For what felt like several long moments, Giza stayed still, the sound of her heart about pounding into her ears. She took a few steady breaths, nothing immediately having come to eat her yet. She lifted her paw, eyeing the snapped bone beneath, a chill rushing down her spine a moment before she shook herself. 'Remain calm Giza.' she mentally told herself. Just then the sound of a roar caught her attention. Her ears swiveled atop her head and she paused. The roar didn't hold any trace of ill intent, but seemed more welcoming. Though as quickly as it sounded, it also stopped and Giza found herself pressing forward, quickly though not at a run, more of a brisk walk, towards the direction the roar had come. She followed it, pressing through some large fronds that seemed almost impenetrable until she found herself breaking into a clearing. As the last of the wide leaved plants fall behind her, her green gaze falls upon the spotted lion, a coat Giza had never seen before. She stands silent a moment, beholding the other's beauty. Had she really found Khalima?
Khalima listens and watches as this Lioness pressed herself past the ever deepening flora, her bright green eyes almost glow in all the darkened emerald hues surrounding her, bones lay at her feet. She adjusts her shoulder, her green shawl with an emerald jeweled silver clasp, catch what little light there is here. This Lioness was fetching, with her darker tones in her pelt, it was unusual to see. Khalima can hear Giza's heart beat from where she is and once Giza and Khalima can really see one another, the Jungle begins to fall silent, slowly one by one the sounds slipping off into the dark and the deep. A single dim shaft of light hangs upon Khalima as she studies this new lioness but not just with her eyes, as always her mysterious ways and her shamanry enable her to see much father into someone than just their fur, or those enchanting green eyes the other Lioness has. Khalima knows why the Lioness is here so she breaks the pause with her somewhat ragged voice, that strange drawl in her words and something about Khalima is not just dark within her, but somewhat feral in ways. "Thiiiss one is brave for venturing so far into the Jungle of Secretsszs.. Into the dark.. I am Khalima, Shaman of anywhere the light touches.. and where it doesz not."
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 9:08 am
Nefarious Muse
Khalima listens and watches as this Lioness pressed herself past the ever deepening flora, her bright green eyes almost glow in all the darkened emerald hues surrounding her, bones lay at her feet. She adjusts her shoulder, her green shawl with an emerald jeweled silver clasp, catch what little light there is here. This Lioness was fetching, with her darker tones in her pelt, it was unusual to see. Khalima can hear Giza's heart beat from where she is and once Giza and Khalima can really see one another, the Jungle begins to fall silent, slowly one by one the sounds slipping off into the dark and the deep. A single dim shaft of light hangs upon Khalima as she studies this new lioness but not just with her eyes, as always her mysterious ways and her shamanry enable her to see much father into someone than just their fur, or those enchanting green eyes the other Lioness has. Khalima knows why the Lioness is here so she breaks the pause with her somewhat ragged voice, that strange drawl in her words and something about Khalima is not just dark within her, but somewhat feral in ways. "Thiiiss one is brave for venturing so far into the Jungle of Secretsszs.. Into the dark.. I am Khalima, Shaman of anywhere the light touches.. and where it doesz not."
Giza had heard tales but seeing Khalima with her own two eyes somehow made those cub tales seem so... incomplete. She was stunning, beautiful, feral and untamed, calm and a storm, dark and light all wrapped in one. It about took Giza's breath away and as the other spoke, she seemed to lower her gaze and head a moment out of respect. It took her another few seconds to catch her breath and find her voice again. Giza considered herself brave, it was half of what spurred her to make this journey, and yet now, before the exotic speaking lioness, that bravery felt like a cub cowering beneath a tree. "I have heard much of you, Shaman. And yet the stories do your presence little justice." she finally spoke. "I am Giza.... and I have come to see if one such tale I've heard is true, with my own eyes."
