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 Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 7:31 am
In the hour of your greatest success are sown the seeds of your own destruction.
~ Gypsy Proverb
|| OOC ||
xxx☼ This is only for the current Kizi members and the Dreamers!
xxx☼ Any current member can join at any time, as can any approved dreamer!
xxx☼ The dreamers have only just been escorted in, by Mali, with Shandor's permission. This is their first few steps into Kizi territory; they've never been here before, but Patrons might have seen them lingering near the border.
xxx☼ Every post in this thread will count for a ticket towards the blank slate dreamer that will be given away at the conclusion of the event. Sadly, yes, this means that she won't be a part of the main meta, but we can say she was late to the party. There might also be... additional prizes.
xxx☼ There is no posting order, so keep on your toes! We will not hold up for anyone but the key players- who we will harass on aim. XD
xxx☼ If you don't have a kizi lion or a dreamer, you may play a non-lined animal (think of something that would live by the sea! Elephants might not fly...) or a familiar.
xxx☼ If you have won a contest character already, you cannot win another! If you win, we will re-roll.
|| IC ||  Things were not exactly working out like she'd hoped, but Muhali still felt that bringing the Dreamers into the main territory, where an keen, watchful eye could be kept on them... was for the best. If they meant no harm to them, they'd soon enough realize their trip was for naught, that the muses had mostly vanished, and that 'the mother' was no longer there.
Though the later rather ironic given that 'the mother', was, in fact, leading them within the territory itself. Sometimes, Muhali thought she should have been given Irony for a domain, not insanity, given her life was just one huge ball of irony.
Alas.
Her head turned to eye the King of dreamers as they advanced through the jungle foliague, "I hope you head my warning, hon. We're not particularly happy around strangers as a whole, and the pride's not gonna be particularly welcoming. It was a feat just getting permission to walk you in here. Make good use of that permission, and by that," she narrowed her eyes, "I really mean that you best keep out of trouble. Because if you guys make one wrong move, I swear, by the gods, I won't be helping you. I'll probably be helping them run you out," the sinister vibe of her tone turned cheerful all of a sudden, "Oky-doke? Good! Well then! We're here!"
As they arrived at a random clearing, just a few meters away from the beach, Muhali sat herself down, just as, from the shadows the vegetation created around them, Shandor emerged. Given that she was the one that had lead the Dreamers within, even if it'd been with permission, the small goddess remain where she sat, waiting for the gypsy king in an almost formal fashion, "Fetched them, as promised," she said, then stepped aside a bit.Chicanery emerged from the foliage shortly after. She and Myuto had swiftly realized that security around them had diminished during the day, and given how odd such a thing was, the white lioness had been horribly curious when she'd spotted the Gypsy king walking purposely, with a rather grim expression, towards the jungle.
As such, she had followed. Granted, she and Myuto were not members of the pride, but over the course of the past few days, she'd gotten comfortable in the territory. It was nothing like the roguelands, and she liked the security the place offered. The big water was lovely, and she rather loved playing in it; she'd never had time to play before, and was making time now, even though she was an adult.
The fact she was learning so much from the alchemists had her horribly intrigued too, and while she still wasn't sure exactly what she wanted to do; stay or leave... she'd come to care for the lands and the strange, paranoid lions within enough that she was curious as to what was going on, "Are those the ones from your vision, Myuto? They look..." harmless, for the most part, really. The only one she was wary about was their large, bright leader, "They look... lost. Abused even, have you seen that lioness' scars and wounds on her feet?" there was sadness in Chi's eyes as she addressed her friend in whispers. After all... they were not pride members and thus, should stay to the side lines. Let the pride do their thing.
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 4:45 pm
Shandor emerged with confident, easy steps. Everything about his posture boasted his rank from the easy glide of one paw in front of the other to the gentle sweep of his tail behind him. He'd worn many of his trinkets, bandana, and even a few bangles on one paw just to make sure that he stood out. These dreamers wanted into his lands. Fine. He hated it, resented Mali for it quietly, but he would swallow it. They, on the other hand, would have to acknowledge him as the one being in charge. He would make clear that he was not one to be crossed.
He paused and glanced over a shoulder, insuring that a few of his own were hidden within the shadows. It was one of his favorite tricks- hiding gypsies around him. At any time one or perhaps one dozen could emerge. To newcomers, this subtle action would keep them on their toes. Any shadow could move, could watch, could see, and worst of all- could talk.
