[ORP] Strangers and Kings (Done)

[Meepfur]

There was no bumbling, no tripping over cubs (but if anyone made the mistake of getting in her way, well, that was a different matter) - Sinir knew exactly where she was and exactly who was around her. Part of fighting well was atrention to detail, attention to surroundings. While Kasirga backed up and bumped against Isobana, feeling out how much space was available, Sinir prepared herself for the inevitable pounce, posture low and legs set just so. She was ready when her sister's weight came down on top of her, and in the same moment reared back in an attempt to dislodge her before she could get a good grip.

For now she focused on defense with no attempt to strike, hoping her sister was angry enough to make a mistake and give her an opening. She caught edges of objections here and there from the bystanders, but only smirked. The Qyrhy might be savages to some, but at least they weren't boring. Or lazy. Or spoiled, or a half-dozen other unpleasant adjectives that came to mind.

Ecavi

 

[Anderleit]

After the initial announcement was made, she had expected things around the pride to calm down, maybe go back to some semblance of normalcy. By now, Mokosh was ready to admit that had been some particularly foolish wishful thinking. The hullaballoo started all over again as soon as the hunting lionesses returned, and now there was all of this. The grey-brown female's sigh blew up a cloud of dust, obscuring her vision of their dark new Umholi greeting the two who were apparently his compatriots - or co-conspirators. She wasn't sure which would be the more accurate term at this point.

Gracious. She probably looked as disgruntled as she felt, crouched on her belly in the grass, head propped up on the back of a paw. But look at them: one light, one dark, but scars decorating the lot! Even the female among them looked battered and torn; Mo had a tough time taking her eyes off the foreign lioness. Where had they come from, to see combat so often? Did they have any stories attached? Umkhombo had promised that no cubs would be hurt under his rule - she swallowed, hard, just thinking about that - but would they bring some martial element to the pride nevertheless?

But maybe that element was already here. Mo popped to her feet at the sounds of snarling, stiff-legged and defensive at once. Only with the realization that it was two of her pride-sisters, not any sort of danger, did the alarm bells start to fade. Instead, Mo was surprised to find herself more curious than anything. She watched their movements with a growing interest. The proper thing to do would be to step in and stop them from from sparring so publicly! Yet, on the other paw...she was inexplicably dying to see what would happen next.  

[Annchen]

The fight sent ripples through the assembled group as some lionesses backed away and others pushed forward to see better. Buna turned her head to see what the commotion was, and then stood up to see better. She was tempted to sit up on her haunches to get an even better look, but that wouldn't be dignified. After some time she'd seen enough to figure out what had happened. Sinir and Kasirga. Sisters, decent hunters, but there had been incidents before. Clearly it was bad luck that they had become Zalwa by hunting hyenas. She turned her head to try to locate the older lionesses in that group and see what they would do about it, but it was hard to identify them. She could se no one step forward and the fight seemed to continue.

"I'll be right back," she said to Emeka. She looked calm, but anyone who knew her could see the steely look in her eye and would know to stay out of her way.

Buna marched up to the group around Umkhombo, nodded a greeting to Izinyathi and then cut straight to the chase. Well, as straight as she was willing to be to an Umholi at least. She didn't challenge him by meeting his gaze, but if no one in the new group broke up the fight she'd make sure he took his responsibility.

"Umkhombo," she said, "I was wondering what you're planning to do about that."

oo DeD

Meepfur

Andranis

 

[belloblossom]

Things seemed to be changing at a rapid pace, Mazuri thought with some discomfort. First, she had seen the new Umholi, dark-coated and vaguely intimidating. He, and whoever his partners in crime had been, had chased off her father, Andhaka. Initially, she had been quite shaken up to receive this information and if she was being honest with herself, there were still shivers running up and down her spine, but now, it was for a new reason: excitement.

After all, there was something new happening in the pride! Not just new, but big too! She watched as other lions approached in varying shades and peered curiously at the lioness that accompanied one of them, who bore scars that could only be from battle and a torn ear that made her look more than her fair share of intimidating.

While not usually a gossiping type, Mazuri was eager to discuss all these changes with someone. Looking about, she spotted a friend of hers, Mokosh, and eagerly sidled up next to her.

"I bet you didn't imagine so much excitement in the pride, joining right off the bat, like you did, hm?" She purred to her companion, rubbing her cheek affectionately on the other. Having been the one to introduce Mokosh to the pride to begin with, Mazuri felt a special connection with the other lioness, one she hoped would carry with them for both of their lives. "What do you think of our newcomers?"

