[EVENT] Foreign Diplomacy

[Annchen]

Xatu liked watching the cubs play even if it meant getting splashed from time to time. It was a hot day so he didn't mind. He might have an adult rank now, but he still felt like a big kid when he was home. And being around females with cubs felt safer than to be around females on their own. He could talk to the cubs and there would be no misunderstandings. But then there was a splash that didn't come from a cub. The young lion looked up and around. Lions?

He turned his head towards his vulture companion, but he didn't need to say anything because the vulture was already in the air. Xefo rose and tried to look as imposing as possible. He didn't know what he could do against so many, but if the pride was challenged he'd fight if necessary.

The vulture was less than pleased about water being splashed around so close to him, but Xatu seemed to like it so he just grumbled and tried to stay out of the way. Wet feathers were bad news. If one of those cubs soaked him they'd wake up one morning with no ears...

And speaking of bad news. Xefo had lived long enough to recognise trouble when he saw it. He felt the young lion tense under him, and immediately took off. He would be more useful in the air, so he worked furiously to get high enough to scout out the situation. A lone vulture circling above shouldn't look too out of place, and if it did there wasn't much they could do about it. Last time he checked big fat lions couldn't fly.

One more turn to count the invaders as best he could, and then back to alert the rest of the pride...  

[MoonRazor]

OH GODS HE WAS COMING CLOSER. The fact that the big red lion was moving nearer didn't so much scare Ora as make her a little bit angry - didn't he hear what they'd said about the water? It didn't occur to her that he might have wanted to bite her head off to shut her up - and in any case, it was obvious that those weren't his intentions.

Still, he was too close to their water! Ora flipped her ears back as the lion sniffed her, and she squealed a little indignantly, all poised to whack the big lion across the muzzle (nevermind that he was probably a good ten times her size), when Monifa appeared and Laini began to physically push her toward the shore.

Why were they all doing that? Ora didn't understand. Why wouldn't they let her just sit and protect their stupid waterhole? It wasn't like they could hurt her - she was a baby, and you weren't supposed to hurt babies. Everybody knew that...

She frowned mightily again, this time at her brother and Monifa, and for several moments she strained against Laini's pushing, but she was oh so small for her age, and there wasn't much she could do, so she reluctantly allowed herself to be herded farther from the big lions.

"Why'd you do that?" She complained at her brother.  

[Jovi of Shadows]

Everything seemed to be happening too quickly for Dina to believe. Red giants unlike any she had ever seen managed to find their way into her pride's home? Nothing had made today any different than the ones that had come before it, and yet these ghastly nightmares barge right in and take claim to a piece of the Bonelands. The mature lioness was not pleased by their presence, especially with cubs and youngsters near by. They even showed themselves to be of a rather displeasing disposition towards the owners of this land with the roars and behavior alone. Her eyes narrowed on a particular red lioness that seemed to be giving orders.

And it had escalated from there. They were starring down one of the Bonelands cubs! Making demands was one thing, actually being close enough to harm one of their youth was another story. Dina cast her attention to Surtak, his warning growls didn't seem very effective. There was a growing line of lionesses venturing to rescue Ora, and for a moment Dina heavily considered being one of them, but quickly changed her course of action. No one, had gone to get Gakere, or at least no one that she had seen. The lioness had grown up under the protection of the Abholi, and she'd be damned if they weren't all here to protect them now! Having been towards the back of the Bonelands group, Dina moved swiftly and cautiously in hopes of slipping off to find Umholi Gakere. Somehow she doubted Surtak would be enough, and frankly, she trusted the one that had grown up in the pride more than she did this male.  

[Princess_Feylin]

"I don't like this," Sekai whimpered, huddling beneath her mother's ribcage, safe behind her front legs.

"Neither do I," Beru agreed. "Stay here."

Without checking to make sure that her daughter obeyed, Beru strode forward to join the other lionesses on the bank. Whatever her personal inclination might be with regard to the large red lions, she was an Umama of the pride, and that position demanded certain things of her.

