*The rumours of Unreal*

[Tamber]

Rhea was interrupted by her thoughts and questions by a little voice from below. It startled her and made her flinch slightly, but as she looked down she saw that it was a mere child. He looked up into her blue eyes with wonder and the sweetest face one could imagine. The cub gazed upon her marbled fur and grinned, making a comment about it.

"Excuse me ma'am but what's going on? You're a funny colour, I have a white streak on my leg!"

Rhea was slightly baffled and uncomfortable, having a cub looking up to her and asking her questions. Still, hearing him comment about her fur, which she took pride in, and showing off his own unique markings made her chuckle a bit. Looking up and around, Rhea saw no mother or any kind of guardian who might have this little guy for company. He must have been on his own.

"Do you have magical powers...like me?" the little guy asked her. Rhea darted her eyes around once again, still unsure of how to react. It must have been years since she'd seen a cub. In fact, the last time she had spent any worthy amount of time with them must have been when she was a cub herself. She did not dislike them, but rather was dispassionate, never having been given the chance to develop any feelings about these little creatures. Regardless of her silence and confusion, however, the cub rubbed against her leg and purred a bit, seeming exceedingly happy just to be in her presence. The lioness decided she should say something out of respect.

"Well...um...I do, yes," she said in a high-pitched voice, the only way she knew to talk to a young person. "I have powers connected with the moon, and I can change into different animals." For a moment she looked up at the others and tried to catch up on what was happening with the conversation. This was a very important moment and she didn't want to miss any piece of information. Looking back down, she decided to ask the cub a question. Cubs like to answer questions, right? "So, you have powers, too?" she asked with the cub voice. "What are they?" Rhea tried her best to sound interested, but as soon as she finished her sentence she looked back to the group again, taking in their words and trying to understand.

[magiccat]

Kondo smiled and bounced up and down when the lioness told him that she was magical. Kondo smiled even wider when she asked him what his powers were.

"Well I can control nature, Teleport and..." Here he smirked at her and whispered his next words. "Bring people back from the dead for a short while" He said smiling. He noticed she was watching the trouble in the middle and turned to watch curiously. It seemed to be important and Kondo knew when to shut up. However he was so happy to be in the company of another of his kind. He looked round at the other and slowly began to grasp what he saw.

"So I suppose you're all magical" He said. It was more of an observation than a question. He tried to sit still but fidgeted like mad. He saw the cheetah didn't look to happy.

"He looks grumpy" Kondo said to anybody who happened to hear. Closing his eyes and straining hard he managed to make the grass under him move. It tickled his stomach and he laughed.

"My name is Kondo. what's yours?" He asked and began to pounce on stray bits of grass. He rolled onto his back and then began to chase a butterfly. When he pounced he hit his head on a rock. He rubbed his head and continued to play next to the lioness. Had he been older he would have sat seriously but he took a cub view on the world at the moment. In the eyes of a cub every time is playtime. He hoped his paws didn't show above the grass, or the grumpy looking cheetah might come over and get angry with him.

[Deleted]

My Char Enaku is now withdrawen from this roleplay.. so carry on without Enaku.
Thanks

~ safila ~

[Sarah]

A some what lengthy distances away from where the group of lions are arguing is a confused Teena trying to make sense of what she has just saw, she thought about it continuously; the biggest problem was she didn't know anyone from the vision she just had. "Who in the world is Inari?" she asked to herself. knowing that she obviously doesn't recognize that lion.

What happened to her? Of course I wouldn't know that either She thought to herself and sighed.....she walked kept thinking about these strange characters.

....Inari, Skell, and....um...Anubris? She thought of the names and eventually reached the group of lions that are appearantly arguing, so deep in thought she didn't realize these were the lions that can help her out with her confusion or that they were in the middle of a fierce argument.

She looked up and smiled at Anubris and Skell, "Hello! My name is Teena and I was wondering, does a lioness by the name of Inari mean anything to you?" Teena asked with a confused expression. "I have a vis....I mean...a feeling that you two may help that poor lion in whatever kind of trouble she's in? So do you two happen to know who she is?" Teena asked and looked at them hopefully.

[Zorayda]

Xanthos awoke from his slumber, noises from a distance away rousing him. His red, red eyes sparkled with annoyance. He yawned, his teeth stained with the blood of his many victims. As he stood, the sun glanced off of the grass around him, but not on his dull gray fur--it was as if the sun didn't affect him at all.

