[Meta ORP] Council Meeting

[- Mynsed -]

Tukio tossed her head at the topic of the council meeting, letting out a tsk. Murder on the borders. How outrageous. Oh, she heard the rumors about the murder. Had even ferreted out who was the victim. And that the daughter was missing. They needed to solve this, she was certain. As it was, there was an even bigger victim in this.

If the people of the tribe feared the border and the world beyond it because of this incident, it would be a step in the wrong direction. Away from prosperity. The death was unspeakable, Tukio knew. And the value of the mother lost was not to be undermined. But the council lady was certain that she would have to address the damage this event may have caused and what can be done to remedy it. Not now, however. Later. Right now, to focus on what the king wanted them to focus on.

”There are scouts reporting prints near the scene. The ground is too dry to say for certain, but I’ve been assured by my source that the pressure and size is too small to belong to a lion. This is, of course, coupled with the pawprints of the mother and daughter,” she added briskly. She didn’t add the bit of information about the prints seeming a bit too small to be the mother and daughters; in her opinion, the ground was too dry to know for sure. There was the hard fact that there had been at least one smaller creature there, along with the two Pridelanders. Adding on the uncertain opinion of her source would only cause distractions. Except… something did bother her. ”How likely is the daughter to runaway after something such as that?” she pondered to the other councilmembers, ears twitching. She had three hypotheses, as of yet. The hyenas stirring up again, though she prayed this wasn’t the case. The daughter and mother having a falling out was also an option, though unlikely. Still, it would be unwise to immediately discard such a notion. The last theory she had was the involvement of a lion. It had been bothering her, the scout’s opinion about the print. What if the daughter had been taken? Surely that print would support that possibility. It would be a bit harder for hyenas to whisk away captives after all. Or whatever else made the small prints, Tukio corrected herself. She could not automatically assume it was the hyenas. Her father had raised her on the dangers of the hyenas but she did not want to cast blame based on pure bias.

There had been one other thing the scout thought to mention. A feather. Tukio pushed that bit of information away. She had reprimanded the scout for giving her a detail that had been most likely from a vulture, attempting to feast on the carrion.
 

[Midnightglow18]

Businge listened to what everyone had said so far, she had heard a few rumors but didn't think they were worth voicing since they sounded silly to her. "How many paw prints were there? Is it possible that Rinji was cut off from running home and had no choice but to flee the attackers into the rouge lands or even the outlands??

After all, does not our history say that a rash choice can lead to some strange outcomes." Businge said thinking of the history of the place that Simba was said to have gone after the stamped and hyena attacks. Her tone of voice was soft and she made more eye contact with the other female council member than she did the other males. She had been brought to the pride lands with her mother who had been a rouge.

She did not think for a moment that this was anyone's fault the pride land was a very big place and not all hyenas were bad and evil. So she didn't think the answer would be banishing all hyenas. The question was why would anyone want to kill a lioness in the pride lands what was their end goal?? "What do they hope to gain doing this?" She pondered softly  

[- Mynsed -]

Tukio nodded slowly, analyzing the information that was presented to them. She wanted to pace, given how stressful the situation was. But she wouldn’t. Not now. Not after gaining progress in her desire to see the Pridelands to become more progressive. She couldn’t show the clear sign of agitation.

Tukio hesitated. She didn’t want to quickly pin the blame on the hyenas, though the scout did suspect it. The scout had also said that he wasn’t a 100% sure, either. More like 53%. What an odd number and an odd male.

”From what I gather, it is a substantial enough possibility…” she said slowly before shaking her head. Then looked to Businge. ”The source couldn’t say. With the sun baking the dirt and the lack of rain, they told me they were fortunate enough to find any impressions in the ground,” Tukio explained before sighing. She needed to organize her thoughts. ”It’s been several nights, though. There has been no reporting of the daughter being sighted. Why wouldn’t she have made her way back home by now?” Tukio mused. Perhaps she didn’t feel safe? Tukio scratched that thought out of her head, even though she knew she should consider every possibility. She didn’t want to believe that someone in the pride would make the daughter feel unsafe to come back. That couldn’t be that. Just the thought had her stomach pitting.

