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Rishima looked back to Astrith after a time, "Where are your siblings? Find them and tell them what I've told you." It was a simple request - the request of a father who, whether he liked to admit it or not, worried about his children. Even if they were grown.

Astrith nodded, and bad his father and Stela adieu, looking through the large crowd that had gathered the familiar pelts of his siblings.

Stela smiled softly, "Wow, you really do worry about them, don't you? TEHEHE! That's so sweet!" She knew she'd be safe with a family like that. <3

Rishima looked down at the lioness, "And you should be careful. Trust no one. Speak to no one. In fact, it may be all the better if you go no where without either myself or Astrith. Even our own dens are not safe."

Stela's eyes glistened, admiration and wonder pouring from her like ras of moonlight. Oh! Rishima was just so caring!

Caritas nodded in acceptance of Meshach's words. She knew the younger lion would have to take the time to grieve properly at some point, and respected that he didn't want to fall apart here and now.

His question towards her, however, was a subject that the Midwife was slightly embarrassed to admit she hadn't given much thought to. Swiftly, the black lioness ran down the list of pregnant lionesses in her mind before answering.

"I don't believe this will cause any of them to miscarry, if that's what you mean," she replied at last. "None of them are closely related to the royal family nor strongly affiliated with you. But, on their behalf, I thank you for your concern."

And she was grateful to him. It wasn't every young male that would actually concern himself with matters that were strictly for lionesses.

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Satisfied that her brother had yielded to her once again, Atz'mayiy considered what he'd asked. Or rather, what he'd probably meant but hadn't actually said. That was, simply, how could two juveniles stay in the thick of things without being sent to bed?

The young lioness considered the crowd and its knots of conversation. Not too many people were sitting, most were standing around talking, paying attention to those they were speaking with and of course to the Heiress and Lord Fuu. Green eyes sparkled with glree.

"If we move around, slowly like, and just sort of stay on the edges of the groups and out of sight, they shouldn't notice us," she instructed Afrim. "So just follow me, okay?"

That being said, the juvenile began to walk slowly, casually, circling around the nearest group of grownups.



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The white lioness sat quietly, watching lions mingle and mix, who spoke to whom, who left, who arrived. In this last category was, finally, her own teacher, the Shaman Stellaluna. It relieved the younger lioness that her mentor was here at last and she considered going up to the older female.

However...she discarded that idea rather quickly. Stellaluna was with her mother Mawu, and someone she'd been told was a half-sister, another daughter of Mawu. The three looked to be deep in discussion, and Lailah was in no mood to interrupt.

The gathering of lions to here Selene's announcement seemed to be dissolving into many smaller clots of discussion, and it looked as if nothing more would be accomplished this night. If that was so, she might as well go back and get what sleep she could.

It seemed Selene was still in conversation with Nko, so Lailah simply approached near enough for the Heiress to see her, made her bow, and left. The ill news was still too much of a weight upon her to do much else.

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Halili nodded in acceptance. She could appreciate the effort Orion was exerting, particularly considering that he was a quiet sort to begin with, and didn't blame him for the failure of his self-imposed quest.

"It could be nothing, you know, his not being here," she offered the comfort to her mate. "Not everyone is, after all." And there were some significant names missing, even now. She had no real idea what to think as far as guilty parties went, and simply hoped the Guards would find the murderer quickly, before rumors ran wild.

"What do you say that we all go home and sleep?" she offered to the small group of immediate family.



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Nyeusi was only listening to her parents with half an ear as her father returned from wading through the crowd. There were so many adults here, all talking about Very Important Things and she wanted to listen in on all the conversations! There was absolutely no better way to learn about what was going on in the pride as far as the adolescent was concerned.

But then she picked up that tone in her mother's voice, the emphasis that she was included in the family, that she should go home and sleep along with her parents. Implicit in that was the fact that Nyeusi was not yet an adult, and that her parents still held some sway over her. Annoying, but there you had it. Even she knew better than to argue the point right now. If Halili wasn't being her usual, overly cheerful self, it was never a good time to argue.

"Yeah, sure, fine," the younger female grumbled just loud enough for her parents to hear.

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The black lioness nodded quietly at the information she was receiving, taking it all in. She could understand far more easily being indignant at finding oneself a slave due to...to random chance!...than being resigned to and content with the role. But, the world did take all types, so it wouldn't surprise her in the least that such people did exist.

Not knowing this slave personally, she couldn't say one way or the other. This simply made for interesting hearing.

"What do you know about him?" she asked her companion. "I'll be the first to admit that I'm still learning the names of other Guards, and haven't had a chance to start getting to know any of the slaves, let alone anyone in the upper-middle class." Worst of all, it seemed she wasn't going to have much time to do that in.

The old lioness nodded to Meshach as he went on his way. "You are very welcome," she told his retreating back. He wasn't a bad sort, as young Princes went. Certainly not at all stuck up (though the Midwife did have to admit it might simply be from her perspective as a Priestess and member of the high class) and he seemed kind. Not at all a bad sort.

