Epyon - NovaCracker
&
Kipofu - Das Tor
&
Nasiha - Das Tor


There were advantages to being a Diplomat, despite all the work. Being able to experience new scents and the feel of different terrains were among them. Though...it wasn't really her duties as a Diplomat that had her traveling these days. No...right now, she was traveling to help Primitus. To gather more forces for him, to help rescue Bokoboko one day. The thought that they'd rescue her one day made her a bit sad, however. Happy, but sad too. She knew exactly why, but didn't want to admit it to herself. It wasn't right, after all.

"-pofu. Kipofu!" The blind lioness started out of her reverie and turned her head in the direction of her friend, the ratel who served as her 'eyes'.

"Were you saying something, Nasiha?" The ratel sighed.

"You looked troubled again. What's wrong?" Kipofu gave him a smile.

"Don't worry about it. It's nothing important."


Epyon moved deftly, scouting ahead while Rhine and Cacao rested, looking for something to take back-- food, fish, anything. Cacao was acting like a baby, and Epyon, which tolerant, was a bit put off, too. Hum.


Kipofu caught the unfamiliar scent first, ears perking up and foreward. "Nasiha..." The sound of the ratel's feet on the ground told her Nasiha had caught the scent too.
    
"On it." The ratel scurried forward, scouting ahead to see who the source of the scent was...whether it was friend, foe, or possible ally.


Epyon kept walking a bit longer before spying the ratel, and her face paled. s**t DEATH ON FOUR PAWS! She scrabbled, hiding in a buish paranoidly, waitying for the animal to pass. Food, good. Honey badger, bad.


Nasiha started sniffing about, frowning. There was someone around, he knew it. His nose didn't lie. And he wasn't about to let Kipofu get ambushed. Taswira and Set would skin him alive before killing him if that happened! He sighed when he caught a scent coming from the bush...and then Kipofu trotted up, not bothering to wait. "Anything?" Nasiha sighed.
    
"You couldn't wait...whoever it is has decided to hide."


Epyon squeaked, one paw reaching out before yanking Kipofu into THE BUSH once the ratel wasn't looking, the female visibly frightened of the female.

"What are you, nuts?!" She whispered. "Ratels are DANGEROUS and eat faces!"


Kipofu yelped, causing Nasiha to turn back, hackles raised and teeth bared. She'd been supposed to WAIT dammit! Kipofu blinked at the source of the voice, then shook her head. "Nasiha is only dangerous to people intending to hurt me or him. He's my eyes." If the paleness of her eyes wasn't a giveaway of her blindness, the fact she didn't seem to really focus on the other lioness was.


Epyon seemed unimpressed.
    
"What'd the little monster do, make you blind to begin with? I've heard and seen horrible things those little buggers do." Epyon hissed. "I was a pack of ten eat a whole lion in frive mimnutes once!"


Kipofu wrinkled her nose, and snorted. "I was born blind. And Nasiha is not like most of his kind. He's very kind and caring, if gruff at times." She raised her voice. "Nasiha, you can calm down. She means me no harm." The ratel took a moment to calm, but calmed.
    
"If you'd release my charge, please?"


"You can't prove he won't eat me." Epyon whimpered, hiding behind Kipofuy when the ratel spoke. EVILO.


Kipofu sighed and moved out, over to Nasiha. "She's terrified you'll eat her." Nasiha blinked, then wrinkled his nose.
    
"I don't eat felines. I'd much prefer having them as friends, rather than lunch. Something about intelligent or entertaining conversation."


"Ratels EAT lions." Epyon huddled away, ears pinning back.


Nasiha facepawed. "I. Don't. I am not my parents, nor my siblings. I LIKE my feline friends." Kipofu nodded.
    
“He only eats what a lion would." She smiled sheepishly. "Hell, were it not for him, I wouldn't be able to eat at all while out here."


"I bet you could. Your nose would help." She nodded, grooming a paw and twisting, eying the ratel. Uh huuuh.


Kipofu sighed. "Oh I've tried. And failed often. It got to the point where it was best for me to stop trying, especially with the position I hold in my pride. I'm better off not looking like a lost a fight with a gazelle." Nasiha nodded in agreement, and raised a brow at the magenta lioness. He wasn't going anywhere, and he wasn't a threat unless she decided to be one.