So, instead, she decided to point out another theory. ”If the daughter hasn’t come back and it’s doubted that she would have gone somewhere else willingly, that could only mean it was unwilling. There was no mention of drag marks, which have been easier to see than prints, so it’s safe to assume that the daughter at least walked away alive,” she pointed out. That didn’t mean the daughter was still alive, however. Another possibility she had to get the council to consider. ”We should have the scouts expand their usual area past the border. Perhaps we can find more signs of where the daughter went,” Tulio waited a bit, giving the other lion’s a steady gaze. ”or if a body can be discovered.”
 

[KasaiLoki]

Soren shifted on his paws as each member made an idea. He had an inkling feeling, something that tickled the back of his mind on certain occasions around the time of the disappearance (he could only assume). However, he never acted on it, with the new arrivals in his extended family, plus the newly promoted position within the pride, he felt himself not acting on those feelings as much.

Maybe he should start again.

He listened to each member speak, ear flickering under the thick pale male. His dark eyes glanced curiously at Tukio.

"Did your source mention if any kind of prints led away from the scene? Or, any bigger paw prints coming towards our borders?" he asked.

"Expanding the scout's search temporarily could be a good idea." He added to her. "However, if we have no accounts of prints leading away, we could always believe that Rinj may have been carried off."

Soren turned towards Wahabu. "I never would have expected our home to have a threat from within." He murmured, shaking his head. "If that is something we are to consider, should our first consideration be protecting the new life that is within our borders? I see a lot of growing bellies, and I don't think it's from overeating." The male flashed a small smile. But, if a murder happened on the border from a potential threat inside what was stopping them from going after other members?  

[Krysin]

She had surely picked the best time possible to start a family, the dark lioness thought wryly. Whatever had been the cause of Kohau's murder and Rinj's disappearance, one thing was clear... their borders were not safe. For a moment, she considered moving her family in towards the center of the pride - something to bring up later with Shujaa. Her family was important, but right now she needed to focus on the well-being of the Pridelands in general. Something wasn't right within them, for a lioness to be murdered and another to disappear. She would not be surprised if Rinj was dead, but she wasn't sure voicing that train of thought would be best.

JB listened as thoughts were tossed around, suggestions voiced on what could have happened to cause Kohau's death and Rinj's disappearance. For a brief while, JB kept her thoughts to herself. Cults, hyenas, sympathizers... Was this really going to get them anywhere?

She sighed, ears flicking. This wasn't her area of expertise, but she was going to have to expand her horizons if she was going to be of any use to the council. "If word has already spread about Kohau's murder, we need to address it with the pride," JB said with a small frown. She had already heard rumors even before coming to the council meeting. "I know we have a few families who live closer to the borders that we should consider suggesting that they move inwards. At the very least, Tau should make an announcement of sorts that we're working on identifying the culprit."

Could it cause a little panic? Probably. But, she felt that the pride needed to be aware that there was trouble. She'd hate to see anyone else get hurt when they are all more than capable of preventing it.  

[Anderleit]

It was about time they'd had a council meeting. Although he'd yet to break his silence, Djuro was stoically present; the dark expression furrowing his brow a match to the prevailing colors of his coat, and both a bit of a standout among his fellow councilors. Running his tongue over a nose rapidly drying with consternation, the rangy male was content to take in the proceedings without adding too much... At least, until a certain noisome topic touched his ear.

"Not the Outlands." The lion tilted his head, eyeing Businge steadily. His already-present scowl deepened. "There's new activity over that way, true - but if a Pridelander had stumbled over that border, I think we would know about it by now." He could say with confidence that he didn't think one of their own, in danger, would be risking death by passing into the new pride's borders. A bit of a bloodying, maybe - but even then, if the distress was clear enough... They were lions with a different view of things, not monsters.