He licked his chops and directed his eyes towards the group of lions that were talking loudly, his eyes focused and unblinking, giving him a frightening visage.

The gray panther leapt with a killer's grace up into a nearby acacia, the shade now covering him in spots and camoflaging his appearance. He decided to wait until he knew what was going on before he either introduced himself or attacked for their insolence.

[Kirsui]

Anubris saw how Rhea flinched at Skell's last remark. The tall cheetah snorted.
"You didn't kill her?" he repeated.
"Then why, do tell, does your friend here not seem to agree with that?!"
"Because -!"

"Hello! My name is Teena and I was wondering, does a lioness by the name of Inari mean anything to you? -- So do you two happen to know who she is?"

Both the males fell silent, and both their heads turned to face the newcomer. Anubris was still seething out of anger towards the dark tiger, and his eyes were clouded with sorrow. Skell... Well, he was just being himself, staring blankly at Teena with his glowing red eyes that seemed to continuously gleam wickedly.

It was Anubris who broke the silence.
"And how do you know of her?" he questioned Teena with a growl.
"I have never seen you, and I.. travelled with her all my life!"
Skell snorted, gaining an angry glare from the cheetah.
"Inari is dead."
Skell said this with emotionless voice, causing Anubris to growl at him. He rather enjoyed how hatred sparked in the cheetah's eyes...
"So I'm afraid, Teena, there's nothing you can do to help her any more."

[Sarah]

Teena was confused, "I don't know her actually...." Teena said simply with a blank expression.

".....there's nothing you can do to help her any more....."

"Forgive me for trying..." Teena replied calmly, while looking at Skell.

"Inari is dead." Teena heard from one of the two that was facing her..

"If that's the case, then I don't see how it is possible.....", thinking that her vision was probably wrong, she felt really trapped and depressed.

She closed her eyes and thought of what to do next, then she remembered two names that she has yet to mention, "Do you guys happen to know who Skell and Anubris are? They play an important role in saving her.....I mean.....I think they could've saved her..." she said still really frustrated and confused.

Teena gasped, "I think someone is coming or watching us at least..." she said while abruptly looking in all directions.

[Zorayda]

Xanthos growled deep in his throat. So the lioness was one of those...sixth-sense types. Bah.

He leapt out of the tree, his pawpads keeping the movement deathly silent.

"Good day to you all," he said in a voice that seemed barely used. He didn't really put any sincerity into the statement, either. "I would not have bothered you, but since you've disturbed my sleep..."

His sanguine eyes surveyed the group. "Who are you?" he asked bluntly. He was not afraid of this little band of lions. To illustrate that point, he did not hesitate to take a dominant pose. He started a little flame in front of him, looking as if he were just playing with it but in actuality was demonstrating his power.

[Tamber]

Rhea's heart jumped with eagerness as Anubris caught wind of something foul in the tiger's words and questioned him. The blue lioness had not intended for him to see her sneer, nor anyone else, really, but he had, and perhaps it would squeeze the truth out of Skell. This Anubris was impressive. Even if she was large and short-tempered like Skell, Rhea wouldn't dare mess with him. Still, at the same time, she feared that Skell would be exposed and come after her for it, so she kept her mouth shut and her face emotionless.

Soon two new faces appeared. An adolescent lioness approached and asked something of Inari, immediately drawing Rhea in. She knew something of the grey and blue lioness, but these two males didn't seem to recognize the new face or pay her any mind. She even mentioned the names or Anubris and Skell. Rhea was determined not to fold to pressure and be so quick to dismiss her. Maybe she knew something that they didn't.

Another stranger came upon their group, this one silver with red, beaming eyes, and rather offensive from the start. He brought a ball of fire up before him, impatiently asking why they were there. As the ball of heat appeared, Rhea backed off, the flames being quite near her.

[magiccat]

Kondo jumped and flattened his ears as a new lioness appeared, apparently called Teena. Talking about some names that made no sense to him. He looked up at the lioness he liked to see how she reacted and tried to mirror her reaction. Then suddenly a much scarier thing happened. A grey panther leaped down, close to him and the lioness. Teena was the last thing on his mind now.

"He's scarier than the grumpy Cheetah" He whispered. Then watched as the panther made a ball of fire. Kondo's face turned into an expression that was clearly impressed. But then he noticed the nice lioness backing off. He figured the ball of fire must have scared her. So glared at him and looked back at her.