Giza had heard tales but seeing Khalima with her own two eyes somehow made those cub tales seem so... incomplete. She was stunning, beautiful, feral and untamed, calm and a storm, dark and light all wrapped in one. It about took Giza's breath away and as the other spoke, she seemed to lower her gaze and head a moment out of respect. It took her another few seconds to catch her breath and find her voice again. Giza considered herself brave, it was half of what spurred her to make this journey, and yet now, before the exotic speaking lioness, that bravery felt like a cub cowering beneath a tree. "I have heard much of you, Shaman. And yet the stories do your presence little justice." she finally spoke. "I am Giza.... and I have come to see if one such tale I've heard is true, with my own eyes."
Complements weren't often payed to Khalima and it is uncertain if they were even heard, but Khalima stood to her paws in a smooth motion, her shawl falling to one side. "Well that dependssss.." a hard to read smile, both dark and amused raises in her muzzle graces with fangs as she speaks again. "Which sstory?" Her eyes feel so invasive but at the same time like there is nothing you can do about it, the Jungle had grown completely silent around them and the insects that were left were the moths Khalima disturbed as began to look Giza over. She starts her almost ritualistic slow walk to Giza, she is so quiet even in the foliage around her paws and the dim light rolls over her form, Silvery wings dancing about her from the moths that fly up. She can not only sense Bravery, but a deep sense of responsibility in Giza, She is strong and healthy enough but Khalima wants to hear it in her. The Bones Khalima left of the ground still hung with dirtied flesh and hey she did not smell or even look like she had even been eating, Khalima smells like the jungle and like a mixture of herbs she chews for medicine.
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 10:53 am
Nefarious Muse
Complements weren't often payed to Khalima and it is uncertain if they were even heard, but Khalima stood to her paws in a smooth motion, her shawl falling to one side. "Well that dependssss.." a hard to read smile, both dark and amused raises in her muzzle graces with fangs as she speaks again. "Which sstory?" Her eyes feel so invasive but at the same time like there is nothing you can do about it, the Jungle had grown completely silent around them and the insects that were left were the moths Khalima disturbed as began to look Giza over. She starts her almost ritualistic slow walk to Giza, she is so quiet even in the foliage around her paws and the dim light rolls over her form, Silvery wings dancing about her from the moths that fly up. She can not only sense Bravery, but a deep sense of responsibility in Giza, She is strong and healthy enough but Khalima wants to hear it in her. The Bones Khalima left of the ground still hung with dirtied flesh and hey she did not smell or even look like she had even been eating, Khalima smells like the jungle and like a mixture of herbs she chews for medicine.
Giza felt her heart flutter as Khalima came forward, almost as if she had swallowed a mouthful of butterflies and they were now trying to escape. It was both hard to meet her gaze and also to look away from her as she moved. The dark lioness could only hope she wasn't being rude. "That you care for cubs. And that you help orphaned cubs find homes." she said, ears flickering about to the sounds of the jungle which had all but stopped. Her gaze briefly switched from left to right, seeing nothing but the fronds hiding Khalima's sanctuary and the moths that flittered to the side at her steps. "I have no mate." she spoke, not outwardly adding the 'yet' part as she still held hope. "But I feel ready to raise a strong cub. To have someone to depend upon me.....and I upon them in time." she added, her gaze returning to the shaman, waiting and hopeful, yet reserved at the same time.
Giza felt her heart flutter as Khalima came forward, almost as if she had swallowed a mouthful of butterflies and they were now trying to escape. It was both hard to meet her gaze and also to look away from her as she moved. The dark lioness could only hope she wasn't being rude. "That you care for cubs. And that you help orphaned cubs find homes." she said, ears flickering about to the sounds of the jungle which had all but stopped. Her gaze briefly switched from left to right, seeing nothing but the fronds hiding Khalima's sanctuary and the moths that flittered to the side at her steps. "I have no mate." she spoke, not outwardly adding the 'yet' part as she still held hope. "But I feel ready to raise a strong cub. To have someone to depend upon me.....and I upon them in time." she added, her gaze returning to the shaman, waiting and hopeful, yet reserved at the same time.
