A new Era [Feline RP]

[Lion King Stu]

Well I know I said we wouldn?t have any sort of set storyline and that I?m still planning to stand by; but I think we need a fairly decent back story to put us in the right sort of mindset of how things will sort of be throughout the role-play.

Anyway one thing is very clear all Lion King characters you know and love have all passed on and many generations have past and if they do show it then it would be by stories passed down over the years.

In these times bad storms and fire have ravaged and scarred areas of the Savannah as the weather has become increasingly bad with more fierce storms hitting the area causing bad damage to the trees and killing wildlife, even members of the pride. Along with that in long spells the weather is hot and harsh leaving the Pride lands in even less recognisable state than it was ever in. Not anywhere to the extent it was under Scars ruling but quite bad with little water and the grass and ground drying up and simply turning to dust causing fires under the harsh heat of the sun from time to time.

The number of pray within the Pride lands has also decreased badly in numbers as more and more move their way away from the lions and other felines homelands. Though numbers remain there is still merely a shadow of the luxury they had in the past.

Also the number of rouges and felines and predators seeking to do harm to anyone they see have increased with many numbers of animals and some cubs have been taken away and even killed within their lands which have been found on patrols on the edges of the pride boundaries. The lack of food and the trust in the old king giving them no motivation to do their jobs properly.

Many lions have challenged for the title of king and ruler of the pride and all failed. The kings son Twilight watching on at his young age having to see the pride slowly fall apart. Unlike his father Twilight was loved a lot more and over the years of growing up inside he was learning the mistakes his father was making vowing when he became king he would make life a lot more tolerable.

Many lions and lionesses got fed up of the kings rule and fled in the night; many of which who would probably to return to fight Twilight when he took to the throne when he was at his weakest. Being young and inexperienced was going to be Twilights big flaw and feared the love he was currently going to have would just disappear.

Two years passed and Twilight in human terms of age hit 19 years old; his mother had died the year before gutting both him and even more to his father who?s control on the pride faltered even more. The evening before Twilight was to take control of the throne and his inherited kingdom his father was attacked in the pride lands though he prevailed in winning sustaining bad cuts. He and a few felines who came to see what was happening were killed in the most fierce storm their lands had seen.

The RP starts at the morning of the night before; news has arrived back from two felines that managed to return though not without injury. The storm still somewhat continues though is dying out. The land somewhat flooded and many trees fallen.

Twilight for now is proclaimed king till it is confirmed his father is in fact dead.

PLEASE NOTE MALES CAN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE CHALLANGE TWILIGHT TO BE KING AND RULER OF THE PRIDELANDS

[Lion King Stu]

Heavy black clouds still lined the early morning sky; not even a single beam of the early light could penetrate the seemingly endless blackness that slowly crawled across the sky. Still the rain beat down ever unmercifully across the lands and against the tall sturdy rock structure of Pride Rock.

The sound of water dropping off the edges onto the flat bit of rock outside the den was maddening to simply listen to like many had done the hours that had passed. Soon the rain would hopefully pass and the clouds would part to show off the normal majestic clear sky and sun that always praised itself on the lands.

Twilight twitched at the entrance of the cave following his second bad spell within hours of one another; it was indeed a bad night and his heart was just about the point of breaking apart of the news he?d received during the night. His father was possibly dead but with all hope he hoped it was not the case. Everyone else in the cave were in a somewhat solemn and confused state about what was going on.

Wearily and weakly he got to his feet feeling wobbly and clumsily sat on his hind looking out for any sort of sign. Only two felines came back in the night badly wounded and shaken up who gave the news said they saw the king die getting caught up in a flash flood when the river burst it?s banks. With all the debris that would have been flushed down the river it would only make painful sense that it was true.

Just looking out now some of the land was clearly visible with a sheet of water; some trees had falling in the night and some had caught fire but were dying out as a thin plumes of black smoke rose from the cinders. The wonderful stories he heard about this land that stood before him seemed too much like a story to him now.

Till then he was the stand in king till the word was in fact true and he took his place as king. He looked back at the cave seeing mostly all the lionesses and other felines that shared the cave look over to him none of them knowingly anything they could say to make things remotely better.

[Cova_Lioness]

Her cool, pool of black suddenly stirred as if a drain plug from below had been pulled...Her body flinching at the same time as her head quickly rised off her paws that they had rested upon. Cova groaned as she opened one eye, clear to her that a drop of water had hit her muzzle and awoken her, she was a light sleeper anyway and the nights storm had held no mercy upon this fact.

She had managed to squeeze herself into a small Cave on the outskirts of the territory, the storm having rolled in so fast last night that she had not dared risk returning to her home of Pride rock in it's fierce condition. Now shivering as the night she had spent in the small cave was an unpleasant one...her Fur still wet as the little cave leaked badly and she shook her head as her eyes now focused properly out the entrance to see the devastation the storm had caused. The land seeming as if water had fallen for 1000 nights rather than 1 with trees uprooted and everything looking windswept to add to the Grey backdrop of the usual sunny sky.

Cova now stood up as a grip of fear came upon her as to what had befallen the rest of her pride, shaking herself from head to toe as she stepped out and immediately put her paw a good half meter down into a sinking plot of boggy mud, Growling as she stumbled forward and got mud all up her front in the attempt to regain her balance. Jumping from dry patch to dry patch until she had no choice but to splash through the water and mud that led its way up to a well known path that she knew led right home.

Gasping for breath as she reached the path and began to walk with a little less trouble, taking the time to watch around as other Creatures moved their way around the destruction that had engulfed the pride lands...Other Lions clearly visible, most probably rouges.. she had no wishes of encountering any of them before she had established contact with any of her Pride, but you could never tell.

It Would have never crossed her mind that such Complex issues had arisen themselves back at home. Cova simply walked on...gawping at the damage that turned such beautiful lands to some sort of battle ground, now more than never wishing that her home would come into view. Now Clearing the first hill rise to stand atop it, she saw it....Pride rock, its amazing sight a beacon to anyone who would look for a family, or even a place to call home. Bursting into a sprint as she she splashed her way towards it.

[King Simba]

Bright, pretty pinks, reds and yellows lined the horizon that morning. It was one of those mornings that Katai would never forget. He always remembered waking up to the bright sky over the vast plains of Kenya when he was just a young cub, and to him it reminded him well of his brilliant upbringing.

It was one of those cooler mornings known to heat up pretty fast during the day, and on these days, Katai knew that it would be better to wake his son, Jaini to get an early morning snack for him to share. He didn't like leaving Jaini alone; it was a responsibility he had as a single parent. He had to look after his son and never in a million years could he let his deceased mate down.

He carefully poked Jaini with his large paw, as a motive to wake him up. Sometimes it worked, others it didn't; Jaini was pretty much an awkward cub that didn't like awaking. This time, Katai's effort to wake his sleepy son up didn't work, and therefore he had to make some type of a noise to catch the youngster's attention. Speaking to him would be the perfect solution here.

"Jaini..." he gently poked him a couple more times, "It's morning..."

Jaini tossed and turned and opened his eyes, this time without fail. "Wh-what? Morning already?"

Pleased that his attempt did work, Katai smirked down to him and nodded, "Yep, how time flies now that you're growing older..."

Jaini let out a yawn and looked up, "Yeah..." he paused before getting up and sitting down on his haunches, "So... are we gonna catch breakfast together like we did yesterday?" He grinned, knowing what his dad would say...well, almost knowing anyway.

"Hmm, I don't know... it's still pretty early, and a lot of the prey isn't around at this time... but if you're good, we'll have a look for something along the way... for now though, we probably should get moving. I was told there's a pride not too far away from here that could give us some help on where we're going... the King is known to be pretty friendly, and I don't think us as father and son would seem a threat to him." Katai smiled down to him, before looking up to the sky and their surroundings, and then looking towards a mountain range in the distance where a black cloud covered; it was visible it was raining in the distance.

"Alright, then...but as long as you promise!" Jaini grinned, grabbing hold of his father's mane, "Let's go!"

Katai and his son continued on their journey, to find new life out in the savanna.

[Avalon]

The morning casts it's heating light over the desolate wasteland below. The dreading warmth dig it's way through sand, bone and flesh, leaving little room for shadow. Today however the light has a challenger, clouds litter the skies, remnants of the nights voilent rain storms. The clouds can't banish the heat, only cease it's chances to fool the minds.

Through this sea of bare earth, through this land of the dead and dying travles a lone shadow. It's a little lioness, her dark grey-brown pelt makes her nearly invisible to the wet greyish soil of this forboding landscape. She doesn't seem scared, nor disturbed by this ravaged land, and neither by the vultures who perch themselves in the withering trees. Watching her every move, hoping that another one have come to seek a final rest. But the vultures will be quite disappointed, this little lioness has no intentions of dieing here.

She keeps on walking with a determined stride, ears gently lowered while her working eye keeps a constant watch for danger, she scampers over an old elephant spine and through the ribs of a giraffe, both subcome to either hunger or dehydration. Kisirani doesn't know when she will have crossed this maze of mud, trees and stone, if she doesn't make it through, she will remain here as an omen for others who dare cross this dangerous terrain of mud-holes, and thus truely live up to her name.

[Lion King Stu]

For many a long time he merely stood feeling alone and sombre before stepping out of the cave feeling the rain and the harsh wind blow against his mane and his fur. He had many feelings running through him at that very moment it was getting very hard to pinpoint which one was actually effecting him the most. His body was racked with fear as he not only shook with the cold; his body language was giving off a lot at the moment and he didn?t even know whether his pride was thinking of him as merely just weak. It wasn?t just his father he was worried about; it was just everyone else in the pride that had to hunker down and take cover.

From word already said a number had witnessed many die or get washed away; others remained injured and in cover or so said. But looking over most of the flooded parts of the savannah he feared they may of drowned or were trapped within them. When the rains stopped and the water subsided they could go in search and see what could be done or salvaged. By the look of it he would be leading the party unless his father made a miraculous reappearance with every passing moment seemingly almost seemed past the point of unlikely.

His mane started to matt together with the rain as the wind blew harshly; he padded close to the promontory point looking out across the lands; he saw an animal running close looking like a lioness which was a sight indeed seeing that if one made it through the night there was hope for others. Though at this distance it was unclear as to who exactly it was.

He roared out across the lands seeing if he could get any feedback not only from her to see if she was from the pride but also to see if anyone else out in the lands would make it known that they were still alive and just hiding out for now.

[Avalon]

Dark rimmed ears perk as a roar ring out over the wet savannah, eyes squirting to make out any shapes in through the grey haze ahead, but being half-blind didn't help the situvation. Kisirani was strong, but she couldn't hope to answere that call being a mear juvenile her voice would never beable to silence the winds nor the sound the running water. She folded her ears back, and pressed forward towards the sound of the roar comming from somewhere beyond the grey haze.

Normally the juvenile would have run into hideing would she hear a roar, but these times were diffirent. Very diffirent, this time a roar might be her savior. Kisirani thought back at her mother, how she would have tackled something like this but the youngster concluded that she couldn't compare herself to her own mother; the slave-mistress.

Her mother would have done the same as she, pressed forward thudgeing ankle deep in mud that just got closer and closer to water which each step you took, each step feels like two steps backwards. But this was no time for rest; No time.. for weakness!

[Katari]

OOC: I'm sorry, it's short, I know, and my brain's too tired to write well at the moment. But I figured I better post something, or else forfeit my spot.

IC:

Blast the rain! Katari thought as he emerged from the small outcropping of rocks where he had spent the night. It was bad enough that he'd been forced into shelter to keep out of the cold wind, but was rain really called for, too? Well, there was nothing he could do about the weather. Completely helpless...yes, that seemed to be the way of life on the savanna, or anywhere. But just because a new day brought new challenges didn't mean that one could not meet those challenges to the best of their abilities. And that was exactly what Katari planned to do this day. The conditions -- however disheartening -- were a far cry better than the desert's constant blend of blistering heat and blinding sun. Katari had made it out of that hell-hole alive; so, what was a little rain, in the long run? Certainly nothing as bad as what he'd already come through.

Shaking himself, droplets of crystalline rainwater spraying from his damp mane in all directions, he began to walk. Where, he didn't know, exactly. The giant stone kopje on the horizon seemed a likely place to find the pride that occupied this particular patch of grassland: That was where he would go, to speak with the members of that pride and, hopefully, to earn their good graces. Not that the good feelings mattered so much, not at all; but it was better to announce one's presence and be thought of as a guest, than to remain hidden and be known as a stranger and an intruder.

Each day's work is a part of one's destiny, he thought, recalling the old proverb that he had recited so often as an adolescent. Now Katari would have a chance to find out just how true that was.

[Cova_Lioness]

((OOC> nice start Kat ^^))

Cova couldn't help but squint her eyes narrow as she kept up her fast pace, the wind and haze of rain making vision at speed almost nill which was why she also had to turn her head to gasps breath through it all. Suddenly, through the mist came A tremendous Roar, catching her completely off guard as she stumbled and came to an abrupt stop. She stared upwards to a figure alone on top of the promintary point.

Clearly a Male of the pride, but who exactly she could not make out. Standing still for a moment before she drew breath and returned the Calling Roar of who she believed to be her fellow Pride, Her roar long and echoing, but not nearly as loud as the Males. Hoping it would signal her as friend rather than Foe, allowing her to come close as was the unspoken rule Among Lions. She waited a moment more as the Rain continued to pour, not letting slight. However this did not bother her anymore as her fur was as wet and matted as it could possibly get, her Golden coat Un-recognizable with Clogged Mud as she Then started to pad her way closer to the Shrine of many.

Reaching the Small ledge of rocks that lead up the side and took breath as she began to clamber up them, being extra careful due to the wet conditions to not slip. Her eyes peering over the top as she cleared the last jump to be now on top Of pride rock, the form of Twilight, the Kings son staring her back caught her off guard at first. They had spoken before but not to much degree, glad of the rain to cover her face quite....she must have looked a state, however she still took the time to Dip her head and Bow low on her front paws in his presence.

[Yougurt]

Blast this rain Sannek thought as she crawled out from some rubbles she'd been hiding under during the night. The shelter had not been good at all and her fur was soaked.

She turned to the lights of the morning dawn, hoping that this day would bring some warmth - perhaps even a chance to hunt.
Ever since she'd gotten to these area, she had had the feeling of being watched. Like a darkness creeping forward to swallow her whole. The whole area looked dead and abandoned, and again she wondered what on earth had made her come to this place - the place she'd heard fantastic stories of as a cub.

Whatever... she thought and streched her agile body, shaking her head softly and pressed forward towards the giant rock, portraid in the horizon as a massive shape of darkness.

