[META-ORP] Fallen Ill

[Syrius Lionwing]

Gyps dropped from the sky in to a large patch of green stuff and croacked at her companion to join her. She scratched around in th emuck pulling up the herbatious plants.

SMM happily plodded up to her vulture friend and nodded. Luckily, like most vikings she always carried some sort of satchel with her, hers she always hid under her cloak,she scoope the plants in to the bag and nodded. "Keep going. We'll collect a few more things before we hand them in. Don't want to go back without enough to treat a fair amount of lions.

The pale vulture nodded and once again took off in to the pale sky in search of another patch of green stuff.  

[SilverLutz]

"It's a shame, yes, but that's what happens when creatures like us eat plants," Runa said with a shake of her head. "Remember back at the party when we were cubs and we stole the mint from the feast? That was the first and last time I'll ever willingly eat something with leaves. Unless a healer is forcing it down my throat, you couldn't convince me to try anything green and with roots."

She nodded down to the clump of herbs she had already found, a tingly taste on the tip of her tongue just from carrying them. "This is what we're looking for. Not sure how much they want, but I figured I'd find as much as I can carry before bringing it back. Perhaps we'll travel together once this is all said and done," she added, smiling at bit at her sister. If their captains were working together perhaps they would travel together after as well. Tethys tended to send other captains in other directions, though, so the odds of them getting to walk side by side were about fifty fifty.

AstoriaFallen

 

[Zingling]

The hustle and bustle of strangers wandering around almost frantically had caught Tandu’s attention. Normally he would avoid large crowds, especially in what looked like a pride, but this situation kept him watching rather than moving. From what he could gather through observation, everyone was looking for some form of plant. For what, Tandu hadn’t the foggiest idea but he found he couldn’t just leave either. Moving up towards the entrance of the mountainous home, blue eyes stared at the piles of greens gathered – How every curious this whole thing was.

Pulling away from the entrance towards a group of lions, Tandu listened to their conversation discreetly for a few moments. Someone had been poisoned, or rather, many had been poisoned… Perhaps the plants the group was attempting to gather would help cure those that were harmed?

Frowning, Tandu set off to find his own herbs to help the group out – His travel plans could wait a little, plus, perhaps there would be dinner for those that contributed. He definitely would appreciate some dinner, especially without effort.

Peppermint Coffee

Wandering around, Tandu attempted to find the plants that had been piled around the entrance but quickly found himself distracted instead. There was a beautifully sandy colored leopardess in front of him with unique wing markings on her back. Perhaps they could team up? It definitely would keep his attention.

Wandering over to the leopard, Tandu made a soft cough to get her attention. "Shall we work together?"  

[Bronze Coffee]

(If you can't see the image, please turn off your profanity filter~)

The leopardess was watching the gathering from a large push, in all honesty. She was highly confused as to what was going on with this pride of lions, and so she chose to remain in the shadows, safe from possible attack. At least she felt she was safe.

They were running around like a desperate worms after a rain storm and it was entertaining to watch.

Until she suddenly heard a voice behind her. Her ears pressed against her head and she turned her head to stare at the large male lion that was now wandering her way. Well, he wasn't attacking, and asking if they could 'team up' so he clearly wasn't out to attack her for wandering close to the others.

"....Work together with what?" She asked with a skeptical look on her face. Her ears were still back against her head flat and her body tense, ready to run in case things went badly.

Zingling

 

[Zingling]

Peppermint Coffee

Her tense figure cause the lion some alarm, he had absolutely no intentions of harming her at all – Rather, he found her quite intriguing, thus his reason for approach. Lions in his opinion ended up boring him, they tended to act in a rather political manner that didn’t really work with his own personality. Cheetahs, Wild dogs, leopards and prey animals seemed to have more to offer to him. Perhaps it was the way they were raised…

“Gathering the herbs.” He nodded towards another group who had several mouthfuls of the herb in question. “From what I gather there have been many who were poisoned – Truthfully, I am unsure what the plant is for but perhaps a meal or reward will be given to those that have helped.”

Smiling, he plopped down beside her. “I promise to do no harm.” Taking a look around the lands, Tandu stared at the other lions, “I prefer the company of other species – Lions can be exhausting.” Rolling his eyes, Tandu looked back at the leopard and grinned.

“I am Tandu, a passing rogue.”  

