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 Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:06 pm
 The brown lion was having trouble reconciling the rumors he was hearing with his own feelings on the matter. There was grief, of course, as well as anger and rage and frustration. He knew his duty, as a Guard, was to the new King of the Mwezi'Johari. But he couldn't help unsheathing his claws at the thought of Selene being dead...especially because she was murdered.
By her own son.
That, of all the things, was what Uchanjaa was having the hardest time with.
He'd been wandering aimlessly through the pride, barely paying attention to where he was going. Then he heard a voice talking confidently.
"The slaves are my allies, they know they can count on me to help them improve their lot. Tonight was my doing but soon, everybody will understand the power they possess."
Pale lavender eyes narrowed as Uchanjaa identified the voice of Prince Shangyue. He didn't even notice the Princess standing next to her brother, or the crowd of lions led by Aysu to the site. All he saw was the boy who had murdered parents and grandparents simply because he was too impatient to wait for his throne.
"SHANGYUEEEEEEE!" the brown lion roared, and launched himself at his sovereign ruler.
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:36 pm
Upon reaching the rump of the Head Huntress and her group, headed by Aysu, the individual whom she had never met before, she caught the tail ends of what were Shangyues words. His voice nearly crippled her as it sank into her ear drums and sang to her mind. She was just simply excited. What a character! Deep with mixed feelings that were hidden and left for those around him to discover, she was bewildered and shocked..
Just as she reached the group she spotted a brown male, one of whom was none to thrilled upon seeing Shangyue in all his glory. In Shangyue's company was his sister, or so she assumed. A sibling of sorts, one of which whom seemed to deem him a fit ruler. She smiled lightly at this until she watched the brown male lions legs recoil in what she knew was a pounce position. Seeing this she reacted instantly, running and slowing to a position to lunge at the males side. Her intentions were to force him aside, perhaps more, if her first intention was accomplished. She growled and leaped, her own legs coiling to pounce and interfere in the others goal.
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:38 pm
 Before he had time for Mvushi to answer, Lunik heard Shangyue approaching, and speaking to someone. Squinting, he saw that it was Ianthe, one of his sisters. Alarms went off in the lion's head- she was one they should have been looking for! But by the easy way Shangyue was speaking to her, Lunik gathered that there wasn't much stress or a real threat going on between them. He heard Shangyue speaking to her, calling the slaves his allies and speaking of hope and the "power they possessed." Nervously, he allowed himself a smile and trotted up close to join the crowd around the heirs. The new king was doing great things for the lower class. His fragile sense that everything was going to be alright was shattered as quickly as it had come about. Only seconds after Shangyue had finished speaking that a lion roared his name, on the attack. Lunik had never a lion to sort things out physically. He was a slave, after all, and had no favor or blessing from the Great Lion. He always considered himself at too great a risk to go out hunting or practice sparring. But if he hesitated at all, it was only for an instant. The Great Lion be damned! He had to protect Shangyue! The white lion lunged into place between Shangyue and the attacking male. Another lioness was getting into the scrap but in the heat of things, Lunik had no way of knowing whose side she was on. He turned to face the brown male as best as he could and bared his teeth. For Shangyue!
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:50 pm
 Blinded to all but his target by rage, Uchanjaa didn't even see the purple and white blur that came out of nowhere. He felt the impact, however, as the lioness knocked him sideways, driving the air out of his lungs. Winded, but not even remotely subdued, the brown lion shoved the lioness off of him with a snarl, getting back to his feet.
Before him stood a white lion, one of the many that was clearly descended from Mwezi'mtoto. He seemed to recall that this one was a slave. Well, that fit in with what he had heard tonight. But slave or not, the other male was standing between him and Shangyue! He felt a sudden rush of kinship for the long-departed Yareha Afaer, and how that male must have felt when he attacked Mazin that day.
However, it wasn't Lunik's presence that stopped Uchanjaa in his tracks.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  While she hadn't been expecting to see him here and now, Halili was probably the least surprised of the gathered lions to see her father on the war path. She knew how he'd cared for Selene...at least as much as his own children. And that was what drove the beige lioness to move as quickly as she did, putting herself at Lunik's side, between Uchanjaa and Shangyue. "Father," she spoke softly, calmly even. Her posture was neither threatening, nor braced to defend. "He is our King," the lioness told her father. She hated to oppose him so publicly...but hadn't she already done this verbally, even though he hadn't been there to hear it? And angry or not, he couldn't just attack a royal lion!
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:00 pm
 As suspected, he was certainly much stronger than her own brains could pick at. Though that could simply be the average male lion, she had never been pushed around in such a way by a male of any kind, though she had never intended to attack one before.