"Shouldn't we introduce ourselves? He might leave us alone then" He suggested and then went to sit beside the blue lioness. He was going to have to learn a lot of names today

[Zorayda]

Xanthos smirked inwardly at the reaction he got from the lions--they seemed to fear him, mostly.

"Not that it's important, but my name...is Xanthos," he said, his smooth tenor voice calmly dangerous. He seemed ready to explode at any given moment. "You've invaded my territory."

One younger lion muttered something under his breath at Xanthos' actions. Xanthos flicked a small tongue of fire at him. "Speak up. Don't say something unless you intend for it to be heard," he growled. "It's...rude." His sanguine eyes lingered a moment longer on the lion, glittering, before he faced the rest once more.

Certain that the small band of felines had gotten the message, Xanthos sat on his haunches with a lazy power underlying his movements. He began to groom the leftover bloodstains from earlier that day off of his paws and face.

[Kirsui]

"Do you guys happen to know who Skell and Anubris are? They play an important role in saving her.....I mean.....I think they could've saved her..."

Skell laughed, a high-pitched laugh that made Anubris flinch. The cheetah well remembered that laugh from... Well, since he first encountered Skell.
"Teena, Teena, Teena..." Skell chuckled when his laugh somewhat subsided.
"You happen to be speaking to those two... And what does it matter any more if we could or could not have saved Inari? As I said, she's -"
"Skell", Anubris growled. "Shut up."

The tall cheetah then examined Teena more closer. His anger had calmed, somewhat, though his eyes still held a mix of grief and rage. He was curious of what the lioness had meant with what she said.. If she could see...

"Who are you?"

Both Anubris and Skell turned to look at the newcomer. Neither of them moved an inch when the panther created a ball of flames, but Skell did realize Rhea was backing off slightly.

Then suddenly, as the little one of the group spoke, the newcomer flicked some of his fire at his direction. Skell's eyes narrowed dangerously, and in an instant he called forth her own fires. He hated this newcomer for trying to best them with simple fire.

The blue fire encircled him, and the freezing chill froze the plants around him in an instant. He smirked at the newcomer.
"Is fire all you got...?" he asked.
"Because if it is, you're in big trouble..."

Anubris chuckled lightly at Skell's words and took a step backwards. He was still angered, but he neither liked the attitude the newcomer had. Besides, he didn't need to be afraid of some feeble fire... He could call his wind and put the flames out, if he really wanted.

For now though, he would watch and see what happened. Truth was he was slightly surprised Skell was protecting this odd group, even if the tiger himself didn't realize what it was he was doing... And so the warrior cheetah stood tall and proud, waiting curiously for what would come next.

[Sarah]

"You two are.....Skell and Anubris?" Teena asked in surprise, "I didn't know.....you two are....." Teena didn't know what else to say; she looked down on the ground as if she gave up. Teena wasn't at all joking, but she could see that no one really cared about what she had to say; just as she was about to speak again, the leopard she had thought was watching them jumped out.

She sighed, "I was not joking," she said simply, facing Anubris in a calm but serious tone. "I'll be there, away from the dangerous zone.....if you want to talk to me....." she said and walked a few feet away.

I hate fights! she thought to herself and looked at the group intently, she wasn't very far away; however, she was far enough as to protect herself if a fight breaks out.

She realized that she had at least gotten someone's attention, she thought about ways to help him; however, she really wasn't interested in letting in on the secret of what she can do. She's just not the type of lion that will reveal her secrets easily. The black and white tiger certainly wasn't the one to talk to, he was the most hostile out of the group..... Teena thought to herself, all the taunting, all the bad humor came out of him.

Teena didn't know what to do, "They'll have to figure it out themselves....." Teena said to herself and looked at the group.

[Tamber]

Rhea grabbed Kondo and pulled him back slightly from the panther. Xanthos had sent a lick of fire softly in the cub's direction, and Rhea was now afraid for Kondo as much as she was for ferself. She continued to back off with the cub gradually until Skell raised his impressive flames.

"Is fire all you got...? Because if it is, you're in big trouble..."

Rhea saw Anubris grin slightly at this, and Rhea felt that it was appropriate for her to smile, as well. As she turned back to the panther, however, she saw him catch sight of her and her expression faltered. A grin remained, but it was less develish than before.

For the moment, Rhea was most concerned with protecting Kondo and getting over to speak with Teena. Teena intrigued her, as she seemed to do for neither of the large male cats trying to scare off Xanthos. Rhea figured that, since she had no good negotiating or threatening skills, she better stick to protecting the little one and leave the conflict up to the braver of the group.

