The Wanderings of Adhama

[adhama]

first time everposting something like this, if if something's wrong tell me. A thank you very much to the player of Sytobi.

Episode 1- Looking for Zira

Setting: (/Mbaamwezi\) - Tidal Pools

The ivory sand from the shore continues here, but seems less free than on
the shore. It covers the expanse, however, until meeting the rise of cliffs
beyond, fading away into the sea on the opposite end.
Like emmense sapphire orbs thrust into the sand, tidal pools dot the
shore here, each ringed with ivory-colored rock. There seems to be no common
diameter between the pools, the smallest no narrower than a foot wide, the
largest no wider than seven feet. But each pool is extremely deep - the bottom
cannot be seen from the top.
The walls of each pool are the same ivory hued rock that rings the tops,
the edges rough and harsh where they can be seen. A myriad of sea anemones
seem to make up the general population of these pools. Many colors can be seen,
each waving their tendrils, waiting for the high tide to bring in food. Small
jellyfish can even be found in the deeper areas of these pools, as well as the
occasional small (undevoured) fish that get trapped when the tide rises.

(ic)Adhama:

Before you is a small cub with dark grey fur. His underbelly is whiter, and either side of his midsection has several tooth mark shaped scars. He looks
perpetually haggard and skinny, but not starving. He has large green eyes,
which look out of place, yet they are filled with intelligence and cunning. He
has been driven from many places, leading him to look for Zira, leader of the
outlanders, in order to ask to join. He seeks revenge on all those that are
better off than he, which most of the world is. He respects power, and will
only fight fair with one who he feels deserves it. Otherwise, he will use any
means to ensure his survival.

(ic) Sytobi:

The first thing one probably notices about this male is the fact that,
while he /is/ undeniably male, no mane adorns his pale visage. Instead a clumpy
fringe of fur juts from forehead to shoulders in an almost spike-like fashion,
no darker in coloration than the rest of him. Though some may consider it a
disadvantage, the unusual characteristic makes him more difficult to detect
while creeping amid the tall grass. The long fur along his head and neck, as
well as his clumpy 'sideburns', are perpetually swept back, as if he were
facing a strong wind.
While Sytobi lacks a proper mane, it would be impossible for one of his
own to mistake him for a lioness. His muscular form is large enough to do
damage, yet lithe enough to avoid it. A pelt the color of sun-bleached sand
enshrouds him, paling only below his eyes and along his broad muzzle. The
monochrome uniformity is broken by the occasional jagged scar, which reveals
bare ash-gray flesh beneath. There is an undeniably foreign air that surrounds
every essence of Sytobi's being, from the scent he carries, to the way he
carries himself, to the way he looks - yes - even the way he speaks.
His pupils are neurotically contracted; the whites of his eyes are a
reddish pink, fading nicely into the crimson-brown of his irises. His ears and
tail are tipped in pale chocolate brown. A vertical scar runs from the corner
of his eyebrow and along his right cheek, a blow that miraculously missed his
eye by no more than an inch. A deceptive, almost disgusted sneer twists across
his scar-ticked muzzle, set behind a dull gray nosepad.

Adhama comes across Sytobi. Standing just outside the larger lion’s reach, he taunts, “Are you Zira? I heard you were a lioness. But with a mane like that I can see how someone could me mistaken.”

Chill describes the misty breeze that billows ashore in biting spurts,
showering the shore with cold rainwater. Too, chill is Sytobi's half-lidded
stare as he gazes over the seemingly bottomless tidal pool, chill and blank.
Storm's coming. Does he even notice the cub? Black lips peel back with a
throaty yawn, Sytobi buries his muzzle between his crossed forelimbs. His
devilishly curled ears pin back. Who the hell was this kid? Why wouldn't he
shut up? One of his? No, not pale enough... One of Zira's? Nah.. not nearly
ugly enough. "What do you want.." He finally speaks, a sneery voice muffled
against his paws.

Adhama flinches at Sytobi’s words, he was expecting the larger cat to respond, but the lack of… concern… shown on the larger male’s part threw him off. ‘Am I that unimportant?’ he thinks to himself. He stutters out a response in a voice much different than his original confident tone. “I-I-I-I’m looking for Zira.” His claws unsheathed and sheath quickly, a nervous habit. Sytobi’s confidence is overwhelming, causing Adhama, in a moment of panic, to believe that he can smell the other’s testosterone. The other’s hate. A smell he knew very well.

Sytobi watches the cub out of the corner of his eye, taking in every minutely
distinguishing movement, evaluating and calculating. Kivuli? Them, of all, he'd
expect to know better than to let a cub cross the border. /Alone/, no less. A
look of suspicion crosses Sytobi's features, clearly evident even as only half
of his face is exposed. He finally lifts his head, turning it in Adhama's
direction. Ash gray. Where has he seen an ash-gray lion? Anywhere? "Where did
you come from?" It isn't that Sytobi finds Adhama particulary unimportant; such
behavior is typically his outward reaction to juveniles, even his own. "Who
told you about Zira?" His tone is only slightly less austere than his stare,
just short of interrogating.

Adhama tries to think quickly, to get out of this alive he needs to keep his wits about him, and he knows it. He watches the larger lion intently, then looks away, focusing on the distance. ‘now that I have your attention, I’ll treat you like you did me,’ he thinks. “Where I come from? Hmmm. Let me think…” Adhama controls himself with upmost difficulty, then lowers himself to the ground, they only indicators that this newfound confidence is fake are his claws, which unsheathe and sheath at an alarming rate. “I don’t know if I need to tell you.” He yawns. The yawn is quite forced, but the effect is the same. “As for Zira, a little bird told me I should find her.”

