[ORP] Inqina [Open; Cubs/Adolescents]

[SilverLutz]

"Nice to meet you," Sing said with a nod as Chiko introduced herself. She smiled at her sibling as the male headed over, laughing a little at their interaction. Her own siblings weren't here just yet but she knew that once they showed up they'd probably start teasing one another just like this group.

Quite soon even more cubs showed up and her heart began to race with excitement. There were so many new faces to get to know! A little chase soon erupted and she giggled as she ran after a few of the little lions, not sure who to tag or run away from. Either way it was fun and a nice distraction while they waited.

"Boys have the germs," she added with a laugh as she ran passed Musa. "It makes them grow too much hair on their heads!"

AstoriaFallen

Tanakako

It wasn't long before her two brothers made their appearance. Umlotha flicked her tail back and forth as she watched from a distance, not at all concerned with going over to join. She'd be with them all for an entire cycle of the sun, after all.

Bheko's smile made her roll her eyes a little bit, but she gave him an exasperated one back. As annoying as her siblings were they did know how to bring out the cub in her. She rose to her feet and padded over as Zuko arrived as well, the trio making a striking sight to be sure considering they were all quite large.

As soon as she got close enough to speak Bheko crouched as if to play with the other cubs. Lifting her head a bit she surveyed the mild chaos that was evolving before them. Was the whole trip going to be like this? Hopefully they'd get all their sillies out so they could focus on the task at hand.

"Don't run around too much. We're going to be walking a lot," she reminded her brother quietly. "You'll get tired and start to whine before the sun even sets."

Kaliforneum

 

[Kaliforneum]

Bheko stuck his tongue out at Umlotha. He wasn't going to get tired. He was too excited to be tired! Why, he felt like he could go running about for days on end. One day wasn't going to tire him out, even if he ran all the way to pride borders and back first. Wherever those were. He assumed they were far away. "You're just saying that cause you can't catch us either!" The cub teased.

He bounced back as Chiko dashed forward. His paws seemed to be far too large for such a dexterous movement, and he found himself tripping over them and stumbling.

"Yeah, that's Zuko!" Bheko confirmed, getting his balance back. "But we're still outnumbered though. We need reinforcements!" The pale cub growled playfully, swiping absently at the girls in front of him as he maneuvered himself closer to Musa.

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Tanakako

SilverLutz

AstoriaFallen

 

[Excited Apathy]

It wasn't so long ago that Eowyn had returned from her birthing, over half a dozen wobbly-legged cubs in tow. They'd scarcely had time to recover from the trip back, in fact, and the new mother worried about letting them out of her sight so soon for so long. But this was tradition, an important one to the pride...and she had deemed them strong enough to make the hike to the main body of the pride. They could do this, she just had to remember that. Still, her eyes kept moving to each one in turn as she led them to the gathering, repeatedly checking that none had managed to wander off somewhere else.

Padding along on paws that didn't quite seem to want to go where she sent them, quite literally in her mother's shadow, was Mhloshana. Even in that relative shade, there was a bit of a squint about her eyes. It didn't seem to slow her down, though--her tail was twitching to and fro with anticipation. As the closed the remaining distance she suddenly bounded forward, not knowing who was chasing whom but intent on joining the stampede nonetheless.

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Skye Starrfyre

Safaia

mouselet

Meepfur

Talencia

Andranis

 

[Tanakako]

"Do too!" He replied to his sister, grinning at Chiko before looking outraged at Sing's suggestion. "We do not!" He called back firmly, though lifted a paw to touch the top of his head protectivly. Suddenly realising that his sister was bareing down on himself and Bheko, he gave a loud yell and bolted away from her, calling to both Bheko and Zuko to follow. "CHIKO IS IT!" He yelled loudly as he scampered away from his raging sister, a hige and silly grin on his face. This was so exciting! So many cubs to play with!

"Come on Gede!" Despite his claim that all girls were germy, he still wanted to play with them. After all, they were his siblings and friends. Glancing at Sing, already chasing them, and the dark cub Umlotha he grinned. This was already a good day!



