[ORP] A Gathering [Nergui rp]

[Kimaria]

"Anything?" Mchawi asked in the common tongue when the snapping of raven wings filled the air. She didn't bother to look up, her eyes focused on the stretch of land beyond the wall of thorns that crawled between the Nergui encampment and her own home. The raven above touched down amongst those thorns and shook out her feathers, cawing harsh and loud.

"I have no patience to listen to your wretched sound. Speak or leave, just stop wasting my time. I'm in a foul mood."

"There is nothing, Mistress."

The lioness' brow furrowed and, very slowly, she rose up onto her paws and called the raven to her. Her mood was just made fouler. Reluctantly, the dark-feathered avian did as she was asked, coming to land just in front of the feline's paws. The claws were out - Moma noticed.

"You've failed me again. What use are you if you can't put those wings to use?"

"I flew far and wide." Moma insisted, clacking her beak. "There was no sign of him. If you would just--" The words - and air - were knocked from the raven as Mchawi's paw struck her, knocking her viciously away. This wasn't the first time and it wouldn't be the last. The raven often wondered if the lioness had treated her brother so roughly. Surely not if he had been so loyal.

Mchawi didn't even cast her another look, though. instead, she pushed through the gap in the thorns to move out towards the heart of the Nergui encampment. She was Kaar Oma. In the common tongue she might have been known as 'Head Seer' or 'High Seer'. She preferred 'Queen of Seers' herself. In any case it was a title she had owned and the power suited her well.

The raven, who had fluffed up her feathers and taken to the air again, wheeled low above her head. "If I could not find him, no one else will."

"I should have gone myself." Mchawi snapped, her tail thrashing. "That time has past. The future has shifted and now that path no longer lies open to us."

"So where do you go?"

"To find my sons and daughters and see how their training fairs."


[A note: as all lions here are likely to know the Nergui tongue I don't think there will be much of a need for the language garbler.]  

[wooga Paes]

Drogon was growing quickly. He was a strong, healthy cub, a bit tall for his age. He ate plenty, and exercised even more, thanks both to training and play. He had just managed to catch one of the crows that hung about the Nergui encampment, and was quite pleased with himself. Drogon had never killed one of them, though. He could be a bit of a bully, but any real malice was still absent from his mind, and he just relished in the capture. The bird, though frustrated, was probably aware it would likely get out of this relatively unscathed, and cawed feebly as he trotted about, proudly.

Drogon even sort of liked them. The crows, and the ravens. They were funny, and noisy, and they had cool black wings and they could fly. He probably even was a bit less nasty to them (aside from the pouncing) than he might bully other cubs around. As any cub, he probably envied birds a little, their ability to fly. But at least he couldn't complain! Sure, getting whacked by their wings hurt now, but Drogon knew no bird would ever be as strong as he, when he became older.

He was just about to release his captive when he saw his mother coming towards the encampment. Oh good! He scampered over, crow fitting awkwardly in his maw as he made sure it was very visible. Drogon liked praise! Maybe he could get some now. "Mother!" He unwittingly let the bird go with the greeting, and it hurriedly flew away. But Drogon tried to look unfazed, and grinned a toothy grin. He'd totally meant to do that.  

[Kaelyndra]

Rapha had grown used to Oma following her own name. If it was not said, she noticed.

A fur pelt had been slung over her shoulder, held together tightly by sinew and skulls. The teeth of dead enemies draped over her forehead, itched tirelessly against her mane. But they jingled as she stepped so that all would know she was coming.

The Visionary had clawed her way up. Even now, she could feel tension, apprehension, derision. The others were trying to slash her back down.

But they could not deny, she was powerful. Wisdom, that would grow as she did. But her visions; they would bleed to have something so clear. It instilled her with confidence, cool. Perhaps heartless. Strength was a trait Nergui craved.

But she also grew restless. Life, every waking second of it, had been devotion to moving forwards: Tireless training in the day, late nights staring at starry skies, willing visions to cloud her eyes. Movement forwards was no longer possible. So, Rapha wandered and waited for the next vision to send her to her knees.