A few seconds pass in what seems like an hour, Sytobi's expression unflickering.
Bloodshot eyes carry a scalpel-sharp stare, pupils as tiny as pin pricks,
unblinking. Then.. Sytobi's thin black lips peel back once more, this time to
reveal an unsettling sneer of a smile. "You don't say." One may detect a hint
of laughter in his voice, form settling back once more, ever-calm, ever-chill..
"N'what makes you so -confident- all of the sudden.." Sytobi's tail thumps
against the stony ground, adding further anunciation to the word 'confident'. ".
..Hm?"

“What do you mean?” Adhama asks, voice level, but his head was afire with panicked thoughts. ‘How did he know? Was it that obvious? Keep it together. You are cold. You are unfazed.’ he thought. “If you are not Zira, then I don’t want to waste my time with nobodies,” he said his voice overly mellow. ‘What gave it away? What gave it away?’ his ears picked up a small scratching sound. His claws! ‘That’s what it was!’ he thought, and through a large effort, stilled his claws. He looked back to the tide pools, keeping the larger cat and the corner of his eye.

Sytobi knows well enough the scent of fear, the telltale fluctuation of pupil
size; yes, who knows a lie better than he who lies? Shifting his weight back a
bit more, the large male makes it effortlessly clear that he is neither
impressed, nor insulted. "M'no, you're right. I'm not Zira.." His cheek pressed
against the sandy gravel of the rocky shore, a single eyebrow lifting. "I just
carry out her dirty work.." Five miniature sickles upturn a few pebbles as
they're dragged along the earth, four ashy claws and a smaller, sharper dewclaw.
Casually twisted.

Using all of his willpower, as well as the reserve one gets when extremely scared, Adhama suppresses a shudder, but just barely. He had to remain calm. How could he face Zira if he could not face her toady? His act was not working, and he doubted that he would get pity, for was that not the reason he chose them in the first place? ‘He’s testing me’ he thought, ‘He trying to intimidate me, and he doing a good job. I can’t intimidate him, so it’s time to change tactics.’ He gets an idea. It’s a long shot, but it might work. He summoned all of his experience in lying, and said, “I’m Zira’s cub. And her rightful heir. She will get very angry if she finds out that you…kept me from her.” His claws stayed in their place and every muscle in his body was relaxed. There was one more thing to do, and probably the most dangerous. He got up and adjusted his postion, laying back down with his back facing the larger lion. “Now, if you could direct me to Zira, I will see that you are rewarded.” It was a risky position, and the proposal of the reward would be suicidal unless he could get Zira’s protection.

It appears as though the cub's tactic may be working; Sytobi's jaw goes
slightly slack anyway, the amusement draining from his face. "Why.. it can't be.
." he murmurs, his voice all quiet and awe-struck-like. Even his tail falls
limp, and all Sytobi can do for a moment is stare. "Your.. Your /majesty/!" At
once, the big, maneless male is on all fours, his front end lowered in a formal
bow. "How could I have been so foolish! Right this way, sire." With that, he
rises again, extending a paw out as if to say 'after you'

‘It could not have been that easy,’ Adhama thought, ‘It should have not been that easy.’ He gets up, slowly, as to not seem excited. He began slowly walking towards the large male, when a terrifying thought occurs to him- if the simple mention of Zira’s bloodline causes this much fear, then Zira herself must be…his attention drew away from the larger cat next to him as he began picturing Zira. She would be…Amazing. Just what he needed.

Sytobi would seem intimidated enough now, sure. As the cub passes by, he
remains stock-still, watching the cub pass over ..eh, 'nervously' furrowed
brows. The second that Adhama's back is turned to Sytobi, however, his extended
paw reveals needly-pointed claws, lifts and swipes, aiming to pin the cub
against the ground...

Completely engrossed in his thoughts of Zira, Adhama never saw it coming.

By the time Adhama probably has time to realize what is upon him, Sytobi's face
is looming inches from one of the cub's ears. Clawtips press against the back
of Adhama's neck, not quite hard enough to break the skin, but hard enough to
be felt. "I've knew Zira long before you were more than a dirty thought in the
back of your father's mind, kid," A serpentine voice, nothing like the one that
had left Sytobi's lips moments earlier; an acidic hiss, this one. "Nice try,
though," he mockingly adds, just before applying just the right amount of
pressure to just the right spot.. The simple pinch on a pressure point, and
hopefully he should be out cold just long enough for Sytobi to bring him to
Zira, /without/ the cub seeing the way.

When he awoke , Adhama began to fully realize what he has gotten into.

[adhama]

forgot to put this at the begining:

Prologue: The Decision

The darkness is overwhelming, but when coupled with the cold and rain, the night is unbearable. Adhama shivers under a small rock, trying to protect himself from the cold and the rain, though much to no avail. The small field mouse that he caught earlier that day lies forgotten in the rain, the small joy it had brought Adhama died with the mouse.
It was an accident of course, but Adhama still felt guilty. He had just been picturing those two cubs he had seen earlier. They had been playing. Playing! They were no different than him! Why could they spend their time playing while he desperately worked so hard just to survive? It was just not fair?
He hated those cubs. Hated their mother which slept nearby “protecting” them. Hated the way they played. Hated the way they smiled.
He had been given hope, though. A small glimmer. Another lioness had come up to tell the first about the progress of some called “outlanders”. He liked that name. Outlander. It suited him.
He stretched out a paw into the horrible rain, his claws digging into the mouse’s flesh as he drew it back to his small lair. He would find these Outlaners. He would use them. He would make those happy cubs pay. Dearly.
He began smiling as he ate his little meal, by the end of it he began doing something that he had not done in a long time. He laughed.

