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 Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 10:24 pm
In the shadows of the cave, where the red light of the moon can barely reach, the ghost seems to grow quiet, regarding them, listening to their pleas. Though only one has listened to her demands, the rest are left in her eerie presence, waiting for some response, hoping she seeks something more than their demise. The echoey nature of the ravine walls picks up the soft growl that rumbles forth from the pale wisp, and maybe that signifies her displeasure. That despite all the warnings, the cursed land full of death, you have doggedly following the whispers of a rumour and found yourself here and are refusing to yield. Is this your grave? Another skeleton added to the many that litter these lands, just bones to be placed in circles for others to find many years to come. And then - A sigh. Deep, weary and oddly alive sounding? The figure steps from the cave, her steps almost silent but not entirely so, pale as a ghost but apparently very real and very annoyed. “What are you talking about? Put my body to rest?” The lioness snaps, approaching the group, pale blue eyes narrowed. “Why did you even come here?” She shakes her head, exasperated. “I kept trying to get you to leave but nooo here you are. I don’t know how many rumours about hauntings I have to spread to get everyone to leave me alone.” She sits, plopping back with yet another sigh. “And now I suppose you won’t leave without an explanation. This," she motions with her paw, "is the ancestral land of my pride. Well, it was a pride. I’m the last one left. Many died of a terrible illness. Their remains are still here, mostly. The others who survived left long ago. But I remain; the last caretaker.” It’s here that sorrow and loneliness flickers across her features. “I’ll answer any questions you have but first - can we leave the gravesite of my family?” She lifts herself up witha grunt. “Come on. I know a shortcut. We can catch the one that actually listened to my request.” The not-ghost lion doesn’t wait for a response and refuses to reply to any questions until you follow her into one of the caves. It’s a tunnel that winds through the earth but is clearly a shortcut as it ends at the start of the ravine, the entrance hidden where none of you would have noticed. You're back out on the plains and the moon is beginning to sink. It's been a very long night. Quote: [Hello folks! I've popped the ending here and this is now open for anyone to ask questions or get further character development! There is absolutely no requirement to take part, no stress at all. Just popping this here in case anyone did want some extra closure!]
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 11:19 pm
 Nyama wasn't satisfied by how this wild chase had gone. As he stalked across the plains, the moon sinking towards the horizon, he recounted what he'd encountered. Five other lions, of whom he hadn't gleaned much information from nor had he observed any particular insights, like if they were rogues or pride lions. They'd traveled through mist to come across a bone circle. After the circle, they found an old burrow and Nyama had gotten his claws tangled up in some gore. Then they came across the watering hole, moved through a ravine and found the ritual stone. He closed his eyes and paused, remembering the roars with a shudder. There was something wrong with that place, even though he couldn't put it to words. And then, of course, there was her. The ghost lioness that asked him to leave, and he'd obeyed without a word. When a lioness tells you to leave, she means business. And if a ghost lioness was telling him to leave, he certainly wasn't going to stick around to antagonize her. So, he'd left, and now he had to come up with some reliable reason for why he'd been gone from the pride's lands for so long. He kept his ears perked, of course, in case he could hear the screams of the dying lions he'd come out here with. It would be a sign that he would need to pick up the pace, though pride would prevent him from running until the last possible moment. Ruriska Feel free to have your mystery lioness approach Nyama! He may be on his way out, but I would love him to get some interaction with the pale lady before his final retreat!
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Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2025 11:38 pm
Chayse was shocked to see that the "ghost" was in fact not a ghost but a living, breathing lioness. She felt a pang of guilt that she had taken part in the adventure that had invaded the lioness's pride's lands; her home. She watched as the lioness, seeming tired and weary from her night of haunting, led the group through the shortcut. She followed along quietly trying to form words to say to the lioness but nothing seemed right. They had disrespected the resting place of an entire pride. It seemed an "I'm sorry" wasn't good enough. Finally they reached the plains where the night had began. Chayse turned to the lioness, meeting her eyes. She wanted to ask questions about her life, her pride and what happened but she held her tongue. She decided a simple apology and thanks were all she could offer. "I know it probably won't mean much, but I am sorry for intruding on your lands. Now that we know the truth, maybe we can deter others from coming here. Thank you for showing us the way out."