[Syrius Lionwing]

SMM turned around to look at other lions. Everyone seemed to be busy bustling about. She recognised some reavers, a couple of captains, unknown faces. Her mint eyes settled on the white vulture that was circling over head. While gyps was searching form above her own eyes glanced over a lot of moss. Möss she knew had water absorbing properties so she scooped up a mouth full of the stuff.

Gyps once again dropped from the sky and landed between her friends shoulders. "Lots of green that way."She pointed her yellow beak towards the next rise. "Go that way."  

[Bronze Coffee]

She started to relax, especially after he promised not to hurt her. So Pik let herself settle on her haunches, still eyeing him rather warily.

"Pik. Simply curious about everything happening," she said with a cant of her head. Dark teal eyes studied him before she let her ears finally perk up and she seemed to fully relax. "Poisoned? That's a shame..." She didn't see how it was any of her business, but maybe this could prove to be an interesting day already.

He was a handsome lion, she realized that.

"...I guess I can help. I have no intentions on staying in this lions den, however. If you're trying for that angle, don't try anymore. I have no need to waste your time." Or her own, but Pik wasn't going to say that out loud.

Zingling

 

[Zingling]

Peppermint Coffee

"Pik! Short and sweet, I like it." Tandu's smile widened as the leopard finally showed signs of comfort, then began looking for the plants in question. But, unfortunately for them both, none seemed to be around the area they were talking. Frowning, the fluffy male looked to his companion.

"Haha, I've no intention of staying, myself. This is just something to do to pass the time, perhaps gain and meal and..." He took a deep breath and grinned ear to ear, "Enjoy the smell of this beautiful place! I wander far too often to stay in one area, after all, you don't gather stories by staying in one spot." Glancing again at the grounds once more he shook his head.

"Speaking of moving, It looks like we might have to relocate to find these plants, Pik." Tandu was already moving around the leopard towards another area. Hopefully the direction he chose would have more herbs to pick.

 

[Bronze Coffee]

She was only lazily looking around. Honestly Pik didn't know what this plant even looked like, so it wasn't really her fault she wasn't finding anything.

"Tandu's not a bad name, either," she commented absentmindedly, accepting the compliment with one of her own. The lingering promise of a meal was very tempting. Her stomach had started to ache from ignoring her urge for breakfast. Oh she regretted it. Her tail flicked as she started to follow him when he moved on, at a slower pace, walking beside him but not neck to neck.

"I suppose it's pretty, yes. I prefer less crowded areas, but maybe it's not like this all the time. After all, apparently a number of lions lives are at stake."

Zingling

 

[Ctrl F Greenie]

Unyawo Olulula was with Rahisi for a time - this didn't last long though as she spied Jua wilting away in the corner. This was no way for the adolescent to spend his time. There were far more valuable things to be done and though it wasn't her place to push she decided to take matters into her own paws. "Jua, they are going to need your help out there." Her tone was gentle at first, but that tone didn't last for long. "I'll be here with your mother and when I'm not Mal will be. She will never be alone and if anything changes your family will be the first to know about it."

She had double checked the patient before going to his side and urging him to stand, she could feel just how weak he'd become as he quivered when all of his weight was lifted. "Go, be in the sun with your Father and pride members - we need those plants so we can help the rest of the pride." Her blue eyes were saddened, but her tone was firm. Yawo was sure if his mother could speak she'd likely say the same thing - no family should sit around waiting for a member to die.

Finally she was able to get him to begin walking and then lead him, slowly, through the great cavern adorned with lovely paintings through to the entrance where some lions were still gathered and chatting. The pair walked past the group and soon she spied the familiar faces of the warbands she'd encountered during their visit to the Bahari - and a face she hadn't truly expected. "Zephyr." She said in a surprised greeting, leaving Jua with a lioness that appeared to be his sister (or so the concerned questions and similar pelt would suggest). "What a pleasant surprise!" She'd have to return to the lioness' side soon, but a quick conversation wouldn't hurt - at this point the pair of healers were simply making Rahisi comfortable.

Jua had been lost in his thoughts, the whole thing was incredibly overwhelming and even so he felt a lot more tired than he had expected. Of course his mind had wiped out the memory of ingesting a plant shoved into his mouth by his Mother because the events that followed were to much to recall. A heavy sigh broke him from his own thoughts and soon a voice was filling his ears. Rolling his shoulders he nodded lightly and even tried to stand, with help from the healer he succeeded. "You're probably right." He muttered a little, but his words were heard and understood as he was escorted form his Mothers side to the main cavern, then to the outside where the sun shone brightly as though it were a beautiful day. How dare it.