Anderleit

 

[belloblossom]

Kosan, in his quiet, fussy way, had not given Kgabu any sort of reaction. With a dainty sniff, Kgabu looked away from her brother, only to catch the eye of her sister, Kwanele, who was glaring at her. Kgabu stared pointedly right back at her, as though daring her sister to say anything. Why shouldn't she speak her mind to her brother? No one could possibly enjoy his fretful attitude.

The sound of distant growls caused Kgabu to be the one that looked away first, a glimmer of alarm of her own in her eyes. She flicked her tail irritably.
Great, now Kosan was rubbing off on her, too. She turned her eyes at last to her mother, who still seemed as calm and composed as ever. There now,
she reminded herself, Mother would tell you if something was concerning.
No need to act that way if she's not acting so.

Tanakako

Puhterodactyl

 

[Anderleit]

Maybe she would have noticed the familiar masked lioness approaching her had she not been quite so engrossed by the fighting. As it was, Mazuri almost made her jump out of her skin. Mokosh blinked at her good-naturedly though, returning her affection in slightly preoccupied kind.

"I certainly didn't expect to see so much change so soon," she replied, and perhaps a few of her reservations slipped out in her tone. "Were you close to the old leaders? Do they really, usually..." Mo shrugged, hesitating a moment before drawing her paw across her throat. No sooner had she done it than she felt absolutely ridiculous, of course. Death and fighting were apparently commonplace to these lions - and she couldn't even say the word?

"Umkhombo is handsome enough, I suppose. Quite dark too, which it seems like many of the sisters would like? The other Umholi seem interesting so far, as well." She tilted her head at the pair of them, eyes narrowing at the white-patches on the male with the long name. They lingered a little longer on the larger of the newcomers; his grullo coloring was unlike anything she had seen before, and certainly not unbecoming. "It's just all much more tumultuous than I expected."

Her gaze trailed again to the scrapping lionesses, a chuckle pulling at the corner of her mouth despite herself. "And while I don't deny anyone a tussle, that isn't much helping matters." She wouldn't blame anyone for blowing off steam at this point, but surely there were better ways.

belloblossom

 

[Andranis]

A rumble of laughter filled the pale lioness' chest. "We'll have plenty of time once we reach the end of our migration, I'm sure. A day of rest for everybody, from the Abaholi down to the Lusizi..." While on one paw, it felt odd to refer to her own brother as an Umholi, on the other it felt entirely... Natural. Like it was the true and proper progression of the world for their grandsire's line to continue strong and proud within the pride.

A startled sound escaped Izinyathi as she noticed the scuffle and backed away. She found herself bumping into another lioness and immediately turned to apologize, "I'm sorry about that!" Her attention immediately turned back to the fighting lionesses, a displeased look crossing her face. She spared Buna a glance and returned nod, but otherwise focused on the fighting sisters. "Such disgrace, fighting with your own pridemates like that!"

Meepfur

SilverLutz

Annchen

She'd missed the initial argument and start of it, but Imvula had NOT missed the fight that broke out. She strained to see what was going on, before nodding at Amancane, "Come with me, let's try and get a better spot." She didn't wait, starting to weave around and through the gathered pride members. She came to a stop near Mokosh, who looked to Imvula like her fight-or-flight instinct was kicking in, "Hello, Mokosh - I don't suppose you saw what happened, did you?"

Sticking close behind, Amancane tried jumping to see better. The two lionesses she caught glances of looked like sisters - Two of the lionesses that had come in with the Jahy group. "Those look like Jahy lions... Are they from two different sides of their group?" She didn't know what the different groups were called, of course. She'd only paid enough attention to know there were two sides fighting, and beyond that... Not much else? They shared ideals? Her knowledge was spotty as a newborn cub's pelt, at best. Her focus was typically more on becoming a good huntress, providing for the pride. Soon, maybe, she'd even add her own cubs to that. But if there was going to be infighting... Were cubs safe?

Anderleit

 

[Meepfur]

"Test you? I wouldn't dream of it," Umkhombo responded to Nike with a look of mock affront that soon gave way to a smile. She looked rough, and he knew from personal experience that she was hell in a fight, but he also knew by now when she was and wasn't serious. Usually. Before the bantering could advance any further, though, something else caught her attention, and his as well. While he didn't have a front row seat, he could see enough from where he was to recognize who was fighting whom. Kasirga and Sinir bint Nesf. He snorted in amusement and muttered, "Some things never change."

