Enemies

[Bhu]

Ezhno
Bow before me or pay the forfiet of your life.

Fire burned orbs glared around the destined camp. He saw none of his lioness', nor the leopard nanny. But they would come to his roar, or be punished for ignoring. Fore the roar was louder then ever before, because this meeting was more important then the others. They had enemies now, and would have to watch their backs at every second.

Once the roars echoed died, his voice rang through the trees. "Akando now shall gather for a meeting before thy king. Important news is to be spread, one of which could impact the very existance and wellbeing of our family." The word family was like venom on his tongue. He hated refurring to this babbling, peace keeping fools as family.

[sheelawolf]

Kimoni tramped through the forests, trying to be careful not to brush his passenger against the underbrush needlessly. Dumi was a pleasure to carry, compared to how Kimoni imagined Izaray would have behaved. Not only was his small size less of a burden than another his age would have been, he was perfectly still, except for his head, which turned to glance at his surroundings in nervous curiosity. Izaray had unwittingly done Kimoni a favor by refusing to let him carry her.

For the briefest moment while the search began, Dumi considered how unwilling he would have been to allow a larger cat to get its mouth so close only a few hours earlier. The thought passed quickly, however as the leopard covered new parts of the territory. Dumi looked all about, partially curious about his new home, but mostly trying to get the first glimpse of Ackacheta. Even in the jaws of a powerful adult, far enough off the ground to make a predator Ackacheta's size think twice, Dumi didn't quite feel safe. The white cub had been pretty mad.

Dumi tried to work out what he'd say to Ackacheta when he saw him, that is, if the younger male even let him get close. What could he say that would soothe the hurt and anger the white cub was carrying? What would keep Dumi from seeming too weak to survive? Did it matter? When bite came to claw, which would the small cub value most, the forgiveness of a pridemate, or his life?

Only vaguely did Dumi realize the scent of smoke in the air. Kimoni smelled it too. He lifted his head and sniffed, his ears pulling back in concern. As much as he disliked Ackacheta, he hoped he wasn't in the direction of that smoke. At that instant, Ehzno's roars cut through the air. Kimoni growled in response, until he realized the little cub in his jaws was trembling. Ackacheta could be in danger and Ehzno expected them to just drop everything they were doing to respond? Well, he didn't have to respond. He wasn't Akando. If Kachi and Kala were willing to take Dumi and Izaray, he could search for Ackacheta himself, focusing on the most pressing emergency at the moment.

He set the cub in his jaws down, draping a paw over Dumi's shoulders to stop him from going too far as he scrambled for a safe place. Dumi's intention had just been to crawl under the leopard, but he froze and kept his eyes on the bushes as the nanny opened his mouth to share his plan with the others.

"Listen, if you lionesses want to hear what Ehzno's going to say..." the leopard began, but then he paused. There was no guarantee he'd find Ackacheta, and if he returned empty-pawed, Ehzno might not be pleased with his absence. He was pretty sure the lion didn't consider him a pride member, but Kimoni was a pride caretaker. It may be important to know whatever was of such detrimental importance to the cubs. Reluctance and confusion flashed across his eyes for just a moment, but finally he made up his mind. "...We'd better get going now. Hopefully, Ackacheta will have the sense to head that way too." At least, the leopard hoped so as he lifted Dumi in his jaws again and headed toward the sound of Ehzno's voice. If the white cub didn't show up, it didn't take much imagination to believe that would be the end of Kimoni's life as a leopard nanny. Or as a leopard.

[02moonpelt02]

Kachi grimaced as she walked behind Kimoni in search of the white male. Partly because of the ghastly smoke and partly because of the constant movement that moved her head up and down, and side to side. Her little sister's eyes were nearly burning away her pelt as she glared ferociously at the lioness's shoulder, the only thing she could result to while in Kachi's jaws. And still, as the leopard stopped when he came to notice to sickly gas that eminated from a fire a little ways away from there, Izaray struggled to have her feet firmly on the ground and the scruff of her throat away from the large teeth of her sister. Kachi sest her sister on the ground but kept a paw firmly on her tail to see to it that she didn't rush off in the direction of their father's voice or to where Ackecheta's scent trail led. Izaray glared up at her once more but turned her burning gaze to Kimoni as he began to speak.