It did seem as if the great gathering was breaking up and dissipating. Which meant she should probably go around to those pregnant lionesses who hadn't made it here tonight and see how they were doing. Meshach had brought up an excellent point indeed when he'd worried that some of those fragile females might be adversely affected by tonight's events. Not that Caritas was truly afraid of that outcome, but she had to admit it was possible.

And after she'd done her duty, the black lioness would go home to her mate and her children and thank the Great Lion they were all still alive and well.

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The young juvenile moved slowly, but not as slowly as a stalking Hunter, periodically glancing back over her shoulder to make sure Afrim was following. Which he was. Good. And no one seemed to have noticed them yet! Even better.

Unfortunately, it didn't seem as if very many of the grownups were talking about anything really interesting. There was...sadness. And sorriness. And thanksness. But not a whole lot of what was going on. How annoying!

They were staying up late and sneaking out and creeping around for nothing!

Halili nuzzled her mate tenderly before giving her wayward daughter a Look that boded ill should Nyeusi not choose to follow them away. From the tone of the conversations and whispers around them, this place was set to become a veritable rumor mill and all that that implied. She wanted her children to have no part in such an undertaking, whether as accusers or accused, and the lioness gently steered her family away, back towards the slave dens.

It was rather noteworthy that Unyezi was nowhere to be found in this crowd, if only because of his (former) position in the pride. However, he was still a person of significant interest and directly related to the deceased King's mate. Halili knew, without a doubt, that the old lion was not the killer.

She did, however, wonder if he knew something about the murder, and whether it was a courtesy, the guards or royals informing him before the rest of the pride...or something more sinister. The matter would require a great deal more thought.

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The adolescent followed on her parents' tails, grumbling to herself the entire way. It really wasn't fair that she had to do what they said. After all, they were slaves and she was not. Not to mention that she was old enough to be considered a Huntress, not just some kid. She was, therefore, old enough to have her own den. It was even tempting to go off and find one right now, just to spite her mother.

...except that, slave or no, Halili had very firm ideas of what her children could get away with, and just up and leaving, especially right now, would probably earn the younger lioness a thrashing. Damn. Well, for now she resolved to bring up the issue first thing in the morning. Nothing like a fresh start for the whole pride, including Nyeusi!

He stretched, popping his back in the process. "Well, it COULD always be more busy around here... Imagine what the night would be like if cubs were born tonight at the same time as a murder!" He'd actually pity those cubs, because they'd have that hanging over their heads their entire lives. Born the night the king was killed... He'd hate to be one of those cubs. "So... What will YOU do now...?" He was probably going to find Shangyue later. The gold lion was pretty sure that wing-marked brown guard still suspected him, and that... Pleased him for some reason. Like he was playing a dangerous game where, even though he knew himself to be innoccent, he was drawing suspicion upon himself in a way that could get him killed. Maybe it was the thrill of deception and lies...



"So far, I don't know much.. Only that he wasn't alarmed at his lot in life..." He paused. "And he's one of the two brightest yellow slaves, so some high-class lioness may well end up trying to sink her claws into him." Kin wasn't one to compliment other males on such a thing, but he had to admit, the black mane against such a striking gold coat was... Gorgeous. Part of him actually hoped one would... There was at least one that adored slaves, not in a cruel manner, but she seemed to absolutely PAMPER them. "I almost bet you that Atsuko girl will try..." He paused. She probably didn't know who Atsuko was. "She's the, uh, white lioness, blue eyes, gray fading marks up her legs like socks... That odd... Symbol thing... On her shoulder..." He drew it in the dirt. "That one. It's an unusual mark, I'm sure she has males falling all over her for it to be in their bloodline... Anyway, I'm sure she'll get her paws on that slave and drag him up the ranks in due time..."



He soon had to give up. Gyps was getting tired of looking at lions, and too many lionesses had said they weren't Amalthea. One had ended up being Atsuko! He soon found Haggy, greeting her pleasantly before he let out a sigh, and they departed the gathering. He'd find out more later... Or maybe Haggy would have a vision about it. Part of him hoped she would... But the realist in him said she probably wouldn't. He'd find out later.

Nina sighed, pushing herself up. She was getting tired of being here... This was BORING! It barely had an effect on her, only that, maybe, just maybe... Shangyue was closer to the throne. The bi-color-eyed lioness rose to her paws, the scale-markings along her back moving as she walked, the grump about being up so early clear on her face. She was NOT a morning lion, and intended everybody to know it as she went back to her den to sleep some more.

It was all very much what he'd expected. The adults were sad of course, but there was also a hint of suspicion. Who dun it? The more he listened the more it bothered him. Adults were suppose to know everything weren't they? He creeped along a bit further before he felt he had to ask. Afrim finally got close and poked his sister's rump with his paw.

"Atz why don't they know? Who killed the king I mean." Instinctively he kept his voice low. There was ideas, theories, and whatnot flying around, but no one came out and said "so-and-so did it". Of course he wasn't sure what would happen to the poor lion if that actually did happen; countered by the fact whoever it was had done a very bad thing.