Welcome to Gaia! ::

Skan's eyes flickered with a touch of recognition when they landed on Tawi. Sure, it was polite to meet with everyone right before the beginning. Mostly so Skan could get a feel for the new strangers...something he wasn't always comfortable with. He revisited the stories his father had told him of their old lands...their true lands, really. With a sigh, he told himself to knock it off. He could worry about other things later.

Right now was seeing where Tawi would go.

With a nod to her, he let his eyes drop to the hairs that she offered him, gingerly putting them down on the embers. Thankfully the flame had died down, and the heat curled the hairs right up. With a soft smile, he glanced back up towards the brown lioness.

"Tawi. I'm sure you've seen it already, if not in the same way I have. You are to be with the Shadow Clan, as I think that is where your heart awaits you."

Skan was ready for the next lion, though he was feeling a touch more apprehensive. Hopefully the next reading wouldn't be as challenged as the last. He knew it was nearly impossible to miss a reading, but he didn't want to tempt fate into seeing what he would do if it had failed.

He faced the lion that approached him now, one with a deep, rich coloured coat, one almost like the lands that they resided on. More red than brown, when one got past the first top layer of earth.

"Inchi," he repeated. "The possessions I am interested in are the one's within your soul," he replied with a chuckle. Physical ones that were given up could lead just as well into the soul's intent, if cared for with love, but having a piece of the lion themselves made the reading easier, usually. He let the dark strands of hair drop into the pile, seeing a small flicker of flame as it lapped up the offering hungrily.

"You are to be within the Bird Clan, a place that best suits you and your new life here within our lands. On behalf of the pride as a whole, we welcome you," he said with a smile.

He had to be an odd sight to see - Kiazi carried in his mouth, of all things, a YAM. Or at least, part of one. Though it wasn't really so much in his mouth, as in a piece of skin that carried it. For whatever reason, his mother had been fascinated enough by yams to name him 'potato', so the odd tuber had held a fascination for him. Now, he was offering it - To his mate's bemusement. Setting it down before the pride leader, he smiled cheerily. "Greetings... Um... I'm sorry, I managed to forget your name... So many to remember... I am Kiazi. Mother called me Tater, but.." He blinked as his mate nudged him. "Oh! Sorry. I bring as an offering a piece of a plant I've always found fascinating, like my mother did enough to name me after them. A yam!"

Uziwa'muundi rolled her eyes in bemusement, chuckling at Kiazi. Him and his yams... She set the shell she'd held onto, one of a small number she still kept from her seaside home, before Skan. "I am Uziwa'muundi, I offer to you one of my most precious shells, in hopes it will bring the calm of a moon-lit sea to all who live here." Settling back, she leaned on Kiazi. "And I come, quite happily, with this big fat potato." It was, of course, said with affection.

Cha'ari's muscles tensed as he watched the petals of his flower curl, the fragrant burning scent of it escaping into the air. His red eyes followed the tendrils of smoke, but snapped back to Skan's when he heard his name. He relaxed with a small sigh of relief that he hadn't been rejected. The Bird Clan, he thought with a hint of fondness. So this is my new home. He smiled widely, and glanced at Jamali with happiness. "I've made it!" he whispered, almost bouncing with a sudden surge of excitement.

"Yes," the serval answered softly with a gentle smile. "You don't have to run away anymore." Jamali looked up at his companion, then back around the ring of lions. We're finally home.

It seemed like she had been wandering for a long, long time. Pia did not miss the pride of her birth, but she did miss the feeling of companionship. It had been good to find Jiwekali, but like her new friend, she wanted more. A pride, and a home instead of just endless wandering. Other females to chat with. Males to chat with, even. Friends that she could greet every day without the worry that came with meeting a stranger.

As much as she hoped that this pride would be a good home for her, as she stepped forward to make her offering Pia could not help feeling nervous. Once she joined this pride, it would truly be the end of her old pride. She would likely never see her family again, never see her brother or cousin or her heap of nieces and nephews.

Pia firmed her resolve. She wouldn't, couldn't go back for them. Pia wanted a mate and cubs of her own, and she wouldn't raise them in a pride of warmongers. Besides, Jiwekali was here, the only male she had ever met to treat her as a true equal without requiring her to 'prove' herself by fighting. Feeling bolder now, the lioness plucked a whisker from her lip without a wince. She offered it to Skan Kanati, bowing her head respectfully. She would go to the clan he decreed, although she hoped fervently that she and Jiwekali would stay together.

With his one good eye, the earthy-hued lion watched this pride's Wandinasi.. their pride now. Yet as his mate stepped up beside him he dipped a shoulder, gently brushing his dark fur to her rich brown, a silent touch of reassurance. As he watched his offering being mixed with his mate's, he curled his tail against her hind leg, his pulse in his throat for the first time since he had discovered this hidden pride. This was the moment, this was when they finally found their home. Watching the smoke intently he wished he were free to pull Aaliyah close against him, but he kept himself stood still, muscular body pulled to his full height. The smell of burnt blood and singed hair reminded him painful of what they had lost, but somehow it seemed fitting that those very same scents heralded a new chapter in their lives, a new beginning where they could start a fresh and finally, hopefully, put the horrors of the past behind them.

Lifting his now good eye from the flame as the last of the offering burned away, he looked up at the Wandinasi, listening attentively before lowering his head in a deep bow. "Thank you Skan Kanati. We are grateful to you and the pride." His words though brief and bare of any frivolous elaboration, where honest and true. Turning to smile warmly at his mate he touched the warm tuft of her cheek with his nose. "We are home, Aaliyah..." Murmured softly.

Dipping his head briefly to Skan Kanati once again he turned and gently led his mate away from the male and the fire, guiding her through the gathered lions still awaiting their turn to the place all the accepted members now waited. Choosing a space a little to the side he smiled gently to Aaliyah as they settled to watch the rest of the preceding. "The Sky clan.. " He murmured thoughtfully before dropping his gaze and smiling softly at her.

Skan accepted the polite bow that was offered to him by the grey and white lioness. He listened to her words, as not to many spoke before the reading was done, usually only after they knew where their life within the Ela'wadiyi would begin.

"It will be," he assured her as he took her offering. Items they may be, but they have seen much of Nathifa's life, and would not lie to him as the fire claimed them. He set them upon the heat, watching as they curled, the hissing of the fire's content consumption ringing in Skan's ears.

He glanced back up at Nathifa, only realizing that the sun had grown tired, and the sky around them began to darker. Had that many lions already passed before him? It seemed like a blur.

"Believe your heart, for it tells you to enter within the Shadow Clan, where weary paws may rest, and begin life anew."