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 Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 4:56 pm
 INTRODUCTION
The changing events over the last few moons left the lionesses concerned; about Surtak being missing, about the red pelts being so close, about their cubs, about everything. Everyone was. Especially now. Especially after being woken up just as dawn is breaking by the sound of a distressed lioness crying out for others to follow her.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:12 pm
IC Information Surtak has been missing for six months.
Andhaka has been an Inselelo for about the same amount of time.
Ukuthula, who is pregnant, is absent from the group. Wodi and Nolaka are also absent and are assumed to be helping Ukuthula.
In the Inqina, a cub had been snatched by a leopard. The cub was recovered by Ulaka, but with an eye missing. Some deem is a failure.
Litters have been scarce. There have been maybe one that has happened since Surtak went missing. OOC Information There is no specific posting order, and you are free to post as many times as you would like. Interact with your fellow players!
This will be a player-driven RP with some posts coming from the mule, Quaji or Meepfur.
A character may jump in at any time. They can either have been silent while the others followed or be late to the party.
This RP is open to members of the pride only. No rogues. No familiars. No un-lined.
There will be one prize, maybe more. One post = one ticket. Prizes  Umzingeli, born-in | Companion, joining rogue
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:25 pm
 "BLOOD!"
Adrenaline. It had to be what was keeping the shaking and obviously tired body from just collapsing. Ukame had always been a little out there as a member of the pride. She had been brought in by another Busisa when she was just a cub. Her 'mother' was odd, so some automatically looked at her the same. Especially since some lionesses saw her muttering to herself at times, but overall she was a good member of the pride though. She pulled her weight. It was all pretty common knowledge.
The sun was just poking over the horizon with the pinks and oranges pushing back the darkness and stars. It was way too early to be getting up, and she knew that but they had to come with her. They...they needed them, now more than ever before.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:38 pm
"Blood?" Kinga mumbled the word half-asleep, the lionesses words had been captured in her ear like the tolling of a bell and rattled around her skull with little meaning. it was early and her brain had yet to switch itself on. Her dark lined eyes opened and flickered towards her sleeping siblings. As the reality of the word and Ukame's shriek reached her mind, panic seemed to flip her stomach over. Blood, she hadn't seen blood since the Inqina. The images she had tried hard to rid her mind of swam before her eyes again.
Instantly she reached out a large paw for her siblings, managed to nudge Kodoa's shoulder. She was a large female, and growing larger. The tales of her fathers prowess before he was defeated had spurred her on in terms of maintaining her strength and training hard. Shaking her brother harder, she sprung to her feet and raced towards the sound."Ukame?!"
When he felt his sister attempt to shove him into wakefulness Kodoa was already awake, his face pressed against the ground as he took in everything he could. He was an adolescent now, and as he grew his time to leave the pride approached. He was ready to welcome it with open arms, but for now, he stayed. His blue eyes peeked into the distance. Heavy panting, running, yelling. They were all a trademark of panic. Perhaps there was no time to be lost. There was mention of blood, but not death, he noticed. Kodoa hadn't seen what his sister had seen, and had no idea of what to expect. He remained calmer than he believed he would be in such a situation, and ran after Kinga towards the yelling.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:18 am
 
Ukushia's mouth opened to yawn as her body slowly rose from the cool ground. Stretching, her toes splayed, claws unsheathing as she did so. What was that crazy lioness going on about now? Blood, something most of the lions in the pride had seen on plenty of occasions, though mainly coming from prey animals when they were taken down. But how Ukame screamed out 'Blood!' was entirely different. Something was wrong. There were already some lionesses and even a few Lusizi awake. Reaching a paw out, she gently shook at her sister's shoulder.
"Ukwazi, come on, get up. Something's going on. Ukwazi, come oooon."
The tan sister groaned, rolling onto her side, bumping into another lioness as she did so. Here she was, trying to have a good dream when not only was someone else yelling but now her sister was bothering her too. "What is iiit...?" Ukwazi mumbled, still half asleep as she blinked her eyes open.
"I don't know, Ukame came running up yelling something about blood, Surtak being back and Gakere." Ukushisa's voice was hushed as she spoke, glancing around.
"Maybe she just had a bad dream."