The furry pile wiggled and rolled, the cubs gradually revealing thselves as they extracted limbs and managed to find their own space. The massive pile of gold, tan and brown seperating into seven young bundles. Now able to walk, albeit unsteadily, the three adults left them to tumble and play, safe in the corral made of their larger bodies against the rockface. One, the gold and tan cub Ilanga had carried in her mouth, squirmed free and pulled herself to her feet, blinking wide eyes a match for her mother's at her sudden freedom. Turning she pounced on the nearest sibling, a dark brown girl with white swirls. Her victim eliciting a high-pitched yelp before twisting to sink her tiny fangs into the golden cub's leg.



Ishaka'sil grinned wide and excited as she raced past the slower cubs, determined to get into the play. So they were playing tag? That was fun! Spotting a brown cub up ahead with white markings Ishaka darted towards her, shotting past and lightly tapping the girl on her rump. "It!!" She shouted at Sing as she flew past. Yes having two chasers would cause confusion, but that was what Ishaka liked best! Who really cared about the rules when there was fun to be had!

SilverLutz

Cashile's eyes widened as the cubs up ahead started running about like crazy things, yelling and calling out to each other. She didn;t mind a good game, but it was always with just her two sisters, there being only the three of them in the litter, her, her near-identicle twin -their only difference being which way round their eye colours were- and her red sister currently beside her. Hesitating she let Sizani move in front of her.
The red cub's ears were pricked, watching the play with rapt attention. One in particular caught her eye. it was another red cub, though he was male, he looked eerily similar to her. Was he a half-sibling? Or did he have firekin in his blood like she did? Eager to find out she started to trot forwards, hesitating onlu long enough to call back over her shoulder for her sister to follow before she threw herself into a run, chasing after the red boy cub. "Hey you!"

Quaji

((omg So many cubs and litters, I'm getting lost. XD )  

[Skye Starrfyre]

Zithulele lingered close to his mother, even as Mhloshana sprang forward. There were so many new sights and sounds and it was so much to take in all at once. He wiggled as though sorely tempted to chase after his sister, but... What if he just stayed put quietly instead?

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Excited Apathy

Safaia

mouselet

Meepfur

Talencia

Andranis

 

[SilverLutz]

The brown cub snickered softly as Musa touched his tuft of fur. Germs were one thing, but she knew she had nothing to fear of catching them. She'd never seen a girl with a mane before and they rubbed up on males all the time, both accidentally and on purpose. Boy germs only stayed on boys.

A quick poke to her rump made her yelp in surprise. She jumped a little in the air and watched a blue tailed cub dart by. "Ah! You're gonna be it next!" she said as she charged forward, cubs every which way. She honed in on the brightly colored tail, though, not getting distracted by those that fled. Wasn't someone else it too? Maybe they should team up to corner someone!

Tanakako

Musa was goading her brother to play and he in turn was trying to get a rise out of her, but Umlotha held her ground. She turned her nose to the air as she sat down, curling her tail around her legs to express her disinterest in the insanity before her. She wasn't about to get caught up in that!

....even if it did look a little fun. Just a little.

"You go play," she said disdainfully to Bheko. "I'll be saving my energy for the walk."

Kaliforneum

 

[Kaliforneum]

"Grumpy paws," The cub grumbled towards his sister, turning his nose up in the air just as she was. If she wanted to be boring, then she could be boring, but Bheko was going to have tons of fun and play. It wasn't like the walk was going to be that long.
Right?

Bheko dashed back and forth as the other cubs were racing around, a confusing of excited laughter and dust. The fact that there were now two chasers was just unthinkable! "Wait, who is it?" The cub asked loudly, pausing for a moment to stand still and look about wildly.

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Tanakako

SilverLutz

AstoriaFallen

Excited Apathy

 

[Tanakako]

Landing with a thud, his sister on top of him, Musa let out a loud yell, more in startlement than pain thought. Twisting he punted his sister up and off, quickly scrambling to his paws. Noticing Bheko also on the ground thanks to his apparently heavy sister, he grinned at the other boy's question. Rule number one of Tag, never ask who is 'it'. "You are!" He yelled back, already turning and scampering away, determined not to be tagged, though spotting Chiko out the corner of his eye he veered towards her, colliding with a thump and sending them both flying. Payback for her sitting on him a moment ago!

