loner. Uriah could tell that he was wondering why he would give up a meal so easily.
Uriah and Basilisk would have time to talk and get to know each other later as well as the rest of the group. But for now, he would focus on helping this group.

[Dakota]

Karensha stood there silently, watching as the lion was true to his word and bought them all back food, and watched as Leela raced towards the carcess.

"Dig in Leela, then we all must eat, we need to get our strength back up, so we can move ahead and try and find a way out of this..this.. place we have had the misfortune to fall into.

Standing back the snow leopard nodded to Memkra and the others to start eating, then moved away to where Sereana was still watching and waiting.
karensha leant down low so her mouth was close to the lioness ear, she didn't want to embarrass her, and the newcomers didn't need to know what had been happening.

"Sereana, you need to come and eat something, you are Leela's mother and she is your sole welfare now. I don't know if you will ever see your blood daughter, naday again, so now is the time to make up for any wrong doings that may have occured with her, to put things right with Leela. You have to be strong, for her to be strong... now come."

Karensha gently nudged her to stand beside the cub, watching as she ripped off a piece of flesh to take for herself. No worrying about Maisha, she was already feeding her face, but she would wait until the males had eaten, then she would take something for herself.

Sitting down on her rump, she just watched and listened to her surroundings, she wasn't about to relax, in case they were all taken by surprise, they had a long way to go, and she was hoping for no slip ups.

[genie]

Leela was chomping away on her small bit of food, she had a red face quite un-known to her, red had splated all over her face and she looked strange to look at. She looked up to see where Sereana was, she had grown attached to her much as a real mum.

[blaqk.noise]

Basilisk continued to sit, and watched as the group ate the gazelle. He was getting hungry, but he didn't want to take anything from someone else. If he wanted food, he would get it himself.

"This is quite the group," He thought to himself, "I wonder what kind of problem they could possibly have."

He looked over at Uriah.

"How can you just give away your food? You got it for yourself, yet you give it to this group. You do expect something in return, don't you?"

[Lyonize]

Uriah stood back from the food he had brought. He didn't need any more of it He had already eaten some of it before he met this group.

"How can you just give away your food? You got it for yourself, yet you give it to this group. You do expect something in return, don't you?"

Uriah turned his head to face Basilisk. He certainly was different in his personality. But this was their chance to get to know each other.

"I honestly don't expect anything in return. Well, maybe their trust."
Uriah looked back at the cub and the lionesses who were eating the meal.
"I'v always felt like it's my obligation to provide. I travel with my brother but he can't hunt worth dirt so I have to hunt for both of us. Others have told me that I have a servants heart."

Uriah paused for a moment and looked down at the ground. He pushed a small pebble around as he continued.

"I get a certain satisfaction... well, more like a purposeful kind of joy from helping those who are in need. It brings me a kind of feeling of fulfillment. Like I have done something with my life worth doing."

Uriah looked back at Basilisk.
"So what about you? I take it you don't usually travel with groups?"

[blaqk.noise]

"I get a certain satisfaction... well, more like a purposeful kind of joy from helping those who are in need. It brings me a kind of feeling of fulfillment. Like I have done something with my life worth doing."

"Yes, thats all fine and dandy, but that isn't what keeps you alive. You need food to survive, and stay fit so you can fight off what ever comes at you. Feeling good doesn't keep you safe."

"So what about you? I take it you don't usually travel with groups?"

Basilisk paused for a moment when he heard the question. He thought about how is life has been by himself.

"No, I don't. I like things my way, and usually others aren't too fond of that kind of mentality. I've been in groups for short periods of time, But I usually grow tired of the people I am with. We never have much in common, so why bother trying to talk to someone who is the complete opposite of you? If I could find a group or even just one person who thought the same way as I do, or at least be able to talk to without getting in a argument, then that would be lovely."

"What about you? Are you a person who travels in groups, or are you usually by yourself?"

[Sarafina]

Sereana was about to grab Leela back until she heard them say it was okay for her. She stayed there and just watched. She continued to look forward when Karensha came over. She closed her eyes as she spoke into her ear. Awful thoughts came into her head as she realized that Nadayshana was long gone... She nodded and stood up walking next to Leela. A warm smile spread across her face as Leela dug in. Right now she wasnt that hungry but she needed to eat. She took the smallest peice and ate a little. Gave the rest to leela. Her head turned and looked at the Newcomers.
"Im Sereana and this is little Leela...if you didnt already know.."
She tried to act happy for once again...But she knew it wasnt going to happen without her family there. She looked back down at leela.
"You are going to need another bathing sweetums. "
A small chuckle left her muzzle. Knew how much Leela hated baths, but it made them closer and she loved them. SHe then just sat back and watched everyone talk around her. She wasnt that much of a talker. She loved to listen. It was easier to just listen then get involved.

