Shandor Koi 3:47 pm
How ironic that such a goddess would have sought them out in their time of need. It seemed the season for visits from the divine. First Peace, both a blessing and a curse in disguise, then of all things theivery. Peace, for him, had been a blessing. The other-self was gone. No more nagging at all hours of the morning, no more snide remarks when he fell short of something, and no more snickering when a female caught his eye. It was liberation at its finest- but much of the pride didn't see it that way.

They had been given the ability of stealth, of cunning, of trickery, and of hiding. He felt somehow stronger, swifter, more energetic than he had in years. The only downside? He didn't feel he knew just where to begin. They had their blessings, they had their direction, now they had only to place their paws on the path towards their goal.

He had sent word for Ame to meet him in a small den just on the border of their territory. Somewhere secret, somewhere private.

Amefungwa:
Ame had likewise been interested in their heavenly visitors. The pride had a long history of mischief and dubious tricks, though much of it had been forgotten, relegated to song and story, and few for long had held the mind to understand those ancient tales. But now their minds were free. And she had been able to grasp the worth of the new goddess' gifts.
She slunk with more swiftness than she'd felt in years to the secret den, checking to be sure she had not been followed, and sliding down the narrow passage with near silence. Since the goddess had come and gone, she felt more sure of her step. More certain of her skill. More keen of both sense and mind. She spotted her partner in leading the pride in the dim depths of the den.

"I can guess what this is about. The stars are still speaking of changes to come. Probably because of that goddess, hmm?"

Shandor Koi 4:11 pm
"You can guess but you might be wrong." The male answered in a sing-song voice. He was lounging on the cool stone of the den, a smile on his lips and an easy flick in his tail. "I might be discussing the weather- or the tide. Most specifically the tide of this pride's flow."

He waved a paw. "What do you make of all this? Before we begin this lovely little ramble, we should set the foundation."

Amefungwa 4:26 pm
She smirked. How long had she even known how to smirk? It felt foreign on her lips, still, but even more...it felt good. She felt witty, and clever, and sly, and it felt GOOD. "Yes, of COURSE. Sure you are." She threw herself down with a flump. It was nice not being round with cubs any more, and able to do that without fear.

"This? This mishmash of old and new, half sane lions who think they've been stolen from or think things are finally good? It's hard to say. Everyone has a different opinion. I think keeping this land safe has united them, but we need new tactics, you are right. A foundation, yes. Something to build off of." She raked the dirt with her claws. "Thieves has given us the gifts to do what we need to do. I'm certain the others feel it, even if they don't understand yet. Should we tell them?"

Shandor Koi 4:33 pm
"At least the ones that aren't talking to rocks, yes." He shrugged. "If this is to be our new way of life, our very survival, than I say that we take the gift we have been given rather than letting it be plundered. We asked for a way to live and here it is. We have to look after our own."

He rolled his eyes up towards the ceiling and smirked. "Besides... it might be fun. Frankly, I was getting bored with all this muse nonsense. Living in a cloud, in a haze- what fun is that?


Amefungwa 4:39 pm
She frowned a bit at his words. He had been new to their land when all this happened. He had no fond memories of the muses; she did. It was ture, she was...glad they were gone (it wasn't right to be insane, she'd come to see), but that didn't make her hate them or her time spent with them. He'd need to understand that they still had to care for their members who were afflicted, and be understanding of their needs.

"They are our gifts now. Some might not like it though. I'm sure with time they wil lsee it's the only way. To get more food. To get new members. Things we need. People won't automatically be kind any more. The world has become hard, and we have to be hard back. Those that don't like it...well. They can be a front, maybe. To keep us looking...innocent."

Shandor Koi 4:49 pm
"The world is hard, that's just the way of things. The insanity kept us in our own little fog of dilusion and anyone that passed into that cloud became equally insane. It was our shield as much as it was our curse and while it protected us well, it kept us from really living. Or so says me."

He shrugged. "That's true enough, never let a resource go unused. Cruel as it sounds to say that." The poor dilusional pride members were already so far gone, still talking to rocks and conversing with the seafoam were beyond his help.

"For the rest of us, however, we need to prepare ourselves and begin this new way of life. We need food. We need safety. We need cubs."

Amefungwa 4:54 pm
She managed a chortle. "Cubs we have. But...new blood, we need. Outsiders. Those bred to a hard life, to mingle with our own pride's blood to strengthen it. A life lazing by the sea doesn't make for very...strong genes, I think." When no one had had need to fight or develop particular strengths, there had been no rhyme or reason for the pride's breeding. Now they needed speed and strength and cunning to be bred in, as well as gifted to them.

"I can't imagine they'll all like that. Some probably will though. I know how these gifts make me feel. Like I could do anything. And get away with it. It's intoxicating. But...should we tell them all, or just some, or...?"

Shandor Koi 5:02 pm
"True." He pointed a claw her way. She had a point. The pride had thinned out when the muses had left. They were terrified that the pride would fall under attack, they were too weak to handle the changes, or they were so desperate to seek out their 'muses' that they had gone off wandering aimlessly. It was almost tragic.

"Perhaps a little at a time. First and foremost- we need to get some food in here. Those that accompany us will learn first."

Amefungwa 5:09 pm
She shoved herself to her feet and stretched. "They'll listen to their guts. Food is strength. We're getting some, but not a lot. A good feast would win many hearts, I think." She flicked her tail, swiping up dust. "We could round up the best we have and try to get something big. Or maybe try to find a kill already made and take it."

She looked back up the length of the tunnel. "Guess we could try to do both, even. A really BIG feast. Show them what these new skills can do for us. What do you think? And...maybe next time we'll look for some new 'recruits'?"

Shandor Koi 5:16 pm
"The later might be less dangerous..." He considered with a smirk, "And it would certainly pay tribute to the goddess that gave us our new direction. Yes, a stolen feast. Something to prove that our path is a good one and that we mean well as leaders."

he tipped his head in though. "...that sounds reasonable. One of us could lead the party for theift, the other for hunting..."

Amefungwa 5:21 pm
She nodded. "Let those uncomfortable still with stealing go to the hunt. Those brave enough to trust the new ways right out will steal for us. Probably one or the other of us should lend a paw to each group...or perhaps stay behind and flex our strength by daring to stay back? I'm not sure. I wouldn't mind trying my paw at theft...or at hunting, for that matter. I feel stronger, but still...out of shape." She chuckled. "Cubs are a wonder, but they ruin the body. How about you? Either group sound more to your interest?"

Shandor Koi 5:23 pm
He shrugged his shoulders. "I have hunted before, so why don't I accompany the hunters this time around? It can be very dangerous and frankly, I don't have a few greedy mouths sucking off of my belly to sap my strength."

He rose to his paws and stretched out his long back. It felt heavenly. Perhaps he needed to find something softer to sleep on.