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"Ukuba! Strange traveller from the sands." She nodded as if in approval and took another small step forwards. She did not know it yet but it was very likely that she, too, was immune. Though strangely she was going to be deeply upset about that when she came to realise the truth of the matter. "Ukuba would like to hear a story of our lands? Netravati seems eager to do so, although some might not be so happy--"

And then Tara was there and Netravati's face fell a little as she was pushed back a few steps. She allowed it, though, her expression the only real sign of her disappointment. "Might not be?" She ached softly again. No, no, the sickness was just slow in her, that was all. In any case, to Ukuba's question of immunity, her head sank and she replied: "Yes, some of the unlucky children of Pestilence are deprived of her touch."

And then, talk of stories later brightened her spirits and she bobbed her head eagerly, casting a look back across the crowd, surprised to hear herself being addressed by a huge red and white female - Seide. She wasn't wanting to hear stories? Well that was a shame. "Okay...later, later." She seemed to settle after that. A little bit anyway.

"It looks like it is time for serious talk." It seemed everyone wanted to visit their pride these days! "And all around, stern faces settled into place, mirrored from one to the other.

Where was the queen, anyway? Was Mittere some sort of stand in, now?

Veru looked to Seide, considering the tone of these strange lions. So the Nergui had threatened them? A far cry different from the interactions between the Hongshan and the Firekin. What caused the different approach? Were they after someone in the group- or did they think that time and fear would win out? There was no point in hurting potential allies, he supposed.

Still, a break in the pattern. That was worth some caution.

"You don't sound pleased about the offer," Veru said. "We've never heard of the Nergui...uh, playing nice. So to speak."

Rather unceremoniously, Veru sat down. He had a thought, and decided to go with it. "I'm going to guess that you rejected the offer? If you had joined with them, it wouldn't have been any surprise to see us here. The least new allies can do is inform the other about their enemies."

Unless it was just a gambit to get the firekin to fight with the Kitwana. Truthfully Veru had no idea if the nergui suspected they were tracking them... but it was certainly more fun to think so. The nergui had a plan at work. If this pride had joined them, surely they'd at least be privvy to it.

It seemed his comment hadn't been heard, but Veru repeated it, so Spaki didn't mind. Yes, indeed, it was looking like the Kitwana had not formed an allegiance with the Nergui, and he almost let himself feel relieved about that. But it just wasn't time to relax yet, and he couldn't bring himself to sit down, as the other male had.

"If this disease is very contagious," Spaki said, but his voice was low, and his face turned away somewhat. He didn't mean for the Kitwana to hear him, he just wanted the other firekin to think about this a bit. "And the nergui attack them, they might become infected." Some lions might think of that as a good thing, but Spaki certainly didn't, and his voice made that clear. Just as the firekin were supposed to avoid contact with these lions, they'd be forced to avoid contact with the Nergui. And how could they fight a war like that? What if the nergui had already been infected?

He blinked and put his attention back to the Kitwana lions themselves. "Yes, we are enemies of the Nergui." Perhaps he was getting ahead of himself in disclosing this information to them, and maybe Seide would reprimand him for it. But Veru had indicated as much himself, and Spaki felt it was time to put their cards on the table so they could start really getting things worked out.

Anza's attention was drawn back to the group as the tone of the event changed, some of the potential violence leeching out of the atmosphere. She frowned as she settled back to sit, mirroring the leaders. Violence always had a sort of draw to it, when the air was full of tension and potential... but what was starting here was a far more subtle thing. She was disappointed in the first being abandoned, but now there was a new sort of potential growing, ever so slowly.

The beginning of violence was so easy... but this sort of beginning could be more satisfying once it was up and going. The goddess settled herself and smoothed the cross expression from her face to replace it with something more expectant and eager. She gathered her power to herself and prepared to wait, and watch, the proceedings. No one would interfere now that the course had been chosen, not unless it came from the present group.

All this time Sliabh had stood with Dumaka and Modya silently, listening to his Vizier's words and quietly taking in the firekins varying reactions. He kept an eye on those few tat had taken exceptional dislike to his younger daughter, but with the agitation calming down an turning toward more immediate matters, he let the emotions blow away on the chill, wind-touched breeze.

Thankful when Netravati was gently restrained by Tara, he was never the less pleased when the white-coated firekin male, apparently named Ukuba, seemed to take a liking to her. Of course he was wary of these strangers, but Sliabh had always believed that talking and listening to another's experiences widened ones own horizon, and if they were to get over this hostility, a little story-sharing seemed like a good road to follow. He also couldn't help but wish for his daughter to widen her personal horizons, a far harder task unless she proved to be immune, something that she certainly hated the thought off.. so any out-of-pride lions that were willing to talk with her were welcome, to an extent.

When several of the gathered lions on both sides calmed and took their seats, Sliabh shifted into a more relaxed stance but stayed on his paws. A little height amid the generously sized visitors was not a bad thing, if only to keep those less even-tempered individuals under watch.