"I see that. It's hard not to, they look like they crawled out of the sunset after a spirited paint fight." He sneered, wrinkling his nose. "Let's get this over with..."
Myuto watched in relative silence. He sat beside Chi, large as a boulder and perhaps just as still. This meeting was something he was, strangely, interested in watching. He'd never seen one of his visions actually take place. They came and went, like thoughts, dreams, and memories but so far from reality that they might as well not have ever happened.
"Those are them...", He confirmed with a shallow nod, his deep green eyes drifting over to their leader. "...that one has a very strange...feel about him."
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 10:04 pm
And what a paradise it was. Besnik could feel the energy running across the territory. Other lions might have called the feeling "tension," but those lions were not blessed with the gifts of the Mother, the ability to sense her will and power in all things seemingly ordinary. For that was what the muses were by definition: things otherwise ordinary that had become something extraordinary in the eyes of their blessed. Besnik only had to look around at the gathered lions to see how the lose of the muses had hurt them. They all seemed on edge-wary, and apprehensive. The blue lioness had been right: these lions were no longer welcoming as they had once been when they had their muses. Besnik hoped to restore that sense of peace and community.
"Greeting, Kizingo'zaa! I am Besnik, and these are my friends, fellow Dreamers like myself." He stopped, surveying the crowd. A male who had been addressed by the blue lioness carried himself with a sense of both mystery and authority, most likely a leader. And another, a brownish-red female with elegant markings and fiery hair had the aura of a warrior about her. The King and Queen, then. "I thank you for your hospitality towards our weary group. We have traveled very far to get to this place." Besnik addressed the leaders, but spoke for all to hear. The King had a rather...distasteful expression on his face. Besnik gave him a short smile, expression turning warmer and more open when he smiled at the Queen. -------------------------------------------------  Asker couldn't help but bristle at the sight of the blue lioness bringing the group in. Her again. She had acted so strangely when the seer and his companion had come and vanished without a trace, and now she was showing this group into the territory? On what appeared to be Shandor's request. There was something that just wasn't right about this whole situation, and it was setting Asker's fangs on edge. First the two strangers, and now this group? What was with this sudden influx of odd rogues coming into the pride?
The young male scowled. What if this new group of newcomers were the storm that the seer, Myuto, had warned them about? What if they were the ones who were going to try and bring the muses back? But then why would Shandor have asked the blue mummer to fetch the group? Perhaps the Gypsy King had some sort of plan. At least, he hoped Shandor did.
Asker felt himself prickling at the way this Besnik was grinning at his mother. The male certainly had "tricky gypsy" written all over him. There was something about the colourful male that had "suspicious" written all over him. Then again, Asker felt the same way about the blue mummer, but at least she was a proven and loyal pride member, right? Did that make a difference? The young male shook his head. He wasn't normally this wary of incoming rogues, but Myuto's warning had put everything out of whack for the whole pride.
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Posted: Sat Jul 20, 2013 6:21 am
 While most would probably feel a little apprehension at this turn of events, Natsu looked on with quite a bit of excitement! She remembered the time of the muses, and dreamers... Back when the pride had such a title, one of her sons held it. Pushed by insanity so far that he could not perform a function. She had not minded such a time, and perhaps that was why she felt a little more at ease.
Natsu had left her new litter behind, with instructions to stay put and only speak to lions they knew. Though, she hadn't left anyone to keep an eye on them... well, how much trouble could they get into? Even though they were in the pride's boundaries and things should be safe, she didn't feel quite ready to allow them to meet unknown outsiders. Of course, she had tried to bring poor Grassblade along with her, but he figured out quickly that it was an attempt to have him in this very situation- he was quick to retreat.
She stood, tail swishing lightly on occasion, as the band approached and entered the pride's territory. She couldn't help but grin, any odd feelings aside. New lions were always fun to her, and with so much mystery around these ones, she knew they were going to be exciting!
The cub had heard whispers from the adults of something exciting, and he just had to come. How could he miss out? It was his first big event, to his mind. He took in the stranger, Besnik. He was huge, though everyone was huge to a cub. He also took in the faces about him- the newcomers, though he did not know it, as well as who he had pieced together as Shandor, their current king. (Based off of his mother's descriptions, anyway. He would need to ask to know for sure...) He stayed close to his mother's paws, eyes and ears alert to catch any details from this get-together.((If anyone else wants to bring in Natsu's cubs from this litter, you can say the snuck along.))
