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[IC (in character) Info]

• King Kubwa and queen Laini have been secluded in their den for several days now, with no one being permitted in to see them.
  
• Lady Wema has stepped in to coordinate the hunters and guards, but sadly she hasn't been doing a very good job.
  
• The pride is feeling the stress of being less organized, which has many members worried.
  
• Rumors and gossip are starting to spread about -why- the king and queen have been gone for days.

[OOC (out of character) Info]

• There is no posting order, but please be mindful of others when you post.
  
• I will reply every couple of days to help move the story along, and to give people time to post their responses.
  
• If you are specifically replying to another member, please quote them in your post so they have a chance to see it and respond.
  
• This ORP can be used for points in The Exchange! You will need to have a total of 5 posts in this thread, with each post needing at least 4 complete sentences.

[Special Prizes]

• There will be a raffle at the end of this ORP for two special prizes.
  
• Each post you make in this ORP counts as 1 ticket for this raffle!

Daaruk, being one of the prides teachers and an advocate of order rose earlier this morning, trying to round up his students. The chaos began with poor Wema's orders and he could offer no assistance to help her. His heart went out to her, he saw how hard she was trying but his mind too was filled with the question.. Where are their King and Queen?
Teaching combat to young lions could be tricky sometimes even on a normal day, but the mix-up with the patrols and the hunting made it a bit harder to keep them focused. As the sun grew higher and the African heat began to sear at the land, he called his lessons short for the day. He kept a careful eye tho on his students, making sure they weren't joining the unhappy demands, as they needed to be patient.
As the adults began to snip and call out for their King and Queen or at least answers, his heart sunk in his wide chest. Poor and beautiful Wema was doing her best and as tempers grew higher he stood in the shadow of the great Pride Rock, not far from where everything began to unfold, A troubled expression on his pale face.
It wasnt long before Ikarta, one of his students of the past, came to the side of her former mentor and stood there with him, she too was troubled by all the commotion. She was concerned about how the scouting schedule was all a mess, and how the hunting parties were suffering and that it wouldn't be long before their food supplies began to show that suffrage. The pride was big and with so many mouths to feed, this was not a good thing that had started to unfold. Her sky blue eyes looked to her old mentor and searched his own amber orbs for some form of either guidance or thoughts. He looked down at her, him being a very large lion and somewhat towering over the scout. That look on her face reminded him of when she was his student and it brought a strange sense of comfort to Daaruk, and yet another powerful sense of responsibility.
He tried to keep his calm demeanor as he spoke to her, his deep voice was somewhat quiet. "It is alright Ikarta, we need to be patient. I know things are starting to look rough, but we must support Wema and try to stay calm."
Ikarta's pale blue ears folded to her head and she looked a bit more worried as she spoke, her voice was not as quiet, and yet still had a slight care in it " But there are so many mix-ups. soon the food supply is going to suffer, and the rest are right to ask where they are, whats going on. Teacher, are you sure everything will be okay if this keeps up?"
He gave her a small smile and leaned to nudge her shoulder with his wide head, his sandy colored mane folding over her shoulder blades a moment, Though she was a graduated full blown scout now, he will always see her as his determined little student. Her body shifted some with the weight of his gesture and he spoke in that familiar soothing deep tone " Yes, I am sure of it. You know you could offer your help to Wema, as one of the far traveling scouts, you could offer to pick up some patrols in between your ventures, sense you are already out there more than here."
Her eyes lit up a bit with that idea, if she was so concerned, perhaps she could do more to help. Her old mentor always knew what to say, always was wise and knew what a good course of action would be. She smiled up at him, being a sleek and smaller lioness compared to several of the others but it helped her with her fleet footed travels as a scout.
"You know that is a great idea!!! I will go now and offer to help. I mean the worst she might say is "no" right?" He nodded to her and confirmed her question "Right"
He hoped this was a good time to offer her help, but at the same time, with all of the chaos there was no time like the present. He would offer more help but teaching was his major priority. If things get worse though he would offer his help to the few guards they have to patrol.
Ikarta padded away from the huge teacher and she made her way up Pride Rock, determined to find Wema and offer her assistance. She began to recite what she would say in her head. How she would approach it and what she was going to say was important and she didn't want to stress Wema further. She will take her old mentor's advice too, and not land Wema with any questions about what was happening nor point out her concerns about the dwindling food supply.