Caoilainn had crossed over the boarder and slipped in among her own pride members as they conversation moved forwards in a stilted and careful manner. Yet she herself stayed quiet, having offered a good segment of the information she had discovered on her mission. Slipping up on Sliabh's other side she settled back on her rump, looking quite small beside her giant of a father but still easily as big or bigger than most regular males.

She had intended on going directly to Nawari and reporting her successful reconnaissance mission, and then going to her den and retrieving her young cubs from their nanny. Siobhán and Uzochi were her life. Adorable little bundles of pure joy that made everything else worth the struggle. She had understood, that fateful day of their arrival, why Sliabh had such a large family, and while she wasn't intending on trying to match his impressive legacy, she did hope to have at least one or two more litters, but only after she found her true lifemate. The black male had been charming and fascinating and so very different to what she had always known, but she wanted a father for her sons just like she had always had her own father in Sliabh. Shaking her thoughts to one side and knowing she would go see her two young troublemakers soon, she settled down to listen to this impromptu meeting.




It had seemed a lifetime since the drought had struck his homeland. He had been but a youth, without his mane and full of whimsical dreams. And the assurance that the water would be back tomorrow. That had not come to pass and as his mane grew thick and dark, and his body had grown to match those adults all around him, he had done as any true firekin did, took on the challenge of the drought and made it something to overcome. That was why he was here. Having been too young when talks about first taking over other pridelands for their water ad started, he had grown in the interim and had been eligible to join up for this second major move in their strategy. Fully grown and skilled int he ways of battle, he was still young and eager to prove himself. Yet... he was not drive to battle as the method of doing so. This visit to the Kitwana'antara had awoken something in him he had forgotten about. The desire for information, for making informed decisions, of simple knowledge about different prides and places and cultures. Of course he was nervous about these strange lions who held the key to all their deaths, but he was also interested. How did they survive? How did they find the strength to go on day after day?And now after the latest rush of words from both sides.. how did some of them remain so healthy and immune?

So many questions and too few answers... Standing near the back, well out of the way but close enough to watch and listen to the main speakers, he rested one paw easily, content to absorb all this new information and not realy worried about any kind of violence coming to pass. Yes there were several of these Kitwana lions opposite them, but they were Firekin, and besides.. it seemed no one wanted to fight, certainly not his own pride. They didn't want to be stuck here forever.

Turning away from the other Bardess as she wandered, thought wise, he caught sign of the lioness in pink that he was acquainted it - being the mate of the first lioness who had introduced herself to him when he had found his home from the Mizimu. Clearing his throat, he gave her a soft nod, a welcome. "Mittere." He murmured, before looking at the groups gathering to talk. At least there was a bit of diplomacy.

He wasn't ready to sit down like the others, and, allowed himself to continue standing, listening to everyone around him. "At least it seems diplomatic now." He addressed to the pink lioness.

-----------------------------

The threat did not go over the little god's head. Turning over, he gave the goddess on the ground a sharp look, his visible silver eye smoldering with almost a challenge. He did not intend to dispute immortal boundaries, but he wasn't going to let her walk over him, just because he was smaller.

Slithering in to the crowd a little more, he took a seat next to the wild dog in the pride, looking over the group.

"This situation seems to be very interesting." He offered, hoping to gather information. He would not leave now.

Nawiri'chiwa had been made aware of the others presence not long after Dumaka's call went out. The small bird familiar that was so often over looked as part of the scenery was a perfect and unobtrusive messenger. Those few moments that left her wondering whether the alert would lead to blood shed had her highly concerned. So when she found her summons by the young lioness, Jani, she was quick to make her move.

As she had met the strangers that had threatened her pride, so it was the young queen found it fitting she might meet these new strangers that came. She was still uncertain and unsure why such a group might come to their lands, and deep down she did fear the risk of an attack but . . . . those were risks they took with every visitor, wasn't it?

Not just those in groups.

It didn't take her long to see the large gathering of strangers and familiar faces facing one another. There was an unspoken line between them, neither seemingly wanting to trust the others. The strangers must fear their disease. . . and her own kin likely didn't trust the large strangers. And they were quite large, at least from what she could see.

Not desiring to make a fuss, and never one for a showy entrance, the petite female quietly moved her way in from behind. She brushed reassuringly against a few, glad to see that the strangers before them did not look so outwardly aggressive, not like the 'ambassadors' she had met with earlier.

It seemed a discussion was taking place, quietly and slowly, at any rate. Unfortunately though, having only just arrived, she found she really had very little knowledge outside of the initial summons, though . . . if these large strangers were up to no good, she doubted very much that things would be so . . . . calm.

"Forgive me for arriving so late to the discussion and intterupting," she spoke, both to the strangers and the rest of her pride. She dipped her head apologetically, before glancing from the sea of red, white, and black before her as she approached where Modya and Mittere lingered. "I see our guests have caused quite the commotion." And they were guests . . . visitors. . . . Strangers, of course, but if they were there to attack or cause trouble . . .well. . ..

Contingency plans had been in line, and though there was a large gathering of Kitwana members before them, there were even more away from the borders. There was a slim chance she would have been summoned if battle was imminent. At least she . . . hoped such was the case.