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:21 am
It wasn't always easy to do the right thing, that much was clear. There were many times in life that you couldn't get what you wanted and now was no exception. If Fireheart had her way the newcomers that stood before her would have been run off by the patrons, never to step on their lands. Unfortunately for her, she was the queen of the Kizi. One might think that that would be grounds for getting your way, but the title was deceptive. She was the voice and heart of the people as a whole. She was a part of that group, certainly, but her own desires and wishes were usually different from those of the lions of the pride. Rather than get her way in public matters such as this, the usual result was the exact opposite. But, just because she spoke for the people didn't mean she had to act as though she was thrilled with the idea. Where Shandor sauntered into view of the newcomers with his cocky, confident, and intimidating grin, Fireheart emerged from the trees with a scowl on her face, no trace of amusement or happiness there. There were no false pretenses with her, no games, no trickery. She was a very forward lioness and didn't hide her true intentions. She would welcome these lions, but not with a happy face. Sea foam green eyes watched from under her fiery bangs as Mali spoke with the leader of the little band, a lion with a pelt so bright he looked like he belonged here were it not for that horrible, horrible air about him. He was too confident for someone stepping into potentially hostile lands, too sure of himself. When he spoke she had to admit that he had a certain charisma, but it was nothing she found appealing. How the little band of lions had come with him made her think of flies getting trapped in a spider's web. Moving along, minding their own business, and boom. Stuck. Fireheart bared a bit of teeth as the lion smiled at her. Did he think he'd work her way into her approval with such ease? Hardly. It took her a moment to school her expression and lift her head, although her eyes were still narrowed and hostile. "Why you have is still unclear, Besnik," she said firmly, but quietly. "This pride is not one that advertises itself readily. Not many know of us, visions or otherwise. I must admit I am surprised you sought us out specifically." She restrained herself from glancing in Myuto's direction, not wanting to give away anything to the strangers that they might not know.
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 12:39 pm
 The sights, the smells, the feels! Everything about this new land seemed to have an electric charge to it. Xipil's mouth fell open in amazement as her eyes fell upon all the different things there were to see. She tried to keep an ear open to everything the striped feline said, but she was positive some of it had slipped through the cracks. Though at the same time, she understood the gist of her request. She didn't want any trouble, Xipil could accept that. They weren't here for trouble, only to assist the pride in obtaining their muses! The muses were such an amazing thing, she couldn't imagine this pride not wanting any part in it. Soon the small group came upon a much larger one, and for the first time in a long time, Xipil began to shake in fear. She'd never felt so intimidated in her life, these lions - some tall, and others battle worn, did not look all too friendly. Especially that bulky, brown female with the flaming mane. Gulping down her last bit of comfort, Xipil tried in inconspicuously move herself closer to Mali. This lioness had sparked her interest earlier, and despite how she knew Besnik would feel, this lioness intrigued her. Even seemed to exude a certain amount of comfort for her. Yes, she would stay close, so long as the lioness would allow it.  Melanj had allowed plenty of time for his Mother and Brother to leave the den, before sneaking out himself. See, while he was close with his brother, he knew his brother was quick to act, and slow to think. Melanj on the other hand was the EXACT opposite Quick to think, slow to act. His tail flicked impatiently behind him as his paws kneaded eagerly in the sand. Had enough time passed yet?! Surely it had? The sun was a little higher in the sky! That meant something! It meant he was going to wait no longer. Melanj had darted out of the den, quicker than his siblings could realize he'd gone. His paws were kicking up dust as he followed the very familiar scent of his Mother and twin. Soon he came upon the large group, and instead of going forward, back pedaled a few steps. The group was so large ... should he approach it? A few glances around him gave hints to whether or not he was safe to approach. Many of his family members were there ... He could see Fireheart, Vodnitvar, Asker, Mother, and of course Loc. But he could also see the very bright pink lioness, and all the scars covering her body. She definitely did not seem safe to him. On the other hand ... Loc was here, and he looked quite safe! Inhaling a deep breath, the cub poked his rear into the air and pounced heavily on his brother's tail. "Whatcha doin' Loc?" He whispered, hoping to not catch his Mother's attention. 
Vodnitvar had held back from the front of the pack this time. Having decided it was for everyone's best interests if he did not allow his biases to get in the way of the current predicament. He could tell his mate was running on thin nerves, her obligation to the pride was very heavy on her shoulders. He wished he could do something to ease the stress, but he knew things weren't going to get better until the peak of the predicament had been resolved.
