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 Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 10:19 pm
 The Nightplains was still a fairly new pride but they were quickly growing in both infamy and members, and at the centre of it all sat Inyenyeri. Her mate, the Night Master, was the figurehead, the muscle, the power. He’s the one the others bowed to out of respect and fear, knowing that on the other side of his displeasure was his teeth and belly. But it was the Night Mistress who dealt with the intricacies and the politics, who made sure the pride was running smoothly so that her darling Jioni was never wanting for food. There would always be a fresh carcass when he desired and no silly squabbles for him to deal with. He could focus on whatever he desired and she kept everything else in check. The canyon was quiet as Inyenyeri padded out her cave into the dusk. Some were still sleeping, waiting for night to truly begin and others were out on the hunt. There was a checklist in her mind and one member was missing from it. Nyama. He hadn’t taken a siren with him, so he wasn’t hunting. Where had he wandered off to? Her curiosity piqued, as she stalked the canyon she was on the lookout for a familiar bloodied dark pelt.
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 10:49 pm
 Nyama was so tired, he'd been traveling back to the night plains to report on what he'd witnessed. He hoped that he wouldn't be questioned on it, but his hopes weren't high. He had managed to catch an unsuspecting rogue out on the way home - a peace offering to the pride who may have noticed his absence. It was not a clean kill, his brutalization had caused much of the gore to seep out on the journey home, but while the entrails fallen behind, there was still plenty of meat on the body he carried with him, and he wore his pelt like a cape, draping paws as though they were laying perfect atop him in an eternal wrestling match. When he saw the canyon that marked his home, he breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted little more than to return to his den, kick out any lions who had made a home in it, and sleep for as many days as he could before he was woken again. Instead, what - or rather, who - he spotted as he drew closer was the easily recognizable Night Mistress. Oh... He was surely in trouble now. " Greetings, Night Mistress." He said and turned slightly to present the body draped over his back. " I bring a meal to those of our number who might find nourishment within it." He informed her, his tone staying respectful, though an edge of a yawn kept threatening to overwhelm him. " I intend to deposit the body in the main area of the camp, unless you want me to deliver it to your den specifically?" He offered, hoping this might rid him of a longer conversation.
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 11:21 pm
Ah, and there was the exact lion she was thinking of - how convenient. And he’d brought a gift. That was enough to soften any ire she might have felt from his undisclosed absence, letting her curiosity take over instead. Inyenyeri had paused in her tracks, letting him finish the approach and display his catch for her perusal. She gave it a cursory glance. It was an inelegant kill, the meat quite the mess. But that made no difference once devoured. “The main camp is fine,” she replied after a moment, her tone dismissive. Her golden gaze had shifted to his face, and she smiled, with just a little flash of teeth. “So where have you been, Nyama?” Her voice was pleasant but there was clearly no removing himself from the conversation any time soon. “You smell interesting.”
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 11:30 pm
Nyama had the sense not to make any sudden movements in front of the leader of the pride. It would do her no justice to call Inyenyeri a co-leader, any lion with sense could see she was the mind behind the malice. So he let his paws tingle with fleeing anticipation as he was questioned by the Night Mistress. " I went chasing a rumor." He replied. " I understand my job as a butcher is to hunt the living, but sometimes I yearn to hunt information, too." He continued, hoping to provide a viable explanation. " I found myself in a curious place, but ultimately left unsatisfied, as tends to be the way of gossip: it does not fill empty bellies." He inclined his head to the lady. " I can tell you of my journey, if you've found yourself hungering for a story, rather than the meat I carry with me." He offered her at last before bending his head, risking breaking eye contact with her to sniff at his pelt. He could not scent the mist that clung to his pelt, nor the ghostly strands that once tangled in his claws, over the heavy scent of blood from the body on his back. " What do you smell on me? My nose is clogged with the clotted blood of the corpse, I'm afraid." He added, curious to know, as he shifted his gaze back to the starry pelted lioness.
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Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2025 1:45 am
“A rumour,” Inyenyeri repeated, arching an elegant eyebrow. After his explanation, she stepped closer, nose to his cheek, taking in a deep breath. His space was also hers and he would be a fool to balk at her coming so close. She sniffed delicately, tongue tasting the journey on his pelt. Yes, there was blood, much of it. But other lions too, and dust and curious places. “Hmm,” she hummed, stepping back.“Yes, I would like to hear this story.” She didn’t answer his question, simply began walking away. “Dump that for the others. I’ll be waiting in the usual spot.” The usual spot was a particularly comfortable rock ledge that overlooked the main hub of the canyon. Inyenyeri had claimed it as her own, covered it in old pelts and from there she plotted and planned and held court to any who wished to speak to her. It was here she came to rest and wait, as the canyon sunk deeper into shadows.
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Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2025 12:34 pm
Nyama inwardly sighed. He'd done it now - he was in for an audience with the Night Mistress whether he wanted one or not. Still, there were worse things. She could've tried to eat him, had she decided his reply hadn't been enough outright. Sure, that was more likely her husband's demeanor, but even lionesses had their rough days. I suppose I should be lucky, then. He thought as he dipped his head dutifully and padded off to drop off the meal on his back. What would be worthy enough of her to tell her about? I didn't find much about the others who had accompanied me, I should've made more of an effort. He thought, but how could he have known what he would encounter, truly? He sighed outwardly this time, through his nose as he let the corpse slid off his shoulders and onto the ground, where any of his pride mates could come snap at it. He then scanned his surroundings, thinking briefly of running off and hiding - he could get away with that for all of five minutes before he'd be dragged to the open by the tail to be devoured alive, he thought with a huff. It's a lion eat lion world out here. He thought and made his way up to the canyon perch where he knew that the Night Mistress held court. When he got within some distance, but far enough to still have it be called respectful, he stopped and politely called. " May I approach, Night Mistress?" Far be it from his mind that he should be rude, even though she'd been the one to invite him to begin with.
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