Episode 2- the Denial

<sub>Setting: (/Mbaamwezi\) - Pridal Cavern
The entrance of the cavern is wide, but does not extend to a great height;
enough to clear the heads of those that live in it, but small enough to keep
larger animals out, but only remains this way for the space of a few feet.
From there, the tunnel itself beings an incline, going upwards a slightly
longer distance, before opening into a large cavern.
Protected from wind, rain, and the sea itself, this cavern is often very
cozy and warm. A thick layer of sand covers the floor; the sand itself seems
to be quite settled and firmly packed, created a firm, yet yielding terrain.
It is quite large, though a back portion seems to have extended just a bit,
forming it's own partial cavern, slightly higher than the rest. The main
entrance is easily seen to the back. A second entrance is to the west, smaller,
though it too leads out.
Characters: (those who were active)

Adhama:
Before you is a small cub with dark grey fur. His underbelly is whiter, and either side of his midsection has several tooth mark shaped scars. He looks
perpetually haggard and skinny, but not starving. He has large green eyes,
which look out of place, yet they are filled with intelligence and cunning. He
has been driven from many places, leading him to look for Zira, leader of the
outlanders, in order to ask to join. He seeks revenge on all those that are
better off than he, which most of the world is. Because of his history of being
ostracized, he is wary of anyone bigger than him. When nervous, his claws
sheath and unsheathe constantly. He tries to come off as extremely confidant
when he can, but has deep self esteem issues. He sees the world as mostly black
and white, and makes his decisions as such. He has no problem with lying to get
what he needs, as long as he feels that the cost of a loss in trust is worth it.
He is constantly looking to prove himself.

Zira:
Now the past I've tried forgetting
And my foes I could forgive
Trouble is, I knows it's petty
But I hate to let them live

Two crimson-colored eyes rest above a pointed black nose, and the right ear is
nicked. Mushroom-colored fur has the typical pale-furred underside, but this
particular lioness is set apart from most of the rest of her kind by a darker-
brown stripe that begins between her scarlet eyes and ends between her lanky
shoulder blades.

The melody of angry growls
A counterpoint of painful howls
A symphony of death, oh my!
That's my lullaby!

Sytobi:
The first thing one probably notices about this male is the fact that,
while he /is/ undeniably male, no mane adorns his pale visage. Instead a clumpy
fringe of fur juts from forehead to shoulders in an almost spike-like fashion,
no darker in coloration than the rest of him. Though some may consider it a
disadvantage, the unusual characteristic makes him more difficult to detect
while creeping amid the tall grass. The long fur along his head and neck, as well as his clumpy 'sideburns', are perpetually swept back, as if he were facing a strong wind.
While Sytobi lacks a proper mane, it would be impossible for one of his own to mistake him for a lioness. His muscular form is large enough to do damage, yet lithe enough to avoid it. A pelt the color of sun-bleached sand enshrouds him, paling only below his eyes and along his broad muzzle. The
monochrome uniformity is broken by the occasional jagged scar, which reveals bare ash-gray flesh beneath. There is an undeniably foreign air that surrounds every essence of Sytobi's being, from the scent he carries, to the way he carries himself, to the way he looks - yes - even the way he speaks.
His pupils are neurotically contracted; the whites of his eyes are a
reddish pink, fading nicely into the crimson-brown of his irises. His ears and
tail are tipped in pale chocolate brown. A vertical scar runs from the corner
of his eyebrow and along his right cheek, a blow that miraculously missed his
eye by no more than an inch. A deceptive, almost disgusted sneer twists across
his scar-ticked muzzle, set behind a dull gray nosepad.
pic: www.deviantart.com/view/32974531/
www.deviantart.com/view/33503110/

Seifer:
First glance is enough to see this girl isn't native to any of the varying
lands. Her presence alone holds a sence of exotic, if not foreign, difference.
If it isn't her appearance alone that screams her difference from those around
her, her accent deffinately does. She's young, in her late adolescence, however she's smart and extremly cunning. Seifer's figure is lean, muscles not bulky and noticeable. Don't underestimate her, she's strong in her own way, but she's more built for speed and stealth than brute force.
Figure is coated in a sandy beige, fur short yet velvet soft and thicker on the
underside of her neck and belly. A lighter version of her overall coat color is
painted upon each toe, her muzzle, down her neck and chest, extending through
her legs to soak her underside.
A vibrant crimson red exlodes to form the tuft of fur at the end of her whip
like tail. Unlike most females, Seifer holds something.. resembling a mane,
however not even close. Fur sprouts from her head and neck in long crimson
locks, draping over her eyes, behind her head, hanging down her neck, and
resting over her shoulder. Save the few locks that fall into her eyes, the
majority of her 'hair' lay on the left side of her face and neck.
Beneith her bangs of crimson, are two eyes of the brightest green you can find.
Call them what you want, Lime Green, Neon Green, really freaking bright green.
Below each green eye is a tattoo of sorts, both looking burnt/scarred into her
cheeks. Each marking looks like that of an upside down tear.
www.deviantart.com/view/33494318/ -- Thankies 'tobi. n_n <3
Jemadari:
Larger than most of his peers and beginning to fill out in muscular bulk, Jemadari carries himself in a twisted perversion of nobility. Both princely and cruel, refined and malicious; the adolescent appears to
almost perpetually skulk. The feline's body is wrapped in a rust
colored coat that displays his vanity by how well-groomed and tended
to his countenance is from his dark, primitive Mohawk of a mane to the
livid tuft at the end of his tail. A creamy tan tints the young lion's
underside and the area of his muzzle beneath his broad nose, framing his
dagger-like fangs and accenting the angular features of his face.
As his features are maturing, the one static attribute the leonine
has is the cunning look burning behind his golden eyes.
Guest 1: lioness that is Zira’s guest
Charactors: (not active)
[zzz] Kunguru, male raven [zzz] Macabre, female lioness
[zzz] Vitani, female lioness cub [zzz] Subira, female lioness cub
[zzz] Izraili, female lioness cub [zzz] Asad, female lioness cub
[zzz] Nuka, male lion cub</sub>
________________________ _RP START__________________________

Sytobi isn't exactly the gentlest lion in the bunch. As he slips into the cavern, a cub can be seen held in his jaws, by the head, clearly unconscious. It can also be seen that Sytobi is somewhat torn up, the most obvious wounds being four puncture marks on the side of his neck - tooth marks. His ears are pinned back in agitation, fur sopping wet with rainwater and saltwater, eyes characteristically narrowed. "Mff hrmurrrf," His low voice is muffled through a mouthful of cub head, which is dropped just seconds later onto the cold stone floor.. "..Found /this/ floundering out by the beach. Said it needs to see you. If you require assistance, I'd be glad to dispose of it for you.." That said, he makes his way to the back of the cave in an almost ritualistic fashion to rest against the back wall. Pupils flicker from his haggard silhouette with a distant, morbid curiousity..