Kaliforneum

Ishaka laughed merrily as she ran, enjoying the game greatly. Suddenly realising the girl she had tagged was chasing after her she let out a loud yell in a taunt and glanced back. "Bet you can't catch me!" Putting on a burst of speed she turned forwards again only to narrowly avoid colliding with Musa as he and his sister went flying past, very nearly taking her out with them. "HEY!" She yelled in outrage. "WATCH IT!" Recalling she was still being chased she dived round two more cubs, looping back and heading directly for Umlotha.

SilverLutz

Cashile watched her red sister fly off, apparently chasing the red boy who looked a lot like her. Well, they were probably related, as everyone in this pride seemed to be to Casi. Looking about she wondered just how many of these cubs she was related to. She had no idea that her half siblings were actually the litter who looked the least like her, and of which two of them were busily causing mayhem and chaos in the middle of the Tag game. Or that the swirly legged girl was the half-sibling to the pile of youngest cubs being guarded by the three near by lionesses, though the two litters did look quite alike as Jasiri's swirls were pretty unique.
Shaking her head in total confusion Casi cautiously moved forwards, wanting to join in but slightly awed by she sheer amount of energy the other cubs were showing. It looked a dangerous game of Tag...



Unaware of their older half sibling running around nearby, the two girls were locked in their own little fight. The golden cub yelling with plaintive cries as her darker sister refused to let go of her paw, and when she did, started heaving and pushing herself up on top of her more submissive sibling. Jaila, the golden cub who had accidentally started the little fight, yelped and whined, begging for her mother to save her as Makhosa pawed at her roughly in protest, having only retaliated to being pounced on. Ilanga let the two cubs struggle, though she kept a sharp eye on them to make sure it didn't get too rough. Though they were still too young to do any real damage to each other and their cries sounded far worse than their rough play actually was.  

[Neon Fly]

You remember how I showed you to keep after your own cubs, Njalo?

Ah-huh! The freckle nosed lioness bobbed her head enthusiastically for her best frriend, Umama Simosihle.

It's important that you keep that trick in mind. It will help you during the Inqina. I know Umama Ukwazi will be in good company with you at her side. Remember that the mothers are trusting you to care for their cubs as if they were your own, Njalo.

Still nodding her head with a goofy grin, causing her forelock to flop recklessly and fall across one eye, the cheerful gesture paused abruptly at the sober words of the dust colored female. Head canting to one side in confusion. ...they are, Nja's own, Sisi.

Njalo'sasa was certain Simosihle worried too much, her large, heavy paws plodding easily along as she made her way to the spot where the other lioness had told her the cubs would be gathering for the Inqina. She had also mentioned that the golden Umama would be late in arriving as she checked the landscape to make sure the trip would be safe one last time before their departure—a safety measure given the fiasco from the last trip.

Large and powerful, the huntress moved with an easy grace, thick muscles gliding easily beneath the rich mantle of dark fur that draped across her topline. Gentle, doting eyes watched with giddy amusement as she trotted up on the action. Watching the chaos unfold. There were already so many here!  

[Kaliforneum]

Gah! His mistake. He shot up to his paws as Chiko rolled off of him and darted away, spending a moment to give Musa a betrayed look. Weren't the boys supposed to stick together? Well it was payback time now!

Bheko squirmed, ready to pounce on Musa and his sister as the collided into each other once more, easy targets, but out of the corner of his eye he noticed a pale tan cub fretfully watching on the edge of the chaos. It seemed like she wanted to join in, but was unsure of something. What better way to join the game than be forced into, right? The pale cub whipped around and darted towards Cashile. Bheko wasn't going to be it for long!

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Tanakako

SilverLutz

AstoriaFallen

 

[Tanakako]

Paws shifted on the ground as Cashile stood, watching her sister as she hailed the red boy before the chaos of the game caught her attention again. Ears pricking as she watched two cubs collide, evidently siblings by the way they yeled at each other, and a flash of blue darting about with another swirl-patterned cub on her heels. The sudden appearance of a pale cream boy out of the madness made Cashile squeak, automatically backing up as he came running directly at her. "Ah!" She cried, ducking and covering her head, convinced he was about to smash directly into her, but all she felt was his paw slapping her shoulder before he was off again, running in a different direction.