Trying to maintain a cozier demeanor he kept that hateful thought to himself and even managed a polite smile to a few passing individuals that were just getting the news. In passing they provided some quiet words of condolences and he even saw his Father off to one side, getting himself out of the immediate area of activity, finding himself a decent corner.

Suddenly the lioness that had been by his side was leaving him, giving a quiet goodbye as she headed towards another lioness with fluffy fur that smelled of salt. Clearly she wasn't with the other salty smelling individuals because somehow she smelled sweeter - something that might burrow into his memory. "Thalea." He said as though he'd forgotten the name - how silly. "No. If that's okay?" He said plainly, his vibrant orange eyes meeting her purple ones. Since he'd abruptly ended the conversation, but didn't want to lose her company he spied about for something, anything and then his eyes fell on the male she'd clearly walked from. "Who is he?" The question wasn't for a name, he didn't know Imrahil personally, but he'd heard of him. The question was more to see if there was something going on between them - he cared for his sister and clearly the male was playing well at being a shoulder to cry on since his sister was standing strongly still.

Zjarri`fol took notice of some new arrivals, one of which had the right idea about using a feathered companion to look from above - clever, incredibly clever. Then a lion and lioness whom had joined their search seemingly from the roguelands, how kind. "You two, you might have better luck this way." Her voice was a smidge commanding, but her Reavers were used to it so why would it change for a couple of rogues? Especially when the advice would be accurate.

"Gather what you can and the Hlare can decide what is really needed or not." She'd not lay blame on a bunch of under educated individuals - heck she couldn't even identify some (though her time with plants was beginning to change that around). She returned to silence after making her suggestions, her sole purpose for the time being was to lead and collect.

Epine de Rose

AstoriaFallen

Zingling

Peppermint Coffee

 

[Kimaria]

"Ah," Zili replied as Tethys explained, giving him a nod of thanks and then hurrying to catch up with Xochipepe once more. The female, apparently, wasn't in the mood for waiting around. She was already stalking off across the uneven ground, pausing to shoot one of the strange males a curious look.

"I like the look of him," she said without prompt as Zili moved up to shadow her once again - just like the old days when they had been rogues.

"Hm?"

"The orange one with the dark mane."

"Xochi!" Zili hissed, lowering his head and his voice, "that's totally inappropriate!"

Xochipepe laughed, skittering ahead - some of her old enthusiasm beginning to shine back through as the weariness began to edge away. "Can't blame a girl for looking~" she chimed, peering over her shoulder at him - totally oblivious to Zili's sinking heart.

He cast the dark-maned female a wounded look and then, with a shake of his head, returned to being her shadow, slipping into sullen silence.

"Oh hey," she called suddenly, "look what I found!" she paused a moment and when he reluctantly looked up, a small bundle of herbs was hanging from her mouth.  

[Zingling]

The compliment that was given to him plucked his heartstrings, oh did he ever enjoy being complimented, especially by a beautiful someone at that. “Well thank you, I appreciate the compliment, Pik.” A smile curled onto his face again as he was moving forward, he didn’t want to ignore the leopard, but he definitely wanted to find something to help the others out.

“I do have to agree, I myself enjoy the solitude to this hustle and bustle for the most part. There are seldom times I will venture into places like these. Too much noise, too many egos too muc—“

A commanding voice called out to them, causing the chocolate and teal lion to frown. Politics. There was always someone commanding another in some way killing the flow of life in his opinion. Then again, without those bossy few there would definitely be more bumbling about.

Deciding it best to acknowledge the deep blue lioness, Tandu called out to her, “Aye aye, we were headed in that direction actually.” Rolling his eyes her smirked at his leopard companion.

“There is always someone waiting to give orders it seems.” Sighing, he stopped by a patch of greens and poked at them. Perhaps this could be useful in some way? Unsheathing his claws, Tandu quickly went to work on the patch, harvesting all there was.

“Any luck, Pik?”

Peppermint Coffee

Abominable Greenie

 

[Epine de Rose]

"Save it, he has a mate," Tethys warned the lioness off and shook his head. She might have been jesting, but following the activities of some of the band during their stint in the Bahari, he was in no mood to play. There was a time and a place; and besides, didn't she know the lion beside her was positively mooning after her? Surely she couldn't be that oblivious...