[Lion King Stu]

((OCC: Hey Kat it doesn't matter about the size of your post buddy it's a great start ^^))

Many long moments seemed to go by as he looked out toward the lioness who was making her way back seemingly to Pride Rock. He didn?t doubt in his mind it was one of his own pride but to get the roar out there it would make others take note at coming back home or at least let him know there was still life out there.

Against the rain and wind he was squinting badly as his mane now all but a sodden clumped mess lay across his lower forehead and over his eye; many time he pawed it away to get good vision of the pride lands once more before the same thing happened again. Most lions would of after the first two times found it highly annoying but right now with more pressing matters on his mind it was only but a mere inconvenience.

Managing to squint his eyes he managed to see the lioness and a moment after heard the roar that she emitted; thought not too brilliantly loud over the sound of beating rain and the howling wind it remained still audible. The first time a slight smile came to his face knowing that she was from his pride and there was hope for the others still out there.
He looked down as the lioness made her way back toward Pride Rock; in the distance he swore he heard more roars but wasn?t too brilliantly sure whether they were in his pride or other calls of desperation from the many rouges that came into the lands seeking refuge.

Time slipped past and Twilight began to shiver as the weather seemed not to even let up when he heard the sound of footsteps coming up the rock from behind him. Slowly he turned around seeing Cova; though being part of the same pride not everyone got to know everything about everyone which was the case here also.
Being the prince of the pride he spent many times with his father trying to learn the skills and pick up the attitude of the day to day life of leading a pride and the duties that came with it. Though through some brief time they had shared with one another; and right now he couldn?t be any more glad to see her alive living through the storm.

She looked a right state; dripping just as wet as him and very clearly mudding from running around in the mud making her way back home. If anything even though he was royalty he should be bowing to her for just surviving out there in those conditions; he lowered his head to her as well and looked up. The questions still burning in his mind he needed to ask.

?Cova. Have you seen my father?? he said sounding slightly in a weak tone of voice clearly worried not just for him clearly but for the rest of the pride who got caught out badly ?Or any others from the pride?? he said biting at his lip his mane plastering down over his eye once more, water running freely off his fur.

[Cova_Lioness]

The Prince's words Rung highly through the wind and rain as she Pushed her paw From the ground and Raised her head again, getting up to Look at him. The Wind blowing his mane fierce...but even through this she could see the worry that Shone bright on his face.

" I am Sorry my Prince, but i have seen no pride for at least 12 hours.."

Realizing that she had been out in the storm for quite some time now..eying the cave entrance to her right where other Lionesses lay curled with eyes shining from deep inside its warmth and safety. Having to Focus her thoughts and realize who it was she was speaking to, quickly bringing her attention fully back to Twilight where she hoped she hadn't proved dis-respectful.

"I have however seen a growing number of scavengers and rouges..i think quite a few might already be heading this way.."

Voice trailing as she knew that rouges heading inwards was never usually a good omen....and the Prince seemed particularly disturbed.

[King Simba]

As Katai and Jaini closed in on the mountain range, the rain started to fall. For Katai, it was refreshing; he hadn't experienced a rainfall like this for a while, but for others, it was pretty much the opposite.

"Dad! I'm getting all wet!" Jaini cried out, as he tried shielding himself from his paws with his paws.

Katai sighed and rolled his eyes, not understanding why Jaini was being so numb, "Jaini, it's only a bit of rain...it's not like it's going to kill you..."

Before he could continue, Jaini interrupted, "For you maybe, you're a grown up...you should be used to this type of stuff!"

Sighing once more, it was one of those moments where Katai had to think of a solution if they were to continue, "Alright...we'll find somewhere to shelter, but don't forget that we won't get to our destination any quicker..."

The rain continued to fall.

However, before Jaini could say anything else, a loud roar was heard in the distance. He immediately glared up at Katai with a show of fear in his eyes, "Daaad...did...you hear that?" he whimpered; the show of his fear was obvious.

Katai's ears twitched backwards and forwards. He sniffed up catching no scent of anything around them, but he knew that it was coming from somewhere close; his first instinct was that it was coming from over the mountain range, but he could be wrong, "It sounded like a lion roaring from somewhere..." He looked up again, his ears twitching and flickering as he heard the second roar, "...I think it was coming from over the mountains..." He looked down to Jaini, taking notice that he was still scared. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about...you're safe with me." Katai put his large, muscular paw around his son as a sign of love and affection, and then giving him a loving lick as they sheltered under a tree; the rain was slowing down now.

As the mist of the rainfall faded, a familiar looking rock became visible. Katai knew where he was now; he was in the Pridelands. Jaini looked up out of curiousity, wandering what his father was staring at, "Dad, what you staring at?"

It took a few seconds for Katai to come out of his daze, but as soon as he did, he looked down at his son before looking back up again, "That's Pride Rock, Jaini..."

Hearing the roar once more, he knew that it was a roar for attention, and that it was coming from Pride Rock, so Katai decided to roar back too hoping that he'd get some answer.

[Yougurt]

Sannek heard a roar nearby. Seemed to come from a male lion.
She stopped in her tracks, and smelled the air. Yes, there had def. been some lions here, not too long ago. Soon she discovered the path they'd taken and decided to follow.

For a moment she hesitated, but then she saw the shape of an adult and a cub close by. She moved closer silently, but slipped on the wet ground and landed with a soft thud.

Blasted , she thought I might've just jumped right at them. Now they know or sure that I'm here

[Lion King Stu]

Her last sentence rang through his ears; even he didn?t like the sound of rouges and scavengers already braving the seemingly never ending storm as him and the others still remained within shelter keeping out of the storm. With rouges about he was indeed even more uncomfortable for all the rest of the pride still out there who couldn?t get back like Cova had managed and by the look of her that was a challenge in itself with the thick mud and all the obstacles and tree debris strewn vastly around.

He had noticed her mind wander for the moment at the comfort and dryness within the cave with the rest of the lionesses and cubs; he didn?t blame her and he didn?t want to keep her out in this weather any longer than he wanted to.

?I know you want to get under shelter Cova? he finally said trying to put his worry aside for a moment in the back of his head to try and focus on the subject of the rouges and the scavengers she said were coming in there general direction.
?I may need assistance from you and the others should we get a problems from these rouges or scaven?? he said before a roar came across somewhere out in the pride lands; it didn?t sound like his father or anyone from his pride.

?Looks like we got rouges alright? he said squinting his eyes looking out across the darkness with his mane blowing across his face wondering what would be best in the prides interests.
?Cova?? he said questioning as he finally turned around after a moment looking to her ?Can you organise the lionesses? I need to stay here and keep watch to see if anyone decides they?re going to come here. If we do face some sort of fighting and resistance we?re going to have to be ready? he looked to her as he gave out the order before throwing a glimpse back to the pride lands; or at least from what he could see.

[Cova_Lioness]

The shrill Ring of another Roar lifted up over the promenade of the Rock she and Twilight stood upon. She could almost guess what the prince was going to say next Can you organize the lionesses? She swallowed in her throat hard but nodded and bowed slightly to him. She had taken this sort of action before in leading the prides fighters once or twice but never the less, it was still a big important task and it was not one she intended to fail on.

"Yes of course. I Will see to it immediately"

Turning away from the Lion and the harsh slap of wind also that was coming in from the sky to head towards the cave entrance, the first breath of warm air lapping at her face as she could see into the dark. Stopping quickly she looked back to see Twilight looking back over the pride lands.

"Is there.....anything you want me to tell them.."

Not sure if there was information she should withhold, or if there was some sort of inspiring message they should know that she did not already know herself.

[FCSimba]

Pale morning light had been filtering in the opening of the den for quite sometime--continuing to go unnoticed by the pair of sleeping adolescents until a soft breeze reached in, with icy fingers, to ruin FC's comfortable sleep.

His eccentric sea-green eyes slid open lazily as he readjusted himself so that Iliana would not be disturbed by the inconsiderate breeze. He nestled himself against her warm flank and rested his chin on the back of her neck, tucking his paws beneath his chest to keep his pads warm. He heaved a light sigh and tried desparately to go back to sleep--but steady streams of wind kept sneaking in and glazing his back with their chill...

He lifted his head after a few moments of this and repositioned himself again, coiling his body even tighter around the small tigress so that at least she'd sleep comfortably. He glanced down at her, his eyes softening with every second that he stared at her sleeping form...watching her sides heave rhythmically and letting his ears take in the sweet sound of her breathing. He bent down and grazed her forehead with a gentle lick before looking around the den.

Empty; or virtually empty...he felt like a bum sleeping in, but it was really cold outside and he had to keep Iliana safe and warm...right? He felt better when he put it like that in his mind...

FC's ears swiveled back on his head to see if he could hear Prince Twilight anywhere, and when his ears failed to hear he turned his head to the mouth of the den. He tossed his bangs up for a moment so he could see better but when they flopped right back down he gave up and rested his head back down on Iliana's neck, wondering when she'd get up.

His thoughts turned back on Twilight as he lay there--Twilight and the King who had gone missing in the storm.

'Maybe my father is lost out there the same way the King got lost...Maybe he went out hunting and couldn't find his way back?' FC tried to give his father an excuse, but the truth was...it was just an excuse...and even though FC desperately wanted to believe that Reth hadn't abandoned him, he couldn't see any other way around that horrible, ugly fact.

[King Simba]

Originally posted by Yougurt
Sannek heard a roar nearby. Seemed to come from a male lion.
She stopped in her tracks, and smelled the air. Yes, there had def. been some lions here, not too long ago. Soon she discovered the path they'd taken and decided to follow.

For a moment she hesitated, but then she saw the shape of an adult and a cub close by. She moved closer silently, but slipped on the wet ground and landed with a soft thud.

Blasted , she thought I might've just jumped right at them. Now they know or sure that I'm here
Katai stopped dead in his tracks. Completely disorientated, he too felt a presence of another lion around them. At first, he wasn't sure what to think. There were a load of danger around these days, especially since he had no back-up and was alone with his son.

Then, the sound of a loud thudding rang in his ears. Completely not expecting it, he jumped with a sense of fear. Jaini, who had now woken up from a deep sleep whilst on their travels, looked at his father, wondering why he was acting so differently, "Dad?" he asked, wondering how such a brave lion like Katai could be fearless of something that didn't seem much of a threat.

Katai didn't answer Jaini; instead he turned around and asked for himself, "Who's there? Show yourself..."

He awaited for this presence to make a showing.

[Avalon]

The little juvenile was still heading in direction of the large rock, hoping that perhaps there she would find some shelter. Though navigating through the rain was difficult, esspecially with only one eye and it getting pesterd with water, this blurrying her vision. However the little lioness has learned that no matter the obstacles against you giving up is not an option, you walk 'till you drop that's the norm of the world.

The semi-blind lioness reaches the rock soon enough, she crawls over slippery boulders searching for a small crevice she can crawl into and stay out of the rain, and have s bed for the night. "Hello, anyone here?!" Kisirani called, as she stood at the base of a path that seemed to lead up to the promontory, she wanted to make sure this wasn't crowded before she stole herself a spot.

[Iliana]

Iliana lay resting safe and sound in the den next to her beloved Fc. She was closer to him then ever before, but she had feelings fro him she was not sure of. She was more scared than sure as a matter-o-factly.

Her chin lay on her soft paws in front of her as she chill of hte wind touched the tip of her wet nose. Her nose wriggled a bit, but it no affect on her soothing slumber. Untill the wind continued to come through the small hole in the den and made her whole body shake with shivers. Opening her eyes slwoly and letting out a long yawn she streched her paws forward and let out any strech she had within her untill she noticed that Fc's chin was resting softly on the back of her neck. He was warm and probly cold at the same time. He felt warm, but he was probly freezing if she was since his body was covering hers.

She rolled out from under him and wondered if he would fall on the ground with a thud or keep his head elevated. her loving gaze turned twords him, hazel eyes sparkling beneath the shadows of the den," How late is it?" she asked feeling as though she had been sleeping for a while.

Her ears then suddenly perked reviling the ccreamy inner coat," Did you hear that?" she asked scooting back into the corner of the den.

[FCSimba]

FC felt Iliana rustle beneath his wirey, but muscled frame. She moved in a way that his head dropped a little, but the clever feline stopped it from sinking all the way to the den floor. He lifted his head and stared down at her with a soft, sea-green gaze. "It's actually really early." he explained, looking over his shoulder at the large mouth of the den. "You can never really tell here anymore...it's always overcast..." he sighed. "Rain...clouds..." he looked back at her, "you alright?" he asked wondering if the chills from outside had woken her.

Before she could answer him, he watched her attention turn to the mouth of the cave once more. "Did I hear what?" he responded and immediately rose to his paws--standing in front of her protectively as the hair on the back of his neck, which was already quite spikey, stood up even more. A low rumbling sound was emmitted from his throat as he took a pawstep foreword. His ears pricked foreword as he strained to hear what Iliana had apparently heard before.

He listened harder and caught the tail end of a younger creature calling. FC listened harder and called back, "Who's there?" he called, leaving his mouth slightly open so that his lower canines were visable.

[Lion King Stu]

He turned looking at Cova as she seemingly understood the situation and normal protocol in such situations; he tried to remember some of the things his father had said to the lionesses and other felines of the pride to get them in the right state of mind and with some moral in order to do the task that was set before them. The problem was that moral had been low for quite a while and wasn?t helped when news got round some were killed, injured and missing out in the pride lands. Someone?s lover, friend or family member.

He looked away from her for a moment as a harsh cold wind blew across the rock face seeming to hiss and tease the for now replacement king. His damp mattered mane blowing in the direction of the wind not freely with it being so mattered.
He looked to her a moment confused and in a mind of thought trying to think of the perfect words to rally his pride up.

?Tell them the sooner we can make sure our kingdom and sanctuary is secured from the rouges or anyone who seeks to do us harm; the sooner we can be at peace and rest. Our pride has never once lost a fight for our kingdom when it has been compromised and threatened; and with the best group of felines the great kings have praised us with we never will? he said looking away into the wind feeling the rain shoot into his eyes making him growl somewhat before looking back to her and blinking rubbing his forearm over his eyes.
?But we need to show our worth despite the conditions we face; such as right now. We all do; even me. It?s what my father would of wanted?.

He padded over to her and brushed some mud off of her cheek and smiled slightly to her for a moment.
?Besides sooner we get this little mess sorted out; we can try and get back to some normality. And you can get cleaned up and take that rest you so deserve?.

He turned his head hearing a voice beckoned up from the bottom of Pride Rock by the steps the pride used to get up to the main sleeping den. He looked to Cova and nodded her to do as he had instructed as he walked cautiously down the steps.
A crack of thunder sounded and lightning flashed the dark pride lands silhouetting the form of the one who spoke a moment ago.

?Who goes there?? he said in a commanding voice keeping alert as he looked down the steps to the one down below.