Sitting back with him was his shadow, Asker. The look on his face was one of dedication, and scrutiny. He could tell when his son was deep in thought with something, and he was definitely in such a state.
Leaning down only slightly to reach ear level, Voddy smiled faintly. He remembered a time when the boy was so small, he'd have to lie on the ground just to speak with him. The times had definitely changed.
"A penny for your thoughts?" He whispered, nudging Asker in the side lightly.
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 3:30 pm
Muhali only just barely managed to withhold a snort as the Gypsy king strutted up to the dreamers. However, given that she was facing him, yet at the same time away from the strangers, she did roll her eyes for him to see. She then stood, walked by his side and actually used her tail to smack his leg a bit in a movement she hoped no one but the king had noticed, "Play nice," she hissed under her breath, so only he could hear.
She would've told him to please, please not be an a*****e, but she didn't want anyone to hear her, and besides, in a way, he was well within his right to be a bit of a jerk. At least he was here, and at least the dreamers were being allowed audience with the pride's royalty.
Whatever else happened was out of her paws. She'd done what she could for them, but if Besnik did not reign it in, this would likely end up with a lot of headbutting, both verbally and physically.
She allowed herself to sit, just off to the side, arching a brow as Besnik spoke. Funny thing was that... for all he spoke of the muses, he didn't seem to be insane. At least not the way her pride had been prior to the curse lifting; Besnik reminded Muhali of a snake. A really clever, charming, dangerous snake. She had to idly wonder if he was one of Mauaji's children, rather than one of hers. But then again, maybe she was over thinking things.
The pink lioness, however, the one that subtly tried to edge herself closer... felt more like one of hers. As such, when poor Xipil looked her way, the small blue lioness offered her a warm, sweet smile, lifting a paw to pat the ground beside her with a small wink. Something told her this one was nothing like the leading male, and that she sought comfort. Muhali had no problem offering that up for now.Chicanery couldn't quite help the way her ears flattened back as Besnik spoke up, "Oh my," she murmured, "Why on earth does he remind me of the... of the rogue. The one we met on our way here? Has the same tone of voice. Polite, proper, but I don't trust it," she took one step back, until her rump hit a tree and she stopped, cowardice quelled for the time being. She did, however, edge her frame nearer to Myuto's in an attempt to seek out comfort.
When Fireheart shot a glance (more of a glare if you asked her), in their general direction, the white lioness' head lowered down a notch, her ears flopping down as she peeked from the dreamers, to the queen and back. If anything, the display made it obvious she not only didn't know the strangers, but was equally as troubled by their arrival as a few of the lions around her.Gosh, things were not going as well as Muhali would have hoped. As Fireheart spoke up, the goddess lifted a paw, almost as if to snatch attention to herself before she spoke, "I can answer that one, actually. They're look for the muses and the mother of muses. Apparently they're convinced they're here. Wouldn't quite believe me when I said they weren't, actually and... well, here we are," she arched a brow at the queen, "Wanted to see the land where they'd originated."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 4:48 pm
Natsu smiled an even broader grin as her granddaughter stepped forward. The bright lioness was proud of her little family here in the Kizingo'Zaa- Fireheart was their queen! In part, Natsu couldn't believe that she had grandcubs in the first place, but her pride took over that disbelief. Their positions were very different, though, Fireheart's and Natsu's. She wondered if the girl often got the chance to escape her royal duties. One benefit for Natsu not being queen (not that she ever wanted to be,) she would constantly attempt to escape those responsibilities. Those of an alchemist were small, fleeting, and fun.
The green lioness' full attention was on Fireheart, Shandor, the stranger Besnik, and the newcomer, Mali, however. Her head batted back and forth as each took their turn speaking or acting. This was so much fun!
"Muses..." Natsu mumbled, eyes wide and a grin growing even wider on her face. Normally, there were very few things that could make her feel sad, but the loss of her muse always got her down, despite what lingering effects the land's insanity left on her. Though, if there was talk of muses once more, could that mean she would get hers back? Oh, how she wished she could speak to the plants again- to hear their whispers and advices, and to know where the most useful of them was found by playing hide and seek... The lioness reminisced about first hearing them, starting to zone out a little, though she kept her attention high for keywords that might answer the questions that had immediately come to mind. Mostly, "could it be true, that they're still here?" and "is there still some hope of being with them again?"The young lion's ear twitched back, having the feeling he'd heard something, but a little time passed and nothing happened... He returned his full attention to the adults in front of him. His mom had mentioned muses to him before, so hearing these strange lions speak of them so openly and happily made him curious.
