Ilse Shannara - NovaCracker
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Haro - NovaCracker
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Uma - NovaCracker
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Shiran - Das Tor


Shiran stared at the LARGE pool of water in front of him. It was hotter and more humid than usual, and he was tired. He did NOT want to walk around. So...he took a deep breath and stepped out over the pool, sank down, and walked to the other end before climbing out, gasping for breath. Oh...THAT had been nice! He smiled and shook himself, grinning. Maybe he should do that more often when it was hot out! He took a deep breath and continued on, looking for his sister. Whether she liked it or not, he liked making sure his sisters were okay. (His brothers could fend for themselves easily.)

He froze when he caught an unfamiliar scent, however. Bright blue eyes narrowed as black ears went back and he stalked towards the scent. An intruder? Someone new to the coalition? Either way, it was best for him to investigate.


Ilse walked through the jungle, Miira's words heavy on her mind, neon green eyes straight ahead as she moved, silent. Someone out there was bound to be the leopards she saught. Somewhere.

Haro had been tracking the intruder since her arrival, eyes narrow and fangs bared, moving slowly as she stalked. The leopard smelled unfamiliar and the scent of lions was all over her fur. Haro didn't like it... And noone was bringing those demons onto HER land.


Shiran dashed into one of the trees and continued following the new scent from there. He resisted the urge to growl and give himself away. Whoever it was, a leopard by the scent, smelled of lions and other creatures. THAT was not good. At all. He got himself to a branch above and ahead of the intruder, a female, now that he could see her, and waited...Then dropped down so he'd land right in front of her.

"Do you know where you are." Normally, he was a gentleman. But...well, one couldn't take chances when the scent of lions was around.


Ilse squeaked, tumbling backwards in surprise. Haro smirked from hiding, moving in the trees to slip around her brother, smirking. Ilse wriggled to her feet, and cocked her head.

"The jungle? Forgive my manners... What are you? Are you a cheetah?"

Haro blinked, expression going from darkly smug to shock. Was she serious?!


Shiran was about to say something...and then stared at the female with a distinct 'are you serious?' look. "No. I am not. What makes you think I am?" He looked himself over. No...he still looked like a fit, well-fed, well-trained Warrior. "And you're on coalition lands." He had been expecting a lot of things, but not her question.


"Coalition? Oh, a military?" Ilse smiled, sitting. Haro hissed. "Of LEOPARDS."

Ilse blinked, and tilted her head.

"Are you sure he's a leopard?"


Okay. What the hell was up with this girl? "Yes. I'm very sure I'm a leopard. Born one, raised one." He sighed. "Who are you? And where are you from that you come in smelling like lions?"


Haro sat, nodding.

"That's right! That's right!"

Ilse tilted her head, then bowed respectfully.

"My name is Ilse Shannara. My homeland is the Ardhi'Mavringo'Patano." She smiled. "I'm a duchess... I was adopted very young by a kind couple of lions, and I've never seen others like me."

Haro's jaw dropped.


Shiran stared, wide eyed. KIND lions? And she'd never seen another leopard before?! If she hadn't looked sincere, he would have thought she was spinning lies. But nope. She didn't give off any signs of someone lying...He looked to Haro, then back to Ilse.

"I'm Shiran, and these are Usafi'tuku lands you've wandered onto." He looked at her closely. "Are you SURE these lions were kind? Since you've never seen one of your own kind?"


Ilse nodded softly, but sadly.

"The others of my kind live on out colonies. I'm the first of my kind to be a duchess, for my markings, and I'm expected to mate only of my own kind." She looked anxious, as if unsure of the idea.

"You're the first of my species I've ever met. My grandfather... He drove my fathwer away and my mother died searching for him. I'm only out this far because of a seer who said I'd find help with the cubs I'm expected to raise.. With hopes they can help unify my people."

Haro growled, ears pinning back.

"Lions are nothing more than--"

"Haro, mind your language. Sher's a guest." The princess emerged from her place in the bushes, standing firmly.

"But for hr safety she mustn't go further. Lakshamana may return any day, and he would kill any whom smell of lions, innocent or not." Uma smiled to Ilse.


Shiran listened to Ilse, still uncertain...and started when Uma emerged. Dammit! He hadn't heard the princess coming. But he nodded in agreement. "She's right. He wouldn't hesitate to kill you, even though you're one of our species." Hell, the b*****d was hunting his own SON. He looked to Uma. "What do you suggest we do?"


"She is a leopard and she needs help." Uma smiled. "Your father leftus for a lioness, and I'm sure he had cause. Maybe she has cause to live among lions to speak so highly. And after all... Our grandfather could well be wrong. She looks well."

Ilse blinmked, looking down.

"I suppose...?"

Haro grunted.

"Kind of chunky, chunky."

"Hey!"

"You can hunt, right?"

Ilse blinked.

"No. Aristocrats don't.. Hunt?"

Uma blinked and shook her head, smiling.

"See?"


Shiran suddenly felt rather protective. A female who couldn't hunt?! THAT set off all his 'manly' instincts. "Do you even know how to fight?" He halfway hoped he'd actually get a 'yes'. Because otherwise...UGH.


"I'm... I'm not a soldier. I'm a duchess." Ilse looked down. Had she done wrong? Was Mikira wrong? Qere all of her species like this?

Haro's jaw dropped again and she moved over, rubbing her.

"You poor thing! You've been left to remain like a cub! A cub!"

Ilse blinked at the affection nervously. Uma sighed.

"Not everyone needs to fight, but hunting is important. Beyond mice."

Ilse looked back down.

"I suppose you need to be taken to learn important leopard skills, though. Can you climb a tree? Can you stalk? You seem more lion than leopard. You need to learn. I'd be glad to teach you, on one condition."


Shiran made a rather pathetic, worried noise. He moved to sit beside Ilse, looking somewhere between annoyed and protective. "I'll help." And make sure she didn't get killed in the meantime. Geeeeeeez. The ONE lion-smelling female to come by...and she had to activate all his protective instincts.


"I go where my brother goes, goes." Haro nodded, sitting by Shiran.

"By the Princess' leave, of course, course."

Ilse felt Shiran close, and blushed softly. Uma smiled warmly, smirking.

"It is, because I'll come too. We can't return once we leave, we'll smell of lions. And I'm not leaving my cousins alone!"

Ilse blinked, then felt a hopeful smile. Others? Of her kind?

"My.. Brother can make sure you are well treated and comfortable..."

She offered hopefully. Haro smirked.

"Only after we give him a peice of our minds!"


Shiran nodded. "I know." It wasn't like they had much going for them anyways. Uma wasn't an heir, he sure as hell wasn't, and Haro wasn't. None of them had mates or cubs. "I agree on the 'piece of mind' bit. You should at least know how to HUNT. And climb a tree properly."


"I had noone to teachh me..?" Ilse blinked. Uma smiled, nuzzling her.

"You do now. Come, lead us.. to your family." She smiled.