[EVENT] Dark Rumors (Closed!)

[Mimsey]

Loitering in the back of the sentinel group stood Kiowaa, a recent deployment to the outpost. She'd made great efforts not to seem like the wide-eyed child she knew herself to be, but it was a struggle. It was her first time out of the desert, seeing strange things and strange people... a fact that she'd tried her best not to let on. She didn't want anyone to think that the regent's granddaughter was a fool.

But all that went out the window when suddenly someone else in the group started the chattering. Kiowaa pulled up alongside Nisi, her bright eyes wide. "I see! That is..." Well, to be honest, Kiowaa didn't know what that was. In fact, she only barely realized that there were non-lion cats at all! "The tail is all wrong!"

For what it was worth, the strange creature seemed to be eyeing them down as well. Hrm. Kiowaa squinted her eyes, making her best attempt at her mother's patent expression.

----

Well, they'd certainly rang the bell, hadn't they? Veru cleared his throat, his eyes bouncing about the approaching individuals. A varied lot to be certain. In the distance, the low thrum of thunder bounced about the sky. "We are indeed firekin," he explained. He attempted to keep his voice amiable enough.

Unfortunately, he was cut off by a singsong voice of one of the pride members...narating them? Well, he did appreciate dramatic flare. "Purging is not one of the things we've come here to do," he said. "And if we can avoid fighting, all the better."

How best to broach this subject? His eyes fluttered towards Seide, who was no doubt considering it herself. If these were allies of the Nergui, they were about to have a problem if they professed themselves to be against them. "We have a shared interest, I think. If there's someone among you who can speak for you all, then that would be who we seek."

"But we will not be turned away, either."  

[Mogami]

Dumaka was not pleased with the way the strangers were looking at the young leopon. Whether it was because she was a hybrid or because they were sizing her up, it made the Guard uneasy and half his muzzle twitched and t took a good amount of self-control not to snarl. And then…

Firekin?

Dumaka looked to Modya with a light frown and found the same questioning look mirrored in the other’s eyes. The what? He’d never heard of that pride before although he would admit that they had picked a fitting name. And they’d answered his question though he was really feeling like smacking a few of those lionesses and pretty soon it would start to show.

“So you've come to talk then? Do you know about our pride?” he wanted to let Modya speak but the words came out before he could stop them. He threw the older lion an apologetic look. "We do not turn away those that don't seek trouble." But perhaps you should chose your words more wisely, his eyes seemed to say. This seemed to be a matter for the Queen.  

[~Masamune~]

Despite the fact that he wasn't particularly close to the border, it wasn't hard to hear all the commotion coming from that direction. It seemed as though a lot of Pride members were going to investigate, and although the mysterious Secret Keeper wasn't entirely sure he would be needed, he decided to join them regardless.

Quickly and quietly, he moved along with the other Kitwana'antara members, until they reached the border. When his dark brown eyes rested on the source of all the fuss, he raised a brow. It was a group of large, mainly red, black and white lions, who apparently went by the name of Firekin.

Some members of the Kitwana knew of them, but most didn't. Nili'asikari himself had heard of them, but that was about as far as his knowledge went. His ears flicked about on his head as he took in various snippets of information. Apparently, they had already admitted that they weren't there to fight, which was a relief. Also, the fact that these were not the Nergui they had been warned about was good news in itself. The only question now was simply; why were they here, if not to fight?

For the moment, Nili'askiari chose to remain silent, prefering to wait and see how things progressed before he spoke up. Although he was larger than the average wild dog, he was still about half the size of most of the lions present. If he was going to speak up, he had better speak up loudly.



For Ukuba, this was a learning exercise more than anything. He had chosen not to join the Firekin when they went out to the Bonelands, but he simply couldn't resist the urge to visit a group such as the Kitwana'antara. Some of the things he had heard about them defied logic, and as one who was possessed by a great thirst for knowledge, he couldn't help but come on this particular outing.

The only issue was the fact that he had left his brother behind, although he did say that he may join them at some point. Ukuba never stopped worrying about his brother, and if Isifo chose not to join the group, this would be the longest period of time that the pair had spent without each other. Still, the dark red male just had to reassure himself that his brother was more than capable of looking after himself, as always.

When they reached the borders of the Pride known as the Kitwana'antara, they were met with only one lion at first, but that number quickly grew. There was one amongst them who looked like a lion, but wasn't, and there was even a wild dog present. Ukuba raised a brow as he looked at the very varied bunch. It was fascinating. He had pictured a sickly, morbid-looking group who were merely lingering as opposed to living, but most of those present seemed rather healthy considering.

"This is quite a surprise." He said to no one in particular, as he continued to look over the Kitwana members. His fellow Firekin also took great interest in the one that looked part lion. Part of him wanted to move forward to take a closer look, but another part of him remained cautious.  