Alexei pranced towards the gathering pride in curiousity, the male's reats flicking about curiously as he watched others father in order to discuss matters, watching some wish to complkain.

And honestly he almost expecyted to see Nikita. The other male had absolutely been in the mix-ups hunting, but his brother was also terrible at it, and Alexei worried Nikita would complain just to complain. Instead he spied his brother watching the unfolkding chaos with the grace of any small feline, tail curled about his paws as Alexei stood beside him, sighing.

"Noisy." Nikita complained. Alexeiu nodded.

"I just hope this doesn't get problematic. The lady noble is doing her best. Managing organization is so hard and I know she's doing her best." Alexei admitted. Nikitya grunted.

"Still noisy. Haven't had to... Get dirty though-- ow!" Nikita yelped as Alexei swat his brother, claws velveted to avoid harm.

"Do be sensible! The pride needs to eat you maron!" Alexei sighed. "Now behave,. Maybe we can calm others. Make it... You know... LESS noisy?" Alexei snorted, and moved, Nikitsa following sulkily.

"I guess. I guess the pride is being crabby."

Koue joined the gathering, having a guess at what was going on and gave a soft sigh. Lady Wema tried her best, he was sure of it, but things now seemed to be quite the commotion. He eyed two of his students as they dashed in, laughing. "Mwanga, Chokka! Settle down and pay attention now." he gruffed, but otherwise simply shook his head.

Mwanga was laughing, rearing up to pounce Chokka again before she settled down, ears back and a frown on her face. "Yess Koueeeeee." she sighed, drawing out the teachers name.

Chokka simply flopped over onto her side before sticking her tongue out at her teacher and blowing him a raspberry before rolling onto her back then back up onto her paws. She shook some of the soft dirt off her vibrant green fur. "Kill joy." she said as she glanced around. "Nothing much seems to be happening right now anyway." she grumped as she swiped a paw at her friend.

The other adol laughed, batting back, sending the two into a literal paw slapping cat fight, causing Koue to let out a brief roar at the two, moving to stand between them to keep them in line. "Cubs, please."

Tiziri with her moon-touched pelt came from the the shade of Pride rock to see what all the commotion was, She played the part as Nanny while those with cubs were out fulfilling their duties and so her silvery blue eyes immediately were caught by the two Adolescents being rowdy. Koue's Voice brought her attention to him and even with the ruckus starting, she seemed Calm enough at a distance. His disapproval of the young ones activities made a soft smile come to her silvery muzzle, it was cute watching him in a way. She was a timid thing and not the biggest lioness either, but these lions, even the unhappy ones were all a part of her Pride, so in ways many were family to her. The cubs and the Adolescent lions seemed to be only ones she had some amount of backbone with but she was always gentle, often finding that sugar draws more flies than salt.

She moved one smaller dark paw after another as she came padding into the light, her coat sparkled in the sunlight, giving the moon drop colors more shimmer. She moved around a few lions until she came to stop closer to Koue and his group. Without words she gave that soft and hushing murr in her sleek chest to the rowdy teenagers and her silver dashed eyes had a rather serious and slightly afraid expression. The surrounding situation needed their attention as tension was thick in the air and this could only spell trouble, her legs had a faint tremble from it. Often when these two aren't in lessons and thier guardians are busy they are with her, she hopes her urgency would bring about their attention. Tiziri was so sensitive to the movement of emotions around her that she could feel this coming sense yesterday.

