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 Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2017 6:35 am
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Kuhasa was momentarily distracted from his grumpy observation of the goings-on now when Khazine asked why the former Abaholi weren't killed. And how hardly anybody batted an eye when she asked the question. Was that normal?? Aside from the fact that he'd have to become much more eloquent and gain anything resembling political skills to overcome his jovial nature and pale mane to even have a shot at convincing anybody to become Umholi.. he appreciated a little more that he wasn't. And that death wasn't in his job description.
... right?
That worrying thought was cut off seeing Safura step forward to introduce herself and welcome the new Umholi.. and he went right back to being the grumpy observer. He slowly removed himself further from the crowd but stayed within sight of the goings-on.
((Potential last post for Kuhasa, but if anybody feels so inclined they may go talk to him xDD))
Khanga snorted in laughter at his response-- mostly in that he had finally managed a smile. And more lionesses were approaching, so she had done her job. She wasn't the most social and friendly of lionesses but she could do her part in situations like this. She glanced over her shoulder, noticed that Nolaku had followed and offering her a small smile before turning back the Umkhombo.
"A mercy for those who hold their sires dear," she commented, "Generous."
Andhaka and Bangizwe both had many offspring (and admirers) here, some might feel better knowing they had survived.. others would be disappointed they yielded before death. Everybody had an opinion, as always. Khanga, for the moment, was indifferent. They were gone, they could have been dead for all the difference in really made.
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Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2017 12:05 am
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 Qisa looked up at the tall female as she trotted alongside her mother. "Me?" She asked, having been watching the goings on all around through the many legs of her mother and the lionesses accompanying them. Behind her, her last two littermates also followed, and above Ama and Omisa seemed quite content. Doing her best to shrug even while running along, she grinned. Maybe she could get some answers from this lioness! "What's going on? Where are we going? Why are we leaving?" She rushed out eagerly.
 Sváfa turned her head as the grey-pelted lioness came over. She though that perhaps she was also an outsider, for she seemed... different to those lionesses that had been born here. Having relaxed since her earlier alert state with the progress of the strange male's apparent acceptance by at least the majority of the pride, she nodded slightly, her gaze returning to the shifting gathering about the big lion. "Apparently so. That young lioness looks like his daughter..." She nodded to Khazine, the dark female with small white marks that was almost a clone of the far bigger male she was snuggled up against. So, he at least had family here, and thus wasn't a total stranger. though she could tell from some of the more uncertain whispers that his arrival was not a joyous occasion for everybody.
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 3:35 am
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 Mo nodded in turn, gaze lingering on the new umholi's conversation with Khanga before she responded. "Looks like she's not the only one who knows him, at that." She pitched her voice a bit louder this time, extending her thoughts not only to the tawny female, but the group beyond. One of which had already gone to introduce themselves to the new male, she noted with the slightest twitch of a smile.
"Is it the normal manner to kill deposed leaders?" For all she tried to keep her tone even, her voice hitched a little at 'kill'. She was definitely unused to that level of brutality, though she could see the current advantage in it. "That other had a point; by leaving the old leaders alive, it may well increase their chances to be accepted here. Perhaps a political move, if not a merciful one." All one had to do was look around to see the strong remnants of the former Abaholi rife among the lionesses - especially Andhaka. It was one thing to have fathers and lovers chased from the pride. It was quite another, Mo assumed, to know that they were at least still alive somewhere.
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 6:10 am
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Sváfa watched the group gathering round the large male, slowly nodding her agreement to her grey companion's observation. It seemed that, for all of the suddenness of his appearance, the majority seemed to welcome him or at least were not hostile. Sváfa herself could logically understand it, but her pridal instinct was to fight him off. No one had ever entered her birth pride without a challenge, not unless you were already family. And no one took over any kind of important role without a violent battle, the higher the rank the more bloody the fight to possess it. And for the top job? Death was usually the only option for the defeated lion, as both parties were typically unwilling to loose.
However, Sváfa was very much aware that the Ithambo was not the Myrsky Syntynyt, and their traditions and laws were not the same as she had grown up with. So when Mo asked whether or not it was normal to leave the old leadership alive, Sváfa could only shrug. "I have not the faintest idea." Nor did she know who would be best to ask, as she knew very few in the pride beyond the names of those she hunted with. She did look over to those few standing nearby, and if she could catch the attention of any of them, she was not above simply asking.
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Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 2:15 pm
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"Pleasure to meet you Nomvula," she replied and sidestepped to herd a stray cub the right direction, "I'm sure I'll learn more about your customs eventually."
