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What are your options?

There are currently three ways for your character to vote. They are the following:

A. Vote for Priority: A vote for prioritizing water means water will go to those who the pride deems essential. It does not mean that water will be completely cut off from your lion, but it means they will be getting significantly less. Cubs perhaps least of all.

There will be no forced deaths from this decision, but it will effect the morale and cohesion of the pride. Lower ranked lions will weaken.

B. Vote for Equality: A vote for equality means that all water will be shared equally. This means the water will dry up faster, and all ranks will feel the impact of water rationing.

There will be no forced deaths from this decision, but it will effect pride security and weaken defenses.

C. Nonvote: A nonvote is anyone who sides exclusively with the council. This is a vote for characters who enjoy letting others make their choices for them, you big big babies you.

Prize!

To be in for a chance to win this little girl, all you need to do is vote with at least one character in this thread. Please note that you can only qualify for one ticket, whether you vote with one character or ten.

Mpeko moved through the crowd of gathered pride members, the normally cheery, kind, friendly lioness unusually calm, reserved, even a bit heart-broken by her recent departure of her half-sister. Still, she had to be strong-- stronger than perhaps she'd ever been. She knew so fer lions and yet she loved all deeply. Perhaps why she'd tried to avoid deulling.

When the call to speak came there were few who knew she would be there or speak. She rarely went to the watering holes, rarely anywhere, but the Tracker was kind, that, one saw in her eyes and she sat.

"I, Mpeko, vote for Equality. We are strong and to punish the weakest simply for life given by the divine-- we can't do that. It would be a temporary solution with a future problem. For what of oujr children?"

The young female was mateless, childless... Anyone who saw her these days, saw her alone.

Vulnerable.

"The cubs are our future and how can we as a pride suirvive if we are not equal in our water intake? So we need more soon. We can take it can't we? We have soldiers for a reason!@ We are reknown for a reason, but unless we care for ourselves we cannoy even hope to survive. Equal water rights... That's our only chance. Please, we have to... We have to think of all of us equally...."

The female began sobbing as she begged, a stray paw forcing her back into the crowd before she was silenced. Mpeko closed her eyes. The drought made others fearful.

All she could do was pray.

Quidel, one of Kenna's sons, and a lion that did little to standout, save for his known hoarding of skulls, was shaken by the events as of late. However, he had a quick, analytical mind that had long weighed the pros and cons of both decisions. He had no mate or children to care for. he cared for his mother, father, and siblings, but there was no one truly dear to his heart, so he really only had himself to think about. And he knew, even with the decision he had made, that he was not included in the 'priority' list. Still...

"I, Quidel, simple soldier though I am, vote for priority. I-"

--

Quidel was then but off by Khin'del.

"Indeed, I agree with him. Although, if I may also plea on the young one's behalves, that they be made as much a priority as our...most important members? The strongest, those of special importance and the cubs come first. We soldiers, and the hunters, huntresses, and the like...the injured and the weak, and sick...we need water no more than they. Nor no less, but...I would rather our strongest and brightest, and our hopes for the future survive if...things get any worse..."

Khin'del could only think of his children, and had labored over the decision. Finally he had decided upon priority, but thought he would make a plea on their behalf anyway, even though he didn't think it would do any good. Celosia, Umbia, Pe'pea, Nur'yu, Jyoti, Daigre, Kakek, Miale, Hoda.... All of his much beloved children... Even with the decision to let the strong take priority, and denial of his proposition he would give what he could to them at his own loss.

Khindel had discussed such decisions with his mate not but a night ago. Of course, he didn't know that, despite their chat, the two had really settled on two different courses of action.Each thought that the other was in agreement. Oh sweet irony! Well, that would be something they would have to deal with after this voting.

Although it didn't matter - Khindel would not see his children go thirsty. He would sooner die than allow that. It was a morbid line of thought, but even dead he might be able to provide. His body, the blood that flowed in his veins, if it could stave off any desperate thirst... Hopefully it would not come to that, but the caring father was ready to make that sacrifice if he absolutely, positively, had to.

--

Huozinthen piped up, sauntering over to the impassioned father, and Quidel. He was perhaps the most laid back bump on a log in the whole pride.

"Hey, man, I agree about th' kiddos, so why you tossin' your vote thataway? Dude, I am all for equality. Not just to wet my own whistle, but man, those kids be needin'."