[Meepfur]

"I think it's a hybrid," she answered Nuria. "I've heard about them. They're unnatural. It no wonder they're sick here." They were bad luck, the horrible things. Did the Firekin not know about them at all? It wasn't something she'd ever bothered to ask, as it hadn't seemed the least bit important, and they clearly didn't actually have any in the desert.

Tearing her gaze away to look at Kiowaa for a moment, Nisi nodded in agreement. "It's so weird!"

When she looked back to the leopon, she noticed the creature had drawn herself up and was staring back at her. Ew. Nisi bristled and narrowed her eyes.  

[Talencia]

That sounded like it was time for him to step up. He had been taking it all in as best he could, keeping his silence. However, out of all those gathered thus far, he was the one best chosen for speaking for all. He stepped forward just a bit and bowed his thinning mane to them. "Greetings, travelers of the Firekin. I am Vizier Modya'sozhal. I can speak for the pride for now. What has brought you to our borders?" His voice was evenly modulated and civil, with no hint of either fear or defensiveness.

Well, at least they hadn't outright attacked, nor made threats, so unlike the Nergui that Nawiri had met. Of course, there was potential that they were lying about who they were, but Modya was inclined to trust first, within reason. For the time being, he had been given no reason whatsoever to indicate enmity between the groups was warranted.  

[Whimsical Blue]

Slinking through the ranks of the diseased, Anza cloaked her divine form with the appearance of mortality, stifling her brilliant wings and glistening scales to better blend in among the gathered group.

A small, secret smile curled over her face as she watched everything with bright eyes, ears twitching to catch every word. Oh, delight! The atmosphere was rich with possibility, with the beginning of something new... she can to brace herself a little not to become drunk on it and give herself away.

Such delicious little creatures, facing off as though they faced the end of the world, so very serious... mortals never understood that in the grand scheme of things, their continued existence was unimportant. They didn't understand that all that really mattered in this life was to push forward, to change and grow and start... Stasis was foreign to this existence, and yet they sought it so desperately...

Skirting to the edge of the group, the goddess-in-disguise watched everything with the hungry eyes of a vulture.  

[Mogami]

With Modya taking the lead, Dumaka took a physical step back and nodded at the older lion with reverence. His blue eyes returned to the annoying lionesses and narrowed dangerously as he remained perfectly still. Too still.

You’re the unnatural one. Unnaturally thick.

Oh what he’d give to be able to say something now. Were those idiots stupid enough to ask to talk while they offended one of their pride members right in front of the – very obvious! – father of the girl? The stakes were simply too high to give in to emotion but Maka was not impressed with those two.  

[Excited Apathy]

Nuria's attention was yanked back to Nisi by her words, and she stared at the orange-red lioness in shock. "You mean...lions can breed with...leopards and...other things?" By the Goddess...how was that even possible? The large red lioness' tail lashed in agitation, and she was sorely tempted to accuse Nisi of lying--but there was the proof, right there in front of all of them. A strange cat that was neither lion or leopard, a mix of creatues that should not be. Knowing what she was now, the thing made Nuria's skin crawl. "Weakening their blood like that can't have helped, and--what the blazes is that?" She stared hard at the thing that looked something like an overgrown, long-legged jackal. Did this pride just take in anything that could walk over the borders?

No wonder they were diseased!  

[Talencia]

Well, it had been okay while one of them had been staring. But one by one others had turned to peer at her, and now a whole group of them was looking at her as if she'd grown an extra head and antlers were extending from her hips! Her bold expression wavered as more attention was drawn to her. What had she done? Her heart began to thud rapidly, and her fur fluffed down her back and started doubling her tail's size. They... they couldn't possibly be here to pick her out, could they? The unusual amount of attention they paid her and noone else was definitely beginning to frighten her. Her eyes shifted to those around her, looking for support and possibly protection. In fact, someone to hide behind might be preferable!  

[Kyra Bloodborne]

With the older lion Modya stepping out to take charge of the bartering between the two groups gathered up Bila felt a little more comfortable moving her gaze around the firekin. Such strangers weren't a normal occurrence and it was baffling to see such a brute force, to know that larger lions and lionesses were just a short distance away. It was a little intimidating but none the less interesting. There were a few that seemed oddly more interested in one of her half siblings though. The young girl seemed rather defensive and with every right, their eyes simply mocking the female because of her species. Had they no sense of respect? After all, they were on her pride's borders. Not their own. Stepping from the offset location she had originally stopped at Bila moved closer to her family, this was just rude if nothing else.

"Don't let their eyes bother you m'dear, you're amongst family..."

She smiled slightly, hoping this gave her some sense of calm. Flicking her tail back and forth it had become apparent the firekin had gotten under her skin just a bit.
 

[Tanakako]

Sliabh, for the most part, remained silent. His name meant 'Mountain', and it fitted him well. Yet when his kith turned his way at the question of who these strangers were, he glanced around at the entire band. "Firekin... a warrior pride birthed of the desert. I have not met them before, but have heard plenty about them. Fierce warriors for the most part."

