Welcome to Gaia! ::

Mteuli moved along through the rocky area with careful paws. He was used to traveling across this part of his home, but that didn't make him careless. He kept a close eye on his companion, wanting nothing to happen to her. He didn't believe the path to be dangerous, but he couldn't shake of the protective feeling he had for her. As they rose over a slope he saw the ravine entrence. In the distance the forest of the inner part of the valley could be seen and the river could be sighted from their pertch as well. "Welcome, my dear," he purred, his voice warm and silky, "to your new home."

Kauta was, as usual, taking some time by herself during the hottest part of the day. Lately she had taken quite a liking to a rocky overhang that jutted out of a cliff beside the waterfall, where the spray just barely misted her patterned pelt and provided cool relief from the humid jungle climate. The riverwater had long since smoothed down and flattened the stone, and there was no danger of it becoming dislodged or unstable anytime soon. A faint rainbow arced overhead, visible where the sunlight struck the waterfall's spray just right, and the roar of the falls was a constant comfort.

She'd have to show Mteule this place, she reflected idly. He'd doubtless seen the beauty of the falls, but had he been up here on this rock before?

Since taking Mteule as her mate, Kauta's personality had taken a change for the better. Anyone who knew her well would have known that there was something hiding beneath the surface of what seemed like a timid, unsure lioness. Kauta's self-confidance had been low, and at times she was sure she was hardly a worthy candidate for the rank of queen. Mteule brought out the hidden side in her, instilled confidance that had been previously unseen. She felt much happier now than she ever remembered feeling before.

She caught a scent she recognized immediately as Mteuli, and another scent she didn't recognize. Her ears perked, but the steady noise of the falls drained out any sounds she might have otherwise been able to pick up. Mteuli was back; had he brought yet another newcomer to the Unity Walkers? Kauta rose from her perch on the rock and agilely leapt down, using smaller footholds down to the soft moss below before taking off toward the direction of the Ardhi priest's scent.

As Chamiyu walked peacefully beside Mteuli, she grinned as she tried to imagine him as a young cub bouncing in the ferns with his brother after a butterfly. The imagined sight brought a chuckle to her throat and she looked at Mteuli with an appreciative glance. She knew that deep inside, she was beginning to develop a bond with him. They had only known each other for a day or two, but still...She felt as if she could never leave him. Secretly and unconsciously, she ached for him just like he ached for her.

But before her thoughts could go too far, something danced in the edge of her sight.

Mteuli might not have been able to pick up the new scent, but Chamiyu's over sensitive nature sensed that there was another lion present and so she immediately ducked behind the larger lion like a fearful child. With her heart beating fast, she peeked around Mteuli's confused body to where she had seen the glimpse of movement. It was a lioness. Chamiyu watched as the slender, beautiful patterned lioness delicately bounced from a large smoothed rockledge and onto the forest floor. As she came to them, the black lioness noted to herself that she seemed pleased with herself as if she had someone beside her, someone supporting her, someone who loved her.

"Mteuli?" Asked the fearful, shy black lioness, "Who's that?"

Mteuli blinked in slight surprise as his campanion ducked beind him. With a curious twitch of his ears he turned his head to catch sight of Kauta coming forward. He grinned, showing no fear towards the female. On the contrary, he dipped his neat in a neat, polite bow, his emerald eyes sparkling with delight. "You guess correctly, my Queen. You've always been very sharp," he rumbled with affection.

Shifthing his gaze to Chamiyu he soothed, "This is Kauta, the queen of our pride." Moving his gaze back to his fellow pridemember he added without drawing a hitch in his flow of speach, "And this is Chamiyu, who wishes to join us, My lady."

((Last post for a while >< Sorry guys! EDIT: Never mind, I have internet access at the dorms! Yay! biggrin Still, I'll be scarce most of the day; marching band camp is all day until Wednesday. <3))

Kauta purred in affection. The seer brothers had always been overly formal with her, even as a young cub, and the attitude had sometimes been serious, sometimes playful. After all, while older, they had grown up right alongside her, forced to come into their responsibilities early just as she had been. She was more than used to it by now, even if she did wish they'd cut it out sometimes.

"Your actions weren't child-like," the sand-patterned young adult replied, stepping closer to the newcomer. "I would be on my guard as well, coming into strange pridelands for the first time. You needn't fear, though," she added with a wink at Mteuli, "we don't bite too hard."

This one was already accepted in her mind, there was no question. And while her intention was not to put Chamiyu on the spot or worry her, it didn't seem right to just say Okay, you're in, no problem bye.

She stepped back a bit, turned, and looked back at her two companions with an inviting look. "Walk with me?"

Chamiyu lifted up one hesitant paw and made the desicion to follow after. She didn't want to be seperated from Mteuli at any costs, he was like her rock to hold onto when the waves of the unknown splashed upon her. She felt as if she could never leave him again. The black lioness followed suit and twitched her tail side to side, trying to calm herself down. This place was beautiful, yes, and she felt as if she was going to love it here. Chamiyu's face brightened again as she came by Mteuli's side and stared at the awe-inspiring beauty around them.

"You're home is very beautiful," Chamiyu observed softly.

Mteuli could feel Kauta's gaze on him and could only smile. He had explained the pride's history and culture to Chamiyu before they had come. She had probably been more amazed and thrilled by it then many of those raised here in the pride itself! He felt his heart swell in pride at the thought of it. It was part of her attraction-she was extremely bright and had such passion that he hadn't seen in a long time. He gave Chamiyu an encouraging smile and let her answer the questions himself so she could better know their queen and feel comfortable around her.

Kauta thought a moment, then shrugged. "I don't think our customs are that different from other prides, really," she answered. "Though I don't know that much about other prides, either."

She led them back to the pool the waterfall drained into and stopped to lap at the water, then seating herself near the water's edge.