Inyenyeri loved the night. It was when the stars that covered her fur were reflected in the sky, when she could look up and see the path of the ancestors, the great, dark savanna in the sky. The night was when she felt safe. The night was when she felt beautiful.
The night was when she looked for Jioni.
That was one thing they had in common, a preference for the dark. When it was quieter, the shadows were deep and dark, and prey could barely see beyond the tip of their nose.
She was careful as she searched, checking each of his favourite spots, always keeping herself in the open, announcing her presence early. Just in case. She didn’t want to be mistaken for anyone else and be on the receiving end of his hunger.
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2025 9:21 am
Ruriska
Inyenyeri loved the night. It was when the stars that covered her fur were reflected in the sky, when she could look up and see the path of the ancestors, the great, dark savanna in the sky. The night was when she felt safe. The night was when she felt beautiful.
The night was when she looked for Jioni.
That was one thing they had in common, a preference for the dark. When it was quieter, the shadows were deep and dark, and prey could barely see beyond the tip of their nose.
She was careful as she searched, checking each of his favourite spots, always keeping herself in the open, announcing her presence early. Just in case. She didn’t want to be mistaken for anyone else and be on the receiving end of his hunger.
Jioni is a Fighter in the Outlander Pride, a Large and broad chested force to be reckoned with, strewn with faded starts and shadows over his pelt. He spends his days training until he aches or being sent off to wage war upon others or to guard groups of those being sent out to raid other prides. He is harsh and mean and a known murderer but when the burning sun sets and the fading light gives way to a sea of stars, it is then that he separates from the Pride and goes off alone. Others do not dare to follow him, provided they were curious or they would suffer his wrath. Out here, away from it all, he can let his muscle bound body rest and his mind take a breath. His Favored places are in the Canyons along the top of the rocks where he can see the starts, or deep into the Elephant Graveyard and its eerie shadows but tonight it is the Canyons he retreats to. It is also at night he tends to get one and ONLY one tolerated visitor, Inyenyeri. She was the only lioness in all of the Outlands that Jioni actually seemed the most tolerant/interested in and he found himself thinking of her tonight. He was laying on his stomach with his head on his paws, eyes tilted to the shimmering sea of diamonds spread over a dark velvet sky. His mind step by step letting go of the frustrations of his day as thoughts of Inyenyeri came to replace them. She was depthlessly beautiful and smart, She was strong in his eyes and so far from the interactions they have had, the most worthy of his time and company. Being around her put him at ease better than murdering and chewing on the flesh of another lion or someones lost cubs. As fate would have it he began to hear Inyenyeri's roars as she announced herself, bounce off of the Canyon walls. He lifted his head, strangely eager in ways and opened his wide maw, roaring out a very deep and rumbling response, showing he was waiting for her. His roar distinctly a bit excited and almost like it said her name in some carnal tongue. He waited for her, staying still was the best way for her to find him or the Caynon's rocky walls and obstructions would have them going in loops looking for one another.
As her roar was answered, her ears perked and her skin quivered. It was a deep, strong sound and she hurried her steps towards the canyons, winding her way through the rocks, following the path upwards along the stone walls to reach the higher plateaus where she knew Jioni liked to rest.
The other lioness often warned her not to get too close but they were just jealous; they were jealous that such a powerful fighter, the strongest in their pride, would care only for her. It made Inyenyeri feel special, to know that she could approach him when many others could not.
Her eager paws finally found him, as she rounded a corner and the rock walls fell back to reveal more of the sky. This truly was a beautiful place. But her gaze didn’t linger long on the sky, she was looking at Jioni, who even if she never saw the night sky again, as long as he was there, that wouldn’t be a problem.
Inyenyeri slowed her pace, giving a rumbling greeting as she approached. “Jioni,” she purred out his name.
Nefarious Muse
Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2025 5:35 am
Ruriska
As her roar was answered, her ears perked and her skin quivered. It was a deep, strong sound and she hurried her steps towards the canyons, winding her way through the rocks, following the path upwards along the stone walls to reach the higher plateaus where she knew Jioni liked to rest.