A flurry of wingbeats sounded in her left ear. Rapha's head recoiled as the black blur darted its way past, briefly accosting her nose. The Visionary remained there, stationary, eyes focused straight ahead, before they slid left, the direction from which the Raven had come.

Not ten moons go, the Kaar Oma had been her overlord. Rapha had listened, learned from, and envied Mchawi. Now, the seer's children were sending ravens into Rapha's path.

A chuckling escaped her throat as she neared. "Mind your son is careful with his toys," she spoke to Mchawi. There were teeth in her smile.  

[Kimaria]

Ah, there was one of her precious children, now! Young Drogon. Mchawi was not an affectionate lioness by any means, but for her children and her family she would do anything. They were hers. Part of her. They bore her markings and her fierceness and she was proud of them. Oh so proud. She even smiled down at her rapidly growing son and nodded in approval.

"Drogon: Hunter of Crows." She announced, snapping her eyes to where Moma had alighted on a nearby rock. "So swift that not even the winged creatures of this earth can escape his jaws. Do you see how strong my children go, raven?"

Moma hunched, clacking her beak, but it was the raven who first noticed the approach of the Visionary. "Rapha Oma. Greetings" She greeted, loud and clear so that the others would know she was nearby. She even managed a little bow, extending her wings a little to accentuate the act.

Mchawi threw the Visionary a sharp-toothed smile and moved to stand closer to her son. Ever the proud and protective mother. "Who would miss a crow or two, Visionary?" She asked smoothly. "Surely there are enough that plague the lands near here." She glanced at her son again. "He will be finding sport in much bigger game soon enough."

Hares. Fawns. Wildebeest. Lions.

"Are you alone today, Drogon?" She could not see the rest of her brood nearby. "And, Visionary, to what do we owe this pleasure?"  

[wooga Paes]

He was pleased with the attention received, and looked at Moma almost expectantly. Would she praise him? But, sadly, it looked like Drogon wouldn't remain the center of attention for long, and the raven instead of commenting on his prowess opted to greet the Visionary. He laid his ears briefly, taking a few steps to stand beside his mother and face the other lioness.

He wasn't sure just how polite he should be. Drogon never was. Just to be on the safe side, he sort of nodded, sort of dipped his head. "Hi, Visionary." That was good enough for him! He'd just let his mother deal with her.

"Oh... We're catching birds, to train." Because they were fast, and you had to know to avoid their beaks and get past their strong, beating wings. He even had a few cuts on his paws from less successful attempts, but the juvenile was hardly one to whine about it. Drogon looked forward to someday being stronger, faster, and able to practice on other things. "So we split up." It was sneakier that way.  

[Kaelyndra]

The Kaar Oma's raven new more respect than her owner. Rapha quirked a brow at the creature, but did not pay it further heed. They were birds - useful, but still creatures of habit, lesser intelligence. They were governed by food.

"A smart young Nergui drops his eyes in the presence of a Visionary," Rapha pointed out. Mother and son could decide whether Drogon was 'smart' or not.

"Hm." A chuckle, then. "A Visionary cannot simply walk? Not every waking moment is the word of Graos Oma." Today, the strong, guiding Voice was silent. The Nergui had a path of direction and were already following it.

"Sounds like Shadow Guard business, sneaking," Rapha mused.  

[~Masamune~]

It was just as well that Zizima hadn't been close by when Mchawi had struck Moma, as he would've had something to say about it. Especially considering his current company. He was actually only passing by, on the way to where the slaves were kept actually. Although Sarangerel had explained to him why the Nergui kept slaves, it still didn't sit well with him. As such, he simply wanted to go over there to check that none of the slaves were being mistreated. It was perhaps naive of him to think that they weren't, but they certainly wouldn't come to any harm if he was on guard duty with them.

