Welcome to Gaia! ::

He really only needed an excuse to socialize and off he went. The east house had suffered somewhat, leaving very few members about to pull things together. Things were difficult, of course, but spirits were high enough. Adversity was a good whetstone for sharpening the wit and skills of any individual or group. That was the attitude presented and that's what he was going to stick to.

Lu Xun loped into the fray of activity, pleasant conversation, and eager, smiling faces with a confident bounce in his step. He was small of a male and he lacked much of the muscular build that a warrior would typically boast but his branching limbs were nimble and his eyes were twin pools of confidence. A smile held his maw and touched his expression, giving him an almost cubbish expression as he chose a seat towards the front of the collective.

Beside him, a lovely ebony and ivory pelted lioness. Unfortunately for Suzhen, her moment for smiles had imposed itself a little early on. "A good day for a wedding, don't you say?" He greeted her, a little informal perhaps but she didn't look entirely comfortable. "It's been long since we've had a reason to come together."

Yun had caught sight of his sister entering on her own, her eyes everywhere and her body tense. The poor thing... at least she had the nerve to sit towards the front and get herself into the center of the mix. For him, quiet observation was just as good, if not better. There were a lot of strange faces here and for him, observing the interaction was almost as enlightening as direct interface.

A familiar face broke from the crowd and started his way. In response to the warm welcome he sat himself up a little taller and offered his brother a wide smile.

"Weisheng, good seeing you." He snorted at the inquiry and swept a glance further downwards. "I suppose you might say that. Our family grows once more. Always a joyful event, and I'm eager to see how this plays out."

He motioned to the seat beside him. "And you?"

Primitus smiled his most gentle when a young cub approached, bowing gracefully to her with a warm, kind smile.

"Good day, little one. I trust you are well?"

His golden eyes sparkled in a gentle amusement-- he was enjoying himself and even wished Kipofu was there -- But now was a time for decorum and good manners, and the male knew even young deserved the respect of an adult, giving Zhenzeng his attention.

He felt... Weird. It was off for Rasul to be clean. Usually, he was horribly filthy and smelly to go with it, but this morning he'd taken the time to actually go to the river and BATHE. As he padded along, the brown lion shook himself out. He was so used to his mane being a mess, his fur scruffy... He felt, as strange as it was, naked. Like his layers of filth were clothing.

His claws clicked on stone as he climbed to a spot, settling near Ryger. Maybe sitting close would help him absorb some of the other lion's knowledge about being a guard. His old job was... Easier? Maybe. Just grab and torture, maybe kill. This actually took more concentration. He rather liked it, actually, having to think about things he was doing. It left him feeling accomplished every time he did something, where before, it was... Mindless. Taking a second name seemed normal enough, though. He let out a puff, running the chosen name over in his head again. Hong'lei... It amused him a bit. Wild goose thunder... Maybe he'd get someone to chase him at some point, go on a wild goose chase...

Rasul shifted, claws pricking the stone, before he reached up and scratched. He was already getting bored here.

Such a big event it was already, as the Lady of the East House made her way in - hoping that she was not as late as she felt she was, having goaded her Head Adviser to leave before her and make a grand entrance while she watched from afar, making sure that it was good enough for her to join also. It felt a little . . . remarkable to hold her head as high as the Lords and Ladies of the other houses, having joined them when her dear parents had retired as main heads - giving the reins over to their daughter.

Clearing her throat, she strolled right in, looking around for something that would help her start mingling, she busied herself in walking towards a group, her head held in high respects, but bare besides the feathered earring she had adorned since youth.


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Chi JiuChi Jiu was having an equally interesting time in the wedding arrivals, having opted to become of the few southern representatives available to show up - a young Lord, possibly hoping to mingle with the ladies of other ranks and families, in hopes of producing a marriage or children to repopulate his home. It had been many months since he and his family had braved the elements together, and he intended to try flourishing what he had worked with them for so long to create.

But unlike his lifelong friend, he had brought a partner, an adolescent who had appeared to be slightly misplaced, but was well learned and easy to talk to on their way there, so he let the youth follow.