While getting herself in order she heard a voice, one that was strong and confident, but had something else to it. A touch of perhaps, apology? Or at least her eyes seemed unsure of what she was doing, not what she was saying, rather who she was saying it too. Getting wind back in her own lungs she stood up as quickly as she could, paws pushing beneath her and lifting her to a standing position. Her muscles ached and yearned to throw herself at the brown male again, but she protested the thought of it, perhaps a verbal attention would be all he needed.
This was her idea anyway, not her hope, far from it. But she stared at him hard. Her mind settled on focusing on being a Guard, this was her position granted upon entering the Mwezi and she had a diligence to perform and that is what she did. Rump settled on the ground next to Lunik and in front of their King, Shangyue. If she could help it, nothing would pass to harm their ruler.
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:11 pm
Lunik braced himself for an attack from the brown lion, surely one would come. He saw how easily the male shrugged off the defending purple lioness. A growl rumbled low from within his chest, but... Uchanjaa just stared. Lunik still held his defensive posture, but he quit baring his teeth and grew silent. His tough appearance was almost shattered when the pale lioness spoke beside him and he nearly jumped out of his hide. He'd been so focused on the brown male that he'd not seen or heard her approach (further proof he was not cut out for fighting anyone). It was the attacking male's daughter. Well, that was good to have on his side. The purple lioness also placed herself next to Lunik. Even better, a wall of defense in front of Shangyue. But despite that, he didn't relax any further. He couldn't, with Shangyue's safety at stake.
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:21 pm
His eyes widened in shock at Halili's words, then narrowed again. So...she would stand by this...this traitor to his own blood!? Oh yes, he'd heard that there were mutterings and rumblings involving slaves, but never had the brown lion dreamed that his own daughter would be one of those helping Shangyue in his bloody coup.
"Get out of the way," he growled at the lioness and her companions, threat dripping from every syllable. His heart twisted at the thought of attacking his beloved daughter, but Uchanjaa consoled himself that he could (probably) work it out so that she only received a solid spanking. As for the other two...
The other lioness had a look he didn't care for and, more importantly, he didn't recognize her. Was she some supporter of the Prince's that had been sneaked into the pride recently? The other was a slave that he did know of, but Uchanjaa figured he could probably incapacitate the other male. After all, he was a trained Guard and Lunik was...not.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eyes as pale and purple as her father's gazed back at him steadily. The fact that she was one of three lions standing between Uchanjaa and Shangyue gave her confidence, the confidence she needed to face down the lion who'd raised her, who loved her, and whom she loved in return. But she couldn't let him do this. And not just because she thought Shangyue might improve the lot of the low class. Halili knew that, if her father succeeded in attacking the new King, he would almost certainly be defeated by sheer numbers in the end. And then he would either be exiled for disagreeing with the new order...or killed for being too dangerous and uncontrollable. Disagree with him as she might, Halili did not want to see Uchanjaa killed out of hand. So..."No," the lioness replied simply, not budging an inch.
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:35 pm
Zuri watched the eyes of the male gaze from her to the pale lioness and than to the other male whom stood with her. The brown male was certainly sizing them up, determining what should be done, at least he appeared to be a thinker, not much of a fighter.
At his statement of 'get out of the way' Zuri took this as a sign to stand again, her ears flicked forward and hackles raised, she stared hard at the brown male. He was beginning to seem tense and tension was unnecessary when the pale lioness had spoken with such truth. Spoken with confidence, was that not convincing? How much would this pride need to go through before realizing the need in Shangyue, the need to be the source of power in the pride. She opened her jaws as if to say something, but resigned to staying silent. Her words would not be wasted on this individual.
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:29 pm
 The dark shadow, the spider, the death weaver, the silent force.... Firaga had many names. All of them true in nature. He'd done no less than was asked, for whatever reasons none may ever know, and now it was the dark lion's unveiling. From the heart of the Mizimu'Tungika he was born - strategy and deaht, killing was inherent in his blood, even if the Tungika had fallen during his cub-hood. If anything, it had made him more the fighter, and more the cunning beast he was today. When the brown lion launched at Shangyue, Firaga did not leap to the king's defense. No, he knew that the supporting slaves that had also come were well enough equipped to take care of a pesky fly like Uchanjaa. None the less it was enough for the slinky, smooth, shadow to set forth a paw, as that shadow slowly took form of the lion Firaga. A new order was at hand. And nothing would ever be the same again. It could never be the way it was before. A new night was dawning - a night where the slaves got the due, and Shangyue rose as king. And Firaga was proud to play his part. The look on his face was a smile that was nothing if not malicious, and his eyes gleamed like blood in starlight. There was nothing about Firaga that did not spell 'danger.'