The other lioness often warned her not to get too close but they were just jealous; they were jealous that such a powerful fighter, the strongest in their pride, would care only for her. It made Inyenyeri feel special, to know that she could approach him when many others could not.
Her eager paws finally found him, as she rounded a corner and the rock walls fell back to reveal more of the sky. This truly was a beautiful place. But her gaze didn’t linger long on the sky, she was looking at Jioni, who even if she never saw the night sky again, as long as he was there, that wouldn’t be a problem.
Inyenyeri slowed her pace, giving a rumbling greeting as she approached. “Jioni,” she purred out his name.
Nefarious Muse
Jioni stood once he saw her beautiful frame and heard her radiant voice, Rising his mass onto wide paws and strolled toward her to greet her. He doesn't stand for anyone unless it is her, he doesn't greet anyone else either and the way he reacts to her is a very unique and special thing. He who does not get close to others, never lets his aggressive and lethal guard down for anyone, greets Inyenyeri by helping to close the gap with a relaxed posture and leaning his broad head down to begin a rub that started on her jaw and ended with a full body rub down her side, allowing his muscled side to rub along her perfect figure and him circling back around behind her. He groomed over her shoulder on the other side with his rough tongue for just a second or two,He enjoyed the taste of her fur, her scent and dare one say simply everything about her. He always carried a faint smell of blood in his thick and rather clean mane along with a cooled musk of his natural smell. No one gets to see this side of him, if he licks another lion it always makes them feel like dinner and they would be correct. He had a deep rumble like a purr in his big chest as he spoke to her, not often does he even talk to anyone outside of snarling out a challenge but he enjoyed speaking to Inyenyeri. "There you are, I was thinking about you all day today. I was hoping you would come to me, The sky is completely cloudless tonight." He contenued, "How was your day my dark lotus?" he asked, genuinely interested in how her day went. Jioni also found it very useful to find out what has been going on with hunting and other aspects of the pride.
It didn’t matter how many times she saw him, when he rose, she was always surprised by how large he was, how strong and impressive. Her paws flexed in anticipation of his greeting, claws digging into the rock. As she stepped to meet him, their bodies met, side by side, her smaller, lithe form against his own and she felt the warmth of him keenly.
When he’d finished licking her, she groomed his back, tending to his mane, enjoying the scent of blood that always seemed to cling to him.
“It’s indeed marvellous,” she purred, casting a glance skyward. She wondered, offhandedly, if the pridelanders realized how lucky they were that wherever they were on in their stupid plains they could see this. When those in the outlanders had to climb up to the tall canyons to get a full glimpse.
But the thought was brief.
“I was thinking about you too.” She rubbed her face against his and then dropped onto her back, rolling her legs into the air with a coy expression. “Oh my day was lovely. I have so much to tell you.”
She told him of the day's hunts, the squabbles between pridemates, the jealousies, the gossip, the backstabbing, those she knew were eyeing to move up in the ranks or challenge for a better position. All of it could be useful and Inyenyeri was particularly could at knowing what was good to keep in mind.
Nefarious Muse
Posted: Sun Aug 17, 2025 8:24 pm
Ruriska
It didn’t matter how many times she saw him, when he rose, she was always surprised by how large he was, how strong and impressive. Her paws flexed in anticipation of his greeting, claws digging into the rock. As she stepped to meet him, their bodies met, side by side, her smaller, lithe form against his own and she felt the warmth of him keenly.
When he’d finished licking her, she groomed his back, tending to his mane, enjoying the scent of blood that always seemed to cling to him.
“It’s indeed marvellous,” she purred, casting a glance skyward. She wondered, offhandedly, if the pridelanders realized how lucky they were that wherever they were on in their stupid plains they could see this. When those in the outlanders had to climb up to the tall canyons to get a full glimpse.
But the thought was brief.