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 5:08 am
Bemfola’s heart was in her throat from all the shouting so early in the morning, and from the weird outsider too. What in the world was wrong with her? Staring up with big misty green eyes, the peach colored lioness’ agitation grew. What was this about Surtak and Gakere and blood? What the actual ******** the ******** up, Ukame.” She had about enough of this crazy bitches issues. Yes, she had been curious was interested in Ukame when she joined and kind to her face, but bringing up Surtak when there was already so many issues due to his disappearance? No. ******** that s**t, this wasn’t right at all.
“Don’t you think it is a little cruel to be bringing him up when we are already in a shitty position?!”
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 7:10 am
Life went on as it always did in the Bonelands--and anywhere else really for time stood still for no lion--but the events of recent had certainly left Simoihle's beloved home with a weakened state of morale. She never did get the chance to approach Surtak about siring her cubs. He had disappeared not shortly after the decision had been made, but given the chaos of late the Umama had decided she was probably better off for the moment.
Being one who held the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, Simo was awake and alert at the first shrill cry that broke air by Ukame. Not that she slept well these days anyway. An immediate frown etched across her muzzle as she forced her body into the same alert state as her mind, rising from amidst the small circle of females that had gathered for sleep the night before.
Perhaps Ukame was a bit unusual, but that was no reason to dismiss her cries of alarm. Gently nudging the female beside her awake--it was a wonder Njalo could sleep through the ruckus--she spoke with a gentle authority of her position. Njalo.. something's happening. Wake up.
Truthfully the jolly female didn't need much more goading than that to stir, wiggling in place as she lifted her head off her paws and blinked sleepily. A slow yawn curled off her tongue as she tipped her head to stare up at her dusty grey friend with a drowsy, possibly oblivious smile. The stars are still out Simo..
I know, Nja.. but Ukame is crying bloody murder. Simosihle couldn't help but return the bubbly female's smile. Despite her forgetfulness and general air-headed ways, there was something reassuring about the bongo-colored female. Reassurance seemed to be what some of their more ornery pridemates needed right now for certain. I'm going to go see what I can do for her.. please go settle Bemfola down.
Simosihle didn't have to wait to make sure the lioness obeyed. Njalo was up and strolling over to the sour voiced female before her companion could even leave her. Head tilting as she approached her pride-sister, affectionately sliding along the other's side. Morning Bembem! The pride is getting an early start today, aren't we?
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 9:00 am
 Ifunci's paws twitched slightly in his sleep. He was chasing a gigantic butterfly, one almost as big as he was! And the flowers all around him stood as tall as trees, towering over him and shielding him from the sun. Everything around him was so big. Or maybe he was just very small. Regardless, Ifunci kept prancing after his quarry, quite happy to stay in this magical dreamland forever.
Until, that is, all the flowers started screaming at him.
Ifunci woke with a start and the realization that the screaming had come from real life and had bled into his dreams. The young male rolled over onto his stomach and pushed himself up into a sitting position. After doing a quick inventory to make sure his other siblings were alright, Ifunci carefully wandered over towards the commotion, staying near the back of the group. Ifunci always wanted to help, he really did, but usually all he did was trip and fall on his face most of the time. Anything involving physical activity was not really a strength for him.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 9:07 am
Andhaka had been on patrol for most of the night, and was more than ready to sleep...and eat, but it was early in the day, and he was sure that that would have to wait until after sleep. In the unlikely event that he was wrong, however, he decided to pass near the lionesses just in case; he didn't even intend to approach them, really, just swing by at enough of a distance to see if any were up and about and if, therefore, there was any chance anyone had been hunting. It was one thing he was still and likely always would be utterly hopeless at.
He got close enough to determine that, yes, they were still sleeping, and sighed and turned to go. Then he heard the shouting. 'Blood' was not a word one often heard shouted, and it was certainly not a good one. Andhaka snapped back around and ran towards the commotion, eyes wide and ears alert. In the time it took him to get to Ukame, he missed whatever words she had spoken after her yell, but details were not his immediate concern.
"Where?" She was breathing heavily, obviously tired, but didn't look injured. The problem, whatever it was, was a fair distance away if a huntress had exhausted herself running to tell them about it.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 10:26 am
"They...were fighting. Surtak and Gakere."
Ukame finally started to explain now that her lungs weren't working overtime or feeling as if aflame in her chest. Good, a small group was forming. The rest would wake eventually. Though she could not find her mother among them, the familiar faces did much to calm the panicked lioness. Even one of the Inselele showed up. It was calming to see them all, enough at least for her to continue trying to explain a little.
"We...we have to..Blood, there was blood. I don't..Surtak just showed up, they talked and then..Then the fighting started."