[Cova_Lioness]

Cova Stood still as the Prince began to speak a rather inspiring message. Listening to him as he did indeed take after his farther who she very much enjoyed serving. Thinking to herself that she couldn't relay such a message with the same Royal like stature...But she would have to relay something of the sorts. An ear twitching in the wind as Twilight said "It?s what my father would of wanted" A slight lodge in her throat as she wondered if there was something the prince had not told her, but nodded her head slowly as a sign she had understood, another gush of wind Blew past her to echo into the cave entrance making her shiver. Slightly taken aback now as twilight came up to her...she turned slightly to face him as his paw brushed some mud from her face, taken aback by the action she chuckled, feeling quite un-easy, but flattered.

"Heh..Why thank you...i Think we all deserve one."

A voice ringing out from below signaled him to turn to leave, almost relieved as she was glad she didn't make an *** of herself in front of him. But didn't much worry about it as she went to head into the caves, but stopped, looking at the Prince as he walked away.....having to keep her thoughts pure, Blinking hard and turning her head back to now head in slowly, smiling but concentrating on the task at hand.

Entering the darkness of the caves as the winds kept echoing beside her, but at least the spray was off her back and she breathed a sigh of relief as it was mildly warmer, shaking herself lightly before noticing the many glows of eyes that set upon her. Some just awaking from slumber as others seemed already up, a low growl coming from her left as she noticed Fc staring her down, smirking as she clearly had startled Him.

"Heh, at least some of us had a dry nights sleep"

She joked as she noticed also the form of Iliana Close behind him, Quite the timid Tigress who was always closely guarded by Fc...no surprise when many of the pride questioned what right she had to be here among Lions. But Cova was far from these thoughts as the Tigress had always sparked so much interest from herself.

[SVelasquez]

Santiago stood at a distance and watched what was going on between the lions and lionesses at Pride Rock. He had just arrived at the outskirts of the Pridelands just a few hours ago and was only planning on staying for a month. Knowing that he most likely wouldn't be received too well appearing without notice, so he decided to lay low.

"Well, well, well, looks like there's some activity up there." Santiago thought aloud quietly as his green eyes looked up at Pride Rock and to the activity above. He figured that it wouldn't kill him to watch for a few more minutes before searching for a makeshift den to call home for the month that he planned on staying in the Pridelands before moving on.

He had a flashback of Kago telling him about the kingdom that he would have ruled over if it wasn't for the disease that wiped out the pride and sent him into a nomadic life. Now all he wanted was a place to call home, maybe the Pridelands would be that place...then again, maybe he would get chased out if the king here was hostile.

[FCSimba]

FC's ears raised when Cova stepped into the den. The lanky adolescent breathed a sigh of relief, "Oh Cova, it's just you..." he smirked and turned to Iliana who he had been standing over. He turned his attention back to Cova and tilted his head so that his thick, brown bangs fell over his eyes. "You didn't see anything...strange on the way up, did you? I could have sworn I'd heard a stranger's voice." he pondered aloud, feeling rather foolish for getting so worked up over a fellow pride member.

He reclined on sinewy haunches as his chest heaved a final time--releasing all the tension he'd had built up from worrying about a rogue. He knew he wasn't the toughest of lions, but he certainly had a great deal of courage. FC allowed the tip of his tail to tap gently on Iliana's shoulder, attempting to rouse her into, at least, a sitting position.

He smiled at the fact that she was always hiding and was thankful that he'd met her early on and gained her trust from the start. He knew she was not very good about letting others in, but that once she did, she'd be a friend for life. FC blinked, shaking his head softly to snap out of his thoughts.

He turned his attention back to Cova who was practically drenched. He scrunched his nose up a little and smiled apologetically, "Sooo...can we be of assistance?" he chuckled sheepishly.

[Iliana]

Iliana contineud to stay hidden behind the shadows of the den and Fc's larger body. The tap on the shoulder with the end brisles of his tail made her jump slightly off the ground. She lowered her head in embaressment as she shifted her gaze up and Cova and down to the dirt in the ground that she was padding against with her small paws.

She looked up at Cova now staring with a frightened expression. No matter how relieved Fc was that it was only her and not a Rogue Iliana was still shy and scared. THe only person she was not shy as much around was Fc of course. He was her savior as well as her lover. Her body gaurd who knew all her secrets. The others were also nice, but she always felt out of place around them all and usually stood secluded from all of them.

Her lips were tightly shut as she thought she should speak and say something of her presense, but she assumed they already knew and she didn't want to say anything stupid and did not want to interupt there talking to each other.

[Avalon]

The semi-blinded juvenile had got a reply, a rather stern reply at that. "A half-blind lioness..." the juvenile answered, respectivly she was replying to his question, she was half-blind! Though her answere had a sarcastic undertone more than anything, though Kisirani was like that, she was sarcastic and quite cynical.

All good people have a dark side, wether they like it or not, no person is inheritantly good, this was a fact Kisirani had learned alot through her short life, at first it had been answered with tears and frustration, but that soon got replaced with an emotionless idleness to it all; she didn't really care how nice that person where, they still had their demons.

"I found a shelter underneath this outcrop, and I was just checking if this place was occupied before I settled in.." the half-blind juvenile said, as she remained standing at the bottom of the path, still having her working eye fixed on the silouette somewhere up the path.

[SVelasquez]

Santiago tried as hard as possible to keep quiet as he attempted to get closer to Pride Rock in hopes that he could overhear some of the conversations going on above. Unfortunately, he tried too hard and ended up making as much noise as a heard of elephants. This was bound to be heard by the entire pride in the den at the top of Pride Rock which jeopardized Santiago's safety.

"Great, there goes my cover." Santiago thought aloud quietly as he ran to a rock formation at the bottom of Pride Rock and hid between the stones and boulders.

Santiago kept quiet as he lied down and waited for some sign that it was safe to move on. Even if that sign never came he knew he'd have to leave the hiding place anyways which means that he needed to be ready to fight. Right now that was the last thing that he wanted to do, though. It would not be wise for him to start a fight in a place where he planned on taking a rest from his wandering.

[Lion King Stu]

The form of the young juvenile started to speak as things turned back into darkness with only a slight view of the female before him clear to his eyes that very moment. The tone she had was a sarcastic one which on most days would maybe annoy him; but he felt anyone who had spent time out here in the storm travelling around and staying up on there paws all the time without any shelter sort of reserved the right to be so.

?Yes this rock is occupied young one; my pride lives in this rock formation we called Pride Rock. Where is your family? Not telling me you?ve travelled alone in this weather without seeking shelter else where?? He said as his ears continued to stick up even against the pouring rain and the harsh wind. With such conditions is was near but impossible to catch any signs of different scents in the air even with catching sounds of anyone else was difficult apart from talking really.

He did hear a noise nearer the bottom of the rock; he knew in his mind he hadn?t imagined that and looked to the juvenile wondering if she wasn?t maybe part of some decoy for an attack by anyone else at the bottom of the rock who could take advantage with the current conditions with the ability to detect scents and the darkness.

?You haven?t come alone have you?? he said cautiously continuing to look in the same direction of the young one who still hadn?t given her name to him. In his head he hoped Cova or someone else in the pride would come to him so he wasn?t alone should something bad happen right away.

[Cova_Lioness]

Cova Noticed Iliana's Eyes popping up from behind Fc for a fleeting moment, but it was enough to show her rather timid nature. She felt quite sad that the Tigress lived here with such fear, but then she had not been here long, giving hope that she would adapt.
This thought chain having to be put to in the back of her mind as she raised her eyebrows, focusing her attention on Fc and his Comments.

"Heh..theres a hell of alot going on. I Am quite sure that a number of Rouges are on the prowl..As for out there it is just me and the Young Prince."

Her attitude clearly rather quick and to the point, which was not normally her. But then she did have quite urgent Business and alot of responsibility put on her. Her face taking a more serious tone when she was asked "can we be of assistance?" Now her ears twitching nervously as she looked about the cave to a few other Lionesses who had already stured and sat listening to their conversation.

"Actually..Yes, i Need everybody to Please mobilise yourselfs and get up."

Her voice having a more commanding tone as she looked about, blowing on the end of her own nose quickly as water ran down it. This not the time to be worrying about her looks as she knew she would soon be back out in the harsh weather.

"The bad weather has turned much of the ground to Bog...Many tree's up rooted and as you all know...with the increased food scare..this doesn't help, we have reason to believe Rouges, scavengers or perhaps rivaling prides may be making an advance here. So as instructed by the Prince Twilight. We must take a defensive stance to show we are not weak....so...if you please ladies"

Her eyes focusing on the many lionesses that made up the best of the Hunting and fighting part of their Pride. Grumbles and looks of shook mixed with confusion was apparent, but didn't stop many of them getting up and start to head towards the exit, a call of "Wheres the king" ringing out as Cova turned and looked back as an older Lioness known as Asha was staring at Cova looking rather disgruntled.

"....please put all your questions to Twilight. AFTER we are done....I'm just the messenger"

She added cheekily with a grin which brought a few smiles as Cova to, turned to head back outside. Her view coming back to Fc and Iliana once again, noticing they had not moved, but she smiled at the male and said.

"stay here and Look after her, i'm sure theres nothing to worry about.."

[FCSimba]

FC's ears swiveled back on his head as the lioness stirred behind him under Cova's command. He craned his neck to view their silhouetted forms as they began to pad out, not one looking very thrilled. FC watched them pass, gulping a little as they did--he felt a little like dead weight knowing that they were all going out to help the effort and he was standing rooted to the spot.

After all the lioness had passed him, he turned his attention back on Cova, who had just finished blowing a few droplets from the bridge of her nose. He smirked softly to himself, but said nothing--waiting for a little instruction of what he and Iliana should be doing.

FC heard his directions and stood, shaking the cold from his fur. "I appreciate the very generous assignment," he smiled, "but I'm afraid neither of us can just sit around while everyone's at work." He looked over at Iliana with a kind hearted smile, moving so that his damp, black nose touched her shoulderblade in a loving way.

"Besides, this is our Pride--and it's suffering," he continued in a reasoning voice, "to be honest, this Pride needs all the help it can get. So what's the assignment, Cova?" he smirked. "I'll be grateful with any task you give so long as we're put on the same mission...if you can't find anything that recquires two we can be split up, but if there's any way to remain a pair, I'd like that very much..." he added. It was her decision what to do with them, and although resting up even more sounded nice, he knew that it was irresponsible.

FC's ears perked again when he heard dialogue exchanged not too far away--he thought he'd heard some sarcastic comment yelled up to him about a half blind lioness, but he couldn't be sure. "Cova," he interrupted before she would be able to speak, "you hear that?" He asked, taking a step foreword. He glanced back at Iliana, "Did you?" he asked her, not moving another inch until she was at his side.

[Iliana]

Iliana felt the cold nose touch her shoulderblade as a loving gesture. She closed her eyes with a small smile coming to her lips as she blushed sligfhtly knowing that Cova and the rest of the lioness could see.

It's wasn't Fc she was embaressed about, it was just her shy nature. She was not used to be given loving gestures since her history in the past wasn't the greatest and she never really like to associate with the other cubs because she was different from everyone else. But Fc... she was used to him. She cared for him and he was the only one that took her in to care for besides Fc's father who found her abandoned. She never felt whole without Fc by her side. And without him she would still be living in more fear then she already did.

She watched Cova order all the lioness and whoever else was about to do some important mission. SHe knew hte weather was bad and put the pride in more risk for Rougues to come closer without being noticed. SHe wished she could be like Cova. So determined and assertive, but in a way everyone loved. She was liked by all and was not living in fear...Iliana wished she could be someone like that... But she felt like a small child all the time always having Fc speak for her or protect her. She could never protect him.

Her ears then perked up when Fc began to speak in worry. She did not hear anything or smell anyhitng different in the air, but the rain was pouring down heavily and blocking most of hte scents in the air. She scooted up closer to him each paw padding along the ground with caution, her head staying low.

[Avalon]

The little lioness narrowed her eyes as she too could hear the voice, but she shrugged it off and began climbing the path up towards the male who answered her. She could clearly see the male, despite lacking half her vision.

"I have no familiy.. and this was the only dry place around here, the rest of the savannah is just mud and water" Kisirani answered, defending the reason she intruded on their space, the dark furred lioness came to a halt infront of the male looking up at him with a rather stoic expression.

"There is no one following me, but me.." the lioness replied, as she turned around the began decending the path, "I am sorry to intrude on you're territory sir. I'll take my leave.." this rock was occupied so she had to find some other place rest, this kopje couldn't be the only one around.

[Utora]

The white tigress padded her way through mud and desolation. How long had she traveled? Such a demon in thought hid in the back of her brain box, meddling with reason and sanity. She froze, one paw above the ground, twisting her head back over her shoulders, starring on against the forsaken road she came from. Her silver eyes burned with gratitude for the Gods who spared her life from the snares of the jackals in the North, and the laughing hunched back beasts of the African plains. She puffed her nostrils, growling softly as her ears instinctively pricked their faces against her to the faint winds of a roar. Snapping her head, as if in lead with her ears, her maw was partially opened, eyes studying the terrain ahead, breath restrained as if its very self hid from the world.

'Tiger? Nyet. It is too bitter and breaks easily against those mountains ahead. So I am closing in on perhaps the pride of a lion.'

She squinted her eyes, a blue halo about them now. Looking about, she sneered, the very thought of another male on the assault provoking the fighter all felines carried inside. True, she ran from her father, spanning from Siberia through the mountains, into Egypt, down through Thebes and into Uganda. Now, she knew not where she dwelled. Her body was mud stained, blotched with crusted blood from the few scrapes she suffered. Belly thing, not so strong she was long ago. Food, nothing but mice rolled in her gut. This roar was not in vain. She snarled softly to herself, prepared for anything on the strike. Though hunger gnawed at her from her feet to the pits of her gut, she exhaled vibrantly, pushing it aside. She had some mileage still.

She started a trot like pace, the wind and water blasting against her as if the African earth were embracing her very existence.

Her paws meshed into the mud, barfing it up along her gait; in pursuit of the voice upon the wind. Her muscles, eager for nutrients, rippled and felt taught around the sinews of the bone. Her breath rolled from her in rhythm, like a chant; stripes throwing themselves into her white pelt like a banner at war.

She rocked too and fro in her gait, flabby paws plopping, smacking again and again, carrying her mass deeper into the unknown. Evil intent goes unspoken, for the face of a tiger hides more than intent and ambitions; it buries underneath it's black bars, the mind and the soul of the tiger.

She came upon rocky ground, lunging into it, scraping her black pads against their violent faces. Her whipcord of a tail snapped to balance the weight, keeping her steady. Lunging up and again along the face of this mound, she snarled, pushing herself against her breaking strength. She seethed, the air in her lungs burning like ice, closing up her windpipe. Sweat meshed with mud and water on her skin and fur, beading upon her charcoal nose.