His brother's pounce came at him, and he was completely unawares- Loc had to stop himself from jumping out of his skin, though he by nature did not make a sound from the attack. Making a sound in this setting would be drawing attention to himself, and he was quite pleased that the bright dreamer fellow was not paying him any mind- or so he had perceived. He wouldn't have made a sound unless it had been painful or something.
He turned to see his near-mirror image staring back at him- his twin brother. He immediately gave a huge smirk. "Nice one, Melanj. I'll get you back for that one, sometime," he said lowly, catching on and running with the remain-undetected plan of Melanj's. Even though he had been gotten the better of, credit had to go where it was due. His twin could do little if anything wrong, to his mind.
"Not much, just couldn't resist seeing what we weren't supposed to come see," said the cub, keeping an ear trained on mom. "That lion there," he said in an even lower whisper than before, such that only his twin would be able to hear him. "He's weird," he said without any hesitation or censorship. The words had been whispered in private, after all, so such was not necessary, right? He only hoped that their mother would remain distracted for a while. "Isn't it awesome? I've never seen a rogue before..."
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 5:01 pm
"Dreamers." Riddlemouth spat the word with no attempt to hide his distaste for it. "A word long drifted from here unless we speak of one still on his back in the sand. I'm afraid that what you seek has long since passed from here. Look in our eyes-" he motioned to his pride with a confident jerk of his chin. "Do you see madness? A dazed, doe-eyed look in any of us? No. Our minds are clear and our eyes sharp as our claws."
He glanced to Muhali as she took a step beside him and mumbled. The look he gave her was harsh and in response he hissed, "Mind your place. I humored you, do not encourage them."
Shandor rolled his eyes as Muhali brushed past to address the dreamers. The irritation never once left his eyes or his posture. "Yes, this is where the muses originated. Well done. But they have long dried up. A sorry end to a long road, I am certain." He took a deep breath and glanced over to Fireheart. She was, all things considered, the heart of the pride, and she spoke wisely enough. How they knew of them... if there were loose tongues he'd have to see them tightened up a bit. What if these dreamers were only the first?
Looking back to the dreamers he narrowed his eyes. "You have traveled far, as you say. We will show hospitality to you, as you request. But let me warn you- all of you -the time of your muses is passed away. Those that loved them have left us for the most part. Those that have embraced a mind of clarity remain. I do not want any trouble, and let me warn you- neither do you."
He took a slow step forward. "Keep this in mind. For every one gypsy you see, there are two you do not. Our land has eyes, friends."
Myuto ignored the accusatory glare shot his way and instead focused his eyes on the confrontation ahead. Two storm fronts, both filled with lightning were meeting. He could almost taste the moisture in the air and feel the electricity in his fur. His vision consumed him, filling his mind's eye and causing him to draw his eyes closed so his senses weren't overwhelmed. Two storms came from the mouths of two birds- one flying in from the sea and another from the land.
"... a tornado." He whispered quietly, his voice barely above a breath. "Anger. Whirlwind, two storms.... the land will change. Shadows..." His eyes opened up as Chi pressed against him. Resisting the urge to jerk he looked down to her and offered a look of assurance.
A little late to the gathering, but no less interested, Nicolae stepped beside his father on the side left unoccupied by his brother. The youngster didn't look too surprised by the events unfolding but he looked no happier than Asker did. The strangers he didn't trust. The fortune-tellers from the outside lands had brought about a wind of tension that had haunted too many of his kin.
He lifted his eyes, studying each of these so-called dreamers. One was confident, carrying himself with the air of a ruler but bore the grin of a snake. two females- one with paws scarred by flames and a bright-eyed expression and the other completely submissive with an almost childlike gleam to her eyes. Another- a male? Looked a little uncomfortable. Good. He should be.
"Never a dull moment." He whispered over to his kin.
