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mother Mezin (moon) and the father Jua'kanzu (Fur like the sun).

WHO DUNNIT?!
Entering For: The friend
Name: Kimya'moja (Swahili - The Silent One)
Personality: Always the silent, strong one, Kimya is more often found in the background, silently watching over his two companions. He is difficult to get to know, as he barely speaks unless spoken to first and even then his replies are short and to the point. It is not that he strives to be antisocial, he simply does not see the point in useless conversation when one or two words will get the pint across just as well. The finer points of social interaction escape him, but he is fiercely loyal and would do anything for Jua and those he considers friends. He is deeply in love with Jua, but knows that the red male loves Mezin and the sudden knowledge that the pair are having a family has thrown Kimya for a loop. He still sticks close to them, but he has retreated from even Jua, becoming even more of a shadow as he watches over the pair from the fringe of the pack, but rarely includes himself in their lives.
Who did it?: Honestly, he doesn't know, but he wants to find out in order to clear his name. He suspects either Tuna, or a rogue, as he found strange paw prints on the edge of the pride that appear to date to that night.
Character Response: He knew the pack were looking at him with suspicious eyes, that he was high on their list as the pup-napper. But how on earth was he going to prove otherwise? His single witness was about the only hyena who would never say anything.. could never say anything. Sighing heavily he let his muzzle drop onto his forepaws, crimson eyes closing. Jua, what am I going to do? Letting his mind wander, he couldn't help but go back to that night...

The sickle moon was hidden by the darkest clouds, everyone was a-bed, deep in their caves or stretched out on the sun-warmed rocks closer to the entrances. But the only thing that mattered to Kimya was the fact that no one was currently around this particular area. The complete absence of a single scout should have worried him, but instead he was simply grateful that there was no one around to make this meeting any harder than it was already going to be.

So, silently, and with his heart in his throat, he snuck out of his own cave, pausing just long enough to glance up the path to the cave where Jua and his mate Mezin stayed with their cubs before he turned and swiftly crossed the cliff to the main path, trotting up the well-marked path on silent forepaws. It wasn't long before he reached the top and with a fugitive glance over his shoulder he slipped up among the large boulders, his dark black and grey coat blending well with the thick shadows the huge lumps of rock created. He couldn't settle, every moan of the wind made his hair stand on end, every tiny rustle and squeak made him jump. His heart was in his throat by the time heavier pawsteps caught his attention. Turning expectantly, he held his breath, bot fear and excitement filled his chest as he hesitantly lifted one paw, crimson eyes straining into the shadows. Suddenly, out of the gloom, the fiery red and orange shape of his Jua appeared, pacing between two boulders. A wide grin spread over Kimya's muzzle as he stood, taking a step forwards but then stopping, waiting for the red-coated male to join him in the sheltered lee of the stone pile.

"Jua... you came.."

Joy and amazement coloured his voice, the soft tentative flush of true emotion warming his eyes, eyes that were usually so cold and detached. Yet slowly, his smile faded as Jua simply looked back at him, green eyes pained and full of regret."Kimya" His low voice murmured, soothing, gentled, the tone one used to comfort wounded pups of offer condolances to a recently widowed mate. Kimya felt his heart sink like a large rock in a deep pool, a chill filling his body as denial began to whisper through his mind.

"I can't do this any more Kimya... I have Mezin and the kids. You are like a brother to me, but that is all it is.. all it can be." The red hyena regarded his friend with sad, apologetic eyes as Kimya simply stood, jaw open in shock. When the father said no more, Kimya slowly shut his mouth, ears flicking back, forwards, then back to flatten against his skull.

"I don't... I.. but ... " Crimson eyes stared at the other, unbelieving, then slowly, the truth of what the red-coloured male had said began to sink in. "I know you feel responsible Jua, but the pups will grow fast... we have time.. after.." He was cut off by the slow, sad shake of Jua's head and felt as if his heart had been dealt a death blow.

"No Kimya... I have a family now. I am sorry." With that, the red haired male turned and padded away, leaving Kimya standing alone in the dark shadows, crimson eyes open, unblinking, unseeing, as heavy tears rolled down his cheeks. It was not until dawn first started to lighten the sky before Kimya seemed to rouse, dulled crimson eyes blinking, looking around as if uncertain how he had got up among the massive boulders. Slowly, movements stiff and jerky, the dark-coloured hyena turned round and walked slowly back along the path and down to where his small den was still shrouded in shadows. Silent, ears low and paw steps laden, Kimya'moja made his way inside his den, retreating to the very back of the small cave and curling up, his back to the entrance. Tucking his muzzle under one foreleg he closed his eyes and let the despair that had filled him as he had watched Jua walk away rip through his body, tear his heart apart and send his mind skittering away on waves of agony.

For two whole days Kimya stayed in his den, curled up at the very back, ignoring all visitors. It was only when whispered comments outside his den spoke of the kidnapped pups that he finally stirred. He loved Jua, despite what had happened he loved the red-coated hyena still, and the thought of the pups, of innocents, being taken was enough to pull him from the depression he had become lost in. et it hadn't taken him long to realise, after emerging into the too-bright sunlight, that it was he they suspected of stealing the pups. He couldn't blame them, knowing he had never made any real effort to integrate into the pack, and with his absence the past few days...