Sekai was also aware of her mother's obligations, but that didn't make it any more okay with her that her mother was going toward the scary lions. In fact, it made it worse. She just knew her mama was going to get into a fight, and she didn't think it would end well for her at all.

"Mama, don't!" she shrieked, completely indifferent to who might hear her. "Don't!"

Beru's ears flattened and she ignored her cub's pleas, although she would have liked to heed them. This did not look like a situation she wanted to get involved with. But it wasn't about wanting. It was about necessity. For everyone, it seemed.

She stepped into the water, wading toward the middle, and addressed the closest of the strangers: "Which of you is in charge here? There is no need for unpleasantness."  

[MoonRazor]

Atesh could smell the tension in the air. Much as he wanted to put stock in everything they had said about not attacking unless attacked first... somehow, it seemed like they were all gearing up for a fight. Even if they all said that wasn't true.

The striped lion stood reluctantly by the water, refusing to touch it as he watched the opposing lionesses slowly rally together. He didn't doubt that the Firekin outfit would win in the event of a fight - they were most of them trained, disciplined soldiers with skills honed as sharply as they could be - and he hated to imagine what might happen here if a fight did break out.

And all those cubs... Would they be forced to witness such an encounter? They were just children. And they were such small children... He stared as the tiny juvenile's shouts rang out across the water, watched as they managed, finally, to move her out of the way.

"This isn't... really what I signed up for," he muttered, glancing over at Mishaal.

"It never is with you, is it?" Mishaal answered back, distracted by the scene unfolding before her. She had pledge her utmost loyalty to the Firekin, and she would gladly give her life defending that honor if it was asked of her. Orders were orders, and she was a soldier. Her job was just to obey.

"If I were you, I'd just hush up and see what happens. And if you come across some sort of moral dilemma, just remember that you did sign up, and you did agree to help secure water for you pride," Mishaal tore her gaze away from the gathering lionesses to glance up at her friend. "So you'd damn well better do your best to honor that agreement."

Suddenly, she heard another youngster's shriek sounding across the open space. Mishaal's gaze flipped back toward the water, seeking the origin of the desperate cry. "She knows," the lioness said, a little sadly as she watched the brown cub. "And she could be right."  

[Mimsey]

Armada narrowed her eyes at the teasing child. She exhaled in a quick snort, a low growl popping in her throat. But other then that, that was the only regard she gave the small thing. Firekin were not tyrants, after all, not even Armada. The worst a cub could do was bite at their ankles. It was doubtful that concerned her.

The lioness strode forward, her feet sinking into the mud as she moved across the waist deep water. The other lions, mostly females, were standing on the bank in a mixture of confusion and alarm. The tips of her fangs slid from beneath her lips. "We don't want your cubs," she said to the male who had spoken. "Only this water."

On shore, Veru paused a moment to grimace as Seide walked by. "Well, we're off to a good start," he mumbled. But if there was anything Veru was good at, it was putting on the illusion of being jovial. As Armada bore down on one of the lionesses' crossing the water, Veru did a few quick hops over some stones that lined the waterbank. He did a quick estimate of the cubs still around the immediate vicinity. "I think we might be starting this off wrong!" He started. "We are from the Motoujamii. Firekin. We have need of this location to set up a forward-"

Armada bristled. "They don't need to know what we need it for," she turned her head back to the others. A blonde lioness was closest to her, and she stuck her neck out in a warning. "We're not here for you, or anyone of you. Just this spot. I suggest you vacate, and not worry your heads over it."

Veru glanced at another of the lions speaking. "Contrary to my friend here's suggestion, she is not in charge."  

[Kimaria]

Ainra was desperately concerned for the safety of the cubs but she seemed to be stuck on the bank, unwilling to enter the water. Water was not a nice thing and by the looks of it, others were rallying around in case anything happened. This was the good thing about being in a pride.