Coming to the top of the mound, the mini mountain, she heaved for a breath, hanging her head between the axis of her shoulders, ears bent back, panting with her pink tape hung between her ivory knives for teeth. Her eyes opened, she took in the landscape. Many more mounds, growing every time more in skill to surpass. She thrashed her tail and shook her body, raising her head. Extending her neck, opening her vocals, she sucked in and clawed at her soul, lurching up a grungy, hallow and defacing tune. It broke from her throat, and smacked into the mounds before her, bouncing too and fro. She clenched her eyes, and moaned with her call; a song of suffering, from whence she came. It was deep and lacked true body to it, breaking easily in the wind. She huffed, licked her maw and shook herself once more. Silver eyes wished to follow the tune to the ears of the guest who may stumble upon it. Sighing, she sat on her rump, looking about, up to the murky gray and black skies as they rolled on.

Did they see the road ahead? Did they know what hid behind the skirts of these mountains? Did it bring life? Or...yes, perhaps death.

Utora squinted once more at this vibrant though. The life of such beasts flirted close to that unknown border; the black shadow. It is like walking on ice, a black ice. Life brings death, and death brings life. Snarling, panting, she stared onwards with hate and malice, a heart to conquer and protect herself. Tigers are private creatures, and it would take a great cause before Utora would befriend another of a foreign race and culture.

So, she waited for a sound to establish purpose, pivoted like a gargoyle on a desolate mound, between what was once home, and what would soon be?. fate.

[SVelasquez]

Santiago didn't move when the young lioness cub got close to where he was hiding. In fact he even held his breath and hoped that the threat would eventually pass without anybody noticing him. If there had to be violence he didn't want an innocent young cub to be exposed to it, especially when she was a lonely wanderer as well.

"That's a sad road to be taking. Especially at that young." Santiago whispered very quietly to himself so as not to be heard.

Santiago somehow managed to back up further into his hiding place so that whoever was with the cub didn't notice him. Taking clues, the lion believed that the other lion with the cub was royalty, possibly the prince or king which meant if he blew his cover he'd be in a very bad situation.

[Lion King Stu]

(Tora firstly awesome post ^^. And sorry for my lame one bt well got it done at least)

He kept his eyes focused on the one before him not once taking his eyes away; even with the wind and the rain hurting his eyes he never let his eyes close more than half way knowing one blink and something bad could instantly happen. A single second or moment is all you needed to make a situation such as this quite dangerous.

The noise below did worry him somewhat even if this rock path was only wide enough for one feline at a time to climb. He did really hope for some assistance from the others and soon; he knew Cova was still explaining to the others what the situation was and what he wanted done. He did wonder if they would take orders from him even though no one really knew if the king was really dead or not. Did he have such powers in this situation? He was confused on that point but being a royal and the situation that stood before them he really did hope so.

?Wait a moment? Twilight said as she finished talking and assumed she had turned to leave. He was pondering the thought of trusting her but the noise down below did worry him as to whether or not she was telling the truth about the noise he had head saying she had come alone.
?I hate to send someone back into this weather; especially someone as young as you? he thought a moment more since there was no decent shelter else where from the storm close to here that wasn?t under water or occupied by his pride or any rouges that seemed to call it a temporary home.

?Once my pride checks out the underside of pride rock anyway that is. Not calling you a lier; but right now we can?t take our chances? he said with authority to her as his tone of voice changed to more of someone in command rather than just a prince.

[Cova_Lioness]

"So what's the assignment, Cova?" Was the words she had to ponder for a moment..'Umming' and 'arring' as she noticed Iliana Getting up to come beside Fc, clearly they both had the same thoughts about wanting to help and in all honesty Cova wasn't sure how to guide them. It felt weird trying to give orders to her friends and god knows she certainly felt like she had been thrown in at the deep end. Now chuckling slightly as she looked to the cave entrance where alot of the females had stopped, most of them turning their snouts up at the harsh wall of weather that they had been forced to leave their warm cave to step out into.

"Well i guess you both would be a valuable asset..strength in numbers and that."

She grinned back at them as she tapped her claws on the rock beneath them. Suddenly her grin melting away "Cova you hear that?" She had indeed heard the familiar sound of the prince chatting away...and if not to himself...

"Ok, well lets just all head out together, we can stay as one unit...find out whats going on exactly and go from there."

Nodding at Fc and turning to leave out the entrance as she caught sight of Iliana with her head low, Cova trotting on, wishing she could be of more assurance but in all truth, didn't know herself what would happen next.

She now pushed through the many rumps of the Lionesses standing at the doorway to come out the front, many having heard the talking outside and had already passed out into the wind and rain which Cova too headed quickly out into. That familiar haze of rain battering her face as she squinted and moved up to just behind the prince, now shoulder to shoulder with quite a few others. She cleared her throat with a short "Ahem" so the prince would know of their presence, but could not see over the ledge ...she knew there must be someone about down below....now waiting for her orders.

[FCSimba]

FC watched Cova struggle to give the pair a command with a vibrant sea-green gaze that cut through the dim'ness of the cave. He sifted through the 'umm's' and 'arr's' as best he could, trying to find some shard of an assignment amongst her very vague words.

When she finally addressed the voice that FC had heard it came with the instruction they'd been waiting for. FC's whimsical expression hardened into one of a serious nature. "Right." he stated with a firm nod that made his bangs rustle atop his head. He took a step foreword, his toes drumming eagerly on the hard stone floor. He turned back to make sure that Iliana was following and, of course, she was. He smiled warmly and then turned his attention back on his duties.

FC shouldered his way through the lioness, clearing a path for Iliana to follow right behind him. "S'cuse me, pardon me, sorry miss..." he chanted until he and the tigress had made it through to stand beside Cova.

The young lion's ears lowered as the first raindrops thumped down on him. His gaze narrowed in mild irritation at the way the cold water pushed past his pelt and chilled him to the bone--but he wouldn't dare speak of it. He shook his head--letting the droplets fly from the end of his bangs which had already begun to be slicked down to the side of his face.

FC's gaze flashed over to Cova as the light "ahem" took him away from his own discomfort and made him focus on something of more importance. He didn't know who Prince Twilight was talking to, but he prayed that whoever it was meant no harm to his dear friend and, while his father was missing, leader.

The young lion's heart ached for the prince because he, too, knew what it felt like to have your father lost out in those unforgiving storms...

'Except your father loved you...' he thought bitterly, closing his eyes briefly but quickly regained his composure when he felt the reassuring warmth of Iliana's flank near to him. He shook his head once more to eliminate any negative thoughts--now was not the time. He had to focus.

[Iliana]

Iliana watched Cova walk off as she gave htme orders. She really didn't want to go out in the rain with them, not in fear of getting wet and dirty, but in fear she would mess something up in this bad weather they were witnessing.

But she was not going to disobey any orders and she knew it would only be the safest to stay near Fc at the time when they were not split up. Slwoly following behind him her feet smooshed in the ground as she stared at her feet continuing to follow.

She should have been staring up at Fc to make sure she was not going to wrong direction, but she could not keep her eyes off her feet as the water made the pads of her paws slippery along the rock. Her brown colored legs turned darker as the water splashed up from hte ground onto the back of them with each step she took. As they moved closer to the many lioness that stood in front of them Fc had made a clear path for Iliana to go through, but of course her lack of vision, staring up which was now staring down, she crashed into one of the Lioness rump and fell on hte ground.

" Oh...excuse me.." she said quickly and stood up running over to Fc quickly since he had alreayd made it in the front of the heard and was standing next to Cova. She now had water all over her chin as well as ....She felt like an idiot.

But soon she was right by Fc's side and felt safe again. THis time she made sure to keep ehr head held up high so she would be able to see everything and anyhting in front of her.

[Utora]

AUCHTUNG
This post is very, very long. I couldn't help myself. Da, so I splurged. And here's my warning. Get some popcorn and those nifty American gas station pills that keep you awake. Hope nobodies enraged with the post length and the post in it's whole. Felt like I might take the chance to draw in our reins here and get it going.

The wind sheered off the small mound, the one in which Utora had sewn herself to, awaiting the returning call. Audits placed forward, attempting to sift through wind, water, and natural sounds for the call of perhaps tiger or lion. Blue eyes furrowed beneath a brow of disloyalty, anger and hate, studied the world in chaos, allowing her soul to articulate what was before her.

No reply. Dead perhaps it's host. ...distracted by other elements I cannot sense in this rampage of a storm.

She puffed her nostrils and sighed, licking her maw. Ears bent back as her mind closed the flaps to it's tent, in solitude searching for some scraps or reason and understanding. Was she just going to keep walking, farther south? She was beyond her land, the Russian land. Tigers now replaced by lions and jackals, those hunched back obnoxious bastards who pecked at your heels and underbelly, yanking on the bone in your whipcord until it removed itself from the socket.

She growled, clenching her teeth.

I'm surrounded by death.

Snarling, the look of bent dimensions on higher reasoning and sanity cast from her orbs. Why did she just keep wandering? Perhaps a restless soul, fed by delusions of grandeur, collaborating a future beyond fate itself......wandering in the doldrums now, sitting on this mound waiting a call that she doesn't even know she heard.

Ah, the mind stabbed at it's very heart.

Utora hung her head and bit her lip, clenching her eyes.

I am not, insane.

Slowly raising her head, she saw shadow. Snapping her head back, following it's trail, she sat up and inhaled deeply, embracing a front of defense. The shadow dispersed itself around the bend of a greater mound. Like claws on a blackboard her mind could not deny the shadows existence.

Glancing about, making sure nothing followed her, she inhaled and made way down the mound, bouncing against the rocks once more.

Coming to the bottom, she padded slowly, swanking around, eyes haloed silver now. She rounded the greater mound, noticing a gorge like place, shallow and desolate. Thrushing her nostrils she inhaled deeply. River water. Not acid like rain or salty ocean ....it smelled like old Lake Baikal. The memory returned and she wondered if hunger and anxiety toyed with whatever was left of her sanity. She padded onwards.

The wind echoed down here, like the tombs of Egypt. Shadow so dark, hiding perhaps malicious faces. She observed and registered the possible threat. Wind tossed rain against her white and barred pelt. Shaking her fur, to no avail, she sighed and made way down the small gorge. Muddy pads meshed with the belly of the gorge. She slowly eased up, walking more peacefully. Her gut knotted up and she snarled, returning to her front.

Wet dog. Damn!

Utora snarled and didn't look back, bolting into a run. Her joints creaked, suffering proper health to sustain her weight, how little it was. Panting, she pushed on, fighting back her pain. Mud sloshed up against her gut and neck. She was terrified. Maw dropped, eyes wide, she had no strength to fend off a fight. Ears bent back protecting the fright of her brain box inside, she fled, deeper and deeper into oblivion.

The walls only grow! No! I -need- a way out and now!
Gritting her teeth she continued, wind and water clutching onto her backside. A way out! She saw a sharp turn into the dark, and cast from fear she ran blindly into it. Pink tape dangling, crystal blue eyes washed in color from the terror. Ears pricked forward.

Water!?
A run down river had barfed itself into the gorge and laid strangled by distance about twenty feet deep at most. She stood at it's edge in the dark, stained by mud, water and turmoil. She trembled, heart pounding like a race horse inside her rib cage, lungs afire.

I smell lion. Dear God no, they'll kill an outsider, especially one so pathetic in appearance as me. Dogs!? They're all going to kill me!
She ran in circles, panicked, deranged, growling lightly, yowling softly like a stray housecat in a creek. Eyes bounced about looking for escape. Swim! She turned about and ran full fledged into the water, splashing, padding her way through it, head bobbing like a lure on the waters surface, as if it were luring in fish. She panted, water spilling into her mouth, rushing to her hallow gut; she pressed on. Shadow encased her. She looked about with her night vision as best she was permitted. The lions stench grew.

Nyet they wait for me here!
As the thought rattled her, she saw something along the walls edge. It's body was snared on a rock. Her eyes widened.

Lion!?
She splashed away and snarled aggressively, bumping into a log. She turned to grab onto it for rest.

LIONS!
She pushed away the body and shook from inside swimming back from where she came, lunging, leaping out of the water, gasping, drenched, tape bobbing from her mouth. She shook and drug herself as far she could from the water and plopped on the ground, stretched about. Eyes closed, she tried to regain herself, panting, gasping. Shaking, she slowly opened her eyes. Blue, to silver they glowed. She laughed, it was but her mind fraught with hunger and terror. Da...certainly. She froze, laying lifeless on the ground.

Bodies....everywhere.

Missing them in her panic, she accounted for them now. Slowly sitting up, she was in the valley of the dead itself. Ears pricked forward, she slowed her breath to silence, drenched and dripping. She cared not to move, only to walk like a ghost, a shadow, by the bodies.

Good Lord. A war, a war against nature and beast?

She paused. No lion was dumb enough to wait for a raging river to flow. Conflict drew them to river's edge. Swept them up, smitten from the face of the Earth. Few males, mainly lioness'. Utora made way about them. Evil, crested upon her very mind fell upon her.

I seek food.
She licked her lips and looked about for one not so gangly or water logged. Sniffing about like a dog herself she flicked her tail and lifted her head, demonic grin upon her, pearly whites gleaming as her silver eyes beamed. Padding over quickly, she found a nice, muscular male. Sniffing she cringed at the stench of lions, she hated it indeed. Growling, looking upon him like a subhuman, she lowered her head to his belly and went to bite.

Eh it is hot?
She retracted her head and gave a rather guffawed look about her, exhaling sharply.

Trust me comrade. You'd best be hot and -dead- because I have no desire to spare your life over mine.
She circled the carcass, saw it breathed barely. Hissing at it she thrashed her tail wildly. This half alive carcass was nothing to Utora but a fresh meal. But perhaps to someone over the gorge, through the raging fields and wind with water, this was a prize to be preserved.

Sneering, a demon like attitude she sunk her head between her shoulders and snarled, ears bent flat as if not present, eyes vibrant with blood lust and hunger, teeth bared, hair on end, claws extracted waiting to dissect her freebie feast, and as soon as possible. No wild dog would score this kill.

It moaned, and growled softly, perhaps sensing her presence. Crushed badly, bloody a bit, only making him more appetizing, she circled him again, possessed with amusement and perverse plans. The male could not open his good eye, bruised badly. He trembled softly, as if trying to surge up his battle strength. Utora loomed about him like a vulture, pacing as her inner mind quarreled.

Kill it, just kill it damn it all! He'll start squealing and all those little scraggly scabs for dogs will show up and kill you too.

She paused and studied the beast, looking at him like the scum of the Earth. Her insanity craved a kill in cold blood. To each his own, what did he do that made him worthy to live? Nothing! Even nature wished him dead.