“I was thinking about you too.” She rubbed her face against his and then dropped onto her back, rolling her legs into the air with a coy expression. “Oh my day was lovely. I have so much to tell you.”
She told him of the day's hunts, the squabbles between pridemates, the jealousies, the gossip, the backstabbing, those she knew were eyeing to move up in the ranks or challenge for a better position. All of it could be useful and Inyenyeri was particularly could at knowing what was good to keep in mind.
Nefarious Muse
He rather enjoyed having her to tend to the thick depths of his mane and enjoyed having her attention even more. He was naturally very clean for a male but her tending to his mane definitely made it easier, plus impressing her gave him a reason to groom himself regularly. As she spoke and gazed upwards his turquoise eyes stayed on her, watching the stars reflect in her pale golden eyes. In his opinion she was an image of sleek perfection and he was pretty much staring at her with a calm small smile on his muzzle when she leaned over and rubbed her face on his. His head and face were wide and somewhat velvety, he returned her gesture and it lit his dark and blood-thirsty heart in such a strange way to hear she had been thinking of him too. As she rolled onto her back at his paws and got that dark coy splendor on her face and began to speak of her day, he listened with keen interest. She was always good about information that was both useful and at times juicy, like cub meat still warm on the bone. He thought she was sublime in her art, hunting for prey and seeking the latest gossip and looking so good doing it. He laid himself on his stomach with his paws still under him and on the ground with her plopped there broadsided to him and started to groom the fur of her fit ribs and belly. His wide shoulders shook lightly as he chuckled at the mention of certain pride members that were gunning for new ranks and couldn't help but think them idiots. He was extremely judgemental of others in the pride and saw them as incompetent, especially when males stayed as hunters instead of using what they have more fittingly, just to stay closer to the females he would wager. He enjoyed how her fur carried the scents and tastes of her day, confirming who she had been in contact with, always monitoring for the flavor or scent of another male, That male would be his next targeted meal too. He spoke to her lifting his cannibalistic head, his bulk even while laying down cast a deep shadow on her in the moonlit night. "It pleases me that your day was delightful. I admire your mind, you are so much more intelligent than any of the other Lionesses. My day had an interesting happening among the usual training when I went for a drink. Had to eat me a Hyena, idiot creature thought he could drink from my pool of water. I brought part of it for you, if you want some. He was fairly meaty for a Hyena." He made mention in his deep tone, his teal eyes tilting in the direction just a few paces away where he had most of a mauled Hyena's shoulders and rib cage still left, glistening in the starlight with blood, that would explain the bloody flavor on him tonight. Though the Outlanders are allies with Hyenas, he will eat them just as he would his own kin, viciously and with complete enjoyment, relishing the sight of the last of their spark fade. He never shared any resource with anyone else, he was notorious for being one of those in the pride that would maul someone over his meal, or theirs for that matter, if he wanted it... But with her, he would share everything.
As she spoke, her words were punctuated by pleased purrs, happy to receive the grooming touch of his tongue. The other outlanders would probably call her crazy, if they ever saw her in such a position, on her back, completely vulnerable, allowing a known cannibal to touch her in such a way. But she was entirely unafraid, in fact, her eyes were growing heavy-lidded with relaxation.
Inyenyeri gave a little titter of laughter, stretching luxuriously and then rolling over onto her belly and then on to her paws. “Oh what a fool,” she said, mocking the hyena. “You’ve done him a favour, it seems. He’ll do the pride far better in our bellies, then alive, if that was the extent of his brains. To dare drink from your watering hole.”
Her tongue flicked out. “He does look tasty though. Thank you, my dear one. I will have a nibble.” The more food, the better. She wanted to remain strong, quick-witted and beautiful for him.
Jioni was the perfect catch. Handsome and doting. She’d do whatever it took to keep him. Who else in this pride cared to listen to her day and understood just how clever she could be? They all just thought she was pretty, dumb Inyenyeri. But that was what got them talking.
With a happy rumble, she chewed into some of the hyena shoulder. It wasn’t a meat she had every day, as they were usually off the menu, so this was an exciting treat, quite chewy but thick with flavour.