He afforded a sympathetic glance towards Zili as he quickened his pace to catch up to what could arguably be considered the light of his life. Perhaps in time she would come to the realisation that the black lion had done a lot to be with her but for now...Well it seemed like for now he was to be relegated to the sidelines while she eyed up any potential sport. At least on this particular occasion it was unattainable, but who knew whether or not that would last!

Nevertheless, it was a rather blunt reminder that Tethys did need to find something decidedly more interesting for them to look in to - they weren't gardeners, and if they didn't get a good hunt soon then there was every chance they would get too bored and lose interest. Leaving Xochi and Zili to their own devices he soon turned his attention to Imani as she proceeded to give him an explanation for her existence long before he'd even asked for it.

...He was left blinking rather rapidly in reply.

"They poisoned themselves," he confirmed and shook his head. "That's about the right of it," he added and shook his head. If she had been expecting something dramatic then she was in for a little bit of disappointment in that respect!

"Hello by the way," he mused with a half smile, pausing rather abruptly as he recognised a pair of the lions out of the corner of his eye. Now what were they doing here...?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"My darling Suu'marle, I do believe we have been spotted," Havase mused as he flicked his gaze dutifully towards one of the Captains. It seemed Tethys had come to an abrupt halt, taking note of their presence, and while he didn't seem quite ready to close the gap between them, his reaction was probably enough to blow their cover. While it wasn't a dine and dash scenario yet, it could potentially be depending on how Tethys responded to them. Accusations of meddling perhaps, or simply ignore them? Truthfully, he'd never actually seen them together before but by now it shouldn't really have been a surprise...

"Have we?" Suu'marle enquired, raising a brow as she glanced over her shoulder to meet the gaze of the lion in question. Ah, but they had indeed been sighted and for the time being that particular captain's expression was neutral. It was best to leave it that way, let him ponder in his own little world as he often did and they would continue on their way.

"He'll be fine," she waved her paw dismissively as she continued about her business and swept yet more of the herbs into her satchel. He'd be fine once he'd had time to muse, by now he knew that they rarely intervened, if at all, in his affairs. Surely he'd leave them be for this one too...

Kimaria

Pollack

"A pleasant surprise?" Zephyr raised a brow at Yawo's welcome and then shook her head, a weak smile on her lips. "I suppose in the given circumstances I would be a nice surprise," she agreed and slipped passed Jua. She hadn't provided any immediate greetings to the pride, but as her stay was meant to be brief, she deemed it more important for them to continue with their search than to concentrate on etiquette.

After all the ducks were back in a row they would them be given a firm lesson on not sticking foreign objects in their mouths, a fundamental lesson if there ever was one. Social etiquette and pleasantries could follow after they were certain that they weren't about to kill themselves again. She was puzzled however, it was such a basic lesson and it was completely lost on them, how had this not been something they'd known.

"Perhaps you can enlighten me as to several questions I happen to have regarding this particular pride and its affliction," she murmured in a low tone so that only Yawo could healer. "Beginning with how they found these herbs, and why their first idea was to stick it in their mouths..." she uttered. Perhaps if she could gain an understanding of how the pride viewed such things culturally, this would all make far more sense...

Abominable Greenie

 

[Kimaria]

"Yessir!" Xochipepe called. She'd been joking of course, well...mostly. The dark-maned male was certainly attractive but part of her had been using the opportunity as a little test. Curious, you might say, of how Zili reacted to her 'innocent observation'.

She was disappointed.

With her mouth still full from her first find, she moved on, trusting that Zili would follow her as he always did. She was not wrong in that. The dark lion was as predictable as always. Like a dutiful helper she had forced to come along with her. "Come on, Zili. Cheer up," she said, setting the small bundle of herbs down onto the rocks, "it could be worse, right? We might have found a fierce enemy to face in combat."

"True," the dark lion replied, "but I think you would have preferred that."

She nodded agreeably, "yeeees, that's a fair observation. I just want a chance to really show what I'm capable of, you know?"

"You don't need to prove anything to these lions, you know. You already fit in with them, Xochi."

"You think so?" she asked, turning both ears towards him, "I don't know..."

"Either way, you'll get your chance. Life rarely stays this quiet for long. Someday you might look back at these times and yearn for them." He turned his gaze away from her, growing distant. He often relived the horrors he had seen with Destati. He was so afraid that her own innocence might be ruined by such things. But what could he do to protect her from it? He could barely protect himself.

"Oh look, some more herbs. Help me carry these, will you? Let's move on." She had scraped up a larger bundle this time and left them for him to carry.