She gleamed, reasoning crawling slowly, ever so slowly, far back into the shadows of her mind. The evil in her eye, the intent in heart, she stepped closer and looked down upon him.

Cry, da? Like you lions like to when you're not so big, and strong without a family...hmmm?
She snarled and took her flabby paw, pressing her weight on his damp, maned neck. He snarled and thrashed his tail, claws coming out. Utora lowered her maw to his head, whispering in his torn ear, as if to steal his reasoning too, and let it fly away on the winds and water of Africa.

I'll cut you up, one by one, and start from the back up, so you get to feel the blood seep through your body....second by second. And then you will know, the true pain, of isolation; no salvation from them.
She clawed away from his neck, crazed in a world beyond the one she stood in now. Sacrificing another for her sins. One would never be enough.

Pulling away and grinning, she walked around him, dragging her tail over him.

Mmmm nyet. They will hear you. I'll kill you quick. And lap up your steaming blood and fill my belly.
She came back to his neck and pressed one left paw on his neck, and the right on his shoulder, lowering her head to his throat. Grinning, she cringed, but in insanity, licked his mane and bared her teeth.

You may kill me rouge, but they will find my body and smell your scent, and their wrath will be beyond a cruelty you have ever known, for the world you flee from does not distribute justice half as well as my son and people.

Utora slowly lifted her head, and removed a paw from the rasping lion who threatened her life now. Glaring upon him, she held a look of wrath, hate, and malice. Starvation plagued her mind, among other things. Scratching her right paw from his shoulder violently, she walked over him, heavily, and intentionally as he groaned, meeting him in his face. Looking about, sighing, now in a situation, she looked at him.

So what is it you wish me to do? I don't ignore your statement, though...you could be lying to save your scraggly remains.
She snarled and stared him down. The lion struggled for air, broken inside as well as outside. He blinked, and hung in his wasting moments.

You may leave, now. And face the world and perhaps gain another day.
He rasped on, voice grungy and clawing like from his soul. Utora laughed once and loud, to say HA, as if. Glaring at him, sitting on her rump, drawing herself very near to her soul, she closed her eyes and sighed.

I kill you, da? I eat like I've never eaten before, mmm...more da? And then run to face the world for another day. I'm crafty, I'll get out.
She laughed a bit, opening her eyes and glaring at him with her teeth showing, snapping her tail, looking upon the wasted beast.

Yes, rouge, you may be crafty. But...
He inhaled, struggling for oxygen to carry his words. Utora squinted, watching him waste away, cocking her head like a bird does as it watches the dying animal crawl on, perched in it's tree; waiting for death to snare from it the soul that threatened the birds chance for the very meal.

You get away for one more day. How long before you hunger again, and kill another in cold blood simply to satisfy your restless mind and moaning gut. No rouge. You have a chance to eat many meals, in company of my people. I give you this chance on my word.
He coughed, gagged blood that spilled from him. Utora looked away, sighing, debating her fate, her life now, in his hands. Would she try these lions, to be chased away by them when the time saw fit? She grit her teeth and writhed her head, snapping back at him.

How do I trust you!? I let you live, I stay with your people and then what!? Wait to be cast out because of my indifference? You're all the same.

She scoffed and turned from the beast, eyes wildly looking on, looking for reason, but fighting it at all costs; hunger beckoned. Seething she turned to him as he quivered.

Oh my assailiant. Trust is not something worn on ones head like a crown. We would only be given half the years on this Earth..for there would be no need to grow and learn of such things.

He spoke from his years of rule, licking his maw as he became entangled in the situation, worried for his people. Worried, time was running out.

I give you my word, as a lion, as being like yourself who too has suffered pain and loss. My people, are an honest people. Please, have faith in my word. For I would..
He coughed more heavily, snarling and trying to sit up properly.

Not...mislead you from the truth....in the service of my people.
He struggled so great, to breathe, to see, to know where he was. He knew his place would soon be among the stars. He only wished to see his son, before his passing. Utora was, calmed, doused by the benevolence of this beast. He wasn't like the tigers she suffered, or the jackals and dogs, panthers and snakes. Sighing, as if to let go of her plans, she looked to the beast who struggled. He looked over, with his other eye and took Utora in, nodding, sighing, licking the blood from his nose and maw.

I see you are not from here. You come longs ways, searching for hope, to simply cast it aside. You are strong enough to survive the world; you will be strong enough to learn the ways of my people. This, I faith in.
He nodded and half smiled, the pain he hid. He was sure she was from far out, for her accent and vary in species was not of Africa. Utora was now ashamed to look up, but did, meeting him in his vibrant, handsome eyes. She suddenly felt his words, and realized he was right. To come thousands of miles in search of truth, and kill the beast now, before finding out he spoke honestly......she might as well have let her father slaughter her in the Urals.

Sitting up, the beast looked her over, making sure she was not hostile any longer. Utora looked down, about, then nodded and looked to the beast.

Alright. I will give it a chance.
She lifted her head with dignity, and nodded to him, meeting him honestly; something she'd not done with any creature.

I...
She sighed, ashamed she was not strong, like her Russian people. Hanging her head, she lifted it again, looking upon the ailing lion.

I am weak. You are much greater than me. I wish, to carry you...but, ...

He shook his head, swallowing, trying to remain level, inhaling shutter like, closing his eyes and letting his tapering breath go.

Worry not rouge. I do not deny your speed and possible strength, but I am a heavy one.
He chuckled, looking over his withered body, frowning, sighing in regret of the situation he would leave his people in.

The dogs would find us anyways. You go, faster by yourself and with my faith in you at your side.
He plopped over and sighed, exhausted, aching from head to toe, bleeding all over. Looking up the gorge to the dark, violent skies, the water hissing, falling upon the two with the wind screaming behind it.

Tell me where your people dwell. I will do my best to track them and direct their search.
Utora almost felt the hunger spike again, but the hope for truth shoved it back and she shook it away, her silver eyes blue, mud stained pelt dripping, figure remaining for the ailing beast, taking his time to think?..to breathe?..his heart slowing.

Yes. Come from where you came, to the mountains. Follow them along their valleys, not over their faces. You will come to a fork in the road. The wind among the roads with blow in one direction. Go against the wind, not with it, and from there you will pour out into my lands. From there, you must go on.

It took his all to direct Utora. Closing his eyes, almost in surrender to his father's call. She took his words in and thrushed her nostrils. Walking to him, she lowered her head and licked his wounded cheek, the way of her people. He flinched, then smiled, slowly breathing. She lifted her head and studied him....pained inside now for his suffering was hers to carry on to his people. She...sighed and hopped over him, running as fast as she could; she wouldn't stop. A laughter fell from behind her and she slid to a halt. Eyes wide, heart fraught, she went back. She found them, nestled on the ridges, in the cracks, waiting for her to leave. She snarled, but he moaned.

Go, I do not fear death. My soul is ready for the stars/
Utora looked at him, confused by this ancient wisdom she knew not of. They laughed softly, cackling and snarling, drooling mindlessly, others fully aware. She looked at him, and noticed his solid body; he no longer drew breath. She smiled in pain.

Yes lion. And they are ready for you.
She nodded and stepped away, the hyenas crawling out of the woodworks like cockroaches. She bolted, seeming in her spirit to go faster with the lion?s guidance by her side. The hyenas nipped at her heels but she squeezed away, leaving them to feast on the past.

[SVelasquez]

Oh bugger!
Santiago sat there listening and realized that if he didn't take the initiative to step out and face the lion outside, then he'd be outnumbered by the rest of the pride. Well, here goes nothing. He thought as he stood up and stepped out of his hiding spot.

"Panicking the rest of your pride will not do anybody any good. Sorry if my presence startles you, but I'm a nomad. I come from the Kalahari where I was the heir to my father's pride. I was sent away for my safety when a mysterious illness swept over my father's kingdom and began to effect every living thing within the borders of it. I've been wandering ever since. Forgive me for hiding, but I've been through my fair share of...arguments throughout my life and I wasn't sure if I could fully trust anybody here. You have my word that I won't harm you nor your pride." Santiago said as he stepped out of the darkness from inside the set of rocks, something that he thought took a lot of guts to do. He stood there waiting for a reply as a flashback went though his head.

"Well, well, well, look what we have here." A male voice said from behind Santiago as he took a drink of water from a large puddle somewhere far away from the Pridelands. The sound of the voice caused Santiago to stop drinking and look up before turning around and looking at a lion and a lioness standing there and glaring at him.

"You've wandered well out of your pride's land young one. Too bad you're gonna pay the price for it." The lioness said as she lunged at Santiago.

Brilliant. Santiago thought sarcastically as he jumped to the side to avoid the lioness as she tried to scratch him. Meanwhile the lion roared and charged at Santiago who sent a paw out and swung at the lion, scratching the enemy hard and causing him to stumble before falling as the lioness pounced Santiago and pinned him down before scratching him. Santiago closed his eyes truly believing that it was the end, but it wasn't. After falling unconscious, Santiago was spotted by a lioness from a nearby pride.

A few hours later Santiago woke up in a den with a lioness cleaning up his face as the pride's king stood there and looked at him.

"What happened?" Santiago asked the king.

"You had been attacked by outcasts from our pride. You're lucky that one of my lionesses found you. After you recover you can stay here for good if you'd like." The king replied rather generously.

"Thanks." Santiago said as the lioness walked away. He only stayed for a month before moving on.

[Utora]

off the record ;;

I've noticed this fell off a cliff. I understand some RPer's roleplay at various forums and other threads on this site. That's perfectly fine. I'm posting here to inform all of you if it suddenly becomes active and I'm not present; message me. I'm kind of wandering away from it since my zeal for the adventure faded. But if it regains a flame, I'll -gladly- sit around the campfire.



:ayecapn:

[Avalon]

Kisirani halted in her tracks as the males words reached her, but she didn't turn to face him though she laid her ears back and listend to his words.

The semi-blind juvenile narrowed her eyes at his words, though she clearly understood his conserns quite clearly; you could afterall never be too carefull.

The young juveniles ears perked as the sound of a voice called out somewhere infront of her, her working eye darted around and fell on a sillouette somewhere down the path from her and the residental lion; it was a young male.

Kisirani narrowed her eyes at this stranger, she was unsure about his pourpos and intentions but she knew that it wasn't in her place to ask. That question was beheld the owners of this kopje and not her, since she was just as lowly as him; a febel trespasser.

[Lion King Stu]

Finally the rest of the pride had shown from the cold cave into the much colder and wet outside as the elements still amazingly continued at full strength though to Twilight having been out in it for such a long time was seemingly dying out very slowly. He shivered ever so slightly being chilled heavily to the bone as the onslaught of the weather slowly tortured him more; water flowing off him freely and in torrents. He really did look half the lion he did when he was dry; not like his father who was more muscular and somewhat commanding to what he was right then.

As the rouge showed himself down below he nodded to see that he had the guts to show himself after all; he believed the lioness that was in front of him of coming alone but he wasn?t going to pout full trust in anyone like them right now with other matters on the mind. He?d have to use them and maybe then gain their trusts.

He turned to his pride as the rain beat down upon him; he didn?t look like a king but a commander who was up to the job and the handle the situation in which they were in right now. He could see the pride was fully behind him; a little apprehensive maybe but more than willing to take the command of a prince till they all knew positively of his father and king.

They seemed eager despite the appalling conditions that continued to beat down upon them soaking through and sending chills to their bones.

?I know the conditions in which we are in are less than desirable right now my fellow felines; but right now we?re in a state of trouble right now. We have some pride members missing as is my father and your king? he said padding back and forth looking at everyone present as best he could with his mane long since mattered slop across his eyes somewhat taking the moment to paw it away to one side as he continued.

?Right now rouges or even other prides may be heading this way to seek advantage of such conditions where such prides hide away and are at there weakest. I won?t lie to you but we are slightly weakened but the bond we have has never been stronger right now. I can see in your eyes you want to protect your homes at all costs; many generations of felines have not backed down from a fight to protect their home and I?m honoured to have such felines who still keep this feeling with them? he said stopping a moment and padded to the promontory point to think of what he could do with his lionesses and other felines who were willing to protect Pride Rock.

?We?re setting up a defence; we?re going to show any rouge or pride that even thinks to come this way that we don?t cower away from a bit of rain and mud. We?re a generation born and raised at Pride Rock we?ll send them running back home? he said showing a grin for the first time that morning.
?I want all lionesses to be circles around Pride Rock; we?re leaving no blind spots open. As for you two rouges you may be of some use if you want to prove you can be trusted you will help; or you can die? he said padding toward Cova and looked at her with caring but commanding eyes.

?Can I trust you to get the lionesses set up Cova? I need to stay here and keep watch; I?ll roar if I see anything troublesome or anyone that comes this way. If so I need you to come running; you?re one of the fastest lionesses I?ve got and I need someone to spread the word as quickly. It?s not easy for me to shout orders with this wind and rain. Is that ok?? he questioned to her looking at her biting his lip a moment.

?FC?? he said turning to him seeing him in the crowd ?You may be young but I require your assistance as well. Pride Rock isn?t the smallest of places to help co-ordinate attack and defence and I can?t be at two places at once. There aren?t many prides that live in the direction behind Pride Rock that would dream to attack us but any rouge will try and come that way. Can I trust you to look after my lionesses?? he felt bad having to ask such a young feline like him to do such a task; but Pride Rock was indeed not the smallest of structures to be commanded by one.

?Unless anyone has any questions. Cova, FC my fellow subjects good luck and move out. For Pride Rock? he nodded to them all and watched them a moment.

[FCSimba]

FC's sea-green eyes scanned the rocks below as Twilight finally came into view--soaked, but oddly majestic looking in his own way. Of course he was of no compare to his father, yet, but there was still an heir of grace about him that FC had to admire from afar. He watched the young prince only a few years his senior deal with the two rogues who were seemingly harmless.

But one could never be too certain when dealing with rogues--afterall, things weren't always as they seemed...

FC's eyes narrowed against a merciless breeze that seemed to delve into his soul and remove any warmth that seemed to have resided there. He grit his teeth as the bitter chill hugged his bones and made him flinch slightly. He glanced over at Iliana, wondering how she was faring in this hideous excuse for weather. FC pressed his flank gently toward hers to transfer any body heat he had left to her slender frame.

As the young prince approached, he stood straighter--still keeping his body against Iliana's. He tilted his chin up nobly until Twilight was upon them--and when he was FC promptly dipped his head as any respectful subject would do. He listened to Twilight take command with a long-winded speech that gave him a different sort of chills. He knew that Twilight spoke the truth and was prepared to do anything the golden lion asked of him.