[magiccat]

As the panther sent a lick of fire in Kondo's direction he whimpered slightly and tried to scuttle backwards. He sighed with relief as Rhea grabbed him and pulled him away.

"Thanks" He said to her, as she continued to back off. Then suddenly the scary tiger was circling Xanthos. He didn't look very happy and he seemed to have started using one of his powers. Kondo watched the plants around the tiger freeze.

"Wow, flames that freeze" Kondo said, not daring to whisper after the Panthers warning. He frowned in confusion as he saw that Rhea and Anubris were amused by this. Thinking it over he realised that Skell, as the Cheetah had called him, did look rather odd protecting the group, seeing as he was so grumpy. As he thought this a smile worked it's way onto Kondo's face but he didn't laugh like he normally would have. He noticed Rhea seemed to want to get to Teena. She did seem friendly, and she had known about Inari. Maybe she could help them, and whatever Rhea did he was going to just go along with it, she was the least threatening one in the group. Skell had his paws full and Anubris, quite frankly, worried him a bit with how grumpy he seemed to be.

[Zorayda]

The gray panther scowled inwardly, knowing that ice would create an instant stalemate. He didn't back down, however, and made the ground smoulder at an incredible temperature all around him. Skell's ice-fire began to melt rapidly.

"Yes, only fire--but not any average fire. I've gotten creative with the many things I can do with it...Fire, in any form, compacted into searing points of heat to slice you in two or spread out into the air to thin oxygen supply. Fire, as hot as the surface of the Sun--that's what I can conjure," Xanthos threatened. Then he turned down the heat a bit.

"But, let's not get into petty battles...If you wish to fight me, then let's make it after we all introduce ourselves..." Xanthos said smoothly. The red-eyed leopard flashed his bloodstained teeth in a cruel smile.

"You, my frozen friend, would be...?"

[Kirsui]

Skell smirked at the panther when he explained of his ability... Heat was something the tiger was not afraid of. The current flames around him were weak in power, but had he wanted he could have made them much, much colder... So cold in fact that he could have frozen an erupting volcano.

However, the dark tiger said nothing. He merely smirked, not at all impressed with the panther but instead amused by the attitude problem he had. Too over confident...

"You, my frozen friend, would be...?"

"Your death, if you keep this up."
Skell replied with a voice as smooth as silk. The tone didn't fit in at all with the devilish smirk on his face.
"A battle is what you wish with me, a battle is what you get."

"No."

Skell blinked, turning to look at Anubris with slight confusion. The cheetah had his gaze glued on the tiger once again, and all signs of previous amusement were long gone.
"Excuse me...?" the tiger said.
Anubris glared at him steadily.
"There will be no battle", the cheetah said, and then turned to glare at the fiery panther. "Put away that fire of yours... You will both end up dead if you put your abilities against each other... Not to mention the destruction you shall create."

The cheetah stepped to stand between the dark tiger and the fiery panther.
"Put out the flames, panther", he said. "Or I shall put them off for you. I am the master of winds, and no fire can stay alive if the wind is strong enough."
And, just to show that he was serious, a strong wind begun to pick up around him. If he would let it loose it would form a twister.
"So?" Anubris asked. "Which way shall we do it?"

Skell kept his freezing flames around him still. He was rather surprised, as well as annoyed, that Anubris had stepped in to stop the fight. He didn't know what the reason was, nor did he care at that moment. The gaze of his completely red eyes was glued on the fiery panther. Only if he put out the fire, Skell would let his own flames to disappear.

[Zorayda]

Xanthos growled deep in his throat.

"No battle? And I was looking forward to a challenge..." The silver leopard glared at Skell, sanguine eyes glittering. "I won't put out my fire unless he agrees to put his out at the same time. It's only fair, after all..."

"But, if you do not wish for a battle, I will not start one. I am not stupid, I know I am outnumbered...but if I wish to stay alive, I will."

He changed the subject. "So, what brings this...motley crew (OOC: lol) (BIC) onto these lands? What is your story? I have lived here for a short while--moving from territory to territory. I have always been fond of...big-game hunting," he said, running a rough tongue over his fangs. "I live for a challenge..."