Nefarious Muse
Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2025 7:00 pm
Ruriska
As she spoke, her words were punctuated by pleased purrs, happy to receive the grooming touch of his tongue. The other outlanders would probably call her crazy, if they ever saw her in such a position, on her back, completely vulnerable, allowing a known cannibal to touch her in such a way. But she was entirely unafraid, in fact, her eyes were growing heavy-lidded with relaxation.
Inyenyeri gave a little titter of laughter, stretching luxuriously and then rolling over onto her belly and then on to her paws. “Oh what a fool,” she said, mocking the hyena. “You’ve done him a favour, it seems. He’ll do the pride far better in our bellies, then alive, if that was the extent of his brains. To dare drink from your watering hole.”
Her tongue flicked out. “He does look tasty though. Thank you, my dear one. I will have a nibble.” The more food, the better. She wanted to remain strong, quick-witted and beautiful for him.
Jioni was the perfect catch. Handsome and doting. She’d do whatever it took to keep him. Who else in this pride cared to listen to her day and understood just how clever she could be? They all just thought she was pretty, dumb Inyenyeri. But that was what got them talking.
With a happy rumble, she chewed into some of the hyena shoulder. It wasn’t a meat she had every day, as they were usually off the menu, so this was an exciting treat, quite chewy but thick with flavour.
Nefarious Muse
Jioni enjoyed how she purred when she spoke, her voice and her laughter were priceless to him in his own dark way. He nodded in agreement to her comment of the foolish hyena but her comment about better for the pride as food made him start thinking about something. It wasn’t a new thought just one with more possibilities now, one with her at his side. A pride.. The thoughts of how foolish their current pride mates are, so many are no better than wanderers, beggars and simple thieves. The Warlord wasn’t doing anything, no plans no movement, he was a fighter rank and no blood was being spilled for any good reason. The ranks are all uneven and he felt surrounded by either morons or wasted talent. He thought of a pride of his own, one where they would feed their hungers on the flesh of other prides, one where he would rule the males and his Dark Lotus would rule the females. Where rank wasn’t a choice as much as where the two of them felt a lion or hyena or even an elephant would serve best. With his pride Jioni would take the fight to the entitled and peace mongering Pridelanders and would rip them from their throne. He looked so very serious as he gazed upon her, watching her dine to her hearts content but looked so very serious and deep in thought. He wanted her to be by his side, an equally powerful matriarch to his might and cannibalistic patriarch. He wondered if she would, if Inyenyeri would go with him, start this pride and bare his cubs, giving him sons and daughters to rule over others. Gazing at her perfect pelt, he even thought of a name for the pride. He still laid there in silence but his eyes were giving away those deep thoughts but it was so hard to read the look on his wide face.
Inyenyeri peeked at him while she ate, searching his face, his expression. Even though she was used to him lapsing into silence, there was something new about this one, a deep thoughtfulness. Though nothing in his face gave away what it was, she could tell there was something on his mind.
She didn’t pry. Not yet. She continued to eat, taking her fill.
Then when she was done, she groomed herself, licking her paw and delicately wiping away the blood from her face. Only then, did she return to Jioni, settling down close beside him, their bodies touching. Head turned, her ears pricked up and a brow arched inquisitively.
“Your thoughts lay heavy, Jioni,” she purred. His tongue flicked against his chin.
Her expression welcomed him to speak, to open up to her, if he was ready.
Nefarious Muse
Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2025 10:13 am
Ruriska
Inyenyeri peeked at him while she ate, searching his face, his expression. Even though she was used to him lapsing into silence, there was something new about this one, a deep thoughtfulness. Though nothing in his face gave away what it was, she could tell there was something on his mind.
She didn’t pry. Not yet. She continued to eat, taking her fill.
Then when she was done, she groomed herself, licking her paw and delicately wiping away the blood from her face. Only then, did she return to Jioni, settling down close beside him, their bodies touching. Head turned, her ears pricked up and a brow arched inquisitively.