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Posted: Mon Jul 22, 2013 10:52 pm
Besnik contained his snarl. He could practically feel Xipil shaking, meaning Mircea and Khanda must be close to completely breaking down at this point. The blue lioness had been right. This pride was much more hostile than he had originally thought. The King seemed very off-put about the muses, and almost seemed as if he didn't want them back. But Besnik was sharp. He could see that he had caught the attention of some of the lions at the gathering, some who now had a spark of hope in their eyes. Even if this King didn't welcome the prospect of the muses returning, there were those of his people that most certainly did. "And it was those who left you that helped us find this place, learn about the muses." Besnik smiled, perfectly schooled and proper, despite how much the King seemed to be threatening him and his mission. "They left to go and find them again. I suspect they were never able to, but we have. We have found ways to contact our muses, and I assure you that we will be able to contact them here. With no trouble, of course." A play on words of sorts. "My fellow Dreamers and I faced great struggles along the road here, struggles that our sweet muses helped us overcome. They are a blessing of peace, my dear friends, not some sort of madness." He looked around, surveying the group. The Queen had children, it seemed, just on the cusp of adulthood. Young, impressionable, and most likely still wavering in their views. The two lions she had glared at seemed a bit shaken for some reason. Besnik would have to investigate later.
"My mind is as as sharp and as clear as yours, though my claws stay within their sheaths." For now, at least. So long as no one tried to get in his way or harm his Dreamers. Then all bets were off. "All we want is a safe place to call home, free of the perils of the roguelands. What better place for us Dreamers than the birthplace of our muses? If you are so convinced that the muses are gone, then surely there is no harm in letting us try?" The lion's smile had a bit of a playful pout to it, the perfect picture of cooperative innocence. Besnik knew it would work. The Mother had assured him so. And once he was able to access the muses like he used to, then their real mission could begin.
------------------------
Asker snorted, giving Nico a small smile. "Sometimes I wish there were, though." The young male could do with some dull right now. He was sure the whole pride could. Asker felt older than he ever had right about now. The way this Besnik looked over him and his brother, calculating, evaluating, it made Asker want to leap up and start a fight. But he was better trained than that, and knew better than to start a riot. Furthermore, there was something else to take into consideration. If a fight did break out right here, right now, Asker was sure that the colourful leader would be the only one fighting. He turned his green eyes to glance at his father and frowned. "A penny for each, and I'd be rich." The blue lion muttered, looking back at the rag-tag group of "Dreamers." It looked like Besnik wasn't lying about his followers facing a lot of struggles in the roguelands. Every single one of them looked scared, tired, intimidated, and down right terrified. Besnik didn't seem like one to be trusted but the lions behind him...well they really were just looking for a safe place to call home, weren't they? And here everyone was, all snarls and glares. What had happened to this pride that had made them so hostile? What had changed in them to make them so unwelcoming to those who genuinely needed a haven? "I just...look at them, the three behind them. They look more frightened than a cub during their first thunderstorm. They couldn't harm anyone, not even if they tried. Sure their leader is a bit shady, but his followers..." Asker trailed off, becoming uncomfortable at the trail of thought he was going down. "I just feel like a bully." He hadn't even done anything except sit here, watching the group of rogues. But he was one of many judging and intimidating eyes, one of a group that as a unified force was quite scary to be up against.
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 12:21 pm
The only part of Fireheart that moved was her eyes, flicking from lion to lion as they spoke. She didn't allow any emotion other than annoyance to reach her face as the voices changed around her. First Mali, then Shandor, Besnik, murmuring from behind her...everyone was tense and testing the waters. She didn't like it, and the way that the rest of the pride was still hidden in the trees behind them was testimony to the fact that they didn't want to intrude on the situation.
Taking a deep breath, she took just a few more steps forward towards the group of ex-rouges. "If safety is all you seek, then you will be accepted here as part of our pride. But the moment deception or foul play comes to light, you will not be welcome here. That goes for any member of these jungles, not just you. We do not tolerate those who don't strive for the good of all. Greedy, selfish lions are not welcome here."
Granted, greed and selfishness were a part of any lion, but on a grand scale? That was not allowed. No pride kept members that worked for the good of themselves rather than the whole. They would be better off as rouges.
