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Aureole oftentimes travelled but had only gone out this far two times before. Her brother was still missing as was his mentor and teacher. They hadn't come, leaving her downcast. He had only been a juvenile when they left, still a youth in her mind. And he had his whole life ahead of him. It left her to wonder if he was even still alive. But Unyezi had encouraged her, saying they were alive, they would come. If Njiru could survive to be a thorn in Unyezi's side, her brother was still alive. While she recognized it as extremely unknown, she still clung to the hope he gave her.

She sat down under a lone tree to rest her feet, her eyes scanning the horizon. Sighing, she looked back down at her paws. Aureole needed something positive.

Unyenyezi's hopes were proving well founded this day. The middle aged female had left her companions so they could search in different directions, agreeing to meet up at a prominent landmark where they could stopped to make 'camp' for the night. She was desperate despite only a week or two passing since she'd lost her way and now, to find a hint of her pridemates or their new homeland. And today the Great Lion must have been smiling on her, since she'd found an old trail of some of the others.

Knowing she'd have to double back to collect her companions didn't stop her from racing towards the new Mwezi'Johari lands. This was unknown to her – she just hoped she’d found one of the groups. But no, it was her goal. It was if the seasons effects had dropped away from her her, her delight in being un-lost lending her a semblance of youth.

She sighed again as though one could never sigh enough and looked up. The horizon afforded her no comfort. It was as regular as ever and gave her no omen, no sign. No. It was not until the last minute that she spotted movement much, much closer to herself. Her ears perched up as her eyes identified the form as remarkably familiar. Maybe he had finally come. Maybe they had finally found their way.

She sprang to her feet and ran to meet them, finding they too were running. It shocked her into a jog and eventually a walk. She was puzzled, trying to figure out if they were running from something or after something. It urged her to call out, "are you alright?" They were not yet close enough to see each other but they soon would be.

"Aureole! I bet my old whiskers thats you!" She called back, taking a minute to figure out who it was who was running to meet her. At first she wanted to call the other female by another name, one of her relatives who she resembled somewhat, but the recorder swiftly recalled that female had passed away during the war. Still ...something of her lived on as long as that bloodline did. Her mind up to date it took only a second to pin who Aureole was.

"I'm fine. If a bit embaressed to have got lost along the way." A softer call as they drew nearer. She was slightly out of breath, but beaming. There were more familiar scents about - maybe this was a border of their ne lands or at least a meeting place.

At first her mouth sank into a strong frown when she realized that it wasn't Otienno but it quickly swept up into a smile. It was still someone who had been missing and a valuable member, the oldest of the surviving members. She grinned, "Hand me your whiskers. I'm Oissa," she joked. Laughing she shook her head. "No, you're right. You ready to come back? There's quite a cataloging for you to do when you do." She was amazed at how this had happened. After all this time of waiting and the slow death of hope, that someone could come and renew it was amazing.

"No one I know then. No matter! I shall learn." Learn and absentmindedly get a bit muddled. But she would indeed learn and not forget. While she did tend to take a minute or two to make sure she'd not gone down the wrong branch on the family tree, the kindly Zizi was good at her job.

"And yes. It sounds as if our new homeland is a blessed place. New cubs, new life, is a welcome sign that the Great Lion is pleased." She smiled happily, overjoyed with this news.

"Sorry, my lady, but no. None already known to us." She shook her head. Only ones she'd met of note on her way here were the grey Mbaraka and the lion Mwenzangu, both of whom were rogues and not of the Mwezi'Johari. At least, not yet.

"I did look for the others I know got seperated before me. At least we know they're not the way I've come and we can search in other places?" Zizi assumed that every now and then they'd look for their lost kin.

"Show me the way, my queen, and I'll be forever grateful." She said, adopting for a moment a flowery style, before she smiled her dear-old-aunty type of smile and gestured with a paw backwards.

"But exploring will have to wait, since I'll have to collect those two later. Or at least let them know I've found home. They've been very kind in helping me find my way and it wouldn't do to just slink off." Oh no, that wouldn't do at all! Very rude and very ungrateful seeming.

"Oh, yes. They're a pair of males - and elder male about my age called Mbraka and a younger male called Mwenzangu. I met them asking for directions and graciously they helped me home. I think they're rather curious too." She explained as they went. It'd slipped her slippy mind to actually mention them outright.

"There was a third for a couple of days, a nice lady named Asherah, but she ony guided us a part of the way before heading back to her family."

"Oh now, don't look at me so..."

Zizi clucked, seemingly amused by the subtle half-smile and the side long glance, at what they suggested. She was actually rather mixed about it. She'd not thought of romance in more moons that she could count (or rather she could and that was part of the problem), not since her sweetheart from her adolescent days had been one of the first to fall in the war. She was getting on in seasons. She rather felt she'd missed her chance. Still! No use worrying about it. This were looking up for her pride now and Zizi didn't have the time.

"Especially when I thought mayhaps they'd be cubs of yours for me to record by now." Perhaps that was too bold to joke about? Zizi hoped she wouldn't offend.

Oh Tamu...the memory of him made Zizi dropped her head to chuckle. Older ladies have their chance, eh? She'd had hers such a long time ago. And they'd been carried away by a moonlit shadow. And lately she'd even traveled with two very nice males and nothing. Clearly her time'd passed.

"Ah, give it time. Still, gives me time to learn the ranks and names and relationships of our newest members. Not to mention see my travel companions go through the ceremony and see what ranks they get."

"Now now..." She sighed. Really now. Enough of that thankyou. The case to Zizi was closed. Two males for company, very nice ones, and the thought hadn't even crossed her mind! Only Tamu had, as always, her memories of him much more clear than anything else in her hazy mind.

"Gladly~" Zizi pushed away the thought of romance and cubs and turned to smile at Aure, and waved a paw onwards. You lead and indeed I'll follow.