Quidel couldn't help but cast the younger male an ire-ful glower. The goo-for-nothing should be the last to drink either way.

--

Hratchouhi.....She was tired, and felt utterly horrible. She had put her job as huntress on hold in order to aid in the search for water. And as a stand-in water-seeker, she felt like a failure to the pride. Curled up out of the way, face hidden, she mumbled;

"I'll do whatever the pride decides."

Her tender little heart was bleeding.

---

Khindel found it hard to stay composed with Hratchouhi and Huozin. The one lion didn't even deserve to call himself a Firekin. he was a lazy waste. He'd open Kuozin's body FIRST if death was what it took to sustain his family. Hratchouhi was no better. Weak, pathetic, going a long with whatever the majority decided.... As a Firekin, Khindel felt, one must have a definite decision and the will to back it the ******** up. Of course that was quite the opinion coming from someone who was not of Firekin blood himself.... But he felt he fit the bill more than THEY did! His blood raged red hot.


Perhaps pride and thirst were getting to him and inflating his ego and shutting off proper brain function…this was not normal Khindel. But he was a very, very, very, very, very, tremendously worried father. Worry and the need to protect his cubs would drive anyone, father, mother, grandparent, to near hysteria! Hysteria was about what it was, too. Or craziness - contemplating, almost entertaining the thought of killing fellow pride members just to see that his children lived… What was he becoming? Was this what one called a monster? Was he becoming a monster? He was a victim of circumstance, though. He couldn’t help that the water was gone and what it was doing to his family, pride, children, his very state of mind…

All of this was getting far beyond him. It was out of his paws, but he couldn’t see that right them. Hif frame of mind was foggy, and getting blurrier.

Khindel didn’t know that it would only get worse, however. He didn’t know that he’d later be dealing with the loss of a son and the thirst for vengance on top of all of this… Anger, hate, pain, sadness…. He was to be tested, truly. It was going to hurt, these trials that lay ahead. Would he be able to come out of them whole? Would he ever be the same?

((I am so dropping my usual RP colors for this, to make it easier xd ; ))

With the slow stride of age, Bodaway stepped out amid the lions, raising his tired eyes to Kidondo. "Before I speak my choice, though it may be obvious, I will say that I may not see the end of the drought with the rest of you, and especially you, Kidondo, son of Kimeti, grandson of Kiu, great-grandson of Makadari, our last king before the plague... You have led us well thus far, and I trust you will continue to lead the pride well, and should the day come you may not, someone as wise beyond their years as you are takes up the mantle." He then bowed his head, his mane, nearly fully gray and white from age, covering his face as he thought hard. Finally, he lifted his head again. "I believe that, though it will be the expense of the youth of the pride, priority should go to the soldiers, the guards, those who protect our borders." He flicked an ear, suddenly feeling more tired. "I have spoke my mind, and now I bow to you." With a bow, he backed away, vanishing back into the sea of lions, a once-proud figure changed by age.

Next from the crowd came Kosuke and Shula, the pair... Somewhat united. Kosuke glanced at his mate for a moment, as they whispered to each other, then looked up to Kidondo. "I'm going to make this short, but we've talked long about it, and both believe that the pride should move eastward, to find water. It could be the only way we'll survive... Unless we wish to become as scarce in numbers as the pride was before my parents were born and before you were a twinkle in your parents' eyes. If not..." He took a breath, closing his eyes. "It pains me to say, but Shula and I may take our cubs, and seek refuge until the drought ends." He felt a nudge, and looked to see his beloved's unusually hard look. With a huff, the lioness grabbed the male's ear, dragging him away. Shula soon returned. "To put it a bit... Simpler... We vote for equality by relocation." Kosuke then reached out of between two lions, and pulled Shula away.

Savitri, ever the glaring opposite of her aunt in coat, decided to approach from another side, adopted cub in close tow. "Uncle Kidondo... Aunt No... My heart is torn on which way to vote. I cannot vote on anything in good conscience. I hope you understand." She bowed her head, showing respect for her relatives, before ushering Rashmi off.

With his own nervous paw steps, a new face amid the many stepped forward. When he found himself in full view, Singh looked back and forth for a moment, then turned to the regents, puffing a bit. "I'm very... What's the word...? Appreciative, that you have allowed me into your pride. But after hearing the sides... I believe priority should go to the young and infirm.. If the guards and soldiers become infirm, may they bask in the perk in life, but not purposely injure themselves... But how a pride treats its infirm says a lot about how strong they are on the inside, and the medics are doing the best they can with what they have. That is very admirable, and they and their charges deserve priority with the cubs, the future of the pride." He then remembered something, to be... Meek... And bowed his head, backing away. "Thank you for this opportunity to speak up."