Adhama awoke dazed. His back hurt. His neck hurt. He just hurt. Everywhere. is vision swam before him. The world was a blur to his eyes. He tried to standup, but lost is balance and collapsed to the floor. ‘What happened? Where am I? Why do I feel like his?’ he thought. Then the memory of his encounter with Sytobi came to him. With his vision still largely impaired, but improving, He screamed, “You tricked me!” He tried to get up again , only to fall into a heap again. “You tricked me,” he whispers sadly, his eyes still unable to identify anything around him.


"Silence, whelp!" Jemadari sneers from the shadows, his dark mane flicking with the movement as his shining fangtips glisten into the light. "A /cub/ had business with Queen Zira, Sytobi? This must be positively /pressing/." The gruff baritone of the lion's voice fades as he slinks closer to the cub, perking his ears and narrowing his golden eyes. "Can we slaughter it?"

What the hell is that? Sytobi just brought a wet rat into the cave. Wait... it's a cub. Seifer's vivid eyes flash open as she takes a better look at the child, curiosity satisfied that it wasn't one of her's, she settles back down upon the cavern wall. A clawed paw idly strokes a sleeping Asad as she mrrs dryly, ears turning backwards into her crimson bangs. When the cublings jumps up with his acusations of the maneless male, Seifer can't help but sneer dangerously. Ooo Wah, the mean lion tricked me. Just eat him and get it over with. Seems Jemadari speaks her thoughts. A dry chuckle is all that emits from Seifer in the background. Please.

Zira is nursing her first batch of cubs in the cool atmosphere of the cavern when Sytobi makes his entrance, blinking in bewildered surprise at Sytobi's appearance. "What the hell happened to you?" Surely the cub didn't manage all that. She has the same initial confusion regarding said cub that Sytobi did: is it one of his? No, that's a male cub. And then Jemadari speaks up on her behalf, bringing a subtle smirk to the Queen's maw. "No, that won't be necessary...yet, " Zira intones as a response to both of the lions, not rising from the stone floor for such an informal meeting. "Speak. And quickly. Don't waste anymore of my time than you already are," she gruffly addresses the cub.

“Zira?” the small cub asks. “Zira is here?” Adhama starts to stand up, and this time is able to, though his legs shake badly-fear or the aftereffects of Sytobi? His claws sheath and unsheathe quickly, yet his voice is strong, forced, but strong. “I have come to request that I may join your pride.” His claws make little swish sounds as they go in and out. His eyes are adjusting, and are now able to pick up the blurred form of the lionesses around him.

A low, mirthless mockery of a chuckle is Sytobi's response, his tail coiling absently. "Who am I to deny a dying child his last request.." Answers Sytobi simply. Perhaps he is simply not hungry, or in a killing mood. Nay, he's done plenty of killing for one day. "None of your business," is his hissed response to Zira's prying inquiry. His eyes shift discretely to Seifer.

It is unfortunate the Jemadari has rolled over onto a particularly nasty day.
The lion slowly skulks around the cub, a low growl rolling out of him as his
greedy eyes size up his food. Dinner. And a show. What a marvelous night.

The question from Zira gets a light scowl from Seifer in her corner, as well as
the discrete glance from Sytobi. Her features drop cold and emotionless as
usual in a matter of mere seconds and she returns her gaze to the tiny cub, her
paw stroking her own absent mindedly. An ear twitches as she yawns and pushes
herself to her paws, stretching and idly walking the few feet towards Sytobi,
leaving the cubs in a tiny heep not far away. She roughly noses his head, right
behind his ears, before droping gracefully to her haunches and placing her back
against the cold stone. Vivid gaze sets boredly, however intently, upon Zira
and the small boy. Blink.

"I believe it very much is, Sytobi," Zira growls, crimson eyes flashing. "But
you can explain after I'm through with this one." The Queen shifts her
attention from the maneless lion, lifting the paw closest to Adhama to sweep
over the litter at her belly in an encompassing gesture. "Do you see these
cubs? Add on twice as many to have the number of cubs we currently have in the
pride. Add on even more, and you'll be closer to the number of how many there
will be once I've had my second litter." She places her forepaw back onto the
ground. "As you can see, we have enough offspring to feed as it is, without
accepting every abandoned cub that wanders into our borders." Glancing towards
Jemadari, she exchanges a knowing smirk. "In fact, sometimes we have to resort
to eating such orphans when we're low on prey," she adds, a lethal undertone to
her gravelly voice.

Adhama suppressed a shudder. His eyes focused better, only to tell him what his ears already had. There was a lion circling him. Male by the smell. There was a larger lioness laying with cubs, although he detected no mother’s sympathy in her eyes. The smell of hate hung in the air, which seemed thicker than that outside. Adhama’s claws moved very quickly now, in, out, in, out. Zira’s simple denial had thrown him off. “Well…” he started but cut himself off. He was lucky so far that the lion that brought him in stayed quiet about his lie about being Zira’s Heir. That could only make things worse. “Are you sure?” he asked again, but he felt that he already knew the answer, he just had to take the last stab at getting out of this alive.

The one thing that Sytobi finds particularly unbearable about pridal living: Everything is everyone's business. Though he cringes inwardly, his outward expression remains unflickering, eyes once again settling on Zira, even as Seifer approaches and nudges him. He watches, deciding to make no further contributions to the conversation.. His own head lowers to the cavern floor, beside Seifer's, ears flattened back.. This scenario is hardly new to Sytobi

"Is. She. Sure?!" Jemadari echoes with a snarl lunging forward to swipe a claw at the cub. "Let me kill it, Zira. Let me kill it, and eat it..." Lips curl back over the muzzle as the male leans in and sniffs the cub, his warm, fetid breath slipping toward the smaller creature. "...and leave its bones to the vultures!"