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 9:35 pm
Calm as anything, Nina walked right toward Shangyue, ignoring the small fight and only looking away from where she was going to give her mother a pointed look. She was making her loyalties clear. "It's best not to fight... Shangyue has allies everywhere." He was a king for the slaves, a king wanting to help them much more directly than simply having them work for him to share his good graces. She stopped, turning and facing the other lions. "Who else amid you all, sides with Shangyue tonight?"
Najisi watched the scene with amusement. After a moment, he shouldered his way past others and walked more into the open. "What problem could there be with a lion who would like to rule before he's too old and crippled to do anything? It was time to prune, was it not?" He glanced back. "Those of you who oppose Shangyue, think on this... His grandparents were still in their prime, only just starting to get old. His parents even more in their prime. By the time old age were to claim them... He'd be far too old, and probably DEAD with the throne skipping a generation or two. A kingdom cannot function like that!"
Kin didn't speak up, only took a point amid the other lions. He spared a glance around, before his eyes fell on Atsuko. Ah, one of the high-class champions of the slaves... She was, as far as he could tell one of the nicer high-class lionesses. Another was, technically, Gyps' mate, and she was probably going to smack the moon out of him for the fight he'd been in. The cloud-legged lion, grinned to himself, licking his lips. Oh, that had been sweet and worth the white hair in his mouth... And it looked like another fight was preparing to break out!
The pale lioness caught up to the group and let out a gasp, hearing Shangyue's words, words of others... Words of the gold lion. She stepped forward, pale blue eyes wide as she looked at the male, though he was only slightly younger than herself. "You are king now...? But... What about your parents?"
"They're dead, Atsuko."
She looked at Kin in shock. Selene and Fuu... Were dead? But how? She'd missed a lot, apparently. The last thing she'd heard about had been Shangyue's grandfather being dead. She watched as Kin and two slaves, Nina and the new one, Najisi, placed themselves between Shangyue and potential danger. She frowned a bit in thought, then looked at Shangyue. "You said the slaves are loyal to you... What will you be doing to help them...?" In the end, they were her larger concern - Would the slaves be okay, would they have a better lot in life? She didn't miss how some lions even a step above them in class treated them.
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Posted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 10:20 pm
Mvushi's lip curled ever so slightly when Lunik approached him. He didn't quite hate the lion… but he was a coward and a blubbering fool in Mvushi's eyes. And why did he have to be bothered even now? He huffed some air out of his nose and started to shake his head, but suddenly much of the pride was on the move. He grumbled but picked up his pace as he followed along, lagging behind somewhat. He guessed that lazing around all of the time had caused him to be not as nimble as he once was.
He arrived even later to the scene than many, so he'd heard none of Sahngyue's words. It didn't matter, he knew what the smart choice was. His eyes narrowed as he spotted Uchanjaa (well, more heard than spotted) trying to throw himself onto Shangyue. Did it really have to come to this?
He was surprised when he spotted Lunik, of all the lions, joining in to defend their new king. He moved himself through the growing crowd to position himself near Lunik and the others, his lids half lowered and his general look of annoyance and sleepiness still on his face. His ears flicked back slightly as he listened to some of the other lions' shouting useless words. None of it was about siding with Shangyue, that much was clear to Mvushi. No, it was about how easy you wanted to make it for yourself. "I do no' think ye wanna do tha', Uchanjaa." His words were firm, loud enough for the small group blocking Uchanjaa and no one more.
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Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 2:33 am
It was a good thing Uchanjaa gave him plenty of warning, roaring his name as he did. Shangyue had plenty of time to notice and assume a more aggressive stance, bracing for yet another fight this night- but he was happily surprised when one of his friends knocked him off course and more stood in the path between him and the enraged guard. Including one of his daughters. Shangyue could have laughed, he never dreamed it was wise to approach a child of Uchanjaa, there was too much of a risk word might get around to their father.. and he imagined their father's influence would not permit this.
With a barrier now between him and Uchanjaa, he relaxed again, holding his head high and smiling. When Firaga appeared out of the shadows, he looked over and his smile widened. It was clear they were successful tonight.
"The slaves have been overlooked for so long, it should be apparent that I have a different way of looking at their situation," he said, looking to the frowning lady, Atsuko, "They have been trusted to help make tonight a success and I have not been disappointed, though there are still some details to consider before the next step for them, I will make sure they are not disappointed either."
