Calling all Shujaa!

[leigh]

Asan was gone. Vyess knew not where he was, or even if he was still alive. His absense was heartbreaking, but Vyess knew that the pride must move on. Only recently had she been inducted as Queen, but Vyess was a natural leader and she felt that, for the time being, she could lead the pride on her own. My life and my sanity I devote to the Shujaa.

In the home lands of her pride, Vyess let out a deep, wild roar, that would hopefully alert all of her pridemates to come. Certain matters needed to be addressed, certain things needed to be discussed. The Shujaa pride stood for bravery and valiance, and Vyess would not see her pride turn any other way.

And so she waited for the lions to come.

[brook]

Sunset's ears pricked up as she heard the call made by the queen. She sighed a picked herself up, her swollen belly slowing her down. She padded over to the queen, her 1 year old aughter Aubrey beside her mother. Sunset sighed and looked at the queen, a smile on her face Whats wrong? She asked, fearing that her unborn cubs where in future danger. She looked the queen in the eye, a motherly worry filled her sunset colored eyes. She moved alittle closer to Aubrey as she looked at the queen head on

[dawnpelt]

Razi came over to Sunset's side as Vyess called. His eyes were worried for what was wrong. The brute came beside his daughter and mate, watching his surroundings. The lion wondered what was happening that would make Vyess call a meeting. He nuzzled Aubrey livingly on the shoulder before returning his gaze to the Queen.

[leigh]

A small family had answered Vyess's call first. The male and his mate, who was obviously pregnant, both looked worried. Vyess had perched on a small mound so that her voice would carry, should more lions come. She smiled down at the family. "There is no need to worry," She began, "But a meeting must be called. With Asan gone..." Vyess paused. Had the others been told of Asan's departure?

Well, they had now.

"With Asan gone, I fear that the pride may break apart. Although I will do my best to hold it together, I know I cannot do it alone. As long as there is no king," Vyess glanced toward Razi, "Then the males' ranks will be heightened, and they will each perform the king's job of protecting and defending the rest of us." Vyess thought this would be a good idea. Under the king, subordinate males were usually the lowest of the low. Asan, however, had been very kind to them, and Vyess would do the same. Before going further, Vyess felt she should wait for other lions to arrive. Surely the Shujaa was a larger pride than this.

[sarabi]

"Vyess..." Sauda appeared suddenly with her year old sons at her side, "I'm sorry for being away but my sisters needed help at home. I know I was needed here but they were desperate." Where was Asan at? Surly he would be here at a pride meeting unless... surly the pride hadn't been over thrown while she was away. She really hadn't been that gone, "Where are the other males? Kimba and Asan...." More than she was worried about her king she was worried about her mate. Kimba had been the one male she allowed herself to get close too, "And the rest of the pride?"

(sorry for being gone so long guys)

[charli2008]

OOC: sorry for being so long replying.

Kimba walked into the vicinty giving the air of someone with confusied feelings. He lowered his head, hoping not to attract stares with his bloodstained ear and tail. He flicked his tail miserably as he reached Sauda. Looking up to smile at her Kimba looekd at Vyess. Noticing that Asan wasn't there he stepped forward. "Vyess? Is Asan...gone? I thought I was him go a few weeks ago..."he trailed off. Now what would happen to the pride? Sighing Kimba sat down, playing with the earth with a huge paw. he rubbed agianst Sauda, not answering the question he saw in her eyes;what happened to you and where have you been? No, he couldn't tell them yet. Not until he was sure Asan was gone.

[leigh]

A second family soon made their way to the front. Vyess smiled down at them. She was glad to see more cubs, and males, at that. As Sauda spoke the queen nodded. "I understand. There's on wrong in caring for your family. That's what this pride is to me, after all." Vyess had no mate, no cubs of her own. But she cared for these lions as if they were family. They were all she had. "But Asan is gone." She said sadly, in response to Sauda and Kimba' question.

Vyess knew that Kimba, Razi, or any of the Shujaa males would make fine kings, but Vyess hadn't the heart to pull them away from their families. In her heart, Vyess hoped that a lone male, strong, brave and kind, would step forward to accept the duty, but such matters were out of her control.

With more lion here, Vyess decided to begin. "Asan's departure was the main reason I called this meeting. But there is a second matter. I want other prides to recognize and admire the Shujaa standard of valiance." Her voice was strong as she spoke. "The name of our pride means bravery and strength, and I want those ideals to show in everything we do. We will be noble, we will be true. We will be Shujaa."

[leigh]

ooc| Thanks for waiting. (: Please continue.

[adia]

She was lost. The last few weeks had become a jumble in her mind. Al she truly knew was she was seperated from her family and that, because of that, she was left alone.

Alone. A warning bell ran through her. Where am I? were her first thoughts, Where are they? Being alone was no good thing for a cub, no matter what age or how confident they were. No cub was skilled enough to hunt for theirselves and therefore to feed themselves and the evidence of it was obvious. Her stomach lurched violently. The thoughts of food were too much and that was it, she ran.