A thin brow arches towards the younger male. Down boy. The cubs words bring a faint scowl to the lioness' maw and she chuckles dryly again, "Stupid idiot," is all thats muttered from the foreign crimson maned female, that thick accent still draping each word. Seier idly lets her ears flip back and snuggles rather stiffly against Sytobi. That was about as much affection as she was going to give, probably ever. Her tail twitches and gaze casually shifts back between Zira and the cub, to her cubs. Zira mentioning her next litter causing an ear to twitch, although vaugely.

Zira's eyes flicker in irritation at the insistent question. But she lifts her paw at Jemadari's outburst as a halting gesture. "Did you misunderstand something I said, cub?" she hisses, ears flattening briefly as she speaks. "Go beg for food in someone else's lands," the lioness growls, only then addressing Jemadari verbally. "If he fails to do such in a timely manner, then you may do as you requested. And by timely, I mean /now/."

Adhama was so stunned by the lioness’s words that for a moment they seemed almost foreign. ‘Let me go?’ he thought. His feet began moving before his head could tell them to. He began to back out of the cavern.

"Be thankful you made it this far, pipsqueak," Sytobi murmurs, his chin pressed firmly upon the ground, causing his head to rise slightly with each syllable.

Zira watches the cub as he backpedals out of the cave, her expression stoic.
"If he's seen in our lands again, kill him," she orders to no one in particular
before returning her focus to Sytobi. "Now then. What caused your injuries?"
she asks, her tone bordering on pure demand.

Once out side the cavern, Adhama runs until his paws begin to bleed.

[adhama]

i ve decided that i'm gonna make this into a running storyline- for anyone who wants to take the time to read it
on a side note- finally a happy ending to the episode! but who really are these new friends?

Episode 3- A Chance Meeting

<sub>Setting:

~*~ Kivuli - Willow Beach ~*~

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| ~*~ Willow Beach ~*~ |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|

A small lagoon spreads out before one's eyes. The sand here is an odd
white, and cool to the touch despite the direct and torturing sunlight.
The beach is shaped like a small half-circle, to the left the twin rivers,
while to the right a large fallen tree blocks one's path. Near the center
of the beach is a large willow tree - possibly the influence behind the
area's name. It's enormous, the large branches extending about two
hundred feet from span to span, creating a small, hidden area below. The
tree itself appears quite old, and leans towards the cove as if
threatening to fall in. On either side of the willow there are large
clumps of reeds, perfect for hiding cubs if danger presents itself.

Adhama
Before you is a small cub with dark grey fur. His underbelly is whiter, and either side of his midsection has several tooth mark shaped scars. He looks perpetually haggard and skinny, but not starving. He has large green eyes, which look out of place, yet they are filled with intelligence and cunning. After his “meeting” with Zira, Adhama realizes that his childish plots for revenge were… well…childish. Now more confused than ever, he tries to find his place in the great circle. Because of his history of being ostracized, he is wary of anyone bigger than him. When nervous, his claws sheath and unsheathe constantly. He tries to come off as extremely confidant when he can, but has deep self esteem issues. He sees the world as mostly black and white, and makes his decisions as such. He has no problem with lying to get what he needs, as long as he feels that the cost of a loss in trust is worth it. He is constantly looking to prove himself.

Sheena
A young lioness with rust fur, Sheena's always been on a bit of the small side,
but now a days she's a rather scrawny lioness, with leen, built-for-speed
muscles. She has perky ears, and one seemingly always flopped to the side On
her left paw is a patch of slightly darker fur, shapped like a bird. She'd
always had it. A few rough patches on her back show you how she's been
wandering and living alone for a large part of her life, so she tends to be on
the shy side. But those fortunate to talk to her will notice striking choclate
eyes with emerald flecks toward the center.

Kanoni
Kanoni, young, but apparantly able. A well rounded young lion of brown, almost
deep orange fur. Running down the back of his neck and onto his shoulders, what
will one day become a thick mane, is nothing more than a ruffled shaggy mohawk
of darker fur, part of which occasionally letting a tip of the hair creep over
his forehead like a set of bangs. His body is scarred in places, from life on
his own, minor signs of strength and acheivent. However the rugged, rogue of a
body, is only the first step. His eyes, a quiet brown, showing a very solemn
and thoughtfull person who allows a sense of duty drive him forward. A fair
amount of muscle begins to cover his narrow, swift frame, keeping him sturdy
and as strong as his heart.</sub>



______RP START______

Adhama, his paws bleeding and causing a large amount of pain, stops running. He hears voices up ahead. Did Zira send someone after him? Or did that scary Jemadari decide to pursue him himself? Forgetting his hurt paws for a second, he hides in some reeds. The water feels good in the cuts on his feet. He needs to get close enough to see if they are friend or foe.

Sheena looked up to Kanoni. "But why? What about mom? Is she doing alright? How
come they contacted you and not me..." It upset her that when she was the only
one caring enough to look for Kanoni, they seemed to find him just fine ...

Kanoni shakes his head, "They aren't the same, Sheen-" his sentance cuts off
aprubtly. His ear flicks and he tries to listen over the waves. He thought he
heard something. His ears swivvle around trying to hear anything out of the
ordinary.

Adhama can barely make out the voices, but the water is too deep to go any closer without swimming. Maybe if he got on that log that spanned the deeper section? He climbed up onto it. ‘yes’ he thought ‘there is still enough reeds to hide me’. He began to make his way along the log when his paw, still raw and bleeding, was thrust onto something sharp. He screamed and grabbed his paw, sending him down into the water with a big splash.