Her head jerked back to look over her shoulder and then suddenly she was looking every which way. "It's...I.." Which direction had she come from again? "I don't remember.."
"Hey!" Ukushisa's voice broke through as she tossed her head westward. "There's some vulture circling waaaay out there." They were just small specks in the sky, but against the dawn-colored sky, they could be spotted for the dark bodies they possessed. With a lioness hollering about blood and fighting, maybe the vultures were circling the loser. Not that that was something Ukushisa wanted to find, but it was better to have some kind of definite proof someone was dead and to suddenly see circling vultures was definitely a bad omen in her opinion
"Wait!" This time the voice belonged to the red lioness' sister, Ukwazi. "I found some paw prints." Really they were everywhere, but these ones looked as though they had been scrambling for their life. There were even claw marks near some of them. As she walked along, following the trail for only a few yards, it was easy to notice that they went on for a while and headed north. "They go on for a while and look like they head north from here!" She called back to the rest of the lions and lionesses that were still waking up.
[OOC]
Which way do we head? North following the frantic pawprints or west to see what the vultures are circling? Time to vote~!
I'll be posting again in 24 hours concerning the direction this will take unless everyone casts their vote or passes before then.
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 11:13 am
 The commotion had drawn Mhisani from where she'd been sleeping, at least two of her cubs by her side. She found the other two already there, and bumped her forhead against their shoulders affectionately in greeting. There was a touch of sorrow as she looked at her sons - Soon they would be leaving, soon they would join their father in the Roguelands... Unless they took a vow of celibacy. She looked at the darker Busisa, curiosity in her eyes. "What's going on?" Blood? Fighting? Fighting between the UMHOLI?
 The spotted adolescent peeked around her mother, ears back and eyes wide. She, too, had awaken quite early, before her mother and at least one brother. Her dreams had been filled with red, and shadows shaped like lions.. She couldn't make much sense of them, other than there were lions and there was blood... And now Ukame spoke of Surtak, Gakere, and blood. She quivered just a bit, worried about what this meant. So wrapped up in herself and keeping her secret from those outside her direct family, Zola didn't fully know if Ukame was like her or not, so she wasn't sure if the darker lioness had witnessed something... Or seen without her eyes something happening. Then she spoke, and Zola feared... Surtak and Gakere fighting with each other wasn't a good sign.
 From elsewhere, Isasa appeared. She was, of course, quite worried that Surtak was missing. Who wouldn't be, though? It was one of the Umholi, one of the pillar males of the pride. Then her ears folded back as her eyes grew wide. "FIGHTING?! Why would the Umholi fight with each other?!" She looked to the sky at the vultures, then the path with the paw prints. Which way would they go? Which way was best? She looked at Ukame again, then frowned. "I say we go the way her back faces - We follow the pawprints!"
 Gabedi, despite knowing he'd have to leave soon, was fast to move in, ears on the Busisa. He had a soft spot for them, likely given how his mother was a Busisa. "The Umholi wouldn't fight with each other, would they? Did you see this with your eyes, or with your mind?" Though Zola kept it a secret from the rest of the pride, Gabedi knew she saw things others didn't. Visions of the future, things that would be. His words about eyes versus mind would be the only hint he'd willingly drop that he was familiar with what was potentially going on. He looked to the hectic scattering of paw prints, then the vultures. "Regardless of which way we go... Something's wrong with either Surtak or Gakere that they'd start fighting each other..." He looked to his mother, brother, and sisters, then back to the sky. "I say we split up - Some of us follow the paw prints, some the vultures. Whichever one's wrong, that group hurries to the other point."
Zola piped up, finally, looking at her younger brother. "I'm not sure splitting up is a good idea... What if it's more than the group that finds them can handle? We'd do best to stick together as one group..." She chewed her lower lip. "I agree with Isasa - We should go north, following the paw prints."
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 11:51 am
"How do you-" Andhaka cut himself off before he could finish snapping 'How do you not remember?' at the lioness, ears flattening and lips curling in a barely-restrained snarl. She was tired, possibly touched to begin with, and snapping his frustration at her wouldn't do any good. The Abaholi were fighting, gods only knew why, but whatever the reason, it was no immediate threat to anyone's safety but their own.
Well, probably not. "Splitting up is generally unwise," he advised, his tone more even and demeanor calmer now that he knew the cause for alarm and had a moment to process it. "If the Abaholi are fighting, it is between them; even if we were to find them before they...finish, we would have no right to interfere."
