[JRP] Bad News (Kucha/Beba/Kirkis)

[fuKurohane]

Kucha'angaza had been living with his mate for what had become a long, long time. She was youthful when they met, and he was already some deal older than her. They were so fortunate to have borne three cubs - one of whom was blind, just like his father. The leopard spent a great deal of time nurturing this family and caring for them as best he could - though his handicap often left him at the will of those around him. But he had settled. And he was happy.

Baraka'beba'angu had essentially become his primary caretaker. She was at the prime of life now, and best suited to defend the family. Matawi, her mother, had brought them to the Chokwe troupe, following Matawi's adoptive family, and by extension, Beba's own. They had settled on the outskirts - solitary, as leopards often are - to live a calm life outside the drama of a legitimate pride or organization of any kind. Beba considered everyone in the troupe family, for her adoptive aunt and uncle really were flesh and blood to her, for that's how she was raised. She would have felt free to explore the more common lands of the troupe, but she had her father here, and he was old, and she loved him deeply.

And so they sat, cuddled together beneath a tree - Kucha had always been fond of trees - and Beba groomed her snoozing father.

 

[Thalion]

There had only been one other time in the established troupe's history when the borders had been under lock down, and it had been close to its founding, and ironically during the founding days of their current enemy. Moses, the traitor of the Mistweavers had gone on to establish a cult following of blood drinking lions who moved through the moonlight. While this pride wasn't the only collective that partook in such a practice, it was the one that the troupe was most familiar with. It was the one that sat closest to their border. And it was the one that they were preparing an all-out assault on.

Kirkis and his scouts had confirmed the destination of one of the two missing cubs. The twins had gone missing and a scout had described a lioness with a mad look in her eye, a direction in which she had retreated, and later the smell of blood as his consciousness had faded. Very little was fond of the second cub. There had been hope that he had simply been injured but when he was absent from his brother's side within the territory of his captors, the troupe had only to assume the worst.

Gremio had reverted away from his over-bearing, gentle self and had returned to the dangerous soldier of his youth. The fire of war burned in his eyes and forged his tired muscles into dangerous weapons. Safi, on the other hand, was devastated. Unable to hardly function. It wouldn't be long before grief turned into vengeance. The wrath of a grieving mother was nothing to snort at.

It was a heavy decision, but with no other course of action provided, their leader had declared that the borders be shut and a call to arms issued. The Tensoku, the speedy stars, were issued out with only a few days to gather their allies and pull their border forces in. There would need to be a group that would remain behind to defend the non-combatants and the remainder of the youths, and another group mobilized to launch the assault.

Rivaled only to Kinneson, Kirkis ran swiftly as an arrow loosed from a bow across the grasslands. After perhaps a day, he found the small outpost that served as home and sanctuary to their pale allies. "Kucha! Beba!" He called, announcing himself as he slowed his pace.

fuKurohane

 

[fuKurohane]

Beba had been licking her father's dozing head when she felt his ears flick forward beneath her jaw. For a second she thought it was just a reaction of nerves as she brushed his fur, but she quickly realized that they were directed at something, as his body gently shifted beside her. Beba, of course, had heard nothing. She knew she would never have the same keen senses as him or her brother, their blindness sharpening every other sense. So she looked up and around, seeking what he sensed as he slowly, agedly awoke. Perhaps he just heard a gazelle or other some prey in the distance. It was, of course, her responsibility to hunt it down if they intended to eat it. But she saw nothing.
"What is it?" she said gently to him.

Kucha stirred and stretched beside his daughter, his grey eyes opening as he turned his attention to the leopard approaching them. Distinctly leopard, he knew the smell of any leopard. "Someone is coming, Beba," he answered, concerned. They didn't often have visitors from the rest of the troupe, and certainly he wasn't close friends with any other leopards living there.

Suddenly Beba could smell it too, and she stood, looking out over the grass - that's when she saw the pale pink shape racing toward them... and he was shouting their names with great urgency. "See what he wants," Kucha told his daughter. His old bones couldn't rise with such haste as Beba's. The newcomer was a stranger to them, but he smelled thickly of Chokwe, so Kucha was inclined to trust him. Beba, of course, was not so trusting. "Chokwe friend" - that was, of course, the only way she knew to address him - "What brings you to these outskirts?"  

[Thalion]

Kirkis came to a stop under the tree and tossed the salmon tuft of fur from his eyes. The two pale leopards, friends of the Chokwe, laid in the shade looking weary and burdened. He winced, knowing that he had bothered them, but it was a matter of life or death. Their borders were being pushed by hostiles and already at least three of their number had suffered. A call to arms was a serious affair, that count would likely increase quickly.

"Something's happened at the border." He said, hesitating to get to the meat of his report. "Two of Safimoto's litter... they were...taken." Hopefully that was the worst of it but many were suspecting much, much worse.

"Taban has called for all borders to be closed. Our allies have to pull in for their own safety."

fuKurohane

 

[fuKurohane]

Beba's face was struck with an expression of surprise and confusion, and she looked quickly back to her father to catch his reaction. She had never been as close to her adopted aunt and uncle as he had been, but Safi was like a sister to her, if not at least a cousin. They were the closest thing her father had ever known to grandcubs - which is more than he could ever have asked for (considering neither Beba nor her brother or sister had found mates). But though she knew of her family, they hadn't had much contact in recent times - only knowing about the cubs via word from passerby. So certainly, this was shocking news to them both.

Kucha's face had grown solemn, his body tense. Now was definitely a time to be there for his family. After all, his heart ached to see them again - even his nuclear family was somewhat distanced from this place, and he was closest to his daughter now than anyone else. He needed to be there. "Are there suspects?" he asked gravely, his brow furrowing as he stepped up beside Beba. Vampires, no doubt, he thought. Everything could be blamed on those sick, twisted bloodsuckers - there usually weren't unfriendly, cubnapping rouges in these parts.

"Dad, if it happened at the border, it couldn't have been far from here," Beba said in a rush, her tail flicking anxiously. She didn't want to just sit and let this happen - family or not. She wanted to know what happened, and they were technically on the outskirts - though it was likely the border on the opposite end of the territory. But she hadn't been so quick to conclude about the Mwana-a'lela as her father had. "If - sorry, what was your name? - if he knows where, I could help-"

"No, Beba," he cut her off. "If Taban has called for us to pull in, we will." Even though he was not fully knowledgeable on the Chokwe, it is where his family had been called to join, and thus he owed them his allegiance. "We must be there for our family."

Thalion

 

[Thalion]

There were...several suspects. It was very difficult sorting through the information that they had been given. Their sentry had been wounded badly and what information he could give was what they had to deal with until the poor cheetah could recover his strength enough to give a full recount of the incident. Still, now was not the time for half-measures or blindly pointing claws at one group, individual, or another.

"There...were conflicting reports." Kirkis said, choosing his words carefully. "A recon unit is being arranged to gather further information and follow what leads we have. We will keep everyone informed as we can." He looked up to his two kinsmen and smiled. "I'll be one of those on recon, so I can personally promise an update upon my return."

Upon his return. Not if- he was certain he would be just fine. He'd gone on dangerous missions in the past and had come out without too many scars to tell the tale.

"Oh, I'm sorry." He laughed a little, "I'm Kirkis. I suppose you wouldn't know me. I've been away for a while. I'm an old companion of Viktor and Tir's. Good to meet you both."

fuKurohane