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 Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:24 pm
Parisette told herself off for jumping when a twig snapped. It was probably just another one of the searchers, but still, she had panicked for a moment, thinking it was something worse out there, before realising it could be a cub as well. Looking around, she could see no sight of any youth, so it must have been a searcher.
There were so many! She thought, smiling a little as she gazed at the pride members assembled to help, they were all moving about the forest so she couldn't get a good look at all of them, but she could spot family, nobles and even some of the newer members! How exciting.
Quickly shaking her head, she returned her focus to the task. She needed a familiar, she thought dryly, like a snake to scurry amongst the bushes and shrubs, to check for little ones hiding in them, but that might have scared them more. Imagine, hiding in a scary place and having a snake slither up beside you in a place you thought safe! Scary.
Parisette paused. As a player, she was always thinking of new plays. Perhaps, once they had found the cubs, they could make a thrilling saga about the race to save the cubs? It would be wonderful! Recounting how the pride had banded together to save so many precious little ones. A real testimony to their ability to work as one!
They'd have to make it seem a little more terrifying though, in the play, she decided, nodding. Perhaps a monster after the cubs, or something? Oooh, she giggled to herself, forgetting for a moment to watch where she was going. Her paw caught beneath a twisted root and she promptly crumbled to the floor with an 'oomph'.
She laid there on the floor for a moment, an embarrassed expression her face. She really hoped no one had seen that. She carefully pushed herself back onto her feet, and stepped over the root which had tripped her, wary not to get any more paws caught. Focus on the task at hand, she thought to herself, firmly. Cubs first... and then plan the play.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:36 pm
Hinekiri breathesd a sigh of relief when Sian approaced her. She didn't know the lion well but she knew enough that he was an older member. "Yes that right." she said a smile on her face. She was impressed that he knew her name, the bright lioness often kept to herself and as such not many knew her by name instead only by sight.
"I would love if we could pair up. I must admit I have never been into the forest and well it frightens me a little. Though it is more upsetting to think of the poor cubs that are lost out here." She bowed her head in respect for the poor little ones.
"I must say we do have one thing going for us as a pride. We are all so brightly colored the cubs should be able to see us compared to the naturally colored forest. Perhaps they will see us looking for them and call out for help." she said a hopeful note in her voice.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:49 pm
 Beatrix's time in the pride had been relatively short before this state of emergency had erupted. Children, so many children, lost in the forest and utterly alone. It was heart-breaking to many, but for her it was a giant weighted ball of guilt in her stomach. She had come to this place to start a new, but even in the beginnings of her new life she was faced with her past.
Beatrix knew greatly the feeling of losing a child, although the child she lost wasn't her own. It was her sibling, her baby sister. Feeling burdened with the duty of caring for her baby sister, she would often ignore her and her chants, calls and praises. One day while they walked through a wooded area far from the lands she was attempting to make home now, Beatrix had managed to lose track of her baby sister. She had been ignoring her and after an extended period of uncanny quiet Beatrix turned to find her gone. She searched for hours and never found her.
The lioness shook her head quietly s Bwana instructed those who had gathered around to search for the little ones. Many seemed to be Nobility, which shocked her initially. She didn't think Nobility would waste their time on those who weren't like them. She was glad they were here. She didn't feel like she was breaking her role so much with the many who had turned out to help. Of course there were the lower classes who had showed up to look and she had expected they would. They didn't bother with appearances and class. They cared without restraint.
Once they were permitted to go forth, Beatrix quickly tried to keep her pace up with some of the others at the head of the pack. It had not been so long since she had lost her sister, and the visions of Adaloise's penchant for wanting to hide in the smallest of spaces came forth in her mind. She had to look low to the ground, where the hiding spaces would be found.
"Little ones?" Beatrix called, her voice loud enough to carry, but quiet enough where they wouldn't feel as if they were being threatened, "Little ones are you near?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:57 pm
It pleased him greatly to see that at least one of his children had joined in on the search. If Nyota was still around she likely would have too, strictly based upon her love of the groundlings and this forest. Kivuli blew out a sigh and shook his head, this was no time to be dwelling on his absent daughter and how much trouble she used to get into. The most important thing right now was finding the cubs, all other personal issues could be dealt with after ensuring that each and every cub was safe. He had noted that Maua was using her slave to help her scout out, and that look on her face when she had entered the forest reconfirmed his beliefs of an ulterior motive to her helping out.
He tried to think like a cub. Where would he go if he was young, scared and in an unfamiliar place. Likely they would look for someplace to hide until they were searched out. Or perhaps if some were bolder would be more out in the open for easy finding. He knew of a clearing not far from where he was now, and as he made his way there he stooped to look under every bush, every fallen tree and then looking into the crook of some trees, anyplace where a cub may have hidden themselves away.