"Welcome to the wedding grounds." He murmured to the adolescent, who's eyes were like saucers - well the one he could see over the unruly mane that he sported - making the Lord assume he was from central - or the Eastern House.

"It's beautiful." Salga answered a short moment afterwards, taking a few steps from the redstained lion he had had the pleasure of meeting, his eyes dancing over all the mortals before him, his own mortal body mingling in with the footfalls. It was weird, not having his heavy wings showing, or his whispering fire tail.

But he was fine with the change, it allowed him to be accepted in this group of rag-tag lions, to enjoy their traditions and stories, fuel for ages, and wiling to impart in some wisdom, secretly, while they were not looking. The Inspiration God was always doing this - being a youth forever had it's perks.

Clearing this throat, he looked up to his guide momentarily, before looking back. "You look a lot like the pride, it's pretty close, colour wise." he admittedly, chortling softly.

"Yes, but there are many pelts of all colours in this pride - the heads just happen to be very red and white shaded. Mine is a little different, as some of them are set by the fires of the desert, where they began." Chi Jiu admitted softly, watching the groups come and go, sitting close to the so-called youth. "My family was from an oasis, not too far, but still off the beaten path."

"Sounds wonderful, at least." Admitted his young friend, as he turned his face up, a silver eye regarding the duke before turning back. "I also love weddings, they're the start to the greatest stories - whether good or bad - the binding of two hearts for a lifetime - and considering the hierarchy, it'll affect the pride, too, wouldn't it?" he asked, making Chi second guess his friend's age, wondering how one could be so versed. . .

The new Lord nodded to the former emperor in agreement. "Now that my father is free of his duties, he should be more than willing to find new members." Sheng simply gave a defiant scoff to the remark. The audacity to think his son was starting to give him orders. "Him alone should suffice in procuring some members for the other houses, should they deem worthy. At the very least, word of our pride will be on the open winds." Xun liked the idea of the pride's presence reaching out to the others out there. The stories he was told from the Major made his mind wonder who else was out there and if they were worth the attention of the pride and if any were a danger...

"How fares the Central House?" Xun asked.

Sheng smiled with approval to know that his son was taking the title to heart and working to prove that he is worthy of it. Still, both he and Fu Ren agreed that he would remain nearby to always give a paw when their son faltered.




Dohzou sat himself down before a small kill. He was famished since the early morning wake and the trip here. Perhaps a snack would be nice. The young Duke of the North kept eyes and ears open for any conversations that would peak his interest.

(I'll try to go back and read stuff, just want to post these two for their 'jrp' post)

Rumbidzai bumbed behind some of the group that had come from the north, the little juvenile a little terrified at everything. She had become spearated from her parents, and a strange figure had guided her to these lands safely. Once she had crossed into the North's territory, the figure that had helped her vanished. Knowing that she wasn't a threat, she was permitted to stay in the north, but she had a lot to learn.

She did her best to be in the shadows of the large, bulky adults, listening to them exchange pleasantries with one another with their strange names. Her nose wrinkled as she tried to figure out how to say her own name - Língchén, as she was found before dawn.

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Nara (Yèlǐ) of the South was anxious about the wedding - it was the first big thing since she had come to these lands. The South is where she had stumbled in, and they had been gracious enough to accept her in. She had wanted to get away from her family, as it seemed to have fallen apart. Instead of being brave and facing it, she had run away. Being here...adjusting to the new name and the new region in which she lived with was a change, but she was safe. Protected. Fed. It was worth it.

Few of the South were here yet, but she settled herself down to wait for the wedded pair to appear, her violet eyes taking everything in.

Xún​qiú smiled at the little leotah, resisting the urge to comment on how adorable the little one was. "That's good. This is a very special day, after all. And just think...once you're older, you can say you've been to the wedding of an Emperor and Empress!" She nodded to the lion. "Pleased to make your acquaintances as well. I am Xún​qiú Zhì​huì, of the East House." She looked back to the little one. "But Xún​qiú is just fine." No sense in tangling the little one's tongue.