Follow vultures. Follow pawprints. Neither seemed especially reliable. The striped Inselelo moved to investigate the pawprints Ukwazi had discovered, bowing his head to whuffle at the dirt in a useless effort to discern information before deciding, "The pawprints seem marginally more promising."
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:30 pm
 Ifunci bit his lip, ears pulled back. Fighting, blood...neither of those were Ifunci's strong points. It made his skin itch and his fur stand up. Ifu was definitely not the confrontational type. But he was one who placed family above all else. And Ifunci really did care about the whole pride, about every single female and cub and male. So if getting his paws dirty meant he could help, then by the bonelands itself Ifunci was going to try. He cleared his voice and spoke up.
"But what about the vultures? What if someone, one of our own, is hurt out there and needs our help?" Ifunci asked. It could be one Gakere or Surtak, whoever had lost, if they had actually been fighting each other, that is. "We can't just leave them out there!" Ifunci looked to Gabedi, one of his fellow Lusizi and clenched his jaw. "We should at least send somebody out there to investigate! If that means splitting up, even just a fraction of us going out to the vultures while the rest follow the prints, then split up it is!"
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Posted: Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:35 pm
 Having been resting off to one side, the sandy coated lioness roused with a huge fanged yawn as the first cries of blood and fighting began to circulate. Quickly the ruckus reached past the blanket of sleep still laying thickly over his consciousness and with a startled squeak she shot to her feet, instantly looking for her twin Kania. Vivid blue eyes wide with unformed fear and nerves the slender female carefully picked her way through the milling females, seeking both her sister and a friendly face. Any friendly face would do right then.
Finally she ended up near by a silvery grey lioness and the authoritative tones quickly beckoned the panicky female closer. "What is happening...?" She asked, fear making her normally soft voice shaky and barely more than a whisper. She looked round again, desperatly seeking Kania, but still could see no sign of her twin.
"Kania...?" She called plaintively, almost more worried about her sibling being missing than about what was happening with the pride Abaholi.
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Posted: Wed Dec 31, 2014 9:55 am
Satisfied that Njalo could calm the restless souls of the group with her bubbly nature--or at the very least thwart their anxious minds to a temporary nuisance and distraction to keep from becoming too upset by the unfolding developments Simosihle made her way towards the front of the crowd. Her purposeful approach was paused only when a young lioness she recognized as one of Dina's twins appeared at her side, whimpering in the confusion. Calm yourself Dania, your sister left to relieve herself just before the trouble brewed. Ukame says the Abaholi have gotten into an altercation.
Truthfully, she wasn't sure if she believed that. Gakere was a reasonable lion, more willing to hear out others than he father had ever been and Surtak had always been loyal to him. There was no reason for them to fight. Still, she had clearly seen something to upset her as was evident by the signs of distress pointed out by the Busisa sisters new to the pride. Gently nosing her cheek to the golden female reassuringly Simo continued softly, I'm going to see what I can do to help, be brave.
It didn't take much longer for her to draw up beside the red pelted Inselelo. The group was already formulating ideas of what they thought they should do and it seemed heavily in favor of Andhaka's suggestion that they follow the foot prints.
Truthfully, Simo had never trusted the male, though she couldn't claim to know for sure that he had come from the desert lands of the invading northerners, he looked too much like them for comfort. As her gaze passed over the two Lusizi in the group she found it interesting that their opinions almost directly conflicted with Andhaka's, though she had to agree with the young male. A level gaze fixing upon the male near her side, I think you should take the group to follow the footprints, if they don't lead to the Abaholi they might at least reveal clues to what happened, in the namesake of putting everyone's minds to rest, however.. I would like to go investigate the vultures. I can go alone..
Only half listening as she circled Bemfola like a cuddly shark, Njalo was able to make out words like blood and fight and Abaholi, without really putting two and two together. Despite the alarm that was quickly spreading through the small group as the details of the event unfolded, she remained bizarrely upbeat and unconcerned. Why was there need for concern? Simo was here and she would certainly make things right. If she had been chosen to lead the Inqina Nja was certain no cubs would have been harmed. Granted that would also had been true if she had been asked to take the cubs out on their first excursion but for some reason no one ever asked the swift huntress.
Lifting her shoulders to herself at the private thought, she was all too happy to chime in when everyone began taking a vote on which direction they should go, though the happy-go-lucky female still wasn't entirely certain what was going on. Nja wants to follow the paws too!
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