Her head lifted as she turned her gaze to Koue with the same worry in her expression, her scent was soft like honey milk but carried some amount of fear under the tones of cubs and the young of the pride. Tiziri was concerned and strangely knew less about the goings on in a factual way than many, spending most of her time with the prides babies. She knew Wema was doing her best but the prides agitation was growing and in ways it just made her want to hide... But hiding would not solve anything and she needed to know what was going on, plus Koue's strong presence helped her to feel more brave about everything.
All she said was his name, as if a question lay within it, soft and tenderly "Koue?"

Kiburi was walking with a deadly precision that he was apt to do when focused and agitated. His mind was going over what had transpired today while hunting. No fault to him or his "partner" for the lack of a better word. Even he had to admit Kijani was skilled in hunting. He was more agitated about the fact they were forced to pair up and sent along the wrong route, which he knew near the beginning but thought it was due to trying to locate a new food resource. But no, it was a blatant mistake by the Queen by happenstance as he called her. He knew his anger was frightful and he needed to cool off before they reached the pridelands. No matter how hard he tried, his face twisted into a growl so much his jaw ached. His paws hit the ground with a thud, causing little shocks to travel up his legs and he ignored it. He welcomed that sting, he needed to focus on something other than his anger.

He turned slightly to check on Kijani, she was a smart one. She kept enough distance in case of an attack from outsiders or him. He tilted his head and studied her; he preferred to be alone on hunts. Being forced to have a partner was bad enough but when he was told he was being paired with a female he about lost it.

He turned his head back around and kept on walking, he did ease up the pace and tried to relax his body as his mind now was focused on Kijani. He had several problems, and he needed to figure out a way to deal with them all before they consumed him. He wanted to be alone, needed to be alone. Yet he had his duties to the pride.

First, he needed to get the answers as to why he was forcibly paired with a female, then why they were sent on the wrong route. After that he intended to find out why the King and Queen still have not been seen. Then he would deal with his "partnership" with Kijani!

A smell caught his attention, which made him almost fully relax. Their lands were within sight now, he would finally get the answers he wanted. Soon, I shall know! the thought relished in his mind.


Kijani was walking along; her eyes fixed on the Lion in front of her. Watching his movements, looking for any sign of attack she pushed onwards. Her paws were now hitting the hard packed dirt with a lot more force. The more she walked the angrier she became.

This hunt was a disaster! I am paired with a Lion who obviously hates being around others especially females, no food to be brought back and went off in the wrong direction but no fault of ours for that! her mind was going in circles so much, so it gave her a headache. She shook her head in severe agitation but kept on walking.

Lowering her head for a little bit she tried to pacify herself into calmness. Her movements became more focused, her senses pricking up. She wasn't going on alert, but she felt like she needed to be on guard. Something wasn't right but she had no idea as to what.

Looking towards the ground she noticed Kiburi turn slightly and study her for a few moments before turning back and kept walking. His pace did slow a bit, but she was smart enough to match it. She had no intention of giving this Lion any opportunity to attack for any reason. She was already in a foul mood and kicking this Lion's rear was becoming too irresistible to ignore.

Before long she caught the same smell Kiburi did and knew home was very near. She relaxed some for that meant she could separate from Kiburi soon and go her way. She did have to report in but that could be done separate from him.

Alexei's ears pricked as he looked about, his ears flicked cabout. The pride seemed just in chaos and while yes, it was stressful, it wasn't fair to be so cross! Lady Wema cxouldn't help it, this simply was a difficult position! Alexei's ears flattened iun irritation at his pridemates, eyes narrowing.

Instantly, Nikita knew that look. The pale lion pinned his ears unhappily himself.

"Brother. Brother no. You can not. Brother don't play hero." Nikita warned. Alexei, for his poart, snorted.

"It's not FAIR!" Alexei snarled. "Lady Wemu's doing her best. She's just not used to it! And she probably needs helkp and--" Alexei afforded his brother a fussy, worried growl. Nikita rolled his eyes.

"Yes, I know hunting is hard., But---"

"Use the 'She's a noble' excuse and I WILL swat." Alexei warned. Nikita groabned, as Alexei squared up, beginning to walk for Wema to see if the lady was alright. He couldn't help it - the male fussed!