If anything, he was surprised that Khazine wasn't involved, or any of the rest of Nesf's brood. He'd seen more piles of brawling kin during their youth than he could count. But not everyone was as amused as he, judging by the range of expressions around him, and then Buna approached to wonder aloud what he was going to do about the situation. Though it was carefully phrased, she obviously expected him to put a stop to the sparring, and he could have. He even considered it for a moment, doing what she wanted, what was expected...perhaps, on his first day as Umholi, it would have been wise to, but they might as well find out sooner rather than later that, dark-maned or no, he wasn't necessarily going to be as traditional as some mgiht like. "I plan to watch," he answered, "And see who prevails."

Izinyathi had something to say as well, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "Not a disgrace at all, not for the Qyrhyeshti. Or the Burkuteshti," he added, acknowledging Ahlaq with a quick jerk of his head. "It keeps claws sharp with little actual risk, and puts an end to small stresses and disagreements before they can fester. They won't do any real damage, and by the time they're done, whatever they were arguing about won't matter. They've been doing this since they could walk. Before, really."

And if this were the Impibutho, others would already be clamoring for the right to fight the winner. Umkhombo was almost tempted to step forward and voice such a desire himself, to feed in to the havoc, but that was a wave he wouldn't make today.

Annchen

Andranis

oo DeD

SilverLutz

"Not at all," Uheshe assured Safura. "There's very little familial resemblance, and a Busisa can't be expected to know everyone's relation to each other." If there was any condescension about the striped female's rank and consequent lack of knowledge, it was well-hidden under a polite smile and friendly tone.

"They don't have the darkest manes, perhaps, but not the lightest, either. I'd say they're somewhere in the middle," she decided. Not ideal, but not terrible, and they did at least have fetching scars. Her truest disappointment was that the sandy one was rather small. "Darker than most of the Inselele we've had, that's for certain." Gabedi had been dark, but no one had ever been very taken with him. And Emrys had had green on him, and Uheshe preferred to forget that he'd ever slipped through...which was a bit difficult, what with his blue children running about. Ugh.

But nevermind about manes, what was going on there all of a sudden? A fight? Uheshe frowned and shook her head. "Look at that. Heathens, the lot of them."

belloblossom

For all the commotion they were causing, the sisters had yet to do each other any harm - pounce, deflect, twist, strike, a lot of fuss but no full effort, no true assault. With Kasirga thrown off, Sinir whirled to face her rather than expose her side, taking a glancing blow to her head before she ducked low and powered forward to catch her littermate in the chest and pitch her balance backward.

Ecavi

((in that case, Sinir shoots lasers from her eyes, fight done. xP best roll for winner of their little tussle?))

 

[In Good Faith]

Isobana's claws extended and retracted into the dirt with agitation. She had a mind to throw herself into the fray and take a chunk out of the both of them. What stopped her was the fact that she didn't know the lionesses well enough to make that judgment call on the spot. Plus, being Busisa, she felt it unwise to piss of any particular lionesses that might have more pull in things that she did not. Still bristled with a tail three times it's original size, Isobana turned from the fight with disgust.

The fire in her belly burned hotter when she could hear the new umholi decide watching his lionesses fight amongst themselves was better than attempting to get along with one another. "Children" she spat the word, a growl burrowed in her chest and slowly making its way out. She honestly didn't know if her name-calling was at the lionesses or the umholi. In either case, Iso walked several yards from the fight, far enough that the noises were muffled and, once she slunk to the ground, thankfully out of sight.

Quite frankly, Isobana was amazed at her control of temper. It wasn't always that way. Perhaps had she been directly challenged she wouldn't have shown such hesitation. Truly, all the harm that was done presently centered on disrespect and endangering the cubs that were near her. Isobana now looked for the little ones and saw they had, wisely, scattered. That didn't take the sting away from Isobana, feeling as if she'd given a poor show of protection of little ones.  

[oo Ded]

Ahlaq had begun to speak to both Umkhombo and Faust when the noise of the scrap caught his attention. 'Some things never change.' The sandy lion left his eyes on the scrapping lionesses—ones he didn't recognize, but at his dark companion's words he figured them to be connected to the Qyrhyeshti. "Lifestyles die hard, hm?"

Maybe things wouldn't be so different here, after all. It was almost a relieving feeling. Powder blue eyes remained on the two lionesses. For a moment a look of amusement crossed his face. The look quickly shifted towards thoughtful consideration.

This look was only grown when the dark lioness, the one who walked and spoked with authority, approached. This was not the Impibutho, nor the Burkuteshti. Things were different now. What, he supposed, were they to do about it?

Ahlaq looked to Buna, doing his best to give an expression that couldn't be confused for being abrasive. "I hope there isn't anything wrong with blowing off a little steam if it's all in good fun." The smallest of smiles touched the edges of his mouth. He thought it best that he didn't disclose that, like Umkhombo, something in his gut wanted nothing more than to jump into the fray. He was feeling a little tense, after all.