When he heard his orders he nodded firmly, "Yes, of course." he responded, glancing to Iliana--he hoped that this meant they could do this patrolling thing together. "I won't let you down, your highness." he smirked, puffing out his chest proudly--but the stubborn spiked tuft that'd been there before was sagging down with wet. "One thing though, Twi," he added, tilting his head a little, "what of these newcomers? Are they really to be trusted so soon?" he spoke the last bit in a rasping whisper so that the rogues may not hear him...afterall, he didn't want them targeting him specifically--or worse, the thing he cared about most...Iliana.

[Cova_Lioness]

?I know the conditions in which we are in are less than desirable The prince uttered, her mind working on the statement with contempt....Wherever the wind direction took it's next course, Cova was sure to be turning her face from its ghastly blow. Squinting as she shivered from the coat of cold that surrounded her, suddenly wanting to get moving and get on with trying to warm up, rather than stay still, having to endure the weathers Wrath even more. However she stood still as were many of her fellow Lionesses, hunched together to listen to the prince's rather stirring speech about the lands they set paw upon, hearing a rather crude comment from behind her as the prince spoke...a slight snarl now appearing on Cova's lips as she knew the lioness that spoke, who else could it be....

She quickly wiped the face and held her head back up as Twilight approached her, his message conjuring negative feelings in her as she knew the grunt that was being put on her. Wanting to say something but wasn't to sure if it was appropriate, hardly saying anything as she mumbled a phrase that was not even loud enough to match the wind.

"Well i err..." The prince already having moved on to talk to the next in line Fc so instead she held her tounge and Shut her eyes tight thinking of what she would have to do...the lands around Pride rock so boggy...it wouldn't be easy coping with the whole pride and organizing them. But she grit her teeth and stepped out of Line as Twilight continued talking to Fc. Overhearing him mention about Fc leading them, a slight weight lifted as she knew there was someone now ranking above her.

Coming to the edge of the rock now as the prince mentioned if there were any questions...Her own eyes landing on that of the Rouges that stood near one another down below on the path.."what of these newcomers? Are they really to be trusted so soon?" echoing behind her as Cova's eyes squinted, she certainly didn't think so and would not be afraid to let them know it. Looking behind her to a few lionesses as she flicked her head as if to say to follow, most quickly dispersing to move behind her .

"No Questions.."

She offered back up to the prince as she leapt down the slippy path..having to be careful not to fall as she then came closer and closer to the two rouges. Eyes squinted, half due to the rain, but half due to her dis-trust, the prides safety at steak...it put her in a rather in-hospitable mood.

"you will help; or you can die...That's quite some statement...think about it" She began as the Lionesses that followed her started to pass by Cova and the two rouges in single file. Cova herself still standing in front of the Male and Female. "Follow me and all should be fine...Betray any member of this pride....and My Prince is the last thing you will have to worry about"

She uttered to the both of them, quite un-caring about her hostile nature as the pride was everything to her...Now walking between the both of them as she gestured for both of them to follow her Out to the base of Pride rock.

"Ladies if you would as per instructed spread out around the Rock base of Pride rock, we don't want anyone able to get close or inside...any signs, any smells, any hints of anything out of the ordinary and you sen the word down the line, i myself will be patrolling around the length constantly...stay insight and stay safe"

She finished as she was surprised to see the Lionesses moving to do as she asked very quickly...a little chuffed with herself as they disbanded with a minimal amount of comments or grumbles....even from her, Asha...that cynical one who thought she knew it all... old fool... Her gaze focusing on the two rouges who had yet to be instructed.

"any questions?"

[Avalon]

Kisirani kept a stone face, quite a challenge considering the cold and the fact that all of this was getting under her skin as quite a scary situvation. The young female wasn't easily scared but you have to remeber even if she acts grown-up and in someways is very mature for her age, she was just a child. The choice the price had given her and the other rogue became more of a rethorical question atleast conserns with her.

What could she do, to help this situvation at all? She was a mear juvenile(11), and she was severly crippled; half-blind! Kisirani didn't like the look of the lioness commander, though she hid her anxity to the best of her abilities. "Yes..." the little lioness utterd as the commander turned to them with the option of question asking.

"What good use am I?" she began only to pause shortly after, "I am young, I am half-blind.. thus can't fight! I guess death is the only option left for me.." Kisirani's voice where strained, she didn't like to talk about her disability but she realised that she couldn't pretend to be normal, she had a sever handicap and it pained her.

[Iliana]

Iliana was glad that she caught up with the lot of them with only one cumblsy mistake. She knew that she was not highranking in any sort of thing, but Cova made her feel slightly like she was useful when she allowed her to go with Fc on his chores or whatever Twilight had assigned him to do... or so she thought. He had no mentioned her name is his last orders and she felt like she was invisible at that point. Her ears lowered and her head was still held down low as she heard them carry on there conversatin compleatly forgetting about her.

'Should I just leave? Should I leave them a lone and maybe wander away? I am a good hider no one will bother me..' she thought to herself.

She felt like a burden now that she knew that Twilight porbly thought she was weak since she was always caught following Fc around, but that was nly because she fully trusted him and of course she had feelings for him. Feelings that were not yet understood by her, but enough that if he was not around she would greatly miss him.

She wondered if she should say anyhting? Speak up like the adult she wished she was. Like some kind of assertiveness that she wished she had, but no she had to be a shy small feline.. Sometimes she felt that Fc was embaressed to be with her. SHe felt like he felt that he always had to stick up for her. She wished she coulds tick up for herself at times, without him so she would not feel like she was a leech sucking at his skin.

She conitneud to walk causouly when the moved anywhere and then stay put when tehy both stopped. She heard there conversation, but also zoned off every now and hten to the conversation Cova was having with the two rogues.

[SVelasquez]

Well, fighting back seems to be my only option...or dying. I'll fight. Santiago thought as he listened to Twilight before walking over to Cova and Kisirani, neither of whom he knew. Something about the situation seemed odd to him, it wasn't that he was fighting alongside of complete strangers whom he had never met before, but that nothing about it bothered him. He usually felt a bit uncomfortable being thrown into scenarios such as this with strangers, but it seemed noble.

"I'll gladly help." Santiago said as he looked at Kisirani, being called a rouge at her age and her condition made him think that she had been wandering alone for quite some time now.

"Hey, kid, you've made it this far on your own, don't give up now. If you put your mind to it you can do anything. I've been wandering most of my life too, trust me it takes one to know one." Santiago told Kisirani reassuringly. Being a wanderer had taught Santiago that sometimes the best way to get through hard situations is to believe in yourself and try your hardest. Although in this case one slip-up and it could become a lot more than a simple mistake.

"What do you need me to do?" Santiago asked turning to Cova. He may not be a lioness, but when it came to this situation, Santiago knew that he had to start fighting. The scar on his snout showed that he had been in a scrap or two before, but never a full blown battle.

[Lion King Stu]

((Well this is the time to bring in some NPC characters least for this bit just so we can bring some excitement the the RP right from the off. Aren?t I nice lion to make things interesting for you :cheese :cheese: ))

(In the Pridelands)

Rain hadn?t made stopped the hardest of felines who had faced such horrors and sights no one would ever want to see on the battlefield; the scars reminders of victories and losses in the past the storm such as this a minor inconvenience if anything.

A small group of five rouge lions both old and wise in the way of fighting as well as the young and immature that seemed to have no fear of running head on into a situation. The sight of pride rock to them a beacon and prize worth gaining for their needs. Toothy smirks clear on the faces of many of them with the taste of blood and the strong need for the thrill of the fight. They already had tasted blood once that night and now they yearned for more.

?Well then; this is the place known as Pride Rock huh? said one of the young lions; his mane not even remotely fully grown yet but already had killed so many without remorse. The many scars clearly visible in the right light to show that already he?d seen one battle too many for one so young to have even their own fur stained in some others blood.

?More than likely the case? said on the older ones padding beside the younger one slowly and wearily ?If the information from that lioness you killed was correct then right now they?re without king and command this should be somewhat of the right time? he said looking down at his own paws a moment seeing them somewhat sink.
?We?ll split up and take the rock from both sides and move in; try and keep this simple without many problems. The conditions are not desirable for a fight? he said looking over at his four other young rouges all picked up along the way either banished from their own prides or merely survivors of those who?s prides were wiped out from disease or attacks and taking their anger and sadness out on the world. Non the less they?d never attack one another within the group who they warmed up to call family.

?We?ll go from the front? said on of the others who trailed behind followed by a swift nod of the heads as they looked at one another happy with the arrangement put down before them.

?Don?t go taking any unnecessary risks; don?t let your emotions get the best of you. Fight with a clear mind; let your enemies slip up and make the mistake and you pick up the scraps and take the advantage? he said nodding to them before looking down at his young prot?g?.
?Come? he said simply and quickly ran as best he could in the mud widely around out of view of anyone jumping and dodging the debris and large pools of water that had formed; getting his lower paws and body covered in thick mud though already covered head to paw from the nights hike.

With their leader gone the three young lions looked at one another to sort the rest of their plan out to before executing it.

?The strong wing and mud will work to our advantage my brothers? one of them chuckled sickly a moment and looked at his two other brothers either side of him.
?Coat yourself with the mud and when we get close we crawl close and we wait to strike; I got this feeling we?ll meet some strong resistance here.

?Sounds quite the plan; funny how father hasn?t made you his prot?g?? the one who was quiet all this time finally managed to say. He was the weakest of the group but non the less more determined than all the others combined to make something of himself being more the runt and the reject of the group much like he was in his old pride before they turfed him out. He felt strong need to repay back the favour of their new father raising him as one of his own.

?Shut up runt? the lion spat back at him making the runt cower and take a step back ?There is still much time to impress and show father I?m worth such a title? he said stepping ahead and rolling around in the mud coating himself in fresh camouflage for the attack.

No more words were uttered as the other two rolled themselves in the mud.
?Move out? the leader of the small group said glaring at the runt one last time ?Don?t be a burden?.

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(At Pride Rock)

With all things seeming to go to plan and his two commanders in the battle ok with the scenario he had set them down with; he nodded to the both with a serious look to his face. He trusted them both with his life and all things going well would have two lions to trust in the future in such roles once more should the time call for it.

The question that FC did however played on his mind a moment and he would answer that before he was gone to go through his preparation of protecting the rear flank of Pride Rock should things decide to go to pot. It was true with rouges they had just found it was not desirable to even put the smallest amount of trust to let them fight alongside his own felines. But with such conditions being so dire and with some of their own still out there, they were not at full strength and calling upon rouges as additional bodyguards and assets was the first test of his leadership if he pulled it off he?d gain more trust.

?As undesirable as it is FC each bit of protection we can muster we?ll have to take as a risk right now; you don?t know what might happen. I?d never put my pride in any sort of danger or risk if I didn?t have to; I hope you can understand that? he said looking at him a moment then the rouge as he started to speak to him.

?Just make sure I didn?t put too much trust in you to stab my kindness in the back kid; show me your worth and I may have a place for you here for a while? he said stopping just as the young rouge started to speak to him.
He felt bad overlooking her age but he knew nothing of the conditions till she actually had just mentioned them right now; he looked to Cova a moment and pondered on that situation and what to do with her.

?Cova. I?m allowing this young one to stay up here in the cave; if these conditions in which she speaks is true; it is pretty much death that will become of her? he said finishing before looking at Kisirani once more.
?I?ll spare you the task of protecting this rock; but soon you?ll need to show me I can gain some trust with you. I?m kind enough to take you in when other prides would of turfed you out and more than likely killed you on the spot without you even mustering a word. Lay in the shadows of the cave you?ll be no match for anyone if they manage to sneak up here ok?? he said as he finished looking at her and looked to Cova and FC once more before nodding them off.

?God speed to you? he said as his final words to them as they both set off to do what was required he saw Iliana in the group heading down and thought to himself whether some day that cloud of shyness she had would disperse so she would actually show her true potential to him instead of being the nervous wreck she always did seem to appear to him.

(fingers bloody hurt now...but there you go :lol:)

[Cova_Lioness]

((OOC> Go Stu ^^ Ohh and As discussed, we will take it Twilight called down from ontop of Pride rock to talk to Cova and the Two rouges as those 3 had already made their way to the base of Pride Rock with the many Lionesses))

IC>
Cova Listened to the two rouges and opened her Maw to reply to them when she heard the call of Twilight above her, she Craned her neck upwards to see him peering over to Relay his wishes ?Cova. I?m allowing this young one to stay up here in the cave" To which she Nodded and waited until he had finished before looking first to the younger Lioness Kisirani.

"Very well, you heard the prince...You may return to the top of he rock, just take the path you saw me come down and stay by his side, he will show you where you may stay until he see's fit"

Her aggressive tone slightly lower as she shook rain drops from her eyeline and waited for her to begin to move before looking at the 2nd Rouge, "What do you need me to do?". Alot of the Lionesses had already moved out, a spacing of about 30 steps began to form between each defender as they circled the base of the large rock but Cova pondered the Male's words.

"I Suppose you should come with me" Her mind trying to make itself up about the Male who seemed to be quite re-assuring to the Younger female he had supposedly just met...She gave him the benefit of the doubt and also gave a slightly lighter tone to him.

"Yes...yes you follow me, we will patrol the base of the rock, it is my duty to ensure any signs of attack are relayed from my sisters back to the prince, he will then know what to do." Shaking her head again as the rain seemed to soak her very soul, its un-relenting harshness making visibility very poor.

"I would require if you could please keep a strong eye out for anything yourself.." Motioning in one direction with her head as she began to head in a clockwise direction around Pride Rocks base.

"Sorry..whats your name by the way?"

[SVelasquez]

"My name's Santiago. I came from down south, I was the prince of my pride before an odd illness wiped it out. I was the only survivor. I've been wandering ever since." Santiago said as he looked towards the area that Cova had told him to pay attention to. Right now he knew that nobody trusted him and he didn't want to mess that up. Doing so could completely cause him to lose Twilight and the rest of the pride's trust which is what he's trying to earn at the moment.

"So the other rogue. Do you know where she came from? It looks like she had a rough trip over here." Santiago said trying to break the tensions at the moment, but right as the words left his mouth something in him told him to shut up and just pay attention to his surroundings, but it was dark. And by the looks of it a storm was inevitable. Although, that was the least of the pride's worries right now.

[FCSimba]

FC nodded firmly to Twilight's response. "I understand, I'm just a bit uneasy about it, that's all..." he explained as a lick of wind made his bangs blow majestically from his face for a few moments. He wished his father could see him now...talking with the Prince, being given orders to protect the lioness...it was too much. FC's heart was beating rapidly in his chest and it felt asthough it would burst from his ribcage if he wasn't careful.

He watched Twilight turn his attention to the rogues and decided to move out with the rest of them. He looked over at Iliana who had already begun to follow Cova down the side of Pride Rock. FC studied her expression, noting the crestfallen expression she wore on her sweet features that he'd grown so accustomed to. "You alright?" he asked, thinking she may be afraid of all this chaos. Without waiting for a response, he leaned in and pressed his muzzle to her cheek, rubbing his face against hers in a reassuring nuzzle. "You look a little..." he didn't bother to finish, his eyes clouding with worry for her.

