Mine, and I will never let go

[Kamaria]

Rain. Huge drops of cold, salty water falling from the heavens. On contact, it darkened her fur and splattered over her pelt. She barely blinked, watching the rain fall around her. The hum of the water as it hit the ground, dampening the dirt and quenching the thirst of the vegetation, was so soothing to the lioness that lay beneath it. Lying in the tall grass, her tongue lolled as she looked out over the land that she would protect if the need came. She had already gained her entry to the pride, but the king she had met to grant her that was no longer king. The pride needed a Leader, and there were few already here. She was going to make it her place to watch over the small pride, to watch it grow and prosper.

Not at all the largest lion, her medium build was stocky and strong. She had no trouble defending herself, and she fully accepted the responcibility of defending the land as well. It shouldn't be hard, for there was room in Africa for others. But the cunning, evasive canines could cause trouble. No matter, she could take care of them if they dared come close to her. She huffed a small laugh at the thought. She knew the ways of hyenas and wild dogs, for she had lived on her own among them for two years. Many had learned that she was tough, and they didn't oppose her very often. Of course, when they did, there was a fight, but she would prevail. It was the way of the world, and she was on the top of the food chain, especially now.

If the rain would quiet long enough for her to do it, she would make this place and pride officially hers. If there were lionesses with other intentions, let them come. She would settle whatever trouble came to her, and she would settle it her way. She glanced around through the rain, watching for the bulk of another lion to pass through the grass near her, or the dark shadow of a canine to see what she was doing all alone in this place that seemed to be inhabited by these small but feroscious animals. But no shadows showed themselves, and the grass did not part to let another predator pass through its bounds.

And finally the rain subsided, not completely stopping, but giving her the quiet she needed at the moment. She stood quickly, her eyes anticipating and anxious. She raised her head, parting her jaws wide. At first the sound of her voice blended with the hum of the rain, but the sound grew quickly, dominating the rain and carrying for the length of the land, but she let it go no further. She let the sound hang from her jaws, letting it linger so that it was clear the sound was not the rain. The sound wasn't exactly a challenge, just enough to let anyone inside the boundary hear that she was there and her intentions. But finally her jaws closed, slowly, reluctantly. She glanced around her again, and a smile crossed her face. Her ears were pricked, ready for the sound of any lion comeing near. She held her head high, proud of her claim and position in the pride.

Anticipating the arrival of any of the members of the pride that was once in Taser's control, Gwandoya stood calmly, her eyes watchful.

~Any of the Ari members that want to stay, or any that want to join, here would be a good place to step in.~

[Coffee & Pickles]

The little droplets of rain annoyed her so. She frowned, dark splotches dappled her already dark pelt, her rough fur standing smoothly on end around her neck, but soft and loose around her legs. She blinked off the droplets that touched her long eye lashes and shook her pelt sending tiny droplets flying over the hard earth below her. The soothing clatter of rain against solid brown earth was comforting to the old lioness whom had seen plenty of dry spells over the Ari pride lands. Tall leafy grass swayed back and forth, softening it's lush touch against her body.

Thin branches, fingers of the thin trees tapped her pelt, her muscles tightened and her skin wrung taught. She flicked her ears with the slight agitation of the little black flies and chewed on the soft skin of her chest. She took in the scents of the hot rain, it's musky odor tingling her nose, it's freshness clearing her mind. She had long loved these small showers. She looked up and licked her lips, the fresh water running down her muzzle, the old matriarch grinned, her mischievous ways showing.

Gayana had known that Taser as her king, his control over the clean lands had faltered, she noticed, as she the all observant lioness often did, that Gwandoya, another lioness who had been with the pride, stood, Fervent in the knowledge that she was queen. Gayana had good faith in her as queen, she was strong, a good medium sized female. She could take care of herself, as it was before she had been accepted into the pride, and she could easily defend the pride. Gayana nodded, she had no quarrels with the lioness, and there were no others who did either.

The lioness felt her ears flicker forward and she padded down from the rock where she was settled, the rain had made it hot and thick and the air was needed for her to move down any way, so why not check out the lioness who seemed to wish of taking over. She stood up and stretched her limbs, they crackled under her weight and then, slowly, but surely, nimbly she leapt down, gracing the floor of the earth with her paws.

The lioness was no longer in her sights over the tall grass, but she sniffed the air once and carried on, walking towards the dry patch. She made her footsteps heavy, no reason to be hiding them from the lioness who was in her pride for a little while. She licked her lips as the grasses parted and Gwandoya came into view. She made her seat a good distance away from her and then relaxed her shoulders. The matriarch turned her head to the side and then spoke.

"Gwandoya, do you plan on taking over the pride?" she asked, knowing fully what her answer would be. Had Gayana just witnessed the fall of one leader, and the rise of another? She would never have thought this day would come, not in her life time any way, and she waited for any moment of speech to breach between them. Gayana had mainly stayed away from Gwandoya, sure they were in the same pride, but on the fore hand she had not grown into any type of relationship with the lioness. Would this change?

Gayana could only hope that it would change, she would stay a part of Ari no matter who their leader was. She did not join because of him, she joined because of the lions within the pride, and they had stayed so willingly before her. She could only hope to carry on this courage and this behavior as the rest of them had. She let out a breif sigh and then turned her head back up to the lioness she would learn to have more respect for.

[Kamaria]

Finally, a parting of grass and the sound of heavy footfalls. But anyone wanting to challenge her would have tried their best to keep quiet, would they not? So she stayed relaxed, but still ready, just in case. She parted her jaws and tasted the air, and found that an older lioness was moving toward her. A matriarch. The young lioness stood where she was, watching expectantly where the matriarch would most surely appear. Her golden eyes were nothing of the likes of hostile, but full of respect and anxiousness. Two things that were uncommon to be seen in her eyes together.

And then the matriarch appeared, and sat where she could be seen but still a safe distance. Gwandoya wanted to laugh, but restrained it. It was a sensible thing to do, seeing as they hardly knew each other. Not that Gwandoya was going to to anything. Maybe she wasn't the most social lioness, but she definitely wasn't antisocial. She did enjoy company when she could get it. She stayed standing, though it would have been good to sit, but she was still somewhat expecting someone to come and oppose her.

She pricked her ears forward at the sound of the lioness's voice. The answer came to her mind quickly, but she thought it over quickly but thoroughly before answering. "Well, yes, of course, if no one else will. As long as no one comes to challenge me, yes, I will take over the pride. The Ari needs a leader." She waved her tail once, watching the older lioness curiously. She shifted her weight slightly, and the rain and dim sunlight made the scar on her shoulder look bleached.

Her ears twitched backward at the sound of something moving through the grass. But she could tell just by the way the footsteps sounded that it was prey and not a threat. But she turned her head to look anyway. A small herd of Springbok was passing at a safe distance behind her. She turned her head back to Gayana, not interested in the prey at the moment. She'd eaten already, and she would not need food for the rest of the day, and possibly the next. Her eyes moved over the matriarch and she sat finally, relaxed.