In the distance he could hear some of the others searching. He did not call out to them only because he feared yelling out could frighten any cubs that may be nearby. But he kept his ears open to the sounds of others as well as for cubs.
With so many others out looking there was no doubt in Kamau's mind that they would find of the cubs in no time. He slowly made his way through the forest, making sure to mark his path clearly not only for himself but for others that may become lost, or should be become lost a way for the others to find him. All the while he kept his eyes open to signs of the cubs. There were plenty of paw prints on the ground, but most where larger, indicating an adult or perhaps adolescent lion, not at all belonging to the cubs he was looking for.
He paused to scan the area immediately around him. He caught sight of another lion, no correction lioness looking in the forest. Though she was a fair distance away the gold markings on her pelt stood out to him, he had seen those same markings before only on a different lioness, Maua the one who had induced him into the pride. The lioness had to be a relative of hers, daughter perhaps as she looked a deal younger than Maua. He smiled and gave her a nod, though not sure if she had seen it and then resumed his search. Well at least he hadn't gotten lost or completely separated from the others yet.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:10 pm
Subira remained quiet for the majority of Fahamu's speech, smiling at him in what appeared to be a vacant look on her muzzle. The artisan might appear duller than any other lion that you would come across, but within her silent exterior was the passion of an artist. She wasn't the type to normally do anything to bring attention to herself, but Subira wanted to help with the cubs. She knew all too well what it was like to be alone in the world and she wanted to make sure that the children would never have to be alone.
While the gorgeously blue male spoke, Subira kept her eyes on the underbrush hoping to catch a little cub. "Hamu," She spoke softly, hoping to get his attention, "please be silent a moment. I'd like to see if I can hear anything." Her eyes darted to his face as she crouched and pawed at the bush infront of her gently.
Fahamu was probably the closest thing to a true friend she'd ever had and she didn't want to mess that up by being to harsh with him. With a contrite expression on her face, she sent him a look of apology. She'd have to apologize later for her rudeness.
Mother would never have allowed her to speak in such a manner and Subira would have been punished accordingly. With that thought flickering through her mind, the lioness promised that if she ever had children of her own she wouldn't treat them like servants or prisoners of war.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:20 pm
Gali turned her head in time to catch the gaze of an unfamiliar noble. She blinked as he nodded briefly at her before he continued on his way. Her eyes followed his blindingly white pelt as the sun-dappling of the forest skidded across it with his movements. Just from his movements she was already trying to determine what kind of a noble he was.
Shaking herself from her observations, Gali began searching again, using her nose and her eyes to seek signs of any cubs who had passed through. Now they had to hope the groundlings had no cubs to confuse their senses. Wouldn't that be a mess.
Without acknowledging the white-and-purple male, Gali's search gradually drew her closer to where he was searching. She worked in silence near him for a while, aware that she had long ago lost sight of her parents and that somewhere out there was at least one sister with aspirations to rival her mother's. Pur'Jed couldn't help herself.
Gali glanced sidelong at the nearby male as she paused. She was studying him now more than her surroundings. It would serve her right if she missed a cub doing this.
Wouldn't such a large group of people scare the cubs anyway?
Instinctively, Gali smiled when Kamau caught her staring. It was a reflex reaction, one honed from a long life of being caught "staring into lions' souls," as one sister had put it. Usually, it helped to put the lion at ease as long as she paired it with conversation.
"I'm surprised at the amount of nobles who turned out for the search." In Maua's case it was probably a hunt. "I suppose I didn't expect so many single lions to be looking for children, especially the males."
Hamu took no offense from Subira's seemingly careless words, and her look of apology prompted a grin to break through his sudden solemnity. It wasn't like Players to be so quiet or unassuming, but then again, neither of them were Players. Costumers both, Hamu had simply grown into the Player attitude: friendly, loud, and overall loyal. Subira clearly had not-- except on the loyal bit-- but that worked for her. She didn't need to be loud for her craft.
He stayed quiet, scanning the forest with his eyes as his ears also tried to search for the sounds of cubs. If they were smart, they were probably laying quietly, though, waiting for the scary larger creatures to pass. The only sounds he could hear were the searchers.
Even as an adolescent, Hamu was already close to his adulthood and as such was already a great deal larger than any cubs. He'd still appear large to them, even though he was one of the youngest searching the forest. Hopefully Subira would balance out his scariness with enough maternity to soothe any cubs who saw them.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:30 pm
Subira decided that she wasn't going to hear anything if she stayed close to the group. With a glance at Fahamu, she stopped pawing and straightened up.