When he spotted Mchawi, he changed direction, deciding he should at least say hello to her. He had decided some time ago that he was going to rise to the rank of Warlord. He had started training, and was now just waiting to be given a mission in which he could start to prove himself. For now however, he was going to keep his ambitions to himself. He didn't entirely trust any of the Nergui, with the exception of Sarangerel, and so he thought it best to simply rise through the ranks without anyone knowing that that was his goal.

"Greetings Mchawi." Although there was a juvenile and another female present, he wasn't quite sure who they were, and so he simply gave each of them a nod of acknowledgement. He then spotted Moma. "Ah, Moma. Look who I have here with me."

At that point, a tiny grey head popped out from Zizima's mane. It was Joka, Moma's daughter. The little raven chirped excitedly and struggled to get out from the large lion's mane, before taking to the air to join her mother. "Mother!" She chirped.

Joka had bonded with Zizima ever since her first flying lesson. Unfortunately, she fell straight out of the nest. Not so unfortunately though, the hulking grey male had just happened to be passing by, and she landed right in his mane. Since then, despite having learned how to fly, Zizima's mane was where she liked to spend most of her time. She loved having him as a friend, as he wasn't scary like all the other Nergui.  

[Kimaria]

"A clever tactic." Mchawi approved. "Drive them into the claws of another. That tactic works on all sorts of prey, too. Even lions." Even gods She smiled, thinking of a time long past. A time when she and her siblings had driven down a rare prey indeed. The smile was not a particularly friendly one. Then again, the memory was not particularly friendly, either.

In Mchawi's eyes her children could do no wrong and the compliment to his minding of manners did draw her attention back. "My son will lead Shadow Guards someday." She replied with such confidence one might believe she had seen it in one of her visions. She had not, but as far as she was concerned she didn't need a seer's abilities to foresee greatness in her children's futures.

Her eyes hooded then. "Then we are blessed. Truly." She replied smoothly. She opened her mouth to continue when the great, grey form of the scarred lion appeared. "Ah, and here is the infamous Grey Warrior." Who seemed to have grown an attachment to her minion's single spawn. It seemed Moma's daughter had a good eye for talent. "Zizima, have you yet met our esteemed Visionary? Rapha Oma?" And then she gestured to her dark-pelted son. "And my son, Drogon?"

Still on her perch, Moma instantly brightened at the sight of her daughter and Zizima, giving a happy caw and spreading her wings and shifting aside to make room for her. "Joka. Your Grey has been keeping you safe, it seems? You are flying beautifully now." Her daughter was, quite clearly, her pride and joy. She atleast shared that trait with Mchawi if nothing else.

They both loved their children.

In a lower voice, she spoke: "The Kaar Oma's children have been catching crows. Be wary of them, child. They might not be able to tell the difference before it is too late."  

[wooga Paes]

He disliked being corrected by anyone, particularly anyone who wasn't his mother. Still, Drogon at least knew when to pick fights. Besides, he was young, and some childish shyness couldn't be evaded, and he quickly dropped his eyes. He felt a bit better once his mother said he'd lead the Shadow Guards. Yes! Yes he would!

It was then that someone else showed up, and the cub couldn't help but gape a bit. This Grey Warrior was huge! Immediately Drogon's ambition was to one day become that large. That thought also made him prideful enough to close his mouth and try to look cool, somehow. "Hello, Grey Warrior." He greeted with some more enthusiasm than he had the Visionary once his mother introduced them. Sort of.

His attention was only on the chick for an instant. He had forgotten about Moma's babies! He hadn't really been able to see them up close despite his curiosity. Sometimes he had a feeling the raven didn't quite like him or his family much, and Drogon was too oblivious to Mchawi's abuse to even begin to figure out why.

But anyways, Zizima was much more interesting than the ravens! "Is Grey Warrior really your name?"  