Shifting slightly he forced himself to refrain from moving in front of his youngest daughter. She was no less than a full-blooded lion, there was no reason she should hide herself away. The stares of these strangers made his coat rise along his spine but he was fiercely proud of his children, all of them and would not affect shame just to keep these red-pelts happy.

Shifting slightly he motioned her to move up close to him, a sign of pride to have her at his side as well as having her close would allow him to protect her more easily. Not that he thought these strangers would actually do anything, but better safe than sorry.





Suddenly a lighter voice spoke up from off to the side, somewhere beyond the boarder but approaching obliquely towards the two groups. "They have recently been in the Bonelands, taking up a watering hole there. Their pride has been suffering a terrible drought and they seem to be after water sources."

The voice belonged to a very tall lioness, the same blue markings that defined the mountain-like male in their midst were echoed in reverse on this one. Caoilainn, eldest true-born daughter of Sliabh and career guardsman. She was also a spy, though none of the pride but Nawiri and Sliabh knew it. She was coming back from a long forte deep into the roguelands, having been specifically scouting for news after the unsettling visit of that band who called themselves Nergui. It had not been hard to track down the information once she knew a name, and it seemed the Nergui had indeed left quite a record of their attacks across the land, though few seemed to be first-hand accounts.. more rumor than truth she had never the less learned enough to head back home with the intention of meeting with Nawiri and reporting her finds. It just so happened that she had come to the boarder just as this new group of strangers had and the raised voices had caught her attention.

Slipping across the scent-marked boundary she padded over to her pridemates, giving her father a warm smile before turning about-face and settling beside her kin. She, like her father, was immune, and no threat to these red-coated visitors, not that they would know it.  

[Annchen]

Jabez had more or less lived on the borders since the Nergui "visit" was commonly known. He only returned to the center of the pride to sleep, eat (unless he managed to catch something on the go) and to attend the new fighting training. He was happier out on patrol than he was being combat drilled, so he did enough to keep Mittere off his back, but took as many patrols as he possibly could. He heard Dumaka sound the alarm, but resisted the urge to run as fast as he could to investigate. It might be a trick to draw attention from a sneak attack somewhere else. The fact that his patrol would soon take him to the area where he had heard the roar helped ease his mind. He was going there... Just not full speed.

When he arrived he had to take a moment to survey the scene in front of him. Lots of strangers had arrived and from the looks of it one of the Vizier's were talking to them. The dark leopard dropped to his belly and crawled the last bit. He was sure some of the intruders must have spotted him, but if they hadn't he wanted to stay out of sight.  

[Meepfur]

"Yeah. You see that one?" She glanced to the male the leopon had greeted earlier. "I bet he's its father, they look alike. I wonder why he...ugh, I don't even want to think about it."

Wait, what was what? Nisi looked to see what Nuria had spotted, expecting something else as disturbing as a hybrid, and was rather surprised to see that it was just a wild dog. She'd seen those before! Those were normal. She didn't understand why one would be in a pride, of all things, but it at least it wasn't a dirty, unnatural creature like that hybrid. Just small and kind of funny-smelling.

"Oh, that's just a dog," she supplied matter-of-factly.  

[Mogami]

Calm down. They have never seen a hybrid before. It’s something they don’t know, something they don’t understand. Something they don’t know, something they don’t understand. Something they don’t know…

Dumaka kept repeating those words in his head as a mantra as if that would stop his blood from racing through his body. Sadly, it failed.

“She’s a leopon. Non-lions play a vital role in our pride so hybrids are not uncommon.” He said at last, finally growing tired of the stares and outspoken comments and realizing the young leopon was starting to feel very uncomfortable when a lioness addressed Adivyta. “You say we have a common interest but you seem to be almost as friendly as our last visitors.”

Warriors. Looking for water sources. Occupying other pride’s territories. Dumaka saved all the information for later.

Another comment from that annoying orange lioness. If only he could block out her voice.  

[Puhterodactyl]

Abidemi trailed behind the forerunners of the Firekin band, preferring to let others with better political skills strike up the conversation. He could almost smell the disease that plagued the land, and it made the hair along his back stand on end. But he tried to dismiss his unease. There were very serious matters at hand, and any fears on his part would hinder his performance. So he entered the gathering, standing tall and ears pricked forward. It had been a very long time for him, since joining the Firekin, to see so many different shades of lions. And non-lions as pride members, too. His thoughts drifted for an instant to his familiar, who he had sent away when talk of visiting a diseased pride came up. Granted, a bird would probably be immune, but better not to risk it.

As he looked through the crowd, he saw a rather lovely blue and white lioness standing next to who he assumed was her father. A small smile crossed his face before remembering where he was from. Oops. He did his best to listen to what everyone had to say, as opposed to gawking. Maybe he should find a fellow soldier, that would do better to keep him in his right mind.