He bit his lip and then looked down at the wet stoned path until Cova stopped in front of him to chat with the male rogue. Every hair on FC's pelt bristled with insecurity when he heard her order Santiago to come with her--but Cova was a big girl, she could handle herself...he hoped. FC turned back to Iliana, he'd wait for this traffic to pass before guiding her to the back of Pride Rock where he knew it'd be the most treacherous and mucky. He was worried about having Iliana out there with him since he was not the biggest of lions yet--but he knew he would protect her with his life.

He turned to her while they waited, hoping she'd say a little something to him. He was truly worried for her at this moment, her silence unnerved him, especially in this time of anxious waiting. "Don't be afraid..." he whispered to her, "I won't let anything happen to you..."

He wished, at that moment, that there was someone who would whisper that same thing in his ear...not that he'd ever admit as much.

[Iliana]

Iliana continued to follow behind Fc as soon as the Prince's orders were over. Her head titled up when she felt the cold sensation of Fc's nose and muzzle on her cheek. She closed her eyes and the fur on her back bristled with happiness from the love and cherishment she received from Fc.

As they continued to walk along hte Pride rock her feet squished into the mud that was around the back of it. She really didn't mind getting dirty. SHe might be scared and inoccent, but she was not a priss for getting dirty and such. She wouldget things done, might not be to social about it, but she would get them done.

She would soon come out of her shell. Since the more time she spent around Fc the more time she was able to socialize with him and sometimes others. But for now she stayted at Fc's side just the way she liked it.

As she continued to walk her ears twitched with worry fo some sort and then she heard Fc whisper those kind words into her ear that made chills run up her spine. They were good, but it also sounded like he was saying a promie that he might just have to keep and do soon. She brushed off her chills assuming htat i twas just her paranoid self getting worked up about nothing.

[Avalon]

Kisirani gave a thankful nod towards the prince when he said she could stay in the pridal cave, thus she would out of harms way. The dark furred feline ascended the steps up towards the promontory and the caves giving a wide berth between herself and the lionesses comming down to join their pridemates in the defense of the kopje. The little lion laid her ears back slightly, she knew that this was serious and it might turn into a bloody affair if they were indeed attacked.

Kisirani enterd the dark cave, and huddled down in the darkest of the corners, way back in the cave beyond the raised platform where the royalty slept. Her dark fur would keep her hidden from enemy eyes, atleast if she didn't move nor made any sounds. If they found her, she would have to have a back-up plan in mind, should such an emergancy occur.

[Lion King Stu]

The winds felt like they had changed and it didn?t feel like it was to be for the good; inside of him he felt a cold feeling in his stomach making him want to lurch. This wasn?t brought on by his old wounds this time round but the sheer fact he was nervous as hell being in command the first time and what the outcome would be; on the other paw in the back of his mind though he felt excited and yearned to prove himself in such a way but he never knew it would be this soon he?d have to show it to his pride.

He padded pretty much back and forth gazing in both directions and side to side as the minutes rolled by. His pride had done a marvellous job in taking in his orders and from his two what you could called lieutenants in setting up the defence and looking out across the darkness of the savannah as the storm beat down on them with no mercy vision heavily reduced and any sort of scent hard to pick up.

From looking above on the rock he tried his hardest to squint and get a better view out over the open ground but only succeeded in nearly giving himself a hell of a headache in doing so but continued his best to look out. He moved over to the rear side where FC was patrolling and looked out a moment; he was about to turn away when he thought he saw some movement just some way out. For a moment he thought he was seeing something but seeing it move again he became highly suspicious.

?FC?? Twilight yelled down against the sound of the storm ?I see some movement just out a head of you make sure the lionesses keep on their toes for any movement should it get closer. I?m going to check the other sides a moment; see if there is any movements there? he finished yelling as he moved to look across the sides a moment before the front seeing some movement up there as well this time seeing more movement than the other side.

He swore under his breath a moment and felt that cold sick feeling again knowing the worst was indeed true here; something was coming this way and it wasn?t going to be friendly.

?Cova!? He yelled out to her ?We got movement coming this way right toward you; stand your ground and let them make the first move. Let them give themselves away and attack back. Keep your eyes sharp.

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The rouges on either side were close now and getting into final positions before they pounced and strike. The three young rouges waiting for a sign of their father to make his first move before they went ahead keeping silent not to give themselves away as their bodies sank deep in the mud covering them decently not to be seen easily.

The sight of a lion and the lionesses setting up a perimeter struck a bitter blow as to what he had hoped would be quite an easy task accelerate into something that was classed as highly difficult if not suicide. Seeing the lion to dask to the other side it was now or never to strike.

The old lion looked over to his young prot?g?e and growled out loudly to catch attention of the other three rouges as they charged toward the lioness wall. The three young rouges to distract and occupy the lionesses at the bottom while the prot?g?e and the father would try and take out the two lions they had spotted.

They were within a good few feet of the lionesses either side.

?Die!? the only words growled loudly by one of the young rouges.

[Cova_Lioness]

Cova frowned as she glanced sideways at the Male rouge 'Santiago' a quizzical and slight disgusted look about her as she took a step slightly further away from the male as she stopped.

"An Illness?!...By god you better have not brought any kind if disease here!........Fool!"

Stepping further away from him as a couple of the Lionesses began to mutter seeing and hearing the confrontation. She couldn't believe that he would come into contact with other lions! what if the whole pride could become ill!! All these thoughts rushing at once making her slightly panic as even more wind howled behind her.

?Cova! We got movement coming this way" Was the line that suddenly broke her thought pattern, its call echoed on the wind and quite faint but she just about heard what was said out aloud...She dragged her vision away from Santiago long enough to look upwards to see the yellow form of Twilight disappear back over the promenade of the rock...Growling she looked at the Male, scowling before bolting in an anti-clockwise direction around the base of pride Rock to the direction where Twilight had suggested then Enemy were coming from.

As she sprinted around to the other side, her view line steadily revealing more and more around Pride Rock's base, she saw what seemed to be Lions..The hazy rain made things difficult but the closer she got, the more sure she was that an attack was on.

"ATTACK!!... SOUTH SIDE!!"

She screamed over her shoulder to rally more of the Lionesses that were spread out to follow her to help the defenders that had just already come to blows with the males. Large Roars and the sounds of the muddy floor pounded rung out as Cova saw a scruffy, dark looking male, who had already pounced atop one of her fellow pride members, Take a chunk out of the Lionesses shoulder to which painful calls and a blur of Red made her panic. Without thinking she charged into the fray, more battling taking part beyond this particular male, but she could only concentrate on one at a time. Leaping, her claws bared as she collided into the Male, the both of them landing with an almighty splash in the thick mud.

[SVelasquez]

Santiago prepared for battle before walking over to Cova. He felt ready for whatever was thrown his way. Stay confident, but not cocky. That was what Kago had told his son time and time again and it seems to have paid off so far, but would his luck continue? That was the one thing that Santiago constantly asked himself before going into battle, and that was the one thing he remembered with every day of wandering for a place to call home.

"Just so you know, sweetpea, that was twenty-four years ago. If I were infected I'd be dead." Santiago said before looking up as a lioness charged towards him causing the lion to dodge to the right before whirling around to scratch the lioness across the face before growling as an attempt to intimidate his enemy. Santiago was no stranger to intimidation tactics, but he had a feeling he'd have to resort to real fighting rather than non-lethal tactics. Unfortunately, he had neglected to check over his shoulder and paid dearly for that as another lioness pounced on top of him and pinned him before scratching at him, hitting him in the face twice.

[FCSimba]

Twilight's call sounded over the thundering rain that was batting down on the Pridelands hard and consistant. He heard the Prince's voice alerting him of movement ahead before Twilight's call was swallowed up by a roar of thunder. FC studied him from his position on the ground near the back of Pride Rock. He looked to Iliana who was at his side, as always and then out to the horizon where he was beginning to see shadows slinking closer and closer toward them.

FC's heart sunk when he realized that this would be his first real battle. His whole body tingled with anxiety, especially now that he had Iliana to protect. He'd promised he wouldn't let anything happen to her, and it was a promise he intended to keep...even if it meant sacrificing his life.

He'd also promised Twilight he'd look out for the rest of the lioness since he was one of the only other males in the Pride, this was another task that'd make this battle more difficult. However, the young lion raised his head, sea-green gaze narrowed in concentration at the figures ahead.

When the young Prince's voice sounded again over the constant hum of precipitiation, FC knew it was time to get serious. He unsheathed his claws as a powerful gust of wind blew his bangs up. "Whatever happens," FC said to the tigress at his side, "just know I love you and I'll be right beside you..." he told her before roaring into the air--a warning cry to the lions and lioness approaching with rapid speed.

FC leapt ahead of Iliana so that he was standing in the front of his line. He noticed with growing fear that it seemed asthough the head hancho's of this pack were targeting him...which was not good, at ALL!

"Iliana, if anything happens, promise me you'll run to the cave." He stared straight ahead as the rogues were closing in. "Promise me!" he called back to her, his eyes clouded with fear, not for himself, but for the one true treasure in his life. He braced himself for any blow they had to give him, his body arched and tensed--ready for whatever came his way.

[Iliana]

Iliana knew that she porbly should have trusted her senses and gut and told Fc that something felt wrong, but of course she was a frady cat and ignored it because she didn't want to be a burden. As sh watched the shadows around them form her ears lowered, but she stayed at Fc's side. She watched him walk up closer and closer to the shadows that she could see out in the near distance, but not make out any faces.

" I can't promise you anything... I will stay here Fc.." she stuttered being a slight more assertive than she usually is. her ears lowered in shame as she thought that she spoke out of turn when she was disobeying Fc's orders. SHe knew what answer he wanted from her, but she just could not leave him there to fend for himself. She wanted to be proven nobel. She wanted to help and when she was needed she would, but it always seemed as if Fc didn't want her to. She was scared to most times, but during times like this she didn't want Fc to think he had to protect her.. she wanted to help.. she loved him.

" I don't want to leave you...and.. and I.I love you to.." she stuttered out once more as she heard the loud sounds of rogues.. dangerou rogues aproching them. She didn't know what to do? SHoudl she fight, should she hide? WHat was a small tigress like her supposed to do when she had alreayd told Fc he could count on her?

[Utora]

Oy, I'm back.

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Utora was bounding through what was now the plesant pridelands. Her lungs burned, her pads were raw and her fur was stained. She wasn't running, but walking in a degraded manner. The zeal was gone. Who cared, not her to say the least. The grass whisped past her and she sighed, looking up every now and then.

There, this magnificent rock. What a heap of ruble. She approached fresh water and lapped it up, soothing herself as the winds pet her from all sides. Leaning back and yawning she shuddered and shook herself, smacking her lips. Sniffing out she sensed trouble, but that was obvious from the get go.

Blue eyes wheeled about, taking in what looked like Siberia now. She was distanced from reality due to exhaustion, starvation and trouble minds. Pricking her tiger audits she picked up cries and war wages out towards this rock.

Yes. That's all I ever wanted was pre-empt to battle.

She barked retort at herself and moved in cautiously.


She came to it's outskirts and sunk to her belly, stretching, rolling on her side, under the wind. For now she laid her head upon the hot and muddy ground, ear flat. She slowed her breathing such as in hunting, her body relaxed, her eyes closed. He body was completely rested upon the soil, taking in all the vibrations.

The vocals twined with the thundering force. She started depicting amounts, location and the overall situation. She sighed and opened her eyes, rolling onto her back and looking up at the sky.

Well I was bred for war so here it is.

And frowned, waiting for the right signal now.

[Lion King Stu]

(Sorry it?s taken me a little while to reply back to this RP just I?ve lost my RP mood ever so slightly. Any who sorry for the delay and whether my reply is below par but I?ve done my best hehe)

The rouges at both sides had thumped into the circular defence that surrounded the rock and a fierce battle of flying claws, blood and fur started to soak into the ground as well as the rain that thumped down hard still. The wide grins on the faces of the attacking ground very much so clear on their faces despite taking some heavy hits and bleeding already; they had spilt their fair share of blood with random swiping and dodging as best they could in the thickness of the mud.

?That the best you got? one of the rouges managed to spit as he looked up with a deep ugly cut over his eye which firmly had already swelled shut and blinked with the other as he struggled to keep view with the rain.

?Oh honey trust me I got more? the lioness hissed back and swiped hard at the rouges cheek ripping into the skin deeply just like at his eye. The young lion growled and cried out in pain but remained on his feet as the lioness just looked down in disgust and with a face that clearly showed the anger and determination to protect her home and pride.

?Brother!? the runt of the group cried out and looked away from the group that had surrounded him and rushed at the lioness that had attacked him pouncing stupidly and narrow minded to block everyone else out just as Cova pouncing at him and splashed him down in the mud where he kicked furiously and stunned.

?Idiots? the last of the group of three growled angrily as he glanced over a moment as he swiped at two lionesses that were trying to push him back with swipes of their own. Knowing this whole attack would be for nothing he needed to break through the lioness lion and head up the rock; he could see their king looking down like a coward upon high and hissed.
He looked at the two lionesses and growled loudly as a few swipes scrapped at his face; one finally went in to bite at his neck but countered it with a hard smack with his paw across the back of her head and quickly followed it up by rushing and head butting the other lioness hard with his head and made his break away through the line.

On the other side of the rock the young lion prot?g?e made the first move and headed to the line close and made a quick run to run along the line a few feet hoping a few would be stupid enough to follow him leaving room for their father to make his move to break through.
To their luck two lionesses broke from the line and took chase after the young lion leaving room for his father to quickly dash to break through the line as well.

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On top of the rock it was an increasingly hard task to go back and forth looking what was happening on both sides of attack as both lieutenants seemed to do their jobs as best they could despite the conditions but he could see little gaps starting to form which increasingly worried him if they did break through. They?d come for him but they also might take their anger and kill the young one that hid away I nthe cave if they got the chance to; he wasn?t going to be fighting for himself here and that worried him even more.

He hated the idea of any of his pride getting hurt or killed but it was a task that had to be done in best interest for the safety and well being for the rest and the future of the pride. It wasn?t long till he saw one of the rouges take his luck having take two lionesses out temporarily on Cova?s side of the defence and just hoped their rouge would do something at least in his own powers to either repel the attacking lion or kill it.

?Cova! Break through your side? he shouted out seeing her struggle with another lion on the protective line.
?Shi?.? he uttered obscenities a moment and made a dash for the slopes stopping himself a moment a few steps down knowing this way his post. If his father was here he?d happily be down their on the line with the others fighting but right now he had to be here. He growled out loudly to let them know of his presence and to push the lionesses on to fight on for one another. He swiped his paw hard at the rock and just hoped one would be stupid enough to try and get up here so he could get his paws dirty himself.