She wasn't ready to abandon her name and her old ways just yet. The Qyrhyeshti adolescents that had more or less grown up on the way here would surely feel more at home in this pride than in the one they hardly remembered any more. It was harder for her to forget what had been her home and her way of life as she grew into adulthood. To her the migration here was just a small chapter of her life.
She looked down at the little cub asking one question after another, barely having time to finish one before blurting out the next.
"We're taking a little walk so the new Umholi doesn't eat you, little one." she said cheerfully, and immediately started second guessing the wisdom in scaring toddlers... Ah, they'd have to toughen up sooner or later...
---
 Ukufa was relieved to hear that Andhaka hadn't been killed. Not that he'd be allowed back (right?) but still. It was good, right? She rubbed her head against Ilantshi's side, trying to comfort her as best she could, but she didn't know what to say to make this better. She was aware of another adolescent female running away, one of the blue ones chasing after her.
Grooming usually calmed the red pelted female down, but there was a time and a place for everything. With Ilantshi this agitated she'd probably just get a slap, possibly with claws out.
---
 Ilantshi's ears were shifting, betraying her agitated state. She didn't notice and didn't care that others were also upset. This was ruining her life, and sympathy with others was rarely high on her list of priorities.
"How do we know he isn't lying," she whispered into Ukufa's ear, "They might as well be dead for all we know. It's not as if they're coming back."
They might as well be dead, because she'd never see them again. She wanted her friend to tell her she was wrong, to tell her her father was coming back and would beat and kill the intruder. Ukufa was a lousy mind reader and didn't say a thing.
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:29 am
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It seemed as though her kin, Ilantshi, was too absorbed in her own grief to notice Mazuri's presence, so the brown lioness picked herself up and carried herself away. Her littermates would be back soon and they could all mourn together, she thought. Of course, she would have to rationalize this sooner or later, but for the moment, she was content to let her paws carry her away from this dark new Umholi and think about her father.
She hoped he was safe and that he would continue to be safe, even if he wasn't in the pride anymore. And, while it may have been selfish to think of,
she hoped that he would remember her in seasons to come.
When I have cubs, She decided as she padded away from the group.
My cubs WILL know their father, I'll see to it.
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:48 am
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Nomvula dipped her head in reply to Marmar, before turning her gaze onto the young cub at her paws, whom she had offered to carry. Instead, the clever dear chose that time to interrogate the older lionesses for information, something Nomvula found herself smiling about.
She didn't have a chance to reply before Marmar was answering the cub. Nomvula looked at the younger lioness with some alarm and reproach in her gaze, before softening her expression as she went on to the cub.
"Worry not, dear heart. Nothing will happen to you or your sisters while we are here." She said soothingly. "Now, dear, why not tell me a little about yourself as we pass the time?" There, that was a peaceful discussion to have as they walked and Nomvula would follow these cubs and Maditah anywhere to make sure they were safe from harm. Like Nomvula had just told the cub. No harm would come to them while Nomvula was around.
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 12:54 am
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Safura continued to smile, her ears perked and her eyes sparkly (she hoped.) This male showed some potential, she thought, looking at him. She could just imagine their cubs, when she was ready for another litter.
She was, after all, an opportunist when it came to these sorts of things. Although, the friends he mentioned might be worth her while too...
Dipping her head, she took a step back. She needed to take some time to consider her future and those of the litter she was carrying thanks to Kuhasa's hard work.
"I'll look forward to it." She said to the new Umholi. "See you around,
Umkhombo...soon, I hope." She added, as though as an afterthought.
With that, she slipped away, coming to stand by some of her other pride sisters as she overheard what they thought of their new leader. Oh, this certainly was interesting. Maybe she ought to not go hunting more often.
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 8:13 am
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"New ideas?" Umkhombo quirked a brow and gave a slight shake of his head at Zola's question. "I've been gone a long time. I think I should at least wait and see where we are first, no?" As for whether or not he did have ideas...maybe. When or if he would implement them, or what the reaction would be, remained to be seen. For now, he intended to keep them to himself and assess the pride's state before he went and did anything that might cause upset. He was bringing enough of that with him, just by coming back.
To Khanga, he nodded. "I have enough dead Abaholi in my own pedigree, a record I think my siblings and I should continue to hold, although I suspect my mother will disagree." Ukuthula was not only loud and traditional, but had always savored the idea of violence - a fondness she had managed to instill in him, at least until he'd truly experienced it himself. He wondered if the same would have been true of her, or if she would have relished war. "Besides, the pride seems none the worse for wear for having been under their leadership. What's the harm in allowing them to retire?"