[Lyonize]

"Yes, thats all fine and dandy, but that isn't what keeps you alive. You need food to survive, and stay fit so you can fight off what ever comes at you. Feeling good doesn't keep you safe."

The more Basilisk spoke, the more Uriah realized how different they were. He had run into many other lions like this one. But he respected the way they thought. In fact, what Basilisk had said made the most sense possible.
Uriah lifted his head with a serious expression on his face now.

"I do what is necessary to protect myself and keep myself alive."
He let a slight smile escape his muzzle as he continued.
"But that doesn't mean I can't have compassion. Besides, I already ate my fill before I gave them that gazelle."

"What about you? Are you a person who travels in groups, or are you usually by yourself?"

"Well, it's hard for me to answer that. I usually travel alone but if I find a group like this one, then I might join them for a while. But like I said, I also travel with my brother, Zoba, sometimes. Sometimes we separate and just do our own thing but we always tend to run into each other here and there. I do the hunting for us because, well, I'm just built that way. I can hunt but I can't fight very well. Thats where Zoba comes in. He's too big to hunt. The prey can see him coming from a mile away. But what he lacks in hunting skill, he more than makes up for in his ability to fight. So in a way, we complete each other. Not to say that we can't take care of ourselves when we're apart."

He then turned to the lioness and the cub who were eating the meal.

"I'm Sereana and this is little Leela...if you didnt already know.."

Uriah smiled. "It's a pleasure to meet both of you." He said.

When Uriah noticed that there wasn't really anything else to do and that he had no reason to stay as far away as he was, he took a couple steps forward so that he was with the group and laid down. He would need to rest while they were eating so that he would have the energy to do whatever he needed to do to help them.

[Dakota]

Karensha sat there watching the two lions deep in conversation, she was dying to hear what they were saying, but she wasn't quite close enough, and it would look to obvious if she moved and tilted her head towards them, she would watch and wait, she still wasn't sure about them both, time would tell.

Looking over she saw Memkra finally move to partake of some meat, her eyes then glancing to rest on Maisha.
' if she could only see herself, there she is trying to impress the new ones, yet if she saw herself she'd have a hissy fit. She's got blood, and bits of flesh stuck all over her muzzle, some even splattered on her front paws, what a sight she makes.'

Grinning slightly her eyes came back to rest on the one called Basilisk, his expression had changed after talking to Uriah, and she wasn't sure what mood he was now in.

"Basilisk, if you would like to eat, please feel free. Even though you say you live down here, I'm sure food isn't that easy to come by, and then maybe I will take my own once you all have had your fill."

Switching her attention, Karensha moved and looked behind her, she wasn't sure if that hideous noise they had heard before belonged to those two news ones, if not, what else was waiting for them out there. Shivering slightly she turned back to catch Uriahs eyes upon her.

[blaqk.noise]

"Basilisk, if you would like to eat, please feel free. Even though you say you live down here, I'm sure food isn't that easy to come by, and then maybe I will take my own once you all have had your fill."

"No, no," Basilisk replied, "If I want food, I can get it myself. I don't need others to get my food for me. It may not be too easy, but I find something to kill eventually. Besides, I'm sure you need it more than me."

Basilisk paused for a moment before he realized that his words could be taken in more than one way.

"I don't mean that in a bad way. I just meant that you have enough to worry about already without thinking about trying find food. Though you still haven't told me what the problem is."

[Lyonize]

Karensha invited Basilisk to partake in the meal but he refused. Uriah expected that response.

It felt good to lie down. Uriah realized that he hadn't laid down in a while. He was constantly having to stand and be on his guard while he was alone. In a group, you always had someone watching your back. That's what Uriah liked about prides. It wouldn't be long before Basilisk saw this advantage.

"Though you still haven't told me what the problem is."

"Hm. He's right. Why don't you fill us in on the situation while we're resting."
Uriah said to Karensha and the rest of the group.
"I assume you've fallen down this."
He continued as he looked up and down the sheer cliff that they were at the bottom of.