Aysu was standing still near the front of the group- and as more lions pushed their way through, she was ending up farther back. She gritted her teeth and stayed out of the fight entirely, but her focus moved entirely to her daughter when Nina stepped out and sided with their new 'king'.
Where had she gone wrong? Clearly she had failed, somewhere, to see Nina-dini standing up for this. What had Shangyue said or offered? Was it any more clear than whatever he was saying now? She couldn't speak to ask any questions but if she did, they would all have been to her daughter.
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Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:07 am
Uchanjaa was torn. He'd been reluctant when asked to be Selene's bodyguard, but had come to care for the young lioness and would have given his life for her. If he'd been there tonight, he still would have given his life for hers! But...he hadn't. Hadn't even known until after the dark deed had been done.
And now there was a line of lions between him and the killer, and a shadowy form behind the Prince that looked like more of a threat than any of those others, and more and more were stepping forward to support Shangyue. The brown lion ground his teeth in frustration.
Regardless of how it had happened, Shangyue was (supposedly) now the King. And that meant that the Guard owed the upstart his loyalty. He simply couldn't say the words. Couldn't give in to this...this travesty!
Uchanjaa didn't step forward to attack, but he didn't retreat either. He stood his ground, glaring all around him.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The lioness sighed inwardly. She was reassured every time another lion came forth in support of Shangyue because that was one more lion between her and an attack by her father. To be completely honest, she'd been a bit afraid that the Uchanjaa would completely lose his temper, something she'd never once seen her father do, and attack everyone indiscriminately. Thank the Great Lion that hadn't happened. The beige lioness wanted to step out of the spotlight and melt back into the crowd, but because her father had yet to back down, she could not yet afford to. She was fairly certain Uchanjaa wouldn't attack her, but she couldn't be sure that he wouldn't attack Shangyue, if she were to move out of the way. Damn. She could hear him grinding his teeth from here. She supposed it was her turn to add fuel to his fire. "What will you do now, Father? You're outnumbered." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~  While everyone else was pushing forward, Caritas found herself moving back, though still staying near to Aysu. The other lioness seemed to be of a similar opinion to herself - that is to say, less than pleased to have four ruling lions murdered and not an ardent supporter of the next in line. The black lioness looked over, mouth open to speak though she didn't know what to say. However Aysu seemed to be focused on one of the younger lionesses in the crowd - one of her daughters, Caritas remembered. It was such a pity that this awful series of events seemed to be pulling families apart. And she had no advice whatsoever to offer. Simply a prayer of thanks to the Great Lion that none of her sons seemed to be present.
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Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 9:45 am
 She still didn't know what Avahk had heard, or how, but her cousin had come looking for her earlier this night, terrified. Not for himself, that she learned quickly, but for her sake.
"He's looking for the Shaman," the grey male had told Lailah. "And if he can't find her...he'll probably come for you."
This, hard on the heels of the news of the Queen's death, and the presumed murders of both Heiress Selene and Lord Fuu, was utterly terrifying and the white lioness hadn't protested when Avahk told her to follow.
The den he led her to was empty, an odd occurrance in such a full pride as the Mwezi'Johari, especially since it was of decent size. It also seemed vaguely familiar. When she asked, Avahk explained that it had been his father's. Understanding hit Lailah almost like a physical blow. Of course this den was abandoned - who would want to use it when it had become so thoroughly associated with Yareha Afaer, the lion who had been exiled for his outspoken criticism of the class system?
The very system that seemed to be in danger of total upheval as it seemed no slave was to be trusted this night of all nights.
Lailah had barely noticed when Avahk told her he was leaving to see what he could learn. The white lioness remained deep in the den, too far in to be seen by a casual passer-by, thinking over what she knew and what she didn't know.
The rumors, according to her cousin, said it was Prince Shangyue who was behind everything. But they were only rumors, and she had no proof one way or another. In addition, if it was truly him...why had he done it? Lailah could muster numerous reasons, but that didn't make any of them true. She had to hear it from his own lips.
 As one of Shangyue's loyal recruits, Tyfu was scouring the pride lands tonight, looking for any of the lions that the King had noted would be important to him...or dangerous. The list was fairly long - the Head Guard, another Guard, any Prince or Princess...and most importantly of all, the Shaman. Or her Apprentice. These were the ones that were all important, in some way, to the pride as a whole as well as to Shangyue for what they could give to him or do to him. The green lioness might not have as great an advantage as some of the slaves that had been recruited from within the pride, since she had only descriptions of many of the lions to go on, but she was diligent.
Any stone she found was looked behind. Any fold in the land was investigated. Any den was entered.