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Posted: Tue Jul 23, 2013 4:55 pm
Melanj's ears sank low to his head as his brother turned back to him. He was relieved to know his brother wouldn't make a sound, very relieved. But still, he wondered whether the two could really slip under their Mother's radar for very long? He shot a nervous glance at Natsu and mentally nodded to himself. He loved his Mother, but she could be a bit ... uhhhh .... loopy! Which made her all the more special to him and his siblings. The two were definitely safe to converse without fear of Mother's wrath, at least, they were for now. "Oh yeah?"Melanj grinned and lowered himself down into a prowling position once more. "Come and get me! I dare you!"The cub's tail was swishing back and forth with excitement, there was so much going on here! He didn't know what do first, but having a rough housing match before the entire pride ... yes that was not on the menu. Instead he straightened himself up and sat alongside his brother. Listening intently to his words, he gave stern looks to the different lions as he spoke. "Weird like how? Weird like Mom? Or weird like we should stay away from him?" Furrowing his eyes at the male, he tried to get his own reading. Though all he got was confusion, his appearance was scary, but his words ... well he was too young to know what to make of them. "Awesome isn't the word I would use! He looks scary, like he could eat us for a snack and still be hungry! And look at that pink lioness! Are those ... burns?!"Trembling with fear, was not something Xipil found herself enjoying. Not often did she feel this way, despite the many trials she had been through in life. She always kept her head high, trying to maintain a bright side, in even the darkest situations. But as she glanced around her, those wide blue eyes surveying the crowd, she wondered if there really was a bright side to this dark day? Not a soul seemed welcoming to them, well not a soul except for her. Her ... She needed to speak with her, it was absolutely imperative now. This lioness knew things, that even Besnik did not. Or perhaps that Besnik would not share. She hated to think that way about the lion who had taken her in, and given her reason to believe. But somehow her gut just didn't want to agree with him right now. Ever since she'd shown up, things had gotten a little weird. A peek from the corner of her eye, held witness to the lioness' compassion as she patted the ground beside her and smiled. Xipil's own lips curled into a gentle smile as she happily took the seat next to her. Just sitting next to her seemed to help her nerves. What was it about this lioness? She had to find out what she knew. Besnik's words rang out across the crowd, and Xipil cringed at the leader's responses. She didn't want to to be looked at as a danger, or even a threat. She was neither of those things, or a number fo other bad things! "P-Please, hear me out.
I may not be a leader, or anyone of importance to any of you. But I pray you will listen to my words.
For a long time, we have traveled, and faced many challenges along the way. We have been strong in times where strength was hard to come by. And now we stand before you, asking for a place to call home. I mean no harm to any of you, of this I promise you with my life. I merely want to live among you, and try to come into contact with my muse once more.
You say this is impossible, and if the gods will that to be so ..."Poor Xipil held her breath, as tears welled up in her eyes. "If the gods will that to be so, than I am but a humble lioness, seeking shelter with my family." Taking a deep breath, she felt herself scoot a bit closer to the female yet again. Her words, finally trailing off, as she began to sob silently to herself. Vodnitvar huffed a laugh at both of his son's comments. How true they both were, and yet he wanted to combat them with lies. Only to make things seem a little less tense for his children. Time seemed to have passed so quickly, sometimes he still found himself thinking of them as cubs. Much like he did at this very moment. He had been secretly relieved when Nicolae took up residence on his other side. If the need arose, he could easily shield the two of them from the threats before them. "Never a dull moment indeed." Shaking his head in pity and upset, he lifted a paw to scruffle Nicolae's mane. "What is your take on all of this Nicolae?" His timing was perfect, as soon after he finished his question Asker began to assess the situation on his own. "A bully? But you haven't done a thing, granted your Mother isn't too happy with him at the moment .." Vodnitvar let out another gruff laugh. "But she's always a little grumpy these days isn't she?" Nudging both of his sons he continued on. "Jokes aside, there is most certainly something off about that weird one in the front...."
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 12:04 am
And suddenly, the whole world had become a nightmare. The leopon who'd led them in had given Mircea the false impression that this pride's members would be smaller.
But they were giants.
After a brief scope of their surroundings, his eyes settled on Shandor. Who sneered.
Fangs come first then claws open mouths loud sounds like two thunderclaps what is happening claws draw away blood lots of blood like hunting he is hunting him why is he hunting him mane ripped apart he's going to kill him he's going to kill him get up get up get up where is Father Father help-
He will kill you all! Run, coward, run!
Mircea seized up. He lowered himself to the ground and his eyes widened to the size of sand-dollars. "It's not real, it's not real, it's not real," he said, too low and soft for anyone to actually hear him.
When he came back to himself, Besnik was speaking. Everything was a dull and hazy murmur at first, but then a few things cleared up.
The lion who snarled said the muses were gone, and he spoke of Dreamers with clear contempt. He said it was okay to stay, but he said 'friends' funny. And then Besnik was talking again (but Mircea wasn't listening all that well- You're bad! You should listen to your leader! Your protector! Ingrate...- because he couldn't think right again just yet).
Xipil had stepped closer to the blue leopon that had lead them in, and she was speaking and... crying! Why was she crying?!
It's hopeless. There is no one to save you, and I will have you forever.
