[PRP - West] We Come Together

[Skye Starrfyre]

They had come a long way together, he and Kivumbi, and their trek was almost over. Their travels had lead them to a lush, beautiful land like none he had ever seen before. It was enough to make his eyes wide, giving him a momentary pause before they pressed on.

Every muscle in his body was tense. There were many signs of other lions around and soon, very soon, they would be intercepted... He kept waiting to see guards, holding his breath from time to time expecting an attack of some sort. They were strangers and not everyone greeted strangers with open arms.

In the end it didn't matter, though. They'd made it this far and they'd made it together; they'd kept their promise.  

[TheMadHatter]

"Would you relax just a little." She tried not to sigh as they continued their wandering into whatever lands they'd strayed. They had not met guards yet and she figured that the pride would not be overly hostile because of it. If you didn't want others in your lands you always made sure to put guards before strangers made it inside. "You're making me nervous."

She nudged his shoulder gently as she paused to get her bearings. The lands were -beautiful- and so far they looked welcoming. She knew why Nembo was being careful but if they were too tense they'd most likely be taken as hostile themselves when they did encounter someone else.  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"I am relaxing." He smirked as he glanced over at his companion, taking a moment to lean over and brush his head against her neck lightly. She should know well enough by now that he was only
looking out for both of their interests. "About as much as I usually do when we're in unfamiliar territory and I've caught the scent of other lions. We don't know whether or not they're going to be hostile. We should be on the lookout."

"He's right, you know." He stepped out of the foliage, claws extending to scrape lightly at the ground as he stretched before retracting. He meant no harm to either of them at the moment... After all, he and his mother had once been strangers to these lands as well. "You should be on the lookout. You've wandered into the lands belonging to Lord of the West House. He doesn't often take kindly to those who stumble in without warning."  

[TheMadHatter]

She stiffened slightly when she heard the other male's voice. Turning her head she looked toward the new male. "True. But there is a difference between keeping your eye on things and acting like a scared little cub." She knew that were the dark male to become hostile she and Nembu could get away.

She kept her mouth shut for the moment on anything else. IF they were so worried about keeping others out they should have guards.  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"I'd hardly say that I was acting like a scared cub." His nose wrinkled as he resisted the urge to bare his teeth at her. It wouldn't have been out of hostility; more from annoyance at her lack of caution while commenting on his over caution. It was a feeling that he couldn't quite shake about this place and he knew better than to disregard intuition.

"Cubs often have reason to be cautious. There are many things in the world that are larger than them and they often have this knack for wandering where they shouldn't be." The slight smirk curving his mother and the gleam in his blue eyes said that he spoke from experience. He'd wandered several places he shouldn't have been when he was younger... And one of them had led both he and his mother here.

"What brings you to Tianxia?" His brow lofted as he sat back, trying to gauge the two before him, pondering whether or not it would be worth risking Zahi's wrath to guide them to the heart of the West House for inspection.  

[TheMadHatter]

She resisted the urge to snarl at bother her companion and the stranger. She didn't need lectures on caution. If -they- wanted to be cautious they would not have let strangers wander this far in the first place. She wasn't the one in need of a lecture.

"The direction our paws has brought us in a general sense."  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"Seeking knowledge, experience and strength... In a broader sense." He met the other male's smirk with one of his own, shoulders rolling slightly in an attempt to show that he wasn't going to back down just because of a little question... Or a little warning.

"Mm... Is that so." He pondered, sizing the other two again before pushing himself up onto all fours once more. "Well, I'm afraid that this is as far as either of you will be going unless you're prepared to meet the Lord of the West House. He can be a bit of a brute, but... If you're willing to stay..."  

[TheMadHatter]

She almost laughed. "Brutes are the least of our worries currently." She could deal with brutes. She'd dealt with them her entire life. Nembo could be one if the situation required and she could deal with him ... then again he could deal with her too.

"We would be more than willing to meet the Lord of the house."  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"Kivumbi..." He glanced at her for a moment before leaning in, casting an almost wary eye at the pink and black patterned male. "Are you certain?"

He seemed amused as he watched them, tail ticking slowly behind him. "He's right to ask that, you know. Entering these lands isn't something that one should take lightly. You might want to know about the place you're about to commit yourself to in following me to the Lord I serve."  

[TheMadHatter]

"You said nothing of commitment. Only if's and the need to speak to your lord if we wish to continue on. I have no problem speaking to your Lord so that we may observe the area before we make any sort of decisions." It was bad enough they were so far from their home, a home that most likely no longer even existed, she would not be bullied by some twisty talking male.

"We mean you nor your home any harm. We are just ... refuges of a sort"  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"We didn't come all this way just to stop... Or to be stopped. As Kivumbi says, we mean you no harm. We wish..." They wished for many things, but there was nothing he wished for stronger than to remain by Kivumbi's side; to keep his promise to her. "I'm not certain what it is that we wish for now, but I will stand by her wishes."

"To come further into Tianxia is to stay... It seems that way, at least. I know I never wanted to leave once my mother and I arrived here." His smirk softened into a friendly smile once more. "My name is Izimbali. I am the Chamberlain of the West House... Which is where you've wandered."

He paused for a moment, glancing at the female out of the pair. "So are many who come here. The Lady of the House has a large heart."  

[TheMadHatter]

"If the Lord wishes us to leave then he can tell us himself. We are more than willing to see what your home has to offer." Her tail brushed against Nembo's lightly. "Perhaps it will continue to be that way ... but the Lord can decide that"  

[Skye Starrfyre]

"It might be easier for you to make up your mind first." He laughed softly. "Or to find an escort along the borders to one of the other Houses..." He glanced at them, wondering if either would change their mind before shaking his head. "Fine, fine... Follow me. If you have any questions along the way please do ask them, and if you change your mind about staying then do it before we find him, alright?" He didn't want to have to deal with Zahi's temper unless it was absolutely necessary.

His brow furrowed slightly as he watched the other male move on ahead of them, turning to glance at his companion himself. "... Are you sure about this, Kivumbi?"  

[TheMadHatter]

"Do you really want to pass up the opportunity?" She looked at Nembo before following the other. "What is there to loose. IF they don't want us here we just leave and continue on with searching." It wasn't like they had that many chances lately. "This could be what we need..."  

[Skye Starrfyre]

He snorted softly, glancing at the back of the pink and black lion before pushing himself up so that he could follow along as well. "If you think so, Kivumbi." It would take a little bit more than just a few words to convince him... Even if the terrain of this land was like nothing he'd seen before on their travels together. It could be the sort of place that they might be interested in calling home...

He shook his head slowly as he lead them into the lands that had become his home; the lands that he took great pride in being a part of: Tianxia.