Yet he couldn't bring himself to care what the pack thought of him, not until he realised that if they kicked him out, he really would never see Jua again. Swallowing his own grief he set about finding out what he could, discovering that aside form himself, three others were under suspicion, which he hoped gave him time to work out what really happened. He spoke to no one during those days, ignoring everyone unless they greeted him and even then, his only reaction was a curt nod. When he wasn't looking for clues, he spent his time with the distressed couple, hiding his own pain as he watched the pair lean on each other, offered reassuring words that tasted like ash in his mouth. Yet when he caught Jua looking at him with a grateful expression he knew all the pain in the world was worth it if he could be regarded favourably by his Jua.

Becoming a shadow of his already ghost-like former self, the dark-coated hyena took to stalking the pack lands, slitted crimson eyes watching everyone and every thing. The fact that his actions set him apart as 'different' and only reinforced what the others though of him, did not seem to matter or register with Kimya. His only goal was to bring back the pups and stay close to Jua and Mezin. He never spoke to anyone about where he had been that night, never implicated Jua in any way for being absent and worse, being with another male, no matter what that meeting had consisted of or how it had torn Kimya's life apart. No, he kept silent on the whole matter, no one would ever know of their relationship, a relationship that had never really formed... he cod not do that to Jua, could not destroy the life his friend was building.

So he ignored the looks, ignored the whispers behind his back, and kept on searching for the real pup-napper.




While coming up with Kimya and his backstory, I have made sure that if I win, Kimya can react to the father's personality properly, depending on what the other player wants. Since I know it is unlikely that the father will feel anything at all for Kimya, and indeed once the father discovers Kim's secret, may in fact despise him, I do plan on him having his feelings denied and his heart broken. For the purpose of this contest, Im just going to use the father briefly.

My name: Tanakako
The cub's name: Armæus "a king of Egypt"
Personality: A cheerful, happy youth, he does lack a bit of confidence but is not at all submissive. Friendly and always willing to help he will eventually become an artisan, possessing his dad's artistic touch.

Name: Säwäte ('Things disputed' in navi - as a cub, he refused to just agree with what he was told and always wanted to know why.)
Screen name: Tanakako
Personality: Säwäte is a classic tribal male, completely dedicated to the ways of the People. He is a fairy stern and serious lion, a skilled hunter as is expected of him and a male of actions rather than words. Though he can speak and he does so very bluntly when the need arises. There is little flair to Säwäte, but what he lacks in social grace he makes up for in stubborn will and determination. That is not to say that he is clumsy in his social conduct for he is not, he just doesn't see the need to sugar coat his words or actions for anyone but the youngest of cubs. A very honorable fighter, he does sometimes let his passion for his pride get the best of him, but he works hard to keep control and always obeys his superiors, even if he has a difference of opinion.
How does he feel about having a twin Family is everything to Säwäte, so of course he loves his twin. While he feels a deep need to protect her, he knows she does need space and he does his best to let her live her life without too much interference from him. But if she ever needs him, he is always right there at her side.
Rank; Warrior.
Mate option: I'd certainly try rping them together, but it would depend on how they are ICly whether or not they end up mates.

.:. Blind Lioness .:. (Eskimo)

Girl's name: Anapenda Maisha

Name meaning: 'Loves life' in swahili

Personality: Upbeat and daring this lioness knows what her limits and are frequently pushes them. Most creatures pity her at first glance, when they realise that she is completely blind, but Mai soon proves them wrong with her brash and sometimes dangerous active manners. Of course, she is blind and there are a lot of things she can't do, but she has learned how to live with her disability and uses the environment to her strengths. She sticks to a fairly small territory that she knows intimately, from every shrub, rabbit hole, fallen log and bird's nest. She is also mainly a scavenger, but will and can hunt smaller prey herself, and only does this at night when her lack of sight is balanced by the lack of light for her prey, her dark coat helping to make them blind to her. She has trained her ears and her sense of smell to a fine skill and often shows an uncanny awareness of her surroundings. She also has help, a small black bird that helps to guide her when she is travailing out of the area she knows.

How did she become blind?: A very mundane, but depressing manner. As a young female just learning to hunt, she as wounded out on lessons though not badly and was soon up and hunting again. Yet an infection found its way into her wounds around her eyes and within months, she was completely blind. It took her to the depths of despair, and in desperation, she fled her family. Yet her family refused to let her go and though they could not leave their own area, they sent her brother after her. For several years the pair wandered, she in constant grief, he the solid, constant companion. Over time she grew to adapt to her disability, but it wasn't until after her brother's death at the hands of another rogue male, that she realised she had been the walking dead. In honour of her brother's memory, she vowed to never again let the fates dictate to her and took it upon herself to live life with the same virility and lust for life that her brother had possessed. She takes a new name, Anapenda Maisha, and carves out a new life for herself.

What happens now?: Having settled down in a distant patch of savanah, she doesn't get many visitors, a tough, independent lady, I'd love to see her run into a male who falls for her. He would have his work cut out, as she is pretty blind (pardon the pun) to the direction male interest can take and misses a lot of cues like being gazed at, obviously because of her impairment. It would take work for a male to win her, but it would be utterly adorable. I doubt she would join a pride unless he came from one, she doesn't like any space too large or too populated as it wears on her senses, constantly having to avoid bumping into others and trying to 'listen' to her environment when there is a lot of noisy chatter from others.
Of course I'll get her, her familiar friend to be her guide.

Personality: Loud and brash she speaks her mind and shows little fear of anything. That's not to say she's unkind, she can just be a little oblivious to the under currents of people and can sometimes accidentally steamroll all over them. Though she will do her best to make it up to them after she realises what shes done.