Being carried had been horrible, but hearing that the search would be given up felt worse, which only flared more anger to spark inside of the cub. And then Matule spoke of Ackecheta having "enough sense." It was as if he had spoken of her own intelligence, only far more worse. A growl escaped ehr closed maw and she stood up, totally forgetting that Kachi had her pinned by the tail, and almost yelped in surprise when she was restrained from marchin up to the nanny and telling him where he could put his "sense." "Stop talking about Ackecheta as though he were as stupid as whatever that thing is cowering between your legs! He is probably on his way to Ezhno right now, so let's go!" Her fur bristling and eyes blazing, she made a fetal attempt to lash her tail, but ended up twitching the end of her tail irritably. Curse her sister's giant feet.

[|~|Lapara|~|]

OOC: YAY!!! Jasninon's first appearance! XD

Jasninon smelt the border markings. Hopefully this wasn't like the other two prides he had looked at. 'Nice', 'Peace-Loving', prides. Just like his mother. Ridiculous. What was so great about peace anyway? Suddenly a huge roar pierced the silence. What sort of peace-loving leader had a roar like that!?! Jasninon took a deep breath and the year old lion stepped across the border. He trotted toward the adult lion's voice until he could see him. This was definitely NOT a peace-loving pride. All he had to do now was get accepted. He walked up to the giant male, but not close enough that the male could get there in one leap. "Are you the leader of this pride?" He asked. He hated curtsies, they made him sick, he wanted to just demand to be in the pride, but he did NOT want to anger this leader. He stood there unmoving with determination in his eyes. He was not a good hunter yet. No cub could survive their whole life without a mother or pride. He needed to learn how to hunt, so he needed a pride. And from what he had heard there were only three prides right now.

[Bhu]

The alpha grunted impatiently as he continued to wait for his pridemates. Two things were certain; Ackacheta was in a horrid enough mood that he wouldn't be attending this meetig and that cub could very well get slaughtered by the new pride. Ezhno was unsure how this meeting would turn out. For one, he seriously didn't care enough about the white male to let his pride use energy on finding him. But then again, if Zonta Pride had taken the cub, this would be one sure way that even the weak hearted lioness' in his land would attack. The cub, no matter how cruel to them he was, was part of their family now. Not to mention Izaray had seemed to grow fond of the snow pelted male. Ezhno would not let her one friend be taken away from her; especially if those two would be the future for Akando.

The thoughts were cut short as a scent came to his attention. He could read the aroma well, due to many years of experience. It was a young lion male, though older then their eldest pride cub, Dumi. Ezhno made no motion to attack, even as the male came into view. The alpha did not feel threatened by this intruder, for his young age gave him a small size; a size that Ezhno could easily crush.

The only emotion, besides impatientce, that Ezhno let loose was one of hot anger. This teenager was walsing into the camp like he owned the world. "You obviously have small brains to match your small size." was his greeting after the question. "But yes, I am Ezhno of Akando." his voice, however hot with anger, held a slightly bored tone. All these newcomers were coming within short periods of time. Lucky for them, none had caught the male in one of his unpleasant moods. Well, even in his pleasant moods he was unpleasant, so one could only imagine him grumpy.

[|~|Lapara|~|]

As Jasninon stood there, lost in his thoughts, the male's voice entered his ears. "You obviously have small brains to match your small size." He snarled at the last remark but then realized that the male must have been testing him and he took a deep breath and calmed himself. "But yes, I am Ezhno of Akando." The leader said. YES! This WAS a pride. "Is it possible that I could stay here for a little while? I'll leave when I'm an adult." and have learned all the hunting skills. He added silently. "I barely require any food and I'll contribute almost every scrap to your marvelous pride." He said this to impress and convince, but none of that begging tone that so many lions had came into his voice. He remembered something he had learned from a younger lion and bowed his head to show he wasn't a threat... yet.

[Miki]

Kala had heard the summoning yowl from Ezhno, and since the group she was with hadn't ordered her to do anything, she immediately left. When she was barely out of earshot, she heard Kimoni's words, but she was already headed in that direction. Her heart pounded, fearing what Ezhno wanted. Nothing good ever came out of the pride's meetings. She dreaded finding out what Ezhno was upset with now.

She eventually reached the clearing where the pride dwelled. Their camp, it could be called. Ezhno and a new male were already there, and the younger male held an amazingly cool aura. Kala felt a brief flash of admiration, whenever she was with the pride she kept her head low and tried to stay out of sight. She had no friends in the pride, she only worked to live here and have a home. Like her usual character she stood aloof, her head lowered, and trying to appear casual. It was hard when she was so frightened, but what else could she do?

