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Rytir nodded with approval at the plan to split up - the whole pride heading off together would most certainly alert the buffalo either by sound or by scent, and present an easier target. Sha'uri, on the other hand, was even more hesitant now. She'd never been an expert at fighting, and with her reluctance to hurt others affecting even her ability to hunt, she doubted she ever would be. All she could see was that they wouldn't all be together, which frightened her.

At Kai's call, and Ganeesh's insistence on evening the groups, Rytir padded forward and stood a short distance from Kai, forming the other group.
"I will go north," he volunteered. "If we are lucky, we will find those in need of rescuing before we encounter the threat. Dealing with one at a time would be much easier."

Sha'uri stood resolutely beside her mate. Having followed so closely behind him that their pelts had probably never lost contact, it was unnecessary for her to state that she would be following Rytir to attack from the north. No way would she let him out of her sight, even if it meant fighting.

Patton glanced up as his mate moved closer and offered her a wry smile, "Even so, I'll be ready with the bandages." He doubted that there wouldn't be at least a couple of lions injured from this. Perhaps even more....he just hoped that no one would be stupid enough to get severely maimed. The thought made him look towards his son. Kaikane was strong and big like both of his parents, but that courage of his always made Patton worry. Kai was still so inexperienced after all...

"I'll stay with you two." He commented as the directions were called out, "Should we go South?" Something about splitting up in the jungle cried for trouble, but at the same time it was smarter to pincer off the buffalo. If we don't create a barrier of lions then they may even stampede through towards the pride. With all the cubs and elderly there that was definitely the last thing he wanted.

"Thanks for the support." Kaikane grinned towards his mother. At least she was up for this. It was nice having someone in the family that wasn't a worrywart like his father. As much as he apprecated the mwani, he never could figure out why such a strong lion would chose to wrap up wounds all day when he could be out there fighting with them. He just hoped the old lion would be up for any fight now...it would be rather tricky to bandage someone on the go right?

Then again he did have to give it to his father. Patton really was talented and experienced with such things. Kai knew that there was a whole life he didn't know about, but even then he couldn't fathom all of the shenanigans and dangers the other lion had faced. Rather he just imagined Patton living somewhere surrounded by plants peacefully avoiding everything around him. He really couldn't imagine much else.

"South?" Kai repeated with a frown, "I guess South it is then. That way I can make sure you two don't get into too much trouble without me~"

Hearing all of the lions calling out Buziba frowned. He hoped splitting up would be a good answer...if I hear fighting in the other direction I wonder if we could reunite in time? Still as he listened and counted all the directions the bumani shrugged. What choice did he have in this? He was no tactician really after all. Despite his huge bulk fighting wasn't his biggest style, but he would tag along to help.

With that growing herd in the jungle they needed all the paws they could have, "I'll go North." He finally called out with a nod. Really, the more he thought about it the more buffalo was beginning to sound appetizing. He just hoped that those already lost in the jungle were okay. The longer they lingered the more time they gave the buffalo to harm the others.

"I'll go North as well. A young voice echoed in the crowd as he moved through the crowds. Avira had been watching as their numbers grew, but worry knotted his stomach. There were some lions here that he worried about. Should they come along into this danger? Frowning the younger lion navigated until he was near one of the bumani, "If you go North as well I can help watch your back."

He smiled towards Wimbi, "It's better to always have a partner into battle, right?" Avira though was startled as another lion brushed past him to come towards Wimbi. Oh? It was that other lion who had just spoken up...was he a bumani as well? Even though he was a guard Avira had tried his best to notice most of the members of the pride. After all he was more of a social butterfly than a dedicated fighter so it helped to know who was who. Especially when it came to keeping an eye on the borders.

"We tend to work together on building, so why not in a fight?" Buziba grinned towards Wimbi, "If you prefer I can watch your back so that this young one can dance around to whoever else needs help." He had noticed others as well who made him worry. So freeing up Avira would definitely help in their 'northern' pack.

At least that was his hope.

Mentally, he counted everybody off as they picked a direction. Four were going for the south, five to the north. He gave a nod, jumping off his rock to join the group heading to the south. "This is a fairly balanced split, yes." He nodded again, heading to flank the south side of the herd. "Remember to keep quiet as long as you can, and stick together! We don't want anybody caught alone by these buffalo!"

The trees loomed over them, blotting the weak sun out. Ganeesh swallowed, stepping right in. He was afraid, that was a certainty. His parents had raced him pacifist, after all, with not a fighting bone in his body. They were completely chilled and relaxed, calm in the face of most things. Disasters were the only thing that got his mother up in arms, and those were thankfully few and far between. He could only imagine how much she would freak out about the buffalo.