[Excited Apathy]

Mkhai had been...less than interested in the gathering when it had simply consisted of two Kaar Oma and the spawn of one of them. Yes, one of them was his daughter. But she would stand on her own two feet, as he had always pressed her to do, and not with his aid. In fact, he would have viewed the simple act of needing his aid as weakness, and disdained it. Strength was the Nergui way. Strength was the only way. And while he gave the seers their due respect, he was wary of them. The deal with one that had gone so sour was still a sore spot for him, and it was difficult not to think that maybe his son could have, should have, been Kaar Oma instead. The son he hadn't seen since he was the size of that Kaar Oma's son. Bitter anger boiled up inside him at the memory.

But the arrival of the one many Nergui called Grey Warrior, now that was something else entirely. So new, yet so esteemed...it rankled beneath Mkhai's fur. He would see what this...Grey Warrior was up to.

The large male's steps were slow but steady as he padded up to the group, his eyes avoiding those of both Mchawi and Rapha. "Kaar Omas," he greeted before looking at Zizima. "They call you Grey Warrior. I would have your name."  

[~Masamune~]

Another Seer? Zizima didn't really put much stock in Seers, or even Gods for that matter. He knew how much they could influence the lives of their followers though, and so Seers were not a thing to be taken lightly. "Pleased to meet you." He said with a small bow of his head.

When Zizima was introduced to other other two lions present, he wasn't sure why it surprised him that the juvenile was Mchawi's son. She didn't really seem like the mothering kind, but it was quite clear now that she was. Still sadly unaware of the lies Ovu had told, he wondered if Drogon had somehow survived the massacre, or had simply been born after it. It was his reluctancy to ask such questions that would most likely keep him in the dark for some time.

A small chuckle escaped Zizima's throat when Drogon asked if 'Grey Warrior' was his real name. "No. That's a name that others have given me. My real name is Zizima." The large grey male had gotten used to most of the Nergui simply refering to him as 'Grey Warrior'. He hadn't liked it at first, but the title had grown on him. He knew full well that he could live up to such a title, even if it had been given to him based purely on how he looks.

Zizima's ears flicked back as he noted the approach of another. A dark grey male with strange markings and pale eyes. Again, someone who had hadn't met before, but who seemed to know who he was. He had yet to meet a Nergui who didn't. There was something in this one's tone of voice and body language however that came off as somewhat skeptical. "Zizima." He answered plainly. "And you are?"

Joka landed carefully beside her mother, before nuzzling into her chest. She was small for her age, or at least, she assumed she was. But then, everyone seemed quite small compared to her friend Zizima. She tweeted a laugh. "Sometimes even Zizima can't find me in there!"

Her smile faded when her mother warned her about Mchawi's children. Why would they be doing that? It didn't sound like a very fun game at all, especially for the crows. "I will Mother." She replied quietly, and once again nuzzled into Moma's chest.

As the lions below went about introductions, Joka stretched her legs as high as she could in order to whisper into her mother's ear. "Zizima's not like the others Mother." Her red eyes blinked as she tilted her head, as if wanting her mother to explain why the Grey Warrior was so different to the other Nergui.  

[Kaelyndra]

"Is that so. . . " The words exited the back of her throat as a purr.

The tension was tangible, and Rapha enjoyed it. She had spent her youth being tense, and now others would know to be tense around her. As if to fit the theme, Rapha's pale eyes found the pelt of her father. His slow strides were leading him there. Only just present, and he was already demanding things.

As for the Grey Warrior, Rapha had already discounted him. He said words like 'please', he smiled with a sweet confidence, and his accent was not of Nergui-born. Simply speaking, to Rapha, he was not Nergui.

"Are you of the blood guard, Zizima?" Rapha's head tilted as she looked him over. The lioness held her muzzle high, subconsciously keeping her body above his.

"Or has some other feat made you a warrior?"

Blood-born, Rapha distrusted all those not. The Nergui plowed over civilization, picking up battered pieces on the way. He did not seem conflicted - not forced here - but all the same she was wary of any desire a convert might have in leaving.  

