Welcome to Gaia! ::

Najwa-Shula could not have been more happy with her new home. Many years of hard work had finally come together. She had a small, for now, but loyal pride that the hybrid would do anything for. Where their destinies took them from here would be totally up to them.

She had sent the hunters out en-mass, along with any who would help them, to gather enough food for a grand feast. The hunter's efforts were richly rewarded and the pride would eat well for several days. When all was prepared, Najwa-Shula called her pride into the clearing as the last of the sun faded behind the trees.

"Welcome! Welcome!" She called strongly to gather attention. The hybrid sat on a large fallen log so that she might see everyone and be seen. "Again welcome you who are like the shadows of the night. We breath, understand, and become like the night. The night whispers our new name. Isoba'Velius! We who walk slowly concealed."

She smiled with pride at those spread out before her. "I know we are young yet, but we will prosper and grow. We may not yet have many customs or festivals, but we shall create our own! Ones that are suited to us and help define who we are. I task you with presenting me or my Rúni with ideas if you should think of them. Where we go from here is entirely up to us. We don't have rules telling us what we may or may not do."

"But tonight we feast in celebration! For we are one with the night. Our hunters have done us proud and proved they can supply us. Now let us enjoy and mingle." Her first speech finished, Najwa jumped down to be on the same level with her pride mates and to mingle with them as well.

A night marked serval had sat at the Ammon's side throughout her speech. Miyako gazed quietly at the crowd assembled. Her partner had come a long way from the cub she'd helped raise. She had every right to be proud. It had been no small task she'd set herself. That it had been accomplished said much for her dedication. What interested her the most was the endless possibilities available to the pride at this point.

Would they stick to their ways they'd begun and remain elusive or step more out into the open. Miyako personally thought the former was better suited to them, yet they must have some interaction with the outside world. The direction would be up to their leader, and to this core group. She jumped down to join Najwa as she went to mingle.

The sunset marked lioness breezed into the clearing as if the setting sun had come to earth just for this meeting. It was the first official one of the new pride. Leto Eha peered around at the gathering with interest and ears perked. They had cohesion now. A backing. She settled herself in an open spot to invite others to approach her. As one of the Rúni she would be accepting ideas from them if they had any. She couldn’t wait to see what suggestions came in. Her sun filled eyes passed over the crowd, and she smiled at anyone who met her eyes.


A bird, nearly as bright as the sunset lioness, perched on her shoulder. Amitola’s bright blue eyes took in the festivities. There’d be plenty of fun times tonight. She tilted her head and murmured to her lioness, “do you think the familiars will have ideas too?” The avian was a bit of an oddity among the bird familiars, but she didn’t let that daunt her. She liked that they were so well encouraged here. Amitola knew if no one else did, she’d herself suggest a festival of some kind for the familiars. But what? she asked herself. Just for familiars, or should it include their partners? Maybe she’d ask the other familiars she saw here tonight.



Waimarie headed to the clearing as she heard the Ammon start the gathering. Her friend, Hye-jin, slithering along right beside her. The trainer found a clear spot and sat down. Finally all that hard work was over! With everyone getting ready for this, there hadn’t been many that needed training. So she’d gone to help the hunters. She knew their group had provided a good amount toward this feast. The hyena was eager to eat! But speeches first. She gave an excited yip, “Isoba’Velius!” She was proud to be a part of this. Hopefully she’d encounter the others she’d hunted with here.


Hye-jin moved easily and curled up beside the hyena. She could almost, almost blend in with her tail. Too bad it was so short. The snake peered around. It was truly a mixed bunch. She almost laughed at the easy excitement of the hyena. “Relax. It’s just getting started. I do hope someone brought back smaller prey.” There was no way she’d try to get her jaws around a herd beast, which she knew Waimarie’s group had mainly brought back large animals. Not that she’d expect anyone to feed her, but the idea was a feast where they could all enjoy their new found company.



Healer in attendance. Check. Thais strolled around a moment with her tail high in the air. These creatures were her responsibility now; to care for and tend their hurts. She highly expected her services to be needed later. For now she could focus on the gathering and feast. The wild dog listened to the short, but sweet speech. Basically it boiled down to they were one and needed. That suited her well. Speech over, she headed directly toward the food. She did however wave at a familiar hyena. After she’d eaten she’d go say hi. They really did make a good hunting team.


Emilija made her own way through the crowds. She was wildly independent and not willing to allowed herself to be too tied down. The healer wild dog amused her though. She liked the other’s humor. Healers could be weird. Once she saw Thais heading toward the food though, she quickly joined up. She wasn’t going to miss out on a chance of free food. Sadly there was no other jackals present for her to talk too, so this was good enough for now. Emilija did peer curiously at the hyena that got the wave. She’d of course heard the story of their hunting trip. It was full of ridiculously good luck.



It didn’t take Meltem long to arrive, but she was far from the first. In fact it appeared one of her cubs had beaten her. She didn’t try to rush right over to him. He was growing up and she had to remember that. The lioness greeted those around her warmly as she made her way through the crowds. The Ammon’s speech brought hope to her heart. Finally she greeted her son as she reached him. It was a bit surprising how far back he’d chosen to sit. “Is everything alright Povu?” She hoped no one would have a tummy ache or anything at the start of a feast. Although she’d never protest to helping someone, and she’d even seen the Eir wild dog among the group. So if anyone had problems there was plenty of help.



Mahina rode in style upon the ocean lioness’ back. Meltem had said it was to keep her safe from getting trampled upon by all those big feet. She bet it was just to show her off. Whatever the reason, she didn’t protest hard. She had a much better view up here than a forest of legs. If she stretched she could even see the Ammon sitting on her log. What a sight! The young serval peered around to see if her mother had arrived yet. However, she didn’t appear to yet. Of course she could just be hiding somewhere to. Mahina tapped her ride’s shoulder at the mention of food. Still growing, she was always hungry!

Povu didn't have to wait long before he was approached by his mother who was followed shortly by his sister, Itsaso. He stood to greet the two of them with smile, his tail curling forward to show his pleasure in seeing them.

"I'm fine, Mother." He replied to his mother's concerned question. "I was just waiting for the family to join the celebration." There, now it sounded like he was being considerate to his family and not antisocial to the others, right?
It would be fine.

To his sister, he bumped his head against hers and then grinned at her.
"Don't you know? It's the feast celebrating the pride's beginning! Where have you been?" He asked her with humor in his eyes. He suspected that Itsaso wanted to tell him and his mother all about her training and while he didn't envy her one bit for going out among the dirt and dust, he was feeling rather isolated from both his mother and sister for one notable thing.


He didn't yet have a familiar. He had chosen what sort of familiar he had wanted when he was a cub: a snake. However, it seemed snakes weren't as easy to come by as he may have previously thought and he was starting to wonder if he would ever get a familiar at all. He couldn't help glancing more than a little longingly at Mochni and Mahina from time to time. Would he not be allowed to become a proper Abungu until he got his paws on a companion? He began to fret, but flicked his tail and pointed his ears towards the feast.

"Shall we go dig in? I'm starved." He suggested, wanting to put his mind on other topics and soon.