OOC: The time has come for some dice rolling! Everybody roll one(1) 100-sided die per post! If it lands on 25, the North group has found the buffalo! If it lands on 75, the South group has found the buffalo! If it lands on 50, both groups have found them!

Rytir's gaze swept over their group, and he nodded in satisfaction at most of the lions that had joined. If he was honest, his own mate caused him some worry - she wasn't the violent type at all, and he really doubted she could handle herself against something this large and... 'unique'. Another point of insecurity was that Ram had joined them; while he was sure the pride's leader could handle his own, he was certainly next in line to Sha'uri on the list of lions Rytir did not want to see injured. It would cause a whole slew of problems if Ram was to be grievously hurt.

With resoluteness in his gait, Rytir padded forward with the rest of his group, trying to maintain stealth in the thick foliage. Sha'uri remained figuratively attached to his side. With her smaller, sleeker frame, she was having a much easier time staying silent. Even still, her posture screamed her fear for the world to hear. She couldn't help but think of all the things that could go wrong, and worry to herself about what was about to happen. She was uncharacteristically quiet, which was a good thing right now, but still made Rytir fret. He ran his tail along her flank to express his pride at her strength and try to comfort him, but all she could manage to return was a half-hearted smile as the group trudged on through the jungle.

As they edged into the jungle, Ganeesh with the group in the south, he looked around warily. The buffalo could be anywhere, with sentries making sure nobody interloped upon them. How could something at ate plants be so ferocious and vicious? Lions were at the top of the food chain, surely they were scarier! Maybe it was their size.. He did his best to not step on any twigs, not worrying so much about the wet leaves.

OOC: You can roll more than once, so long as somebody else posts xD heart *Edit* Double-quote because I needed to fix a bit of coding in my post, whoops!

Kai kept silent as the groups separated further and further until he was unable to hear or see them anymore. Now there was just the normal noises of the jungle and their feet making sounds, as well as the whispered conversations.

He kept his eyes and ears alert for any sounds up ahead or from the sides. The last thing they wanted to do was walk right into the group. He could tell everyone was on edge and he had to admit it was nerve-wracking for him, too. That in itself was quite as surprise. He was usually calm, cool, and collected when facing situations like this. Perhaps it was because this was so unknown to him that it was making him jittery. Still, he kept it in, not wanting to alarm others by twitching or making a sudden movement.

She took in the scent of her mate, and a light smile came upon Clea. They didn't always get along, but he seemed to know her better than she knew herself most days. She allowed him to lead, follwing after her mate with her split eyes taking in the scenery. At their their prey was on the larger side; in tracking, that was on their side, but little else would be in this battle. Seeing her son making a bee line to the front made Clea pinch the bridge of her nose. Just stay hidden, Kai. After all, she only had two sons. It would be a shame to lose one.

"Naturally." She quipped. Wimbi kept her eyes on the prize, momentarily forgetting both males. She picked her way through the brush, branching just slightly away from the main group to see what she could find. There was a curiosity about the older lioness that would lead her to trouble one day, as if it hadn't already. So far she hadn't heard any roars or bellows so that meant that no one had managed to find the beasts. Where are they? That's what made her nervous; the unknown. Anything could happen from that point on.

Nyekundu felt the brush of another, and watched as a rather bright, blue lion moved past her. He's going to get us all killed. At least she was moving at a snails pace, but he was still moving forward, even if he seemed to know to keep down. Maybe the buffalo would be distracted by his pelt, thinking it was water, and leave her alone? The mental image of a buffalo trying to take a drink out of it mane was enough to get a small snorting laugh out of her, though she worked hard to suppress it.

||Ram||

Ram maintained his silence as he swept towards the north, keeping his eyes fixed ahead as he dwelled on what would inevitably be more than a few unpleasant encounters. The sound of thunderous hooves would probably felt across a number of territories when they finally got the herd to move. It would be far from pleasant for all involved and he sincerely hoped that, over all, they managed to push the prey beasts out in a less than dangerous direction. Granted, he knew that the rogue lands were far from empty, but the concentration of living beings was not as thick as pridal territories... one or two casualties was better than, well, an entire pride.

He kept this to himself of course, it was ill advised to bring down the mood when the tension was already thick, but he did remain mindful of it from his own perspective. Better that he be prepared, even if those around him were not. Suffice to say that while Ganesha was leading the charge, the blue lion was not entirely certain of whether the younger lion would be prepared to offer his regrets to any casualties in the process.

...No, if worst came to worse, that was something Ram would deal with.

Alas, for the time being his true concerns were locating the buffalo and the solution was not to 'roar really loud' until one was spooked out, no matter how many times his brain tried to persuade him of this!