“Your thoughts lay heavy, Jioni,” she purred. His tongue flicked against his chin.
Her expression welcomed him to speak, to open up to her, if he was ready.
Nefarious Muse
Jioni watches her but after a while of her feasting, his eyes lifted upwards and he gazed deeply at the African night's unyielding star-sea. What would she say? How would he even put it? He felt a faint and unusual nervousness stir inside his deep set chest, a feeling he wasn't use to but it still didn't unravel his thoughts. He could just see it so clearly, so close that he could smell it in the cooling night air. There was no doubt in his mind that it was she who he wanted to be with, that it was her he had been waiting for. He had tried once, had a small and very short fling once, it felt so off-kelter and the female was just... Too sweet, too soft.. Not enough murder in her to keep him or even start feelings other than regret. He would eat those cubs if he ever saw them, the thought almost put a smile on his unreadable face. It's like for a moment he didn't notice that she had came back over to him until he felt the warmth of her ruthless form upon his side, his broad head tipped back downward to her, beholding her pale golden eyes and didn't look away from them. She licked his chin and mentioned his thoughts, giving him a welcomed feeling and her expression seemed truly interested. Murderers of the past be with me he thought to himself and raised up into a sitting position. He was such a big lion that he almost dwarfed her next to him but his posture was not one of intimidation, it was somewhat tense but not threatening. He had the most serious expression on his face and in those brooding turquoise eyes, his tone was it's usual deep sound but had a reverberation of something deeper, something more. He began to speak finally " Inyenyeri, I have had this thought for a long while now, but our nights together have made them.... Much more realistic. I realized that I am unhappy in the Pride we are in for several reasons. So much foolishness, so little action being taken and even though Muaaji seems to plot against the Pridelander lions, I see nothing actually being done. It has felt like sitting still on a piece of driftwood on a river with no current, when it should be moving forward." He pauses a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing, still a calm tone but there is a strange intensity in his words " I am the Prides only Fighter, there are no others, they are just content to hunt. If it weren't for you I would spend all of my days and nights completely alone in a sea of pointless faces, lions with no drive or no real direction to utilize them better. Inyenyeri, you have become my north star and have awakened feelings that I was not raised with words for, but dare I say.... Happiness... Sheer adoration and a vision of something more. Will you start a Pride of our own with me? Will you be my Night Mistress? Staying by my side and I always and exclusively at yours? Together we could bring something truly frightening to the Outlands and the Pridelands alike and our Pride would have more spine in it's back, more forward flow with you and I to rule them... To rule the night together. This is the vision that I see in my black heart but I can't see it without you there for you are the first and most important step." He did not seem like he would react in aggression to whatever her answer was, though a vicious beast he was not a brutish warthog about it. He wanted her to want it too and for her to have the freedom to choose without fear of him. Of all the lions in the world, he would never want her to fear him the way he relishes in the fear of others. He awaited her answer be in now or later, he would accept it. The starlit night and the moonlight hung in his dark pelt as it did hers, surrounding them in a quiet moment.
When he rose, Inyenyeri remained where she was, looking up at him, waiting ever patiently for his decision. She could see the thoughts moving across his face, though his mind, and wished she could fish them out like she would an eel out of a river, with the quick swipe of her paw. But there was no rushing whatever he wished to say, so she watched his brooding, serious, handsome face until finally, he spoke. Her name came first, always a pleasure, and then...
She listened.
Inyeneryi was attentive but otherwise expressionless, simply taking in his proposition, letting the words wash over her, run down into her veins and into her hard. For a long time, even after he had finished, she remained as calm as the night itself, eyes half-lidded, imagining their future together, a pride of their own, cubs at their feet, blood on their teeth, the world at their paws, a star-studded sky stretched out before them.
If anyone else had made this proposition, she would have laughed. But his strength, his devotion, made it not only possible but the only true path.
And he was right. The current outlanders were weak. Gossipy, barely scraping by, content to squabble with each other and grumble about pridelanders while being too scared to make any moves, scared to shed their own blood.