Sheena jumped at the new sound. "Do'ya spose it's another leopard?" She stalker
over and gave a low growl, checking out the area. Sheena wished they'd just
leave her alone for once.

Kanoni's ears jut towards the sound and follows Sheena, stepping over, ears
lowered, tail swaying slowly as he hups upon the log and surveys the source. Or
simply trying to find it.

Coughing and trying not to breathe in the water, Adhama kittypaddled to a place that he could touch. He could not see the owners of the voices that he heard, which is probably because the came up out of the water facing away from them. And completely in the open.

Sheena jumped in the reeds with a growl, not knowing the young lion was behind
her. "Okay where are you, and why to you keep tormenting me!!"

Kanoni looks up, seeing the cub, "Sheena." he comments, looking at Adhama,
hopping off the log, "Its only a loose cub." He seems hurt too. The young
lion's eyes inspect the cub.

“Cough-Hack- Cough,” Adhama starts, trying to clear the water out of his lungs, “I knew Zira would not have let me go.” He sits up straight and closes his eyes, “just make it quick please, I can’t run anymore.”

Sheena thingyed smiled. She remembered when she was in his shoes... "Hey hey,
relax, you're we won't hurt you." She said gently. "Well...I won't at least..."
Sheena gave a smirk to Kanoni. "Let me have a look at those paws of yours,
please?"

Kanoni hmms softly, repeating the name, "Zira..." he thinks, "I've heard of
them before, a little infamous, though I don’t know what for or why but." He
steps over softly, his eyes showering the same compassion Sheena uses upon the
cub. "What's your name?" he asks softly.

Adhama slowly opens his left eye, almost comiclly surveying the two larger
lions. Then he opens his other, and his muscles relaxed. "You mean you won't...
" he began as he held up one of his bleeding, raw paws for the lioness. "I'm
Adhama"

Sheena gave a warm smile to Adhama before taking his paw in her own. "tsk tsk
tsk, those are some nasty cuts..." Sheena pulled up a reed with her teeth and
split open the bottom. She then squeezed some of the liquid onto his paw and
licked it in. She had many of these wounds before, and learned a few tricks.

Kanoni hmms soflty and smiles. "Nice to meet you Adhama." his voice is calm and
soft, "I'm Kanoni. And this is my baby sister, Sheena."

Adhama almost shivered as the reed water numbed his paws. They lions were different than the outlanders, that was for sure. Quite different than anyone that he had ever met; except his parents of course, but his memories of them were vague at best. “So Zira /didn’t/ send you?” he still couldn’t get around that.

Sheena flashed Kanoni 'a look'. After all this time he still referred to her as
his baby sister...but she didn't mind -that- much. She looked back to the cub,
"You do that everytime theses paws of yours start hurting, kay?" Despite her
cold nature to older lions, Sheena was always liked the little ones. She gave a
questioning look to Kanoni, before turning back to Adhama, "Zira?"

Kanoni grins softly at Sheena after 'the look'. He watches the cub, "I know
Zira only by name, I havent heard even a reputation. Where are you from,
Adhama? Where is your family?" after all this cub is here all alone.

Adhama thought back to his encounter with Zira: /‘As you can see, we have enough offspring to feed as it is, without accepting every abandoned cub that wanders into our borders.’ Glancing towards Jemadari, she exchanges a knowing smirk. ‘In fact, sometimes we have to resort to eating such orphans when we're low on prey.’/ The thought of Zira’s cold stare made him shiver again. He answers, “She’s bad. I thought that she would… but she’s bad. My family? I don’t remember. Far away. Maybe. I don’t know.” He looks at the scars that mar his sides, “my family was a long time ago.”

Sheena saw him look to the scars on his sides, 'Hmm, I wonder if those have
anything to do with this 'Zira'..' she thought. She then made a mental note
about Zira and the cub's fear of her. "Remind you of anyone, Kanoni?" Sheena
ripped open another reed, and motioned with her head for Adhama to lift his
other paw up to her.

"Not a soul." Kanoni replies coldly to Sheena. He looks to the cub, "I can take
you to a place where you will be safe. If you like." The last thing he would
want is for a cub to be out on his own for years to grow up like he did, or
worse.

Adhama lifted his other paw to the lioness, almost sighing in relief when his first paw returned to the ground- it felt so much better. “Who do I remind you of?” He asks, turning to the lioness. ‘A safe place,’ he thinks, ‘how long will it be safe? Until someone kicks me out? Until they find out why I was meeting with Zira? Oh well.’ “And I think I will go to your safe place.”

Sheena mumbled under her breath at Kanoni's response, "liar." She smirked at
the cub's question, "Oh, just a certain brother of mine." Sheena nipped at
Kanoni's ear. Even if the cub had refused, like Kanoni, there's no way she
knowing let him grow on his own either. She didn't know what safe place this
was either, and was quite curious.

Kanoni nods softly, "I... I can try to convince them to let you stay as long as
you need but...." he pauses, "I don't know them well. In fact the only person
who might be able to garuntee it-." he shakes his head softly, no. I can do it
just fine. We help the kid and... then myself. Once again he makes his
descision here at the beach. He was going to make thrings right. Its been a few
days since they went wrong, but he has a job to finish. "I'm going to find food.
" he says simply. Walking away from the beach, "I'll be back, I promise."

Adhama sits quietly. ‘What else is there to do?’ he thinks.

Sheena grabbes a few more reeds in her mouth, to get the cub's back paws, once
there's a chance. "Okay les' go" she manages to get out between the reed,
looking to Kanoni for direction, and nudging the cub in front of her, It’s a bad
idea to have little ones on the end...