[Dakota]

Maisha had had her fill of the fresh meat, her tummy had stopped rumbling and she almost felt like new again. Poking out her tongue she slowly ran it around her lips gathering small pieces that had stuck to her skin and then she swallowed once more.

Looking over at the others, she saw the snow leopard and Memkra still standing looking around.
Lordy do I have to do everything around here.
The lioness leaned back into the carcess of the gazelle and ripped off two bloodied pieces of meat, clenched her teeth on them, and rose to her paws and moved over to her other travelling companions.

"Will you both just stop with the staring and the weird expressions on your face, sit down and eat, or do I have to make you?".

Casually she dropped a piece each in front of them and then moved herself back to where Basilisk and Uriah were lying patiently waiting for some answers. Stretching out her front paws Maisha slowly slid down till her body now lay resting on the ground facing the males.

"So.... you boys want to know whats been happening aye ?, wonder if I should give you the long story or the short version, meh.. just listen no interupting with silly questions, and we'll get through this in no time."
Giving them both a grin and another look over, she forced her thoughts back onto how they came to be in their little predicament.

"Well..lets see"
Maisha tilted her upwards looking at the top of the step ravine as she spoke .
"Up there somewhere, are two cubs, two cheetahs and a very manly lion, who it seems have decided we are dead, or not worth bothering about to be found, so have carried on their merry little way to find a place called Talli Peak, where its meant to be like a garden of Eden from what we were told.
In the meantime here we are our little group of merry makers, who have one by one unfortunately, through no fault of our own, have landed down here in this cesspool of a jungle, surrounded by filth, strange fogs swirling around, and odd noises that make our fur stand on end. And now we have to try and find our way out, with all body parts intact.
That my furry friends is the long and the short of it...And now does my audience have any sensible questions or are you both awestruck by the awesomeness of it all."

Looking from both their faces, she glanced over at Karensha and Memkra and noticed she was being stared at by the snow leopard funnily..again.

"What...what now, I thought I covered it all quite neatly, if I do say so myself".

[genie]

Memkra ate the meat quietly oblivious to the female issues happening - also quietly, was thinking things over in his head, let the others eat and talk for the time.

-----------------------------

Leela squirmed as Sereana said she needed a bath and squeeked "Muuummmmyyy I'm not dirrrrtttyyy"

[blaqk.noise]

"...And now does my audience have any sensible questions or are you both awestruck by the awesomeness of it all."

Do you have any idea where this Talli Peak is, or is this whole thing going to be senseless wondering around? And where do we come into the picture, why would you need us to help you?

He looked over at Uriah to see if he had anything to add.

[Lyonize]

Uriah met Basilisks eyes and then looked back at Maisha.

He searched his memory for anything he might know about this place they were headed. "Hmm. Talli Peak. It rings a bell. But I can't place it. It's probably nothing."

Uriah looked around at the forest and then back at the cliff.
"I think if we're going to be moving on, we should get going in the right direction." He added. "Which way were you traveling when you fell?"

[Dakota]

Karensha lay there chewing on the meat, was good to have real food inside her stomach for now, she had forgotten the last time they had all eaten, all their strength had been going on watching their backs down here in wherever they may be.

Casually she had been listening in to what Maisha had informed them of and the lions reply, one of them was starting to annoy her with his 'holier than thou' talk.
Swallowing the last of the gazelle flesh, Karensha turned to face the one called Basilisk, licking her muzzle clean as she did so, then pausing for a moment stared at him, calming her words down from sarcasm. after listening to what came out of his mouth.

"Is this whole thing going to be senseless wondering around? And where do we come into the picture, why would you need us to help you?"

Holding back a growl, karensha bit down on telling him where to go, whether she liked it or not, he was the one who said he lived down here, and if they were to get out of their predicament, they all needed him, was just a great pity he reminded her of her father, he was just to smug.

The snow leopard watched as he glanced at Uriah, was there some sort of message passed between them just then that she had missed, or was she carrying her suspicions to far.
Letting a sigh slip out from between her lips, she answered them both finally.

"We don't know where Talli Peak is, thats why we were travelling with the king cheetah called Zulu, it was where he grew up, and it was important to him to make it back home, and we all had no where else to go, so we were travelling together.
Your help, if you wish to give it, would be to guide us out from down here, you are the one who has stated that this is where you live, surely you know how to come and go, or are you all talk and lost like we are ?"

Karensha turned and looked at Memkra, and Sereanna, still fussing over the cub, then bought her eyes back to the other lion as it was his turn to speak by the looks.