Not that it mattered. Even if they had been powerful, she would have cast them aside for Jioni. Even for a far less eloquent speech. And that had been quite eloquent.
A smile appeared, small and warm. Her eyes sparkled with a wicked delight as she rose to stand proudly before him. “And you, will you be my Night Master? For I shall gladly be your Night Mistress, to stand by your side, from now until my soul is claimed by the stars. I will share your vision,” she declared. “And together the night shall fear us.”
Nefarious Muse
Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2025 6:49 am
Ruriska
When he rose, Inyenyeri remained where she was, looking up at him, waiting ever patiently for his decision. She could see the thoughts moving across his face, though his mind, and wished she could fish them out like she would an eel out of a river, with the quick swipe of her paw. But there was no rushing whatever he wished to say, so she watched his brooding, serious, handsome face until finally, he spoke. Her name came first, always a pleasure, and then...
She listened.
Inyeneryi was attentive but otherwise expressionless, simply taking in his proposition, letting the words wash over her, run down into her veins and into her hard. For a long time, even after he had finished, she remained as calm as the night itself, eyes half-lidded, imagining their future together, a pride of their own, cubs at their feet, blood on their teeth, the world at their paws, a star-studded sky stretched out before them.
If anyone else had made this proposition, she would have laughed. But his strength, his devotion, made it not only possible but the only true path.
And he was right. The current outlanders were weak. Gossipy, barely scraping by, content to squabble with each other and grumble about pridelanders while being too scared to make any moves, scared to shed their own blood.
Not that it mattered. Even if they had been powerful, she would have cast them aside for Jioni. Even for a far less eloquent speech. And that had been quite eloquent.
A smile appeared, small and warm. Her eyes sparkled with a wicked delight as she rose to stand proudly before him. “And you, will you be my Night Master? For I shall gladly be your Night Mistress, to stand by your side, from now until my soul is claimed by the stars. I will share your vision,” she declared. “And together the night shall fear us.”
Nefarious Muse
As she stayed laying there and pondered, we was very patient. This was no simple and frivolous choice to make for her, and even though he was somewhat nervous, he held his calm and pleasant composure well. He watched her perfect face for a little bit before raising his eyes to the stars again, the breeze in his face and ruffling his thick deep mane. He hopes with all of his bloodlust and strength that she would say yes. That They would walk into the next day not just a King and Queen but as a mated pair. Though He was a tyrant for the most part, he had a dark yet poetic soul and was very intelligent, so yes his proposal was put in the best way he could fathom, it was the most important question of his lifetime and its answer determined his future. If she said no, he would more than likely never give up asking until she hated him. Upon that time he would leave the pride and walk alone, never being willing to try again unless it was her. The fact she didn't immediately turn him down or laugh at him which he would have expected, given her personality, was a glimmer of hope in her silence.
Then she spoke.. Instantly he turned his head and gaze upon her as he listened. She spoke to his twisted heart and her reply raised his blood like no other. She not only accepted his proposal but declared her dedication to his vision and desires as she rose to his side. Her words will always be engraved into his mind forever, the ones she spoke this night. After she had finished he leaned his head and rubbed his face on hers and stayed there, stayed close. It was so strange, most would not recognize him with how truly loving he was with her and only her, she held his evil heart in the pads of her paws and he responded with a deep and pleased rumble in his broad chest and throat. " Always, Until our souls hunt in the stars My Night Mistress. No matter what happens." His tail lightly coiled around hers as he gently leaned against her but not too hard, having a good bead on his weight and strength. She might even be able to feel the sheer emotional warmth and true depth that was radiating from him. It was happiness, love and resolve for their situation. He intended to provide the absolute best life for her and their cubs that a lion such as he could, with minimal eating of their cubs. On this night, to him, the stars shone the brightest he had ever seen, or perhaps it was his adrenaline and endorphin rush he was on but either way this night marked their beginning and he would cherish and honor it every year to come.