The pride was worse for wear for having endured a drought, yes, but that was obviously not the doing of Bangizwe and Andhaka. And on the subject of being allowed to live versus not, he added, "I should make it clear now, before any rumors can take hold, that all cubs of theirs are safe as well. No one is in any danger from me."
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 8:37 am
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With the excitement settled for the time being, Inhliziyo looked back to her sister when she mused after the whereabouts of the hunting party. "It'll be hard for anyone to eat, as much talking as everyone will be doing," she said with a chuckle. "Since we've got a head start, maybe we'll get some of the best bits..."
Of course, the very best bits were Umkhombo's right now, weren't they? Though Ziyo rather doubted he would have the chance to exercise that right, as mobbed as he would likely be.
Sher-Kha-t made a wordless sound of agreement, looking eagerly to the horizon as well. Her eagerness, though, was less for breakfast and more for the second round of commotion and gossip that was sure to follow the hunters' return. And when would their second Umholi appear? Who was he, and more importantly, what did he look like? Was he as fetching and dark as Umkhombo? She thought him even more handsome than his sire had been, a lion she had been considering as a sire to a litter of her own before whatever unfortunate turn of events had led to his demise. Hmm, hmm. There were promising new opportunities on the horizon, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of them.
Khazine was content to continue to lean against and listen to her father, not only pleased and proud that he was now Umholi, but deeply happy just to have him back at last, her one living parent returned to her. She loved her aunts and cousins, and had grown quite fond of her great-grandmother and assorted other Bonelands kin since coming here, but her bond with her father was different. Although, with the talk of Abaholi both former and new, and of cubs, it did occur to her that she was unlikely to remain his only child, a prospect that was realized with a frown and then quickly dismissed. Surely he would always love her best!
...right?
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Meepfur generated a random number between
1 and 52 ...
25!
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:04 am
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Khazine could hardly have looked or been more pleased, tucked snugly against her father's familiar but long-absent form as he fielded questions and was greeted by the pride. No matter how tough she was on the exterior, she'd missed him terribly while he was gone, and had clung to the promise that he'd return. It had taken him much longer than she would have liked, but he was finally here, and things could be the way they were supposed to. The Bonelands might not have princesses, or heirs of any sort, so being the Umholi's daughter conferred upon her no special social status...but to her mind, it did.
She was his first child, his best child, his most precious, and sure that she always would be. That was close enough to princess for her.
---
Going to roll for prizes now! Folks are welcome to keep posting to wrap things up, however.
1. Tanakako
2. Ecavi
3. Tanakako
4. belloblossom
5. SilverLutz
6. Peppermint Coffee
7. belloblossom
8. Andranis
9. belloblossom
10. belloblossom
11. Andranis
12. Ecavi
13. Tanakako
14. Andranis
15. SilverLutz
16. belloblossom
17. belloblossom
18. belloblossom
19. ABVirus
20. Tanakako
21. Ecavi
22. Tanakako
23. Andranis
24. oo DeD
25. Ecavi
26. belloblossom
27. belloblossom
28. belloblossom
29. ABVirus
30. Tanakako
31. Tanakako
32. Tanakako
33. Tanakako
34. Ecavi
35. oo DeD
36. Vesale
37. Ecavi
38. belloblossom
39. belloblossom
40. belloblossom
41. Anderleit
42. Andranis
43. ABVirus
44. Ecavi
45. Tanakako
46. Tanakako
47. Anderleit
48. Tanakako
49. belloblossom
50. belloblossom
51. belloblossom
52. Tanakako
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Meepfur generated a random number between
1 and 52 ...
27!
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Posted: Thu Apr 06, 2017 10:06 am
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Anashe's head swivelled as she caught the motion beside her, drawing her attention back from the stirrings of the pride to the young lioness beside her. "Kez?" She asked in a worried tone as the tan female cringed back, panic etching itself on her features faster than Anashe could truly comprehend. With a sudden stiffled gasp, Kezela spun on her haunches and raced away, darting between the few less social pride members as she fled. "Kezela!" Anashe called after her, startled by the sudden action. Hesitating, Anashe looked between the strange male and the direction Kez had gone before turning and jogging after the other adolescent. "Kez! Wait!" She called out as she went after the fleeing lion.
With the hubbub the new arrival's appearance had caused dying down, Ishaka looked around once again. The various groups were settling back into more of the Ithambo norm, clustered together and gossiping or napping. Several had left with the dark male's arrival, but aside from that and the chatter still going on, it seemed the excitement was over for the time being. yawning once again she turned her head. "I wonder when the hunting party will return. Gonna be an interesting mealtime anyway.." She commented idly to anyone near by, her gaze on the horizon where the hunting party should approach from. She was hungry now... 