The hyenas, on the other hand. Djuro's ears flicked backwards at their mention, gaze flickering from party to party that bounced the idea of them around. To hear Wahabu dismiss them only made the shells press further into his mane. "I support the idea of widening our search parameters, though. If Rinj isn't being hidden inside the pride - and while we are large, I don't want to entertain an idea so disastrous - we must only naturally turn our suspicions to our borders."

Bad enough that there may very well be co-conspirators in their midst. The thought that they were so numerous as to...what? Consist of a whole 'nother layer of the pride, capable of smuggling away a whole lioness? Preposterous.

Jamii'binti's suggestion pulled the lion from his thoughts yet again - and again, he found her idea sensible. It played well with Soren, whose small smile Djuro answered with a nod. "It might be best to consider all moving expectant families inwards - along with the frail. The seers too, perhaps," he added, noting the green lion. His attention shifted, gaze taking in all at the meeting. "And if we talk about moving families around, they're going to notice, and they're going to ask why. I don't like the idea of lending fuel to the fire of this...'cult' business with an announcement. But might be we give them even more tinder by staying quiet."

Twist his tail, he couldn't recall ever being so talkative. But it was a good feeling to have - like they were actually getting something done after a long silence. What a novel notion that was.  

[- Mynsed -]

Tukio nearly swallowed her tongue, eyeing Wahabu sharply. He had plucked that thought she discarded and presented it. ”We would need pretty damn good proof to throw an accusation towards pride members. It could cause a rift, something we do not need with an unknown enemy around,” Tukio warned, tail flicking slightly. She didn’t want to consider the possibility of it. But if there was someone within the land, harming pride members and threatening the peace… Tukio had to focus to keep her lips from pulling into a snarl.

”I doubt it’s the cult’s doing,” Tukio said, only a bit defensively. The cult was open minded. They shared the same values as her. It would be a shame to lose them when she could use them. ”From what I hear, they’re the type to lend assistance rather than carry out a murder. I think addressing them along with the murder incident would unfairly bring eyes to an organization that, so far, hasn’t caused harm,” Tukio argued with a frown. ”An announcement by itself about the murder would be a good idea; as long as we don’t provide all the details,” she continued cautiously. She was a big one for secrets, whether ferreting them out through her sources or keeping ones she did know. Information was a weapon and the best line of defense. And while she wasn’t prone to violence, she knew that information could tip scales in her and the pride’s favor. Giving out information, however, made the advantage moot.

”Any suspicions or clues we have should remain between all of us for the time being. Even if the murderer isn’t within the pride, there are plenty of mouths and the murderer is bound to have ears for listening.” What a mess this all was.

”Councilor Businge brought up a good question, however. What did they hope to gain or, rather, why was the mother murdered and the daughter taken?” Asking the basic questions may narrow down the suspects, after all.

 

[Das Tor]

It felt like poor Biskuti all over again. And Irit had to take a quiet, deep breath and remind herself she was on the Council now. She had to keep her pain and anger in check, had to work for the good of the pride in a less direct manner. "Tukio is right. If you mention the cult too closely to the murder, members will infer things that could cause trouble, especially when they seem more likely to help, strange as they are. Gossip isn't exactly uncommon among the pride members, and being as open as we are? Even if the murderer is from outside, especially if they're from outside, they'll have ears in the pride. As for the hyenas...the best I can suggest is maybe strengthen the patrols along that part of our borders, or assign scouts and soldiers with more experience to that length. At least until we know for certain if it was them, someone on the inside, or someone from without."

She sat, thoughtful frown on her muzzle. "As for what they hope to gain...in truth, it depends on who did it. We are a large pride, and while leadership hasn't been much of a straight line for some time, we've still enjoyed mostly peace with only the occasional shake up. For all we know, someone resents that, inside of or outside of the pride." While she loved her rogue friends, she knew not every rogue, and not every pride, outside of the Pridelands was nearly as kind as Elua or her brother Tama and his pride. "Moving more vulnerable parties inwards is a very good idea, indeed, but with it, we'll have to word the announcement carefully. We want to soothe fears, not increase them."  