People cared for one another.

And then a child, Sekai, cried out for her mother not to go near them and Ainra was at the cub's side. She didn't know the cubs name but she hoped by being close she might make a difference - no matter how small. "It's okay little one. No one's going to get hurt. Your mother will be fine. Everything will be alright."

--

Meanwhile, Elda remained silent and rigid, close to Moto'Seide as always. Her eyes occasionally flicked back to check on others; her brother Isiko and the battlemaster Chaka. She would do nothing, of course, unless ordered.

Heti, on the other hand, seemed to be looking a little distressed. He was a guard, a protector, and to see cubs getting upset and mothers leaping to defend them made him feel a more than a little uncomfortable.  

[Dulcea]

"We won't leave our homeland for you," Akako cried out as she stepped forward from the rushes on the back opposing the firekin group, her namesake reflected in her judgment to speak her mind though it was perhaps not the most diplomatic route. "Many of us were born here as our parents and theirs before them were, you have no right to push against us," she added, steeling herself so that her shaking would be less apparent. Even with her head held high she was still much shorter than these intruders, and their muscle tone was hardly comparable. She knew that if it should come to blows they would be devastated, but no pride would be so ruthless. They had cubs of their own, surely, wherever they so badly needed to bring this water, they would understand. "There are other rivers, other streams," she said again, this time more quietly as she scanned the faces and compared them to their own numbers. It wasn't good. They had so many males, not Abaholi surely but so large.  

[Indubitably]

"Enough!"

There was a deep roar, one that tore through the sounds of cubs tittering to one another, the offhand intimidations by red, white, and black pelts, and the concerns of the lionesses.

It was followed by the dark, large form of Gakere, who strode through the confused ranks of his own pride to the water's edge. He did not hesitate as he splashed into the water, his path set to directly intersect and impede Armada's.

"You will stop your advancement into our territory." His cool, low voice was not one that brooked argument, a smooth tone that, despite the way his bright eyes locked onto Armada's, was directed to the entirety of the Motoujamii.

"Nahmba, Beru," He snapped out a few short, terse names, "Take the young away. Surtak, to me," He summoned the other male, a rumble beginning in his chest as he quickly took stock of the situation.

"Who leads this invasion?" His gaze, then, flicked away from the lioness he stood in front of, to scan the shore behind her red coat.  

[Tanakako]

Thank god Ora was so small, though he hated to force or bully her in any way he just couldn't let anything happen to her. God forbid she was hurt because of him... so pushing and shoving, he forced her away from the big red invaders and back towards their own pride.

Her question made him grunt, little fangs bared in his efforts at moving his rather reluctant sister. "Because.. Ora.. I really rather you didn't get eaten today." He replied rather harshly, for although she may not get eaten, she could get dead...

The sudden appearance of his elder half-brother made Laini both sigh in relief and want to squeak in nervousness. Though they were related, the large Umholi was more than a little scary to young Laini. Yet right at that moment, there wasn't a more welcome sight to the young male as that of his far larger and far older kin. Increasing his efforts he finally got his sister back behind the lioness' and their half-bother, not a moment too soon either, from what he could see.
 

[wooga Paes]

“No one is telling you to leave you homeland. Just part of it.” Moto’spaki responded quickly to a tan lioness as she stepped out from among the others. Sure, this was a takeover, but no need to be so dramatic. This pride’s territory couldn’t possibly be limited to just this riverbank. The occupation wouldn't even be permanent, though, admittedly, he had no clue when the rains would return to the desert.

As Armada stepped into the water, he followed suit, because the Motoujamii should advance together. Then a male came in and blocked the way. So far this whole encounter was made up of females, with apparently… two males. This new one seemed to have some sort of authority position. Moto’spaki might have snorted in irritation, but he was quite good at appearing unaffected.