[Tamber]

Rhea rolled her eyes and growled at the newcomer, showing off his abilities in an attempt to weasel his way into their situation. He commenced with his personal story and interests, and at this self-rant, Rhea stood and prepared to make her move. She wanted this childish fool out of their way. They had better things to deal with.

"Stay back in the trees," she whispered down to Kondo.

The blue lioness stood up tall and glared at the panther. With a wave of determination shot throughout her, a burst of light and color erupted from Rhea's body and lifted her off the ground. She spun around violently, her face stiff and irate. With each revolution her body morphed, rapidly growing more bulbous. Her fur disappeared, her skin drying, greying, and layering upon itself. At last she landed upon the ground with an enormous thud, standing directly before Xanthos, her enormous, honed horn directly in his face. The blue, marbled rhino, previously a beautiful lioness, braced herself defensively and glared daggers into the panther's eyes.

"Big enough game for you, now?" she snapped impatiently, her voice now loud and rumbling, her breath shooting out violently. "You have no business with us. If you wish to stay alive," she mocked, "then buzz off. Wallow in you pride somewhere else on your land." She bluffed a few bucks of her enormous head, her horn waving threateningly, to show her seriousness.

[Sarah]

Teena watched with wide eyes, "WOW!!" she exclaimed and looked with awe. I was right to not get involved with this mess.....what a scary group..... Teena had never seen anything like it in her whole life. No other lion from her old pride have ever illustrate these kind of natural talents; well, no one besides her.

She can understand slightly better why other lions were scared of her when she was a cub, she has no control over what she can do; it could put other lions in great danger easily. There was however another problem, she started pondering about. Surely, what I can do isn't has scary as what these guys can do....with the fire power, the wind power, and the shapeshifting power...Teena wondered and sighed, it seems like there was just no end to this problem.

The leopard that can use his fire so terrifyingly well, the wind that the cheetah can create, and the shapeshifting lioness. One by one by one, each seems stronger and more terrifying than the other.

Teena's eye looked continuously, now even more interested than ever; she wondered what will happen next. She felt pretty safe here and she was just enjoying the show.

That leopard will be asking for it, if he doesn't quite it soon; what did we do to get him so angry anyways?Obviously, he is not as smart as he thinks.....I hope he can't read minds too...... she thought looking at the furocious leopard and then quickly turning to the whole group before he noticed.

After a while, she turned her attention to the little cub who is now at speaking distance; "Hello! What's your name?" she asked nicely while looking at the little cub.

[magiccat]

Kondo nodded at Rhea and moved back a bit into the trees. However, as she transformed, he walked away from them slightly to get a closer look.

"Wow! That's so cool!" He said in amazement. That Panther is in big trouble now. Kondo started to giggle a bit as he thought of the panther running away from Rhea in her rhinoceros form. Then he noticed the new lioness speaking to him. He smiled at her, she was obviously friendly, he walked even closer to her and sat down beside one of her front paws.

"My names Kondo. You said you were Teena I think" He screwed up his nose as he tried to remember, then nodded as he thought back to her saying it. "Yeah, you did" He said whilst smiling at her. He checked the scene again before smiling at the lioness.

"That blue lioness has such a cool ability. I can do cool stuff to" He said with smile. He looked up at the lioness and an idea snapped in his head.

"Do you want to see my best ability?" He asked, eager to show off now that Rhea would deal with the Panther.

[Sarah]

"You're a cute little one aren't you!" Teena said and laughed at the cub's reply.

Teena smiled, "Well, I'm ready to see them! Bring them on!" Teena said and watched the little cub.

Well, at least I can talk to the little cub....the others are sooooo super dangerous.....this little guy is really cute Teena thought to herself and smiled.

[magiccat]

( I hope you guys don't mind me replying already. I just feel active today! And I haven't used Kondo in ages.)

Kondo smiled at the lioness excitedly and jumped to his feet. He bounced up and down before responding.

“Ok um…” He looked around and saw a small flower. He smiled at it and looked up at the lioness.

“Well, I can control nature, but I’m not very good. So I’ll try it on this flower, trying it on a tree could injure us by accident. Watch the flower.” He laughed a bit as he said this. Then he stared at the flower, he closed his eyes and dug his claws into the ground. He strained and screwed up his face before opening one eye. The flower began to grow until it was as tall as Kondo. He smiled at the lioness and grinned happily.

“I have two other powers. One’s kind of scary, but not like the others powers, it can’t do much harm” He said with a smile. “I can also…” He stopped before he said the next word and concentrated on the spot a few inches in front of him. He felt a familiar sensation and knew he would have disappeared, leaving little golden dust flakes behind. Then he heard a loud pop and opened his eyes. He grinned.