[Midnightglow18]

Businge listened to the information Tukio's informants had gathered it wasn't much to go on she nodded. "I agree we should protect our people and not raise a panic without the full information, it seems we have very little to go off on right now." She said softly.

She frowned she didn't understand why some just liked chaos for chaos' sake "That is truly foolish to want to destroy with no reason, it's like going on a hunt and leaving the meat for the vultures." She said her tone bitter and angry. She hated the idea that there were traitors in the pride but she could not discount the idea. "Perhaps we need to have others we trust keeping an ear to the ground in case that is true." She said addressing Wahabu. She made eye contact and then shifted her eyes. She had never been very good talking to males. "This situation is horrible." She said softly. Businge was a bit nieve she thought that the pride land was perfect and often forgot that danger and pain could and did enter.

Businge frowned and then said, "If she was carried away if there are no drag marks is it even possible for hyenas to carry a full grown lioness without dragging them??"

"I agree we need to address the death if there are rumors going around, but till we know more about the daughter if she lives or is dead what can we tell the pride?" She nodded "I agree that protecting the families on the border is most important.. except if the threat is from within will we be moving them into danger? We need more information.." Businge said softly. "We need more clues."

Businge nodded she agreed with her whole heart she was frustrated she wanted to protect her people and she wanted to find the daughter alive. "Do we have lions who are good at tracking? Perhaps if we pick the best hunters we will have the best chance of finding her alive rather then spreading the pride too thin searching?"

She listened to Djuro and she blushed and looked away when he addressed her so directly she thought he was very handsome and she was not used to addressing a male so directly. "Perhaps," she said softly. She wondered if the female would have been found if she ran away in fear after her mother had been killed. Then again if there were no drag marks, the idea Businge hated the most. She didn't believe in such foolish things so she refused to voice such a silly thought.

She nodded and then said, "I agree we should not start hunting our own people without rock solid proof that someone without the pride is the cause of this cruel waste of life." Businge frowned and then asked "What is this cult? I have not heard of it." She blushed admitting she didn't know. She was new to the council and still getting her paws in place. "I agree unless they are trusted and approved by the council to help find the daughter perhaps?" She said looking at Tukio once again. "There are so many questions at hand to answer, we certainly have more questions then answers right now.  

[Anderleit]

They were getting distracted. Seemed to the dark male that he could see it plain as day: individual defenses cropped up, and some grew more preoccupied espousing their own interests than discussing the subject at large. Frown thinning at the corners, Djuro cleared his throat before speaking up - a rough, rasping cough that was perhaps a touch too noisy.

"I don't think anyone's talking about implicating the recent 'cult' movement, such that it is. Not necessarily out of tacit approval of Vitha's meanderings, I'm sure we're all understood," he paused all-too-briefly, but did not neglect to raise a thin brow in Tukio's direction, "but simply because, at the present time, doing so wouldn't make any sense. I would propose that our suspicions toward any wrongdoing within the pride borders be limited to moving the vulnerable inward - that can easily be dismissed as a concern for safety given recent events.

"Neither should we release an all-points bulletin about the details of the incident that we know. As I said in our motive for safeguarding families, we ought to stay nondescript. Push our concerns in keeping the pride well-protected - increasing border scouts could also be described away as such. But it is imperative that we say something - we cannot allow the pride to think that we are ignorant of this issue."

His tone and expression darkened. "Especially considering a similar...incident in recent memory." Djuro's gaze moved from their sweep of the council's ranks to hover, almost apologetically, on Wahabu and Irit. His tail animatedly indicated the lion's discontent, lashing snakelike across the ground. "Detractors of this council would argue that we dropped the gourd once already. We cannot afford to appear idle a second time."