"Follow me, please." Her voice was once again gentle and this time, not nearly as harsh as she had been before. The artisan led her friend into the woods and started to call out quietly, "Come out little ones, we won't hurt you."
She was both nervous and excited to be in the woods, happy to be here for a cause but wary of the fairies. She might be an adult, but she hadn't been one for long.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:30 pm
Yes, it had been the right choice to aid the lioness. With frightened cubs already in the woods, they didn't need any adults getting the creeps and running off too. He nodded to her worries and led the way deeper into the brush. The line of seekers had already moved ahead and begun the spread. They needed to keep going too.
"The forest is something you are right to fear. Feral beasts and outsiders may hide within, who is to say. But we are stronger together than apart, and nothing will harm you while I am watching over you." It may have seemed boastful but he was a guard after all. He was trained to deal with danger and surprises. And to go where others might be uncomfortable.
"That is also true. Should the cubs wish to be found, it will be easy for them to spy us. On the other paw, if they fear being found...we will be all too easy to avoid. We must prepare for that eventuality...If they are old enough to survive alone, we may be forced to leave them here. Hopefully though it will not come to that."
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:38 pm
The process was not one that could be rushed. Rush and one may very well walk right past a cub hidden under a bush. This task would require patience and dedication from all the pride members. Kivuli was certain though that with enough time, hopefully not too long though as the longer they were out here the likely more scared they would be, that all the cubs would be found and brought to safety. While the group had seemed to spread out a bit Kivuli kept his mate in sight. He wanted to make sure that she too was safe in the forest. He caught sight of her hide in the distance and then went back to looking.
After taking his take to inspect every bush and tree along the path he had chosen Kivuli stepped into a small clearing. While his eyes did not immediately settle upon a cub sitting patiently waiting to be found that did not mean there wasn't any here. They could be anywhere in the vast expanse of the forest. "Is there anyone here?" He asked in a soft voice, not wanting to scare them with his normally deep voice. "I am here to help." Then he stood silently, calmly waiting to see if a reply would come. Should there be a cub nearby it may take them a few moments to gain the confidence needed to come out of hiding and Kivuli was certainly willing to wait and see, but not too long as there was the chance there were no cubs at all here.
He had seen her from the corner of his eye, slowly moving closer as they both searched out the cubs. He couldn't help but smile a bit and then when he paused to mark his path again his eyes settled upon her again. She was watching him, well it was closer to staring but he didn't mind so much, she looked a bit curious. He smiled at her when she seemed to realize that she had been staring. His words made him nod. "It is times like this that bring a pride together and dissolve the ranks for the benefit of a common goal." He didn't mean that suddenly because they were out here together that the nobles and commoners were on equal ground, no they were still separated by rank, but they had a common sense of duty and would willingly accomplish it together.
"Even those of us who are single see the importance of such a task." He told her with a smile and then after a moments pause continued to talk. "I don't believe we have met before. I am Kamau, I joined the pride recently. What is your name?" He hadn't forgotten about the cub, no certainly not, they were still important, but building trust and friendships among the pride was important too. Plus if they worked together they may find them sooner. After all two sets of eyes and ears were better than one. He motioned for her to walk with him so that they could continue the search and talk at the same time.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:45 pm
ShinosBee Yes, it had been the right choice to aid the lioness. With frightened cubs already in the woods, they didn't need any adults getting the creeps and running off too. He nodded to her worries and led the way deeper into the brush. The line of seekers had already moved ahead and begun the spread. They needed to keep going too.
"The forest is something you are right to fear. Feral beasts and outsiders may hide within, who is to say. But we are stronger together than apart, and nothing will harm you while I am watching over you." It may have seemed boastful but he was a guard after all. He was trained to deal with danger and surprises. And to go where others might be uncomfortable.
"That is also true. Should the cubs wish to be found, it will be easy for them to spy us. On the other paw, if they fear being found...we will be all too easy to avoid. We must prepare for that eventuality...If they are old enough to survive alone, we may be forced to leave them here. Hopefully though it will not come to that."  "Nooooo, don't leave me here!" Wailed a voice from behind the lion, a yellow cub bounding from the bushes and charging towards the lion. He quickly scampered under the male's body, hiding beneath his legs.
(This cub is ShinosBee's to keep, or to give to another user!)
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:51 pm
((Congrats, Shinos!))
"I thought it was odd that I didn't recognize your face. I suppose even I can't know every noble in the pride, but I did think I had met them all by now." She fell into step beside him, glancing between him and their surroundings. It would be embarrassing and sad if they missed saving a cub because they were absorbed in building a new bridge with each other.