“Teleport” He finished, before walking back to the lioness. He was panting now, feeling drained from teleporting. He smiled before continuing to his next power.

“Just watch” He stared straight ahead, once again his mind thinking one thing. Mother. He grinned as a transparent shape formed then looked up at the lioness.

“Don’t worry. That’s my mother. She was killed by my pride when she defended me. They hunted me because of my powers. I can bring people I knew back as ghosts for a while.” He stared at his mother and she crouched, knowing that she didn’t need to be seen by anyone else except the lioness and him. She approached and smiled at the lioness. Kondo purred and went to see his mother. He purred and he walked round her. Then noticed her tail fade.

“Goodbye mother” He said, slightly sad, as she began to dissolve. He smiled at the lioness.

"What do you think?" He asked, hoping she wasn't about to scream, or get scared of him.

[Sarah]

Teena was a little bit startled by the spirit of the lioness, but otherwise fine; she was fine, after the little cub had told her what the lioness was and how she can't hurt them.

Teena felt bad for the poor little cub for losing his mother, "Don't be sad! Your mother was obviously a very brave and kind lion to be able to sacrifice herself to save you. You are very lucky...." Teena said and smiled at the little cub.

"I think you're very talented and can do a great deal of good with your powers; once you learn how to control them, that is....don't worry, you'll grow up to become a fine lion; just as your mother was...." Teena replied to ensure the little cub.

[Kirsui]

"I won't put out my fire unless he agrees to put his out at the same time. It's only fair, after all..."

Skell chuckled, though he still was annoyed that a fight would not be coming.
"Fair enough..."
The flames around the tiger disappeared, and his red eyes stopped glowing when the last flick of the blue fire was gone.

"-- I have lived here for a short while--moving from territory to territory. I have always been fond of...big-game hunting. I live for a challenge..."

Before either Anubris or Skell could reply, Rhea stepped in and transformed in front of their eyes into a gigantic rhino. Anubris was rather impressed, so much so in fact that he allowed the forming twister to calm down, though a small, circling wind still remained around him.

Skell chuckled, clearly amused by what Rhea was doing. His gaze was on the fiery panther, watching with interest for what the panther would do now.

[Zorayda]

The gray leopard's eyes remained impassive when Rhea transformed into the gigantic horned beast. Impressive feat, but...

Not enough to scare him.

"You should have kept your other form," he sneered. "It looked much more flattering on you. Besides, I thought we weren't fighting anymore...?"

To illustrate his point, he let his flames die. He may have had a cruel streak, but he was always true to his word.

"Fine. I will not fight you, though if you had met me when I was younger, I may have attacked without asking questions..." He sat back on his haunches, completely relaxed in the presence of great power.

"Though, to be fair, I am a male leopard. I live alone, I will die alone. I am very territorial. You did wake me up from my after-meal nap..."

Xanthos yawned, revealing finely pointed teeth and a rough, barbed tongue.

"If you have business here, I will leave you alone. If it will make it shorter, I'll help you until you go away. Do not say that I am not reasonable," he said, his baritone voice silky.

---

Zorayda swooped down, her gray wings silent like an owl's. She chased the colorful butterfly happily, her fringe, the same color as the rest of her indigo body, whipped away from her face.

She used her 'daylight eye', as she called it, to spot the little creature as she performed a barrel roll. The 'moonlight eye' on her right did nothing to help her see at the moment. Her tongue lolled out in a feline grin.

The bright butterfly lighted upon a stalk of stiff grass, and Zo landed neatly and quietly beside it, her ice-blue paws acting as cushions for the landing.

The butterfly shot off again, and, laughing, the indigo lioness took off into the air once more.

Once higher in the air, another sight caught her eye.

A group of lions, plus one rhino, talking. They seemed to gather around one gray panther, who had a definite stiffness to his shoulders. Hmm...

Curiosity got the better of her, and she dove downwards about thirty feet away from them. She used her ivory-tipped tail as a small rudder.

She walked up to the group cautiously.

"Hello," she said. "I haven't seen strangers for a while in these parts. My name is Zorayda, or just Zo." she looked nervously from face to each face, noting their anger.

"Umm...am I interrupting something, here?"