[adhama]

Episode 4- New Friends, Old Memories

Setting: ~*~ Kivuli - Willow Beach ~*~

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
| ~*~ Willow Beach ~*~ |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| |
| A small lagoon spreads out before one's eyes. The sand here is an odd |
| white, and cool to the touch despite the direct and torturing sunlight. |
| The beach is shaped like a small half-circle, to the left the twin rivers, |
| while to the right a large fallen tree blocks one's path. Near the center |
| of the beach is a large willow tree - possibly the influence behind the |
| area's name. It's enormous, the large branches extending about two |
| hundred feet from span to span, creating a small, hidden area below. The |
| tree itself appears quite old, and leans towards the cove as if |
| threatening to fall in. On either side of the willow there are large |
| clumps of reeds, perfect for hiding cubs if danger presents itself.


Characters:
[IC ] Kanoni, male adol. lion [IC ] Lutalo, female barbary lioness
[IC ] Sheena, female adol. lioness [IC ] Adhama, male lion cub

RP START

Kanoni walks back to the beach where he had been earlier. Hoping Sheena was
still there. Glances back to see if Lutalo is still following or not. He was
almost worried that she wasnt following anylonger.

Lutalo slowly follows along after Kanoni, her gaze drifting over the area
remembering when she was a cub and she grew up here.. "You all are staying
here?.."

Sheena stands, holding the reeds still. "So are you going to let me get the
back paws or not?" She mumbles to Adhama. She glances over and lights up seeing
Kanoni...and is that the girl she was told about?

Adhama looks at the new lioness wearily. He balances on three legs as he lifts
one of his back legs.

Kanoni shakes his head softly, "No...we've been moving around for a couple days
but.. just come with me." he smiles now, seeing Sheena is still there. And with
that cub too. As he walks over to Sheena he turns back to Lu. "Lu...I wanted
you to meet my little sister. Sheena" He politly refrained from the use of the
term 'baby sister'.

Lutalo follows along still, her tail lashes while she peers forward and her maw
twitches as she peers towards the other lioness and a cub. A nod is offered
while her ears perk forward and she settles down on her haunches.

Sheena smiled. "So you are Lutalo? Hi. I am Sheena...I have heard a little
about you." Sheena turned back to Adhama, "okay now the other one."

Adhama absentmindedly switched paws, watching the new lioness. ‘These two may
not work for Zira, but they wouldn’t turn me over to one who does, would they?’
he thinks.

Kanoni looks back to Lutalo. "That cub's name is Adhama. I was planning on
taking him to Kivuli in the morning. Hoping there would be someone there to
take care of him for a while." he looks to the cub as his sister administer's
aid. "How are your feet doing today Adhama?" He steps over to sit beside Lutalo.

Lutalo maw twitches and she nods to Sheena. "Ya that I'm.. Nice to meet you
Sheena." A ear perks and he wonders what kanoni has said about her. She eyes he
cubs some and smirks a bit. "I'm sre someone there will take care of him."

Sheena wasn't sure who Kivuli was, but she wanted to find out before Adhama had
to stay there. For his sake. Sheena was surprised to gear Kanoni refraining
from calling her a baby sister, but was pleased. "There, better now?" she asked
the cub.

“Much better, thank you” Adhama said. ‘Kivuli?’ Adhama thinks, ‘what is that?’ he
took an experimental lap around the lioness. “Much better,” he repeated.

Kanoni grins softly. "If you could accompany us...I would be greatful." he
looks to Lutalo. "I still dont feel like anyone in that cave has the patience
for me." Its odd how Kanoni still doesnt feel accepted by the Kivuli, even with
Ronan's daughter's good word in for him

Lutalo isn't to sure what to say about that, she takes in a breath. "I suppose
so."

Sheena looks over with a confused look. "Accompany us...where exactly?"

“Do we have to walk some more?” Adhama asks, disheartened. ‘Just when I started to
feel better…’ he thought

Kanoni smirks softly, "Yes...but it really isnt that far." he says to the cub,
"If you're feet are still troubling you I can carry you on my shoulder's if
you'd like." he smiles. "In the meantime....a night to rest and a night to heal
would be nice." he says softly, looking around some before he picks his spot
where he stands and lays down on his stomach, yawning. A thoughful glance
offered to Lutalo.
Lutalo ears perk and she nods to the idea of a night rest while shifting to her
paws and moves over to the willow tree. She peers up into its branches and hops
up into a large low hang one and settles down upon it. A well worn spot can be
found upon the thick branch where she is laying proven someone else used the
spot before. "Everyone's asleep there anyway."

Sheena yawned as well, very contagious. "That sounds mighty good to me as well..
." Sheen curled up at the base of the tree instead, keeping the cub in sight.""

Adhama checked his paws again before curling up next to a large rock to break the
wind. ‘Carry me? I don’t need you to carry me-what am I a cub?’ he thought as
he laid down.

Kanoni closes his eyes and his mind returns to thinking on its own about goals
and life. He feels better. Theres no lie there. However something still feels
as though it is missing as well. Theres one thing he's learned though. The best
things never happen all at once.one day you meet a person who shows you that
living a life of perpetual wandering with only your thoughts as company just
isnt the way to go. Then later on. As soon as you forget that you realize there
is a little piece of your past out there always. A little piece that even when
everyone seems against you, it will always have faith in you. The young lion
smiles as he realizes these are the people he wants to protect and be with for
a long time. Thoughts that slowly put him to sleep.

the next day- Lutalo as left

Kanoni walks slowly. Every now and again looking to make sure everyone is still
with him. The plan afterall was to take Adhama to Kivuli, the only place he
thinks is safe for a lost cub anyways. He pauses as he steps through some
foliage and sits to take a bit of a rest.

Sheena walked along and was surprised at the sudden stop. "What? Tired
already?" She said, sitting down by Kanoni. "So, where are we headed, anyway?"

'I wonder where exacty we are going,' Adhama thinks. his paws don't hurt like
they did the day before, but he was tired of walking. He looked ahead and saw
Kanoni stop. Adhama welcomed the rest.


Kanoni smiled softly at his sister, "No... but we're walking with a cub." He
turns back to look at Adhama, "My offer to toat you still stands, Adhama."
hearing Sheena ask, he explains, "We're headed to the local pride's cave.
Surely someone there can look after and take care of Adhama for a while.." he
knows he does not wish to care for/protect a cub on the long term. Natural male
teenage to adult feelings.

