I'm The Map, The Map~ (Ingi,Ajili,Mapatano,Umoja) FIN

[wooga Paes]

Mapatano let Umoja do the talking, and when he and.. Mfalme finished, he stepped up, standing his normal height instead of against the ground. Hisa fluttered towards him, but missed at fir due to darkness, and the lack of noise he was making, but gracefully swerved around him before finally managing to reach her usual perch.

"I am Mapatano, and this is Hisa. " He nodded, and Hisa narrowed her eyes in the stranger's direction, though she couldn't see to well. "Is there a cub here? " That voice had sounded like a cub, anyway. Hisa liked cubs, except when they.. pulled feathers, ick. She'd usually enjoyed fooling with Umoja's cubs whenever Mapatano walked by their den and they ran in to the two. Maybe Mapatano liked them too, seeing as he always took that detour instead of the shorter ones.

"Also, she's horribly blind in here. " He grumbled, slowly growing a little impatient with having to tell Hisa about everything. Hisa didn't seem to mind, however. She was used to Mapatano's tones.  

[[. Rozu .]]

Birds? Why did these lions have birds? Ingi wasn't a huge fan of the creatures, especially the really large ones that looked as if they could just sink their talons into your fur and carry you away. Ugh. Then again, since when did they stick around lions? This day couldn't get any weirder.

Little grin spread across the cub's rounded face, relieved that these strangers didn't seem to mean them any harm. Plus, not only were they lost and looked like they could use some help, but so were him and his mother. Hmm... Not wanting to interrupt what they had to say, ideas whirled around in Ingi's mind while he stood silently and lost in thought.

I bet I can find the way out. Taking a breath and shutting his eyes, Ingi allowed the visons of the never ending tunnels to flood into his mind, taking a mental note of the twists and turns that it was taking him. Then... "Light!" What was meant do by a statement under his breath turned into a shout, for he was a little overly excited over his small discovery. Blinking into the darkness, he debated with himself whether or not the second party would believe him and Ingi turned to look up at his mother. "I-- I think I know the way."

But who would trust a cub in what could turn out to be a life or death situation?  

[[Eskimo]]

So, they were lost, too? She hoped they weren't hurt. But how strange, Ajili thought, that they were all lost and would happen to cross paths? Considering the earth quake had split so much apart, she wondered why it brought them together? But before she had much time to talk more with the other two (and their birds, or "bonded" as they called them), her heart was taken for a leap by the sudden shout of her pudgey cub.

"Light?" Ajili breathed, trying to regain her composure after the sudden shock. She glanced all around where she stood.

No light.

She gazed down at her son, trying to understand what he was talking about. He was acting so strange...Why was it that he felt so strongly about where to go in the tunnels? It wasn't like he had been there before. But Ingi was all she had at that moment. He was her cub, her blood, her cherished only son. Her mind buzzed with doubt, but something in her attached itself to the idea that no matter what happened, Ingi would know where to go and what to do.

"Ingi love," Ajili said softly, trying to hide any form of doubt in her voice may betray. She didn't realize how close they were to the others by then. The other two were quite visible even though it was dark. "why do you think that's the way?" she asked.  

[wooga Paes]

Mapatano flicked his tail tip, remaining qquiet as the female arrived with her cub. He'd watched the cub more, especially when it shouted out a word, and he tilted his head. How peculiar.

"I agree with Umoja. " He said, looking to the frame of the larger lion, his tail tip swishing behind him. "We haven't got much to lose. " Like he and Umoja were getting anything done. "Lead the way, I guess, Ingi. " He said, raising a paw and indicating for the cub to take the lead. If he wanted to help, so be it. Hisa, on his back, squeezed his skin a bit in surprise. Mapatano was usually more skeptical. Perhaps he was just agreeing with Umoja. Or the time in this cave had finally broken his brain.

It was funny how Hisa and Mapatano always seemed to change places. When he was easy going, she became skeptical, when he was snappy she was quiet. They were an odd duo.  

[[. Rozu .]]

Slighty taken back that these strangers would put their trust into him, Ingi couldn't help but flash them a wide grin that made his nose tickle. "I can see it, mamma!" He answered, looking back up at Ajili, then to the males standing only paces away. "I dunno how, I just can..." He mumbled, unable to offer an explination. But maybe they understood him. They were grown-ups, afterall. Grown-ups know everything.

That was his cue, time to play follow the leader! Memory of the path fresh in his mind, Ingi bounded ahead in the direction that the strangers must have been coming. Trying to stay close enough to keep Ajili happy, pudgy cub padded along at a steady pace to a point where the the tunnels began to lose it's usual musty smell. Is that good?

With high hopes and determination driving Ingi on, he continued to pad forward despite his slowly diminishing energy level. But wait... A sudden adrenaline rush pumped through the cub's tiny veins which lead to a burst of speed, taking him ahead of the group with good reason. Light. It wasn't much, but there was a distinct hole in the cave wall that maybe big enough for Ajili and the others to crawl through with a little digging. "MAMMA! I FOUND IT!"

Daddy would be proud.  

[[Eskimo]]

With a sigh of reluctance, Ajili carefully squeezed by the other two lions (which was a bit awkward) in order to be right behind her cub. She really didn't feel comfortable letting Ingi be the leader right then, especially since they now had two others in their group of lost lions. What if Ingi got hurt? What if some rocks decided to fall and he was--No, no more thoughts like that. She wouldn't let the earth claim her baby boy. She tried to stifle her surge of motherly protectiveness and took deep, quiet breaths.

Suddenly, Ingi was bounding forward, practically bursting with excitement. With another leap of her heart, Ajili sailed forward after him. "Ingi, not so fast!" she called out after him in a scolding voice. "You've--" She paused mid-sentence and felt her jaw drop. There was light.

He had found a way out.

"Ingi!" Ajili exclaimed as she caught up to him, a clear-sounding laugh escaping her tired form. She bent down and nuzzled her cub and gave a quick lick to one of his pudgy cheeks. "Ingi, you did it!" she praised, her tail flicking. Her heart felt full of joy for once in those long hours of sorrow. They had found a way out. Things would be okay. She and Ingi would be able to make it.

With that optimistic way of thinking, along with a fresh wave of hope, Ajili began to pry at the rock that covered their way out. She was weak from how the quaking had jarred her body and from all of the walking that they did, but knowing her cub needed her in that moment was enough to give her more power.

Ajili placed her paws on some rocks and moved them, trying her best to dig. She'd need some help if they were to get out. There was no way she could do it on her own. She looked back at the other two, a smile hinting at helplessness crossing her features.  

[wooga Paes]

Mapatano kept behind the young cub, keeping his eyes on him. Curious little thing, he really did seem to know where he was going. Very, very odd cub. His train of thought was tied up with Umoja's, though. There might be something more about this one.

When Ingi sped up, however, he did pause a bit in confusion, before rushing forward as well, Hisa's wings were already spreading to keep balance on his back. Soon, however, their purpose was another, and as she saw light, she leapt off his back. Dark or not, she didn't care.

"Hisa! " Mapatano gaped, dumbfound as his bonded suddenly vanished, but rushed forward to help Ajili and Umoja, Hisa had already squeezed out behind Mfalme and by a few joyous screeches he heard from outside, Mapatano was sure.

They'd reached the valley.