"I am Kujua Kuangalia. It's a pleasure to meet you, Kamau, and welcome to the pride." A quick smile was sent his way, but Gali was focused somewhere else, likely where her gaze had fallen some distance from them. Would cubs go near a stream? Yes. They would think of it as something to sustain them. She should check it out.
We, her mind corrected, Should check it out.
Gali glanced up at Kamau and then smiled. Cubs might react better to a male-female pair than either gender alone. If they were frightened of one, they could always go to the other partner.
"I was thinking of looking at the stream. Would you mind walking this way instead?" She asked.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:51 pm
Hinekiri nodded she knew only too well for herself how cubs who had been abandonded or lost might feel. It had been hard for even her father to coax her out of the den that she hid herself in after her mother's death. "We will just take it slow. Yelling and rushing about will only scare them further I think." Hinekiri had placed herself low to the ground. Happy to be searching again now that she had a compainion by her side. She did feel much safer now.
"Have you ever been in the forests before?" she asked the male lion beside her in a quiet whisper. It seemed silly to search in complete silence, sure it would be easier to hear any cubs if they were quiet but they also might seem intimidating if they were all just sifting through the forest looking for these missing cubs. "I do hope that it doesn't come to leaving any of them alone in the forest" it was a thought that was very hard for the lioness to bare. "Though there is a lot of places to hide and stay unseen here" she said as she ducked her head down beneath yet another bush.
Hinekiri was startled when the little voice called out to the male she was travelling with. She turned happy to see a little orange cub had joined there midst. "Hello young friends" she said to him. She then turned back to Sain, "You should take him back to the pride. I will continue searching. I promise to find another partner."
(edited more in after seeing Caj's post. Congrats Shinos XD)
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 4:56 pm
Hamu was happy to follow Subira's lead; it was unlike her to be so... bossy with him. Her customers, yes, as they needed to follow her instructions if she was to do her best work with them, but he rarely heard her direct her friends. It was funny, in a way.
"Yes, ma'am," he teased, before he stuck his face under a bush. "Anyone down here?" Obviously, the bush was empty.
Hamu had the urge to break into song, but something told him Subira might not appreciate that. His purple eyes glanced at the lioness sidelong, and his grin grew. He began humming under his breath as they searched, a song some of the Players had developed not too long ago for one of their shows.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 5:00 pm
Parisette, while she had been on the floor, noticed it was easier to see beneath the bottoms of the shrubs, and hesitated. She was alone, for the moment, and so she ducked down, pressing her belly to the floor in what was probably a ridiculous manner. She could see no little cub legs beneath the shrubs nearby, but that didn't mean that others weren't around. "Hello?" She called out gently, feeling a little silly to be talking to nothing, but perhaps there was something around.
Perhaps she should just stay on her stomach? She wiggled along the ground, giggling a little as she moved before quickly stifling the noise. She didn't want the cubs to think she was some crazy-lady, after all.
She hesitated, before raising herself back up to her full height. She'd likely end up injuring herself if she kept on her stomach, scraping up her underbelly on fallen branches and other sharp things. She'd just have to look the normal way.
She continued on, mindful of the fact she was now dusty with dirt. She could hear others talking around her, and smiled a little at the sound. It was nice to hear conversation, even if she couldn't see everyone any more. They'd spread out nicely.
"Little ones?" She called out again, keeping her voice soft, like she was playing a damsel in a play. Normally, she was loud and rather boisterous, but that would scare the cubs...if she hadn't already scared them away with her giggling earlier.
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Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 5:02 pm
Beatrix's head perked up when she heard the cries of a little cub. Someone had found something and it caused the lioness to heave a sigh. That was one cub that was found, but what of the others? How many others were there? Following the sounds of some of the other lions seeking, Beatrix stumbled upon a patch of thick brush. This was a perfect place for a cub to hide, or simply get caught.
"Hello? Is anyone there?" She said, sticking her head into the thick darkness quietly, trying to not get tangled herself. She would never find a cub in there if she only poked her head about quietly like this. She was going to need to dig deep and go into the thick bushes.
Stepping a paw in the thick bushes carefully, Beatrix felt her fur become displaced and twigs and leaves scratch up against her flesh. How unlady-like. She was supposed to be a decent version of what she pictured Nobility to be and here she was throwing herself deep into brush and bush to look for lost children. It was just like the old days. She ducked down and wiggled herself into the brush and looked around trying to find movement not created by her.
"Hello? Is anyone in here? I'm here to help you..." She called.
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