Khalima isn't one to mince many words though she is full of riddles, Giza made mention of the cubs and expressed her wants for a cub, for a family. She does not stop walking, she opens her jaws to draw Giza's scent over her fangs and veers around the lioness with the fluttering heart, beginning to look her over and speaking "This one is determined, Healthy... I feel the tug of a mothers soul within this one" A small cub's roar suddenly interrupts Khalima, His voice bounces though the undergrowth so it is hard to tell from where but it was very close and rather bold too. There is a slight sigh from Khalima as she comes to stop in front of Giza, a slight agitation in her eyes but she continues none the less. "Little Shadow" She seems to call Giza. "I find wayward cubs in my travels, and this one has a gap within her in the shape of a cub, in the shape of family, of a mate. Breathe Little Shadow, I will not eat you." Something a bit more gentle raises in her bright green eyes "I believe you would make a fine mother, and the process is rather simple, One must simply take an Oath before me and the Jungle of Sssecretss. One must take an Oath to neeever abandon the cub, To teach the cub not only to survive but to value life... and death. To teach the cub of the Great Circle of Life. Only then will the Jungle of Seecretzs let you leave with one alive." Her gentleness is slowly replaced by the darkened stain within her. "Know this, If one tries to return a cub to this place or to me, I will let the Jungle have it"
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 1:12 pm
Nefarious Muse
Khalima isn't one to mince many words though she is full of riddles, Giza made mention of the cubs and expressed her wants for a cub, for a family. She does not stop walking, she opens her jaws to draw Giza's scent over her fangs and veers around the lioness with the fluttering heart, beginning to look her over and speaking "This one is determined, Healthy... I feel the tug of a mothers soul within this one" A small cub's roar suddenly interrupts Khalima, His voice bounces though the undergrowth so it is hard to tell from where but it was very close and rather bold too. There is a slight sigh from Khalima as she comes to stop in front of Giza, a slight agitation in her eyes but she continues none the less. "Little Shadow" She seems to call Giza. "I find wayward cubs in my travels, and this one has a gap within her in the shape of a cub, in the shape of family, of a mate. Breathe Little Shadow, I will not eat you." Something a bit more gentle raises in her bright green eyes "I believe you would make a fine mother, and the process is rather simple, One must simply take an Oath before me and the Jungle of Sssecretss. One must take an Oath to neeever abandon the cub, To teach the cub not only to survive but to value life... and death. To teach the cub of the Great Circle of Life. Only then will the Jungle of Seecretzs let you leave with one alive." Her gentleness is slowly replaced by the darkened stain within her. "Know this, If one tries to return a cub to this place or to me, I will let the Jungle have it"
Little Shadow.
Giza let the words repeat over in her mind as she tried to search for sight of whatever cub had let out the roar. So they were near, the tales were true. As Khalima seemed to approve of her request, Giza found herself breathing easier. Her beating heart slowed and she found herself able to think clearly now. An oath? She listened to Khalima's words very carefully, committing them to memory. Only when the shaman finished and the last warning resonate within her did Giza speak again. "I promise to never abandon the cub. to teach them to survive, to value all things and of the Great Circle of Life." she said as she dipped her head in a soft bow, her eyes closed briefly. As she raised her head, her eyes opened again, but her gaze held something a bit more stern, almost challenging this time. "One would have to pry the cub from my cold, dead paws if they thought to return them here."
Giza let the words repeat over in her mind as she tried to search for sight of whatever cub had let out the roar. So they were near, the tales were true. As Khalima seemed to approve of her request, Giza found herself breathing easier. Her beating heart slowed and she found herself able to think clearly now. An oath? She listened to Khalima's words very carefully, committing them to memory. Only when the shaman finished and the last warning resonate within her did Giza speak again. "I promise to never abandon the cub. to teach them to survive, to value all things and of the Great Circle of Life." she said as she dipped her head in a soft bow, her eyes closed briefly. As she raised her head, her eyes opened again, but her gaze held something a bit more stern, almost challenging this time. "One would have to pry the cub from my cold, dead paws if they thought to return them here."