The lion considered the situation. It probably wasn't best for appearances for him to solely stick with his comrades. And while he didn't mind the scrapping, he didn't want to step on anyone's toes. So… what was the best PR move?

The sandy lion rolled his shoulders, relaxing a touch before moving towards the lioness that he noticed had been bumped. She was looking rather… agitated. "You alright?" he asked Isobana, his voice perhaps a little gruff though he certainly didn't intend to be rude.

Meepfur

SilverLutz

Annchen

In Good Faith

 

[Annchen]

As Jagazi stepped away from the two fighters she bumped into other lionesses and someone stepped on her tail! She had no way of knowing who it was, but when she turned her head she saw the new Busisa.

"Hey!" she said, deciding the newcomer was probably to blame, "What did you do that for?"

Running her mouth at the scarred female might not have been the best move she'd never made in her life, but the dark brown female had never managed to nail the whole 'think first - act later' deal. Oh, well. It wasn't the most terrible decision she'd made either. Far from it.

SilverLutz

---

It was disappointing that Umkhombo decided to take a wait and see approach. However, she decided that she wasn't going to make a fuss over this. For now. She looked at Ahlaq with a slightly disgusted look on her face as if to say that she could find plenty of things wrong with "blowing off a little steam", but didn't make any comment. Buna wasn't planning to try fighting as stress relief, and she sure hoped the practice wouldn't catch on anytime soon.

As Umkhombo predicted the fight died down with one lioness pinned to the ground. Buna turned her head, not interested (or perhaps not wanting to appear interested) in who had won.

oo DeD

---

Ukufa had a hard time deciding if the interesting things were happening over by the fight, or closer to the new Abaholi. As a consequence she was hoovering in between, without being able to watch either one properly. When a lioness disappeared from view in the fight she finally decided to try to get closer. Were they really going to kill each other over whatever the fight was about? Probably not. Hopefully not. But perhaps the story would sound better if she told it that way later. Ilantshi would want to know what had happened here.  

[SilverLutz]

Faust turned his gaze to the little scuffle as well, quite used to the internal struggle of the Impibutho for power, for pride, and just for fun as well. It seemed this wasn't a common occurance here if the lioness' reaction were anything to go by, although it did seem to be a mixed bag of delight and disgust. This was certainly going to be an interesting chapter in his life.

Shifting his weight, he decided to make a move. Although he was quiet he certainly wasn't shy, nor did he worry much about what others thought. He had to tread carefully here of course as he was new, but standing in one spot while the lionesses looked at them was getting a little old. He stood behind the other lionesses that had made a small circle around the scuffle, watching the two lionesses battle.

Nike grinned as one of the lionesses gave the victory to the other. Blood hadn't been spilled in the dirt but this wasn't a fighting arena. It was an honorable and just fight in her opinion and she gave a little roar of approval, a delighted growl rumbling in her chest. Just as soon as the little scrap wound down, though, one of the lionesses closest to her turned to speak to her. Nike focused her intense gaze on the dark female, a 'friendly' smile on her face. Friendly as in she was showing as many teeth as she possibly could.

"Do what?" she barked, not at all troubled by the accusation. Depending on what it was she might even agree to have done it just to take a turn making a scene. She was sure she could hold her own against the majority of the females gathered here.

oo DeD

Meepfur

Ecavi

Annchen

I forget where you messaged me...maybe PMs...but yes, Han would love to help!

 

[Anderleit]

The dusty lioness blinked at the new voice over her shoulder, but otherwise took the introduction of company with much more grace than she had Mazuri. Thank goodness. "No, sorry. Afraid I didn't see what started it. One second they were relaxing - or as relaxed as anyone is today - the next, all claws and noise." But what claws! Mo's eyes returned to the pair just in time to see one pin the other, and she felt the fur on the back of her neck prickle in excitement. The dark lioness that arrived with the umholi sounded her approval, and Mokosh wanted very much to follow suit!

But that acute thrill meant that Mo was more than aware of the tension, and grumbling, all around her. Tussling was apparently not as common as she first thought in the Bonelands. She was already a busisa, which undoubtedly came with its own tribulations. How much worse might it look for her to be cheering on a brawl?

"Jahy lions?" Mo's ears perked as she picked up on Amancane's question. Were the fighting lionesses imports from another group entirely? That might explain their different ideas on what was, and wasn't, okay to do in public. "I don't know anything about that, I admit, but it looked like a pretty friendly spar from here." Okay, so maybe friendly was...a bit of a stretch, given that these were two full grown lionesses with intact defenses scrapping like eager cubs. But it didn't look like either were seriously injured, so...close enough.

Andranis