He shot up. "No!" The cry was short but loud, and it took Mircea a long moment to realize it had come from him.
Congratulations. You've just ruined everything.
Mircea looked around him, glassy-eyed and dazed. "I'm sorry," he said, lying back down. He tried to make himself appear as small as possible. He looked up at Besnik in shame, knowing he had failed him, "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry."
((OOC: Mircea had a brief flashback to an incident in his mid/late-cubhood where a rogue lion challenged one of the two dominant males for control of his birth pride. If it's too much, I'll edit it out!))
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:31 am
A brow arched at Shandor as he spoke down to her, but rather than lower her head, submit, or otherwise get defensive, she shot him a small, cheeky grin that she made sure only he could see. All in all, it was rather entertaining, amusing even, how these lions treated her, just because they had no idea who she was. The funny thing was that she liked it. She liked the honesty, she liked the fact Shandor was himself, and the way others talked to her, one on one, like equals.
She was used to being revered, feared, other otherwise placed on some sort of pedestal; this honesty, the sincerity of it all was overwhelming, and Muhali was starting to realize that this was what she wanted. She wanted friends, family. She wanted equals, not subjects or followers. She wanted to be able to lay down with friends that would tell her what they thought openly, without reservations just because of who she was. The realization hit her quite suddenly, but the small goddess made a good show of looking unperturbed, and merely stashed away the revelation for later; it'd need further analysis, granted, but this was not the time.
Her head turned as Fireheart spoke up, and her words made her grin; trust the queen to be unbiased, fair and put all her cards on the table. She quite liked her, and made sure to take the time to get to know her, and her family, better in the future, were she able to stay within the pride as she hoped to.
She was about to open her mouth when she felt Xipil sit herself won beside her frame, shaking, fearful, and instantly, all the cheekiness died in her. Some sort of almost maternal instinct kicked in, and as the pink lioness began to talk, the goddess allowed herself to press herself against the lioness' side, offering whatever comfort her presence was giving her, "I believe the king and queen both just agreed to give you shelter, honey. They're just being cautious. It's always smart to be cautious," and here, she paused, and shot Besnik a look, her eyes narrowing something; she could tell that out of this troupe, it was him she'd have to keep a closer eye on. The rest of them were harmless, in need of support even, "I-" she was cut off as Mircea shouted, and her expression turned almost pitying before she looked back at both king and queen, snapping her mouth shut.
As far as she could tell, these 'dreamers' were mostly harmless. The only one that set off alarms in her mind was their leader, and while she had no way of knowing what Fireheart had been thinking, the goddess would've readily agreed with her; these poor lions seemed to have been swept away, more than eagerly following their leader.Given that she was right beside Myuto, Chicanery noticed the way his frame stiffened, his eyes closing, "What's wrong...?" the words were whispered right before the large lion opened his eyes and murmured something about a tornado and two storms. Her eyes left his face and traveled towards both males up ahead; something told her Shandor and Besnik were the storms, and if that was the case... she didn't want to be anywhere near them when they exploded, "Are you okay?" she almost leaned into him, ready to groom his side for comfort, but stopped short; last time she'd done something like that, he'd fainted, and really, that just wouldn't do.
"I feel sorry for them," she told her partner, "I look into their eyes, and I see suffering," her gaze locked with his for a moment, "I look into their eyes and I see myself."
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 8:18 pm
While the lioness' words were quite the comfort, Xipil still couldn't shake the eyes upon her. Staring her down as they she would try to murder them all at any second. It .... It was discouraging, to have come as far as she did, done as much as she'd done. All in the pursuit of this place, the place she dreamed of calling home. Only to be ridiculed as though she were an enemy to the lions she wanted so badly to blend with. Sniffles were all that was left of the lioness' tears, as she again felt the other by her side. Gently pressing against her, she wondered if the other knew that this was helping her. In a way she hoped she did, but in another she feared being thought strange for the comforting feelings she was receiving. "I-I know." She sniffed once again, wiping a tear from her own eye. "But my time here will be spent under a scrutinizing eye, as though I am a crimin-" Xipil's words caught in her throat as she heard Mircea shout aloud to everyone. She was near positive ti was another flashback, but she could do nothing for him right now. She would be sure to comfort him so soon as the insanity around them died down. "That's Mircea -" She whispered, leaning her head closer to Mali's ear. "He isn't bad either, but he is terribly misunderstood. Please don't fear him for his outbursts, he can't control them sometimes."
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