Khalima hopes the Lioness can hold true to what she says, even Khalima knows that no matter what you do, you still may not be able to save a cub from joining those before it within the Circle of Life. Satisfied with "Little Shadow's" answer She leans her spotted head in and rubs her head under Giza's chin briefly, marking her with Khalima's scent temporarily. "Today, Little Shadow becomes a mother." she says and then turns to the side and gives a low rumble from inside her chest, beckoning the scamp out of her fern patch. Out bounds a male cub with a burst as he excitedly goes to meet his new mother, but as soon as Giza's eyes return to Khalima, she has just vanished and the sounds of the Jungle return in fullness... Until next they meet, one day Khalima may check up on "Little Shadow".. Maybe..
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2025 5:29 pm
Nefarious Muse
Zareb had heard the stories of Khalima. He wasn't sure he really believed them. There were many whispered rumors about the lioness and her secret jungle. He was curious if any of it were true, and what better way to find out than to go into the jungle to find her. The ground made squishing sounds as he approached the edge of the jungle. He pushed his way into the green vegetation, his paws now soaked in mud and muck. That would be fun to have to clean later, he thought, grimacing. He hated mud. It was something he often tried to avoid but sometimes it was unavoidable. He pressed on, using as much of the small amount of sunshine as he could to venture deeper into the jungle. The presence of the lion had quieted the sounds of the bugs and birds that lived within, but soon after the noise picked up again. He was concentrating on where he would step, as the vines had tried to trip him many times now. A loud, thundering roar seemed to come out of nowhere, and startled him. He tried to follow the sound, but couldn't quite discern where it had come from. He pressed on, hoping he was going in the right direction.
Zareb had heard the stories of Khalima. He wasn't sure he really believed them. There were many whispered rumors about the lioness and her secret jungle. He was curious if any of it were true, and what better way to find out than to go into the jungle to find her. The ground made squishing sounds as he approached the edge of the jungle. He pushed his way into the green vegetation, his paws now soaked in mud and muck. That would be fun to have to clean later, he thought, grimacing. He hated mud. It was something he often tried to avoid but sometimes it was unavoidable. He pressed on, using as much of the small amount of sunshine as he could to venture deeper into the jungle. The presence of the lion had quieted the sounds of the bugs and birds that lived within, but soon after the noise picked up again. He was concentrating on where he would step, as the vines had tried to trip him many times now. A loud, thundering roar seemed to come out of nowhere, and startled him. He tried to follow the sound, but couldn't quite discern where it had come from. He pressed on, hoping he was going in the right direction.
Khalima could feel it, in her spirit, a male Lion has come to her deeply shadowed Jungle. Her body completely concealed in her ferns, she lays in contemplation. She always has mixed feelings about males coming here, if she is going to have to fight or if they come here seeking a cub. She does not look forward to the Idea of having to fight a male, they overpower her and out size her terribly, the only advantage she would have is that this is her Jungle and she knows it better than any who pass here. Hearing him near her clearing she raises up onto her paws, her spotted head, neck and back becoming exposed to what dim light there is here and she lets out a small grunt to signal the cubs to stay hidden. Her bright green eyes still stand out from all this green surrounding her as Zareb is able to press past the ever so stubborn undergrowth and into Khalima's clearing, mud upon his paws. He was a rather good looking lion but Khalima's focus was pinpoint and there was something darker within her than the Jungle it's self. She stays still, watching, discerning and waiting to see what He will do and what he will choose to say, but something seems oddly familiar about him and he looks like someone she has seen recently.
