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Despite some vocal opposition, the Inqina continued in spite of Surtak's disappearance. The cubs and juveniles left at night under the care of Umoya (Lethrossen) and Ulaka (Kaelyndra). Aside from that, all males and females stuck together as usual.

For many mothers, this will be the longest break they've had from their children. The cubs will be gone anywhere from one full day to several, and there's always the chance of injury or death befalling a cub. Now, it's time to figure out what to do to fill up the time. Hunt? Talk with other mothers? Try and sleep? Each lioness has their own way of coping, and whether they have children or not, the restlessness in the pride is tangible.

To allow himself a moment of ego, Andhaka was disappointed.

He had fought and chased off the Bonelands' leopard-spotted Inselelo, and it seemed that no one had noticed, in significant contrast to his initial challenge to Nguvu, wherein the lead male had noticed and helped to run Andhaka off. This time? Nothing. Oh, he was plenty pleased that the Umholi hadn't shown up again to 'help,' but it would have been nice if someone had noticed. Instead, he was left standing in the darkness, staring into the night long after Nguvu had gone, alone. Victorious, but alone...and bleeding a little. The other male had managed to get a few hits in, but the resulting wounds were minor. Eventually, satisfied that Nguvu wasn't going to be coming back, Andhaka considered what to do next. The lack of witnesses was inconvenient, and meant that he was probably going to have to just waltz on up to the lionesses and announce himself.

Fantastic. That was just bound to work out very well! Nothing to be done for it, though. He took a minute to check himself over, wondering whether or not he should groom himself, lick off the blood and smooth out his mane, but decided against it. The blood would hardly be noticable, anyway, given both the color of his coat and the time. And if his mane was a little ruffled, well, so what? He'd been in a fight! He should look like he had. He assumed that that would be best, but it was only a guess. He knew a little about the pride, having spent much of the last week at the Firekin outpost; he had considered joining the desert pride, briefly, but he had been quick to take a much greater interest in their neighbors. He'd acquired a general, basic knowledge about them through casual conversation, but he had absolutely no idea how they would actually react to him. He'd have to find out the hard way.

Following scent and soon sound, the striped male sought out the lionesses and approached. Cautiously. He was much more concerned about them than he had been the now ex-Inselelo.

There were more of them.

((Andhaka has been hanging around the outpost a bit, so anyone is welcome to have seen him there, or possibly even conversed with him briefly, in which case he would have been politely curious about them/the pride, but not creepily so.))

Sher-Kha-t, being a relatively new member of the pride and without cubs, wasn't sure what to do with herself during this Inqina business. Many of the others were clearly restless, as state that was unfortunately contagious. The tension in the air made her want to pace or fidget or at least twitch a little, urges that she was doing her best to suppress while she tried to sleep. She lay on her side, looking like she might be dozing, but that appearance was ruined by half-open eyes and her tail beating gently against the ground.

She watched with idle amusement as Nolaka attempted to harass Mvua, but then the young lioness...stopped. Why? Curious, Kha-t rolled onto her stomach and followed Nolaka's stare.

"Is that one of the red-pelts?" she guessed. The outpost held no interest for her, and she knew only a little about its residents from the other lionesses. They were red, he was red or reddish, as far as she could tell. "What's he doing here?"

Nehanda had sought respite from the heat of the evening under a tree, and now that it was dark she lay comfortably by the trunk of her selected shade. Recently her weak lungs had been feeling very well, and she assumed she had to thank the gods for such a blessing. It was allowing her to help in the hunt more and more, but she didn't want to press her luck too much and wear herself out. She was taking things slowly and carefully as she knew her mother would have liked, although there was a bit of restlessness about that made her want to do something.

She had heard rumors of a new male at the outpost and, while she knew that didn't mean anything was to come of it. the tension in the air sang her a song of change. Han wasn't afraid of change, but since there were no males around and just a few females, she was a bit anxious. She knew she'd be no good in a fight, if this male meant them harm, but she could certainly dash away to find more aid.

The few around her seemed to notice something off in the distance, so she rose and followed those that moved closer out of curiosity. Blood hit her nose before she made out the dark lion, her heart skipping a beat from concern, then in complete and utter embarrassment. Oh dear...he was horribly attractive, even with those cuts all over him. A dark mane and tail, a unique coat - from what she was used to, at least - and the mystery a new Inselelo always had about him. She looked away, mildly ashamed at her own thoughts. She didn't even know his name and she was daydreaming about spending time with him! Absurd.

Keeping a cautious air about her, she continued to move forward with the larger of her kin, allowing herself a moment to wonder if someone as handsome as he would even take a fleeting interest in someone as small and weak as she. No one was speaking up and the silence was starting to become oppressive, so Han did what she could to help break the ice. She wouldn't be much help in any physical matters, but when it came down to pluck and courage, she wasn't lacking.

"Greetings, stranger," she called out softly. "You're wounded...have you bested someone in a fight?"

"No," Ainra breathed, her ears falling back against her head. Nguvu was defeated? Cast out by this---this new, strange male whom she didn't trust one bit? How could Nguvu be gone? He was the crocodile slayer! And yes, whilst Ainra had been frightened of him for some time after he had arrived to take his place as Inselelo, she had grown to understand that he was not what she had first thought. Her head dropped sadly, thinking of the cubs who would grow to never know their father.

Su, who had taken another step forward to draw up alongside Nehanda, gave the male an appreciative once over. He reminded her of home, a little. His dark pelt offset by those stripes. Nguvu had been a gentle lion but strong, too. This one had to be stronger still to have sent the tan lion packing.

"Then you are inselelo, now," she replied with a small smile. "You shall get a congratulations from me, but that cannot be said for all of us. My name is, Su." She pondered on giving Ainra's name, too, but one short glance at the female suggested that might not be the best idea.

The fur on Nolaka's back flattened, and her mouth instead parted into a smirk. The other females had already mirrored the thoughts in her own head. He had defeated someone, and he was smart enough not to try and push his weight around with a pride of females. Strength, brains... if Nolaka had cried tears for Nguvu, they were not visible. Good riddance.

"So formal, Su," Nolaka practically purred out. Bravery puffed out her chest and she ventured towards the male with long, cocky strides. "You're not in red-pelt country anymore." The jest rolled off her tongue as she passed Nehanda and Ainra by, heading strait towards the new male.

Nolaka wouldn't admire from afar, and as she neared Andhaka, she made a leftward turn and began to circle him. "Well, well." Her eyes glanced towards the other females, flashing them a grin. They then returned to Andhaka, her eyes flicking over the slight hint of torn skin in the darkness. "Aren't you handsome."

Su threw Nolaka a teasing glare and took another step, edging closer to the male and - in doing so - leaving Ainra further behind.

The shy female was beginning to look rather unhappy, shrinking back into the shadows so that she could be forgotten. It was the safer option, after all, and she preferred to be safe. Her curiosity would never get the better of her, especially not when there were other females eager to question and get to know the new stranger. If they did so, she'd hear from them later in trusted company.

Su's laugh was a burst of delight, watching Nolaka move in to get a closer look. "Old habits die hard, I am afraid. Blame my parents for that particular trait."

As the red-pelted female looked on, though, she had to admit she was impressed with this male. He had been a strong Inselelo and had come to introduce himself to females who could potentially have shown him aggression. Now, even under scrutiny he was holding his own; confidence practically oozing off of him. Besides, Nolaka was right. He was handsome and the 'ruffled' look did much to enhance it, in her opinion.

"Best not to argue," she hummed, "life will prove easier that way."