[Cova_Lioness]

((OOC> Lookin good to me ^^))

IC.
Her eyesight was restricted as her landing on top of the male splashed mud up into her face, spluttering as she felt the Male Thrash violently underneath her, growling and shaking her head to free up one eye so as to be able to Shove her paw down into his Muzzle to hold him still as her other free paw cut him deep in the stomach, furious Yelps from all around showing off the display that was truly a full on battle.

Suddenly Cova felt her rump knocked into and it caught her un-aware. shoved sideways as she landed on the floor once more, the young male that she had attacked now got to his feet to stumble away a few paces, clearly dis-orientated and in pain, Leaving Cova to scowl as she focused her attention onto who had knocked into her...Seeing one of her fellow pride members who seemed to have been knocked clear out with a nasty mark on her head, Cova's focus remaining on the female for a moment, in quite panic if weather or not she was dead. But was unable to come to a decision as she suddenly awoke to the fact there was still a big fight going on, looking to her left as she noticed a much larger male who had broken through the lines and was running off towards the path that lead up to Pride Rocks promenant point and the caves...

"Get back here!!"

She screamed out, wanting bad to give chase...But there was still a Male or two here, growling fiercely she shouted upwards, hoping Twilight upon high would hear.

"BREACH!! Enemy headed up!"

Thinking that would have to do as she looked back to see one last Male in battle with two Lionesses and the third, younger male who she had attacked now had collapsed a little way away, ignoring him as she came up behind some of her sisters to bare her teeth fiercely.

"Your gona regret coming here!!"

She warned at the Last Male as another of The Lionesses swiped at him but missed...a tense stand of in-suing as about 6 of her fellow pride stood about 3 steps from the male...both party's growling at one another as everyone seemed to have some sort of Cut..

[SVelasquez]

Santiago continued to scratch at the lionesses attacking him, but a third lioness joined the fray and left him outnumbered. He was scratching and trying to get up at the same time when he finally realized he would need some help, but the breach was a bigger problem at the time.

"Go on without me!" Santiago called as he managed to scratch one of the lionesses on the muzzle before nicking another one on the shoulder as he tried to roll over and get up. Once he was up he tackled the rogue female and scratched at her before sinking his teeth into her shoulder before getting up and charging at the lion confronting Cova.

"Cova!" Santiago manage to yell out before ramming into the male as hard as he could.

[FCSimba]

FC held his breath as a gust of wind tossed his bangs out of his view and into the air. He narrowed his eyes and grit his teeth as various rogues fell upon the line. Motion he picked up in the corner of his eye made his head snap in the direction of the movement--a young lion was running across the line in a very suspicious manner. FC stepped in the direction and then stopped--his eyes widening when he saw a larger brute come charging toward the gap. "Back to your positions! It's a trap!" he called, his eyes wide with anxiety.

The lioness didn't seem to notice, he was no King afterall. FC grit his teeth and took a step toward where the gap was--stopping when he remembered Iliana was behind him. "Close the gap!" he tried to call out, but as various rogues crashed against the line of Pridelanders, it seemed asthough everyone had their own stuff to take care of. "Iliana, come on!" he called to her, knowing that she'd listen.

He began to bound toward the hole in the line, his heart pounding with determination. This beast was much larger than he was, and much older. His sinewy muscles propelled him foreword and right before he reached the gap, a large lioness crashed into his side, sending him to the ground.

"Oof..." he grunted, his breath completely knocked out of him. He didn't have any time to regain composure though as he felt the rogue's teeth against the back of his neck. "Get--" he paused, summoning all his strength. "OFF me!" his wiry frame lifted from the ground and bucked her off, knocking her only a little ways from him. He bared his fangs at her and swiped his black talons across her face--leaving some nasty scars. Blood welled from his wounds as well as hers. He looked to his side to make sure that Iliana was still beside him, "Come on, we've got to fill the space!" he panted and darted off, knowing very well that the lioness he'd just sliced across the maw was following him. He knew this because her heavy breath and pawsteps sounded behind him.

His sea-green gaze noted the motion of the brute who was nearly upon the gap now..."No!" he snarled, his whole body tingling with a mixture of fear and determination. He had to prove himself to the pride, to Twilight, and most of all he had to protect Iliana.

[Iliana]

OC: Sorry it has taken me so long to post. I am really really sorry...
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IC:

Iliana was more afraid that she had evern been. WHen she was a cub she was abondoned, but she had never been ablke to witness such a fight like this. She didn't know how many rogues there were, but there were enough to keep all of the lions and lionesses busy. She looked around to find Fc whowas calling out her name and as she sprinted twrods him she stopped abutly to tell him to watch out, but it was to late. The enemy had already gotten to him, but luckily he was strong and he pushed her off. She ran over to him seeing blood stains along his fur knowing some of it was his and the one who attecked him.

They now were trying to fill the gap as much as they could. But two small slender forms such as them selves it made it hard to look as though they were stronger then hte beast charging at both of them. BUt Iliana did not want to let the Prince down or anyone in the pride. She stood by Fc's side and glanced over her shoulder to see the angry lioness inching slowly twrods htem. Her neck was bleeding and her breath weas heavy. She knew this girl was weak, but she still had some fight in her.

Iliana's head snapped forward and behind her and Fc to look at the two coming closer and closer to them. Her ears perked up to sense every sound that she heard and her claws unsheated from her paws. She was scare,d but she did want to protect Fc and she forgot all her instincts of running away and turned around to the female approching them. Her shiny white teeth were now showing as she began to growl low and softly. She wasn't sued to being in this kind of nature.

" Back off" she said calmly , but serisouly. She stared down the lioness as if it were her prey. She would do anything to help Fc not get hurt and she knew he would do the same for her.
" Get out of here" she said another command twward the female inching her way twards them. SHe didn't know who would come furst. The brute trying to bash it's way through or the female.

[Avalon]

Kisirani remained motionless in her darkend corner, crouching still behind the shadowed rocks. She could her claws scrape against limestone, and growls of pain and agnoy. The little lioness knew that there was really a fight going on out there, but she couldn't do anything!

Not even if she was bigger would she be of any use, however the little-one hoped that the defenders would the hold the ranks. If they didn't she could always use her plan hopefully it would work, but most of all she hoped she wouldn't have to use it.

The greyish-brown lioness closed her eyes tightly, then curled up and backed further off into her crevice-like hideing spot. Constantly listening to the sounds from beyond the tons of rock around her, for any indication of either glorious victory or disasterous defeate.

[Lion King Stu]

OCC:
You know the whole attacking squad is just males. There are no lionesses in that group attacking. Just a heads up for those who have been saying they were being attacked by lionesses; seriously what have your characters been smoking!?

And second note sorry but I?ve lost control of where my rouges really are anymore so just work with me on this ok. NPC?s are difficult to keep track of and other people posting things about NPC?s doing things they hadn?t been doing makes it harder..

IC:

The young rouge had managed to lose one of the head lionesses it would of seemed to take care of his fellow brothers who despite being annoyances and burdens. It worked in his favour as he quickly headed up the slippery stone steps nearly sliding off as the mud and the wet rock also tried to fight him as his grip was extremely poor.

He heard the loud call and for the first time he felt somewhat a little fear knowing the king was up here and had no idea whether there was anymore lionesses protecting him up here or whether he was in fact on his own.

He shot around the last corner as a crack of thunder and a bolt of lightning crashed down onto the top of Pride Rock as a chunk of rock crumbled and toppled down the sides with audible crashes hitting the path just ahead of the rouge and down into the mud bellow as little pieces of rock crumbled and rolled about down the rock.

?My god? he muttered somewhat and growled at the sight of the young but still muscular king that stood before him a little settled seeing he wasn?t a fully grown adult but still a fair match for even him.
?There is two options here king. You can stay here and die. Or you can run away now. Either way we?re taking this rock and claiming this pride as our own? he said with a sick smile as he locked eyes with the king before him.

The two of his brothers were now surrounded and wounded with all now seeming to be useless as blood dribbled somewhat freely. They let FC go but the cold look of Iliana only brought chuckles.
?Or what sweetheart; you?ll try and take a swipe? Don?t lie to yourself; you?re too weak to back up those words darling? he said with a shake of his head.
?We have no regret at all. Someone who has already been cast out and have not much to live for like us long died? the younger runt had managed to say as stood uneasy and limping. A swipe was aimed at him but he only just dodged and growled angrily as his other brother managed to stumble up onto his feet not being able to keep his balance well managed to speak.
?But I should be a little more concerned of your king? he managed to say with a slight cough as a little blood splattered onto the mud ?His reign is about to end? he managed a sick grin at Cova.

The younger prot?g?e had managed to weave within and past the defensive line and was dashing around blindly in the shadows around the base of Pride Rock heading nearer to Cova?s group.

?Cova rouge heading your way. Blind side? A few loud and wheezing sounding shouts cried out just as the rouge saw what was going with his fellow brothers growling loudly and seeing red as they were somewhat being pushed back and hurt.

He saw Iliana and went for her charging head first in knocking her out of the way hard and pouncing at the group of lionesses down to give his fellow brothers the chance to break through and make their way up the rock like his fellow brother and father who had managed to sneak up somewhat unaware.

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The sight of the rouge suddenly appearing before him stunned him and for a moment as a tinge of worry came to him as he studied the young one before him. It was a sad sight to really look down upon someone so young was here doing this when he really should be having fun and not growing up so fast or grow up in darkness and hate to fight.

He listened to the words coming from the mouth of the young one as he sadly shook his head but the same time it made the fire within burn hotter and harder as he sought to kill or repel the ones who were seeking and doing wrong in hurting his pride.

?I shall never leave this rock. I?ll fight till my final breath and the last possible movement of my body; just like anyone else in the rest of this pride? Twilight growled to the young rouge taking a few steps down the path seeing the rouge back track somewhat as well.
?The will and fire all of our pride has burning within them with never die and give in. The reasons for of which you fight are a lost cause. Leave now or die. These are your two options he growled loudly so all the lionesses could hear. The signal to say the rock had been compromised just as the sight of the older wiser lion showed his head behind the young rouge.

?Oh god no? he uttered under his breath a moment fixing his eyes on the older lion before the young rouge seeing him teeter somewhat on the edge of the path. Knowing he?d have to even the odds and as much as he didn?t want to he moved quickly and swiped hard at the young rouge.
His claw dug deep into the cheek and tore hard; the shock and strength of the hit knocked him from the path and crash down the rock pretty much of the vertical side scraping the rock before smashing into the ground below motionless.

?Leave now. Or end up like him? he said growling loudly as a surge of adrenaline flowed though his body knowing it was a stupid thing to say and his actions just then in killing the young one wasn?t going to work in his favour. Hopefully the lionesses would come and back him up. But what if they didn?t?

[Cova_Lioness]

OOC> Kay it's real hard to follow quite where everyone is in regards to me..so forgive me if i miss out / get wrong, small details.

IC>

The tense stand of between Cova and the few Lionesses against the single Male reached a boiling point as they both exchanged un-pleasantry's at each other. All the Lionesses including Cova stood growling as something suddenly hit Cova harder than a paw to the muzzle..?But I should be a little more concerned of your king? her eyes wide as suddenly Santiago flew into the Male that they were staring down, not even looking at the effects of the tackle he made as Cova suddenly panicked The Male that got past!...they must have intended him to...and that means... Turning immediately and leaping away from the line of defense, dodging the 2nd Male as she burned her way back towards the path entrance that lead up to Pride rock. Paws slipping in the mud and rain as her fangs were clenched with the sheer determination she put into getting up to the promenant point as fast as was possible...

As she ran it suddenly dawned on her what Twilight dying could mean for the pride....what it would mean especially to her...Roaring loudly as the mud turned to Stone and she scrabbeled to get up the path, only slowing when she heard a thick thud of a lion falling to the ground up on top. She suddenly stopped...breathing heavy as she peered slowly over the peak of the ledge on top of Pride rock..eyes wide...her mind and body not able to comprehend what she would do if the Prince's lifeless body scared her sight..

Now breaking into harsh heavy breathing again as she saw not twilight on the floor but a smaller Male, with a larger one seeming very pissed. Cova took another small step up onto the rock, now her head and shoulders appearing as she tryed her best to be quiet, but allow the prince to get sight of her presence. Unsure what good she might be.... if not a good distraction..

[FCSimba]

OOC: Oop...Well, I was saying lioness because I heard it twice before my post came, that's all. FC's not on crack! Just misguided. ;)
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IC:

FC's ears swiveled to where Iliana was mouthing off to the male that FC had taken a piece of. FC's heart thumped rapidly in his chest, a lump forming in his throat. For a moment, he completely forgot about his duties, focussing only on Iliana and her safety. He was trapped in a vortex of fear and uncertainty. He heard the rogue's words and a low growl errupted in his throat.

His nose wrinkled in fury and his fangs were bared to the point where you could see his pink gums in the back corners of his mouth. "Leave her alone..." FC snarled and leapt at the rougue but he had already barelled past Iliana, knocking her into the ground. FC didn't even notice the other rougue that'd charged through the gap, his sea-green eyes were fixated on Iliana. He leaned down and nudged her face, "Are you okay?" he asked, trying to get her to her paws. He was extremely worried for her now, he couldn't even see anything else--it was definitely a flaw he had.

FC stared her over, making sure that she didn't have any visible wounds--he knew the rougue had only run past her and knocked her over--but she was all he had left...with his father gone he couldn't bear to lose her...he knew that this fact would always be his weak point. He felt worthless again...

[Iliana]

Hehe Iliana is not on crack. Just following the other posts saying there were girls. Sorry.. Just a simple mistake :p

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IC:

Iliana glared at the rogue that was talking to her like she was a small useless child. yes she was small and well one could judge, but she hated when people did that. SHe ran away when fear thretened her, but now that she was at Fc's side and had something to protect. She would stand her ground and fight with anyone in her way. Her glare was more intesense just when she was about to say something, but then...BOOM!

With thud on the ground the rogue she had neglected to pay attention to her ran through her and Fc. He was big so he packed quite a punch when he hit her. She landed on the moist ground when she heard thunder above her. Slwoly making her way up she had a small smile on her face when she was Fc's face.
" I know I am a baby sometimes...but I am not that weak.." she said with an inoccent smile as she let out a small purr and nuzzled him," But we can't play around now what are we supposed to do?" she asked looking around at the rogues who were attacking the fellow pride members. And where was the king. She was so flustered she could not point out the King or Cova or anyone else. THere was just to much going on at one time.
" Fc What should we do?" she asked peering her bright hazel eyes around to see if there was anything she could do besides standing there and looking defeated.