Sheena furrowed her brow, "Is this pride...ok?" She's had expireience with
prides before, most don't make you fell welcome, and those are the nice ones...
Sheena looked back to the worn cub, "Right, you doin' okay?" She had forgotton
about his little legs...

"I'm fine. I don't need a place to stay, just a place to heal," Adhama lied. he
wanted a place to stay, but everyother place he had stayed at had kicked him
out after a time.

Kanoni smiled, "Then you'll get to heal as long as you need. But their nicer
than I'd have ever expected. I've been here in their lands for quite some time
and even allowed into their cave." He doesnt 'feel' like he belongs there which
is why he is here and not there.

Sheena nodded, still unsure, but always willing to trust her big brother
no matter what. "I see." Sheena looked around, while they were stopped, why not
graba bite to eat?

Adhama had met his share of "nice" prides. But Kanoni's smile was reassuring.
'Maybe this pride is different. These two are different, so maybe this pride
would be too,' he thought. His stomach growled.

Kanoni's ear flicks, hearing Adhama and he smiles. Rather than put the boy on
the spot he nods and looks to Sheena. "Would you like me to stay here with
Adhama?" Leaving his faith with her.

Sheena smiled knowingly. "sure." She was happy he'd be the one hunting not her.
But she thought it'd be a good idea to get the cub used to it, since Kanoni's
really good at it...

Adhama looked from one larger lion to the other. Something was happening here.
Something was going on. He was going to stay with him? What? rather than be
puzzled, he asked, "What are you two talking about?" his stomach growled again.

Kanoni blinks some, then smirks, telling Adhama, "I was just asking Sheena if
she would like me to stay here with you so she can find some food if I should
go instead." not wanting to leave the cub alone, and taking him along would be
just as disasterous.

Sheena looked over, "okay, I'll hunt... no problem." She took off into the
foliage, trying to track down a small something for everyone.

Adhama tried to tie what Kanoni had just said with what they had been doing. It
kinda made sense. His stomach growled again. 'Oh well,' he thought, laying down
to wait.

Kanoni sits down and yawns softly.. perhaps getting tired. "How are you doing,
Adhama?" he asks thoughtfully as Sheena goes to find food.

Sheena finally caught the scent of something warm-blooded, and proceeded to
hunt.

"I'm fine," Adhama replied. He was a little nervous about going to a
new pride. And he was hungry, as his stomach reminded him.

Kanoni smiles softly. "All this must feel very odd to you." he says softly,
"I'm sorry if everything is moving a little fast for you."

Sheena came back through the brush with two decent sized rabbits. "Sorry Kani."
she said with a laugh and put one rabbit down at the cub's feet. "If ya want
I'll split mine."

Adhama's head cocked to the side at Kanoni's words. He studied Kanoni's face.
He seemed familiar, but how could he? No it wasn't Kanoni he was remembering,it
was someone else. Someone bigger, with spots. And a girl. But who was it? She
had told him the same thing...a long time ago. He was brought out of his
thoughts by the rabbit. It was huge! "There's no way I can eat all of this," he
tells the other two.

Kanoni grins softly, "Well then try." he looks to Sheena, "Halfsies it is,
Sheena. Thanks for getting it." He couldnt help but become curious about the
little cub just before he saw the food. But it made him smile none the less.
giving him that warm feeling.

Sheena nosed her whole rabbit to Kanoni. "Yer a growing boy!" she said jokingly,
"Besides, you're probably hungrier. I'll just eat what Adhama doesn't eat." She
layed down softly

'Sawtidi? Shati? /What/ was her name?' Adhama thought as he began to eat the
rabbit. He ate everything but the ribs, the best part in his opinion and full
of meat, but he would not let himself eat them. Instead he picked the ribs up
and dropped them in front of Sheena. Looking hard at Kanoni, trying to jolt the
memory, Adhama said, "I can't finish, here."

Sheena eyed the cub suspiciously, she was surprised he left the best part. But
tore into it anyway, she wqas hungrier than she let off...

Realizing that Kanoni is watching him watch Kanoni, Adhama looked away quickly.
The revalation came quickly, 'A cheetah. That's what she was. She put me in
some bush and said "All this must feel very odd to you. I'm sorry if everything
is moving a little fast for you." and then she left and didn't come back. But
who was she?' He walked back to where he had eaten the rabbit and lay down
again, sure to stare directly in front of him to prevent his eyes from
waundering back to Kanoni.

Kanoni grins softly and finishes up. Wondering here Lutalo might be. He shakes
the thought from his head, she'll be fine. "We can leave again in the morning.
This is a safe place for the three of us."

Sheena nodded, "sounds good, I think we could all use a rest."

Adhama serched for a rock to use as a windbreaker, but could not find one.
Instead, he just curled up on the ground.

Kanoni stood up slowly and walks past Sheena, nudging her to follow. He steps
over to Adhama and curls up about a foot away on one side of him, wondering if
Sheena gets the idea. This area is safer than some places...but still not far
from where they found that leopard.

Sheena nodded in agreement, they didn't need to be spotted as easy prey. She
curled up ont the other side, providing a decent wind break, and able to keep
an eye on not just the cub but Kanoni too. Sheena still worried from time to
time.

Even though his eyes were closed, Adhama heard and smelt Kanoni lay down nearby,
and Sheena on the other. A protective gesture? Adhama smiled. Yes, these lions
were different from many others.

[adhama]

I think that this is a good place to end the log. I just finished reading the first char thread, and I have realized that I am suffering for FCAAGOG (First Character Addiction And Delusions Of Grander) Adhama is my first muck char ever, and I admit that I have gotten carried away (I have an 8 page back story for him that isn't done yet XD) so thank you to everyone who read these logs, but I think that there won’t be any for a while because my FCAAGOG wore off.