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2025 11:49 am
Nefarious Muse
Khalima could feel it, in her spirit, a male Lion has come to her deeply shadowed Jungle. Her body completely concealed in her ferns, she lays in contemplation. She always has mixed feelings about males coming here, if she is going to have to fight or if they come here seeking a cub. She does not look forward to the Idea of having to fight a male, they overpower her and out size her terribly, the only advantage she would have is that this is her Jungle and she knows it better than any who pass here. Hearing him near her clearing she raises up onto her paws, her spotted head, neck and back becoming exposed to what dim light there is here and she lets out a small grunt to signal the cubs to stay hidden. Her bright green eyes still stand out from all this green surrounding her as Zareb is able to press past the ever so stubborn undergrowth and into Khalima's clearing, mud upon his paws. He was a rather good looking lion but Khalima's focus was pinpoint and there was something darker within her than the Jungle it's self. She stays still, watching, discerning and waiting to see what He will do and what he will choose to say, but something seems oddly familiar about him and he looks like someone she has seen recently.
Zareb stepped out slowly into the small clearing, noticing just a moment later that he wasn't alone. "So you must be the renowned Khalima," he said as their eyes locked. "It seems the rumors are true." He sat on his haunches and waited, not wanting to alarm the lioness. He wiped his muddy paws on a patch of thick grass and curled his lip as most of it didn't come off. Oh well, that was a problem for later. "So, what's the big mystery?" he asked her. "Why isolate yourself here in the jungle?"
Zareb stepped out slowly into the small clearing, noticing just a moment later that he wasn't alone. "So you must be the renowned Khalima," he said as their eyes locked. "It seems the rumors are true." He sat on his haunches and waited, not wanting to alarm the lioness. He wiped his muddy paws on a patch of thick grass and curled his lip as most of it didn't come off. Oh well, that was a problem for later. "So, what's the big mystery?" he asked her. "Why isolate yourself here in the jungle?"
She watches him with eyes that see more than flesh, see more into the lion before her, however one ear tilts back as she keeps an unreadable expression at his sneer at muddy paws. Hearing him speak and ask questions she takes her paces forward out of her ferns and into the open, stopping a few paces away but she does not sit just yet. Khalima speaks in strange jagged tones. "Did one come all this way into the dark just to ask me why?" Her head sits up a bit higher, this Lioness is stunning with her clouded leopard colorations and she wears a green shawl, clasped with silver and adorned with an emerald that still catches light somehow even in the dimly lit Jungle. She also has two silver anklets about her left ankle that shimmer ever so slightly when she moves. "If my renown precedes me thaaan you should know that all the light touches and what it does not is my home." Her very Zira-ish voice comes with a somewhat tribal drawl, but her disposition is far from the evil Lioness of the past, however dark Khalima may be.
Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2025 8:31 am
Nefarious Muse
She watches him with eyes that see more than flesh, see more into the lion before her, however one ear tilts back as she keeps an unreadable expression at his sneer at muddy paws. Hearing him speak and ask questions she takes her paces forward out of her ferns and into the open, stopping a few paces away but she does not sit just yet. Khalima speaks in strange jagged tones. "Did one come all this way into the dark just to ask me why?" Her head sits up a bit higher, this Lioness is stunning with her clouded leopard colorations and she wears a green shawl, clasped with silver and adorned with an emerald that still catches light somehow even in the dimly lit Jungle. She also has two silver anklets about her left ankle that shimmer ever so slightly when she moves. "If my renown precedes me thaaan you should know that all the light touches and what it does not is my home." Her very Zira-ish voice comes with a somewhat tribal drawl, but her disposition is far from the evil Lioness of the past, however dark Khalima may be.
He watched her as she moved ever so carefully. "Of course I have heard from others but I wanted to hear it from the source, of why hide away in the jungle?" He paused to look around a moment. "I also heard that you've stolen a bunch of cubs and hide them away here in the middle of the jungle for your own amusement. I wonder if that's true or some made up story." He eyed her adornments, noticing the jewels and shiny metals she wore. He hadn't seen anything like them before, up close anyway. Perhaps he would find something for himself someday. Zareb stood now, and slowly walked forward to get a better look at the lioness. "I also wonder why such a lovely lioness would want to be alone. Do you not miss the company of others?" He came from a large pride, mostly inhabited by other dark lions such as himself. To see a lioness with such a different pelt intrigued him. He found her coloring beautiful and mysterious, much like the lioness herself.