True, she didn't know who lived in most of these dens, not even when she poked her head in and saw sleeping forms. But that didn't mean that the wanted lions couldn't be hiding in one of them. And as a Guard, she had a perfect excuse to bring any of them with her. It was, obviously, for their own protection.
The green lioness looked up at an unexpected noise and saw a grey lion, not one she knew at all, hurrying away from a den. He looked young and it was possible he was still a bachelor, leaving the small cave empty.
It was possible that this was only a facade. Tyfu crept over to the opening and looked in. She didn't see anyone, but it seemed this den was larger than she'd first supposed. Closing her eyes, the green lioness listened.
Breathing. Steady breathing, coming from deeper within. It could be a sleeper...but there was guaranteeing such an identity. She crept inside.
Even in the dark, the form of the lioness relaxing was easy to see, given her white fur. And though Tyfu could tell that most of her markings were light in color, they still showed as darker than her body fur in the reflected moonlight. And on her shoulder was a distinctive moon with circling spots. She'd had it described to her only earlier that night! But with that description had come a warning - Lailah K'chol, the Shaman's apprentice, had a twin sister with the same markings, but in yellow instead of blue. The black lioness studied the form before her and decided that this was probably the female she was looking for.
"Get up, Lailah K'chol," she ordered harshly. "The King has requested your presence."
Yellow eyes flew open at the unexpected and unfamiliar voice. In the darkness she couldn't make out the other lion's form, just bright green markings and hair, seemingly floating in the darkness. And piercing yellow eyes, of a shade more intense than her own.
For a moment, she wasn't sure what to do. The King? Did this lioness (for it had been a female voice) mean Lord Fuu? Or...Prince Shangyue? Lailah shivered at the thought. It seemed rather likely that it was the latter case and she was afraid that Shangyue might want her to join his parents and grandparents.
On the other paw...this was the perfect opportunity. She would be able to speak to him face to face if she went, and could then ask him the all important question of "Why".
Wordlessly the white lioness gathered her dignity and got to her feet. She might not know all that was going on, but she would go to it with all the poise and presence that the Shaman's Apprentice should embody.
Well, it seemed she'd guessed correctly as to which sister this was. Pleased, Tyfu led the way out of the den, checking back periodically to make sure that the other female was following. As they came out into the moonlight she could see that she was not at all mistaken, that the markings were definitely blue. Perfect! She could only hope that no one else had managed to find the Shaman before she brought Lailah to Shangyue - that way her capture wouldn't be overshadowed.
As they walked, Tyfu noticed how quiet the other female seemed. And how...well...prissy. She snorted at the thought. Trust some high class prude to be this very important lioness...and she wasn't even the Shaman yet! Just an apprentice! Well, at least she'd been found. That was something. And she showed no signs of bolting away, though the black lioness was keeping an eye out just in case such a stupid idea was tried.
Finally they came upon a crowd of lions. It was difficult to see what was going on, though there was a big brown male who seemed to fit another of the descriptions Tyfu had been given, opposing Shangyue through a barrier of other lions. Ooooh...had he, perhaps, tried to attack the King? The Guard regretted that she hadn't been here to see it. Still, everything seemed to be at an impasse. And she could change that.
"Your Majesty," the black lioness called out as she led her captive through a clear space on one side of the gathering. "I have found Lailah K'chol, the Shaman's apprentice."
Damn straight she was pleased with herself.
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Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 11:41 am
Amarantos ran shoulder to shoulder with his brother and only stopped when the rest of the group stopped. When Uchanjaa atacked he didn't make any move. Not to stop him and not to join him. The attack was soon stopped by those loyal to Shangyue.
"Now what?" he muttered between clenched teeth. Fighting Shangyue didn't look like a smart choice at the moment. And what point would it be to kill him if he had already managed to wipe out the other heirs? How many supported him? How many in this crowd were prepared to fight? Too much was uncertain at this point. His claws were visible, but he didn't move. Yet. --- Xwaya didn't know what to tell Atsuko. She'd always been nice to him and to the other slaves, and he wished he'd had something better to say. But between running and trying not to give in to his rising panic there wasn't much room for words.
"I don't know, I don't know," was all he managed to choke out, "It's... deaths..."
But soon enough they stood in front of Shangyue and Ianthe. He gaped as Nina walked up to them and turned to the crowd as if she dared them to challenge the new "king". It didn't look right. He flinched as Uchanjaa tried to... something. Kill Shangye? Would that make this better?
"Lailah," he mouthed, unable to produce sound. The black guard looked less than friendly and he added a new layer of worry to his near panic. Would his half sister be okay?
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