[Kimaria]

Mchawi smiled her secret smile and listened. She loved to listen. Loved to watch. Loved to calculate. Perceptiveness was a trait that had saved her in the past and no doubt it would save her again someday. That a few other tricks she'd picked up along the way.

Oh and here was the Visionary's own father. Her smile deepened, fangs glinting. What a strange little gathering this was turning out to be. "Mkhai." She returned the greeting before sitting back to watch the exchange about to occur. Males and their displays of dominance were occasionally entertaining and the Nergui seemed to be a jealous sort.

"But don't you see his scars, Rapha Oma?" The Nergui loved their scars as much as Mchawi loved to weave her plots. Even still, she was curious as to Zizima's response.

Above, Moma wrapped a wing around her daughter as if the wall of feathers might protect her from all harm. "No, child. He is not. He was not born here." Though, in truth, many of the Nergui were 'converts', even Muunokhoi. "Many males have to fight their way to honour, but the Grey Warrior came with many battles already won to him - or so they say. He already has much honour." Moma felt sorry for him, too. For being caught up in all of this. If only he had not ventured this way. If only he had taken a different road - headed south instead.  

[wooga Paes]

"Zizima." He repeated, thoughtfully. He thought Grey Warrior sounded cooler, because it had many more interesting implications than Zizima. If Drogon meant to comment on his name at all, he didn't get the chance with the arrival of another male. More familiar than Zizima in appearance, but the young male would still only learn Mkhai's name because of his mother addressing him.

It did look quite like this Grey Warrior fellow was the most interesting guy about! Drogon didn't even do much to greet Mkhai aside from a small nod, because he felt he might just be intruding. Besides, though he was a bit different from his mother in general attitude, she had told him sometimes it was good – as in useful – to watch others. Maybe he should exercise this now!  

[~Masamune~]

Zizima raised a brow. The rank of Blood Guard sounded familiar to him, as that was the rank given to the warriors and fighters of the Nergui. The fact that everyone just refered to him as 'Grey Warrior' didn't really help, as he honestly couldn't recall what rank he had been given. Not that he cared. He was only here to help. With a shrug of his broad shoulders, he gave a simple nod. "Blood Guard sounds about right."

Mchawi was quick to interject, once again bringing up his scars. He had never been the one to state that they were proof of his ability to fight, it had always been others. In actual fact, he still hadn't been given the chance to proof himself to those Nergui who were skeptical of him, although they were in the minority. Hopefully, that would change very soon.

Zizima turned away from the pale Seer in order to address the other, the one who was of higher rank and therefore the only one who should really be interested in what he could do. "Mchawi. When we first met, you asked if I was an ambitious lion." A soft frown touched his face, although it began to deepen as he went on. "My answer back then was no, as I was simply here to help." What he said next he was going to keep a secret for a while, but he may as well just reveal his intentions, as they would have to come out sooner or later. "Things have changed."

The large grey male looked towards Rapha, his frown now deeper than ever. He had never asked for anyone's praise, he had never been asked to be revered. He had never cared enough one way or the other, but as he had said, things had changed. "Honestly, I don't really feel the need to prove myself to the likes of you. However, I agree that you have every right to be skeptical, but rest assured that I am fully capable of being everything that the Nergui wishes me to be." Although he looked quite angry, his tone of voice was still quite neutral. "I may not know exactly what my 'rank' here is right now, but I can tell you what it's going to be." He then turned back to Mchawi. "Warlord." He waited to see her reaction, deciding to pause just incase he had to plead his case as to why and how he would attain such a rank.

Joka cooed gently as her mother shielded her with her wings. She peered through the feathers, still wishing to watch what was going on below. Whilst Moma's words explained one thing about Zizima that was different, it didn't explain what she had actually meant in the first place. "It's not that Mother." She said with a somewhat sad sigh. "He's kind, and thoughtful. Not scary like the others."

At least, not right now. She could see that her grey friend was getting frustrated. Then when he came out with the word Warlord, she was completely puzzled. "Mother, what's a Warlord?"