She had no idea how long she ran for but soon there were voices and the smell of others and her pace slowed as she crushed against the ground as she had seen the adult females do when they hunted and she moved onwards, her sandy-brown pelt, marked with darker brown circles, her only camoflauge. Soon she was there, surrounded by others and she shied back, brown eyes shining up at them as a smile crossed her maw.

I'm sorry but... I'm lost. She sounded helpless and that was what she was.

[charli2008]

Abeni was a little later than all the rest. She'd had some trouble with Addana, her daughter. As Addana followed her mother into the rest of the pride she spottted a little lion cub. It did not seem to be anyone's so she leaned forward and whispered in her now impatient mother's ear. Abeni sighed and turned to see the little cub. Seeing that it was obviously lost she cuffed Addana Why didn't you pick it up? she hissed. Without waiting she picked up the small cub in her jaws. Addana walked at her side, identical yet smaller and lighter. She followed whispering words to the helpless cub It's ok. My mom will sort you out and indeed Abeni did. Oblivious to everyone around her she started cleaning the cub. After that she muttered Clean and perfect and smiled at her So what's your name little one? Addana rolled her eyes and looked at Vyess. Don't mind us! We know Asan's gone but please go on! she laughed. She sat down and looked intently at Vyess. Abeni grinned. Addana had been a sickly cub, once dangerously hurt by hyenas and after that listened to everyone she trusted. Those being Kalu, Abeni, Kato and recently Vyess.

[adia]

The small cub was, understandable, nervous. Perhaps it would not be exaggerating to say scared. Alone, seperated from her family and now watching a group of strange lions she had never met with a weary eye, all her attention focused on them and not anything else around her. She didn't know how they would react to a strange cub in their lands, for it was obviously a pride.

Two lioness walked passed her, one full grown and the other older than herself but not an adult yet. She didn't know what to think of her situation, but her nerves had glued her to the spot and her small nose wrinkled a little as she tried to figure things out, seperating the individual scents. Not that it would help her much, she didn't really know much about it.

Then she realised that the pair were moving towards her and she did not know how to react and so she just stayed put as jaws clamped around her, as her mothers would have done. Then she started to feel a little more secure, the older cub walking next to them. She offered a small smile to the other and was pleased when she got the familiar feeling of a tongue rollingover her pelt, cleaning her.

When it was done she looked up at the kind lioness with a spark of happiness in her brown orbs. My name is Adia. she replied quietly but also in a friendly way.

[charli2008]

Abeni smiled Nice to meet you Adia. But surely a cub as small as you is not alone? Where's your mother? she said in her brisk way. She looked at the cub. It seemed more relaxed around her now. Obviously the cleaning had done some good. As she waited for Adia to answer Abeni started cleaning herself. Her tongue moved through the thick fur, getting all the sand and mud from it. She finished and yawning lay down next to Adia. Addana was still watching Vyess. Abeni spoke up Vyess? i rather think we should sort out a hunt soon. All the younger lionesses could benefit from it and we could all do with something to eat

[sarabi]

"Kimba." Sauda rubbed against her mate, "I missed you so. What's wrong?" Immidently she noticed the blood on his ears and tail. She loved her pride but her sons and mate were more importnat than them, careuflly Sauda licked his ear cleaning the blood away.

"Daddy!" Diara squirmed between his mother and father like a cub much younger than he actually was. He still acted like a three month old even if he was nearly as big as his father and already starting to get his mane.

(by the way Sharli did you ever pick a name for the other cub? i was gonna leave that to you)

[leigh]

Vyess watched as a small cub tumbled into sight. The poor thing was lost and alone, but she certainly didn't look afraid. She was bold for a cub, and although Vyess was the least bit annoyed by the interruption, she couldn't help but smile at the cub's assertiveness.

Vyess would have taken the cub as her own, but she knew that it would have been a bad move. Vyess had only mated once, but the pregnancy had failed and no cubs had been born. Cringing from the memory, Vyess shook it off. Adia would benefit from having an experienced mother raise her, rather than a first-timer like Vyess. And the pair of newcomers who had taken her seemed very bright and full of spunk. Vyess couldn't help but chuckle at the younger one's remark, "Don't mind us!"

"Very well," Vyess said good naturedly. "As for you, Adia, if we cannot find your family, you are most welcome to stay and live with us." The Queen smiled at the cub, nodding her head in a polite greeting. "And as for the rest of us..." Vyess began again, "I am not familiar with many of you, nor you with I, so a hunt would be a wonderful plan." She winked at Abeni, and stepped down from her perch, motioning for the pride to continue as she stopped by Sauda. She had seemed most concerned about Asan, for whatever reason. "Have you heard form Asan's family lately, or seen them? I had hoped to meet Serena here." The fact the Asan's own family had been absent disappointed her, but it couldn't be helped. Perhaps they had gone with him, wherever he went. Ah, if they were gone, then they were gone. The hunt was Vyess's priority now, and to get to know the other lions of the pride.

[dawnpelt]

Razi stood eagerly as Vyess suggested a hunt. He found it a great way to bond with pride members. He shook his dark shaggy mane, eyes dancing with excitement. The large male padded after Vyess, a smile and a glance at the new cub. The wind was gentle today, inviting and perfect for a hunt. Razi nuzzled Sunset, love bright in his eyes.