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Taji backed away from the winner and trotted a few paces to a slight hill. He paced down in and, once he reached the bottom, began drawing circles. They were hardly perfect circles, but he tried his very best. There were better draftsmen in his pride that concocted the various lines and shapes used in their playing fields, but this would be more than enough for their little game. Once he finished he headed back up the hill, drawing a line about halfway down the slope.

"Gather round, gather round," he said as he made it back to the top. "Our next game will be a full-bodied challenge. Simply run down the hill, jump at the line, and try to land in that middle circle." He gave a quick demonstration, jumping and landing in the middle ring. He certainly wasn't as physically fit as he was when he played constantly, but it was a respectable leap for him. He looked back up the hill with a grin before trotting up.

"You'll get one strike in the dirt for landing in the larger outer ring," he explained as he reached the top again, sliding a claw in the dirt to show them how he'd keep track. "Two for the middle ring where I landed...so another for me here...and three for the center. The first with ten strikes in the dirt is our winnner!"

He rubbed the strikes out of the ground with his paw before moving aside, tail swishing happily. "It's all yours! Have fun!"

Speaking of elephants! Kawasemi could hardly believe her eyes! Having just managed to push to the front of the crowd and after spending a great deal of consideration choosing the best rock to throw, she had been all set for her turn. Yet that turn never did come as the young elephant calf tossed its rock and managed to hit the other, dead on with what seemed like no effort at all! But she hadn't even gotten a turn! Staring down at the rock under her paw, then back at the scene before her in disbelief the cheerful lioness felt herself shrink for the first time with dismay. Ears folding back against her head as she dropped her gaze to the rock she now rolled idle beneath soft pads. She didn't particularly like to think of herself as a poor sport, but she wished the game could have lasted long enough for her to get just one chance!

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Reluctantly taking notice of the sudden uproar, Stychnos could already guess what had happened, yet he found a part of himself hoping he was wrong. Cautiously weaving around the crowd, into the open spaces he could reach--and there weren't many of them--the foreboding lion stood quietly beside Kawa for a moment. Casting a long shadow across her frame before finally speaking, Whed'r wsulr? (What's wrong?)

When she didn't respond Strych sighed with something between sympathy and annoyance. Don't give up so easily..

He purposely chose not to speak in the language they shared, half to get her attention and half to avoid the chance of her realizing he might have said anything even remotely encouraging. Adding quickly to keep her from thinking too much about the common he'd spoken. He wasn't sure how much she'd learned since leaving the rainforest, but Strychnos wasn't about to give her time to figure him out. Thasa'r eludhas rena rdesdailr.. (There's another game starting..)

Kheri nodded, a little bit hesitantly, and took one good look back at Kheri. “Yes, momma,” he replied, dutifully, walking towards the white leotah. He didn’t know what he was going to do now. Being so far away from the other leopard didn’t leave him much choice but to watch him very closely though..somehow. Hopefully, he didn’t get out of his seeing range. There was only so much he could do when he was greeting other guests.

The cub started towards the leopon slowly, glancing back every now and again to his mother and the new, dangerous stranger. Thankfully, the female that he was supposed to greet wasn’t too far away from the other two. Unfortunately, his attention was grabbed by the new game that started, and he found himself sitting down and staring at the games, entranced. To be honest, he didn’t even focus on Konji. All of his sights were focused on the elephant that came to the events. He’d never seen something like that before and...wow. Were they always that big?! Quite frightening. He made a note in the back of his head to never anger one.

Once that was done, he wandered up to the female, finally. And very cautiously looked up at the older leopon. “Hey,” he greeted, a bit uncomfortable greeting others, all by himself. “Welcome to the pride. The adults,” he motioned towards the group of participants, “are playing games. You can watch, but you can’t play.” Unfortunately.

Aludhas ula? (Another one?) Kawasemi raised her head, looking more than a little hopeful as the lion that had announced the last game came forward to speak again after drawing several items in the dirt. The demonstration seemed simple enough, just run and jump, right? Yet watching a few of the others take their first crack at it, she wasn't entirely sure of the goal. Blushing and skitting out of the way as a leopard addressed her cheerfully before taking his turn. With a quickly renewing vigor her gaze lifted towards Strychnos half questioning, yet almost equally disbelieving. Thairr weld na du freirr! (They want me to play!)

She didn't seem to need the confirmation, but he nodded his shaggy head anyhow in answer. Yea, they want you to play, silly girl. He'd been about ready to offer an explanation of the new game unbidden when he found himself standing alone. The sunny tribal lioness already bounding to join the others without waiting to learn the full extent of how to play. Watching her rush off made him uncomfortably aware of his surroundings. Of this throng of people he hadn't wanted anything to do with. It would have been easy to lose her now, while she was distracted by the excitement. Would she have even noticed if he disappeared? Would she have mourned the loss?

Strychnos didn't peg her for the type, turning a cautious circle in search of the easiest route through and away from the crowd.

Running up to the line the way she had seen others do before her Kawa leapt in a smooth, graceful arc at the line where all the others had and landed smack dab in the center ring. Looking down at it, she beamed and trotted straight back towards her companion's side, not seeming to notice that he'd been planning a route of escape on the sly. Dain I nu ruun?! (Did I do good?!)

It looked like everyone was really getting into it! They were both jumping with all their might, and though the male had mucked it up both times, it didn't look like he was willing to quit- that was impressive. He certainly wasn't going to be the one to get discouraged and give up, if everyone else was so willing to try their hardest. Not like he was even feeling like he needed to give up on anything. After all, he had managed a pretty decent jump the first time.

Seeing the lady lioness leap only made him marvel- she had managed to land in the perfect circle! He couldn't believe how well she had planned her jump! Clearly she was someone to watch out for, too!

"Alright! Great job!" He hooted as he sprang forward and headed back up the hill. It didn't take him long to come charging back down again, leaping at the mark and making for a second good jump. when he touched down, he knew he had done better than good- he had done wonderful! Probably hadn't looked as graceful as the female had, but he had gotten himself three points! Nothing to scoff about!

He just needed to keep it up and not let fatigue get in his way.

Konji felt like he was finding his pace- he was jumping and landing and jumping again with all the skill and ease he could hope for. However, he knew better than to get cocky. He hadn't won anything, and it was looking like he wouldn't if he didn't pick up his game! The female lioness, who had seemed so shy at first, was proving to be a very competent jumper. It was amazing what she could accomplish with all that grace!

He was sure she would win if he and his new friend didn't try a lot harder. They had to make sure it was a good fight!

He smiled to himself, excited at the prospect of whatever outcome would reveal itself, and moved up the hill to make another jump. Maybe he was too busy thinking about what was going to happen, though, as his jump was just a little bit off from the last time. A good jump, but not the best he could do! He smiled all the same, looking amused even if he was a little disappointed with himself.

This was certainly proving to be a very fun day!

konji was sure having fun! He knew he would have a good time jumping around and playing games with other animals. It looked, though, that not everyone was having as good a time as him. It saddened him to see that the female seemed to have lost sight of a friend of hers. Should he help her? Should he keep going? It felt like he didn't know which way to go, but he eventually decided he had better not involve himself. Since it seemed like they didn't speak the same language as him, he couldn't be sure he'd be of any help at all, anyway.

but he was sad as moved up the hill to jump again.

With as much effort as he could muster, he ran down the hill, making a leap for the rings when the time called. But his effort didn't bring him to the ring he had been aiming for, his body landing just off his target and in the middle-ranked circle. Maybe he was feeling a little off about things.