Welcome to Gaia! ::

She had changed her name and with it her life had changed, something wonderful had happened to her when she finally decided upon a name to hold to her chest and keep forever, something wonderfully wonderful, she had found her muse. Of course, it was hardly surprising, considering she permanently walked around with a skull either strapped to her head as a helmet, or some where upon her being, that her muse was the skull. Actually her muse was skulls in general, dead ones, ones that hadn't been cracked by strong jaws and were left in tact to bleach in the bright sun or even washed over by the sea which caused them to become near white instead of a sort of yellowish white. She had found such a skull for this important occasion. It was not a large skull, in fact to look at it was quite un- extraordinary, there were no horns or unusual obstructions, there were no bumps or tusks or neck ridges. This was a very ordinary looking skull, at least from a distance, anyone who looked closer would find the skull was that of something unusual. Small and rounded though it was it contained mouth full of fangs and it was certainly a skull she would usually keep to herself, to horde and admire, but she had admired it enough and knew that of all things in this world, this would probably bring luck to the pride she now loved.

She had joined the two males at the twilight cave, her own skull pulled over her head, On this day there could be no other way for her to present herself, after all, her skull was a part of who she was, without it she couldn't see the world properly. Her skull made the world a very beautiful place. Dangling from her jaws her sacrifice to her muse, she could not speak, or sing as they weaved their way down to the ocean her toes sinking in to the pale sands, the heat of the day washed up through her legs and her pale eyes peered out through the two dark holes of her skull helmet. She knew not of her ancestral background, but that didn't matter too much, her eyes still caught glimpses of shiny shadows which darted before her eyes and back off up the sands. She may not know them but they were there watching her, they were glad she had joined this pride she was certain, glad she had come here and brought her wonderful skull helmet to enlighten their world.

Stepping in to the water Mutia, formerly Volvagia, dropped the cheetah skull in to the waves, she watched it for a long moment, watched as it floated for the merest of seconds before the eyes filled with water and it sank away. Nodding a proud nod she turns and pads out of the salty waters, her tail held at a jaunty angle, she was ready to join the feast. With a heavy sigh she bounds on to the pale sands and finally yells out a whoop as she goes to join the rest of the pride at this great feast.

Midoriko- or, now she supposed it was Natsuki, prepared herself for the festival. She was fairly new to the pride, but she was still ready for it, and somewhat excited, she'd have to admit. The green lioness had found her muse within days of having joined the pride, and it was no surprise to her which muse had chosen her. She belonged to plants; any plants it seemed would speak to her. As they were more talkative at night than they were during the day, she based her name on that. She had gathered a mouthful of the best types of greens, some with great healing properties along with just some pretty plants and headed off to meet the song and story keepers at the Twilight Cave. While she herself hadn't lost any loved ones, she knew that others had, and felt it was necessary to pay her respects to them some.

When there was enough of a crowd, they all departed. Along the way, she had a conversation with her muse- she was glad that she could respond in only her mind for her muse to hear- proof enough to her that it was a spiritual connection between her and her muse. She trotted at a lively, almost dance-like pace along with the others, discussing the celebration of souls that had passed on with the muse in her mouth. She had arrived at the ocean before long. It was a beautiful sight, and still took her breath away. She had visited it once before since joining the pride, and to be back so soon was still awesome- she loved the sight of it. She waded out into the water with the others to about the same height, unaccustomed to such a large body all in one place, and tossed her sacrifice to the waves, mentally saying goodbye, and telling it to say hi to any lost souls that it encountered. She stood pensively in the water before turning back to head to shore and make her way to the feast, to further celebrate those lost.

-Fear was one thing Candika rarely felt... something she was even more rarely inclined to show outwardly. But just as her name had changed.. her lifestyle had changed.. so too it seemed did her capacity to fear.

When she'd heard of the ritual that was to occur today she did not find herself elated by the idea in the least. There were no kind spirits out there for her. Noone come to bring her good will and love. If any spirits came for her today it would be in search of revenge and torment. And so Kotori, the sunny colored lioness, had been very nervous that day, eyes fidgeting back and forth suspiciously at the slightest noise.

She halfheartedly assisted in the hunt, seeming to cling a little closer to everyone else than she normally did. And when that task was done, she headed out on a mission of special important, searching diligently for something.. the perfect thing to appease and please her muse. For she believed, deep down in her soul, she believed if she did a good enough job then the muse would reward her, would keep her safe and protected on this night.

Kotori had made it back not long before the sun began to change colors, being swallowed up by the sea. She followed as the group made their slow procession towards the waters below, keeping to the edges as she often did, silent. She did not join in the singing or the dancing, only watched.

Was that!? Her step faltered as she thought she saw a familar pelt out in the dim twilight. Were those...? Following along.. she swore there were dark figures following the group, pushing closer. Her body slid past one lioness, pausing to step behind another lion, moving in and in until she was surrounded in her pridemates, no longer able to see outwards.