[Sarah]

Teena turned her attention to a newly arrived lioness and simply studdied her to see what kind of a lion she was, she said her name was Zorayda and she didn't seem as tense as Anubris or Skell.

She seems rather nice.......harmless..... she tilted her head and thought randomly to herself, she remained where she was just in case and waited for the new lioness to say more. She turned her attention back to the cute little cub by her paw and smiled, there was at least one little cub that she could talk to for the time being.

"Umm...am I interrupting something, here?" she then heard the new lioness asked and wanted to answer, but then she wasn't sure if the others would like that.

"Well, not really.....but......um.......they're....ummm.....in a middle of a.....dispute.....they're trying to settle it......at least....." she said rather quietly and nervously, barely loud enough to hear by the new lioness while looking at the others. If she wasn't careful of what she said, any one of them can easily injure her or even worse and she really didn't want to set them off. After the rather short reply, she kept her mouth closed and let the others say what they will.

[magiccat]

Kondo smiled at Teena. Feeling happier with her reassurance, this was the first time anybody had listened to him, except for Rhea, and comforted him about his mum. Then a new lioness with wings appeared. Kondo jumped and instinctively moved back slowly so that he was stood under Teena. However when the lioness appeared to be less hostile than the fiery panther he walked out again. Teena answered her question as Kondo was about to speak. He grinned at her and smiled at the new lioness, called Zorayda apparently.

"Wow that's a lot of names." He said, loud enough for Teena to hear. Then he continued "Let's see, Anubris, Skell, Teena and Zorayda... I think" He said, feeling confused. As if the conversation the lions were having wasn't hard enough to follow all these new names joined in. Staring at the lioness he tilted his head to one side and then the other in silent observation. He concluded she was safe.

However he watched the group, Rhea still as a Rhino, and waited for them to respond. Maybe the panther would finally back down and leave them alone.

[Tamber]

"Though, to be fair, I am a male leopard. I live alone, I will die alone. I am very territorial. You did wake me up from my after-meal nap...If you have business here, I will leave you alone. If it will make it shorter, I'll help you until you go away. Do not say that I am not reasonable."

The panther did not show to be phased by any of the threatening power surrounding him. What a stupid male.

"You're no help, and you won't be," Rhea snorted at him. "You'd make our business much quicker by leaving. Go take your nap and live life alone, as you have implied you wish to do."

Rhea turned to glance at yet another new face speaking with Teena and Moona. She did not answer hew inquiry, being in a bad humor and seeing that Teena had answered it well enough. It was really none of their business, any of them outside the three beings and the panther they surrounded. They were of no help in the situation, and Rhea simply wished to learn more about Inari's death and what importance it held. This little *** was just mockingly standing in her way, and the new faces watching just proved to be yet another of the pesky flies gathering around her thick hide.

[Kirsui]

Anubris mentally rolled his eyes at the panther. Territorial, the panther called himself... The warrior cheetah was well aware what it was like to be one, but at least he had had the intelligence not to annoy those who had the upper hand when such creatures had wandered to his area.

Of course, that time had been before Inari...

The tall cheetah flattened his ears, though nothing else on his expression or pose changed to show the unrest he felt inside over the loss of his Lady.

Upon seeing movement from his eye corner, the warrior cheetah turned to gaze at Teena and the small cub. Another new face had appeared, a feline with wings this time. The cheetah chuckled faintly. At least this type of creature would not be of much harm to him since he could easily sweep her off the sky should she consider flight...

"You're no help, and you won't be. You'd make our business much quicker by leaving. Go take your nap and live life alone, as you have implied you wish to do."

Anubris opened his mouth to agree with Rhea, but when he noticed the amused grin on Skell's face he swallowed what he had been about to say. He glared at the dark tiger, but said tiger didn't seem to even notice him.

Skell's gaze was on the fiery leopard, and clearly the source of his amusement was the said leopard. He was rather impressed, that the creature wasn't least bit intimidated by the power of this group. That, and the way the leopard spoke was...

Skell chuckled. It seemed that the way this leopard behaved was to his liking.
"Don't mind Rhea", the dark tiger told the leopard.
"She can be like this..."
He grinned momentarily at the large rhino that Rhea had become.
"So, to go back into those introductions you mentioned earlier... I'm Skell. What would you be called, my fiery friend?"

Anubris stared at Skell in disbelief, then with a snort he walked away from the tiger and approached Teena, the cub and the winged feline. He had lost his interest completely at the leopard and was now curious as to who this creature with wings was.