"Hu?" She gaped after him, before turning back to see the racing cubs all scampering away from her. "Oh!" She had been 'tagged'! Unable to resist the temptation to be involved Cashile jumped forwards, at first running slowly, trying to pick someone to go after, but then the white cub caught her eye again. Putting on some speed she raced after him. "Come back!" She demanded with a breathless giggle as she chased him.

Kaliforneum

The three lionesses settled about the pile of scuffling, squirming and squalling cubs all looked up as Njalo approached. Ilanga's expression a warm welcome while Sanele positively beamed. "Nja!" Sanele called, tail curling in pleasure as she half-rose into a crouch, though seemed to recall herself and hesitated before settling back down on her belly. The 'corral' they had made of their bodies wouldn't work if she left her spot, and then they would spend the next half turn of the sun chasing down Ilanga's amazingly adventurous cubs. Who despite their tiny legs and fat bellies did indeed seem to get about remarkably well, and would soon find various hiding places if left alone for even a few moments.

At her side Ilanga waved a paw at the bongo-marked female, sending a warm smile towards Njalo despite her obvious tiredness, for the usually bright and sunny Cinga looked like she needed a long nap somewhere quiet. Though her new motherhood certainly agreed with her, judging by her vibrant grin.

Maditah, a busisa in the pride and less familiar with its members, though she was beginning to know more faces than not, also waved at the infamous Umzingeli female. Njalo was a veritable celebrity among the pride, with her bubbly and unique personality, uncanny instincts at hunting, being the one to find and bring back their newest Umholi, and her latest triumph, accepting and raising two blue lusizi girls apparently sired by Nja's own son Laini'hua.

Neon Fly

 

[SilverLutz]

It seemed the girl with the blue tail noticed Sing chasing her specifically. As they zoomed around she noticed a few other cubs had been tagged 'it' and she wondered if soon everyone would just be chasing one cub! That would be kind of funny. Hopefully it would be the fastest one so the game could keep going.

"I'm gonna get ya!" she called out, closing in on the cub with a laugh. "Watch out!"

Umlotha watched as her brother went off to play with the other cubs, but she remained seated at a distance. These were all lions and lionesses her age she thought to herself as they ran around. They'd grow up together. When would they realize that running around and wasting energy wasn't good? She was older than some of them, that was true, so perhaps they were still thinking like the cubs they were. She had to admit not long ago romping and playing with her brothers had been the only thing she wanted to do. But now that she was getting older it was becoming more apparent why the adults didn't do the same.

She focused on one cub that was charging towards her who didn't seem too intent on changing her direction. She lowered her head and pressed her ears back, tiny teeth and claws showing. She wasn't in the mood to play. Hopefully the cub would understand and leave her alone.

Tanakako

 

[Neon Fly]

Dark ears rounded toward the group off in the distance. Close enough to watch the action, but just far enough to be out of the way, a smile beaming at the sound of her name. Sane!

Njalo called back, veering in her path toward the trio—which evidently meant passing through the tumbling, yowling fray of cubs. Careful of where she placed her paws as one slipped under her belly and another weaved between her legs, too busy chasing one another to pay much attention to her, golden eyes made sure that the Umama had not arrived yet before settling with Sanele, Maditah and Ilanga's new litter. Once Ukwazi arrived she would have to be attentive, but there was time yet for her to socialize.

Sliding her paws over Sanele, the solitary huntress half lay across the female's garnet back, leaning into the ring of bodies to gaze with quiet admiration at the beautiful little ones. Jasiri would be proud. Such a big litter! Keeping track of them will only get harder!

She admitted with a laugh, remembering the difficulty she'd had keeping track of her own sizable litter some time ago. Even though there had only been two of them and even with their bright colors, even Laini's daughter's had proven a challenge. Cubs were always a good way to keep busy in Njalo's opinion. Looks like Illy has plenty of help though!

Purring at Maditah and Sanele, her eyes skimmed over the wriggling bodies with a nostalgic smile.

Tanakako