Since his arrival in the lands, Nawvlee had been very interested in the goings-on around the pride, the drought had only increased the urgency with which he watched and planned. Still on his mind were the Nergui, the lions who had cost them the Hongshan their home and many lives. The firekin were weakening, it put them at greater risk. If the water was portioned evenly, the whole pride would be put at risk. To lose young would be a shame but he had little worry about the social ranks. It was very clear that to be safe the army needed the water more than the others.

He kept himself under control long enough to get a feel for how voting was going but eventually stepped up for his turn to speak. Like the others, he had no intention of simply giving his vote and stepping back, he would explain.

"If the whole pride is allowed to weaken to maintain equality then the whole pride is put at risk," he said with grave confidence, "There are more dangers out there than a lack of water and carelessness can cost you everything. The water must be prioritized if we are to guarantee the continued existence of the pride."

Nawvlee paused a moment before finally stepping back. An ambush was still on his mind and he thought to warn of how a pride with a reputation like the firekin needed their army to be strong to defend against those who might test that reputation.. but his vote would have been the same regardless of his perception of a threat from another pride. The weakest would still be first to go if the drought continued and the water given equally, this would give the strong a better chance.

Not to mention, of course, he knew when he would start looking too paranoid. It was best not to go on about the Nergui.

...

Chaka and Shisa had already discussed the situation at length and, in their opinions, had considered each of the options fully. Of course, Shisa had been a bigger part of thinking them through and helping her brother to overcome his purely selfish motivations. They had arrived at the council meeting, Chaka with Inina close behind, and listened silently until the opportunity arose for them to speak. Leaving the snake behind to watch, the siblings approached the council together.

Chaka paid little attention to the social aspects of living in a pride, he was dedicated to his job and the overall protection of the pride. However, his immediate instinct had been self-preservation and to prioritise the water to those who kept the pride safe and strong. And even discussions with Shisa had not changed his mind, though he had more reasonable justifications. Shisa was more pride-minded and while she had reservations about deciding one way or another, she refused to not vote decisively. While her conscience told her she ought to vote for equality, a sense of what would happen if the drought continued for a long period of time made her hesitate. Ultimately, Chaka's influence is what made her final decision. It was something that almost never happened.

"I vote to prioritize," Chaka said simply before looking to Shisa.

"I also vote to prioritize," Shisa added when she saw Chaka look to her from the corner of her eye, speaking with more emotion than her brother, "Without knowing when this drought will end, we believe it would be best to give those who have the best chance to survive priority."

With a shared nod, the pair returned to their place in the crowd with Inina to continue to observe.

Xipil was much like his mother in the practical sense, he was always trying to calculate his next move, the next move of his opponent and worst case scenarios. Though, unlike his mother, he had not envisioned a drought as the worst case scenario but once it had hit, he had understood completely. His decision on the matter of what to do with the remaining water supplies was a difficult matter for the red lion to come to.

He had thought about what each decision meant and while he knew that, unlike his friend Vesta, he could not sit by and simply ride on the decision made by the council, coming to his conclusion on what he would want done...that was something he struggled with.

He had weighed the options and while he wanted to vote for prioritizing he knew the best idea would be to share; they were a pride a group of soldiers and he had the belief of leaving no one behind. They were a warrior pride, they were known for their ability to survive hardships other prides wouldn't dream of.

"I vote for equality," he stated coolly his blue eyes focusing on the forms of his parents. "We are a whole and to prioritize could rupture everything. We are warriors, even those that do not hold the ranks of soldiers and no one should be left behind or considered 'lesser'," he paused to keep his tone steady. "At one point the water seekers were considered somewhat minor in importance and now, with the drought, they have climbed the ranks of importance. How is it that, outside of the council and a few other ranks, we truly determine importance?"

At this point his gaze flickered to Khin'del who pushed for the importance of cubs. "As he pointed out, it is the cubs that should come first if it comes to that but still, I push for equality because by weakening even those of lower ranks could devastate us. We must ration the water equally and when it comes to little to no water, we must persevere and survive. We are known for our ability to thrive in circumstances and terrains that many cannot, this is a circumstance where we must show we will not only survive but thrive."