Epyon sweatdropped.
    
"Never thought of that." She blinked, shaking hersdelf out. Uh huh.


Kipofu shrugged. "It happens. So! I am Kipofu, a Diplomat for the Matembezi'wasakaji. And you are?" She smiled brightly, warmly. And that smile leaked even onto Nasiha's lips, the gruff ratel unable to stay that way around her.


"Epyon-- Oh, the Matembezi was were I was born before guided to my pride now."


Kipofu blinked, then perked. "Oh! Then we may have crossed paths before! I was taken there as a cub from my birthplace the Mwako'bi'Giza. Mother and Father felt a blind cub had a better chance of surviving with the Matembezi than the Mwako." She thought a moment. And then Nasiha spoke up.
    
"You're the sister that left, that Tamana has spoken of before, aren't you?" When they were home, they often visited with the green-maned lion. He was good company.


Epyon nodded.

 "Yes! He's my brother. And now, I'm on a journey with my cousin and a dear pridemate." She nodded happily.


Kipofu perked. "That's wonderful! Tama is one of my friends! I think you'll be pleased to know he has cubs now, though he's not yet brought their mother home. Your other brother, Emil...he's got cubs with my Aunt Tanwyn!" Kipofu adored her little cousins. "And your cousin Kyouko recently had cubs as well, though she refuses to acknowledge who the father is." Then again...no one was entirely surprised. Kyouko's mind worked in ways few could understand.


"I'm an aunt?" Epyon blinked, wary. "I'll haveto mind myself then. Aunt Shinigami has children herself, one is with me."
    
Cubs? Hopefully they never came to the Ardhi...


Kipofu nodded. "Sounds like Mioyo's line in general is doing well for themselves, no matter where they are." She giggled, and Nasiha nodded.
    
"One word of advice...if you go near the Mwako'bi'Giza, tread carefully in some matters. They lost the former Mwezi recently. With how close she was to so many of them, the loss is one that cuts deep."


Epyon nodded, blinking.
    
"Wait, what about my Grandmother? You never mentioned her." Epyon's ears went back.


Kipofu blinked. "Well...last I knew, she was well. Gaining in age, but well." Nasiha snorted.
    
"Your Grandmother is a stubborn old woman." He nudged Kipofu's leg, and the blind lioness turned quiet a moment, before sighing and nodding.
    
"Epyon...are you and those traveling with you warriors?"


Epyon sighed.

"Not skilled ones no, or we would be settling our issues in the AQrdhi easily." Epyon sat, looking down. "That's.. Why we're out here."


Kipofu drooped a bit. "I should have guessed. Ah well." She shook her head. "I give you a warning than. The God of Hate is on the prowl. He abducted Miss Bokoboko, and Primitus was gravely injured trying to rescue her." Nasiha looked at Kipofu a bit surprised. He'd never heard her call the god by simply his name. There'd always been a 'Mister' in front. So what had changed?


"Best not to tell Rhine. She's of the notion she's an angel of death." Epyon chuckled sadlyh.


Kipofu blinked. "Eh?" She frowned. THAT made no sense. "Well...I can certainly try to be quiet about it." It was a shame she would return to Primitus with no one to help again...They were finding fewer and fewer who could or were willing.


Epyon smiled a little, nosing her.
    
"Perhaps when the war in our pride fades... You could come to us then? You never know?" She groomed her.,


Kipofu smiled slightly. "Hopefully...the issue with Hate will be resolved soon." She could hope and pray, for Primitus' sake. "I had best be going. It was nice crossing paths with you. And I'm sorry Nasiha spooked you." When Nasiha was silent, she nudged her 'eyes'. The ratel grunted, then sighed.
    
"I'm sorry for spooking you."


"It happens. And.. My offer stands. They won't.. Risk telling me no." A sad look, though, Epyon turning to move quietly.


Kipofu nodded. "Thank you. I pray, when we both meet again, that our respective problems have found peace."


Epyon smiled, nodding and nosing her calmly, settling to move off.