"I think if we're going to be moving on, we should get going in the right direction.Which way were you traveling when you fell?" .

Tilting and stretching her neck gracefully Karensha stared up above them, remembering how she fell trying to protect the others. Letting her long eyelashes cover the thoughts mirrored in her eyes, she stepped back from them.

"As far as we know, we should still be travelling along to our left, which means further into this jungle, further into something we don't know or even know whats waiting in there for us."

[blaqk.noise]

Basilisk looked over to karensha. He saw that she had an angry look on her face.

"Again with the angry look... what seems too be troubling you now? If we are going to be traveling together I suggest we get things cleared up before we rip each other apart.

"Your help, if you wish to give it, would be to guide us out from down here, you are the one who has stated that this is where you live, surely you know how to come and go, or are you all talk and lost like we are ?"

He was angered a bit by the last part of her answer, but he kept his composure.

"That's a pretty bold accusation on your part. I like that about you though, you're pretty tough... for a female anyway."

He stared at her and gave her a challenging smirk.

"To answer your question, yes, I know my way around this place. I have never heard of this Talli Peak though, nor do I know where to start. I am more than just some guide though. I could be quite a helper where combat is concerned, should the event arise."

[Lyonize]

"That's a pretty bold accusation on your part. I like that about you though, you're pretty tough... for a female anyway."

Uriah looked away and rolled his eyes. If Basilisk knew what was good for him, he wouldn't have said that.
Basilisk looked at Karensha with a smug smile on his muzzle.

"To answer your question, yes, I know my way around this place. I have never heard of this Talli Peak though, nor do I know where to start. I am more than just some guide though. I could be quite a helper where combat is concerned, should the event arise."

This lions cockiness was going to get him in trouble sooner or later. Uriah wanted to stop him before he said something that would make the snow leopard angry again. He looked at Karensha waiting for her response. If she usually acted the way she did when they first met, she probably wouldn't have anything nice to say to Basilisks comment about her being a female.

[Dakota]

Karensha stood there watching this... Basilisk, her tail started to swing back and forth, her paws pressed harder into the ground, and she clenched her teeth together, biting back a remark, the last person to rile her this much was NightFlame before she got to know and understand him and now this arrogant fool was getting under her skin.

Watching him smirk her eyes widened when it was followed by a remark,
"That's a pretty bold accusation on your part. I like that about you though, you're pretty tough... for a female anyway.".

Flicking her head backl, she heard Maisha snort, but not looking at her direction, slowly her paw raised off the ground one after the other and she moved closer to the fool.

" Excuse me.. did I hear correctly....you think I'm pretty tough... for a female anyway.? Have you been down here in this foresaken pit so long, that your brain has started to rot... ooh wait maybe because of your amazing charm, no female will come near you, to show you what pathetic words come from your mouth... wait ... I have it !"

Karensha quickly bought up a paw and slapped it hard on his forehead
"Yes.. thats it, you have a fever and you have been delirous for so long, you don't know what rubbish is coming out of your mouth.. that has to be it, because I really can't think of anything else to explain what a self centred moron of a male you happen to be."

Removing her paw, the snow leopards anger got the better of her and she grabbed some of his whiskers and pulled sharply on them, best be that or her claws would do some damage.
' stupid fool reminds me more and more of my father, and how ended up hating him so much.

[genie]

Memkra just waited for Karensha to sort things out, she was more than strong enough for this newbie... he pitied the foolish lion..
In the mean time he kept a ever weary eye on the jungle, this was a bad time.. it really was... but turning his back.. that would be a mistake, every sense he had in him told him that.
He noticed Leela unwillingly having a wash from Sereana but at least he knew where they were.

[blaqk.noise]

Basilisk listened as Karensha overreacted to what he had said. Just when he thought that she had finished, she pulled on his whiskers. He shut his eyes tightly, but refrained from showing any other signs of pain.

"Really?" he asked as he glared at her, "Pulling whiskers? What are you, a cub??"

He paused and continued to glare at her. He thought that she would have been more mature than that.

"Anyway, you misinterpreted what I said. I only added the female part as a joke, but I am serious when I say that I like your attitude. Perhaps you're right though, I have been down here too long, and I guess my sense of humor is somewhat outdated. That is part of the reason I have agreed to help you. And yes maybe I am a little self centered, but you can't help but feel a sense of accomplishment when you have survived out here alone as long as I have."