[Bhu]

The pride master continued to stare cooly at the male, even after the question was put forth. In a way he was sizing the male up, though it was obvious he was far larger at this stage of the game. But, judging by the aroma, this male was a year old. He would be getting far larger, but that wasn't deep enough information. Ezhno thought back to when he was that age. The image of his own form was only slightly larger then this males. Still, that small difference in size was what made the male decide. Even when the cub stated he'd leave as an adult, Ezhno would not simply believe him and let him join. No, he had to be sure that he would be large enought to defeat this male once he was full grown, just in case.

It was then he scented one of his lioness' join the camp. He sent an icy gaze in her direction, even more upset when he realized his nose had been correct; Kala was alone. "Ugh, my pride is useless." he murmered loud enough for even Kala across the way to hear. Then, turning his attention back to the male, he said, "Very well, male, you may remain within our ranks until your age forbids such a thing. Just now you may have heard my call for meeting. No one will give you trouble, except perhaps my youngest daughter. The fools are all too softhearted to be cruel to even a newcomer." he paused for the smallest moment. "Oh, and a leopard is within our ranks, but only temporarly. He is the cubsitter for Akando as punishment for trespessing and stealing a rabbit. Death is usually our only punishment, but my head huntress came to his defence. Plus, we needed a cubsitter anyway." his gaze focused in on the face of the male. "What is your name, anyway? I need to know so as to include your joining in the meeting."

[|~|Lapara|~|]

Jasninon almost took a sigh of relief, but he was still around the leader so he didn't. "Thank you." He said. "And my name is Jasninon.". He had made it into the pride. He walked off to the side, sat down, and waited for the meeting to start since he had nothing better to do.

[Miki]

Kala watched the two males curiously, but afterwards felt a foreboding sense of dread. It was never a good idea to have more than one male lion in a pride. She hoped Ezhno would go on and start with his meeting. She wanted to know what he was so furious about, even if it meant being frightened.

[02moonpelt02]

OOC: Um.. I just had an idea. I read Jasninon's bio, and I saw that he wanted to be a pride alpha, so I was just thinkign that he could try to become the next alpha of Akando by trying to get on Ezhno's good side along with Izaray's. Just an idea, you could just ignore this if you don't want to.

Upon hearing Ezhno's familiarly angry roar, Anabi shuddered and called her 'sisters' to her, signaling to follow her back to camp for the newly called meeting. She dreaded these pride meetings, for, however rarely they occurred, no good usually came out of them, especially if it meant that they put Ezhno in an even fouler mood than his usual sour tempered self. Her thoughts were short as she walked with her 'sisters' to the camp, and when they arrived, she stopped short, shocked to see that yet another lion had joined their ranks. Jasninon, from what she had just heard, and she shuddered at what would come of yet another new coming male. First Ackecheta, then Dumi, and now this Jasninon. If this continued, there would be more males in the pride than there were females, and Ezhno wouldn't appreciate the extra competition if one of them got any ideas in their heads. Anabi shook her head, clearing it of all thoughts like that, telling herself she was being foolish before taking a seat beside Kala and watching as her 'sisters' did the same.

[Bhu]

OOC//:hehe, that would be fun. Ackacheta would be INFURIATED and it would be a competiton between the two XD If Ezhno notices that the two are secretly fighting for the right of alpha, he would be terribly amused XD

[02moonpelt02]

OOC: I know right?! That's exactly the saem thoughts that I had.

[|~|Lapara|~|]

OOC: That WOULD be interesting. Let me think about how to do that for a little while.

[|~|Lapara|~|]

The young male looked around at the gathering lions. It seemed a normal enough group... except of course for a leopard. Ugh. There shouldn't be any other cat but lions. The others were just stupid compition for prey. Oh well. He was only a cubsitter. An unimportent and undesireable job. his thoughts trailed off to other places. Again he looked at the leader. Ha! All he does was rule by fear. He could probobly fight if he had to but what an idiot! And he says I have a small brain! Seems to think that I'll just leave when I'm asked. No. Of course not... But he did mention a daughter. If I can get on her better side I might not have to fight at all. I'll look into that. Although I shouldn't get my hopes up. He couldn't help noticing the irritablity of this huge male.

OOC: Everyone knows this but as a reminder I agree with almost nothing Jasninon says. Bhuvana, your character is not a pinhead and I love all cats, lion-ish or not.