((At this time, Zareb doesn't know his sister came here. ))
He watched her as she moved ever so carefully. "Of course I have heard from others but I wanted to hear it from the source, of why hide away in the jungle?" He paused to look around a moment. "I also heard that you've stolen a bunch of cubs and hide them away here in the middle of the jungle for your own amusement. I wonder if that's true or some made up story." He eyed her adornments, noticing the jewels and shiny metals she wore. He hadn't seen anything like them before, up close anyway. Perhaps he would find something for himself someday. Zareb stood now, and slowly walked forward to get a better look at the lioness. "I also wonder why such a lovely lioness would want to be alone. Do you not miss the company of others?" He came from a large pride, mostly inhabited by other dark lions such as himself. To see a lioness with such a different pelt intrigued him. He found her coloring beautiful and mysterious, much like the lioness herself.
((At this time, Zareb doesn't know his sister came here. )
)
Khalima doesn't get nervous at his approach and in a strange way she was also prepared for how he conducts himself. She sits and neatly folds her speckled tail over her paws, She is leanly muscled and she keeps an eye on his movement. His questions amuse her, the dark tales of a cub thief and an hermit that hides away. She gets a small fang graced smile and respond in her strange way. "This one has heard many straaange stories about me. I wonder if I should spoil the mystery of the cub thieving hermit." her voice has a slight chuckle at the end but she continued " I am never alone, The spirits keep me company. Miss others? Many seek me for not just adopting cubs, but for medicine or guidance. I also have an apprentice." her head turns to follow him but only so far. "So does that give answer to this ones questions? is there anything else Big Shadow?" That scent he has, she realizes mentally who it belongs to.. Little Shadow... She does not seemingly interested in his male attention but then again Khalima would play hard to get anyway.
Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 4:57 pm
Nefarious Muse
Khalima doesn't get nervous at his approach and in a strange way she was also prepared for how he conducts himself. She sits and neatly folds her speckled tail over her paws, She is leanly muscled and she keeps an eye on his movement. His questions amuse her, the dark tales of a cub thief and an hermit that hides away. She gets a small fang graced smile and respond in her strange way. "This one has heard many straaange stories about me. I wonder if I should spoil the mystery of the cub thieving hermit." her voice has a slight chuckle at the end but she continued " I am never alone, The spirits keep me company. Miss others? Many seek me for not just adopting cubs, but for medicine or guidance. I also have an apprentice." her head turns to follow him but only so far. "So does that give answer to this ones questions? is there anything else Big Shadow?" That scent he has, she realizes mentally who it belongs to.. Little Shadow... She does not seemingly interested in his male attention but then again Khalima would play hard to get anyway.
He didn't get too close, but stopped a few feet from her. He looked at her quizzically when she called him "Big Shadow." He hadn't told her his name, so he supposed she had to call him something. "I know your name, but I have not given mine." Bowing his head slightly, "My name is Zareb." He caught a slight familiar smell from her, but also the smell of what must be many cubs. "Adopting cubs? So you are trying to find homes for the cubs you stole? Or maybe there is another story behind your cause." He shook his head and a deep rumble escaped his throat as he chuckled softly. "I suppose I have asked a lot of questions about you." He paused to consider if he had any more, or if her answers would quench his curiousity for now. He decided on one more question, rather a request. "May I.... see the cubs?" he asked softly. He felt a small pang of guilt at the request. Was it selfish of him to ask? He meant no harm, but now that he was here, what if it was meant for him to find her and the cubs. Maybe he was meant to adopt one of them.
Moxxiie
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MiddyGlow Crew
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Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2025 5:43 pm
Nefarious Muse
Chausiku had never been in this part of the jungle before she was nervous to be here but she had heard that there was a lioness here who was protecting cubs and she wanted to see if one of those cubs might want to come with her. She wanted cubs of her own but as she had been raised by females that were not her blood she felt for these cubs and wanted to give them a home like she had been given a home. They never had much but they had enough and she moved on to not be a burden on them. She needed to gather her courage and make this happen, she wanted this really badly and she didn't want to fail.