The noise of singing.. the motion of swaying bodies. It drowned out the other things.. the dark things in the night. Kotori could feel her heart's flutter beginning to settle. She was becoming calm, for once in her life sincerely grateful for all those around her. Whether they meant to of not.. she would convince herself they had.. they'd saved her.. protected her. Perhaps her muse had even helped?

They paused at the shoreline, members heading in slowly to give their offerings. Soon enough it was Kotori's turn, and she stepped into the slowly shifting salt water. Only stopping when the water touched her chest and the edges of her hare skin touched the water. The fur was ivory and beautiful, but as she dropped it into the water the true offering spilled out, bits of wild cotton and fibery plants scattering across the water. Some got wet and slowly began to sink into the ocean, others skirting over the waves just as her muse skirted through the endless sky. It was hard to find something good enough to give to the clouds. But for accepting her and taking her in beneath them.. well.. she hoped her small tribute would bring them pleasure.

Stepping out of the shoreline, she tried to peer out and see if she could see her offering any more, turning finally when she could see nothing but soft waves, falling in line behind her pride mates. It was soothing.. the salty cool air.. the hums and mummers of songs and words. As she settled in with the others to feast and celebrate she let herself forget, her eyes no longer seeking through the dark. Whether it was the pride or her muse.. someone had delivered what she'd asked for that morning. And for that Kotori was eternally grateful.-

Awiti'asha processed behind a long line of lions, not exactly last herself, but certainly lagging somewhat. She'd only found her way to these strange lands a few days prior, and with open arms, they'd welcomed her and explained she was just in time for the celebration near the Autumn Equinox, the Festival of Souls. Story seekers returning at the same time helped explain to her the importance and procedures of the event. As she'd entered the pride, she noticed most of the lions were a little... Eccentric, to put it politely. Some seemed much too excitable, others not entirely there. So obviously, Awiti fit right in. The seer's lavender eyes caught the waning light as she turned her head, watching the lions around her, some very light on their feet and tossing their heads to some unheard tune, and all carrying their sacrifices to the ocean.

In her own mouth, Awiti bore an African Boxthorn, a fruit she had found while on the procession. For some time, she'd been worrying about what sacrifice to make to the ocean, but others assured her that a seashell would be a safe sacrifice, however, on her way, the fruit seemed to speak to her, not just the one she bore, but all of the bright and juicy labors of the trees. Something about fruit pleased the female, though it was unnatural for a carnivore to be enticed by fruit, Awiti enjoyed the bright colors and the taste even more. As a cub, she'd liked very much to slice them open to see their innards, the only sadistic part of her, but really only to see the surprise inside.

With her mouth full, the lioness managed to hum the tune with a lion singing next to her, making it up as she went just as they did too. As they stopped near the Twilight Cave, Awiti listened intently as the Song and Story Keepers, wrapped up in their tales and held at attention. When the time came, she somberly followed in line and tossed her offering into the sea, feeling very much a part of the pride she had stumbled across. Looking out into the ocean, she watched the sunset, unfocused as in her mind's eye she watched again every vision she'd had in the past. Some of her parents dying, some of her sisters, many of her hunts though not all were successful. She blinked hard, realizing the procession was leading away, and tossing up her heels, she smiled and followed them to the feast, more eager to meet others than for meat.

Mandalululin was new, and enthralled.

The mass of lions clustered around the Twilight Caves was truly a sight to behold, and Lulu couldn't help the strange smile that constantly stuck to her maw. Her ears moved and her chest quivered at the sounds of beautiful singing, and she moved with the rest as they padded along the shore, waves washing in and out over her paws with a soothing hushing sound. The lioness's red eyes flashed curiously at the ocean, red-orange waves rolling in from the distance. She was silent amongst the singing and dancing crowd, and almost seemed bemused. But a happiness unlike any she had ever felt in her life was present in her heart. She felt like she belonged.

Shaking Lulu from her thoughts were tiny plopping sounds. Her eyes sought out the source until they rested upon pride members who were tossing things into the ocean waves. Oh, right, it was time. Right. She forgot. Wait, WHERE WAS HER SACRIFICE, SHE JUST HAD IT RIGHT HERE, OH GODS, SHE DROPPEDwait, it was in her mouth.

Walking into the cold waters, the bright-colored lioness nibbled the fish skeleton in her teeth before tossing it away with her head. It landed elegantly on the water's surface and sank slowly into the deep blue. The female's eyes watched it and watched it until the last hint of dulled white had disappeared into the enveloping darkness.

Lulu didn't have anyone she loved dead (at least that she knew of,) but as she watched her fish skeleton disappear to be with her fishy friends, she thought of those that others had loved that had passed on, and to those dead but returned, she murmured a near-silent hello.

After a few moments of personal silence, the lioness shook herself from her daze, jerked her head about, and scampered off to follow the Song Keeper and Story Keeper to the feast. A loud gurgle crawled through her stomach and half of her face winced tight, ears flopping. Her eyes cast strange looks to the other pride members, perhaps wondering if they had heard. Wait, they were all probably hungry like her. That was okay, then. But there were a lot of them...

Hmmmm...HMMMMM....

Well, good thing there was a lot of food in this pride!