This lot should just get smart and leave, if only for the sake of the cubs. They couldn’t possibly hope to fight the firekin and win.  

[Mogami]

The moment the outsiders arrived, Baie was resting her eyes… no, meditating… no, silently evaluating the new Umholi… Alright, so she was napping! The orange lioness ignored the brown lion’s initial growl though she smirked in her sleep. Only when the situation became really tense did Baie roll over and stand up, making a quick read of the whole thing. It wasn’t hard. There were intruders who wanted water. Abnormally large intruders near the cubs she was meant to protect. Some were pushy while others were more guarded or relaxed. But they all seemed to be taking claim to the water which was part of their lands.

The young lioness walked at a quick pace towards the water’s edge and almost roared viciously, eyes on the yellow-eyed Lusizi who was too close to one of the strangers. But as Orabela retreated with a few other youngsters, Baie took a moment to calm herself down before moving forward again, feigning great confidence as she stood next to the lighter-colored Umholi. Her muscles were well-developed from hunting and harsher days but she had no real fighting experience (something she hoped could be compensated by the recklessness and luck of the young). So while it was the Abaholi’s job to protect the pride’s lionesses and fight off strange males, the intruders far outnumbered the Abholi – and to make matters worse, Gakere wasn’t there yet.

“You are strangers to us, approaching cubs from a different pride and taking claim to a pride’s territory. It’s provocation of the worst kind.” She said no more. It was not her place to argue with the massive lions, not when there were Abaholi standing right next to her. She took one long look at the cubs behind her – as if to remind herself of what was at stake - and then stood tall and ready… for anything.

And then Gakere was there and assuming a submissive pose, the orange lioness backed away a few steps and waited for any command to be directed her way as she watched her leader with obvious pride and respect.  

[Annchen]

Xatu wasn't sure what to do, and he was very relieved when one of the Umama stepped up and tried to take charge of the situation. His ears were folded back and his fur stood on end. He was putting on a brave front, but Gakere's roar made him jump and ruined the effect. Oh, good. His half-brother was here. He'd know what to do. And if he didn't know what to do... No, he'd know. He'd defeated his own father to gain the position he now held, so he had to be able to handle this even if it turned ugly.

Xefo did his best to alert the entire pride that they had company. All this flying was nearly too much for him to handle, but part of the bond of loyalty to Xatu extended to his pride too. Ugh, he wasn't aware he had signed up for this.

Buna was alerted to the presence of the intruders when the old grumpy bird belonging to the young Enda plopped down among a group of females resting in the shade. She wasn't one to rush into the path of danger, but she did know that a lot of cubs were bathing today so she hurried to see what she could do. It seemed an evacuation of sorts was already in progress so she joined the other lionesses herding cubs.  

[Excited Apathy]

Nuria had never seen so many lions lacking red pelts before. She'd never felt ground with so much grass, land with so much moisture--compared to the desert, it was almost as though it hung in the very air. It was tempting, at first, to take a quick drink of water that wasn't rationed...but that temptation soon faded into the background as the locals began to protest, as the situation began to become tense.

Idiots. Had they never heard of the Firekin, that this male that appeared--the one that seemed to be some sort of leader--stood in front of them so confidently? One eyebrow raised as she watched the locals with an expression that could only be described as '...really?'  

[Mogami]

Even Thuli could see that things were getting worse really fast and she blamed red lioness with the grey eyes for it. She was big meanie, she was! Thuli was about to shout at them again to say that her big brother was going to get them all when Gakere actually showed up and took control of the situation. Still, the intruders were so large and so many that the juvenile couldn’t help to feel a new sort of concern forming. And then Buna was by her side, helping the others get the cubs out of the way and she glued herself to the dark lioness at once. It was one of the few adults she knew she could trust even in a dangerous situation like this.

“Buna… they’re really big.” There was no hint of fear or hesitation in her voice - it was as if she were simply stating a fact - but the young lioness’ eyes seemed to seek comforting.