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 6:35 pm
The pale lion regarded Chayse for a moment and then sighed. “It’s fine. I’ve been hanging on to the past for a long time. I had hoped to discourage visitors from getting so far and it had worked for a while but eventually someone was going to do it anyway.” She looked back at the cave they’d come from, lost in thought for a moment. “These lands,” she began again once that moment had passed, “aren’t very friendly ones, nor was the pride who lived here, if we’re being honest. But it’s still my home.” She looked tired, as if the weight of the dead was on her shoulders. “Tell them you found a ghost, if you want. Tell them she still haunts this place.” For how much longer, the lioness didn’t know. “Ah look, your clever companion,” she said suddenly, pointing her nose towards Nyama as he exited the ravine and seemed to be hightailing it out of there. “He had the right idea. Though it is weirdly sweet, the rest of you wanted to ‘put my soul to rest’. I was shocked. That’s never happened before.” belloblossom She wouldn't specifically approach him but she is mentioned him if he choses to notice! <3
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 8:11 pm
Chayse acknowledged the lioness with a nod. She felt empathy for her. She thought that she might be lonely here but her request for them to leave kept Chayse from offering to stay. She did wonder who she was. "And does that ghost have a name?" she asked. "If we are to tell your story, we should know your name, or the name of your pride."
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Posted: Fri Oct 24, 2025 9:42 pm
The lioness seemed to struggle for a moment, clearly torn on whether to answer but eventually a name was uttered. “Muzimu,” she said. “That is what I was named. As for the pride, I doubt many would remember it. We kept to ourselves but there are surely some remnants of my kin still wandering the lands, those who left and lived. If you ever see one, tell them the memory of the Duskwalkers still remains.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 5:50 am
"I'm glad to meet you Muzimu, my name is Chayse." She paused to think. "I don't recall hearing of the Duskwalkers, but there may have been whispers about a pride who had disappeared. It's a sad story, but maybe there are some of your pride still roaming the lands." The sky had started to lighten now with the first signs of dawn. Chayse yawned loudly and realized she'd been awake all night. "I think it's time for me to go. I'm long over due for a nap and a snack." She turned to go and stopped. "If you're ever looking for a new home or just a friend, there are many prides who would welcome you. I'm currently seeking my own place to call home, but for now I'm on my own and that's okay. I know I'll find somewhere that I fit in eventually, but I'm enjoying new adventures and meeting new lions."
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Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 6:03 pm
It was strange to hear her name spoken by another. It had been so long. “If they are still out there, they’ll never come back but at least something of us remains among the living. Even after we are forgotten entirely and our bones crumble to dust.” Such a morbid tale yet Muzimu spoke matter-of-factly. She too looked towards the sky and nodded. “Yes, you should leave now. These lands aren’t as haunted as the night made it seem but it is still unpleasant to strangers. I’m surprised so many of you drank from that poisoned waterhole.” Her brow arched slightly, silently questioning that level of intelligence. “Thank you... Chayse.” The other lion was surprisingly nice. Someone she would have liked to call a friend under different circumstances. “I don’t... know if I’m ready for that yet.” She’d been here for so long. She’d been young when the sickness had arrived to take her family and knew nothing else. Yet she had to consider, speaking to another lion for the first time in many, many moons had awakened a longing in her. “But,” she said slowly, looking at the dawn, “maybe the time is approaching for me to lay down my burden and move on.” A hint of a smile emerged. “Farewell Chayse, safe travels. I hope you find a place to call home someday.”
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Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2025 6:20 pm
Chayse cringed sheepishly at the mention of the poisoned water. "Yea, that wasn't my brightest moment." She chuckled at herself. Her stomach still didn't feel back to normal, but she felt much better than before. "I'll make sure to avoid any more water on my way out." She smiled at Muzimu and bowed her head slightly. "Farewell to you and I hope someday you can rest and rid yourself the burden to protect these lands. That will only happen when you are ready and I think it is a noble role that you take upon yourself." She left then, her eyes on the horizon as the sun rose giving light to the once dark haunted lands. She saw them now with new eyes and a new respect for what had happened here. Any of the other lions who had come along for the adventure were either long gone or off doing their own thing now. She wondered if she might be able to catch up with Ananse. She wanted to tell him about the ghost that he didn't get to meet. Maybe someday she'd run into him again. [last post for me]
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